A Church Cemetery Ministry - Redstone Stories

  Before coming to McClellandtown Presbyterian Church, I had never served a church with its own cemetery. McClellandtown's cemetery serves both as a church and community cemetery. To church members, it is called the McClellandtown Presbyterian Church Cemetery and to locals it is called “Church Hill Cemetery.” I soon began to consider the potential ministry and mission opportunities. Our cemetery manager and church member, Bo McCahill helped me a great deal, particularly in his conviction that God had called him to serve families as they lay their loved ones to rest in the cemetery. I am still considering and praying about the mission opportunities which may await us.

  The church Session recognizing the role our cemetery plays in the community has committed itself to forming plans for the cemetery by purchasing additional acreage for future expansion needs for the next 150 years. They are also making plans for constructing a columbarium considering the increasing practice of cremations.

  The cemetery is filled with history and personal stories. Between May and September, hundreds of families from around the country visit the grave sites. They come with their stories of lives lived well and family histories which began here. I often get the honor to hear their stories as they stop in my office and I can assist them make the connection between their family history and their faith. I am often called upon to conduct graveside committal services because the person had lived most of their life in another state, but wished to be buried in the place where they first came to life. Their families share with me their stories and how their lives intersected to others buried here.

  We get to honor veterans buried in our cemetery and tell the stories of a few. We have a Revolutionary War soldier who served as the personal secretary to George Washington and had earlier served with General Anthony Wayne. Many of the early settlers in this area of Pennsylvania were veterans of the American Revolution who were given land grants due to their service in the Army. Another soldier from WWII who died in combat while serving in Italy with the Devil's Brigade. In 2015, the Devil's Brigade received the Congressional Gold Metal for their service. There was also a movie in the 1950's of the same name “Devil's Brigade” made about the mission of this group during WWII.

  We also have veterans from most of the major conflicts which the U.S. has been involved since its beginning, the War of 1812, Grand Army of the Republic in the American Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII, Korean, and Vietnam. Sadly the stories of many of these individuals are probably lost to time, but I have been attempting to save and collect as many stories as I can uncover.

  The local high school JROTC comes each May helping us prepare the cemetery for Memorial Day weekend and place American flags on each veterans grave. The congregation after worship each Memorial Day weekend joins the local American Legion and VFW as they conduct a ceremony in honor of all those buried here and elsewhere who gave themselves in services to their country. We photograph and video both events and these posts receive the most views and activity on our Facebook page than anything else.

  With a church which dates back more than 175 years and with burials in the cemetery beginning around the same time, the history among those buried here abounds. Many records of burials are listed on the web site “Find a Grave” with photos of grave markers and historical information about some individuals shared by families. All these factors creates a great deal of interest among people who are researching their family history or genealogies. We frequently get requests for information on possible family members buried in the cemetery or past members of the church. We attempt to help if information is available and this research has helped understand the overall history of the church itself. Unfortunately, many people don't find the answers they were hoping for a variety of reasons, such as, old records destroyed in a fire in 1865 or styles and practices of people recording information a hundred years ago which is sometimes lacking details.

  Many churches within the presbytery has cemeteries, each providing its own witness to their communities. Please share your ministry ideas, experiences and ministries on church cemeteries in the comments section.

Lenten Devotional - Easter Sunday

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, … But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4, 10)

  We gather today in worship to hear the familiar story of Jesus’ resurrection. The story of hope which concludes our Lenten journey. A celebration of the story we hear and tell about receiving God’s grace and eternal life through Jesus’ defeat of death. Jesus’ resurrection brings us to the same affirmation Paul states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain.” (v. 10)

  Paul, tells the Corinthians the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, which was told to him, “Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,” (v. 1) A story which is confirmed by the apostles and by over 500 brothers and sisters, some whom Paul and the Corinthians could have spoken to directly about what they had witnessed. We, as the church, give witness to the resurrection through the message shared with us throughout the ages.

  Numerous individuals living in our neighborhoods have their stories of resurrection to new life happening each day. They have stories to tell, some stories of heartache and overcoming great pain, stories of roadblocks preventing surrender, stories of love recognized and amazing grace experienced, and stories of new life which captures the authentic witness of the Holy Spirit telling a story of resurrection from the dead.

  Some of us in the presbytery have been joining in a conversation about how we can help our churches deal with a serious AOD problem. During Lent, we have shared our stories and witness, to paraphrase Paul, “we handed on to you which was of first importance to us and what we have in turn received.” We invite you to join us “Into the Light.” Our communities are in the grips of addiction and they need to hear stories that treatment works, recovery is possible and that stories of resurrection exist. As Paul confidently tells us, “Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.” (v. 11)

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: The presbytery’s Addiction Ministry Network and the conversations they are having to restore our communities and renew our congregations and pray for the Spirit’s leading others to join the conversation into the light.

Click Here PDF - Easter Sunday Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 35

Scripture: Isaiah 50:1-4

“The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.” (Isa. 50:4)

  A couple years ago, I was sitting in my truck with a former Sunday school student. She had wanted to talk to me privately. As she began talking she rolled up her sleeve to show me a needle mark in her arm.

  “How do I stop using?” she asked.

  I had no idea what to say. Nothing in my seminary training had prepared me to counsel someone addicted to heroin. And so, I asked some questions and listened to the story of her life and why heroin seemed like an easy answer to some deeply rooted problems. I tried to refer her to professionals. But I knew she wouldn’t go.

  She had come to me thinking that I had the tongue of a teacher. That I might have the wisdom of God with me in the Bible on the backseat. Magic words that I could pull out for such tough times.

  But all I had were a bunch of jumbled words and a silent prayer that the Holy Spirit would help her to make something of them. That the Spirit would allow her to somehow feel sustained by my words.

  As Presbyterians, we are all about the Word of God and the words we write and speak about God in our sermons and books. But so often it is the embodied word that offers comfort to those who are suffering. It’s the hug or the eye contact or the act of listening. It’s showing that we do care.

  My friend ministers to homeless people every week and has had more experience with addiction and poverty issues. She says that sometimes the only thing we can do is show up and love people in the name of Jesus Christ. Rather than use our tongues and words, our ministry tools are our ears as we listen compassionately. So, that even if we don’t have the tongue of a teacher, we can reflect the heart of Jesus Christ. He didn’t shy away from the troubled people in his world. Instead he showed up, listened to them, touched them and healed them. He shared the love and forgiveness of God with them and encouraged his disciples to do the same.

Sue Washburn, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Help to lead us to the right people and the right place where we can assist others to begin recovery.

Click Here PDF - Day 35 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 32

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-6

“The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, ‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ I answered, ‘O Lord God, you know.’" (Ezek. 37:1-3)

  The February 14th featured article in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat was entitled “Cambria coroner again ‘sounding the alarm’ as OD deaths accelerate.” The article began: “Last year was the worst year for fatal drug-related overdoses in Cambria County history – and 2017 has started out even worse. In 2016, the county saw 94 fatal drug-related overdoses with several cases still pending, County Coroner Jeffrey Lees said. So far in 2017, Lees’ office has investigated 22 overdose deaths – on a pace for more than 200.”

  “People that are abusing or addicted to these opioids need to seek help,” Lees said. “The end result could be a ride in the back of my (coroner’s) vehicle.”

  The statistics are staggering. Then we see needles strewn on the street and deals happening in front of our eyes. A single mother dies leaving behind two beautiful daughters. Gunshots ring out in broad daylight. Hopes are dashed again as someone we thought could stay clean shows up high, thinking we won’t even notice. But we do. We see all this around us and more. We dwell in the valley of the shadow of death.

  God lifted Ezekiel up and set him down in the valley of the shadow of death. Ezekiel saw bones lying in a field, bones that were once part of living, breathing human beings, who, in death, had been abandoned to the elements. Now all that was left was dry bone.

  God asked Ezekiel if these bones could live. The logical answer would be, “Of course not. It’s utterly, physically, ridiculously impossible.” But Ezekiel remembered to whom he was speaking – God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. “O, Lord GOD, you know,” he replied. Not only could those bones live, they did live.

  If God can bring life out of absolute death, then there is nothing outside of the Lord’s control, not even addiction and its deadly toll.

  Let us pray for all who see nothing but death and despair, that they may know the life-giving power of God.

Alice Tondora, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Those working to make a difference in the lives of the drug dependent individuals and feel as if they are in a valley full of bones.

Click Here PDF - Day 32 Devotion

Lenten Devotional - Day 29

Scripture: John 9:1-7

“As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.” (John 9:1-3)

  I heard stories in A.A. of individuals that stated they were grateful God made them an alcoholic, because it helped them to have a life better than they could have had otherwise. Of course, these statements were made by people who were in recovery. As they reflected upon their lives they were grateful in how their addiction ultimately lead them to a life of recovery. Their recovery, in turn, lead them to a transformed life filled with the joy they were now experiencing. I don’t believe God ever planned someone to intentionally become dependent upon AOD, but I have personally come to understand that God can use the place wherever it is we are now, as the starting point for a wonderful journey to discover God’s love, mercy and grace.

  Our life stories vary greatly from person to person and in each circumstance, God uses our stories to reveal God’s presence. We all have stories of faith, we might think that others would find our stories lackluster and uninspiring, but we don’t give ourselves enough credit. We might not appreciate the place where our journey begins, but we can only start at the place we currently are.

  While attending seminary, I had a field education position working in evangelism in a north side Chicago church. At the time, I thought I was misplaced in this specific ministry position. My evangelism partner was a woman in the church who was about my age and was originally from western Pennsylvania, like me. We were assigned to visit individuals who had visited the church and trained how to share our faith stories and guide these individuals in making a personal decision for Christ. We both had grown up in similar churches and we both believed our faith stories were rather dull and boring, probably not capable of changing any hearts or minds. We were both wrong. Our dull and boring stories connected to the lives of many we visited. I discovered during those days the Holy Spirit was fully capable of taking whatever we had to offer and use it to give glory to God. God’s spirit can take whatever the circumstance of our lives may be and provide us with a story of faith “so that God’s works might be revealed.” (v. 3)

  We may believe that we have nothing to offer our communities on a variety of social problems. The blind man trusted Jesus and begin at the point where he found himself and God’s works were revealed in him, as they can be revealed in us. If we take the time to discern how the Holy Spirit is already at work within our communities, we will discover we can become God’s partner in giving glory to God in all things.

Lee McDermott, Contributor

Remember in Prayer: Our ability to see God’s works revealed in our midst.

Click Here PDF - Day 29 Devotion