by Andrew Beard | Sep 4, 2026 | Words from Pastor Andrew
I am a fall fan.
Not the Fall from the biblical sense…but the season of fall.
Cinnamon is one of my favorite flavors, and it simply tastes and smells better in the fall.
I will usually give in and have one PSL. Only one. I don’t really do all the fancy coffee stuff, but one totally artificially flavored “pumpkin” coffee somehow feels appropriate.
I have apparently mentioned this enough over the years that this year multiple people personally messaged me to let me know the PSL was back.
I fear I have misled everyone.
I don’t love PSLs. I love fall.
I love cooler weather, football nearly every day, bonfires in the backyard…I really love fall.
But here is the problem…those people messaged me about the PSL coming back weeks ago. It was still the height of summer. Hot. People on vacation. Mid-August.
Definitely not fall.
by Andrew Beard | Aug 28, 2026 | The Tower
There is so much happening at The Chapel this fall, and you don’t want to miss a thing! Inside this edition of The Tower, you’ll find new dates for our Women’s Retreat, details about The Chapel’s 25th anniversary, opportunities to serve alongside our outreach partners, our next Baptism and Bonfire, and plenty of ways to stay connected. Take a few minutes, open it up, and make sure you don’t miss what is coming! While you’re here, be sure to grab your parking passes for the rest of the season!
by Andrew Beard | Jul 13, 2026 | Words from Pastor Andrew
Yesterday when Sarah and I drove into church, it was one of those beautiful, clear, though hot and muggy, summer mornings. I have a habit each week of keeping an eye on the Sunday morning weather because, well, we have a unique worship location. Everything looked great. Another clear Sunday.
During the first service, Sarah’s phone started ringing. It was our boys, who were biking to church and had gotten caught in a rainstorm.
A rainstorm? There was literally nothing on the radar. That can’t be right.
Then, when I walked out of the 8:30 service, I could feel the temperature dropping. Suddenly there were clouds gathering in the distance.
But still, nothing on the radar. Must just be some weird little popup storm.
by Andrew Beard | Jul 3, 2026 | Words from Pastor Andrew
I’ve never been described as having “thin, dainty fingers.”
Recently my little brother got married, and his reception was at a bowling alley. I know…awesome, right? I have another friend who his brother got married on the same day in another city and his reception, was also at a bowling alley. Bowling Alley receptions, so hot right now.
Well, it turns out this small bowling alley had a limited ball selection, which is always a challenge for me at any bowling alley to find a ball that fits my massive thumb. But for thick, full-fingered people like me, there was one solid option at this bowling alley.
So my brothers, my dad, and I who all have husky thumbs all shared this one ball…which is challenging when you’re bowling on two different lanes. A lesson in patience. After waiting long enough for the ball to return over and over, I decided this was my opportunity to work on my curveball…is that what it’s called in bowling? My summer bowling league in elementary school would be deeply disappointed in me.
So I tried.
I tried the weird curveball thing on a smaller ball that couldn’t fit my thumb.
by Andrew Beard | May 18, 2026 | Words from Pastor Andrew
This summer, our boys are doing the South Walton Junior Lifeguard program. I assume they hired David Hasselhoff to lead it, and that most of the training involves running in slow motion…but I don’t know. We’ll see.
To be part of the program, you first have to pass a swim test. On Saturday, tons of kids gathered at the beach and suddenly ran as one massive herd into the water. It was quite the spectacle, a cacophony of hopeful junior lifeguards sprinting toward the red buoy and back again.
I imagine they all signed up for different reasons.
Some want the fun.
Some want the exercise.
Some just need something to do this summer.
Some parents definitely want them to have something to do this summer.
