In the space of about 5 months, I buried my father, had been diagnosed with and was treated for my second cancer, buried my mother, had been forced to find a new job and had supported my teen-aged son’s back surgery from a football injury. I was weary.

I had been peppered frequently with solicitations to visit Hilton Head, courtesy of Marriott, but that particular winter yielded not a single invitation.  So I called them up! We needed a break. We needed respite. I needed sunrise walks at the beach. I needed restoration.

And so began years of pre-dawn strolls along that beautiful beach. On those walks, I found peace, I talked (and listened) to God. I also tried so hard to capture the beauty of the sunrise with my camera so I could relive those special moments when we returned to the real world. I took hundreds of photos. Not one came even close to the majesty I saw.

But I learned an important lesson. Breathtaking sunrises do not occur in cloudless skies. The clouds of life, like the clouds of the sky, magnify the Glory and presence of God. In a ‘cloudless’ life, we often forget God, become complacent in our relationship with Him. We neglect to thank Him, to truly worship Him, to keep Him ever-present. But when troubles arise, He is the first one to whom we go for help.  And the miracle is that, through Christ, He forgives us and lets His Glory shine. Like my photos, we need to permanently remember all that He has done, does and will do…and constantly worship Him for being our Father.

Half a dozen years later, my husband became ill. Vacations and morning walks at the beach became a restorative necessity as his Alzheimer’s progressed.  In the summer of 2006, I waxed poetic and I memorialized my words in a scrapbook.

I touch the sun each morning

Resplendent in the sky,

And try to grasp its beauty

With my camera’s quick lens eye.

But I cannot catch the glory told

For it’s painted by God’s hand.

With palest pinks and liquid gold,

The King touches sea and sky and land.

It changes every minute

Every scene takes on a face

Reflecting God’s great majesty

In every special space.

The birds, they seem to understand

Their roles in this great scene.

In flight, on land, their shadows grand

Lend grace and solitude serene.

I’ve learned a lot from all these walks

In this early morning light

For if you’re still, then God will talk

And hold you oh so tight.

Of first His love, unfailing love

It comes on every wave

Each ebb and flow, each bird a dove

Bringing hope and peace and grace.

So great my problems…so many pains

They’re dwarfed along that shore.

By constant waves, by many grains

Will I remember forever more?

And most of all, I’ve come to know,

That the sunrise and its story

Is ever better with some clouds

To show off God’s reflected Glory.

Thank you Jesus.

Judy Kagle Ferguson

Psalm 143:8

Luke 1:78-79

Get Involved with Our Ministries

One of the most important ways to get connected at The Church of the Cross is to first become a member of our congregation. If you are not a member and you are interested in learning more about membership, please call the Parish Office (843.757.2661) and speak to Sue.

Membership begins with an informal meeting with clergy. The next step in getting connected would be joining a Bible Study or small group to be in community with other Believers.

Connect

Serve

Care

Counseling

Food Bank

Missions

Men of the Cross

Cross Christian Women

Youth

Cross Kids

God’s Goods

Cross Schools

The Church of the Cross Locations

The Church of the Cross is situated across 3 distinct campuses. View our locations below:

Pray

Want us to pray for someone in need? Submit a prayer request (with their permission) and your prayer will be communicated with our clergy, Church staff, and Intercessory Prayer Team volunteers.

The person will remain on the prayer list for four weeks or until the office is notified otherwise.

Give

Everything we own and everything we have comes from God. So, when we give, we simply offer him a small portion of the abundance he has already given to us.

Giving is an expression of our thankfulness and praise to God, and there are various ways to give at The Church of the Cross.

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you and will be happy to answer any questions you have. Fill out the form below and our staff will be in touch with you shortly.