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.
 

Read more...

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!
 

Read more...

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!

Read more...

Happenings – February 21, 2025

Posted on Feb 21, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
Going Beyond Duty: The Second Mile
 
James Merritt, a great preacher, shared this in one of his sermons. It will serve as a good preparation tool for my message this Sunday.
 
Shortly after the battles ended the American Revolution, but before the peace had been negotiated, George Washington was with his troops in Newburgh, New York. But they began to grow very restless because they hadn’t been paid. Washington had begged the Continental Congress to do what they said they would do and pay the soldiers, but they refused.
 
Well, some of the officers began to organize a rebellion. They talked about marching on Philadelphia, which was at that time the seat of the reigning national government, and overthrowing that government and letting the army rule the nation.
 
With the fate of America in the balance, George Washington made a surprise appearance before these officers. After praising them for their service and thanking them for their sacrifice, he pulled from his pocket a copy of a speech that he wished to read. But then he fumbled with a paper and finally reached for a set of reading glasses-glasses those men had never seen him wear before. Washington made this simple statement: “I have already grown grey in the service of my country, and now I am going blind.”
 
Historian Richard Norton Smith wrote: “Instantly rebellion melted into tears. It was a galvanizing moment, and the rebellion…” and the rebellion was put down because they had seen before them a second miler. Becoming a Christian is one thing; being a Christian is another one. Every chance you get for the glory of Jesus, for the goodness of others, and because of the grace of God, go the second mile.
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday where I will tell you how to Rise Above in Victory the Jesus Way.
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 
Notes from Nels:
  • Be in prayer this week for Matt and Kristi Scales as they begin their mission in Uganda. They will depart for Uganda on February 18.
  • This Sunday, we will recognize and install our 2025 church officers. Be in prayer for our church leaders. I urge all church officers to be present and ready to accept the charge to serve God and His Church.
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, February 23, 2025 – 10 AM
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Scripture Lesson: Luke 6: 27-38
Message: “Rising Above the Jesus Way”
Installation of Church Officers
Hymns:
The Gift of Love
Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow
Pass It On
Anthem: Where I Find God (Performed by Robbie Rennie and Marc Heyman)
 

MMC WELCOMES FIVE NEW MEMBERS

It’s always exciting to welcome new members! Please add their information to your directories and give them a welcome hug when you see them!!
 

MIKE AND MARY CASSELLI
 
AARON AND CLAIRE WATSON
 

ROSALEE RIGGINGS
 

Kindness Update – A Sense of Humor Brings Smiles!

If it’s true that laughter is the best medicine, then this story is guaranteed to make you feel better! This week’s story is reprinted from Sunny Skyz – All Good News – it was posted on Valentine’s Day – February 14 – which is during Random Acts of Kindness Week. The writer shares that some stories are just too good not to share, and this one is a perfect example of how a simple shopping trip can take a hilarious turn—especially when a retiree with a sharp sense of humor is involved. The story follows:
 
“I cannot shop at Costco anymore.
 
Yesterday I was at Costco buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Necco, the Wonder Dog, which weighs 191 lbs. I was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had – an elephant?
 
So, because I’m retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I didn’t have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn’t, because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I’d lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes and IV’s.
 
I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your jacket pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, so it works well, and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.) Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me.
 
I told her no, I relieved myself on a Fire Hydrant and a car hit me, I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack he was laughing so hard. Costco won’t let me shop there anymore. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the World to think of crazy things to say.” Share this (especially) with all your retired friends…it will be their laugh for the 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.
 
 
 

WIDOW’S CONNECTIONS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 – 5PM

IN LIBRARY

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.
 

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!

Read more...

Happenings – February 7, 2025

Posted on Feb 7, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
How Brave Are We?
 
I have probably shared this story with you before but I love to share it. It is a true, but humorous and slightly scandalous story that comes out of the early days of the church. When the father of Origen, a third century theologian, was arrested for being a Christian, Origen, then only 17, was aflame with the desire to follow his Dad and share in glorious martyrdom. His mother pleaded with him not to go, but the headstrong boy did not want to listen to reason. His quick thinking mother did what she could. She hid his clothes. Though Origen stormed and protested, she wouldn’t reveal where they were hidden. He couldn’t leave the house, and so he was unable to volunteer for martyrdom.
 
Isn’t it interesting? Origen was brave enough to be martyred, but not brave enough to go outside naked. Stepping outside without clothing would have sped up his arrest and imprisonment, but it was a step he was unwilling to take.
 
In a sense, I suspect that talking with a friend about our faith is, for many of us, the equivalent of going outside naked. It makes us uncomfortable. We feel exposed. We declare that we will give our lives for Christ if he should ask it, but to risk a bit of embarrassment for him seems to be beyond our level of discipleship. How sad. Are you willing to be exposed in sharing your Love for Christ?
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday where our lesson will teach us how to let go. Yes, it will be huge.
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, February 9, 2025 – 10 AM
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Scripture Lesson: Luke 5: 1-11
Message: “The Urge to Leave It All Behind”
Hymns:
My Jesus, I Love Thee
To God Be the Glory
Go, Make of All Disciples
 

STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER

 
Are you a ‘care giver?’ Are you taking care of your spouse, your parent, your child, your grandparent …? Taking care can mean something as simple as driving to a doctor’s appointment … to something as complicated as being responsible for that someone’s every need because they cannot do anything for themselves.
 
So … you are taking care of them … but how about you? Who is taking care of you? Sometimes the care giver totally ignores their own needs and feelings and concentrates totally on their caregiving. Often the care giver needs to talk about their frustrations and feelings … but the caregiving is so overwhelming that they cannot imagine how that can be done.
 
Enter Stephen Ministry … a listening ear who will keep all you say confidential and without judgement of any kind. You need to talk, vent, scream, cry … we will find a way to be there to listen.
 
So, help take care of yourself by allowing yourself the gift of time with a Stephen Minister. The meeting can be anywhere and anytime … you and your Stephen Minister decide how you want to proceed. Start by calling Pastor Nels or one of the Stephen Leaders and begin a relationship with a Stephen Minister who wants to walk with you through whatever it is you are struggling with. Contact us through the church office at (864) 852-2394
 

Kindness Update – Hugging From The Heart!

Random Acts of Kindness Week, according to the RAK website, is February 9-15 this year, and Random Acts of Kindness Day is Tuesday, February 17. I’m not quite sure how they figure that, but what a great idea to make all of us aware of something we should be doing every day – forever and ever – AMEN!
 
Hopefully, you have noticed from the bulletin board at church or the display in the Fellowship Hall the Kindness Week emphasis on hugging – something we all do! The Love of Jesus is what binds our faith , and hugging puts that faith into action as we reflect God’s love for us. The act of embracing another person demonstrates care, comfort, and acceptance, mirroring the divine love we experience through our relationship with God!
 
In today’s world, the physical act of hugging is sometimes replaced by more preferable virtual connections. But the importance of this simple gesture is not diminished. The act of embracing another person goes beyond a mere display of affection; it is deeply rooted in biblical symbolism and carries great spiritual significance. We know this by the Biblical scriptures that tell us of times when Jesus hugged children, His disciples and friends.
 
Some of us may prefer heart-to-heart hugging, yet another way to be present for others and allow others to be present for us. It’s a form of emotional support, a safe space to share our joys and sorrows without judgment. These heartfelt embraces might be in the form of prayers, phone calls, greetings, etc. Regardless of how we choose to hug each other, let us embrace one another with an open heart, thus creating a world where hugging is a language we all speak fluently!
 
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!
 

CHURCH BUILDING REPAIRS
FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE

The trustees worked to find contractors willing to repair the fascia boards outside. You can see in the picture that they needed very long ladders to get the job done!

The trustees also found contractors that were willing to repair the plaster popcorn ceiling in the sanctuary.. There were water stains from the hurricane in the back of the church, plus in the choir loft. Painters started early on Monday and plan to be done by Saturday night so we can worship under our newly-painted roof on Sunday morning! The job takes a lot of time since everything has to be covered; including the pulpit, windows, pews, altar, piano, carpet and even the hanging lamps!
 

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.
 
 
 

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/
 
 

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 9

There will be two pots at the February 9 service. One will be labeled Philadelphia Eagles and the other one will be labeled Kansas City Chiefs.
 
Who are you rooting for? Bring some change (bills too!) and fill the pot of the team of your choice! Who do think the majority of our church family will be rooting for? Which pot will get the most money?
 
The big winner will be the McCormick Food Pantry, who will get the money from both pots!
 
Carol Tummons and John Yerdon have planned a soup/chilli lunch for Super Bowl Sunday. They will offer two kinds of soup and two kinds of chili.
 
There will be a love offering to cover the cost.
 
This would be a great time to invite your neighbors to join us!
 
 

SCALES COMMISSIONING SERVICE

FEBRUARY 9, 2025 AT 5PM

 
Please join us!
You are invited to please join us February 9 for our commission service. This service will stand as a time of praise to our God for calling us all to missions and being a God who is worth sharing! After we will have some refreshments !
 
If you can’t make it in person please join online at Oakbrook Community Church Facebook 
or
 
Our training is wrapping up, God has worked so much in our family these past weeks it has been an amazing time.
 

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!

Read more...

Happenings – January 31, 2025

Posted on Jan 31, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
The Body, Communion and Love
 
James W. Moore shares this story for all who need a reminder of how the Body of Christ loves her members.
 
It was a cold Christmas Eve a few years ago. Will Willimon, Dean of the Chapel at Duke University, was rushing his family to get in the car. They were running late for the communion service. “Where are the sermon notes? Where is the pulpit robe? Don’t forget to turn off the lights. Everybody get in the car and be quiet!”
 
On the way to the church… rushing through the traffic, their 5-year-old- daughter, Harriet, got sick at her stomach and she up-chucked all over the car. “Great!” Will Willimon thought, “If people only knew what preachers go through.” He wheeled into the church parking lot and jumped out of the car, leaving his wife, Patsy, to clean up the car and get the kids into the church… and he thought, “If people only knew what preachers’ spouses go through.”
 
His wife, Patsy, led a still unsteady and pale Harriet into the church. They sat on the back pew in the darkness… just in case Harriet got sick again. Their son, William, age seven, ran down to the front of the church to sit with his grandparents. Will Willimon threw on his robe, took a deep breath, and joined the choir for the processional. He made it through the first part of the service… and the sermon. Then came Holy Communion. Will Willimon’s wife, Patsy, came down to the altar to receive the sacrament, but she left 5 year old Harriet on the back pew. Harriet was still so pale and so weak and so sick. But then something beautiful happened. Seven-year-old William got up and came back to the communion rail. “What on earth is he doing?” wondered his parents. “He’s already received communion once. What is he up to?” They watched him race to the back of the church and scoot down the pew toward his sister. He opened his hands… revealing a small piece of bread. “Harriet,” he said, “This is the body of Christ given for you.” Without hesitation, little Harriet picked the bread out of her brother’s hands and plopped it into her mouth and said, “Amen.” And in that moment Holy Communion had never been more holy. Then 7-year-old William patted his 5-year-old sister Harriet on the head. He smiled. She smiled. And then he turned and ran back down to the front of the church to re-join his grandparents. (The Christian Ministry, July-August 1989, p. 47)
 
Think of that. Her 7-year-old brother William thought to include her. Either because she wasn’t being included or he thought it might help her feel better he reached out to his sister with what really mattered—the body of Christ in the form of communion. There’s a name for that… it’s called LOVE! What a beautiful thing it is when our children rise to the occasion and teach us once again the power of love, the wonder of love, the miracle of love.
 
This Sunday we will talk about the Body, Love and have communion together.
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday.
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, February 2, 2025 10 AM
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Holy Communion
Scripture Lesson: 1 Corinthians 12: 12-28
Message: “Body Building”
Hymns:
Jesus Call Us
Come, Thou Almighty King
Be Present at our Table Lord
Where He Leads Me
Go Now in Peace
Anthem: Come, Come Unto Me
 

Kindness Update – Passing Kindness!

Browsing the Good News Network as Super Bowl LIX approaches, it was refreshing to find the kindness story below that puts things in proper perspective in light of all the media hype that is associated with pro football these days. I enjoyed it and thought you might as well.
 
Losing football games often leaves fans wounded, no matter which team you root for—and Baltimore Ravens supporters are all too familiar with the feeling. But out of their blues came this sweet story from the NFL playoffs last week, after a heartbreaking loss to the Buffalo Bills in the final minutes of the Divisional Round game.
 
The next day, a Buffalo Bills fan group set up a GoFundMe campaign that raised a ton of money for a charity in honor of the Ravens player that fans were relentlessly blaming for the loss.
 
Late in the 4th quarter of the Bills’ home game, the Ravens put together a 7-play drive to score a touchdown with less than two minutes on the clock. Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, Ravens’ tight end Mark Andrews made his way into the end zone, then caught—but dropped—a pass from his star quarterback.
 
Andrews is one of several players in the NFL born with type-1 diabetes, and his success has seen him make donations to a global research effort called Breakthrough T1D that works to find a cure for the cureless disease.
 
A GoFundMe page to receive donations toward Andrews’ charity was set up by Buffalo Bills players. Setting their goal for $5,000, the call to donate went viral after it was retweeted by the Ravens franchise, which replied, “Shout out to ‘Bills Mafia’ for showing support to our guy Mark Andrews and donating to the organization, which works towards curing and improving the lives of those dealing with type 1 diabetes.”
 
Then, just like the avalanche of criticism online, the kindness snowballed to amass $140,000 for Mark’s favorite charity!
 
This Week’s Kindness Entry: Walking out into the grocery store parking lot the other day, I saw a woman near my car waving her arms in the air. Drawing near, I realized it was an old friend I hadn’t seen in many years. She had locked her keys in her car and needed a ride to the Blood Connection where her husband was making a platelet donation and could drive her back over to her vehicle when finished. We caught up on old times on the way, and when she got out, she said, “your kindness to me should be reported to someone”. I told her I knew just what to do to take care of that!
 
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!
 

LAY LEADER CONNECTION

In the Methodist Church we have a position called Lay Leader, and I’m happy to say I’m filling this position! The Lay Leaders’ primary job is to connect with the people of the church, the leadership of the church and the local community. I’m looking forward to talking to you and finding out how you wish to participate in our church activities. Please call me anytime, if you know me, you know I love to talk!!!
 
I’ll be meeting with each of our groups to see what their needs are and how they wish to move forward to help the growth of our church in 2025. At this point I’ve met with our new Worship Leader, Deb Wissinger and the new Fellowship gals, Toni Graham & Nancy Vereb.
 
The fellowship gals have made the decision to take over the decorating of the fellowship hall and Deb from the Worship Team agrees. So, if you have questions regarding what’s happening in the fellowship hall please reach out to Toni &/or Nancy. Please discuss any fellowship hall decorating or needs with them. They’re coming up with some new directions for any volunteer who wants to sign up for the coffee hour which they’ll add to the detailed notebook that’s available for the kitchen help you might need to do a fellowship Sunday.
 
We’re hoping that some of our “groups” or Sunday schools or committees will sign up this year. Fellowship is a major part of any church and is as important as any committee and hopefully easier to do!!!
 
Wendy Kvale
Lay Leader 2025
 

USHERS NEEDED

Being an Usher is a great way to connect with your church family and be one of the first smiling faces people see when they visit us! Ushers provide an invaluable service. Thank you to all who served in 2024! Past ushers, please watch for an email from Shannon Stewart to coordinate the February 2025-end of January 2026 Usher schedule, and let her know the month you would like to serve! Also, if anyone wants to become an usher, please let her know.
 
Ushers are NO LONGER responsible for security (A different group handles security!).
 
Usher responsibilities include handing out bulletins, lighting the candles for service, locking the door nearest your station once service begins, lighting and extinguishing candles, and (once a month) assisting with communion. What a lovely way to be Christ’s servant!
 
If interested, call or text Shannon Stewart.
 

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—
 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR
HELP NEEDED

Following the service, several like to go to the Fellowship Hall and grab a cup of coffee and a sweet, and enjoy the fellowship of the MMC family.
 
We need folks to host. This means setting up the coffee (there are specific directions on the counter), and providing some cookies, muffins, or fruit to share.
 
Sign up to help (usually two sign up for one Sunday). The sign-up is on the table in the Fellowship Hall.
 

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.
 
 
 

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/
 

MEN N MINISTRY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 6PM

  • Do you feel “done” with your loved one’s substance use issue?
  • Are you compelled to understand why they are using?
  • Do you long to stay in a relationship with your loved one but aren’t sure how to do that?
  • Do you want to help but don’t know how?
John 13:34 Love one another as Christ loves us.
 
The guest speaker at the Men N Ministry dinner meeting will be Tammy Batson, a member of Thrive Family Recovery Resources. Invite a friend (or two) to attend with you!
 

McCormick Methodist Women Meeting
Wednesday, February 5 – 3PM

Karen Hicks, president of the McCormick Methodist Women, invites all women to attend a meeting on Wednesday, February 5 at 3pm to discuss future plans for the year.
 
Bring your ideas! The retreat and the craft show will be included in the discussion.
 

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 9

There will be two pots at the February 9 service. One will be labeled Philadelphia Eagles and the other one will be labeled Kansas City Chiefs.
 
Who are you rooting for? Bring some change (bills too!) and fill the pot of the team of your choice! Who do think the majority of our church family will be rooting for? Which pot will get the most money?
 
The big winner will be the McCormick Food Pantry, who will get the money from both pots!
 
Carol Tummons and John Yerdon have planned a soup/chilli lunch for Super Bowl Sunday. They will offer two kinds of soup and two kinds of chili.
 
There will be a love offering to cover the cost.
 
This would be a great time to invite your neighbors to join us!
 

MMC FOOD PANTRY
NEEDS RESTOCKING

 
The following are needed for our food pantry. Please leave on the table in the pantry. Thank you for your support!
 
  • Small jars of peanut butter or peanut butter with jelly mix
  • Cream soups for casseroles
  • Boxes or bags of pasta (plain)
  • Small cans of fruit
 

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 – January 24, 2025

Posted on Jan 24, 2025 in Happenings |

WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAYS AT 10AM

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell
 
Jesus’ Inaugural Speech (Sermon)
 
Mickey Anders, writes that in Luke 4 we find what he calls Jesus’ inaugural sermon. 
 
Every four years the new president of the United States gives his inaugural address. In it, he articulates his program or his plan of action for his term of office. See if you recognize the President who made the following remarks:
 
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” – Abraham Lincoln, 1865.
 
“This great nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself–nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933.
 
“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” – John F Kennedy, 1960.
 
“Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves.” — George W. Bush, 2001
 
“It is the American sound. It is hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent, and fair. That’s our heritage, that’s our song. We sing it still.” — Ronald Reagan, 1985
 
“We look ahead in our uniquely American way — restless, bold, optimistic — and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.” — Joe Biden,
 
“Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.” — Donald J. Trump, 2017
 
You can add here a quote from Monday’s speech from Donald J. Trump.
 
This Sunday’s Scripture is Luke’s version of the opening moments of Jesus’ public ministry. We might call this his inaugural sermon.
 
Luke 4 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
 
While many of these Presidents did wonderful work in either 4 or 8 years, Jesus did more in three than any of them. He also made the best speech!
 
I vote for Jesus and pray he will guide our nation and our new President.
 
See you in Church or online this Sunday!
 
Your Pastor,
Nels
 

Preparing for Worship

Sunday, January 26, 2025 10 AM
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Scripture Lesson: Luke 4: 14-30
Message: “From Tickled to Ticked”
Hymns:
God of Love and God of Power
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
How Firm a Foundation
I Sing the Almighty Power of God
 

Kindness Update – Miracles of Jesus That Keep Giving!

Pastor Nels’ sermon on January 19 gave us a great overview of the story of Jesus’ first miracle found in John 2: 1-11 when He responds to His mother Mary’s concern about the fear of running out of wine at a wedding. She asked Jesus to help, and He turns water into wine. Pastor Nels explained that John tells us that this miracle was a sign to us of Jesus’ respect for his mother, that He was always filled with compassion (and kindness!) and wanted to help keep the wedding celebration going. It was also a sign that God’s blessings are available through Him, the Christ, and that in Christ we are abundantly blessed.
 
Further, we learn that God provides our greatest needs, inducing optimism about the future. Just as Jesus used the servants to help by filling the unclean pots with water, so does He involve us in accomplishing His miracles today. The unclean pots he used remind us that Jesus takes the worst of us and transforms us into something beautiful and wonderful! Hooray for Jesus! Hooray for us!
 
There is a transforming redemption story that comes to my mind as I think about this miracle of Jesus. It is found in the words of a popular country song that reached the top of the Christian Country Music chart in 1998. The song is “Wine Into Water” by T. Graham Brown who struggled with bipolar disorder and alcoholism. He stopped drinking and this song came from that experience. He credits God and his wife Sheila of 45+ years for his ability to win those battles. The words are found below, but I encourage you to copy and paste the link below in your web browser to listen to this beautiful song:
 
 

Wine Into Water (Song By T. Graham Brown)
You’ve heard a multitude of prayers on my behalf
I pray one more is not too much to ask
I’ve tried to fight this battle by myself
But it’s a war that I can’t win without your help
Chorus:
Tonight, I’m as low as any man can go
I’m down and I can’t fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees, I’m turning to you, Father
Could you help me turn the wine back into water?
So many times, I’ve hurt the ones I love
I pushed them to the edge of giving up
They’ve stood by me but how much can they stand?
If I don’t put this bottle in your hand (Chorus)

 
I shook my fists at heaven for all the hell that I’ve been through
Now I’m begging for forgiveness and a miracle from you! (Chorus)
 
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!
 

USHERS NEEDED

Being an Usher is a great way to connect with your church family and be one of the first smiling faces people see when they visit us! Ushers provide an invaluable service. Thank you to all who served in 2024! Past ushers, please watch for an email from Shannon Stewart to coordinate the February 2025-end of January 2026 Usher schedule, and let her know the month you would like to serve! Also, if anyone wants to become an usher, please let her know.
 
Ushers are NO LONGER responsible for security (A different group handles security!).
 
Usher responsibilities include handing out bulletins, lighting the candles for service, locking the door nearest your station once service begins, lighting and extinguishing candles, and (once a month) assisting with communion. What a lovely way to be Christ’s servant!
 
If interested, call or text Shannon Stewart.
 

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—
 

FELLOWSHIP HOUR
HELP NEEDED

Following the service, several like to go to the Fellowship Hall and grab a cup of coffee and a sweet, and enjoy the fellowship of the MMC family.
 
We need folks to host. This means setting up the coffee (there are specific directions on the counter), and providing some cookies, muffins, or fruit to share.
 
Sign up to help (usually two sign up for one Sunday). The sign-up is on the table in the Fellowship Hall.
 

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.
 
 

 

 

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/
 

MEN N MINISTRY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 6PM

  • Do you feel “done” with your loved one’s substance use issue?
  • Are you compelled to understand why they are using?
  • Do you long to stay in a relationship with your loved one but aren’t sure how to do that?
  • Do you want to help but don’t know how?
John 13:34 Love one another as Christ loves us.
 
The guest speaker at the Men N Ministry dinner meeting will be Tammy Batson, a member of Thrive Family Recovery Resources. Invite a friend (or two) to attend with you!
 

McCormick Methodist Women Meeting
Wednesday, February 5 – 3PM

Karen Hicks, president of the McCormick Methodist Women, invites all women to attend a meeting on Wednesday, February 5 at 3pm to discuss future plans for the year.
 
Bring your ideas! The retreat and the craft show will be included in the discussion.
 

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

FEBRUARY 9

Carol Tummons and John Yerdon have been planning a soup/chilli lunch for Super Bowl Sunday. They are thinking they will offer two kinds of soup and two kinds of chili.
 
There will be a love offering to cover the cost.
 
We will keep you posted!!!
 
This would be a great time to invite your neighbors to join us!
 

MMC FOOD PANTRY
NEEDS RESTOCKING

 
The following are needed for our food pantry. Please leave on the table in the pantry. Thank you for your support!
 
  • Small jars of peanut butter or peanut butter with jelly mix
  • Cream soups for casseroles
  • Boxes or bags of pasta (plain)
  • Small cans of fruit
 

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!

Read more...
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