Happenings – May 2, 2025

Posted on May 2, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
153 Fish
 
In Seminary students are often asked to go deep into Biblical research and interpretation. Sometimes, with the help of the brilliant faculty members, we would get so deep into the scripture and wild theories it became too easy for us to get caught up in trivial interpretations of scripture and miss the point. The Rev. Brett Blair gives this example.
 
Take a look at John 21:11: “Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.” Now, why in heaven’s name was there 153 fish? Have you ever wondered about that? No? Well others have.
 
Cyril of Alexandria in the 5th century said that the 100 represented the fullness of the gentiles, the 50 symbolized the remnant of Israel and the three of course was there for the Trinity.
 
Augustine’s theory (5th century) was a little more complicated. He said, there are 10 commandments and 7 is the perfect number of grace and that’s 17 right? Now if you add all the numbers from 1 to 17 together, you know 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 all the way up to 17 you’ll get 153. And not only that but if you were to arrange them with 17 fish in the first row, and 16 in the next row, and 15 in the next row, all the way down to a row of 1 you get a perfect triangle which of course symbolizes the Trinity.
 
Jerome, he also lived in the 5th century, suggested that there were 153 different types of fish in the sea and it was symbolic of the church reaching all the people in the world.
 
Here’s another theory of Rev. Blair: they had to divide them somehow, and so Peter being the Skipper he got 21% or 32 fish, and John being mate got 16% that’s 25 fish, and the other five got 10.5% each or 16 fish….
 
Personally, I have my own theory, want to hear it? I think that it’s mentioned because there were 153 fish in the net.
 
You see we can get so caught up in really trivial stuff and miss the point that we need to be obedient to Christ. The important part was they obeyed and let down their nets.
 
Are you ready to listen to Jesus?
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday!
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, May 4, 2025
Third Sunday of Easter
Holy Communion
Scripture Lesson: John 21: 1-19
Message: The Reset Button of the Lord
Hymns:
Christ Is Risen
Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know
Christ Is Alive
Anthems:
My Lord, What a Morning
The Lord Bless You and Keep You
 

Kindness Update – The Cost of Kindness!

The article below entitled “How Much Goodness Can $20 Buy?” dated April 26, 2025,is reprinted from the Good News Network. It reminds us that kindness is free, that it multiplies the value of whatever you put into it!
 
It all started with heartbreak and $100 in tips, when in 2014 Kristina Ulmer’s sister headed home with the cash earned from her breakfast tables but never made it due to a car crash. Because her sister Katie was always concerned about struggling folks who were less fortunate, Kristina decided to turn the $100 from her sister’s tips into a fitting memorial that would brighten the world–just like her sister always did.
 
“I knew I had to do something worthwhile with it,” said Kristina, a ninth-grade English teacher near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time her class was reading a novel about people’s obsession with their computer screens causing them to lack empathy toward each other.”
 
It was that novel, several years after her sister’s death, that Kristina got an idea. Everyone needed a reminder about the importance of being interconnected and the value of helping each other along the way.
 
So Kristina took the $100 she’d been saving from her sister’s purse, added a little more to it, and directed her students to take a $20 bill and go out into the world with a mission: Do something kind and make a video about it.
 
Her ‘Kindness Challenge’ has since attracted over $7,000 in donations—enough to sustain it for six straight years. And, it’s created more than 350 acts of kindness—each one unique.
 
Every year, new acts of kindness move Kristina to tears as she combines the videos into a montage that shares the story of her sister, along with the magic created by her students with their $20 bills.
 
Have you seen God today? If you see God at work this week, you can share what you saw! Be a blessing to others by sharing your Act of Kindness (no names please) on our website or use this link: https://www.mccormickmc.org/acts-of-kindness. Share what you saw; perhaps someone will be inspired to do an act of kindness themselves! Then check back each week to learn how others are passing on acts of kindness!
 

CHURCH AND PARSONAGE GROUNDS CLEANUP DAY

A big shout out to our intrepid volunteers for the annual Church spring cleanup on Saturday. Brad Meyers, Harry Shelley, Byron Thompson (and a friend who he persuaded to show up), Dick Whiteman, Roger Wideman, Bob Wissinger and John Yerdon spread mulch on the church grounds , Rte. 378 Parking lot and the parsonage. They also trimmed, killed weeds and picked up debris in the 378 Parking lot. Kim Jackson, Wendy Kvale, and Deb Wissinger worked tirelessly cleaning all of the inside windows in the church to a sparkling shine. Thanks again for all your great work.
 
MMC Trustees
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
How To Support
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—
 
 

METHODIST MEN N MINISTRY

MAY 6

Methodist Men n Ministry meeting will be Tuesday, May 6, 2025 beginning at 6pm. Ron Garling will be presenting the devotion.
 
Dinner will be slightly different.. We will be having an ”Italian flavor dinner”..
 
We will be discussing the after church Mother’s day breakfast. John Yerdon is planning scrambled eggs, sliced ham briskets with all other normal breakfast items. The other items we need to discuss is the Trunks of Gold (Saturday, May 17,2025) open community pancake breakfast.from 8am to 11am.
 
John will need 2-3 helpers for the mother’s day morning breakfast and another 4- 6 for the Trunks of Gold event. We will also be voting on special donations. See you all Tuesday, May 6,2025.
 

MMC SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATIONS ARE READY

 

The Scholarship Committee of the McCormick Methodist Church is currently accepting applications for this year’s Creighton Scholarship. Applications are available at the church office Monday – Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Application deadline is July 1.
 

Criteria for the selection of the scholarship winner are as follows:

The candidate must be a graduating high school senior who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning and displays the traits of good character, service to others and academic excellence.

Question? Call Patsy Wilson or Lindy Stahlman.
 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
CONTINUES EACH MONDAY NIGHT

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

EPWORTH CHILDREN’S HOME

MOTHER’S DAY OFFERING

 
SUNDAY, MAY 11, WE CELEBRATE OUR MOTHERS AND EPWORTH!
Most of the children served by Epworth will not be celebrating Mother’s Day with their birth mothers this year. Instead, they will be surrounded by loving staff or foster parents who walk with them daily to provide spiritual, educational, emotional, and physical support.
 
The Mother’s Day offering is our opportunity to partner with Epworth to improve the lives of the children and families they serve. For more information about Epworth, visit online at www.epworthsc.org. Please be in prayerful consideration of what God is calling you to give to help Epworth make a difference in the lives of children and families every day. For more information about Epworth, visit online at www.epworthsc.org.
 
If using a check please make it payable to MMC and write Epworth on the subject line.
 
There will be envelopes provided in the bulletin on May 11.
 
You may donate at any time. Place your check in the offering plate, bring to the office or mail to MMC, P.O. 267, McCormick SC 29835.
 
The easiest way to donate is to use the secure VANCO site on our website. Simply click on this link … https://secure.myvanco.com/YQQ5/campaign/C-106JP
 

MOTHER’S DAY TREAT

MEN N MINSTRY MAKING BREAKFAST

MAY 11

The Methodist men n ministry will be providing a light breakfast for church attendees after service on Mother’s day. John Yerdon and crew will be making scrambled eggs, sausage and muffins. There will be coffee and juice available.
 

TRUNKS OF GOLD

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

MAY 17

Methodist men will be providing a pancake breakfast on Saturday May 17, 2025. It will run from 8am to 11am, $6.00 gets you all you can eat. Blueberry and normal pancakes with sausage will be served, with all the normal breakfast items.
 
Trunks of Gold will be another fun activity! Come for breakfast and then go down to Main Street and check out what the vendors are selling from their trunks.
 

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL

May 18th at 3PM

Bring your animals to the Meyer’s Farm!!
 
Our first Blessing of the Animals will be happening Sunday, May 18th at 3PM!!!
 
Bring your pets, furry or not and enjoy a great afternoon as Nels blesses all our pets.
 
Ice cream will be served to the people and “treats” for the pets. Please keep your dogs on a leash…gotta keep the cats safe!!
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Klausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
PLANT SALE If you are planning on repotting, separating plants, or rooting new plants, and would like to share your bounty, please consider sharing your plants by donating to the MMW Craft Show Plant Sale.
 
Marge and I will set up several tables (depending on how many plants we get) in the Atrium.
 
Also if you have extra pots you no longer need (no plastic) or garden accents we would love to accept them also.
We usually have the plants dropped off at the church Friday (Oct 3). If for some reason you need to bring them sooner, we can work something out.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing.
 
Marge Radosevich and Sue Wurtzbacher
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 
More details about the event are available at https://www.mccormickmc.org/craft-show-2025/
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.

Read more...

Happenings, April 25, 2025

Posted on Apr 25, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
The Greatest Scar Story
 
Christi O. Brown, tells this story about the scars Thomas saw on the hands and feet of Jesus.
 
I can think of no better modern-day illustration of the sacrifice Jesus made for us than a recent scar story I heard from a tennis friend of mine. As we were waiting for another match to finish, she was relating how badly her knees hurt. This friend is the most fit 30-something-year-old I know. Yet she sat beside me with a brace on each knee. I pointed to the open hole of her knee brace and asked if her scar was from knee surgery. She told me, “No, it’s from my son, and I actually have an identical scar on my other knee.”
 
You see, several years ago she scooped up her toddler son from the swimming pool and began to walk towards a lounge chair. As she stepped onto the tiled patio, her foot slipped on the wet slick surface. She was also seven months pregnant, and it was one of those moments where you feel like you’re moving in slow motion but there’s nothing you can do to stop the fall. Within a split second, she knew her momentum was toppling her forward, and she could either face-plant and land on top of both her son and her unborn child, or she could fall on her knees.
 
Of course, as any loving parent would do, she chose to fall on her knees directly onto the unforgiving concrete. Her knees immediately burst open and blood went everywhere. She ended up needing stitches, which resulted in scars, but her son and unborn child were both unscathed. It is hard for me to tell this story without tearing up, because to me, it serves as a miniscule example of the immense sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ for us. You see, we are the beloved children of God for whom Jesus took the fall. Christ suffered on the cross and endured unimaginable pain for us. His is the greatest scar story ever told.
 
See you in Church this Sunday where we will learn even more about the power of the resurrected Christ.
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 
 
A Note of Thanks
 
As most of you know, my plans for preaching the last two weeks of Lent and Easter changed due to my emergency surgery I had on April 4. I had very little time to call the Church and find substitute preachers and others to take over in my absence. With this in mind I would like to offer my words of appreciation to Wendy Kvale and Debbie Wissinger for leading and preaching worship for the past three Sundays. It was a great relief to me to know that the work of the Church was moving forward as usual. Many others stepped up to help, Rick Lindley took over the visual art duties and Rich Jackson was kind enough to move sound system and set up to Baker Creek for the Easter Sonrise service. The Worship committee stepped up and prepared our sanctuary well for Palm Sunday and Easter. The same can be said for all who helped set up the Baker Creek Pavilion for that service. Thanks to all who pitched in to help in my absence. This is truly a compliment to our Church that we can move forward unfazed by change.
 
Thanks to all for your many calls, cards and get-well wishes. I plan to be back 100% very soon.
 
In appreciation,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday April 27 2025
Second Sunday of Easter
Scripture Lesson: Acts 5: 12-42
Message: Resurrection Power
Hymns:
The Day of Resurrection
I Have Decided
He is Lord
Anthem: Easter People Raise Your Voices
 

Kindness Update – Celebrating Earth Day!

As I write this, it is April 22, the day that is celebrated worldwide as Earth Day as a day to honor the beauty of creation and recommit ourselves to its care. As Christians, this is more than a secular holiday. Earth Day is a time to reflect on the sacred responsibility we hold as stewards of God’s creation.
 
Though this world has its flaws, it is still the artwork of a good and loving Creator who is continually making all things new each day through acts of kindness, justice, compassion, and the complexity and beauty found in nature. Thank you, Jesus!
 
The works of good stewards of God’s creation at McCormick Methodist Church are visible in many ways. The grounds of the church are well maintained and always inviting as we enter for worship. As we travel from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary, the beautiful greenery and blooms in the courtyard are reminders of what God can do when He has a little extra care from His stewards. Then in the sanctuary for worship, we see beautiful live flowers that glorify our Creator!
 
Creation is not ours to possess, but rather it is God’s gift entrusted to our care. As followers of Jesus, we are called to live out our love of neighbor, especially the vulnerable, by protecting the very earth that sustains all life. As we reflect on the words of Psalm 24:1, we begin our celebration of Earth Day with thankful hearts for a Creator who provides for all of our needs!
 
This week’s Kindness Entry:  When I entered Food Lion the other day, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen in a very long time, and we spent about thirty minutes catching up at the front of the store. I hurried to the restroom before purchasing my groceries – once I had made my selections, I proceeded to the check-out. I reached into my cart to get my wallet, but it wasn’t there. After searching the aisles, I had been down, I realized I needed to check the restroom. It wasn’t there, but as I was leaving, an employee came in holding my wallet – she saw me hurry in and thought it might be mine as she had found it in the bathroom. Through tears of gratitude, I gave her a big Thank you, and I thanked Jesus, too!
 
Have you seen God today? If you see God at work this week, you can share what you saw! Be a blessing to others by sharing your Act of Kindness (no names please) on our website or use this link: https://www.mccormickmc.org/acts-of-kindness. Share what you saw; perhaps someone will be inspired to do an act of kindness themselves! Then check back each week to learn how others are passing on acts of kindness!
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
 
An Easter Message From The Scales Family
 
 
How To Support
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—
 
 
 

CHURCH AND PARSONAGE GROUNDS CLEANUP DAY
APRIL 26
EVERYONE NEEDED

Our annual Church and Parsonage grounds cleanup day is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 starting at 9:00am. We will meet in the back church parking lot and divide up into teams. We need as many hands as possible so please put the date on your calendars!
 
Any members with wheelbarrows, shovels, trimmers, pruning shears, etc. are encouraged to bring them. Traditionally we have focused on the outside areas of the church and the parsonage. Several members have expressed interest in doing some cleanup inside, emphasizing the windows of the atrium and sanctuary. Please let Pat Meyers or Barb Shelley know if you would like to work on this. If there is enough interest, we will have cleaning supplies available.
 
We hope to have a good turnout to keep our Church looking inviting and welcoming. Again remember all members are welcome.
 
 

MMC SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATIONS ARE READY

 

The Scholarship Committee of the McCormick Methodist Church is currently accepting applications for this year’s Creighton Scholarship. Applications are available at the church office Monday – Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Application deadline is July 1.
 

Criteria for the selection of the scholarship winner are as follows:

The candidate must be a graduating high school senior who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning and displays the traits of good character, service to others and academic excellence.

Question? Call Patsy Wilson or Lindy Stahlman.
 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
STARTS APRIL 28 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

EPWORTH CHILDREN’S HOME

MOTHER’S DAY OFFERING

Epworth provides care for children and families in our community who have experienced trauma through abuse, neglect, and loss. This care helps to break the destructive cycle and sets them on a better path. On Sunday, May 11th, our congregation will support Epworth by collecting the Annual Epworth Mother’s Day Offering.
 

MOTHER’S DAY TREAT

MEN N MINSTRY MAKING BREAKFAST

MAY 11

The Methodist men n ministry will be providing a light breakfast for church attendees after service on Mother’s day. John Yerdon and crew will be making scrambled eggs, sausage and muffins. There will be coffee and juice available.
 

TRUNKS OF GOLD

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

MAY 17

Methodist men will be providing a pancake breakfast on Saturday May 17, 2025. It will run from 8am to 11am, $6.00 gets you all you can eat. Blueberry and normal pancakes with sausage will be served, with all the normal breakfast items.
 
Trunks of Gold will be another fun activity! Come for breakfast and then go down to Main Street and check out what the vendors are selling from their trunks.
 
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Klausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
PLANT SALE If you are planning on repotting, separating plants, or rooting new plants, and would like to share your bounty, please consider sharing your plants by donating to the MMW Craft Show Plant Sale.
 
Marge and I will set up several tables (depending on how many plants we get) in the Atrium.
 
Also if you have extra pots you no longer need (no plastic) or garden accents we would love to accept them also.
We usually have the plants dropped off at the church Friday (Oct 3). If for some reason you need to bring them sooner, we can work something out.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing.
 
Marge Radosevich and Sue Wurtzbacher
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 
More details about the event are available at https://www.mccormickmc.org/craft-show-2025/
 

2025 Flower Calendar

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!
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.

Read more...

Happenings – April 18, 2025

Posted on Apr 18, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
Nels shared this Holy Week Timeline to walk with Jesus Christ on His journey to the cross, from His triumphal entry into Jerusalem to His resurrection.
 

Preparing for Worship

Thursday, April 17, 2025 – 6PM
Maundy Thursday
A Service of Communion and Tenebrae
 
Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 6:30AM
Sunrise Service at Baker Creek State Park
 
Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 10AM
Resurrection Celebration and Musical
 

Kindness Update – Happy Easter!

On a website called Mums Invited, I found some beautiful Easter poems that celebrate new beginnings, cherished traditions, and the deeper meanings of faith and renewal. The author invites readers to share them with friends and family or use them for personal reflection, adding that “poetry expresses the profound mystery and joy of resurrection that sometimes feels too big for ordinary words”. Here’s one I especially liked:

Renewal’s Path
When winter’s grip begins to fade,
And spring brings forth its light cascade,
I think of stones that roll away,
And darkness turning into day.
The Easter story speaks to me,
Of how our souls were meant to be.
Released from burdens that we bear,
Reborn with each new morning prayer.
Like flowers pushing through the earth,
We too can know this second birth.
The risen Christ has shown the way,
To find new life this Easter day.
 
May the Blessings of our Risen Lord fill your Heart and Home with Happiness this Easter!
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
Update from Matt
“We just started planting beans this week. We will finish that up Monday and then move to maize, then finish with gnuts before we move to the vegetables. I just have to have patience with the slower process but it’s going really well. We are getting to build relationships with the locals an seeing the cultural and bringing some of our own in to the mix makes it fun! Thank y’all so much for the prayers keep them coming!”
 
How To Support
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—
 
 
 
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND EASTER MUSICAL – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

EASTER SUNDAY GOODIES NEEDED

We have invited many folks to join us for both/either Easter Services. Therefore, we will need many goodies to have at Baker Creek and again at the church. We are hoping many of you can contribute!
 
Please, please bring your goodie contribution, in disposable containers, to the church on Saturday (April 19) from 10am to 12am. This will save the Worship and Hospitality Committee from having to clean and return dishes. What is not used at Baker Creek, will be used at the church after the 10am service. Your goodies do not have to be home-made. If you bring then during the week, please mark Easter Goodies.
 
Thank you for sharing!!
 

MMC PRAYER WALK
GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 18
MEET AT CHURCH AT 10AM

The Prayer Warriors, led by Patty Kriger, invite the church family to join them on a Prayer Walk Good Friday, April 18 (if it rains, we will meet on a date to be decided). We will be meeting at the church at 10:00. We’ll have a short prayer and head out walking the streets of McCormick and praying for our community. Please come, walk and pray with us for our neighbors.

If you plan to attend, sign the sheet in Fellowship Hall beginning this Sunday.

Questions, contact Patty Kriger.

 

CHURCH AND PARSONAGE GROUNDS CLEANUP DAY
APRIL 26
EVERYONE NEEDED

Our annual Church and Parsonage grounds cleanup day is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 starting at 9:00am. We will meet in the back church parking lot and divide up into teams. We need as many hands as possible so please put the date on your calendars!
 
Any members with wheelbarrows, shovels, trimmers, pruning shears, etc. are encouraged to bring them. Traditionally we have focused on the outside areas of the church and the parsonage. Several members have expressed interest in doing some cleanup inside, emphasizing the windows of the atrium and sanctuary. Please let Pat Meyers or Barb Shelley know if you would like to work on this. If there is enough interest, we will have cleaning supplies available.
 
We hope to have a good turnout to keep our Church looking inviting and welcoming. Again remember all members are welcome.
 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
STARTS APRIL 28 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Clausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
PLANT SALE  If you are planning on repotting, separating  plants, or rooting new plants, and would like to share your bounty, please consider sharing your plants by donating to the MMW Craft Show Plant Sale.
 
Marge and I will set up several tables (depending on how many plants we get) in the Atrium.
 
Also if you have extra pots you no longer need (no plastic) or garden accents we would love to accept them also.
We usually have the plants dropped off at the church Friday (Oct 3). If for some reason you need to bring them sooner, we can work something out.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing.
 
Marge Radosevich and Sue Wurtzbacher
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 
More details about the event are available at https://www.mccormickmc.org/craft-show-2025/
 

MMC SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATIONS ARE READY

 

The Scholarship Committee of the McCormick Methodist Church is currently accepting applications for this year’s Creighton Scholarship. Applications are available at the church office Monday – Wednesday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Application deadline is July 1.
 

Criteria for the selection of the scholarship winner are as follows:

The candidate must be a graduating high school senior who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning and displays the traits of good character, service to others and academic excellence.

Question? Call Patsy Wilson or Lindy Stahlman.

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.

Read more...

Happenings – April 11, 2025

Posted on Apr 11, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Deb Wissinger
 
Our prayers are with our pastor, Rev. Nels Ledwell, as he recovers from surgery. In his absence, Deb Wissinger shares the following. Deb will also be delivering the message on Sunday.
 
I found this story online at Guidepost by Marci Alborghetti
Normally I delete those forwarded e-mails with cute or sentimental stories without even reading them. I receive so many, and when it comes to Internet profundity, I just don’t have the time.
 
All Things are Possible Launch In Article Ad
But for some reason I read the one I received on Palm Sunday. It told the story of a little boy who had to stay home from church because he had a cold. After the service, his older sister came home, waving her palm frond in the air. “What’s that?” asked the little boy.
 
She answered smugly, “We wave these in the air and then put them on the ground to welcome Jesus.”
 
The boy started wailing and fled the room. When his mother held him and asked what was wrong, he said through his tears, “The one Sunday I don’t go to church, Jesus showed up!”
 
Today’s the day Jesus shows up—in our churches, in our hearts, in our minds. We’ve been waiting for Him all our lives. Are you ready? Will you be there? Don’t let an ailment—physical, emotional or spiritual—keep you from the warmth of Jesus’ dramatic entrance into our lives.
 
Today is the first day of the most exciting, harrowing, tragic, grief-stricken and ultimately joyous week of our year. Don’t miss it. Don’t hit Delete. Show up, take the Lord’s hand and begin the journey.
 
See you in church.
Deb
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, April 13, 2025 – 10AM
Sixth Sunday in Lent
Palm Sunday
Scripture Lesson: Luke 19: 28-40
Message: “An Unlikely King”
Sonshine Ringers:  “All Glory, Laud and Honor”
Hymns:
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Lead Me, Lord
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Anthem: Because He Lives
 

Kindness Update – A World of Kindness!

We will welcome Mitch and Sue Mitchell back home this week as they return from their mission experience in Panama. It will be good to have them back safely! No doubt they will have many stories to share about kindnesses that have occurred over the past several months. I would like to share a couple with you.
 
The first is a personal observation following a recent contact from Sue. A good many years ago, She and Mitch hosted a couple of foreign exchange students from Rajamangala University in Thailand who were at Lander University in Greenwood – the foreign exchange program they were a part of was managed through the office where I worked. Their names were Dan and Ping. After the recent earthquake in Thailand and Myanmar, Sue sent word to me that Mitch was in touch with Dan and he was safe but he was having difficulty contacting Ping. She later reported back that Mitch was finally able to locate Ping and he was also ok. My heart was touched when I thought of the many young people from all around the world that they have blessed through the years by hosting them in their home, and now, while on yet another mission trip (in their retirement years, no less!), they were still caring for their past students! They are truly faithful disciples of Jesus! “I guess they will always be ‘our kids’!” Sue said.
 
The second story I’d like to share comes from Sue by way of Lindy: “Today we plan to go see the cathedral. The beauty and joy we have seen so far is mostly in the people. We did some walking yesterday but not much. We then returned to the room for a long afternoon nap. My kindness story occurred when I was walking up the 8 steps to our lunch cafe. I was using my trekking stick and carrying a bottle of water. A woman was leaving the cafe and when she saw me, she gently took my arm and helped me up. That is kindness. Things are a challenge here but we trust in the Lord. “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in Him.” Jeremiah 17:7. Love you!! Enjoy your day!!” – Sue
 
Mitch and Sue, we give thanks to God for placing you in our lives so that we might see Jesus through you and offer ourselves in support of your unselfish service as missionaries through our gifts and prayers! May He continue to bless you as you serve Him!
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
Update from Matt
“We just started planting beans this week. We will finish that up Monday and then move to maize, then finish with gnuts before we move to the vegetables. I just have to have patience with the slower process but it’s going really well. We are getting to build relationships with the locals an seeing the cultural and bringing some of our own in to the mix makes it fun! Thank y’all so much for the prayers keep them coming!”
 
How To Support
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—
 
 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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

MMC WOMEN MOVIE TIME
UNSUNG HERO
April 15 2pm

All women and their guests are invited to watch Unsung Hero in the Fellowship Hall on April 15 at 2pm. Popcorn and Lemonade will be provided!
 
UNSUNG HERO
In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, in pursuit of a new beginning. David and his wife, Helen, uproot their lives and six children seeking refuge in Nashville after the collapse of David’s music company in Australia following a $500,000 loss from one concert booking.
 
As the family settles into their new home they encounter numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the daunting task of starting over in a foreign country. Despite the uncertainty, Helen’s unwavering faith and David’s determination propel them forward, instilling hope and resilience in their children.
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
PALM SUNDAY – April 13 – 10AM
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17 – 6PM
Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.
 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND EASTER MUSICAL – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

EASTER SUNDAY GOODIES NEEDED

We have invited many folks to join us for both/either Easter Services. Therefore, we will need many goodies to have at Baker Creek and again at the church. We are hoping many of you can contribute!
 
Please, please bring your goodie contribution, in disposable containers, to the church on Saturday (April 19) from 10am to 12am. This will save the Worship and Hospitality Committee from having to clean and return dishes. What is not used at Baker Creek, will be used at the church after the 10am service. Your goodies do not have to be home-made. If you bring then during the week, please mark Easter Goodies.
 
Thank you for sharing!!
 

MMC PRAYER WALK
GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 18
MEET AT CHURCH AT 10AM

The Prayer Warriors, led by Patty Kriger, invite the church family to join them on a Prayer Walk Good Friday, April 18 (if it rains, we will meet on a date to be decided). We will be meeting at the church at 10:00. We’ll have a short prayer and head out walking the streets of McCormick and praying for our community. Please come, walk and pray with us for our neighbors.

If you plan to attend, sign the sheet in Fellowship Hall beginning this Sunday.

Questions, contact Patty Kriger.

 

CHURCH AND PARSONAGE GROUNDS CLEANUP DAY
APRIL 26
EVERYONE NEEDED

 
Our annual Church and Parsonage grounds cleanup day is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 starting at 9:00am. We will meet in the back church parking lot and divide up into teams. We need as many hands as possible so please put the date on your calendars!
 
Any members with wheelbarrows, shovels, trimmers, pruning shears, etc. are encouraged to bring them. Traditionally we have focused on the outside areas of the church and the parsonage. Several members have expressed interest in doing some cleanup inside, emphasizing the windows of the atrium and sanctuary. Please let Pat Meyers or Barb Shelley know if you would like to work on this. If there is enough interest, we will have cleaning supplies available.
 
We hope to have a good turnout to keep our Church looking inviting and welcoming. Again remember all members are welcome.
 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
STARTS APRIL 28 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Clausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
PLANT SALE  If you are planning on repotting, separating  plants, or rooting new plants, and would like to share your bounty, please consider sharing your plants by donating to the MMW Craft Show Plant Sale.
 
Marge and I will set up several tables (depending on how many plants we get) in the Atrium.
 
Also if you have extra pots you no longer need (no plastic) or garden accents we would love to accept them also.
We usually have the plants dropped off at the church Friday (Oct 3). If for some reason you need to bring them sooner, we can work something out.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing.
 
Marge Radosevich and Sue Wurtzbacher
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 
More details about the event are available at https://www.mccormickmc.org/craft-show-2025/
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.

Read more...

Happenings – April 4, 2025

Posted on Apr 4, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
What the World Expects of the Church
 
On a cold, dreary December evening, several hundred people gathered at a large downtown church in Winston-Salem to celebrate the Christmas season. Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald, present that evening, had gone down a long hallway to help a small boy who was pushing against massive oak doors trying to get outside. The boy was about 2 years old and as he pushed he was crying as if his heart would break.
 
The Bishop picked him up, thinking he belonged to someone at one of the Christmas parties but as he opened the doors and looked outside he spotted an old-model car speeding away in the darkness. Gradually, it dawned on him that the child he held in his arms had been abandoned.
 
Phone calls were made, and soon the church was filled with people wanting to help in any way they could. Within moments, the local TV stations interrupted their usual programs to ask if anyone knew the identity of the little boy. The next morning, one of the city’s newspapers put the child’s picture on the front page. Under the picture there was an article describing the events of the evening before. The article began with this striking line: “Someone trusted the church last night, and the church came through!”
 
Bishop Fitzgerald later reflected on this event and wrote these words: It will be a long, long time before I can forget that newspaper headline. So much of the world’s future depends on the faithfulness of the “People of God” to the “Great Commission.” There is a deep hunger across our land as countless people grope for answers to the deepest questions of the human spirit. The message of Christ speaks to these questions, bringing hope and light to people who now stumble in the dark and live in despair. Our world will be changed as the hearts of people are changed. Evangelism is no longer an option for the church. It is essential to the survival of our world.
 
The line in that Winston-Salem newspaper is a haunting reminder of what the world expects of the church. “Someone trusted the church last night, and the church came through!” May that always be true!
 
Adapted from Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald, “Someone Trusted the Church,” Michigan Christian Advocate, May 5, 1997, p. 8
 
See You in Church or online this Sunday!
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, April 6, 2025 – 10AM
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Holy Communion
Scripture Lesson: John 11: 17-46
Message: “Seeing the Glory of God”
Hymns:
What Wondrous Love Is This
Lord Be Glorified
Something Beautiful
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Anthem: Come to the Table
 

Kindness Update – Gifts to Give Away!

Why are generosity and kindness so central to Easter? I found these three reasons online: 1. God gave us the greatest gift – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” – John 3:16; 2. Giving transforms our hearts – Generosity helps us focus on others instead of ourselves; 3. Blessing others reflects the Gospel – When we give freely, we point people toward God’s grace.
 
I recently read a story in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Random Acts of Kindness edition that is evidence of this. It’s about a retired elementary school principal’s kindness project she began at her school of 350. In her job, she says she spent a considerable amount of time encouraging teachers and students to model acts of kindness. Their school improvement team created a system whereby recipients of an act of kindness would write about it on a card and submit it to the office to be read aloud over the intercom during the next morning’s announcements. The cards were taped around the building, creating an amazing schoolwide chain of acts of kindness.
 
Cooks wrote cards about kind acts in the cafeteria. Custodians wrote kindness cards for students who respected school property. Playground aides wrote cards for students who they noticed being kind to others. Teachers and students wrote cards for each other when acts of kindness were observed.
 
The school’s culture began to shift as they focused on these acts of kindness rather than disobedience and broken rules. The principal said this kindness program led to the best retirement gift she could ever receive when she was given two presents from each of her colleagues – one for her and one to give away.
 
She kept the gifts to give away in her car so she would have them wherever she went. She was always on the lookout for just the right person to bless – such as at a homeless shelter, etc., even getting her granddaughter to help in the selection and giving process. “I had gone full circle,” she shared, “from helping children build a life of kindness to educating her grandchildren to the joy that giving can bring to us.”
 
We may not be in a position like she was to make an impact that large, but we can do it – one person at a time – as we adopt our own kindness project during Lent!
 
This week’s kindness entry – March winds worked against me as I exited the post office recently causing the door to have a mind of its own that conflicted with mine. Suddenly, I heard a man’s voice behind me saying “Chivalry is not dead … my father raised me right!”. The voice belonged to a stranger who kindly held the door for me to exit. Of course, we had a little conversation about the need for more fathers like his in the world today!
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
Update from Matt
“We just started planting beans this week. We will finish that up Monday and then move to maize, then finish with gnuts before we move to the vegetables. I just have to have patience with the slower process but it’s going really well. We are getting to build relationships with the locals an seeing the cultural and bringing some of our own in to the mix makes it fun! Thank y’all so much for the prayers keep them coming!”
 
How To Support
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—
 
 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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

MCCORMICK METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

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 April 6.
 

MMC WOMEN MOVIE TIME
UNSUNG HERO
April 15 2pm

All women and their guests are invited to watch Unsung Hero in the Fellowship Hall on April 15 at 2pm. Popcorn and Lemonade will be provided!
 
UNSUNG HERO
In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, in pursuit of a new beginning. David and his wife, Helen, uproot their lives and six children seeking refuge in Nashville after the collapse of David’s music company in Australia following a $500,000 loss from one concert booking.
 
As the family settles into their new home they encounter numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the daunting task of starting over in a foreign country. Despite the uncertainty, Helen’s unwavering faith and David’s determination propel them forward, instilling hope and resilience in their children.
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
PALM SUNDAY – April 13 – 10AM
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17 – 6PM
Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.
 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND EASTER MUSICAL – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

EASTER SUNDAY GOODIES NEEDED

We have invited many folks to join us for both/either Easter Services. Therefore, we will need many goodies to have at Baker Creek and again at the church. We are hoping many of you can contribute!
 
Please, please bring your goodie contribution, in disposable containers, to the church on Saturday (April 19) from 10am to 12am. This will save the Worship and Hospitality Committee from having to clean and return dishes. What is not used at Baker Creek, will be used at the church after the 10am service. Your goodies do not have to be home-made. If you bring then during the week, please mark Easter Goodies.
 
Thank you for sharing!!
 

MMC PRAYER WALK
GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 18
MEET AT CHURCH AT 10AM

The Prayer Warriors, led by Patty Kriger, invite the church family to join them on a Prayer Walk Good Friday, April 18 (if it rains, we will meet on a date to be decided). We will be meeting at the church at 10:00. We’ll have a short prayer and head out walking the streets of McCormick and praying for our community. Please come, walk and pray with us for our neighbors.

If you plan to attend, sign the sheet in Fellowship Hall beginning this Sunday.

Questions, contact Patty Kriger.

 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
STARTS APRIL 28 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Clausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
PLANT SALE  If you are planning on repotting, separating  plants, or rooting new plants, and would like to share your bounty, please consider sharing your plants by donating to the MMW Craft Show Plant Sale.
 
Marge and I will set up several tables (depending on how many plants we get) in the Atrium.
 
Also if you have extra pots you no longer need (no plastic) or garden accents we would love to accept them also.
We usually have the plants dropped off at the church Friday (Oct 3). If for some reason you need to bring them sooner, we can work something out.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing.
 
Marge Radosevich and Sue Wurtzbacher
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 
More details about the event are available at https://www.mccormickmc.org/craft-show-2025/
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.

Read more...

Happenings – March 28, 2025

Posted on Mar 28, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
What the World Expects of the Church
 
On a cold, dreary December evening, several hundred people gathered at a large downtown church in Winston-Salem to celebrate the Christmas season. Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald, present that evening, had gone down a long hallway to help a small boy who was pushing against massive oak doors trying to get outside. The boy was about 2 years old and as he pushed he was crying as if his heart would break.
 
The Bishop picked him up, thinking he belonged to someone at one of the Christmas parties but as he opened the doors and looked outside he spotted an old-model car speeding away in the darkness. Gradually, it dawned on him that the child he held in his arms had been abandoned.
 
Phone calls were made, and soon the church was filled with people wanting to help in any way they could. Within moments, the local TV stations interrupted their usual programs to ask if anyone knew the identity of the little boy. The next morning, one of the city’s newspapers put the child’s picture on the front page. Under the picture there was an article describing the events of the evening before. The article began with this striking line: “Someone trusted the church last night, and the church came through!”
 
Bishop Fitzgerald later reflected on this event and wrote these words: It will be a long, long time before I can forget that newspaper headline. So much of the world’s future depends on the faithfulness of the “People of God” to the “Great Commission.” There is a deep hunger across our land as countless people grope for answers to the deepest questions of the human spirit. The message of Christ speaks to these questions, bringing hope and light to people who now stumble in the dark and live in despair. Our world will be changed as the hearts of people are changed. Evangelism is no longer an option for the church. It is essential to the survival of our world.
 
The line in that Winston-Salem newspaper is a haunting reminder of what the world expects of the church. “Someone trusted the church last night, and the church came through!” May that always be true!
 
Adapted from Bishop Ernest Fitzgerald, “Someone Trusted the Church,” Michigan Christian Advocate, May 5, 1997, p. 8
 
See You in Church or online this Sunday!
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, March 30, 2025 – 10AM
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Scripture Lesson: Luke 15: 7, 11-32
Message: “Grace Undenied”
Hymns:
The Old Rugged Cross
He is Exalted
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed
Anthem: What Wondrous Love Is This
 

Kindness Update – Gifts to Give Away!

Why are generosity and kindness so central to Easter? I found these three reasons online: 1. God gave us the greatest gift – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” – John 3:16; 2. Giving transforms our hearts – Generosity helps us focus on others instead of ourselves; 3. Blessing others reflects the Gospel – When we give freely, we point people toward God’s grace.
 
I recently read a story in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Random Acts of Kindness edition that is evidence of this. It’s about a retired elementary school principal’s kindness project she began at her school of 350. In her job, she says she spent a considerable amount of time encouraging teachers and students to model acts of kindness. Their school improvement team created a system whereby recipients of an act of kindness would write about it on a card and submit it to the office to be read aloud over the intercom during the next morning’s announcements. The cards were taped around the building, creating an amazing schoolwide chain of acts of kindness.
 
Cooks wrote cards about kind acts in the cafeteria. Custodians wrote kindness cards for students who respected school property. Playground aides wrote cards for students who they noticed being kind to others. Teachers and students wrote cards for each other when acts of kindness were observed.
 
The school’s culture began to shift as they focused on these acts of kindness rather than disobedience and broken rules. The principal said this kindness program led to the best retirement gift she could ever receive when she was given two presents from each of her colleagues – one for her and one to give away.
 
She kept the gifts to give away in her car so she would have them wherever she went. She was always on the lookout for just the right person to bless – such as at a homeless shelter, etc., even getting her granddaughter to help in the selection and giving process. “I had gone full circle,” she shared, “from helping children build a life of kindness to educating her grandchildren to the joy that giving can bring to us.”
 
We may not be in a position like she was to make an impact that large, but we can do it – one person at a time – as we adopt our own kindness project during Lent!
 
This week’s kindness entry – March winds worked against me as I exited the post office recently causing the door to have a mind of its own that conflicted with mine. Suddenly, I heard a man’s voice behind me saying “Chivalry is not dead … my father raised me right!”. The voice belonged to a stranger who kindly held the door for me to exit. Of course, we had a little conversation about the need for more fathers like his in the world today!
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
Update from Matt
“We just started planting beans this week. We will finish that up Monday and then move to maize, then finish with gnuts before we move to the vegetables. I just have to have patience with the slower process but it’s going really well. We are getting to build relationships with the locals an seeing the cultural and bringing some of our own in to the mix makes it fun! Thank y’all so much for the prayers keep them coming!”
 
How To Support
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—
 
 
 

NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
BOOK OF JAMES

Wendy Kvale, our Lay Leader, started a new Sunday School class. It is held in the Wesleyan Room at 11:15 (to give you time to get a sweet and coffee!

Wendy invites anyone who is interested to join her on a journey through the book of James to stop by on Sunday!

 

MEN N MINISTRY DINNER MEETING
APRIL 1 6PM

Methodist Men n Ministry will be meeting on April 1, 2025. Don’ be “fooled” it will be a very interesting event. Great food, fellowship and an outstanding speaker!
 
Mark Heyman and Rob Rennie will provide the nourishment and Robert Gardner will share the devotion. Thanks to Judi Buchcard’s suggestion, we have a speaker from the S.C. Governor school of agriculture at John de la Howe. Her name is Stacie Smith. This school is a one of a kind located just down the road. It is the oldest and only school in the U.S. dedicated to agriculture. She will be providing an update of all the activities and the programs offered to students. She will bring a student with her. You will be able to ask questions.
 
Everyone is welcome.. bring your friends and neighbors to a night of fellowship and christian love.
 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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.
 

MCCORMICK METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

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 April 6.
 

MMC WOMEN MOVIE TIME
UNSUNG HERO
April 15 2pm

All women and their guests are invited to watch Unsung Hero in the Fellowship Hall on April 15 at 2pm. Popcorn and Lemonade will be provided!
 
UNSUNG HERO
In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, in pursuit of a new beginning. David and his wife, Helen, uproot their lives and six children seeking refuge in Nashville after the collapse of David’s music company in Australia following a $500,000 loss from one concert booking.
 
As the family settles into their new home they encounter numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the daunting task of starting over in a foreign country. Despite the uncertainty, Helen’s unwavering faith and David’s determination propel them forward, instilling hope and resilience in their children.
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
PALM SUNDAY – April 13 – 10AM
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17 – 6PM
Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.
 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND EASTER MUSICAL – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

EASTER SUNDAY GOODIES NEEDED

We have invited many folks to join us for both/either Easter Services. Therefore, we will need many goodies to have at Baker Creek and again at the church. We are hoping many of you can contribute!
 
Please, please bring your goodie contribution, in disposable containers, to the church on Saturday (April 19) from 10am to 12am. This will save the Worship and Hospitality Committee from having to clean and return dishes. What is not used at Baker Creek, will be used at the church after the 10am service. Your goodies do not have to be home-made. If you bring then during the week, please mark Easter Goodies.
 
Thank you for sharing!!
 

MMC PRAYER WALK
GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 18
MEET AT CHURCH AT 10AM

The Prayer Warriors, led by Patty Kriger, invite the church family to join them on a Prayer Walk Good Friday, April 18 (if it rains, we will meet on a date to be decided). We will be meeting at the church at 10:00. We’ll have a short prayer and head out walking the streets of McCormick and praying for our community. Please come, walk and pray with us for our neighbors.

If you plan to attend, sign the sheet in Fellowship Hall beginning this Sunday.

Questions, contact Patty Kriger.

 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
STARTS APRIL 28 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Clausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
PLANT SALE  If you are planning on repotting, separating  plants, or rooting new plants, and would like to share your bounty, please consider sharing your plants by donating to the MMW Craft Show Plant Sale.
 
Marge and I will set up several tables (depending on how many plants we get) in the Atrium.
 
Also if you have extra pots you no longer need (no plastic) or garden accents we would love to accept them also.
We usually have the plants dropped off at the church Friday (Oct 3). If for some reason you need to bring them sooner, we can work something out.
 
Thank you in advance for sharing.
 
Marge Radosevich and Sue Wurtzbacher
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 
More details about the event are available at https://www.mccormickmc.org/craft-show-2025/
 

2025 Flower Calendar

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!
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.
 

Read more...

Happenings – March 21, 2025

Posted on Mar 21, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
Suffering and Repentance
 
John K. Bergland once was the editor of Abingdon Preachers Annual. I read this article back in 1992 and thought it was applicable to our message for this coming Sunday. Please read his article below and enjoy.
 
Trevor Beeson stood at the high altar of Westminster Abbey to celebrate the marriage of his daughter, Catharine, to Anthony, aged twenty-three. Nine months later he stood before the same altar for Anthony’s funeral, who was killed when his car ran into a wall in East London. Four months later, Trevor returned to the altar beside the coffin of his friend and hero Earl Mountbatten, who died when his fishing boat was blown to pieces by Irish terrorists. Reflecting on the experience, he said he could not blame God for these senseless tragedies. He wrote:
 
I should find it impossible to believe in, and worship, a God who arranged for the great servants of the community to be blown up on their holidays and who deliberately turned a young man’s car into a brick wall…This is not the God of love whose ways are revealed in the Bible and supremely in the life of Jesus Christ.
 
Beeson found two insights that helped him to cope with his tragedy and to look beyond it: “The first is that, although God is not responsible for causing tragedy, he is not a detached observer of our suffering. On the contrary, he is immersed in it with us, sharing to the full our particular grief and pain. This is the fundamental significance of the cross.”
 
Second, although we naturally ask, “Why did it happen?” Beeson discovered that the more important question is “What are we going to make of it?”; “Every tragedy contains within it the seeds of resurrection.” This is, after all, the whole point of our pilgrimage through Lent, to Good Friday, and Easter morning.
 
Are those who experience innocent suffering worse than anyone else? Of course not. It can happen to any of us.
 
But is there a connection between innocent suffering and human action? Of course there is, and unless we change our way of living, we may all experience the same suffering.
 
What does Jesus offer us when we experience this kind of suffering? The power of God to hold us firm, to give us strength, and to see us through.
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday and we will talk more about this in the morning message. Yes, it will be huge!
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, March 23, 2025 – 10AM
Third Sunday in Lent
Scripture Lesson: Luke 13: 1-9
Message: “Just Like Us”
Hymns:
God of Grace and God of Glory
Shout to the Lord
Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Anthem: Fly Away Medley
 

Kindness Update – Under His Wings!

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing – Luke 13: 34
 
In the scripture above, Jesus just wanted to love Jerusalem as a hen loves and protects her chicks – in that same way He wants to love us today and be a part of our future. This was a focus of Pastor Nels’ message this past Sunday as he keeps us steered in the right direction on our Lenten Journey. Entitled “The Fox, A Hen, & Your Future”  the message reminded us how Jesus focuses on our future. As Pastor Nels pointed out, being “under the wings of Jesus” is a really good place to be!
 
The scripture reminded me of how God uses the animals in His Kingdom to teach us and sometimes reach us in kind ways that we as human beings seem to be lacking. Then I thought about Fred Fuller and the great compassion that he and Carol have for animals and a story that he shared the other day. Fred has said that I could share it with you:
 
“Lexie’s Miracle”
When we bought her, our horse Lexie had seepage from her left eye. We called the vet who came, examined her and diagnosed that she had cancer in her eyelid. Lexie improved some, but on the vet’s second visit, the diagnosis was that the cancer had come back. We were advised at that time to just love Lexie for the time she had left as her condition wasn’t going to get better. Her eye was huge with swelling. So, love on her was what we did – Carol and I began an intense regimen of praying over Lexie. Two weeks later, on the vet’s third visit, we were told that Lexie’s cancer was gone! That was two years ago, and we thank God for His miracle of healing for Lexie. Fred says, “Lexie (and all animals) are a part of God’s creation; when you see the creativity that goes into a big animal like a horse, you can’t help but be aware of how wonderfully powerful and loving our God is! Lexie found her place “under His wings” – see her photo above that Fred sent to us! Thank you, Fred!
 
This week’s kindness entry shows that the kindness of doctors can go beyond treating their patients – We were on the receiving end of an act of kindest the other day at Self Hospital cafeteria. While waiting for a friend to finish taking some tests we decided to go to the cafeteria for some coffee a nurse raved about. To our surprise a doctor dressed in scrubs told the cashier to put our coffees on his bill. He refused to allow us to pay. It is a wonderful feeling to be a recipient of an act of kindness, and that is why doing small gestures of kindness feels so good. Best of all the world just feels better when kindness is seen around you.
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
Looks like they are already working on the land!
 
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—
 
 

NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
BOOK OF JAMES

Wendy Kvale, our Lay Leader, started a new Sunday School class. It is held in the Wesleyan Room at 11:15 (to give you time to get a sweet and coffee!

Wendy invites anyone who is interested to join her on a journey through the book of James to stop by on Sunday!

 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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.
 
 
 

MCCORMICK METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

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.
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
PALM SUNDAY – April 13 – 10AM
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17 – 6PM
Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.
 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND EASTER MUSICAL – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

MMC WOMEN MOVIE TIME
UNSUNG HERO
April 15 2pm

All women and their guests are invited to watch Unsung Hero in the Fellowship Hall on April 15 at 2pm. Popcorn and Lemonade will be provided!
 
UNSUNG HERO
In 1991, the Smallbone family moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, in pursuit of a new beginning. David and his wife, Helen, uproot their lives and six children seeking refuge in Nashville after the collapse of David’s music company in Australia following a $500,000 loss from one concert booking.
 
As the family settles into their new home they encounter numerous challenges, including financial struggles and the daunting task of starting over in a foreign country. Despite the uncertainty, Helen’s unwavering faith and David’s determination propel them forward, instilling hope and resilience in their children.
 

THE CHOSEN SEASON 4
STARTS APRIL 28 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS!)

Join Us for an 8-Week Bible Study Featuring The Chosen (Season 4)!
 
Come be part of a special time of fellowship and discussion as we watch and explore The Chosen (Season 4) together. Each week, we’ll view an episode, then enjoy coffee, dessert, and meaningful conversation about the themes and scriptures it highlights.
 
Details:
When: Mondays, April 28 – June 23 (No meeting on May 26 for Memorial Day)
Time: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Where: McCormick Methodist Church
What to Expect: Fellowship, coffee, dessert, and thought-provoking discussion
 
Everyone is welcome! Let us know if you plan to join. Sign ups in Fellowship Hall.
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Clausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 

2025 Flower Calendar

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!
 
 
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.

Read more...

Happenings, March 14, 2025

Posted on Mar 14, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
Why Jesus Compares Himself to a Hen
 
This past summer, there was a young mother Bobwhite Quail who was taking care of her brood. It was interesting to watch how she kept track of all twelve of them. When anyone or a predator like a fox approached the brood’s habitat, she became immediately aware and would gather her little brood together and hustle them along to hide in the brush. When someone or a fox was getting really close to get a better look, she flew away, acting as if she had a broken wing. One may be surprised by that at first — a mother abandoning her young. But then it became obvious what she was up to: She was offering herself as a decoy. She wanted the intruders to notice and follow her, away from her babies. She was willing to sacrifice herself in order to protect her offspring.
 
Now maybe we can understand the lament and the passion in Jesus’ own voice. It is the cry of a mother who is worried to death about not only Jerusalem, but about all of us. Like a mother, Jesus sees far more clearly than do we, the children, the danger we are in. Like a mother, Jesus knows we tend to over-estimate our powers and are prone to go off on our own, leaving the protective wings, to seek our own excitement and adventure. And like a mother, Jesus chases after us.
 
Do you see the image? Like a mother, Jesus’ love is so great that his all-consuming passion is to sweep us up into his protective arms. And although there are others in pursuit of him, namely Herod, Jesus, like a mother is persistent. He sticks to what his love compels him to do. He pursues his flock with a passion. His answer to Herod shows that: He has a little work to do in Galilee yet, a few chicks to sweep beneath his wings; and then, he is headed to Jerusalem, where he will, in essence, fly off from his chicks alone and draw God’s judgment to him so that the jaws of death might sink their teeth into his flesh only, and not into his children whom he loves with a mother-hen’s protective passion.
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday where we can learn more about Jesus, the “fox” and a “hen”.
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, March 16, 2025 – 10AM
Second Sunday in Lent
Scripture Lesson: Luke 13: 31-35
Message: “The Fox, A Hen, and Your Future”
Hymns:
Jesus Shall Reign
Seek Ye First
Jesus is All the World to Me
Anthem: Breathe on Me, Breath of God
 

Kindness Update – God In The Dumpsters!

Special thanks go out to Mitch Mitchell for the above clip art he sent us all the way from Panama where he and Sue serve as missionaries. With the clip art, his message was simply, “I loved this”. I do, too; it is an accurate description of the Kindness the Mitchells show to their friends in Panama where resourcefulness is a definite necessity!
 
Case in point is their new mission project they are working on this spring:
 
This is another new mission that we are taking on. We will call it “Dump Mission”. There is a Panamanian woman that ministers to 10 families of 61 people at the Boquete dump. She wants to build a structure with a roof and open sides to hold Bible studies with the Ngobe people that live at the dump. We are going to help fund the structure and purchase children’s bible story books as well as help her on Saturdays with her mission. The picture below is a structure like she wants to have built. God will provide! = Sue
 

Mitch and Sue, May God continue to use you as you do what you can, where you are, with what you have! We are so blessed that God meets us in the “dumpsters” of our lives!
 
This week’s kindness entry Stepping up to the check-out register at Walmart, suddenly, my feet slipped out from under me, and I was flat on my back. Before I knew it, two employees were at either side of me to help me up. Then someone came to clean up the now crushed “guilty grape” on the floor. The clerks at the register were so concerned about me. They kept asking if I was hurt and they reminded me to fill out an incident report if I was. I assured them I was ok but at my age I would most certainly be sore the next day. I was sure to thank them for being so kind and concerned about my condition.
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
Looks like they are already working on the land!
 
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—
 
 

NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
BOOK OF JAMES
STARTS SUNDAY, MARCH 16

Wendy Kvale, our Lay Leader, will be starting a new class this coming Sunday, March 16th in the Wesleyan Room.
Wendy invites you to join her on a journey through the book of James.
 
As always, please go get coffee and donuts before joining us!! Fellowship is just as important as study!!
 

EASTER LILIES
DEADLINE MARCH 17

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.
 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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.
 

MCCORMICK METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

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.
 
Women’s Luncheon at Liberty Hill
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.
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
PALM SUNDAY – April 13 – 10AM
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17 – 6PM
Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.
 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND EASTER MUSICAL – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 4 – 9am to 2pm
VENDORS NEEDED

Lindy Stahlman and Cindy Clausman are the new chairpersons for the Craft Show. Carol Tummons will be leading the bakers for the Cookie Factory.
 
Sue Wurtzbacher and Marge Radosevich will be asking for plants to sell in the Atrium. Watch for more details!
 
VENDORS If you or a friend or neighbor is interested in participating in this year’s Craft Show, please email Lindy Stahlman. Lindy will send you the pricing information and registration form. Don’t hesitate, the spots fill up quickly!
 
Indoor tables (8 ft) cost $40 and all crafts must be handcrafted. We also offer tent space (you supply the tents) for $25. Items do not have to be handcrafted.
 
Again, there will be tons of baked goods in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for notices about what is needed as the year goes on.
 
The Men N’ Ministry will be selling brats cooked on the grill, as well as soda and chips.
 
It is always a fun day of fellowship while raising funds for our missions!
 

2025 Flower Calendar

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!
 
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.
 

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Happenings – March 7, 2025

Posted on Mar 7, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
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
 

Preparing for Worship

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

Kindness Update – Celebrating Abilities!

 
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!
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
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—
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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
DEADLINE MARCH 17

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.
 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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.
 

MCCORMICK METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

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.
 
Birthdays Lunch at Liberty Hill
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.
 

Holy Week and Easter Services

 
PALM SUNDAY – April 13 – 10AM
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.
 
MAUNDY THURSDAY – April 17 – 6PM
Wendy Kvale and Deb Wissinger will lead the service.
 
EASTER SUNDAY – April 20
SONRISE SERVICE – 6:30AM
Baker Creek State Park Pavilion
Coffee and refreshments will follow. Bring your guests, neighbors and friends.
 
RESURRECTION CELEBRATION AND CANTATA – 10AM
MMC Sanctuary
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.
 

2025 Flower Calendar

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!
 

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Happenings – February 28, 2025

Posted on Feb 28, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

 
from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
It’s A Lot More Fun If You Open Your Eyes
 
Peter Prange tells a story about how he was afraid to ride a roller coaster.
 
What do you think about roller coasters? When I was a kid, I was deathly afraid of them. We didn’t live too far from Great America, which was the big amusement park in our area. So we would go down there about every summer, but I would never go on a roller coaster with my brother or sister. They would always say, “Come on, you have to try it to see if you like it,” but I was happy riding the bumper cars and the merry-go-round. The psychologists call that having a type B personality. Type A personalities are those folks who love roller coasters. That’s what my sister Susan is like. She’s a definite type A. Type B personalities like me tend to shy away from anything too exciting.
 
But then my senior year in high school came. I was on the student council, and the student council always went to Great America at the end of the year. I hadn’t been there in quite a few years, and so I was looking forward to it. But still I had never ridden on a roller coaster, and for some reason I admitted that to my friends. They couldn’t believe it. “You’ve never ridden on a roller coaster? Well, you’re going to ride on one now.” So I did, and I really did enjoy it. I was excited and terrified at the same time. After that first ride, my friend sitting next to me had one piece of advice. He said, “You know, it’s even more fun if you open your eyes.” You’ve probably heard it said before, “If you don’t keep your eyes open, you’re bound to miss something.” That was me on the roller coaster. It’s a good encouragement that we all need to hear once in a while: Open your eyes.
 
That’s the encouragement that our God is giving us every time we study or hear His Word. He says to the disciples of Jesus – you and me – Open your eyes and look at the glory of Jesus. This Sunday, we will learn about his glory and how to listen and experience huge things.
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday!
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, March 2, 2025 – 10 AM
Transfiguration Sunday
Holy Communion Service
Scripture Lesson: Luke 9: 28-43a
Message: “Mystic Moments that Turn on the Ears”
Installation of Church Officers
Hymns:
O Wondrous Sight! O Vision Fair
Shine Jesus Shine
Be Present at Our Table Lord
Be Thou My Vision
Anthem: We Worship You
 

CHURCH OFFICERS INSTALLED

The MMC church officers were installed at the February 23 service. As you can tell from Jim Hick’s smile the council is ready to start working on organization and continuing our missions and investigating some new missions.  
 
For a complete list of committees and the leaders, go to 
 

Kindness Update – Jesus Is Our Lighthouse!

Listening to some gospel music recently, I was amazed at the performance of singer/songwriter Bradley Walker, who was born with muscular dystrophy and has been in a wheelchair all of his forty-plus years. One song that he performed, “The Lighthouse”, especially caught my attention.
 
It brought to mind a cassette tape that I had many years ago – I don’t remember the name of the artist, but I definitely remember that song – The Lighthouse – on the tape – it was the first time I had heard it – but not the last, because I played it many, many more times!
 
I have no idea where that cassette tape is today nor would I have a player to listen to it if I did, so I especially enjoyed hearing Bradley’s version of the song after so many years. Jesus, of course, is the Lighthouse referred to in the song, and I could only imagine how much this song meant to the singer as he faced many difficulties in his life!
 
When I first heard the song many years ago, I had similar thoughts about how much it probably meant to the cassette tape’s previous owner, because when I acquired it, I learned it had been confiscated from a prison inmate. I imagined that its message had probably touched that person’s heart just as it did mine, and I prayed for that to be so!
 
I would like to share that song with you in case you haven’t heard it – even if you have, I’d like you to experience the talent of this young man – I think you will like it. Thank God for the Lighthouse! Just click on the link below:
 
 
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!
 
 

MATTHEW AND KRISTI SCALES

MISSION IN UGANDA

 
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—
 
Update
 
We left Jonesville, SC at 11am Tuesday the 18th and arrived in Bugiri, Uganda today Friday the 21 st at 6 pm. (With all of our luggage which is an amazing thing).
 
God was so good to us on this journey.
 
Every prayer, call, text was felt and appreciated.
 
Wilbur finally got to see the place we prayed and talked about for months and we had to take a pic of his first run through the yard.
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY
READY TO LISTEN

 
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.
 

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COMMITTEE

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.
 
 
 

MEN N MINSTRY

MARCH 4 6PM

Methodist men will be meeting on March 4,2025. John Yerdon will be cooking the dinner. Jim Hicks will be doing the devotion. We are still working on finalizing a speaker. We will be discussing Fund raising events for spring and summer months. First Trunks for Gold for May 3, and Gold rush for September 20,2025. See you at 6pm for dinner.
 
No need to sign up.. bring a friend or two! Bob Rennie
 

EASTER LILIES
DEADLINE MARCH 17

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.
 

GAMES WITH FRIENDS

THIRD THURSDAYS 1:30PM

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.
 

NARRATORS NEEDED
EASTER SUNDAY

The chancel choir will be singing a musical for Easter, BECAUSE HE LIVES. This will be at the 10am service at the church.
 
Lindy Stahlman would like to get six narrators to read between the songs. The lines are not long (some very short). You will be using the mike down on the floor, no climbing the stairs to the altar. You will not be wearing a costume. She would love to involve six from our church family to narrate (no memorizing!) the musical for us. Won’t you join us?
 
There is a sign up on the round table in the Fellowship Hall, sign up today!
 

MCCORMICK METHODIST WOMEN NEWS

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.
 
Birthdays Lunch at Liberty Hill
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.
 

YEAR-LONG CHURCH-WIDE STUDY INITIATIVE

Beginning this new year, we’re embarking on a transformative yearlong churchwide study focusing on scripture, Christian living, and discipleship. Designed to inspire spiritual growth and build deeper connections within our church family, this study is available through the McCormick Methodist digital library on RightNow Media.
 
Ways to Get Involved:
  • Sunday School Integration: Adult Sunday school classes will adopt this study as part of their curriculum.
  • Small Groups: Small groups are encouraged to participate by incorporating the study into their gatherings. This would be a great small in home group study. If you would like to participate in this study let Kim Jackson know and she’ll help get you started.
  • Individuals: Individuals can participate on their own devices/tvs. Need help? Contact Kim Jackson
 
For additional information and links to study resources go to https://www.mccormickmc.org/yearlong-bible-study-2025/
 

2025 Flower Calendar

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!

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