Post on 22-Apr-2022
Sharing Our Faith St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
3080 Okatie Highway, between the back gates of Sun City on Hwy 170
Volume 16, Issue 7 JULY 2021
St. Luke’s UMC,
As we begin this journey anew, Cynthia and I would like to say Thank You. Thank you for
the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful body of Christ. Thank you for the
opportunity to bring a fresh and new vision for this Hospital for souls in need of healing. As
we seek to return to the sanctuary let’s not forget how God has opened our eyes to doing
ministry in new and unique ways outside of the four walls. We must continue to work
inside and outside of the church building to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the
transformation of the world. We need not be afraid to seek to reach people where they are
and be willing to roll up pants legs and shirt sleeves and get into the muck to help bring
them out and lead them to Christ. As Bishop Holston says: “We have to be the best Word
that people read even if they never pick up the Bible.”
Again we say thank for opening your hearts, minds and doors to our family and the
willingness to move forward to where God is calling and leading us.
Rev. Christopher L. Thompson, D. Min
Please join us in the Fellowship Hall on July 11th at 10:00 a.m.
for a reception and get to know our new pastor and his wife. Rain
or shine!
This will be after our 9:15 a.m. worship service. We look forward
to seeing you.
PPRC Committee
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I am Will Ross, and I am the Interim Chair of our Church Council. I oversee all the various
committees that make up the administration and operation of St. Luke’s. I am happy and
proud to be able to contribute to this church family, that I am so happy to be a part of. I
have good news! The Covid-19 Pandemic restrictions are becoming relaxed. We have
started the planning on re-opening up our sanctuary.
We are also planning for our new paster. We are blowing off the dust, waking up and are
excited about being a great Christian influence in our community.
Due to the pandemic, many of our congregation have chosen to worship at home, instead of
joining us in our outdoor services. We understand, and respect that choice. But when we
reopen the sanctuary, we are inviting all of our congregation to rejoin our church family.
Become reacquainted with your brother and sisters in Christ and celebrate a new beginning
together.
Our sanctuary services will be able to accommodate our total congregation. Whatever you
may be concerned with, we have plans to address them. The final details and timing will be
coordinated with our new Pastor Christopher Lee Thompson.
You can expect emails and or calls from myself and our new pastor, inviting you to rejoin our
family.
Come and start a New Beginning together.
If you have any concerns, comments, questions, our just want to talk, feel free to reach out
to me.
Will Ross
Interim Council Chair
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Catch-Up Time (?)
Can you believe that we are at mid-year? While the sanctuary has
been closed, St. Luke's has remained active in serving the
community and you. Many of you have been faithful in “mailing in”
your tithes and offerings, (thank you) but we are falling behind
expenses at mid-year and need your ongoing support. Even if you haven't been active
for the last six months, the church still needs your offerings to cover the ongoing
expenses. We all look forward to celebrating getting together with a new Pastor and to
worship and enjoy the fellowship of St. Luke's.
Thank you for your support!
Rob Clark, Finance chair
Let's Celebrate: The congregation will soon be coming together; arrival of the new Pastor;
the end of isolation; and the presence of our Lord! It seems like forever getting to this point,
so let's all come together and embrace the moment. Welcome the Reverend Chris Thompson
as we begin a new era in the life of St. Luke's. It is time to come together and start the re-
building of our church as we put the pandemic behind us. I personally look forward to seeing
each of you again as we all work and pray together for better future. Truly a time to
celebrate!
Rob Clark, Financial chair
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NEW CHAPTER FOR ST. LUKE’S
Time marches on! Here we are - half way through the year. Before you know it, it will be
Christmas. As we are on the threshold of welcoming our new pastor this week, it will feel
like Christmas to me. I hope you share in my sentiment. Rev. Chris Thompson officially is
part of St. Luke’s UMC on Wednesday, June 30th at precisely noon.
Many churches in the Methodist community opt for pastoral change at this time of the
year. So there are no conflicts, all pastoral assignments to new churches happen
simultaneously at noon on the last day of June. This prevents overlap and confusion with
all concerned. Having said that, Chris and his family are undergoing their move to the
Lowcountry as I write. The same is happening with Brian and Joy as they trek north to
Mullins, SC for their new assignment.
Our church council will be meeting with Chris July 1st for the very first time. This will be
partly a meet and greet session coupled with some brainstorming for opening the
sanctuary for normal Sunday worship. Hopefully we can resume normal operations sooner
rather than later. As we welcome the assignment of our new pastor, remember also that
he is as anxious as we are for this new chapter to begin at St. Luke’s. Chris comes to us
with a fresh outlook and an over abundance of enthusiasm. He’s very excited to be here.
Good luck Chris in the many challenges and opportunities that await you! We are here to
help!
See you in church, Ron Pozsonyi, Lay Leader
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During the Pandemic, several of our members began
volunteering to send cards out to nursing homes, assisted
living, etc. This ministry has been so well received; we have
continued it.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
It has come to my attention that many may not know we provide this ministry. This group
is not The Sunshine Ladies. They are doing their own magnificent job keeping up with all
the contacts our church provides. This group simply supplies some cards once a month to a
nursing home or assisted living facility and sometimes including independent living
facilities.
Sometimes we wind up with a much smaller group due to illness, surgeries, traveling, etc;
so the purpose of this email is to see if any newcomers would be interested in joining our
group. If you have a month when you cannot participate, that is no problem, you just let
me know.
Here is how we work it: Near the beginning of a month (generally the last week of the
previous month), I pick a facility, or anyone can ask to include a facility. We get a head
count and I send out an email dividing the total number of residents up. You always have at
least 3 weeks to work on these cards. They should be very simple. We are just telling them
that "someone at St. Lukes is praying for them", or something of that nature. Also, the
Dollar Store has some adorable cards grouped by 6 or 8 for just $1.00!
When you are done with your cards, I can make arrangements to pick them up from you.
Please give me a call if you would be interested in helping out. My number is
843.540.1448 Or you may email me at judisells4u@aol.com.
Thank you so much for taking time to consider this Ministry. May you all be well.
Judi Landin
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HISTORY CORNER
We recently celebrated the newest of our national holidays—Juneteenth
National Independence Day―historically known as Jubilee Day,
Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and
Black Independence Day, a holiday to
commemorate the emancipation of
enslaved African Americans. During the American Civil War, emancipation came at
different times to various places in the Southern United States. Large celebrations of
emancipation, often called Jubilees (recalling the biblical Jubilees in which slaves were
released) occurred when a place received the news that slaves had been freed. Thus, dates
of the celebration varied―September 22, January 1, July 4, August 1, April 6, and
November 1, among other dates. Regardless of the date, African Americans created,
preserved, and spread a shared commemoration of slavery's wartime demise across the
United States. It has been celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the
anniversary of the June 19, 1865, announcement proclaiming and enforcing freedom of
enslaved people in Texas, the last state of the Confederacy with institutional slavery.
So, it seems appropriate to look back at the history of the United Methodist Church,
particularly in South Carolina, and its views on slavery. I began by reading John Wesley’s
Thoughts on Slavery, an 83-page pamphlet published in London in 1773 (https://
docsouth.unc.edu/church/wesley/wesley.html).
It's an interesting pamphlet. Wesley examines the main discussion points debated during
his time:
1. Uses numerous examples documenting that slavery is barbarous and
dehumanizing.
2. Refutes the notion that slavery is an improvement to “rescued” Africans, using
examples from several major tribes and nations to prove his point.
3. After revealing the conditions of the slaves, Wesley questions whether the
system is defensible, "on the principles of even heathen honesty?" Human law,
in his estimation, is powerless to confer right without consideration of mercy
and justice
4. Denies that slavery is necessary to support the colonial economies, pointing out
that no benefit is worth any injustice made to receive it.
5. Urges those involved in the slave trade to quit the trade, using appeals ranging
from fear of God's judgement to pity for the Africans.
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(History cont’d…)
As I was thinking about this article, the summer 2021 publication of The Mark (United
Methodist Archives and Record Keepers) arrived. It focuses on a continuation of the
“heritage trail” in South Carolina which includes information about significant United
Methodist historical sites. You may recall that I discussed some in a previous newsletter.
The sites discussed in Summer 2021 The Mark provide insight into the African Americans’
experience worshiping in Methodist Church.
Charleston--Cumberland Church Site (Cumberland Street, City Parking Garage)
Cumberland Church was the first Methodist society in Charleston and was established in
1785. It was also the location of the first Annual Conference held in South Carolina in 1787.
The church had separate seating for white, free black, and enslaved African members.
Charleston citizens pelted the church with stones because the early Methodists preached
against slavery. The church was destroyed in the fire of 1838, rebuilt in but destroyed in
the Great Fire of 1861.
In 1792, the Cumberland Street Congregation purchased a lot on the corner of Pitt and
Boundary (now Calhoun) streets for a cemetery for the Methodists. White members were
buried in the front of the lot and black members at the rear. In 1797, a church, Bethel, was
built on Pitt Street. The new church was occupied and dedicated in 1798. The large increase
in black membership was accommodated by separate seating of white and free black
members on the main floor and enslaved members in the galleries. In 1803, a one-story
parsonage was built adjacent to the church—the first Methodist parsonage in South
Carolina.
Charleston—Old Bethel United Methodist Church
(624 Calhoun Street)
The original church building was moved to the rear of the
lot in 1851, and a spacious Greek restructure was
completed and dedicated in 1853. It speaks of wealth and
acceptance in the Old South, that the earlier white
Methodists could not imagine. At first it was referred to as
New Bethel and the building is still in use.
The building that is home to Old Bethel Church is the
original Bethel structure. This is perhaps the oldest
Methodist Church building in America south of Baltimore.
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After the Civil War, when majority of black
members of Bethel refused to remain a part of the
segregated congregation of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, they worshipped in the 1797 building
as a congregation of the newly established South
Carolina Missionary Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The white congregation gave “Old
Bethel” to the mostly black congregation in 1876 and
in 1882 the church was moved across Calhoun Street
where in remains today. The classical portico and
columns reflect the new status that black Methodists
hoped for in the post-Civil War South before the full
backlash of the era of segregation.
There are other sites, but they will have to wait
until August’s newsletter. Stay tuned!
Blessings,
Pam Hoel
(History cont’d…)
LET ME TAKE YOUR PHOTO! If you are attending St. Luke’s United
Methodist Church, we would like to have you in our Photo Directory. We
include visitors as well as members!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A MEMBER OF ST. LUKE’S Please ask or email Pat
Simmons for an “Invitation to Membership” form. Fill it out, bring it back and
someone will get in touch with you. patsimmonsperdue@gmail.com
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FIRST SUNDAY & THIRD MONDAY FOOD MISSION DRIVE IN JUNE
The First Sunday Food Mission Drive is under the leadership of Rick Hoel, Missions
Chair. If you have any questions regarding Missions and the Food Bank in particular,
please contact him at 843.295.9002 or rickhoel12@gmail.com
Helping to feed the hungry is an important mission of St. Luke's. As you
know we expanded our efforts to include two drop offs to provide more
opportunities for those not attending Sunday services to participate and
for those who can donate more. In addition to our regular drop off on the
first Sunday of the month, we added a drop off on the third Monday of the month. Thus
far this expanded effort has proven to be very successful, reflecting the generosity of
our congregation.
Specifically, for July 2021, please drop off your contributions in the back-parking lot
at the church on Sunday, July 4th. We will be loading before and after the service. You
can now also drop off at the church on the third Monday of the month, July 19th from
9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Your contributions are vital as the community needs are extreme due
to the pandemic. Feeding the hungry is truly part of us doing God's Work!
PLEASE help us with our FIRST SUNDAY and THIRD MONDAY FOOD MISSION DRIVES
for our local food pantry, Bluffton Self Help. PLEASE help us stock the pantry with the
most desired/requested items.
These include:
cereal – Cheerios preferred, instant grits/oatmeal,
peanut butter, jelly, dried pasta, pasta sauce,
boxed or bagged dinner mixes such as Hamburger Helper, Beefaroni, etc., dried beans,
and rice.
Also needed are recycled shopping bags & diapers (sizes 4, 5 & 6) and toilet paper.
Unfortunately, we can’t accept any open, expired or damaged items.
In case of rain and church services are cancelled on July 4th, we will be at the church
parking lot on Monday, July 5h from 9:00 – 10:00 AM. Please remember to show your
willingness to be of service by signing up to deliver the food donations for an upcoming
month.
—Thank you. Rick Hoel, Mission chair
843.395.9002
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June 27, 2021—Farewell to Rev. Brian & Joy Preveaux
The honored couple Some attendees at the outdoor worship service.
The “goodie” table Enjoying the goodies & fellowship!
John Hubbard told a story about an
oyster roast they had with the
Preveaux’s… It seems like they
were missing a bag of oysters
when the evening was over… John
said Brian never left the oyster
table… He told Brian they were
missing a bag and Brian confirmed
that they were probably in his
stomach! John then presented
Brian with a painting they had a
friend do to remember the
occasion!
Marilyn presented our card & gift. Ron presented him with
“his” sign! Page
More photos...
Dear St. Luke’s UMC,
Once again, our hearts are full of awe of the appreciation and support you showed us on our last Sunday with you. We are very thankful for the loving cards and gifts you gave along with the lovely reception.
As stated last Sunday, it is time for us to follow Christ for new ministries in another community. It comes with sadness but also with happiness leaving one church family for another. Our prayers will always be for St. Luke’s UMC to continue listening for God’s guidance and calling for the mission to be fulfilled.
May blessings be in abundance to each of you. Thank you for supporting and loving us as a part of your family!
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Brian and Mrs. Joy Preveaux
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You will notice that the list no longer includes
the reason for prayer, due to HIPPA
regulations. Please email Amy Erickson at
amyhousererickson@gmail.com with any
prayer requests you may have. If you have
loved ones who have been blessed by recovery,
peace or grace and may be removed from the
list, please provide that information to Amy
as well.
Let us remember with cards, and prayers…
CHURCH MEMBERS
Bob Lee and Sherry Lee: 7 Becket Place,
Bluffton 29909 Marcia Garner, 3 Devant Lane, Bluffton 29909
Sherry & Rob Clark, 50 Star Flower Dr,
Bluffton 29909
Linda Batten, 17 Alston Bay, Bluffton 29909 Verna Crosby, 71 Pepper Hall Plantation,
Bluffton 29909
Russell Smith, 17 Cypress Run, Bluffton 29909
CHURCH MEMBERS IN NURSING HOMES, ASSISTED LIVING OR HOMEBOUND
Elnora Ekholm, 173 May River Rd.,
Bluffton 29910 Jane Slayton, NHC 3039 Okatie Hwy. Rm. 331
Okatie 29909; Tel: 843-705-1319
Jane and Jerry Wick, 2 Devant Court,
Bluffton 29909
June Hamilton, 4 Concession Oak Dr., Bluffton 29909
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MEMBERS
Roland and Vivian Smith, 297 Landing
Lane, Bluffton 29909
Hannah Nystrom, friend of Marie & John Baldauf
Hugh and Sue Ross, brother &
sister-in-law of Will Ross
Health care workers Our nation and government
Brooke Hamilton Pittet & family, niece
and family of Walker and Diana
Hamilton
Sister and brother-in-law of Myree Flannigan
Andrew and 3 daughters, son &
granddaughters of Mary Buzzie
Charlene Cooler, sister of Ouida Dell Carol, Lois Finch’s daughter
The Russell Family, friends of the
Hamilton’s
Police officers CJ Smyly, mother of Joy Preveaux
Michele, sister of Nancy Sariscak
Andrew, son of Mary and Jim Buzzie
Heather, friend of Addie Bobbitt
Marge, sister-in-law of Mickey Ewing Paulette, sister-in-law of
Nancy Sariscak
Sharon, friend of Nancy Sariscak
Friend of Elaine Stermer Christine Zimmerman, sister-in-law of
Will Ros
Nation of Israel
Sue Vagnier, wife of Jerry Vagnier’s
Nephew Gary Landin, husband of Judi Landin
Families affected by the condo collapse
In Florida
PRAISES
Happy Birthday to Verna Crosby Thanks to Dottie Apgar for playing the keyboard in Geoff’s absence Praise for a beautiful morning Praise that Nancy Sariscak’s sister, Michele worshiped with us on Sunday
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JULY - Birthdays
06 Diana Hamilton
03 Karen Robinson
07 John Baldauf
07 Russell Smith
11 Carol Conway
12 Elizabeth Vance
12 Reece Woods
18 Don Leonard*
19 Will Ross
20 Anita Leming*
21 Andy Beall
21 Gail Rogers
22 Bill Harting
23 Paul LoMonaco
23 Jim Seymore
26 Lois Finch
JULY -Anniversaries
01 Chuck & Judy Watts
06 Sheryll Ingram & Bill Halstead
20 Doris & Bob Heck
25 Beth & Bob Peters
25 Pam & Rick Hoel
27 Elizabeth & Archie Vance
*Change of Addresses:
David & Anita Leming 113 Cheshire Dr. Griffin, GA 30223
Don Leonard
2994 Meadowlark Way Gaylord MI 49735
Larry Kellogg 231 Paoli Pointe Drive Paoli PA 19301
Brian & Joy Preveaux 107 Church Street Mullins SC 29574-2803
SUNDAY MORNINGS
Thank you for “mailing” your donations!
The mailing address is: St. Luke’s UMC PO Box 2779 Bluffton SC 29910
OR WATCH “ON-LINE” AT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL—St. Luke’s UMC YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj_gXL78wJ24jkL6HMBp02g
AUGUST- Birthdays 02 Larry Kellogg* 03 Ron Pozsonyi 04 Geoff Borgelt
04 Archie Vance 06 Harry Skinker 20 Sherry Lee 21 Letty Husson 23 Leslie Richards 24 Pat Schwartz-Ross 27 Bob Lee 28 David Leming*
AUGUST -Anniversaries
09 Bill & Angie Harting
15 Norm & Shirley Stark
19 Jim & Jane Seymore
19 Wally & Lois Willig
20 Laura & Andy Beall
24 Rob & Sherry Clark
Please join us on July 4th at 9:15 a.m.
in the back lot for worship as we
welcome our new Pastor, Rev. Chris
Thompson.
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The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal
holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day
celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd,
1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later
delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic
document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been
celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging
from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
The Fourth of July 2021 is on Sunday, July 4, 2021; the federal holiday will be observed on
Monday, July 5, 2021.
Early Fourth of July Celebrations
In the pre-Revolutionary years, colonists had held annual celebrations of the
king’s birthday, which traditionally included the ringing of bells, bonfires,
processions and speechmaking. By contrast, during the summer of 1776 some
colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for
King George III as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy ’s hold on America
and the triumph of liberty.
Festivities including concerts, bonfires, parades and the firing of cannons and
muskets usually accompanied the first public readings of the Declaration of
Independence, beginning immediately after its adoption. Philadelphia held the
first annual commemoration of independence on July 4, 1777, while Congress was
still occupied with the ongoing war.
George Washington issued double rations of rum to all his soldiers to mark the
anniversary of independence in 1778, and in 1781, several months before the key
American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, Massachusetts became the first state
to make July 4th an official state holiday.
Did you know? John Adams believed that July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest. Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.