Funeral Sermon (January 30) by Rev. Robert McDowell (In Loving Memory of Katie Starnes)

Family & Friends Gather for Katie Starnes Service

January 30, 2025

Memorial Gardens of Columbia, SC

When I was looking over the II Corinthians scripture reading in preparing for this service, I was struck by what the Apostle Paul says in verse 11of this passage. He says, “so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal flesh.” Katie lived out this verse in the many ways that she blessed us with her love, with her kindness, and with her faithfulness to Christ and the church.

 

Jesus was made visible through the life of Katie Starnes. What a great way to be remembered. And what a great reminder for all of us to be more like Christ in all that we say and do. I’m so thankful for Katie and Bill’s faithfulness to Christ and the church.

 

 During one of my visits with Katie, it was a little more challenging to communicate with her and I was trying to think how I could connect with her in a better way. And that’s when I remembered that I had recently taken a video of some yellow butterflies that were flying from plant to plant in the garden at my house. After I opened the video on my smartphone I asked her, “Katie, do you like butterflies?” Her eyes lit up and she said that she likes butterflies.”

 

I said, “look at these butterflies in our garden at my house.” She loved seeing those butterflies. It made me so happy that we were connecting. You know, sometimes just the beauty of God’s creation is all we need to connect with someone. And then that led to a conversation about plants and flowers. After my visit with her, I remember thanking God for that connection we were able to make. Sometimes, dementia doesn’t win.

Speaking of butterflies, the early Christians were known to explain the Christian faith by referring to the Chrysalis process. It’s that beautiful process that allows a worm to eventually become a beautiful butterfly. In a similar way, as we faithfully live out our faith through Christ and the church, we also experience transformation as we allow Jesus to be made visible in and through us.

 

And that mysterious transformation continues even beyond the grave as we join that great cloud of witnesses in worship and praise forever and ever. Heaven is that place, where as Isaiah told us from our other scripture reading, we shall mount up with wings like eagles. We shall run and not be weary. We shall walk and not be faint.

 

And for all of us who no longer see our loved ones and who are going through this time of grief and morning, Paul reminds us to not lose hope “because we know that the one who raised Jesus will also raise us with Jesus.”

 

Maybe this is why Bill and Katie appreciated reciting the Apostles’ Creed and why they wanted it to be included in each of their funeral services. We believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Let’s recite this ancient creed of faith together…

 

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker 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.

Sermon (January 26) “Being Introduced to God” by Rev. Robert McDowell

January 26, 2025

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     Hi everyone. There’s someone I’d like you to meet who goes by the name of God.

     Actually, this is what I feel should be on my business card. My job is to introduce people to God.

     “God, this is Bill. Bill, this is God.” “Jane, this is God, God this is Jane.”

     Our call to worship responsive reading which begins our worship service is kind of like our weekly introduction or re-introduction to God. One of the many psalmists get to do this each week for us.

     Today, the psalmist from Psalm 19 introduces us to God. The first thing that this psalmist wants us to know about God is that God can be experienced through creation.

     “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork,” the Psalmist tells us.

     Do you want to know who God is? Just look around at the breathtaking beauty from sunrises to sunsets, to mountain peaks, to green valleys, to waterfalls, to vivid rainbows.

     Our smart TV comes with screen saver photos which are displayed when the TV goes into sleep mode. They are photos of breath-taking scenes of creation.

     I’ve always thought it would be funny if I would show these same images to someone and say, “Hey, what do your think of our recent vacation photos that I took?”

 

     Yeah, I was taking a walk one day and thought this might be a nice picture…

 

     Yeah, this one turned out OK when I stumbled upon this waterfall during a hike…

     I don’t know if this was the best lighting, but this picture turned out OK…

 

     I’ve seen more colorful plants than this, but I took this picture anyway…

 

     I know that these are just a bunch of rocks, but not bad, I guess…

     Now, our TV does offer us the choice to put up our photos instead of these stock photos, but there’s just no way that my vacation pictures can compete with their photos, although, although, I do love these two pictures that I have taken while on vacation. I just caught these moments at just the right time while walking on two different occasions in the same park.

     Today’s psalmist is doing something similar to introduce us to God. This Psalmist is saying, “Just look around you because the heavens are telling the glory of God.”

     Theologians call this approach to introducing people to God as “general revelation.” We can know God in a general way through a beautiful sunrise and sunset, through the Milky Way blazing a bright trail across the dark sky, through the sound of a babbling brook or a rushing waterfall, through falling autumn leaves, and in the sound of crashing ocean waves.

     In the first five verses of Psalm 19, the Psalmist taps into two of our five senses – sight and sound. And then in verse 6, the psalmist taps into a third sense – touch. We are told how nothing escapes the sun’s heat which of course includes us who can feel its rays on our skin. We not only can see God’s handiwork, we can also feel it!

     Every year when I was growing up, my dad loved to go deer hunting in the Central Pennsylvania mountains. He often brought home a deer, but later in his life, he decided to not shoot anymore because it was just as satisfying for him to to be out in the woods and the beauty and quiet of nature.

     Someone took this picture of my previous church during an early morning sunrise. Just incredible!

     We get to know God through the beauty of God’s creation.

     But the Psalmist also wants us to know about another very important way that God’s presence is revealed to us. In addition to general revelation, God also is introduced to us through what theologians refer to as “special revelation.”

     In verse 7, the psalmist shifts from “general revelation” to “special revelation.” Special revelation refers primarily to how God is revealed to us through the scriptures. The psalmist doesn’t use the word, “scripture” but does refer to other words like instruction, law, regulations, commands, and judgements which all are included in what we know as the scriptures, the Bible.

     While those descriptive words might sound a little intimidating, the Psalmist goes on to offer these positive phrases in describing what scripture can do for us. In verse 7, the Psalmist speaks of scripture as “reviving one’s being” and then in verse 8 as “gladdening one’s heart” and “giving light to our eyes.”

     Jesus who came on the scene centuries after this Psalm was written began his ministry by opening the scriptures to the Book of Isaiah that speak about God’s good news in freeing people from oppression and bringing sight to the blind.

     The psalmist knows that while creation tells us of God and even identifies God’s glorious nature, scripture gives specificity to who God is. This in turn gives specificity to who we are in relation to God, particularly when it comes to how we are to live and conduct ourselves in support of God’s desire to make this world new again.

     I know that there are many negative stereotypes where people believe that churches are overly judgmental, but this Psalmist sees scripture very differently. Scripture is life-giving and life-transforming.

     To be introduced to God is to be introduced to both God’s general revelation through the beauty of creation as well as through special revelation, the holy scriptures.

     Both are vitally important if we want to be properly introduced to God. I’ve heard many people say that their personal sanctuary is a walk through the park or a hike through the woods. And that’s fine, but nature will only take you so far in knowing about God’s saving love for the world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

     It’s not an either/or. It’s a both/and. The Psalmist celebrates both general revelation and special revelation.

     Our scripture reading from Nehemiah tells of how the people of Israel gathered to hear the scriptures read aloud. They were being reintroduced to the God who had saved them and who invited them to renew their relationship with God.

     I love how this scripture passage concludes. After they read the scriptures aloud for all the people to hear, Ezra and Nehemiah say, “and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” When we are introduced to God through special revelation, we experience joy and strength.

     One of my favorite preachers was the late Fred Craddock. He was from the Disciples of Christ denomination. Not only was he an extremely gifted preacher, he also wrote a book about preaching which I used when I was in seminary. I also had the privilege to hear him preach during a seminar when he was in Ohio.

     In one of his sermons, Craddock tells the story of a young woman who approached him one day. She explained that during her first year at college, she felt like a failure. She wasn’t doing well in her classes, she couldn’t get many dates, and she didn’t have as much money as the other students did.

     Then one Sunday afternoon, she decided to end it all by taking her own life. She went to the river near the campus, climbed on on the rail, and was looking into the dark water below.

     But just before she jumped, she remembered the words of scripture that she had heard in church, “Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you.” I Peter 5:7.

     It was at that point that she climbed down from the rail and decided to not take her own life. Those words reminded that young college woman that there was a God in heaven who cared for her. Consequently, her life had meaning and purpose.

     So, when introducing someone to God, by all means, share your best vacation photos with them, those photos of beautiful sunsets, mountain peaks, and lush meadows. That’s what the Psalmist would do. “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork,” the psalmist says.

     But also, don’t forget to point them to the scriptures, God’s special revelation that offer hope, joy, forgiveness, new life, and the good news of God’s saving love for the world. This is the God I want everyone to know.

Sunday (January 26) Pastoral Prayer

January 26, 2025

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Savior, Savior, hear our humble cry as we come to offer our prayer to you this morning. Thank you for this weekly appointment with you where you reveal yourself to us through the reading of the scriptures. We are also grateful for the times during the week where we open ourselves to your Word and can know of your presence with us. Thank you for these holy moments of special revelation

 

But you also reveal yourself to us through many holy moments of general revelation whether it be by looking up at the shining starts at night or when we hike by a beautiful waterfall in the Blue Ridge mountains. As today’s psalmist says, “The heavens are telling the glory of God.”

 

Thank you for all of these ways that you hear our humble cry and do not pass us by like in this moment as we lift up to you those who are on our church’s prayer list as well as many other joys and concerns that are on our hearts and minds this day. May each of these persons know of your guiding, healing, comforting, and sustaining presence in whatever they may be facing.

 

And today, we offer a special prayer for anyone who may be struggling with doubts and wondering if there is a God in heaven. Help us to be open to those moments during the week where you may be nudging us to share a little of our faith with others and how you have revealed yourself to us.

 

Even now, reveal yourself to us as we pray together, the prayer that Jesus taught us to say together…

 

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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass 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.

Sermon (Jan. 19) “More Christmas Gifts to Open!” by Rev. Robert McDowell

January 19, 2025

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     Friends, I just can’t let go of Christmas! The reason for this is because of our New Testament reading today from I Corinthians.

     In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, the Apostle Paul wants them to know that there are gifts that they have yet to open. Just three weeks since we celebrated Christmas, it’s like these gifts are still under the tree waiting to be unwrapped. In the first verse of our reading, he writes, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.”

     One of the joys of the Christian faith is that God always has more gifts for us to open. The psalmist for today in Psalm 36 says about God, “For with you is the fountain of life.” Fountains are a continuous flow of life-giving water.  I love this image that reminds us that God’s blessings and gifts do not end on Christmas Day but continue to be offered to us again and again and again.

     And so, what are these gifts that the Corinthian Christians have yet to open? Paul refers to these as spiritual gifts. He doesn’t give us the entire list here. It’s more of giving us a few examples.

     For whatever reason, Paul offers these particular gifts in his list: The gift of the utterance of wisdom, the gift of the utterance of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gift of healing, the gift of the working of miracles, the gift of prophecy, and the gifts of speaking of tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

     There are several references to spiritual gifts in the Bible. If you would combine all of those different lists, there are approximately twenty or so spiritual gifts in total. So, here’s the combined lists of spiritual gifts in alphabetical order:

     Administration which is the wonderful ability to organize and care for the details that help people to flourish and grow in their ministries.

     And the next two spiritual gifts are under the title of Craftmanship and these include Craftmanship as it relates to being an artist and then Craftmanship as it relates to being able to repair and fix things.

     Another spiritual gift is evangelism where you are inclined to share the good news of Jesus with others. There’s the gift of exhortation and this is the ability to encourage people in their relationship with Christ.

     Faith is another gift which Paul mentions in his short list. Faith is the ability to trust God especially when facing challenges and obstacles.

     Giving is a spiritual gift where you are always looking for ways to generously share your resources to help build the kingdom of God here on earth.

     The gift of helps is a gift that enables people to get things done behind the scenes.

     Hospitality is a spiritual gift where people feel at ease and comfortable in your presence.

     Knowledge is a gift that Paul mentions in his short list. This is a gift in which you enjoy taking in information about the faith.

     Leadership is a gift where you are good at helping people to move together toward a common purpose and vision.

     The gift of mercy is where you have a great deal of empathy for the pain and struggles of others.

     The gift of music is broken down into two gifts. There is the gift of vocal music where your voice blesses others, and the other music gift is the gift of playing an instrument that also blesses others in a pleasing and inspiring way.

     Prayer is a spiritual gift where people are inclined to pray for the needs of others. They are known to be in constant prayer throughout the week lifting up joys and concerns as well as offering prayers of confession and prayers of praise and thanksgiving.

     Serving is a gift in not only seeing a need but being able to meet that need.

     Shepherding is a gift where you have the ability to help people be drawn closer to God and with one another in caring and authentic ways.

     Teaching relates to being able to help others to know more about their Christian faith and encouraging people to know that there’s always more to know about being a follower of Jesus.

     The gift of speaking in tongues and the gift of interpreting the speaking of tongues are two gifts that Paul mentions in the I Corinthians scripture reading. Sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks to us in words that are beyond our own language and there are some who are able to hear what God is saying through them when they speak in tongues.

     Wisdom is a gift that Paul includes in his abbreviated list, and this involves the ability in knowing how to approach various situations from a faith perspective.

     And last but not least is the gift of writing. This is a spiritual gift in which you are able to express yourself through the writing down of thoughts and ideas about your faith in a way that is creative and inspiring.

     So, if we add up all these gifts that we find in various lists throughout the Bible including the list that Paul gives us in our I Corinthians reading that gives us approximately twenty spiritual gifts.

     Paul doesn’t want the Corinthian Christians to be uninformed that each one of us has been given at least one or more of these spiritual gifts that we are to use as he writes in verse seven, “for the common good.”

     Paul’s deepest desire as an apostle was to help the church to go forth and spread into all the world. He wanted others to come to know and experience the depth of God’s love in Jesus.

     And he knew that if everyone opens up their particular gift or gifts and uses these gifts for the benefit of others and the building up of the church, that more and more people would be able to be drawn into a relationship with Jesus and grow in their faith through the love, encouragement and support of the church.

     Notice that the Apostle Paul also emphasizes that the Spirit has given us these gifts. These gifts are a result of our new life in Christ. I also love how Paul uses the word “activate” twice in our passage of scripture.

     He says in verse 6, “It is the same God who activates all of the in everyone.” And then in verse 11, Paul says, “All these gifts are activated by one and the same Spirit.”

     This reminds me of computer language where we are often prompted to type in an activation code to open an online account. The Spirit of God is the one who prompts us to activate or to open the gifts that God has given to us.

     A lot of unopened gifts will be left under the tree if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to activate them so that we can use them for the common good and for the building up of the church in living out our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and world.

     During a district meeting that my church hosted for the Bishop one year, he told me that he was just at a recent event where he met a church member from one of my previous churches.

     The event was the 4th anniversary of a new church start and this person who was a member of my church along with her family had decided to help this new church get started while still being members of the other church where they continue to hold their membership.

     And the Bishop was telling me about meeting this family and he said, “that church member is really passionate about her faith. She has the gift of evangelism. That’s the kind of person that will help that new church to grow.”

     I nodded in total agreement because she helped our church to grow when I was her pastor several years ago. She loves Jesus and has the gift of sharing her faith and inviting others to church.

     It was great to hear from the Bishop that she was still opening the spiritual gift of evangelism that the Holy Spirit had activated in her life to use for the common good.

     Pastor Chris Jones shares a story where someone with the spiritual gift of prayer wanted him to know that prayers were being lifted for him at a time that he needed them the most. And from all people, his mail carrier.

     Chris had just moved to a new area to become pastor of a church. He had only been in his new home and neighborhood for a couple of weeks when he received the news that his mother was diagnosed with a terminal disease.

     Chris says after he got home from church one day, he went to his mailbox to check for the mail and the mail carrier happened to be pulling up to his mailbox. And she asked, “Are you Pastor Chris?”

     He nodded and then she asked, “Is everything OK? You’ve been getting a lot of cards lately and in my mind, I was hoping they were birthday cards, but I had a feeling they weren’t.” Chris told her that he had been receiving a lot of condolence cards because his mother recently passed away from cancer.

     The mail carrier offered her sympathy and she said, “I just want you to know how much I’ve been praying for you because of all these cards. As a mail carrier, I can’t help but to notice what might be a sympathy card, a medical bill, overdue credit card statements and so on. You have been in my prayers each day this past week.”

     Chris says how God used an unlikely person to offer their gift of prayer on his behalf and he will always remember that incredible act of kindness by his mail carrier.

     Even though it’s been several weeks now since Christmas, we still have gifts to open. And as we open these gifts, may the Holy Spirit activate them in such a way that would lead us in our common mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.