St. Andrews Parish UMC

St. Andrews Parish UMC www.sapumc.com

3225 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC 29414

05/28/2026

Day 16 — We Were Meant for Unity

One small thing you can do today to make the world better: Remember that we were created for unity and relationship.

Not uniformity. Unity. There’s a difference.

Uniformity says: “You must become exactly like me.”

But unity says: “We can still love one another even when we are different.”

Jesus never prayed that we would all think the same, vote the same, act the same, or come from the same background.

But He did pray for our unity!
For love. For relationship. For reconciliation. For a community shaped more by grace than by division.

And honestly? Hatred corrodes the soul!
It hardens us. Consumes us. Shrinks our ability to see the image of God in other people.

The longer we hold onto bitterness, contempt, and division…the less we begin to look like Jesus.

That does not mean we ignore truth.
It does not mean we avoid hard conversations.
And it certainly does not mean we accept injustice.

But it does mean we refuse to dehumanize one another.
Because followers of Jesus are called to something higher than tribalism.

We are called to love!
To build bridges where others build walls.
To seek understanding where others seek enemies.
To remember that every person we meet is someone Christ loves deeply.

So today, choose unity over division. Not because we are all the same…but because we all belong to God.

Because making the world better may begin…with one person refusing to let hatred take root in their soul.

Love First...Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

05/27/2026

Day 15 — WIJIT

One small thing you can do today to make the world better:

Ask yourself: “What If Jesus Is There?”

Our Adult Sunday School class has started calling this: WIJIT.

And honestly…it changes things.

Have you ever worried about possible outcomes?
Imagined worst-case scenarios?
Felt fear begin to take over?

Me too.

But when I stop and ask myself: “What If Jesus Is There?” …the worry begins to loosen its grip.

Because He IS there!

When I wonder if I have the strength to do the right thing…WIJIT.

And suddenly I remember I do not stand alone.

When grief feels too heavy…WIJIT.

And I remember there is still One walking beside me.

When I am tempted to react in anger, impatience, or cruelty…WIJIT.

And the fruit of the Spirit begins pulling me back toward grace.

Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.

Because one beautiful way to make the world a better place…is to stop imagining the world without Jesus.

That world does not exist.

Christ is present!

In our joy.
In our suffering.
In our courage.
In our grief.
In the people standing right in front of us.

So today, before you worry…
before you react…
before you give up…

pause and ask: WIJIT?

Because making the world better may begin…with simply remembering we never walk alone.

Love First...Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

05/26/2026

Inspired by the worship scenes of Isaiah 6 and Revelation 4, "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty" (no. 64 in The United Methodist Hymnal) joins generations of believers in proclaiming the holiness, majesty, and mercy of God.

🎵 “Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see…”

Even when we cannot fully understand God’s greatness, this hymn reminds us that God remains steadfast, merciful, and worthy of our praise.

💭 When do you most deeply experience awe or wonder in your relationship with God?

What a beautiful thing to celebrate!There is something deeply hopeful about hearing laughter echo across church grounds ...
05/26/2026

What a beautiful thing to celebrate!

There is something deeply hopeful about hearing laughter echo across church grounds again. The new playground is already becoming more than just equipment, mulch, and swings; it is a sign of who we are striving to be at St. Andrews Parish United Methodist Church.

A church where children are welcomed.
A church where families feel safe.
A church where joy is visible.
A church connected to the community around us.
A true “Church on the Path.”

Seeing children run and play while adults smile, talk, and gather nearby reminds us that ministry is not only what happens inside the sanctuary. Sometimes ministry looks like laughter on a slide… tiny feet running across a playground…grandparents watching from a bench…and neighbors realizing, “This church really is here for the community.”

Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible through generosity, vision, work, prayer, and encouragement. The soft launch has already shown us something important:

When a church makes room for children, it makes room for the future.

We cannot wait for the official grand opening once the fence is installed, but for now… what a joy it has been to watch this space already come alive.

Love First…Love
🙏❤️🙏
— Rev B

05/26/2026

Day 14 — Tell Someone They Matter

One small thing you can do today to make the world better:

Tell someone they matter!
Not someday.
Not eventually.
Today!

Have you ever wondered if what you do really makes a difference?
If anyone notices your effort?
If your presence matters more than people say?

Me too.

And the truth is, a lot of people are carrying invisible discouragement. They keep showing up. Keep helping. Keep trying. All while quietly wondering if anyone sees them at all.
But people are not projects.
They are beloved children of God.
And sometimes one sincere word can breathe life back into a weary heart.

“I appreciate you.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“You make a difference.”
“I’m thankful for you.”

Those words matter more than we realize!

Jesus constantly reminded people of their value. He saw dignity where others saw inconvenience. Worth where others saw weakness. Belovedness where others saw failure.
And maybe we are called to do the same.
So today, encourage someone intentionally.
Teachers.
Parents.
Nurses.
Caregivers.
Coworkers.
Friends.
The quiet people nobody else notices.

Tell someone they matter.

Because making the world better may begin…with one person reminding another person they are loved.

Love First…Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

05/25/2026

Memorial Day

Today we remember.

We remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to others. Those who stepped forward when called. Those who carried burdens many of us will never fully understand. Those who never made it home.

And on Memorial Day, we do more than celebrate freedom…we honor sacrifice.

As someone who spent 20 years in the Submarine Force, I can tell you this:

Service changes you.
You learn quickly that freedom is not free.
That courage is often quiet.
That sacrifice is real.
And that some people give everything for people they will never even meet!

So today, let us remember with gratitude.
But let us also honor them by the way we live. By choosing compassion over hatred. Unity over division. Service over selfishness. Love over fear.

Because the best way to honor those who gave their lives for others…is to become people willing to live for others too.

May we never forget their sacrifice.
And may we carry forward the values worthy of that sacrifice.

Love First…Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

05/24/2026

Day 13 — Do No Harm

One small thing you can do today to make the world better:

Do no harm.

It sounds simple.
But honestly?
In a world full of outrage, division, cruelty, and constant reaction…it may be one of the hardest things we can do.

Have you ever said something you wish you could take back?
Reacted out of anger?
Wounded someone without fully realizing it?

Me too.

John Wesley famously taught:
“Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.”

And that first one matters deeply.
Because harm is not always physical.
Sometimes harm comes through words.
Through gossip.
Through bitterness.
Through indifference.
Through the way we treat people when we forget they are loved by God too.

Followers of Jesus are not called to win at all costs.
We are called to love! To speak truth with grace. To protect dignity. To refuse cruelty. To stop adding more pain to an already wounded world.

And imagine what could happen if more people simply woke up each morning asking: “How can I move through this day without harming others?”

That alone could change so much!

So today, slow down before reacting.
Choose gentleness over aggression.
Compassion over contempt.
Grace over cruelty.

Because making the world better may begin…with one person choosing to do no harm.

Love First…Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

05/23/2026

Day 12 — Do the Next Right Thing

One small thing you can do today to make the world better:

Do the next right thing!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems?

Me too.

Sometimes there is so much brokenness around us that we freeze.

We wonder: “Where do I even begin? “What difference can I really make?” “What if what I do isn’t enough?”

But maybe faithfulness was never about doing everything. Maybe it’s about doing the next right thing.
The next act of kindness.
The next word of encouragement.
The next moment of courage.
The next opportunity to love someone well.

Jesus often spoke about daily faithfulness.
Daily bread.
Daily grace.
Daily taking up the cross.

Not because small things are insignificant…but because small things shape who we become.

And honestly?
Most of the good in this world is built slowly.
One decision at a time.
One relationship at a time.
One act of love at a time.

So today, don’t let the size of the world’s pain paralyze you.

Just ask: “What is the next right thing I can do?”
And then do it!

Because making the world better may begin…with one person choosing faithfulness over helplessness.

Love First…Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

Friends,We are excited to share that we have officially begun the soft launch of our new playground here at St. Andrews ...
05/23/2026

Friends,

We are excited to share that we have officially begun the soft launch of our new playground here at St. Andrews Parish UMC — The Church on the Path!

That means the playground is now open and ready for children to enjoy. We are still waiting on the installation of the safety fence, and once that is complete, we will celebrate together with an official Grand Opening. But in the meantime… the laughter has already begun, and that feels like a blessing in itself.

From the very beginning, this playground has been about more than swings and slides.

It is a statement about who we believe God is calling us to be.

We want every child to know:
You are welcome here.
You are loved here.
You are safe here.

Jesus said,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 19:14

At St. Andrews, we want to live that out in real and tangible ways.

As “The Church on the Path,” we sit right beside a place where people walk every day — families, grandparents, children, neighbors, and visitors. We believe the Church should not hide behind walls waiting for people to come inside. We believe the Church should meet people where they are and remind the community that God’s love is present here.

So if you are walking the path…
stop and play.
Pause and rest.
Listen to the laughter.
Know that this church is here for you.

We hope this playground becomes a place of joy, connection, hospitality, and community for everyone who passes by.

Because we do not simply want to be a church in the community.

We want to be the community church.

Love First…Love Always
🙏❤️🙏
Rev. B

05/22/2026

Day 11 — Assume There’s More to the Story

One small thing you can do today to make the world better:

Assume there’s more to the story.

Have you ever judged someone too quickly?
Made assumptions before you knew the whole picture?
Reacted to a moment without understanding the burden behind it?

Me too.

The truth is, most people are carrying things we cannot see. Grief. Stress. Fear. Loneliness. Exhaustion. Silent battles they may never fully explain.

And sometimes what looks like anger…is actually pain. What looks like distance…may really be hurt. What looks like indifference…might actually be someone barely holding it together.

Jesus had a remarkable way of seeing beyond the surface.
Where others saw sinners…He saw people.
Where others saw failures…He saw beloved children of God.
And maybe we are called to do the same.
Not excusing harm. Not ignoring accountability. But choosing compassion before condemnation.

Because the world changes when we stop assuming the worst about one another.

So today, pause before rushing to judgment. Ask more questions.
Offer more grace. Leave room for understanding.

Because making the world better may begin…with one person choosing compassion over assumption.

Love First…Love Always!
🙏❤️🙏
Rev B

Address

3225 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC
29414

Telephone

+18437661080

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