August 11, 2022
2-Week Newsletter
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The heat index forecast for today is around 100 degrees. Not terrible but not great either. While in the middle of these "dog days" of summer, it's hard to believe that they will come to an end. Yet, they will, as will much of the dogged pandemic days of the last two years, sooner or later.
This means that St. Simons Presbyterian is getting ready for a new season of restoration, reunion, and rejuvenation… of the Spiritual kind. Behind the scenes the Presbyterian Women, Session chairs and committees, and staff have been anticipating this for months. Are we going to go back to how things were in the fall of 2019 before Covid: same programming, same plans, same schedule, or same involvement? So far the consensus is a hopeful "yes" even though it's clear that things are not the same as they were then. For one thing, Covid is still creeping around; and for another, Alan is no longer here.
So, as we move forward, be open to the ways you can restore, reunite, and be rejuvenated in your Spiritual and faith life here. Also, please share with your leadership and staff new ways you think would be helpful.
One thing that comes to mind is the hope that each family and each person feels “equipped" to practice Spirituality outside of the church: especially at home and work - maybe around the table during meals or any other occasion for taking notice and sharing "God nods.”
In this “season” when everything negative gets reported and the truth is lost to politics, maybe it’s time for a new “season.” A season to start taking notice of the goodness and grace among us and in creation. With "eyes to see and ears to hear” these God moments that are all around us. And here’s the really cool part, bear witness to them. Share them with the same passion as we share a good recipe, a recent movie, or a book we really love. It’s a whole lot healthier and more hopeful than sharing politics...
Maybe the time has come for such a new season?
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Rev. Dr. Steve Goyer
Interim Pastor
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Pastoral Nominating Committee
Transition Update - August 8, 2022
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Dear Friends,
As a church family, we have experienced some unexpected events during our season of transition. Despite this, our church continues to grow and thrive. Church attendance is strong, our church members remain generous giving both their time and resources, and our children’s ministry continues to share the love of the Holy Spirit with our “littlest“ church members and visitors.
With Rev. Steve Goyer committed to serve as our interim pastor throughout this season of transition, we now begin the process of searching for the next senior pastor of St. Simons Presbyterian Church.
On July 31, 2022, you elected and installed the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), tasked with searching for and finding our next senior pastor.
As nominees, we have already been hard at work meeting weekly for the last month. We completed the process of receiving the approval of both our session and the Committee on Ministry of the Savannah Presbytery.
Our first task is to oversee and conduct a self-study (Mission Study) to help define “who we are” and “where we are going.” A self-study is not only required of all presbyterian churches before they begin the search process, it is an important step to help the church and the PNC identify the gifts and attributes we need in our next senior pastor.
While not rushing this important process, we will begin, implement and complete the self-study as soon as possible, and will retain the services of a private company to administer a church survey and help interpret the results.
You, our congregation, are the most important part of our mission study. St. Simons Presbyterian Church is your church and the new pastor will be your pastor. Thus, we need your assistance. You will be asked to complete a survey and may be asked to attend a focus group or give your opinion. You are strongly encouraged to become a part of the conversation to determine our strengths and where we can grow. Please participate when asked. Once we complete our mission study, our pastoral search will begin immediately.
When the congregation was asked for nominees for the Pastoral Nominating Committee, over 90 nominations were received. The nine members chosen for this committee are honored to serve you and humbled by the faith and trust you have bestowed on us. We begin and end each meeting with prayer. We not only thank God for his guidance and pray he leads us to our next pastor, but we are in constant prayer for the person God is preparing for us. In a way, this person is already part of our church family. We need your unceasing prayers! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We are blessed with the assurance that God is leading all of us.
In Christ’s name,
Jeff Shiver & Brenda Jones
PNC Co-Chairs
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Sunday Worship
August 7, 2022
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On Sunday, you will get a brochure about groups in which to become involved in the church. It will include information about all of the choirs. If you are interested in the Music Ministry, please give one of us a call. Rhonda Hambright, Amy Bishop, or Suzanne Morrison are all happy to guide you in your choice of group to be involved in for music. All of these groups will begin later this month. We’ve got the best seats in the church and have the best parties!
At Montreat, we are able to peruse all kinds of music and are introduced to new pieces within each group or class taken. Suzanne found some pieces for 4-6 ringers because there were some that wanted to ring this summer. A few weeks ago, you saw an example of this. This Sunday, they are back to ring another Jason Krug arrangement of the hymn tune Kelvin Grove (Scottish).
I will sing a spiritual, Witness. Who will be a witness for my Lord? Amy is back at the organ and we are all settling down for the fall season where we “begin again.” The Chancel Choir returns to the loft (those that are back from vacation) on August 21st. We will sing Gordon Young’s “Now Let Us All Praise God and Sing”. If you have been thinking about joining, now is the time!
I leave you with these words found in Melodious Accord: Good Singing in Church, Alice Parker:
What then shall I say of the voice of human beings, to which naught else may be compared? The heathen philosophers have striven in vain to explain how the tongue can express the thoughts of the heart in speech and song, through laughter and lamentation. Music is to be praised as second only to the word of God because by music are all the emotions swayed. Nothing on earth is more mighty to make the sad happy and the happy sad, to hearten the downcast, mellow the overweening, temper the exuberant, or mollify the vengeful. The Holy Spirit itself pays tribute to music when it records that the evil spirit of Saul was exorcised as David played upon his harp. - Martin Luther
Love & Gratitude,
Rhonda
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Sunday, August 14
9:00 am Combined Sunday School - Upper Room
10:00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
Monday, August 15
5:30 pm Diaconate Meeting - Upper Room
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law
Tuesday, August 16
7:00 am Youth Breakfast Devotion - SSI Chick-fil-a
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room
1:00 pm Who Dealt Bridge Club - Parlor
4:00 pm Session Meeting - Britt Room
Wednesday, August 17
1:30 pm Hands and Heart Quilting Ministry -Music Attic
6:00 pm Chancel Ringers - Bell Room
7:00 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary
Thursday, August 18
No Activities Planned for this Day
Friday, August 19
No Activities Planned for this Day
Sunday, August 21
9:00 am Combined Sunday School - Upper Room
10:00 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
11:15 am Christian Education Meeting - Children's Hall
4:15 pm Youth Kickoff with OneHundredMiles - Meet at Church
5:00 pm KidZ Fellowship (3rd - 5th) - Veranda
Monday, August 22
4:00 pm Congregational Life Committee - Upper Room
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law
Tuesday, August 23
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room
1:00 pm Who Dealt Bridge Club - Parlor
Wednesday, August 24
4:00 pm KidZ Crew - Veranda
6:00 pm Chancel Ringers - Bell Room
7:00 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary
Thursday, August 25
No Activities Planned for this Day
Friday, August 26
No Activities Planned for this Day
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Christian Sympathy
With thanksgiving for life and trust in Christ's resurrection, we write to share with you the sad news of the death of Gary Thomas Strength on Tuesday, August 2nd.
Gary was the father-in-law of Rev. Deanie Strength, who served as Associate Pastor at St. Simons Presbyterian from 1999-2006.
Please join us in praying for God's peace and comfort to surround Gary's children, Jason Strength and Joey Strength (Deanie), as well as his family and friends near and far who mourn his passing.
A public memorial service will be held at Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, Richmond Hill, Georgia, on August 27, 2022, at 11:00 am, followed by a public interment service at the St. Simons Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden, St. Simons Island, Georgia, at 4:00 pm.
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Service for Karen Hollen
The interment of ashes for church member Karen Hollen, who passed away on December 31, 2021, will take place at St. Simons Presbyterian Church on August 18th at 10:30 am in the memorial garden.
On Saturday, August 13 at 10:30 am, an in-person Memorial Service for Karen will be live-streamed from the First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, MI. The live stream link for Karen's service can be found below.
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Meal Delivery
One way to offer our Christian love and care is by providing a warm meal to our family and friends in Christ during their time of need.
Members of our congregation who could use a meal this week include: Kyle, Allison, Ellie, and baby Reagan Culbertson
If you or someone you know could use some help with meals, don't hesitate to reach out! We're here for you.
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[912-638-2220] [ada@sspres.org] [sspres.org] |
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