Dear Second Family,
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up with a sense of purpose believing that you are the one person created by God who is equipped to be… you? To accomplish what only you can accomplish, and that the heavens and the earth are your partners in your work, and that the Spirit of God is your advocate, your enabler, and your patron equipping you, outfitting you, bankrolling you with the stuff to get things done? Guess what. If an advertising firm on Madison Avenue were to put
together a promotional piece detailing the skill set, the accessories needed to be included in
the package for someone to be of perfect service to God – it would describe you! You are positioned for God’s grace and to be of service in God’s kingdom. So what holds you (and me) back?
Sometimes I think we need to know that we aren’t alone, to know that someone else will be there to help, to hold us accountable, to walk our walk with us.
Since the first of the year we have imagined what it would look like, feel like to be the church of Jesus Christ.
On Easter we imagined the new life that is ours through God’s resurrection… now. Not just in the next life, but in the place we find ourselves right now!
These last few weeks we’ve been engaging scripture and sharing our experiences and have come to know that there is a job to do. We are chosen, elect, privileged to be partners with each other and anyone else through God’s grace who would be partners with God in God’s work. And we are each of us uniquely equipped through our gifts of the Spirit and the fruits of our labors to develop a heart for obedience in building up the community of our Savior, with a vision in obedience with God’s command that we be missional, that we “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
This Sunday of Pentecost, we will celebrate the historic birthday of the church by welcoming a fine class of young men and women as they confirm the faith into which they were baptized. We will all, every member and first time and serial visitors bring forward our Every Member Has A Ministry commitment cards to God’s work at or through this church and lay them before the throne of grace.
I hope and I pray that you are talking seriously about our initiative. Each and every person has work to do that only he or she can do! The work of God cannot be done in isolation. Our joy is dependent on our acceptance of and our embracing our partnership with the living God and each other.
We each have a task and joy waiting. See you Sunday!
With great joy in being your pastor,
ANNUAL TRADITION May, June & July Birthdays
| May 22 Allyson Hiers | 11 Cynthis Lewis | 21 Sherri Jacobs | 8 Benjamin Muldrow |
| 22 Dan McKnight | 11 ReJeanna Walters | 23 Cynthia Marterre | 8 Georgie Smythe, Jr. |
| 23 Cody Alexander | 12 Dingle Howe | 23 Sally McDuffie | 9 Lucas Aimar |
| Baumer | 12 Kristmar Muldrow | 25 Lindsay Morris | 9 Mendel Scurfield |
| 23 Patrick McNulty | 12 Hiromi Terawaki | 26 David McClure | 12 Ruth Mathewes |
| 24 Bud Hay | 13 Summer Chambless | 26 Benjamin Taylor | 17 Suzanne Hallman |
| 24 Aurora Lichty | 13 Lynn Lind | 27 Bobbi Sanders | 17 Barbara Jean |
| 25 Chris Fulghum | 14 Melinda Accardo | 30 Erin Mellen | McDonald |
| 27 Lisa Morris | 14 Ashley Renz | 30 Aaron Nelson | 18 Harry McLean |
| 31 Katherine Albright | 15 Peggy Hay | 30 Debbie Smith | 20 Emmett Hughes |
| June 3 Greg Ricker | 15 Courtney King | July 1 Anne Bolt | 21 Meredith Hinson |
| 5 Lisa McLeod | 18 Barny Henderson | 1 Melvin Kizer | 22 T. Allen Legare |
| 6 Reid McElwaine | 18 Sue Henderson | 2 Jason Gainey | 22 Isabelle Smythe |
| 7 Debra Luhn | 18 Patterson Smith | 5 Rebecca Darwin | 25 Katherine King |
| 7 Helen Smythe | 19 Becky Johnson | 5 Sallie Schuh | 27 Cathy Hinson |
| 8 Greer Polansky | 19 Susan Sanders | 5 Ora Singletary | 28 Stockton Jacobs |
| 10 Dolores King | 20 Phyllis McGillivray | 5 Rodger Smith | 31 Barbara Conard |
How wonderful Spring days can be! Recent days have almost made me forget about the dreary winter we experienced. Spring days remind me that work is at hand. I think of working in the garden, of spring cleaning, and of getting ready for Tea Room. I also think of how much fun our committee has as we prepare for this event; how well we work together as a team; how much joy we receive from serving. We are a team, each member a valuable asset to the team. We are a team, most importantly, blessed by God. His Hands are on us with each decision we make, with every bit of food we make and serve, with each moment of fun we share!
I was lucky to find in my little devotional book, Tea Time with God, this wonderful and most appropriate selection. If you will bear with me, this one is offered in its entirety. It is entitled "Loosen your Ties".
"Loosen your tie" are three of the sweetest words you can ever speak to a man who has had a harried business day and is eager to relax.
In a broader, more figurative sense, we all can benefit from "loosening our ties" occasionally. This does not mean we need to let go of relationships, ideals, or concerns that are important to us. However, it does mean there are times when we need to hold relationships and projects a little less tightly.
• Be less concerned with who gets the credit. • Be less uptight that some things may not be done to perfection. In most cases, our best effort is not
only acceptable, but allows others to be more comfortable. • Trust others to make their own decisions and choices. • Allow others an opportunity to participate, rather than feel you need to do it all or be responsible for
everything. • Give others the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. • Give others room to breathe, to grow, to expand, and to have a little fun.
We need to loosen the ties of total control. We need to relinquish our hold turn the reins over to the Lord, trusting Him to bring to pass His perfect will and His ultimate purpose in our lives.
Most of us wouldn't have trusted Jesus' group of twelve disciples, especially Peter who denied Him, to carry on the leadership of the Church, but Jesus did. If He can trust us to do His work on this earth - something which impacts eternity - surely we can trust others a little more with our important tasks and projects.
Loosen your grip on everything except Jesus!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
We are all on God's team, each with a special place on that team, to continue the mission of the Church in His Kingdom. How blessed a people we are!
- Cathy Hinson
Newsletter submissions: Lynn Mitchell Lind at lynn.squared@live.com
June 8 - August 24 is our Summer Restaurant Tour
where we hold our talk at a different venue each time.
8:15 pm, Tuesday, June 8th at Vickery’s Bar & Grill, 15 Beaufain Street, Downtown
The Tea Party movement has almost become a household name, with 22% of Americans identifying themselves with it. Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin are seen by many as the standard bearers of the loosely organized group, though just as many might question their credentials. So now as we embark on our summer restaurant tour, we’ll examine just what the Tea Party is and what they want—by inviting Tea Partiers to join us. In addition, we’ll discuss if they’ve been fairly portrayed by the media and whether any of us really should believe Beck or Palin when they claim to speak for the true welfare of America.
Tuesday June 1st 10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
5:30 pm Agenda Meeting 2nd Noon Caviar & Bibles 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 7 pm Adult Choir 3rd 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 4th 11 am-2:30 pm Tea Room 5th 11 am-2:30 pm Tea Room
Sunday the 6th
10 am Worship
Communion
7th 9 am Vacation Bible School 6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study 8th 9 am Vacation Bible School 10 am Staff Meeting 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
5:30 pm Session
8:15 pm Talks on Tap 9th 9 am Vacation Bible School 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 7 pm Adult Choir 10th 9 am Vacation Bible School 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 7 pm Cursillo Prayer Service 11th 9 am Vacation Bible School 7 pm Mingles 12th 7 pm Manna Sunday the 13th
10 am Worship 14th 6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study
10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 6 pm Second Edition Book Club 16th 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 17th 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 18th 9 am Duplicate Bridge 5 pm Wedding Rehearsal 19th 6 pm Burroughs/ Tillman Wedding
Sunday the 20th
10 am Worship
21st
6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study 22nd 10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
8:15 pm Talks on Tap 23rd 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 24th 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 25th 5 pm Wedding Rehearsal 26th 6 pm Beckett/ Cohenour Wedding
Sunday the 27th
10 am Worship
28th
6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study 29th 10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 30th 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study July 1st 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
10 am Worship
Communion
5th Holiday - office closed 6th 10 am Staff Meeting 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
5:30 pm Agenda Meeting 7th 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 8th 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 9th 7 pm Mingles 7 pm Shelter Night 10th 7 pm Manna Sunday the 11th
10 am Worship 12th 9 am Summer at Second 6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study 13th 9 am Summer at Second 10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
8:15 pm Talks on Tap 14th 9 am Summer at Second 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 15th 9 am Summer at Second 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 16th 9 am Summer at Second
Sunday the 18th
10 am Worship 19th 9 am Camp Communication Vacation 9 am Summer at Second 6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study 20th 9 am Camp Communication Vacation 9 am Summer at Second 10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 6 pm Second Edition Book Club 21st 9 am Camp Communication Vacation 9 am Summer at Second 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 22nd 9 am Camp Communication Vacation 9 am Summer at Second 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 23rd 9 am Camp Communication Vacation 9 am Summer at Second
Sunday the 25th
10 am Worship 26th 9 am Summer at Second 6 pm James Island Women’s Bible Study 27th 9 am Summer at Second 10 am Staff Mtg 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge
8:15 pm Talks on Tap 28th 9 am Summer at Second 6 pm Men’s Bible Study 6 pm Women’s Bible Study 29th 9 am Summer at Second 1-4 pm Duplicate Bridge 30th 9 am Summer at Second 8 pm Young Adults Koinonia
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