Welcome to Our New Anderson District Superintendent
Our new district superintendent is Susan Leonard-Ray, a native of Greer, SC. She is an ordained Elder in the South Carolina Annual Conference where she has served for 20 years. She served Monaghan UMC in Greenville and was the Campus Minister at Furman University from 1992 -1997.
Following that appointment she served as an Associate Pastor at Buncombe Street UMC. In 2001, Susan was appointed to serve Advent UMC in Simpsonville, SC where she has lived out her ministry and calling for the past nine years.
In addition, Susan has served on the Greenville District Committee on Congregational Development, the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Executive Committee on the Annual Conference, and the Equipping the Body of Christ Committee on Episcopacy.”
Susan was the 1995 recipient of the Denman Evangelism Award. She is married to Rev. Dr. Keith Ray who is also an elder in the South Carolina Conference. They are blessed with three children: Rebecca, Jonathon and Elizabeth.
Susan did her undergraduate work at Carson-Newman College before completing her Masters of Divinity degree at Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
Sunday School - Fishing Stories in Sunday School?
“People love to tell stories of their fishing adventures. When it comes to faith, however, most people clam up. Why is it we can’t talk about what God has done in our lives as naturally as we can spin fishing tales?” Three weeks ago, the Kirkley-Duckett Adult Class (located next to the pastor’s study) started a six-Sunday study led by Andy Stanley, via DVD, titled Go Fish.
Class member Elaine Bullock is facilitating the study. Rev. Stanley “explores the motivation behind sharing your faith”. Anyone is welcome to attend the class for the remaining sessions: May 2nd, Fishing Buddies; May 9th, Muddy Water and May 16th, The One That Got Away. Sunday School starts at 9:45AM. The study will be available for checkout from the church library after May.
United Methodist Women News
Mt. Zion UMW was represented by Ann Wilbanks and Sharon Miller at the Anderson District UMW Day Apart at Hospice of the Upstate in Anderson, SC on Saturday, April 17. This year’s theme was “Fit to Serve”. The keynote speaker was Rev. Peggy Garland.
This year’s SC Conference UMW School of Missions will be July 22-25. The theme is “Faith, Hope, Love in Action”. Three courses of study will be offered. The geographical study, “The Beauty and Courage of Sudan: Why a Dream of Peace is Possible” will be on Sudan; the spiritual growth study is on John’s Letters and the mission study is “Mission in the Age of Global Christianity”. The meeting will be at Spartanburg Methodist College. Registration forms are in the church office. Roommates need to mail their forms together. The absolute registration deadline is June 30. The approximate cost of attending is $155 which includes 9 meals and 3 nights of lodging.
Library Books Donated - Elaine Bullock has donated, to Mount Zion, several books of interest to people of faith, including five works of fiction by Jan Karon. She has also given six DVD's (four with study guides) and a videocassette, which would be appropriate for use by groups as well as individuals. We appreciate receipt of these materials, which are located on the top shelf of the second set of shelves. The library is located in the classroom next to the pastor's office.
March Soup Lunch - Thanks to everyone who participated in the Soup Lunch. We really appreciate
the effort from all who cooked, cleaned, decorated, ate and/or made monetary donations.
We received $164.50 in donations to go toward updates for the kitchen. Great Work!!
2009 Web Site Statistics
3,387 page views - an increase of 729 over page views for 2008
855 visitors - an increase of 289 over visitors for 2008
Email announcements and information for the website, newsletter or bulletin to the church (with website, newsletter or bulletin as subject) at mtzion@nctv.com
Thanks to the Mattie May Allen Circle for decorating the table and helping the pastor serve at the Minister's Cook-Off in November. They polished the brass in the sanctuary at their December meeting.
United Methodist Women
All women are invited to join the UMW and attend the Circle which best meets their schedule. There are no dues, however, individuals voluntarily support local, state, national, and international missions with their monetary gifts.
