Address by Pastor Jürgen Philipps at the commemoration of Martins Urdze on 27 August 2021.
Dear congregation!
And now says the Lord who created you:
Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have saved thee, because I have saved thee; for I have called thee by thy name;
I call thee by my name.
(Isaiah 43,1).
Fear not, God said, God says to Martin, God says to us. You are protected in my love, in life, in death and in dying, now and forever.
For I have redeemed you, says God, my love for you knows no bounds.
I call you by your name, Martin. I know your strength and also your weakness, and also all the weight that you carry with the people whom God has entrusted to you.
God says: I am coming to you. I am with you, you belong to me, you are dear to me. You are dear to me.