Page 8

Burns Connection

Burns Connection

Happy Birthday

s
gget
u
N
ns
Lyn

There are two kinds of people who dont say

muchthose who are quiet and those who
talk a lot.
God listens to your HEART, not your words!

Church Women United:

Francis Burns will be hosting Church Women
United of Columbias World Community Day 2014
celebration, Friday, November 7. The celebration
theme is Through God our Hands Can Heal.
You are invited to attend. Registration is at 10:30
A.M. The celebration service is from 11am12pm.
Please bring a nonperishable food item for Harvest
Hope Food Bank or you may make a donation
payable to Harvest Hope. There is a drop-off
container with a list of "need now" items
currently in the fellowship hall. Contact Rebecca
Eleazer: rebecca.eleazer@franisburns.org or 7540942.

01
02
02
03
03
03
04
04
04
04
05
05
06
07
09
10
10
11
11
12
13
13

Mitchell Brown
Florence Payne
Jackie Williams
Julia Benjamin
Chaundolyn Johnson
Ralph Johnson
Jaysha Johnson
Darrel Alexander
Beverly Evans
Ida Wideman
Kenneth Kinney
Maeward Belk
Christian Jenkins
Jessie Risher
Jennie Hunter
Tamia Truesdale
Pat Noble
Olivia Bell
Tsharre Tention
Ayrn Truesdale
Adrienne Coleman
Johnny Malloy

13
13
14
14
17
18
19
19
20
20
22
22
22
22
23
24
25
25
26
26
27
28

Isaac Wright, Jr.

Claudine Gee
Kristopher Bowman
Irma Lowman
Pearl Parson
Chanda Parson
Gary Wright
Gwen Smalls
Willie Patterson
Ace Brewer
James Brisbon
Vernita Cobbs
Todriq Truesdale
John Montgomery
Melvin Miller
Vincent Black
Briena Stewart
Alfa Tisdale
Jonathan McMillian
Lephonia Wright
Mary Alston
Bryce Risher

Happy Anniversary
8 November Rev. & Mrs. John & Edith Pearson
12 November Vincent & Belverly Black
15 November Jimmie & Crystal Wright
27 November Myron & Linda Bell
28 November Fred & Mary Brandyburg

To update your birthday or anniversary information,

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

Carolyn Lucas
736-2974 or 261-3072

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.

Francis Burns UMC

5616 Farrow Rd.
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 754-1760
Rev. Ernest C. Etheredge
Pastor

SAVE THE DATE

November 2014
Adult Ministry Members Find A Mission in South Africa
On Monday, September 30, we, Francis Burns Adult
Ministry members, Rhonda and Sharee Washington,
received an email from Linda L., a celebrity PR rep from
Los Angeles. She had just arrived in Cape Town, South
Africa on Friday, September 26,
for 2 months of
volunteering with SurfShack Surf School. She read a blog
post that we would be in Cape Town in a few days and
wanted us to film the kids.

to

Celebrate His Name

Presented by
The Music Department
of
Francis Burns United Methodist Church
5616 Farrow Road

On The Light Side

Trustee on Call November

Volume 2014 Issue 10

Columbia SC 29203
Sunday, December 14, 2014
6:00 PM
Prelude - 5:30 PM

From the start these kids touched our hearts. Although

they do not have much, we learned from the kids their
hope for the future and why they love the surf school.
Watching these kids surf was truly awesome. They would
crash in the water, get back up and do it again with a smile
on their face. It beats being on the streets selling drugs,
"sniffing glue", or not having a meal all day. We hope to
continue a relationship with the kids by offering assistance
when needed (shoes, school supplies, food/snacks, etc)
through a personal commitment and via organizations such
as Francis Burns UMW Missions.
Rhonda W. and Sharee W.

Page 2

Burns Connection

Lectionary
November 2014
Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
November 2, , Joshua 3:7-17, Psalm 107:1-7, 3337, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
November 9, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, Psalm 78:17, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
November 16, Judges 4:1-7, Psalm 123, 1
Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
November 23, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 100,
Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46
First Sunday of Advent
November 30, Isaiah 65:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19,
1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37

2014 Budget Information

Administrative
Council on Ministries
Committee on Finance
Board of Trustees
Total 2014 Budget

$295,992.18
$123,763.00
$
250.00
$157,400.00
$577,405.18

Weekly Amount Needed

Monthly Amount Needed

$11,103.95
$48,117.10

Amount Received in September $40,804.32

Thank You

United Methodist Men Update

Meeting
November 8, 2014
8 AM
Golden Corral

Trust when the skies are darkening,

Mission in Motion
Thank you again, Francis Burns
Family, for a job well done. Thanks
to you, the Missions Ministry was
able to provide 27 thumb drives to
Richland School District One and
enough toiletries to Richland School
District Two for 20 high school and
10 middle school students. As you
shop for your families, please keep
the needs of these students in
mind. We always need toiletry items for both male and
female students of all ethnicities: deodorant, bar soap
or body wash, shampoo & conditioner, tooth brushes,
and tooth paste.
Thanksgiving
Baskets:
If
you
submitted
a
Thanksgiving basket recipient, please pick up your
basket on Saturday, November 22nd between 10:00 AM
and 12:00 Noon.
Bake Sale: Our annual bake sale w ill be held after
services on Sunday, November 23rd. Please donate a
homemade dessert for this sale. W e need cakes,
cookies, pies (especially sweet potato), brownies,
cupcakes, etc. Please contact Lynnette Robinson or Inez
Benjamin if you will donate baked goods. Please support
the Bake Sale on November 23rd.
National Homeless Week (November 15 -23,
2014): Listen out for great news from our Fabulous
Francis Burns Youth. In addition, during this week,
especially, we ask that you pray daily for homeless
families and include the topic of homelessness in your
family discussions.
Families Helping Families: I t is almost that time of
the year! You guessed, it Families Helping Families.
We need your help and support. We are adopting 30
families, consisting of: 10 Seniors as well as 5 families
with 2, 3, 4 or 5 family members in each family.
Families/Seniors will be available to adopt on Sunday,
November 9, 2014, immediately following church
service. All pertinent information will be given to you
when you adopt your family/Senior/individual. You may
deliver/drop

off your wrapped gifts at the church on

the following dates:
Sunday, December 7, 2014 After Service
Monday, December 8, 2014 from 6pm 8pm
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 6pm 8pm
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 6pm 8pm

Trust when your light grows dim,

Trust when the shadows gather,
Trust and look up to Him. Anon

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Stay tuned for more info.

Page 7

Burns Connection
Trustee from page 6
knowledge, skills, and gifts God has given to each of
us, we can accomplish much for His glory.
Suggestion forms are in the trustee box. Let us hear
from you. It would be helpful to us if you place your
contact info on the form so we can follow-up.
As a constant reminder to all of us, if you are the last
group/person to leave the building, please check to
make sure all lights are turned off and the building is
properly secured before you vacate the premises.
Notify the trustee on call if you have questions or
issues with securing the building. Think Safety!

Save the Date!

Francis Burns Married Couples Ministry
" Holiday Social"
6 PM, Friday, November 21st
In the Fellowship Hall
Music by DJ Stan
Dinner will be served

Grace and Peace,

Rebecca W. Eleazer, Trustee Chair
rebecca.eleazer@francisburns.og

Were

Nuts for Missions!

Fall Pecan Sale Campaign
2014 pecan crop from a local
South Carolina orchard in gift bags

Large pieces
jumbo halves
Chocolate Covered Pecan Halves
Sugar Free Chocolate Covered Halves box,
Honey Roasted Pecan Halves.
Pecans are tasty and healthy, ranked # 1 nut for
antioxidant capacity, contains 19 vitamins and
minerals, great source of immune building zinc,
contains no trans-fat, have been recognized for their
role in weight control. They are very good source of
Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium
Deadline for placing order:
Wednesday November 5th
Target delivery date: November 14th.
Extras will be very limited, so please order all
you need by Nov 5th. Call Doris M cN air w ith
questions - 803-754-3384. Francis Burns UMW
appreciates your support!

Do you not know that you are Gods temple and

that Gods Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person. For Gods temple is holy, and you are that
temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NRSV)

Attire: Dressy Casual (No denim, please)

$10 CASH DONATION PER COUPLE

Please bring non-perishable food items
for local food bank!
Please RSVP by Nov. 12th
to a member of the ministry
Clifford & Rachel Bourke
DeAndre & Lindell Brabham
Olden & Roberta Brooker
Rudy & Lynn Harris
James & Sharon Johnson

834-3707
736-2839/422-0227
788-1767/629-3618
788-0211/206-3103
699-3960

2015
Committee/Ministry and
Events Planner

Its that time of year again.

Dates and schedules for
events,
meeting, etc. are due by November 30th
Events will be listed by availability. In
case of conflict or if the time, date and
place is not available, you will be notified
to plan for alternate dates, times and
places.

Information must be submitted to both

the Church Office at
info@francisburns.org
and Lynn Harris
lynnjataun@bellsouth.net.
Or written information can also be placed
in the Worship mail box..

Page 6

Burns Connection

Health Notes
November 2014
The Health & 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
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
What is diabetes? Diabetes is w hen your blood
glucose also called blood sugar is too high. Blood
glucose is the main type of sugar found in your blood
and your main source of energy. Glucose comes from
the food you eat and is also made in your liver and
muscles. Your blood carries glucose to all of your bodys
cells to use for energy. Diabetes is a serious disease
that can lead to a heart attack, stroke or death.
Types of diabetes: Type 1 (is lifelong, chronic, in
which the body does not produce insulin), Type 2
(lifelong chronic, in which your body does not use
insulin properly) & Gestational (is high blood sugar
(diabetes) that starts or is first diagnosed during
pregnancy).
Typical symptoms of diabetes are, frequent
urination, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, extreme
fatigue, blurry vision, cuts/bruises slow to heal, weight
loss or gain, tingling pain or numbness in the hands and
feet.
Risk factors are: greater than 35 waist for women,
greater than 40 waist for men, family history, age and
diabetes with pregnancy.
Take care of your diabetes your life depends on it!
Thank you! To all the w omen w ho took the time
to have a mammogram screen on last month. Your
good health is a gift from God!
Health & Welfare Ministry/H.E.A.L.S Updates &
Meeting: Monthly Meeting: Our next meeting is
scheduled for Monday, November 17th
at 6 pm.
Everyone desiring to embrace a healthier lifestyle is
invited to join this on-going health ministry.
Good nutrition during the holidays:
cooking
classes and food selections for the holidays will begin
on Monday. December 1- Monday, December 15 at 6
pm in the Fellowship Hall. Classes will be provided by
DHEC and Ashley Rush. A sign-up sheet will be
available in the fellowship hall or please contact any
member of the ministry to secure your seat for this
event.
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.

Trustees Update
The trustees have been very busy the last several
months assessing the needs reported by Francis
Burnss ministries and individuals alike. Weve been
performing ongoing trustee duties such as
overseeing the maintenance of the building and
grounds; preparing a budget for 2015; assessing the
HVAC units and outlining a replacement schedule for
each unit; replaced the HVAC unit that services the
kitchen and fellowship hall; had the floors stripped
and re-waxed throughout the building; signed a
contract with Midlands Biofuels, LLC to collect used
cooking oil from the kitchen [you are invited to
recycle your used cooking oil by pouring it in the
container located near the dumpster behind the
fenced area]; working with Christian Education to
analyze the need for / type of television for the
classrooms [& other technology issues]; and
prioritizing some big ticket items that are not
covered under the operating budget.
The trustees along with representatives from the
Church Council, the Strategic Planning Committee, a
few other invited members, and the pastor held a
series of meetings to discuss best ways to handle
the many facility needs of Francis Burns. As result
of these meetings we are in agreement that a
Building
Committee
and
Capital
Campaign
Committee should be formulated as we begin to plan
for tomorrow and future years.
The Strategic Planning Committee has been
authorized by Church Council to conduct the Natural
Church Development Survey to help us assess the
health of our church. That survey is scheduled to be
held at the church on Saturday, November 15, 2014.
Thirty individuals including the pastor, was selected
across age ranges and by gender to take the survey.
In the meantime, a survey is being developed to get
input from the congregation on the perceived needs
and how much funds we are willing to commit to
meeting these needs. That survey instrument will be
pretested on November 15th as well, before it is
presented to the congregation in a series of settings
to be determined.
As you can see, there is a lot of collaboration and
coordinating going on with seemingly little progress.
But the first steps to getting those ideas out of our
heads and into the hearts and hands of the
congregation is a time sensitive but evolving
process. We ask for your continued patience, and
most especially for your prayers, as we seek Gods
guidance to perform this very important work of His
church. Our goal is to lay a firm foundation on which
we can build for future generations.
We are always open to comments, questions,
suggestions, and constructive criticisms.
No
individual or ministry is privy to all knowledge, but
with all of us working together, sharing the
See Trustee page 7

Page 3

Burns Connection
The year is quickly moving
away and in a few weeks we
will celebrate Thanksgiving,
Christmas and a New Year.
Isnt it difficult to believe all the
television
ads
and
store
decorations for Christmas? We
are already planning for the
holidays looking forward to the
time when family and friends will gather together.
What do you expect? What are some of the things
you may be wanting and waiting for your church?
The Bible tells us in St. John 16:33
In the world you will have tribulations; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Sometimes we think we are going to have a life filled
with good, day after day after day. However, we are
reminded that those other days will come also. My
mother would tell us In life you must be able to take
the bitter with the sweet.
As we continue to move forward in the life of Francis
Burns United Methodist Church, it is my hope and
prayer that we will continue to look ahead and focus
on where God is calling us rather than where we
have come from.
God has so much more He wants us to do to fulfill
His Kingdom and develop His church. Thus, as we
reach out and take hold of the hand of God, we must
remember God is expecting us to do something to
advance His Kingdom.
Remember, as we reach out to God, God is also
reaching out to us.
Grace and Peace
Ernest C. Etheredge

UMW News
Eight members of Francis Burns attended the 42nd
Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Conference
United Methodist Women, October 24-25 in Beaufort,
SC. The Theme: ... "And What Does The Lord
Require Of You?" In response to the theme for the
conference Annual Meeting, the SC Limitless Team
sponsored a Cereal Drive Mission Project. We are
required to Feed The Hungry. All types of cereal was
collected.
Regular Meeting of UMW, November 16,2014 at 4:00
PM, Fellowship Hall. All women are invited to attend.
Our theme for the meeting is Welcoming Circles and
Members.

Remember In Your Prayers

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. Irretta Wise Mr. Charles Perry (brother of Diane James)

Mrs. Brenda Wingate Mrs. Mazondra Thomas (friend of
Valarie & Carl Robinson Mrs. Lola Praylow Ms. Beverly
Frierson Mrs. Eliza Cave (mother of Wilbur Cave) Mr.
Thomas Kelsey (son-in-law of Earl & Dorothy Williams) Mr.
Willie Pressley (brother of Gladys Morgan-Bell) Mrs.
Shemega Tyson Mr. Wheeler Williams III (nephew of Tom
Williams Ms. Daisy Block Ms. Pam Williams (niece of
Ollie Benners Mrs. Edith Pearson Paden White (grandson of
Ann Hickson) Mrs. Dorothy Ricks Rev. John Pearson, Sr.
Mr. Albert Bert Humphrey Mrs. Ivy Ellerby Mr. Sam
Mixon Mr. John Brisby (grandson of Dorothy & Earl Williams)

LAY VISITATION
TEAM

NEEDS YOU
We need members to volunteer to visit the sick, bereaved, lonely, hospitalized, shut-in, etc. You will
be partnered with another member as you visit the
members of Francis Burns United Methodist Church.
Also, you may volunteer to deliver altar flowers only.
We need male and female members to show our congregation that WE CARE!!!
Call Nettie Greene at 803-798-5260 or Joyce
Grant at 803-736-2662 to join this much-needed
and gratifying ministry.

The OCH
Grief Support & Nurturing Ministry

The November meeting will be held on

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, from 6:007:00 pm. The topic, "The Immense Power
of Prayer while Grieving," will be discussed by the Prayer Ministry's Angela
Edmund. This will also be our Thanksgiving covered dish meeting. For questions:
contact Dana Tucker.

Page 4
Last month some of our youth
participated in a workshop
entitled Healthy Relationships
Sexual
Responsibility.
The
purpose of the workshop was to
inform our youth about what a
healthy relationship looks like
and the consequences of sexual
activity. Our workshop was
facilitated by Ms. Chynna Stubbs, from Palmetto Health.
We started off the workshops with little activities. One
of the activities required us to get into groups and write
down what we thought makes a healthy relationship,
then we all elaborated to the whole class about our
thoughts. In another activity, we all had a different type
of STD and we had to classify them under either life
threatening, serious consequence, or little consequence.
After that exercise we had a discussion about the right
answers and about different statistics regarding sexual
responsibility.
Towards the end of the workshop someone came and
gave a testimony, explaining how being in a bad
relationship and having sex at a young age has affected
their life. The testimony was the most meaningful part
of the workshop to me. Their testimony hit home for me
because it showed that if you're going to engage in big
girl or big boy actions, then you better be ready for the
consequences that can come from it. I think that youth
these days go through life thinking that nothing bad will
ever happen to them; but the truth of the matter is that
we do not know what the future holds. What I learned
from their testimony was that your life can change in
the blink of an eye, because of one thing that you did.
At the very end, we learned about God's perspective by
reading 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20. These couple of verses
are about how you should refuse to dishonor God with
your body. In the scripture, Paul states that sexual
immorality is an offense against God the Father. He also
contrasts food for the stomach with sexual immorality
and the body to put an emphasis on Gods values of the
human body because our bodies are for the Lord.
Verses 15-17 state Do you not know that your bodies
are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the
members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute?
Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself
with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said,
The two will become one flesh.17 But whoever is
united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
In those verses, Paul is trying to remind us that the
moment we believe in Jesus Christ we are one with his
Spirit, so to him it is unthinkable that one would ever
be sexually immoral. And if we are one with Christ, then
we should take him with us where ever we go. God is
not trying to say to never have sex but to not throw
your body away to just anyone, because your body is
special in Gods eyes. Some of the best examples of
how humans just throw their bodies away are teens and
unmarried people. I say teenagers because I do not

Burns Connection
believe teenagers truly understand the religious side of
having sex. Many have sex with anyone, without a
thought behind it because "it is fun, it feels good, or
because everyone is doing it. I say unmarried people
because they may feel that even though they are not
married that it's alright to have sex with whoever they
want without any consequences. But in Gods eyes it is
not right to just throw your body away, under any
circumstances. As Christians we should cherish the
body we were given, and I challenge people to have
relationships that honor God and to avoid sexual
immorality.
--Rachel Forrest

Youth in Missions!
Did you know that Richland School District Two has
identified 450 students who need food to eat every
weekend? It is up to community organizations and
churches like us to help fill the need (and their
stomachs) so that our neighbors' children don't have to
live in hunger.
Here's how you can help: P lease donate
INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED non-perishable food items
that
make
easy
breakfast,
lunch,
or
dinner
combinations.
Examples include:
grits, oatmeal,
ravioli, fruit cups, raisins, granola bars, and juice boxes.
How to contribute:P lace your items in the " Y outh
Food Donations" container in the back of the fellowship
hall any time. Or, you can tell Ashleigh Brooker or Julia
Benjamin when you make a monetary contribution, and
the youth ministry will purchase items with your
donation.
Please mark your offering envelope as
"Youth Ministry Food Drive."
Who benefits?The Y outh M inistry is adopting the
students of Kelly Mill Middle School for the 2014-2015
school year. Some of our youth are current and former
students at this school, and it's our way of Youth helping
each other.

Page 5

Burns Connection

Christian Education Corner

God and the Gaps - Melagne Yed

The Gap of Knowledge

The first debilitation that feeds the gap of human
knowledge is our finite nature. Not one human being
can claim to possess infinite knowledge, else, he or she
ceases to be human and becomes the Absolute, Allknowing Being: God.
The second factor contributing to the gap of knowledge
is our propensity to choose to believe along one single
dimension. We sometimes want to believe in a certain
direction because thats what we deliberately choose to
do despite the preponderance of evidence pointing to
the contrary.
I recall watching recently a news and talk show on TV
where the discussion ported on the ongoing outbreak of
the viral disease, Ebola. During the discussion, one of
the two guests on the show was forcefully defending
the idea of treating every possibly infected dog like
the little adorable one she brought with her just as
we would every hospital worker or patient infected with
the disease. Even if the curative measures or
resources are insufficient, she argued, We have the
moral obligation to administer the cure equally between
the person and the dog. When the second guest and
the host of the show disagreed and asserted the value
of a child over that of a dog, the first guest promptly
countered with the accusation that her opponents were
narrow minded and heartless. What is the difference
between this little and loving dog and a child? Can any
of you tell me the difference? she asked. I can tell
you that you are, at this moment, offending many
American families who are dog owners she exclaimed.
But as I was incisively listening, eagerly awaiting for a
response to her question about the difference between
a dog and a child, I was greatly disturbed because,
despite the prolixity of their counter perspective, none
of her opponents were able even to enunciate much
less sustain the conspicuous and fundamental
distinction between a child and a dog, as little and
adorable the latter may be. Somewhere in her heart,
that one guest had actually begun to believe that there
exists no difference separating us from the animal
world. After all, havent we all been indoctrinated at
some stage to believe that as highly evolved as we,
human, may appear, we emerged from a less evolved,
but nonetheless necessary, animal world?
The Earth is the only known habitable planet in the
universe. Shorten or lengthen its distance any closer to
or any farther away from the Sun and you will unleash
untold chaos upon its surface. The unchanging
gravitational interaction between the Sun and the Earth
is crucial to the sustenance of life on Earth. The
Reynolds Number (Re) is a physical quantity that helps
in our understanding of fluid mechanics. The capacity
of the human brain to engage in cognitive processes,

its ability to reason in moral categories, the influence of

the mind (psyche) over the body (soma) to describe
psychosomatic disorders, the absence of physical laws to
explain miraculous and spiritual phenomena, and so on,
are subjects vastly too complex to be approached with
the simplistic view that our existence came together by
chance. There is intelligibility within the observable
world. And wherever there is intelligibility, we must
assume intelligence; an intelligence that cannot, by
necessity, be bound by space and time; an intelligence
that can therefore regulates even that which eludes our
sensorial capacities. But thats the preponderance of
evidence that the skeptic wants to dismiss because of his
deliberate will to believe otherwise. Mind the gap.
To be continued

Meet the Choir

Name: Ava B. Doby

Choir Section: Alto
Occupation: Retired Educator!
Hobbies/Interests: My grandchildren
are my joy. I love traveling, shopping,
and watching my perennials grow. I
greet them each morning.
I love singing to the glory of God for He
is marvelous!!!

Page 4
Last month some of our youth
participated in a workshop
entitled Healthy Relationships
Sexual
Responsibility.
The
purpose of the workshop was to
inform our youth about what a
healthy relationship looks like
and the consequences of sexual
activity. Our workshop was
facilitated by Ms. Chynna Stubbs, from Palmetto Health.
We started off the workshops with little activities. One
of the activities required us to get into groups and write
down what we thought makes a healthy relationship,
then we all elaborated to the whole class about our
thoughts. In another activity, we all had a different type
of STD and we had to classify them under either life
threatening, serious consequence, or little consequence.
After that exercise we had a discussion about the right
answers and about different statistics regarding sexual
responsibility.
Towards the end of the workshop someone came and
gave a testimony, explaining how being in a bad
relationship and having sex at a young age has affected
their life. The testimony was the most meaningful part
of the workshop to me. Their testimony hit home for me
because it showed that if you're going to engage in big
girl or big boy actions, then you better be ready for the
consequences that can come from it. I think that youth
these days go through life thinking that nothing bad will
ever happen to them; but the truth of the matter is that
we do not know what the future holds. What I learned
from their testimony was that your life can change in
the blink of an eye, because of one thing that you did.
At the very end, we learned about God's perspective by
reading 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20. These couple of verses
are about how you should refuse to dishonor God with
your body. In the scripture, Paul states that sexual
immorality is an offense against God the Father. He also
contrasts food for the stomach with sexual immorality
and the body to put an emphasis on Gods values of the
human body because our bodies are for the Lord.
Verses 15-17 state Do you not know that your bodies
are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the
members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute?
Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself
with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said,
The two will become one flesh.17 But whoever is
united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
In those verses, Paul is trying to remind us that the
moment we believe in Jesus Christ we are one with his
Spirit, so to him it is unthinkable that one would ever
be sexually immoral. And if we are one with Christ, then
we should take him with us where ever we go. God is
not trying to say to never have sex but to not throw
your body away to just anyone, because your body is
special in Gods eyes. Some of the best examples of
how humans just throw their bodies away are teens and
unmarried people. I say teenagers because I do not

Burns Connection
believe teenagers truly understand the religious side of
having sex. Many have sex with anyone, without a
thought behind it because "it is fun, it feels good, or
because everyone is doing it. I say unmarried people
because they may feel that even though they are not
married that it's alright to have sex with whoever they
want without any consequences. But in Gods eyes it is
not right to just throw your body away, under any
circumstances. As Christians we should cherish the
body we were given, and I challenge people to have
relationships that honor God and to avoid sexual
immorality.
--Rachel Forrest

Youth in Missions!
Did you know that Richland School District Two has
identified 450 students who need food to eat every
weekend? It is up to community organizations and
churches like us to help fill the need (and their
stomachs) so that our neighbors' children don't have to
live in hunger.
Here's how you can help: P lease donate
INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED non-perishable food items
that
make
easy
breakfast,
lunch,
or
dinner
combinations.
Examples include:
grits, oatmeal,
ravioli, fruit cups, raisins, granola bars, and juice boxes.
How to contribute:P lace your items in the " Y outh
Food Donations" container in the back of the fellowship
hall any time. Or, you can tell Ashleigh Brooker or Julia
Benjamin when you make a monetary contribution, and
the youth ministry will purchase items with your
donation.
Please mark your offering envelope as
"Youth Ministry Food Drive."
Who benefits?The Y outh M inistry is adopting the
students of Kelly Mill Middle School for the 2014-2015
school year. Some of our youth are current and former
students at this school, and it's our way of Youth helping
each other.

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Burns Connection

Christian Education Corner

God and the Gaps - Melagne Yed

The Gap of Knowledge

The first debilitation that feeds the gap of human
knowledge is our finite nature. Not one human being
can claim to possess infinite knowledge, else, he or she
ceases to be human and becomes the Absolute, Allknowing Being: God.
The second factor contributing to the gap of knowledge
is our propensity to choose to believe along one single
dimension. We sometimes want to believe in a certain
direction because thats what we deliberately choose to
do despite the preponderance of evidence pointing to
the contrary.
I recall watching recently a news and talk show on TV
where the discussion ported on the ongoing outbreak of
the viral disease, Ebola. During the discussion, one of
the two guests on the show was forcefully defending
the idea of treating every possibly infected dog like
the little adorable one she brought with her just as
we would every hospital worker or patient infected with
the disease. Even if the curative measures or
resources are insufficient, she argued, We have the
moral obligation to administer the cure equally between
the person and the dog. When the second guest and
the host of the show disagreed and asserted the value
of a child over that of a dog, the first guest promptly
countered with the accusation that her opponents were
narrow minded and heartless. What is the difference
between this little and loving dog and a child? Can any
of you tell me the difference? she asked. I can tell
you that you are, at this moment, offending many
American families who are dog owners she exclaimed.
But as I was incisively listening, eagerly awaiting for a
response to her question about the difference between
a dog and a child, I was greatly disturbed because,
despite the prolixity of their counter perspective, none
of her opponents were able even to enunciate much
less sustain the conspicuous and fundamental
distinction between a child and a dog, as little and
adorable the latter may be. Somewhere in her heart,
that one guest had actually begun to believe that there
exists no difference separating us from the animal
world. After all, havent we all been indoctrinated at
some stage to believe that as highly evolved as we,
human, may appear, we emerged from a less evolved,
but nonetheless necessary, animal world?
The Earth is the only known habitable planet in the
universe. Shorten or lengthen its distance any closer to
or any farther away from the Sun and you will unleash
untold chaos upon its surface. The unchanging
gravitational interaction between the Sun and the Earth
is crucial to the sustenance of life on Earth. The
Reynolds Number (Re) is a physical quantity that helps
in our understanding of fluid mechanics. The capacity
of the human brain to engage in cognitive processes,

its ability to reason in moral categories, the influence of

the mind (psyche) over the body (soma) to describe
psychosomatic disorders, the absence of physical laws to
explain miraculous and spiritual phenomena, and so on,
are subjects vastly too complex to be approached with
the simplistic view that our existence came together by
chance. There is intelligibility within the observable
world. And wherever there is intelligibility, we must
assume intelligence; an intelligence that cannot, by
necessity, be bound by space and time; an intelligence
that can therefore regulates even that which eludes our
sensorial capacities. But thats the preponderance of
evidence that the skeptic wants to dismiss because of his
deliberate will to believe otherwise. Mind the gap.
To be continued

Meet the Choir

Name: Ava B. Doby

Choir Section: Alto
Occupation: Retired Educator!
Hobbies/Interests: My grandchildren
are my joy. I love traveling, shopping,
and watching my perennials grow. I
greet them each morning.
I love singing to the glory of God for He
is marvelous!!!

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Burns Connection

Health Notes
November 2014
The Health & 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
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
What is diabetes? Diabetes is w hen your blood
glucose also called blood sugar is too high. Blood
glucose is the main type of sugar found in your blood
and your main source of energy. Glucose comes from
the food you eat and is also made in your liver and
muscles. Your blood carries glucose to all of your bodys
cells to use for energy. Diabetes is a serious disease
that can lead to a heart attack, stroke or death.
Types of diabetes: Type 1 (is lifelong, chronic, in
which the body does not produce insulin), Type 2
(lifelong chronic, in which your body does not use
insulin properly) & Gestational (is high blood sugar
(diabetes) that starts or is first diagnosed during
pregnancy).
Typical symptoms of diabetes are, frequent
urination, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, extreme
fatigue, blurry vision, cuts/bruises slow to heal, weight
loss or gain, tingling pain or numbness in the hands and
feet.
Risk factors are: greater than 35 waist for women,
greater than 40 waist for men, family history, age and
diabetes with pregnancy.
Take care of your diabetes your life depends on it!
Thank you! To all the w omen w ho took the time
to have a mammogram screen on last month. Your
good health is a gift from God!
Health & Welfare Ministry/H.E.A.L.S Updates &
Meeting: Monthly Meeting: Our next meeting is
scheduled for Monday, November 17th
at 6 pm.
Everyone desiring to embrace a healthier lifestyle is
invited to join this on-going health ministry.
Good nutrition during the holidays:
cooking
classes and food selections for the holidays will begin
on Monday. December 1- Monday, December 15 at 6
pm in the Fellowship Hall. Classes will be provided by
DHEC and Ashley Rush. A sign-up sheet will be
available in the fellowship hall or please contact any
member of the ministry to secure your seat for this
event.
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.

Trustees Update
The trustees have been very busy the last several
months assessing the needs reported by Francis
Burnss ministries and individuals alike. Weve been
performing ongoing trustee duties such as
overseeing the maintenance of the building and
grounds; preparing a budget for 2015; assessing the
HVAC units and outlining a replacement schedule for
each unit; replaced the HVAC unit that services the
kitchen and fellowship hall; had the floors stripped
and re-waxed throughout the building; signed a
contract with Midlands Biofuels, LLC to collect used
cooking oil from the kitchen [you are invited to
recycle your used cooking oil by pouring it in the
container located near the dumpster behind the
fenced area]; working with Christian Education to
analyze the need for / type of television for the
classrooms [& other technology issues]; and
prioritizing some big ticket items that are not
covered under the operating budget.
The trustees along with representatives from the
Church Council, the Strategic Planning Committee, a
few other invited members, and the pastor held a
series of meetings to discuss best ways to handle
the many facility needs of Francis Burns. As result
of these meetings we are in agreement that a
Building
Committee
and
Capital
Campaign
Committee should be formulated as we begin to plan
for tomorrow and future years.
The Strategic Planning Committee has been
authorized by Church Council to conduct the Natural
Church Development Survey to help us assess the
health of our church. That survey is scheduled to be
held at the church on Saturday, November 15, 2014.
Thirty individuals including the pastor, was selected
across age ranges and by gender to take the survey.
In the meantime, a survey is being developed to get
input from the congregation on the perceived needs
and how much funds we are willing to commit to
meeting these needs. That survey instrument will be
pretested on November 15th as well, before it is
presented to the congregation in a series of settings
to be determined.
As you can see, there is a lot of collaboration and
coordinating going on with seemingly little progress.
But the first steps to getting those ideas out of our
heads and into the hearts and hands of the
congregation is a time sensitive but evolving
process. We ask for your continued patience, and
most especially for your prayers, as we seek Gods
guidance to perform this very important work of His
church. Our goal is to lay a firm foundation on which
we can build for future generations.
We are always open to comments, questions,
suggestions, and constructive criticisms.
No
individual or ministry is privy to all knowledge, but
with all of us working together, sharing the
See Trustee page 7

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Burns Connection
The year is quickly moving
away and in a few weeks we
will celebrate Thanksgiving,
Christmas and a New Year.
Isnt it difficult to believe all the
television
ads
and
store
decorations for Christmas? We
are already planning for the
holidays looking forward to the
time when family and friends will gather together.
What do you expect? What are some of the things
you may be wanting and waiting for your church?
The Bible tells us in St. John 16:33
In the world you will have tribulations; but be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Sometimes we think we are going to have a life filled
with good, day after day after day. However, we are
reminded that those other days will come also. My
mother would tell us In life you must be able to take
the bitter with the sweet.
As we continue to move forward in the life of Francis
Burns United Methodist Church, it is my hope and
prayer that we will continue to look ahead and focus
on where God is calling us rather than where we
have come from.
God has so much more He wants us to do to fulfill
His Kingdom and develop His church. Thus, as we
reach out and take hold of the hand of God, we must
remember God is expecting us to do something to
advance His Kingdom.
Remember, as we reach out to God, God is also
reaching out to us.
Grace and Peace
Ernest C. Etheredge

UMW News
Eight members of Francis Burns attended the 42nd
Annual Meeting of the South Carolina Conference
United Methodist Women, October 24-25 in Beaufort,
SC. The Theme: ... "And What Does The Lord
Require Of You?" In response to the theme for the
conference Annual Meeting, the SC Limitless Team
sponsored a Cereal Drive Mission Project. We are
required to Feed The Hungry. All types of cereal was
collected.
Regular Meeting of UMW, November 16,2014 at 4:00
PM, Fellowship Hall. All women are invited to attend.
Our theme for the meeting is Welcoming Circles and
Members.

Remember In Your Prayers

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. Irretta Wise Mr. Charles Perry (brother of Diane James)

Mrs. Brenda Wingate Mrs. Mazondra Thomas (friend of
Valarie & Carl Robinson Mrs. Lola Praylow Ms. Beverly
Frierson Mrs. Eliza Cave (mother of Wilbur Cave) Mr.
Thomas Kelsey (son-in-law of Earl & Dorothy Williams) Mr.
Willie Pressley (brother of Gladys Morgan-Bell) Mrs.
Shemega Tyson Mr. Wheeler Williams III (nephew of Tom
Williams Ms. Daisy Block Ms. Pam Williams (niece of
Ollie Benners Mrs. Edith Pearson Paden White (grandson of
Ann Hickson) Mrs. Dorothy Ricks Rev. John Pearson, Sr.
Mr. Albert Bert Humphrey Mrs. Ivy Ellerby Mr. Sam
Mixon Mr. John Brisby (grandson of Dorothy & Earl Williams)

LAY VISITATION
TEAM

NEEDS YOU
We need members to volunteer to visit the sick, bereaved, lonely, hospitalized, shut-in, etc. You will
be partnered with another member as you visit the
members of Francis Burns United Methodist Church.
Also, you may volunteer to deliver altar flowers only.
We need male and female members to show our congregation that WE CARE!!!
Call Nettie Greene at 803-798-5260 or Joyce
Grant at 803-736-2662 to join this much-needed
and gratifying ministry.

The OCH
Grief Support & Nurturing Ministry

The November meeting will be held on

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, from 6:007:00 pm. The topic, "The Immense Power
of Prayer while Grieving," will be discussed by the Prayer Ministry's Angela
Edmund. This will also be our Thanksgiving covered dish meeting. For questions:
contact Dana Tucker.

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Burns Connection

Lectionary
November 2014
Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
November 2, , Joshua 3:7-17, Psalm 107:1-7, 3337, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, Matthew 23:1-12
Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost
November 9, Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25, Psalm 78:17, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost
November 16, Judges 4:1-7, Psalm 123, 1
Thessalonians 5:1-11, Matthew 25:14-30
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
November 23, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 100,
Ephesians 1:15-23, Matthew 25:31-46
First Sunday of Advent
November 30, Isaiah 65:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19,
1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13:24-37

2014 Budget Information

Administrative
Council on Ministries
Committee on Finance
Board of Trustees
Total 2014 Budget

$295,992.18
$123,763.00
$
250.00
$157,400.00
$577,405.18

Weekly Amount Needed

Monthly Amount Needed

$11,103.95
$48,117.10

Amount Received in September $40,804.32

Thank You

United Methodist Men Update

Meeting
November 8, 2014
8 AM
Golden Corral

Trust when the skies are darkening,

Mission in Motion
Thank you again, Francis Burns
Family, for a job well done. Thanks
to you, the Missions Ministry was
able to provide 27 thumb drives to
Richland School District One and
enough toiletries to Richland School
District Two for 20 high school and
10 middle school students. As you
shop for your families, please keep
the needs of these students in
mind. We always need toiletry items for both male and
female students of all ethnicities: deodorant, bar soap
or body wash, shampoo & conditioner, tooth brushes,
and tooth paste.
Thanksgiving
Baskets:
If
you
submitted
a
Thanksgiving basket recipient, please pick up your
basket on Saturday, November 22nd between 10:00 AM
and 12:00 Noon.
Bake Sale: Our annual bake sale w ill be held after
services on Sunday, November 23rd. Please donate a
homemade dessert for this sale. W e need cakes,
cookies, pies (especially sweet potato), brownies,
cupcakes, etc. Please contact Lynnette Robinson or Inez
Benjamin if you will donate baked goods. Please support
the Bake Sale on November 23rd.
National Homeless Week (November 15 -23,
2014): Listen out for great news from our Fabulous
Francis Burns Youth. In addition, during this week,
especially, we ask that you pray daily for homeless
families and include the topic of homelessness in your
family discussions.
Families Helping Families: I t is almost that time of
the year! You guessed, it Families Helping Families.
We need your help and support. We are adopting 30
families, consisting of: 10 Seniors as well as 5 families
with 2, 3, 4 or 5 family members in each family.
Families/Seniors will be available to adopt on Sunday,
November 9, 2014, immediately following church
service. All pertinent information will be given to you
when you adopt your family/Senior/individual. You may
deliver/drop

off your wrapped gifts at the church on

the following dates:
Sunday, December 7, 2014 After Service
Monday, December 8, 2014 from 6pm 8pm
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 6pm 8pm
Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 6pm 8pm

Trust when your light grows dim,

Trust when the shadows gather,
Trust and look up to Him. Anon

Salvation Army Bell Ringers

Stay tuned for more info.

Page 7

Burns Connection
Trustee from page 6
knowledge, skills, and gifts God has given to each of
us, we can accomplish much for His glory.
Suggestion forms are in the trustee box. Let us hear
from you. It would be helpful to us if you place your
contact info on the form so we can follow-up.
As a constant reminder to all of us, if you are the last
group/person to leave the building, please check to
make sure all lights are turned off and the building is
properly secured before you vacate the premises.
Notify the trustee on call if you have questions or
issues with securing the building. Think Safety!

Save the Date!

Francis Burns Married Couples Ministry
" Holiday Social"
6 PM, Friday, November 21st
In the Fellowship Hall
Music by DJ Stan
Dinner will be served

Grace and Peace,

Rebecca W. Eleazer, Trustee Chair
rebecca.eleazer@francisburns.og

Were

Nuts for Missions!

Fall Pecan Sale Campaign
2014 pecan crop from a local
South Carolina orchard in gift bags

Large pieces
jumbo halves
Chocolate Covered Pecan Halves
Sugar Free Chocolate Covered Halves box,
Honey Roasted Pecan Halves.
Pecans are tasty and healthy, ranked # 1 nut for
antioxidant capacity, contains 19 vitamins and
minerals, great source of immune building zinc,
contains no trans-fat, have been recognized for their
role in weight control. They are very good source of
Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium
Deadline for placing order:
Wednesday November 5th
Target delivery date: November 14th.
Extras will be very limited, so please order all
you need by Nov 5th. Call Doris M cN air w ith
questions - 803-754-3384. Francis Burns UMW
appreciates your support!

Do you not know that you are Gods temple and

that Gods Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys Gods temple, God will destroy that person. For Gods temple is holy, and you are that
temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NRSV)

Attire: Dressy Casual (No denim, please)

$10 CASH DONATION PER COUPLE

Please bring non-perishable food items
for local food bank!
Please RSVP by Nov. 12th
to a member of the ministry
Clifford & Rachel Bourke
DeAndre & Lindell Brabham
Olden & Roberta Brooker
Rudy & Lynn Harris
James & Sharon Johnson

834-3707
736-2839/422-0227
788-1767/629-3618
788-0211/206-3103
699-3960

2015
Committee/Ministry and
Events Planner

Its that time of year again.

Dates and schedules for
events,
meeting, etc. are due by November 30th
Events will be listed by availability. In
case of conflict or if the time, date and
place is not available, you will be notified
to plan for alternate dates, times and
places.

Information must be submitted to both

the Church Office at
info@francisburns.org
and Lynn Harris
lynnjataun@bellsouth.net.
Or written information can also be placed
in the Worship mail box..

Page 8

Burns Connection

Burns Connection

Happy Birthday

s
gget
u
N
ns
Lyn

There are two kinds of people who dont say

muchthose who are quiet and those who
talk a lot.
God listens to your HEART, not your words!

Church Women United:

Francis Burns will be hosting Church Women
United of Columbias World Community Day 2014
celebration, Friday, November 7. The celebration
theme is Through God our Hands Can Heal.
You are invited to attend. Registration is at 10:30
A.M. The celebration service is from 11am12pm.
Please bring a nonperishable food item for Harvest
Hope Food Bank or you may make a donation
payable to Harvest Hope. There is a drop-off
container with a list of "need now" items
currently in the fellowship hall. Contact Rebecca
Eleazer: rebecca.eleazer@franisburns.org or 7540942.

01
02
02
03
03
03
04
04
04
04
05
05
06
07
09
10
10
11
11
12
13
13

Mitchell Brown
Florence Payne
Jackie Williams
Julia Benjamin
Chaundolyn Johnson
Ralph Johnson
Jaysha Johnson
Darrel Alexander
Beverly Evans
Ida Wideman
Kenneth Kinney
Maeward Belk
Christian Jenkins
Jessie Risher
Jennie Hunter
Tamia Truesdale
Pat Noble
Olivia Bell
Tsharre Tention
Ayrn Truesdale
Adrienne Coleman
Johnny Malloy

13
13
14
14
17
18
19
19
20
20
22
22
22
22
23
24
25
25
26
26
27
28

Isaac Wright, Jr.

Claudine Gee
Kristopher Bowman
Irma Lowman
Pearl Parson
Chanda Parson
Gary Wright
Gwen Smalls
Willie Patterson
Ace Brewer
James Brisbon
Vernita Cobbs
Todriq Truesdale
John Montgomery
Melvin Miller
Vincent Black
Briena Stewart
Alfa Tisdale
Jonathan McMillian
Lephonia Wright
Mary Alston
Bryce Risher

Happy Anniversary
8 November Rev. & Mrs. John & Edith Pearson
12 November Vincent & Belverly Black
15 November Jimmie & Crystal Wright
27 November Myron & Linda Bell
28 November Fred & Mary Brandyburg

To update your birthday or anniversary information,

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

Carolyn Lucas
736-2974 or 261-3072

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.

Francis Burns UMC

5616 Farrow Rd.
Columbia, SC 29203
(803) 754-1760
Rev. Ernest C. Etheredge
Pastor

SAVE THE DATE

November 2014
Adult Ministry Members Find A Mission in South Africa
On Monday, September 30, we, Francis Burns Adult
Ministry members, Rhonda and Sharee Washington,
received an email from Linda L., a celebrity PR rep from
Los Angeles. She had just arrived in Cape Town, South
Africa on Friday, September 26,
for 2 months of
volunteering with SurfShack Surf School. She read a blog
post that we would be in Cape Town in a few days and
wanted us to film the kids.

to

Celebrate His Name

Presented by
The Music Department
of
Francis Burns United Methodist Church
5616 Farrow Road

On The Light Side

Trustee on Call November

Volume 2014 Issue 10

Columbia SC 29203
Sunday, December 14, 2014
6:00 PM
Prelude - 5:30 PM

From the start these kids touched our hearts. Although

they do not have much, we learned from the kids their
hope for the future and why they love the surf school.
Watching these kids surf was truly awesome. They would
crash in the water, get back up and do it again with a smile
on their face. It beats being on the streets selling drugs,
"sniffing glue", or not having a meal all day. We hope to
continue a relationship with the kids by offering assistance
when needed (shoes, school supplies, food/snacks, etc)
through a personal commitment and via organizations such
as Francis Burns UMW Missions.
Rhonda W. and Sharee W.