Page 10

Burns Connection

Happy Birthday

If you are saved by works, when and how will

you know that you have worked enough?
If you cant let go, if you cant forgive, you
wont move on. You will stay stuck.

01
01
02
03
08
08
08
08
08
08
09
10
10
10
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
14
15
16

Valerie Kennedy-Robinson
Timeka McMillian
Julien Frierson
Annie Gathers
Michael McMillian
Gary Bowens
Earl Williams
Doris Davis
Roger Scott
Jaxon Doby
Jaylen Johnson
Houston Bennett
Sarah Ford
Juanita Reynolds
Cheryl Gibson
Rashan Noble
Priscilla Staley
Pamela Thomas
Valeria Richardson
Samuel Tisdale
Diane James
Karen Dukes
Alean AJ Robinson
Margie Reynolds

16
17
19
19
19
21
21
21
22
22
22
22
23
24
24
24
24
25
26
26
27
28
29
30

Corine Cheeks
Shun Roberson
Ashleigh Brooker
Angela J. Dicks
Dr. Loretta Felder, DDS
Shelia Humphrey
Isom Lowman
Sharon D. Johnson
Erin Brooker Doe
Aurora D. Smith
Karone Johson
Kailyn Gabrielle Jones
Linda Bell
Brandon Purvis
Cynthia Hall
Clifford L. Bourke III
Regina Crump
Liz Outing
Shiante Noble
Lawson Meadows
Kennedy DW Robinson
Ava Doby
Reginald Jabriel Hunter
Rhonda Staley

Happy Anniversary
4 April Earl & Dorothy Williams
8 April Reginald & Toni Mack
20 April Leonard & Maeward Belk
21 April Reginald & Deborah Hunter
24 April - Lewis & Margie Reynolds
28 April - Sammie & Girlene Mixon, Sr.

To update your birthday or anniversary information,

contact Inez Benjamin at 736-1008 or
email ibeejamming@bellsouth.net

On The Light Side

Trustee On Call April 2015

Kenneth Kinney
351-3682.

FBUMC Mission Statement: The mission of Francis Burns United

Methodist Church is to glorify God, to spread the Good News of
Jesus Christ and to make Christian disciples through worship and
praise, nurture, outreach and witness.
FBUMC Vision Statement: The vision of Francis Burns United
Methodist Church is to be in covenant with God and to connect
with God's people through ministries that meet human needs.

Burns Connection
Volume 2015 Issue 4
Francis Burns UMC
5616 Farrow Rd.
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 754-1760
Rev. Ernest C. Etheredge
Pastor

Saturday, April 11,

2015 11AM 4PM
at Epworth
The Epworth Childrens
Home Alumni Associations annual Cookout
for Kids fundraiser features BBQ, Music and Fun for
Everyone! Chicken and pork plates are $10, kids
plates $5, and whole Boston butts for $30. Orders may
be eat-in or take-out. Homemade baked goods will be
available for purchase from the Red Hat Honeys. Purchases may be made at the event or preordered
by
emailing
epworthalumniassociation@gmail.com
You may also contact the Local
Church Representative for Epworth, Ollie Benners
(803) 699-7139 for tickets. Volunteers are also needed to serve for two hours (10-12, 12-2, 2-4) mainly in
serving the food. This would be a good project for
Francis Burns youth group or individuals wanting a
hands-on opportunity to serve. Contact persons for
volunteers are (Wilton Dennis (803) 924-3573 or
Beaury Gantt (843) 468-0320). Lets continue to
support this worthy cause!!

April 2015

FBUMC Music Department to Host

Music Workshop and Concert
The music department of FBUMC will host its third music
workshop on May 29-30, 2015. W e are excited and
proud to have as our clinician, Minister Eddie Anthony
Robinson, award-winning song writer, choir director,
producer, and lecturer.
Minister Robinson is a University of South Carolina
graduate, with a Masters degree from Liberty University
in Lynchburg, VA, where he is currently pursuing his
doctorate in Worship Studies. A gifted songwriter, he
has written hits for artists such as Dottie Peoples, Alvin
Darling and the Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass
Choir. You may recognize some of his songs that have
been sung by our own Francis Burns choir: God Is in the
Room, If Job Waited, All My Help, Singing Hallelujah All
Day, and So Many Reasons. One of his compositions,
Somebody Here Needs a Blessing, is printed in the Total
Praise Hymnal, published by the National Baptist
Convention, USA, Inc.
Affectionately called The Dean of Church Music by his
peers, Minister Robinson has served on the staff of many
national gospel conferences and conventions throughout
the country. He currently serves as Minister of Music and
Director of Worship and Arts at Springfield Baptist
Church in Conyers, GA. He is a lifetime member of
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and loves to fish and collect
old gospel music memorabilia in his spare time.
We are truly honored to have this consummate musician
as our clinician and invite ALL those interested in joining
us for this special event to register and come out to
learn, sing and praise God w ith us. The format of
this years workshop will differ from previous years: The
first workshop session will be held on Friday evening,
May 29th from 7-9 p.m. The workshop will resume on
Saturday morning, May 30th, at 9 a.m. until noon. A
choir concert, consisting of workshop participants, will be
presented to the public at 5 p.m. that Saturday.
This is not just for Francis Burns members and is not a
choir-member-only event. We encourage you to COME
OUTbring a friend and experience this opportunity first
hand. Even if you will not be able to participate in the
workshop or the choir, we invite you to support this
event by bringing your family and friends to the
culminating concert at 5:00 p.m.
Francis Burns Music Department
Michael Felton, Director of Music

Page 2

Burns Connection

Lectionary
April 2015
Easter Sunday
April 5, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1
Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18
Second Sunday of Easter
April 12, Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1-2:2,
John 20:19-31
Third Sunday of Easter
April 19, Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke
24:36b-48
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, 1 John 3:16-24, John

2015 Budget Information

Administrative
Council on Ministries
Committee on Finance
Board of Trustees
Total 2015 Budget

$332,773.18
$133,835.00
$
250.00
$222,600.00
$689,458.18

Weekly Amount Needed

Monthly Amount Needed

$13,258.81
$57,454.85

Amount Received in February

$43,974.44

Thank You

Burns Connection

Page 9

Dear Members of FBUMC,

NCD from page 8

The time has come again for our

annual youth revival. This year's
revival will be held at the church
on Thursday, April 23rd and
Friday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m.
each night.

NCD Health Team: Reverend Jeffery Salley, Advisor, UMC Congregational Specialist, Julia Benjamin
803-220-9791, Rachel Bourke 803-479-9878 Co-Chair, Preston Cobb 803-609-7934, Rebecca Eleazer
803-754-0942, Marcella Forrest 803-463-8465, Pat Hudson 803-360-9033 Co-Chair, Kamilah Keeton at
college, Carolyn Lucas 803-261-3072, Shirley Madison 803-699-5550, Melvin Miller 803-609-7314, Tom
Williams 803-360-2719.

It took our youth a long time to come up with a theme

for the revival, but after a long and hard deliberation,
our theme is "the Faith Starter Pack." I know right now
some of y'all are thinking, "what kind of theme is
that"? All I can say is that if you show up to our
revival, then you will see for yourself! Since I'm in a
good mood, I'll give you a hint. A starter pack is
basically what it sounds like: a group of things to get
started with something. For example, a "Rachel Starter
Pack" would probably consist of my phone, food, more
food, and the charger for my phone. These are things
that I need to start my day. If I don't have those
things, then I don't have a good day. So a faith starter
pack would consist of things you need to begin or grow
your faith in Christ.

2015 Planned Meeting Dates are Sunday, M arch 15th 8:30 am, Thursday, April 16th 6:00 pm, Sunday,
May 17th 8:30 am, Thursday, June 18th 6:00 pm, Sunday, July 19th 8:30 am, Thursday, August 20th
6:00 pm
Sunday, September 20th 8:30 am, Thursday, October 15th 6:00 pm, Sunday, November 15th 8:30 am
Thursday, December 17th 6:00 pm.
A Natural Church Development survey was conducted at Francis Burns. The demographics of those who
participated in the survey were 48.28 % male and 51.72% female. By age group, 6.77% 70+ years old,
16.67% 61-70 years old, 20% 51-60 years old, 16.67% 41-50 years old, 10% 21-40 years old and 23.33% -20
years old. The minimum factor of 31 Inspiring worship service and maximum factor 57 Gift-based ministry
document the areas where we ranked lowest and highest, respectively.
Detailed results of the Natural Church Development survey may be obtained from the NCD Health Team.

Each night, Rev. Tiffany Knowlin from College Place

UMC will deliver messages that center around this
theme. We will also have invited guests minister to us,
and they include: the Victory in Praise Gospel Choir
from Irmo High School, GAP Choir from Richland
Northeast High School, and a Mime from Aiken, SC. We
promise that these will be two nights that you will not
want to miss!
We can't wait for this event and we really want your
support both nights. To make this easier, we have a
couple of ways that you can help. The first call for help
is from our youth parents. If you are a parent of a
youth, now is the time to get your child involved in the
youth ministry.
We need youth to sing, serve as
greeters, and help the entire event run smoothly. You
can email Youth.FBUMC@gmail.com
or call Ms.
Ashleigh at (770) 940-3144 to volunteer for the event.
One way that everyone can participate is by bringing
guests.
You can bring your nieces, nephews, track
team, neighbors, or mentees. You can invite your coworker who you know has teenage children. We've
even found a way to take the work out of it for
you. Starting today, we plan to insert flyers into your
Burns Connection or bulletin. We ask that you give
your flyer away as an invitation to someone you know
with a youth. Our goal is to fill the sanctuary because
we know that there is nothing better than teenagers
praising the Lord on a Thursday and Friday night. It's
like they say, "the more the merrier"!
We thank you for your support, and I cannot wait to see
you there to make this years youth revival a blast!

-Rachel Forrest

Earth's saddest day and gladdest day were just....

three days apart.
We can celebrate Easter because sin was conquered,
death was defeated and Satan was disarmed and all because of Jesus!!! This event that happened many, many
years ago gives us all great hope for the future. Let us
not forget this after Easter. True discipleship is about
inviting someone to the table, feeding them well, and
teaching them to feed themselves so they can then go
and feed someone else.
Evangelism

Page 8

Natural Church Development

The Natural Church Development (NCD) survey
measures the health of a local church in eight areas
that have been found to be essential to healthy
church growth. Developed by the Institute of Natural
Church Development in Germany, this survey grows
out of what was probably the most extensive study
of church growth ever conducted, involving over
1000 churches in 32 countries on every continent
except Antarctica. This study revealed a clear
positive correlation between these eight Quality
Characteristics and church growth.
Brief definition of each Quality Characteristic:
Empowering Leadership Effective leadership
begins with an intimate relationship with God,
resulting in Christ-like character and a clear sense of
Gods calling for leaders lives. As this base of
spiritual maturity increases, effective pastors and
leaders multiply, guide, empower and equip disciples
to realize their full potential in Christ and work
together to accomplish Gods vision.
Leaders
consider it as one of their most important tasks to
help Christians develop greater degrees of
empowerment. They equip, support, motivate,
mentor and coach individuals to become all that God
wants them to be.
Gift-oriented
Ministry
The
Holy
Spirit
sovereignly gives to every Christian spiritual gift(s)
for the building of Gods kingdom. Church leaders
have the responsibility to help believers discover,
develop and exercise their gifts in appropriate
ministries so that the Body of Christ grows and
builds itself up in love.
The role of church
leadership is to help its members identify their gifts
and integrate them into ministries that match their
gifts. When a person lives according to their spiritual
giftedness, they are no longer working in their own
strength, but the Holy Spirit works in them. Studies
show that most Christians are either not involved in
ministry or they function in a ministry that does not
match their gifts.
Passionate Spirituality Effective ministry flows
out of a passionate spirituality. Spiritual intimacy
leads to a strong conviction that God will act in
powerful ways. A godly vision can only be
accomplished through an optimistic faith that views
obstacles as opportunities and turns defeats into
victories. The important issue here is not the way
spirituality is expressed, but the fact that faith is
actually lived out with commitment, fire and
enthusiasm. The methods a church uses are really a
secondary concern. A church that lives its faith with
passionate fervor will experience success with many
a method.
Effective/Functional Structures The Church is
the living Body of Christ. Like all healthy organisms,

Burns Connection

Page 3

Burns Connection

it requires numerous systems that work together to

fulfill its intended purpose. Each must be evaluated
regularly to determine if it is still the best way to
accomplish the intended purpose. The most important
criterion for forms and structures in the church is if they
fulfill their purpose or not. Church structures are never
an end in themselves but always only a means to an
end.

I waited patiently for the

Lord, and He inclined to me
and heard my cry. Psalm
40:1

Inspiring Worship Inspiring worship is a personal

and corporate encounter with the living God. Both
personal and corporate worship must be infused with the
presence of God resulting in times of joyous exultation
and times of quiet reverence. Inspiring worship is not
driven by a particular style or ministry focus group
but rather the shared experience of Gods awesome
presence. Is the worship service an inspiring experience
for those who attend? It is not whether our services
target Christians or non-Christians, whether they
celebrate in the language of Canaan or in a more
secular language, or whether we worship using a
liturgical or a more free-flowing approach. Inspiring
worship services are often described as fun.

An African fable tells of a young

man who traveled many miles to the school of a great
and famous warrior. Impressed that the young man
had come so far, the master agreed to meet with him.

Holistic Small Groups Holistic small groups are

disciple-making communities which endeavor to reach
the unchurched, meet individual needs, develop each
person according to their God-given gifts and raise
leaders to sustain the growth of the church. Like healthy
body cells, holistic small groups are designed to grow
and multiply.
Growing churches have developed a
system of small groups where individual Christians can
find intimate community, practical help and intensive
spiritual interaction. In the groups, not only is the
biblical text discussed, but they apply biblical insights to
everyday issues.
Need-oriented
Evangelism

Need-oriented
evangelism intentionally cultivates relationships with pre
-Christian people so they can become fully devoted
followers of Jesus Christ who are actively participating
within the life of the church and community. Using
appropriate ministries and authentic relationships,
believers can guide others into the family of God.
Growing churches are not pushy or manipulative in
the way they share the gospel, rather, their secret is to
share the gospel in a way that meets the questions and
needs of pre-Christians.
Loving Relationships Loving relationships are the
heart of a healthy, growing church. Jesus said people
will know we are his disciples by our love. Practical
demonstration of love builds authentic Christian
community and brings others into Gods kingdom.
Unfeigned, practical love endows a church with a much
greater magnetic power than all the marketing efforts of
this world. Growing churches manifest a measurably
higher love quotient than stagnant or declining ones.

See NCD page 9

Patience a spiritual discipline

that people of God need to
work on.It is said: Patience is
a virtue.

What can I do for you ? ask the warrior. I wish to be

your student and become the finest swordsman in the
land, the man replied. How long must I study? Ten
years at least. replied the master.
Ten years is a long time, said the young man,
somewhat astounded. What if I were to practice for
many days and nights with all my effort?
Thirty years. answered his idol. How is it that when I
say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take
longer? the student asked, quite confused.
The answer is clear, said the master. When there is
one eye fixed on your destination, there is only one
eye left with which to find the way!
Success is a process that requires both our eyes and
our patience. Moreover, it requires that we let go of
our expectations of how the process will work and
engage in our task at hand. (Taken from: Think and
Grow Rich: A Black Choice by Dr. Dennis Kimbro).
Some people like to live life in the Fast Lane. They
talk fast, get rich quick, live high and expect to climb
the ladder of success in record time. They expect to
gain success in a moment time. However, they are
saddened to find out that life is but a vapor and that it
is all over far too soon.
David stated in Psalm 40:1 that he waited for God to
give him his direction in life; in doing so, God answered
his cry and came to his rescue.

May God give each of us the patience and peace to

wait for His directions for our lives.
Grace and Peace
Ernest C. Etheredge

Status And Role Of Women

By Teresa Holland
The Status and Role of Women w as proud to
honor and celebrate women who are products of
Francis Burns on , Sunday, March 22, 2015 for the You
Are A Queen Sunday. Through the month of March, we
displayed their accomplishments as we celebrated
women during the month of March. Francis Burns
should be proud because these women display
impeccable character and determination. Through your
prayers and support, they have developed into women
of great power and faith. What positive models for our
young queens!
We also want to thank the congregation for providing
the names and contact information of all the queens
displayed throughout March.
Your help was
tremendous! The names provided are listed below and
we ask for your continued prayers for these women.
Gail Rutledge, Melissa Mack, Dione C. Brabham,
Shandra Williams Tisdale, Angela Godrey, Regina
Kng, Dr. Allysa Humphrey, Tracy King McDowell,
Cheryl Mack Thompson, Tia Myers, Kiva Wilson,
Dr. Velma Love, Taylor Smalls, Alisha Cave,
Ashleigh Brooker, Kristin Edens, Rhonda Staley,
Whitney Myers, Tawana G. Coleman, Cheryl L.
Gibson, Kia Williams, Kiana Sneed, Dr. Joye
Lowman, Dr. Robin Lowman, Renee Cave, Leatrice
Williams, Sabrina Jackson, Amanda Worthy,
Candace Doby, Jessica Jeffries Jackson, Latoya
Thomas, Lauren Cantey, Adrienne D. Holland,
Mimi Waymer, Sherri Redmond, Jackie Waymer,
Pamelia Smith, Aurora Smith, Jakiya Noble,
Britton
Hughey,
Desia
Truesdale,
Destoni
Truesdale, Tamia Truesdale, Robin Reeves, and
Toshia Truesdale.
Our status and role in the world and our nation is to be
living testimonies of Christs love and compassion. To
every woman, young and old, You Are A Queen!

United Methodist Men Update

Meeting
April 11
8:30 AM
Fellowship Hall

Page 4

Burns Connection

Health Notes
March 2015
The Health and Welfare Ministrys/Healthy Eating
and Living in the Spirit (H.E.A.L.S) vision for the
Francis Burns Church Family is to become A
Healthier Congregation.
In April, we celebrate the beginning of spring. This
season of renewal serves as a wonderful time for us to
recommit to our own health and wellbeing. As the days
get longer and warmer, many of us are naturally drawn
to spend more time outside. This is the perfect time to
consider new outdoor activities for yourself and your
family.
If youve been planning to start an exercise program
but are intimidated by the idea of weights, machines
and aerobic instructors - now is your time! Walking is
the perfect activity for people of all ages and exercise
levels. Starting a regimen now ensures that your habits
will be well-entrenched by the time hotter summer days
roll around.
A few pointers can make your new walking routine
more likely to be successful. First, plan your week in
advance to allow time to get out and exercise. This can
be in the morning before work, during your lunch break,
or in the evenings after your dinner. Decide early in the
week what times you will devote to exercise, and
schedule it. Plan for at least 3 days per week for
cardiovascular fitness, and more if your goal is weight
loss. Once you know when youre going, make sure
you have the proper attire. Walking really doesnt
require a lot of equipment, which is part of what makes
it the ideal exercise program.
However, failure to
obtain the proper footwear can lead to aches or pains
down the road. Make sure to invest in a good pair of
walking shoes at least once per year, or every 300-500
miles. If you plan to walk at night or early mornings,
purchase some sort of reflective vest or clothing, as
well as a flashlight or headlight, so that cars can see
you. Finally, grab a buddy or a great music playlist and
youre set to go!
For those who are interested in beginning a running
program, you will find lots of races popping up - usually
beginning around now.
5k races can be fun for
everyone in the family, and are only as competitive as
you want them to be. If youre interested in taking this
even further - 10k, half-marathon, or marathon - go for
it! Running is an activity that can be enjoyed for years.
A local website, www.strictlyrunning.com, keeps a
calendar of local races that occur almost every weekend
from now through the fall. Popular apps, such as Couch
to 5k, can help people of all levels get started.
If running isnt your speed, or you just need a change
of scenery, consider taking the family out for a hike on
the weekends. South Carolina is rich in state and
national parks, from the mountains to the coast.
Hundreds of hiking trails are available for hikers of all

ages - check out www.southcarolinaparks.com for

ideas. This is a great way to spend time together
(unplugged) as a family, enjoy nature, and get fit in
the process!
Whatever appeals to you, use this season to help set
new exercise goals for yourself. Find something that
you can enjoy, and you can continue your new hobby
all year - and hopefully for a lifetime.
H.E.A.L.S Updates & Meetings:
Monthly Meeting: Our next meeting is scheduled
for Monday, April 20th at 6 pm. Everyone desiring to
embrace a healthier lifestyle are invited to join this on
-going health ministry.
Free monthly blood pressure screenings w ill be
available the 4th Sunday immediately after worship
services in the Fellowship Hall.ealHHhh
Aim for Wholeness,

Health & Welfare Ministry/H.E.A.L.S.

Meet the Choir

Burns Connection
Mission Trip from page 6
They offer a variety of programs: Adult Education for
those desiring to complete their high school education;
Arts & Crafts classes to engage adults in various
projects; Homemakers Club to explore and discuss
relevant issues such as Power of Attorney, offered
through a partnership with the local Clemson Ext.
Office; After School Tutoring and Enrichment program
for twenty-five K-5 scholars; Summer Reading/Children
Defense Funded Freedom School providing learning in a
safe and fun environment; Youth Council for youths
ages 12-18, to help them to become a more active
citizen in the community; One week of Vacation Bible
School at the end of the Summer Reading Program.
Other Ministries/Programs include Scouting for girls
and boys; Food Pantry; Clothes Closet (accepting items
year round); and Operation Christmas Child where the
community share with a needy child during the holiday.
The children were quite surprised to have us greet
them as they got off the school bus. We visited with
the children, helped with homework as needed, joined
in other creative activities, or just sat around the table
and talked. The staff (mostly volunteers) was busy
preparing a hot meal for the children (purchased with
funds we provided for that purpose). We helped serve
the meal to the children, and then most of us sat down
and enjoyed the delicious meal with the children and
staff.
Following the meal, we had an opportunity to tour the
facility to see where ministries take place. The staff
and children were very appreciative of our visit and
invited us to return again.
The entire day was an extremely enlightening
experience for all of us, including our male bus driver.
Unity, enthusiasm, commitment, dedication and
synergy were very prevalent during our visit. We are
challenged to glean from the experiences we shared in
a rural area of South Carolina and bring back ideas we
can adopt in the City..to make disciples of Jesus
Christ for the transformation of the world. My hope is
that you have found this article inspiring and
informative.

Name: Barbara P . Dixon

Choir Section: A lto
Education: A ttended A llen University
and Palmer Business College
Occupation: Retired from Blue CrossBlue Shield
(37 1/2 years)
Hobbies/Interests: Music (all types)
and traveling
Personals: W idow ed ( Deceased spouseDavid Dixon II), 3 children

I am the way, and the truth,

and the life; no one comes to
the Father but through me.

John 14:6

Respectfully submitted
rweleazer@gmail.com
Saturday, April 11, 2015

Salads, Sweets & Sisterhood

Spring Luncheon Theme: Hattitude
Guests are encouraged to wear
their favorite hat!
Show Commentated by Marilyn Stells
of Marbellas Hats
Young Church Women (Ages 21-45) Will Be Honored
Where: Ebenezer Lutheran Church,
1301 Richland St., Columbia
Gathering at 11 A.M. with Lunch and Program from
11:30 - 1:30
Registration Deadline April 3, 2015
To register, write and mail a check for $10.00
to:Mrs. Joann Grant at 9190 Windsor Lake Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29223

Page 7
Francis Burns UMC Women's Day Celebration
On March 15, Francis Burns UMC celebrated its annual
Women's Day Program. The guest speaker was Alice
Carson Tisdale, Claflin Universitys First Lady and
Director of the University's Alice Carson Tisdale Honor's
College. The theme for the occasion was: "Welcomed
by God, Welcoming Women in All Stages of Life".
Mrs. Tisdale spoke on the topic, "Know Your Worth Keeping It Real!" which bears the question: Are you
the 'Real Thing?'
Utilizing a demonstration that
identified three different types of sodas, the question
was asked, which soda was the real thing? As guessed,
Coke was the only one of the three positively identified
as the "real thing".
Similarly, she identified several
self-help titles that magazines use to get women to be
'perfect'; yet, it begged the question once more: Are
you real? Her words of encouragement to all women, of
all ages, was "to be themselves, and not someone
else; after all, there is only one Beyonce. She gave
an analogy to the movie "Color Purple" where she
quoted the final words said by the character, "Celie:
"I'm poor, I'm black, I may be ugly, but I'm here." She
emphatically stated to women of the faith that you
exist; you have persevered; you have a purpose; and
you have the blood of your mother, grandmother, great
-grandmother, and the likes of Harriet Tubman and
Sojourner Truth running through your veins."
Immediately following the worship service, a reception
was held in honor of the First Lady of Francis Burns
UMC, Mrs. Gwendolyn Etheredge.
Sharee Washington
United Methodist Women Communications, Co-Chair
Church Women United Health Kits Solicitation
Each year the Columbia Area Church Women United
(CWU) sponsors a health kit project for those in need
in our community. Last year nearly 2,000 health kits
were donated from area churches and received by
twelve local social service agencies for their clients.
Each health kit includes 6 items: regular size tooth
paste and tooth brush, wash cloth, hand towel,
comb, and regular size bar of soap. You may donate a kit(s) or individual items for the kit. Please
place these items in the collection box that will be in
the fellowship hall from Monday April 6th - Sunday
April 26th.
We will assemble the kits and will present them at
CWUs May Friendship Day Celebration on Friday, May
1st, 10:30 AM, at St. Johns Episcopal Church, located
at 2878 Wheat Street in Columbia. You are invited to
the celebration.
Thank you for your continued support of mission ministries in our community. Contact Maeward Belk [786
-5659] or Rebecca W. Eleazer [754-0942] if you have
questions.

Page 6
United Methodist Women Mission Trip
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Twelve United Methodist Women and a male bus
driver journeyed to the Bennettsville-Cheraw Area
Cooperative Ministries (BCACM) and to Wallace
Family Life Center to witness these United Methodist
Ministries in action. While planning this mission trip,
we had no idea what an awesome experience it
would be for all of us. Few of us had visited Wallace
Family Life Center, but none of us had ever visited
BCACM.

The night before our trip, we were on pins and

needles, anxiously watching the weather report. For
several days prior to our visit, the area experienced
sleet, snow, rain and high winddownright frigid
conditions!
Some schools and businesses were
closed as many of the rural roads were impassable.
One person from our group decided to drop-out.
On Thursday morning, Rev. Letha Brown, Exe
Director of BCACM by virtue of her pastoral
appointment, communicated between us and BCACM
staff to assess the road conditions and determine if it
was safe for us to travel. Shortly after 8:00am, we
got the all-clear word to travel, but were cautioned
to dress warmly. We were very excited and were on
the road by 9:00am bearing gifts for the ministries
[thank you for your coat donations].
We arrived at BCACM about 11:00am and our hosts
greeted us warmly. Then they announced that the
water was off in the building due to busted pipes.
Can you imagine twelve women traveling non-stop
for two hours to enter a public facility with inoperable
toilets!
Fortunately for us, the plumber arrived
shortly after we did and water was soon running.
Rev. Brown was not able to be with us because of a
schedule conflict but left a friendly, printed greeting
for us. She expressed her regrets for not being
there, and her great pleasure to host us for a visit.
She claimed us as her family and hoped for an
opportunity for us to visit again. She sends her love
to the Francis Burns Family.

Mrs. Shirley Jones, Church & Community Worker for

the BCACM shared a meditative moment (devotion).
Her question for thought was What do we know to
be true about God today? Following the meditation,
she shared a presentation on the organization and a
ministry overview of BCACM. The Ministry is made
up of nine churches in Marlboro and Chesterfield
Counties with a combined membership of less than
2700. These churches are all located in the Marion
District of the SC Annual Conference.
BCACM leadership is patterned after the Church
Council structure in a local church with ministry
teams under Nurture, Outreach, and Witness. All of
these teams operate under One Vision: The BCACM
will be a unified body of believers making disciples of
Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Likewise they have a single Mission: ...to connect,
equip, and empower member churches for witness
and service.
The Nurture Team sponsors joint services for the
community such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday,
Holy Maundy, and End of the Year Worship Services.
One of the programs we had the opportunity to
experience is their Tea Time with Teens.
This
program is designed specifically to support the
holistic (intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and

Burns Connection
spiritual) development of teen girls ages 10-18. A team
of at least three ladies and ten teens gather monthly at
a designated place for tea time. This gives the girls the
opportunity to engage in open conversations in a
relaxed atmosphere, opening the doors to effectively
solving the issues that face todays teens. Following a
hearty lunch provided by our host, we were treated to
tea served in crystal tea cups so we could indulge in
the experience the girls share monthly.
Another Nurture Team program shared with us is the
Sacred Saturday Childrens Ministry.
Sacred
Saturday is a once a month faith-based program
created for young children, ages 1-12. The goals of
Sacred Saturdays are to: 1) allow young children the
opportunity to understand that they can develop a
personal relationship with God; 2) provide spiritual
guidance and leadership for young children; and 3)
meet with children at least monthly in a structured
schedule to focus on spiritual issues at their level. The
monthly agenda includes devotion and praise, teaching
time, activity time, outside play, and snack time. Some
of the more popular events are Valentine Father/
Daughter Social, Mother/Son Dinner and Thanksgiving
Dinner with Family. The entire community is engaged
in these activities.
The Outreach Team is involved in many activities for
the good of community: Community Food Distribution,
Disaster Relief (flood buckets); and Transportation
Ministry.
They also partner with Communities of
Shalom for Housing Rehabilitation, Media Literacy,
Ministries of Compassion, Assistance with Medicine for
Seniors, and to sponsor Mission Teams.
They Witness on behalf of the communities by hosting
Community Education Empowerment Forums, advocate
on behalf of children and youth, and promote
community involvement. The BCACM Mass Choir is
very active in the community and is coveting the
opportunity to sing at the SC Annual Conference.
BCACM has one full-time staff person who is a Church
and Community Worker.
The part-time Executive
Directors salary is part of her pastoral compensation
package.
Leadership is provided by the member
pastors and a Board of Directors. All of the ministries
are led and performed by volunteers with a dedicated
passion for service.
Several of the volunteers are
certified members of the Rural Chaplin Association, an
Advanced Special Ministry of Discipleship Ministries
(formerly General Board of Discipleship) The United
Methodist Church. Most of the ministries are led by
women, but men are actively involved in many
supportive rolls such as transportation, fund raising,
board member, mentor, setting up/breaking down, food
prep, and chaperon for various events.
Our visit was cut shout because we ran out of time. We
then traveled about thirty minutes from BCACM to
Wallace Family Life Center (WFLC) to greet the children
as they arrived from school.
The coats that we
collected were for the children and women of WFLC
Ministries. They were elated to see the bags of coats
we brought into the Center. One volunteer stated that
they were even more excited to see the women of
color visiting Center, which is a rear occurrence.
The WFLC is a family oriented facility whose mission is
to provide educational, cultural, recreational, and
religious programs to enrich the lives of the people that
live in rural Wallace/Bennettsville communities.
See Mission Trip page 7

Burns Connection

Christian Education Corner

Malagne Yed
Jesus Christ His Personality and His Influence
The character of Jesus has not only been the highest
pattern of virtue, but also the strongest incentive in its
practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it
may be truly said that the simple record of three short
years of active life has done more to regenerate and
to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of
philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists.
We look back upon history, and what do we see?
Empires
rising
and
falling,
revolutions
and
counterrevolutions. Wealth accumulated and wealth
disbursed. Shakespeare wrote of the rise and fall of
great ones, that ebb and flow with the moon. I look
back upon my own fellow countrymen, once upon a
time dominating a quarter of the world, most of them
convinced, in the words of what is still a popular song,
that the God who made them mighty, shall make
them mightier yet. I've heard a crazed, cracked
Austrian announce to the world the establishment of a
Reich that would last a thousand years. I have seen
an Italian clown say he was going to stop and restart
the calendar with his own ascension to power. I've
heard a murderous Georgian brigand in the Kremlin,
acclaimed by the intellectual elite of the world as wiser
than Solomon, more humane than Marcus Aurelius,
more enlightened than Ashoka. I have seen America
wealthier and, in terms of military weaponry, more
powerful than the rest of the world put together, so
that had the American people so desired, they could
have outdone a Caesar, or an Alexander in the range
and scale of their conquests. All in one lifetime, all in
one lifetime. All gone. Gone with the wind.
England, part of a tiny island off the coast of Europe,
threatened
with
dismemberment
and
even
bankruptcy. Hitler and Mussolini dead, remembered
only in infamy. Stalin a forbidden name in the regime
he helped found and dominate for some three
decades. America haunted by fears of running out of
those precious fluids that keeps their motorways
roaring, and the smog settling, with troubled
memories of a disastrous campaign in Vietnam, and
the victories of the Don Quixotes of the media as they
charged the windmills of Watergate. All in one
lifetime, all in one lifetime. All gone. Gone with the
wind.
Behind the debris of these solemn supermen, and selfstyled imperial diplomatists, there stands the gigantic
figure of one, because of whom, by whom, in whom
and through whom alone, mankind may still have
peace: The person of Jesus Christ.
He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of
men. Yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven

Page 5
with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits
and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was
so genial and winsome and approachable, that the
children loved to play with him and the little ones
nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety
of a village wedding, was like the presence of sunshine.
No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners, yet
no one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about
sin. A bruised reed he would not break. His whole life
was love. Yet on one occasion he demanded of the
Pharisees, how they expected to escape the damnation
of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of
visions, yet for sheer stark realism, he has all of us selfstyled realists soundly beaten. He was the servant of all,
washing the disciples feet, yet masterfully he strode into
the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell
over one another to get away in their mad rush from the
fire they saw blazing in his eyes. He saved others, yet at
the last, he himself did not save. There is nothing in
history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in
the gospels; the mystery of Jesus is the mystery of
divine personality.

Pray without ceasing. 1

Thessalonians 5:17. The
prayer of faith will save the
sick, and the Lord will raise
him up. ...The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much. James 5:15, 16.
Mrs. Mary Burris (sister of Girlene Mixon) Mr.
Jerome Gibson Mr. Willie Howard Rev. Charles L.
Johnson Mr. Bryant Dreher Mrs. Gwendolyn NealBlakeney Mrs. Eliza Cave (mother of Wilbur Cave)
Mrs. Ella Mae Eaddy (mother of Karone Johnson)
Mrs. Martha Hayes (grandmother of Gwen Etheredge)
Mr. Joey (son of Trudie Reed) Mr. Corey Spann
(son in law of Cephus and Pam Thomas) Ms. Ruby
Hendrix (sister of Bettye Marshall Augustus) Mr.
Hosea Henry (step-father of Shemega Tyson and
brother in law of Virginia Goodman) Mr. James Tony
Kennedy, Sr. (brother of Valerie Kennedy-Robinson)
Mr. James Mixon (son of Sammie and Girlene Mixon
Mr. John Myers (father of Sam Myers) Rev. Calvin
Washington Mrs. Gertrude Kinney (mother of
Kenneth Kinney) Ms. Margaret Brown (aunt of
Kenneth Kinney) Ms. Patricia Squire (sister of Bernice
Kinney) Bishop Theodore and Mrs. Nan Myers

For God so loved the world, that He gave His

only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have everlasting
life. John 3:16

Page 6
United Methodist Women Mission Trip
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Twelve United Methodist Women and a male bus
driver journeyed to the Bennettsville-Cheraw Area
Cooperative Ministries (BCACM) and to Wallace
Family Life Center to witness these United Methodist
Ministries in action. While planning this mission trip,
we had no idea what an awesome experience it
would be for all of us. Few of us had visited Wallace
Family Life Center, but none of us had ever visited
BCACM.

The night before our trip, we were on pins and

needles, anxiously watching the weather report. For
several days prior to our visit, the area experienced
sleet, snow, rain and high winddownright frigid
conditions!
Some schools and businesses were
closed as many of the rural roads were impassable.
One person from our group decided to drop-out.
On Thursday morning, Rev. Letha Brown, Exe
Director of BCACM by virtue of her pastoral
appointment, communicated between us and BCACM
staff to assess the road conditions and determine if it
was safe for us to travel. Shortly after 8:00am, we
got the all-clear word to travel, but were cautioned
to dress warmly. We were very excited and were on
the road by 9:00am bearing gifts for the ministries
[thank you for your coat donations].
We arrived at BCACM about 11:00am and our hosts
greeted us warmly. Then they announced that the
water was off in the building due to busted pipes.
Can you imagine twelve women traveling non-stop
for two hours to enter a public facility with inoperable
toilets!
Fortunately for us, the plumber arrived
shortly after we did and water was soon running.
Rev. Brown was not able to be with us because of a
schedule conflict but left a friendly, printed greeting
for us. She expressed her regrets for not being
there, and her great pleasure to host us for a visit.
She claimed us as her family and hoped for an
opportunity for us to visit again. She sends her love
to the Francis Burns Family.

Mrs. Shirley Jones, Church & Community Worker for

the BCACM shared a meditative moment (devotion).
Her question for thought was What do we know to
be true about God today? Following the meditation,
she shared a presentation on the organization and a
ministry overview of BCACM. The Ministry is made
up of nine churches in Marlboro and Chesterfield
Counties with a combined membership of less than
2700. These churches are all located in the Marion
District of the SC Annual Conference.
BCACM leadership is patterned after the Church
Council structure in a local church with ministry
teams under Nurture, Outreach, and Witness. All of
these teams operate under One Vision: The BCACM
will be a unified body of believers making disciples of
Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Likewise they have a single Mission: ...to connect,
equip, and empower member churches for witness
and service.
The Nurture Team sponsors joint services for the
community such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday,
Holy Maundy, and End of the Year Worship Services.
One of the programs we had the opportunity to
experience is their Tea Time with Teens.
This
program is designed specifically to support the
holistic (intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and

Burns Connection
spiritual) development of teen girls ages 10-18. A team
of at least three ladies and ten teens gather monthly at
a designated place for tea time. This gives the girls the
opportunity to engage in open conversations in a
relaxed atmosphere, opening the doors to effectively
solving the issues that face todays teens. Following a
hearty lunch provided by our host, we were treated to
tea served in crystal tea cups so we could indulge in
the experience the girls share monthly.
Another Nurture Team program shared with us is the
Sacred Saturday Childrens Ministry.
Sacred
Saturday is a once a month faith-based program
created for young children, ages 1-12. The goals of
Sacred Saturdays are to: 1) allow young children the
opportunity to understand that they can develop a
personal relationship with God; 2) provide spiritual
guidance and leadership for young children; and 3)
meet with children at least monthly in a structured
schedule to focus on spiritual issues at their level. The
monthly agenda includes devotion and praise, teaching
time, activity time, outside play, and snack time. Some
of the more popular events are Valentine Father/
Daughter Social, Mother/Son Dinner and Thanksgiving
Dinner with Family. The entire community is engaged
in these activities.
The Outreach Team is involved in many activities for
the good of community: Community Food Distribution,
Disaster Relief (flood buckets); and Transportation
Ministry.
They also partner with Communities of
Shalom for Housing Rehabilitation, Media Literacy,
Ministries of Compassion, Assistance with Medicine for
Seniors, and to sponsor Mission Teams.
They Witness on behalf of the communities by hosting
Community Education Empowerment Forums, advocate
on behalf of children and youth, and promote
community involvement. The BCACM Mass Choir is
very active in the community and is coveting the
opportunity to sing at the SC Annual Conference.
BCACM has one full-time staff person who is a Church
and Community Worker.
The part-time Executive
Directors salary is part of her pastoral compensation
package.
Leadership is provided by the member
pastors and a Board of Directors. All of the ministries
are led and performed by volunteers with a dedicated
passion for service.
Several of the volunteers are
certified members of the Rural Chaplin Association, an
Advanced Special Ministry of Discipleship Ministries
(formerly General Board of Discipleship) The United
Methodist Church. Most of the ministries are led by
women, but men are actively involved in many
supportive rolls such as transportation, fund raising,
board member, mentor, setting up/breaking down, food
prep, and chaperon for various events.
Our visit was cut shout because we ran out of time. We
then traveled about thirty minutes from BCACM to
Wallace Family Life Center (WFLC) to greet the children
as they arrived from school.
The coats that we
collected were for the children and women of WFLC
Ministries. They were elated to see the bags of coats
we brought into the Center. One volunteer stated that
they were even more excited to see the women of
color visiting Center, which is a rear occurrence.
The WFLC is a family oriented facility whose mission is
to provide educational, cultural, recreational, and
religious programs to enrich the lives of the people that
live in rural Wallace/Bennettsville communities.
See Mission Trip page 7

Burns Connection

Christian Education Corner

Malagne Yed
Jesus Christ His Personality and His Influence
The character of Jesus has not only been the highest
pattern of virtue, but also the strongest incentive in its
practice, and has exerted so deep an influence, that it
may be truly said that the simple record of three short
years of active life has done more to regenerate and
to soften mankind than all the disquisitions of
philosophers and all the exhortations of moralists.
We look back upon history, and what do we see?
Empires
rising
and
falling,
revolutions
and
counterrevolutions. Wealth accumulated and wealth
disbursed. Shakespeare wrote of the rise and fall of
great ones, that ebb and flow with the moon. I look
back upon my own fellow countrymen, once upon a
time dominating a quarter of the world, most of them
convinced, in the words of what is still a popular song,
that the God who made them mighty, shall make
them mightier yet. I've heard a crazed, cracked
Austrian announce to the world the establishment of a
Reich that would last a thousand years. I have seen
an Italian clown say he was going to stop and restart
the calendar with his own ascension to power. I've
heard a murderous Georgian brigand in the Kremlin,
acclaimed by the intellectual elite of the world as wiser
than Solomon, more humane than Marcus Aurelius,
more enlightened than Ashoka. I have seen America
wealthier and, in terms of military weaponry, more
powerful than the rest of the world put together, so
that had the American people so desired, they could
have outdone a Caesar, or an Alexander in the range
and scale of their conquests. All in one lifetime, all in
one lifetime. All gone. Gone with the wind.
England, part of a tiny island off the coast of Europe,
threatened
with
dismemberment
and
even
bankruptcy. Hitler and Mussolini dead, remembered
only in infamy. Stalin a forbidden name in the regime
he helped found and dominate for some three
decades. America haunted by fears of running out of
those precious fluids that keeps their motorways
roaring, and the smog settling, with troubled
memories of a disastrous campaign in Vietnam, and
the victories of the Don Quixotes of the media as they
charged the windmills of Watergate. All in one
lifetime, all in one lifetime. All gone. Gone with the
wind.
Behind the debris of these solemn supermen, and selfstyled imperial diplomatists, there stands the gigantic
figure of one, because of whom, by whom, in whom
and through whom alone, mankind may still have
peace: The person of Jesus Christ.
He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of
men. Yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven

Page 5
with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits
and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was
so genial and winsome and approachable, that the
children loved to play with him and the little ones
nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety
of a village wedding, was like the presence of sunshine.
No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners, yet
no one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about
sin. A bruised reed he would not break. His whole life
was love. Yet on one occasion he demanded of the
Pharisees, how they expected to escape the damnation
of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of
visions, yet for sheer stark realism, he has all of us selfstyled realists soundly beaten. He was the servant of all,
washing the disciples feet, yet masterfully he strode into
the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell
over one another to get away in their mad rush from the
fire they saw blazing in his eyes. He saved others, yet at
the last, he himself did not save. There is nothing in
history like the union of contrasts which confronts us in
the gospels; the mystery of Jesus is the mystery of
divine personality.

Pray without ceasing. 1

Thessalonians 5:17. The
prayer of faith will save the
sick, and the Lord will raise
him up. ...The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much. James 5:15, 16.
Mrs. Mary Burris (sister of Girlene Mixon) Mr.
Jerome Gibson Mr. Willie Howard Rev. Charles L.
Johnson Mr. Bryant Dreher Mrs. Gwendolyn NealBlakeney Mrs. Eliza Cave (mother of Wilbur Cave)
Mrs. Ella Mae Eaddy (mother of Karone Johnson)
Mrs. Martha Hayes (grandmother of Gwen Etheredge)
Mr. Joey (son of Trudie Reed) Mr. Corey Spann
(son in law of Cephus and Pam Thomas) Ms. Ruby
Hendrix (sister of Bettye Marshall Augustus) Mr.
Hosea Henry (step-father of Shemega Tyson and
brother in law of Virginia Goodman) Mr. James Tony
Kennedy, Sr. (brother of Valerie Kennedy-Robinson)
Mr. James Mixon (son of Sammie and Girlene Mixon
Mr. John Myers (father of Sam Myers) Rev. Calvin
Washington Mrs. Gertrude Kinney (mother of
Kenneth Kinney) Ms. Margaret Brown (aunt of
Kenneth Kinney) Ms. Patricia Squire (sister of Bernice
Kinney) Bishop Theodore and Mrs. Nan Myers

For God so loved the world, that He gave His

only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have everlasting
life. John 3:16

Page 4

Burns Connection

Health Notes
March 2015
The Health and Welfare Ministrys/Healthy Eating
and Living in the Spirit (H.E.A.L.S) vision for the
Francis Burns Church Family is to become A
Healthier Congregation.
In April, we celebrate the beginning of spring. This
season of renewal serves as a wonderful time for us to
recommit to our own health and wellbeing. As the days
get longer and warmer, many of us are naturally drawn
to spend more time outside. This is the perfect time to
consider new outdoor activities for yourself and your
family.
If youve been planning to start an exercise program
but are intimidated by the idea of weights, machines
and aerobic instructors - now is your time! Walking is
the perfect activity for people of all ages and exercise
levels. Starting a regimen now ensures that your habits
will be well-entrenched by the time hotter summer days
roll around.
A few pointers can make your new walking routine
more likely to be successful. First, plan your week in
advance to allow time to get out and exercise. This can
be in the morning before work, during your lunch break,
or in the evenings after your dinner. Decide early in the
week what times you will devote to exercise, and
schedule it. Plan for at least 3 days per week for
cardiovascular fitness, and more if your goal is weight
loss. Once you know when youre going, make sure
you have the proper attire. Walking really doesnt
require a lot of equipment, which is part of what makes
it the ideal exercise program.
However, failure to
obtain the proper footwear can lead to aches or pains
down the road. Make sure to invest in a good pair of
walking shoes at least once per year, or every 300-500
miles. If you plan to walk at night or early mornings,
purchase some sort of reflective vest or clothing, as
well as a flashlight or headlight, so that cars can see
you. Finally, grab a buddy or a great music playlist and
youre set to go!
For those who are interested in beginning a running
program, you will find lots of races popping up - usually
beginning around now.
5k races can be fun for
everyone in the family, and are only as competitive as
you want them to be. If youre interested in taking this
even further - 10k, half-marathon, or marathon - go for
it! Running is an activity that can be enjoyed for years.
A local website, www.strictlyrunning.com, keeps a
calendar of local races that occur almost every weekend
from now through the fall. Popular apps, such as Couch
to 5k, can help people of all levels get started.
If running isnt your speed, or you just need a change
of scenery, consider taking the family out for a hike on
the weekends. South Carolina is rich in state and
national parks, from the mountains to the coast.
Hundreds of hiking trails are available for hikers of all

ages - check out www.southcarolinaparks.com for

ideas. This is a great way to spend time together
(unplugged) as a family, enjoy nature, and get fit in
the process!
Whatever appeals to you, use this season to help set
new exercise goals for yourself. Find something that
you can enjoy, and you can continue your new hobby
all year - and hopefully for a lifetime.
H.E.A.L.S Updates & Meetings:
Monthly Meeting: Our next meeting is scheduled
for Monday, April 20th at 6 pm. Everyone desiring to
embrace a healthier lifestyle are invited to join this on
-going health ministry.
Free monthly blood pressure screenings w ill be
available the 4th Sunday immediately after worship
services in the Fellowship Hall.ealHHhh
Aim for Wholeness,

Health & Welfare Ministry/H.E.A.L.S.

Meet the Choir

Burns Connection
Mission Trip from page 6
They offer a variety of programs: Adult Education for
those desiring to complete their high school education;
Arts & Crafts classes to engage adults in various
projects; Homemakers Club to explore and discuss
relevant issues such as Power of Attorney, offered
through a partnership with the local Clemson Ext.
Office; After School Tutoring and Enrichment program
for twenty-five K-5 scholars; Summer Reading/Children
Defense Funded Freedom School providing learning in a
safe and fun environment; Youth Council for youths
ages 12-18, to help them to become a more active
citizen in the community; One week of Vacation Bible
School at the end of the Summer Reading Program.
Other Ministries/Programs include Scouting for girls
and boys; Food Pantry; Clothes Closet (accepting items
year round); and Operation Christmas Child where the
community share with a needy child during the holiday.
The children were quite surprised to have us greet
them as they got off the school bus. We visited with
the children, helped with homework as needed, joined
in other creative activities, or just sat around the table
and talked. The staff (mostly volunteers) was busy
preparing a hot meal for the children (purchased with
funds we provided for that purpose). We helped serve
the meal to the children, and then most of us sat down
and enjoyed the delicious meal with the children and
staff.
Following the meal, we had an opportunity to tour the
facility to see where ministries take place. The staff
and children were very appreciative of our visit and
invited us to return again.
The entire day was an extremely enlightening
experience for all of us, including our male bus driver.
Unity, enthusiasm, commitment, dedication and
synergy were very prevalent during our visit. We are
challenged to glean from the experiences we shared in
a rural area of South Carolina and bring back ideas we
can adopt in the City..to make disciples of Jesus
Christ for the transformation of the world. My hope is
that you have found this article inspiring and
informative.

Name: Barbara P . Dixon

Choir Section: A lto
Education: A ttended A llen University
and Palmer Business College
Occupation: Retired from Blue CrossBlue Shield
(37 1/2 years)
Hobbies/Interests: Music (all types)
and traveling
Personals: W idow ed ( Deceased spouseDavid Dixon II), 3 children

I am the way, and the truth,

and the life; no one comes to
the Father but through me.

John 14:6

Respectfully submitted
rweleazer@gmail.com
Saturday, April 11, 2015

Salads, Sweets & Sisterhood

Spring Luncheon Theme: Hattitude
Guests are encouraged to wear
their favorite hat!
Show Commentated by Marilyn Stells
of Marbellas Hats
Young Church Women (Ages 21-45) Will Be Honored
Where: Ebenezer Lutheran Church,
1301 Richland St., Columbia
Gathering at 11 A.M. with Lunch and Program from
11:30 - 1:30
Registration Deadline April 3, 2015
To register, write and mail a check for $10.00
to:Mrs. Joann Grant at 9190 Windsor Lake Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29223

Page 7
Francis Burns UMC Women's Day Celebration
On March 15, Francis Burns UMC celebrated its annual
Women's Day Program. The guest speaker was Alice
Carson Tisdale, Claflin Universitys First Lady and
Director of the University's Alice Carson Tisdale Honor's
College. The theme for the occasion was: "Welcomed
by God, Welcoming Women in All Stages of Life".
Mrs. Tisdale spoke on the topic, "Know Your Worth Keeping It Real!" which bears the question: Are you
the 'Real Thing?'
Utilizing a demonstration that
identified three different types of sodas, the question
was asked, which soda was the real thing? As guessed,
Coke was the only one of the three positively identified
as the "real thing".
Similarly, she identified several
self-help titles that magazines use to get women to be
'perfect'; yet, it begged the question once more: Are
you real? Her words of encouragement to all women, of
all ages, was "to be themselves, and not someone
else; after all, there is only one Beyonce. She gave
an analogy to the movie "Color Purple" where she
quoted the final words said by the character, "Celie:
"I'm poor, I'm black, I may be ugly, but I'm here." She
emphatically stated to women of the faith that you
exist; you have persevered; you have a purpose; and
you have the blood of your mother, grandmother, great
-grandmother, and the likes of Harriet Tubman and
Sojourner Truth running through your veins."
Immediately following the worship service, a reception
was held in honor of the First Lady of Francis Burns
UMC, Mrs. Gwendolyn Etheredge.
Sharee Washington
United Methodist Women Communications, Co-Chair
Church Women United Health Kits Solicitation
Each year the Columbia Area Church Women United
(CWU) sponsors a health kit project for those in need
in our community. Last year nearly 2,000 health kits
were donated from area churches and received by
twelve local social service agencies for their clients.
Each health kit includes 6 items: regular size tooth
paste and tooth brush, wash cloth, hand towel,
comb, and regular size bar of soap. You may donate a kit(s) or individual items for the kit. Please
place these items in the collection box that will be in
the fellowship hall from Monday April 6th - Sunday
April 26th.
We will assemble the kits and will present them at
CWUs May Friendship Day Celebration on Friday, May
1st, 10:30 AM, at St. Johns Episcopal Church, located
at 2878 Wheat Street in Columbia. You are invited to
the celebration.
Thank you for your continued support of mission ministries in our community. Contact Maeward Belk [786
-5659] or Rebecca W. Eleazer [754-0942] if you have
questions.

Page 8

Natural Church Development

The Natural Church Development (NCD) survey
measures the health of a local church in eight areas
that have been found to be essential to healthy
church growth. Developed by the Institute of Natural
Church Development in Germany, this survey grows
out of what was probably the most extensive study
of church growth ever conducted, involving over
1000 churches in 32 countries on every continent
except Antarctica. This study revealed a clear
positive correlation between these eight Quality
Characteristics and church growth.
Brief definition of each Quality Characteristic:
Empowering Leadership Effective leadership
begins with an intimate relationship with God,
resulting in Christ-like character and a clear sense of
Gods calling for leaders lives. As this base of
spiritual maturity increases, effective pastors and
leaders multiply, guide, empower and equip disciples
to realize their full potential in Christ and work
together to accomplish Gods vision.
Leaders
consider it as one of their most important tasks to
help Christians develop greater degrees of
empowerment. They equip, support, motivate,
mentor and coach individuals to become all that God
wants them to be.
Gift-oriented
Ministry
The
Holy
Spirit
sovereignly gives to every Christian spiritual gift(s)
for the building of Gods kingdom. Church leaders
have the responsibility to help believers discover,
develop and exercise their gifts in appropriate
ministries so that the Body of Christ grows and
builds itself up in love.
The role of church
leadership is to help its members identify their gifts
and integrate them into ministries that match their
gifts. When a person lives according to their spiritual
giftedness, they are no longer working in their own
strength, but the Holy Spirit works in them. Studies
show that most Christians are either not involved in
ministry or they function in a ministry that does not
match their gifts.
Passionate Spirituality Effective ministry flows
out of a passionate spirituality. Spiritual intimacy
leads to a strong conviction that God will act in
powerful ways. A godly vision can only be
accomplished through an optimistic faith that views
obstacles as opportunities and turns defeats into
victories. The important issue here is not the way
spirituality is expressed, but the fact that faith is
actually lived out with commitment, fire and
enthusiasm. The methods a church uses are really a
secondary concern. A church that lives its faith with
passionate fervor will experience success with many
a method.
Effective/Functional Structures The Church is
the living Body of Christ. Like all healthy organisms,

Burns Connection

Page 3

Burns Connection

it requires numerous systems that work together to

fulfill its intended purpose. Each must be evaluated
regularly to determine if it is still the best way to
accomplish the intended purpose. The most important
criterion for forms and structures in the church is if they
fulfill their purpose or not. Church structures are never
an end in themselves but always only a means to an
end.

I waited patiently for the

Lord, and He inclined to me
and heard my cry. Psalm
40:1

Inspiring Worship Inspiring worship is a personal

and corporate encounter with the living God. Both
personal and corporate worship must be infused with the
presence of God resulting in times of joyous exultation
and times of quiet reverence. Inspiring worship is not
driven by a particular style or ministry focus group
but rather the shared experience of Gods awesome
presence. Is the worship service an inspiring experience
for those who attend? It is not whether our services
target Christians or non-Christians, whether they
celebrate in the language of Canaan or in a more
secular language, or whether we worship using a
liturgical or a more free-flowing approach. Inspiring
worship services are often described as fun.

An African fable tells of a young

man who traveled many miles to the school of a great
and famous warrior. Impressed that the young man
had come so far, the master agreed to meet with him.

Holistic Small Groups Holistic small groups are

disciple-making communities which endeavor to reach
the unchurched, meet individual needs, develop each
person according to their God-given gifts and raise
leaders to sustain the growth of the church. Like healthy
body cells, holistic small groups are designed to grow
and multiply.
Growing churches have developed a
system of small groups where individual Christians can
find intimate community, practical help and intensive
spiritual interaction. In the groups, not only is the
biblical text discussed, but they apply biblical insights to
everyday issues.
Need-oriented
Evangelism

Need-oriented
evangelism intentionally cultivates relationships with pre
-Christian people so they can become fully devoted
followers of Jesus Christ who are actively participating
within the life of the church and community. Using
appropriate ministries and authentic relationships,
believers can guide others into the family of God.
Growing churches are not pushy or manipulative in
the way they share the gospel, rather, their secret is to
share the gospel in a way that meets the questions and
needs of pre-Christians.
Loving Relationships Loving relationships are the
heart of a healthy, growing church. Jesus said people
will know we are his disciples by our love. Practical
demonstration of love builds authentic Christian
community and brings others into Gods kingdom.
Unfeigned, practical love endows a church with a much
greater magnetic power than all the marketing efforts of
this world. Growing churches manifest a measurably
higher love quotient than stagnant or declining ones.

See NCD page 9

Patience a spiritual discipline

that people of God need to
work on.It is said: Patience is
a virtue.

What can I do for you ? ask the warrior. I wish to be

your student and become the finest swordsman in the
land, the man replied. How long must I study? Ten
years at least. replied the master.
Ten years is a long time, said the young man,
somewhat astounded. What if I were to practice for
many days and nights with all my effort?
Thirty years. answered his idol. How is it that when I
say I will work harder, you tell me that it will take
longer? the student asked, quite confused.
The answer is clear, said the master. When there is
one eye fixed on your destination, there is only one
eye left with which to find the way!
Success is a process that requires both our eyes and
our patience. Moreover, it requires that we let go of
our expectations of how the process will work and
engage in our task at hand. (Taken from: Think and
Grow Rich: A Black Choice by Dr. Dennis Kimbro).
Some people like to live life in the Fast Lane. They
talk fast, get rich quick, live high and expect to climb
the ladder of success in record time. They expect to
gain success in a moment time. However, they are
saddened to find out that life is but a vapor and that it
is all over far too soon.
David stated in Psalm 40:1 that he waited for God to
give him his direction in life; in doing so, God answered
his cry and came to his rescue.

May God give each of us the patience and peace to

wait for His directions for our lives.
Grace and Peace
Ernest C. Etheredge

Status And Role Of Women

By Teresa Holland
The Status and Role of Women w as proud to
honor and celebrate women who are products of
Francis Burns on , Sunday, March 22, 2015 for the You
Are A Queen Sunday. Through the month of March, we
displayed their accomplishments as we celebrated
women during the month of March. Francis Burns
should be proud because these women display
impeccable character and determination. Through your
prayers and support, they have developed into women
of great power and faith. What positive models for our
young queens!
We also want to thank the congregation for providing
the names and contact information of all the queens
displayed throughout March.
Your help was
tremendous! The names provided are listed below and
we ask for your continued prayers for these women.
Gail Rutledge, Melissa Mack, Dione C. Brabham,
Shandra Williams Tisdale, Angela Godrey, Regina
Kng, Dr. Allysa Humphrey, Tracy King McDowell,
Cheryl Mack Thompson, Tia Myers, Kiva Wilson,
Dr. Velma Love, Taylor Smalls, Alisha Cave,
Ashleigh Brooker, Kristin Edens, Rhonda Staley,
Whitney Myers, Tawana G. Coleman, Cheryl L.
Gibson, Kia Williams, Kiana Sneed, Dr. Joye
Lowman, Dr. Robin Lowman, Renee Cave, Leatrice
Williams, Sabrina Jackson, Amanda Worthy,
Candace Doby, Jessica Jeffries Jackson, Latoya
Thomas, Lauren Cantey, Adrienne D. Holland,
Mimi Waymer, Sherri Redmond, Jackie Waymer,
Pamelia Smith, Aurora Smith, Jakiya Noble,
Britton
Hughey,
Desia
Truesdale,
Destoni
Truesdale, Tamia Truesdale, Robin Reeves, and
Toshia Truesdale.
Our status and role in the world and our nation is to be
living testimonies of Christs love and compassion. To
every woman, young and old, You Are A Queen!

United Methodist Men Update

Meeting
April 11
8:30 AM
Fellowship Hall

Page 2

Burns Connection

Lectionary
April 2015
Easter Sunday
April 5, Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1
Corinthians 15:1-11, John 20:1-18
Second Sunday of Easter
April 12, Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1-2:2,
John 20:19-31
Third Sunday of Easter
April 19, Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke
24:36b-48
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, 1 John 3:16-24, John

2015 Budget Information

Administrative
Council on Ministries
Committee on Finance
Board of Trustees
Total 2015 Budget

$332,773.18
$133,835.00
$
250.00
$222,600.00
$689,458.18

Weekly Amount Needed

Monthly Amount Needed

$13,258.81
$57,454.85

Amount Received in February

$43,974.44

Thank You

Burns Connection

Page 9

Dear Members of FBUMC,

NCD from page 8

The time has come again for our

annual youth revival. This year's
revival will be held at the church
on Thursday, April 23rd and
Friday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m.
each night.

NCD Health Team: Reverend Jeffery Salley, Advisor, UMC Congregational Specialist, Julia Benjamin
803-220-9791, Rachel Bourke 803-479-9878 Co-Chair, Preston Cobb 803-609-7934, Rebecca Eleazer
803-754-0942, Marcella Forrest 803-463-8465, Pat Hudson 803-360-9033 Co-Chair, Kamilah Keeton at
college, Carolyn Lucas 803-261-3072, Shirley Madison 803-699-5550, Melvin Miller 803-609-7314, Tom
Williams 803-360-2719.

It took our youth a long time to come up with a theme

for the revival, but after a long and hard deliberation,
our theme is "the Faith Starter Pack." I know right now
some of y'all are thinking, "what kind of theme is
that"? All I can say is that if you show up to our
revival, then you will see for yourself! Since I'm in a
good mood, I'll give you a hint. A starter pack is
basically what it sounds like: a group of things to get
started with something. For example, a "Rachel Starter
Pack" would probably consist of my phone, food, more
food, and the charger for my phone. These are things
that I need to start my day. If I don't have those
things, then I don't have a good day. So a faith starter
pack would consist of things you need to begin or grow
your faith in Christ.

2015 Planned Meeting Dates are Sunday, M arch 15th 8:30 am, Thursday, April 16th 6:00 pm, Sunday,
May 17th 8:30 am, Thursday, June 18th 6:00 pm, Sunday, July 19th 8:30 am, Thursday, August 20th
6:00 pm
Sunday, September 20th 8:30 am, Thursday, October 15th 6:00 pm, Sunday, November 15th 8:30 am
Thursday, December 17th 6:00 pm.
A Natural Church Development survey was conducted at Francis Burns. The demographics of those who
participated in the survey were 48.28 % male and 51.72% female. By age group, 6.77% 70+ years old,
16.67% 61-70 years old, 20% 51-60 years old, 16.67% 41-50 years old, 10% 21-40 years old and 23.33% -20
years old. The minimum factor of 31 Inspiring worship service and maximum factor 57 Gift-based ministry
document the areas where we ranked lowest and highest, respectively.
Detailed results of the Natural Church Development survey may be obtained from the NCD Health Team.

Each night, Rev. Tiffany Knowlin from College Place

UMC will deliver messages that center around this
theme. We will also have invited guests minister to us,
and they include: the Victory in Praise Gospel Choir
from Irmo High School, GAP Choir from Richland
Northeast High School, and a Mime from Aiken, SC. We
promise that these will be two nights that you will not
want to miss!
We can't wait for this event and we really want your
support both nights. To make this easier, we have a
couple of ways that you can help. The first call for help
is from our youth parents. If you are a parent of a
youth, now is the time to get your child involved in the
youth ministry.
We need youth to sing, serve as
greeters, and help the entire event run smoothly. You
can email Youth.FBUMC@gmail.com
or call Ms.
Ashleigh at (770) 940-3144 to volunteer for the event.
One way that everyone can participate is by bringing
guests.
You can bring your nieces, nephews, track
team, neighbors, or mentees. You can invite your coworker who you know has teenage children. We've
even found a way to take the work out of it for
you. Starting today, we plan to insert flyers into your
Burns Connection or bulletin. We ask that you give
your flyer away as an invitation to someone you know
with a youth. Our goal is to fill the sanctuary because
we know that there is nothing better than teenagers
praising the Lord on a Thursday and Friday night. It's
like they say, "the more the merrier"!
We thank you for your support, and I cannot wait to see
you there to make this years youth revival a blast!

-Rachel Forrest

Earth's saddest day and gladdest day were just....

three days apart.
We can celebrate Easter because sin was conquered,
death was defeated and Satan was disarmed and all because of Jesus!!! This event that happened many, many
years ago gives us all great hope for the future. Let us
not forget this after Easter. True discipleship is about
inviting someone to the table, feeding them well, and
teaching them to feed themselves so they can then go
and feed someone else.
Evangelism

Page 10

Burns Connection

Happy Birthday

If you are saved by works, when and how will

you know that you have worked enough?
If you cant let go, if you cant forgive, you
wont move on. You will stay stuck.

01
01
02
03
08
08
08
08
08
08
09
10
10
10
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
14
15
16

Valerie Kennedy-Robinson
Timeka McMillian
Julien Frierson
Annie Gathers
Michael McMillian
Gary Bowens
Earl Williams
Doris Davis
Roger Scott
Jaxon Doby
Jaylen Johnson
Houston Bennett
Sarah Ford
Juanita Reynolds
Cheryl Gibson
Rashan Noble
Priscilla Staley
Pamela Thomas
Valeria Richardson
Samuel Tisdale
Diane James
Karen Dukes
Alean AJ Robinson
Margie Reynolds

16
17
19
19
19
21
21
21
22
22
22
22
23
24
24
24
24
25
26
26
27
28
29
30

Corine Cheeks
Shun Roberson
Ashleigh Brooker
Angela J. Dicks
Dr. Loretta Felder, DDS
Shelia Humphrey
Isom Lowman
Sharon D. Johnson
Erin Brooker Doe
Aurora D. Smith
Karone Johson
Kailyn Gabrielle Jones
Linda Bell
Brandon Purvis
Cynthia Hall
Clifford L. Bourke III
Regina Crump
Liz Outing
Shiante Noble
Lawson Meadows
Kennedy DW Robinson
Ava Doby
Reginald Jabriel Hunter
Rhonda Staley

Happy Anniversary
4 April Earl & Dorothy Williams
8 April Reginald & Toni Mack
20 April Leonard & Maeward Belk
21 April Reginald & Deborah Hunter
24 April - Lewis & Margie Reynolds
28 April - Sammie & Girlene Mixon, Sr.

To update your birthday or anniversary information,

contact Inez Benjamin at 736-1008 or
email ibeejamming@bellsouth.net

On The Light Side

Trustee On Call April 2015

Kenneth Kinney
351-3682.

FBUMC Mission Statement: The mission of Francis Burns United

Methodist Church is to glorify God, to spread the Good News of
Jesus Christ and to make Christian disciples through worship and
praise, nurture, outreach and witness.
FBUMC Vision Statement: The vision of Francis Burns United
Methodist Church is to be in covenant with God and to connect
with God's people through ministries that meet human needs.

Burns Connection
Volume 2015 Issue 4
Francis Burns UMC
5616 Farrow Rd.
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 754-1760
Rev. Ernest C. Etheredge
Pastor

Saturday, April 11,

2015 11AM 4PM
at Epworth
The Epworth Childrens
Home Alumni Associations annual Cookout
for Kids fundraiser features BBQ, Music and Fun for
Everyone! Chicken and pork plates are $10, kids
plates $5, and whole Boston butts for $30. Orders may
be eat-in or take-out. Homemade baked goods will be
available for purchase from the Red Hat Honeys. Purchases may be made at the event or preordered
by
emailing
epworthalumniassociation@gmail.com
You may also contact the Local
Church Representative for Epworth, Ollie Benners
(803) 699-7139 for tickets. Volunteers are also needed to serve for two hours (10-12, 12-2, 2-4) mainly in
serving the food. This would be a good project for
Francis Burns youth group or individuals wanting a
hands-on opportunity to serve. Contact persons for
volunteers are (Wilton Dennis (803) 924-3573 or
Beaury Gantt (843) 468-0320). Lets continue to
support this worthy cause!!

April 2015

FBUMC Music Department to Host

Music Workshop and Concert
The music department of FBUMC will host its third music
workshop on May 29-30, 2015. W e are excited and
proud to have as our clinician, Minister Eddie Anthony
Robinson, award-winning song writer, choir director,
producer, and lecturer.
Minister Robinson is a University of South Carolina
graduate, with a Masters degree from Liberty University
in Lynchburg, VA, where he is currently pursuing his
doctorate in Worship Studies. A gifted songwriter, he
has written hits for artists such as Dottie Peoples, Alvin
Darling and the Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass
Choir. You may recognize some of his songs that have
been sung by our own Francis Burns choir: God Is in the
Room, If Job Waited, All My Help, Singing Hallelujah All
Day, and So Many Reasons. One of his compositions,
Somebody Here Needs a Blessing, is printed in the Total
Praise Hymnal, published by the National Baptist
Convention, USA, Inc.
Affectionately called The Dean of Church Music by his
peers, Minister Robinson has served on the staff of many
national gospel conferences and conventions throughout
the country. He currently serves as Minister of Music and
Director of Worship and Arts at Springfield Baptist
Church in Conyers, GA. He is a lifetime member of
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and loves to fish and collect
old gospel music memorabilia in his spare time.
We are truly honored to have this consummate musician
as our clinician and invite ALL those interested in joining
us for this special event to register and come out to
learn, sing and praise God w ith us. The format of
this years workshop will differ from previous years: The
first workshop session will be held on Friday evening,
May 29th from 7-9 p.m. The workshop will resume on
Saturday morning, May 30th, at 9 a.m. until noon. A
choir concert, consisting of workshop participants, will be
presented to the public at 5 p.m. that Saturday.
This is not just for Francis Burns members and is not a
choir-member-only event. We encourage you to COME
OUTbring a friend and experience this opportunity first
hand. Even if you will not be able to participate in the
workshop or the choir, we invite you to support this
event by bringing your family and friends to the
culminating concert at 5:00 p.m.
Francis Burns Music Department
Michael Felton, Director of Music