United Methodist churches across South Carolina will participate in a statewide day of prayer vigils on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
Prayer vigils will be held in individual places of worship at noon, when bells will ring in observance of services statewide.
Governor Nikki Haley announced the observance, and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, resident bishop of the S.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church, encouraged UM churches and their members to join him in participating.
“We are called to ‘pray without ceasing,’ because prayer is powerful,” Holston said. “And praying together for hope, peace and understanding is always the pathway to healing.”
The governor, working with leaders of the faith community, urged everyone, regardless of faith or denomination, to pray for continued strength and healing across the state and give thanks for the state’s blessings.
“Faith, prayer and helping our neighbors is what got us through a challenging time last year, and those things will get us through these two trials and the aftermath of the hurricane,” Haley said. “In South Carolina, we know how to have compassion toward each other, count our blessings, and remember that we are one state, one people.”
The following UM churches are holding prayer vigils at noon Tuesday. This list is not complete, so please check back for updates.
If your church is planning a vigil but is not listed below, please email domara@umcsc.org.
Anderson District
Latimer Memorial UMC
Charleston District
Asbury-St. James UMC
Bethany UMC-Summerville
Bethel UMC-Charleston
Bethlehem-St. James UMC
Boone Hill UMC
Charleston Korean UMC
Cherokee Place UMC
Cordesville UMC
Edisto Island UMC
Folly Beach UMC
Goose Creek UMC
Grace UMC
Greater St. Paul UMC
Hibben UMC
Jamestown Charge
John Wesley UMC
John’s Island Parish
Joshua UMC
Knightsville UMC
Lebanon UMC
Midland Park UMC
Mt. Carmel UMC
Mt. Zion UMC
Moncks Corner UMC
Murray UMC
New Francis Brown UMC
New Hope UMC
New Light UMC
New Webster UMC
North Charleston UMC (at the Gazebo on Park Circle)
Pinopolis UMC
Point Hope UMC
Ravenel UMC
St. James UMC
St. Mark UMC
St. Thomas Charge
Stallsville UMC
Stewart Chapel
Trinity UMC – Charleston
Wesley UMC – Hollywood
Wesley UMC – Pinopolis
Wesley UMC (Summerville Parish)
Wesley Memorial UMC
Zion UMC
Columbia District
Beulah UMC-Gilbert
Florence District
Pine Grove UMC/Salem Charge
St. Luke UMC-Timmonsville
St. Paul-Kingstree
Timmonsville UMC
Mt. Zion UMC- Kingstree (planning a vigil)
Highland Park (held a prayer vigil on Monday)
Greenwood District
Central UMC (bell-ringing only)
McCormick UMC
Marion District
Conway UMC
Main Street UMC-Dillon (sanctuary open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; noontime bells; in lieu of formal service, devotional guide provided by the church)
New El Bethel UMC
Trinity UMC
Rock Hill District
Cornerstone UMC
Friendship UMC
Sharon UMC (during Senior Social)
St. John’s UMC – Rock Hill
Spartanburg District
Fairmont UMC