WORSHIP WITH US – SUNDAY 10AM
Online Giving
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
Last week, Debbie Wissinger shared this article with me from her former church that is going through the process of disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. With her permission, I have shared the article as I think you will find it very meaningful.
Below is a portion from our former church pastor in a letter to the congregation regarding why he is disaffiliating from UMC. This passage speaks to me and I feel is worth considering as we look forward to what we hold true.
A Welcoming Church:
Are we a loving and welcoming church? We had better be. I am in it – only by God’s grace.
I love the story in John 8 of the woman caught in adultery who was brought before Jesus. Jesus’ response was powerful: John 8:11 (NRSV) And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now
on do not sin again.”
on do not sin again.”
The church has struggled with this scripture. We have often divided Jesus’ one statement into either/or options: Do we condemn? Do we call for holiness? Jesus’ statement was not to condemn her while at the same time calling her to go and be different now. Wesley would have called that journey the journey of sanctification. Jesus offered both justifying and sanctifying grace.
N.T. Wright put it this way:
“God’s grace meets us where we are, but God’s grace, thank God, does not leave us where we are; that God accepts us as we are, but that God’s grace, thank God, is always a transforming acceptance, so that in God’s very act of loving us and wooing our answering love we are being changed; and, more dramatically, in baptism and all that it means we are actually dying and rising, leaving one whole way of life and entering upon a wholly different one.”
“God’s grace meets us where we are, but God’s grace, thank God, does not leave us where we are; that God accepts us as we are, but that God’s grace, thank God, is always a transforming acceptance, so that in God’s very act of loving us and wooing our answering love we are being changed; and, more dramatically, in baptism and all that it means we are actually dying and rising, leaving one whole way of life and entering upon a wholly different one.”
We can love and be welcoming while at the same time calling all of us to be the people God has called us to be. Wesley would have called this going on to perfection.
- We welcome with unconditional love.
- We celebrate God’s prevenient grace.
- We hear the call to repentance (convicting grace).
- We embrace God’s forgiveness and justifying grace.
- We grow as disciples in sanctifying grace.
This is Wesleyan theology.
Rev. Dr. Terry Moore
Rev. Dr. Terry Moore
I believe Dr. Moore was right on target. Jesus is not worried about where we have been but is concerned about where we are heading.
See you in Church or online this Sunday.
Your Pastor,
Nels
Nels
Preparing for Worship
Sunday, September 3 – 10AM
Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Holy Communion
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 16: 21-28
Reference Text: Romans 12: 9-21
Message: “Setting Your Mind on the Cross”
SUPPORT FOR MAUI
MMC Missions team is collecting donations to be sent to UMCOR for the people of fire ravaged Maui.
Wind-driven wildfires on Maui prompted evacuations and caused significant loss of life and widespread damage.
UMCOR awarded an emergency grant to the California-Pacific Annual Conference, which includes the Hawaiian UMC, to provide shelf-stable food, water, hygiene items and tools to help survivors recover belongings.
UMCOR awarded an emergency grant to the California-Pacific Annual Conference, which includes the Hawaiian UMC, to provide shelf-stable food, water, hygiene items and tools to help survivors recover belongings.
As first responders continue to provide initial aid, please join UMCOR in prayer and by making a gift to this and other disasters in the U.S.
Here are the ways you can contribute:
CHECK If using a check, please make out to MMC and write Maui on the subject line. You can bring by to the office, put it in the collection plate, or send to the office (MMC P.O. Box 267, McCormick SC 29835).
CASH Every penny is appreciated! If you clean out your change bowls, bring it in to church! No amount is too small!
NEW BEGINNINGS
Love Offering
Donations made through this “Love Offering” will be used to offset disaffiliation costs.
Ways you can contribute..
CHECK If using a check, please make out to MMC and put Love Fund on the memo line. You can bring by to the office, put it in the collection plate, or send to the office (MMC P.O. Box 267, McCormick SC 29835)
CASH Every penny is appreciated! If you clean out your change bowls, bring it in to church! No amount is too small!
ONLINE Donate Online
Acts of Kindness
Kindness – is Enough!
Speaking of “Enough”, that’s the title of the following story shared by Lindy Stahlman. If we were to read it every day, that would not be too much – it would be just ENOUGH! Thanks, Lindy!
Recently overheard was a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the father said, ‘I love you, and I wish you enough.’ The daughter replied, ‘Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.’ They kissed and the daughter left.
The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, ‘Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?’
‘Yes, I have,’ I replied. ‘Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?’ He said, ‘I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is – the next trip back will be for my funeral.”
‘When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?’ He began to smile. ‘That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone…’
He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. ‘When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.’ Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
He then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.
Our Kindness entry sent in this week shares a good example of sharing Jesus: I experienced the hands and feet of Jesus in the local Food Lion parking lot recently. They were in the form of a couple who gave me a pamphlet called “The Cross” and an “I Love You! – Jesus” calling card. I appreciate the lovingkindness in their hearts for their fellow man that they showed to me!
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!
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 MUMC.
If you would like to take advantage of the ‘presence’ of a Stephen Minister, start by calling Pastor Nels or one of the Stephen Leaders thru the church office at (864) 852-2394.
COFFEE HOUR FELLOWSHIP
GOODIES AND HOSTS NEEDED
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 would be happy to work with you!
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.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
School has started again! The M&Ms will be collecting school supplies for McCormick Schools. You will find a large blue container in Fellowship Hall with several copies of the list of needed supplies. Please help by buying some school supplies and putting them in the container.
Contact Gail Gore if you have any questions.
Contact Gail Gore if you have any questions.
WHAT IS ALPHA?
Alpha is an 11 week course designed to create a space for honest conversation around some of life’s biggest questions. It is designed to provide guests, churched and unchurched, an opportunity to connect with one another while providing the opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, and opinions in a safe and caring environment. Alpha helps bring people together while providing the chance to encounter Jesus.
Each week consists of a meal together, viewing a video taped talk and then breaking into small discussion groups. You will hear more about the program in the weeks to come. Please start to think and pray for those you would like to invite who may not yet know Jesus. Both Rich and Kim Jackson attended the Alpha Course in 2010, feel free to ask them any questions you may have.
The Alpha Course will be offered to our church and community beginning September 10, 2023 at 5:30 pm.
Sign up sheets will be in Fellowship Hall.
Weekly Topics
Sep 10 – Is There More to Life Than This?
Sep 17 – Who is Jesus?
Sep 24 – Why Did Jesus Die?
Oct 01 – How Can I Have Faith?
Oct 08 – Why and How Do I Pray?
Oct 15 – Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
Oct 22 – How Does God Guide Us?
Oct 29 – Who is the Holy Spirit?
Oct 29 – What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
Oct 29 – How Can I Be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
Sep 10 – Is There More to Life Than This?
Sep 17 – Who is Jesus?
Sep 24 – Why Did Jesus Die?
Oct 01 – How Can I Have Faith?
Oct 08 – Why and How Do I Pray?
Oct 15 – Why and How Should I Read the Bible?
Oct 22 – How Does God Guide Us?
Oct 29 – Who is the Holy Spirit?
Oct 29 – What Does the Holy Spirit Do?
Oct 29 – How Can I Be Filled with the Holy Spirit?
Nov 05 – How Can I Resist Evil?
Nov 12 – Does God Heal Today?
Nov 19 – What About the Church?
Nov 12 – Does God Heal Today?
Nov 19 – What About the Church?
Please pray for the Alpha Course. Pray that our church family members see this as an opportunity to evangelize to their friends and neighbors.
MINISTRY WITH THE FORGOTTEN
This is a great class for Stephen Ministers and our Congregational Care Team, as well as anyone who wants to learn more about dealing with dementia.
“Pastors and congregations will be better equipped to minister with people affected by dementia, receiving their gifts and responding to their unique needs. They will learn how people with dementia contribute to the community and the church’s life and mission, discovering practical ways those contributions can be identified, nurtured, and incorporated into the church’s life and ministry.” (Shared on the website)
Tranquil UMC, Greenwood, will be offering the Lay Servant Ministry Advance class Ministry with the Forgotten on Sept 11 & 25, Oct 9, 23 & 30 from 10:30am till 12:30.
Please call or email Wendy Kvale if you’d like the registration form for this class. The deadline for this class is September 1. Registration fees are $20.00.
The book needed is:
Ministry with the Forgotten
Dementia through a Spiritual Lens
Kenneth L. Carder
ISBN: 978-150188-024-7
Ministry with the Forgotten
Dementia through a Spiritual Lens
Kenneth L. Carder
ISBN: 978-150188-024-7
CHURCH PICNIC
SEPT 24
BAKER CREEK
We will hold our service ON Sept 24 at Baker Creek Pavilion at 10am. There will not be a service at the church. The service at Baker Creek is rain or shine. There are picnic tables, but you might want to bring a chair also.
There will be a fun picnic following! Great time to invite your neighbors to join us! We will put out an invite on Neighborlink, but an invite from you will make them feel special!
The church will be providing pulled barbeque chicken, tea, lemonade and ice. We are asked to bring a casserole, salad or dessert to share.
There is a sign-up in the Fellowship Hall. Please indicate the number of people you are bringing (include yourself in the number) and the dish you will be bringing.
It goes without saying, this is a fun time, very casual.. time to relax and enjoy the fellowship of fellow Christians!
MMC CRAFT SHOW AND COOKIE FACTORY
OCTOBER 7 9AM TO 2PM
VOLUNTEERS AND BAKED GOODS, PLANTS NEEDED
BAKED GOODS AND VOLUNTEERS Carol Tummons and Julianne Coleman are the Cookie Factory chairs this year. Look for the sign-up for both baked goods and volunteers in the Fellowship Hall. We need as many baked goods as we can.. everyone knows Methodist women can bake and they come first thing to get their baked goods!! Many volunteers will be needed for pricing, set-up, take down, selling and just plain helping! For more information, contact Carol or Julianne.
PLANTS Marge Radosevich is in charge of the plant sale, which will be held in the Atrium. She will work with those that are willing to donate plants. Please see or contact Marge so she knows the amount of display areas we will need. She will also need a few volunteers the day of the craft show.