Feeding of the Multitude Today

Good morning everyone!  Today is the day!  Angie Blackburn had a good idea that if some people wanted to carpool to meet at the church around 2:15 pm to leave at 2:30 pm to get to the park.  Our shift is from 3pm-4pm today and we should arrive around 2:45 pm to take over from the prior crew. Since we are the last shift we most likely will be helping to clean up too.  We will probably be there about 2 hours all total!  I have been hearing the advertisements on the radio for all the locations over the last 3 days (West Ashley, downtown and on the islands).  I think it will be a big turnout. 

 

Spike just sent me a text and it says:  Perfect day for feeding of the multitude!  I agree with him!  Weather will be perfect!  See you there! 

 

Mary Catherine

843-557-2135

Friday movie night, "Amazing Grace"

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather we've had this week!  Perfect!

 

Just a reminder:  the youth are sponsoring a movie night this Friday (Oct. 8) at 7:00 in the fellowship hall.

 

The movie will be "Amazing Grace," about the life of Wilber Wilberforce and his efforts to end the slave trade in the British Empire.

 

When the movie was out in theatres a few years ago about 20 people from St. A's saw it together.  It's truly a remarkable story of faith, courage and persistence.

 

The youth will provide the movie snacks. 

 

There is no charge for the movie or snacks, but donations will be accepted.  The money raised will be used for the youth mission trip in 2011.

 

See you Friday!

 

Spike

--
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

CELEBRATION OF ANIMALS OCTOBER 3RD 5:30 PM

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will hold a Celebration of the Animals at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the picnic shelter behind the church at 712 Wappoo Road in West Ashley.
The service will celebrate the role that animals play in our lives.
Pets are welcome as long as they are in carriers or on leashes (no retractable leashes).
At the end of the short service, there will be Yappy Hour, a time for people to fellowship and meet each other's pets. Treats will be provided for humans as well as animals.
Participants are asked to make a nonperishable donation to Pet Helpers.
Also, visitors can bring a picture of pets who are or who have been an important part of their lives.

Friends of the Groom, children's message

Greetings to you all on this beautiful Wednesday afternoon!

 

This Sunday we are thrilled to have the theatre company Friends of the Groom with us for worship.

 

While they will take place in a variety of ways, one way will be with the children's message.  They are going to do a special drama for the children, "The Tale of the Three Trees."

 

This worship service will be special for our children!

 

See you Sunday, if not before!

 

Spike

--
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Friends of the Groom: Rally Day Aug 29th

Friends of the Groom, a theater group committed to proclaiming the Christian message, will perform at 11 a.m. Aug. 29 at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 712 Wappoo Road in West Ashley. This is a group not to miss!! Please bring your family and invite your neighbors. The group of adult performers from Cincinnati, Ohio, work together as believers committed to reveal the Gospel of Jesus Christ through drama, storytelling, music, workshops and other renewing experiences.

Rally Day Events: Churchwide Breakfast 9:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday School begins at 9:45

Worship: 11:00 Friends of the Groom

Everyone is invited and child care is available.
For more information, call 766-4262

Congregational Meeting Sunday

Just a reminder: Sunday (July 11) we will have a congregational meeting to elect members to serve on the Elder/Deacon/Trustee Nominating Committee.

 

The following church members have agreed to serve if elected:  Beth Albee, Whitney Atkinson and Phil Blevins.

 

At directed by the Book of Order, the Session designated two elders to serve on the Nominating Committee: Libby Summerford and Richard Reason.

 

Nominations for members to serve on the committee can also be made from the floor.  If you would like to nominate someone to serve please make sure they are willing to serve if elected before you nominate them.

 

See you Sunday!

 

Spike

Manna worship service Sunday at 5:30

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Chirst!

 

Just a friendly reminder:  The Manna worship service is this Sunday, July 11, at 5:30 PM in the fellowship hall.

 

The youth will share about their mission trip to Tennessee and will show lots of pictures from their experience. 

 

You are invited to come and learn more about ways in which the Lord blessed our time in Tennessee and the impact it had on the youth.

 

The offering for the service will be dedicated to HELP.  If you would like to contribute to the offering, please bring non-perishable food items.  Thank you!

 

See you Sunday!

 

Share the Joy!

 

Spike

July 4 worship service

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

This year the 4th of July falls on a Sunday.  Having talked with any number of you, I realize that many of you--like me--are concerned about our country and, indeed, the world. 

 

So, on this Sunday, I would like to consider in the sermon ways in which we as the body of Christ can be a blessing to our country and the world.  What do we have to offer that would be beneficial to our neighbors in ways that are good and helpful to all people?

 

In our day, we are all too familiar with the lack of civility in public discourse--instead of having a healthy, robust debate on issues, it seems like it's politically expedient to attack people's characters.  The problem is that when we do that, everyone loses!  There are no winners, and very little, if anything, productive will ever be accomplished.

 

So, how can we be an example of a different way, the way of love that leads to abundant life?  What will it take for us to be such a community of character is shaped by the Holy Spirit and guided by Jesus Christ for the glory of God?

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions.

 

May God continue to watch over and keep us, and guide our steps so that we may...

 

...Share the Joy!

 

Spike

 

"Jesus is Alive," Sermon text and questions

Greetings to you all in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ! In this season of Easter, we joyfully proclaim that Jesus Christ is Risen!  I know this may border on stating the obvious, but to say that Jesus is risen also suggests that Jesus is alive--yes, that means right now, at this very moment! But here's the kicker, what does it mean for how we live our daily lives that Jesus is alive--not only in this very moment, but in all of our moments?  Is he present with us?  If so, how?  If so, what difference does it make, especially when we face confusing and challenging and painful situations in live? Our Scripture lessons for this Sunday invite us to consider these questions together.  But, as we do, please remember that no one passage from the Bible will answer all of our questions (that's why the Bible has 66 books!).  The our lessons for this week are very important in helping us to understand Jesus' mission and our part in it.  I invite you to read our Scripture passages for worship this Sunday (May 9) and, as you do, to consider the questions below. Luke 24:36-53: What day do the events in this passage take place? Why were the apostles frightened when Jesus appeared?  What was their first thought?  How did Jesus respond to them? What do you think it means to "disbelieve for joy"? What does Jesus remind them of in verse 44?  Why is this important? What do you think Luke means when he writes, Jesus "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures"?  Would you like for Jesus to open your mind?  What would you like to learn from him? According to verses 47-48, what part do we (God's people) have in God's mission? What does Jesus promise in verse 49? What is the significance of verse 51?  Do you really think this is important for our lives and our witness to Jesus Christ?  How so? Do you think there is a correlation between praising God and having joy in our lives?  What might that correlation be? When people think of you, does the word "JOY" come to their minds?  What do you think does?  Would you be willing to ask a friend what comes to mind when they think of you? 1 Corinthians 15:1-14: How does hearing and receiving the Gospel make a difference in our lives? (verses 1-2) Where does this "Good News" come from?  Do you believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead?  What difference does what you believe have in how you live each day?   What difference does it have in how you understand your purpose (or mission) in life? If God raised Jesus from the dead (not just his spirit, but his body!), do you think God can and will raise our bodies?   As you think about this question, then consider the implications for how we understand the purpose of our bodies and how we live each day. As you pray and prepare your heart for worship, may God's Spirit fill you with joy--in believing! See you Sunday! Spike

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.

Clean City Sweep 2010

Join us on Saturday, April 24th for Clean City Sweep 2010

We will be picking up debris along Wappoo Road

to help keep our community beautiful!

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Refreshments will be provided!

Hope to see you there!

~SHARE THE JOY OF LIFE IN CHRIST~

Youth Spaghetti Luncheon

Youth Spaghetti luncheon and bake sale will follow worship this Sunday, April 25th. This is a fund raiser for the youth mission trip to Tennessee

in June (6-12).





~SHARE THE JOY OF LIFE IN CHRIST~

The Way of the Lamb?

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

I hope you and those you love are having a good week.

As we prepare for worship this Sunday (April 25), here are the
Scripture lessons and the sermon title:

Isaiah 55:6-9
Revelation 7:9-17
Sermon title:  The Way of the Lamb?

The sermon this week will be based on our text from Revelation.  It
will focus on the image of the Lamb of God, particularly on what this
depiction suggests of the nature of God and of God's response to evil
and suffering in the world.  As we explore this together, we will then
consider what it means for us today to follow in "The Way of the
Lamb."

While there is much confusion about how to interpret Revelation, there
are characteristics of Apocalyptic literature that enable us to better
understand this book's witness to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.

As you no doubt are aware,  Apocalyptic literature employs a wide
array of symbols to convey meaning.  Since the end of the 18th
century, a number of examples of Apocalyptic literature have been
discovered (most dating back between 200 BC-100 AD).  By comparing
these examples, we have discerned common uses of symbols, especially
colors and numbers.

Here are a few that you may find helpful:

Colors:

White = victory
Red = war, conflict
Black = lack of something (like food, for example)
greenish-gray ("pale" in some translations) = death

Numbers:

3 = the realm of the spirit
3.5 = the time evil is allowed to run its course
4 = the created order
7 = complete, mature
10 = fullness, all, total
12 = people of God

Of course, it is important to remember that numbers are used
symbolically that also include multiples and combinations of numbers
(example:  144,000 in Rev.. 7:4).

Questions to consider:  Revelation 7:9-17

What is the setting for this vision?  Where does it take place?
Who is there?  Where are they from?  What are they wearing?
What do you think are the significance of the white robes and palm
branches?  What does white symbolize in Apocalyptic literature?
What are the people doing in this vision?  Are they quiet?  Sad?  Joyful?
Who is the Lamb?  How do you know?  Why is this image used?  What is
the point of this image?
How did the Lamb respond in his time of tribulation at the hands of
the Roman authorities?  Did he trust God?  What did God do for the
Lamb?
What have the people in the white robes experienced? (v. 14)
What were the followers of Jesus experiencing at the end of the first
century AD in Asia Minor?  Do you think the original hearers of
Revelation would have been able to identify with the people dressed in
white robes?  Why?  Or why not?
Have you ever suffered as a consequence of your faith in Jesus Christ?
What happened?  Did your experience change in any way your
relationship with and understanding of who Jesus Christ is?  If so,
how?
Based on the experiences of the church at the end of the first
century, what do you think it means to say "they have washed their
robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"?  (v. 14).
(Remember what white symbolized in Apocalyptic literature)
To these people, does God keep his promised and fulfill his purpose
for their lives?
Do you trust God to do the same for you and the people you love?  How
does your answer to this question influence the way you make decisions
in your daily life?
What does it mean for us to be washed in the blood of the Lamb and to
follow in his Way?

 See you Sunday!

Spike

Confirmation breakfast, 9:45 Sunday

Greetings to you all on this beautiful day the Lord has made!

This Sunday the Christian Education ministry team will host a
breakfast for the youth who participated in the confirmation class and
their mentors.

We will begin at 9:45!

See you Sunday, and come hungry to enjoy the delicious treats that
will be provided!

Spike

Easter Worship Service

Easter Worship Service will begin at

11:00 AM on Sunday, April 4th, 2010.

Join us! He is Risen!

~SHARE THE JOY OF LIFE IN CHRIST~

Easter Sunrise Service

Sunrise service will at 7:00 AM,

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

and will be followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall.

Good Friday Service April 2, 2010 @ 7:00 PM

Good Friday worship service

will be at 7:00 PM tonight in the sanctuary.

Hope to see you there.

Confirmation schedule

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

The youth in our confirmation class are working on their statements of faith, a one page statement that they will share with the Session during the SS time on Sunday, April 11. 

 

Also, on April 11, the confirmation class will share in leading worship.  The Rev. Linda Burger will preach and lead some of the prayers, and the youth will lead other parts of the service.  That makes it very important for the youth to be here next Wednesday, April 7th, to prepare for leading worship the following Sunday.

 

On Sunday, April 18th, the youth will be presented to the congregation.  We will celebrate their confirmation in worship.

 

The spaghetti luncheon has been moved back one week to April 25th.  This luncheon is a fund raise for the youth mission trip to Tennessee in June.

 

I hope you and your family are well!

 

Spike

Easter sermon lessons, And So it Begins...

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

Below you will find the lessons (biblical texts for the sermon in the 11:00 AM service this Sunday).  I invite you to not only read these passages and consider the questions below, but also to share in our worship services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (both at 7:00 PM).  By hearing the parts of the story in Luke's Gospel that lead up to the first Easter, we can better appreciate the significance of the events of that morning for our lives and for the world.

 

Isaiah 65:17-25

• Does this passage encourage you or offer you hope?  Why (why not)?
• Have you ever experienced anything like the images in verse 25? 

Luke 24:1-12

• When you life gets hectic & crazy and your feel disoriented, how do you usually respond?  Do you stick to your practices and the things in life that are familiar, or do you just feel like collapsing (emotionally and spiritually, as well as physically)?
• Why did the women in this text wait until the first day of the week to go to Jesus' tomb?  (see Luke 11:56)
• Why did they go to Jesus' tomb?  What did they discover when they arrived?
• Who are the two men who greeted them?  Does Luke's description of their clothes remind you of another story in Luke?  (think Luke 9:28-36, also where Jesus speaks with Moses & Elijah about the Exodus (Greek word is Exodon) that he will accomplish in Jerusalem. 
• What did these men say to the women?  Whose words did they quote?  (Do you remember 9:51, when "Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem"?  The act of setting one's face is to take on the role of prophet (see examples of this in Jeremiah).
• What did the women do next? 
• How did the male apostles respond to the news?  ("Idle tale" is a understated way of translating the Greek word Luke uses!  If you have other translations of the Bible, check to see if other translations of this word are different from the RSV, which is our per Bible) 
• Where were the women when Jesus was crucified?  Where were the men (male apostles) when Jesus was crucified?
• Do you think this (verse 12) is a strange way to end the first Easter Sunday?  Do you know people who think the Gospel of Jesus Christ is "an idle tale"?  Why do you think they believe that? 
• What do you believe is the significance of Jesus' resurrection for your life?  ...for the world? 

In the coming weeks, we will continue to the story as Jesus is present with his followers, gathering and preparing his church for mission. 

 

Share the Joy:  Christ is Risen!

Spike

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, 7 PM

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

Just a reminder that our Maundy Thursday and Good Friday worship services will be at 7:00 PM both nights in the sanctuary. 

 

Sunrise service will at 7:00 AM, and will be followed by breakfast in the fellowship hall.

 

The choir has once again prepared incredible services of worship to help us share and even find out place in Jesus' story as his mission continues today.

 

See you Thursday and Friday at 7:00!

 

Spike

Parable of the Running Father, Sermon this Sunday

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!  I hope you and your family are well, and are enjoying the beautiful weather we're having so far this week.

 

Here is info for worship this coming Sunday, March 14:

Sermon title:  The Running Father

Old Testament Lesson:  Psalm 23

New Testament Lesson:  Luke 15:1-2, 11-24

 

In his book Finding the Lost: Cultural Keys to Luke 15, Dr. Kenneth Bailey provides an outline of this parable.  As we pray and prepare for worship this Sunday, I thought it might be helpful to share this with you. 

 

A:  Death (verses 11-12)

    B:  All is Lost (verses 13-14)

        C:  Rejection   (verses 15-16)

            D:  The Problem?  (verse 17)

            D':  The Solution?  (verses 18-20a)

        C':  Acceptance  (verse 20b)

    B':  All Is Restored  (verses 21-22)

D':  Resurrection  (verses 23-24)

 

As Dr. Bailey notes in his book, in such passages that use this type of literary structure (inverted parallelism), the key to understanding the passage is in what he lables in this one as C'.  In this case, in these verses the Father runs to his son.  I encourage you to read these verses and to perhaps make notes that help you felsh out Dr. Bailey's outline of this passage to help you see the flow.  As we do, also considering the cultural context in which shame and honor are so very important, we will see how radical and startling the Father's action is in this story. 

 

Here are some questions you might want to consider as well:

1. Why does Dr. Bailey say that what the son demands of his father is tantamount to death? 
2. Based on what you know about Jews (especially their feeling towards pigs!), what would does it say about the son's condition that he is now envious of pigs who have more to eat than he does?
3. What might have happened to the son had the father not run to him?
4. What might have been some of the consequences for the father for running to his son?
5. How does the father demonstrate his acceptance of his son?  
6. How do we know taht we are accepted by God? 
7. Remember, Jesus tells this parable as he was making his way toward Jerusalem to accomplish his "exodus" (Luke 9:31)..  In what ways does this story help us understand what Jesus did for us on the cross?
8. Does this parable help you to better appreciate what God has done for us in Jesus Christ? 
9. How can we live more out of gratitude to God in our daily living, as opposed to "murmuring" like the Pharisees and scribes (verse 2)? 

Again, thank you all for your continued prayers for my family, especially my brother Joneathan.  I'll share reports as often as I am able while in Raleigh. 

 

See you Sunday!

Spike

Sunday lessons and sermon

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

I hope you and those you love are well.  Below you will find the sermon title and lessons for Sunday, February 28.

 

Sermon title:  Love's True Prophet

 

Lessons:

Psalm 118:  This is a psalm of ascension (when going to Jerusalem, it is always uphill).  As our ancestors made their way to Jerusalem to share in special celebrations.  In the Gospel lesson Jesus quotes Psalm 118:26 (Luke 13:35).

 

Since this psalm was chanted responsively by our ancerstors as they made their way to Jerusalem, read it out loud.  If possible, read it with someone else, taking turn reading alternating verses.  

 

Hebrews 1:1-4:  What does it mean to say that God, who spoke to us through prophets, now speaks to us through God's Son, Jesus?

 

Luke 13:31-35:  This is a challenging text to intperpret because some things really are not clear.  For example, did Herod really want to kill Jesus?  Remember, this Herod is not the same one responsible for the slaughter of the innocents.  In the other instances where he is mentioned it is not clear that he has any animosity towards Jesus.  Given this question, what is the real agenda of the Pharisees mentioned?  What are they up to?  And, remember, the Pharisees were a group of people, not all of whom were of one mind--and certainly not of one disposition towards Jesus.  So it's hard to say "All Pharisees are like this..."

 

And, what does Jesus mean when he calls Herod a fox?  What does Jesus mean when he compares himself to a mother hen trying to shelter and protect her chicks?  What does he have in mind when he says these things?  In saying them, is Jesus in some way interpreting what will happen in Jerusalem, namely, his death? 

 

As we prepare for worship this Sunday, think of God's wondrous love that is demonstrated on the cross, in the outstretched arms that were pierced for our transgressions.  Are those arms, indeed, like those of a mother hen trying to shelter her chicks?

 

See you Sunday!

 

spike

 

 

--
Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

Pancake Supper and Ash Wednesday Worship Service

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

Just a reminder of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper tomorrow at 6:00 PM, and the Ash Wednesday worship service at 6:30 PM.

 

I hope you and your loved ones and friends can share in these opportunities.

 

Share the Joy!

Spike

Water Missions International

Thank you all for your generous support of the youth's Souper Bowl of Caring luncheon last Sunday. 

 

Last night the youth went to Water Missions International to present to them in person the check for $760.00!!!

 

We also received a wonderful tour of the facility and heard the story of how Water Missions started. 

 

Thank you for supporting the youth of our church and enabling them to ...

 

...Share the Joy!

Spike

Haiti sale Saturday

Remember, this Saturday, Feb. 13, the Women of St. A's are hosting a sale of crafts and art work from Haiti.

 

The items will be displayed in the fellowship hall from 10:00-2:00. 

 

This is a micro-finance project of the Presbyterian Women of the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery.  The items were that will be for sale were all made by women in Haiti, and the money from the sale of the items will go to them (%100!).

 

See you Saturday!

 

Share the Joy!

Spike

Manna Sunday at 5:30 PM

"Finishing Well" will be the theme for our  Manna worship service this Sunday, February 7th.  We will meet in the fellowship hall with the service beginning at 5:30 PM. 

 

See you Sunday at Manna! 

 

Share the Joy!

Spike

Haiti: Options to Help

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

Many people have asked about ways in which we can respond to the disaster in Haiti.  One is to pray and recognize that the recovery will take a long, long time.  Given the situation in Haiti, this is also an opportunity to rebuild a more just society. 

 

For now, the most helpful thing we can supply is money for relief supplies and relief workers.  Here are credible ways that you can contribute (these will also be in the bulletin Sunday):

 

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance:  www.pcusa.org/pda

 

Hearts with Haiti:  www.heartswithhaiti.com

 

Water Missions International:  www.watermissions.org

 

I know you will want to give and to do so generously.  Please do!  But also be very careful.  In a situation, when there is a disaster of this magnitude, there will be many people trying to exploit the suffering of our brothers and sisters by running scams.  So give, but only to organizations that you know!!!

 

Also, I recognize that many members of St. A's will not get or read this message.  For those who do not use computers, you may write checks to St. Andrew's, writing on the memo line or the offering envelop "Haiti relief effort." 

 

If you give through St. A's, the money will be forwarded to the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery, which will send a check each week that money comes in to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.  If you wish to contribute to another organization, please do so directly, either giving online or by mailing a check.

 

Again, thank you, in advance, for Sharing the Joy with our neighbors in Haiti.

 

Spike

Missionary From Costa Rica: Amanda Lidderdale

This Wednesday (January 13), Amanda Lidderdale will join us for dinner and then will speak to us about her experiences serving as a missionary in Costa Rica.  Amanda is a member of Rockville Presbyterian Church on Wadmalaw Island.  You are invited to join us for dinner.  We begin serving at 5:30pm and the cost is $6.00 for adults.  Amanda will then speak at 6:30 pm.  Hope to see you there!

State of the Church Service

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

 

This Sunday, January 10, the message will be "The State of the Church."  In it, I'll reflect on our shared worship and ministry in 2009. 

 

The Scripture lessons that will guide my reflection are:  Isaiah 20:27-31;  Hebrews 4:14-16;  and Luke 3:21-22.

 

I encourage you to prayerfully read these passage and to join me in reflecting on the ways we experienced God's presence and loving kindness in 2009.

Spike