March 31, 2022
Surely this will not be news to you, but I must share with you my recent experience with the extraordinary love and compassion that bubble up around St. Simons Presbyterian Church all the time. In the last couple of weeks, I whacked my back against the side of the tub (not easy to do, but I managed to do it) and I've dealt with a digestive infection that put me in the hospital for 5 days.

Happily, I am whole and well again but throughout the ordeal, I experienced your love and care first-hand. The great ministry of Hands and Heart. Full course meals and a pot of hot soup left on the back steps of my house. Notes, cards, calls, emails, and hugs have all come my way. My colleagues at the church have been wonderful and more than supportive. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday as we approach Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Christ's Resurrection Day (April 17).

Christ goes by many names: Lord, Savior, Friend, Healer, Teacher...
Today my prayers of praise go to Christ the Great Physician.

Love & blessings to you all,
Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams
Interim-Pastor
Upcoming Events
Bird Rambling
Come and join us on Jekyll Island for a fun morning of birdwatching with Lydia Thompson. Lydia has a wealth of knowledge about our many diverse birds. We will meet in the parking lot just before the Wharf Restaurant on Jekyll Island at 9:00 AM and will spend 3 hours carpooling from site to site and then walking to our destinations where we can spot birds. Participants need to be able to walk at least a mile. Afterward, we will meet at Marshside Grill for a dutch treat lunch. Maximum participants? Cost $40.00 + $ for lunch. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; bring a hat, bug spray, sunscreen, and a water bottle. If you have binoculars, you are encouraged to bring them. 

Meet at the church at 8:15 to carpool over to Jekyll.
Limited to 10 people.

  • Date: April 21
  • Time: 9am-12pm
  • Cost: $40 (plus cost of lunch)
Building & Grounds Committee

At its March, 2022 meeting, the Session voted to form a Building & Grounds committee. Several people have already expressed interest in being a part of this exciting new endeavor which will ensure that our church maintains its current level of hospitable welcome. 

If you feel a call to serve in this area, please let us know by filling out the form below and someone will be in touch with you soon!
Ongoing Events
Guest Pastor
Rev. Samuel L. Adams 
This Sunday,
April 3rd

Rev. Samuel L. Adams is the Mary Jane and John F. McNair Chair in Biblical Studies at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and has served multiple churches. His research focuses primarily on wisdom literature. His first book examined conceptions of death and the afterlife in the Bible and beyond. Another research area is wealth and poverty in the biblical world and today. He also writes on apocalypticism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Bible and film, and the Bible and American political discourse. He is editor of the seminary’s journal, Interpretation. He grew up coming to Jekyll and St. Simons and is proud of his many connections with the pastoral staff at St. Simons Presbyterian. He is an avid Braves fan. Sam’s wife, Helen Bell Adams, is a primary care physician in Richmond, and he has two children, Virginia and Charlie.
Holy Week
Christian Education
Kidz & Youth
Vacation Bible School
Summer 2022

Registration is for church members (parents/grandparents) only until April 1. The public may sign up after April 1 if space is available. 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!!
Sunday Worship
March 27, 2022
Musical Notes
A couple of weeks ago, I received a book of devotionals from a friend entitled, “Good Enough.” By Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie. It’s full of wisdom and rich knowledge of the human psyche. They quote Gary Haugen, founder and CEO of International Justice Mission – “Joy is the oxygen of doing hard things.” That absolutely resonated with me. It is important that we find some joy in this ravaged world of pain and mental anguish, for we may get mired in the profound depression that seems to be spreading like the pandemic has. It is difficult to find the good in such bad things, but when we look hard enough, we can see it. Mr. Rogers says “Look for the helpers.” That kind of joy gives us strength (oxygen) to go on. Music has always been my happy place that keeps me going in spite of tragedy and hard stuff. There’s a children’s song about it: The joy of the Lord is my Strength! People ask me how I can keep going – well, there you have your answer. I’m not saying there are not moments of suffering and pain both mental and physical, because there are. My hope is that each of us can find joy in some way in your lives. I say all of this because many of my colleagues are experiencing pain in their lives and families. Also, we are headed into Holy Week. The joy of Palm Sunday is quickly followed by suffering and death on the cross only to experience the joy of Resurrection on Easter. I hope that you will take the worship journey that week to all of the different churches that are participating in Holy Week services.   
 
This Sunday is the Sacrament of Communion. At the 10:30 am service, the Chancel Choir will offer The Feast of Christ by Donald Story. During the serving of communion, we will have a special guest soloist from Fourth Presbyterian, Chicago. Cole Seaton is a good friend of Craig Endicott. Cole has visited before and has sung with our choir some years ago. The hymns are 839 Blessed Assurance and 629 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.   
 
The next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Everyone will be given a palm at the entrances to the church to wave during the processional. The choir will sing an introit at the back of the church and the children will line the aisle and wave palms as the choir processes to the front. Children will meet at 10:15 am in the Narthex or just outside to receive a palm and process at the appropriate time. They may sit with parents following the procession. Music planned for this service is “Blessed is He Who Comes” by Lloyd Larson and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Gilbert Martin. All Glory, Laud, and Honor is the first hymn and we end with 220 Go to Dark Gethsemane. 
 
Love, Joy, & Gratitude,
Rhonda 
The Week Ahead
Sunday, April 3
8:30 am Early Worship - Sanctuary
9:30 am Sunday School - Various Locations
10:30 am Traditional Worship - Sanctuary

Monday, April 4
9:00 am Manna House - 1408 G Street
6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law

Tuesday, April 5
9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room
10:00 am PW Planning Committee Meeting - Britt Room
1:00 pm Bridge Club - Library

Wednesday, April 6
10:00 am Chancel Ensemble - Sanctuary
6:30 pm Transition Prayer Time - Upper Room
6:00 pm Chancel Ringers - Sanctuary
7:00 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, April 7
No Activities Scheduled for this Day

Friday, April 8
12:00 pm Transition Prayer Time - Sanctuary

Saturday, April 9
11:00 am Funeral Service for Deane Sills - Sanctuary
Joys & Concerns
Get Involved
Meal Delivery

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: Anna Simpson & Family

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
Community Events
This Past Week
Giving
GIVE
As the number of Ukrainian refugees continues to increase by the day, food and other supplies inside Ukraine are becoming increasingly scarce. Sibling churches and ecumenical partners who are already there are helping to provide basic items for survival for the millions who have been displaced. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is providing direct funding for these partners who are on the ground.

To give by phone, call 800-872-3283. To send a check, please designate your gift to Disaster Relief-International Refugee Programs (DR000156)
and mail to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700​
PRAY
Click the link below for a prayer written by The Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
ACT
"PCUSA Staff will share an overview of the humanitarian crisis from our experience as World Mission partners, from the United Nations, and in the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. We will hear the stories of our church partners and how you can support this life-saving work. The webinar will be livestreamed on Facebook and Youtube."
(source)
  • What: PCUSA Webinar - Lifting Up Ukraine
  • When: Wednesday, March 23rd
  • Time: 12:00 PM
Stay Connected
[912-638-2220]  [ada@sspres.org]  [sspres.org]