Boiling Springs United Methodist Church

                                        Sunshine Club Meeting      March 2, 2020

Officers for 2020:

President – Johnnie Sue Hinson                     Devotions - Jean Koon and Patsy Amick

President Emertis - Janice Craps                    Communications - Donna Chapman

Vice President – Sharon Gruetman                Food Coordinator - Rebecca Lutz

Secretary/Treasurer - Pam Ricard                  Year Book - Rebecca Lutz and JoAnn Gunter

President Johnnie Sue Hinson called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.  There were 42 members in attendance.  Johnnie Sue thanked Carolyn Taylor and Charlene Harmon for the table decorations for today’s meeting.  Charles Taylor opened our meeting with a prayer of thanks.  Devotions were delivered by Jean Koon and Patsy Amick.  Their presentation was a piece of historical treasure.  These devotions were originally delivered by Marguerite Ballington, one of the Charter Members from the 1980’s. Mrs. Ballington was the mother of three current members:  Peggy Hughes, Bonny Clamp, and Johnny Ballington.  The topic was “What Does It Mean to Believe?”  Scripture references were taken from James 2:14 and Revelations 3:20.  The question posed has two conclusions – 1) If lost, we should seek salvation or 2) If saved, we find peace.  Even demons believe in salvation, so is belief enough?  There are three steps to know if we are saved.  First, we heard about salvation, Second, we believe what we have heard is true, and Third, we trust, stop struggling, and take action to live for Christ.  Total trust parallels someone on the shoulders of a tightrope walker.  They, like us, must trust completely that the one in control won’t let us fall.  We know God doesn’t want any harm to come to his children.

Johnnie Sue then recognized our members celebrating birthdays in March.  Those members were presented gifts crafted by Janice and Junius Craps.

Next order of business was to draw for door prizes.  Carolyn Taylor won the Grand Prize, a beautiful hand painted wooden Easter cross, again crafted by Junius Craps suitable for outdoor display.  Fourteen additional door prizes were awarded as the numbers were announced.

Johnnie Sue called for Old and New Business to be discussed.  No Old Business was brought forward from February.  New Business items were discussed as follows:

1.  Vote on location for lunch next month.  Membership voted to meet at Ocean View in West Columbia at 11:00 on April 6^th.

2.  Email addresses if available for all members were collected and given to Donna Chapman.  Those email addresses will be used to distribute or update information as received.

3.  Discussions then followed to remind the membership of the reasoning behind monthly collections/donations.  Those monies are used for items as listed:  Love Offering to musical entertainment, memorials for member/spouses, flowers in church for Mothers’/Fathers’ Day, donations to BSUMC Youth Group/Girl/Boy Scout troops, as well as our U.S. Military Troops.  

4.  Members are reminded that as they fall into Monthly Food Groups to prepare our lunch, be aware that they are also to provide paper goods as required for the meal.

Following New Business discussion, Charles Taylor then provided our March program for our entertainment.  This month marks the 40^th Anniversary of the BSUMC Sunshine Club.  Charles presented a very detailed historical account to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the BSUMC Sunshine Club.  The first meeting was held March 4, 1980 with 24 Charter Members.  Their first meetings were held in the church basement until construction of the Family Ministries Building.  Since inception there have been 7 Presidents and 8 Pastors.  Early on the Sunshine Club used the Church bus and a van for some trips.  Many getaways were enjoyed taking members to Niagara Falls, Biltmore Estate, Charleston Tea Planation, Nashville, Riverbanks Zoo, Dutch Square, and Shealy’s.  We are so thankful for those Charter Members as we continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  Charles also recognized several of our current members that come to our meetings who are members from other churches.  We are thankful for all who share our belief and come to gather with us in fellowship and worship each month.  Much appreciation goes to Rebecca Lutz, John Allen Shealy, and Charles Taylor for the countless hours of love, labor, research, photos, and compilation of the commemorative spiral bound book available to members at a nominal cost of $11.00.  We are thankful for all those endeavors and those who preceded us to form the BSUMC Sunshine Club.

Just prior to Rev. Ken Prill’s special blessing of the meal, he asked us to remember Louise Rawl at the death of her husband, John Rawl.  Services will be tomorrow at Red Bank Baptist.  We then enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by the following members:  Charles and Carolyn Taylor, Charlene Harmon, Becky Mathias, Rose Ricard, and Jackie Leaphart.  Our meal included spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, cole slaw, mixed fruit cobbler, blueberry cobbler, peach cobbler, cherry cheesecake, chocolate cake, tea and lemonade.

Next meeting – April 6, 2020.  We will not have a program/entertainment due to our meeting for lunch this month at Ocean View in West Columbia.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela H. Ricard

Sunshine Club Secretary/Treasurer

Boiling Springs United Methodist Church

Boiling Springs United Methodist Church - (803) 894-3930 / Pastor Ken Prill (803) 873-7742