From the Pastor

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September 2020

As I read through the pages of the New Testament, it seems to me that Jesus never intended for any of us to follow Him in isolation from other believers. Rather, He de-sires for all of us to be in this thing called “life” together—not just every once in a while, but day-by-day, week-in and week-out. We may not like to admit it, but we need one another, and we want to be in a place where we “fit in” and belong.

Remember that tune from the old TV sitcom Cheers? “Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name . . . and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same. You wanna be where everybody knows your name.”

If a local bar can offer that sense of “belonging,” that sense of “connectedness” then the Church should be able to do just as well, or better! The reality is, however, that creating and maintaining an authentic Christian community can be challenging, espe-cially in today’s world and during this season of Coronavirus. There are always so many other things that compete for our time and attention, and even though we may want to be involved in church activities, some of us are reluctant to do so for fear of get-ting the virus.

The challenge for us all is to find a way we can take an active part in the life of the faith community while limiting our exposure to the virus. For those who don’t think that they can safely return to in-person, in-house worship and fellowship, we are offer-ing other ways for you to stay connected and engaged.

One way we are doing this is by making our Sunday worship services available online. We are also posting daily prayers offered by our church staff, M-F, and starting September 7, Pastor Kendell and I will be posting a weekly devotional. All of these are available on our church Facebook Page. For those who do not have internet access and who are reluctant to worship in-person on Sundays, we are offering to set a time during the week where folks can come and watch that week’s worship service on the screen in the sanctuary.

Please let us know how we can stay connected with you. If you would like a call, a prayer or “porch” visit from me, just call the church office. And please know that when we don’t get to see your face at church, you are missed! And when we do, we are blessed! So, as the dust of late summer begins to settle and we begin to feel the crisp autumn air, don’t forget your place at the Wightman UMC table, whether it’s “actual” or “virtual.” In either case, we’re “always glad you came!”

Hope to see you Sunday—or see us online! Pastor B

Join us in the sanctuary on Sunday, August 30, at 6:00 p.m. for a time of prayer for our church, community, country and the entire world during this time of uncertainty. We will gather in prayer to seek God’s guidance and peace. Also be mindful that daily pray-ers are available on the Wightman Face-book page.

Epworth Work Day September 13

Epworth Children’s Home has been a

child-caring institution of the United

Methodist Church in South Carolina since

1895. The children

living at Epworth

Children’s Home in

Columbia look to us

for support. We did-

n’t receive an Ep-

worth offering on

Mother’s Day, so

your contribution on September 13 is es-

pecially important!

WIGHTMAN ALER T Page 2

Special Gifts to Wightman

Operating Budget In memory of Nancy Vaughn By: Tommy and Jackie Bowers

Kirk and Shirley Atwood

Ted and Madison Graham

Prosperity High School Class of ‘57

Bill and Renee Joiner David and Marilyn Sease

Prosperity Fire Department Prosperity Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary

McSwain-Evans Funeral Home

Ann Bowers

Jim and Lou Barnes

In memory of Peggy Cook

By: Larry and Emily Graham

Ted and Madison Graham

Mollie Graham

Larry and Linda Spotts

Lynn and Martha Waller Howard and Brenda Smith

The Ruth S. Pugh Foundation

Christy Bouknight Bill and Renee Joiner Paul R. Hutchinson

David and Marilyn Sease

Ronnie and Linda Cromer Cindy Pitts

Ann Bowers

In memory of Walter Atwood (Kirk’s father) By: Harold and Jane Broughton

Tommy and Jackie Bowers

Judy Livingston

Christy Bouknight Leonard and Therry May

In memory of Elizabeth

By: Tommy and Jackie Bowers

Judy Livingston

Larry and Emily Graham

Rev. James H. Williams

Asbury Bedenbaugh Sunday School Class

In memory of Thelma Butler (Chris and Jon’s mother) by Ladison and Paula Hamm. In memory of Tookie Oates by Lonnie and Amanda Fin-ley. In memory of Bill Ackerman by Mollie Graham. In memory of Shayla Hilton (Amir Cromer’s sister) by Cindy Pitts.

Wightman Youth

In memory of Thelma Butler by Joan Mills.

Asbury Bedenbaugh Sunday School Class

In memory of Tookie Oates

By: Pete and Sandra McLain

Larry and Emily Graham

Capital Improvement Fund

In memory of Walter Atwood by Zadean Bouknight.

United Methodist Women

In memory of Nancy Vaughn

By: Francis Asbuty Sunday School Class

Rosemary Bowers

Wylene Smith

Jimmy and Lynda Counts

Jeanne Riggs

Cody and Neva Caldwell In memory of Peggy Cook

By: Francis Asbuty Sunday School Class

Rosemary Bowers

Judy Livingston

Jimmy and Lynda Counts

Wylene Smith

Joan Mills

Healing Hearts

In memory of Nancy Vaughn By: Janette M. Vaughn and family

Michael and Lynn Cousins

Rev. James H. Williams

Marcelle Ackerman

Carmen Monts

Bobby and Barbara Bedenbaugh

Gail and Tobie Shealy

George and Agnes Routon

Judy Livingston

John and Brenda Hyler Ruth Ann and Paul Felker Gerald and Jonell Shealy

George, Nancy and Tripp Bollibon

Joanne Newman

Becky and Tom Abraham

Kevin Boozer and family

Janet Hunt Fee

Sadie G. Loging

Eight Acres Recycling

Edd Wicker Emmett Wicker Edwina Wicker Karen Bowers

Joy Fellers

Trevis and Lisa Shealy

Claude and Barbara Galarneau

Willie and Andy Morris

Donnie and Diane Amick

Robbie and Jennifer Amick

Monthly Financial Summary General Funds (total) $ 104,528.17 Designated Funds - 75,590.96

General Funds Available 28,937.21

Capital Improvement Fund 198,627.22

Total Funds $ 303,155.39

Birthdays

Sept. 1 - Tina Hatch

2 - Helen Mitchell, Randy Suber 3 - Everett and William Hamm 4 - Sandra McLain 5 - Larry Graham, Edith Kinard

6 - Drucie Counts, Lyric Grimsley, Cindy Murphy, Noelle Rankin

7 - Maryanne Atkison, Krystal Sanders

10 - Denny Koenders

11 - Ed Barcomb, Judy Joiner, Kaden Myers, Johnny Walker 12 - Courtney Lopez, Savannah Perez 13 - Jim Altman, John Myers 14 - Ike Allred 16 - Susie Barnett 17 - Xander DeVall, Meagan Elwood, Donna Parnell, Tristan Lever, Catherine Morse, Mauree Smith, Woody Wilkie

18 - Daniel Floyd

19 - Toni Dennis, Isabella Perez

20 - Jennifer Amick, Dennis Armstrong, Nancy Blackburn, Mary Wilkie

21 - Grace Bernardo, Paulette Halfacre, Easton Mollohan, Jade Thomason

22 - Myrna Killian, Brenna Perry, Vic Theriot 23 - Triston Hamilton, Stevie Lawrence, Blake Longshore

24 - Marcelle Ackerman, Will Morse, Samantha Murden 25 - Casey Hughes

26 - Susan Hayes 27 - J.R. Amicucci 28 - Penny Hamm, Kevin Kempson, Nolin Metts 29 - Sally Farmer, Kay Ravan

30 - Ayden Hamilton, Alex Rhodes, Devonna Summer, Martha Waller

Anniversaries

Sept. 4 - Mark and Amy Kirkland

Nelson and Brenda Perry

Chad and Melonie Senn

5 - Blair and Mary Williams

8 - Larry and Linda Spotts

10 - Cole and Tori Harper

Kirksey and Rhonda Koon

12 - Brian and Seabron LeCompte

Keith and Kayla Rankin

14 - Kyle and Laura Kneece

15 - Randy and Patti Suber

16 - Jim and Paula Stewart

17 - Terry and Tina Brown

19 - Trent and Kelli Fowler

22 - Sam and Nancy Gause

25 - Justin and Janet Davenport

Aaron and Corie Franklin

27 - Jimmie and Cassandra Phibbs

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE FOR AUGUST - - -

9:00 Worship 79

11:15 Worship 87

Combined Worship 166

Church School 77

Que for Christ September 5

9:00-11:00 a.m. to Benefit

Young Life

Que for Christ is heating up the grill! Let us help you relax while eating well this Labor Day weekend.

Newberry Young Life will be con-ducting a Boston butt fundraiser to sup-port its ministry efforts in Newberry County. Pick-up will be September 5 from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at the Wight-man walking track. The Boston butts are $35 each. Please contact Emily Cope (Emmyc135@gmail.com) or Jeff Mur-ray to reserve yours and support this min-istry.

Craft Group

The Wightman Craft Group sus-pended their meetings because of the Coronavirus. If you would like to resume meeting using social distanc-ing, please contact Rosemary Bowers

(803-924-1574, bowers.rosemary@

yahoo.com) .

Thank You To the WUMC Family, Thank you all so much for your prayers during the days before and after Mama’s going home to Jesus. The calls, visits, and cards have truly touched our hearts. Our family so appreciated the delicious meal and the graciousness of the ladies serving at our home; May God bless each of you always.

Richard and Julia Easterlin & family

Page 3

Wedding

Congratulations to Viki Moore and Randy Hydrick who were married at Wightman on Au-gust 14.

UMKIDS

WIGHTMAN ALER T Page 4

Promotion Sunday It is a tradition at Wightman for the children who are going into first and sixth grade

to receive Bibles. The following children received Bibles during our promotion ceremony on August 23:

First Graders: Nolan Amick, Chance Butler, Sam Floyd, Olivia Dominick, Emma Hang-er, and MJ Mollohan. Sixth Graders: Hudson Defreese, John Weston Finley, Emily Cannady, Landon Comp-ton, Kelby Myers, and Kristen Shacker

Congratulations to our children for reaching these milestones as they learn and grow in their Christian faith.

Holy Moly Sunday School Stories

September 6 Ezekiel The Chief Priests

13 Daniel Parable of the Vineyard

20 Jonah The Wedding Banquet 27 John the Baptist Paying Taxes

Hopefully everyone has had a great start back to school, whether in the classroom or on-line. We’re praying that everyone, both stu-dents and staff, has a good school year and that next year things will be back to normal.

September 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

Page 5

Clarkson/Counts Circle – 3:00 pm

Francis Asbury Class Resumes - 10:15 am Youth Activities - 5:00-7:00 pm

Newsletter Deadline-1:00 pm

Committees-12:30 pm Council-1:30 p.m. Youth Activities - 5:00-7:00 pm

Youth Activities - 5:00-7:00 pm

Bible Study- 6:30

Bible Study- 6:30 M&M Exercise Group - 11:00 am

Bible Study- 6:30 M&M Exercise Group - 11:00 am

Bible Study- 6:30 M&M Exercise Group - 11:00 am

Labor Day – Office Closed

Bible Study- 6:30 M&M Exercise Group - 11:00 am Newsletter Staff-3:00 pm

Pumpkin Patch Opens

Youth Activities - 5:00-7:00 pm

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Prosperity, SC

Permit No. 1

WIGHTMAN ALER T Page 6

Phone: 364-2340 Pastor’s Cell Phone: 843-274-0898

Church E-Mail: unitedw@bellsouth.net Pastor’s E-Mail: b l b a r n e t t@umcsc.org

Web Site: www.wightmanumc.org

Rev. Ben L. Barnett, Pastor P. O. Box 376

Prosperity, South Carolina 29127

Sunday Schedule Traditional Worship – 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School – 10:15 a.m. Contemporary Service – 11:15 a.m.

WI GHT MAN U NIT ED MET HODI ST CHU RCH

Congratulations to Alex Johnson, son of Gerald and Renee Johnson, who graduated from Spring Hill High School. Alex participated in the PLTW Engineering program and received an Extended Studies Diploma. He plans to attend Midlands Technical College for two years and then transfer to USC to major in Civil Engi-neering. Our Christian love and best wishes go with Alex as he embarks on this next stage of his life journey.

Graduate

The Frances Asbury Sunday School Class will begin meeting Sunday morning, September 6. Begin-ning in October, Jesse Rogers will be the teacher. Dur-ing September, volunteers will lead the class. Contact Rosemary Bowers (803-924-1574, bowers.rosemary@ yahoo.com) if you would be willing to lead one Sun-day. This class is small and will be able to social dis-tance. Any adult who is not already attending a Sun-day school class is invited to join this class.

Francis Asbury Class

The United Methodist Women will meet Tuesday, September 1, at 3:00 p.m. in the old fellowship hall. Maryanne Atkison will lead the program on the “Native Culture of Hawaii.”

Clarkson-Counts Circle

We are excited to kickoff our fall youth meetings! We will start meeting every Sunday evening from 5:00-

7:00 starting the first week of September. We will still be outside as much as possible, but we suggest students bring a mask in case we have to spend time inside. Our Wightman youth pumpkin patch will kick-off this year on October 1! We are in need of volunteers to un-load and sell pumpkins during the month of October. Please see Madison Butler for information on helping with the pumpkin patch.

Youth News

IN MEMORIAM Ola Mae “Peggy” Burton Cook May 22, 1922—July 28, 2020