WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM
From The Lay Leaders Desk

I read this article during the week and wanted to share it.
Please be in prayer for our new Pastor, he or she is out there!!!
An article by John MacArthur
I have never aspired to be known as a theologian, a polemicist, or an academician. My passion is teaching and preaching the Word of God.
Even though I’ve dealt with theological questions and doctrinal controversies in some of my books, I have never done so from the perspective of a systematic theologian. It is of little concern to me whether some point of doctrine fits with this tradition or that. I want to know what is biblical. All my concerns are biblical, and my desire is to be biblical in all my teaching.
Preach the Word
That is how I have approached ministry from the beginning. My father was a pastor, and when I first told him years ago that I felt God had called me to a life of ministry, he gave me a Bible in which he had inscribed these words of encouragement: “Preach the Word!” That simple statement became the compelling stimulus in my heart. It is all I have endeavored to do in my ministry—preach the Word.
Pastors today face a tremendous amount of pressure to do everything but preach the Word. Church growth experts tell them they must address people’s “felt needs.” They are encouraged to be storytellers, comedians, psychologists, and motivational speakers. They are warned to steer clear of topics that people find unpleasant. Many have given up biblical preaching in favor of devotional homilies designed to make people feel good. Some have even replaced preaching with drama and other forms of staged entertainment.
But the pastor whose passion is biblical has only one option: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).
When Paul wrote those words to Timothy, he added this prophetic warning: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth” (vv. 3-4).
Clearly there was no room in Paul’s philosophy of ministry for the give-people-what-they-want theory that is so prevalent today. He did not urge Timothy to conduct a survey to find out what his people wanted. He commanded him to preach the Word—faithfully, reprovingly, and patiently.
In fact, far from urging Timothy to devise a ministry that would garner accolades from the world, Paul warned the young pastor about suffering and hardship! Paul was not telling Timothy how to be “successful,” he was encouraging him to follow the divine standard. He was not advising him to pursue prosperity, power, prominence, popularity, or any of the otherworldly notions of success. He was urging the young pastor to be biblical—regardless of the consequences.
Preaching the Word is not always easy. The message we are required to proclaim is often offensive. Christ Himself is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (Romans
9:33; 1 Peter 2:8). The message of the cross is a stumbling block to some (1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 5:11), mere foolishness to others (1 Corinthians 1:23). But we are never permitted to trim the message or tailor it to people’s preferences. Paul made this clear to Timothy at the end of 2 Timothy 3: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (v. 16, emphasis added). This is the Word to be preached: the whole counsel of God (cf. Acts 20:27).
Don’t forget to pray each day at 12 noon for our Pastor, our Church, and our World!
Grace & Peace,
Wendy, your Lay Leader
Preparing for Worship
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Stewardship Sunday
Scripture Lesson: Isaiah 58:7-10
Message: “God’s Idea” – Wendy Kvale
Hymns:
O Jesus, I have Promised
His Name is Wonderful
Take My Life and Let It
Living for Jesus
Anthem: Gift of Love – Chancel Choir
Stewardship
If you missed church last Sunday or didn’t get your envelope, they were put in the mail this morning. If for some reason, you don’t get your envelope, there are extra letters and pledge cards on the table in the fellowship hall. See you in church on Sunday for the service celebration followed by cake and ice cream.
Your stewardship team
Our Lay Leader, Wendy Kvale is sharing messages on the “Joy of Giving” during this “Stewardship Month”, using scripture and a small, yet powerful book, “The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn, recommended to us by Pastor Nels. We were touched by this section which is the basis of the messages we are enjoying:
“You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.
There are six keys to this principle:
-God owns everything and I am His money manager.
-My heart always goes where I put God’s money.
-Heaven – not earth- is my home.
-Live not for the dot (life), but the line (eternity).
-Giving is the only antidote to materialism.
-God prospers me, not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving.
We pray you will join us Sunday October 19 for our service of celebration as we bring our 2026 estimate of giving cards to the altar, then go for cake, ice cream and more sharing and fellowship.
With love in Christ,
Marsha, Don, Lindy, and Ron
Your 2026 Stewardship Team
Volunteer to Host Coffee Hour
Sign up sheet is in the Fellowship Hall.
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—
PRAYER GROUP
Prayer Group will be meeting Sunday mornings at 9:15. We will meet every Sunday during October for prayer before the service. Everyone is invited to pray with us. Meet in the Library. See you Sunday.
24:7 Small Group
The group meets on the first and third Fridays of the month at 10 a.m. Their mission emphasis is mental health. 24:7 is open to all, so any who would like to be a part of this experience please do so. Please contact Linda Kidd if you would like additional information.
Widows Connection
Widows Connection Meetings are held monthly on the fourth Monday at 5 p.m. from September to May. For questions, contact Toni Graham or Linda Kidd.
PROJECT LINUS
Blanket Day
Project Linus is going to sponsor a “Blanket Day” on Saturday, October 18, 9am to 12 noon at the Senior Center in McCormick. Everyone is invited to attend and help make no-sew blankets (fleece) as well as things for crocheters (crocheting around fleece which is so quick) and even kits for people who sew to take home and bring back the next month. (Having them the 3rd Saturday of every month except December.)
MMC is now a sponsor of Project Linus in this area so I would love to get people from the church and the area to come and help!
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Warm Regards,
Julianne Coleman
TOWN HALL MEETING
McCormick Methodist Church Council is calling a Town Hall meeting for all professing members on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 4PM. With our disaffiliation two years ago, we voted to go independent. At that time, the Global Church was newly forming in South Carolina, and we didn’t have much information about the structure and nature of their vision. Since then, some people are requesting an update on their activity and would like to know if staying independent is the best road to be on.
Please join us, along with Pastor Dan Griswold for an informal Town Hall meeting, Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 4PM. There will be a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. If there is interest in joining the Global Church a Church wide Conference will be held for all professing members to participate in any voting.
Wendy Kvale, VP of Council
For Jim Hicks, Council Chair
EVANGELISM MEETING
The Evangelism Committee will have a meeting on October 22 at 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall to discuss the Christmas Open House. Anyone interested in attending is urged to do so.
Cowboy Supper
Saturday, October 25
Games Begin at 2:00PM

Hello Church cowboys!!!! We’re resurrecting our famous Hobo Stew supper and changing it to a Cowboy Supper!!! Same fun, fellowship and food!
DATE: Saturday, October 25
TIME: 2:00PM
WHAT TO BRING:
- Please bring your own chair
- Sign up in fellowship hall to bring something for the church food pantry
- Yard games if you have them
- Your own beverages
- Your own can of veggies to be added to the cauldron
See Pat Meyers for details.
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 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.
Volunteers Needed for Congregational Care Team
Dear Church Family,
One of the most powerful ways we reflect the love of Christ is by caring for one another in times of need. Whether someone is recovering from surgery, facing a difficult season, or navigating a time of grief, small
acts of kindness—like a hot meal, a ride to an appointment, or a friendly visit—can make a world of difference.
We are currently building a list of volunteers who are willing to step in when needs arise. You don’t need to commit to every request—just let us know how you feel called to help:
Meal Ministry – Provide or deliver a home-cooked or store-bought meal to someone in need.
Transportation Help – Offer rides to church, appointments, or errands for those unable to drive.
Visitation Ministry – Visit homebound members or those in the hospital or care facilities to provide companionship and encouragement.
If you’re willing to be on our list of helpers in any of these areas, please send Kim Jackson an email or add
your name/email to the sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall.
You’ll be contacted as needs arise, with the opportunity to accept or decline depending on your schedule.
Let’s continue being the hands and feet of Jesus—loving one another well in both big and small ways.
In Christ’s love,
Your Congregational Care Team