17 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com intensity of the gnats and ants nipping at our ankles and the beads of sweat gathering on our brows. No one complained though, as we were all too busy discussing the effects of Hurricane Helene and how we planned to help those in need. As such, this meeting of local religious leaders was more than a photo op, sending a bold message that no matter what denomination or set of beliefs, spirituality is a quintessential foundation of our community. We hope this issue provides clarity to your true convictions this holiday season. This isn’t a punchline, the following events actually did happen: a priest, a few pastors and preachers, a bishop and a rabbi walked onto the set of our front cover photoshoot under the picturesque Avenue of Oaks at Boone Hall. Styled by our ever so talented photographer Mark Staff, our Holiday Issue feature story “All Walks of Faith” came together with the help of some divine intervention. Behind the scenes, the morning light dappled through the historic oak trees draped in Spanish moss and two deer bolted across the sandy road while a couple of horses lazed adjacently in the sun-washed pasture. Meanwhile, a tractor pulling a covered wagon full of tourists sent up a dust cloud as a backdrop. A box of varietal donuts, contributed to our set as usual by editor Zach Giroux, rested on a nearby bench, to which our digital consultant Allyah Harrar’s dog Russ was tethered. When Russ tugged a little too hard on the leash, the bench, crowded with staff equipment and several water bottles, toppled over, sending everything flying. Fortunately, no donuts were harmed in the mishap. As the day wore on, so did the heat, cranking up the NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES AT WWW.MOUNTPLEASANTPODCAST.COM HOLIDAY SPIRIT • WORSHIP DIRECTORY • WINTER SPORTS Holiday Gift Guide Home Decor & More All Walks of Faith Photo by Mark Staff Photographer. Religious Leaders Sharing All Beliefs Neighborly Love Hurricane Relief Efforts about the cover BY SARAH ROSE About the Cover
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