The death that occasioned the Easter resurrection has never been so real to me as this year. Last week, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lost one of its true "Resurrection men," the Rev. Ronald H. Weinelt. He was my pastor for 8 years and my friend for 17. He died of a heart attack March 25 at Henry General Hospital with his wife Pat at his side.

Pastor Weinelt served in Fayetteville for a time, helping with pastoral counseling at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. He and Pastor Justin Kollmeyer had an affectionate relationship of mutual respect, Justin for Ronald's incredible intellect and Ronald for Justin's amazing ability to make anybody feel at home, in conversation or in the pews at Prince of Peace.

I have called Pastor Ron a "Resurrection man" because his sermons, his classes, and even his casual conversations reflected a deep-rooted belief that Jesus died, Jesus rose, Jesus saves. Jesus was as real to Pastor Ron as Pat, or his two sons, Kurt and Eric. Maybe more so.

Easter was Pastor Ron's favorite time in the church year. He believed in the full celebration, starting way back at Ash Wednesday, preparing for Holy Week, and charging into Palm Sunday as if the fronds were banners of victory after a battle. I think he believed they were. Then, we would gather for a Maundy Thursday dinner and worship, commemorating Jesus's Passover supper with the disciples.

The Good Friday "Tenebrae" service concentrated on making us all relive the agony on the Cross as nearly as possible. When the church was darkened after the last word, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit," Pastor Ron could actually scare you completely with the "loud noise" that symbolized the rending of the curtain in the Temple.

On Saturday of Holy Week, Pastor Ron would move again toward the glorious Sunday with an Easter Vigil Service. There is in the Lutheran tradition a very beautiful Easter Proclamation which is sung at the vigil, while the congregation assumes a "waiting" attitude as Jesus is shut in the tomb.

But oh, what wonders we felt on Easter Sunday morning. When Pastor Ron planned a festival worship service, there was joy from beginning to end. Choir anthems, bells, trumpets and many, many hymns. Maybe we'd be standing for most of a 90-minute service, but who cared? Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Pastor Ron taught us that without the preparation, Easter can be just another holiday. Die with Jesus, he said, and then you'll know what Resurrection means.

My former Pastor was a stubborn, opinionated, learned, compassionate, fragile man. He had to overcome a basic shyness even to enter the ministry. He was the perfect example of the "wounded healer," constantly battling the desire to run himself into the ground caring for people. He knew I had the same personality, and he tried to teach me better.

"Climb down off that cross, Kay," he would say, "we already have a perfectly good Savior." Or he would write himself notes on stickies for his desk or refrigerator: "Dear Ron: I won't be needing you today. Love, God."

And so when I go to the Service of Shadows on Good Friday, I will remember Pastor Ron's teaching and preaching. When I celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, I will picture Pastor Ron beside the Lord he loved so well. And if he were reading this right now, Ron would say, "All right, Kay, enough about me. Easter isn't about dying! It's about living forever!"

Back to the Top of the PageBack to the Religion Home Page