ASHLAND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

Joining Together on a Christian Journey of Love and Service January 2020

2600 Ashland Rd The Reverend Scott Efird, Pastor Office Hours: M-Th: 8 am-3:30 pm

Columbia, SC 29210 pastor@ashlandumc.org www.ashlandumc.org Phone Ext. 15 Telephone: 798-5350; Fax: 798-6057

Worship services: The Path: 8:45 AM Traditional: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:45 AM

Ryan Keith Karen Zobel Maria Anderson Rev. Reggie Rowell youth@ashlandumc.org finance@ashlandumc.org office@ashlandumc.org nurture@ashandumc.org

Phone Ext. 12 Phone Ext: 13 Phone Ext: 10 Phone Ext: 14 Jack Holladay Robert Neese pathmusic@ashlandumc.org music@ashlandumc.org Laura Siddons

The Path, Ashland Youth Choir Traditional Worship Choir, Organist Pianist

Merry Christmas from the Cast of “Starry Night, Noisy Night”

Cast: Hope, Jalin, Harper, Alyssa, Madison, Makayla, Ethan, Shelby, Logan,

Maria, Joe, Evan, Langston, Austin

ACME Directors: Haley Calore, Andra Keith

Bible Study

Pastor Scott’s bible study resumes on January 15th. Join him Wednesdays at 6:45 pm in room 125.

Wednesday Night Suppers

The Wednesday Night Suppers will resume on January 15th. Reservations may be made on line (www.ashlandumc.org), red slip in the pew pocket or by calling the church office by noon on Mondays. (803-798-5350, x 12) Cost: $7.00 for adults (18+); $3.00 for ages 10-17; free for 9 and younger.

United Methodist Men

Ashland UMMen Meeting Monday, January 6th, 6:30 pm

Zorba’s at Seven Oaks Shopping Center

Around Ashland

Stephen Ministry

Congratulations to Andy Peurifoy for receiving a degree of Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies from Columbia International University Prison Initiative Program on December 13th. After graduation, he will represent CIU as a missionary in the Department of Corrections System. Andy wrote the Ashland congregation a letter. You may find it on the bulletin board across from the church offices. The 2020 Altar Flower Calendar is on the bulletin board across from the church offices. Stop by and select dates for 2020. Cost of one vase is: $55.00 and two vases are $105.00. The January-February Upper Room booklets are on the communications rack across from the Cornerstone Classroom. Shepherd’s Center of St. Andrews Winter Session begins on January 14, 2020. Membership is limited to 285. The South Carolina United Methodist Conference commends Ashland UMC for paying 100% of all apportioned funds for the Conference Year 2018.

WHY STEPHEN MINISTRY Ashland’s Stephen Ministry is going strong.

However, many of you may still be wondering why Ashland needs Stephen Ministers—don’t Pastors Scott and Reggie provide caring ministry? The simple answer is that no pastor can provide all of the caring that is needed to mend the hurts of our congregation. Pastors are like firefighters—when a crisis happens, they rush to the scene to “put out the fire.” But shortly after that, another ‘fire” will break out in the congregation, and they’ll rush to that scene. They will still provide care to the victims of the first “fire,” but their time quickly becomes consumed by the second, third, and fourth fires, in addition to their regular pastoral duties. This is where Stephen Ministers come in. Pastors will always be our firefighters, but Stephen Ministers are people who come in after the fire is put out to help the victims sort through and clear the debris and begin to rebuild their lives. Stephen Ministers continue to give care as long as needed during the rebuilding process—one month, two months, six months, possibly a year or more. They provide the steady, consistent one-to-one follow-up care that our pastors want to, but simply cannot provide.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the trained, caring presence and listening ear of a Stephen Minister, contact Pastor Scott, Pastor Reggie, Clare Allen (781-5804) or Margaret Smith (781-6944).

Stewardship

Federal tax laws require contributions must be received or postmarked

no later than December 31, 2019 to be credited to your account in 2019.

Pledge cards may be mailed to the church office to

the attention of Karen Zobel.

United Methodist Youth

All 6th

- 12th

graders welcome!

Thoughts? Questions? Ideas? Want to join our email list?

803.798.5350 x 12 youth@ashlandumc.org

Sunday, December 22 – Christmas Caroling 3:00-5:00PM

Christmas Party to follow at the

Harrelson’s.

Sunday, December 29 – No MYF

Sunday, January 5 – No MYF

Sunday, January 12 – MYF @ 5:30 PM

Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We’ll

start back in January with the Gospel of Mark. Junior

and senior high Bible study will resume January 15th.

Missions

January 19 – “I Will Always Write Back” by Caitlin Alifirenka February 16 – “Then She Was Gone” by Lisa Jewell March 15 – “One Good Mama Bone” by Bren McClain

Ashland Readers meet at: East Bay Deli, 7688 Broad River Road, Irmo.

Ashland Readers

All kids 4K-5th Grade are invited to join us for music, games, and a Bible lesson on Sunday evenings at 5:00! Sunday, December 22 – Christmas Caroling with MYF and Congregational Care, 3:00-5:00 pm. ACME will resume January 12th at 5:00 pm.

High school and middle school Bible studies meet

Wednesdays from 6:45-7:30 PM at Ashland House. Join

us for dinner at 6:00 in Ashland Hall. Bring a bible!

The Missions Committee expresses gratitude to the people of Ashland for contributing to the Giving Tree Project. The results are in and packages and gift cards have been delivered.

Epworth Children’s Home Gifts valued at $1,558.00

Gift Cards valued at $1,045.00

We appreciate your generosity and kindness to God’s people in need.

The ministers and staff thank you for the many acts of kindnesses shown to us during this joyous season. We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season. The church office will be closed for the holidays December 24, 2019--January 3, 2020.

Adult Size Bicycle Project

Thanks to the Ashland people and community a total of 16 bikes were donated. Only one bike needed repairs.

From the Church Office

Calendar Reminders

Tuesday, January 7th, 6:00 pm, SPRC, #138 Wednesday, January 8th, 7:30 pm, Worship Choir Wednesday, January 15th, 6:30 pm, Handbells

Living Out Our Faith OUR PRAYERS

Richard Brigman, Steve Felsberg, Bill Turner, Lucy Turner

OUR SERVICE

Ushers for January Jay Lindsay, Lloyd Pitts, Mark Polk, Barbara Polk,

Jimmy Smith

Missionaries We Support

Tim and Daina Datwyler

c/o TMS Global, P.O. Box 922637, Norcross, GA 30010 datfam4ecuador@gmail.com Todd and Pam Attaway

c/o TMS Global, P.O. Box 922637, Norcross, GA 30010 attawaysix@gmail.com

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT No. 18 IRMO SC 29063

Ashland United Methodist Church 2600 Ashland Rd

Columbia, SC 29210

Pastoral Needs after Office Hours

Rev. Scott Efird (843) 714-7699

Rev. Reggie Rowell

(843) 697-6967