SSPC Newsletter - March 17, 2022

March 17, 2022

Here on our beautiful island, spring has sprung in all its glory. The

birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing, bathing-suited swimmers have returned to the beach, and the azaleas are blooming their heads off. In such a paradise of a place, it might be tempting to lose touch with the

daunting challenges our world faces in 2022, but that is not happening

around here. At St. Simons Presbyterian, we continue our unshakable commitment to loving our neighbors, both in Glynn county and around the

world. I am especially glad that the Session of our church has endorsed

a special appeal for Ukrainian humanitarian aid through the

Presbyterian Disaster Relief program. You will find the information you

need on how to participate in that program elsewhere in this newsletter.

Let's be as generous as we can with our financial support, and let's be

equally generous with our prayers. The distress and danger the people of

Ukraine face every day are unacceptable. You and I cannot alter the direction of European current events, but by golly, we will do what we

can to help shine light in this terrible darkness. The light does not

originate with us, of course. Jesus is the light of the world. It's

His mercy and compassion that are entrusted to us to spread around far

and wide.

May these Lenten days prepare us to embrace Jesus' resurrection on

Easter morning. Christ rose for us, but He rose also for all the others

too. How wonderful to be a part of the universal family of God.

Love and blessings,

Joanna

Ukraine

GIVE

As the number of Ukrainian refugees continues to increase by the day, food and other supplies inside Ukraine are becoming increasingly scarce. Sibling churches and ecumenical partners who are already there are helping to provide basic items for survival for the millions who have been displaced. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is providing direct funding for these partners who are on the ground.

To give by phone, call 800-872-3283. To send a check, please designate your gift to Disaster Relief-International Refugee Programs (DR000156)

and mail to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

P.O. Box 643700

Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

Give Online

PRAY

Click the link below for a prayer written by The Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Prayer

ACT

"PCUSA Staff will share an overview of the humanitarian crisis from our experience as World Mission partners, from the United Nations, and in the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. We will hear the stories of our church partners and how you can support this life-saving work. The webinar will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube."

(source)

What: PCUSA Webinar - Lifting Up Ukraine
When: Wednesday, March 23rd
Time: 12:00 PM

Webinar

Happenings & Events

RSVP here for Ron Hall Speaking Event - THIS FRIDAY

Ongoing Events

Holy Week

Christian Education

Kidz & Youth

Vacation Bible School

Summer 2022

Registration is for church members (parents/grandparents) only until April 1. The public may sign up after April 1 if space is available. Participants should be entering PreK 4 programs (born BEFORE Sep 1, 2018) and up to rising 5th graders. Volunteers may be middle school (entering 7th grade) to adult. All Volunteers will be required to attend and sign a Child Protection Policy and have a background check. A nursery (age infant to 3) is available for verified volunteers only.

We request an optional $15 fee to cover costs of T-shirt and lunch each day. Thank you!!

Participant and Volunteer Signup Here

Sunday Worship

March 13, 2022

Musical Notes

The next two Sundays bring to us the end of March and the official beginning of Spring. That means Easter isn’t far away. “The earliest possible date for Easter is March 22 and the latest possible date is April 25. Easter can never come as early as March 21, though. That’s because, by ecclesiastical rules, the vernal equinox is fixed on March 21.” Many of you have been wondering about Holy Week this year. We will be going back to weekly services and lunches at churches in the community and we will have a sunrise service at the pier! It’s been over two years since we’ve been able to gather during this time of year, so this is definitely a joy to celebrate. The schedule will be online, in this newsletter, and in the bulletin so watch for it and make your plans to attend all week to experience the journey from Palm Sunday to Resurrection morning. Bells, Choir, and Ensemble are all practicing away for this special season in their weekly rehearsals.

This Sunday, Mark Propst will be leading the choir and Mark Lochstampfor will be playing the organ. It is a blessing to have highly qualified substitutes when Amy and I need to be away. Amy will be spending time with family and I will be leading music at the Association for Smaller Congregations Conference at Epworth by the Sea. The Chancel Ringers will be under the direction of Suzanne Morrison playing “In Christ Alone” and “Melody of Hope” at the 10:30 service. The Chancel Choir will be singing “The Solid Rock,” a combination of two songs – a Kenyan melody and My Hope is Built that I arranged a few years ago for the choir. Hymns are 816 If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee; 435 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy.

Next Sunday, the choir will sing “I Will Arise” a traditional melody arranged by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw. Hymns will be 809 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart and 634 To God Be the Glory.

UPCOMING:

The Mozart Society of Glynn County Final Scholarship Winners Concert – March 27th – 3:30 pm (in the sanctuary) Public is invited.

Part of the 75th Anniversary Concert Series: April 10 (Palm Sunday) at 3:00 pm – Chancel Ensemble Spring Concert (in the sanctuary) Public is invited.

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda