OCTOBER
2014
MIDWAY MESSENGER
Midway Presbyterian Church, 3238 Midway Road, Anderson, SC 29621
Dear Friends:
On the calendar Tuesday, September 22, marked for us the first day of autumn, and
most of us are grateful for cooler weather. We can enjoy football. We can look forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
A season is said to be a period of the year marked off by prevalent climatic conditions.
Here in South Carolina we know the four seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter, while
there are only two seasons mentioned in the Bible: summer and winter. In Palestine summer
gradually fades into winter and winter into summer.
In Jeremiah 8:20 the prophet declares:
“The Harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
And in speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem Jesus says in Matthew 24:20:
Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.
I’m thankful we get to know four seasons of the year. There’s something to enjoy in
each of them. Surely autumn has its glory with beautiful leaves, warm days, and cool nights.
No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace
as I have seen in one autumnal face.
—John Donne
It won’t be long until we sing Henry Alford’s beautiful hymn, the first verse of which is:
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of harvest home!
Grace and Peace,
John McCallum
CHURCH NEWS
MIDWAY MESSENGER
Page 2
World Communion Sunday
World Communion Sunday is October 5. The Sacrament of
the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated and the Annual Peacemaking Offering will be received.
Congregational Meeting
Installation Service
Dr. John K. McCallum was installed as the 37th Pastor of
Midway Presbyterian Church on August 31, during the
regular morning worship service. Members of the Installation Commission included:
Teaching Elders:
Ruling Elders:
Rev. Debbie Foster
Rev. Gordon Raynal
Dr. Beryl Rosenberger
Rev. Amos Workman
Mr. Bob Harrell
Mr. Jacky Stamps
Library
A special thanks to the Library Committee for all their
work in redeveloping our church Library at Midway. The
Open House following worship on September 28 will allow members the opportunity to see what has been accomplished and to check out books or audio visuals.
The Book Sale in the Fellowship Hall will provide funds
to help purchase new books.
Pictorial Directory
The Congregational Care Committee is currently making
plans for the creation of a new Pictorial Directory. Pictures are scheduled to be made on November 14 and 15.
Details to follow.
Parish Care Team
The Parish Care Team will meet on Wednesday, October
1, at noon.
The Session has called for a congregational Meeting to be
held on Sunday, October
12, following
Worship. The pur$.02 a Meal
Offering
pose of the meeting is to elect new Elders and Deacons.
After diligent work, the Officer Nominating Committee will
place in nomination
theafollowing
members:
The $.02
Meal Offering
is a hunger program
based
on
the
biblical
principle
of the widow’s
For Elder:
Bob Harrell
mite (Mark 12:41-44).
Thereby
we remember
Linda Mylod
Christ’s call to feed the hungry: “But he anForswered
Deacon:
them,Tom
‘YouWaddell
give them something to
eat.’” (Mark 6:37). And we have the opportunity to respond by each person setting aside $.02 a meal.
The LOT Project BBQ
We are receiving this offering on the last Wednesday of
each
month
at our will
Wednesday
BibleBBQ
Study.
The LOT
Project
hold itsEvening
3rd Annual
at The
Trinity
th, us
Young
People
of
Midway
will
be
making
containers
to
United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 4for
from
deposit
our
coins
in.
For
the
balance
of
this
year
all
contri11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Plates of pulled pork, coleslaw
butions
willbeans
go to are
support
Meals
Wheels.
and baked
$9 each,
oron
you
can purchase a pound
of pulled
pork
$9. The
is always
in need
of
October
16 isfor
World
FoodLOT
DayProject
when we
are called
to pray
for hungrysupport
people to
in the
world and
for theproject
work being
to
financial
maintain
its HOPE
of feeding
alleviatechildren
hunger. and
As we
participate
in this offering,
let fundus
hungry
adults
in Anderson.
Their BBQ
remember
toway
praytofor
thesome
hungry,
as well as those who seek
raiser
is one
lend
support.
to help them.
Thank You
“Dear Midway Church Family, It is hard for me to put
into words what it felt like to preach at the church that
stood with me
when I was
baptized,
that has helped walk
Thornwell
Home
for Children
alongside me in faithfulness and has encouraged me as I
have tried to respond to God’s call in my life. Just absolute
October
23 Louise
Cooper, Vicejoy.On Wednesday
Absolute joy.
I love
you, Midway
Presbyterian
President for
Advancement
at Thornwell,
speak to
at our
Church.
It has
not always
been easy, will
I know,
walk
alongside
But IService.
am thankful
beyond
measure
for the
Wednesdayme.
Evening
Louise
is a life-long
Presbyheart
worshiping
thankofyou,
terian of
andthis
a Ruling
Elder. family.
CurrentlyThank
she is ayou,
member
the
thank
you,
with
all
of
my
heart.
Charmaine
Smith-Miles”
Westminster Church in Columbia, SC.
We look forward to learning more about Thornwell and
about how we at Midway
can To
enhance
Dates
Note our involvement with
this
of the
Sun.,ministry
November
2 Presbyterian
DaylightChurch
Savingswhich
Time seeks
Ends to offer
hope
and
wholeness
to
children
and
families.
Fri., December 5
Party for A.I.M. Women &
Cemetery Fund
Due to low interest rates our Cemetery Fund is not covering the maintenance costs. Members who have cemetery
plots are asked to consider making a contribution, over
and above their regular giving, to help with these costs.
Please mark your donations for the “Cemetery Fund”.
Thurs., December 11
Fri., December 12
Sun. December 14
Children Succeeding Program
Senior Luncheon (All Seniors)
Church Christmas Dinner
@Cobbs Glen
Sarah Cornell’s bell concert at
John Calvin Presbyterian Church.
News From Retreat
Page 3
On Sept. 19th, thirteen of our Midway women, two of their daughters, our retreat facilitator Theresa
Allen and her mother spent a joyful and blessed weekend at Glen Rock Inn in Montreat, on the Third
Annual Midway Women’s Retreat.
The weekend began with a pizza supper, supplied by the generosity of Goetz Eaton, in memory of
Carolyn. All the women expressed their gratitude to Goetz for his kindnesses to us. Following a brief devotional led by
Theresa, Friday evening was spent catching up with each other and discussing our plans for Saturday. (And also witnessing Gail’s minor miracle with Kitty’s eyes, which is all I’m allowed to say on that subject.)
Saturday morning’s Bible study was on “God’s Outrageous Love for Us”. Theresa asked all the women to look for a minute
into hand-held mirrors – knowing full well that most of us would see too many “smile lines” and grey hairs. But her lesson was centered on God loving us “as is” – with all our imperfections and our many years of sinful baggage. Throughout
our lives we’ve been blessed with some people loving us, but none with the steadfastness of our Father’s love, and certainly none who offered us the unconditional forgiveness that our Lord supplies daily.
After our study session, several of us headed to the woods for a walk on the Prayer Path through Montreat’s wildlife sanctuary. Then most headed to Black Mountain for some store browsing, shopping, or perhaps just an ice cream cone. At 5
p.m., we reconvened for our next Bible study session, which focused on John 10:10, “I came that they may have life and
have it abundantly”. Christ’s promise was not just for our eternal lives, but for our temporal lives as well; by faith, we can
experience abundant life now, if we choose to live intentional lives in Christ. Just as Christ told the Samaritan woman at
the well, we will not thirst if we drink from His well of living
water.
After a very satisfying home-cooked meal, we enjoyed a
rousing game of Charades. Everyone was remarkably good
at acting out her clues, but Ruth Anne received “Best Clue”
recognition, and Gail received recognition for the “Boldest
Answer”. Several of the women stayed up to cheer Clemson
through a tough loss, while others caught up on a good
night’s sleep. Sunday morning came quickly, and we ended
our retreat with a morning devotional led by Theresa, and a
time of prayers for others’ needs led by Valerie. After sprucing up the Inn, we headed home, knowing that our weekend
had been well spent, and taking Theresa’s lessons and many
happy memories with us.
—Linda Mylod
Sowing Circle Project
The YMCA is sponsoring its 2nd Annual Veteran’s recognition day at
the Y on Friday, November 7th, and
our Midway Sowing Circle is going
to participate in the event. The
women will be collecting knit caps,
men and women’s socks and handkerchiefs to donate to the Y for distribution to the veterans who reside
at Richard Campbell Veterans
Home. Ruth Anne Herron will be
gathering the donations to deliver
them to the Y on our behalf. All
church members are encouraged to
participate with the Sowing Circle in
this outreach endeavor by leaving
any of these items at church for
Ruth Anne. The event at the Y is on
Friday, November 7th, and is open to
the public. Refreshments will be
served from 10 ‘til 11, and the program honoring our veterans is from
11:00 ‘til 12:00.
October Birthdays
Oct.
2 Samantha Walker
5 Anita Bricker
6 Jane Kowalski
SCHEDULES for OCTOBER
Oct.
Carolyn Warren
10 Sybil Ginn
Pulpit Rotation
5 Ginny Keiper
12 Marshall Kowalski
19 David Peters
26 Roz Rozakos
11
Mark Sears
27 Jim Hansen
Ushers
Pete Rozakos
Brenda Stamps
Oct.
SS Secretaries
5 Amy Morris
12 Jacky Stamps
19 Bob Bone
26 Bob Harrell
Joey Morris
24 Ashley Harrelson
29 Rex Barton
October Wedding Anniversaries
Oct.
2
9
Jeff & Jennifer Walker
Pete & Roz Rozakos
Page 4
Greetings …
By the time you are reading this newsletter, September will be out the
back door and fall will be knocking on the front door. You may as well let
him in because he plans to stay for a few weeks anyway.
Sure has been a busy time around here this summer with all the “projects” going on. I keep
hearing about the “library project”. Miss Linda Mylod and Miss Jane Kowalski have all these
books stacked up for Miss Cindy Harrell to catalogue. The Library Committee will host an Open
House for the recently renovated Library on September 28, after church during the coffee hour. Also there are some
books for sale and all proceeds will be used toward purchasing new books. Members and visitors will have the opportunity to see and check out books to “read” this winter while sitting around the fire. Can you think of a better way to
spend a cold rainy day or night?
Midway has a new pastor. Dr. John McCallum was installed on August 31, 2014, to serve as the thirty-seventh Pastor of Midway Presbyterian Church. Welcome John and Hazel.
The Teaching Elders taking part in the service were: Rev. Gordon Raynal, Rev. Debbie Foster, and Rev. Amos Workman.
In my “snooping” that morning, I heard Rev. Amos Workman, Supply Pastor, Foothills Presbytery, say he is also a
lawyer. It is refreshing to know that the legal profession still has some true followers of God.
Seems there is a long list of “sick folk” in the church bulletin. Everything from awaiting heart transplant; open heart
surgery, kidney disease and shingles just to mention a few. Please remember each one in your prayers.
My thoughts for today…. In First Corinthians Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body. Each part has a
specific function that is necessary to the body as a whole. The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences
they must work together. We Christians must avoid two common errors: (1) being too proud of our abilities, or (2)
thinking we have nothing to give to the body of believers. We should use our different gifts, together, to spread the Good
News of salvation.
‘Til next time, remember God is watching and so am I.
Timothy
Ladies Lunch Bunch Bible Study
October Dates:
Room.
October 6, 13, 20 & 27 - Noon—2:00 p.m. in the Church Office Activity
We will be finishing STUCK and starting a new study sometime in November. If there is something that you would like to tackle, please let me know. In between Stuck and the new study,
we will be having inspired individual lessons and spirited discussions. Please join us!
—Valerie Swenson
Page 5
Listening for the Heartbeat of God
by J. Philip Newell
Listening for the Heartbeat of God presents a spirituality for today, modeled on the vital
characteristics of Celtic spirituality through the centuries. Here is an emphasis on the essential goodness of creation and of humanity made in the image of God. This book traces
the lines of Celtic spirituality from the British church in the fourth century through to the
twentieth century, in the founder of the Iona Community, George Macleod.
J. Philip Newell finds Celtic spiritual roots in the New Testament, in the mysticism of St.
John the Evangelist. John was especially remembered as the one who lay against Jesus at
the Last Supper and heard the heartbeat of God. Hence he became a Celtic image of listening to God in all of life. This fresh angel on Celtic spirituality-- linking figures in the Bible
and in British Christian history-- will be warmly welcomed by all who are concerned to refresh the roots of their faith.
Something More
by Catherine Marshall
Catherine Marshall writes movingly of her quest for Something More—a fuller, richer relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. Candidly she reveals the challenges her faith underwent and how personal tragedies led her to a new, life-changing understanding of the
Spirit¹s work. Readers who want a deeper faith will discover what it means to be spiritually
rich and how to find God even in the midst of chaotic days. Something More also explores
provocative topics like forgiveness in daily situations, how to be obedient to God’s will while
struggling to understand his ways, what to make of night dreams as people in Bible times did
(without seeming "New Age"), and how to recognize what’s truly evil in the world. Engaging
and inspiring, this book is an intimate classic on the quest for deeper spirituality.
Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
by Eric Metaxas
Dietrich Bonhoeffer-a pastor and author. In this New York Times best-selling biography, Eric Metaxas takes both strands of Bonhoeffer's life-the theologian and the spyand draws them together to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of
monstrous evil. Metaxas presents the fullest accounting of Bonhoeffer's heartwrenching decision to leave the safe haven of America to return to Hitler's Germany, and
sheds new light on Bonhoeffer's involvement in the famous Valkyrie plot and in
"Operation 7," the effort to smuggle Jews into neutral Switzerland.