Watch it all–hysterical!

I have noticed, however, among those of us whose lives appear already back to normal that there is a “weariness “or perhaps a lingering emotional strain from the events of the last week””an accumulating toll I suppose. We cancelled several diocesan meetings in order to allow people to attend to their personal cares or the needs of their neighbors. I’ve noticed many of our congregations have done the same””some of necessity and some from a sensitive wisdom regarding capacity. There are seasons not to be driven to do but to be, to pray, to intercede””and along with a helping hand””to give thanks. Put simply, from all the reports we’ve received from our congregations, we in the diocese have sustained very minimal damage to our church and parish properties, and with the exception of fallen trees and a drastically changed beach and Privateer Point we were relatively unscathed at St. Christopher which, given it’s barrier island location, is quite remarkable. Indeed from Grand Strand to Hilton Head, from Cheraw and Marion to Blackville and Walterboro the report is that we are fortunate beyond anything we could have expected.

There are also many examples of parishioners and congregations reaching out to those in need around the diocese””St. Bart’s, Hartsville, hosting a spaghetti dinner for those without electricity and for students at Coker College; Trinity, Myrtle Beach, opening their doors for folk to recharge cell phones; the congregations on Edisto Island assisting those on the island with food and safe water; St. James,’ Blackville, helping parishioners when a tree fell on their home; St. Helena’s, Beaufort, collecting food to help 50 families in their local community ””and far too many other examples to list. Along with such actions may I urge our parishes and missions to have a sustained time of thanksgiving for God’s protection and provision this Sunday perhaps using one of the General Thanksgivings (BCP p. 836) or an adaptation thereof as well as intercessions for those still in need.

Read it all.

For a storm that inflicted less damage than many had feared, Hurricane Matthew nevertheless impaired or destroyed more than 1 million structures, forced businesses from Florida to North Carolina to close and put thousands temporarily out of work.

In many affected areas, small-business owners were still assessing the damage.

“I’ve never had anything like this in 12 years of business,” said Ami Zipperer, who has two garden supply stores in the Savannah, Georgia, area.

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Ms. Weber had to get a medical marijuana card to buy products for her dog Emmett. That led her to an awkward conversation with a physician who solely prescribes medical marijuana for people.

“I went to the weed doctor and said, ”˜I need a card so I can get it for my dog who had cancer,’” said Ms. Weber, who said she doesn’t smoke pot or drink. “He said, ”˜I don’t have a solution for that.’ So I told him I had insomnia.”

Maureen McCormick, 54, lives in Newport Beach, Calif., and was persuaded of marijuana’s benefits after relatives used cannabis products for their own aches and pains. She thought they would benefit her 14-year-old cat, Bart, who has arthritis in his front legs. “I told the doctor I had a knee that aches, and my shoulder, too,” she said. “I also said I want to use it for my cat.” She got the card in July.

Ms. McCormick is using a tincture by Treatwell, a California company that also makes edibles for humans.

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Jimmy Cutter wheeled his pickup through the parking lot of a roadside ice machine Monday, ready to buy a bucket for his home.

But he didn’t get any ice. Without power, the machine would not run. It was the latest challenge in recent days for Cutter, who was among thousands of eastern South Carolina residents dealing with the effects of a weekend hurricane.

“It’s not bad for a few days, but after a while it gets old,” Cutter said Monday.

Read it all.

(Martha Graves)

Here are a few images that show the damage from the storm so far…Check them out.

Aerial photos over South Carolina on Oct. 9, with SCDOT staff surveying #HurricaneMatthew damage (SCDOT photos) https://t.co/JSj43hNXpr pic.twitter.com/ckby0w8K4t

— SCDOT (@SCDOTPress) October 10, 2016

Look through them all.

But Dusty Bryant, Worship and Life Groups pastor at Lighthouse, lives across the street from her house in Nelliefield Plantation.

The two had the same idea: to bring people together to break bread at a “front lawn worship service.”

“I knew that a lot of places of worship had to make that hard call to cancel services early in the week,” Bryant said. “And I thought, what a great opportunity to be able to come together with our neighbors, those we see and know and talk to each and everyday, and pray together, give thanks together, celebrate together.”

Read it all from the local paper.

Some good shots and video–check it out.

Winds here were measured at a peak of 60 mph.

To the sounds of prayers, generators and chainsaws, Lowcountry residents began to dig themselves from the rubble of Hurricane Matthew amid a battered landscape peppered with flooded roads, swollen waterways, fallen trees and downed power lines.

After brutalizing the Carolina coast for two days, the spent storm weakened to a post-tropical cyclone Sunday morning and moved out to sea, leaving behind spectacular blue skies, crisp temperatures and a trail of destruction from Florida to North Carolina.

Read it all from the local paper.

Check them all out.

Assessments underway. Some areas are inaccessible. Restoration times not available right now. Thank you for your patience #HurricaneMatthew pic.twitter.com/femELw7sVd

— SCE&G (@scegnews) October 9, 2016

County officials said water rescues were ongoing early Saturday morning in both Tranquil Estates and Summer Wood subdivisions, but no rescue operations are currently ongoing. No residents were injured in any of the incidents.

Rescue teams remain staged near the Ashley River and its tributaries, Norton said.

At least one family said they were told to evacuate their home on Donning Drive in the Ponds subdivsion and for a time, were holed up in the Ponds community room at the neighborhood entrance.

“I heard a tree crash next to me, and it nailed the house next door,” said homeowner Michael Chauvin, publisher for Summerville Communications.

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Public Works and Public Safety crews working together to clear roads. #Matthew pic.twitter.com/N3gDQ1ZykE

— Town of Summerville (@SummervilleSC) October 8, 2016

Bilo Parking lot on Dorchester Rd. #chsnews #HurricaneMatthew pic.twitter.com/wFAIQUVhlt

— Summerville Police (@SPDSC) October 8, 2016

We had and are still having tropical storm force winds. Because we are not in a flood zone or an evacuation zone, we are hanging in there. But areas of the town where we live near water are a mess, and the greater Lowcountry has much greater wind and water damage.

As you can see in our Forecast Wind Product, a better threat of Hurricane Force Winds early Sat. Morning….Be safe pic.twitter.com/NyCpCpRNKI

— Rob Fowler (@RobStormTeam2) October 7, 2016

Prayers for protection for all–KSH.

5am forecast for #HurricaneMatthew keeps storm dangerously close to the SE coast. Constantly updated info on #NBC4DC pic.twitter.com/4AbPnna0Yn

— Chuck Bell (@ChuckBell4) October 7, 2016

5 PM #Matthew update shows a bit of weakening as it moves near the Charleston Co. coast. pic.twitter.com/YM71JqsXVK

— Rob Fowler (@RobStormTeam2) October 6, 2016

LOL–Read it all.

O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel, surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end. Give them rest and peace in this time of taking shelter and speed their safe delivery home through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Wunderground)

Please join us in praying for protection for all in the path of the storm.

As local pastor Stan Prior eloquently delivered his motivational message Sunday morning, a 10-year-old child reportedly somehow snuck into the service with his parents. While the church would normally let the infraction go with just a warning, on this fateful Sunday, the child exposed Prior’s sermons as simply rehashes of Disney movies.

As the pastor began by telling the audience a phrase he’d learned over his years of biblical study: “Hakuna Matata.” “It means no worries,” he said thoughtfully, but the child stood up and said, “Hey, that’s from The Lion King!” before ushers rushed over and wrestled the young troublemaker to the ground, taking him and his parents into the green room for questioning.

Read it all.

NORWAY Let the journey be your goal from Pasquale Baseotto on Vimeo.