Eulogy for Gene McDowell (August 9, 1942 - February 11, 2023)

[The McDowell Family Photo at Gene’s Memorial Service - May 20, 2023]

On behalf of the family, I want to thank all of you for being here today as we remember and give thanks to God for Gene and for what he has meant to all of us. I am one of several members of the family who will be sharing in today’s service. My brother, David and I are two of Gene’s cousins and we’re both United Methodist pastors. 

Since our mother was raised Presbyterian and Gene was Presbyterian, I feel like I’m more of a “Methoterian,” a combination of the two. Pastor Tim graciously offered for me to lead us in saying The Lord’s Prayer later in the service, but as a Methodist pastor, I’d mess it up and forget to say “debts” instead of “trespasses!”

Gene gave me a wonderful gift just a couple of months ago when he sang happy birthday to me from his hospital room in Pittsburgh. It was through a FaceTime phone call and I was at my house in Athens, Ohio. Gene, the oldest of the 8 cousins singing to the youngest cousin. I will always remember that. Thank you, Todd, Vivian, and David for setting that up. 

I also will always be grateful for times we got to spend together at Steelers games, at our family’s cottage in the mountains, and other family events over the years. Great memories. Our family got together for dinner last night and it’s been good for us to reconnect since we don’t get to see each other that often. We could sense Gene’s presence with us through the sharing of family stories.

Gene’s faith was important to him. I was reminded of this a couple of years ago when we visited Gene in his new place in Pittsburgh. We went out to lunch and Gene rode in my car. On the way back from the restaurant, (OK, it was really a sports bar,) we spent that whole time talking about our faith. And Gene asked me what I thought of the Book of Revelation. And I said that I have always really liked that book of the bible. And he said the reason he asked me was because he was enjoying being part of a zoom bible study on the Book of Revelation through your church here. How nice that you all provided this way of staying in touch with Gene. 

I told Gene that for a lot of people, the Book of Revelation is kind of weird and scary, but that for me it’s comforting because it reminds us that a day is coming when all of God’s people will be reunited. That’s how the book of Revelation ends and we have this great verse in Revelation 21:4 where it says that… 

God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

I think of how different things will look when that time comes. No more tears, no more need for oxygen masks, no more hunger, no more pain, no more heartache, and no more death, for the former things have passed away. This is the good news of our faith and I’m thankful for my cousin Gene who reminded me of this good news. 

In Loving Memory of Dorothy S. Sweitzer (Aunt Dot) June 7, 1921 to November 6, 2018

[My Aunt Dot who was married to my dad’s brother passed away last week and the funeral was held yesterday at Round Hill Presbyterian Church in Crossroads, PA where she had been a member for 85 years. This is also the church where my mom and dad were married in 1950. Since my dad was Methodist my parents decided to attend that church instead which is why I am a United Methodist today. I guess God “predestined” this to happen. Sorry, using a little theological humor, here. My brother and I were asked to assist in the service. With tears of grief and gratitude for a like well lived, we commended Dorothy S. Sweitzer into the loving arms of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.]

[The eulogy was beautifully delivered by Colonel Todd McDowell, one of Aunt Dot’s grandsons. Todd recounted how Aunt Dot loved all of us and was known for her sharp mind and faith in Christ. After the service, Todd and I both noticed that the etching around the beautiful stained glass window behind him states that it was dedicated in loving memory of Major James Patterson, a member of that church who served in General George Washington’s Army. This church was established in 1756.]

I 

[My brother, David McDowell is a Deacon in the UMC and is the music director of the church where mom and dad decided to attend after they were married. It was very fitting that he sang this song, “Come to Jesus” along with another talented vocalist in the family, Terri Hoffman to the glory of God in loving memory of our Aunt Dot. The whole family felt like we were coming home.]

[Picture of our family standing in the back of the sanctuary in front of beautiful stained glass windows following Aunt Dot’s funeral service. It was an honor to offer the pastoral prayer and the Lord’s prayer during the service. As a UMC pastor, I kind of stumbled during the Lord’s Prayer since Presbyterians typically use “debts” and I am accustomed to “trespasses.” Evidently Aunt Dot’s church prefers neither. They say “sins.” When we got to that part of the prayer, you could hear all three options spoken at once reminding us that God has a sense of humor.]

God of love, we thank you for all with which you have blessed us even to this day. Thank you for the many ways that Aunt Dot lived out her faith and cared about each one of us. 

She amazed us in how she remembered people and fun stories that we had long forgotten. She remembered our birthdays, asked often about our families, attended our graduations, helped us to get summer jobs, prayed for each one of us without ceasing, and reminded us of silly things we did when we were young that always brought a smile to her face. 

We thank you for your gift of joy in days of health and strength, and for the gifts of your abiding presence and promise in days of pain and grief. We are reminded how blessed we are to be surrounded by family and friends in this place today. 

We are also mindful of other friends and family members who are no longer with us but who are now part of that great cloud of witnesses where there is no more tears, suffering, sorrow, or pain; only joy, love, and peace. We remember these loved ones silently in our hearts during this time of silence.

(Silence)

Thank you for these loved ones, O God. They are forever in our memory.

Be with everyone who has gathered here to remember and give thanks for the life of Aunt Dot as well as with those who are unable to be with us this day. Thank you for the many ways in which she has blessed each one of us and for cherished memories that we will be able to take with us from this place. And we are forever grateful that your grace is extended to each one of us to have a seat around your table with all of those who have faithfully lived and died. Above all, we give you thanks for your Son Jesus, who knew our griefs, who died our death, rose for our sake, and who taught us to pray together saying,

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts/trespasses/sins as we forgive our debtors/those who trespassed against us/those who sinned against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

[Round Hill Presbyterian Church, Crossroads, PA Est. 1756]

In Loving Memory of Joanne McDowell (Nov. 1, 1945 to June 11, 2018)

[Joanne not only rooted for the Steelers, but she also had a “Steel Curtain” faith in the many ways she loved her family and friends, served through her church, and put up a tenacious battle with cancer over the past several years. Pictured above is Joanne front and center. She always made awesome tailgate chili! Joanne was married to my cousin, Gene, far right. I am standing in the back right of the photo. Below is the prayer I offered at her funeral service which was held at Second Presbyterian Church, Oil City, PA.]

God of love, surround all of us as we gather to give you thanks for the life of Joanne McDowell. Even as we shrink before the mystery of life and death, help us to see the light of eternity. Be with us during this time of awesome wonder and gratitude as we reflect upon the many ways that Joanne has touched each of our lives. 

We are grateful for the many signs of your presence in the midst of our grief and loss. Thank you for reminding us of so many special memories we had with Joanne. Thank you for all of the ways that she made a difference in people’s lives through her teaching career. Thank you for how she expressed her faith by serving others through the ministries of her church. Thank you for her love of her family and friends. And thank you O God, for how she lived her life so joyfully even as she battled with cancer these past several years. 

O God, our hearts are filled with sorrow but they are also filled with great love and gratitude as we remember how Joanne has blessed us in so many different ways. As we walk through this valley of the shadow of death, replace our fear with trust, our grief with hope, and our sorrow with the promise of resurrection. Thank you that there is nothing that can ever separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord, not even death, for you are our steel curtain. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.

Funeral Sermon (Helen Hildebrand) by Rev. Robert McDowell - "We Still Believe!"

(In Loving Memory of Helen Hildebrand, December 30, 1924 to July 25, 2016)

     A few years ago, just before Christmas, I pulled up to a traffic light where I was living at the time, and as I looked toward my right out of my driver’s side window, I noticed some steps leading from the sidewalk down to a very modest apartment.  I remember thinking that I had never realized that an apartment had ever existed on the corner of that street even though I had driven past it many times.

     And there it was.  And on the door of this hidden apartment was a sign that had these three words in very large letters...

WE STILL BELIEVE!

     A smile came to my face as I thought about the child or the children who lived in that apartment and who wanted to make sure that Santa wouldn’t forget them.

     That sign reminds me of the unbridled and confident faith that the scriptures tell us that we can have as we go through life.  A faith in God who knows all about us – where we live, our hopes, our dreams, our joys, as well as our times of grief and sorrow.

     I’ve been thinking about that sign a lot lately because it reminds me of Aunt Helen’s faith, a faith that stayed with her all her life to the day she died. In more recent years, she sought to reassure her family that she was ready to go and be with the Lord. She wanted to be reunited with Uncle Quinton, Uncle Mac, Dad, and the many family members and friends who had gone before her.

     Stacy told me that Aunt Helen would tell her the story of when Aunt Helen, Uncle Mac, and Dad were kids. Dad was the youngest so they would tend to pick on Dad. Dad didn’t like his middle name which was “George” so Aunt Helen and Uncle Mac would get under his skin by calling him, “Georgie, Georgie.” I bet they are having a great reunion in heaven.

     This is why Aunt Helen was ready to be with the Lord. To the very end and in our humble way she was letting us know that even though her body was slowing down, her faith was still strong, stronger than ever. She still believed! It was just that she was at a point in her life where she was ready to be with the Lord.

     Aunt Helen had a quiet and humble faith. She wasn’t so much a talker as she was a doer. She loved serving the church through her cooking and baking and by helping with the annual Christmas bazaar at her church. Just think of all the people she blessed through these simple acts of kindness.

     She also lived out her faith by blessing her family and friends through her gift of hospitality. I will never forget all the holiday meals that Uncle Quinton and Aunt Helen held at their home. We loved going to their house because they had a really cool basement with a pool table. I mean, we just had a dirt floor cellar at our house, but they had this big basement where you could play games and have fun.

     And of course, there was always great food at those holiday meals. Aunt Helen was the best!

     Jerry told me that after he got married, his mom would always bring him a homemade cherry pie on his birthday. As Jerry told me this, it was all he could do to contain himself in describing to me how incredible that pie was. It was like he was reliving what it was like to take a bite of that pie. I asked him why he liked it so much.

     And he said, “Oh, my. She used cherries that she had picked and canned. They were so good. She also had this incredible homemade crust.” But then Jerry told me, “The best part was all was the sugar she sprinkled on the top of that pie!”

      That kind of reminds me of Mom-Mom’s famous iced tea. The reason it was so good was because of all that sugar and lemon she would put into it. Here’s the secret to the McDowell & Hildebrand recipes. Just use sugar.

    The grandchildren will tell you the same thing. They remember the awesome cookies that she would always have in the cookie jar. But I think her most favorite treat was to give them frosted pop-tarts with butter spread on top of the frosting! 

     Aunt Helen was one of a kind. What a wonderful, humble, person of faith she was. She might remind us of one of Jesus’ closest friends that we read about in the Bible. Remember the story of Mary and Martha, the two sisters who would host Jesus in their home whenever Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem?

     Mary was the one who we remember as sitting at Jesus’ feet and taking in every word of his teachings. Martha was the one who we remember as cooking and getting things ready for their meal. Sometimes we elevate Mary in this story and forget that Martha’s role of serving was just as important.

     I like to think of Aunt Helen as a great blend of Mary and Martha. She not only loved Jesus and wanted to grow in her faith, but she also knew that she had the gift of hospitality and serving.

     Where would the church be without the loving and humble servants who are providing a meal and who will be cleaning up after us following this service today?  That is so Aunt Helen. She lived out her faith through humble service to be a blessing to others.

     Our Gospel reading is a portion of the Jesus’ raising Lazarus story in which Mary and Martha had sent a message to Jesus to come and heal their brother, Lazarus who was close to death.  Mary and Martha were friends of Jesus, and they knew that Jesus had been sent by God and would be able to keep their brother from dying.

     But as the story goes, Jesus arrived after Lazarus had already died.  And when these sisters finally greet Jesus, they are still clutching to their faith when Martha says to Jesus, “But even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.”

     And notice that this is Martha speaking these words of faith and not Mary in this particular story.

     Jesus said to Martha or maybe we should just call her, “Helen” in this story because it is very fitting.  Jesus says to her that he is the resurrection and the life and that everybody who believes in him will never die. When he asked Martha if she believed this, she said, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

"Yes, Lord, I believe..."

     Martha, who we remember as a doer, shows us that she was equally a believer that with God, all things are possible. Martha sounds a lot like Helen to me.

     When Jesus tells Martha that he is the resurrection and the life, John, the Gospel writer is giving us a little hint of what will happen toward the end of his gospel when Jesus will rise to new life.

     It’s because of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, that we can dare to believe that one day all of God’s people will be reunited in God’s glorious kingdom. It will be one great big “Georgie-Georgie” family reunion.

     Helen was ready to go and be with the Lord because she knew of this hope. She had an assurance that there is nothing that can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing. Not even death.

    Maybe the best thing that we can do to honor Aunt Helen today is to join her and all the saints in heaven in reaffirming that we still believe. Yes, even with heavy hearts, we still believe. Please stand as your able, and together, let us recite the Apostles’ Creed that you find printed in your bulletin.

    I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

     We still believe! Thanks be to God!

[Left to Right: Aunt Dot, Mom, Aunt Helen, Uncle Quinton]

The Blue Bird Still Sings Every Father's Day

My wife, Penny wrote this beautiful poem about my dad just a day or two before his funeral back in 1989. It was read at the funeral service and it was later framed. In just a short amount of time, Penny was able to put into words who this great man was. We will always be grateful for this gift, especially every Fathers' Day. Whenever I see a bluebird, I remember dad and give thanks for this poem.

In Loving Memory of Norman McDowell

November 7, 1928 to June 1, 1989

A quiet man to us God sent

Not ours to keep, but only lent.

He loved the sport, he loved the earth

He loved us all and gave us worth.

She loved the man, she loved his life,

Hand in hand she become his wife.

He was her love, he was her friend,

She loves him now even more than then.

In mountains grand he was at home;

The woods and glades he loved to roam.

His favorite bird is blue and free.

He loved to hear them sing from the trees.

His first has strength just as he had;

The next his joy; she's always glad.

His first-born son is calm and warm.

The last is one in his own form.

A quiet man to us God sent

Not ours to keep,but only lent.

He loved the sport, he loved the earth

He loved us all and gave us worth.

- Penny McDowell, 1989

A John Wesley Birthday & Wedding Celebration - June 28, 2014

[Naomi & Aaron united in marriage on June 28, 2014. United Methodist pastors, Rev. Kim Armentrout & Rev. Mark Putman officiated.]

My daughter could have chosen any of the 365 days for her wedding day and she chose a day that is near and dear to my heart. She chose to get married on June 28 which just so happens to be the birthday anniversary of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

Since she knows how much I admire John Wesley, she was not at all pleased when I brought this to her attention. She shrugged her shoulders and gave out a heavy sigh.  "Oh dad, this means you're going to make my wedding day all about John Wesley and not about me!"

Visions of John Wesley bobblehead wedding reception centerpieces were dancing through my head.Maybe we could begin the wedding ceremony with a Charles Wesley hymn sing. The wedding homily could be about how to avoid Wesley's love life mistakes which were many. At the very least, I wanted to walk my daughter down the aisle while while wearing 1700's Anglican clergy vestments. What if instead of a wedding cake, we had a birthday cake with 311 candles on it for Wesley's birthday?

The truth is that none of those things took place on my daughter's special day. It was however, a thoroughly United Methodist wedding celebration. Two wonderful United Methodist pastors who have close connections with both sides of the family officiated at the service. My brother did buy me a John Wesley bobblehead for the occasion. I was also able to sneak in Wesley's most famous quote toward the end of my wedding reception toast to the bride and groom.

"Let's raise our glasses to Naomi and Aaron. May your hearts always be strangely warmed!"

John Wesley's birthday anniversary has always been a day for me to remember key themes of Wesley's theology, These include the importance of moving onto perfection, utilizing the quadrilateral in the study of scripture, having an assurance that we belong to Christ, celebrating God's prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace, and combining personal piety with works of mercy.

I will continue to celebrate John Wesley's birthday anniversary every year on June 28. From now on, this date takes on a much greater meaning for me. It's when I walked my beautiful daughter down the aisle to get married to a wonderful man.

Congratulations, Aaron and Naomi!

A Memorial Tribute to Trotter & Lilabelle

Trotter & Lilabelle

In 2000, while we were living in Toledo, our sheltie died and we began to think about getting another dog. A really nice couple in my church owned two West Highland Terriers and our family fell in love with this breed that is known for tons of energy and a lot of self-confidence!

One day while eating breakfast at a Bob Evans restaurant in Toledo, we began thinking of names for a new dog which we decided would be a Westie. Nothing was jumping out at us. We happened to look out the window of the restaurant and noticed a place across the street called "Trotter's Tavern." "Perfect! We'll name him Trotter!"

 Trotter

Trotter the Wonder Dog was born in August, 2000. He lived in Toledo for a short time with us before we moved to a new appointment in Xenia. While we were there, we got our second Westie, Miss Snow White Lilabelle (Lily.) See picture below.

Lilabelle

A few years later, we got our third Westie, My Wee Lass Lulu Mae (Lulu.) See picture below.

Lulu

Just a couple of days ago, with the counsel of our vet, we decided to put Trotter and Lil down due to chronic pain and dementia. They were both thirteen so we are thankful that they were able to live full lives.

This past Fall, we began to notice that Lilabelle, the most awesome varmint hunting dog ever, was having a lot of painful arthritis problems. She then began to experience dementia. We were told that she probably only had a few months left.

As we tried to get our minds around Lilabelle's condition, Trotter, just six months older than Lilabelle was starting to show some of the same signs of arthritis and confusion. Both of them were becoming more territorial and agitated as the days went by because of their condition. Our vet who has been wonderful through this very difficult time, recommended that both dogs be put down.

On Friday, January 31st, Trotter and Lilabelle died peacefully in Penny's arms. After they passed, I said a prayer thanking God for blessing us with these two wonderful dogs. It was one of the most difficult days of our lives.

We still have Lulu who is in good health and has lots of energy. Our son told her that she is now in charge of protecting the house.

In these first few days, we're getting used to a much quieter house. We've also been reminiscing about all the fun times we had with Trotter and Lilabelle over the past several years. Here are a few that come to mind.

• When playing catch outside, Trotter was known to steal the baseball and put it under the porch where we couldn't reach it. 
• They have been known to get loose and run through the neighborhood. It's a miracle that we were able to retrieve them each time!
• All day and sometimes through the early morning hours, Trotter and Lil would dig in the backyard for a varmint. Talk about persistence! They would get so muddy that we had to spray them down. 

Trotter & Lilabelle digging for hours in our backyard.

• It wasn't unusual for them to bring their prey into our house as a way of bragging about their hunting exploits.
• When we first moved to Lancaster, we took them to Rising Park where they were invited to be in a low budget movie. They were the dogs of a young couple in love and they walked them around the pond. We still need to find out what the name of that movie was!

Pets become part of our family. Somehow, the daily routine of playing with them, putting them to bed, feeding them, taking them for walks, and giving them treats give our lives even more meaning. Trotter and Lilabelle taught us about loyalty, perseverance, and happiness. 

I'm in a very nostalgic and melancholy mood as I type this tribute. Grief takes time and we're only in the early stage. 

In the midst of our deep loss, I notice that I'm even more thankful for the blessings of this life. We have each other and Lulu is still our baby girl although she has just been promoted to head of security. 

Just before I began writing this post, I read Psalm 42:11 as part of my daily devotions. My heart is still heavy but these words of hope are just what I need now. May these words comfort you in the midst of the grief and sadness you may be facing.

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.  

Post Thanksgiving Thoughts - A Grandmother's Diary

One of the treasures that our family has been sharing with each other is my grandmother's diary for the years 1970 - 1972.  Her name was Ida (1895 to 1995) and she was my grandmother on my dad's side. Here are my grandmother's entries on Thanksgiving Day for two of those years. She didn't mention Thanksgiving in her 1970 entry but she does mention getting a turkey on the previous Friday.  Each entry in her diary is very brief.

1971 - Thanksgiving day. snowed & rained all night from 3 into  12 in york - the snow plow went through tonight.

1972 - Thanksgiving. roasted a turkey for Dot. we were over there for dinner. 22 there.

While these aren't very dramatic entries, these, along with her other daily entries point to the importance of family and hard work.  According to her diary, she was always cleaning, working on her farm, cooking, paying bills, or visiting family.  There are many entries in which she mentions family members.

My grandmother would have been very proud of our family gathering this past Thursday for Thanksgiving.  I thought of her a lot as we cleaned the house and prepared the food for our family gathering this past Thursday.  When we said the prayer before our big meal, it was like our whole family, past and present was right there with us.

Thank You from The McDowell Family

[Mom and my family surprising me in 2003 at my 40th birthday party at Xenia: First United Methodist, Xenia, OH. I love this picture.]

Dear Friends,

    The McDowell family thank you for all of your cards, kind words of sympathy and prayers at the death of my mother on June 9.  It meant so much to us to know that we weren’t alone during that very difficult time.

     All four of her children were able to be by her side the week she passed away in Stewartstown, PA overlooking her family farm.  At one point, we gathered around mom to each thank her for being a great mom and to offer our good-byes to her.

     When it was my turn, I told mom that she was the reason I was a pastor.  When I was in High School, mom encouraged me to serve with her on a visitation ministry in the church.  Together, we visited shut-in members in their homes.  We would have some conversation, read scripture, and pray with the person we were visiting.  Eventually, mom encouraged me to make these visits on my own which I enjoyed doing.

     Thanks to that visitation ministry, mom taught me how important ministry is in the church.  She planted a seed that led me to accept God’s calling to pursue ordained ministry.

    As I reflect on this memory, I am reminded of what a privilege it is to serve in ministry together.  When we reach out to others in the name of Christ, God's blessings are multiplied and lives are changed, including mine.

Scriptures for Mom

Particular scriptures can often help us during times of transition.  This was especially true for my family last week as we spent time with mom before she passed away on Saturday, June 9.  Here are the scriptures that helped us during that week of saying  goodbye to our wonderful mother.

Ecclesiastes - It was interesting how this book of the bible was the Old Testament reading from The Daily Office scripture readings.  The Daily Office is the Episcopal/Anglican Church method of reading a brief Old Testament, New Testament, Gospel, and Psalm reading each day.  Ecclesiastes which speaks of life being like a vapor reminded me of how short life is.  It's like a vapor.  We need to cherish and live in each moment and remember that life is a gift from God.

Psalm 23 - Early in the week, we shared this Psalm with mom from mom's New King James Bible.  But as we began to read it, we all slipped into the old King James Version which is the version mom used as a child in memorizing this Psalm.  In a very weakened condition, she was able to speak portions of this Psalm by memory.  It was a holy moment for mom and the four of us to share in this well beloved Psalm together.  It's a psalm that speaks of the Lord as our loving shepherd.  The psalm also speaks of green pasures which reminded us of mom and dad's farm which meant so much to them. This is why we chose this psalm to be included in the funeral card that people received when they came to the visitation.

Isaiah 40:28-31 - I read this scripture to mom one morning this past week.  It's a scripture that offers the promise that by trusting in the Lord, we will renew our strength, we will mount up with wings like eagles, we shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint.  We believe that mom is in a place now where this promise has been fulfilled for her.  We also believe that it was the Lord who sustained us as we spent that difficult week with mom by her side. 

Romans 8:31-39 - How could we not include this scripture during our time with mom?  This is probably one of my favorite scriptures and one which my brother chose to read during one of our morning devotions with mom last week.  Listen to this great word of promise and hope: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us form the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."  This is the hope that we have in our faith.  Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, nothing can ever separate us from God's love, not even death.  Praise God!

Psalm 139:1-18 - Several years ago, when mom pre-planned her funeral arrangements, she asked for this Psalm to be read at her funeral.  Probably the most famous part of this Psalm is, "For it was  you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; that I know very well."  In 2000, mom wrote a three page hand-written letter about her life which she gave to her children and grandchildren.  This scripture was included at the end of that letter.  We read this letter to our family the evening before the funeral.  This letter was also read at her funeral.

John 14:1-4, 18-19, 25-27 - Mom's United Methodist pastor chose this as the Gospel reading at mom's funeral.  This is where Jesus promises the disciples that even though he needs to leave them, that he is going to prepare a place for them.  "In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places."  Pastor Barry spoke of how mom was born in the house that she had lived all her life.  Just as God provided mom a room in her earthly dwelling, God has also prepared a room for her in his kingdom.  

What gave us great comfort when we were with mom last week was to know how important her bible was to her.  She read it daily and took it with her to Sunday School and worship.  The bible was her source of light and hope throughout her life.  What a gift to hear God speak to us through his Word, especially as we go through times of transition.

Hymn Sings for Mom

[Our Mother, Janelle McDowell; Daughters, Teresa & Dena; & Sons, David & Robert]

It's been a while since I've been to an old fashioned hymn sing but I just experienced several of them in the past few days and I wasn't even in church.  My mom, 82 passed away today, June 9 at my brother's home in Pennsylvania where her four kids were gathered by her side this past week.

During one of our evenings with mom this past week we decided to sing some hymns without accompaniment.  My brother sang harmony and I struggled to keep the melody but those old hymns still sounded great.  From mom's perspective, God had mysteriously transported us into a heavenly church sanctuary where all of God's people were singing out God's praises even though this was all taking place in my brother's family room.  At the close of our last hymn, mom managed enough energy to clutch her hands in front of her in a posture of prayer. 

The next hymn sing was two evenings later when my brother pounded out the great old hymns on the piano so that our mom could hear them from the bedroom where she was now confined.  Each hymn spoke of the assurance we can have through our faith in Christ.  "This is my story.  This is my song.  Praising my Savior all the day long."

Around 3:15 in the morning, we experienced our third and final hymn sing of the week.  This one had a much different feel.  Instead of loud praises, our sister, the nurse who was with mom during those early morning hours, gently woke us up to join in singing a beautiful song offering her to the Lord.  We sang her into heaven at 3:36 A.M. 

As we struggled to sing the song over and over again to our mom, we could sense that our voices were being drowned out by the angelic heavenly voices welcoming her home.

January 21 - A Thankful Day

Today would have been my parents' 60th wedding anniversary. Every January 21st, I'm particularly thankful that God blessed me with two wonderful parents.

After mom and dad arrived home from their honeymoon in 1950, they had to decide on which church to begin attending as husband and wife. My mom was Presbyterian and my dad was Methodist.

My mom, thinking that dad would stick with my mom's church (after all, that's where they were married) surprised her by saying, "Well of course, we'll be going to my church from now on." (See picture.) And so they did. And the two of them raised four little Methodists, I being the last of the litter.

Maybe this is why I'm one of the few people who don't mind meetings (a Methodist speciality!) and I have a fondness for home cooked casseroles. But even beyond my ingrained Methodist quirkiness, I'm most thankful that mom and dad raised me in a church that helped me to grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Happy anniversary, mom and dad! January 21 - A thankful day.

In loving memory of Norman George McDowell; November 7, 1928 to June 1, 1989

Helping Marriages Stay Strong - An Online Resource

We each took a few minutes to share our joys and concerns in our small group gathering which met recently. One man asked us to pray for two couples in his church who were going through some major marital problems.

"Those of us who know these couples never knew they were having these problems. They have been some of our strongest leaders in our church and their relationships are a real mess right now. Please pray for these couples that they might receive the spiritual help they need."

One of my responsibilities as a pastor is to provide pre-marital counseling for couples that will help them have a strong spiritual foundation with Jesus Christ at the center of their relationship.
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I recently came across "My Marriage Coach," an online marriage resource that has been developed by Rev. Jay Tenney, pastor of Barnesville (Ga.) First United Methodist Church and is free of charge. Each couple responds to statements on the website that cover the topics of respect, vision, values, intimacy, faith, sacrifice, communication, finance, friendship and effort. That information provided is kept confidential and couples are encouraged to share the results of the marriage report with each other to help them build a strong marriage.

This online resource looks like it can be a valuable resource for a couple who is seeking to have a stronger marriage relationship.

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Happy 80th Birthday, Mom!

Excerpt from my August 16 sermon, "The United Methodist Way - The Via Media" at First United Methodist Church, Lancaster, Ohio:

Let me close by sharing why I’m a United Methodist.

In 1950, my parents came back to their new home in Pennsylvania from their honeymoon trip to Florida. And when they got back, my mom asked my dad, “Which church are we going to attend this Sunday?”

My mom, assumed that my dad would say the answer she wanted to hear which was her church, the Presbyterian Church. But my dad didn’t hesitate. He immediately said, “Well of course, we’ll be going to my church, the Methodist church.”

Now, I don’t think that story will ever make it in the book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” It doesn’t really tug at your heart, does it? On one level, it’s true, though. The reason I’m United Methodist is because my dad decided before I was even born that he and my mom would start attending his church. And by the way, for the record, I love Presbyterians. Some of my best friends are Presbyterian!

So let me give you the more important reason why I’m a United Methodist. And this is just a recent example among many others I could give.

About this time last year, a friend of mine who’s a pastor, invited my church and several of the surrounding United Methodist churches to participate in a research program that was being conducted by United Methodist Communications, the media arm of our denomination.

They wanted to know what impact the media phrase, “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” was having on various churches around the country. So I said, “Sure, what will this research program involve?” And by the way, if you think about it, that advertising phrase is really just accentuating our Via Media approach to faith, where we’re willing to listen to all sides and perspectives. “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”

Well, this thing ended up being a very tedious project, because as the local coordinator for this, I had to track down the Sunday School and worship attendance figures for fifteen surrounding United Methodist Churches, including my own, over a two month period. I also needed to make sure that each church was putting the “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” slogan on their front church signs. That was also part of the survey project.

I remember during the first week or two, wishing that I had never said yes to this project. Do you know what’s it’s like to try to track down fifteen churches with information over several weeks?

And on top of that, I was skeptical that an advertising slogan would have that much of an impact in increasing our Sunday School and worship attendance figures.

But anyway, I went about tracking down this information week after week, grumbling every step of the way, thinking to myself, “Why am I even doing this? This is such a waste of my time.”

During the middle of this project, I have a staff meeting at church and I asked the other pastor about a funeral he recently conducted. The local funeral home had a family who didn’t have any church affiliation and the family had requested one of our pastors to officiate for their loved one who had passed away.

So I asked him why this family was very specific in wanting a pastor from our church to conduct the funeral. Any my associate pastor said, “They chose our church because of the message you put on our church sign recently that says, ‘Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.’ When they saw our sign message when they were driving by our church, they told the funeral director that this was the kind of church they were looking for. A church that welcomes all people.”

Thank God it’s more than just a slogan.
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We Miss You Dad! Norman McDowell - November 7, 1928 to June 1, 1989

"A Gift to My Husband" by Penny McDowell on behalf of Janelle McDowell, 1989

A quiet man to us God sent

Not ours to keep, but only lent.

He loved the sport, he loved the earth

He loved us all and gave us worth.

She loved the man, she loved his life,

Hand in hand she became his wife.

He was her love, he was her friend,

She loves him now even more than then.

In mountains grand he was at home;

The woods and glades he loved to roam.

His favorite bird is blue and free

He loved to hear them sing from the trees.

His first has strength just as he had;

The next his joy; she's always glad.

His first born-son is calm and warm

The last is one in his own form.

A quiet man to us God sent

Not ours to keep, but only lent.

He loved the sport, he loved the earth,

He loved us all and gave us worth.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. For the past 23 years, we have been separated by approximately 460 miles but we have a tradition of seeing each other a couple of times each year. I called her today and told her that she's a wonderful mom.

The older I get, the more I am thankful for what my mom and dad have given me...they have passed on their faith to me and now I am Wesleyan to the bone!

One of the things I most appreciate about my mom is that she and dad gave us stability and a strong foundation. People tell me that I appear to be higher than average in the area of emotional stability. If this is true, I can't take any credit. I have only them to thank.

Happy birthday, mom.