The Liberty Hill Connection

Transcription

1 The Liberty Hill Connection Volume 26 Issue AUGUST HAPPENINGS Lakeside Summer Services 9:00 AM* Lakeside Pavilion, 52 Nautical Drive, Camden August Soaking Prayer Wed., Aug. 17, 5:30 PM LHPC Sanctuary, 20 Meeting Lane, Liberty Hill SEPTEMBER UPCOMING EVENTS Last Lakeside Sun., Sept. 9:00 AM Communion Services at the Lake and on the Hill Bible Study Girls Field Trip Sat., Sept. 17 Beth Moore Simulcast at Mavern Hill Baptist Church in Camden. Details are on p. 3. September Soaking Prayer Wed., Sept. 21, 5:30 PM LHPC Sanctuary, 20 Meeting Lane, Liberty Hill Dinner and a Movie Fri., Sept. 6:30 PM The MacDonalds will host the event and plan the menu. The movie will be The Blind Side. *The 11:00 AM service continues on the Hill as well as customary.

2 Hope for the Broken-Hearted Contributed by Elder Phylis Elliott Dear Lord, This has been such a long, difficult, sad week. There is so much that is wrong in our world. You are being removed from so much in society and we are seeing the fruits of that effort. Lord, may people see their need for you. We pray for peace. We pray for revival. We pray for truth, righteousness, justice and love for our fellow man to prevail in every area of society. We pray for an end to senseless violence. Please strengthen and encourage all who are feeling weak, weary, and discouraged. May your love and peace fill our homes and spill over onto those around us. May we be like lights in the darkness and voices of reason that point the way to you. Lord, we pray for your comfort for grieving families. We pray for your peace for worried, anxious minds. We pray that people will find you and look to you for their hope in the midst of such unsettling times. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Excerpted from Debbie Kay s website, Hope for the Broken-Hearted: Hope' is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all And sweetest in the Gale is heard And sore must be the storm That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm I've heard it in the chillest land And on the strangest Sea Yet, never, in Extremity, It asked a crumb of Me. Emily Dickinson 2

3 Bible Study Girls Fall Events and News After a summer hiatus, the Bible Study Girls are back in action! They will kick off this fall by going to the Beth Moore simulcast at Malvern Hill Baptist Church in Camden on Saturday, September 17th. Seating will be limited, so please contact Betty Young ( ) or Gwen Starnes ( ) if you plan to attend or want to carpool (we ll meet at the church). Registration is $ They are also planning their next Bible Study, so stay tuned for details. And, remember Any girl with a Bible is a Bible Study Girl. Dinner and a Movie Returns in September 3 On Friday, September 30th at 6:30 PM we will meet in Miss Bettie Richards Hall to share a wonderful meal and watch the inspiring The Blind Side. Our gracious hosts, Doug and Nancy Macdonald, are still working on the menu. Please call the church office by Wednesday, September 28 if you plan to attend.

4 Joan Allen (Richard Van Ooyen) Pam Granger Anderson (Sandy Granger) Charlie Bailey Doug and Lynn Barfield Charles Blackmon (Lisa Knight) Rachel Blackmon (Lisa Knight) Cory Blackmon (Harold and Ruby Kershner) Braylon (Ken and Elaine Maree) Brenda Brown (Evelyn Finch) Chris and Brenda Burns Rose Calder (Ed and Pat Bunch) Gladys Catoe (Carol Catoe) Sandra Catoe Joan Clark Polly Davis (Terry Hoffman) Jim and Jackie Delozier Bud and Arlene Eldreth Rick Eldreth (Bud and Arlene) Maurice Fore (Jenny Hernandez) Carol Ghent Nicholas Hallman (Jerry and Trish Flynn) Joanne Hartley (Ed and Pat Bunch) Glenda Harper (Belle Bailey) Paul and Armalee Hinson Maxine Hunter (Bernice Branham) Sandra Ives (Walt and Betty Riggan) Rachel Lee (Page Kardack) Johnny and Suzanne Jackson (Sandy Granger) Allie Jeffords (Gene and Carol Ghent) Christine McCallion (George and Alexandria Harkins) Dana Couick McGuirt (Caroleene Couick) Pat Moree (Pat Bunch and Jeanette Robinson) Lee Morris (Bernice Branham) Andy Morrison (Bernice Branham) Susan Mosley (Harold Williams) John Mullis (Terry Hoffman) Deneen Neubauer and her family (Neal and Delisa Clark) Colleen Ogburn and the Ogburn Family (Ina Horton) David Ogburn (Ina Horton) Darlyn Owens (Ruby Kershner) Douglas Owens (son of Jack and Barbara Owens) Alan Patterson Elaine Plyler (Bernice Branham) Lisa Pratt (Joan Ward) Lee Riffle (Chet Riffle) Elaine Robertson (Benny and Vivian Ray) Morrison and Jeanette Robinson Janice Rogers Hope Rollins (Sandy Granger) Steve Rothrock (Peggy Sneed) Bonnie Sullivan (Ina Horton) Kendall Trudeau (Merilyn Roll) Margaret Truesdale (Merilyn Roll) Doug Tyndall (Joan Ward) Margaret Tyndall (Joan Ward) Ed Valentine Unnamed Family (Sandy Granger) Unspoken Request (Terry Hoffman) Van White (Page Kardack) Carol Wallace (Bonnie Jones) Pam and Buck Warnock (Donna Hunter) Betty Young Our sympathies are with Wayne and Nan Carter on the passing of Wayne s mother, Nell Steele Carter, on July 24, We also extend our sympathies to Michelle, Theresa and the Goebel family on the passing of Gudrun Agnes Goebel on July 25, Josh Kershner Harold and Ruby Kershner s grandson Daniel Scruggs and his shipmates on the USS Carl Vinson Neal and Delisa Clark s son Please call the church office with answered prayers or prayer requests so that the list can be updated regularly. 4

5 Ray Maybury (George Harkins Uncle) Merilyn Roll Memorials Thank You Notes Lauren (Carol Meckstroth s Granddaughter) G. Moore Merilyn Roll To My Wonderful Church Family I say Thank You!! For all who worked or participated in any way with the benefit luncheon I say Thank You!! We never want to admit to anyone we need a helping hand, so I thank you for caring enough to see the need and for all you did for me. You are the most caring, loving church family and I am blessed to have you. Love and thank you, Phylis Elliott I want to thank my church family for the reception in honor of my graduation. I have a much better understanding of what it means to be truly honored. I want to thank everyone so much for all the gifts I received. I love the belt buckle. The symbolism embodied within it reflects my own spiritual as well as personal growth over the past eighteen years. I will always be grateful to my church family for everything they did for me along the way. -Chance Kahler Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the prayers, cards, visits, and flowers I received during my recent hospital stay. That meant so much to me. Keep me in your prayers as I continue the healing process. Carol Ghent 5

6 Camp in a Van 2016 was a huge success! Thank you to the parents and grandparents who shared 22 children with us for this special time of spiritual growth and fellowship. Our three counselors Ellen, Cat and Jordan kept them very busy throughout the week with Biblical lessons, crafts and games. The children also enjoyed visits from the Beaver Creek Fire Department and the Kona Ice truck. Camp in a Van 2016 A program like Camp in a Van requires a coordinated effort by many volunteers. Church members and friends who volunteered throughout the week were Brother Gene Ghent, Bob and June Dornblaser, Phylis Elliott, Sandy Granger, Katie Granger, Kinsley Dent, Jessica Faulkenberry, Peggy Sneed, Bonnie Jones, Millie Plyler, and Joe Todd. Their hard work and dedication made the week run smoothly. Camp in a Van kicked off with a cookout on Sunday, June 19 th. Thanks, also, to Brian Kardack, George Harkins and Dave D Alessio for preparing our food. We also appreciate the monetary gifts and food donations by Pat Coates, Darrell and Derhonda Ross, Donna Hunter, Betty Young, Neal and Delisa Clark, Lloyd and Mary Douglas, George and Alexandria Harkins, Debbie Hilton, Alan and Sylvia Patterson and Lorraine Medlin who made our snacks, lunches, and camp scholarship possible. Thanks to Mike Clark and Lloyd Douglas for having our lakeside grounds prepared for camp. Special notes of appreciation to: Joan Ward for hosting our counselors and George Harkins for entertaining Ellen, Cat and Jordan with a boat ride and dinner. Camp in a Van would not have happened without the leadership of Rev. Mary D. Three years ago Mary D. said Bethelwoods has a summer program called Camp in a Van. We have to offer this program at Lakeside. Dozens of children and their families have been reached by this program. Thank you, Mary D., for your vision to sponsor this program for our most precious possessions. A special thanks to Laura Horton who faithfully organizes and supervises the camp every year. Without her guidance, dedication and contributions of time and hard work, this camp would not be the source of joy it has become to so many. Thank you, Laura, for giving so much of yourself to this wonderful mission of LHPC. 6

7 Historic Visit to Liberty Hill and LHPC Contributed by Sylvia Hudson Saturday, July 2, 2016 proved to be a most important day in our church and community. Yes, it was the weekend of celebrating Independence Day, BUT, it was more than that. On this day, our church and village was visited by a family whose ancestry reach far and deep into our past. Dr. Stephen M. Huntley, Jr. and his family visited Liberty Hill and from all accounts, thoroughly enjoyed their time here. The gathering began at the church at 10 a.m. as the family was so anxious to visit the cemetery and to see the church of the family s elder member. I eagerly awaited the opportunity to welcome them. We gathered under the oak tree and made our introductions. My husband, Jim, graciously volunteered to join me as we welcomed this family of grandparents, children and grandchildren. We made our way up to the church and watched as they delighted in the beauty of the sanctuary. Jim and Dr. Huntley conversed as the children and grandchildren snapped pictures. Somehow, in all the back-and-forth s I did not know that Dr. Huntley, Jr. had been a Presbyterian minister for 54 years! Imagine that!!! I asked that he begin our gathering with prayer. That was all that was needed. From that point forward, our time with the family and their subsequent drive-around later in the day went remarkably well. Three generations of the Stephen M. Huntley Family. After chatting with them in the sanctuary and sharing the history of the church, they were excited to share light refreshments and more conversation in the fellowship hall. Afterwards, they strolled through the cemetery to find the headstones of ancestors they sought to find. Dr. Huntley had not been to Liberty Hill in 60 years! He wanted his children and grandchildren to know of their ancestry and to touch base with their Presbyterian faith. His connection to Liberty Hill is extraordinary! His grandfather was Frederick Jay Hay, the builder of the sanctuary we enjoy today. Wow!!! And, if that is not enough, his great grandfather was the Rev. John Gardiner Richards who served 30 years as minister of Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church. I felt so very humbled. Jim and I left the family in the early afternoon before they finished studying the cemetery. However, I learned several days later from Dr. Huntley s son Jay that they toured the community and took many photos. Unfortunately, they were not able to get up close to his childhood home. Richards Lane had been cordoned off in recent years and his ancestral home, Hay House, was not accessible. However, they seemed to be very grateful to have been able to visit this community which meant so much to their father. Dr. Huntley s initial contact regarding his family s visit was with Leigh Todd, our church office manager. Leigh was key to scheduling their visit. There are many descendents of Liberty Hillians who, if only they knew, we would welcome them with open arms to our little village. Sharing information of past and present would be glorious! While we have changed somewhat over the years, we are still a community who appreciates its history. We yearn to meet family members of those who made this community great. 7 I have very pleasant memories as a child worshipping in the church. I remember that, in those days, someone would manually pump the air into the organ when the organist would accompany the singing of hymns. Dr. Stephen M. Huntley, Jr.

8 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 9:00 AM- Worship God at the Lake, Lakeside Pavilion 11:00 AM- Worship Service, LHPC 9:00 AM- Worship God at the Lake, Lakeside Pavilion 11:00 AM- Worship Service, LHPC Sandra Catoe Jackie Delozier 9:00 AM- Worship God at the Lake, Lakeside Pavilion 11:00 AM- Worship Service, LHPC Mary D. D Alessio 9:00 AM- Worship God at the Lake, Lakeside Pavilion 11:00 AM- Worship Service, LHPC Brian Kardack Tony Plyler MBRH Reserved for Sheheen Liberty Hill WMA Dedication Pat Bunch Toni Faulkenberry Ed Baxley Evelyn Finch :00 PM Choir Practice Lee Hoffman Debbie Elliott Lakeside Reserved Gainey/Kelly Rehearsal Jim Hornsby Lakeside Reserved Gainey/Kelly Wedding Marty Kelly Jenny Hernandez Jerry Flynn 5:30-6:30 PM Soaking Prayer Ed Bunch Barbara Owens Kenneth Cutler :00 PM Choir Practice Mary Douglas Dave D Alessio Mark Bertram Birthdays are italicized. 8

9 "Long Ago at Liberty Hill" By Sylvia Hudson (The following statements come from Liberty Hill News articles as reported in the Wateree Messenger and Camden Chronicle by correspondent G. R. Clements and later, by Miss Louise Johnston.) WATEREE MESSENGER: August 16, 1937 Dr. and Mrs. S. M. Huntley and baby of Clinton are spending a short visit with Mrs. F.J. Hay, mother of Mrs. Huntley, who was before marriage Miss Mary P. Hay. (Imagine my joy in spotting this statement in light of the July 2, 2016 tour group in Liberty Hill. Please see the article elsewhere in this newsletter about Dr. Stephen M Huntley, Jr. and his family s visit. No doubt our Dr. Huntley, Jr. was the baby referenced above! SH) WATEREE MESSENGER: August 30, 1937 Rev. Dr. S.H. Hay of Murfreesboro, Tenn. and Rev. Fred J Hay of Dillon, SC were here last week visiting their mother, Mrs. Annie R Hay. (Once again I am delighted to find another reference to our tour group s ancestors. The two ministers above are uncles of Dr. Huntley, Jr. if I am following the family lineage correctly. Many of you may remember the Hay House is the home where Ms. Clara MeeMee Kayler lived for a number of years. SH) WATEREE MESSENGER: August 1, 1938 Mrs. C.D. Cunningham tells us of a bird, a wren, which nested in a Christmas cactus on a stand, about three feet from her front porch door and raised her family of four young birds, which left their home at two days less than two weeks old. The old bird tended them while people were on the porch and did not seem to mind one bit the opening and closing of the door only a few feet away. CAMDEN CHRONICLE: August 13, 1940 Weather conditions were pretty stormy here Sunday and through the night, but our section which was very dry is now having plenty of rain, which will be of great benefit to many crops and gardens. Sorry to hear of the damage wrought by the storm in Charleston and the seaboard section of the state. (Checking hurricane records online, I see there was a category 2 hurricane that made landfall near Beaufort, South Carolina on August 11, SH) CAMDEN CHRONICLE: August 25, 1944 Late corn and gardens are being damaged by the hot and dry weather. Cotton is opening rapidly. CAMDEN CHRONICLE: August 14, 1957 Miss Shirley Hilton, a 1957 graduate of Columbia College and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Abe Hilton of Liberty Hill, was recently named assistant home demonstration agent for Sumter County. (I have recently been in contact with Mrs. Shirley Hilton Baird, living in Florence. She sent me a delightful article from The State newspaper which I hope some day to be able to share. SH) 9

10 The Reverend Mary D. D Alessio Pastor of Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church October 13, 2013-July 31, 2016 I distinctly recall the first time I met Mary D. She and Dave had come to Liberty Hill for the first time to see the church and to meet with some of the Elders. She, in true Mary D. fashion, greeted me enthusiastically in my office doorway. As she was introducing herself, she explained that the D in Mary D. did not stand for her last name, but her middle name so her name was Mary D. D Alessio. With her bright eyes and glowing complexion, I could physically see the Spirit within her. She certainly made an impression. On one particular day on the Hill, we were busy with our work when a visitor arrived who wanted to know where the Christians in the area were because he wanted to sell Bibles. I was immediately distrustful of a person who came to a church to sell Bibles. To be honest, I was a little scared. I was doing my best to politely get him to leave when Mary D. asked him to let her see the Bibles (in his trunk)! I kept shooting her glances indicating my alarm that either went unnoticed or ignored. She then took him on a tour of the sanctuary. I was deeply concerned when she was in there with him by herself and told her so after he left. I said, He might have been a terrorist! She said, I know where I am going if he had been. I was floored by her faith and her fearlessness. That spunk and knowledge of deeper things guided her ministry here. So, not only were WE the beneficiaries of the fruits of her faith, a young, hungry foreign Bible salesman was, too. We shared many lunches together in Miss Bettie Richards Hall over the years. We would discuss our concerns and our joys, but mostly, our love of this church and all her wonderful members. Each day, we would begin our meal with prayer. Her beautiful prayers would always include our children- I loved that a special prayer went up for Joe on those days. I treasured those prayers. Her gifts to this church and to all of us are innumerable. She s consoled us in our grief, comforted us in our infirmity, encouraged us when we thought we could not take another step and showed us the possibilities available for all who BELIEVE. Her cheerfulness reminded us that God wants us to be happy and to remove our sackcloths and ashes. Thank you, Mary D., for giving us hope and love during your short ministry. We wish you a restful and fulfilling well-earned and well-deserved retirement. Contributed by Leigh Todd 10

11 Jessica Elizabeth Faulkenberry Baptism July 3, 2016 at the River Wateree Photo of the Baptism Jessica Elizabeth Faulkenberry, granddaughter of Elder Peggy Sneed, was welcomed into the membership of Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church and the body of Christ by Baptism during the Lakeside service on July 3, Jessica has grown up in the church and is becoming a beautiful example of Christianity in practice. We re proud of you, Jessica! DON T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER TO OUR CHILDREN by helping provide PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT LAKESIDE! We are replacing our old, hazardous playground equipment with equipment that is safety compliant. Write out a check to Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church and designate it Playground. As you do, may your heart be filled with joy! ALL donors will be listed and thanked in the October Newsletter unless asked to remain anonymous. Donors who contribute $ or more will be listed on a display at the playground. Please also include any memorial/honorarium information on the memo line of your check. Deadline to contribute is September 1st. 11

12 Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church Liberty Hill Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 170 Liberty Hill, SC RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Phone: Fax: Nonprofit Org. US Postage Paid Liberty Hill, SC Permit #1 We're on the Web! 12