“Open for Business”

Saint Paul UMC in Florence, South Carolina is “open for business.” You should notice that more activities have restarted at the church. We had almost 180 people in worship on Easter Sunday. We were blessed with 26 chil-

dren hunting for Easter Eggs. We have restarted our Nursery. We have restarted Sunday School classes for youth and children. We have moved from one unified Sunday School class for adults and now offer four options.

We continue to social distance and require masks when in close proximity to others. We have resisted fellow-ship meals but plan to restart meals and fellowship in September with a restart of Wonderful Wednesdays. We never

shut down worship, even when we were prohibited from in-person worship, we offered (and continue to offer) Face-book Live.

The pandemic required us to modify business as normal but we have continued to offer worship and Bible study opportunities. In short, I say “We have continued to be church” even during difficult days. We have been be-

hind on our financial budget but have still managed to pay 100% of our Conference Apportionments and because of generous donors have significantly paid down our mortgage debt.

At our last Church Council meeting, we discussed what it means to be church and how we are positioned to grow the church. That conversation needs to continue. We should continue to evaluate how our “business is doing”

and strive to make improvements. About twenty years ago, I had a friend who ran a manufacturing facility that pro-duced metal hands for analog clocks. I imagine the company is out of business today because who needs analog clock hands.

But I write to you today saying “We all need Jesus and the church is open for business.”

In Christ’s Name,

Scott

Pastor Scott

Would you like to hear bells ringing from

our steeple at St. Paul UMC?

Would you like to hear your favorite

hymns being played by these bells?

The Jimmy Griggs Memorial Bell Fund has

been established to purchase a system to make this

happen. If you would like to contribute, please make

your check out to Saint Paul UMC and note Memorial

Bell Fund.

With your support we can make this happen!!

Memorial Garden

Many of you are aware that we have a beautiful memorial garden

and fountain area on our church grounds containing pavers with

the names of Saint Paul members. As a reminder, donations can

be made to purchase a paver in honor or memory of individuals.

Costs are:

$150 Large Engraved Paver $100 Small Engraved Paver

Forms and additional information are available in the church

office.

Under Special Care

Myrtle Lowman Home Mayo Collier Home Mary Dickens Benton House

Irma Tanner Home Lieze McDaniel Presbyterian Home Jo & Aubrey Snipes Methodist Manor

James Stewart Jr. Home Lou Hanna Pee Dee Gardens

MEMORIALS AND HONORARIUMS

Memorials were given in memory of Doreen Copeland by Elizabeth Liebenrood

Memorials were given in memory of Ellison Messick by Carole & Glen Neil, Janet & Rick Howell, Kathy Andrews, Nucor Steel South Carolina, Gail Creel

Memorials were given in memory of Hazel Magee by Faye Higgs

Memorials were given in memory of Jimmy Griggs by Gail Creel, Faye Higgs

Memorials were given in memory of Sarah McNeil by Janet & Rick Howell, Kathy Andrews, Virginia Baird, Deborah James, Diane & WP Scarborough, Gladys Hodges, Carole & Glen Neil, Dotty & Wade Dickens,

Rosemary Ellis, Bettie & John Carmichael, Jane & Hugh Westbury, Frances Johnson

Honorariums were given in honor of Skylar Grace Shealy by Deborah & Phil Ruff

Tithes & Offerings Attendance

March 21, 2021 $ 10,482.00 68 March 28, 2021 $ 6,932.00 84 April 4, 2021 $ 16,198.00 178

April 11, 2021 $ 6,779.00 68 April 18, 2021 $ 9,260.00 86

Needed Weekly: $13,000.00

Tithes Given YTD: $157,806.06 Budget Needed YTD: $208,000.00

Stewardship

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.

Thank You

Thank you to my Church family for all of the get well cards as well as birthday cards received during my period of re-

covery. I have 6 more weeks of therapy and 3 months of observation by the surgeon. Then we will have to make some

decision regarding my kidney cancer, so please continue to pray for my decision making and recovery.

Thank you, James M. Stewart

Thank You from Epworth Children’s Home: St. Paul has been designated as a Sustainer Congregation during 2020

Letter from Reverend Terry Fleming, Florence District Superintendent

Dear Reverend Bratton, Please allow me to express my most sincere appreciation to you and the members of St. Paul

for the hospitality that was shared during Bishop Holston’s visit on Tuesday, April 13. Every person who participated

in the preparation and filming processes spoke of how graciously they were greeted and made welcome during the day.

We all look forward to seeing the daily prayers our bishop recorded in St. Paul’s beautiful sanctuary! Personally, I can-

not decide if the icing on the day’s cake was the wonderful strawberry shortcake dessert in the mason jars or the Unit-

ed Methodist Church cross and flame bookmarks that were given as hospitality gifts. Please share my thanks with eve-

ry person who was involved in making this such an enjoyable day.

May each of you recognize our God’s great blessings today and every new day to come!

Reverend Terry Fleming

Please Pray for our Outreach Ministries & Ministers

Lou Jordan, Francis Marion Wesley Foundation

John and Susan McGee, The CRU Foundation

A. J. and Rachel Hanke, 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 June Epistle by May 15th to: stpmed@bellsouth.net (please indicate EPISTLE in the subject line)

New Office Hours

For the safety of everyone, we ask that you continue to wear face masks and practice social distancing while in the

common areas of our facilities. ************************

Our expanded office hours are:

Monday—Thursday

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

WORSHIP SERVICE HELPERS

May 2 - Liturgist: Don Walter

Head Ushers: Howard Cross/Tom White

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Judy Smith

May 9 - Liturgist: Jay Beck

Head Ushers: Barry Hodges

Monday Counters: Virginia Baird/Pat Willis

May 16 - Liturgist: Michael Grady

Head Ushers: Ross Huggins

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Judy Smith

May 23 - Liturgist: Patsy Slice

Head Ushers: Danny Braddock/Johnny Hamer

Monday Counters: Virginia Baird/Pat Willis

May 30 - Liturgist: Rick Howell

Head Ushers: David Saleeby

Monday Counters: Janet Howell/Judy Smith

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.

Worship Service and Sunday School Schedule

9:30 am: Sunday School Hour Adult classes resume in the FLC

and Admin Building

Children in the CCC

Youth in the Youth Building

10:30 am: Worship Service In the sanctuary or watch us on

Facebook Live.

6:30 pm Youth In the Youth Building

Covid-19 Guidelines Please wear a facemask while in the

facilities. Please practice social distancing.

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

The Epistle May 2021

Kids Corner Bible verse: “The LORD is good to all “ Psalm 145:9

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

Youth @ St Paul May 2021. This year seems to be flying by. Sunday School classes have returned back to their

normal locations and no longer combined. The youth are on a modified schedule for Sunday

nights, every other Sunday for now. Starting to look at potential activities and events that the

youth can do this summer. As I’ve said before most of the normal trips and events have al-

ready been canceled for the year but I’m hoping that the “Rooted Retreat” will still be possi-

ble. Masks are still encouraged for the added safety and precaution. Covid is still out there and

still potentially dangerous. Protect yourselves and others. The youth had a great time helping

with the Easter egg hunt Easter morning. It was great to see them so involved with helping at

the church. We were also able to serve at Help4Kids in April and that was a great opportunity and time for the youth. We will be schedul-

ing another time to serve in the near future. I am proud of our church family for bringing in so many donations. I encourage you to contin-

ue to bring items and I will make arrangements to deliver. It is a great local ministry to support. Continue to do good and share Jesus with

your friends and family! May God bless you and keep you. Amen!

Keep up with your daily Bible reading and looking out for messages on Groupme Jay beck.stpyouth@gmail.com

Meet Evelyn:

Evelyn is a smart, loving, sweet girl who will be turning 13 in August. She is currently attending Lester

Elementary, but will start Middle School at Sneed next year. Evelyn has CHARGE Syndrome which in-

volves many different disabilities including Deaf/Blindness. Watching how far she has come you can see

that God has given her so much strength and ambition. She has also been blessed with an amazing heart

and love for people, especially her church family, which anyone will feel if they are lucky enough to get

one of her famous hugs! She enjoys swimming, music and playing Miracle League baseball!

St. Paul Easter

Hunt on Easter

morning was

wonderful. We

had a fun filled

morning with

crafts, baby

chicks, Picnic,

prizes and of

course a egg

hunt. We had

26 kids hunting

eggs and enjoying fellowship. Thank you to all the

youth that helped set up and hide eggs and to

everyone that donated eggs and candy.

Easter Sunday we had five confirmed in to the church

Caroline

Alex

Skylar Grace

Evelyn

Anna

What a wonderful blessing!

Epworth’s Annual Mother’s Day Offering

May 9th is Epworth’s Annual Mother’s Day Offering day. 100% of your Mother’s Day Offering provides com-

prehensive care for the Children at Epworth Children’s Home. Informational brochures and giving envelopes

are available in the narthex. Please see the one of the ushers for assistance.