Ministries

Kids at
St. Andrew

Children are an important part of our gatherings at St. Andrew. All children are welcome to worship with us at St. Andrew By-The-Sea whether they live in our community or are a guest. Here at St. Andrew, not only do our children get a sense of belonging, but they learn who and whose they are as God’s love is experienced through caring adults who want to share their faith with others. We encourage parents to set priorities for assuring the faith education of their children just as they would for math or reading.

CHILDREN’S CHURCH SUNDAY MORNINGS

11:09 am, Education Bldg.
Children grades 5 and under are invited to leave the service following the Young People’s Discipleship Moment to participate in fun lessons at their level. Youth grades 6-12 are invited to assist one Sunday every other mont

Children’s Group Meeting

Children age kindergarten through 5th grade will begin meeting once a month on Sundays for food, lessons, and games. Please reach out to Anna for additional questions and future meeting times.

Middle + High School Students
at St. Andrew

Students grades 6-12 will meet up at UMYF (United Methodist Youth Fellowship) every other Sunday night to eat, play, and talk about things that help us grow deeper in our faith.

Next meeting dates:
September
Sunday, September 28
October 
Sundays, October 12 + 26

Parents: please contact Anna if you are available to provide food for UMYF anytime during the school year. annamhhiumc@gmail.com or text 843.642.2747

Youth Fall Retreat at Epworth by the Sea Conference and Retreat Center
Friday, September 12 – Sunday, September 14, 2025
St. Simons Island, GA
An awesome weekend of worship, friends, great activities, lots of memories

Our special guest speaker will be Pastor Matthew Price, a Clemson alum and now a local pastor at Dawsey UMC in Florence. Our guest worship leader will be Sarah Mount. Sarah is also a Clemson alum and is the former worship leader from Clemson Wesley.

Sign up for this trip by August 24 to secure your spot. Please let Anna know ASAP if your student would like to attend – spots are filling up fast!

Total cost for the trip is $175 per person. This includes all transportation, lodging, and meals for the weekend.
There will be an optional ropes course and zip line on Saturday. If your student is interested in participating in this, please indicate in the comments at signup. This is an extra $45 per person. Those not wanting to participate will have free time during this time.

Follow this LINK to sign up.

Family Ministry T-Shirts In Stock

Get your Family Ministries T-shirt and show your support! ($10 per shirt) Shirts are now available for pick up at the church. Click here to order and ensure you get your size.

YES. Events

We have officially launched our new program called ‘YES.’ This stands for Youth Extracurricular Support. Please send Anna your child’s and youth’s extracurricular schedules for the next few months. The dates that work with Anna’s schedule are the dates she will organize a group to attend and support your students at their activities!

For current events and more details, contact Anna Musselwhite, Director of Family Ministries, at 843-785-4711 or email.

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Foster Care Program

St. Andrew By-The-Sea is a proud and active supporter of Epworth Children’s Home and Foster Care program.

In the state of South Carolina, there are more than 4,000 children in foster care, with over 1,900 more homes needed to foster kids, according to the Epworth website. For more information about the Epworth Children’s Home Foster Care Program, please visit https://www.epworthchildrenshome.org/what/foster-care-program/.

Our Health Ministries committee brings programs designed to educate and improve the health and welfare of our congregation and community. We have blood drives, mental health presentations, CPR training, and more. Free blood pressure screenings are offered on the first Sunday of each month between services (September through May).
If you are interested in getting involved with this ministry, contact chairperson, Merryl Dietz, merryldietz@verizon.net.

Music is vital to worship at St. Andrew, with opportunities for all styles and ages. Whether you love hymns or modern songs, there’s a place for you.
Explore the options below to get involved.

PRAISE BAND

Our 11:09 Praise Band consists of volunteers, both instrumentalists and vocalists, who bring contemporary Christian music to our modern worship experiences here at St. Andrew. There are opportunities open to singers and musicians—including guitarists, bassists, percussionists, horn players, and string players—who want to share their gifts and be part of a dynamic worship team.

Interested in joining?
Contact Pastor Jonathan with your interest and for the rehearsal schedule.

SEASIDE CHANCEL CHOIR

Participating in the Chancel Choir is a great way to meet new people while using your musical gifts to serve God, the church, and the community. The choir leads worship each Sunday at the 9:00 am traditional service, as well as many other special services throughout the year. If you can’t make a weekly commitment to join, you are welcome to participate for special occasions (holidays, cantatas, etc.) – we would be happy for you to join us as your schedule allows.

• Rehearsals
  Chancel Choir rehearsals are in the Music Room on Wednesdays, 5:30 – 7:00 pm, and Sunday mornings. September through May

• Interested in joining?
  The Chancel Choir includes members and non-members of the church who volunteer their time to support the music ministries of the church. The choir is open to all adult vocalists high school age and older. There is no audition and all are welcome. The Chancel choir is led by Bruce Gale, St. Andrew’s Director of Music. For more information, or to join, please contact Bruce.

   

SEASIDE HANDBELL CHOIR

St. Andrew’s handbell choir helps to lead worship monthly, generally the second Sunday of the month. The bell choir is open to anyone interested, regardless of handbell experience or ability to read music.

• Rehearsals
  Rehearsals are in the Sanctuary on Tuesdays, 2:00-3:00 pm.
  September through May.

• Interested in joining?
  New ringers are accepted at any time; there is no audition. If you’re interested in joining, please contact Bruce Gale, Director of Music.

INSTRUMENTALISTS

Instrumentalists of all ages, musical styles, and abilities are invited to participate in our music ministry. Whether you enjoy playing solo, in a small ensemble, or as an accompanist, there is a place for you at either the Modern or Traditional service.

• Interested in joining?
  Contact Pastor Jonathan or Bruce Gale, Director of Music.

ORGAN DEDICATION + CONCERT

Did you miss St. Andrew’s new organ dedication and concert on March 2, 2025? Or maybe you’d like to see the keyboard and footwork up close.
Click the image to enjoy again or watch for the first time.

Click the picture collage to view a great video showing how the amazing organ replacement process began…

The Prayer Quilt Ministry is a way to combine the gift of a quilt, with the gift of prayer, for someone in need. It is a meaningful way to reach out to others in prayer. What better way to help someone in need, than with the power of prayer.

The Prayer Quilt Ministry is an interfaith outreach ministry that is currently being offered in Methodist, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic, and non-denominational churches across the United States, and Australia. St. Andrew is Chapter #68.

The purpose of the Prayer Quilt Ministry is not to make and distribute quilts but to promote prayer through the use of quilts. The quilt is simply the prayer carrier. A heavy thread is used to take stitches through the quilt layers, and the ends are left free to be tied with a knot. As each knot is tied, a silent prayer is said for someone in special need, who then receives the finished quilt. This is not just a gift of a quilt, it is a gift of love and prayer. It is a statement of faith in God and in His power to comfort, strengthen, and heal. As a special gift of love, they can be made for sick babies, for adults and children facing health-related problems, or for anyone facing a personal crisis. There are many circumstances when the gift of a Prayer Quilt is appropriate. The only requirement is that the recipient of a Prayer Quilt, or their family, must be prepared and have agreed to receive our gift of prayer. A surprise Prayer Quilt is not appropriate. We can request a Prayer Quilt for ourselves, for a loved one, a friend, or for anyone who is facing a difficult time in their life and would like to receive our prayers. They may be a member of our congregation, or they may live many, many miles from the Lowcountry.

Do you know someone in need, someone who could use the power of our prayers, given to them in the tangible form of a quilt, which can provide them with both physical and spiritual comfort?

You can offer them this healing power of prayer simply by calling the church office at 843-785-4711 to get information.

Stephen Ministry: Christ Caring for People Through People

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2, NRSV

St. Andrew is a Stephen Ministry Congregation. What does that mean?

Our church equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives.

While our pastors are available to us, there are times, when a trained Stephen Minister can provide more regular, ongoing support than a pastor, can effectively deliver by themselves. Stephen Ministers make weekly visits to the lonely and offer support and encouragement in a crisis. Our Stephen Ministers also make visits to the hospital for those who need prayer and support.

Each Stephen Minister participates in 50 hours of in-person training before being commissioned to serve. A Stephen Minister will be there for his or her care receiver, meeting faithfully for as long as the receiver needs that care: a few weeks, months, or even years. All communication between the Stephen Minister and his or her care receiver is strictly confidential.

What are some of the challenges you may be facing? A Stephen Minister will walk by your side through any of these situations:

• Loss of a loved one
• Divorce or separation
• Spiritual crisis
• Incarceration
• Birth, adoption, miscarriage or infertility
• Recovery after an accident or disaster
• Illness
• Loneliness or discouragement
• Unemployment or job crisis
• Aging
• Relocation
• And many more

If you or someone you know needs the caring concern of a Stephen Minister, contact one of our pastors:
Jonathan Tompkins or Frank Lybrand.

Interested in learning more about becoming a Stephen Minister? Contact Stephen Leader Bill Putnam.