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VOL. 14, NO. 12

THE REMEMBERED

Retired clergy

• Noel Oscar Beecham, 74
• Mark Richard Boling, 68
• Marvin Malcolm Bonner, Jr., 74
• William Johnny Booker, 73
• Theodore Mason Clegg, 92
• Charles Douglas Cooney, 75
• Jack Elliott Corbett, 82
• Bruce Raymond Graham, 79
• Walter Leonard Hill, Sr., 91
• John Oliver Hoffman, 71
• Creola Rice, 104
• LeRoy Edward Schauer, 65
• John William Taugher, 77
• Hall Wilmer Venetta, 84
• Herbert Lee Weaver, Jr., 87
• John R. White, 64
• Harold Clair Wolf, 91

Active clergy

• Val Morrow Holmes, 65

Spouses of deceased clergy

• Ellen Matthews Brown, 87
• Martha F. Van Brunt, 84
• Gertrude Jones Frank, 73
• Nannie A. Harrod, 88
• Mary Elizabeth Johnson, 81
• Mildred Hultin Kelbaugh, 89
• Frances Ripley Kesmodel, 91
• Edith Backel Kline, 92
• Anne Lewis, 68
• Elsie Robinson Johnson May, 93
• Thelma Nevitt, 94
• Martha Ross Olejar, 92
• Effie Ramsburg, 88
• Ruth Beard Reter, 81
• Minnie C. Smith, 96
• Martha Stemley, 97
• Elaine Taugher, 64
• Ann S. Woodward, 91

Spouses of active clergy

• Richard Paul Fenske, 77
• Beverly Ann James, 52
• Everett R. Jones, 88
• Henry Bubbie Roland Parker, Sr., 69

Lay members

• Ruth Tolson Cumbo, 73, Union UMC,
• Upper Marlboro
• George DuVall, 78, Goshen UMC,
• Gaithersburg
• Elizabeth (Betsy) Edwards, 64,
• Emmanuel UMC, Scaggsville
• Myra Alice Ensor, 89, Bethel UMC
• Leonard Aaron Ford, 73, Sharp Street
• Memorial UMC, Baltimore
• Philmore W. Geoghegan, 93, Northwood-
• Appold UMC, Baltimore
• Essie Mae Harris Gould, 73, Christ
• Edmondson UMC, Baltimore
• Suzanne Patrick, 59, Calvary UMC,
• Mt. Airy
• Marion Ruby, 55, Hopewell UMC,
• Susquehanna Charge
• Helen Wicklein, 85, Towson UMC, Towson

Saints honored at Service of Light and Life

BY LINDA WORTHINGTONUMCONNECTION STAFF

The future starts now, proclaimed Bishop Peter D. Weaver as he addressed survivors of 50 clergy, clergy spouses and lay members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference during the memorial Service of Light and Life June 15.

Elected in 1996, Weaver is the presiding bishop of the Philadelphia Area which includes the Peninsula-Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania conferences. He directed his message to the family members of those who had died since last annual conference. But, his message on The future is now pertained to the whole congregation that nearly filled the Grand Ballroom in the Renaissance Hotel on the last day of the 219th annual conference.

From the Scriptures, it is remembering not just yesterday, but remembering tomorrow with the Christ who embraces us, Weaver said. Think of your own loved one, yes, but were also here to celebrate the tomorrows, he said. The gifts given by your loved one yesterday are to help your faith tomorrow, he added.

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we have been given a brand new life, Weaver said.

He illustrated his theme with stories of people from the churches he visited who had no hope and were transformed by pastors who nurtured them.

An 80-year-old church organist, for example, was ready to commit suicide at age 17. A pastor and his wife visited her and her life was transformed. She agreed to play the piano at church and has not stopped for 63 years.

We honor the yesterdays but we remember the tomorrows. Jesus gives us everything to live for, including the future in Heaven. That future begins now, he said.

The message segued into singing Shall We Gather at the River and the reading of the roll of the honored dead.

The Rev. Stanley Harrell, conference secretary, read each persons name. As a bell was tolled for each of 18 clergy, 22 clergy spouses and 10 lay members of conference, a family member or representative came forward to light a candle. As each person was remembered, friends in the audience stood in tribute.

Bishop Felton Edwin May then led in a celebration of Holy Communion.