THE EPISTLE. Looking Back Looking Ahead This is a day of new beginnings Our God is making all things new. St. Paul United Methodist Church

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1 May2017 Volume 17, Issue 5 St. Paul United Methodist Church THE EPISTLE Looking Back Looking Ahead This is a day of new beginnings Our God is making all things new Easter has passed and now Annual Conference is but a month away. It seems time passes so quickly now. But before we let it get away I want to make a few comments about this last month together. I enjoyed very much our Lenten Bible Study, Adam Hamilton s Creed. It was eye-opening and uplifting to delve into our most basic Christian beliefs and not just the What but the Why of these core statuettes and their significance in what we say and do. I, along with all who participated, am grateful and appreciative to all who provided the meals at these studies as well. This made each Wednesday evening session very special. There s something sacred about fellowship around a table enjoying a meal together. Maybe that s why Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a banquet on more than one occasion. I appreciate all who helped to make our Lenten worship services and our Easter Day service so wonderful the music, the visuals, all of it came together to make this season memorable. I thank Julia Wills for the front door decorations entering the sanctuary. She put those together from things she found in her yard. That s some great yard and a creative eye as well. Easter worship together was fabulous. I pray that every Sunday from now own will indeed be a Little Easter as it was intended to be. Annual Conference is a month away and already the Church is gearing up for our yearly gathering. Dan Guy will be representing St. Paul at our Conference session which will be taking place in Greenville this year. Along with our usual considerations like the Conference Budget, the ordination of Deacons and Elders, and support for the ministries of our Conference, we will be considering five new constitutional amendments as well. Each Annual Conference selects mission projects to support each year. This year, South Carolina has selected two. One involves building houses for the homeless during the Conference session in the Greenville area. Anyone who wishes to take part in this endeavor is urged to come to Greenville during the Conference session, June 5-7 and lend your skills to this effort. More broadly, we are also sponsoring an initiative to provide 1200 new bicycles to provide basic transportation to those in need around the world and in our own back yard. These are not bikes for recreation but for basic transport to jobs, to the market, to where ever we might go by car to acquire our basic needs. You are encouraged to contribute that St. Paul may do our part in helping people everywhere have better lives.

2 P a ge 2 T HE EPI S TL E V olume 17, I s s u e 5 Jesus and Me JAM will meet on the Sunday mornings of May 14, 21, and 28 at 9 A.M. They will not meet May 7, due to the Graduation Recognition and Breakfast. Confirmation Confirmation class will be held on May 7 and May 28 at 4:30 in the Family Life Center. Confirmation Sunday will be June 4. Want To Volunteer Our United Methodist Annual Conference will begin on June 4 in Greenville, SC. This year s Annual Conference will host two service projects. 1) A homeless initiative, during which we will help build homes for the homeless. Volunteer for a day or for the week of June ) Bikes for the world, through which each district will collect 100 bikes for those in need. These bikes will help people, in need, to get to their workplace. Will you help? Please contact our church office if you can help with these projects! Epworth s Annual Mother s Each year, Epworth Children s Home provides care to children in our own communities who have experienced abuse, neglect, and loss. Epworth s care breaks the destructive cycle and encourages children to aim higher in life. Each child receives the physical, emotional, academic, and spiritual care they need to transform their lives. This care makes a difference. On Sunday, May 7, 2017, our congregation will support Epworth by collecting the Annual Epworth Mother s Day Offering. We invite you to give generously to the children who call Epworth home. Meals On Wheels Do you have one hour a week to deliver a Meals on Wheels route? Piedmont Agency on Aging and Meals on Wheels program in Saluda currently have a shortage of volunteers to deliver in the Saluda community. Several routes in the Saluda community are currently open. Volunteering is easy. Meals are picked up at the local American Legion building. Each route contains up to 8-10 stops. Detailed directions are available for each route and delivery takes no more than 45 minutes to an hour to complete. The livelihood of this program is not possible without the support of volunteers within the community they live. For many that receive Meals on Wheels, their home-delivered meal volunteer may be the only person they see all day. Volunteers gain the immediate satisfaction of helping someone else right in our hometown. Please call the church office if you can help with the project to help someone else.

3 T HE EPI S TL E V olume 17, I s s u e 5 P a ge 3 Invitation Trustees Report There are new and on-going projects that you can see at St. Paul. We now have a bus shed across from the Sanctuary, stained-glass windows in the Family Life Center, and a leveled playground area. The first payment of $11,250 has been made on the renovation of the Sanctuary and Educational Building. The second payment, due at the end of the third week of work, is $11,250, while the final payment of 13,000 is to be made upon completion of the project. Once again our members are generously giving money where it s needed. Graduation Celebration On May 7, there will be a breakfast in the Family Life Center at 9 AM, to honor our graduates. Our graduates are: Allison DeLoache, W.W. King Academy Kennedy Hudson, Saluda High School Rebekah Miller, Clemson University Rachel Perry, Medical University of South Carolina Meredith Wertz, Saluda High School We look forward to gathering on May 7, as we celebrate this important milestone in the lives of our graduates. Church Council Church Council will meet Wednesday, May 17 at 7 P.M. Several repairs are necessary at the parsonage. There are some rooms to be painted, and repair work to be done under the house. We hope that some of you will designate money for capital improvements for these projects. Presently there is money to cover most of the parsonage expenses, but there should be enough left in case of an emergency. Thanks to the Trey Fingerlin and Ronnie Able families for trimming the shrubs United Methodist Women Louise Best Circle will meet on Tuesday, May 2, at 3 o clock. Bela Herlong will be our hostess and Joyce Smith will have the program. On May 27, at 3:00 PM, the Louise Best Circle will celebrate the May birthdays for the residents of Saluda Nursing & Rehab Center in the Mitchell Assembly Room. We will have refreshments, gifts, and entertainment to celebrate their special month! We invite others to join us for this happy occasion!

4 P a ge 4 T HE EPI S TL E V olume 17, I s s u e 5 Prayer List Nursing Home: Dorothy Phillips, Ann Thompson, Ludie Mae Coleman-Brown, Billy Coleman, Clyde Wade, Kathleen Padgett Shut Ins: Ruby Herlong, Linda Beber Members: Rev. James Grigsby, Rose Eva Rankin, Mike Ramey, Peg Bolton, Grace Minick, Bill Perkins, Eileen Quattlebaum, Billy Higbee, Toni and Fairy Smith, Patsy Quattlebaum, Billy Coleman, Helen Humphries, Russell Altman Friends and Family: Charlie Beber, Reba Bodie, Tyler Stegall, Russell Durst, Carol Snipes and her mother, Skylar Knight, Jessica Suggs, Andrea Stevens, Gloria Edwards, John Higgins, Michael Stevens, Harriett Ryan, Debra Ortiz, Rusty and Debra Prater, Robert Metts, Mike Skinner, Stan Smith, Butch Bledsoe, Kayla Matthews, Chuck and Sandra Collard Those Battling Cancer: Calvin Martin, Billy Wall, Sheryl Maffett, Pam Williams, Ron Depin, Annette Latham, Anthony Corley, Kathy Dodgen, Fred Parkman, Patty Coleman, Nicole Maffett, Margaret Hodgens, Myra Bennett, Delores Lester, Stacy Irwin, Lucy Ackerman Higgins, Lee Ann Sample Riegart, Avie Sox, Iris Riddle, Bertie Swygert, Cyndi Keats, Don Hancock, Harvey Sauls, Arnold Stone, Richard Eargle, Peewee Bledsoe, Brenda Coleman, Chad Arant, Joye Hutto, Charles Taylor, Nancy Ann Coleman Wooten Military: Chris Crouch, Chuck Bearon, Ryan Caulder, Robbie Grafton, Brandon Bryan, Shannon Corley, Parker Hite, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Rollins, Ben Walker Memorials In memory of Rhonda Hudson Gibson by Julia Wills In memory of J.C. and Joye Johnson by Mary Helen Duffie, Beth and Lee Propp Birthdays and Anniversaries 1-Tim Taylor, Mollie Hallback 3-David Cox 4-Kindra Wills Smith, Jennifer Wertz 5-David Werts, Jr., M/M George Wilbur Hopkins 7-Janet Mabe 8-Andy & Chesica Horne 9-Michael Pridmore, Rachel Perry 10-Zoe Horne 11-William Yonce 15-Marla Edgerley 16-M/M Mac Cromley 18-Davy Hite, M/M Charles Rollins 19-Myrle Holmes, Etheredge Rollins 21-Carrie Myers 23-M/M Timmy Temples 24-Carol Bradshaw, M/M Brandon Warren, Ethan Altman, Vicky Norrell 25-Lori Able, James Smith 26-Luke Taylor 27-Doug McDaniel 31-Kester Trotter Congratulations Congratulations to James and Maggie Wills on the birth of their son, who weighed 8lbs. 3oz., and was 20 3/4 inches in length. Congratulations also to big sister Addy and big brother Thomas, as well as the rest of the family. Reminder Please call the church office to schedule an event in the Family Life Center or Social Hall. Members and non-members are to fill out a Building Use Application and Agreement form and submit a refundable security deposit. This policy was adopted by Church Council to assure our buildings are cleaned appropriately after each event and to ensure there are no conflicts in scheduling. Thank you for cooperation.

5 T HE EPI S TL E V olume 17, I s s u e 5 P a ge 5 May 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat REMINDER Sunday School 9 AM Worship 10 AM 7 Communion Graduation Breakfast & Recognition 9 AM in FLC Confirmation Class 4:30 in FLC 14 JAM 9 A.M. in FLC 21 JAM 9 A.M. in FLC 28 JAM 9 A.M. in FLC Confirmation Class 4:30 in FLC 1 2 Louise Best Circle at Bela Herlong s home 3 P.M Church Council 7 P.M FLC reserved for Rachel Perry s Bridal Shower 9 AM-1 P.M Girl Scouts 6-7:30 P.M Girl Scouts 6-7:30 P.M. 13 FLC reserved by Jill Altman for Family Reunion 10 AM-4 PM May Birthday Party for Residents of SNC 3 P.M.

6 St. Paul United Methodist Church 102 E. Butler Ave Saluda, SC Phone: Website: How Do You Want To Be Informed? St. Paul is updating the All Call System, the Remind System, and mailing of the Epistle. The All Call system instantly sends out messages to our members via their designated phone number. The Remind system sends out text messages to your mobile phone. Please let us know which method you prefer to be informed about the happenings at St. Paul. Also, fill in your preference for the way you would like to receive the newsletter. Please place your form in the offering plate or return it to the church office as soon as possible. Name I prefer to receive ALL CALL messages at the following number Phone # I prefer to receive REMIND messages through TEXTS at the following number Phone # I prefer to receive THE EPISTLE through at address I prefer to receive THE EPISTLE through mail at address Remember, in order to be informed about church events and prayer requests you must return