Greetings from Charleston, South Carolina


I am in the old South and lovin' it.  Live oak trees with Spanish moss dripping off its branches.  This has been a real treat for me--wandering through the shaded streets of Charleston enjoying the colonial and antebellum architecture and gardens.  There was a special price this weekend to see the houses and museums on "Museum Mile".  So I took the offer and saw several houses and their antebellum decor--you know I love this stuff.  The Aiken-Rhett house (built 1820),  Hayward-Robinson house (built 1772),  Nathaniel Russell house (built 1809), and Edmundson-Alston house (built 1825) were the ones I toured. 




 I was able to worship today in a great old church downtown - Redeemer Presbyterian Church.  The building was built in 1840.  This church is in danger of losing the building as they lease the space from the Lutherans who are ready to sell the building.  The church needs to raise $1.6 million by Oct. 31 or it will be sold to a developer who plans to gut the building and convert to residences and office space.  I think it would be a shame to lose such a piece of history.





One of the best times for me today was to be able to play the pipe organ in one of the historic churches downtown.  Trinity United Methodist Church (built 1848) was on the tour of homes and museums today.  While touring the church sanctuary, I casually mentioned that I was the organist at my church.  The pastor who was acting as tour guide then invited me to play their pipe organ.  So I sprinted up to the organ loft and played a hymn.  Incredible experience!  It was truly a high point of my day!