Unity News Volume 9, Issue 4 January 29, 2015 United in Christ’s love, we glorify God through worship, nurture, and service to all people. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sunday, February 1, is Peanut Butter and Jelly Sunday for the Fort Mill Care Center. Everyone is encouraged to bring a jar of peanut butter and/or jelly to the collection boxes located in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall. This ministry is currently sponsored by the Men's Ministry Group. Sunday Morning February 1, 2015 Red Cross Blood Drive Our next bloodmobile is Tuesday, February 3, from 2:307p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Appointments are encouraged. Walk-ins welcome. Sign-ups are available in the Narthex February 1. 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. 8:45 am 10:00 am Worship Service Sunday School 10:00 am Connections Class 11:00 am Worship Service Prayers of Concern David Choate Case Buddy Culp Dot Hollis Patsy White Robert James Ferretti Jr. Lea Shannon Leslie Montgomery Monk Charlotte Children’s Choir at Unity The Charlotte Children’s Choir will present a concert in the sanctuary on Sunday, February, 8, at 4:00 p.m. The choir is under the direction of Dr. Heather Potter, and is very active in Charlotte and surrounding area. They have performed at Carnegie Hall, with the Charlotte Symphony (most recently at The Magic of Christmas), as well as internationally. The group performing at Unity will consist of approximately 60 singers, from elementary through middle school age. There is no charge for the concert, and it is a real privilege to host them in our church. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Congregational Care Ministry The Congregational Care Team provides love, care and support for our Unity family. From baking cookies to hospital visitation, volunteers are needed in many areas. The Transportation team is in special need of volunteers to help transport Unity members to Sunday services. Please visit the Unity website for information about the various sub-teams and consider joining this vital ministry. Volunteer sign-up cards are located in the Narthex OR contact Joyce White [email protected] or Susan Palmer [email protected] for more information. Ash Wednesday Service– Please join us for our traditional Ash Wednesday service on February 18 at 7:00 pm. Please continue to remember those with special needs. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Christian Sympathy is extended to: Jeannie Bickett and family in the death of her father, Gene Brown, on January 19 in Charlotte. Karen Chase and family in the death of her father, Walter Snoddy, on January 18, in Shreve, OH.. Jacob, Owen, Nicholas and Ethan Kinsey in the death of their father, David, in December. The family of Ruby Geddes, on January 25 in Charlotte. What’s Happening in Christian Education? Sunday School Teachers Meeting for all teachers of children and youth February 8th, 12:00 – 1:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be served. **We will be looking at curriculum samples and discussing curriculum choices for next year.** CHILDREN Vacation Bible School - June 15-19, 9am-12pm Registration coming soon. YOUTH Feb 1 Middle School Soup Sale –pick up your pre-ordered soup in the Fellowship Hall Kitchen. Baked goods will also be available “Big Game” Parties Middle School – Meet at the home of Billy and Emelia Howell (parents of Grace, 110 Fairway Drive, Fort Mill) from 6 p.m. until half time. Please bring a donation of canned soup for the Care Center and $5 to cover the cost of food. RSVP to Emelia Howell by Wed, Jan. 28th at [email protected] or 803 389 7443. High School – Meet at the home of Tammie and Burt Welch (parents of Caroline and Thomas, 921 Nauvasse Trail, Ft. Mill) from 6pm until half time. RSVP to Tammie: [email protected]. Bring a tailgate appetizer to share. Summer Youth Trips Deadlines Feb 1: Massanetta Middle School Conference July 9-12 Save the Date Sunday Night Live February 22 - March22 Sunday evenings 4:15-5:00 Junior Choir (grades 2-5) 5:00-5:45 Cherub Choir 5:00-6:00 pm Adult classes 2/3 grade Prayer Stations for Children GCs (4/5th grades) Middle School Youth rd 6:00-6:30 Congregational Dinner 6:30-7:45 High School Mission - Urban Mission Camp, Mobile, AL June 27-July 3 High School Youth Group Registration information for both trips is on the church website. More information coming soon. ADULTS Sunday School – Sunday mornings at 10:00 am Fellowship Holy Grounds Koinonia Feasting on the Word Upper Room Fellowship Hall FH Parlor Room M210 Unity Hall Room M321 2/1 – “When and Why the Bible Was Written” Fellowship & Devotions 2/1 – “Old Testament from the Backside” 2/1 – Mark 1:21-28 Year-long study of Hebrews Unity News page 2 Men’s Ministry Breakfast February 10 All Men of Unity and their guests/friends are invited to the monthly Men's Ministry breakfast. Breakfast gatherings are held the second Tuesday of each month. Our next breakfast is Tuesday, February 10th, at 8:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. Please mark your calendar and stop by to enjoy a great breakfast, faith and fellowship. Anyone interested in learning more about the Men's Ministry and our many activities can contact John Young at [email protected], 803-802-1620, or check out our page on the Unity website: http://unityfortmill.org/mens-ministry PLEASE NOTE: It has been brought to the attention of the church office that one of our Linda Weavers is receiving sympathy cards intended for the other Linda Weaver. The correct address for the Linda who recently lost her mother is in Indian Land. The Linda who has received some of these cards by mistake lives in Fort Mill, and has been a member of Unity for many years. If you have any doubts or questions about this, please call the church office prior to mailing cards. Thank you! Attendance January 25, 2015 8:45 11:00 Sunday School Visitors 174 279 246 71 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Blankets + Some 8,000 congregations and groups across the U.S. hold Church World Service (CWS) Blankets events, providing funds to help people in need around the world. Unity will join these groups and collect the “Blankets +” offering on Sunday, February 15 th. Look for envelopes in the pews. Checks can be made to Unity with “Blankets +” on the memo line. For over 60 years, CWS has worked in partnership with local communities to identify their needs and access the resources they need to build the foundation for a more viable future, including:  Blankets, tents, food and other emergency supplies in the wake of a disaster  Tools and seeds for refugees returning home to replant their fields  Wells for families living in drought prone areas to provide clean, safe water to drink and to irrigate crops and gardens  Literacy training and microcredit for women struggling to realize their potential. Church World Service was born in 1946, in the aftermath of World War II. Seventeen denominations came together to form an agency "to do in partnership what none of us could hope to do as well alone." The mission: Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, comfort the aged, shelter the homeless. 15-Kennedy Lindenberg, Heidi Lumpkin, Alex Windham 16-Paulette Little, Marty McGinn, Bo Palmer 17-Cindy Fritz, Alex Harllee 18-Lisa Brown, Eliza Greemon 19-Will Barbieri, Vicki Hawkins, Blaine Kuhn, Jake Olinger, Caroline Welch 20-Mary Pearson, Erin Pratt 21-Jane Carroll, Emory Carter, Isabel Crews, Susan Grove, Christian Meyer SAVE THE DATE - MDSF 2015 Our annual Mother*Daugher*Sister*Friend luncheon will be held on Sunday, April 12, following the 11:00 worship service in the Fellowship Hall. More information about ticket sales will be coming soon. We would love to welcome some more women to our Planning Team. We promise that the time commitment is minimal, but the fun and fellowship is exceptional. Please contact Jessie Little for more information: [email protected] or 984-6333. Financial Information for 1/1-2015-1/22-2015 Actual Budgeted Year to Year to Date ($) Date ($) ($) Operating Income 118,326 118,326 121,357 Operating Expenses 73,463 73,463 81,915 Building/Debt Campaign Giving 11,519 11,519 7,537 +/- $$ +/- % (3,031) -2% (8,452) -10% (1,042) SANCTUARY DEBT BALANCE………………$2,306,659 Unity News page 3 -8% 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 Unity Presbyterian Church 303 Tom Hall Street PO Box 1267 Fort Mill, SC 29716-1267 803.547.5543 Www.UnityFortMill.org Church Office (803) 547-5543 Dan Holloway (803) 548-7215 Jeannie Bickett (704) 588-4809 Return Service Requested January 29, 2015 Dear Friends, Rev. Dr. Dan Holloway Our Connections Class is designed for individuals and families who are considering God’s call to discipleship through membership in our church. We now have these classes four times a year in response to the growing number of people inquiring about participation in our congregational life. Our first class of the New Year just started with 10 families participating. We are blessed to have so many people considering Unity as their new church home, and I hope you join me in praying for these who have come among us and are seeking their place in God’s service. Schedule for Unity News Deadline: Wednesday, February 4 at 6 pm for Issue date: February 12, 2015. Please submit information to: Gina Mitchell: [email protected] One of the ways you can help in this ministry is by becoming a New Member Shepherd. This is a ministry of friendship and hospitality for those who are new among us, and we would love to tell you more about that. Please speak to either pastor, or to Cathy Miller, chair of our Hospitality and Evangelism Team if you would like to learn more about this. In Christ's Service, Dan