by Andrew Beard | Jan 7, 2026 | Words from Pastor Andrew
Our kids wrapped up their Christmas break today, so we spent part of the day reflecting on the highs.
And there were a lot of highs.
Slow mornings and fun-filled evenings.
Time with friends and loved ones.
Sunsets on the beach and really great movie nights.
Meaningful family Christmas traditions and a few new ones.
An unbelievable Christmas Eve service with more than 3,000 of our closest friends.
A simple, beautiful Christmas morning.
Great food, an amazing trip with family, jumping into crystal-clear waters, swimming in natural pools, and hiking in the forest.
It was a great break.
But there were also lows.
Honestly, ours really was great, but as followers of Jesus in this body of Christ, we rejoice with those who rejoice and we also mourn with those who mourn. We don’t do life or faith alone.
People who call The Chapel home said goodbye to family and loved ones far too soon.
Too many people are sick and struggling.
Too many people are hurting.
Too many people I know and love are feeling lost and alone.
Too many trips to the doctor and the pharmacy.
And personally speaking…we had sickness that made us miss our first Sunday of the new year. As a fun bonus, one of our kids got both an inner and outer ear infection. He’s really an overachiever.
Awesome, right?!
by Andrew Beard | Dec 31, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
Happy New Year from The Chapel!
As we wrap up celebrating Christmas and turn the page to a new year, there are probably lots of hopes and dreams you’re carrying into 2026. The reality is…some of those things will pan out. And lots won’t.
I hope to run the Seaside Half Marathon.
Right now, that’s already looking a bit iffy.
I hope to see some new National Parks.
Currently, there are zero trips planned.
I hope to read more.
But my reading has decreased over the past few weeks, which makes it hard to believe I’m suddenly going to flip a switch tonight.
Yesterday I was talking with one of my sons and he said, “I’m gonna give up smoking for the New Year!”
One of us responded, “I’m proud of you buddy, that’s really hard to do.”
He’s in middle school.
by Andrew Beard | Dec 21, 2025 | The Tower
News from the Tower – 35
Explore this Tower to hear about our Christmas Eve service, get details about a second service on Sunday mornings, and find out how to opt into our spiritual plan for the New Year.
by Andrew Beard | Dec 15, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
The other day, my teen and preteen boys got into a scuffle… you know… like brothers often do. And one of them hit the other in the face.
The one who got hit winced and said,
“Ah! You hit me in the eye. I saw a glint of light.”
Now, obviously, I’m against violence. I hate when my kids scuffle. I do not think attacking one another is a helpful solution, whether in words or actions.
But do you know what I was proud of in that moment?
My son used the phrase “glint of light.”
When is the last time you used the word glint? Probably not recently… and definitely not as your first response to an injury.
But do you know why he said that word?
Because it’s one of his vocab words right now. He’s been studying it, so much so that it’s steeped into his life and flowed out of him naturally.
by Andrew Beard | Dec 9, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
In the silly Christmas movie Spirited, starring Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, we get a modern riff on the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. It’s a ridiculous and funny adaptation set to music and dancing. It’s PG-13, so I am by no means suggesting you sit down with the whole family to watch it, but there are some really clever and lovely moments.
