Saints Alive Book & Gift Store
The Most Influential Person of Human History. “Jesus never became a political, military or government leader; he never wanted to. He never owned a multinational corporation or acquired any wealth to speak of; he didn’t need it. He never wrote a book, never staged a concert tour, never appeared on television and never had a radio talk show or even his own blog…What’s so special about Jesus?”
The Essential Jesus will help you discover who Jesus is and why he is so significant—even life-transforming. Through both Old and new Testament readings you will discover why God sent Jesus, what Jesus taught, how he treated people, why he did miracles, the meaning of his death, the significance of his resurrection, what the Bible says about his second coming and much more.
More than a Wedding…It’s a Marriage! Have you prepared spiritually for the life ahead of you as a wife? Now is the time to invite God into every aspect of your relationship with your beloved. Don’t wait until the bouquet has been thrown and the gifts have been opened—seek God’s blessing on your marriage now. the bride’s bible features writings to help you start your marriage right. Tackling everything from handling wedding plans to the meaningful connection between husbands and wives, the bride’s bible is designed to prepare you spiritually for not just the most important day of your life, but the days, months, and years to follow.
Never Say Diet If you want to lose weight for good, learn a secret from author Chantel Hobbs: “To change your life you first have to change the way you think. After years of failed diets, Chantel discovered the power of the “brain change.” “I believed that God had made me and put me on earth for a purpose, and I was not living the life He intended for me… I give all this pain to You. I surrender this battle, I need You to take over and give me a plan… I didn’t know how I was going to do all this, but I knew I would have God by my side. He may not make it easy, but He’d give me the strength to do everything that was needed.” She made five non-negotiable decisions, developed a balanced plan for exercise and nutrition and lost 200 pounds. Now through writing, speaking and her work as a personal trainer, she inspires others to achieve far more than they thought possible.
From the Messenger in April 2010
Located at the most historic intersection in downtown Charleston, St. Michael’s church has always been a dominant influence in the city. Built in 1751, it is the second major Anglican church building in British North American and has survived two major wars, destructive hurricanes, an earthquake, and a tornado. St. Michael’s is a landmark with a long history, and continues to influence those who come in contact with it. One of the church’s more recent outreach initiatives, Saints Alive Bookstore, has been hailed by the current rector, Al Zadig, as “a Christian Window to the World on Broad Street.”
This mercantile ministry started as a modest vision by St. Michael’s former rector, Rick Belser, who wanted to create a small bookstore in the newly acquired property that had once been the site of the home of William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the United States Marine Corps. Rev. Belser had suggested that a bookstore for the congregation be installed beneath the stairs of the reception area of the Laura Hewitt Building. Later a committee was formed, and the Vestry decided to expand the vision by creating a small store in the room with a large store-front window facing out onto Broad Street. The store was handsomely outfitted with both secular and Christian gifts and a large variety of Christian literature. Caroline Mcaleer was hired as part-time manager, and church volunteers learned how to operate the new cash register, charge on credit, and staff the store.
Saints Alive opened November 6, 2007, amid the celebration when Al Zadig was “Institutionalized” as the new rector of St. Michael’s Church. Broad Street was blocked off for an extravagant evening celebration that was attended by a huge crowd of happy congregants. They enjoyed a street-side feast after the church ceremonies. The evening’s festivities ended with an official blessing and opening of the store with a book signing by the highly acclaimed Christian author, Os Guinness.
The new store soon lost its part-time manager, and Christine Meredith was hired as a full-time employee on February 16, 2008. A member of St. Michael’s congregation for eleven years, she was well known for her active church participation which included bookstore volunteer, prayer ministry, Meals on Wheels, Alpha small group leader, and other ministries inside and outside of St. Michael’s Church. After serving as a Cursillo team member, Christine’s heart was on fire to serve the Lord at a deeper level. She met with Reverend Bob Lawrence to discuss what direction she should take. Experienced in retail for over 21 years, he mentioned that the manager position was available. Although she was not looking for a job, Christine thought that this may have been just the thing the Lord had in mind for her, so after much prayer, she submitted a resume and was hired as store manager.
Saints Alive had been in operation for only a short while when the vestry and church leaders decided that they would market only Christian merchandise. Finding a balance between retail and ministry was challenging. It was solved in part by Christine’s vision for custom designed St. Michael’s merchandise, which would appeal to all customers. Sharing her vision, Bob and Lynn Lawrence designed several beautiful pieces of jewelry which have been created from the stenciling designs in the church chancel, and are currently available. In addition, it was decided to expand the store’s offerings to include books written by members of St. Michael’s congregation. An inaugural book signing of The Wedding Machine by St. Michael’s own Christian writer, Beth Webb Hart was followed by another book signing celebrating Saints Alive first anniversary; this event honored St. Michael’s secular authors.
Southern graciousness may have made customers feel welcome, but Saints Alive quickly become more than a stop on a busy commercial street. It became a place where people could experience blessings of the living God. People who had never been prayed for have come into the store, and the staff has showered them with love and prayers if they were willing to accept. Some merely wanted to chat in a congenial atmosphere. It was not long before Saints Alive served not only the customers but also the church’s mission and the spiritual health of its members. Their store-front ministry had become a blessing not only to those who crossed the threshold but also to the volunteers and employees who worked there.
As the store was a new venture, some church leaders were concerned that the start-up costs would become a financial burden to St. Michael’s. By September of 2008 there was talk of closing the store. To keep the store alive, a proposal was prepared to present to the Vestry. Christine’s passion for what could be accomplished through the store ministry convinced them that it was more than merely a money-making venture—it was a viable outreach with tangible results. The Vestry voted to keep Saints Alive open and made the store independent of St. Michael’s Church, with the goal of it becoming self-supporting.
Christine became an independent contractor paid on a commission basis. As she said, “I stepped out in faith, like the Lord asked me to, and I received a full pay check every month in 2008”. The sales increased each month, so I knew that our proposal was the right thing to do and that the Vestry’s decision to keep the store open was the Lord’s will”.
A new committee was formed to assist in overseeing the store’s finances. Several well-wishers came to the store’s rescue and contributed substantial sums to pay down the start-up indebtedness. They have continued to try to fast-track debt reduction, while concerned parishioners have supported Saints Alive in various other ways. Liz Lipscomb graciously put together several wonderful events including the Art Walk, Anniversary Celebration, Pre Christmas shopping with free gift wrapping for our congregants, Men’s Christmas shopping night, and book signings.
With the new directive and increased support, Saints Alive has flourished. While 2009 has been one of the worst economic downturns years in memory, the store’s sales increased by 18%.
This is the third year that Saints Alive will be open. Saints Alive is now under the umbrella of the Mobilization Team umbrella with Christine a full time member of the St. Michael’s staff. Christine expectantly declares that this will be the year that brings everything to fruition. She has faith that Saints Alive will continue to be blessed so that the store will be debt free. Currently the debt is scheduled to be retired in February 2012. Once the loan is paid off, Saints Alive hopes to contribute a minimum of $20,000 to mission outreach annually.
Readers are encouraged to support the store. Not every member of St. Michael’s church will become a missionary on the East Coast, in Africa or far-away China, but all congregants can contribute to the success of the vibrant missionary efforts adjacent to the churchyard, with purchases, volunteering a few hours of time or by urging their friends to use Saints Alive Bookstore.
~ Peg Eastman
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. After many years of writing her own words in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior’s voice and begin “listening” for what He was saying. So with pen in hand, she embarked on a journey that forever changed her-and many others around the world.
In these powerful pages are the words and scriptures Jesus lovingly laid on her heart. Words of reassurance, comfort, hope. Words that have made her constantly aware of His Presence and allowed her to enjoy His Peace. Here is a year’s worth of daily readings from Young’s journals to bring you closer to Christ and move your time with Him from a monologue to a dialogue.
What would Jesus Eat? By Don Colbert, M.D. Whether you want to lose weight, prevent disease, eat more balanced meals, attain vibrant health, or adopt a diet designed with biblical authority. What Would Jesus Eat? is for you. Offering all the information you need for good eating, good exercising, and good living, Dr. Colbert delivers a complete resource with recipes, nutritional information, and practical advice. Come discover an ancient, biblical, yet enormously effective-and delicious-path to healthy eating!
Confirmation and Communion is here! Come by and see our new beautiful wood grain music boxes. What a great and unique gift not just for these occasions but for all occasions.
My Bad
My apologies for omitting the following volunteers in the last Messenger article: Ellen Finkbine, Molly Hull, Joe Nicholson, Liz Lipscomb and Melanie Williams. Without our volunteers it would be impossible for this ministry to continue to grow and minister to the Lord’s people. Thank you for all you do and your continued support and service to Saints Alive.
I love you all. ~ Christine Meredith
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Read and Share Bible (DVD) |
The Passion of the Christ (DVD) |
The Jesus Storybook Bible |
We have great Easter basket fillers starting at $2.00, so come by while supplies last. |
Call Today 725-7583
Bookstore Volunteer Appreciation Slideshow
Volunteer Appreciation Coffee Hour
Please come and join us in the Kinlock Room after the 10:30am service on February 21st, to help us recognize and celebrate our faithful Saints Alive volunteers. We are so blessed to have such an active church family, who without you, would be impossible to achieve all that we do here at St. Michael’s to minister to the Holy City, Hungering World and Hurting Coast. So come by and enjoy food and fellowship as we say thank you to: David Brinson, Lisa and Frank Farmer, Caroline DeVlaming-Farrior, Gretchen Hauser, Susannah Hubble, Tip Jennings, Noel Kunes, Ann Marion, Crandall Meredith and Vicki Vázquez.
Lent and Easter Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen. Each daily reflection –from Ash Wednesday through the Second Sunday of Easter-begins with thoughts from Father Nouwen on an appropriate theme, supported by Scripture, a prayer, and a suggested activity for spiritual growth.
Saints: A Year in Faith and Art – A unique volume of its kind, illustrating for the first time all the saints of the liturgical calendar and popular tradition. 380 images, ranging from world-famous works of art to more rcent depictions, present outstanding figures from the history of the Church.
From the Messenger February 7 & 14, 2010
Saints Alive offers many books on the topic of Marriage, here are just a few available.
The First Five Years of Marriage
“All of us want a ‘happily ever after’ ending to our own journey through marriage. But once the initial glow of romance turns into the daily grind, we need help! Whether you are a newlywed or a Christian in ministry leadership, you need this book. Written by an extraordinary team of counselors, The Complete Guide to the First Five Years of Marriage is filled with practical, biblical advice. You have questions? They have answers!
Four Seasons of Marriage
Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the perennial best seller The Five Love Languages, provides an easy-to-grasp framework to help couples understand their marriage and seven practical strategies for strengthening or improving their marriage relationship. A valuable resource for couples regardless of how long they’ve been married, this biblically based book is a reference tool to help couples through every season of marriage.
Momentary Marriage: A Parable of Permanence
“This book is a treasure in an era when the common perspective on marriage has been more shaped by sitcoms and self-help books than by Scripture. Dr. Piper lifts our hearts and minds to God’s vision for marriage. Embracing God’s design and purposes for marriage can make our homes tastes of heaven.”
—Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Author; Radio Host, Revive Our Hearts radio program
For your special Valentine, we have a
wonderful selection of the genuine
church gate jewelry available.
From the Messenger January 24 & 31, 2010
Alleluiah!
Inventory is over and our accounting is complete, Saints Alive is now open. We have a terrific sale going on right now so come on in for great savings on Christmas merchandise, there is a little bit of it left, and also many other gift items and books at great prices. Our wonderful little store is only 240 sq. ft. so it is necessary for us to make room for our spring merchandise. We are expecting shipments of new baby items, wedding items, baptism and confirmation, along with new and exciting books. Our merchandise changes on a regular basis so stop by often to see what’s new. We have a wonderful selection of church Gate Jewelry including St. Philip’s new piece, also, available is the book Lost to the West. It is recommended reading by Peter Moore in this messenger issue. Also available is Bishop Allison’s book, Trust in an Age of Arrogance.
Support Mission Outreach, Shop Saints Alive.
A St. Michael’s Christmas Story
December 5, 2009
This is a true story that happened to me, Lee McVay, as I managed the St. Michael’s Episcopal Christian Book & Gift Store on a cold, dreary Saturday, entering the Christmas Season in downtown Charleston, S.C. right in the heart of the fashionable center of town.
Picture the gift store at the busiest two corners of down town Charleston, an antebellum, historic, civil war town decorated with Christmas wreaths hanging from the gas lanterns and horse & carriages strolling by with tourists. The store was stocked with Christmas gifts and Josh Groban was singing his latest Christmas album on the store speaker system. It’s a high end store geared towards a more prosperous clientele with money to spend on high quality gifts & books. At that very moment, for me, it was a Currier & Ives feeling, full of cheer & peace.
The store door opened and in walked a weary, sad looking man with raggedy clothes on and two front teeth missing, and hair that, maybe, hadn’t been washed in a week. I was on the telephone finishing a call and as I looked over this man, I surmised he was a homeless man looking for directions or wanting to use our restroom.
I approached him and asked if I could help him. He was holding a small plastic Piggly Wiggly bag, like you get at the store for your groceries, with something heavy inside. He looked me straight in the eye and proceeded to tell me “ he was a homeless man living in a cardboard box up the street in one of the city parks, and since he didn’t have any warm shoes to protect his feet from the cold wintry nights, he was given 3 pair of brand new tennis shoes as a gift.” He told me “I only needed one pair” and when he said that, he glanced down at his feet and, I , too, looked at his feet, to see the most beautiful brand new white tennis shoes on his feet. As I looked down at his shoes, I gasped, feeling the air being sucked out of my lungs as I held back tears with great sorrow in my heart.
He then said: “I figured I only needed one pair of shoes, what with living in a cardboard box and all, so I saw your Christian store sign out front and came in to give you the other two pair of shoes, so that maybe two other men could have shoes as well. As tears welled up in my eyes, I said to myself” Thank you Lord for visiting me today… I needed to hear your voice and this message”. As I chokingly tried to tell the homeless man that I would make sure the shoes got to the right person in St. Michael’s, he disappeared as quickly as he had arrived and when I turned around he was gone.
I asked myself what was God telling me to pass on with this tale of great servitude and sacrifice?
Maybe, HE was telling us to write to a soldier who is serving our country, lonely and afraid and let him know we love him or her.
Maybe, He was telling us to write to the President and tell him we were praying for him and his family.
Maybe, HE was telling us to support a Missionary who was telling the Good News in a far away land.
Maybe, HE was telling us to support the Salvation Army with some change the next time we pass by their pot.
Maybe, HE was telling us to smile at the retail attendant who was having a hard day and just getting by.
Maybe, HE was telling us to go to someone who hurt us and tell them we forgive them!
OR…maybe, HE was simply telling us to act as Christians over Christmas so HE could love us all… through us.
Maybe all we have to do… is DO what HE tells us…and HE will take care of the rest!
Maybe HE was telling us… most of all…HE LOVES US!
Maybe……..
~ Lee McVay
Jesus is the reason we do what we do….Thank you to all who attended the Saints Alive two year anniversary celebration on Sunday November 8th. Your support made it a great success; you are the body of Christ. It was a wonderful event filled with amazing food, fun and great fellowship. A special thank you to Liz Lipscomb and Charlotte David for the incredibly delicious food they prepared from recipes out of the Come to the Table cookbook, and for the long hours of preparation they gave to make this event such a success, the Lord’s face shines through you. Without volunteers it would be impossible to pull all this together so thank you to Charlene Allen, Sharon Wood, Margaret Bryant, Molly Hull, Crandall Meredith, and Joe Nicholson and to all who I did not mention for pitching in to help out behind the scenes, you are the hands of the body. How blessed we are to have such talented children illustrators, and they were all here with Jeanne Lyles to sign her book Spiritual Vision, Father Bob’s Glasses. The children were so excited to be here and we were so excited to have them here. Jeanne thank you for taking part in this very special anniversary celebration and for all you do to support Saints Alive ministry, you are the heart of Jesus. MaryAnn, and Janet, Jamie’s Change of Heart, Book 1 A St. Michael’s Tale, were pleased to have been invited to share in our celebration since they are from off (St. Andrew’s in M.P) and we were pleased to have them, you are the feet of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they for one body. So it is with Christ.
On Sunday November 29th Saints Alive will host a very special event. So if you were not here to attend the anniversary celebration on the 8th here is your chance to come and join in on the fun, food and fellowship by supporting our youth. Some of our own youth group elves will help us to kick off our holiday shopping season by offering free gift wrapping for tips. These tips will be donated by our youth to benefit Missions. So come out and help to support our elves and missions by shopping Saints Alive.
Christmas is just around the corner, yikes! Saints Alive will be featuring the beautiful licensed gate jewelry designed by B-Gould and Company Jewelers, located right here in Charleston. This line will consist of St. Michael’s, St. Philip’s, First Scott’s, and other church gate designs. There have been many new pieces added to this collection, so come by and see what’s new for that special someone.
~ Christine Meredith
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