Funeral hymns--do you have a favorite?

A favorite hymn for a funeral? It would depend on the "guest of honor" or the audience or the church tradition. I personally like "For all the Saints." This summer we attended Rev. Irwin Jennings funeral at Lakeside, in the pavilion named for him and his wife Janet on the shore of Lake Erie. This hymn was sung, and in the Methodist tradition, all the clergy present came forward to lead the congregation in singing the hymn.

The United Methodist Hymnal 711. For all the saints who from their labors rest | Hymnary.org

https://youtu.be/1OaBgaMcOvM?si=nXu055eR7iasDBjQ

The most recent funeral we attended was at a funeral home and had only one hymn, which we'd never heard before. Community singing, which usually can bring strangers together even in mourning with a familiar hymn, was replaced with a long "come to Jesus" sermon. However, that was her wish, and often people do plan their own funerals.

Lakeside selects new President

Lakeside is pleased to announce today that Jim McConoughey has been selected as the community’s new President and CEO after an extensive search.

McConoughey brings over 25 years of experience in business development, fundraising, and community engagement to the position. Most recently, he served as the President for the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, where he led strategic planning, fundraising, and community outreach efforts.

A Lakeside resident for 5 years, McConoughey has volunteered his time and talent to support various organizations in the community. He and his family have been coming to Lakeside for over 50 years. This is in direct connection with his ties to Lakeside where his grandfather played the organ and piano for decades. In addition, his wife Gina was the owner of the Lakeview Inn for four years.

New President - Lakeside Ohio

Home again, to power outages and big expenses

Last week-end (July 21-23) we took a trip to Lakeside and stayed at the Idlewyld B & B since we no longer have a home there.  We met some nice people sitting on the porch, saw many of our old summer friends/homeowners who dropped by to chat, and enjoyed all the beauty of Lake Erie.  I had 3 good morning walks along the lake, plus all the usual walking I do when going places.  Like the other tourists, our car had to be parked in the remote parking area, which you get to with shuttles, or catching a ride with someone else. We had our first dinner at the hotel under this current food service (Ward) with Tom and Jill, our former neighbors on Oak, ate lunch there again on Saturday, and on Sunday we had lunch at the Patio Restaurant after church with Dale and Julia who live in Tennessee.  We haven't known them long--maybe 2 years--but enjoy their company.

We visited Phil's memorial at Chautauqua Park to make sure the tree is healthy and the flowers blooming. The fountain was lovely, so we sat for a while on the bench nearby.  We know life moves one for everyone and soon no one will remember but us, yet it still feels strange not to have him call to hear about the trip, catch up on politics, or pop in with a joke to tell. We attended two evening programs, plus church in Hoover Auditorium. On Friday it was a group doing homage to Broadway music during the last 101 years, although the focus was more the last 40 years, to my ear.  Still lovely.  During one of the programs Crowder (Christian music LOUD with lots of bass) we kept saying, Phil would have loved this (he played bass guitar in the Gender Road Christian Church praise band). That one was too loud for us, so Bob left quickly, but I stayed for about half. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPpEOUVpxrM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG-Y9bWlCw8 The crowd loved him (Crowder) so much they stood up much of the time, waving their arms, so it was difficult to see.

One of the strangest things that happened to us on this trip was an incident with a dog walker.  We'd decided to go to the Lakefront on Friday afternoon after we ate the lunch I packed for us, so were enjoying the cool breezes on a park bench.  A man about 55-60 came along walking 2 large Irish Wolfhounds, and he stopped to talk.  Bob was petting the dogs and we were asking him about the breed, their ages and where they had come from.  I noticed he was beginning to move very close to us, and suddenly he fell in my lap and partially on Bob's shoulder. He had fainted! He roused himself and apologized.  We asked if we could get the squad or perhaps the shuttle for him, but he refused.  I still had a bottle of water in the little cooler, so we gave him that.  He then said, "Maybe I overdid it today."  It turns out he had already bicycled around the peninsula, had taught an exercise class, and had walked his dogs there from the campground, quite a distance! He assured us all was OK and continued along the way.  I saw him on Sunday--walking the same dogs heading for the campground. So, I guess he's OK.

We were driving back from Lakeside when a big summer storm hit and were probably 5 minutes from home when lightning struck. We didn't know it hit in our back yard, or what happened.  When we got home, we couldn't get in the garage.  When we got inside the WiFi was down, but the TV was working. Then we found out the phones also didn't work. Checked with a neighbor the next day who had the Spectrum truck in their driveway who told us the strike was in our back yard, and they too lost power to garage door and TVs. Yesterday the Spectrum service person corrected the WiFi problem so I could use the computer, brought us a new tower and a box for one of the TVs, but the phone system still has us puzzled.  If it's in the phone lines, we'll need an electrician, but if it's the phone system we'll have to buy a new one. Today when the door company repairman came, it turns out to be $750 per door, because even though under warrantee (installed in February) lightning is an "act of God" and not covered. 

Bob had a tooth filled today from last week's check up, and that was over $180. Not sure what good dental insurance is.   So, it's been an expensive week counting the B & B, the Lakeside tickets, eating out three times in restaurants, the garage doors, and a dentist appointment! And we don't even know what the phone will be!

Lakeside 2023 season

We're in Lakeside for 2 weeks. Now we are renters again as we were from 1974 to 1988. Lakeside is celebrating its 150th season and our 50th. It's been cool, but sunny, and in this photo we are enjoying the circle of benches near the lake after lunch.  There is a little haze from the Canadian fires, but not terrible. Because of the wind patterns Lakeside had less smoke than Columbus.  Last night we had dinner with our friends the Cassidys from Tennessee and then enjoyed a wonderful show in Hoover Auditorium by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players. Today we have a high school graduation party for our good friend and neighbor from Cincinnati, Jack, and tomorrow a memorial service for our summer pastor of the last 15 years Rev. Irwin Jennings. This week I attended all the Faith Hours, with wonderful gospel preaching by Pastor Zac Hess of Grace Polaris in Westerville.

Our two week schedule

Saturday June 3 --travel to Smith Cottage on Lynn; Hoover program, "Whose line is it Anyway" with Colin Mochrie, Brad Sherwood 7:30.

Sunday June 4 --Church at Hoover Auditorium, 10:30, preacher Zac Hess, Grace Polaris, Columbus; evening 6:30, Heidelberg University Faculty Woodwind Quintet at Steele Bandstand

Monday through Thursday --Faith for Living, Orchestra Hall, Zac Hess, 9-10

Monday June 5 --Women's Bible Study, 10 a.m. Lakeside Women's Club; Film Festival 7:30 p.m. "Everestman." "The Last Last Hike," "Pony boys," (my favorite, about summer of 1967)

Tuesday June 6 -- Film Festival, 10:30 "American Dinner," "American Heartbreak," (Kent State, 1970),

"CLE Urban Winery Story," "Archie Hough Bakeries"

Wednesday June 7 -- Film Festival, 10:30 "Pheasants of Detroit," "Honk." (excellent!)   Dorothy Fuldheim by Anne McEvoy 1:30 Hoover; Picnic in Perry Park 5:30

Thursday June 8 -- Film Festival, 10:30 "Daniel and Nate" (teen is caregiver for brother), "Lizzi, Deeper than water" (paralympics) "The Prospector," "Rocks 4 Sale"; Silent movie, "Spite marriage," 1929 Buster Keaton and Dorothy Sebastian. Clark Wilson organist.

Friday June 9 -- Dinner with Cassidy's; 7:30 New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Hoover

Saturday June 10 -- Afternoon, Jack's party--saw many friends; Phoebe and Mark arrive for the week; sold the golf cart for $6500 but we keep it until the 16th

Sunday June11 -- church at Hoover, preacher Dr. Simangaliso Kumalo of South Africa;

Memorial service for Irwin Jennings, Pavilion,  reception at LWC

Monday June 12-15 -- Women's Bible Study, Lakeside Women's Club, 9 a.m.  Monday - Thursday, Faith for Living, Dr. Kumalo, Orchestra Hall (not very good) 10-11. 1:30 Book Review LWC, Lincoln Highway, Amor Towles; movie 7:30 Lincoln

Tuesday June 13 (It was Civil War week, but I didn't attend programs); LWC, meet and greet, M.A. Stephens: 6:45 Art Show Reception. Bob got Merit Award for Fisherman painting;  8 p.m. Keynote Speaker, Clark Kellogg (gave him Bob's book) Hoover

Wednesday June 14 -- Guy's Club 11:30; Ida McKinley reenactment 1:30 Hoover; Picnic in Perry Park, 5:30

Thursday June 15 -- Guy's Club breakfast, 8:00 Patio; dinner at JJ's with Phoebe and Mark for Father's Day

Friday June 16 -- Breakfast at Idlewyld 8:00; Farmer's Market with Phoebe 8:30;  Tram Tour 1:30; Sons of Mystro (violins) 7:30 Hoover; new owners of the golf cart picked it up.  Named it "Bruce."

Saturday June 17 -- Pack up, cleanup, ride home.