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

 

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell

 

Here we are on the last few weeks of 2023. What a year we have had! For now we pause and reflect on the coming of Christ at Christmas. I am sharing with you below three stories from one of our favorite writers, Rev. James W Moore. Each in it’s own way will give you a message and inspiration as you have you Christmas devotions.

 

 

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.

 

Back during World War II, four young American soldiers who had been on the front lines of battle for some time, were sent back away from the fighting to a small French village for a little R & R. When they arrived safely in the village, they suddenly realized that it was Christmas Eve. They began to discuss how they would like to spend Christmas. One of the soldiers said, “You know, as we were coming into town earlier today, I noticed an orphanage on the outskirts of the village. Why don’t we go there in the morning and take some Christmas joy to those children?” The others liked the idea and the more they talked about it, the more excited they became. So they went out and bought all kinds of toys and candy and clothing, food and books and games, and early the next morning, they showed up at the front door of the orphanage with wonderful Christmas presents for all the children.

 

The orphanage director was pleased and all the children were delighted as they opened their gifts. All the children that is, except for one little girl who stood quietly off to the side.She appeared to be 5 or 6 years old and her face looked so very sad. One of the American soldiers noticed that she was not participating, and he asked the orphanage director about the little girl. “O, bless her heart,” said the director, “We just got her last week. Both of her parents were killed in a car wreck. There was no one to take her in, so we brought her here.”

 

The soldier went over to the little girl and gently he said to her, “It is Christmas morning and we have wonderful Christmas presents here: toys, clothes, candy, food, books, puzzles. Which would you like? What do you want most for Christmas?” And the little girl said, “I want somebody to hold me.”

 

Maybe that is the best Christmas gift of all… someone to hold us. As somebody once put it, “Rich is not what you have. It’s who you have beside you.” Well, this sacred season comes along once each year to remind us that “Love Came Down at Christmas,” that God is even now reaching out to us with open arms, and that He wants us to accept His love and to pass it on to others.

 

Years ago, I was in a department store doing some Christmas shopping. Christmas music was playing and I was getting into the spirit of it all… when suddenly I realized that I was singing along with Natalie Cole. Natalie and I were singing her new Christmas song at the time. It was a big hit, called “My Grown-up Christmas List.” Did you ever hear it? In the song, Natalie Cole reminisces about how when she was young, she sat on Santa’s knee and told him about her childhood fantasies. And then she sings about how she’s all grown up now, but she still has dreams…things she would like for Christmas, not just for herself but for our needy world. Then she sings her “Grown-up Christmas List.” Here are the things she wants for Christmas now:

 

No more lives torn apart
And wars will never start,
And time will heal all hearts.

 

Everyone will have a friend

And right will always win,
And love will never end.

 

This is my lifelong dream,
My Grown-up Christmas List.

 

Do you know what Natalie Cole is longing for in that song? She is longing for the peace of Christmas… and the place to find that is in the miracle of Bethlehem. When we go back to Bethlehem, we discover that real peace means being set right in all our relationships. It means being… right with God, right with ourselves, and right with other people.

 

See You all in Church or online Christmas Eve Morning and Christmas Eve Candlelight/Communion! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Your Pastor,
Nels

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve
Service of Lessons and Carols
Lessons from Isaiah 7: 10-14 and Luke 1: 26-38
Message: “When God Doesn’t Make Sense”

 

Sunday Afternoon, December 24, 2023 – 3 PM
Fourth Sunday of Advent

Christmas Eve
Service of Candlelight and Communion in Celebration of the Birth of Jesus
Lessons from Isaiah 9: 2-7, Titus 2: 22-14 and Luke 2: 1-20
Christmas Homily: “Wonderful, Wonder-filled Life”

 

Sunday, December 31, 2023
First Sunday After Christmas/ Epiphany Sunday
New Year’s Eve
Scripture Lesson: Luke 2: 22-40
Message: “Looking Forward”

 

Our most sincere “Thank You” for your love offerings. We are humbled and grateful for your generosity. It is a pleasure to work with you throughout the year and we look forward to the new year ahead. God bless each of you. Thank You again from Rev Nels, Patsy, Carol, Lindy and Peggy

 

The Secret Sisters Dinner last Tuesday was the celebration of a project that is a good example of planting and cultivating acts of kindness throughout the year. It was exciting and fun to have the identity of the person who had showered you with kindness throughout the year revealed and to be able to express your feelings of gratitude to your “Secret Sister”. Now, the process will begin again in 2024! Kudos to all who made this fun activity a reality!

 

For dessert, there was a huge Birthday Cake for Jesus with lit candles. When the guest singer was asked to lead the group in singing “Happy Birthday, Jesus”, instead of singing the traditional song, he sang the most beautiful version I have ever heard. Because I loved it so, and because I think you will love it, too, I wanted to share it with you. Even if you were at the dinner and heard the song, please take a minute and click the link below – if you do, I think you will get a beautiful surprise!

 

 

May we all give Jesus the gift he really wants this Christmas – let’s give Him our hearts! Merry Christmas to all!

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

Christmas Eve Service – 3pm
Candlelight and communion service celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ

 

What an awesome time we all had at the Secret Sister dinner! Oh, my, there was a wonderful dinner and the men served it and cleaned up..does not get better than that! We had music by Dwaine Wright on his guitar and we exchanged gifts and revealed ourselves to our secret sisters! Needless to say there were many smiles and a lot of laughter! Thank you to Barb Jeffers, Sandy Bonam and Kim Jackson for coordinating!

 

It’s time to sign up again and we’re hoping all women will join us! The only requisites for Secret Sisters are the giving of birthday and Christmas gifts to your randomly selected sister. Of course, you’re welcome to give gifts at any other time of the year if you feel inclined to do so.

 

Sign up today… All you need to do is email Kim Jackson, tell her you want to participate in 2024. She will send you a link to ELFSTER, which asks you for your birth month and day. (No, not the year!!!). Such fun!

 

 

If you have any questions feel free to ask Kim Jackson.

 

The Worship Committee asks you please stay after the service on December 31 to take down the decorations. There is a job for everyone, please stay and help. The more that help, the less time it will take! Thank you in advance!

 

The McCormick Chapel Corporation is a South Carolina Domestic Non-Profit Corporation that was established in 1994. McCormick Methodist Church has had a member on the board for the last twenty-nine years. This board was established to build a chapel inside the fences of the McCormick Correctional Institution to work with inmates in counseling and situations, to provide learning opportunities, to schedule the volunteer programs of the numerous religious organizations. The McCormick Chapel Corporation is supported by donations of people who understand the value of a chapel inside a prison.

 

The Chapel Corporation works with the Chaplain to oversee the care of the building by furnishing cleaning products. It also helps the Chaplain collect donations for the Indigents’ hygiene supplies. There are some inmates who have no means of receiving funds into their state accounts.

 

There is a clear plastic container in the Fellowship Hall to collect any of the following items. Those with an asterisk are needed at the present time.

*Bath size bars of Irish Spring or Palmolive
Toothbrushes
*Toothpaste
*Antiperspirant – sold stick
*Bic disposable razors for men
Shampoo

 

If you have any questions, please text, email or call Polly Prather.