SSPC Happenings - April 28, 2022

April 28, 2022

2-Week Newsletter

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways, my ways, says the Lord." -Isaiah 55:8

Dear friends,

The verse above reminds us of the old joke, “How do you make God laugh?…Tell him your plans!”

Turns out, Anita and I had not planned to do another interim ministry and especially one out of town. Neither had we planned to discover what a wonderful staff and congregation exists at St. Simons Presbyterian.

But…here we are.

The interim search committee and I met yesterday and with the Session’s approval committed to this interim time together...for the long term... as you look for your new Pastor.

I plan on being on the Island 4 days a week normally, while working from Jacksonville the other time. It will remain flexible depending on circumstances and I’m available as needed.

In the end, this is another humbling opportunity to praise God that there is some meaning and purpose buried among the vicissitudes of history. And a Spirit that energizes and inspires us to face the future in faith, hope, love and deep fellowship.

Gratefully,

Steve

Interim Pastor

Search Committee Nominations

Pastor Nomination Search Committee

The Congregational Nominating Committee is starting work on nominations for the Pastor Nominating Committee (Search Committee). If you would like to nominate someone to serve on that Committee, please submit the name and the reasons you believe he or she would be a good fit for the Pastor Nominating Committee.

Submit Your Nominee(s) Here

Upcoming Events

Save the Date

Ongoing Events

Christian Education

Kidz & Youth

Vacation Bible School

Summer 2022

June 14-16

Registration is open to all. 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

April 24, 2022

Musical Notes

This journey we call life is full of twists and turns. I’m so glad that we are prevented from seeing what is around that corner because we would invariably try to fix what was about to happen. Some things aren’t fixable and that would frustrate the human race to no end. Not knowing the future is a protection that God gives us for sanity and survival. The chorus of a song that I’ve known for years says it well – “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.” Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts as my family and I navigate these uncertain waters. Many of you are in the midst of turmoil of one kind or another and I pray for you. I hope that you feel the strength of these prayers from our church family and the constant feeling of being held by God as I do.

I agree with Steve about Youth Sunday. It’s one of my favorite worship services. As a youth, I directed the choir, played the organ or piano, and helped to organize the service at my home church in Tucker, Georgia – First United Methodist. An anchor in my life, the church was a place where I felt loved and appreciated for the gifts that I could give. I was experiencing the life of a director of music even at the age of 14. The organist/director of music would pick me up on her way to church at 7:15 am. Here was my typical Sunday – Youth Chamber Ensemble at 7:30 (a select group of 16 out of 100 youth choir members that sang for 8:30 service); Early Service; Sunday School; 11:00 am service (Chancel Choir); Lunch with the director; set up for handbells; Youth handbell rehearsal at 3:30; Youth Choir at 4:30; Supper at 5:30; Youth Fellowship at 6:00; Evening Service at 7:30; Afterglow (at the youth house) at 8:30 pm; and home by 9:30 pm. Sunday was my favorite day and still is! This Sunday, our youth will lead the 10:30 service. Brayden (piano) and Sawyer Neill (cello) and Lily Roberts (viola) will play Gymnopedie No.1 by Eric Satie for the prelude. It is a meditative prelude for you to prepare your hearts and minds for worship. Joining them for the last hymn will be Emmeline Griffith on trombone. Hymns for Sunday – 769 For Everyone Born and 702 Christ Be Beside Me. The Chancel Choir will sing Schwoebel’s For I Know the Plans I Have for You in honor of the confirmands. It is the first day of May and Communion Sunday.

May 8th is traditionally Mother’s Day according to Hallmark and other commercial entities. It is good to celebrate our mothers on a specific day, but I quote my late mother-in-law here: “If you have children like mine, Mother’s Day is every day.” The Chancel Choir will sing Mack Wilberg’s My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.

I will leave you with the refrain of a Marty Haugen song found in our hymnal - “Shepherd Me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.”

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda