SSPC Weekly Update - March 25, 2021

March 25, 2021

Holy Week starts this Sunday, March 28. Beginning with Palm Sunday, there will be a variety of opportunities for worship and prayer throughout the week as we head together yet again towards the cross of Good Friday and empty tomb of Easter morning. We hope you will come worship with us! And please be sure to also submit your order if you would like to purchase a hydrangea(s) in honor or memory of a loved one. An order form for that and a full schedule of all that is happening at St. Simons Presbyterian next week can be found below.

This Sunday is also significant as it will be our first week offering three different ways to worship as a church: via livestream, outdoors, or in the sanctuary. Our goal with this approach is to provide a way for everyone to participate fully in worship regardless of where or when they are most comfortable/able doing so. That said, please remember that our indoor sanctuary worship services – including on Palm Sunday and Easter – are limited attendance services, so you must pre-register ahead of time. Registration opens every Monday at 9A. Details on how to register can be found by clicking here. The outdoor worship service at 10:30A will continue to be open to all with no size limit or pre-registration required.

And last but certainly not least, several church members and staff had a very special opportunity earlier this week to celebrate the 101st birthday of Barbara Cowden! Barbara is a beloved and special member of our congregation, and it was a rich joy to gather on the outdoor patio at Thrive to celebrate this remarkable woman! Photos from Barbara’s celebration are included below. Happy birthday Barbara!

Peace,

Rev. Alan Dyer

Pastor

Hydrangeas

Easter Hydrangeas are now available for purchase at $20 each.

Please fill out the dedication form online by clicking the link below. Payments may be made on our website or in the church office M-F from 9-4PM. Deadline to order is next Thursday, April 1.

Order Easter Flowers Here

Holy Week

Upcoming Events

Sunday Worship

March 21, 2021

Musical Notes

Next week, the rest of the organ will be delivered along with the artisans that crafted the custom-built instrument. It’s a very complicated piece of equipment. The wiring that connects the pipes to the console is complex and requires delicate soldering and wrapping. As I watched James Freeman soldering the many colors of wires, the memories of my Dad putting together a Heathkit television came flooding back. The soldering gun was always smoking, ready to place transistors on a complicated board. I remember watching with wonder after the TV was finished. It was in color and you could see the red, green, and blue dots on the screen if you got close enough. (Pixels as we know it). The point is, sometimes we are just not aware of all that goes on behind the scenes. Say a prayer of Thanksgiving as we all enter Holy Week to worship and then celebrate the miracle of Resurrection Day. Many things are taking place to ready our sanctuary and spaces for worship for your comfort and safety.

There will not be a processional this year, but we will all be offered palms to wave in worship – indoors and outdoors. The chancel choir will sing Ride On, Ride On in Majesty, arranged by Mark Shepperd and based on John 12:13 for the 10:30 outdoor service. Our hymn is 197 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna.

We will have a Maundy Thursday service as indicated elsewhere in the newsletter. It will be held at 6:00 pm on April 1 on the Ashantilly lawn. Communion will be served as we remember the night of the Last Supper. This is a night that prepares us for Good Friday and Easter. The church sanctuary will be open from 9 – 5 for prayer on Good Friday. During that time, Amy Bishop and I will offer music for meditation in the sanctuary from Noon until 2:00 pm on the organ and piano.

Easter will be the first time that we will try brass, choir, and organ in our space. More next week on music selections!

On April 11, which is still Eastertide, our bell choir will play once again. We are playing some very fun and complicated music and look forward to sharing it with you.

Don’t forget to order hydrangeas. (Online or send in $20 with the information about memorial or honorarium to Ada.) This Easter, we will display them inside and outside for you to pick up after services.

As my cousin says, “If I don’t see you before Easter, go ahead and hide the eggs!”

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda