Sermon for Sunday, May 11th 2025

Sunday, May 11, 2025
St. John the Evangelist Church, Kitchener

Of a shepherd, Psalm 23

“The Lord is [our] Shepherd.”  Please be seated.

Twenty seven years ago, on the first Wednesday in June, I had just moved to K-W, after serving as a Chaplain at Vancouver General Hospital, and I was seeking a mid-week morning Eucharist.  Breakfast afterwards would be a bonus.  Just before 7:30,  I came into this Nave for the first time, and noticed a lady with silver hair preparing the High Altar.  She welcomed me warmly, and invited me to breakfast.  Her name was Mindy Hurley.  By then, she had already been an active member of St. John’s for more than fifty (!) years.  Hers was a rather unique tenure in this Parish, let alone in this mortal life.

As we gather here for worship this Mother’s Day morning, several months after Mindy’s one hundredth birthday, and then her death on Vancouver Island, in the loving care of her niece Barb – who is here today, among other family, and ‘friends like family’ – it seems fitting that the Psalm appointed for this fourth Sunday of Easter, is the Shepherd’s Psalm.  The beloved 23^rd.

Jesus knew it; many of us do, including our friends in the Jewish tradition;  and some can recite it by heart, often from the King James’ Version.  Mindy certainly new it.  Partly because she lived it. 

With my privilege to share in leadership this morning, this is not a funeral homily. Rather, it is part of worship this Sunday morning , about the metaphorical Psalm.  With its invitation to equations … or, one could say, the life and faith of Mindy as a lens on the providential care of a loving God. 

(Cousar et al; James. L May).

That we ‘shall not want’ is different from saying ‘what we think we need’ … while trusting that it will be provided, somehow, eventually.   And being led, by God’s Grace, to green pastures and still waters.  These familiar verses, beautifully sung by the Choir this morning, have been used by many a Hospital Chaplain (including this one!) as much to centre ourselves as to console others.  Particularly when we ‘walk through the darkest valley’ (of the shadow of death, as the King James’ translation puts it).

Like many of us, Mindy was no stranger to dark valleys.  Her mother died when she was six years old She buried two husbands and a dear son, and survived Cancer several times!  And though Mindy was not a saint – none of us is! – her disposition suggested that she ‘feared no evil’, comforted by a deep sense of God’s presence.

In another significant twist of this week, among the first things that Pope Leo said was to acknowledge Jesus as The Good Shepherd.  I think Pope Francis would smile; Mindy too.  Indeed, may God deeply bless another prophetic and pastoral Papacy.

(Tell at the font) I can’t but hear the Psalm verse about a cup overflowing, than to think of another Wednesday morning, in those days when St. John’s Kitchen was still gathering here at the namesake Church, before moving to 97 Victoria; to which it will return again this Summer/Fall after extensive renovations there.  On that morning, about 25 years ago, a burly fellow who had lunch at the Kitchen, started coming to the Eucharist and Breakfast.  He worshipped fervently, and then at Breakfast, he simply couldn’t get enough milk to drink.  So much so, that he would take one of the small pitchers put out, to ‘whiten’ coffee or tea.  The fellow would pour the little pitcher into a juice glass, and down it!  And Mindy would fill up the pitcher, again, and again …  She might have wondered, but she didn’t judge.  She was too busy being hospitable at another table of her Lord., and the promise of a cup overflowing!

On Mother’s Day mindful that so many have good relationships and/or memories –  though some don’t –  we recall some families, whose hearts are also broken.  Including the family of Gus.  According to his obituary in The Waterloo Region RECORD this week, quote: “Sadly, he died of an overdose.  Gus was 22 years old and had fought his addiction for many years …”  [with many supports] including being fed at St. John’s Kitchen (on Thursday, May 1st,^, 2025) “ the day he died.”  Unquote.

Though seventy eight years (!) apart in age, many of Mindy’s timeless qualities were apparently echoed in Gus’ brief life; reading again from his obituary about:  ‘a radiant smile, gentle presence, making people feel loved’, ‘gracious, and concerned with the wellbeing of others.’  Unquote.  Until Mindy could be persuaded to take accept a ride or take a cab to Church, particularly on early mornings, I wonder how many ‘Guses’ that Mindy befriended in this Downtown Kitchener neighbourhood of which she was a proud and compassionate citizen, until she was 100 years old!?

As the longest living volunteer at the Christmas Pudding Factory here at St. John’s, Mindy was introduced to CTV Kitchener reporter Jeff Pickel, who did a profile of the Factory … through the ‘lens’ of Mindy.   And then she invited him to return on Sunday, and sit at her table in Morty’s Pub, in Uptown Waterloo, and watch the football game with a Reickert’s Red!    (You can’t make this stuff up!)

Apparently, Mindy was ‘living out’ the affirmation of the Psalm that ‘surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life’, but apparently, she wasn’t quite ready to ‘dwell in the house of the Lord, forever’.  Afterall, Mind was a character, and she had character.

(Tell ‘in’ the Choir) Mindy still had stories to tell … including about shepherding (!) the youngest members of the Junior Choir, who used to sit in this front pew (near where I first met Mindy). 

Like ‘herding cats’ more than shepherding little lambs (!) Mindy would try and keep them seated and attentive for the rehearsal, let alone worship.  Except for a precocious fellow – then 6, now 66! – who knew that the Christmas star above the High Altar was only supposed to be illuminated on Christmas Eve.  And he also knew where the light switch for the star was, near the door of the Vestry, and he’d throw the switch, when Mindy’s wasn’t looking.  Which wasn’t often!

And now, Mindy has gone ahead of us to ‘dwell in the house of the Lord, forever’, until we meet again, as Jesus promised (St. John 14:1,2)  ‘Her’ usual pew – on the far aisle, near the Chapel, away from the centre of attention, though always willing to help and encourage –  that pew seems empty today, except for all her family members here today!    It is also a pew full of the presence of this ‘good and faithful servant’ (St. Matthew 25:23) , who now abides with God, and in the lives of those she loved, and was loved by.  (St. John 14:2, alt, translation by Rev. Dr. Brian Thorpe)  

Mindy was a shepherd in her own right, and welcomed the lead of other shepherds. 

Including those humble few – all those centuries ago, outside of Bethlehem-  who saw the star in the night sky, and followed it, to Jesus. (St. Matthew 2: 9,10)

Rev. John Lougheed