Sermon Tone Analysis

Prelude - Video Slideshow

Opening - Pastor Chris Baker

Opening Prayer

Greeting

This morning, we have come to this place to remember the life and legacy of Ron McCartney.

Ron was a member of this church, he served God faithfully, and was a brother and a friend to all.

Today, our hearts are heavy.

Today, we are filled with a mixture of emotions.

As we share stories and memories, we might find ourselves laughing together, or crying together.

As we remember the good times and the special moments, we might find ourselves smiling or standing with tear filled eyes.

These moments… are never easy.

Ron was a friend, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and great grandfather.

But he was also something else.

Ron… was a servant and follower of Jesus.

And that truth right there… makes all the difference in the world.

That truth right there means that today, we do not say goodbye, rather today, we say “we will see you later.”

Ron was a man of faith.

Ron was a devoted servant of Jesus and because he had an unquestionable relationship with the Lord, we know that Ron is now celebrating in the presence of the King!

We grieve because he is not here.

In this world, death would appear to be permanent.

Death would appear to be the final end to our lives.

But for those who are in Christ Jesus, death was conquered by our Lord and Savior the day He walked out of the grave.

As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Ron not only knew of the victory that is in Jesus, HE LIVED AND WALKED IN THE VICTORY!

I am thankful or the blessed hope that we have in our Lord.

And… I am also thankful for God’s amazing comfort that He offers His children.

Matthew 5:4 reads

This beatitude reflects the heart and nature of our God.

He sees our broken hearts and sends His Spirit to comfort us in our grief.

Today… is not easy.

But today, may we never forget that Ron… BELIEVED in Jesus.

And those who believe in Him WILL NOT PERISH, but will have eternal life.

This morning, we honor and remember Ron McCartney and we celebrate the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

At this time, Pastor Darrel Schmid is coming to read the Obituary.

Reading of Obituary - Pastor Darrel Schmid

Ronald James McCartney was born June 9, 1936 in Lebanon, KS, the son of Garnet James & Bess Rose (Tillinghast) McCartney.

He was the oldest of 4 children.

Ron attended school in Kensington, KS graduating with the class of 1954.

After high school he attended Southwestern Assembly of God College.

While there, he attended a church in Dallas, TX where he met the love of his life, La Juan Hill.

He proposed and they were married on November 25, 1955.

They were blessed with 3 children; a daughter, Patricia Renee & 2 sons, Samuel James & Mark Raphael.

After 5 years in Texas, the couple made an agreement to live in Kansas & stay where they liked it the most, so Kansas became their longtime home.

In Kensington, Ron worked for the COOP.

After many years in the main office, he transferred to Kirwin to manage that elevator.

After retiring, the couple moved to Phillipsburg where Ron worked for the Phillips County Hospital in the maintenance Dept., retiring from there after 20 years.

During his life he was a man of few words.

He enjoyed stamp collecting from the age of 9 & still had stamp albums that he was trying to fill, making many trips to the post office to collect new issues.

He also enjoyed genealogy & spent many hours searching online or reading tombstones in surrounding counties.

His favorite passion was his relationship with his church & family.

The man of few words would talk most about Jesus & genealogy.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife La Juan;’ daughter, Patricia; sons, Samuel & Mark; his brother Jerold; sisters, Sharon Zimmerman & Janice Nordon; 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren & 1 great-great grandchild.

Congregational Song: Shall We Gather at the River - LeAnn Leidig

Message - Pastor Chris Baker

I wasn’t sure what to think when our District Superintendent asked the question more than five years ago, “Would you consider Agra, KS?”

My response was much like the response I get when I tell people where we live, “Where in the world is Agra, KS?” We found it on the map, we zoomed in… then zoomed in some more, until we could spot a worship facility sitting on top of a hill surrounded by fields.

As we began to learn more and more about the church, our hearts became more and more connected with what God was doing here and 5 years later… here we are.

Now why would I start this message off with a story about our coming to Agra, KS?

Because in the beginning of it all, we met a man who attended the church, who was a man of few words… but a man of huge faith.

My relationship with Ron began as we unloaded our moving truck at our house and I remember being amazed at the level of work he was capable of.

Ron stayed the entire day and he was one of the last to leave.

Not only did he help get every box to the room it belonged in, but he also stayed in the garage and broke down the boxes that had been emptied and stacked them.

Then, at the end of the day, he asked me a question.

In the front yard of our home, we have a stone archway that holds a limestone name placard.

The stone had the name of the previous owners an it and he asked me what I was going to do with it.

I didn’t have any plans so he asked if he could have it.

I said yes, and a day or two later, he loaded it up and hauled it away.

I had no idea what he was going to do with a big heavy stone with the Beckman name on it!

Maybe he collects name rocks, I don’t know!?!

About two weeks later on a Saturday, I heard some commotion in our front yard.

Ron, along with two guys, were hanging something on the stone archway.

He had taken the stone, had it sanded down, and had our name engraved on it.

And he did something that day through that action I will never forget.

He welcomed the Bakers to their new home.

He didn’t say these words....

He expressed those words through his action.

Ron McCartney may be known as a man of few words, but he was also known as a man of great action.

Speaking of action, I had the opportunity to sit down with a few of the family members this week.

We shared stories and memories and there was one that I had to share.

This story took place immediately following Ron and La Juan’s wedding ceremony.

Traditionally, the bride and groom when get in a car and wedding guests and friends would give chase in a brief moment of fun.

But for Ron and La Juan, the car was full of family and friends!

Ron was driving… and as Sharron was telling the story, the excitement of the moment was gaining.

I can only imagine Ron weaving down the streets, maybe taking an alley or two as a shortcut while trying to allude the would-be pursuers.

But then, my imagination gave way to the words Sharron shared with me next, “Ron ended up driving up a ramp.”

And she made it clear that it wasn’t like an on-ramp for a freeway… it was a ramp.... ramp.

And before she could finish I asked her, “Please tell me Ron ramped the car!?!”

She said no, he stopped before making it to the top.

But for a moment, I had in my mind the image of Ron McCartney going Dukes of Hazard with His new bride and wedding party all in the car!

Ron was indeed a man of action… but not the kind of action a person might expect in an adventure movie or sporting event.

Ron was a doer.

Ron didn’t say much, but his actions spoke louder than any words.

Ron was an ACTIVE servant of the Lord and of others.

Ron was always doing what he could for the sake of God’s kingdom.

I don’t know of a single work day at Woodston Camp that Ron did not attend.

I don’t know of a single church work day that Ron did not participate in.

When we painted this room two years ago, Ron masked off all the woodwork, removed all the outlet and switch covers and prepped the entire room.

About twice a month, Ron would come to the church, walk the hallways and classrooms, and change any dead bulbs.

He would clean the fixtures and make sure all was good.