Welcome! Thank you for checking out my blog. As a newbie (almost three years in) to Charleston, SC, I decided to take on a 2021 challenge in my adopted hometown known as the “Holy City.” With more than 400 churches, it’s a well-earned moniker. My challenge? Visit 52 houses of worship in 52 weeks. Part of this is a personal mission to explore my own faith; part of this is an endeavor to educate myself on various religions; and finally , it’s a journey I think will be fun! PLEASE NOTE as you read about my visits – I am not a historian nor a religious expert, also not a reporter or student of divinity. I am a woman who grew up in the church, and has maintained a conflicted relationship with religion ever since. These are my experiences, observations, and opinions. Enjoy!

First stop – the Bethel United Methodist Church on Pitt Street. I attended on January 3 for the 10 a.m. service, the start of a new year. You can almost feel the energy of a new year in the air every where, and I felt it at this church service. The first thing I noticed were the gorgeous floor- to- ceiling stained-glass windows. When the sun hits them, as it did on this Sunday morning, it was stunning – you could feel the warmth despite the chilliness outside. A Methodist service felt comfortable to me. I was raised United Methodist from around age 11 through college, so the service and flow were easy to follow. The sounds of the organ as the service started immediately brought me back to childhood and revived not-so-positive memories of sitting for hours on those hard pews. Side note (but important because details will be key) – the pews in Bethel are super low! I almost fell trying to sit down.

One thing I noticed about the choir entering – it was solemn and serious. This seemed odd, given we were still in Advent season, and I would expect joy and celebration. The service opened up with a message about the transition to “getting here…to being here” so you are prepared to hear the message and worship. That resonating with me – it is true of so many things in life these days, that we aren’t present. We often do not pause and take in the moment to enjoy the now. In all of these services so far, I have tried my best to be present and in the moment.

The sermon this Sunday was about “Being Wrong by Nine Miles” – ultimately it connected back to the Magi (Wise Men/ Wise Kings) as they came to pay respect to Jesus.  In summary,       it was written in Old Testament by Isiash that when the new King came, men from the East would bestow upon him gifts, so when a bright star appeared in the sky – the Magi headed that way… except (stay with me) they went to Jerusalem, which was nine miles away from Bethlehem.  I didn’t really get the pastor’s message, and she attempted to connect the Magi to a homeless man of today and she lost me.

I really enjoyed the comfort of a traditional Methodist service.  I knew what was coming, and when. Next stop – St. Michael’s.