By Jessica Brodie. Greene Street United Methodist Church closed the sale of its property to the UofSC Foundation for $1.1 million. The foundation plans to lease the space to the university’s School of Music to be used for concert performances, practice space, office space and more.
Read MoreAuthor Archives: Jessica Brodie
Churches pitch in to bring Christmas to men incarcerated at Turbeville Correctional
By Jessica Brodie. This Christmas, people who are incarcerated at Turbeville Correctional Institute will be getting some extra-special help from United Methodist churches and pastors thanks to a cry for help—and a heartfelt response.
Read MoreHoping for a comeback: Apportionments goal shifts to 84% in weeks before 2020 books close
By Jessica Brodie. It’s the final stretch, those last few weeks before financial books close on what has been a difficult and tumultuous year. The goal has changed, scaled back from 90 percent to 84 percent with a push toward achieving what can be done over focusing on what can’t. But if conference financial leaders get their Christmas wish, UMCs across South Carolina will send in something—anything—so missions and ministries can get back to a reasonable level of monetary support.
Read MoreQ&A with the District Lay Leaders
Here, we talk to each of the district lay leaders, new and returning, to learn what they most look forward to in their role, what they believe are the most pressing issues within the local churches, what is one thing a year from now they hope to look back on and know was successful, and a few things about their profession, hobbies, family and more.
Read MoreBlessed to be a blessing: Mount Horeb gives families $100 apiece to use as Advent blessing
By Jessica Brodie. In response to a heart for people struggling because of the COVID crisis, Mount Horeb United Methodist Church is using its bounty as a special blessing. Mount Horeb gave $100 to each family that is a member of or attends the church.
Read MoreBut for the Helping Hands of Strangers
After her nephew’s devastating accident, woman reflects on ‘unimaginable kindness’ shown to her family by United Methodist and other S.C. ‘angels.’ By D. Halvorsen.
Read MoreYouth scarf project brings warmth to people in need
By Jessica Brodie. Youth at Lexington United Methodist Church got together this fall and handcrafted winter scarves for homeless and other people who could use a bit of warmth, both for their bodies and their hearts.
Read MoreMount Beulah gets Renfro grant for sanctuary repairs
By Jessica Brodie. One United Methodist church in the Florence District has received thousands of dollars in grant funds to help renovate its sanctuary.
Read MoreMain Street UMC and food service agency partner to serve community
The old adage, “When the Lord closes one door, he always opens another one,” proved true for Main Street UMC and FoodShare SC.
Read MoreDoing church differently: some social media reminders
By Sha’Rome Henry and the Rev. Angela Ford Nelson. So you want to teach your Sunday school class, lead a meeting or offer your worship services via Zoom, Facebook Live, teleconference or another social media platform, but you don’t know where to start. Below you’ll find the beginning of a checklist we have compiled and use to offer our five online services, various meetings and classes to our church family and a growing online community.
Read MoreUMCSC releases updated best practices for in-person worship
The South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church has released updated best practices for in-person worship and other gatherings given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreTime to pay up
If every church stretches just a little, prays a bit harder, takes up that last-minute special collection—something, anything—we’ll see change. We’re all in this together. By Jessica Brodie.
Read MoreGo for it
My prayer for the new year is succinctly, I trust you, Jesus. That fear loses its grip on me. That adversity becomes an opportunity for growth and that grace is gratefully received. By Bishop L. Jonathan Holston.
Read MoreA Christmas story: What a reunion!
By Janice D. Green I have always loved family reunions, and now that my family and relatives are scattered all over the United States and beyond, I treasure them all…
Read MoreExtreme Makeover: Ministry Edition
A look at a transformed men’s ministry at Covenant UMC, Greer Reprinted courtesy of the Man in the Mirror Team, Maninthemirror.org Tommy, a men’s leader at Covenant UMC, Greer,…
Read MoreMethodist newspaper broadens scope by launching book publishing venture
Methodism’s oldest still-in-existence newspaper is now a book publisher, too. In late 2017, the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate newspaper launched the Advocate Press, a small publishing arm that produces nonfiction books and devotionals. To date it has produced five books and is working on its sixth to be released in 2021.
Read MoreGoing for the goal: As apportionments begin to rebound, conference seeks year-end push
As of Nov. 13, the conference treasurer reports total paid apportionments of $10.9 million of the $17.6 million budget for the year, or 61.97 percent. That’s a drop of 6.98 percentage points from this time last year, which saw $12.2 million collected, or 68.95 percent. By Jessica Brodie.
Read MoreTwo racially, denominationally diverse churches break down barriers in Abbeville
By Jessica Brodie. Two churches in Abbeville, SC, one a black nondenominational and the other a white United Methodist, have partnered with a goal to unify their community and stop division and an undercurrent of hate.
Read MoreSt. John’s nutritionist grows deeper in faith through lessons learned in mindful eating
By Jessica Brodie. One woman’s personal journey with mindfulness in nutrition is impacting her faith, and she’s penned a book to help others share that, too.
Read MoreNew podcast Logos(ish) delves into ‘real conversations about faith’
By Jessica Brodie. A group of United Methodist pastors, including two serving in South Carolina, have started a new podcast they hope will foster authentic conversations about faith and religion while helping people draw closer to God and faith.
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