St. Paul's Epistle
Week of August 18 - August 24, 2021
Pastor's Perspective
Being Careful and Prayerful, but NOT Fearful “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
In my eNews article last week, I said that as we continue to wrestle with the changing nature of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Vestry and staff of the church would continue to monitor the situation and make decisions to allow us to continue to safely meet together to worship and fellowship and grow. Just in the past week, the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Horry County have continued to rise. The number of new COVID cases and the infection rate are back where they were in November & December of 2020. The “delta variant” of the virus appears to be as contagious as chicken pox. We have certainly lost ground in the battle against COVID.
Fortunately, the war is not over. We know Who wins in the end! In the meantime, the leadership of the church has come up with some new guidelines to keep us safe so we can continue to gather together. These guidelines will take place immediately.
If you don’t feel well, don’t come to church. You may watch the livestreamed service by going to https://stpaulsconway.organd clicking on the “livestream” link at the top of the web page.
Masks in church are still recommended, but not required.
We will maintain our 3-worship service schedule to provide plenty of space for people to spread out during worship. Please sit at least 6 feet away from people outside your immediate family. There are plenty of seats towards the front of the church!
We will “gently” pass the Peace during worship services. Instead of shaking hands and hugging, a smile, a wave, and a kind word will suffice for now.
Instead of passing an offering plate during the Offertory, a “Tithes & Offerings” box will be placed in front of the Baptismal font for people to use to give their financial offering to the church.
Instead of kneeling at the altar rail and drinking out of a common cup for Communion, the clergy will offer bread intincted in the wine for parishioners to consume.
Volunteers will be scheduled to wipe down surfaces (pews, door handles, counter tops, etc.) after the 7:45AM worship service.
If these changing guidelines frustrate you, join the club! I share your frustration. But if these changes keep us safe so we can continue to gather and do the ministry God calls us to do, then I hope you agree that it is worth it. The landscape of the pandemic keeps changing and we are trying to hit a moving target. Hang in there and stand firm. We are being careful and prayerful, not fearful. It helps to remember the amazing promise that God made in Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Rest assured that the leadership of St. Paul’s Church has everyone’s best interest in mind. Be patient and gracious as we navigate the waters of life together. May God bless us all, keep us safe, and heal our land.
Faithfully,
Jason +
Please come help clean up the campus for Fall.Church Work Day,
Saturday, August 21. 8:00 to 12:00
Farewell, Jack
After 2 ½ years of faithful service, Jack Graham will no longer be leading our music ministry. We all owe Jack a debt of gratitude for using his musical abilities for God’s glory, and we wish Jack and his wife Celeste all the best of God’s blessings in the future. Our friend Beth Roberts from Prince George-Winyah Church will lead music for us on Sunday, August 22nd. Our very own Tim & Heather Underwood have agreed to lead music in the interim. Tim and Heather will be with us on August 29th.
Fall Small Group Ministries begin with an ice cream social on Wednesday, September 1st from 6-7pm under the church belltower! We will have a Mr. Softee Ice Cream truck and fellowship, fun for all ages. This event is for the entire church family and is free to everyone. Come and enjoy!
Earthquake Update from Light from Light
Hello dear friends,
We wanted to write with an update on behalf of our friends in Haiti at the Lespwa Timoun Clinic about the 7.2 earthquake that hit the southwest part of the country yesterday morning!
While many in the country are suffering, including residents of Jeremie and Les Cayes most notably, I am grateful to share that the Clinic in Croix des Bouquets is safe! While the shake could be felt in the greater Port au Prince area, the capital city was spared from serious damage in this earthquake.
For our friends, neighbors, colleagues, and partners, what a week. What a month. What a year. Kidnapping, violence, gas shortages, COVID, the assassination of a president, and now an earthquake. I pray that your heart would be moved to empathy for the magnitude of these combined struggles and inclined towards prayer for those in another part of the world facing what feels like a mountain of obstacles.
We are grateful for the Lord's protection of Lespwa Timoun and for your collective concern. Thanks to so many of you who have reached out to check on the team!
Peace,
Hannah & Tram Jones
St. Paul’s Church Small Group Ministries are returning for the Fall of 2021.
Sign up for Discipleship, Fellowship, and Service opportunities
beginning this Sunday!
The Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) campaign aims to raise awareness and bring about an understanding that everyone is connected to cancer. The statistic used most often by SU2C is from the American Cancer Society is that one out of every two men (1:2) and one out of every three women (1:3) will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, meaning everyone is affected in some way, or will be.
The campaign has featured televised moments during World Series baseball games where fans literally "stand up to cancer" by rising and holding signs inscribed with the names of friends and loved ones who have struggled with the disease. SU2C has donated hundreds of millions of dollars for research and services since the first "Dream Team" was organized in 2009. On Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 8:00PM on many broadcast networks there will be a program highlighting the current need, the work that has been done combating cancer. and what still needs to be done. Remember: Cancer doesn’t stop.
Submitted by Scott Johnson
Cancer and Alcohol
Alcohol use is one of the 3 most important risk factors for cancer (tobacco use and excess body weight are the other two). Drinking all types of alcoholic drinks (including white and red wine, cocktails, liquor, and beer) are linked to cancer. Drinking alcohol raises your risk of getting 6 kinds of cancer: breast (in women), liver, mouth and throat, voice box (larynx), esophagus, colon and rectum. Alcohol use accounts for 6% of all cancers and 4% of all cancer deaths in the United States. In 2019, of the 85,688 liver cancer deaths, 43.1% were alcohol related. The more you drink, the higher your cancer risk.
The Dietary Guideline for Americans, 2020-2025 recommends, if you drink alcohol at all, to limit yourself to no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. Despite urban legends, there are no health benefits to drinking alcohol. Be sure to ask your doctor if you can drink alcohol and take prescription medicines (they may interact). When you drink alcohol, your body breaks it down into an acetaldehyde, an irritant to DNA cells and retards your body from repairing any resultant damage. When your DNA is damaged, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a cancer tumor.
Submitted by Scott Johnson
FAITH OUTREACH MINISTRIES OF THE GRAND STRAND and LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTIONS
Saturday, August 21, 2021, 8:00 AM; cars start lining up at 7:00 AM. New Beginnings monthly food distribution held at Church of the Resurrection, 8901 Highway 17 Bypass, Surfside Beach, SC.
Happy Birthday To:
Aug. 18 Douglas Owen, Irish Killian, Barbara Law, Glen Roberts
Aug. 20 Blair Zoll
Aug. 21 Stewart Shelton, Shane Shelton
Aug. 24 Evelyn Kalal, Angela Pharr
Aug. 25 Betty Richter, Margaret Gouty, Diane Russell, Mary Gillis
Aug. 26 L. Cole Smith
Aug. 28 Larry Biddle, Vernon Simmons, Victoria Black
Aug. 30 Suzanne Owen, Al Hogan, Andrew Roberts
Happy Anniversary To:
Aug. 19 Caroline Groom
Aug. 22 Larry & Ginny Biddle
Sunday, August 22, 2021
VPOD-Ryan Smith, Pete Bourey
Altar Guild-Nancy Mathews, Bev Kimbell, Diane Russell, Mary Ruggio 7:45
Usher-Neil Spellerberg
Master Server/Lector/Chalice-Scott Johnson 9:00
Greeter-VPOD 10:00
Usher-Kathy and Jack Benson
Greeter-Sharon Sorrells, Eileen Sause
Master Server-Tracey Thomas
Chalice-Tracey Thomas , Willard Wadman
Lector-Nancy Mathews Lemonade-Rose Triacco
Please pray for:
Short-term: Beth Artz, Joanna Beall, Melodie Beall, Theresa Benway, Bill Bethel, Unitas Maximus Bochnar, Sylvia Burkley, Martina Castillo, Michael Mefford, Cindy Palmer, Peggy Papa, Angie Pharr, Wayne Pounders, Steven Starosto, Logan Suter, Janelle Warthen, Alice Windish, Blair Zoll.
Long-term: Wyman Boatwright, Laverne Bridges, Amy Brooks, Barbara Diaz, Eileen Forte, Shay Gaillard & Family, Mary Hembree, Ithalia Hewitt, Aaron Joyner, Jack Joyner, Keith Larimore, Jane LaTour, John Lesnansky, Carol Lorenze, Lynn Parsley, Amber Rabon, Ann Roberts, Ann Schmidt, Cheryl Sweat, Elizabeth Sweat, Phil Reynolds, Norm Smith, Hugh Smith, Kate Strite, Ellis Todd, Tommy, Fran Tuohy, Shirley Thibodeau, Kamil Sarji, Andy Vos, Bob & Jackie Whitlatch, Richard, Natalie Wicks, Scott Wiley
Under Construction
The church system, Tithe.ly, is under construction to help us utilze it's many advantages. There is some great functionality that I am exploring and implementing. Some of you have already received emails or texts from the church system. I apologize for any confusion that has been caused. Please be patient with me. I am trying to make life easier for our volunteers. If you receive any messages that you don't understand please contact me atwdeborah772@gmail.com or (843) 698-0795.
