Summer. Day 1.

by | Jun 2, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew | 0 comments

Summer.  Day 1.

When I was a kid, during the summer, my mom would leave us little to-do lists before we could watch TV or go out and play. Just simple chores and basic responsibilities. I have vivid memories of her gently waking me up saying:

“Andrew, I’m running an errand—please get up and start on your chores while I’m gone.”

And the next thing I know, I’m waking up to the garage door opening… and she’s already back. Chore list untouched. I haven’t even gotten out of bed. My brothers and I would then spring into action, trying to make it look like we’d been diligently working the whole time. I think we honestly believed we were fooling her.

Spoiler: we were not.

My mom and I were reminiscing about this recently. From her perspective, she’d open the garage door and immediately hear the scurrying of feet, trying to make up for lost time. She’s no dummy. She knew exactly what was going on.

There was an old comic—I think it was The Far Side—that said:
“Jesus is coming! Everybody look busy!”

Isn’t that exactly what we do sometimes? We procrastinate, put things off, and then frantically try to make up for it when the deadline—or garage door—shows up. It’s like trying to make up for six months of not flossing in the twenty minutes before your dentist appointment.

Right now, all of you organized, color-coded-calendar, never-been-late-in-your-life kind of people are appalled. Sorry to disappoint you.

Today was my kids’ first official day of summer. Summer.  Day 1.  Sure, we had Saturday and Sunday, but today’s the first day where the alarm would’ve gone off at 5am for me… except it didn’t. I still woke up before 5am—just naturally. Not exactly what I had in mind for my first day of summer.

The kids, though? They slept in. They got the rest they so desperately need. And when they finally woke up… they were greeted with a chore list. Nothing crazy—just some basic stuff around the house.

But on that list: Quiet Time.

I sat with one of my sons for that part. He’s doing the Bible reading plan with us this summer, and today we read Luke 1 together. We talked about the scripture, the history, who wrote it and why. We stumbled over some of the names, tried to make up a melody for Zechariah and Mary’s songs (they weren’t exactly bangers), and then closed with a short reflection and prayer.

That’s what time with Jesus often looks like: a little quiet, a little scripture, a little reflection, a little prayer. Nothing flashy or overly complicated. But it takes time.

You can’t fake quiet time. You can’t cram for spiritual formation. You can’t rush it like it’s a chore list you forgot to start. It takes slow, steady, regular rhythms.

It’s just like working out, saving money, or planting something. The small, consistent things add up.
The right things add up to something good.
The wrong things… not so much.

At The Chapel, our hope is to become more like Jesus—to follow him, to abide in him, to be changed by him, and to embody his ways. That takes time. It’s a long, steady walk. But summer is a great time to be intentional about that walk.

A pastor friend of mine used to say:
“The bad news is: ministry takes time. The good news is: time moves fast.”

Just a little bit, every single day.

If you were with us Sunday, you know we kicked off a journey through the Fruit of the Spirit. We’re tending to our hearts and souls, letting the Spirit grow something in us. That’s not something we can force or fake. You can’t tape limes to a tree and call it fruitful. You tend to it, let the sun do its part, and eventually, you start to see the fruit.

We talked about agape love—a self-giving, over-the-top, even foolish-seeming kind of love that wills and works for the good of others. That kind of love takes time to grow. But it starts now.

There’s an old proverb:
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.”

Wherever you are on your journey—whether you’re following Jesus or still figuring things out—this summer is a great time to start tending to your soul. The Fruit of the Spirit is not just behavior management—it’s an overflow of what the Spirit is doing in you.

This Sunday, we’ll continue with what’s next: Joy.
Our friend, local, and regular guest preacher, Branden Campbell, will be teaching. Many of you know Branden, his wife Katie, and their three daughters, as well as their prayer ministry, 30A Prays. It’s always a gift when he’s with us. Hope you can join us—10am at The Chapel.

Also—don’t forget to follow along with our daily Bible Summer Reading Plan and check out the podcast episodes that go with it!

The only to do list I’m giving you this summer is follow after Jesus.  Listen, some of you are clipping his heels and some of you can barely see him in the distance.  That’s great.  Wherever you are on that journey, just start following him.  Don’t wait for some metaphorical garage door to open.  That’s just stressful.  Trust that he knows the way…I can promise he will lead you to life and life to the fullest here and now.

Here’s what else is happening at The Chapel:

Summer Bible Reading Plan
June 2–August 8 — We’re reading through Luke & Acts together.
Pick up a physical bookmark or click here for the digital version.
Sarah and I will be releasing weekly podcast reflections—find them on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you stream.

Sunday Seating Reminder
Chapel fills up fast in the summer. If you want a seat inside, aim to arrive by 9:40am.
There’s always outdoor seating on the lawn and in the Grove—fans and waters included.

West Side Family Area
We’ve added a shaded space on the west side with toys, blankets, and live audio from the service. It’s a great spot for families with toddlers to worship together while the little ones play.

Kids & Youth on Sundays

  • Kids Church (Grades K–5)

  • Middle School Group (Grades 6–8)
    Both age groups meet at The Chapel lawn by 10am, get checked in and head over to Seaside Neighborhood School.

Parking Tips

Summer Stories
June 17, July 15, August 5 | 5:45–8:00 p.m.
We’ll provide the burgers and drinks—you bring a side or dessert.
We eat at 6:00, then share stories of what God is doing at 7:00.
Kids & youth will have games with our Next Gen team.
Click here for more info and to RSVP

Summer Worship Night
Sunday, June 22 at 6:00 -7:00 p.m.
An evening to pause, worship, sing, pray, reflect, and be together.

Egypt 2026 Trip
Join Sarah, me, and our family for an unforgettable trip to Egypt (and optionally Jordan)
March 10–20, 2026 (Jordan Extension: March 21–24)
Visit iconic sites, explore the lands of Scripture, and share the experience with friends or family.
Click here for more info and to register
When registering:
Host ID: 60537
Host Name: Andrew Beard

Worship Online
Traveling? Under the weather? Join us online:

I hope you have an incredible week and I know this Sunday will bless you. I hope we can continue to bear fruit as we are filled with the Spirit becoming more like Jesus.

If you need anything at all, let us know.

Blessings,
Andrew