SSPC Weekly Update : October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020

What a joy filled and wonderful day this past Sunday was. Our young people did an outstanding job leading us in worship as part of Children’s Sunday. And then in the afternoon we joined together online to celebrate and rejoice at the ordination of our parish associate for congregational care and visitation, Rev. Kate Buckley. Thank you to all who helped both behind the scenes and out in front to make the worship and love shared that day possible. You can find pictures from both of these events below.

This week also marks the official beginning of our 2021 Stewardship Season. This year’s stewardship season invites us to focus on the ways we have been and are being the church together. It is a recognition of the fact that despite these strange and uncertain days, we have never wavered in our commitment to being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ here in Glynn County and around the world. With your support, we hope to continue the impactful ministry of St. Simons Presbyterian in the year to come. Click here for more information about how you can help make that vision possible. You are invited to make your pledge (i.e., an estimate of your planned giving for 2021) online or by returning the pledge card enclosed in a mailing sent to the congregation earlier this week. We will dedicate these gifts of time, talent, and resources as part of our worship on November 15.

On the topic of giving, I also want to update you quickly on our church finances for the current year. As of the end of September, giving to the mission budget of the church for 2020 is actually ahead of where we were at the same point in 2019. Because of your faithful stewardship we have been able to respond to this pandemic in myriad ways including creating new ministries to reach our most vulnerable and isolated members, producing weekly worship when meeting in-person was impossible, and providing emergency relief to hundreds of our neighbors physically and financially impacted by the virus. None of this would be possible without you.

At the same time, expenses are also down slightly year-over-year, which is mainly a result of the fact that certain programming that would normally be taking place (meals, trips, etc.) simply are not able to happen at present. While we are certainly encouraged by these two metrics, the reality is that we are still relying on the generosity and commitment of the entire congregation to help fully support the ongoing mission and ministry of SSPC through the end of this year. If you have questions about the budget or your current year giving, please do not hesitate to contact Jeannine Torbert in the church office (638-2220 x106, jeannine@sspres.org).

Ultimately, what I really want to say thank you. Everywhere I turn, I am inspired by the people and ministry of our church. From blankets to phone calls to homecooked meals to prayers, your freely given gifts of time, talent, and resources are transforming lives near and far with the love of Jesus Christ. It is a privilege and honor to serve alongside you in that work.

See you Sunday. Continue praying for the mission team currently serving in Cookeville, TN (pictures below). And in all things let us remember that, through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are the church together.

Peace,

Rev. Alan Dyer

Pastor

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Sunday Worship

October 25, 2020

Christian Education

Musical Notes

The earliest archaeological evidence of bells dates from the 3rd millennium BC and is traced to the Yangshao culture of Neolithic China. Clapper-bells made of pottery have been found in several archaeological sites. The pottery bells later developed into metal bells. In West Asia, the first bells appear in 1000 BC. – Wikipedia.com

There is a biblical reference in Exodus 28:33-35 describing the hem of the priestly robe as having bells so that Aaron would be heard going in and out of the Holy Place. Bells have a long history of communicating. Joy, danger, death, and chiming the hour are some of the reasons that we ring bells. Our bell has been silent for months as renovation has been going on, but it won’t be long before our neighbors hear its happy peal as we enter our newly refurbished space.

Handbells were created in response to a need for change ringers (villagers that rang the tower bells) to rehearse in a more private, comfortable place. Can you imagine being a villager and wondering – Is that the rehearsal or the real thing? Here’s a description of the bells themselves and why we have foam tables, etc.

The smaller the bell, the higher the pitch. The larger the bell, the lower the pitch. Each handbell is cast in bronze, rigged with a hinged clapper on a single plane (they only move side-to-side), and fitted with a leather or vinyl handle. A handbell is rung by grasping the handle and moving the wrist, causing the clapper to tap the inside of the bell before springing back into place. Each bell is marked with the musical note on the handle. Foam-layered tables allow handbell ringers to rest the bells on a smooth surface without chipping or damaging the bell – the foam also prevents unwanted extra “notes” each time a bell is set down. – Nationalbellfestival.com

Our bell choir directed by Suzanne Morrison has been rehearsing in the social hall, distanced, masked, and with each ringer at their own table. We will do the same this Sunday. It will be a first attempt as we ring at the 10:30 worship service outside the tent. We will ring “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” and “Joy and Delight.” The hymn for Sunday is “For All the Saints.” Because this is All Saints’ Day, a list of the names of those that have passed away since last year will be read. Each will be followed by a tolling of the bell. This custom comes from a history of ringing bells at the time of death.

Historically, a bell would be rung on three occasions around the time of a death. The first was the "passing bell" to warn of impending death, followed by the death knell  which was the ringing of a bell  immediately after the death, and the last was the "lych bell", or "corpse bell" which was rung at the funeral as the procession approached the church. This latter is closest to what is known today as the Funeral toll. Today, customs vary regarding when and for how long the bell tolls at a funeral. In churches with full-circle English bells, for commemorative services such as funerals, memorial  services and Remembrance Sunday, the bells are rung half-muffled instead with a leather pad on one side of the clapper in call changes  or method ringing. Very rarely are they rung fully-muffled with pads both sides. This can often be a quarter peal or peal – the latter lasting three hours. – Funeral toll, Origins, Wikipedia

We honor our saints on Sunday along with the celebration of communion. Come and be with your church family as you feel safe to do so.

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda