The Feeding of the Multitude

This year St. Andrew's will team up again with other local churches in the West Ashley area to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to needy families, nursing home residents and shut ins. Our shift is from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.   The event will take place at Forest Park Playground (the Aquacenter) located on Playground Road. We need volunteers to sign up for our shift. Please contact Mary Catherine James if you have any questions! Hope to see you there.

Pictures from last years event:  Feeding of the Multitude

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The Big Tent is Coming!

Make your travel plans for the World Mission Matters partner conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 30-July 2, 2011 – because the Big Tent will be pitched in Indy after all!

Last summer’s General Assembly voted to refrain from holding national meetings in states where new immigration laws make it possible that travel by Presbyterians of color or Hispanic ancestry might subject them to harassment. Indiana’s proposed legislation was modified, thus opening the way for us to hold the conference in Indianapolis. We’re thankful to God that the way is clear to gather our diverse family in Indianapolis for World Mission Matters at Big Tent!

For more information:  Big Tent Mission and Ministry

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Berries For a Cause

Berries for a Cause!

Still haven't picked your summer strawberries yet? They are in full
fruit at Ambrose Farms on Wadmalaw Island! Now you can, and for a good
cause! On Saturday, May 15, St Andrews, James Island Presbyterian and
Crisis Ministries will sponsor the residents of the TLC (Transitional
Living Center) at Crisis Ministries to a morning of strawberry
picking! Anyone who would like to go should meet in the church parking
lot at 8:30 to carpool to Ambrose Farms. You can pick for yourself, or
plan to 'sponsor' a bucket picked by a TLC mother or child! Many
thanks to Babs Ambrose for lowering the picking rate to $1/pound;
thanks to James Island and Crisis Ministries for providing
transportation for the residents; and thanks to the St Andrews 'Yellow
Bucket" for providing funds for each resident to pick a pound of
strawberries! Questions? Call Lindy Coleman at 953.8180.

Souper Bowl Sunday!

On Sunday, February 3rd, St. Andrew's Youth will be hosting the annual Souper Bowl of Caring event, along with Youth across the country and around the world. The Youth will be collecting money in Soup Pots following worship. You are invited to join us at Moments of Fellowship for a Soup Luncheon, prepared by the Youth. The money collected for the Souper Bowl 2008 will go to HELP, an agency that has been supported by our congregation for many years. It helps individuals secure basic needs. Plan to join with St. Andrew's youth on February 3rd, to show that you care.

More information about the: Souper Bowl of Caring



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Habitat for Humanity

The International Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat

The International Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat, is observed on the third Sunday in September (September 17, 2007). It is a time when the entire Habitat for Humanity community is urged to come together in prayer for those in need of shelter. Through prayer, Habitat for Humanity continues to make a dramatic difference in the lives of people around the world. Many volunteers are drawn to this ministry after hearing God’s call and seeking God’s guidance through prayer.

The Day of Prayer was begun in 1983 to make housing a matter of conscience. The intent was to place in the hearts, minds and souls of people everywhere the idea that poverty housing is unacceptable. The New Testament passage from 1 John 3:17 teaches that we must respond to those in need. Prayers are answered when families and communities grow in the shelter of God’s grace. The hurdles of funding and building homes are overcome through the miracles of prayer.

The mission of Sea Island Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness West of the Ashley River and the surrounding sea islands, and to make decent housing a matter of conscience in our community. For more information about how you can help Habitat in our community, contact Christa Lewis:

Sea Island Habitat for Humanity
2545 Bohicket Rd.
John's Island, South Carolina 29455
Phone: 843.768.0998 Fax: 843.768.9968
email: information@seaislandhabitat.org

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Men of the Church

Men of the Church will meet on Thursday, September 20th at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall. The guest speaker will be Margaret Peck, Executive Director of St. Matthew's Community Outreach Center. All men are encouraged to come and bring a friend. A delicious dinner will be served. Remember the date! It will be a wonderful time to get together and have fellowship!

~BUILD FAITH~~NURTURE HOPE~~SHARE GOD'S LOVE~

Mary Catherine's Excellent Adventure

Instead of the normal sermon by Pastor Spike Coleman, there was a presentation given by Mary Catherine about her mission trip to the Amazon.

(FYI: Clicking the pictures will let you see them larger and in greater detail)

Sunday Sermon Summary:August 19, 2007

The Amazon River

During the week of July 14-22nd, Mary Catherine was able to go on a short term mission trip to the Amazon with the help of Pastor Spike, the Mission Team, the Christian Education team, the Monday Night Bible Study group, the Dr. Who Group and other members of the congregation who provided donations and many, many prayers! The trip was a success and was a lifelong dream fulfilled.

The trip coordinated by World Hope Missions Ministry headed by the dynamic, Dr. Jonathas Moreira. (Check out the Amazon Mission Trip site for more information.) The week was spent on a medical supply boat named the Serguem Silva visiting the Mura tribe who live along the Amazon riverbed.

The Sergeum Silva

There was an American Team and a Brazilian team (who knew the language and could translate) along with the crew. Althought most of us were perfect strangers in addition to having language barriers, we all got along just fine and worked as a team for our mission...to plant seeds of hope in the hearts of the villagers we met.

The American Team Departing from Orlando

After a very long flight to Sao Paulo and then back to Manaus, we finally arrived, and set sail. We sailed a day and 1/2 to reach the first village. The Muras we visited were living in the "Flooded Forests." Every year the Amazon River rises more than 30 feet (9 m) and floods surrounding forests. These rising waters replenish nutrients in floodplain areas and regenerate floodplain lakes, floating meadows, and other seasonal habitats. Freshwater fish move into these flooded forests and often feed on the fruits that drop from the trees.

The Flooded Forests

And of course everything was up on stilts due to the high water levels. All the homes were elevated.

At each village our program was the same. The medical team which included a medical doctor, a nurse, a dentist and a dental hygienist would see patients first. The villagers all had several common ailments that included worms, parasites and colds.The children had white patches on their skin.A smooth white patch meant fungus.A bumpy white patch meant parasites. Most got worm medicine, vitamins and antibiotics for the white patches.

While the medical team was taking care of patients and the dental team was busy extracting teeth, the rest of us were free to walk through the villages visiting homes, playing with the kids and evangelizing.

Mary Catherine Visiting with a Family of Brothers
and Sisters at their house

After lunch the doctors were off duty and the rest of us kicked into gear. The doctors and nurses were now normally free to visit in the villages. The rest of us conducted vacation bible school, had hair braiding sessions, played soccer with the older boys and helped with the women's' group.

Doing Crafts during VBS

Braiding Hair just Before Vacation Bible School

The Women's group was run by an American nurse with the help of one of the Brazilian team. The women were taught basic hygiene, self breast exams, how to use condoms and the benefits of drinking lots of water.

Because the dental care of the villagers was so poor, the American team decided to teach the children to brush their teeth. We lined them up in groups and gave each child a tooth brush and toothpaste and we gave the demonstrations.

Mary Catherine with a group who had just
finished brushing their teeth.

The people of the Amazon are beautiful people. The land itself was something I can't even begin to describe. It was just like being in National Geographic for a few days. The beauty of it was breathtaking.

The water was beautiful and so was the sunrises and sunsets. Words just don't it justice. We were also able to see the pink dolphins up close on one of the days. We seemed to be surrounded by them at one time. The other times we saw them was a sunrise. We would see 2-3 jumping in unison at sunrise. That is how we knew that was the day the Lord had made!

This is the day, that the Lord has made
Let us be glad and rejoice in it!

Other marvels were the Meeting of the Waters and all of the marvelous food of the Amazon. We only had food on the boat that was native to the area. It all had foreign names but it was all good. It was really healthy as it was lots of fruits and vegetables and fish.

The last day of the trip was spent at an ecolodge for a day of rest...Tiwa Resort It was beautiful there as well. We had a chance to socialize all together and take a 1.5 hour tour in the rainforest. It was amazing!

Tiwa Ecolodge

One of my church members asked me on Sunday if I would go again! What else could my answer be but, YES! The people who live along the riverbanks of the Amazon needs lots of help. I feel that I am really making a difference in the life of someone who is truly needy. It is such a beautiful place, I don't think there is anyway I could see that beauty just once.

~BUILD FAITH~~NURTURE HOPE~~SHARE GOD'S LOVE~

Halos Back to School Drive

Please help abused and neglected children begin the school year equipped with the supplies they will need to study and learn. As you are shopping for your own children, please pick up an extra item or two to donate to Halos. All donations are greatly appreciated. Here is the list of what is needed:

• pens: red and blue
• paper
• pencils
• book bags
• composition books
• markers
• dry erase markers
• scissors
• glue
• rulers
• 2 ring binders
• color pencils
• marble black composition books
• boxes of tissue
• hand sanitizer
• zip lock bags
• scientific calculators
• glue sticks
• socks, underwear, belts in all sizes!
  

~BUILD FAITH~~NURTURE HOPE~~SHARE GOD'S LOVE~