Providence Presbyterian Church - Powdersville SC

““Everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to pray in and play in, where nature may heal body and soul alike…” 

Alysen Woodruff was asked what inspired her to go into recycling. Her response was:  “Well, I’ll have to tell you about why I applied for this position instead. I strongly believe in conserving and appreciating the resources we were given. Nature is beautiful and humanity is beautiful.  I feel that we have distanced ourselves (and our children) from nature and are such a convenience-based, throw-away society that the consequences have been looming over us.

The areas worldwide with the most resource extraction, pollution and open-dumping are typically lower-income areas.

People becoming more educated and open-minded can only benefit our fellow man, creatures and the environment. Given the importance of environmental and social issues, there is no room for complacency.                                                                                                      

You can help care for our creation by energy conservation, buying sustainable, less toxic materials, buying locally, composting and recycling are all ways to help protect the world God has given us.

This is good for your pocketbook and good for the environment:.

f you replace one regular light bulb with a compact  fluorescent light you will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and these will last 10 times longer than an incandescent!  Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75% less energy than a standard bulb, as well. Reduce the amount of energy used in each room of your house with this tool and visit this website to get additional tips -  www.energystar.gov/home.           

Working as a volunteer for Mental Health America, I Becky Kay has found that there are not many families who don’t have an experience with mental illness or keeping hectic lifestyles and keeping that balance to maintain mental wellness.

God of all the nations requires that we open our minds and hearts to the injustices that those with serious mental illness have endured.  We are compelled to walk the path of righteousness as we seek to redress the social ills that have wrought such suffering to His beloved children.

An article written by a mentally ill person said:  “I am a person with the disabling pain of a broken brain.”  I understand why you don’t want to look into a darkened soul, because I cry when I am forced to make the journey.”  The internal suffering of those struggling with serious mental illness is overwhelming.  Yet, tragically, the society in which we live only adds to the pain by denying such basis needs as housing, jobs, and health care.

Furthermore, people living with mental illness often carry a burden of stigma.  Stigma, meaning “spoiled identity,” is especially associated with certain diseases.  We give people who live with these disabilities labels such as, “sicko” and “crazy” and when we want to describe a dictator who has wrought terrible destruction upon a people, our label is “madman.”  Mental illness has even been associated with danger, immortality and lack of faith.

Sadly, the church has an inconsistent record in responding to people with mental illness.  Some churches, however, respond with generous hospitality, some with overt and covert hostility, and most are simply silent.

We are compelled to reach out to people who suffer from these illnesses and to the families who care for them.  Without God’s grace and guidance, we are nowhere…

                                                                             Alysen and Becky