February 22, 2023
E-Messenger

Today the Memorial Garden was freshened up for spring and lighting was added along the walkways.
 
  We begin our journey to the cross with our Ash Wednesday Service, reflecting on our frailty and mortality as humans and God’s deep abiding love and forgiveness offered to us.  The imposition of ashes will be offered for all who wish to receive them.  Following the service, you are invited to gather outside in the Memorial Garden and spend a few minutes walking the labyrinth in silence.
 
  This adult Lenten study will meet during Sunday School in McGregor Hall beginning THIS Sunday, February 26 and will be facilitated by Christina Isenhower, Alice Odell, and Jayne Woodward.  If you would like to participate, but did not sign up for a book, you may purchase the book on Amazon.  
 
  What are your plans for lunch after church on Sunday?  Stay for lunch after Worship and support our youth attending Montreat this summer.  A simple luncheon of soup, bread, and dessert will be offered.  Donations received will go to help the youth defray the cost of attending the Montreat Youth Conference.
Then during the luncheon, the Mission Study Team will provide some feedback from what they heard during last fall’s Hopes and Dreams exercise and the 40 Day Spiritual Journey.  We will also begin to engage in some of the deeper conversations we need to have as we continue discerning God’s vision for McGregor’s future.  Please plan to stay and be part of the conversation!  We want to be sure we are hearing as many voices as possible!
 
  At the February 15, 2023 meeting, the Session:

• Approved a request from Ann Marie White to be moved to the active list.
• Approved the Sunday school curriculum for the youth.
• Approved an Elder Fraud Awareness class to be held at McGregor for the congregation and the community.
• Approved a food truck on site for the Earth Day celebration on April 15, 2023.
• Approved placing bird feeders and wren houses on the property for Earth Day.
• Approved hiring BroadTasking Co. to update our streaming equipment in the sanctuary.

  Mark your calendar for McGregor’s first Community Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 15, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  Plans for the Earth Day Celebration include a plant swap, a food truck, everything you would want to know about insects (even eating them), composting, wren houses, and more!  Volunteers are needed to help with the displays.  Contact David Jenkins at djenkins880@gmail.com to volunteer or for more information.
  Ten dedicated McGregor volunteers picked up 10 bags of litter and 3 bags of recyclable items from Nursery Road, Nursery Hill Road, and Green Pines Road on Saturday, February 18.  Your commitment to our environmental community outreach is so beneficial and appreciated by so many!  The next Adopt-A-Highway dates are May 20, August 19, and November 18.
  McGregor will participate again this year in the Keep the Midlands Beautiful Annual Spring Shoe Drive Fundraiser.  Details coming soon as to when you may begin dropping off your new or almost new shoes.  All donated shoes for the KMB Shoe Drive will be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small-business) partners in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited.  Funds raised from the Shoe Drive help KMB support their litter prevention programs and encourage recycling and reuse.  In addition, it keeps shoes out of the landfill.