Sunrise Church

Sunrise Church Sunrise Church’s ministry is defined by the belief that each and every one of us is created in the image of God.

We are dedicated to encouraging people from widely different backgrounds to recognize the ways that God is present in everyone’s life.

05/31/2026

Sunrise Church

05/29/2026

May 29th Prayer

Last Sunday we celebrated the Day of Pentecost. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were inspired and energized to take the good news of God’s loving grace out into the world! Remember the uncertainty the disciples felt as they waited behind closed doors for God’s Spirit to enliven them. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, it was as if “the doors were flung wide-open!”

Whenever we consider welcoming visitors to Sunrise there are two important points to remember, it makes a huge difference to people when visiting a church to be greeted warmly, and the responsibility of greeting visitors belongs to every regular attendee.

The good news is that we have been sharing a warm welcoming spirit with visitors. People feel our genuine joy in being together in worship and sharing our lives with each other. As we head into the summer months, we will be presented with opportunities to welcome visitors to the island and share the love of Christ with them. ~ Vance


Lord, may we learn to cherish what you have so generously given to each of us.
May we recognize the joy and wonder of the world around us and the precious gift of the people in our lives!
May we fill this day with our gratitude!
For, we owe you our heartfelt praise.
In the name of your son and our savior, we pray.
Amen!

May 25th PrayerToday is Memorial Day! I am reminded of Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation. As he spoke with thos...
05/25/2026

May 25th Prayer

Today is Memorial Day! I am reminded of Tom Brokaw’s book, The Greatest Generation. As he spoke with those that served in WWII, he discovered the true essence of honor, virtue, and humility. One quote from his book stands out to me, “there on the beaches of Normandy I began to reflect on the wonders of
these ordinary people whose lives were laced with the markings of greatness.”

Longtime church member Neila Cary discovered a few years ago the details about the bravery of her father on the eve of D-Day. He was a glider pilot that flew into Normandy under the cover of darkness. These pilots were the very first wave to arrive. They were followed by the airborne troops that parachuted behind
enemy lines. Her brother, Malcolm recently visited the village where he landed. Below is their invitation to him.

Memorial Day is a sacred duty to remember and honor those who willing put themselves in harm’s way for the benefit of others. Neila’s father survived the invasion on D-Day. He was part of The Greatest Generation that returned home to build the country we are blessed to live in. I encourage you to take time today to offer a prayer of gratitude for the sacrifices made on our behalf and the examples of what honor, virtue, and humility look like.
~ Vance

Thank you God, for freedom and those who have bravely served our nation.
But those most precious gifts are never free.
They come with a price, with sacrifice.
Many brave men and women were willing to face hard battles in order for us to enjoy the gift of freedom today.
For all those who have protected our nation, for the men and women in uniform, together, we say “Thank You.”
We take time to remember today, and say a prayer of gratefulness for the many who have been willing to pay a great price for our freedom.
May God help us to live so courageously that we may follow the brave examples of those who have gone before us . . . Amen. (Inspired by a prayer on Crosswalk.com)

05/22/2026

May 22nd Prayer

The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence opens with a sentence that has been called, “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.” The author of a book by this title notes the significance of the ideas contained in this well-known statement:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

One of the themes identified in this profound sentence is an underlying affirmation of the “common good” ~ a reminder that it is truly noble to sacrifice for the benefit of other. Sunday is Pentecost and the Sunday of the Memorial Day Weekend. It seems incredibly important on this Sunday to reflect on the significance of the common good as we honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. ~ Vance


The familiar hymn, Spirit of the Living God captures the wonder and grace of God’s Spirit transforming our lives. The words and music were written as a prayer-song in 1926 by a Presbyterian minister from Tarboro, North Carolina. The repetition of the words makes it what is sometimes called a breath prayer.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me; mold me; fill me; use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Amen.

05/18/2026

May 18th Prayer

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:1-5)

Acts of the Apostles is volume II of the Luke/Acts witness to the Good News of the Gospel and the early years of the church. Because the New Testament places the four gospels together, and the Gospel According to John is between Luke and Acts, we tend not to recognize the connection of the two. The transition is noteworthy and revealing.

50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:50-53)

The theme of the days between the Resurrection and Pentecost is one of waiting. The patience required to wait can be a challenge. You will notice that the disciples were not told when the gift of the Holy Spirit would arrive.

There is this rhythm in life between activity and waiting. Discerning when to be active or to wait patiently can be frustratingly challenging. If you are someone accustomed to meeting everything situation as something that requires an action, finding the patience to calmly wait may be extremely difficult.

A lesson of the days between the Resurrection and Pentecost is a lesson in patience, trust, and the value of waiting. A few years ago, I read some advice that I have repeated frequently. It is derived from the approach of special-education teachers to their students. “What do you do when a child is emotionally overwhelmed?” the writer asked. Many of the teachers at the school ask a simple question: “Do you want to be helped, heard or hugged?” In other words, does the student want an action-plan suggested, an attentive listener, or someone that is simply present? Those three words (helped, heard, or hugged) cover the entire range of options and opportunities. ~ Vance



The Serenity Prayer appears in a variety of versions. Its origins can be traced 1933 and some diary entries by the theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. This is a published version from 1951.
God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Amen.

05/15/2026

May 15th Prayer

This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday. It is a special Sunday for celebrating the “connections” we share. In the Gospel According to John, these connections are forged as Christ’s commandment for us to “love one another.” In the 15th chapter of John, Jesus uses the image of the vine and its connection to the branches to celebrate how our shared lives “bear fruit.”

Confirmation is the time when young people make the adult decision to become members of the church. They enter into adult membership with the opportunity to serve as Elders in the church. It is a wonderful moment in the life of our Church Family. ~ Vance


As we head for the summer season, this brief reflection by the poet William Blake came to mind. I invite you to meditate on this verse by repeating it at least seven times over the weekend.
To see a World in a Grain of Sand
and a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
and Eternity in an hour. (William Blake)

05/13/2026

May 13th Prayer

16But Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; 17where you die, I will die— there I will be buried. May the Lord do so to me, and more also if even death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:16, 17)

This passage from the Book of Ruth is one of my favorite scriptures about family. Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi, and they were widowed in an era when women were considered destitute without a male in the household. Naomi told both of her daughter-in-laws to return to their families. She would return to Israel as a homeless widow. Ruth’s pledge is that she would not allow her mother-in-law to make that journey alone; they were family!

The theme of the Book of Ruth is about being family in a way that transcends our biological families. There was no expectation that Ruth should sacrifice her safety and security to accompany her mother-in-law. The journey was perilous, and there would be no safe haven waiting for them upon their arrival in Israel.

The witness of the Book of Ruth is how God calls us to become “family,” reaching beyond our immediate families and recognizing how we are all connected to one another in God’s love. We speak of the church as our “family of faith.” Each time we baptize a child, we affirm our commitment as the “church family” to support the parents in telling the child the good news of Jesus’ love! On Sunday, we will celebrate the confirmation of young people. Breezy and Reece have prepared them for this special moment. The Book of Ruth is a wonderful reminder of the meaning of “family” to support and nurture each other throughout life’s journey. ~ Vance


Lord of our lives, Lord of all life, you have created and placed us in families.
Some of these families are birth families; others are families that spring from friendships and neighborhoods; and, we are all part of the much larger human family.
Open our hearts to all of the possibilities of being part of your gift of family.
May we grow in love for one another, cherishing this remarkable gift.
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

05/08/2026

May 8th Prayer

The Importance of Small Talk
Two years ago, I picked up a book with an intriguing title, “The Fine Art of Small Talk.” I was introduced to this book in an interview I heard with the author. She noted that small talk is not about “content” it is all about “connection.” The making of a connection, however brief, with another person is the point of small talk. It is a reminder of our shared humanity.

There was a time when small talk was a given. Everyone did it. You would strike up an exchange with the person next to you in line. There would be a brief conversation with the checkout person at the grocery store. We called it “exchanging pleasantries.” The purpose was creating warm, kind-hearted feelings.

These days, small talk is on the decline. I suspect much of the blame can be laid at the doorstep of our digital distractions. It is hard to engage in small talk when you cannot make eye contact with the person next to you.

My message to you today is to initiate small talk during the regular routine of your day. Take the opportunity for that brief exchange of “pleasantries.” There is a wonderful satisfaction in each of these quick conversations. You will feel better and the other person will as well! ~ Vance


I found this prayer of gratitude online.
Loving Lord,
As I express my gratitude to you in prayer, may it be a pleasing, joyful sound to you.
Thank you, Lord, for your love. It brings me acceptance and significance.
Thank you, Lord, for your truth. It brings me guidance and direction.
Thank you, Lord, for your mercy. It brings me help and comfort.
Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness. It brings me stability and strength.
Thank you, Lord, for your beauty displayed in the earth. It brings me joy and delight.
Amen.

Address

3222 Middle Street
Sullivans Island, SC
29482

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Thursday 9:30am - 2:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 2:30pm

Telephone

+18438833888

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Sunrise Church posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Sunrise Church:

Shortcuts

Share

Category