Last week we began a new sermon series that we are calling Sacred Spaces. Each Sunday through the Season of Easter, we are exploring the Biblical and practical importance of the different pieces of liturgical furniture in our newly renovated sanctuary. What is it about our pews, organ, table, font, pulpit, and cross that make this space something more than just a room? What story do they tell about who we are as a church - past, present, and future? And most important, how does this sacred space give shape to the way we live out our faith in the world?
To that end, I hope you will join us this weekend for Youth Sunday as our middle and high school age youth lead us in a service that will explore the significance of the chancel in their lives and in the life of our congregation. From receiving the sacrament of baptism to sitting on the steps for countless children’s moments growing up, the platform at the front of our sanctuary is very much a sacred space in the lives of our young people. We are so grateful for all of the hard they have put into preparing the liturgy, music, and spoken word these past several weeks – so whether inside or outside, I hope to see you there!
Finally, keep an eye out in coming weeks as worship and program details for the summer and fall continue to be set. The staff and ministry teams are hard at work planning a variety of opportunities to fellowship, serve, learn, and lift praise to God. As new COVID cases remain low locally and vaccines continue to be distributed in our community, we are planning with the hope that there will be more and more opportunities in the coming weeks and months to gradually and safely transition many of our outdoor ministries back inside. Stay tuned!
Blessings to you all in this Easter Season!
Peace,
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Sunday Worship
April 11, 2021
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I would like to thank the members of the Chancel Choir and the Chancel Ensemble – Anne Marie Stirewalt, Ed Jackson, Mark Propst, Judy Foster, Fred Leif, John Simmons, and Harlan Hambright for a very inspiring Easter. I don’t think I’ve ever sung the Hallelujah Chorus outside, but maybe it’s time we did it more often. It was thrilling to hear it in our newly renovated sanctuary. Please be patient with all of us as we adjust the technical aspects pertaining to the space and get a feel for the sound. The organ has now been gone over with a fine-tooth comb and a list has been made for corrections, changes, and adjustments. Over the next couple of weeks, these list items will be taken care of and our organ will be finished.
This week in the sermon series, our Youth will be sharing special moments that they have experienced in our Chancel area of the sanctuary. From an early age, I knew where my seat would be in church - the Chancel – where the music happens. Historically, the chancel came into being in the 15th century. That lines up with music history due to the advent of polyphony - music in which several different tunes are played or sung at the same time. This requires a choir of singers. Steps, a screen (lattice), or a wall separated the chancel from the nave. The only people allowed behind the “lattice” (early meaning of chancel) were the clergy and the choir. That’s pretty much true today, although not at all enforced.
Two of our Youth members have volunteered their musical talents for Sunday. Brayden Neill, 8th grader, will play our prelude at both services. He has been studying piano for about 5 years and currently studies with Charleen Fisher. He volunteers with the children’s program in the church and enjoys golf. Emmeline Griffith will be playing trombone with Anne Marie Stirewalt, Ed Jackson, and John Simmons, forming a brass quartet. Emmeline is a 7th grader in the Glynn Middle School Band and is the first chair trombone, is in Honors Band, and has been invited to join the Beta Club. She also volunteers with children’s program in the church and is a mentor in the Penguin Project, a local annual musical. Both Emmeline and Brayden are active in and faithful to our youth program at the church.
The anthem will be Serve the Lord with Gladness by Rollo Dilworth. At the end of the anthem, you will have an opportunity to sing a jazzed up version of the Doxology along with the choir. We’ve done this piece before, so some of you may remember doing that. Not to worry, I’ll lead you in singing that part.
The hymn is 401 Gather Us In by Marty Haugen. The Chancel Choir will lead us all in Sanctuary (Lord, Prepare Me) for the Introit.
Thanks to members of the Chancel Ringers who arrived very early to play at the early service on Sunday. Watch the live stream if you missed it. This is a hard working group led by Suzanne Morrison.
Love & Gratitude,
Rhonda
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Sunday, April 18
8:30 am Indoor/Livestream Worship - Sanctuary
9:00 am Combined Sunday School - Zoom
9:00 am Britt Class - Online
10:30 am Outdoor Worship (Youth Sunday) - Ashantilly Lawn
Monday, April 19
10:00 am Chancel Ensemble - Location Varies
5:30 pm Diaconate Meeting - Zoom
Tuesday, April 20
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Zoom
5:00 pm Session Meeting - Zoom
Wednesday, April 21
1:30pm Hands & Heart Quilting Ministry - Youth Suite
4:00pm Kids Crew - Veranda
6:00pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary
Thursday, April 22
10:00am Ladies Bible Study - Sanctuary
10:00am Grief Group - Upper Room
Friday, April 23
No Activities Planned for this Day
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Congratulations
to Jean Hurst
Jean was the founding theatre director and an English professor at TCC. Jean chaired the theatre department for a decade and helped design the Fred W. Turner Auditorium. She created and chaired the TCC Signature Seat Program designed to raise funds to support the theatre department. With her late husband Ralph, a noted artist, they established The Ralph and Jean Hurst Collection at TCC to inspire creativity not only with students but with the entire community.
The Hurst gallery has been remodeled and they are naming the courtyard to honor Jean on April 20, 2021.
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[912-638-2220] [ada@sspres.org] [sspres.org] |
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