SI Magazine Winter 2016-17

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of the church since 1995.
“The location is incredibly
important,” he said. “The views
from the church windows are deeply
spiritual. Our location allows us to hold
worship services on the beach.”
Pastor Vance, 59, leads with grace
and sincerity. He makes those around
him feel accepted and at ease. Under
his guidance, the church has flourished,
even adding a community-based
preschool, Sunrise Children’s School.
“The difference it has made for the
children and families of the islands is
extremely important to Sunrise and to
me personally,” he said about the school.
On Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016,
Sunrise Presbyterian marked its
25th anniversary celebration with
an estimated 170 in attendance for a
special service and a festive luncheon.
Plates were piled with ham, deviled
eggs and mac n’ cheese. Congregation
members sat together at long tables to
enjoy the food and fellowship.
Parish Elder Reece Smith, who led
the children’s talk, described to the
kids in the congregation how a church
is more than just a building.
“The people themselves are the
church,” she said. “Faith, love and
generosity have kept Sunrise a special
place to worship God.”
Just as the sun’s first rays bring
the promise of a new day, so is the
commitment at Sunrise to remain
a center of joy and strength for the
Sullivan’s Island community. During the
anniversary service, Pastor Vance laid out
plans for the church to plant a strong
foundation for the future, including
projects to improve the appearance and
maintenance of the building.
“This is a time of reflection, to look
back on seeds that were planted in the
past and how they are growing today
and looking ahead and planning for
the future,” he said.
The sTory behindThe
sTained-glass cross
Directly above
the altar in
the sanctuary
of Sunrise
Presbyterian
Church, a stained-
glass window in the shape of
a cross draws all eyes upward.
Congregation member Dorothy
Monk gave the stained-
glass window to the church
in memory of her husband,
Lowell Monk. The piece was
designed by congregation
member Michael Strantz, who
also designed well-known golf
courses nationwide. The stained
glass was hand-blown in
Germany, and the window was
built by Charles Towne Glass
Studio of North Charleston.
Isle of Palms ChurChes
isle of Palms baptist church
14 24th Ave., Isle of Palms, S.C. 29451
843-886-6762
First United Methodist church
12 21st Ave., Isle of Palms, S.C. 29451
843-886-6610
st. Mark’s lutheran church
300 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms, S.C. 29451
843-886-8557
sullIvan’s Island ChurChes
sunrise Presbyterian church
3222 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482
843-883-3888
The church of the holy cross (episcopal)
2520 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482
843-883-3586
stella Maris roman catholic church
1204 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482
Phone: 843-883-3108
sullivan’s island baptist church
1753 Central Ave., Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482
843-883-3601
islandWorshiP