by Joseph James | Aug 4, 2022 | Pastor Joseph's Blog
Recently, I read Eugene Peterson’s The Pastor: A Memoir, and saw a practice that helped his congregation immensely. His Maryland congregation already mailed a weekly newsletter complete with financial reports, upcoming events, and opportunities for service. As Pastor,...
by Joseph James | May 4, 2022 | Pastor Joseph's Blog
United Methodists value education. South Carolina Methodists started Columbia College, Claflin College, Spartanburg Methodist College, and Wofford College. United Methodists from throughout the state work together to fund scholarships to defray college and seminary...
by Trinity UMC | Mar 24, 2022 | Pastor Joseph's Blog
Last week, I received an email from Chaplain Bill Jewell, a chaplain at the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, part of the MUSC system in Charleston. Chaplain Jenkins wrote: “I came across the wooden crosses in cloth bags with your church’s name and information...
by Trinity UMC | Mar 16, 2022 | Pastor Joseph's Blog
The world is a very big place. It is difficult to envision the distances between points on the globe. Then there are the many cultural differences in the big world. Culture is influenced by geography, history, climate, and many other factors. Our understanding of...
by Trinity UMC | Mar 3, 2022 | Lenten Devotional, Pastor Joseph's Blog
It is a tradition of Lent to “give something up” until Easter. I have heard of people giving up cheeseburgers or coffee or chocolate. Some decide to give up social media or television. The idea is that in the space (or the cost) of that which was given up,...
by Joseph James | Sep 22, 2021 | Pastor Joseph's Blog
Over the next few weeks, I will offer a column explaining the various parts of our 11:00 AM worship service. The United Methodist Book of Worship is the basis for what is offered here. Trinity uses an order of Sunday worship using the basic pattern (That pattern can...