UMW Scholarship Recipiants

The United Methodist Women of St. Andrews Parish UMC established and awarded their first academic scholarship in 2011. Since that time, through continued funding, they have been able to grant numerous awards to deserving young persons. Their very first award (in 2011) was $300; their 2017 awards will total $1,500. 

These awards are made possible by memorials and honorariums, the hard work of the ladies of the UMW and generous donations from congregation members who support various UMW fund raisers.

Applications for this year’s awards were received from March 1st to April 1st and were evaluated by a Scholarship Committee. Payment of each award will occur at the end of the recipient’s successful completion of the fall semester.  

2017 UMW Scholarship Awards

Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients, English Laserna and Mary Wagenbrenner!

English will be graduating May 31st, from Academic Magnet High School where she took eight Advanced Placement courses including Biology, Calculus, Literature, US Government and Economics. She plans to attend Clemson University, where she will study Biological Science prior to attending medical school. Recent contemplation has also led her to consider Bioengineering as a potential major leading to medical school and a career in ophthalmology. Her realistic view of the financial needs of such a career path, as well as her outstanding academic qualifications, and an outstanding GPA make her a worthy candidate for the UMW Scholarship.

English will receive a $750 scholarship certificate, payable at the end of the fall 2017 semester.

Mary graduated high school in 2016 and is currently enrolled at the College of Charleston where she is majoring in Early Childhood Education. Her extensive volunteer work with children here at SAPUMC (in the nursery, VBS, etc.) and her experience as a Teacher Cadet in a first grade class at Drayton Hall Elementary School have inspired a career in education. Mary's hard work, passion and dedication make her a worthy candidate for this year’s award.

Mary will also receive a $750 scholarship certificate, payable at the end of the fall 2017 semester.

Congratulations to both of these young ladies! To learn more about this scholarship opportunity and other UMW missions, please see Letha Henry on Sunday mornings or attend a UMW meeting. 

Begin to Ring Handbell Clinic

Our Music Director, Lavinia Parker, is hosting a handbell clinic!

Begin to Ring Handbell Clinic
June 19th, 21st & 23rd
7:00-7:45pm

Anyone age 12 or older is welcome to participate. Please feel free to invite friends and neighbors! No experience or music reading proficiency necessary. These sessions are intended for beginners, and there is no obligation to join or perform with our handbell choir. The clinic is completely free and open to the public, but space is limited. Registration is required, and participants must commit to all three sessions in order to master the basics. 

Please follow the link below to register. The clinic date will be listed as June 19th, but registration will include all three sessions. If the "Participants" option is full, please sign up under "Additional Participants." Additional Participants will be contacted when a second clinic is scheduled.

Piano Recital and Upcoming Performances

Our Organist, Dr. Brad Parker, will perform a duet recital alongside CSU colleague Ms. Abby Phillips this Friday!

Duet Recital
Friday, May 26th at 7:00pm
St. Andrews Parish UMC

The recital is free, open to the public and will include piano duets as well as violin and piano duet works by composers such as Poulenc, Beethoven, John Williams, Aaron Copland and more. Original sacred arrangements composed by Abby Phillips will also be presented.

Brad will also participate in Piccolo Spoleto performances on May 29th and June 1st...

The Roaring Twenties
Monday, May 29th at 4:00pm
Bishop Gadsden on James Island

Chamber Music Concert
Thursday, June 1st at 3:00pm
Franke at Seaside in Mount Pleasant

Both of these performances are free admission... So spread the word, and visit PiccoloSpoleto.com for more low and no-cost ways to celebrate the arts! 

Senior Fellowship Field Trips

Our senior fellowship group has been busy, busy, busy this spring! In April, they visited The Center for Birds of Prey for a facility tour and flight demonstration. Afterward, the group enjoyed lunch at Sewee Restaurant. Transportation was provided to and from the center (thanks to faithful pilot Pastor Brad).

This month, our seniors toured the Charleston Museum and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Bertha's Kitchen, which recently received the prestigious Beard Foundation Award.

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Senior fellowship will take a hiatus over the summer, and activities will resume in September (on the fourth Thursday of each month). Activities include field trips, board game days, lunch outings and more. Members and non-members, young and old alike are welcome to attend!

Senior fellowship activities are organized by Miriam Hunter and Cindy Walden, and they would love to get some congregational input! The group is seeking a new name that will inspire multigenerational fun... If you have group name or activity suggestions, please submit them below.

Get to Know You Class

Are you new to St. Andrews Parish UMC, or do you know someone who is interested in learning more about the United Methodist Church?

Pastor Brad is hosting a special class for guests and new members. The class will explore the history of the United Methodist Church and the theology of Methodism as well as various programs and ministries at St. Andrews Parish UMC.

This class will meet on three occasions during Sunday school (10:00am) in room B4 (next to the Goodman Room).

Get to Know You Class
Sundays at 10:00am
May 7th, 14th & 21st

We hope that this class will be a fun way to get to know one another, and we look forward to seeing you there!

May Newsletter

Click below to read the full newsletter.

Holy Week

Sunday, April 9th

• Palm Sunday Contemporary Worship Service at 8:45am
• Palm Sunday Traditional Worship Service at 11:15am

Thursday, April 13th

• Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00pm

Friday, April 14th

• Good Friday Cross Walk at 8:30am (Meet at the corner of Bees Ferry and Ashley River Road.)
• Good Friday Tenebrae Service at 8:00pm
• Prayer Vigil Begins

Easter Sunday, April 16th

• Sunrise Service at 7:00am (Sunrise service will be held in the Goodman Room.)
• Contemporary Worship Service at 8:45am
• Traditional Worship Service at 11:15am

Holy Clubs and Confirmation

This post was contributed by Youth Director Cindy Curtis and can also be found in the "Focus on Youth" section of this month's newsletter.

I love the coast! As one who grew up near the water, the Lowcountry rivers, salt marshes and beaches are so much a part of who I am. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I did not realize the wonderful experience I was in for at Epworth by the Sea for our Confirmation retreat. I enjoyed the location so much I felt a little guilty that it was part of my job. To admit that I learned as much as the confirmands was also a huge blessing to me.

What an incredible retreat!

One of the many teaching events planned for us was the participation in Holy Clubs. I liked the name, but had no idea what we were in for. John Wesley originated the concept while he was in college as a way to not only keep himself accountable, but to participate with others so that each person was given support, strength and a place to discuss their faith struggles. He formulated 22 questions for personal reflection, and the group discussed them. For example, am I proud? Do I grumble or complain constantly? Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits? Do I disobey God in anything? (I encourage you to look up all 22) We met as a group both evenings and had our Holy Club time.

Read more about John Wesley's 22 Questions for Personal Reflection at HopeFaithPrayer.com.

The questions led to more questions as we honestly discussed our struggles. The reflections opened our eyes and hearts to God in new and deeper ways. All of the twelve females were in one cabin with one toilet and one shower. The respect for each other, the patience for waiting your turn and taking a very fast shower, allowed us to live the grace that we were learning about. We sang, we worshiped, we attended workshops, we ate great food, we toured the Village at St. Simons, and we had a scavenger hunt in the dark all around the campus that ended at a camp fire. Our group was a model for others by their focus, manners and attention to the speakers and leaders.

As we finish up our confirmation lessons by adding to the information we received at our
retreat, the young people will be well prepared as they contemplate the decision to join the church on April 30. Many thanks to this church, the parents, and the Faith Friends (mentors) for helping to raise responsible faithful youth.

Relay For Life

Relay For Life of Charleston County will be hosting their annual event Friday, May 5th at TD Arena downtown. The relay will kick off at 6pm and continue through the night until 6am on the 6th.

Fundraising Efforts

We are beyond thrilled to announce that the St. Andrews Parish UMC team has raised more than $2,000 for this year's relay! Our annual Chili Cook-Off brought in a little over $300. Thank you to all who came, cooked and ate. A special congratulations goes out to first-runner up Jaime Johnson and proud victor Christine Freeman! We are already looking forward to next year's friendly competition and fierce fundraising.

But before the sun sets on this year's fundraising, please know that there is still time to contribute. A bake sale is scheduled for April 9th, and volunteers can sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office. All proceeds will benefit Relay For Life.

Guest Speakers & Special Performances

We are also pleased to announce that Pastor Brad will deliver this year's invocation, and our very own Jeremiah Treadway will be speaking at the Survivor's Dinner. The SAPUMC Praise Band will also perform at this year's event.

Pleas join the fight against cancer on May 5th! Follow Relay For Life on Facebook to learn more, and visit relayforlife.org to sign up for the St. Andrews Parish UMC team.

April Newsletter

Click below to read the full newsletter.