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We have come together today from across this country and this continent, indeed from across the world, to mourn yes, but also to give thanks to God for David Retter, uncle, pastor, friend, and Loved One. Loved indeed he was and is by us all and at this time sorely missed. And so we mourn our loss as we lay his body to rest. As we do so, each of use has memories of him which we will cherish forever. What a loving man he is! To many of use here today, he is the epitome of that Love which Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 which was just read. Let me read a part of it again.

"David is patient and kind; David is not jealous or conceited or proud; David is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable. David does not keep a record of wrongs; David is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. David never gives up, and his faith, hope and patience never fail. David is eternal.

You, Jonathan and Michael, his nephews, have felt the warmth of his love many times and in may ways. When you were just tiny boys, it was your uncle David who held you in his arms at your father's death. He loved you then and always and he loves you now. His love is eternal for you both.

To the people of Port Edward and Greenville, indeed all the Nass valley, and to the people of St.James', Father Retter has been a true and loving pastor. And what is a pastor? A pastor is a shepherd. Jesus gave Himself such a title. He said, "I am the Good Shepherd and I know my sheep and they know me." He said to Peter there on the shores of Lake Galilee after His Rising from the Dead, "Take care of my sheep". He said the same to David on his ordination day way back in 1965. Peter to his dying day did indeed 'take care of Jesus' sheep'. And so has David all through his life and ministry.

But as you may know there are different ways of "shepherding sheep". IN New Zealand, for example, the shepherd whistles up the dogs and they drive the sheep where they should go. With the help of these dogs, the shepherd drives the sheep to greener pastures and quiet cool waters. Some of us may have experiences such 'pastoral care' at one time or another and although it may be well-intentioned, it is still driving.

But that is not the way of the shepherd of Middle-Eastern countries either now or in Jesus' time. Shepherds there lead the sheep to green pastures and quiet waters. They know each one my name. They love the sheep, indeed they live and die for the sheep. So did Jesus for us all. So did David Retter, priest and pastor of so many of us here today. He never gave up on us. His faith and hope in us and his patience never seemed to falter or fail.

As Father Ian Mackenzie said to me one day many many years ago as we returned to the Nass from a hectic dashing around Canada for National Church meetings; "You know, John, David in his gentle stay-at-home, day-to-day, patient way, does a more effective ministry than we do in our dashing about to 'Solemn Assemblies' and forcing our issues on the world".

Here at St.James' people can say of David: "I was hungry for God's Love and Father David fed me. I was a stranger and he received me into his parish family. I was sick and he cared for me. I was in prison and he visited me". Just a month ago he wrote to say that he had been invited by an inmate of a local prison who had no friends or family to a Special Supper held for friends and relatives. and he had a good evening with the man. David's love never gives up; his faith and hope and patience never fail!

As a friend, his live indeed never failed us. Each of us in our times of joy, in times of sorrow, in times of depression and apparent hopelessness, in times of mental, physical and spiritual pain, in times of whatever dire need, David was there gently to pour out his love and his patience, his faith and hope on us. What blessings we have received by his love! And there have been times of quiet rejoicing and the gentle wonder of just being with him which many of will remember and cherish as you look back on our life together.

which we shared over 40 years which I will never forget! My heart still smiles at our first wide-eyed trip to Britain in 1970, traveling from cathedral town to cathedral town in our rented little "Mini" thick with the blue smoke of his pipe! Yes in those days, life was different, but it was his love which stayed the same. I remember times of personal turmoil and change. David was there for me. I remember his gentle words: Whatever you decide, John, I will support you." It was David who encouraged me, and David alone who waved 'adieu' at the airport as I set off for the Solomons away back in 1995. And each time I became more deeply involved in the Life of Christ in that place, David was there to urge me on. Never once did he say, "When are you coming home for good?"

Each of us here today -- bishops, priests, deacons, friends, family - we all have known his personal gentle and loving presence in good times and in bad, in quiet conversation and in the often tumultuous atmosphere of solemn assemblies. God bless David for all that he was to each of us!

In this time of mourning for David and our personal feelings of loss, I pray that the memories of those grace-filled events of love which he shared with each of you may give you strength and comfort, and they should! But, dear friends, you and I must not clutch these memories to our hearts as if they were safety ropes to a past which we might consider to have been happier and more alive with David than this present time seemingly without him. Let me explain with a story.

Once there was a man who lived on a beautiful island in the middle of a sparkling sea. (It must have been Guadalcanal where I now live.) He loved his island home with its green and shining hills and vast and empty beaches and its smiling people. Each day he prayed to God that when he died, he might be buried with his islands soil clutched in his hands. When he did die, his family and friends fulfilled his wish. When he arrived at heaven's gate he was welcomed with great joy, but he was asked to let go of the soil he was clutching so that he might enter in.

Immediately he was filled with sorrow and even a bit of anger. He refused to let go for it reminded him of his beautiful island and the past joys and loves of his life there. And so he remained at the gate of heaven clutching his memories. Later on other loved ones passed through th gate into heaven and they tried to persuade him to let go, but he could not and would not. After many years his dearest friend died and came to heave. The man ran to his friend stretching out his arms to embrace him and as he did, the soil fell from his hands. And God rejoiced to see those 2 men enter heaven together. And what did the man discover to his surprise as he entered heaven after so many years spent clutching the memorial soil of his beloved island? He found that heaven was actually his island radiant in God's Love!

Jesus said to His disciples before He went up to heave: "I will be with you always", and He is no liar! It took them 40 days of fear and feelings of loss before the Spirit of God's Love, Joy and Peace came upon them at Pentecost and their eyes were opened and they were changed! With open hands and hearts they began to see Jesus in all things!

So it is with you and me. The days ahead may be days of mourning and feelings of loss, but if we do not clutch those fond memories, but see them as wonderful signs of David's "continuing Life in Christ our Risen Lord and Saviour", then we will indeed find David's --- and Jesus' --- presence in the here and now of our lives, and we shall know his quiet love, joy and peace. Resurrection and the "life of the world to come" Christian Friends, is not away in the distant future. Look up for heaven draws near! Heaven is here and now! Death has no dominion over us! For we are o9ne in the Spirit, one in the Lord! May David's love, joy and peace continue to bloom in our hearts and lives in the days ahead and even to the end of this age!