* Ten percent of all America’s homeless are veterans. * More than 400,000 children spent a week or more without a home last year. * A nationwide homeless count is done every other January. Two years ago, on a night in late January, well over 600,000 Americans were without a home. * In the homeless …
Ostriches don’t actually hide their head in the sand when confronted by lions or other enemies. That’s simply not true of ostriches. But the image still helps us to think about ourselves. Do we choose to hide from unpleasant realities? Do we choose to not hear those things we don’t want to hear? Yes, we …
Cleaning buckets and health kits are practical gifts we can provide to the victims of the October storm. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) distributes cleaning buckets and health kits mainly to flood victims. Since the storm, UMCOR has given away almost all of the 19,000 buckets it had on hand, and many more …
Several years ago, November of 2009 to be exact, the Administrative Board adopted “Vision 2015,” a strategic plan which was already guiding the church before it was made official. Vision 2015 has us to focus on ministries with children, youth and young adults. In that light, one of the action goals was to hire our …
Don’t you enjoy watching things grow? You follow the growth of a watermelon morning after morning. You watch a sunflower pop up and eventually grow a big head. You watch your new puppy get bigger and heavier and eat more and more until you wonder if the family budget can afford him! It’s all God’s …
Using a DVD presented by Rev. Adam Hamilton, the Wednesday night Bible Study will address some of these questions beginning September 12: Why Do the Innocent Suffer? Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered? Why Can’t I See God’s Will for My Life? Why God’s Love Prevails Adam Hamilton’s presentation will be followed by discussion led …
“When are we getting a new church directory?” I have heard that question many a time the past couple of years. Now the time has come for us to have a brand new book of faces, phone numbers, addresses, and even email addresses. We need everyone to participate. I hope no one will be left …
Two years ago, our Hartsville District Superintendent, the Reverend Lillian Washington, asked me to become the Disaster Response Coordinator for the 105 churches of our district. I had never held the position anywhere else, and helping churches prepare for and respond to disastrous events was not something I had seen myself doing. I had gained …
For all the saints, who from their labors rest, who thee by faith before the world confessed, thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia, Alleluia! Every year at Annual Conference, we sing “For all the saints.” It’s the customary opening hymn for the Memorial Service, which is somewhat like a catch-all funeral for all …
Some of you know that I had high hopes that our United Methodist General Conference would approve significant re-structuring of our General Church agencies. Their work is important and none of it should be done away with. But our agencies are designed to work individually with little contact with each other. (Some call these “silos.”) …
