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

 

 

The raising of Lazarus is a reminder that there will come a time when there will be no more pain or sorrow; there will come a time when there will be no more tears. Why? Because at the heart of the universe is a God who loves us.

 

That is the testimony of John in the Revelation. He writes, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

Two images ought to stick in our minds forever. Jesus standing beside a friend’s tomb weeping. And even more striking, the eternal God of all creation wiping the tears from His children’s eyes. Cold, impersonal world? I don’t think so.

 

Let me close with an interesting story. A woman named Ella Wilcox once witnessed a woman sitting quietly by herself sobbing very noticeably in the middle of a train car. At first, Ella was a little bothered by the persistent weeping, but then she noticed another passenger in the car an older gentlemen who was sitting near the rear of the car. He was telling funny stories to the passengers sitting around him. Everybody smiled and chuckled along with the old man. After a while, some of the other passengers in the car started moving. They were getting up from their seats in the front, near the crying woman, and gravitating toward the back near the man telling the funny stories. Out of this experience, Ella Wilcox wrote these well-known words: “Laugh, and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone.”

 

When you are weeping, you may feel alone, terribly alone, but you are not. There is One who weeps with you. There is One who will one day wipe away every tear from your eyes. This One has power over life and death. This One is Jesus Christ and he has the power to call you forth from your tomb of tears and give you life once again.

 

Walk with us Lord!

 

See You in Church or online this Sunday.

 

Your Pastor,
Nels

 

Scripture Lesson:  John 11: 17-45

Reference Texts:  John 11: 1-16

                               Ezekeil 37: 1-14

 

Rich Jackson was commissioned as the new Stephen Leader. He will help oversee our Stephen Ministry here at McCormick United Methodist Church by leading training, and supervising the Stephen Ministers in their training to learn how to provide care for those who are hurting and in need. A reception was held in the Fellowship Hall following the service.

 

The Congregational Care Team visited with the sweet residents of Forest View Manor Retirement Center . Everyone is all smiles, waiting to dig in to John Yerdon’s delicious cake!!! The staff were also treated to John’s famous cake, they got the left overs!

 

Many of you are enjoying the fellowship time following the services each week! If you have not come to the fellowship hall after the service, give it a try this week! There is always coffee, drinks, and goodies plus fellowship with the church family!

 

Carol Myers wants you to know there is a sign-up ready for April, May, and June. Please take the time to pick one Sunday to bring goodies (usually there are two folks that provide the goodies). Goodies do not have to home-made! You will be working with others to set up.. the veterans will show you the way!!

 

If you have a question or concern, call Carol Myers.

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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March
Lewis Bryant
Becky Lagroon
Joe Larate
Mike Smith
Marsha Garner
Larry Bonam
Josh Sandt
Susan Gaer
Jan Lamke
Shirley Bowser
Dale Tarrant
Bob Garner

 

April
Dick Kvale
Wendy Kvale
Scott Pitser
Barb Shelley
Bob Myers
Pat Winn
Nancy Vereb
Glenda Sartain
Dot Baggett
Pat Meyers
Gary Wolfe
Don Smith

 

March
Ron &Donna Hutto
Larry & Sandy Bonam
Nancy & Wayne Manfready
Shirley & Turney Bowser
Brian & Gail Gore
Lewis & Barb Bryant

 

April
Mike & Charlotte Tallent

 

 

 

 

 

For more than 50 years, Methodist congregations have supported UMCOR Sunday. MUMC will celebrate UMCOR Sunday on March 26.

 

UMCOR Sunday, March 26, is one of our church-wide special Mission Sundays which calls us to share our goodness of life with those who are in need. Your gifts lay the foundation to share God’s love with communities everywhere. This special offering underwrites “costs of doing business.” and helps them keep the promise that 100 percent of any gift to a specific disaster through the year will go toward that project, not administrative costs.

 

There will be a collection at church on March 19. You can donate from home starting today by check or online.  If paying by check, please make payable to MUMC and note UMCOR on the subject line. You can drop it in the collection plate, bring it by the office or mail it to the church at MUMC Box 267 McCormick SC 29835. 

 

Please give generously and pray about following our Lord’s words from 1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but indeed and in truth.”

 

 

 

 

Any women who would like to have this experience are encouraged to join this group on March 27 and get ready to discover how to experience the overwhelming grace and love of God!

 

If you have any questions, please contact Toni Graham.

 

Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and begins the series of observances focusing on the events of Holy Week.  The service will be at 10am.

 

Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command,” and refers to Jesus’ commandment to the disciples to “Love one another as I have loved you.” Service starts at 6pm. Communion will be served.

 

Easter is a time for renewal. You have two opportunities on Easter to worship and celebrate the miracle of hope and eternal life.

 

A Sunrise service will be held at Baker Creek on Easter Sunday, April 9 at 7am. Time will be announced. Bring your company, neighbors and friends. Coffee and refreshments will follow.

 

There will also be a service at 10am in the MUMC sanctuary. The Chancel Choir will present an Easter Musical titled, “No More Night”. Refreshments will follow in the Fellowship Hall. 

 

 

Two weeks ago, I was “Grace Bombed”! I had never even heard of the term, but let me tell you, it felt great, and I can only hope you get to experience it, too! As you see above, Grace Bomb – The Surprising Impact of Loving Your Neighbors – is a book by Patrick Linnell who describes a Grace Bomb as a ‘surprising act of love motivated by Jesus’. What better surprise could there be?

 

On page 92 in the book you find the following: “When people think of acts of kindness as random, it is usually because the kindness came from a stranger or random people. But Jesus clearly commanded us to love our neighbors, which will include many random people – making the act not at all random, but instead a simple obedience to the expressed will of God. In other words, Grace Bombs are not random acts of kindness, but intentional acts of love. We are just doing what Jesus told us to do.”

 

You can go to the Grace Bomb Company website and learn more about their program designed to help congregants of churches “start flexing their everyday faith muscles” and spread the hope of Jesus to their neighbors through the true source of grace, Jesus. The website describes Grace Bomb as more than a kindness movement; it provides “training wheels for the Great Commission”. Grace Bombing is done in the spirit of Hebrews 10:24, which encourages us to “In response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good.”

 

The website shares real-time stories of Grace Bombs being dropped and received all around the country as inspiration for others to step into their own Grace Bombing adventures. Let us start our own Grace Bombing adventures at McCormick UMC and spread God’s Love!

 

This week’s Kindness entry came as a written message that was left in the Library after the Youth Class Jesus Love You “Snow Much” bulletin board was removed; the message found its way into the Kindness box in the window: “Please, Please, Save Me – Everyone loves what I say to them! Thank you Snow Much!”;

 

 

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.mccormickumc.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!

 

Our Next Steps Team will be presenting their findings on our choices after the disaffiliation is complete.

 

The team will present information on joining Global, going independent, or joining another existing Wesleyan group.

Sunday, April 16 3pm – Sanctuary (This will be livestreamed and archived)
Tuesday, April 18 4pm – Sanctuary

 

Members will vote for their choice Sunday, April 23 in the  Sanctuary Immediately following the service.

 

May we remain in prayer as we make these difficult decisions. Father, you are abundant in loving kindness and wisdom.

Reassure our hearts by your great power and help us to discern your will for your Church.

 

The following Seven-Week Bible Study can be done by yourself at home, or with a group.

 

If you are interested in being part of a small group for this Bible Study, Kim Jackson is leading a Lenten Bible Study group on Saturday mornings at 10am in the Fellowship Hall. Please call Kim if you are planning on attending the Saturday sessions. 

 

To learn more and/or download a copy of the “Walking with Christ to the Cross Bible Study” Click the link below:
https://www.mccormickumc.org/lenten-bible-study

 

 

Biscuits & Blessings – Saturday, May 6 – 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon – Church Parking Lot On Hwy. 378 – The Evangelism Committee announces that, again this year, McCormick UMC will host Biscuits & Blessings to reach out to our community! This event is offered as a part of the Town of McCormick’s Trunks of Gold Event on Main Street that morning.

 

Men ‘N Ministry will serve up the blessing of delicious sausage biscuits, coffee, juice and water, and the blessing of live Christian music will be provided by Larry Freeland, lead singer of Praise Tyme Band, who is also a former member of the Swingin’ Medallions. You will enjoy old gospel hymns, some original songs, and some Oldies tunes you will recognize that have new lyrics. Bring your bag chairs – and pack an extra one or two to share with others!

 

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help with this event!  You will find a sign up board in the fellowship hall – please be sure to sign up and offer your help with setting up, taking down, or with food preparation and service. And, let us all be praying for this special outreach project!

 

All proceeds go to benefit local charities.