Worship Change

Dear Friends,

I shared with you a few weeks ago that I have been having conversations with people about Central’s Sunday morning schedule.  We adopted our schedule as we emerged from COVID to better fit our congregation’s needs.  I have had many more conversations following my earlier Tidings from Thomas about potentially changing our schedule to better fit our current circumstances. 

I am grateful to have spoken with so many of you, both individually and in groups, to hear your concerns and opinions.  While no schedule will suit every need and preference, the majority opinion seems to favor a return to something more like our pre-COVID schedule.

As such, beginning the first Sunday in January 2026, our Sunday morning schedule will be:

9:00       Chapel service
9:00       The Well service
10:00    Sunday School
11:00    The Sanctuary service

This change is aimed to accomplish three goals:

1)        Increase worship attendance

Altering our schedule to two worship times offers people more options to participate in worship. 

2)        Increase Sunday School attendance

With two worship opportunities before Sunday school, it will make it more likely for those already on campus to stay for Sunday school.  Moving the chapel service to 9:00 also reduces the time people worshipping in the chapel must wait for Sunday school to begin.

3)        Foster unity and connection

More people moving around the campus over a longer period of time increases opportunities for connection.  The new schedule will also make it possible for two pastors to be in the Well and all three pastors to be in the Sanctuary on any given Sunday.  This increases the ability for the clergy and the congregation to connect.

After much prayer, thought, and research, I believe this schedule will help us accomplish these goals.

When we roll out these changes at the beginning of the year, we will also make some updates to the Chapel service, adding music and other elements to make it more like the traditional Sanctuary service. Change can be uncomfortable, but I am convinced that these changes will be to Central’s long-term benefit.  As we move forward together, let us be united in our mission to follow Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors.  I am blessed to be in ministry with you and look forward to a future of growth and fruitful ministry!

Yours in Christ,

Thomas

Information Regarding Clergy Transition

Dear friends,

Several weeks ago, it was announced that Rev. Dr. Ann Kovan would be appointed to serve Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Georgetown and that Central would receive Rev. Rusty Crimm as our new associate pastor. Since that time, events have transpired of which I need to make you aware.

Duncan Memorial UMC is experiencing some internal conflicts. As a result, a pastor will not be appointed to serve there for the coming conference year. This obviously affects Ann’s appointment to Duncan Memorial and Rusty’s appointment to Central. Let me be clear—this situation has nothing to do with Ann. She is a gifted pastor from whose ministry and friendship we all benefit. I judge pastors by whether I would attend their church after my retirement. I would gladly become part of any church that Ann serves as pastor.

For Central, this means that we will both keep Ann and receive Rusty. The conference will fund Ann’s compensation, so her remaining time with us will have no financial impact on Central. Central will fund Rusty’s compensation. This means that until Ann receives an appointment (which will likely not be until the normal appointment process in 2026), Central will have four full-time clergy. While we continue to work through how we will divide responsibilities, I intend for Rusty to serve alongside Ann, assuming or sharing her responsibilities. While Ann continues in ministry with us, she will be free to focus on special projects and ministry areas.

This unique blessing is a result of our being part of a connectional church. As United Methodists, we do not operate in a vacuum. We are blessed to share the church’s mission with our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a great blessing for Central, which offers us exciting new opportunities for mission and ministry. I look forward to the days to come, continuing with Ann in ministry and joining Rusty in ministry. Please continue to pray for Ann and her family, for Rusty and his family, and for Central as we move together into a bright future.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Thomas W. Smith

843-662-3218

Happy Advent

Dear Friends, 

Happy Advent!  We are in this special season of preparation for Christmas.  This Advent, Central is trying a holy experiment to see if there is a felt need for an earlier Sunday morning worship opportunity.  Each Sunday in Advent, we will have a service in the Ingram Chapel at 8:30.  Rather than being a copy of worship in the Sanctuary or the Well, this is a new, special service with prayers and a sermon.  If there is interest in continuing this earlier service, we will determine whether to continue this as a new worship option on Sunday mornings. 

Speaking of the new worship option, I provided a bit of excitement in yesterday’s inaugural Chapel service.  I do not like to make things about myself, but I generated enough of a buzz that I feel led to share with you what happened.   During the prayer of confession before Communion, I passed out.  I felt fine all morning.  I felt dizzy for less than a second, and the next thing I remember was regaining consciousness on the floor.  EMS responded and I was taken to the hospital by ambulance.  The emergency room ruled out anything serious, but could not determine what happened.  I have a follow-up appointment with my primary care physician and will likely have additional medical tests.  I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and many expressions of concern.  I am truly blessed to be in ministry with you! 

Yours in Christ, 

Thomas 

Election Tidings

Dear friends, 

I write these words the day after the 2024 general election.  I stayed up as late as I was able last night, watching election coverage.  Like many of you, I awoke this morning anxious to know who our new president would be.  These words are not intended to praise or condemn any candidates who won elections.  Neither are they intended to praise or condemn the millions of Americans who voted.  Rather, I write to remind us we are all in this together. 

Regardless of our personal political views, let us take a cue from 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.”  This does not mean we must agree with everything a particular elected leader does or support all his or her decisions.  These words invite us to pray for our elected officials, that they might lead us in a way that seeks the common good. 

Yesterday I came across a quote from John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, that seems as instructive today as it did yesterday.  The below quote comes from Wesley’s journal entry dated October 6, 1774: 

“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them 
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy 
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and 
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.” 

I invite us all to take our cues from the Bible, to pray, and from Rev. Wesley, to disagree in Christian love. 

Yours in Christ, 

Thomas 

New Bishop for South Carolina's United Methodists

Dear Friends,

South Carolina’s United Methodists are getting a new bishop.  The Jurisdictional Committee on the Episcopacy, the connectional body that decides where bishops will serve, announced last night that Bishop Leonard Fairley will become our bishop effective September 1st. 

 Bishop Fairley served as a pastor, district superintendent, and in many levels of conference leadership in the North Carolina Conference before his election.  Since his election in 2012, Bishop Fairley has served as bishop of the Kentucky Conference.  I am impressed by what I have learned about Bishop Fairley and am confident he will be a good leader for South Carolina.  I look forward to meeting and working with Bishop Fairley as we move forward together in mission and ministry.

South Carolina owes a debt of gratitude to our current bishop, Jonathan Holston.  Bishop Holston has served us faithfully through his many years as our bishop.  Bishop Holston will leave us to serve as bishop of both the North Alabama Conference and the Alabama-West Florida Conference. 

Please join me in praying for Bishop Fairley, his wife Dawn, and the leadership of the South Carolina Conference during this time of transition.  Let us pray also for Bishop Holston and Mrs. Holston in their time of transition to Alabama.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Thomas Smith