Dr. John Murray Smoot, Pastor Emeritus

We regret to announce that our long-time and much-beloved pastor and friend, the Rev. Dr. John Murray Smoot passed away the morning of Sunday August 27th, 2006.

In line with his life, he passed away on the way to church with friends.

Please be in prayer for his family and many friends.

The family has decided to have a "Book of Remembrances" instead of many people sharing at the service. Contributions to the book may be posted to our online Remembrance Guestbook. This guestbook is a place for friends, family and others who knew Pastor Smoot to leave messages, remembrances, stories or other encouragement for each other in his honor and memory. Please share your thoughts or memories of Pastor Smoot.

Cards or letters may be sent to the family through Central Presbyterian Church, 7308 York Road, Towson, MD 21204. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Central Presbyterian Church's Mission Fund.

Viewings, interment and memorial services have already been held.

An audio recording of the service (MP3) will be available online here as soon as the webmaster can finish it.

In Memoriam
Rev. Dr. John Murray Smoot
June 20, 1917 - August 27, 2006

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Murray Smoot died on Sunday morning, August 27th , while riding in a car with friends going to worship at Central Presbyterian Church. His daughter, Jan, reports that he died while relating a funny story to his friends, and did not suffer.

Murray and Dottie - 1997 Murray was born and raised in Baltimore, graduated from Wheaton College, attended seminary at Dallas Theological Seminary, and earned his doctorate from St. Mary's Seminary and University. Murray was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia on September 17, 1948. He transferred to the Presbytery of Baltimore in October of 1949 and was the moderator of the Presbytery of Baltimore in 1962. He served Central Presbyterian Church from 1949 to 1983. Murray was the pastor responsible for re-starting Central after it had been closed following the death of longtime pastor Rev. DeWitt M. Benham. During his time at the church, Murray's love of music led him to arrange joint concerts between Central's music ministry and sections of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Murray was elected Pastor Emeritus of Central. Throughout his years of ministry he served churches in Washington state, Maryland, Bangladesh (the Dhaka International Christian Church) and Japan. Murray preached in Mexico, Thailand, Taipei, Japan, South Africa, Scotland and Pakistan. He had a heart for international mission; he was a missions interpreter for Appalachia, USA, Mexico, South America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. He directed tours to Israel, Egypt, Turkey and Europe. Murray worked extensively with youth for sixteen years, and was the Northwest Director of Young Life in Seattle, Washington for three of those years. More than 60 men and women who had been involved in youth ministries led by Murray went on to full-time pastoral and missionary fields of service.

Murray and his wife Dottie were married in 1942; Dottie predeceased him in 2001 after almost 60 years of marriage. Murray and Dottie are survived by their five children: John Murray, Jr., James Robert, Janette Turnbaugh, Dorothy Jeanne Watson and Jonathan Frederick.

Sermons by Pastor Smoot

Unfortunately we only have these few sermons by Pastor Smoot available online from recent years, though our tape ministry surely has many years of his teaching.
"Of Pup Tents and Palaces"
"Spotlight on Five"
"Ah, But Afterward!"
"The Wounded Healer"
"The Cloning of Jesus"
"Blinded By Effulgence"
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot!"
"Every Generation," by Andy Gathman, with introduction by Pastor Smoot