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

 

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

 

from Rev. C. Nels Ledwell

 

 

This week we celebrate the birth of the Church and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let’s be reminded of what the Church filled with the Spirit is to be about.

 

If we are to reach people for Christ we need people with passion and power. But we also need people with a purpose.

 

In the late 1800’s, no business matched the financial and political dominance of the railroad. Trains dominated the transportation industry of the United States, moving both people and goods throughout the country.

 

Then a new discovery came along—the car—and incredibly, the leaders of the railroad industry did not take advantage of their unique position to participate in this transportation development. The automotive revolution was happening all around them, and they did not use their industry dominance to take hold of the opportunity. In his video tape “The Search for Excellence”, Tom Peters points out the reason: The railroad barons did not understand what business they were in. Peter observes that “they thought they were in the train business. But, they were in fact in the transportation business. Time passed them by, as did opportunity. They couldn’t see what their real purpose was.”

 

If the railroad barons at the turn of the century had understood that they were in the transportation business and not the train business we would all be driving a Gould and not a Ford. The same thing happened in the watch and clock industry. The Swiss had dominated time keeping. They controlled 90% of all revenues made in their industry. They made the most precise gears and springs in the world. Their watches and clocks were perfect.

 

Then something new happened called the Quartz movement—LCD readout. Guess who invented it. A Swiss man. But because it had no gears or knobs or springs it was rejected. They failed to recognize that they were in the business of helping people tell time not making precision gears. They lost their dominance in the industry. They now control 20% of all revenue. Seiko is the dominant leader.

 

 

And folks, if we at McCormick Methodist Church, forget that our purpose is making disciples for Jesus Christ we will also become obsolete. If we loose our focus and get distracted by tradition, habit, custom, ritual, routine, we will go the way of the trains, the Swiss, and Sports Illustrated. We must remember our basic identity. We must—whenever, however, wherever—fulfill our basic purpose.

 

I want to be part of a church whose soul purpose is to win people to Jesus Christ.

 

I want to be part of a church that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. A church that is going out into the streets with spiritual power and authority. The Holy Spirit compels us to go.
May we Catch the Spirit and save souls and transform the world.

 

See You in Church this Sunday or online for worship.

 

Your Pastor,

Nels

 

I hope you all enjoyed last Sunday’s worship service led by our Certified Lay Servant, Wendy Kvale. Thank you Wendy for your message and service that allowed me to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mother who will soon begin her 95th year of life in July. Wendy’s message and preparation is a credit to the Lay Servant Ministry Program of the United Methodist Church and this is a tradition we will continue to implement in our Church. We have some very gifted and talented members here at our Church that may just feel called to lead our Church in a special way. You will hear more about this opportunity in the months ahead.

 

Pentecost Sunday

Scripture Lessons:Acts 2: 1-21

Message: “The Chaos and Calmness of Pentecostal Power”

 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens … a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance … (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)

 

Last week was a good week for harvesting Kindness entries! A heartfelt “thanks” goes to those who shared with us! The clip art above (from the Chronic Joy website) seemed to coordinate well especially with the first entry – I think you will agree!

 

Entry 1:
Humor and Kindness I was at Ingles and had purchased three cases of water. I am fairly strong so had no problem picking up the cases of water and putting them into the shopping cart. I got to my car and started to put them into my trunk when a young man came up and said, “Let me do that for you.”
I thought that was so refreshing to have him help me like that, without asking! So I thanked him profusely for being a polite person.
His response gave me a giggle.
“Ma’am, I was a boy scout and they taught us to help old ladies!”
I was helped and got a giggle out of it as well!

 

Entry 2:
Hickory Knob – Mother’s Day – As I was returning to my table with a full plate in one hand using my cane in the other, I passed a table. Immediately the man at the table jumped up, asked to carry my plate to my table, which he did and even went to the supply station and got me silverware. That small act of kindness made my day!

 

 

Our obvious takeaway from both of these entries is that Kindness Makes Us Smile – and even makes us laugh at times – and each one is good medicine! So, let’s spread some smiles today!

 

 

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!

 

The scholarship committee is currently accepting applications for this year‘s Creighton scholarship. Applications are available at the church office. The criteria for the selection of the scholarship winner are as follows: the candidate must be a graduating high school senior, who has been accepted at an institution of higher learning, and displays the traits of good character, service to others and academic excellence.

Questions?- call Lindy Stahlman

 

Plenty of room for volunteers to host! You can ask a partner to join you as host. Goodies do not have to be home-made, store-bought are just fine! There is a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall, Also, if you have not done it before, Carol Myers will be happy to work with you!

 

Have you ever wondered why our church developed a Stephen Ministry program? One compelling aspect of Stephen Ministry is the role it plays in assisting the pastor in caring for the membership. Pastors cannot do it all!! A pastor is like a firefighter … when a crisis happens, he rushes to the scene to put out the fire. But shortly after that, another ‘fire’ will break out in the congregation and he will have to rush to that scene. Each ‘fire’ is important, but his time quickly becomes consumed by the second, third, and fourth ‘fires.’ And remember … the ‘fires’ are on top of his other duties as a pastor!

 

That’s where the Stephen Ministers come in!! The pastor will always be our ‘firefighter,’ but the Stephen Ministers are the people who come ‘after.’ They help those who are suffering sort through and clear the debris of crises and begin to rebuild. And the Stephen Ministers continue to give care as long as it is needed during the rebuilding process … one month, two months, six months, a year, and sometimes longer. They provide the steady, consistent, one-to-one follow-up care that the pastor wants to do but simply does not have enough time.

 

So remember … Stephen Ministers are people trained to provide one-on-one, confidential, non-judgmental Christian support for persons dealing with life’s ‘fires’ … people dealing with despair, anguish, anger, and grief. If you should 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 MUMC.

 

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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

You still have time to contribute to the Epworth Children’s Home Mother’s Day offering!

 

If donating by check please make your check payable to MUMC and note Epworth on the subject line. You can put your check in the offering plate or mail/deliver to the office at MUMC P.O. Box 267 McCormick SC 29835

 

On Pentecost Sunday, we remember the day the disciples received the Holy Spirit in a special way. The story in Acts 2 describes a powerful wind and tongues of fire as the Holy Spirit was poured out on people from all over the world who came to Jerusalem to celebrate a Jewish feast. At the first Pentecost over 3000 people were baptized, creating the first church. This is why Pentecost is known as the birthday of the Christian church.

 

The word Pentecost comes from a Greek word meaning fiftieth. The Jewish Festival of Pentecost (called Shavuot, meaning “weeks” in Hebrew) falls on the fiftieth day after the original Passover. On that day, God gave the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Christian festival of Pentecost falls on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus.

 

Pentecost for Christians culminates the celebration and work of the church begun on Easter Day. In much of early Christianity, Easter Day (not Pentecost) became the primary day for baptisms. After their baptism, the newly baptized were then trained in basic Christian doctrine, including the meaning of the sacraments they had now experienced, as they prepared to take up their ministries in the life of the church.

 

The Season after Pentecost is the time of the church year to support new disciples and the whole congregation in living out the gifts we have been given in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit

 

Save the dates for the next “The Chosen” Bible Study beginning Monday, June 5th at 5:30. We will gather together for dinner each Monday during the study, then view an episode of The Chosen. After each episode we will break into small groups and study the scripture from that particular episode. All are welcome to attend! The study begins June 5th and runs until July 31st. We will not meet on July 3rd.

 

For those who haven’t seen season 1 yet, a link to the series is provided below. It’s free to watch and you’re encouraged to “Binge Jesus” although, you don’t have to have watched season 1 to attend the study but we’re sure you’ll go back to watch it after you’ve seen season 2!

 

Sign up sheets will be in Fellowship Hall at the church or you can email Kim Jackson.

 

The Chosen – click this link for The Chosen then select season 1 from the drop down menu.

 

 

The Men N Ministry will be serving pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee after church on Sunday, June 11. John Yerdon will be mixing his own pancake batter for the event. A $ 5.00 donation will get you the works. The men will be donating proceeds to the church kitchen renovation project. We will be using our new warming oven to keep sausages and pancakes heated. This will offer faster service and warm food. Please plan on attending this fun and enjoyable church breakfast. Thanks Bob Rennie

 

Fabulous Fun Sisters in Faith Retreat—1st EVER/Education Committee & Maxine Dunn

 

Our retreat foundation is based on Mark 6:31 “Let us go off by ourselves to some place where we will be alone, and you can rest a while”. Well, ok Hickory Knob isn’t in the wilderness, it’s just across the street, but how many of us take the time to relax and just enjoy ourselves with our Christian sisters? Thinking it would be fun to re-group and get to know one another…let the fun begin!!

 

The retreat (details forthcoming in another BLAST) will be Friday night August 4th and Saturday August 5th. The rooms are for one night only and are double occupancy, so grab a roomy or just sign up and be surprised!

 

What you need to do now is check your calendar, if you’re available write a commitment check to McCormick United Methodist Church for $25 and put EDUCATION COMMITTEE on it. This is holding your half of a room, the park is crowded in the summer and if we don’t fill the rooms we’ll need to give them back.

 

Activities will be Friday night and Saturday morning through lunch. Details will be worked out as we find out how many women will be involved.

 

Those women who would like to join us for Saturday morning activities only please call one of us and let us know you’re interested so we can plan. All are welcome and you can be a part of the program, or a participant! Let the Holy Spirit direct you!!!

 

Questions? Please call Maxine Dunn, or Kim Jackson or Wendy Kvale.