Stewardship Report

Merry Christmas to you! I hope this December leads you a little closer to God. Perhaps you have some family

traditions which help to make the season more special and the love of God more vivid. I will share three Christmas

traditions. I would like to hear about your special memories and family traditions.

We have three traditions we have practiced for over twenty years. The first two have been going closer to sixty

years. On Christmas Eve, we open the first gift which is always pajamas. Even though I have plenty of pajamas and

they don’t wear out – we continue to open that box on Christmas Eve. I feel like there would be a family mutiny if I

suggested a change of practice.

The second tradition is pretty common in that we (that is 90% Dottie) bake Christmas cookies. I like cookies and

unlike pajamas which last, cookies get consumed. The cookies must include sugar-cookies and my favorite, chocolate

-chip cookies. I am old and fat, therefore I don’t need them, but I still like them! The first two traditions were passed

down through Dottie’s family. I expect they may continue because our kids enjoy them. The third tradition has

evolved – come and gone.

We buy each other ornaments for the Christmas tree. The rule is that the tree cannot be decorated until after these

first ornaments are placed on the tree. It has become more difficult to find that special ornament for each other. We

drifted away from that tradition last Christmas.

The most exciting traditions are for me, the ones that we have not yet established. Our granddaughter Peyton is seven months old and therefore too young to voice her opinion. I imagine we will set some new traditions in place and include her. I hope she will be in church for the Christmas Eve service. Mark your calendar and plan to bring your

children and grandchildren to the Christmas Eve Service.

In Christ’s Name,

Scott

Pastor Scott

To give online, go to our website www.stpumcflo.org and click on the give online

tab. This takes you to the giving page.

Click on the give online tab and follow the instructions to set-up one-time or recur-

ring giving.

Corners of Your Field

Cleaning-out closets, drawers, garages

or spare rooms? Be sure to take the

things you are giving away to one of the House of Hope

Mission Marts and tell them you are from Saint Paul

UMC. We will receive gift cards to give to those in need,

because of your generosity.

Please Pray for our Outreach Ministries & Ministers

Rev. Rick Howell, Winthrop Wesley Foundation

Lou Jordan, Francis Marion Wesley Foundation

John and Susan McGee, The CRU Foundation

Rachel Hudson, Youth with a Mission

Alejandro Betancur, Ministerial Internship

Offerings & Tithes Worship Attendance

Wonderful Wednesday

Week of October 20 $4,275.50 143 $298 / 58

Week of October 27 $4,935.23 116 $312 / 61

Week of November 3 $22,643.01 146 $306 / 60

Week of November 10 $6,572.02 122 $313 / 61

Needed Weekly: $13,000.00

Youth @ St Paul

November was a fun month for the youth and we give thanks to God for all He has done.

December will be a time of Advent looking forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus! “Birds

of a feather are still flocking together!” Flocking has been fun for the youth and leaders!

We’ve had a great response from the church. We will be finishing up in December so it’s

not too late to have someone flocked and help promote St. Paul in the community!

Wonderful Wednesday still going strong—please come out and join us for midweek wor-

ship and invite a friend! The youth will have a “lock in” on Dec. 13th. We are also gearing

up for Revolution in January.

Kids Corner Bible verse: Luke 1:14

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth

We have had a busy month full of blessings and missions on our wonderful Wednesday nights.

*December 25th—no Wednesday night classes. Classes start back January 8th.

Please continue to collect Piggly Wiggly receipts! Melody beck.melody@yahoo.com

RED BIRD MISSION TRIP

April 19 – 25, 2020

Sign up for the Red Bird Mission Trip will begin on January 1st, 2020.

If you are interested in going, contact Mayo Collier at 843 6015968 or mecjr123@aol.com.

Be prepared to sign up quickly. Last year we filled our reservation quota in just a few days.

Our prayer is that God will send us to Those He wants us to serve. Please keep this mission trip in your prayers.

The

children

decorated

bags

for our

Veterans.

St. Paul UMC has

donated 42

Samaritans Purse

Operation Christmas Child

shoe boxes .

You are invited to celebrate Aubrey Snipes’ 100th birthday!

Please join us for a drop-in

Sunday December 8th from 2-4pm

St. Paul United Methodist Church Family Life Center

1629 W. Palmetto St. Florence SC

No gifts please, however a card would be appreciated.

Under Special Care

Doreen Copeland Home

Lieze McDaniel Presbyterian Home

Irma Tanner Home

Doris Hammond Home

Sara McNeal Methodist Manor

Don Handley Florence Place

Hazel McGee Home

Arlene Crouch Methodist Manor

. Jay beck.stpyouth@gmail.com

Non Profit org.

U.S. Postage

Paid

Permit # 48

Saint Paul United Methodist Church 1629 West Palmetto Street Florence, SC 29501 Phone: (843) 669-3134 Fax: (843) 669-5876 Email: stpmed@bellsouth.net

Submit News Articles & Pictures for the January Epistle by December 5 to: stpmed@bellsouth.net (please indicate EPISTLE in the subject line)

Teddy Bear

Ministry

“Every action, every word,

and every thought can be

an expression of heartfelt worship, a

sacrificial gift to honor our Lord.”

(Our Daily Bread 9/13/19)

The OutReach Committee is sponsoring a col-

lection November 17-December 22 for NEW 6-

12 inch size Teddy Bears to be given to Fire

Departments as an anonymous comfort meas-

ure for a child affected by fire in the home.

We will place these bears in each Fire Depart-

ment. Our goal will be determined by your

generosity. What better gift for celebrating

Jesus’ Birthday than a simple act of compas-

sion done in His name to bring comfort to

someone in distress. The Teddy Bears will be

blessed December 22. A collection bin will be

in the Sanctuary.

WORSHIP SERVICE HELPERS

December 1 , 2019

Liturgist: Mark Lott Greeter: Jeannie Adams

Head Ushers: Danny Braddock/Johnny Hamer

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Nancy Kittrell

December 8, 2019

Liturgist: Jay Beck Greeter: Rodney Cox

Head Usher: Worth Adams

Monday Counters: Virginia Baird/Pat Willis

December 15, 2019

Liturgist: Joan Daniels Greeters: Sandra & Robert Harris

Head Ushers: David Tomlinson/Wayne Catoe

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Nancy Kittrell

December 22, 2019

Liturgist: Michael Grady Greeter: Trecy Grant

Head Ushers: Howard Cross/Tom White

Monday Counters: Gwen Jeffords/Pat Willis

December 29, 2019

Liturgist: Patsy Slice Greeters: Debbie & Robbie Lowman

Head Usher: Barry Hodges

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Nancy Kittrell

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

FELLOWSHIP SUPPER MENU

December 4 – Lasagna, salad, Texas toast

and dessert

Served by the John Wesley Class (Group 3) December 11 – Baked potato bar, salad, and

dessert Served by Joan Daniels and the Youth December 18 – Chili

Served by the Youth Group December 25 – No Wednesday Activities

Merry Christmas!

There will be no Wednesday Activities on

January 1. We will resume on January 8.

A monthly publication of Saint Paul United Methodist Church - Florence, South Carolina, 29501

The Epistle December 2019

The pastor and congregation express their deepest sympathy to:

The family and friends of Mr. Robert Wells Lowman

December 19, 1927 - November 11, 2019

The family and friends of Mrs. Norma Lewis Phillips

July 30, 1927 - November 12, 2019

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS

Memorials were given in memory of Norma Phillips by:

Dotty & Wade Dickens, Lilian Galantin, and Janet & Rick Howell

Memorials were given in memory of Robert Lowman Sr. by:

Dotty & Wade Dickens, Sandra & Robert Harris, Janet & Rick Howell

Pastor Scott liked this article so much that he recycled it

with some revisions:

Did you know that the average American will spend about

$1000 on gifts this year? The average spending on each

child is $200-$300 for Christmas, and about the same

amount for birthdays. Since Christmas is Jesus’ birthday,

we encourage you to give Jesus a special gift this Advent

and Christmas season. Here are some suggestions:

Week One of Advent:

Give a gift to upgrade and improve our childcare center

buses or make a second -mile gift to pay down our mort-

gage on the childcare center.

Week Two of Advent:

Help to meet our 2019 budget by giving and extra gift of

$200 or more to the General Fund.

Week Three of Advent:

Buy a new coat and donate it to our Coats for Christ

mission project. Coats are needed now for all ages.

Week Four of Advent:

Help to show Bishop Holston that we appreciate Pastor Scott

being appointed here by fully paying our apportionments.

December Worship Schedule

Sunday, December 1st – First Sunday in Advent

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 8th – Second Sunday in Advent

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 15th – Third Sunday in Advent

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, December 22nd – Fourth Sunday in Advent

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Candlelight / Communion Service

6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 29th

First Sunday after Christmas

Worship Service 10:30 a.m. with Hymn Sing