BELOVED LICENSED MINISTER, MEDIATOR, AND FRIEND:
MICHAEL MOORHEAD
A history of his time with our Church from our historian, and his friend: Fran Bock
"Good morning, Neighborhood Church!" This cheerful weekly greeting at the beginning of each Sunday worship service at The Neighborhood Church led by Michael Moorhead welcomed everyone and this memory will always invite a smile in gratitude for his long friendship and service to our church community.
Members have seen Mike at Sunday worship, memorial and Vespers services and weddings in his role as Licensed Minister since 2002. How did members get opportunities to meet Mike in settings with shared interests?
In the months before the church performance of Fiddler on the Roof in June, 1999, Mike worked with Gary Krenz, Gene Ogle and Mike McCoy on set construction. Directed by Associate Minister Blair Kirkpatrick, the musical brought together over fifty participants who gave five performances. Many people of all ages will remember Bob Wright as Tevye, Marsha Hobel as Golde, Ruberta Weaver as Yenta and John Hicks as Rabbi. Blair wrote in the program words that reflected on the importance of community: “In the midst of ultimate darkness, through the faces of family, friends and other people of compassion, God gives us hope.” Mike lived his life with hope.
In 1999 Mike participated in The Leadership Development Program led by Senior Minister Karl Johnson on Saturday mornings in the Fellowship Hall. I remember particularly in Series II “Understanding Our Biblical Heritage” how Mike’s thought-provoking questions in our discussions after Karl’s lecture contributed to a safe environment where we could explore and grow as Christians. Mike began his Bible study classes that lasted for years. The inch-thick resource book, Discovering the Bible, that we used in one of his classes still gives me helpful references today. His drive to be thorough with freedom to learn at one’s own pace nurtured interested participants for longer than he could have imagined.
In 2000 on the Board of Trustees, Mike led the Capital Campaign that raised $632,000 to replace balustrades along the oceanside terrace. As secretary of the Board of Trustees I appreciated his organized, detailed manner and positive attitude. Like many members who volunteer, I didn’t foresee how the paths of our two families would follow so closely together as friends volunteering for our church community for decades.
At the Annual Meeting on May 17, 2000, Dr. Karl Johnson presented Mike the Pastor’s Mainstay Award in recognition of a member who helped the clergy and staff in advancing the goals of the church, especially with his Bible Study class. What began as small group discussions about the Bible expanded to leading Sunday morning worship services in the chapel at The Canterbury for senior members who couldn’t attend services in the sanctuary, to giving sermons to the congregation and eventually to leading worship services. His experience, knowledge of the Bible and about human nature, faith and trust in God and sincerity helped many people, earned respect and nurtured many friendships.
What will church members remember about Mike?
As a Stephen Minister since 1996, Mike used his gift of empathy to help members of the congregation. Our church trained laypeople to assist the ministers with confidential, private connections to members who were struggling with life challenges, including illness and grief.
Sometimes Mike dressed up as a person in the Bible during sermons. His sense of humor and creativity allowed him to reach out beyond himself to tell a good story. On March 1, 2020, one of the last Sundays before COVID required services to be online on YouTube, Mike dressed up as Job during Dr. David Young’s sermon. Online services continued and offered closeup views of the intensity and compassion in Mike’s face that I would have missed from sitting in a pew or choir chair.
Mike’s message of courage, faith and hope will be carried by generations of our church family members. Fast-forward to 2024 when I asked my younger daughter Sheila if she remembered Mike. Now a mother with two boys, she grew up in the church and participated along with Russ and me in the cast of The Fiddler on the Roof. She said, “When I was younger I remember him being very good natured and kind.” I find it comforting to connect Mike’s cheerful greeting to his message of starting each new day with hope. “Good morning, Neighborhood Church!”
April 24, 2024
VIEW MICHAEL’S MEMORIAL SERVICE
TO MAKE A DONATION IN MICHAEL’S NAME FILL IN THE FORM BELOW.