Pastor’s Pen

“I have a Ticket”

A few weeks ago, I took a train to Washington, D.C. to visit with my brother John, who is under hospice care for kid-

ney failure. I am not planning or writing about him or our visit but the trip there and back. I am hoping to tell you a

mortal story from which I hope you can hear a spiritual story. Here is the legend to translate my mortal words into

something eternal.

I have included a copy of my “trip” ”Ticket” for your consideration. I was forced to pay an upgraded price for a

sleeper because the regular seats were all sold out for the trip north. In our spiritual journey, it is important to know

that there are open seats at God’s table of Grace. Let me close with some railroad lingo. Rather than saying “let us

join together in this spiritual journey”, I blow the whistle and say “All Aboard”.

In Christ’s Name,

Scott Pastor Scott

Mortal Word(s) Spiritual Meaning

Trip Our spiritual journey with God

Ticket (paid for with a credit card) Faith in our Savior, Jesus the Christ

“Retain During Trip” Keep the faith.

“ID required on board” God already knows you fully.

“Refund/Exchange Penalties may apply” There will be a judgement.

Destination is established -Heaven is real.

Metro Card can be added to if needed for trip. -Jesus has fully paid the price.

Kids Corner Bible verse: Micah 5:4 “He shall be peace”

In the Lenten season our wonderful Wednesday classes have been focusing on 40 days of

kindness ,Making Cards for shut-ins, trail mix for youth , gifts for children's hospital , boo-

boo bunnies for child care center and more.

Youth @ St Paul With so much happening in the world with the virus that won’t be named, we are going to focus on our hope in the Easter story! The Gos-pel (good news) brings hope through the life, mission, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus! There is no better news than salvation through faith in our God who took our place on the tree! Not sure exactly what the future holds with schools and major events being closed but with our hope and faith and focus on Christ we will figure it out and come out stronger on the other side! Times like these your friends and family will look to us “Christians" and how we react. Will we remain the light and salt and draw the lost and hurt, or will we hide our light under a bushel? I will keep the youth updated through text, email and Groupme about meetings and events to come.

WINTERJAM 2020 #SALT&LIGHT

Jay beck.stpyouth@gmail.com

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

GIVING DURING DIFFICULT DAYS

Who thought just a month ago would we suspend church services because of a virus none of us knew about during our Christ-

mas celebrations? I know each of you are trying to cope with the challenges of our times and trying to stay safe, trying to find

the necessities where none are, and trying to make sense of all this. As chair of the Finance Committee, I need to ask that you

continue to keep St. Paul in your prayers and try as best you can to keep your normal contributions to our church in mind and

continue to give. Although we are not meeting weekly, the church still has our normal expenses we continue to have and, possi-

bly, additional expenses caused by our attempts to keep safe and keep our community safe. If you normally drop a check in the

offering plate, we ask for you to continue to give in alternative ways.

A couple of years ago we set up online giving for times when you may not be able to make it to a service. This is a great oppor-

tunity to set up online giving. This does not have to be through our portal that you can find on our web page. If you have a

checking or savings account, your bank or credit union, I am sure, offers their online banking. This is the method Sandra and I

plan to give. Online is easy and safe. It is safer than putting a check in the mail.

If you are uncomfortable with online banking, you can mail a check.

We ended 2019 in a great way. For the first time in over 20 years we paid 100% of our apportionments. Our plans for 2020 were

to continue to keep this up and pay on a more regular basis. Because of the restrictions this virus has caused, these plans may

change a little but the plan is to stay on course as much as possible and adjust where needed but plan to have a great year.

It is only with your help can we continue the growth and financial stewardship we need to grow God’s Kingdom here at St. Paul.

Thank you for your considerations.

May God protect you and your family and all the members and community of St. Paull UMC.

Robert Harris

Finance Committee Chair

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

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) 669-5676 Email: stpmed@bellsouth.net

Submit News Articles & Pictures for the May Epistle by April 9th to: stpmed@bellsouth.net (please indicate EPISTLE in the subject line)

WORSHIP SERVICE HELPERS

We hope to be together for worship

but we will be flexible

April 5, 2020

Liturgist: Michael Grady Greeter: Rodney Cox

Head Ushers: Ross Huggins/Richard Schubert

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Judy Smith

April 12, 2020

Liturgist: Lou Hanna Greeter: Rene Palles

Head Ushers: Danny Braddock/Johnny Hamer

Monday Counters: Virginia Baird/Pat Willis

April 19, 2020

Liturgist: Don Walter Greeter: Jeannie Adams

Head Usher: Worth Adams Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Judy Smith

April 26, 2020

Liturgist: Mark Lott Greeters: Sandra & Robert Harris

Head Ushers: David Tomlinson/Wayne Catoe

Monday Counters: Gwen Jeffords/Pat Willis

Holy Week & Easter

Worship Schedule

4/5 Palm Sunday Service

10:30 a.m.

4/9 Maundy Thursday Service

6:00 p.m.

4/10 Good Friday Service

7:00 p.m.

4/12 Easter Sunrise Service

6:45 a.m.

4/12 Easter Sunday Service

10:30 a.m.

Cancellations

Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) concerns,

Worship Service, Sunday School,

Wonderful Wednesdays and all other

regular activities have been cancelled.

The church office will be operating on re-duced hours:. See Facebook for details.

We will announce resume dates on the web-site and Facebook when that information is

available.

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

The Epistle April 2020

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS

Memorials were given in memory of Emery Higgs by:

Beverly & G. Ryan Scholz, Margaret & John Charles, Lisa & Peter Mazzaroni, Miriam Culberson,

SC Governor’s School, Agnes Williams, Joyce & Ellison Messick,Timothy Norwood, Jane & Emerson Gower, Dotty & Wade Dickens, Carol & Glen Neil, Jerry Smith, Jayne & Larry Younginer, Kathy Andrews,

Martha & Mayo Collier, Sandra & Jack Cross, Genie & Christopher Blanton, Vickie & J.K. McKenzie,

Fay & John Homes, Joan & Scott Hardin, David Saleeby, Joy H. Burris,

The Town of Jefferson, SC

Memorials were given in memory of Betty Summerford by:

Sandra Rogers

Memorials were given in memory of Carol Huffman’s daughter, Ann Armstrong by:

Rosemary Ellis, Glen Neil

Memorials were given in memory of Ellen Walsh by:

Jayne & Larry Younginer

Under Special Care

Doreen Copeland Home Gladys Hodges Methodist Manor Sarah McNeil Methodist Manor

Doris Hammond Home Lieze McDaniel Presbyterian Home Irma Tanner Home

Hazel McGee Home

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.

Stewardship Report

Offerings & Tithes Worship

Attendance

Wonderful Wednesday

Week of February 16 $16,051.61 118 $278/80

Week of February 23 $7,166.00 112 $458/90

Week of March 1 $8254.59 150 $165/67

Week of March 8 $9,975.47 141 $283/70

Needed Weekly: $13,000.00

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 recurring giving.

STAY CONNECTED

If you have special needs—let us help you. Please e-mail the prayer chain at trecygrant@yahoo.com or call

the church office for assistance.

tre-cygrant@yahoo.com