At Church of the Palms

This morning we drove south from the Charleston area just a couple of miles to a lovely campground to dump our tanks and refill our fresh water. While I acted as hydro-technician Mona read her latest book and then photographed a flock of Ibis with maybe an Egret or Heron thrown in to confuse the amateur birder.

They were camped out at the camp ground owners home.  His grounds, and the campground, were meticulously kept.  I wonder if he spent as much money on poop pickup as he did on 

                                               lawn care?

We continued south till we stopped for lunch just below the entrance to the Marine Air Station north of Parris Island Recruitment Training Center.  We found a Carolina Cider outlet (A farm stand) with plenty of room for us to safely pull off the road and enough free samples of food and beverage that I had to record them in my food journal toward my calorie max for the day.

Further south, and only 10 miles from Bluffton, SC we arrived at Church of the Palms, UMC. We pulled into the drive of the church to unhitch TOAD when pastor Pete came out from inside himself to welcome us himself.

Then the treasurer came out to the coach once we got her parked and she and Mona went on board to talk while I went in to see if I could help with the meal prep. But they were prepped so I... talked. 

Pete is a licensed pastor, as I was, and is the 4^th pastor here since CotPUMC was built about 15 years ago. He is also one of the very active cooks in the church and tonight he and Phil and several other men were preparing a wonderful soup & salad supper for the Wed night Bible Study, and we were invited to join them.

 

Pete’s UMC apron is emblazoned with a nick name he received at his last church, SHEEP DOG.  He told us that he had preached about the purpose of the sheep dog as one who watches over the flock, but who is also subject to the master.  Like a S D a good pastor keeps his eye on the whole flock while especially paying attention to dangers that may come on the fringe of the field. He and I agreed that the analogy breaks down when those dangers come from within the flock itself.  Most sheep don’t seem to have very expressive egos.

About 20 or so came for the meal and Mona and I had great conversation with the folks we sat with. Then another dozen or so arrived and we moved into the worship space for lecture and discussion on the use of the Book of Worship and our UMC liturgy.

 This was not strictly Bible Study, but was the 5^th in a 5 part series Pastor Pete had created at the request of many congregants to teach the form and style of the UMC. Many of the attendees had come to Church of the Palms from other or no church background. They wanted to know what United Methodism stood for, and why.  Pete did a really wonderful job, especially for a second career pastor who was not formally trained as a church organization lecturer. And he was ready for some tough questions as well.

  

“Why is REASON included as one of the four Wesleyan Quadrilaterals when human reason is the weakest thing we can use to discern God’s will?”  And Phil’s answer paraphrased:

“Reason is what we all must use to understand God’s Will; the other three parts of the Quadrilateral: Scripture, tradition, and experience. Reason brings it all together and allows us to use the minds God gave us.  It is God’s gift of Free Will.”

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart” (Luke 6:45 

Tomorrow I rise earlier than usual to join the men of CoP for a Brother's Breakfast.  they rise and make their own full breakfast for about 30 on average every Thursday morning and two Saturday mornings a month for all PLUS the guys who work Thursday mornings.

Then Friday night this week the church is hosting a Jazz Night with some talent from the church featured.

And on Friday I rise early again to assist the Trustees in some outdoor cleanup and pine needle spreading (like mulch only softer... and sharper).

Oh, and worship and Sunday school Sunday.  And next Saturday, the 25th, is their annual Fall Festival for the community.

This church of many retirees, families, and one very busy pastor is going places!  Their next building project seems proof of it.

PS:  Bill told us NOT to go walking in the woods behind the church.  Alligators, for one.  And water moccasins in the lagoon.  OK.  We'll stay on the gravel, Bill!

-Ken