Residents and ministers give thanks at 9th Annual Blessing of Daniel Island


***image1***"Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace…give us faith so we’ll be safe," sang Regina Donnelly at the opening of the 9th Annual Blessing of Daniel Island on Nov. 15. The song, entitled "The Prayer" by Celine Dion, was a fitting way to begin the interdenominational celebration at Providence Baptist Church. On this night, as they have each year since 1997, residents and area ministers gave thanks for an island town that has become a home to so many.

For residents like Joan Vitalo, who has helped plan each of the island’s blessing services, there is an unmistakable spirit of community associated with Daniel Island.

"In the beginning so many of us felt that we were led here," said Joan, who remembers the first "Blessing of Daniel Island" at the old Sales Center on Daniel Island Drive. "It’s not just a desire, but a definite movement of God’s spirit to be here."

Betty Nederveen couldn’t agree more. Through prayer, she says she felt the call to come to Daniel Island when she lived in Pensacola, Florida. Now an Elfe Street resident, she has never missed an island blessing ceremony.

"When I signed my contract to purchase a home here there wasn’t a single house on Daniel Island," Betty reminisced. "Blackbaud was just a great big field of sunflowers. We used to gather the sawhorses from construction sites and put a piece of plywood on top for picnics. It was just very intimate and very nice."

After a welcome by Pastor Don Flowers of Providence Baptist Church and the song "America the Beautiful," Rev. Matthew Moye of All Saints Lutheran Church of Mt. Pleasant took to the pulpit to give the invocation. Nancy Heinz and her son, Austin, then presented a banner of artwork to Pastor Flowers created by children from Daniel Island.

"We just asked the children to draw what they are most thankful for on Daniel Island," said Nancy, "and what they felt blessed about."

Next, the congregation was led in "Prayers of Petition" by the Rev. Gary Heinz of Seacoast Church. Deacon Donald Dashnaw of Divine Redeemer Catholic Church in Hanahan, sprinkled those gathered with holy water and officially blessed the island and its residents. The Choir of St. James A.M.E. Church got the crowd moving with a lively spiritual hymn, followed by a benediction from the Rev. William Swinton, Jr. of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Charleston.

"When we look back at this year," Swinton told the crowd, "and we think things over, you’ve got to say we’ve been blessed…(God has) spared us."

Island resident Kay Uhler was among those listening in the audience. She has attended the last seven blessing services on Daniel Island.

"(An event like this) really draws the island together because it’s interdenominational," says Kay. "It makes me feel proud to be part of such a unique community."

The congregation closed out the service with the song, "God Bless America" and the blessing that Daniel Island, "our home sweet home," enjoys yet another year of good fortune.

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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