March 4, 2022
Bi-Weekly Newsletter
Dear friends in Christ,

Here is a funny thing. On my first day as Interim Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, that congregation was saying goodbye to its beloved Columbia Seminary student intern, the gifted Alan Dyar. Now, as the providence of God would have it, I am ready to begin serving as your Interim Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, St. Simon's Island, Georgia the Sunday after Alan leaves. Last day. First day. God certainly has an interesting sense of timing! 

My husband Al and I have been regular attendees at the church for the past seven years, drawn especially by Alan's wonderful pastoral and worship leadership but also by the congregation. Your vibrant spirit, your mission outreach, your education ministry, your music, your magnificent organ. . . The list could go on and on. We have worshiped with you outside under the magnolia trees in the summer and sung Silent Night with you under the stars on Christmas Eve. How could I not say yes to SSPC?! I do so look forward to my three months with you as your "interim Interim" and anticipate our sharing a creative, hopeful spring and early summer together. 

This Sunday, March sixth, marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. Jesus and Satan confront another in the wilderness in the epic struggle between good and evil. We see the power of evil doing its destructive work in many places around the world these days. Here is the crucial question: Whom do you think will carry the day?  

This new season begins at the same time the season of Alan Dyer's leadership as your Senior Pastor draws to an end. Oh, we do wish Alan and Erin and their two great boys well as they embark on their new adventure in South Carolina. We will need to grieve for a while. Your pastor was, and still is, a gifted, lovable minister who loved you all right back. Sadness is perfectly acceptable. But we also have a new mission, which is to keep our eyes open for the new things God will be doing in and through St. Simon's Presbyterian Church in the coming days. I feel enormously hopeful about that, and I look forward to joining you in worship, service, an "in-between space" in exile, God was already planning "a new thing... now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (43:19) God is never without a plan.

Change? Rarely is it easy. Sometimes, it's a pain in the neck. But when God is behind it all, what can we do but open our arms to receive the new future God has in store.   
                                 
Let's go, you all. God has plans for us. Onward!

Blessings and peace,
Joanna
Interim Senior Pastor
A Note of Thanks
Friends,

A quick note to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the incredible send-off this past Sunday. Your outpouring of love and care for the entire Dyer Family was both overwhelming and humbling. I will cherish all of the beautiful gifts, gracious notes, kind words, and tight hugs that we received over this past month. While I truly wish that I could have visited with each and every one of you to say what you have meant to me and my family, please know from the bottom of my heart that it has truly been the greatest joy and privilege of my life to serve as your pastor. St. Simons Presbyterian Church is a special place that will forever hold a special spot in my heart. As we mentioned on Sunday, you will continue to see Erin and the boys around the church with some regularity in the coming months as they finish the school year here on the island. I will be completely absent though from St. Simons Presbyterian for the next two years. This is necessary not only to allow me time to get situated in my new call but also to allow the congregation space to discern where God is leading and eventually for your next pastor to get established in his or her new calling. Later we will certainly look forward to returning to the pews on family trips as worshippers and friends. In the meantime, even as we may be
separated physically know that I will be praying for you each step of the way!

God bless and keep you all.

It’s all thanks,
Happenings & Events
Season of Lent
Sunday Worship
February 27, 2022
Musical Notes
It’s always an eerie mixture of feelings after Ash Wednesday. We are in Lent. We are in the 40 days in the wilderness with our thoughts. There are no Alleluias until Easter. Yet the feeling of anticipation is there for the Third Day, the Day of Resurrection. The choir, bell choir, and others have begun to prepare anthems for worship for this period of time.   

On Sunday, the Chancel Choir offers “On Eagle’s Wings” - many of you know this song – you are invited to sing along on the chorus: “And He shall raise you up on Eagle’s Wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand.”  

On March 13, we will offer a new anthem to us – Do not Be Afraid by Philip Stopford. The words by Gerard Markland are comforting, powerful, and so appropriate for the times in which we are living. This is an excellent time to join the choir and sing with us through Easter.   

Sandy Kilgore, fiber arts crafter extraordinaire, along with designs from many ideas put together by Suzanne Morrison, has made paraments for the Lenten Season. Look in the bulletin for an artist’s statement about these beautiful scarves for the lectern, pulpit, and communion table.   
 
Those that are active in the music ministry are making plans to attend this year’s Worship & Music Conference at Montreat. This is where we get most of the ideas for visuals and music for our worship services. It is an exciting week full of singing and worship in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The reprieve from the hot weather is as refreshing as seeing friends and colleagues from all over the Presbyterian Church. It’s open to anyone who would like to come. If you are interested, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to talk with you about this very special conference that begins on June 19.   
 
Love & Gratitude,  
Rhonda 
The Week Ahead
Sunday, March 6
8:30 am Early Worship - Sanctuary
9:30 am Sunday School - Various Locations
10:30 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
5:00 pm Youth Gathering - Youth Suite

Monday, March 7
9:00am Manna House - 1408 G Street
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law

Tuesday, March 8
7:00 am Youth Chick-fil-a Breakfast - SSI Chick-fil-A
9:30 am Staff Meeting - John Law
10:00 am PW Morning Glories - Upper Room
12:00 pm PW Lunch Bunch - Upper Room
2:00 pm PW Ladies of the Night - Upper Room

Wednesday, March 9
10:00 am Chancel Ensemble - Sanctuary
10:00 am Men's Bible Study - Upper Room
1:30 pm Hands and Heart Quilting Ministry - Music Attic
4:00 pm KidZ Crew - Veranda
6:00 pm Wednesday Night Supper - Social Hall
6:30 pm Transition Prayer Time - Upper Room
6:30 pm Chancel Ringers - Sanctuary
7:30 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, March 10
10:00 am Grief Group - John Law
10:00 am Ladies Bible Study - Upper Room
1:00 pm Hospice Grief Group - John Law

Friday, March 11
11:00 am Transition Prayer Time - Sanctuary

Sunday, March 13
8:30 am Early Worship - Sanctuary
9:30 am Sunday School - Various Locations
10:30 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary
4:30 pm Marsh's Edge Worship - at Marsh's Edge
5:00 pm Youth Gathering - Youth Suite

Monday, March 14
3:00 pm Congregational Life Meeting - Upper Room
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law

Tuesday, March 15
7:00 am Youth Chick-fil-a Breakfast - SSI Chick-fil-A
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room
4:00 pm Session Meeting - Britt Room

Wednesday, March 16
10:00 am Chancel Ensemble - Sanctuary
10:00 am Men's Bible Study - Upper Room
4:00 pm KidZ Crew - Veranda
6:00 pm Wednesday Night Supper - Social Hall
6:30 pm Transition Prayer Time - Upper Room
6:30 pm Chancel Ringers - Sanctuary
7:30 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, March 17
10:00 am Ladies Bible Study - Upper Room

Friday, March 18
10:00 am Special Speaker: Ron Hall - Sanctuary
12:00 pm Transition Prayer Time - Sanctuary
Joys and Concerns
Community Happenings
Get Involved
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: Chris Pippart, who recently had another major surgery.

If you or someone you know could use some help with meals, don't hesitate to reach out! We're here for you.
Contact Jackie Griffin for assistance: jpol1954@yahoo.com 
This Past Week
Giving Opportunities
Stay Connected
[912-638-2220]  [ada@sspres.org]  [sspres.org]