Guiding Spirit, comfort us who grieve the death of Fritz. As he remains fresh in our love and memories, assure us that he lives, and will continue, in the heart and mind of God. Fritz’s devotions were many: to the earth and all its creatures, to the poor and vulnerable, to the arts and good governance, to religious traditions that offer and uphold visions of justice, compassion, beauty and truth. Inspire us with our own noble aims, and with the wisdom and strength to pursue them with new, creative approaches. God of mercy, hear our prayer.

This bid in the Prayers of Intercession at Pastor Fritz Fritschel’s memorial service Saturday at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu summed up his life perfectly. As Pastor Jeff Lilley expressed in the homily, Fritz not only lived out, but was the very embodiment of the Beatitudes, particularly these verses: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. . .Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they will be called children of God. 

The church was filled to capacity for this beloved man, as you can see by the photo above. The day was divided into three parts: the first was a memorial communion service including three hymns with texts by Fritz, a contemporary Creed written by Fritz for a past Earth Day, favorite choral music and a full-blown eucharist. The second part was lunch in the courtyard for the entire community; and the last was a concert of poetry and music—the poems were read by Fritz’ family members, colleagues and friends.

Here’s a quick summary of the service music:

Organ Prelude: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Bach)
Introit: Pied Beauty (Kathryn Rose, text by Gerard Manley Hopkins)
Gathering Hymn: Listen deeply (music by chorister David Del Rocco); text by Fritz
Psalm 46 (Forrest Pierce) — commissioned by Fritz Fritschel and Carol Langner
Gospel Acclamation (John Ferguson)–Matthew 5:12
Meditation: My Lord, What a morning (Paul Crabtree)
Hymn of the Day: Stars have burst with blazing brightness (Tune: BRYN CALFARIA, text by Fritz)
Music during Communion: Deep River (Spiritual; sung by Georgine Stark)
Organ: The dream of Gerontius (Edward Elgar)
Meditation: God be in my head (John Rutter)
Mit Fried und Freud (Brahms)
Sending Hymn: Let Justice Roll Down (music by chorister Roy Helms); text by Fritz

I played the organ prelude by Bach and to tell you the truth, I was a teeny bit nervous! Although the music went well, I couldn’t get over the fact that it has been five years since I have played a service here. Even though I only played the prelude and then sat down to join the congregation, many of whom I haven’t seen in five years, I still felt self-conscious. I tried to remember that time when renowned Marie-Claire Alain came to the church and played a private recital for just my husband, Carl and me, and how her playing immediately touched us. (Go back and read my posts, Marie-Claire Alain, 1926-2013 and Messiah give you chills about how music can move you.) I tried to play expressively to give people that same intimacy with the music. I appreciated the fact that people were very quiet, interrupted only by a cough or two!

Of course, Fritz’ wife, Carol Langner (whom I call “The Queen of the Bulletin Boards!”) gave us plenty of information about Fritz’s life through the service bulletin and the bulletin board. Here is a slideshow of images on the bulletin board.

From the service program: Fritz Fritschel, 1935-2018.

Born into a family with deep, broad Lutheran roots, as a child Fritz absorbed the ethos of service, respect for education, and the value of community. Yet Fritz recalled that the parsonage was a home with much laughter, not overly pietistic, and actively engaged in finding practical ways to live out the gospel. Fritz wrote of his father: “Without articulating a liberal or progressive position, Doc seemed to have a sense of tolerance and openness. He certainly was no literalist, although no scholar either.”

The life of the mind did exert a great pull on Fritz, however: reading, writing, musing, thinking. To think was to pray. His path to a workable theology and a mature philosophy of faith was circuitous. He didn’t particularly excel in formal academic setting (“I never did get over the notion that the college campus in the mid-1950s was a big, organized church camp”) but the values of service and community were reinforced, becoming guiding principles in all arenas of his ministry: parish pastor, college teacher, counselor, hospice chaplain, mentor, and friend.

Upon graduation from Wartburg College, Fritz spent a semester in Berlin, a time of immersion in post-war Germany and self-discovery. “What a treat it was to breathe in the Berlin air, hear the distinctive street sounds…” He attended classes at the Kirchliche Hochschule in the Zehlendorf district, and used his bicycle to get around the Eastern Zone, absorbing the cultural life. Another pivotal experience was serving as interim pastor in 1980-81 at Church of the Abiding Presence in the Bronx, NY. The realities of life in a marginalized, depressed area of affluent America sharpened his critique of the structural inequities of our society.

At Union Seminary in the early 1970s, Fritz was introduced to Process philosophy/theology based on the work of Alfred North Whitehead, and this school of thought became the most important factor in shaping his views of the nature and activity of God in the world. Fritz spent many years immersed in heady books, absorbing the implications of the process perspective and developing ways to apply these ideas to his professional work. With a new understanding and language at his disposal, he hit his stride, touching many hearts and lives through his ministry.

Fritz was also a physical guy. Athletics were always a part of his early life and schooling. He played hard: a badly broken leg, a split forehead. “I came out with more stitches playing basketball than from any other activity.” In later life, he enjoyed hotly contested handball with Augustana colleagues, and always some tennis, a game he played into his 70s. He loved hiking the Rockies, adn working around the Colorado property. In the background to his public life was his love of family, especially his children Heidi and Peter, their spouses John and Pam, and his five grandchildren, Sam, Emma, Sophie, Ted, and Renée, each a life to cherish and nurture. His Fritschel brothers, Jim and Ted, and wives, Barb and Nan, remained his lifelong friends, enjoying summer reunions together, and many phone calls when apart. In Honolulu, Fritz shred his life with his wife, Carol, a marriage in 1985 which brought joy and companionship to both of them.