from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell

 

A Prayer for Sanctification During Our Season of Lent

 

Ash Wednesday, which is this Wednesday, March 5, marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is an important season to Christians as it calls upon us to examine our lives and relationships with God, confess our sins and seek forgiveness. Our goal, especially during Lent, is to become further sanctified in Christ. As we begin, I share with you this prayer written by Joel D. Kline. I suggest that you begin by praying your own prayer of confession and asking for God’s forgiveness. Then, use this prayer below as your life becomes a Christian life of loving and serving Christ.

 

Gracious God, how blessed we are to live and serve as a community of Your people. Gifted with the beauty of creation surrounding us, lead us into significant relationships that nurture and challenge us, as we experience the promise of life, and are grateful.

 

Lead us now, O God, as we seek, in this season of Lent, to journey with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

 

Lead us in righteousness, that our journey might be a journey in which we embrace Christ’s ways of compassion and justice, grace and mercy, hope and right living.

 

Lead us, God, in peace, as we seek to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

 

Fill us with a peace that passes all human understanding, a peace the world cannot give to us, neither can it take away.

 

But, holy God, let us never be satisfied with personal peace alone. Lead us into paths of peacemaking and reconciliation. And God, we pray that You might soften the hearts of those world leaders who are far more inclined to wage war than to seek peace.

 

God, where there is brokenness, form us into instruments of forgiveness.

 

Where there is despair, make of us channels of Your hope.

 

Where there is division, may we be empowered to bring healing and wholeness.

 

Where darkness abounds, grant us courage to walk in the light, our eyes fixed on Jesus, the light of the world.

 

God of healing and compassion, We hold before You now those in special need of Your healing touch …

 

God, make us mindful of those among us this day who silently hold hurts and brokenness within them. Teach us to look into one another’s eyes and hearts.

 

We pray for those experiencing pain in their significant relationships, those who are yearning for new beginnings in life. We pray, O God, for young people facing untold pressures and challenges, and for older persons seeking to come to terms with limitations and losses. Whatever our life situations, O God, lead us in paths of right living, our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we pray. Amen.

 

Lent is a great opportunity for our lives to be changed as we are pardoned for our sins and move on to salvation through God’s grace.

 

See you in Church or online this Ash Wednesday and this First Sunday in Lent.

 

Your Pastor,
Nels

 

Sunday, March 9, 2025 – 10AM
First Sunday in Lent

Scripture Lesson: Luke 4: 1-13
Message: “What We Give Up to Gain with God”

Installation of Church Officers

My Jesus, I Love Thee
O How He Loves You and Me
Be Still My Soul

 

 

The month of March is designated as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in the U.S. This month recognizes individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and aims to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and focus on the contributions of people with disabilities.

 

A special emphasis of this month is to highlight how people, both with and without disabilities, come together to form strong communities by celebrating the abilities of all. Recognizing that God has given us all our own unique abilities is a practice that is put into place, not only in March but every day of the year, at the Burton Center in Greenwood.

 

Just one example is the Burton Center Ball held every other year in October. The photo above shows approximately 350 staff and consumers from the six-county region served by the Center at last year’s Ball. Special music is always donated to this event by the Swingin’ Medallions, and both consumers and staff dress in their finest formal attire as they parade in on the Red Carpet!

 

It warms your heart to realize that the staff go all out to be sure that the consumers in their charge are dressed “to the nines” and that they have the chance to participate in this special event to the greatest extent of their ability. Some staff even make provisions for stretch limos to escort the attendees to the Ball! A whole residence of men all dressed alike in their frilly tuxedos will usually be seen!

 

Not only do the Burton Center staff serve some “special people” – they are pretty “special” themselves as they display this kind of kindness!

 

This week’s kindness entry is very interesting – it covers the “do’s” and “don’ts” of kindness. Instead of reporting Kindness, this is more a report of an “Unkindness” – one that thankfully we rarely see, and I could not believe my eyes when I saw it! Looking out the window while eating at a restaurant recently, I saw a car pull up at the front and a father and his two children got out. They entered the restaurant, asked the seating attendant where the bathroom was, went to the bathroom, then walked back out of the restaurant! The seating attendant, though surprised, took the high road of kindness and smiled, wishing them a good day!

 

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!

 

 

If you feel drawn to support their mission financially you can write a check, payable to MMC and noted Uganda Mission and put it in collection plate, bring it by the office, or mail to the church (McCormick Methodist Church, PO Box 267, McCormick, SC 29835).

—or—

 

 

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.

 

 

Easter lilies symbolize purity, hope, innocence, and virtue. They represent the purity of Jesus, who was free from sin.

 

Our worship committee has arranged to have Easter lilies in the sanctuary. The cost is $8.50 for a lily in a 6 inch pot.

 

If you would like to order lilies in honor of, or in memory of loved ones. Forms are available on the round table in the Fellowship Hall or you can complete this form and return to the Church office.

 

Church address is:

P.O. Box 267

McCormick SC 29835.

 

Make checks payable to MMC and note Easter Lilies.

 

This announcement is for anyone excited about Christian Fellowship and having fun!! Games with Friends will start on March 20th and continue each 3rd Thursday of the month. We’ll meet from 1:30-3:30PM in the fellowship hall and decide on the games of the week to play.

 

Baby Bottles for Crossroads Women’s Center (Greenwood)
The baby bottles for the Crossroad Baby Bottle Campaign are in the Fellowship Hall. There will be a sheet to show who has taken a bottle to fill with coins. Funds raised enable CPC to offer free pregnancy tests, counseling, classes, ultrasounds, Bible Studies, and material assistance such as diapers and clothing. Bottles need to be returned by March 30.

 

The women’s luncheon will be March 14 at Liberty Hill. There will be a buffet for $15. We will meet at 11 a.m. in the church parking lot. All are welcome to bring a friend. There is a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall so we can give Liberty Hill a head count.

 

 

Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.

 

Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.

 

SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion

Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.

 

The Chancel Choir will sing the Easter Musical, “Because He Lives”. MMC Family members will provide the narration. Coffee and refreshments will follow in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Please sign up on the chart across from the office for a week that works best to supply the flowers for the sanctuary. Patsy will sign you up if you want, just give her a call at the Church office!