Rincon United Methodist Church

107 Savannah Avenue, Rincon, GA 31326 (Web Site) www.rinconumc.org (E-Mail) info@rinconumc.com

912-826-5796

Loving God Loving People Growing Together Moving Forward

Faith Connections

As November begins, our hearts and minds turn to Thanksgiving. We truly have so many

reasons to be thankful! Even in the midst of this global viral pandemic, we have a lot for which to

be thankful. I am thankful for our loving church family and the way we have come together to

support each other during this challenging time. I am thankful for the many cards, calls, texts and

words of support and appreciation for the extra effort Ralph, D’Ve and I have done to help keep our

church family connected and worshipping together.

I am thankful for the help of many church family members which allowed us to be the first

UMC in Effingham County (and maybe the Coastal District) to resume in person worship with our

drive-in service. Because of their technical expertise and equipment, a radio frequency transmitter

I have for Christmas lights, and the pastoral way that Ralph leads our music ministry, and the many

volunteer musicians and singers, we have had meaningful worship experiences in the parking

together from very early on in this pandemic.

I am thankful for the volunteers who have stepped forward to help our transition back into

the sanctuary be as seamless as possible. I am thankful everyone who has ushered, done forehead

temperature scans, dispensed hand sanitizer and run the slides. I am thankful to all who gave

toward our new screens and all who installed them so that we could begin using them as soon as we

returned to the sanctuary. I am thankful for the flexibility and understanding of those who have

attended worship in the sanctuary as we learn how to do this in a way that is appropriate for our

context, follows CDC guidelines and ensures that even the most vulnerable are able to be part of

the in-person worshipping community.

I am thankful for the group of leaders who have helped me lead our facility re-opening

process. We are truly blessed to have such leaders in our church family. Their wisdom and

compassion, their desire to bring all voices to the table, their love for each other and our entire

church family has been an amazing blessing to behold as we have sat socially distant together at the

table to discuss this important topic together.

I am thankful that, from our latest meeting, I have more good news to share with you in

this article. Beginning with the service on October 25, we have greatly increased our capacity. We

believe that with the new measures we have in place we should be able to seat nearly the number of

people we had in attendance before the pandemic began. We still need to require reservations, so

that social distancing can be maintained in the worship service. We will still be requiring masks,

doing forehead scans and having attendees use hand sanitizer before entering, to help mitigate any

contagion. Ushers will be seating attendees at the beginning of the service and ushering them out

at the end of the service, to limit any chance of contact closer than 6 feet. All attendees are

welcome to visit on the lawn after the service, following CDC guidelines and observing social

distancing. When you call to make your reservation, if there are folks outside of your household

with whom you have close contact in other settings (friends, extended family, class or circle, etc.)

you can make your reservation to sit together.

I am thankful that we are also at a place where, if the pandemic doesn’t start getting worse,

we are looking at returning to Sunday School on Sunday morning (Sunday School classes are wel-

come to contact the office a schedule a time other than Sunday morning for meetings currently),

(Continued on page 2)

Prayer

Requests:

Dolores Bott

Ruth Hedrick

Family of Remer

Frawley

D’Ve Wilkins &

Family

Barbara Heath & Family

Gloria Antonio & Family

Wayne & Ann Cockrell,

Jim & Jill Anderson

Peggy & Grady Long

Christina Lyles

Noah Edwards

Vicky Waller

Jordan Rahn

Dean Holland

Brad and Ann

Kephart

RD Jaudon

Carolyn & Stanley Grisriel

Robb Anderson

Glenn Andrews

Ray & Shirley Causey

Norma Cave

Camilla Corbin

Keith & Marsha Cornell

Charlie Dukes

Jack Green

Arlene Herndon

Beth Holland

Joyce Kelley

Maxine Oglesby

LCPL Brisco Olsen

Donald Quinones

Mary Rotureau

James Sapp

Ernest Zittrouer

We have updated our

prayer list, if you have a

prayer request, please let

us know.

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Season of Pentecost

Sunday Worship 11:00 am

Rev. J. Michael Finn **********

November 1st 22nd Sunday after Pentecost

“Thriving Right Now”

Romans 12:12

November 8th 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Veteran’s Recognition Sunday

Guest Speaker

November 15th All Saints Sunday Celebration

“The Family of God Together”

Rev. 7: 9-17, 1 John 3: 1-3,

Matthew 5: 1-12

November 22nd Christ the King Sunday

Blessing of the Shoe Boxes

TBA

Season of Advent Sermon Series: Christmas

Movies

November 29th 1st Sunday in Advent

“Home Alone: Be Alert and Keep

Watch”

1 Mark 13: 24-37

November 2020 Page 2

September Stewardship

Monthly

Total Receipts $19,757.00

Total Expenses $24,597.00

Difference ($4,840.00)

Yearly (75%)

Total Receipts (61%) $181,787.00

Total Expenses (67%)* $199,536.00

Difference ($17,749.00)

Music Ministries

Handbells Wednesdays @ 6:30 pm. Contact Ralph Long if you are interested.

Choir each Wednesdays @ 7:30 pm. New members are always welcome.

Flower Calendar If you are able to help with the Altar Flower ministry please call the

church office at 826-5796 to help. The open dates are listed below.

Thank you. November 29th; December 13th & 27th

Administrative Council

February 10th @ 6 pm

Giving:

You can give on Sunday in the offering plate (located in the Narthex), drop it in the

mailbox on Sunday or through our website on line at rinconumc.com or by mail at 107

Savannah Avenue, Rincon, GA 31326.

returning to one service in the sanctuary that is broadcast live on FaceBook, and resuming

food related ministry in manner appropriate to our context, follows CDC guidelines and

ensures that even the most vulnerable can attend.

We have so many reasons to give thanks! I am reminded of Psalm 95:1-7:

“Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.

The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,

for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.”

As we continue to move forward, let us all remember that there is nothing that can

stop God’s people who are about God’s purpose! Remember I love you and God loves you!

We are the Rincon United Methodist Church family and we are Loving God, Loving People,

Growing Together and Moving Forward to God’s glory!

Looking Forward,

Brother Michael

Gifts given in memory of Merle Zittrouer by Herb & Kay Jones.

Gifts given in memory of Morris Oglesby by Herb & Kay Jones.

Gifts given in memory of Eddie Heath by Ron Bragg, Tom & Susan Mahany,

Brenda Helmly, Evelyn Helmly and Dick & Donna Leach.

Gifts Given in memory of Remer Frawley by Herb & Kay Jones and Dick & Donna Leach.

Gifts given in memory of Art Buendia by Tom & Susan Mahany and Dick & Donna Leach.

Gifts given in memory of Nicholas Moore & Mr. Dimatta for the music ministry by Ron

Bragg.

Gifts given in memory of Rosie Southard by Dick & Donna Leach.

Gifts given in honor of Ron Bragg for the Piece Makers Ministry by Danny Fries.

Tree Removal Trustees removed trees at the parsonage due to the danger they posed to

the Parsonage and our pastoral family. The original amount needed was

$8,500. We have spent $3,200 to remove the trees. We still need $5,300

to remove the rest of the trees and for stump removal of the trees already

removed. Please note “Trees” on your donations. Thank you for your

help with this need.

United Methodist Women & United Methodist Men

November 5th & 19th @ 10 am Men’s Bible Study

November 5th & 19th @ 11:30 am Men’s Lunch @ Ms. Jean’s

Eva Oglesby Circle will follow UMW district guidelines and meet again in January. Look for

more information as the new year gets closer.

November 12th @ 6:00 pm Angels of Hope Circle location TBA

Thank You

To the men who

faithfully take care

of the grass cutting

and grounds care at

the pond.

Meetings this month:

Administrative Council

??????

Good Things are Still Happening:

The Parsonage kitchen renovation is complete!! We are excited to have an open house in the future to allow

you to see the wonderful new Parsonage kitchen.

The Sanctuary Video System is being put in place and we hope to have this completed soon.

October 2020 Page 3

The Manna House thanks everyone for their generosity and allowing them to be

an integral part of the community.

The mission of feeding people is still going strong with Manna House Ministries.

During the past four months they have held 22 drive-through food distributions

serving over 5,000 cars with over 500,000 pounds of

food.

Over the next few months families will begin

registering to receive a Thanksgiving Meal Box

(“Boxes of Hope”). These boxes will be distributed

during the month of November. Sponsoring the

“Boxes of Hope Campaign” is the safest way to

support families and give them hope through a

meal. Each box is $10. You can mail in you donation or go to the website to

submit you donation(s). Please see the enclosed flyer for the address and website.

You help can bring hope to families hurting in our community. Thank you—

together we can make a difference.

Blessing of the Shoe Boxes

November

1st

Do not forget to

set your clocks

back 1 hour.

John Wesley Class: Our mission funds have gotten very low. If you would like to donate please make your check to

“John Wesley Class” and either mail to the church office or to Millie McRae, 341 Ottis Seckinger Road, Rincon, GA

31326. Recently $50 was sent to Manna House for Thanksgiving baskets.

2020 Poinsettia Orders

If you would like to order a poinsettia this year please fill

out the enclosed order form. The Poinsettias will be $13

this year and we will have them displayed on December

20th and at the Christmas Eve service.

The deadline is November 8th.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make

Family Promise a success the week of October 18th.

We were able to feed the families 6 nights during the

week!

Janie Long, Coordinator

October 2020 Page 4

THANK YOU From SPPRC and RUMC Family: October is recognized as Pastor Appreciation Month. Last year our church chose to make it Pastor

& Staff Appreciation...what a difference a year makes?!! In this time of worldwide health crisis that

has made every aspect of life more difficult, we have developed a deeper appreciation for our

dedicated, caring, and creatively flexible pastors and staff! You all have helped us navigate this

uncharted, unknown, frightening crisis while continually showing concern for our spiritual needs as

well as our physical health and safety. The efforts to continue serving and keeping us connected as a

family required much time for thoughtful planning, setting up and taking down, creative activities as

well as careful attention to safety.

In your immediate response of how RUMC could still worship, you developed numerous options:

live drive-in services that allowed us visual contact and active participation; on-line services provided

convenience and increased availability; individual pastoral attention through calls, texts, emails, and

visits as able; noon devotions gave an additional way to focus positively during the isolation; frequent

and on-going church wide phone and email communication that kept us informed and aware of prayer

and special help needs in our church family. Our church leaders were regularly updated and asked for

input and helped to plan for resuming normal activities. I think we have all felt a renewed awareness

of the comfort and need for our church, our pastors and staff, and our church family! Being able to gradually return and restore our

"normal" church worship and fellowship has had a profound and emotional effect on all of us, so many changes both joyous and

heartbreaking over these 8 months.

We are still not yet able to celebrate and recognize you all as we would like, but oh what a happy and grand celebration we will

have as soon as possible! In the meantime, EVERY day is a good day to show appreciation for our pastors and office administrator

and each of us can participate in that! We thank you /heavenly Father for our awesome, caring, pastoral and administrative staff and

for keeping us united and focused on loving You and each other!

In Isaiah 43 God promises to be with us to save, heal, and restore us. We are thankful for and appreciate Michael, Ralph, and

D'Ve for being God's helpers leading and helping us through this difficult time! We pray God will continue to bless each of you.

In grateful appreciation and love,

Your SPPRC and Church Family

We send our heartfelt love and thanks for your many

gracious calls, cards and uplifting prayers during our

time of illness and the loss of my dear

Mother, Rosie Southard. God Bless each

of you.

In Christian Love,

Barrie & D’Ve Wilkins

November 2020 Page 5

CONTACT US

Church Office 912-826-5796

Hours: Mon., 9 am to 4 pm

Tue. & Wed., 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Thurs. 9 am to 12 pm

Friday, Closed

Fax Number 912-826-2263

E-Mail info@rinconumc.com

Pastor:

Michael Finn 912-826-5796 (O)

Cell: 478-973-3448

E-Mail: pastor@rinconumc.com

Associate Pastor/Minister of Music:

Ralph Long 912-826-5796 (O)

Cell: 912-667-8332

E-mail: Ralph@rinconumc.com

On The Web: rinconumc.org

107 Savannah Avenue

Rincon, GA 31326

912.826.5796