Mike Medved, July 15, 2024 (April 1, 1958 - July 8, 2024)

Welcome & Gathering

Jesus said, I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Mike Medved. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow….hope, in death….resurrection.

Pray

Hymn - Lift High The Cross

Old Testament Scripture - Janet Stilwell

Isaiah 43:1–3 NIV

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Isaiah 43:15–19 NIV

I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.” This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Pastoral Prayer - Janet Stilwell

O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Speak to us once more your solemn message of life and of death. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you, and that nothing in life or in death will be able to separate us from your great love in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Add prayer for family:

Amen.

Hymn - How great thou art

Celebration of Life

Obit

Mike Medved, of Conroe, Texas passed away suddenly Monday, July 8th, 2024 at 66 years old after bravely battling numerous health issues while maintaining grace and dignity.

He leaves behind his wife of 38 years, Julie Medved, daughter Mallory O’Dell and husband Cody, son Michael Medved and wife Amanda, daughter Malynn Barnett and husband Kameron, grandsons Jack and Charlie O’Dell, Kolby and Boston Barnett, granddaughter Collyn Barnett, parents Michael and Lorraine Medved, sisters Sherrie Medved (Kevin), Laurie Lyall (Evan), Karen Carrothers (Kyle), Jennifer Breier (Carl), mother in law Frankie Strasburger, sister in law Lisa Spinks (Mike), nephews and nieces: Evan Sawyer (LaDonna), Brice Sawyer (Jess), Carly Francek (Cameron), Alex Lyall (Rachael), Kylie Wilkin (Brendan), Keaton Carrothers, Miller Breier, great uncle and many lifelong friends.

Throughout his life, Mike’s passion for his church and community inspired many. He was a board member at the Community Assistance Center, trustee at First Methodist Conroe, serving hundreds of youth and children throughout the years through Sunday School, camps, and bible school, member of the Conroe Noon Lions Club, brother at the Tuesday Morning Men’s Breakfast at First Methodist Conroe, Precinct Chair and Treasurer for the Montgomery County Republican Party, along with mentor and coach to many.

Michael Medved

Rob Hamilton, Fellow Lion and friend

Bill Weckwerth, family friend

Lisa Brooks, CAC board president

Old Testament Reading - Jack O’Dell

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Special Music - Amazing Grace

New Testament and Scripture

John 6:47–58 NIV

Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Pray.

Mike Medved

It is an true honor to share this day with you as we celebrate Mike’s life. Mike was a man of subtlety and quiet humility. He was trustworthy and dependable. Mike served all over the place as you have already heard testified to. Years for service at the Community Assitance Center, was about to become the president of the board.

Served children and youth at FMC and outside of these walls. When Julie was leading children’s ministry, he was there faithfully until he finally had to confess to Julie he just couldn’t do arts and crafts anymore, so then it was to the student ministry.

Countless summers at Lakeview Summer camp and Vacation Bible School. I was nervous about this VBS set-up needing to be up until I remembered that if it was ever appropriate, it would be for Mike and Julie.

In his professional career, he served his colleagues and employees and stores. Easter egg hunts for families at a store, for example.

Mike was a family man. For 38 years, best friends with his wife Julie. She always came first, as the kids shared. He would get so excited to spend time with her, I am even told that when they had some plans he injured his leg pretty severely and refused to tell her because he did not want to get anything in the way.

Mike kept baseball stat sheets at little league games, in case you needed to know how a 5th grader’s batting average and on base percentage was.

He had his quirks like collecting hockey cards, 50,000 of them, all organized and in order.

A storage unit full of holiday decorations.

Mike was a convener. He brought people together. Made space for people. Made space for his children to find who they were and supported them along the way.

He also endured really difficult days. He did it with integrity, hope, faith, and strength.

I just want to name something outloud. This stinks. Gone too soon. It is ok to be frustrated that Mike is not still with us.

This is where John’s gospel comes into play. Where our grief must be met with hope.

Mike chose this passage. I admit it is an odd one. Even was when the disciples and those hearing it were weirded out.

John 6:60–61 NIV

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

This kind of teaching was bad for PR. However, there are a few really important things that Jesus is doing here that will instruct some things for us:

Inclusive/exclusive invitation

All can eat, but those who don’t, miss it.

Mike lived by this invitation that all have a place at the table. It is marked by his service and care for those maybe others might forget.

And because of the exclusivity claim, Mike wanted everyone to eat. To receive the good news of God.

2. Nourishment

The Hebrew people when they were wandering through the wilderness had to learn to live off the daily nourishment that God provided. Manna. I was no steak dinner, but it was enough to sustain them.

Now Jesus becomes their daily needs and all that they need. I know that Mike had more dreams and goals and plans. More family moments and things to do. He had more to give. However, if there was ever a man that lived by the daily bread of Jesus to be enough, it was him. And because of it, he persevered and because of it, he showed us God.

3. The promise of eternal life.

Finally the promise of eternal life is here in John 6. For those who receive Christ and live by Christ, they shall never die. This is the hope, that as Paul puts it, we do not grieve as those who do not have hope.

Jesus says whoever eats this bread will live forever…

Two ways this plays out:

The best parts of Mike were from God and he lives forever through the love and investment in each one of you.

Second, he is now with God. Fully and without barrier in the presence of the one who loves him, carried him, and created him.

I wanted to close talking about one of his favorite things….Michigan football. How unbelievable that he was able to see them win a ntional championship last year. I am such a bitter and battered sports fan that I confess it is difficult to watch others get there….however it was fun to hear Mike talk about the game. There is a lifelong Ohio state buckeye that sits a few rows back from Mike and Julie every Sunday in church. I told the buckeye…if there was ever a Michigain fan for him to like, Mike was his only shot. The real reason I land here is because I looked up the fight song:

The Victors: The Victors, was written in November of 1898. Louis Elbel, a music student at the University, wrote the words and the music in celebration of a last minute 12-11 Michigan victory over rival Chicago.

Now, Mike 12-11 is not a very exciting game to be the impetus for your fight song. Mike’s life was a little more exciting… but I thought the words would be a memorable tribute to Mike for we are grateful for him:

Now for a cheer they are here, triumphant! Here they come with banners flying, In stalwart step they're nighing, With shouts of vict'ry crying, We hurrah, hurrah, we greet you now, Hail! Far we their praises sing For the glory and fame they've bro't us Loud let the bells them ring For here they come with banners flying Far we their praises tell For the glory and fame they've bro't us Loud let the bells them ring For here they come with banners flying Here they come, Hurrah! Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes Hail! Hail! to Mike the leaders and best Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes Hail! Hail! to Mike, the champions of the Best! We cheer them again We cheer and cheer again For Mike, we cheer for Mike We cheer with might and main We cheer, cheer, cheer With might and main we cheer! Hail! to the victors valiant Hail! to the conqu'ring heroes Hail! Hail! to Mike, the champions of the Best!

Mike, we cheer you again and again for you were magnificient to us and now you know fully Victory in Jesus.

Hymn - Shall we gather at the river

Benediction

The peace of God He which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.