1. family and parenting
2. children

Unity News
Volume 8, Issue 45
November 13, 2014
United in Christ’s love,
we glorify God through
worship, nurture, and
service to all people.
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.
Sunday Morning
November 16 2014
8:45 am
Worship Service
10:00 am
Sunday School
11:00 am
Worship Service
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.
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.
Prayers of Concern
David
Choate
Betty Miller
Leslie Montgomery
Helen Knyfd
Monk Case
Gwen Perry
Rob Butler
Sandy Rea
Dr. Bob Martin
Bill Grantham
Brad Kay
Anna Honeycutt
Carolyn Blair
Please continue to remember those
with special needs.
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.
♦
Christian Sympathy is
extended to:
The family of Mary Hallett,
who passed away on
November 4 in Charlotte.
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
CHILDREN
Third Grade Sunday School Bake Sale
to support Angel Tree
Sunday, November 23
before, during and after Sunday school
Ministries Hall Wing
YOUTH
Nov 16
Middle School Youth – 5:00-6:00 pm
Mission Trip and Conference Trip Info
Meet in the Youth Room (Room M108)
Youth Dinner - 6:00-6:30 pm Fellowship Hall - $6.00
Eat & Hangout with your friends and youth advisors.
High School Youth – 6:30-7:45 pm
Mission Trip and Conference Trip Info
Meet in the Youth Room (Room M108)
Nov 23
Middle School Youth - 2:00-5:00 pm
Angel Tree Shopping
High School Youth – 12:00-5:00 pm
Angel Tree Shop & Wrap
Bring $ for lunch. Need adult drivers
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
11/16 –Matthew 25:14-30
Year-long study of Hebrews
Unity News page 2
Outreach Opportunities
Thanksgiving Cornucopia and The Angel Tree offering benefit clients of
the Fort Mill Care Center. Presbyterian Women gather canned goods for the
Fort Mill Care Center through the cornucopia. Clients of the Fort Mill Care
Center actively sign up for the Angel Tree gifts. Please watch the newsletter for
collection information.
Thornwell Offering The Thornwell Home for children provides loving
homes for abused, neglected and abandoned children. 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. Will you be a
champion for all the children and families served by Thornwell by making a
special gift.
American Red Cross Blood Drive is Tuesday, November 25th.You don’t
need a special reason to give blood. You just need your own reason. Some of
us give blood because we were asked by a friend. Some know that a family
member or a friend might need blood some day. Some believe it is the right
thing we do. Whatever your reason, the need is constant, and your contribution
is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply. You will feel good knowing you've helped change a life. If you would like to sign up online, go to
www.redcrossblood.org/make-donation or you can signup in the Narthex
after church.
Unity Newsletter Update
Please remember, starting January 1, 2015, if you have an email address on file,
you will receive your newsletter by email and no longer by mail unless you have
contacted Gina Mitchell to receive by mail. Please call the church office or email
Gina at [email protected]. The newsletter is also available on the
website: http://unityfortmill.org/newsletters.
Financial Information for
11/1-2014-11/7-2014
Actual Budgeted
Year to Year to
Date ($) Date ($)
($)
+/- $$ +/- %
Operating Income
28,354
908,823
926,047 (17,224)
Operating Expenses
10,575
878,845
992,075 (113,230) -11%
Building/Debt Campaign Giving
12,954 309,530
289,372
20,158
SANCTUARY DEBT BALANCE………………$2,327,752
Unity News page 3
-2%
7%
Attendance
November 9, 2014
8:45
11:00
Sunday School
Visitors
185
288
204
84
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
BIRTHDAYS
AT UNITY
27-Joe Asbell, Barry Blackwood, Jim
Camann
28-Michael Chandler, Fred Chuck,
Sarah Gholson
29-David Choate
30-Scott Dammann, Ed Fritz, Greyson
Gload, Charles Keenum, Kevin Kern,
Michael McDonald, Chuck Welfare
December
1-Kathy Choate, Bob Elisha,
Jake Gaulden
2-Landen Oltmann
3-Bob Anderson, Leslie Dekoster,
Bailey Greemon, Peyton Mistler
Continuing Long-Term
Prayers of Concern
Libby Kern
Jessie Little
Jane Godfrey
Molly Coggins
Ira and Doris Ussery
Karen Eklund
Terri Marshall
David Choate
Betty Miller
Angie McCrae
Leslie Montgomery
Mary Lay Derrick
Jenny Fike
Fred Langford
Welcome to Unity Coffee
Sunday, December 14
We want to invite anyone who is interested in learning more about Unity to a
“Welcome to Unity” get-together on
Sunday morning, December 14. This
is an informal gathering at 10:00 a.m.,
during which we will have coffee, share
some basic information about the congregation, and answer any questions
you may have. This should last about
30-40 minutes. Children are welcome
to come with their parents or to attend
Sunday School. “Welcome to Unity”
will take place in Room M201
(Hospitality Room) in the Ministries
Building. Room M201 is on your left as
you follow the hall from the Sanctuary
Narthex to the Ministries Building. We
hope to see you there!
Church Office Volunteers
Needed
With the holidays approaching, we are
very busy in the Church Office. If you
feel you have a gift to help out by
answering phones, mailings, or any
clerical tasks, we would love to have
your help. As our church is growing,
so is the need for volunteers. Please
call the church office at 547.5543 or
email Gina Mitchell at
[email protected].
Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Award
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.
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 1623rd. 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.
Grief and Loss Support Group
This group began at Unity in
September. This is open to anyone who
has experienced grief or loss of any
kind. The purpose of the group is for
participants to support and encourage
one another. The group is open to
Unity members and also to anyone in
the community. Unity’s Grief and Loss
Support Group meets on Friday
mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the
Fellowship Hall Parlor. The meetings
will take place every other week; the
dates are November 21, December 5
and December 19. For information, or
to register, please contact
Ken
Nunnery at 547.6062 or
[email protected].
Upcoming Music Events



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.
Unity News page 4
Christmas Joy Nativity Display
Christmas Auction
7 th
Our Christmas Joy Service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on December
in the sanctuary.
This is presented by our children’s choirs, and the service this year is centered around the
way that children around the world view the baby Jesus. As part of our celebration, we
would like to have a display of the many different types of nativity sets that we have in our
own congregation. The display will be put up the day before the program between the
hours of 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., and will stay up on Sunday until the Christmas Joy service is
over. A form is available in the Narthex to enter your nativity, and may be returned in the
offering plate, at the church office, or by mail. Deadline for entries is November 30 th. For
more information or questions, please contact Patsy Surratt at 547-5543 or e-mail her at
[email protected].
Choir Project
On Sunday, November 23, the Cherub Choir will meet from 4:15-5:00 to work on their
art project for the Christmas Joy program and the Junior Choir will meet from 5:00-6:00
to work on their artwork. Both groups will have their rehearsals at the regular times
(Juniors, 4:00-5:00 and Cherubs, 5:00-5:45). Choir members are asked to bring crayons,
markers, and/or colored pencils. Paper will be provided. We will not be using paint or
glitter for this project. If you have questions, contact Patsy Surratt at 547.5546 or email
her at [email protected].
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
In Retirement Communities
and Extended Care Facilities
Dot
Hollis
Robertson
Winona Kennedy
Buddy Culp
Buzz and Amy Benson
Phil and Fannie Ray
Mary Lay Derrick
Carolyn Martin
Maxine Nesbitt
Mary T Littlejohn
Homer Kirkman
Barbara Bergvist
Molly Coggins
Bob Hill
Joanne Kimbrell
Dr. Bob Martin
Trudie
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 23 rd. 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
Please contact Jeannie if there are any
changes or additions to this list.
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.
Communion Schedule for 2014
12/24/14 Christmas Eve
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.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be
revealed, and all people shall see it
together...
Isaiah 40:5
Unity News page 5
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 13,
Dear Friends,
Newsletter Publication
Deadline: Wednesday,
November 19 at 6 pm for
Issue date:
November 27.
Please submit information to:
Gina Mitchell:
[email protected]
Advent is just around the corner which means it is
Rev. Dr. Dan Holloway
almost time for our annual Christmas Joy program,
set for December 7th at 4 p.m. I am giving you an early heads up because we
are adding something new this year. We are using an international theme for the
service and are inviting members to bring nativity sets from around the world
to set up in the hallway of the sanctuary. More information is available from
Patsy Surratt or in the church office but we would love to have your
participation.
Also, remember that now is the time to bring food for our Thanksgiving
cornucopia. As noted elsewhere in this newsletter, we need particular
donations, so please check the list of needed items when planning what you will
bring.
Finally, thanks to all those who made Pasta Night a great success, with special
thanks to chef Chris Routh and our senior high youth and their parents. Great
job everyone!
In Christ’s Service,
Dan