Quick-Step Guide (PDF) for setting up your account and making your first donation.

 

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

 

Martin Greyford Phiri, a natural born citizen of Zambia, wrote:

 

Take time to think;
it is the source of power.

 

Take time to read;
it is the foundation of wisdom.

 

Take time to play;
it is the secret of staying young.

 

Take time to be quiet;
it is the opportunity to seek God.

 

Take time to be aware;
it is the opportunity to help others.

 

 

Take time to laugh;
it is the music of the soul.

 

Take time to be friendly;
it is the road to happiness.

 

Take time to dream;
it is what the future is made of.

 

Take time to pray;
it is the greatest power on earth.

 

Wishing You all the Best in 2024!

 

See you in Church or online this Sunday where we will take time to listen to God.

 

Your Pastor,
Nels

 

Sunday, January 14, 2024
Second Sunday After the Epiphany
Scripture Lesson: Numbers 13: 25-33
Message: “Fearful or Faithful”

 

Good Morning America had a segment about Bruce Willis recently. As you may know, Bruce Willis is suffering from a form of dementia … frontotemporal dementia. In the segment, his wife talked about how difficult it is to be a caregiver of someone with this illness. She stated it was very tough … and her advice was to seek help. She said something like, ‘It’s really important to have someone you can trust with your feelings.’

 

Wow … made me think of how important a Stephen Minister can be to a person. Sharing your feelings can be TOUGH!! But if you have someone with whom you can share feelings with total confidentiality … it can lighten your load. You are sharing your burden.

 

Stephen Ministers never divulge who their Care Receiver is or what their issue is. If the Care Receiver wants to share this information with anyone, that is their right. But the information will never be shared by the Stephen Minister.

 

Stephen Ministry is ‘’Christ Caring for people through people.” We are here to listen and be someone you can trust with your feelings.

 

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.

 

During Christmas, I hope we all have had our hearts filled with enough Love from Jesus to carry us into 2024 and beyond! It may be part of the aging process, but I find myself not giving much thought these days to making New Year resolutions, but rather, spending time looking back at the blessings of 2023 and praying for the Holy Spirit’s direction for this year that I might have, in the words of Charles Dickens, “a new heart for a New Year, always!”

 

Many years ago, my boss – a great Christian lady and friend – gave me a plaque with the following inscription: “If you planted hope today in any hopeless heart, If someone’s burden was lighter because you did your part, If you caused a laugh that chased a tear away, If tonight your name is mentioned when someone kneels to pray, Then your day was well spent.” I have kept it at eye level in my kitchen since that time and learned that these kind words to live by came from a Christian blog site, Katherines Corner by Reverend Katherine.

 

In closing, I’d like to share with you a kindness treasure I saw on television during the holidays. It is a 60 second TV commercial from The Foundation for a Better Life, and it certainly defines kindness in the simplest terms and reminds us that it begins with each of us. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and may Kindness be our word for 2024! Click below and enjoy!

 

 

Kindness Entry: At the checkout counter a few days after Christmas, I was surprised at the response of the young female clerk – just a teenager – when I asked if she had a good Christmas. Her reply was “No, I didn’t”. This caught me by surprise, and I said, “I’m sorry”, to which her response was, “You don’t have to be sorry – it wasn’t your fault!” I do not know anything about the circumstances of this young lady, but this experience served as a reminder to me of the great need we have for kindness in our world – a simple silent prayer when we encounter situations like this could make a big difference to someone who is hurting!

 

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!

 

 

 

It’s a New Beginning.. time to share your talents! You do not to be a member, just have the time and willingness to help! Read below and sign up for as many as you feel you can do! MMC is fortunate to be able to keep contributing to the works of God in so many ways.

 

We need singles, couples, and pairs to sign up to usher! Once we have the names, I will send out a calendar and we will work together to cover all the Sundays. We will need subs as well.

 

With the creation of the Security team, you will not be responsible for locking the fellowship door or the side doors. They take care of monitoring the cameras, as well.

 

You will be asked to lock the door by the stairs and the front door to the church. You will need to greet everyone, count the folks in attendance, and light/extinguish the altar candles. You might be asked to do Communion. We are in the process of rewriting the duties of the ushers and will help those who are new to ushering to “learn the ropes”. 

 

Contact Barb Shelly to sign-up.

 

When you sign up on the calendar across from the church office, you are responsible for the flowers for that Sunday. You are welcome to bring in your own plant or arrangement from home, or you can arrange with one of the florists listed below. They will bring the arrangement for you and set it up on the pedestal in the sanctuary on Saturday night. You can take the flowers home after the service or perhaps you’d like to take it to someone who needs some cheering up!

 

Patsy will call or email you prior to your date to get the information you want in the bulletin. The arrangement might be in celebration of an event or in memory of a loved one(s).

 

Thank you for helping to make our services “huge”!

 

Anyone who has desire to pray for the needs of our church family, community, our country or world is welcome to be part of this group. We will have access to prayer concerns shared in church or in the news.

 

There will be times we will gather as a group and pray together. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact Patty Kriger.

 

February through December needed! Sign up is across from the office, next to the Flower Sign up or call/email Lindy Stahlman.

 

You will be sent the scripture and order of worship earlier in the week to allow you to read it through. If you can sub or only do a few weeks one month, let Lindy know, she will work your schedule!

 

 

We are asking for two hosts, just sign up and someone will sign up with you, or ask someone to sign up with you!

 

Please call Marge Radosevich or Lindy Stahlman if you have questions or need some help! There is now a fund to help with purchase of treats. Thanks in advance for your help this year!

 

It is time to advertise dinners for eight again. Three groups of eight just wrapped up a fun season of building new friendships and sharing lots of laughs.

 

Sign up for the next round will be in the fellowship hall starting Sunday 1/14, and runs February through May.

 

For newcomers to MMC, this is a wonderful way to get to know folks and it is so easy….just dinner once a month at someone’s home. Each pair hosts one month by providing the main course and beverages, and the other 3 pairs bring the appetizer, salad and dessert. So, pair up with someone and sign up now through Sunday 1/28.

 

On the 28th, Julianne Coleman will coordinate with the groups to get the round of dinners started in February.

Contact Julianne to sign up or ask questions.

 

 

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.