CHRONICLE

THE GOLD STARS OF CLARENDON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

by Jon H. Larimore

Presented on November 17th, 2006, as a part of our year-long celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Clarendon United Methodist Church.

When a bible reading ends, and we hear "The word of God for the people of God", we gratefully respond "Thanks be to God!" But let's think for a moment ... just who are these "People of God"? You and me? Perhaps. All of God's children — everyone living now and everyone who has ever lived? Possibly. Then again, maybe not. What, exactly, distinguishes the "People of God"? How do we recognize them? Well, let's consider one possibility. Let's now take a risky journey together, as we consider just who has made our lives and our church what they are this minute. It's risky, because compressing a century into a few minutes isn't easy, and along the way, we might fail to mention each and every important person. But as we'll soon discover, that doesn't really matter. Today our average lifespan is 78 years - 78 years to do something important - something memorable. But One Thousand Nine Hundred and Six years after Christ's birth, in 1906, the average human lifespan was only 47 years. That was the year Henry Ford created his first assembly line, but every bit as important are the people who shape our days and our futures in ways less grandiose than Ford. Personally. Profoundly. Chances are that we'll enjoy no national holidays in honor of those folks. They'll get no entries in Wikipedia. Their names will never appear in a school exam. But their lives have influenced ours in ways they may never have guessed, as they find a place in our hearts. In that year Ford built his factory, Arlington Virginia was a rural farm town. Roads were unpaved, nickelodeans offered silent films, radio was a fascinating curiosity, families who could afford one had a player piano in the parlor, horses pulled the milkman's wagon to our doors each morning, and on average, folks living then had 30 years less than we do today to make their lives meaningful. But they did it anyway. Crucial to the beginnings of CUMC was ... a pair of "Overalls". More correctly, Mr. and Mrs. William and Martha Overal. It was in their home that a small group of Arlingtonians who felt the need to worship God as a Sunday School class had been meeting since 1901. Five years later, those eleven folks took a leap of inspired faith, and began construction of our first church—The Methodist Episcopal Church South, Georgetown District, Baltimore Conference. Shortly thereafter, with twenty initial members, a beautiful but modest structure in a rural neighborhood at the corner of North Jackson and North Irving Streets became reality. During the century to follow, many notable events and many especially selfless and generous individuals have further strengthened our faith. From Rev. William Ballengee in 1906, through our most recent ministers — Rev. "Buzz" Moore, Rev. Joe Williams, Rev. Bob Stamps, Rev. Glen Evans - and Rev. Gene Thomas, more than 42 pastors and associate pastors—men and women of God—have inspired our congregation from this pulpit. And during that time, more than 9 new ministers have been called and supported through CUMC.

THE REAL JOY

Do you remember your Sunday School teachers? I do. Among many recent teachers here have been Jack Melnick, Ed Betts, Michael Peters, Dennis Edelbrock, Mary Dodson, Amy Barr, and John Minno. CUMC Member Hildegarde O'Neill has seen a lot of our history. She's been a member of this church for 82 years! You and I are here today surrounded by God's work. Within the walls of this 12th Century Gothic sanctuary lives the love of those who erected them, and those who carefully protect them to this day. The People of God. But earlier I mentioned that it doesn't really matter if we fail to mention each and every one of those who've made this living church possible. Why is that? Well, first of all, from its humble beginnings with twenty members in 1906 - through the 1940's and 50's when this church boasted a membership of more than 2000, with an average Sunday morning attendance of 753, when we had six choirs, and the adult choir alone had 68 members - up until our presence here today, we can easily estimate that many tens of thousands of people looking to find God have passed through our doors. Not only that, but Phyllis Johnson's wonderful history of this church lists more than 733 individual names of those who've been instrumental in our history through 1996, with even more since then. And of course, whether or not you and I recognize the names of those who have earned their gold stars, God knows every one of them. We can certainly thank those who are here with us. But what about those who've moved on? Well listen up now—here's the real joy. If you harbor within your heart, as I do, an unshakable belief in God's promise of Heaven, someday you and I will actually meet those wonderful folks who've gone on before us—up close, soul-to-soul—as we personally thank each and every one for his or her good works! Those gold star winners will all be there, waiting for you and me to shake a hand and put a loving arm around Martha Overal, John Wigent, Bex McBride, Mabel Greeson, Marvin Helter, Lucille Holtzman, Bill Miller, Allan Ensign, Mary Tarpley, and all the rest of God's movers and shakers we've not even mentioned here! Wow! How about that? What an amazing concept! May we all, together, seize this blessed opportunity to help the next one hundred years of this living, breathing church—your church and mine—bring each soul it touches closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Oh Lord . . . . . . For the PEOPLE of God . . . (say it with me now) . . . THANKS BE TO GOD!