14+ hour, 49+ min ago (560+ words) Glance into your astrological sign's horoscope and earn some much needed guidance and insight into your following week's tasks. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Indulge in activities that are conducive to meeting new people or developing a closer connection to someone you love. Positive change begins with you and how you conduct yourself physically, intellectually and emotionally. Refuse to let insecurities cost you due to an inability to tell it like it is. A change of heart requires action. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Participation and interaction will lead to opportunities for positive lifestyle changes. Think outside the box, use your imagination and be the one to make things happen. Utilize your skills to fit demands, and financial gains will follow. A networking event or reunion with past associates will result in unexpected offers that are worth checking out. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Mix business…...

5+ day, 14+ hour ago (788+ words) A rendering shows the 8,000-square-foot Spiritual Center as the anchor of the proposed Chabad of Myrtle Beach spiritual center development to be located from Oak Street to 29th Avenue North. The corner of 29th Avenue North and Oak Street is the site of what may be a commissary and welcome center for the proposed Chabad of Myrtle Beach spiritual center development. MYRTLE BEACH " An inclusive and immersive development for the Jewish community is being planned for'Myrtle Beach. Chabad of Myrtle Beach is asking for Myrtle Beach City Council's approval to build a complex between Oak Street and 29th Avenue North. The Chabad is also asking the city to annex a series of lots that are less than one acre in size. City leaders gave initial approval to the annexation requests on Nov. 12.' Called The Crown Heights Spiritual Retreat, the development will encompass the…...

6+ day, 5+ hour ago (872+ words) CHARLESTON " The peninsula's historically Black Episcopal Churches worshipped together for the first time on the Sunday after Donald Trump was elected to a second presidential term. Throughout the past year, the congregations from St. Mark's, St. Stephen's and Calvary have grown the partnership they now call the Three Churches United. As they have reflected on the past to draw strength to meet the challenges that divide people today, Trump has terminated federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs and begun sweeping deportations across the country. The pushback has created "perilous times" that have left some people feeling anxious and fearful, the leaders said. To respond to the national climate, the congregations joined together again on Nov. 23 to celebrate DEI. Even though DEI has developed a divisive connotation, the Episcopal Church believes that it is a Christian value, because all people are…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (205+ words) The chapel of St. Rose of Lima in the Monastery of St. Dominic is pictured. The Basilica Cathedral of Lima is pictured. The reconstructed head of Francisco Pizarro and his bones are pictured. The reconstructed face of Saint Rose of Lima. A statue of St. Martin de Porres in Lima Cathedral is pictured. The Convent (Monastery) of St. Dominic is pictured. Both grew up across the street from one another, and they now rest in separate chapels connected to one of the cloisters that serve to enclose the domestic activities of the members of the Dominican order who still reside in the monastery. Their respective chapels are the highlight of any visit to the Convent of Santo Domingo, which is located just a few blocks from Lima's cathedral. The remains of St. Rose rest under an altar embellished with mosaics;…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (201+ words) For three December evenings, a Summerville parking lot will again become a place of lanterns, linen robes and ancient streets as Bethany United Methodist Church transforms its grounds into the city of Bethlehem for the church's annual Living Christmas Story. The drive-through re-enactment will take place 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5, and 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 6. Vehicles must enter the traffic queue on West 5th South Street by 8 p.m. "This event has become a cherished holiday tradition for thousands of people over the years," said the Rev. Michael Ritter, pastor of Bethany United Methodist Church. "It's a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, and we are honored to share this story of hope and joy with our community each year." Open-air tram service is also available for those who prefer not to drive. Trams depart every few minutes from West 3rd South Street, directly across from the…...

2+ week, 5+ hour ago (795+ words) A man sits in solitude near a river. I wrapped up another trip around the sun last week, my 51st such trip in fact. I have to say I enjoy these journeys; I hope to have a lot more of them. I do find them to be increasingly chaotic though. When I was growing up, my mom used to get little slips of paper from my elementary school teachers at the end of each nine-week period giving feedback on how I was doing. There was one common theme from every teacher every year: Chip needs to be quiet. Now, it wasn't worded quite like that, but that's what it meant. Even as a kid, I knew they were right. I was a talkative, disruptive class clown who was born 20 years before they invented the medication I would have undoubtedly been prescribed…...

2+ week, 11+ hour ago (627+ words) Beth Swearingen, left, and her mom, Olive Lowe, ponder'their possibilities for packing a "shoebox" for Operation Christmas Child Nov. 15 at Millbrook Baptist Church. How about some sunglasses?'Exploring the optoins for packing a "shoebox" for Operation Christmas Child are Mallory Metts, her husband, Jonathan, and their son, 16-month-old Clayton, during a Nov. 15 packing party at Millbrook Baptist Church. Karen Merchant and granddaughter Aemlia Vereen, 7, explore their options for packing a "shoebox" for Operation Christmas Child Nov. 15 at Millbrook Baptist Church. How about a hairbrush? Abigail Harvey and 13-month-old daughter Esmae explore the impromptu aisles for Operation Christmas Child Nov. 15 at Millbrook Baptist Church. Millbrook Baptist Church has dozens of Operation Christmas Child boosters gathered for a packing party Nov. 15. AIKEN " "Shoebox ministry" was in high gear this weekend in several churches around Aiken and Edgefield counties, with Millbrook Baptist among…...

2+ week, 12+ hour ago (315+ words) Volunteers are preparing to collect Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 17-24. Nearly 5,000 drop-off locations will open across the country in November, and shoebox packers can find their local drop-off locations in South Carolina. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering gift-filled shoeboxes to children, including many who suffer from war, poverty, disease, and disaster. Operation Christmas Child aims to reach an additional 12 million children in 2025 with the message of hope in Jesus. Shoebox packing is fun for individuals, families and groups! Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage. The project partners with local churches worldwide to deliver tangible expressions of God's love to children in need. Participants can donate $10 per shoebox gift online through "Follow Your Box" and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. "Samaritan's Purse works…...

2+ week, 18+ hour ago (261+ words) Many visitors don't know about the Quakers' faith. But in recent years, attendance has been surging. The Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust has used exhibits, technology and social media to help teach others about Quakers and the meeting house that was built in the early 19th century. It is still one of the world's largest and most important Quaker buildings. Here's a look at the faith's beliefs and history " and some common misconceptions about it. Quakers marry in a self-uniting ceremony without an officiant. Couples observe silence that is only broken when they exchange their vows. At the end, guests sign, as witnesses, a marriage certificate. Historically, Quakers have been involved in peaceful protests to end wars and slavery, and support women's voting rights in line with their commitment to justice and peace. Earlier this year, Quakers marched from New…...

3+ week, 5+ hour ago (511+ words) Within months, surveys showed that most were using AI to cheat in their studies. When artificial intelligence tools first appeared, they were hailed as revolutionary. Yet their earliest adopters weren't governments or corporations " they were college students. Within months, surveys showed that most students were using AI to cheat in their studies. The temptation was simple: these tools were a shortcut to success. Yet this problem is nothing new. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus faces a similar set of temptations. However, it was not with technology, but rather unfettered power. After his baptism, he retreats into the wilderness for 40 days, where he's met by "the Accuser," or Satan. Hungry, exhausted and alone, he's offered three shortcuts that each promise relief or glory without the suffering of obedience. The first temptation is physical: "Command this stone to become bread." After…...