Unity News
Volume 8, Issue 44
November 6, 2014
United in Christ’s love,
we glorify God through
worship, nurture, and
service to all people.
A Service of
Hope and Wholeness
will be held in the sanctuary on Wednesday night, November
12, at 7:00 p.m. This special service is open to all people, and
may be especially helpful for those experiencing loss or transition in their lives.
It will include prayers, hymns, the lighting of candles of hope, music by the
chancel choir, and the sacrament of communion. Please come and join us for
worship. Loss and transition can take many forms, including moving, marriage,
retirement, birth of a child, death of a loved one, graduation, divorce, empty
nest, starting school, etc. Come and bring a friend or neighbor. Contact Jeannie
Bickett at 803.547.5543 or [email protected] for further information
about this service. Nursery will be available.
Come Warm Your Soul
Ladies, are the waves swamping your boat? Come enjoy an evening of food,
fellowship and time exploring Holy Indifference: Living Joyfully for Christ in all
Circumstances, with special guest, the Reverend Jill Duffield. Save the date,
Thursday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall. Childcare available
with reservation by November 9. Tickets are $5 and are available in the church
office or by contacting Lynn Ringley, [email protected].
Third Grade Bake Sale
The third grade Sunday school class will be selling baked goods on Sunday, November 23, in the Ministries building hallway before, during and after Sunday
school and outside the Narthex in the conversation area after the 11:00 service. All proceeds will be used to purchase Angel Tree gifts this Christmas season. Please contact Maren Coffman if you would like to donate baked goods at
[email protected]. Come by and support our third graders as they learn to
serve others.
Sunday Morning
November 9 2014
8:45 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
Worship Service
Sunday School
Worship Service
Prayers of Concern
David
Choate
Betty Miller
Leslie Montgomery
Dee Poole
Helen Knyfd
Stormy Young
Monk Case
Gwen Perry
Rob Butler
Sandy Rea
Dr. Bob Martin
Bill Grantham
Brad Kay
Please continue to remember those
with special needs.
Christian Sympathy is
extended to:
♦
Volunteers for Youth Breakfast Needed
We are in need of generous people to supply breakfast for the high school youth
on Wednesday mornings for prayer breakfast. We have 8-10 youth who come to
the Fellowship Hall for devotion and a quick breakfast before school each
Wednesday morning. If you would be willing to supply breakfast, please contact
Beth Chuck at [email protected] or sign up using this link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084caeab2aab9-volunteers. Thank you
for supporting the faith development of our youth.
Mary Lay Derrick in the
death of her husband, Robert,
on October 30.
I would like to thank all my church family and friends for your prayers and cards
after my recent surgery. It was very much
appreciated. God’s blessing to all- Helen
Knyfd.
What’s Happening in Christian Education?
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER MEETING
Sunday, Nov 16
12:15 pm
Lunch will be provided. For all youth and children’s Sunday school teachers
Pasta Night Dinner Theatre
CHILDREN
Third Grade Sunday School Bake Sale
to support Angel Tree
Sunday, November 23
before, during and after Sunday school
Ministries Hall Wing
A High School Youth Fundraiser
Donation Dinner
Sunday, Nov 9
6:00 pm
YOUTH
Menu
Nov 7-8
High School Lock-in for Pasta Night Prep
a choice of
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Pasta Primavera
Salad
Bread
Drink
Homemade Desserts
Nov 9
No regular youth group. Please support High School Pasta Night
Fundraiser.
Nov 16
Middle School Youth – 5:00-6:00 pm
Explorations
Meet in the Youth Room (Room M108)
Youth Dinner - 6:00-6:30 pm Fellowship Hall - $6.00
All funds raised go to support high
school summer youth trips for mission
and Montreat Youth Conference.
Eat & Hangout with your friends and youth advisors.
High School Youth – 6:30-7:45 pm
Meet in the Youth Room (Room M108)
ADULTS
Sunday School – Sunday mornings at 10:00 am
Fellowship
Fellowship Hall
Holy Grounds
Fellowship Hall Parlor
Koinonia
Room M210
Feasting on the Word
Unity Hall
Upper Room
Room M321
10/12 – 11/23 – Community: A Study of Acts
Fellowship & Devotions
11/2 -11/23 OT Stories from the Backside
11/9 – Matthew 25:1-13
Year-long study of Hebrews
Unity News page 2
Outreach Opportunities
Thanksgiving Cornucopia, This offering is planned by Presbyterian Women to
gather canned goods for the Fort Mill Care Center. Watch for further information and
pick up an extra can or two when you shop.
SON Service to Our Neighbors, SON ministry is a new local-faith based initiative
to assist the homeless in the Fort Mill Area. SON is composed of representatives from
various local churches and interested community citizens. The homeless, in York
County is a small part of an estimated 10% rate of people living near or below the
poverty level. The needs are many for these homeless and the community has done
really well assisting with food and clothing. Transportation support is a most basic
continuing need: for doctor’s appointments, for job interviews, for travel to and from
work, the laundromat, clothing and food pantries, etc. They are also in need of mentors to assist with budgeting, check-writing, job interview coaching and general nurturing. If these are areas where you can provide support, it would be a valuable witness.
For more information, please contact Jim Boyd @ [email protected] or any
member of the Outreach Team.
Focus on Ministry
Communications
The Communications Ministry Team is responsible for enhancing and expanding
communications with congregation members and in the community to support the
mission of Unity Presbyterian Church. The team supports multiple delivery
mediums, including the website UnityFortMill.org, Unity News weekly newsletter,
Facebook, and bulletin boards. The committee is also responsible for audio/video
during services, photography, and technology enhancements.
Unity recently expanded its wireless internet coverage across the campus to include
the Fellowship Hall, Unity Hall and Sunday School wing. A picture gallery has been
added in the hallway between the Sanctuary and the Sunday School wing. Beginning
in January, the Unity News weekly newsletter will be delivered electronically if you
have an email address on file. If you do not have an email address on file, you will
continue to receive your newsletter through the mail. This change is an effort to
reduce our costs and to “Go Green.” If you would like to begin receiving the
newsletter electronically prior to January, please contact Gina Mitchell at
[email protected].
If you have an interest in serving or assisting the Communications Ministry Team in
any capacity, please contact [email protected]. We are always
looking for people who are passionate about spreading the Good News.
Financial Information for
10/1-2014-10/31-2014
Actual Budgeted
Year to Year to
Date ($) Date ($)
($)
+/- $$ +/- %
Operating Income
71,729
880,618
902,283 (21,665)
Operating Expenses
80,079
868,002
973,117 (105,115) -11%
Building/Debt Campaign Giving
68,294 296,576
282,086
14,490
SANCTUARY DEBT BALANCE………………$2,338,120
Unity News page 3
-2%
5%
Attendance
November 2 2014
8:45
11:00
Sunday School
Visitors
235
241
225
94
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
AT UNITY
20-Courtnie and Mandy Coffman,
Paul Diedrich, John Lee, John Wolf
21-Molly Chmielinski, Bob Derrick,
Emelia Howell, George Kimbrell,
Ira Ussery, Jim Wilson
22-Matt Diedrich, Olivia Weeks
23-Beverly Bayne, Carson Murray,
Virginia Sizemore, Thurlow
Thomasson
24-Lauren Copeland, Kevin Fulton,
Kelly Kern, Tracy Little, Chris Wolfe
25-Kearns Little, Cate Patterson,
Kathryne Staats, J.T. Trueb,
Pat Welker
26-Tom Ellison, Lucy Hagood, Brenda
Little, Grant Luebbe, Brooke
Mehlhouse, Anna Rice, Lea Shannon,
Chari Young
Continuing Long-Term
Prayers of Concern
Libby Kern
Jessie Little
Jane Godfrey
Molly Coggins
Ira and Doris Ussery
Karen Eklund
Ann Hudspeth
Terri Marshall
David Choate
Betty Miller
Angie McCrae
Leslie Montgomery
Mary Lay Derrick
Jenny Fike
Fred Langford
Joy!
Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Award
Congratulations to:
 Brion and Maureen Ostrander
in the birth of their son,
Connor Thomas, born
October 26. Proud
grandparents are JohnAnd
Mary Conerty Proud big sister
is Ella!
 Reid and Elizabeth Bennett in
the birth of their son,
Alexander Reid, born on
October 28. Proud big sister is
Logan!
 Anna George Ferretti in the
birth of her son, Robert James
Ferretti, born on October 30.
Proud grandmother is Cissy
George.
We are currently accepting nominations for the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life
Membership Award. This award will be presented at the Mother Daughter Sister
Friend Luncheon on April 12, 2015. Nomination forms are available at the Welcome
Center, from your Circle Chair, or you can go to our website to access a form; http://
unityfortmill.org/presbyterian-women. You may e-mail your form to Mary Sue McGrath
at [email protected] or drop them in the envelope that is provided in the church office or in the offering plate. If you have any questions, please call Mary Sue McGrath at
803-802-2398. All forms should be turned in by December 7, 2014. Many women in our
church are worthy of YOUR nomination, and we hope you will take the time to nominate one of them.
November Lunch Bunch
Bring a sandwich, join old friends, and
make new ones at the November
Lunch Bunch, 12:00 Noon, on
Monday, November 17th. Our
program features David A. Gwilt, host
of the radio talk show Radio 4 the
Ages. He will offer an inspirational and
entertaining hour filled with insightful
musings on aging with wonder,
maximizing abilities, and embracing
life, with an underlying spiritual
message that our primary purpose is
service to others. Drinks, chips and
desserts will be provided.
All Men of Unity and their
guests/friends are invited to
the monthly Men's Ministry
breakfast. Breakfast
gatherings are held the second Tuesday
of each month. Our next breakfast is
Tuesday, November 11, at 8:00 am in
the Fellowship Hall. Please mark your
calendar and stop by to enjoy a great
breakfast, faith and fellowship. Anyone
interested in learning more about the
Men's Ministry and our many activities
can c onta c t Je rr y Rans on at
[email protected], 803-554-6178,
or check out our page on website;
http://unityfortmill.org/mens-ministry
Red Cross Blood Drive, Tuesday, November 25
Give thanks for good health, give blood. For many Americans, Thanksgiving
is about family, food and football. And when we gather for our Thanksgiving
Day feast, we often give thanks for all that's good in our lives, including good health.
However, there are countless hospital patients who are battling serious health issues
through the holidays. Many of these patients will need donated blood to survive. So, before you dive into that turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, consider giving blood
with the American Red Cross. It only takes about an hour to help save the lives of up to
three patients. Appointments are encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. Sign-ups will be available in the Narthex from November 16-23rd. For online sign-ups visit:
http://www.redcrossblood.org/. Remember to eat iron-rich foods for 2 weeks before
donating blood. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine on the day of the drive. Our
next bloodmobile is:



November 25 from
2:30-7 p.m.
In the Fellowship Hall.
Upcoming Music Events





November 2 – Cherub Choir sings at the 8:45 service
November 9 – Joyful Ringers play at both services
December 7 – Christmas Joy Service presented by the Children’s Choirs, at 4:00
p.m.
December 14 – Service of Lessons and Carols at both services
December 21 – Concert by the Charlotte-based group, Renaissance, at 4:00 p.m. in
our sanctuary
Christmas Joy Service
Our Christmas Joy Service, presented by the Children’s Choirs on December 7th, at
4:00 p.m., will be different this year. Our theme for this service is called “Some
Children See Him,” and will focus on the way the baby Jesus is viewed by children
around the world and the way they celebrate Christmas. Our music selections will be
from different countries around the world. As a part of our celebration, we are planning
a nativity display that will feature nativity sets that belong to members of our
congregation. It will be very interesting to see all of the different ways that the nativity is
portrayed. Information will be coming out soon to see how many different nativity sets
we can display and how the members of our congregation can contribute to this
celebration. We are excited about what we are doing this year, and hope that you will be
a part of this special service with us!
Unity News page 4
Thanksgiving Cornucopia
During the month of November, we are collecting non-perishable
food items for the Thanksgiving Cornucopia. Please begin making
preparations by purchasing extra food items. Again this year, we will be collecting
food for the Fort Mill Care Center and providing Christmas meals for our 30
Angel Tree families. Items needed are: canned cranberry sauce, green beans,
corn, green peas, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, rice, instant potatoes, stuffing
mix, evaporated milk, chicken broth, boxed macaroni and cheese, peanut
butter and jelly, pie crust mix, cake, brownie or other dessert mixes. Please
do not bring flour, sugar, cereals, or pasta sauces. The Cornucopia will be
displayed on November 23. Thank you for your continued support in helping
provide food to our neighbors in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The Thornwell Home for Children, located in Clinton, SC, is a ministry of the
South Atlantic Synod of the Presbyterian Church USA serving abused,
abandoned, and neglected children in SC, GA, and FL. The home opened in
1875 and is one of the oldest children’s homes in the United States. The children
at Thornwell live in a family setting in 11 residential cottages with eight to ten
children and professional caregivers in each home. They learn how to value
themselves and their families and are assisted in learning academic and social
skills, sound values and high morals.
Unity collects a special offering for Thornwell each year around Thanksgiving.
Thornwell receives approximately 78% of its funding through gifts such as these.
This offering will be collected on Sunday, November 23rd. Envelopes will be in
the pews and you can make a check to Unity with “Thornwell” on the memo line.
Please open your hearts to these children.
Online Giving
As technology changes, the Stewardship Team has researched additional ways
that members, visitors and guests can contribute to the minstries of Unity
Presbyterian Church. As a result, Online Giving is now available on our
website.
To access Online Giving, go to www.UnityFortMill.org, find the "Giving" tab
in the menu bar across the top of the home page. Select the "Giving" tab to be
directed through a series of screens, where you can choose the amount of the
gift you wish to make, along with payment options and whether this will be a
one-time contribution or a recurring gift of generosity. You will then receive a
confirmation notice via email as soon as the transaction is complete.
Please note that Online Giving is yet another vehicle for our members, visitors
and guests to share the gift of generosity. The Online Giving does not replace
existing auto draft. Please contact Pam Bright at [email protected] or
547.5543 if you wish to change your auto draft so that duplicate payments can
be avoided.
Unity News page 5
Christmas Auction
The annual Christmas auction,
sponsored by the Tony Dehler Circle, will be held on Tuesday evening, December 9th, in the Fellowship Hall. Donations of NEW
craft items and homemade goodies
are needed to make this event a
success. Mark your calendar and
plan to join us for a hot dog supper prior to the auction and
sale. All proceeds will be divided
equally between the Nutrition Center and the Fort Mill Care Center.
The church library is currently
being catalogued and reorganized.
Please return any church library
books that you are not using to
the yellow basket on the table.
Help would also be appreciated
with gluing, pasting and dusting.
Please contact Karen Louthan,
[email protected] or Jean
Nicholson,
[email protected]
Ladies Gloves
Do you remember when women
wore white gloves to church and
special events? We are collecting
these gloves for a Worship Arts
project. If you have ladies gloves
from a bygone era that you can part
with, please leave them in the
church office for Ann Neel. The
team wants new or used gloves in
white, ivory, or cream, short or
long length. We cannot use garden
or work gloves. We need many
pairs of these gloves to complete
the project. The gloves cannot be
returned.
Communion Schedule for 2014
11/12/14 Hope and Wholeness
12/24/14 Christmas Eve
Unity Presbyterian Church
303 Tom Hall Street
PO Box 1267
Fort Mill, SC 29716-1267
803.547.5543
Www.UnityFortMill.org
Non-Profit Organization
U S Postage
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Permit #23
Church Office (803) 547-5543
Dan Holloway (803) 548-7215
Jeannie Bickett (704) 588-4809
Return Service Requested
November 6, 2014
Dear Friends,
Newsletter Publication
Deadline: Wednesday,
November 12 at 6 pm for
Issue date:
November 20.
Please submit information to:
Gina Mitchell:
[email protected]
Change is a part of life for all of us. You will see evidence of
that change around our church in two very specific ways in
upcoming weeks. First, an organ has now been installed in
Rev. Dr. Dan Holloway
the historic sanctuary, and once it is tuned, will be
available for use when we have services there. This is the fulfillment of a dream among
several members of our church, and has now come to fruition. We are all grateful to
those who have helped to keep this worship space useful for special times of worship.
Another visible change will be the demolition of the former church manse over the
next few months, pending the approval of all necessary entities. The session approved
this at their last meeting after a report from the diaconate. We discovered several years
ago that the manse has become dangerous, and we have not been able to use the
building for some time now. A committee of the diaconate has spent the past year
investigating the cost and possibility of restoring the manse to safety, but has
determined that the cost of restoration far exceeded the value. The scouts that were
meeting there have been successfully relocated to other parts of our facility, and we will
be helping them to find storage for their gear as well. While there is certainly sadness in
losing a part of our property, safety must always come first, and the building is simply
not safe for human usage.
Finally, please remember and support the Pasta Night sponsored by our youth on
November 9th and the upcoming Cornucopia and Angel Tree on November 23rd.
You’ll hear more about the latter in upcoming weeks.
In Christ’s Service,
Dan