South Carolina S 559: Lexington United Methodist Church, 175th anniversary

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 559 Text of Previous Version (Apr. 15, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 559

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A senate RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE LEXINGTON UNITED 
METHODIST CHURCH ON THE OCCASION OF ITS HISTORIC 175TH ANNIVERSARY AND TO 
COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

Whereas, having been 
founded in 1850, Lexington United Methodist Church (LUMC) is celebrating its 
historic 175th anniversary in 2025, with a special time of celebration set 
aside for Sunday, September 7, when the church will enjoy a festive homecoming 
under the theme "Serving God as a Family for 175-Plus Years"; and

Whereas, over the years 
of its service to the Lord, LUMC has established a long and rich history of 
serving the community with open hearts, minds, and doors at 309 East Main Street 
in Lexington. The church has maintained an emphasis on inviting people to 
experience God's grace while growing in their knowledge and love of God through 
disciplined Christian living, with a primary emphasis on putting faith and love 
into action; and

Whereas, under the 
leadership of its present senior pastor, the Reverend Mack McDowell, LUMC 
currently serves 1,165 members in the Greater Lexington area. The church holds 
several weekly worship services and provides a preschool for eighty children in 
the community; and

Whereas, as a founding 
member of Lexington Interfaith Community Services, now known as Mission 
Lexington, LUMC continues to support the organization actively with volunteers 
and donations. LUMC also sponsors Shepherd's Center for the entire community 
(over two hundred senior adults and a variety of classes) each Thursday; and

Whereas, the LUMC 
Blessing Box feeds at least fifty homeless and needy folks a week, and the 
Snack Sack mission packs at least eight hundred twenty bag meals for hungry 
school children in Lexington schools to take home each weekend. LUMC delivers 
these meals weekly to over fifteen schools; and

Whereas, numerous other 
LUMC activities bless the church's community, including regular blood drives, 
leadership of Soccer Superhero sports events and Special Olympics events, 
Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon biweekly meetings, the Salkehatchie Summer 
Service at Baker Creek Camp, weekly Boy Scout and Girl Scout events, and a 
cancer survivor and caregivers group for the community; and

Whereas, further, LUMC 
has a very active youth and children's ministry and hosts a weekly morning 
men's prayer breakfast, Walk to Emmaus events, and the Mock Trial (biannually). 
The church moreover offers a Prime Timers luncheon once a month, as well as GALS 
(God's Amazing Love Supports) and widow/widower gatherings. For Holy Week and 
Advent, the church offers a community labyrinth walk, and the congregation 
continues to sponsor Habitat for Humanity; and

Whereas, for 2025, LUMC 
is leading the planning of an ecumenical service for the community that will 
benefit Mission Lexington, and its United Methodist Women group supports local 
missions and an annual women's retreat. The church sponsors Killingsworth Mission 
for Abused Women, Epworth Children's Home, and Angel Tree (for children of 
incarcerated parents) each month, and it partners with two other churches to 
maintain Lexington Memorial Cemetery. After Hurricane Helene, LUMC provided 
critically needed items that were delivered to Asheville, North Carolina; and

Whereas, Lexington 
United Methodist Church has been a beacon of light and a community worship 
center in the Lexington area for nearly two centuries, and, God willing, will 
continue its godly heritage for many more years of worship and service. Now, 
therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and 
congratulate Lexington United Methodist Church on the occasion of its historic 
175th anniversary and commend the church for its many years of service to God 
and the community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Lexington United Methodist Church.

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This web page was last updated on April 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM