Every few months, ocean tide permitting, our church holds worship service on the beach across the street from the church building. Cars arrive early in the morning and parking spaces are found in the church lot. Trunks are opened and beach chairs pulled out and carried to the location set up for the gathering.
“Good morning. How are you?” can be heard over and over. “What a glorious morning to worship the Lord!” “Wow, isn’t this the most beautiful day?” Conversations and greetings continue until we are all seated and the service begins.
Old friends, new friends, visitors from out of town… we all become one as we relax in comfortable chairs and prepare for a unique worship experience. This past Sunday, the sun was shining brightly and pelicans flew over the ocean, finally resting in a row on the water. I wondered if the pelicans were having church, too.
Prepared for service to begin, I calmed and noticed my surroundings. Slowly breathing in and out, I noticed bicyclists passing by, pausing to look at our group on the beach. Cars slowed as drivers and passengers glanced over to see what was happening. Fishermen on the small bridge stood and waited for their fishing lines to move.
The ocean waves moved in and out, in and out. The constant movement gave me the thought of how our passion for sharing God’s love can move in and out at times. Some days, we are full of excitement and movement in sharing God’s love and other days, we sink back into our own lives without using our words or actions to show others how much He loves them. Like the ocean, we can come in with power and then, like the ocean waves, we retreat. In and out…in and out…
Let’s make today full of sharing His love with others. Let’s make our actions and words glorify Him.
On another note… after service was completed and we prepared to fold our beach chairs and place them back in the trunk, Alan began wiping sand off of the bottom of the chairs. My chair barely had sand on the bottom. His chair was covered in sand. Sweet husband looked at me and said, “My chair has more sand on the bottom because I weigh more than you. My chair sunk further down in the sand.” What a sweet thing to say! š
Have a blessed week! Remember to purchase your copy of “Licky the Lizard” on Amazon. Thank you.
Mimi
Melissa Henderson, Author
Website and blog:Ā http://www.melissaghenderson.com
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Exceptional post, Mimi! Thank you!
Thank you. Have a wonderful, blessed day! š
Such a beautiful post, Melissa. I felt as though I was relaxing on the beach with you. Loved Licky the Lizard! <3
Thank you Jill ! I appreciate you so much. š
Again, you made me smile, Melissa. Great post.
Thank you June. Have a blessed day! š
Love this reminder. Sometimes I get distracted by the day-to-day tasks. Great to refocus! Thanks for sharing
š Thank you!
I am also a tad jealous that you get to have church on the beach!! Iām currently wrapped in a huge sweater drinking coffee to stay warm.
We moved from VA to SC last year and have already adapted to the warmer weather. š Thanks for reading and commenting. Stay warm. Have a blessed day! š
I could almost feel myself on that beach, and a sweet thing to say about the sandy chairs. A wonderful description of the time there, the bicyclists, the nature, the things you realise when you stop to take it all in. Have a lovely week, Mimi š
Thank you. I truly enjoy the beach services. Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a blessed week! š
A beach service sounds wonderful!
Yes, beautiful way to worship! š Have a blessed day!
What a gift to be able to worship together on the beach–especially so soon after all of the storms! May I keep my focus on living my faith also, not hoarding it away. It’s something He’s been speaking to me lately too. Thanks for this beautiful confirmation.
Yes, truly a gift! The storms have passed and the sun is shining today. Have a blessed day! š
I would love to attend that worship service. God often speaks to me through nature. What a beautiful picture of taking God outside the walls that usually separate us.
Worship service on the beach is definitely one of my favorite ways to experience the glory of God. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. Have a blessed day! š
I really like how you tied it all together with the waves and beach. Great descriptions. Sounds like a wonderful day, and such a thoughtful husband. š
Yes, he is a thoughtful husband. š Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a blessed day! š
Melissa, I wanted to be right there with you. Love the photo too.
Thank you! Have a blessed week! š
I love the thoughts of church on the beach. What a wonderful time praising the Lord you must have! I can picture it in my head.
Truly a special experience when we have worship service on the beach. š Have a blessed week!
What a great way to witness about the Lord and draw in those who would never set foot in a church. Taking a service to the beach is a wonderful way to worship and witness at the same time! Glad you’re enjoying SC, Mimi. XOXO
Thank you. We have adjusted to warmer weather and watching for alligators in the neighborhood. š Church service on the beach is amazing. Have a blessed week dear friend! š
Sounds delightful.
Truly delightful. A wonderful worship experience. Have a blessed day! š
Same to you!