July 14, 2021
Bi-Weekly Summer Newsletter
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As the rhythms of church-life go, I typically think of “summer” as being the three months that run from the beginning of June to the end of August. One year ago, there was not much of anything happening in-person during these summer months on account of the pandemic – a few outdoor fellowship events here and there, some paired down children’s ministry opportunities, and a handful of sweaty/family-only outdoor baptisms. Mostly though we were all mainly just keeping our distance and hoping for the best.
What a difference a year makes! Here at the halfway point of that stretch this year there is a certain buzz – an energy that was sorely missed throughout so much of 2020 – when you walk around the church most days. Think about all that has happened in the life of our church over just the last month and half:
- The BRIDGE Mission Program is hosting its fourth of five youth groups from churches across Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina this week. These youth and adults come to learn and serve and grow in the faith here in Glynn County while staying on our church campus for a week at a time.
- Our Children’s Ministry took nearly one hundred children and over fifty adult volunteers on a three-day “Rocky Railway” themed VBS adventure in June. And now they are gearing up for a week of creative learning and worship at Worship and Art Camp.
- From Manna House to Hands and Heart to a youth mission night to collecting food for Sparrow’s Nest, our many community mission ministries are swinging back into action.
- The Congregational Life Ministry Team is continuing to find innovative ways to help us deepen our connections with one another through fun activities such as kayaking, dinners with friends, and, happening tonight, the ever-popular church Bingo Night!
- Our Sunday worship is as alive and vibrant as ever with a full choir loft and growing number of visitors coming together in-person and online to worship God in our beautifully renovated sanctuary.
- And finally, from delivering flowers and meals to writing cards to our Hospitality Ministry Team providing beautiful funeral receptions for grieving families, our congregational care ministries continue to extend the love of Jesus Christ to all those facing both great joy and great sorrow in these days.
It is that last part that is the most the important. Namely, a church comes alive – begins to buzz, if you will – only when it draws its vision and energy from a common desire to share the love of Jesus Christ with any and all. In fact, as you will see below, one of the most recent things to happen at SSPC this summer was receiving eleven wonderful new members this past Sunday. When asked, “Why are you joining?” nearly every new member articulated in one way or another that they were joining because they felt the welcome and love of Jesus Christ in the people, worship, mission, fellowship and ministry of this congregation. Even in these dog days of summer, it sure is an exciting time to be a part of what Christ is up to at St. Simons Presbyterian!
See you at church. Invite a friend. Casual is fine.
Peace,
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Sparrows Nest Donations
We will also be collecting donations for Sparrow Nest during our Blessing of the Backpacks drive-thru. Please consider bringing on elf the following items: SpaghettiOs/Ravioli, Canned Chicken/Tuna, Vienna Sausage, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Canned Soup, Chili or Pork & Beans, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Pasta Noodles, Spaghetti Sauce, Mac and Cheese, Rice or Instant Potatoes, Diapers size 3-6, Pudding or Fruit Cups, Toothpaste, Soap, Deodorant, or Dish Soap
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Sunday Worship
July 11, 2021
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The Chancel Choir will be taking a few weeks off for vacations and just a little break. This is a great time to consider joining. We have the best parties and the best seats in the church on Sundays! See me about being in this church family group. Of course, we will start this next season with a party on August 11th. The first rehearsal will be on August 18th and sing in church on August 22nd.
This Sunday, the ladies of the Chancel Choir will sing an arrangement of Beautiful Savior and of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. The hymn is an old tune to new words – 796 - We Come to You for Healing, Lord.
On July 25th, worship will include a string quartet of graduated high school seniors that were supposed to play for worship this spring. Everyone is healthy and vaccinated now, so they are happy to return and play for us before they go off to college in just a few weeks.
Other music offerings this summer include Ann Nermoe and Bud Longley singing with guitars, Bluegrass Sunday, and the Georgia Tech Glee Club (If you are an alum, let me know – let’s provide a warm welcome!).
The 75th Anniversary Planning Team had its first meeting last week. We are in search of old photos of the early beginnings of the church. Many exciting plans are being made. If you are a long-time member of the church, start bringing up your memories to share. We will be contacting those that we are aware of, however, call us if you would like to be interviewed.
Love & Gratitude,
Rhonda
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Sunday, July 18
All Day BRIDGE Youth - Coastal Outdoor
8:30 am Indoor Worship - Sanctuary
9:30 am Combined Sunday School - Upper Room & Zoom
10:30 am Indoor/Livestream Worship - Sanctuary
Monday, July 19
9:00am Worship & Art Camp - Britt Room
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law
Tuesday, July 20
9:00am Worship & Art Camp - Britt Room
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room
Wednesday, July 21
9:00am Worship & Art Camp - Britt Room
10:00 am Men's Bible Study - Upper Room
Thursday, July 22
9:00am Worship & Art Camp - Britt Room
10:00 am Grief Group - John Law
Friday, July 23
9:00am Worship & Art Camp - Britt Room
Sunday, July 25
All Day BRIDGE (Forest Lake Pres) - Youth Suite
8:30 am Indoor Worship - Sanctuary
9:30 am Combined Sunday School - Upper Room & Zoom
10:30 am Indoor/Livestream Worship - Sanctuary
Monday, July 26
All Day BRIDGE (Forest Lake Pres) - Youth Suite
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law
Tuesday, July 27
All Day BRIDGE (Forest Lake Pres) - Youth Suite
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room
Wednesday, July 28
All Day BRIDGE (Forest Lake Pres) - Youth Suite
1:30 pm Hands and Heart Quilting Ministry - Music Attic
6:00 pm SSPRES Family Bingo - Social Hall
Thursday, July 29
All Day BRIDGE (Forest Lake Pres) - Youth Suite
Friday, July 30
All Day BRIDGE (Forest Lake Pres) - Youth Suite
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Kevin & Julia Chase
Kevin and Julia Chase moved to SSI full time in October of 2020 after vacationing here for many years. Both retired in 2018 after working and raising their family in Richmond,Virginia where they were members of First Presbyterian Church. Kevin spent his career in commercial real estate finance and banking and Julia was in pharmaceutical sales. Kevin is originally from Long Island, New York and went to school at the University of Virginia. Julia moved to SSI while in high school and went to college at Elon in North Carolina prior to moving to Richmond. They have three grown children, one married in Richmond with two grandchildren and two in Colorado. Julia and Kevin both enjoy the outdoors, walking on the beach with their two Labs and enjoy golf, fishing and pickle ball.
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Randy & Iris Ellis
After both retiring from 30 years of teaching in Valdosta, Randy and Iris chose to move to SSI July of 2020 to be near their grandchildren. Both are native Georgians and met during their college years at Valdosta State University (VSU). Randy taught middle school and high school science classes, and Iris taught business education classes; she still teaches part time, online for VSU. This month they will be celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary. They have three children and two grandchildren. Randy enjoys playing golf, pickleball, and painting. Iris enjoys gardening, teaching, and is learning to play pickleball.
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Joyce S. Kallaher
Joyce S. Kallaher was an active member of Cradock Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth, VA from March 1954 until the church closed in June 2018. She was active in the WOC and enjoyed working with their Annual Bazaar. She has most recently been a member of First Presbyterian Church of Portsmouth. She moved to Glynn County on October 1, 2020 and is now living with her daughter, Kathy Lindsay, a member of St. Simons Presbyterian Church. She is a retired nurse anesthetist and lived all her adult life in Portsmouth. She is transferring her membership from First Presbyterian Church in Portsmouth. She is happy to be living in Glynn County and looking forward to being a part of her new church home.
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Bob McCammon & Jeanne Pescitelli
Bob lived in suburban Philadelphia until his recent move to Saint Simons. He worked for 37 years in the financial services industry. Bob was married for 52 years and has 2 married daughters and 2 teenage grand sons living in the Philadelphia area. Bob has been a Saint Simons snowbird for 20 years and has attended the Church for most of those years enjoying many snowbird luncheons, the Island Concert Series and using those coffee mugs given out some years ago. A native of Wisconsin, Jeanne lived in Atlanta for 30 years before retiring to St. Simons 4 years ago. She has a son, a daughter and a grandson who live in Atlanta. In 2018 Bob met Jeanne near the end of his annual visit. That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship involving simple things like long walks on the beach and more exciting things like a couple trips to Europe. Bob and Jeanne are now busy with their new home that was the home of the former pastor, Rev. Bob Brearley. In his free time Bob enjoys working on his golf game.
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Gene and Mary Ramba
Originally from Cleveland and Warren Ohio. We have been married 53 years and recently moved to Marsh’s Edge from Cocoa, Florida. We lived in Brevard County for over 40 years after Gne was stationed in Hawaii serving in the US Navy. He finished his 30 years by serving in the reserves. We moved to Palm Bay, Fl and then to Cocoa, FL where we lived with our daughter and helped raise our two granddaughters. We have two children and five grandchildren. Mary is a previous marathon runner having done 21 marathons and hundreds of other distance races. Gene supported my efforts by delivering me to races, being part of Space Coast runners in timing, and course race set ups. We now both walk daily with our dog, Ziggy, and spend time with our local family members.
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Terry and Linda Seierstad
Originally from Minnesota, we have lived on St Simons Island for 12 years. Until moving here, we had been Lutherans our entire lives. Although we love Minnesota and it’s 10,000 lakes, we don’t miss the cold winters. Now we enjoy and love the beauty of this piece of paradise called St Simons Island. We have been married for 51 years and lived most of our married life in the Minneapolis/St Paul suburbs. Terry spent most of his career working for American Express in the IDS Tower in downtown Minneapolis. We enjoy spending time with grandchildren and wonderful friends that we have met since moving here.
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[912-638-2220] [ada@sspres.org] [sspres.org] |
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