“The great vocation of the minister is to continuously make connections between the human story and the divine story.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Living Reminder
Rev. F. Lee McDermott, Pastor of McClellandtown and Grace Chapel Presbyterian Churches.
Rev. McDermott and his wife, Karen
I arrived on March 1, 2013 to begin my work as the pastor of the McClellandtown and Grace Chapel Presbyterian Churches, two congregations which have been yoked together for many
years and have shared a pastor. I did not come here just to become the pastor, but to join both congregations on their journey of faith and discover together where God's intended future will guide us as a community of faith.
All of us, as God's children, have an important role within the church's collective understanding of our calling as members of the body of Christ. We are claimed by God at the time of our baptism for a unique ministry shaped for us by God's
Spirit and our task is to seek it and permit the Holy Spirit to teach us, counselor us, and lead us as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We gather together to study, share, and experience God’s Holy presence as we encounter God in scripture, by sharing in common worship as a community, seek together God's presence through our reformed spiritual traditions, and becoming God's sent people into our community and the world.
Faithful, successful, and thriving congregations exist, because the people take seriously their calling to serve Christ in all things. Pastors often get the credit for successful congregations, but in reality the reason for a thriving church is because the congregation took seriously their role to share the gospel, serve Christ and give to the whole life of the church through their time, talents and treasures.
In the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) my role as pastor is referred to as a “teaching elder.” I am called to teach, support, and encourage the ministry of others, through teaching about Jesus Christ and scripture, leading worship and preaching, training ruling elders, recognizing others gifts and encouraging them to use them to God's glory and work in partnership with others within the church and the community.
I am confident God has planned an exciting, wonderful and grace filled future for us, not necessarily an easy one, but one that will bring forth an experience of the fullness of the glory of God in all things before us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) Where is God calling you to serve?
years and have shared a pastor. I did not come here just to become the pastor, but to join both congregations on their journey of faith and discover together where God's intended future will guide us as a community of faith.
All of us, as God's children, have an important role within the church's collective understanding of our calling as members of the body of Christ. We are claimed by God at the time of our baptism for a unique ministry shaped for us by God's
Spirit and our task is to seek it and permit the Holy Spirit to teach us, counselor us, and lead us as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We gather together to study, share, and experience God’s Holy presence as we encounter God in scripture, by sharing in common worship as a community, seek together God's presence through our reformed spiritual traditions, and becoming God's sent people into our community and the world.
Faithful, successful, and thriving congregations exist, because the people take seriously their calling to serve Christ in all things. Pastors often get the credit for successful congregations, but in reality the reason for a thriving church is because the congregation took seriously their role to share the gospel, serve Christ and give to the whole life of the church through their time, talents and treasures.
In the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) my role as pastor is referred to as a “teaching elder.” I am called to teach, support, and encourage the ministry of others, through teaching about Jesus Christ and scripture, leading worship and preaching, training ruling elders, recognizing others gifts and encouraging them to use them to God's glory and work in partnership with others within the church and the community.
I am confident God has planned an exciting, wonderful and grace filled future for us, not necessarily an easy one, but one that will bring forth an experience of the fullness of the glory of God in all things before us. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) Where is God calling you to serve?
Brief Biography
• Born in Meadville, PA in northwest Pennsylvania
• Spent childhood in Cochranton, PA and teenage years in Grove City, PA
• Have two sisters, Sharon and Patricia
• Confirmed as a member of the Tower United Presbyterian Church, Grove City as a teenager.
• Active in youth group and youth mission trips
• Formal Education
- Grove City Area High School
- University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, Arkansas
- McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois
• Married to Karen Dickinson from Elmira, New York
• Have two adult children, Ron and Kimberly
• Worked for twenty years in addiction treatment and prevention fields
• Spent childhood in Cochranton, PA and teenage years in Grove City, PA
• Have two sisters, Sharon and Patricia
• Confirmed as a member of the Tower United Presbyterian Church, Grove City as a teenager.
• Active in youth group and youth mission trips
• Formal Education
- Grove City Area High School
- University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, Arkansas
- McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois
• Married to Karen Dickinson from Elmira, New York
• Have two adult children, Ron and Kimberly
• Worked for twenty years in addiction treatment and prevention fields
Interesting Background
• Served churches in Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Virginia.
• Learned to build log cabins from hand hewed logs at Silver Dollar City, Missouri.
• During high school went on mission trip to Arkansas to build a room on a country church and discovered the college where I eventually attended.
• Interested in U.S. history particularly, the U.S. Civil War and have visited many Civil War sites since I was a teenager.
• Interested in history related to George Washington and enjoy visiting locations where George Washington visited or lived during his life.
• Involved in social media and technology, blogging, Facebook, YouTube, video production, media presentations, web design and can write code using HTML and CSS.
• Involved in the hobbies of gardening, woodworking, and photography.
Virginia.
• Learned to build log cabins from hand hewed logs at Silver Dollar City, Missouri.
• During high school went on mission trip to Arkansas to build a room on a country church and discovered the college where I eventually attended.
• Interested in U.S. history particularly, the U.S. Civil War and have visited many Civil War sites since I was a teenager.
• Interested in history related to George Washington and enjoy visiting locations where George Washington visited or lived during his life.
• Involved in social media and technology, blogging, Facebook, YouTube, video production, media presentations, web design and can write code using HTML and CSS.
• Involved in the hobbies of gardening, woodworking, and photography.
