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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

 

 

 

Last Tuesday, we hosted the Bells Across America celebration of our US Constitution. After the service, some of our guests asked me why we had pots and ladles on the altar table. I told them we were studying how to live generously and that spoons were for serving ourselves and ladles are for serving others. I then added we should put down our spoons and pick up our ladles. I think our guests got the point about our church. We are here to share the love of Jesus with others.

 

A ladle and a spoon are both perfectly good utensils. They are just designed for different purposes. The spoon is a single sized utensil that allows you to efficiently and effectively serve yourself. The ladle is a larger tool that is better served being used to put larger helpings on others plates. It’s designed for serving others.

 

Yes, you can serve others with a spoon, but it’s not efficient. Yes, you can serve yourself with the ladle, but that’s not its purpose.

 

The challenge, I see, is that most people are walking around life with only a spoon. We only seek to serve ourselves. We see the world through the lens of “looking out for number one.” It causes us to be myopic and selfish. There are certainly times when we need to serve ourselves, but it’s not a rewarding long-term way to go through life.

 

Instead, today I encourage you to at least take the ladle with you. Be on the lookout for reasons and opportunities to provide others value. Look for reasons to share and serve. It might be as simple as doing your job in a generous way…or it might be paying for someone’s lunch. Whatever. Just look for a way to set down your spoon for a bit today…and serve.

 

See you in Church or online this Sunday where we will continue with our Living Generously series.

 

Your Pastor,

Nels

 

A Summary of the last episode of Living Generously
POOR

 

Frank’s journey to understanding generous living continues. He is affected by his dream and determined to be more generous. An interaction with Re leads Frank to the soup kitchen, and Frank is encouraged to do more than pull out his check book. He finds himself working in the kitchen. Serving stretches Frank, and he finds that he has much to learn about helping people.

 

The soup kitchen gives Frank a taste of generous living and Re imparts wisdom that by becoming poor, we are following Christ’s example. Jesus calls us to become poor and serve others so that we can show them God’s love. And the question we are left with is, “Are you serving yourself, or are you serving others?”

 

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Living Generously Stewardship Sermon Series

Scripture Lesson: Proverbs 18:10

Message: “When the Doors Close” By Wendy Kvale

Your Love, O God
Freely, Freely
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Seek the Lord
Anthem: God is Great/God Leads Us Along

 

Prospective Members Will be Invited to Join

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to Donna and Ron Hutto and their many helpers for a wonderful service and picnic! The weather was perfect, the fellowship was special, and the food was superb!

 

Debbie Wissinger welcomed everyone, Peggy Thomas did a wonderful job of the Prelude and playing for the hymns, Gordie Waine and Carol Tummons sang beautiful solos, Patsy Wilson shared the scripture, Lindy Stahlman led us in singing and it all come together with Rev. Nels Ledwell sharing the Message, “Loving Like David”. MMC family felt blessed this morning!

 

Sue Wurtzbacher took lots of pictures which will be uploaded to the “album” on our website next week when Rick returns. If you have any photos you’d like to share, send them in! We will have the link to the photos in the next BLAST.

 

Donna and Ron want to thank all those who helped. They were thrilled to see how many showed up on Saturday morning, and they had many helpers on Sunday. Thank you, MMC family!

 

A big “Thank You” goes to Judi Bouchard this week for sharing this photo of the MISSING MAN TABLE she set up in the River Grille Foyer at SLV in observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day. A message went out on Friday, September 20 to residents inviting them to visit and take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices of those military members who have yet to make it home.

 

The message also included the significance of the elements of the table as follows:

 

• The Table is ROUND — to show our continual, everlasting concern for our missing men
• The Tablecloth is WHITE — symbolizing the purity of their motives when answer the call to duty.
• A Single RED ROSE reminds us of the life of each of the Missing Americans, & their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, awaiting answers.
• The Vase is tied with YELLOW ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing.
• A slice of lemon is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured & missing in a foreign land.
• A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears endured by those missing and their families who seek answers.
• The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us AND those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
• The candle serves as a beacon of hope for their eventual return.
• The glass is inverted to symbolize their inability to share a toast.
• The chair is empty — they are Missing.

 

In addition, there was a link to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to learn more about the organization. As a part of their commitment to “fulfill our nation’s promise”, POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September throughout the U.S. and around the world. On their website, it is reported that over 1,200 lives have been accounted for between 2017 and 2023 which is quite impressive, but one can only imagine the magnitude of their task.

 

Several years ago, Jessica and I saw a similar MISSING MAN TABLE in a dessert shoppe in neighboring Edgefield. Having never seen one before, my natural reaction was to pause, reflect, and breathe a prayer of gratitude for the sacrifices made on my behalf as well as for family members of those who never made it home. Judi says simply, “it’s all about awareness”, and she is so right. The MISSING MAN TABLE certainly gets the job done so that we never forget!

 

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!

 

 

The Stewardship Committee has written a letter to the church family, which will be ready this Sunday for pick-up. There will also be a commitment card included. Take the time to read the letter and then prayerfully consider how God is calling you to respond on the commitment card.

 

Stewardship Sunday is October 13. Meanwhile, we will see more episodes of “Living Generously” and learn more about true generosity. As the letter states, “Here at McCormick Methodist Church we want to be faithful stewards of all that God has given us. We want to empower you to use all of your resources to show your love for Christ because he loved you with everything He had first.”

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Hey Church Family!!! Do you long for the “good old days” you know…. the days before covid???!

 

Coming up Sunday September 29, 2024, is the 5th Sunday of September, and we’re going to have a “good old fashioned” 5th Sunday get-to-gather!!!”

 

All 3 Sunday Schools will be closed as the entire Church Family is invited to the fellowship hall after service on Sunday, September 29th for a lesson on The RightNow Media, along with a presentation of a Bible Study from Revelation. This short gathering will be hosted by Kim Jackson, our RightNow Media expert!!! Toni & Carol will be providing the lite refreshments so be willing to help if called upon.

 

Get excited …5th Sunday is BACK!!!

Questions, please call Toni Graham.

 

We need 7 or 8 strong folks to help with the set up on Thursday, Oct 3 at 4pm. We will be setting up the tables, removing all the chairs, etc.

 

We need 7 or 8 (or more) to help with set up on Saturday morning at 7:30am. You will be carrying out tables for the vendors, helping the outside vendors with their tents, and then setting up for the Men’s Brat sale.

 

We need 7 or 8 (or more) at 2pm on Saturday to take all the tables down, bring the chairs back into the FH, and set up for Sunday.

 

If you can help, please email or text Barb Shelley.

 

COOKIE FACTORY
Carol Tummons and Carol Fuller have put up a sign-up in the Fellowship Hall. They will need a lot of your famous baked goods, volunteers to set up, price, sell, and take down. See the sign-up sheet for what is needed!

 

PLANTS
Marge Radosevich is in charge of the plant sale, which will be held in the Atrium. Marge and Sue Wurtzbacher will work with those that are willing to donate plants. They would like you to bring your plants on Friday to the atrium so they can work on pricing.

 

If you have any questions about plant sales please contact Marge.

 

 

 

All women, their friends and neighbors, are invited to hear Martha Croswell speak on the CrossRoads Women’s Center.

 

CrossRoads Women’s Center (CWC) is a non-profit organization focused on saving lives and supporting men and women through love and hope found in Jesus Christ Established in 1988 as Greenwood’s Women’s Center, CWC has been serving Greenwood and the surrounding five counties for over 30 years! They serve Greenwood, Abbeville, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda and Laurens.

 

“Our mission is to support men and women dealing with an unplanned pregnancy through life-affirming services that offer alternatives to abortion while offering a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

CrossRoads offers free services without regard to the race, creed, color, national origin, age, and marital or economic status of our clients

 

Visit their website.. CrossRoads Women’s Center 

 

 

When:
Saturday, October 19, 2024; 3:30 PM.
Where:
Pat and Brad Meyers Farm; 4601 Upper Mill Road, McCormick, SC.
Who:
McCormick Methodist Church Family. (Sign up in the fellowship hall)
What:
Food – Unique Dinning Experience:

• Bring a can of your favorite vegetables (corn, peas, beans, mixed, other) The contents will be opened, strained, and added to a pre-prepared base in a hot boiling cauldron (Hobo Style).
• Rinse and save the can. You will need it to eat out of later. Paper bowls will also be available.
• Bring a koozie for the hot can.
• Bring a lawn chair.
• Beverages that will be available are tea, lemonade and water. If another beverage is desired, please feel free to bring it!
• Sign up in the fellowship hall.

• Games
     Ladder Ball
     Horse Shoes
     Holey Board
• Conversation
• Hobo Attire (optional)

 

Note: Please bring additional food items to help restock the MMC Food Pantry! Suggestions: small jars of peanut butter, pasta, sauces, soup, canned meats, canned meals (beef stew etc.), cereal, fruit cups or cans of fruit cocktail! Please be aware of expiration dates.

 

The Evangelism Committee is planning a Christmas Event in conjunction with Holiday on Main in McCormick. It will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 2-4pm. They are planning on having a professional Santa Claus in the Fellowship Hall, which will be decorated with child-friendly decorations. Cookies and Punch will be served.

 

They are looking for an inflatable Christmas decoration that children (of all ages) would enjoy. Please contact Janice Tipton if you have one or two.

 

There will be several different church groups presenting their music in the sanctuary.

 

They will be calling on the church family for cookies and possibly some decorations.

 

Mark your calendars!