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Thank you for giving to McCormick Methodist Church. Your gifts enable us to fulfill our mission of “Reaching Up and Reaching Out”.

 

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell

 

 

Shari Abbott, on her Reasons for Hope in Jesus website, writes a beautiful article for Mother’s Day. With joy I share it with you as I couldn’t have written one any better.

 

My mother has been with Jesus since 2003. Time definitely has eased the pain of separation, but time has also faded my memories. Circumstances in my life cause me to think about her a lot, to miss her, and to reflect on what a blessing she was to me.

 

In addition to celebrating our mothers who are with us this Mother’s Day, I want to remind all of us to take the time to remember our mothers (and grandmothers) who dwell only in our hearts.

 

God’s Prescription: Remember
I often write about the importance of remembering. I believe it is the primary prescription God gives us. While there are many things we should do as God’s children, remembering is something we NEED to do — especially remembering who God is, what He has done for us by sending Jesus to redeem us, and who we are in Christ.
Mother’s Day is a special day to remember our mothers. We should remember all that they have done for us, all that they mean to us, and who we are because of them.

 

At birth, our mothers were an instrument in God’s hand to bring us into this world. God knit together each of us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) and placed us in her arms at birth. What a joy and blessing it is for a mother to cradle her newborn child for the first time at birth and then to hold her child’s hand throughout life. That’s how God intended it to be.

 

Just as a child is a gift from God to a mother (and father), mothers (and fathers) are gifts from God to the child. There is a bond in the parent-child relationship that should never be broken—and never really can be. One can divorce a spouse, but not a parent.

 

Just as God loves us and has given us spiritual birth, we should honor and love the one who gave us physical birth. That’s how God intended it to be.

 

A Mother’s Love
The undying love of one’s mother is best understood when a daughter becomes a mother herself. Now, please don’t misunderstand me. Childless women can also understand a mother’s love because of the love they have received from their own mother. However, a deeper understanding blooms when a woman becomes a mother herself and experiences her love for her child.

 

The love of a mother for her child is the closest thing to the love of God for mankind, and especially the love of God for His children. From the time of conception (or adoption for some mothers), there is a oneness between mother and child that is sacred in God’s eyes. It is a unity that God intends to last until they are separated by death.

 

Sadly, not all mother-and-child relationships weather the storms of this life, and many are broken. Broken relationships grieve the heart of God, and every effort should be made to bring about reconciliation and restoration in family relationships.

 

God’s Prescription for Mother’s Day: Remember!
Remembering our mothers is important, and how we remember them is crucial to a loving relationship that honors God. We are told to take every thought captive for Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5), and that verse tells us remembering is an active and willful choice.

 

Furthermore, in choosing our thoughts “for Jesus” we understand that our thought life is to glorify Him. What and how we choose to remember will influence our thoughts–and, in turn, our words and actions.

 

Remember, God Forgave You
There’s no perfect mother, and there’s no perfect child. All relationships need good forgivers ready to give each other grace. As Christians, we are to love without conditions and sacrificially. We are to give all that we have because, in Christ, we already have all that we need.

 

Choose to remember—and above all, remember that even when you forget (willfully or neglectfully), God is faithful to you. Even when you “forget” Him, He remembers you, is faithful to you, and loves you!

 

Fill Your Glass
There’s a saying that our “glass” is either “half-empty” or “half-full.” That which “fills” our “glass” illustrates how we choose to live. Do we remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember? That’s a half-empty glass.

 

In God’s grace, our sins are cast into the sea of His forgotten memory….never to be remembered or charged against us. Therefore, we should do the same. We are not to keep a record of wrongs (1 Cor 13:5). We should be quick to forgive and forget! And we should love with a sacrificial love that reflects the love of Jesus and gratitude for the love and grace He gives us! That’s a glass “half-full”—or even full and overflowing.

 

Remembering Moms
If, like me, your mother has passed on from this life, make Mother’s Day a special day to remember her. Keep the memories of her alive in your heart. If you still have your mother, give thanks to God for her presence in your life. Make Mother’s Day a grace-filled day of letting go of life’s little issues and taking captive every warm and wonderful memory of Mom. Hide those memories in your heart. One day, memories will be all you have, and then your beautiful memories will be sufficient to fill your glass to overflow.

 

Honor God by honoring your mother in your mind and with your actions. And the love that God has given you will pour forth in love for others.

 

Thank you Shari Abbot!

 

See You in Church or online this Sunday!

 

Your Pastor,
Nels

 

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Ascension Sunday
Mother’s Day

Scripture Lesson:Ephesians 6: 1-4

Message: “Honoring Mothers and the God Who Loves Them” – Debbie Wissinger, Lay-Servant

 

I recently read a detailed description of a boomerang that interested me mainly because I was clueless about how it works. I learned that this interesting contraption is made from two blades – called arms – connected at the proper angle, each arm serving as an airfoil. An airfoil is a curved structure designed to do one thing – to lift.

 

This information on boomerangs was shared in the final session of a Bible study of the 24:7 Small Group. Entitled Listen – Love – Repeat – Other-Centered Living in a Self-Centered World, the author, Karen Ehman began the study by exploring the age-old “Big Why?” question – “Why are we here?” Her answer was “Relationships” – we are on Earth for two reasons: to have a relationship with God, who offers us a place in Heaven, and to take every opportunity to point others to Jesus so they will spend eternity in Heaven, too.

 

Throughout the study, we were encouraged to “Live Alert!” as we “listen, love, and repeat” with kindness in our relationships with others. The final session – entitled “The Boomerang of Blessing”– reminded us that if we use our two outstretched arms in kindness to lift others up, the “boomerang of blessing” often lands right back in our lives!

 

 

This week’s Kindness entry: These days the bad news seems to be much greater than the good news. With that thought in mind, we probably need to remember statements like this that a mother once said to her young son when he would see scary things in the news: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,” she said. And you know what? She was right!

 

Have you seen God today? If you see God at work this week, there are two ways you can share what you saw!

 

1) Be a blessing to others by sharing your Act of Kindness (no names please) on our website, or use this link! Then check back each week to learn how others are passing on acts of kindness! The link is https://www.mccormickmc.org/acts-of-kindness

 

2) There is a Kindness box in the library on the window sill, along with paper and pencil. Share your God-Wink, perhaps someone else will be inspired!

 

 

Special thanks to the MMC Prayers and Squares Team for making 200 prayer squares for our Native American guests! Be sure to read their note!

 

 

 

 

The members of Widows Connection recently completed their study of First Corinthians … Living Love When We Disagree.

 

The group met together on April 29 to celebrate with fun fellowship, laughter, tears, and delicious finger foods from each member!

 

Their final meeting for spring will be on Tuesday, May 28 at 1:30 p.m. (meeting date change due to Memorial Day holiday) when they will travel to Lincolnton, GA for a late lunch together at the Chicken House. Other ladies who are interested are invited to join the group.

 

Members pictured above are (left to right) standing – Emilee Groh, Judy Self, Liz Parks, Toni Graham, Dot Baggett, Adele Sandlin; seated, Polly Ann Prather, Lorna Thayer, and Linda Kidd.

 

 

Appreciation and a big thank you to Rich Jackson and Charles Meyer who fixed the spotlights for the Church steeple by installing new energy efficient LED units. Be sure to “look up” when in town in the evening!

 

 

If you are experiencing any type of difficulty and you need someone to listen to you, with whom you can share your feelings and receive acceptance and Christian love, please consider being in a relationship with a Stephen Minister at MMC.

 

Start by calling Pastor Nels or one of the Stephen Leaders and begin a ‘fellowship’ with a Stephen Minister. We may be reached through the church office at (864) 852-2394.

 

The Congregational Care Committee wants you to know they are there to help you if you ever need transportation, meals or a visitor! Please contact Kim Jackson if you or someone you know needs help or if you would like to be added to the list of volunteers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark your calendars!

 

Thursdays at 10AM in Fellowship Hall. 4 Week series, each week in June.  Led by Wendy Kvale. Titled “Are ya Living the Sermon?” 

 

Mondays at 6pm in Fellowship Hall beginning May 27th through July 15th.  Season 3 of “The Chosen”. 

 

EPWORTH IS OUR MINISTRY! Last year Epworth Children’s Home served over 1,400 children and families through their statewide programs. Each of these children had this opportunity because of churches in South Carolina who embrace and provide for this ministry.

 

On Sunday, May 12th, 2024, we will participate in the annual Mother’s Day Offering to benefit the children who call Epworth home, as well as each child and family touched by Epworth’s ministries. Please be in prayerful consideration of what God is calling you to give to this valuable and life changing ministry.

 

There will be special envelopes on Sunday, May 12, but you may contribute any time by writing a check, payable to MMC and noted Epworth Children’s Home. Feel free to drop in the collection plate or bring by the office. You may also mail your check to the church. MMC P.O. Box 267 McCormick SC 29835. You may also donate online.

 

For more information about Epworth Children’s Home, visit them online at www.epworthchildrenshome.org .

 

The scholarship committee of McCormick Methodist Church is currently accepting applications for this year‘s Creighton scholarship. Applications are available at the church office Monday through Thursday, 9-1 o’clock. Application deadline is July 1.

 

Questions, contact Lindy Stahlman.