Sharing God's Love and Grace

In Memory of Lois Forsythe

June 20, 1931-May 5, 2020

It makes sense to me that a godly woman like Lois, who was passionate about youth ministry, would ask for 1 Corinthians 13 to be read at her funeral. If you are going to do youth ministry, you have to understand love. It isn’t just the romantic feeling that young people want to believe it is. Everyone wants to fall in love! But that isn’t the kind of love Paul talks about in this letter to a church struggling with egos, divisions, and disagreements and definitely not demonstrating our oneness in Christ’s Body.

       A youth group leader has to model the kind of love that God showed for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is a self-giving love. A patient love. A love that endures, even if it is not returned to the giver. A love that is quick to forgive and does not hold grudges.

     I think of all the time that Lois and her husband, Richard, gave to youth ministry and youth Sunday school at The Presbyterian Church—decades! That’s amazing. Love takes time. Most people aren’t willing to give that kind of time as volunteers in a church these days, especially to minister to youth, when they have their own jobs and families. But if you don’t have time to be with young people, then you aren’t going to be able to show them the kind of love that they desperately need. They are looking for acceptance and guidance. They are needing encouragement, equipping, shaping, and molding of their character, gently, affectionately over time—like our Potter does with us, His beloved clay.

       I was having lunch one January day with Susie Stout, a former youth group member from Lois and her husband, Richard’s tenure. And what did we end up talking about the most? Youth ministry. Susie is a former public school teacher who serves as a leader for children and youth at Roscoe United Methodist Church. I invited her to visit my confirmation class and share her faith, and she immediately said yes. She came and presented the gospel with a magic trick. She had us spellbound. But the other thing that came of our lunch together, Susie and I, is that we talked about Lois. She and her sisters called Lois and Richard “Mr. and Mrs. For.” I invited Susie to come with me to bring home communion to Lois on a later date. She did, and it was a wonderful visit. What did we end up talking about? All the fabulous things Susie and the youth did with Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe. Oh, and a little about their families, dogs, and swimming. As Susie and Lois talked, I considered the effect that Lois must have had on Susie’s Christian formation and vocation–the impact of one life on another.

      Susie says, “My sisters and I have very fond memories of our youth group under their direction. We had lock-ins and fundraisers. We went to Camp Wakonda for retreats. We had a concession stand on the square during Canal Days and served our famous Presby Coneys. We had a skate-a-thon and skated around the square, through the drive-thru at McDonalds and all over the church. We would bake hot cross buns and bunny cakes at an Easter Eve all-nighter. We took orders from the congregation. We had swimming parties and bowling parties…”  Also, “Lois loved her dogs,” Susie says, “and my sisters and I would take care of one of them sometimes when they had to go away… And they would also just let us come over and swim. This wasn’t really youth group related. They were just so kind. This was at their other house, not the current pool. We also painted the pictures on the walls in the “Crib Room” (at church). I’m not sure if they are still there or not.” They are, though the Crib Room has been empty for years. “They just made us feel like it was our church,” Susie says, “and we were very much at home there.” 

    Then I reached out to Leslie Griley, who also grew up in our church. Leslie says, “When I think about Mr. & Mrs. Forsythe, two things come to mind immediately. First- The Presbyterian Youth Group! They were the absolute best youth group leaders a teenager could ever hope for! They arranged countless activities and trips for us. Sleepovers at the church, picking strawberries at PBF Strawberry farm for our Strawberry Festival, roller skating parties, hosting luncheons after worship on Sundays, Camp Wakonda for a weekend retreat every fall. With everything they did, they put their all into it. Always patient and loving with us. Our youth group was like an extended family and Mr and Mrs. Forsythe were our church parents. They loved us and it showed with every word they spoke to us and we loved them. They genuinely cared for us as though each of us were their own children. Not one time, that I can recall, did they ever lose patience with us. I do recall one year Mrs. Forsythe told us that we’d be participating in Youth Sunday and what we would be doing was like a play. (With lines that were to be memorized) Apparently, we must’ve had dumbfounded looks on our faces because she then said- ALL of you have popular songs memorized. Think of the lines like those popular songs. Youth Sunday was exceptional (that year)!

“The 2nd thing that comes to mind – The Presby Coney Sauce!!!!!! During Canal Days each year, our Youth Group would have a food stand. One of the items sold was the Presby Coney Dogs. Mr and Mrs Forsythe made the best coney sauce! To this day, it is still the best I have ever had! Nothing compares to it. One year, my dad offered to help Mrs. Forsythe make the coney sauce. She agreed. Throughout the day, Mrs. Forsythe would stop by the house to check how things were going. When all was said and done, Dad nailed it!  My dad was an excellent cook and I think Mrs. Forsythe stopped by to make sure it was going smoothly. Tim, Shari, David, and John,” Leslie says, “thank you for sharing your parents with us. Your parents created some of the best childhood memories a girl could ask for. Your parents created experiences for me that I hold dear in my heart. I feel so very lucky to have grown up in a church with your parents as mentors. Not only do I feel lucky, I also feel very blessed. Both of your parents are shining stars in the heavens and I’m grateful that God placed them in my life from grade school until I graduated. I’m so truly sorry for your loss and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time. But, you can be rest assured, your parents were an extremely important and positive part of my life. I loved them so very much! I believe that God works in mysterious ways.

   “Last week, Chad Emerson (he was a member of the church many moons ago) and I were talking about Mrs. Forsythe!!!! Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe were simply the BEST. They mattered in more ways than anyone could ever express.”

    Another member of the youth group directed by Lois and Richard was Tom Lang. He says, “I’m sorry to hear that Lois passed; she touched so many youths’ lives in so many positive ways. I certainly looked up to her, and Richard, her husband, as loving,  caring, fun people who had strong faith. I could count on Lois to answer questions I had about faith, God and Christ. She had so much love to give all of her ‘kids,’ and we all loved her back. I also remember her sweet singing voice, so beautiful to hear. The first thing that came to mind when I saw her name in your message was her ‘huggability’. She loved hugging and being hugged and her hugs were genuine, and always full of love. I know many will miss her.”

       These words that Paul gave us in 1 Cor. 13 rarely describe human love, but they always describe the perfect, unconditional love of God for us. Our challenge is to reveal it, with God’s help, to our broken world. It’s a love that is embodied and shown through one’s life over time—and remembered through a person’s character and through word and deed, as in the case of Lois, who is with her loving Lord, experiencing fullness of joy.

    I pray that in your hearing of the words of the Apostle Paul to struggling Christians in every age, you will be inspired to keep on trying to reveal the love of God in your own life, with God’s help. I hope you will remember the impact that you may have on others, like Lois did on Susie, Leslie, Chad, and Tom, who shared memories from almost 40 years ago.

“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.  It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

Amen.

Meditation on Psalm 23

The Presbyterian Church, Coshocton, Ohio

Pastor Karen Crawford

May 3, 2020

Jim bought me a lawnmower last week because I wanted to mow grass. I actually missed mowing grass! I haven’t mowed grass since I accepted my first call to ministry in Minnesota in 2011. We lived in a manse right next to the church, back then. We didn’t bring our lawnmower because the church, which had a large piece of property that included a cemetery on a big hill, paid someone to maintain the grounds, including the yard of the manse. That was great! Especially when I read in the old Session minute books that some of the pastors before me were required to mow the grass, not just around the manse, but also around the church and cemetery on the hill. It was in their job description! I figured I got off pretty easy not having to mow grass OR shovel snow. This was Minnesota, after all. Then we moved to Florida in 2015 and bought a house with a postage-stamp sized yard. WE didn’t have any snow to shovel and didn’t have a lawnmower. Since it didn’t cost much to pay someone to tend our tiny lawn, we decided not to mow the grass ourselves.

    Now, being home these 6 or 7 weeks, I have had plenty of time to watch the grass, dandelions, and clover grow—and my neighbors mowing their lawns. So I decided, I should do it, too. No excuses.

    Before I was allowed to begin mowing, Jim brought me the manual and put it in my hands. He did the same thing when he bought me a hedge trimmer a couple of years ago. I expected a test on the manual, so I studied accordingly. But when the time came to mow the grass in between the raindrops this week, I asked Jim for a tutorial, a demonstration, before I began, just to make sure I knew what I was doing. He showed me how to adjust the blade height and the speed of the wheels. How to take out the battery and plug it in for charging, how to remove the grass catcher and empty it when it got full. How to turn it on with the safety switch and, just as importantly, how to turn it off by letting go of the handle. I was ready.

     Then I started mowing, with Jim watching, until he was sure I wasn’t going to get into too much trouble.

     As I mowed, I hummed joyfully to myself. With the birds singing all around me in the trees, I thought of the Great Cloud of Witnesses in Hebrews who have already run the race before me and are cheering me on. I took to heart what I had read in the manual—how you shouldn’t mow up and down hills and how you should plan out your mowing around obstacles. And how you shouldn’t back up with this self-propelled mower, lest you injure yourself.

     Nowhere in the manual does it tell you how to mow without backing up or how to turn the mower around when you get to an end of a sweep. That took some practice! And it sounds great to not mow up and down a hill, but if you have ever seen our yard, you can imagine how hard it is to avoid mowing up and down a hill, no matter what direction you go. The thing is, you have to keep adjusting the speed of the mower or you end up running behind the machine while it lunges down a hill, without you. And nothing told me how to mow under low hanging tree branches without poking my eye out. I had to figure that one out on my own. I was just glad that I was wearing my glasses that day.

     Throughout my adventure, I only had a few minor mishaps, including mowing over a large decorative rock near our driveway that had no business being there, anyway! Well, it didn’t!

      Afterward, I was tired and sweaty, but the yard looked a whole lot better. I felt like I had accomplished something. Best of all, for that hour or two, I didn’t think about any problems or worry about anything. I just concentrated on mowing the lawn, doing the one job I had to do that day, with some help from Jim and the Good Shepherd and His angels that were surely with me.

      Later on, as I looked out at the fruits of my labor and felt peace and contentment, I thought of how the Lord provides for all our needs—not just food, water, clothing and shelter, but encouragement, worthy work and opportunities for service. We need these to feed the heart, mind and soul.

     With the Lord, my Shepherd, I lack nothing. I am free from want, including that destructive desire that keeps us dissatisfied and accumulating more and more. Aren’t we finding out through this pandemic that we really don’t need as much as we thought we needed to be happy?

      My cup runneth over with blessings. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all of my days, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.

***

      Psalm 23, attributed to David, is often read at funerals, but don’t mistake it for being about death. It is about the abundant life that God has given us, the Shepherd who is always with us. This beautiful song of ancient Israel is in stark contrast to the psalm that immediately precedes it—22, which begins with the lament, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

    This is the rhythm of the life of believers—sometimes lament, crying out to our Shepherd for help, comfort and protection during trials and pain. But then lament turns to praise in Psalm 22 and 23 for God’s faithfulness, because God is always faithful. He hears our cries and responds with steadfast love.

      I have seen posts on Facebook from people longing for the simple life that we had before coronavirus. I agree that I, too, long for the good old days, especially because we were together all the time without worrying about spreading a deadly illness. But I remember that we didn’t think our lives were simple then! We worried all the time, when life was GOOD. We tried to do too much and made it complicated. Then, we fretted about all our commitments and responsibilities.

     Do you want a simpler life? It’s not far from our grasp. For an example, we may consider the life of sheep during the time of David, thousands of years before Jesus would say, “I am the Good Shepherd” and “My sheep hear my voice, I call them by name and lead them out and they follow me.” David knew all about tending sheep; before he was king, he was a shepherd in his youth. Young women and girls, such as Rachel in the time of the patriarchs, also worked as shepherds.

     So what are the needs of sheep in biblical times? They need food, water and rest, just like we do. The shepherd has to go ahead of them and lead them to green pastures and beside still waters, so that they may eat and drink. The shepherd has to make the sheep lie down to rest, because like us, they don’t always know what’s good for them and that they need sleep.

    The sheep also need to know to whom they belong and whom they can trust. The Shepherd gave each one a name and called them by it. Our Shepherd knows us by name, too, and assures us that we will hear his voice and follow him. That’s a promise!

     Another need that we share with sheep are the many dangers in our world. Sheep need protection, direction, and tender care when they are hurt, sick or afraid. Shepherds used a slingshot, rod and staff to keep the sheep from falling into pits, getting caught in branches or fences, going over cliffs, wandering off and getting lost, being stolen by thieves or eaten by wild animals. A sheep that was too tired or sick to walk would be carried on the Shepherd’s strong shoulders, like in the poem Footprints, when we are too weary to go on and our Lord carries us.

     Finally, the sheep have another important need—they need each other. They need affection and companionship, like we do. They are social creatures. They instinctively flock together. When one begins to walk off, others will follow.

    The Lord knows that we need our Shepherd and that we need our fellow sheep, particularly now, while we are separated in our homes. The Spirit continues to draw us together for comfort, help and healing, encouragement and friendship, and for worship. Our Shepherd uses His Word and Spirit to direct, protect, discipline and empower us.

God wants us to flourish, and offers us abundant life through His Son. But abundance doesn’t mean more. It may mean a more simple, less hectic life than we were living before we ever heard of COVID-19. Have you thought about some things you might want to change in your life when things are more “normal” again? This would be a good time to think and pray about it and talk about it with loved ones. I hope I will spend more time at home with my family than I did before. And I hope I will have more time to work in the yard, something I have always enjoyed—planting flowers, spreading mulch, weeding and watering. And yes, mowing grass.

    Our Shepherd will continue to provide opportunities for worthy work, loving service, and spiritual growth, if we open ourselves to them. God knows we need work, service and spiritual nourishment for our well-being. I have seen some of your good deeds, so I know you are already loving and serving your neighbors.

     We don’t have to wonder what we should be doing right now. I hear people say how bored they are! Well, if you feel bored, it isn’t because there isn’t work we can be doing for others or simply taking time for self-care and rest with God. For there’s so much to do when you are following the lead of the Good Shepherd. The Lord requires the same thing of us every day, whether we are retired or going to a job, school, or church or staying close to home. As Micah 6:8 says, the Lord requires us “to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.”

    Our Shepherd will supply all our need-emotional, physical and spiritual. We truly lack nothing. Free from want, our cups runneth over with blessing.

    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.

Let us pray.

Thank you, Good Shepherd, for your call to us to follow your lead and do your will. Thank you that we are your sheep and you know our names—and more about us than we understand about ourselves.  Teach us to trust in you and listen only for your voice. Help us to obey your commands to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you each day, embracing the worthy work and opportunities for spiritual growth and service that you present to us. Give us courage, strength, wisdom, patience, gentleness, endurance, creativity, joy and peace for these times, without longing for the “good old days” when we made things more complicated and stressful than they needed to be and didn’t always recognize your presence with us. Open our eyes to the changes you want us to make so that your goodness and mercy will surely follow us all the day of our lives. Make us to be more like you and dwell in your house, forever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Presbyterian Church, Coshocton, Ohio

Prelude: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Caroline Heading, Piano

Greeting/Announcements: Pastor Karen

Opening Sentences and Gathering Prayer: Matt Downing and Helen Wright

The Shepherd calls us by name and leads us to abundant life.

We hear your voice and hasten to follow.  

The Shepherd prepares a table and lavishly pours out grace.

We hear your invitation and take our place at the feast.

The Shepherd gathers us in and welcomes us to the house of the Lord.

We hear your call and give you praise. 

Hymn: The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of Love my Shepherd is whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am His and He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow My ransomed soul He leadeth, And, where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth.

And so through all the length of day Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise Within Thy house forever.

Confession and Pardon: Pastor Karen

We have gone astray, O Shepherd. You call us to follow, and we hear your voice. Yet, we choose to heed other voices—voices that promise status and comfort and a carefree life. But such promises are empty, and that life does not satisfy. Call to us again, O Shepherd. Summon us onto right paths to pursue justice in your name, to seek after the well-being of all. Lead us to the table you prepare for us—where rivals share both bread and blessings and discover there is enough for all. Amen.

Hymn: Heal Our Land by Jamie Rivera

If my people will humble themselves
Humble themselves and pray
If they seek my face and humble themselves
And turn from their wicked ways
I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins
I will hear from heaven and heal their land

Lord, heal our land
Father, heal our land
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You
Lord, heal our land
Hear us oh, Lord, and heal our land
Forgive our sin and heal our broken land

Lord, we bow our knee, we humble ourselves
Humble ourselves and pray
Lord, we seek your face and humble ourselves
And turn from my wicked ways

Father in Your mercy, forgive our sins
Father in Your mercy, come heal our land

Lord, heal our land
Father, heal our land
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You
Lord, heal our land
Hear us oh,…

Time with Children

Prayer for Illumination and 1 Peter 2:19-25: Erin Jobes

This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved. Thanks be to God. 

Scripture: John 10:1-10: Matt Downing

This is the gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Hymn: Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd by Keith Green

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters. He restore’th my soul. And guides my path in righteousness For His name’s sake.

Surely goodness and loving kindness Shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever and ever and ever.

Though I walk through the valley Of the shadow of death,
I will not fear, Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou prepar’est a table Before me in the presence of my enemies.

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup’s overflowing. Surely goodness and lovingkindness Shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever and ever and ever.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.

Message: Free from Want Pastor Karen

Hymn: Shepherd Me, O God by Marty Haugen

Refrain:
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.

God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want, I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace. [Refrain]

Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul, you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth, my spirit shall sing the music of your name. [Refrain]

Though I should wander the valley of death, I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope. [Refrain]

You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred, crowning me with love beyond my power to hold. [Refrain]

Surely your kindness and mercy follow me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore. [Refrain]

Affirmation of Faith Adapted from the Confession of 1967: Helen Wright

Let us say what we believe.

New life in Christ takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.

Invitation to the Table and Great Thanksgiving Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God: You are our shepherd, O Lord, and in you there is nothing we lack. ….. And we continue our prayer as Jesus taught us…

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art from 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 as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Breaking the Bread

Communion of the People

Prayer after Communion

Charge and Benediction

Postlude: Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us Mark Wagner, Piano

Jesus is our Good Shepherd

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:3-5

For puzzles, coloring pages, and other activities for this week’s children’s message, click on the links below:

https://sermons4kids.com/shepherd_colorpg.htm

https://sermons4kids.com/shepherds_voice_crossword.htm

https://sermons4kids.com/shepherds_voice_wordsearch.htm

The Presbyterian Church, Coshocton, OH

Pastor Karen Crawford

Audio file of this devotion:

Hello, friends!

I went to visit our worship home yesterday, The Presbyterian Church in Coshocton, Ohio.

While I was at the church, I wandered into the sanctuary and was moved, once again, by the beauty of our stained glass windows. Just as they did long ago in the early years of the Church, they help to tell the story of Jesus and his love. I began taking pictures as an aching filled my heart.

Separated from one another, we have a longing to be with the people of God. When we are together, we are encouraged in the faith. When we worship, it helps us to “see” and know Jesus.  I am reminded of the promise, as he tells us in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

I hope that the pictures of our stained glass windows will encourage you today about the promise of Matthew 18:20, which includes our virtual worship when we approach in faith. We must anticipate that we will see God and have our hearts and minds renewed. For the Lord knows our situation and is wherever we are. He comes down to us and meets us here. He welcomes us to come to Him, just as we are.

My prayer for you today is from 1 Peter 1:8: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”

Let us pray.

Lord, we thank you for the gift of faith and the promise that you are with us as we gather in your name in small groups of 2 or 3. Fill us with your inexpressible and glorious joy as we turn to you and seek to see and know you more. In your Son’s name we pray. Amen. 

Music by The Church Sisters, In the Garden: