Rainbow Spirit

In this issue, Don't forget to register for Ritual Competition tryouts, check out the article in "Remembering Our Rainbow" by our guest writer Mrs. Mary, always remember to go check out our SC IORG Facebook group and our SC IORG Friends and Family Facebook page for more photos! If you missed it our Christmas Card is here too!

Don't forget to show your support by clicking on the heart icon and liking us.

Tentative Jurisdictional Calendar with Deadlines

Dec 30 – Jurisdictional Fun Event (Newport near Rock Hill) - The CRAVe Winterfest

Jan 6 – Mother Advisor/Adult Worker Seminar - Dentsville

Jan 15 – Annual Reports Due

Jan 27 - Supreme Ritual Competition Tryouts, Dentsville

Feb 17 – Sock Hop Cayce Masonic Lodge

Mar 16 – Faith and Hope District Rainbow Road Trip (Columbia)

Mar 15 – Grand Assembly Session Registration sent to Assemblies

Mar 23 or Apr 6 – Subordinate Assembly Installation of Officers

Apr 15 – Ad Sales Deadline

Apr 20 – Charity District Official Visit (Summerville)

May 1 – Grand Appointments Recommendations Deadline

May 4 – Color Run (location to be announced)

May 15 – Grand Representatives’ Reports Deadline

May 15 – Grand Assembly Session Registration Deadline

May 18 – Scholarship Tea (Laurens)

Jun 1 – Additional Forms Deadline

Jun (26) 27-30 – Grand Assembly Session (Columbia)

Jul 8 – Founder's Day (local observance)

Jul 21-24 – Supreme Assembly Session (Hampton VA)

TBA (Spring) – Grand Officers’ Rehearsal/Grand Representatives’ Meeting

Reminders for your Assembly:

• Submit meeting reports to the Supreme Inspector using the Google Form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSet-kQpdfAUpxFC9gttWjMA3a6fGBtoun2I2ndNk8FjFnqz8w/viewform?usp=sharing
• Turn in Service Hours for Supreme Worthy Advisor Membership and Service Incentive Program. Log your hours at https://forms.gle/LSQRpXwFNRBvrVSV9
• Participate in Grand Worthy Advisors' fundraisers
• Participate in Grand Worthy Associate Advisors' fundraisers

• Plan to attend the Jurisdictional Fun Event on December 30.
  

Hello everyone! Atlas Here!

As 2023 is coming to a close— I hope all of you are having a wonderful holiday season! December tends to be busy for assemblies all over the state, whether you participated in a parade, made cookies, or went carolling!

Speaking of carolling— we had a great time at our Rainbow Road-trip in Summerville! Not only did pledge girls attend (including a raindrop!) but prospects did as well! Our Rainbow Road-trips are open to all Rainbow girls no matter your assembly, so make sure to come and try to bring a friend!

We are also so excited for our upcoming CRAVE Winterfest event at Carowinds! It will be a wonderful chance to spend time with our rainbow sisters across different jurisdictions! Don’t forget to purchase your tickets so you don’t miss out December 30th!

Growing up, every year, Ashley would receive a gift at Christmas. It wouldn’t be a toy but instead a brown paper bag filled with nuts and fruits (almonds and oranges and apples). It meant a lot to her because it was something her mom was given when she was a little girl— and it was a way to connect with her family. Family traditions can be special, and so can rainbow family traditions! Do you do anything special with your assembly and/or family during the holidays?

Remember, you are God’s Masterpiece.

<3 ~Atlas and Ashley

Hello South Carolina Rainbow Family!

It is the Christmas season! Among the things I love about this season are the songs. One of my favorites is “Joy to the World.” It is such an upbeat song that I cannot help but feel joyful when I hear it.

But did you know that joy is not the same as happiness? Happiness is what we feel when things are going our way. When things are not going our way, we feel unhappy. Happiness depends on our circumstances.

However, joy has nothing to do with our circumstances. The Bible says in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy…when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” When our circumstances involve trials of many kinds that test our faith, we are to consider it “pure joy.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been facing a lot of trials lately and I cannot say that I have considered them pure joy. In fact, I’ve felt down about them. But I’ve forced myself to CHOOSE joy. I’ve found opportunities to help others and it gave me joy. I’ve gone to events to be with people and it gave me joy. I’ve looked for ways to brighten the day for someone else and it gave me joy. I’ve focused on my religion and it gave me joy.

It may surprise you that in the same chapter of James in the Bible is the verse we find in our lesson of Religion. The New International Version translation reads, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Focusing on others and not allowing our circumstances to bring us down will provide us with “pure joy.” Choose joy by choosing to help someone; choose joy by living our lessons of Religion and Service.

With a joyful heart,

Mrs. Dedra

Hi everyone!

I am in Summerville and had the Grand time of going on the Rainbow Road trip from Dentsville to Summerville where I got to spend time with the girls and sang lots of Christmas Carols to not one but two nursing homes! I even got to attend a Ladies Night with Summerville Pledge and DeMolay!

Hope to see you soon!

<3 Waldo

The Supreme Worthy Advisor Service and Membership Program started on August 1, 2022, and runs until July 2024.

Service Hours can be turned in using the Get Pumped QR code above or this link: https://forms.gle/LSQRpXwFNRBvrVSV9

Red Charm – first-line signer on ONE application or second-line signer on TWO applications

All other charms – Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet are awarded for every 20 hours of community service.

Adults you can participate too! Adults it's $9.50 for you to be able to receive the charm bracelet.

Did you know if you start saving now you could have enough money saved to attend Supreme Assembly in July!

If you start in October bringing $50 to each meeting through May and depositing it into your Assembly account, you would have $800 saved for the trip. Or if you start now and bring $40 and save through the first meeting in July you will also have $800 towards going to Supreme Assembly. Of course, you could also have multi-family yard sales or car washes to help raise the money too.

We would love as many as possible to go to Supreme and we would love to have a Ritual Team to participate! So start saving money and working on your memory work!

Calling all ritualist!! Have you heard? We are having tryout for Bow Team on January 27th at Dentsville Masonic Lodge starting at 1:00! Please talk to your Mother Advisor, she has more information and fill out the Google Form if you are interested!

Dear One,

How we marvel in the glow of Christmas lights! What is it that catches our attention and tickles our eyes in such a way? Why do they hit my heart so differently in winter? Are we unconsciously acknowledging the unknown beauty of death and resurrection that is only revealed after we take our last breath?

My father used to hang a Santa head on the front of our house on the highest peak. Dad loved decorating for Christmas but that Santa head gave him trouble every year. It was about 4 feet long from hat to beard and 3 feet wide. After 20 years of hanging Santa Head he kept saying, “I’m not hanging that thing next year.” He tried not hanging Santa Head, but someone always asked, “where’s Santa?” and he would go get him and cuss as he fussed over getting him up the ladder and hung. Santa Head’s wink seemed to taunt my father more each year until the last time Dad went to hang it. Something went wrong on the ascension and Santa Head fell to the sidewalk smashing into a million brittle plastic pieces. Santa lasted over 30 years before his magic came to an end. We’ve never been able to find another quite like him to hang on the front of the house. He still illuminates my memory though along with the love my father had for his wife and family. He always enjoyed lighting up our world.

People remember the way you make them feel more than anything else. May you find yourself in the presence of people who want only the best for you. May you accept this precious gift and become the same kind of person. May you be light to the world. Happy New Year.

Forever the Rainbow,

Mrs. Mary

Mrs. Violet and Mrs. Valerie had a blast at the Rainbow Road Trip on December 9th! Thank you for all the two of you and Mrs. Terrie-Ann did for the Road Trip it was awesome!

We have had a busy December! Hosted the first Rainbow Road Trip, participated in the Christmas Parade, our Pledge served for the Ladies Night, and had a Christmas Party! Busy, busy, busy!

Greenwood #33 has been very busy this month. We started out by having a mock initiation (was supposed to be an initiation, but circumstances beyond our control delayed the actual initiation). Keep your eyes open for requests for help with an initiation in January. We have received more applications since the one planned in November and look forward to growing! The girls (and adults) participated in the Prosperity Christmas parade during the first weekend in December. The Rainbow/Pledge girls had a great time handing out candy and sharing their information with others. On December 9th, the girls read stories to the residents of a local nursing home. We were invited to come back soon (all had a great time). The girls brought presents (blankets, socks, slippers, and miscellaneous bathroom supplies) to give to the residents. We then went out for a spicy Mexican lunch. We are looking forward to a great holiday break and to the fun activity on December 30th planned by our Grand Worthy Advisor!

West Columbia Assembly was excited to be able to participate in the West Columbia/Cayce Christmas parade the evening of December 9th. All of the entries are covered with lights. Addie, Peyton, Mady, & Sinclair road on our float. They waved and wished one of the largest crowds since before Covid a very Merry Christmas. We had the loudest music of any unit in the parade (according to friends and family along the parade route). We want to thank Lauren & Jamie McClure for driving the truck and taking care of the music.

West Columbia has been selling wreath sponsorships for Wreaths across America. The assembly participated in the wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, December 16 at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Addie, Peyton, & Mady along with Addie's parents and Ms. Marcia attended the ceremony. This event is attended by family members and many community members annually. There are over 9,000 graves at the cemetery.

2023 is now coming to an end. We have one more meeting before we say goodbye to 2023. We are looking forward to a wonderful 2024. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Goose Creek Rainbow has been busy with the Goose Creek Parade and then decorating the Goose Creek Masonic Lodge for their Ladies’ Night. Savannah gave a revised version of the Rose Lecture and Sabrina McCracken passed out roses to all the ladies present. Savannah also helped with the prize drawings for the ladies.

Our Mr. Larry McCracken is the new Worshipful Master of Goose Creek 401, elect.

Our WB Mr. Jim Schaefer from Goose Creek Advisory board was selected as Mason of the Year for Goose Creek.

Check out the "Sharing our Canvas" section to see what awesome Adventure Angel had this month!

Merry Christmas!

We have been busy this month even if a couple of our events were postponed due to weather!

We attended the Rainbow Road Trip in Summerville and the GWAA Dining in the Dark Scholarship Dinner! We also decorated the Christmas Tree at our lodge, and went to dinner and ice skating together. We will be baking cookies at the Ronald McDonald House on December 28th for our WA's Service Project and hosting the sleepover for the Jurisdictional Fun Event on December 30th - hope to see you there!

Happy New Year!

So much love to all of our Rainbow Sisters,

<3 Newport

Harmony #57 had an exciting month! We painted pumpkins during our fun meeting in November. Jasmine L. organized paints, glitter and other decorations to bedazzle pumpkins for Thanksgiving. Harmony #57 was busy planning our scholarship dinner "Dining in the Dark." It was a magical night with a delicious roast beef dinner, beautiful decorations that transformed the lodge, and a sensory dining experience not seen before. Guests walked into a darkened lodge decorated with twinkle lights, white tables with beautiful greenery, and snowflakes decorating the ceiling. Annabell G organized the dinner and directed the guests to their seats. She prepared an auditory experience and then she guided the guests on how to eat their meals blindfolded. Annabell instructed the Harmony girls and pledges how to serve dinner. The Most Worthy Grand Matron of OES Glenda, who was in attendance, auctioned off the cakes and other goodies donated by Eastern Star and Rainbow friends and families. The girls all did an amazing job!

Hope Shines has been busy working on our Rainbow Bingo. November 20. Mrs. Jan, Ms Maureen and Alyssa baked 16 dozen cookies and took them to our local Police Station and Firehouse. Cookies were also delivered to Nurses at the Cardiovascular Center.

One of our Service projects is taking food to the blessing boxes around our neighborhoods. We did a delivery after our cookies were delivered.

December 7th we went to Christmas on Breezy Hill. We went on a hayride and listened to the stories in the Bible. We looked at the beautiful lights and had hot chocolate and funnel cake.

Alyssa and Mrs. Jan traveled upstate to the Scholarship dinner. It was so much fun visiting with our Rainbow Sisters. Eating our dinner blindfolded was an interesting experience. Alyssa ate her whole meal with her blindfold on.

As we look forward to Christmas and sharing time with our loved ones let us always remember who's Birthday we are celebrating.

We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.

Saturday January 13th Greenwood is having Initiation at 3:00!!! Please let Dr. Lorrie know if you can come help with initiation!

SCAMM is in the beginning stages of a project to assist with funds for scholarships. SCAMM is asking for donations of men’s button-down shirts that can be turned into aprons to keep food off of the young ladies' beautiful gowns. If you have a shirt from someone special, just let us know when the shirt is turned in so we can get that specific apron back to them. We will be gladly accepting men’s button-down shirts at the next few jurisdictional get-togethers like the school of instruction. The aprons will go on sale as soon as the finished products have been created. Please feel free to reach out to Lynn Carter or Heather Kamphaus for any questions or concerns.

To order tickets: https://forms.gle/sFyS8titDqoEsqW99

How are you doing filling in spaces? Do any of our Assemblies have Bingos yet? Do any of the girls have a Bingo yet? Can't wait to hear!

Link to order Polos - https://forms.gle/s8ULVzLJodYtgkH99

Small - XL $25, XXL $27, XXXL $28

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the Scholarship Fund! It was a great evening and we even raised $300 with the cake auction! Everyone did a fantastic job and the girls even had some fun after all their hard work with a sleepover!

Angel T. from Dentsville Assembly visited her counterpart in Mississippi for their annual Christmas party! She even got to attend her counterpart's basketball game! Angel had a fantastic time getting to meet Rainbow Girls in Mississippi! Thank you to Miss Desire' Webb for taking her!

What a great time we had in Summerville for our first Rainbow Road Trip!

It was a beautiful warm day for December, but some braved the warmth and still had hot chocolate!

The girls ate lunch together, made lots of ornaments and door hangers for the residents at the Nursing Homes, had a crazy sock contest, they visited not 1 but 2 Nursing Homes and sang Christmas carols for the residents at both! It was an amazing day and the girls had a great time!

Editor and Publisher Protem: Michelle Lusk

sciorgmmpr@gmail.com

Supreme Charity and Supreme Inspector: Dedra Hart

PGHope79@aol.com

This publication acknowledges allegiance to the Supreme Assembly, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, whose seat of authority is in McAlester, Oklahoma, USA; of which the late Reverend W. Mark Sexson was the founder; of which Mrs. Kay Letterman is the Supreme Worthy Advisor; and to the Grand Jurisdiction of South Carolina of which Ashley Lusk is Grand Worthy Advisor and Mrs. Dedra A. Hart is Supreme Inspector