Unity News United in Christ s love, we glorify God through worship, nurture, and service to all people. November, 2017 34 IN THIS ISSUE: People at the Humane Society 24 People made cookies and visits 15 People helped with God s Bounty People loaded Habitat Trucks 12 8 People at the Food Bank People in the nursery New Outreach and Hospitality Coordinator Page 3 Christmas Memorials and Honorariums Page 4 Men s Breakfast Page 5 And Much More PRAYER CONCERNS David Choate Charlee Rae Gribble* Dot Hollis* Bob Hudspeth Jeannie Jones* Bob Lane* Margaret Morgan* Trudie Robertson* Dee Rutter* Millie Williams* Bill Templeton* *Long Term Prayer Concern 22 9 People worked at Family Promise Year Of The Bible Page 2 People at Habitat Workday Visits to mature Unity members Windows cleaned at Unity People worked at Unity GO MAD DAY! Thank you to everyone who came out and Made A Difference! Go MAD Day was an amazing success due to your commitment. We had 127 people from ages 2 to 80 come out and help in 10 different projects. Again, thank you! Unity shortly after the new Interim Pastor was selected. Photo Credit: Tim Whitesell
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION STAFF Kathryn McGregor Director of Christian Education (children and adults) KMcGregor@UnityFortMill.org Rev. Lindsay White Assoc. Pastor for Youth Ministries (youth grades -12) LWhite@UnityFortMill.org Melissa Dye Children in Worship Coordinator CIW@UnityFortMill.org Linda Bunge Director of Unity Preschool PreschoolAtUnity@gmail.com Lauren Lochel Nursery Coordinator Nursery@UnityFortMill.org WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO... CHRISTIAN EDUCATION ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL : NOVEMBER 5 As a Child Room M20 Revelation Faith Connections Room M102 Dare to Dream Fellowship Fellowship Hall the Protestant Reformation Holy Grounds Fellowship Hall Parlor Jesus, Pope Frances, and a Protestant Walk Into A Bar... Koinonia Room M210 Illuminating Advent Unity Room U212 Matthew 25:1-13 YEAR OF THE BIBLE This coming year will be an exciting time for our congregation. Not only are we looking forward to what opportunities await us in the midst of pastoral transition, but we will also be celebrating our 230th anniversary. During 2018, we plan to make reading scripture, the cornerstone of our Christian faith, a special emphasis. The Bible is basic to our faith and has sustained millions and millions of people throughout their lives. Yet many people say they do not know the Bible very well. We hope to change that next year! The Session has adopted a program that we are calling The Year of the Bible. The centerpiece for the program is a challenge to everyone in the congregation to read the entire Bible in one year! We will be providing help and guidance as the year progresses. Watch the newsletter, announcement sheet, and website for more details in the coming weeks. This is a challenge and it will require commitment, but you will find the effort well worth your time. YOUTH NOVEMBER 12 NOVEMBER 2 November 12: Middle School: Worship 4 Youth at Bethelwoods 3:30-7:30 pm $10 per person, sign up on our website High School Dinner out (details to come) No Youth Group November 19th and 2th 2 CHILDREN AND YOUTH Children and Youth instrumentalists are invited to share their gifts in worship during the seasons of Advent and Christmas, particularly in worship on December 10 th and at the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service. Piano, band, and strings students are all invited to participate by playing a short sacred Christmas solo. Please contact Margaret Monroe, Director of Music, at mmonroe@unityfortmill.org if you are interested or have any questions.
BECOME A PART OF CARING FOR OUR CONGREGATION A Care Team is comprised of -10 volunteers who respond to the practical needs of a congregation member experiencing illness. The Care Team's activities for their Care Partner may include transportation to the doctor or grocery store, errands, meals, social outings, or giving a caregiver a few hours of respite. The Care Partner defines the way(s) the Care Team can assist; all are aware the team will not be able to meet all needs of the Care Partner. The Care Team's activities are coordinated; a team member's time commitment is 2-3 hours every five to six weeks. The Care Team model provides a wonderful, caring, organized structure of support that is enjoyable for all! If you would be interested in being part of this amazing and meaningful ministry by assisting to coordinate our Teams, being on a team, or having a Care Team to assist you, please contact Susan Mobley (803-547-2344 or 704-575-7344.) FROM THE NEW COORDINATOR FOR OUTREACH AND HOSPITALITY I am excited to begin this new position at Unity Coordinator for Outreach and Hospitality. This position will support the Outreach and Hospitality and Evangelism Teams. As Unity continues to open its doors to the community and welcome visitors and new members, this role will seek to convey the love of Christ to all people and encourage people to love the Lord and our neighbor. Working with the leadership and staff of Unity, we will continue the work already in process and create new opportunities for Outreach and Hospitality for the people of our church and community. I have worked in two other churches as a Christian Educator and Office Administer. I have my Masters in Christian Education and am a Certified Christian Educator in the PCUSA. In my previous roles I have served on presbytery committees and organized local and global missions for churches in Charlotte Presbytery. I have also worked with community leadership to form partnerships with churches, schools and business leaders to aid families in better lives for themselves and their neighbors. I have created, along with Outreach team, opportunities for visitors to explore the church campus and events held as outreach to the community, and worked with Pastors to create Shepherding groups to get new members involved within the first months of connection. My husband and I joined Unity in May 2017. We live in Fort Mill and have two grown children. We enjoy spending time with family and leading bible studies and retreats together. We are both Ordained Elders in the PCUSA. May God continue to bless Unity s mission and ministry! Nancy Nutter Email: nnutter@unityfortmill.org NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN Help us honor a deserving woman of Unity. Nominations are being accepted for the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership Award. Forms are in the church office, narthex, or online. Deadline is December 8th. Return forms to the church office. Please contact Ruth Boetsch at grboetsch@ comporium.net for more information. SESSION SELECTS INTERIM SENIOR PASTOR Session is pleased to announce that in their meeting Monday night, October 23, they met with and approved an Interim Pastor for Unity! The Reverend Mark Evan Diehl is currently serving as Interim Pastor of Pawley s Island Presbyterian Church. Mark s ministry experience has included serving churches from 3,500 members to 12 members, and the past five years, his focus has been to assist congregations during transitions between called pastors. Mark s first Sunday with Unity will be December 3, 2017. Stay tuned for more details in early November. AARP DRIVER SAFETY CLASS An AARP driver safety class will be offered for anyone age 2 years and older on Thursday, November 30th, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Room M210. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Taking the class may give you a discount on your auto insurance. To register, contact Barbara Williams at 803-447-745. 3
UNITY Endowment PROGRAM WILL YOU BE A PART OF THE MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE? Unity has been offered a gift that will match all contributions of cash and securities to the Endowment Fund up to a total of $20,000 through December 31, 2017. The fund currently holds just over $3,000 in cash. When the fund reaches $110,000, the Endowment Board may begin considering distribution requests up to amounts equaling 4% - % of the fund balance. Meeting this challenge will get us very close to allowing us to provide this additional support to Unity s ministries. A brief description of the Endowment Program can be found with your 3rd quarter contribution statement that was mailed the first week of October. Additional information about the Program and how it will benefit Unity can be found: In the printed materials available in the Narthex. The Endowment page on Unity s website found under the Stewardship tab. A special Endowment Program evening, Dessert with Dan on Monday, November 13th, at :30pm. Rev. Holloway will share his insights on the importance of the Endowment for the health of our future church. Any amount contributed to the Endowment by December 31st will be doubled, up to a total of $20,000. We appreciate your interest in preserving our future church. DESSERT WITH DAN The Endowment Board will host an interactive discussion around the topics of vision and Unity s future with Dan and other staff. The congregation is invited to also share their thoughts. This event on Monday, November 13 (beginning at :30pm in the Fellowship Hall) is free and open to all. CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS Christmas Memorials and Honorariums may be made by completing a form available in the church office, by filling out the form found in the Welcome Pad, or by downloading the form available online. Please make your check payable to Unity, and write Christmas Memorial/Honorarium on the memo line. The deadline for these gifts is December 3rd. These gifts will be listed in a booklet which will be available in the Narthex on December 17th. 4
FAMILY PROMISE: HOW DO WE HELP? (WRITTEN BY VALERIE PETTIT) The opportunities to help and support these families and Family Promise are only as limited as you dare make them! Invite Family Promise to speak with your company or organization, make a monetary contribution to Family Promise, or donate used cars, furniture, household items, clothing, and services to be given to families. In 201 four cars were donated to families without transportation! Volunteer at the office or day center or support your church. But most of all pray for the homeless and hurting and for those who help them. At the very least these families need emotional support and encouragement How does Unity support FP? Unity is one of twelve host churches in the York County area. Currently we are the only church in Fort Mill. Unity provides overnight lodging and meals for up to 14 people for one week on a quarterly rotating basis. We host these families in the Youth Wing of our church. They arrive about pm, we eat dinner together and then each family has their own room to sleep in and they usually leave us in the morning before seven am to start their day. We even have a shower available if guests or overnight hosts needed to shower before leaving. There are about 70 volunteers that provide their time, talent, treasure and hospitality in support of this mission. Just a few of our volunteer opportunities include cooking and serving meals, providing friendship, supervising evening activities for children or staying overnight at the church. Family promise and its volunteers exist to offer a dignified alternative for families who want to see a future filled with hope and meaning. If you re interested in volunteering for a ministry, Family Promise is a rewarding and fulfilling way for the entire family to nurture and support these families while helping them achieve sustainable independence. We would love to have you join us and we d be happy to answer any specific questions you may have so please don t hesitate to contact us! Our next hosting date is December 3-10 Valerie & Earl Pettit pettit4@fmtc.net Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 MEN S BREAKFAST The Men s Ministry Breakfast is Tuesday, November 14 at 8:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall. All men are welcome for a terrific breakfast and a time of fellowship. Our special guest this month will be the Rev. Dan Holloway, who will reflect on his years of ministry here at Unity just days before his last Sunday. You will not want to miss this program! LUNCH BUNCH Bring a sandwich and join the Lunch Bunch the Fellowship Hall on Monday, November 13th, at 12:00 noon. Drinks and dessert are provided. After lunch, we will be entertained by the versatile and talented Jerry Herbert. Jerry sings and plays several different musical instruments, including piano and guitar. LOST AND FOUND New location in the sanctuary hallway along the side of the sanctuary. (From the narthex start down the hall onto the carpet and turn right alongside of the sanctuary. It is along the right wall before the side sanctuary BOOK NOOK Hill, Ron. Reformation for Armchair Theologians. Westminster John Knox Press, 2005. This past week was the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Our Fellowship Sunday school class has enjoyed a week study of the Reformation and taken a look at several of the Protestant denominations which resulted from it. Want to know more or haven t been able to attend the class? This book provides a helpful but not overly overwhelming look at the Reformation, focusing on some of the main players including Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin. It also includes questions for discussion at the end of each chapter and suggestions for further reading. WELCOME David & Sheri Balcerzak Drew, Marianna & Allie Balcerzak Thomas & Abby Chidester, daughter, Ella Joe & Connie Flory Thomas & Margaret Monroe Sandy Schumacher Travis & Suzanne Smith, son, Boden LAST SUNDAY S ATTENDANCE 8:45 am... 18 11:00 am... 291 Sunday School... 182 Visitors... 2 Livestream... 17 5
Unity Presbyterian Church 303 Tom Hall Street PO Box 127 Fort Mill, SC 2971-127 www.unityfortmill.org JOIN US SUNDAY 8:45 a.m. Worship service 10:00 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship service FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE Newsletter Info Deadline: Wednesday by 5:00 pm Return Service Requested CommSpecialist@ UnityFortMill.org FROM THE PASTOR There are no words that can adequately express my gratitude for the wonderful celebration held in my honor this past Saturday night. The sight of the Adventure Center filled with people from wall to wall will remain with me as long as I have memory! The wonderful food, the creative and fun-filled roast, the many surprises including resolutions of appreciation and the beautiful painting of the church, and of course the generous love gift were all signs of your love and are so deeply appreciated. I know as well that numerous people had to do many hours of work to make all of that possible and I am grateful to each one that contributed in any way. I can t imagine a better way to begin my retirement Painting by Brenda Stewart journey. Please know how much I love you all and how grateful I am for the privilege of being your pastor for all these years. You are the best! Know as well that you will remain in my thoughts and prayers always. While my role as your pastor may be coming to an end, my gratitude for you as a people will never end and you will be remembered daily in my devotional time. Thank you for everything you have done for us and please know how grateful Carol and I are. Dr. R. Dan Holloway Church Office 803.547.5543 Dan Holloway 803.37.3093 Jeannie Bickett 704.309.4027 Lindsay White 412.215.8810 In Christ s service... Dan