A Real Leap of Faith. October, 2015

Transcription

1 Surfside United Methodist Church A Real Leap of Faith October, 2015 I once heard a sermon entitled Adventurous Living through Adventurous Giving. This sermon challenged me and my family to take a real leap of faith concerning our own financial stewardship to our church. Cara and I were a young couple with two young children, a brand new house payment, a brand new car payment, and all the other expenses that go along with living life. Cara and I had decided before we married that her being home to raise our children was very important to us, SO we were also a one-income family! My experience in giving to my church at this point was: I will give to the church AFTER all the bills are paid. And it always happened that very little was left for the church at the end of the month. I wasn t really concerned about my giving to the church because I knew that there were many other members who were capable of making up my deficit. I wasn t concerned, UNTIL I came to truly understand that part of my being a REAL Christian in this world meant that I was to live my life according to God s commands, which are found in His Word, the Bible. It was during a fall stewardship campaign at my church, that members of the stewardship committee presented the Step Up to Tithing Program. They explained how God, through Scripture, calls all his children to give back to Him a tithe (one-tenth of any property, produce, or income) in Thanksgiving for God s blessings. The committee acknowledged the concern, and reality of personal debt, responsibility to provide for family, health costs, etc. BUT they also helped the congregation to understand that tithing is a true leap of faith. Tithing is giving to God the first, and best, of all that we reap in blessing from Him. Concerning tithing, I had it all backwards. I was giving to God what was left over, instead of trusting Him to provide enough for me to give to Him, and to pay my bills. The committee proposed that we Step Up in our financial giving by a few percent each year, over a five year period, until we were giving ten percent of our gross income. Cara and I talked (and PRAYED) about our situation. We decided to increase our giving to three percent of our gross income. As soon as I got paid, the first check we wrote was to our church. To our amazement, we never missed the extra giving, and always paid our bills on time. The next year, we committed to give five percent of our gross income. And again, we were amazed at God s faithfulness. The third year, Cara and I had come to the realization that God was calling us to trust Him completely, and to go ahead and tithe the full ten percent. We prayed, and TRUSTED, that God would provide. Long story short, our Christian experience has shown us that we truly cannot out-give God! The more faithful we are as stewards of his blessings, the more we see his blessings overflow into our lives. Now I know what you are saying because I said it too There is no way I can give ten percent of my gross income to the church and live! Well, here s a challenge for you from God himself. Malachi 3:10 says, Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food (resources) in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord Almighty, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you! (New Living Translation). The question you have to ask yourself is: Am I living a life of FAITH, and being a good steward of all God has blessed me with? Practice in the mirror and see what happens. Remember, God isn t after our money. He s after our lives! Looking forward to seeing you in worship! Pastor Todd

2 Page 2 ASSOCIATE PASTOR The Freedom of Discipline Since moving to the beach, I ve started spending hours walking rather than driving. I have learned to enjoy a morning walk on the beach. This new discipline of walking has helped me loose a few pounds, think more clearly, feel better, and gain some energy. I look forward to my walk and feel motivated because of the results. However, last week the rhythm of my life shifted, and I didn t make a conscious effort to go to bed early so that I could get in my walk before waking Ben for school. In the midst of trying to get the urgent completed I stopped making time for the important. I didn t make it for my walk for several days. I had less energy and ultimately was less effective and productive. I realized the hard way, just how much my morning walks were not restraining my schedule, but setting me free to enjoy my day. Ultimately, we recognize that disciplines of exercise set us free to live healthier and, in turn, better lives. At some point, the musician who spends hours practicing discovers the freedom to play an instrument well. The athlete who has practiced finds a different level of play. In a way, they are not controlled by their practice schedule, but set free by their practice to play. Living out our faith requires the same kind of discipline to shape who we are and how we live as Christians. The early Methodists had three rules to practice Do good, do no harm, and keep the ordinances of God. This last rule, keep the ordinances of God, included public worship, study of scripture, Holy Communion, private and family prayer, and abstinence. (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012) These rules were not intended to be a burden, but a way of establishing patterns that allowed the early Methodists to draw close to God and to live out their faith in life-giving ways. We need spiritual disciplines that shape our relationship with God, keep us focused on Jesus, and allow us to live out our faith. As Paul assured the Philippians: From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9) If the beauty of the beach and benefits of walking are good incentive for me to get back to the discipline of walking, how much greater is the incentive of being aware of God s presence to develop or restart spiritual disciplines? Pastor Laura Stewardship 2015 October is financial Stewardship month at Surfside United Methodist Church. On Sunday, October 4, 2015 a Giving Step Chart for our 2015 Ministry budget income will be included in your bulletin. Please be sure to locate yourself on the chart. As you prayerfully consider your pledge of support for our 2016 Ministry budget, please consider moving up one step on the step chart. In James 2:14-26, the central theme is Faith and Works. James letter is concerned primarily with practical matters related to the Christian lifestyle. Does your Work demonstrate your Faith? When we become members of Surfside United Methodist we pledge our support to faithfully participate in its ministries, with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will be our Jubilee Celebration when Surfside United Methodist will celebrate 50 years in ministry. In the Book of Leviticus, God gives to his people many of his laws and commands, and God commanded that his people should celebrate a Year of Jubilee every 50 years. This celebration included canceling all debts, freeing all slaves, and returning to its original owners, all land that had been sold. If God s people would follow God s commands faithfully, they could be assured of God s blessings in every area of their lives. We have heard Pastor Todd s and Pastor Laura s vision for our church. These are exciting times and it will take all of us, the Church, faithfully supporting its ministries to be assured of God s blessings in our lives. We accepted that responsibility as Christians when we became members of this great church. Sunday, October 25, 2015 will be our Commitment Celebration Sunday when we will fill out our pledge cards in support of our 2016 Ministry Budget during worship. Please make a special effort to be in worship on this important day in the life of our church. Thank you and God bless you, Lee Ritchey Stewardship Chairperson

3 Page 3 from Judy Lienemann, President Circles are meeting again and we just had our third General Meeting of the year on September 26 th. Thanks to Hope Circle for providing refreshments and inviting Beverly Kennedy to speak about violence against women. There were over eight SUMW members in attendance at the Stop Human Trafficking event at Belin UMC on August 29 th. We heard from an assistant attorney general, the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor of Horry and Georgetown Counties, a medical missionary to the Dominican Republic, and a freelance advocate specializing in human trafficking awareness and prevention. Over 120 women and 2 gentlemen attended the Tri-District Retreat at Springmaid from Florence, Hartsville, and Marion Districts. Rev. Taylor Coates (Hartsville) was the leader. Special music was played by Nichelle Nichols from Trinity UMC in Bennettsville. The theme was On Fire for Christ. The offering collected totaled $ and will be sent to the Wallace Family Life Center. Next year s Tri-District Retreat will take place Sept. 9, 10, 11 please join me in Fall Festival Bake Sale and Sausage Biscuits Breakfast: Our main fundraiser for SUMW will take place in Fellowship Hall on Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24 th. Cakes, pies, cookies, nut breads, candy, goody bags of treats and anything else you enjoy making should be brought to the kitchen on Thursday before 4:00. Pricing will take place and tables will be filled with goodies galore stock your freezers for the holidays; enjoy a tasty treat on the spot. Each item purchased will help SUMW support mission giving locally and beyond. You do not have to be a member of SUMW to help with this fundraiser. Thank you for supporting our PURPOSE through your baked goods. A sign-up sheet will be posted. We need from 3-4 workers each shift on Friday and Saturday. Call Judy if you have questions, at Election of officers will take place at our November 14 General Meeting. We need a vice president and a chairman of nominating to complete our slate of officers. Please prayerfully consider joining the executive board. Ruth Reckling will be presenting the slate of officers. Call Ruth at if you are interested in a position on our board. As SUMW continues its mission, we will be passing a basket at our next General Meeting to collect a special Legacy Fund offering in support of the national organization of United Methodist Women. March 23, 2019 will be the 150 th anniversary of our founding. The Legacy Fund will ensure that our PURPOSE will remain an important part of each UMC. Your offering to the Legacy Fund will be appreciated. In closing, I want to share how important Doris Shoebridge was to SUMW. Doris s earthly life ended September 17, and we celebrated her life at a service on September 24 th. Doris served as vice president in She became chairman of the reading program from She attended Mary Baker Circle faithfully and presented many programs. She also made time to serve as an officer in Church Women United. Doris was honored as an Outstanding SUMW and was a recipient of a Special Mission Recognition Pin. Doris made friends wherever she went and remained a humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will miss her and remember her with love.

4 PAGE 4 HOPE CIRCLE Hope Circle will meet Thursday, October 1st at noon in Fellowship Hall. Hostesses are Carolynne Rago and Mary Hope Funkhouser. June Reese will lead with devotions and the program will be presented by Bonnie Maddox. Please remember to bring an item of your choice for Help 4 Kids. JOY CIRCLE Joy Circle will meet Tuesday, October 13 at 12:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Our hostesses will be Dee Fields and Charlotte Sandel. Charlotte Sandel will have devotions. Dee Fields will lead us in the study of Psalm 119. Visitors are welcome. Please join us. MARY BAKER CIRCLE Mary Baker Circle will meet Wednesday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. Program is Hope House of Myrtle Beach, helping homeless students in Horry County. Bring Wal-mart gift cards. Hostesses will be Evon Gutierrez, Maggie Lehmann and Ann Gardner. Desserts and beverage provided. More information, call Elaine Paige at CARE CIRCLE CARE Circle will hold its annual Fall meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at 5:30 at Salt Creek. We will be making plans for the year, making pledges, and sharing fun, food and fellowship. Tee shirts may be purchased that evening in support of breast cancer research. All ladies are welcome, but reservations are a must. Call or text Gini Abee, President, or gini.abee@gmail.com if you can join us! You are invited to join any of our separate exercise classes offered at Surfside UMC. On Mondays and Wednesdays, an Adult Fitness Class is offered in the FLC from 9:45-10:45 a.m. These classes consist of walking, stretching and strength conditioning exercises at a low impact rate. Weights and various other exercise equipment are provided. Men and women are invited to participate. These classes are taught by Pat Messinger, an Active Older Fitness Instructor with 10+ years experience. A contribution (in any amount) will be greatly appreciated with 10% tithe to the Church. Please call Pat Messinger at for more information. The Hatha Yoga Class Hatha Yoga meets every Wednesday in Room 8/10 at 9:30 a.m. All you need to bring to class is water, a mat or beach towel and an eager to learn attitude. We begin by stretching, breathing exercises, standing poses and then doing floor poses, and ending with deep relaxation. By doing these we are connecting our mind, body and spirit to bring us inner peace. If you are interested contact Mary Jo Doggett at We are currently only offering one class but in November we will start having 2 identical classes one at 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and another from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. These classes are free so come join us!!!! Every Friday at 9:45 a.m. in Room 8/10, Yoga Exercise with Pat. The class consists of Yoga poses geared for the Older Adult ( sitting and standing only.) The Yoga breathing and poses will increase your balance, stretch your muscles in a gentle manner, make you feel more relaxed, enable you to sleep better and to cope with stress better. This class is taught by Pat Messinger, an Active Older Adult Fitness Instructor with over 10+ years experience. A contribution (in any amount) will be greatly appreciated with 10% tithe to the Church. Please call Pat Messinger at for more information. On Monday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. in the FLC, SUMC will host 11 ladies with breast cancer with a meal, money and gifts, through Little Pink House of Hope, which provides a free week s vacation for these ladies and their families from all over the United States. A fund is set up through our church. Please give GENEROUSLY. Make check out to SUMC and designate your envelope for Little Pink House of Hope. More information to volunteer that evening, contact Elaine Paige at Thank you!

5 CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER NEWS PAGE 5 Ashley Welborn joined our church family September 20, She transferred from Lexington United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. Dear Church Family, We have one month behind us and it has been a busy one! The children and teachers are back into their routines. New friendships are being made and old ones have been rekindled. We have had chapel with both Pastor Todd and Pastor Laura. It has been a pleasure to have them with us. As always, the children are very excited to hear stories about Jesus, but more so, telling their own stories about themselves and their families. The Horry County Bookmobile also came this month. The children enjoy going on the bus to choose some books that they can keep in their classroom each month. Our Lil Tots class is off and running. Literally! What a fun bunch of boys in this class. They are teaching us patience and reminding us to enjoy life and not be so serious. We still have spots available in all of our classes. Please call our office or send me an scleveland@surfsideumc.org for more information. LIKE us on Facebook to receive updates and to keep up with what is going on in the CDC. Much Love, Stacey Cleveland Felix and Candy Fink joined our church family September 20, They join by reaffirmation of faith. The Staff Parish Committee would like to thank Pastor Todd and Pastor Laura for their dedication to our church. We look forward to our journey together, to grow our church and become greater disciples of Christ. Threshold Choir Gathering On October 8, from 7-9, the Long Bay Threshold Choir will be offering an Information/Demonstration evening to recruit new singers. This meeting will be held in the Fellowship Hall and all potential new singers are welcome. Refreshments will be served. You can find out more information about the mission of this ministry by going to We comfort with song. During the month of October the Children s Ministry has two events planned. One is a booth on Saturday at the Fall Festival. Children s Ministry will be selling chili and needs volunteers for two hour shifts to serve. Children s ministry also needs chili donations. Children s Ministry will also be hosting Trunk -R- Treat. This will be held Saturday October 31st from 5:30 to 7:30 in the pumpkin patch. Children s Ministry needs people to bring their cars and pass out candy. Games are available if would like to have one at your car or you can bring your own. This is a great ministry to our community by offering a safe and fun alternative to Halloween. Please Call or text me to sign up! Thank you! Cathy Schwinghammer Children s Ministry Director Office: EX: 110 Cell: ; cschwinghammer@surfsideumc.org

6 Page 6 YOUTH CORNER October Calendar Sunday 10/4 Ground Zero Youth Worship Event in Myrtle Beach Sunday 10/11 Outdoor Youth Group at the Pumpkin Patch *Hayride/ Pray ride* (5-7 PM) Sunday 10/18 Outdoor Youth Group at the Pumpkin Patch *Unload Pumpkins/ Bonfire* (5-8:30 PM) Pumpkin Patch Volunteers Needed Volunteers are needed to serve with the Pumpkin Patch. We need helpers to sign up for shifts to sell pumpkins throughout all of October. If you would like to help, please sign up on the sign up sheet in the main office. Groups are welcome to sign up and serve together. Youth volunteers are also needed to help sell food at the annual Fall Festival the weekend of Oct Please contact Blair Delappe for more information. Friday 10/ 23 - Saturday 10/24 Fall Festival *Youth Volunteers Needed* Sunday 10/25 No regular Youth Group Youth Council Applications Due Any youth who desires to serve on the youth council, must complete the youth council application and turn it in to Blair Delappe by Oct. 4. Parent Meeting Recap Any youth parents who were unable to attend the recent parent meeting, please contact Blair Delappe at bdelappe@surfsideumc.org for info. on what you missed. Ground Zero Worship Event On Sunday, October 4th, all 6th-12th graders are invited to the Ground Zero worship event in Myrtle Beach. We will depart from the church at 4:30 PM and will return around 8:30 PM. The event is free, but we will have dinner at fast-food restaurant beforehand so please bring $5 to $7. Youth Medical Forms If you have not yet filled out an updated youth medical release form for your youth, please do so as soon as possible at turn it in to Blair Delappe. You can pick up a form in the main office or in the FLC outside of Blair s office.

7 Page 7 SAVE THE DATE!! JANUARY 31, 2016 We will celebrate 50 Years of Blessings in this Place! The Rev. Farrell Cox (pastor here from 1972 to 1978) will preach at both the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. In addition, we hope that many of our former pastors and charter members will also be present. After the 11:00 service, we will enjoy a catered lunch prepared by Dilly Beans of Conway. They have a delicious menu planned which features shrimp and grits, pot roast, macaroni and cheese and other sides, drinks and dessert. The cost per person will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE FOR THE DINNER, so please watch for instructions in future bulletins. SAVE THE DATE!! APRIL 17, 2016 To conclude our Jubilee celebration of 50 years of Blessings in this Place, SC Bishop Jonathan Holston will preach at the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. Following the 11:00 a.m. service, we will enjoy a picnic with fried chicken and all the fixings. Don t miss it!! The SUMC 50 th Anniversary Committee is seeking photographs of people, events, and activities from our 50 years of ministry and mission. If you have pictures you think would be of interest, please them to Ed Curlee at: ecurlee5566@aol.com. The October meeting will be held Thursday, October 15 in the Fellowship Hall. Meal is 6:45 p.m. with meeting to follow. The Surfside Beach Festival will be Saturday, October 3. Again we will be making funnel cakes and will need 4 to 5 members all day. Everyone come and help as you can. Whatever you can will be enough. We have our last workday scheduled for October 10th. Please help if you can as we work with the Grounds Committee to keep our church property looking good. We will begin at 8:30 a.m. until around noon. Bring your yard tools, i.e. rake, clippers and oh yes, gloves are important. The SUMC Fall Festival will be October 23 and 24. We will have our fish fry on Friday, October 23rd. We will need everyone to help as much as you can for that day. We know that God is in control and we always have enough help for each event. Come out and join in Christian fellowship and yes some hard work, but it will be the best hard work you ever enjoyed. If you can help with all three events or just one, know we are thankful. To God be the glory in all that we do. Please start thinking about the annual SC Men N Ministry weekend in February. If you have not attended before, it is life changing. SUMC Men N Ministry President Kenny Bingham THRESHOLD CHOIR VOLUNTEER SINGERS NEEDED A chapter of the internationally known nonprofit, the Long Bay Threshold Choir sings softly in small groups at the bedsides of those who are dying, suffering or healing from illness. Our songs can bring comfort and ease to clients, families and caregivers. To hear us and hear about what we do, join us at north-end and southend info/demo meetings in early October. If you can carry a tune, learn to hold your own part, blend your voice with others, and communicate kindness with your voice, we welcome you, your heart for service, and your precious time. Details at (843) and

8 Page 8 STEPHEN MINISTRY AT SURFSIDE UMC Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40 Stephen Ministry provides high-quality one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing a variety of crises or life challenges- people who are experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, financial difficulties, hospitalization, chronic illness, job loss, disabilities, loneliness, a spiritual crisis, or other life struggles. Stephen was one of the first laypeople commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry (Acts 6). The congregation at SUMC has been enrolled in Stephen Ministry since We currently have two Stephen Leaders and ten Stephen Ministers. Our Stephen Ministers are laypersons who are trained to provide effective, distinctively Christian care to others in their congregation and community. Each Stephen Minister typically has one care receiver at a time and meets with that person once a week. Stephen Ministers can also provide care to nonmembers, reaching out to unchurched people in crisis. So if you, or someone you know could benefit from having a Stephen Minister, or if you would like to have more information, please contact the church and ask to speak with one of the pastors, or Stephen Leader, Katrina Barton, at katrina.barton61@gmail.com. 32nd ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL Friday, October 23, :00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday, October 24, :00 AM-5:00 PM If any church groups are planning to participate in the Fall Festival please contact our director, Mary Jane Miller at and let her know what you will be making and if you will be participating one or two days. Vendor spaces are still available. Tell your family and friends!! Visit our website ( for an application. Fall Festival Committee needs volunteers on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. Volunteers to park vendor s vehicles at Surfside Baptist Church from 7:00-9:00 a.m. Additional volunteers who live in Surfside Beach and have a golf cart are needed to shuttle the vendors between SUMC and the Surfside Baptist Church from 7:00-9:00 a.m. and 5:00-6:00 p.m., please call Mary Jane Miller at Mark your calendar: Fall Festival Committee Meeting, Wednesday, October 7, 2015; 3:00 p.m. in Room 110. Craft Club at the Fall Festival Don't forget the Fall Festival and us. We will be in the FLC building. Come and see what we have made this year.

9 Page 9 GROUNDS UPDATE Statement Bricks for the Courtyard The forms for brick dedications are on the bookshelf in the narthex. Fill out the form, include your name and phone number, place it in a pew envelope and drop in the offering plate. Still looking for special statements for our th Anniversary. Bricks available as long as there is a blank brick in the courtyard. Funds to provide upkeep for the grounds and campus projects. Contact Lynn Livesay, , if you have a question. Thank you! Anniversary Stickers (Jubilee Year) Make a donation to the 2016 Anniversary Committee! We are requesting a $10.00 donation for each sticker on the book shelf in the narthex. These funds will off-set some of the cost for the Jubilee Year Celebrations! Leave your donation in the box provided or use a pew envelope and write "anniversary committee" on the envelope and drop it in the offering plate....supporting the human spirit. Lynn W. Livesay lynnwlive@aol.com MEN S GOLF GROUP The men of the Church will resume our Friday morning golf group starting on Friday, September 11, We play each Friday morning and rotate courses among the many courses we have to choose from in the area. All handicaps are welcome and we encourage all men who enjoy golf to give it a try. An goes out each Friday asking who would like to play the following Friday so you can decide each week, based on your own schedule, if you want to play or not that week. If you want to be added to the list or just have a few questions, contact Paul Reilley at or reilleypf@yahoo.com. OCTOBER SPIRIT NIGHT We will have witches stew on sale for $7.95 per October 7 Sloppy Joes Baked Beans Coleslaw Applesauce Hamburger Bun Dessert Drink October 14 Beef Stroganoff Buttered Noodles Peas Sliced Peaches Rolls & Butter Dessert Drink October 21 Lasagna/Meat Sauce Salad Bar Applesauce Rolls & Butter Dessert Drink October 28 Happy Halloween Witches Stew Tuna Salad & Chicken Salad Sandwiches Fruit Dessert Drink quart. Please pre-order so we can have this item available for you. Please see letter at the table to pre-order and fill out order form. This is a fundraiser for SUMC Spirit Night. Please remember we are taking canned food, pasta, etc. each week for South Strand Helping Hand. Their shelves need great help restocking for the homeless and needy. We will also be collecting money each week at the table if you forget to bring food items. We will announce each month what we have collected. To my SUMC family, September 29 th, I will be moving back to Charleston, SC, where I grew up and still have family and friends. Since joining SUMC, seven years ago, I have met so many people that have become like family to me and have made so many friends among all of you. I consider SUMC my second home and will continue to be a member and visit as often as I can. My mother is laid to rest in our beautiful Columbarium, and she loved our church as much as I do. I loved serving the church and God on the committees/projects I was a part of, attending the Bible study classes that brought me so much closer to my Lord and the fellowship we all enjoyed. SUMC will always be a part of my heart and so will all of you! Blessings to my SUMC family, Linda Ritchey

10 Page 10 Friendly Senior News The Friendly Seniors group met on Tuesday, September 15th in the Fellowship Hall at 12:00 noon. We had a delicious meal and time to renew friendships after having no gathering during the summer. About 30 people were in attendance for food, door prizes and a book swap. Kathryn Cook DeAngelo, Esq. CELA Elder Law Attorney, was our featured speaker. She educated us on the unique situations addressed by an Elder Law Attorney. She shared with us several case studies that were quite interesting. On October 20th, the Rev. George Olive will be our speaker. His topic will be Disaster Relief Preparedness. Rev. Olive who is currently serving his 7 th year as the UMC Marion District Disaster Response Coordinator. He has served as team leader for Disaster Relief after the hurricanes in Florida in 2005 and has led six teams to the Gulf Coast, post Hurricane Katrina. He has been the UMC SC Disaster Response Coordinator from Currently he also is the Pastor for Joseph B. Bethea UMC in Myrtle Beach. His wife, Gail, is the former Director of Habitat for Humanity and they have two children, two step-children and seven grandchildren. We are glad to have Pastor George share his expertise in the Disaster Relief arena. Please come and be with us for an informative program. Mark your calendar! Older Adult Spiritual Life Retreat is February 2-4, It will be held in Myrtle Beach at the Doubletree Resort (3200 S. Ocean Blvd.). Featured speaker is Rev. Dr. Walter Kimbrough. SPIRIT SINGERS NOW is the perfect time to join SUMC Spirit Singers! Not only do we enjoy using our voices in service to God, our church, and our community, but we also enjoy warm fellowship with each other as we sing. If you would like to try us out, please come to rehearsal on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Our upcoming cantata for our Advent season is Joseph Martin's Let There Be Christmas, to be presented with chamber orchestra at both worship services on Sunday, December 14. The text from one of our cantata selections states: Let the valleys ring with music. Let the desert bloom and thrive; For a Rose opens in the moonlight, bringing hope and joy and life; Bringing love to heal the nations, bringing comfort to the soul, Bringing truth to light the darkness, bringing grace to make us whole. Like a rose blooming in the winter, bringing grace to make us whole, Grace to make us whole. We just began rehearsal of this cantata on Wednesday, September 23. You are still welcome to sing with us! Jubilation Ringers have resumed rehearsals on Tuesdays at 7 pm. We have several ringing dates for worship services planned for October-December, and currently have one ringing positions open. Please contact Glynis if you are interested in joining.

11 Page 11 Congratulations, Brad Dean! The Surfside UMC Church Family congratulates Brad Dean on his graduation from Moody Bible Institute on August 27, Here are some comments from Brad concerning his accomplishment: I have felt God calling me to serve Him more fully in all areas of my life for the past few years. I also felt I needed to dive deeper into His Word more than ever before, so I began to explore seminary programs. I needed a program that would allow me to continue working full-time in the secular world, yet challenge me to learn at a fast pace. I was also interested in studying how the Bible teaches us about leadership, and I believe the Bible is the greatest leadership book ever written. This led me to Moody Bible Institute. I enrolled in June 2013 and graduated with a Masters in Applied Bible Studies in August I am not sure yet where God is leading me, but I am excited about the journey! Brad has also been taking the UMC Lay Servant classes for several years. He has provided pulpit supply in the Marion District and has been active in the Kairos Prison Ministry program. He also was instrumental in the writing of our Long Range Plan for our Church several years ago. In the secular world, he serves as CEO of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce where he is a member of many Boards that affect the economy of our area. He is a member of Donate Life South Carolina which saves lives through organ donation. Brad and His wife, Myriam, live in Murrells Inlet and they have two children, Bryan and Gina. We celebrate with you, Brad, and pray God will use you in mighty ways to advance His Kingdom. On Sunday, August 30, 2015 a plaque of the Charter Members of Surfside United Methodist Church was dedicated. The plaque was given by charter members, Walter Morris and Sybil Harward Hucks. We celebrate the people whose vision and faith helped to begin 50 years of blessings in this place.

12 Missions at Surfside Surfside UMC has many different mission opportunities for you to participate in. Please prayerfully consider where God may be calling you to serve and contact the appropriate ministry representative. Thank you! Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23 (NIV) Mission Contact Blood Mobile Sandy Wetter ( ) Christmas Angel Tree Leigh Gamble ( ) Coastal Samaritan Counseling Curt Harper ( ) Correspondence w/ college students Trish Brunko ( ) Blair Delappe ( ) Correspondence w/armed Forces Dave Brunko ( ) Epworth Children s Center Nancy Yongue ( ) Foreign Missions Team Chair Glynis Hopkins ( ) Good News Club (Dustin Ventura) Linda Pagani ( ) Help For Kids Sophie Neely ( ) Host Missions Teams Dave Brunko ( ) Jason s House Elaine Page ( ) Little Pink House of Hope United Methodist Women Mobile Meals Nancy Yongue ( ) Sallie Crowley ( ) Neighbor to Neighbor Bill Doggett ( ) Judy Thomas ( ) Operation Christmas Child Lee Ritchey ( Horry County OCC Linda Boyd ( ) Salkehatchie Blair Delappe ( ) South Strand Helping Hand Ralph Magliette ( ) Upward Basketball Blair Delappe ( ) Winter Coat Drive Brenda Richards ( ) Give and it will be Given to you Luke 6:38 Father, I am not sure that I have what it takes to succeed in this task, but YOU CALLED ME TO DO IT and I WILL DO IT BECAUSE YOU ASK! I am CONFIDENT the OUTCOME is in YOUR HANDS. AMEN. Give A Meal A Month October Menu Beef Stew Canned Vegetables Any Kind Canned Fruit Any Kind Biscuit Mix Bottle of Juice Optional Peanut Butter or Jelly Optional Food donations are always welcome! Please return filled food bags to the GAMAM display in the Narthex. Thank you for supporting South Strand Helping Hands Food Pantry and feeding the needy in our community. Call Ralph or Patti Magliette at with any questions.

13 Operation Christmas Child 2015 We are kicking off Operation Christmas Child on Wednesday, October 7, 2015, after Spirit Night, in the Fellowship Hall. Our Shoe Boxes are here and ready to be put together. We would love to have you join us in the Fellowship Hall, after our Spirit Night dinner for our annual Box Party. We have surpassed our goals for the last two years, which means more children have had the opportunity to learn about Jesus Christ and receive gifts that they may have never received before. These shoe boxes have changed lives. We have heard testimonies from young people that have received them. Our goal for this year is 500 shoe boxes. What this means is that one shoe box touches 10 other peoples lives, which is 5000 people that will learn about Jesus Christ. Locations will be set up in the Family Life Center (Spirit Night) and the Fellowship Hall for you to pick up your boxes. Included in the box will be an information with 100 suggestions you may purchase for the children. After you complete your box, you may return it to either location. The boxes will be stored until our Operation Christmas Child Celebration Sunday, when they are placed on the Communion Table for blessing. Then we will pack and make ready to ship. Please come and join us in fun and fellowship, putting our shoe boxes together. What a great way to start off the Christmas season! Thank you, Lee Ritchey and Shirley Sikkema THE MARION DISTRICT LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES TRAINING SCHOOL CLASSES WILL BE HOSTED BY FIRST UMC MARION 307 E Godbold St MARION, SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL DATES WILL BE: NOVEMBER 8TH & 15TH SUNDAYS: 2:30PM 8:00PM MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED BY OCT 8, 2015 NO LATE REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED!!!!! LIGHT SUPPER 5:00PM ALL CLASSES MUST BE ATTENDED TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION COST OF THE SCHOOL IS: $30.00 LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

14 Sunday: 8:30 AM Morning Worship 9:30 AM Fellowship Time 9:45 AM Church School 11:00 AM Morning Worship 5:00 PM UMYF 5:30 PM AA Meeting Monday: 8:30 AM-12:00 PM CDC Preschool 9:45 AM Adult Fitness Class 11:00 PM Staff Meeting 5:30 PM AA Meeting 7:00 PM Boy Scouts 7:00 PM NA Meeting 7:00 PM Sisters in Faith W E E K L Y E V E N T S Tuesday: 8:30 AM-3:00 PM CDC Preschool 9:00 AM Craft Club 5:30 PM AA Meeting 7:00 PM Huff-n-Puff Basketball 7:00 PM Jubilation Ringers Wednesday: 8:30 AM-3:00 PM CDC Preschool 9:45 AM Adult Fitness Class 9:30 AM Hatha Yoga 10:00 AM Prayer Group 11:00 AM CDC Chapel 5:30 PM Spirit Night Dinner 6:30 PM Spirit Night Classes 7:00 PM Spirit Singers Rehearsal Page 12 Thursday: 8:00 AM Men s Grow Group 8:30 AM-3:00 PM CDC Preschool 5:30 PM AA Meeting 7:00 PM Huff-N-Puff Basketball Friday: 8:30 AM-12:00 PM CDC Preschool 9:45 AM Adult Yoga w/pat 5:30 PM AA Meeting Publication Submission Deadlines The deadline for the Bulletin is 9:00 am on the preceding Wednesday. The deadline for The Messenger (newsletter) is 12:00 pm on the 20th of each month. Calendar Scheduling Please contact the Office Manager as soon as possible to get your upcoming events on the calendar. Rooms are scheduled on a first-come basis. October 2015 Pumpkin Patch Open Daily 10:00 AM-8:00 PM Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Hope Circle 12: Surfside Beach Festival 4 Youth-Ground Zero 5 Alpha 6:00 Finance Committee 6:00 Boy Scout Committee 6:29 6 Worship Committee 5:00 7 Fall Festival Committee 3:00 Operation Christmas Child Box Party 6:30 8 Threshold Choir Gathering 7:00-9: Grounds Workday 8:30 11 Youth-Hayride/ Pray ride 5:00-7:00 12 Alpha 6:00 13 Joy Circle 12:00 50th Anniversary Meeting 5:00 14 Mary Baker Circle 10:30 Care Circle 5:30 15 UMM 6: Unload 2nd load of Pumpkins & Bonfire 5:00-8:30 19 Little Pink House of Hope 6:00 Alpha 6:00 20 Friendly Seniors 12:00 21 Children s Choir Christmas Rehearsal Begins 6: Fall Festival 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Fish Fry 11:00-until 25 Commitment Celebration Sunday No Youth Meeting 26 Alpha 6: CDC Fall Carnival 8:00-11: Trunk-R-Treat 5:30-7:30

15 PAGE 13 OCTOBER Maralyn Reid 12 Dave Alderman 13 Michelle Chamberlain 13 Craig Hobart 13 Ted Potts 13 Jessie Richards 13 Bob Smith 13 Liz Tyeryar 13 John Croft 14 Sallie Crowley 1 Gina Dean 1 Nick Fussaro 1 Tima Hammel 1 Rebekah Hughes 1 Megan Pemberton 1 Gus Stickel 1 Kristen Davis 2 David Emmanuel 2 Jeremy Ousley 2 Ava Parsons 2 Jim Ramsbottom 2 Dave Brunko 3 Helen Edwards 3 Neil Ferguson 3 Meredith McRae 3 Tom Benfield 4 Pam Charity 4 Wilson Hubbard 4 Corinne Monahan 4 Rick Neal 4 Barbara Barton 5 Nancy French 5 Dick Monroe 5 Bill Wood 5 Caren Brown 6 Joan Coleman 6 Sharon Willis 6 Barb Benfield 7 Jillian Couture 7 Glenn Dill 7 Scott Gasperson 7 Marian Harville 7 Trip Lowery 7 Chase MacDougall 7 Shana Smith 7 Dave Turley 7 Bruce Boger 8 Kelli Carr 8 Lori Atkinson 9 Alana Bedenbaugh 9 Sue Feeheley 9 Larry Hoag 9 Zach Lincoln 9 Maddy Joyce 10 Nancy Tuttle 10 Greg Wheeling 10 Evie Miller 11 Pat Rowell 11 Mackenzie Snyder 11 Harold Douglas 12 Zoe Johnson 12 Shauna Lewis 12 Amanda Navarro 12 Bev Dufresne 14 Charlene Sheetz 14 Marty Becker 15 Connor Lienemann 15 Judy Thompson 15 Edna Winkler 15 Keith Wolff 15 Joe Barton 16 Amberlee Davis 16 Hazel Ferguson 16 Shelby Montague 16 Ruth Gabel 17 Cooper Gimbert 17 Laurel Hatoway 17 Jim Lewis 17 Jamie McKee 17 Joni Nicolucci 17 Wayne Adkins 18 Robert Blair 18 Chad Morgan 18 Sarah Turner 18 Jeanine Beahm 19 Robert Harden 19 Donna Helton 19 Rod Swaim 19 Alec Tuttle 19 Regina Altman 20 Monty Carr 20 Mike Culler 20 Kesha Sims 20 Nicole Stampfle 20 Zachary Ellerbe 21 Dolores Parsons 21 Jody Altman 22 Logan Conness 22 Joe Dowling 22 Samantha Jones 22 Jean Reilly 22 Liv Thigpen 22 Billy Willis 22 John Ellis Ackerman 23 Grace Ackerman 23 Norma Culler 23 Elizabeth Goyak 23 Roscia Hardee 23 Johanna Lincoln 23 Alexa Mayle 23 Elaine Paige 23 Kelli Smith 23 Art Chamberlain 24 Nicole Jantzi 24 Caleb MacDougall 24 Meredith Neely 24 Betty Lou Taynton 24 Sarah Gulledge 25 Pat Weaver 25 Anna Hatoway 26 Baker Parrish 26 Glenn Parsons 26 Norma Hoag 27 Stephen Jacobsen 27 Charlynn Madill 27 Charlene Henderson 28 Jerry Vader 28 Sarah Whitt 28 Chester Abee 29 Krista Hammel 29 Jack O Conner 29 Harrison Pendergrass 29 Neal Williams 29 Lesley Cannon 30 Todd Holmes Gracie Markel 30 Lea Russ 30 Ron Sowers 30 Kynan Jackson 31 Linda Pagani 31 Donald Terry 31 Nick and Joni Nicolucci 3 John and Tima Hammel 4 Jim and Sophie Neely 4 Jack and Lois O Quinn 4 Ross and Leslie Martin 5 Robert and Amanda Blomquist 6 Neil and Hazel Ferguson 6 Sterling and Kay Phillips 6 Eldon and Judy Scott 6 Gus and Mary Stickel 14 Dan and Carolyn Roland 17 Jeff and Linda Kiser 18 Don and Nicki Ryan 20 Mike and Norma Culler 23 Adam and Kelli Gimbert 23 Roger and Valerie May 23 Tom and Barb Benfield 24 Rick and Evon Gutierrez 24 Dick and Jean Steiner 24 Ray and Kelly Williams 25 Nick and Tiffany Myers 26 Bill and Mary Jo Doggett 27 Frank and Susan Griffin 27 Matt and Maddie Martin 28 Robert and Doreen Taylor 28

16 SURFSIDE UNI TED M ETHODI ST CHURCH th Avenue North Surfside Beach, SC Phone: Fax: Church Office Hours: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM Friday Church Staff Rev. Todd Davis, Lead Pastor (tdavis@surfsideumc.org) Rev. Laura Whitt, Associate Pastor (lwhitt@surfsideumc.org) Rev. Ed Curtice, Pastor of Care & Visitation (ecurtice@surfsideumc.org) Kesha Sims, Office Manager (ksims@surfsideumc.org) Blair Delappe, Director of Youth, Young Adults, and Family Life Center Ministries (bdelappe@surfsideumc.org) Cathy Schwinghammer, Dir. of Children s Ministries (cschwinghammer@surfsideumc.org) Glynis Hopkins, Music Director (glynishopkins@gmail.com) Sherri Boschen, Church Organist (sboschen@surfsideumc.org) Stacey Cleveland, Dir. of Child Development Ctr. (scleveland@surfsideumc.org) RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED THE PUMPKINS HAVE ARRIVED! PUMPKIN PATCH OPEN DAILY 10:00 AM-8:00 PM Please make plans to sign up in the Pumpkin Patch Volunteer Book or online at to help out beginning the end of September until October 31 st. We need lots of volunteers for every part of this amazing journey that our Surfside United Methodist Youth Group will be involved in. Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Blair Delappe at or bdelappe@surfsideumc.org or Donna Huguenin at or dhuguenin2@yahoo.com. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE!