February 8, 2023
E-Messenger

The Session has called for the Annual Congregational Meeting to be held this Sunday, February 12 at the close of the worship service.  The purpose of the meeting is to approve updated by-laws of the congregation, to receive annual reports from the various session committees, and to receive the 2023 budget for information.  The by-laws were sent out by a special E-News newsletter on Monday for you to review.  The annual report and budget are available on the website.  A few hard copies will also be available at church on Sunday, February 12. 
 
  This Sunday, February 12 McGregor will observe the Souper Bowl of Caring Offering and Soup Drive with the proceeds going to our McGregor Snack Packs Program.  Please bring financial donations and/or cans of chicken noodle soup for Snack Packs to the 11:00 AM Worship Service on Sunday, February 12.  You can vote for your favorite Super Bowl team by placing your donated cans of soup into the bin marked with your team’s name.  The bins will be located in the narthex.  Youth with soup pots will collect your financial donations after the worship service.  Your donations will help feed the 155+ students at the five District 5 schools we serve each week by providing food for the weekend.  Thank you so much for your generosity!  Go Chiefs!  And, uh, go Eagles!
 
  Following the Sunday, February 26 Worship Service, the McGregor youth attending the 2023 Montreat Youth Conference will host a Simple Soup and Bread Fundraiser Lunch to help defray the cost of their trip.  All donations are appreciated.
During the Fundraiser Lunch, the Mission Study Team will share some feedback of what they have learned thus far, engage the congregation in further discussion and reflection, and share the next steps for this process.  Your input is important – please plan to stay for this event!

To learn more about this free IAAM series, visit: https://iaamuseum.org/announcing-black-history-month-virtual-programming/
  For more information about the Columbia Museum of Art February series “More Than Rhythm,” visit: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/events/more-rhythm-black-music-series
  The Cayce Historical Museum (1800 12^th Street in Cayce) will host George Wingard with the Savannah River Archaeological Research Program to talk about Dave Drake, an enslaved African American who was owned by slaveholders in Edgefield, SC whose pottery is world-famous today.  Several of his pots, including one from the SC State Museum, is currently featured in an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. 
  For information about the book signing, please visit: https://www.historiccolumbia.org/events/2023/2023-02/green-book-south-carolina-book-signing
  For information about visiting The Museum of the Reconstruction Era, please visit: https://www.historiccolumbia.org/events/2023/2023-02/free-sunday-museum-reconstruction-era

Meeting time change!  This Saturday, February 11 at 9:30 AM we will meet in the parking lot of Nursery Road Elementary to pick up litter UNLESS it is raining.  Our rain make-up day will be next Saturday, February 18.  Masks are optional, gloves and closed toe shoes are recommended, and a grabber may be useful.  Don’t forget that you need to sign a KMB waiver of liability relating to COVID to participate.  Contact Linda Byars at byars133@bellsouth.net for waiver and details.
 
  As a part of McGregor’s efforts to participate in a “green” dialogue, the Missions Committee would like to share with you a way to participate in the Audubon Society’s Great Backyard Bird Count.  Every February, as bird species begin to migrate, the Audubon Society, in coordination with Cornell Ornithology Labs asks interested parties to spend as little as 15 minutes observing and recording birds in your very own backyard.  By participating in this project, we can help identify migratory patterns and help scientists to understand the number of different bird species in our area.  Cornell has an app called “Merlin” where you can identify and record the birds you observe.  You can find the app here:  merlin.allaboutbirds.org. 
We plan to place feeders and wren boxes around McGregor’s grounds so we can also make observations from the Learning Garden and Labyrinth!  Please see https://www.birdcount.org for more information.
 
  Saturday, February 11
        9:30 AM Adopt-A-Highway Litter Pick-Up
Sunday, February 12
        9:30 AM Sunday School
        11:00 AM Worship Service, Souper Bowl of Caring
        12:00 NOON Annual Congregational Meeting
        5:30 PM Combined Youth at Westminster Pres.
Monday, February 13
        6:00 PM Property Committee
Tuesday, February 14
        Happy Valentine’s Day!
Wednesday, February 15
        10:00 AM Wednesday Morning Bible Study - online
        6:00 PM Session
        7:30 PM Adult Choir
Saturday, February 18
        Trinity Presbytery Meeting at Spring Valley Pres.
Sunday, February 19
        9:30 AM Sunday School
        11:00 AM Worship Service
        5:30 PM Combined Youth at McGregor
  Ash Wednesday Worship Service:  Wednesday, February 22 at 6:00 PM
Adult Sunday School Lenten Study:  Begins Sunday, February 26 at 9:30 AM
Mission Study Team Congregational Gathering and Youth Fundraiser Luncheon:  Sunday, February 26 after Worship
 
  McGregor Preschool registration forms for 2023-2024 are available in the church office.  Contact Christine Manley at preschool.director@mcgpres.org or 803/781-2539 for more information.