March 15, 2023
E-Messenger

McGregor decorates the sanctuary with Easter lilies on Easter Sunday as a sign of rebirth and new beginnings.  You may designate an Easter lily in honor of or in memory of a loved one for $15 per designation.  The designations will be listed in the Easter Sunday, April 9 bulletin.  Designation forms will be available in the Sunday bulletins through Palm Sunday, April 2.  Forms and payments must be received by Sunday, April 2.  Contact Michele Glasscock at mglasscock@mcgpres.org for details.
 
  For those who wish to walk the labyrinth as part of your Lenten discipline, Terry Candee will be present in the Memorial Garden/Labyrinth area on Wednesdays through Lent at 6:00 PM.  He can offer guidance about walking the labyrinth or simply be present as you walk in silent meditation.  Please park in the preschool parking lot next to the Memorial Garden and plan to spend about 15 minutes engaged in this prayerful practice.  If Wednesday evenings do not work for you, the labyrinth is always available for you to walk at your convenience. 
 
  The McGregor Ladies Retreat at Montreat, NC is scheduled for April 19-21.  Contact Lynn Parler at irmogirl51@aol.com if you are interested in attending or would like more information.

We are collecting small, individually wrapped Easter candy, packages of snack sandwich crackers (Lance, Keebler) and clean, doubled plastic grocery bags.  Please drop off your donations in the marked bin in the church lobby.  If you are interested in helping with Snack Packs, contact Debbie Grabbatin at debbieg353@sc.rr.com.
 
  The Department of African American Studies at USC is hosting award-winning writer and MacArthur Fellow, Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom on Thursday, March 23, 7:00-9:00 PM at the USC School of Law.  She will be the keynote speaker for the annual Robert Smalls Lecture.  Dr. Cottom is a professor at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.  She has written several books including Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy and Thick.  She is known as an important critical analyst of technology, higher education, class, race and gender.  To learn more, visit: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/african_american_studies/for_the_community/robert_smalls/cottom.php
 
  Spring cleaning?  What to do with those oh so cute shoes that hurt your feet every time you try to wear them?  Recycle your new or almost new shoes through the Keep the Midlands Beautiful Annual Spring Shoe Fundraiser.  Simply drop off your new or almost new shoes in the marked bin in the church lobby through Sunday, May 28.  All donated shoes for the KMB Shoe Drive will be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small-business) partners in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited.  Funds raised from the Shoe Drive help KMB support their litter prevention programs and encourage recycling and reuse.  In addition, it keeps shoes out of the landfill.  
 
  BRING:
Your appetite – C. R. Burton’s Food Truck will be onsite
Your plants – trade them at the community plant swap
Your shopping list – buy local honey, Carolina wren houses, and other fun eco items
Your new or gently used shoes - for the KMB Shoe Drive
Your questions – about native & pollinator plants, composting, water quality, recycling, small space gardening, rain barrels, edible insects, etc.
Contact David Jenkins at djenkins880@gmail.com for more information.

Sunday, March 19
        9:30 AM Sunday School and Lenten Study
        11:00 AM Worship Service
        3:00-5:00 PM Mission Study Small Group
        5:30 PM Combined Youth Group at McGregor
Tuesday, March 21
        7:00 PM Vulnerability Committee
Wednesday, March 22
        10:00 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study - online
        6:00 PM Labyrinth Walk
        6:30 PM Mission Study Team
        7:30 PM Adult Choir
Thursday, March 23
        6:00 PM Preschool Board
Sunday, March 26
        9:30 AM Sunday School and Lenten Study
        11:00 AM Worship Service
Wednesday, March 29
        10:00 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study - online
        6:00 PM Labyrinth Walk
        7:30 PM Adult Choir
 
  In-Person Sales:  Friday, March 31 from 4:00-6:00 PM and Saturday, April 1 from 9:00 AM-12:00 noon at the Irmo Middle School Greenhouse, 6051 Wescott Road Columbia, SC 29212
Online Sales:  April 3-4; Link available on school website; while supplies last!
Featuring:  3 native species of milkweed; lantana, coreopsis; geranium; impatiens; zinnias; assorted pollinator plants; variety of vegetables
 
  There will be music and dancing, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and an update on the Family Promise Mission.  Tickets are on sale now!  Visit their webpage at www.familypromisemidlands.org for tickets.
  McGregor will co-host, with Seven Oaks Presbyterian, the families at Family Promise the week of April 9.  More details coming soon.
 
  Pantry Needs:  canned/powdered milk, juice, tea, cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix & syrup, peanut butter, jelly, canned pasta meals, pasta & sauce, pasta/rice dinners; canned tomatoes, chili, pork & beans, dry/canned beans, snacks; crackers (Ritz/saltines)
Special Project:  Easter baskets for clients; donations of candy/books/baskets accepted through March 24
Spring Yard Sale:  Saturday, April 22; donations accepted through April 19