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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

 

 

While doing some research I found this article. Author Unknown but I share it with you.

 

Back in the thirteenth century, the German king, Frederick II, conducted a diabolical experiment intended to discover what language children would naturally grow up to speak if never spoken to.

 

He thought it would be German. Some things are just obvious, right? So King Frederick took babies from their mothers at birth and placed them in the care of nurses who were forbidden to speak in their hearing. But a second rule was imposed, as well: the nurses were not allowed to touch the infants. To his great dismay, Frederick’s experiment was cut short, but not before something tragically significant regarding human nature was revealed. As you may have guessed, the babies grew up to speak no language at all because they died.

 

In the year 1248, an Italian historian named Salimbene di Adam recorded, with an air of scientific observation, “They could not live without petting.” The babies literally died for want of touch.

 

Astounding!

 

Modern medicine calls this phenomenon, “failure to thrive.” What you and I know is that the first language of our humanity is not a language; it’s not even touch. Our first langauge is love. For some reason, we humans flourish under the influence of love and we gradually die without it. The implications of this fact are huge.

 

Consider the research of Dr. Dean Ornish, the founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in California. In his national best seller, Love and Survival, Ornish presents study after study demonstrating that love is a chief influence for mental, emotional, and even physical health. He summarizes the unexpected message of the rapidly accumulating body of data: “Anything that promotes feelings of love and intimacy is healing; anything that promotes isolation, separation, loneliness, loss, hostility, anger, cynicism, depression, alienation, and related feelings often leads to suffering, disease, and premature death from all causes” (Dean Ornish, Love and Survival, p. 29).

 

We are literally engineered for love. We are made for love, as if our DNA contains the message, “You must love and be loved in order to survive.” But why? Why love. Science says that’s a mystery. For them the “mystery remains. No one can fully explain, why love and intimacy matter so much.”

 

Let me let you in on a little secret. We know why. We know that we are made in the image of God. And if God is love, so are we.

 

Take time to Love and be Loved!

 

Your Pastor,
Nels

 

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Scripture Lesson:  John 6: 1-21

Message:  “The Abundance of Trust”

Scripture and Message by Wendy Kvale, Certified Lay Servant

 

 

This giant billboard caught my eye while vacationing at Myrtle Beach. It’s located at one of the main entrances to Broadway at the Beach, a popular outdoor shopping and entertainment center of 300 plus acres of theaters, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, amusement parks, and more than 100 specialty shops. At first, I thought, “why just kindness for today and tomorrow – why not always?” Then I thought, that is always – we can’t have a “do-over” for yesterday (but we can try to make things right afterwards), so today and tomorrow are what we have!

 

It seems fitting that the ad promotes an injury law firm; no doubt, they encounter many situations where a little kindness would help! I googled “kindness and the legal profession” and found the following on the Attorney at Work website:

 

“Kindness. It can quietly overwhelm…. Kindness can make differences seem insignificant. and it is astonishing to contemplate the ways kindness has knit our diverse worlds together through the centuries”. It was noted that Attorney at Work proposed that 2011 be the year to explore kindness as a universal business principle that binds clients and colleagues.

 

Myrtle Beach, with 60 miles of Grand Strand beaches and 32 golf courses, is the most enticing attraction in South Carolina where up to 14 million tourists visit each year and another 41,000 residents live year-round. It’s encouraging to realize the maximum exposure this billboard gets – wouldn’t it be great if they were everywhere? It just might help us to remember the words of Paul in Ephesians 4: 32 – And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

Kindness Entry This Week: The young waitress who served us at Cracker Barrel this past Saturday was very attentive and pleasant, and I made sure to tell her when we were finished that she did a great job. As I was checking out, I looked at my ticket and I saw that she had signed her name, Jennifer, followed by the words “God Bless!”. That said a lot to me about that young lady!

 

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!

 

We are considering training a new class of Stephen Ministers this fall. We need at least 6 people to have a class. To find out more about becoming a Stephen Minister, we wear those blue nametags when we are at church.

 

A Stephen Ministry Job Description and Application are on the Stephen Minister Bulletin Board and in our church mailbox by the church office. To hand the application in, place it in the Stephen Ministry Mailbox by the church office, hand it into the office, or give it to one of the Stephen Ministers. Applications are due by August 1st.

 

Want to learn more? Check out this website!

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Are Ya Living the Sermon? will continue the month of July on Thursdays at 10AM. No planning necessary, no homework just listen to Nels and we discuss.

 

 

Widows Connection is having lunch together on Monday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m. at the Chicken House in Lincolnton, GA. This is a good opportunity for any women in the church who would like to have this experience to come and get to know some of the widows who are members of this group and learn more about this ministry – all are invited! The group will resume regular meetings in September. If you have any questions, please contact Toni Graham.

 

You are cordially invited to our Women’s Retreat! Join us for an enriching and inspiring weekend at Elijah Clark State Park as we delve into the themes and stories of Anita Diamant’s book, The Red Tent. This retreat promises to be a time of fellowship, reflection, and personal growth.

 

Location: Elijah Clark State Park

Dates: September 6th & 7th

Time: 10 AM – 4PM each day

Cost: $20.00 per person (includes meals)

 

To make the most of our time together, we suggest that you read, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant beforehand. Additionally, we will be hosting viewings of the two-episode movie adaption of the book on the following dates:

 

Episode 1: August 5th, 2:00- 3:30PM

Episode 2: August 12th, 2:00- 3:30PM

 

These viewings will provide a visual and narrative backdrop that will enrich our discussion during the retreat.

 

If you have additional questions please call:

Karen Hicks.

 

 

Mark those calendars! The church picnic will be on Sunday, September 22.

 

It will start with a service at 10AM. Plan to bring a neighbor or new friend!

 

More details to follow!

 

 

The spots in the Fellowship Hall have been filled, and there is a waiting list!

 

We can still take about six more in tents outside.. then we will stop taking vendors and do up a waiting list in case of cancellations.

 

Tents are wonderful in that there is more room, wares do not have to be hand-done (however, many are!), and it only costs $25! You do have to provide your own tents, but we have men available to help you put them up and take them down. This is perfect for groups. The Lions Club is returning to sell afghans and brooms. .plus talk to folks about their group’s mission.

 

If you are interested, or know of someone who is interested, contact Barb Shelley.

 

The church family has been invited to a “Hobo Supper” at the Meyer’s Farm! More details to follow… but meanwhile, add to your calendar! You won’t want to miss the fun!