W. Cain Sczepanski was called to his eternal home at 12:05 pm on March 7, 2011. We will not tell you how he died; we will tell you how he lived! He lived a full, 24 years with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defects.  Cain’s remains were donated to the UT Southwestern Medical Center – Transplant Services where his bones, skin, arteries and corneas were used for the urgent medical needs of the living.  He lived to serve his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as an acolyte and crucifer at Lamb of God Lutheran Church. He lived for his Special Olympic sports of basketball, bowling, bocce and soccer. He lived to be with his Special Olympic team mates, Katana, Samantha, Cameron, Willy, Spencer, Willy, Nick, Carter, Terrence, Thomas, Nick, Matthew, Katie, Elise and Sarah and their families. He loved for his Yi-Gi-Oh cards and Monday Night Wrestling.  He lived making others laugh. He loved to laugh!  He’s now in eternity with his Creator, in perfect mind and body. His spirit was as Jesus commanded in Luke 18:15-17. It was our Lord and Savior, Jesus, who welcomed Cain into his Kingdom, with the words: “Welcome home faithful servant!” Cain leaves his mother and father, Carolyn and Bill Sczepanski (Highland Village, TX) and a sister Cara Sczepanski (Highland Village, TX); Grandmother Dorothy Hoeh, Bonus Grandpa Ken Hoeh (Vista, CA); aunts Cheryl Smith (San Marcos, CA); Christine Edwards (Weaverville, CA); uncles Randy Nickolei (Vista, CA); Robert Sczepanski (St. Louis, MO); Dave Sczepanski (Buffalo Grove, IL) and cousins Chrystal Whitcomb (Weaverville, CA); Christopher Nickolei (Vista, CA) Lauren and Kristin Sczepanski (Buffalo Grove, IL) .  But we will all be re-united with Cain at the time of God’s choosing for those who believed like Cain that Jesus was nailed to the cross and rose from the dead for his eternal salvation, and all who believe in Jesus. He will be missed!  Bill, Carolyn and Cara have established the Cain Sczepanski 2011 Memorial Foundation in Special Education with the with the Lewisville ISD Education Foundation, Inc.  Please go to www.lisdef.com or call 469-948-2022 for more information or how to contribute.

“My Beloved Son”Matthew 17; 5bThe following is the Sermon Pastor Braun gave at Cain’s Memorial Service on March 11, 2011. “Bill and Carolyn and Cara, I have been listening and praying. Searching for God would have me say this afternoon, for way in which He would tie together all that I have been hearing. Then yesterday morning I wrote a verse of Scripture into my message for Sunday. Then, as I always do when I quote scripture, I highlighted it so I could put in bold print. The moment I highlighted it, it was as if God spoke in my thoughts. “This is the Word I want you to share with Cain’s family and friends." The word God has for you today actually comes from the Gospel text that we read last Sunday, the day before Cain died. It’s these words of our Father in heaven, from Mathew 17:5 – “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased…” Now I know the Father in heaven spoke those words about His own Son, Jesus. Yet after all I have heard you say this week, I can imagine that you understand what He meant. These words describe your feelings for Cain. I will always remember the meeting where you described what it was like when you were told Cain had Down syndrome. You were in shock. You said it was like taking off on a trip to Rome but then getting off the plane only to discover you had landed in Holland. It just wasn’t what you expected. Yet pretty soon you discovered that Holland had great history, beautiful buildings. Holland has Rembrandts just like Rome does. And Holland has many things that Rome doesn’t---like windmills and the North Sea. In the same way, while 24 years God gave you with Cain may not have been the trip you have expected, they have been a wonderful adventure filled with great, unimaginable blessings. In the midst of being very say about Cain’s passing this week, what a wonderful joy it has been listening to you sit and talk about him. He touched a lot of lives. I haven’t met anyone at Lamb of God who doesn’t know Cain. I love the story of how he would “borrow” and hide things from your office, Carolyn, whenever you went out of town….about his love for Sea World and Shamu…about how he and Cara getting on to each other just like any brother and sister, throwing a video tape at you when you came into his TV room and you throwing it right back…about how he and the two friends in the back seat singing along with the radio on one note, as loud as they could…about how he strut down the court in that certain proud way after making a basket – knowing he had down something good…and about how he would strut back forth in the yard wearing his Dracula cape…his love for movies and especially horror movies….that he was your biggest Cara for your high school and college basketball teams and how all your team mates love him… about how he loved basketball and bocce and bowling, loved his Special Olympics team mates… about how when any of you would come into the front room he would stand in front of the TV with the remote and order you our…about his belly laugh as he would replay again and again the DVD of one of his friends getting hit with a basketball…about that day at Marcus when the whole school cheered as they gave Cain his letter jacket. I could go on… But the best stories are about Cain’s faith is Jesus, aren’t they? Everyone who knew Cain knew he was believer. I don’t know if that could be said about all of us. Trent was recalling for the day Cain made his presentation confirmation, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place when he got done sharing his faith. You don’t have the collage anymore because he wore is out, taking it to school to teach people about Jesus. You told me he was witnessing to Pastor Brian from First Baptist trying to convert him…how he loved the prayers on the Catholic radio channel every morning and watching his “God Play” from Prestonwood over and over again. All we here know him as that faithful servant always ready to carry the cross and lead us into the house of God. He would act out the story from the Passion movie to tell people about how Jesus suffered and died for them. His first reaction to a crisis was always to pray. And that day you had your heart problem, he told you Bill, “Don’t worry, Jesus is at the end of your bed.” It’s so very obvious how proud you are of him. In that way you share these words with our Father in heaven…”This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased…” Now today, you find yourself in Holland again. You expected this day would come later, after you were gone. You didn’t expect to be here today. That’s why our Father in heaven would speak these words to you today. He would have you know that these words he spoke about Jesus, He would also speak today about Cain. “This is my beloved Son, with Him I am well pleased.” How could this be? Cain was a sinner just like you and me. Death reminds us of that fact beyond all doubt for the wages of sin is death. All true, but equally true is the fact that the fee gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. You see, our Lord left heaven to come to Holland too..to join us as we journey through the places where we never expected to be. He came because God loves the world, God loves you and me, God loves Cain that much – that he would give His one and Only Son…” He came to pay the price for our sin, to be punished in our place….to offer His life on the cross for you and me and Cain….to rise again so that Holland doesn’t always have to be or home. Because of Jesus, God could look at Cain and say, “This is my beloved Son, with Him I am well pleased.” Indeed God did day it again and again – He said it on the day when Cain was baptized into the family of God at Medical City in Dallas…God said it on the day Cain made his confession of faith and was confirmed here at this altar…God said it to him every Sunday when Cain would kneel here to receive the body and blood of our Lord in Holy Communion – that great visible assurance that God really does love use and forgive us and call us His dear children.Now today God would have you hear Him say it one more time. “Because of my Son Jesus, Cain also my beloved son, with him I was well pleased. He would have you know that as much as you love him…He loves Cain even more. Because of that great love, Cain is walking that certain strut through the hall of heaven wearing something more precious than even Special Olympic gold – wearing the crown of righteousness which the Lord, His Lord purchased for him on the cross and has awarded him for all eternity. Cain doesn’t live in Holland anymore. He has made the journey and has landed in the place God Promised…in the home His savior has prepared. Just as he couldn’t wait to show us his Special Olympic medals…Cain can’t wait to show you…to share with you the crown given to him by our savior. And then to pick up the processional cross and lead us into God’s eternal home. Amen"