ocation • ss Un A it ss e e d r M P W e . I t N h C . N Wr E o S it ing R d • a i nd s s O Pu v t r b er lic a A o a ll t t ion s a s c o i c n a u t i o m n m o o f C $2 February 2013 Seasons of Epiphany/Lent S.C. UMCs achie8ve be7st ap%portionments in a decade Columbia District does 100% tionment giving that saw the best numbers istry this year than expected, the treasurer’s since 2003. office reports. By Jessica Connor S.C. United Methodist churches paid According to year-end figures provided by 87.02 percent of apportionments for 2012 – that office, the 87 percent translates to about South Carolina United Methodist pro - almost 3 percent higher than the 84.2 percent $15.5 million paid to the conference in 2012 grams and agencies have more money for they paid in 2011. of the $17,863,269 total budget. ministry thanks to a year-end push in appor - That translates to $341,110 more for min - See “87%,” Page 7 Upstate ministry helps woman get service dog Page 28 Forever Friends Special needs families find fun, welcoming worship By Jessica Connor FORT MILL – It’s Thursday night in Fort Mill, and a crowd is gathering in the bright open sanctuary at Grace Community United Methodist Church. Loud, fun praise music booms from the speakers, Clemson group while newcomers and long-timers alike are chatting aids in storm relief excitedly, catching up or just hugging and grinning. Page 13 Acceptance and courtesy are everywhere – some - one holds open the door for a woman with crutches or a man in a wheelchair. Autistic? No problem. Like to sing at will? Yes, please! The noise a little much? Here’s a quiet space right outside the door. Just walking in, you get the sense you’ve been there forever, and these are your very best friends who will do anything to make you feel at home. “I love coming to church,” says 18-year-old Katelyn Massey, carefully weighing her words, ‘We Care’ bears! adding with a grin that church has become her Page 26 “hobby.” “I like the music, and I like being able to spend time with people like me.” Massey and dozens of other special needs teens Ash Wednesday, and adults come to Grace Community on the third See “Forever Friends,” Page 8 Special needs adults enjoy a spirited, music-filled worship program once a Feb. 13 month at Grace Community UMC, Fort Mill. - - Church, Locks of Love help girl with alopecia By Jessica Connor Except when you’re begged last minute to acolyte at church and the only hat you ROCK HILL – For Tatum Brewer, 10, hav - brought looks silly with the formal robe. ing alopecia isn’t so bad. Except when it’s Except when the questions upon questions “Having July, and all the kids are asking why you’re start making you feel less like a helpful per - hair wearing a hat on the sweltering indoor play - son and more like an oddball. changed my life,” ground. “It would drive me a little bit crazy,” Tatum Except when it’s a sleepover, and all the Tatum admits, shyly taking a bite of her Brewer girls are French braiding their hair and tying said. satin bows. See “Locks of Love,” Page 9 2-3, Inside Feature Articles 14-15, Salkehatchie 22, Resource Center 3, Subcribe 16, Global News 23, Health News Index 4-6, Viewpoints 18, History 24-25, Seniors 10, Education & Youth 19,Obituaries 26, Classified Ads Scan this 12-13, Ministries & Missions 20-21, District & Local News 26, Upcoming Events QR code with your smartphone! Page 2, February 2013 The South Carolina United Methodist Advocate The church launched the service as its first worship experience in Hours/Location the greater Bluffton area Open Monday through Friday after several 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. S.C. United Methodist Conference years of vision - Center ing by leader - 4908 Colonial Drive, Suite 207 ship and the Columbia, SC 29203 congregation Deadlines are the 10th of each month. and working Contacting Us with the confer - Telephone: 888-678-6272 or ence Office of 803-786-9486 Congregational Fax: 803-735-8168 Development. E-mail: [email protected] (Photos by Matt Brodie) Submissions The Advocate encourages readers to submit for publication items of interest to South Carolina St. Andrew launches multisite concept United Methodists. There is no charge for running items involving activities or announcements. Items should be submitted as far as possible with Christmas Eve under the Stars in advance of the event’s date or the date of requested BLUFFTON – As worshipers welcomed publication. Since there is no charge for these items, they appear in the arrival of the Christ Child on Christmas the newspaper on a space-available Eve, members of Hilton Head Island’s St. basis. Deadlines are the 10th of each Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist month for the following month’s paper. Church were also thanking God for His presence in a new worship service called Advertising “Christmas Eve under the Stars.” Display ads, classified ads and inserts The outdoor service shone a light on the can be ordered by contacting us at 888-678-6272 or 803-786-9486, ext. birth of a new multisite extension of the 338, or [email protected]. church into Bluffton, where approximately Deadlines are the 10th of each month 350 gathered for the holy night. for the following month’s paper. The church launched the service as its Subscriptions first worship experience in the greater The Advocate is delivered to mailbox - Bluffton area after several years of vision - es via U.S. mail every month prior to ing by leadership and the congregation and the first Sunday of the month. work in conjunction with the conference Attendees at Christmas Eve Under the Stars enjoyed two bonfires, where they could Subscriptions are $15/year for the make s’mores and warm up with coffee or hot chocolate before and after the event. print and online version, and $8/year Office of Congregational Development. for the online-only edition. Church Bluffton has been named the fastest-grow - there, the idea quickly was seen as a great in a Manger.” plans are available for as low as $1/member (online version) or ing city in the state, and the conference rec - opportunity for people to meet in a public “It was just so special to look out at all $10/member (print version with 10+ ognized the need for a strong United area without the fear of having to come the lit candles and see so many from all subscribers per church). To start your Methodist presence in previously unserved through the doors of a church, much like St. over the Bluffton area,” Burbage said. subscription, visit www.advocatesc. org, call with credit card to 888-678- portions of greater Bluffton over the past Andrew’s well-known Easter sunrise serv - “After much planning and many prayers, 6272 or 803-786-9486, ext. 335, or several years. ice at the public beach on the island. we were so blessed that God was using us send a check to Advocate, 4908 At the same time, St. Andrew began to Working with the developer of out there under the stars to include so many Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203. seek ways to offer programs for members Buckwalter Place, for the Christmas Eve new people in giving thanks for the Christ Photographs living on the mainland, and to reach out as Service the church was able to use a vacant child.” Photographs can be submitted a missional church to the many in the area parcel in the blooming commercial and Both of St. Andrew’s worship services at to the newspaper for publication. who may not have a church home. The institutional center. A new Publix, the the sanctuary on Pope Avenue on Hilton High-resolution digital images are preferred. Photographs should be concept of creating a multisite campus, and police department, a state-of-the art bowling Head had record attendance, as well. in focus and should have proper expanding through a vibrant existing con - alley and other businesses have recently According to Burbage, the church plans to exposure. Color or black and gregation rather than just “parachute drop - sprung up at Buckwalter Place, which is follow up with an oyster roast and worship white photographs are accepted. People in photographs should be iden - ping” a pastor into the area, led the project accessed by two major thoroughfares. service in January, along with offering a tified with names and ages, and a to become the new church start for the con - Working with the Town of Bluffton, permits spring tennis league for kids, parenting contact person with a phone number ference for 2012. The church envisions hav - and permissions were granted to post signs workshops, missional opportunities and should be included in the information. ing a separate space in Bluffton in the promoting the event, and to erect a 30- x other studies and discussion groups already Accuracy Policy future, but continuing as one church in two 40-foot clear-top tent. meeting in Bluffton. The Advocate strives to produce locations. Seating under the tent topped out around A video report on Christmas Eve under error-free news reports. When mis - “We had absolutely no idea how many 100, but within minutes of the service start - the Stars, produced by Conference Director takes occur, it is our policy to correct them as soon as they are brought to would attend Christmas Eve under the ing (and despite showers just prior), hun - of Communications Matt Brodie, may be our attention.