Hello Everyone! Atlas Here!
It was wonderful getting to see you all at the Rainbow Road Trip in Columbia! I hope everyone had a good time touring the state house, making goodie bags for our first responders, and having an impromptu picnic on the porch of the lodge! It was great fun getting to see everyone go skittle bowling afterward— we turned the bowling alley into a dance party!
This month, Ashley and I had the opportunity to attend the York Rite banquet and bring greetings on behalf of Rainbow— it was wonderful to see so many of our masons at the Scottish Rite Center! And especially for our very own Mrs. Martha Marcucci to receive an adult leadership award for all she does for Rainbow!
Installations are coming up! I hope everyone enjoys their new offices, you all are going to be great!
Charity district’s Official Visit is next month! I hope to see all of you there!
This month, I wanted to talk about our scripture, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” I think sometimes, we forget how beautiful we are. We get so caught up in doubt and insecurity and the little details of ourselves we forget to see the bigger picture. You are a masterpiece. Every single aspect of you— even the parts you don't like— all come together to form you. And what you are is beautiful.
Remember, you are God’s Masterpiece!
~Atlas and Ashley <3
Hello South Carolina Rainbow Family!
Happy Spring! We had a wonderful time at the Faith and Hope Districts Rainbow Road Trip. We appreciate Acacia Lodge #94 AFM allowing us to use their historic building, and we enjoyed an impromptu picnic lunch on the porch and steps. Then we went downstairs into the dining room to pack 100 bags for first responders, play games, enjoy crafts, and just talk and laugh. After the Supreme Ritual Team rehearsed in the meeting room, we set off on foot to our South Carolina Statehouse. The tour was outstanding, and we learned so much about our capitol building. Thank you to Mrs. Marcia Watford for arranging our tour. After walking back to the Lodge, with stops for a HOPE photo op and steel drum playing, we loaded up to go bowling. What fun we had with creative ways to bowl using Skittles! I am grateful to everyone who participated in these events and very thankful to Grand Worthy Advisor Ashley and her team for coordinating them.
That day also gave me the opportunity to announce that Ashley will represent our jurisdiction as Acting Supreme Chaplain at the 2024 Supreme Assembly Session. Ashley has done excellent work leading South Carolina Rainbow, as well as representing her sisters well at Grand Court, Order of the Amaranth, in February and at the banquet of the South Carolina York Rite Bodies in March. She is most deserving of this prominent position on the Supreme Floor. I do hope that there will be a large delegation from South Carolina in Hampton, Virginia, in July to support her. If you have not planned to go, be sure to do so!
This morning, I read the book of Ruth in the Bible. These four chapters tell the story of a young woman who performed the ultimate act of service for another. While I have heard the lesson of Ruth in Eastern Star many times, I am always impressed with the way that she cared for her mother-in-law, Naomi, who was an elderly woman. She and Naomi were both widows, which in that era could have meant poverty and homelessness. Though Ruth was still young enough to find a husband in her own country, she insisted on leaving all that was familiar to her to travel with her mother-in-law to Naomi’s native country. Her determination to do whatever was necessary to care for her elderly mother-in-law and the reward for her unselfish service is the main idea of the book. I encourage you to read it.
Interestingly, the name Ruth means “friendship.” The word means to be committed and faithful in personal relationships. I wonder if she was reminded of her commitment every time someone used her name. She no doubt had the same faithfulness and loyalty that our lesson of Fidelity teaches. While we may never be called upon to leave all behind for the benefit of another, we can always be examples of true friendship knowing that such friendship will be rewarded.
Inspired by the service and faithfulness of Ruth,
Mrs. Dedra
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.
Editor and Publisher: Michelle Lusk
Supreme Charity and Supreme Inspector: Dedra Hart
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
