February News of Grave Interest. United Methodist Men

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1 February 2014 News of Grave Interest Thanks to all for the wonderful responses I received from the January issue of News of Grave Interest. So many of you called, ed or told me in person how much you enjoyed it. I appreciated your comments and learned from you. Several of you said Lucille Estridge was a sister of Ira, Furman and Lee but was not aware of Mary Estridge. I went back to my research notes. I noted that the 1910 U.S. Census listed her as Mary. Her grave marker has Mary Lucille Estridge. I called her Mary in the newsletter but friends and family as Lucille knew her. Her Death Certificate has Lucille Estridge. She was 19 years old when she died of pneumonia on September 25, I mentioned in the January Newsletter that Amos Flynn had two sisters, Allie and Carrie. The rest of the article was about Carrie and her relation to our Tabernacle Estridges. I knew Allie married Grady Burgess. Grady s wife died at age 34, leaving behind three small children. They lived near Bethel Church on Shiloh Unity Road. Allie married Grady and was the new mother for his three children. Allie and Grady are buried in the cemetery at Bethel UMC beside his first wife Kate Taylor Burgess. Vivian Parker shared her memories with me. Her maiden name is Burgess. She knew Grady and Allie through family relations. She remembers going to their house and playing with the three children. Vivian knew that Grady s first wife had died young and Grady remarried. She didn t know that Allie and Amos were sister and brother. Thanks again for the interesting stories that have been shared with me. Keep them coming and happy hunting. Karen Thank You Notes Tabernacle Women Circle Dear Ladies, I really appreciate all the useful items you gave me. You are so good to me, and I love you. Thanks again. Love, Betty Usher Dear Tabernacle, I want to thank everyone who came out to help me celebrate my birthday. It was a great day and I enjoyed visiting with friends and family. I love you all, Jenny Ann United Methodist Men Men s club will meet Thursday, February 6 at 7pm. All men are welcome and encouraged to attend Community Crime Watch will be held Tuesday, February 25 at Tabernacle at a7pm Available dates February 2, 9, 16 March 2, 16, 30 April 6, 13, 27 May 18, 25 June 1, 8, 29 If you would like to reserve a special date, please sign the sheet in the narthex, call the church office , or triciabrown@comporium.net

2 God s Big Goals for Tabernacle February is here and I find myself in a more reflective mood. I wanted to be all focused and excited about getting the church geared up for a year of goal achievement for growing our church. I have had a little of that energy at times but overall the month has made me sad. The death of my Uncle Tim leaves me to ponder bigger things. I did my pondering as I prepared to write and lead my Uncle s funeral. My pondering turned to affirmation as I heard the many people led to speak and offer their memories of Tim at the service. I wasn t supposed to have to lead the funeral. I didn t intend to speak at all. I only relented a little when asked to read Scripture. I really didn t want to have to cry (while trying to speak) in front of others. However, the pastor of my home church had an emergency appendectomy the night before the funeral. So, I was called upon to lead the service. But then, my wonderful husband Brian reminded me of what was most important. For all that Tim meant to me, I needed to remember his generous spirit. His generosity came in the form of service to the church, working in the kitchen for every meal at the church, picking up aluminum cans and turning them in for money to put in the offering plate (handful of coins each week), volunteering to help at every turn and for every project, and always taking pictures and capturing the moments experienced by friends and family. The stories told by many friends, neighbors and church members painted the picture of someone who gave everything he had (which wasn t very much) to enjoy the life that God had given him. Tim lived to share his joy, share his faith, and share what he had to make someone else s life better. Generosity of spirit is about service. I think that is the call we need to hear. The call takes us out of ourselves and pours into others. This is how we love others the way that Christ first loved us. I found this quote by Amy Carmichael that really summarizes it all for me. You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving. As Tabernacle Church, we are being called to give to the church goals. This month I want you to look at our progress toward these goals and determine how you are being led to serve. Progress Toward Church Goals: 1. Children will learn the 66 books of the Bible a. Practice at FLIGHT Night and Children s Church through games, songs and bible study. 2. Host a concert event in 2014 a. Choosing dates and inviting groups 3. Increase average worship attendance to 75 a. Average worship attendance for the month of January Focus on 4 church wide missions in 2014 (one a quarter) a. Grace Place is first quarter mission 5. Host a 5K (run/walk for all ages) with the theme, All Roads Lead to Tabernacle a. Preliminary discussion Grace and Peace, Heather

3 All is well Horatio Spafford ( ), a prominent, wealthy Chicago lawyer, is remembered for writing the beloved hymn It Is Well With My Soul. It seems such lyrics would come naturally to someone so successful. But Spafford didn t pen the hymn during life s high points. Instead, the words poured forth amid tragedy. In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire wiped out Spafford s life savings. Two years later, his wife, Anna, and their four daughters headed to Europe on the SS Ville Du Havre, with Spafford to follow a few days later. The boat was struck by another vessel and sank, killing 226 of the 313 people onboard. Although Anna survived, the Spafford girls didn t. After receiving the news, Spafford went to England to get Anna. While sailing over the spot where his daughters had died, he wrote the lyrics to It Is Well With My Soul. They re a reminder that no matter what life brings, our souls can be at rest in God. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Tabernacle United Methodist Church The Reverend Heather Humphries, Pastor 5908 Tabernacle Road Sam Courtney, Music Director Lancaster, SC Phone (803) Website: Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. Robert Heinlein

4 F.L.I.G.H.T NIGHT 2014 ATTENTION PARENTS AND KIDS! Sunday, February 2 - Souper Bowl collections for H.O.P.E and monetary donations following the service. There will be no meeting Feb. 2. The youth will meet Sundays at 5:45pm. HOPE of Lancaster Items needed this month include: Self-rising corn meal, Canned meats, Self-rising flour, Vegetable oil, Dry milk, Spaghetti noodles, Canned milk, Spaghetti sauce, Canned potatoes In 2013, HOPE responded to over 5,000 requests for the basic necessity of food. The need remains great as we begin this new year Mission News Grace Place During February and March, the missions committee will collect items for Grace Place. - Graham Crackers - Ritz Crackers - Popcorn - Gold Fish Crackers - Cookies (No chocolate) - Bread - Fruit (bananas, grapes, apples, oranges) - Drinks (Capri Sun) - 8 oz cups - Large black trash bags - Paper towels Please see Kasey or Jean for more information. FLIGHT Night Sunday, February 9 th & 23 rd at 5:45pm! We will continue with learning the BOOKS OF THE BIBLE!!! We are also still collecting items for our Blessing Bag Ministry! Items needed- Socks, granola bars, packs of peanuts, gum, hand sanitizer, DEODERANT, soap, toothbrushes, SMALL BIBLES, Ziploc bags, Kleenex, COMBS, TYLENOL/ADVIL, OATMEAL, INDIVIDUAL PACKS OF WIPES, RAZORS, QUARTERS, LOTION, SHAMPOO, CHAPSTICK, BANDAIDS/FIRST AID KITs (Items in BOLD are desperately needed) Bringing your Bibles earns a treat from Mrs. Heather; and items for the Blessing Bags earn punches on your credit cards to use at our FLIGHT Night Store! FLIGHT Night Scheduled Dates are as follows: February 9 and 23 rd March 9 and 23 rd April 13 and 27 th May 4 and 18 th MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

5 WORSHIP ASSISTANTS Acolyte Feb. 2 and 9- Preston Bailey Feb. 16 and 23- to be announced Lay Readers Feb. 2- Clara Sexton Feb. 9- Mary Riner Feb. 16- Suzan Courtney Feb. 23- Jill Laney Ushers March 2- Karen Flynn March 9- Mildred Parker March 16- Elizabeth Hyatt March 23- Madison McCormick March 30- Dwayne Plyler Johnny Bundy, Jarrett Laney, Steve Plyler, Gary Watson Our Contemporary Service will be Sunday, February 9 at 11am GOOD YEARS NEWS There was so much sickness and so many doctors appointments in January we just could not get a Good Years outing worked in our Seniors busy schedules. So we will start over for 2014 this way: Good Years will meet at the Wagon Wheel (everyone s favorite) on February 13th at 11:30am. I am asking for the back room so we can have a short program and sign up for the year for host/hostess duty. Hope everyone will be well and free to join us and enjoy a good meal at the Wagon Wheel. See you then. Meals on Wheels-Tabernacle Delivery February March 3-7 March April (Closed April 18, Good Friday) May 5-9 May (Closed May 26, Memorial Day) June The ABCs of love Use this alphabetical list of love-in-action verbs as a reminder of the many ways to reflect Christ s love: Accepts Behaves Comforts Defends Empowers Forgives Grows Helps Invests Joins Kneels Listens Mentors Notices Overlooks Provides Quiets Rejoices Supports Tries Understands Volunteers Welcomes expects Yields adds Zest to life