Volume 49 July 27, 2017 The comings and goings continue in their usual summer fashion at church. Our staff meetings give us a chance to remember where everybody is! I have just returned from two weeks of vacation with my family, and Alan Dyer has returned from Honduras and is now enjoying some time with friends from seminary on Jekyll Island. Bob and Alan thank Rev. Jann Briscoe for pastoring this flock when life takes both of us out of town at the same time. Our church has gathered recently at time of death to thank God for church members Mel Pease and Ed Ralston. At our funerals we remember the promises of God in Jesus Christ for eternal life, and we remember the loved one now gone from our community of faith. I continue to encourage our congregation to gather strong at these important times. These memorial services are occasions for the public worship of God, and all are invited and welcome to attend. So many times, members of the church have told me that they did not come to a funeral because they did not know the member who died. I am so tempted to reply that that does not matter at all! If life lets you come, please know that you are welcome at these faith-filled gatherings of your church. Funerals are often more effective directing my life toward God than Sunday morning worship. Looking forward, our summer schedule continues through the month of August and will culminate with a very special Sunday on August 27. That Sunday is Betty Carter Sunday. We will celebrate Betty upon her retirement, and we will thank her for being our church secretary since 1988! For thirty years Betty Carter has lived out a deep and abiding commitment to God's calling in her life to help St. Simons Presbyterian Church. We could never thank her enough for being there for us. On August 27, we will try! We will have a reception in the Social Hall at 11:00, immediately following our morning worship service. We will read to Betty a resolution of thanks from our Session, present to her a love offering for her retirement, and invite words of affirmation and love from our church members. If you would like to contribute to this offering, please make your checks to SSPC and mark them
"Betty Carter." I hope summer is going well for you and your family. Let us know how we can help. Love, Bob Celebrating Betty! August 27th is Betty Carter Sunday! Come and join with us as we celebrate Betty upon her retirement, and thank her for being our church secretary since 1988! For thirty years Betty Carter has lived out a deep and abiding commitment to God's calling in her life to help St. Simons Presbyterian Church. We could never thank her enough for being there for us. On August 27 we will have a reception in the Social Hall at 11:0 0, immediately following our morning worship service. We will read to Betty a resolution of thanks from our Session, present to her a love offering for her retirement, and invite words of affirmation and love from our church members. If you would like to contribute to this offering, please make your checks to SSPC and mark them "Betty Carter." ICHETUCKNEE TUBING TRIP This is a great trip for the whole family! Come and share a fun day
relaxing on one of the most beautiful spring-fed rivers in Florida, which remains a cool 72 degrees year round! Who: Anyone & everyone! Children under 5th grade must come with a parent/guardian. When: Tuesday, August 1 6 AM Where: Fort Whit e, Florida Cost : $20-25/ person (Please bring cash) Covers tube rental, park entry & food. Meet in the SSPC kitchen lot at 6:00 AM. Please eat before you come, or bring your breakfast with you. We can take up to 14 people on the church van, youth get priority, all others will join by caravan! Once we arrive in Fort White, we will make a stop at one of the tube rental sites near the North Park Entrance. You will have your choice of tubes and rafts ranging in cost from $5.00 to $20.00, though these prices are usually offset by a discount due to the size of our group. All passengers will then be dropped at the North Entrance while the drivers travel to the South Entrance where they will drop off their vehicles and then be shuttled back. Once the drivers rejoin the group, we will launch together and float the full length of the river (approximately 2-3 hours). Please wear your swim clothes and bring a change of clothing and a towel. Bring sunscreen and bug repellant. Food and drinks are permitted in non-disposable containers (i.e. Tupperware or Rubbermaid). Water shoes like Chacos and Tevas are a good idea for the river. We will change clothes afterwards, drive back to town for food and then return to SSPC mid-afternoon. REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND BUT IF YOU WANT, LET US KNOW YOU ARE COMING BY CLICKING HERE!
It's been 9 long years since we have been to Montaña de Luz (Mountain of Light). It was delightful to return to this beautiful place and reconnect with these beautiful people. MDL is an orphanage for children with HIV. So much love is concentrated in this place. I hope these pictures share some of this rich story. Our work team hung razor wire, poured cement, painted, taught photography and loved the children of MDL with their whole hearts. Our God is a great God! ~Nat Scott
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OF THE PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP!
The Week Ahead Sunday, July 30 8:30 am - Morning Prayer - Sanctuary 9:00 am - Breakfast/ Joint Sunday School - Social Hall 10:00 am - Worship - Sanctuary Monday, July 31 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room Tuesday, August 1 6:00 am - Ichetucknee Tubing Trip - Meet in Kitchen Parking Lot Thursday, August 3 7:15 am - Men's Breakfast Bible Study - Britt Room 10:00 am - Instrumental Ensemble - Social Hall 4:00 pm - Free Flow Yoga - Youth Suite 6:30 pm - Stephen Ministry - Parlor 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room Friday, August 4 10:00 am - Book Discussion & Prayer - Jann's Office Click for More Information About Upcoming Events P rayers and Thanksgivings Click here for the Weekly Prayer & Meditation July 30 A Letter from the Ludwigs! Dear St. Simons Presbyterian Church, As we talk about what we're thankful for, our family has talked a little about some
of the things we're missing about one home and loving about another home. Of course our top three things to miss are our pets, our friends and our house, so we didn't include those on our list. Top things we miss from the Sahel: + typical sounds-our neighborhood donkey braying & roosters crowing in the AM + buying candy from the local 'store' stand + our car-port fort + Thursday playdates + the pool and eating chicken and french fries + running down big sand piles from construction outside our house + playing Legos + climbing up the iron bars in the windows + eggs for dinner and homemade bread + eating delicious mangos + climbing our favorite trees + family worship + Godiya, Muna godiya - we miss Hausa songs! The best things about being in the States, of course family is first on this list: + grass + cooler temps + playgrounds + baseball games + playing Legos + so many toys + having a front door and a back door and garage door in houses + boat rides and tubing + speaking English - especially English worship There's so much to enjoy on both sides, and it's nice to take a moment to appreciate both the obvious and little things. The people who support us on this journey are a big part of these top things, so we want to also take a minute to share the sweetness of life with you. Thank you, Michael, Rachel, Adeline, Simeon and Zach Ludwig http://outofthedustandus.blogspot.com/ Click here for our June newsletter - If you are not on our mailing list and would like to be, please sign up or let us know!
Worship This Sunday Scripture: Exodus 20 :1-11 Matthew 6 :25-34 Hymns: 40 3 - Open Now Thy G ates of Beauty 8 37 - Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Preacher: Rev. Bob Brearley Summer Sermon Series:
"An Altar In The World" Throughout the summer, our pastors are leading a summer sermon series called, "An Altar In The World." Barbara Brown Taylor's book by the same title - An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith - is our guide as we explore how and where God is at work far beyond the four walls of the church. This book will also guide our joint summer Sunday School classes. If you would like to read the book along with us please feel free to buy a copy online (click here)or pick up one of the copies that are available to purchase in the church office. Thi s Sunday: Sabbath - "The Practice of Saying No" Musical Notes After any of the staff have had a particularly busy week or at the end of a project, Bob says, "Go home and rest!" In other words, take care of yourself. It's most excellent advice that I know that I don't always follow. We all get the instruction on airplanes to don our oxygen masks first and then to help others. At first, that makes no sense, but then you realize that you can help more people if your own needs are provided for. For music selections to calm your mind and rest, here is a link with soft piano music and scripture quotes starting with Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5r9skkztn0 As Amy Bishop takes some rest and vacation this weekend, Beverly Fetter will be our service organist. Stephenie Powell, violinist, will enhance our worship as she has done many times in the past. Ann Marie Morrison and I will open the service with a short song that our children have learned - Be Still and Know - hymn number 414, which is based on Psalm 46 as well. Ann Marie will sing one of our newer hymns (new to us), As a Child Rests, for Sunday's anthem. It is based on Psalm 131 and is number 474 in Glory to God, our hymnal. Here are the words of comfort for you ahead of the service: As a child rests in its mother's arms so will I rest in you. My God, I am not proud. I do not look for things too great. My God, I trust in you. You care for me, you give me peace. O Israel, trust in God, now and always trust in God.
- Christopher Walker, based on Psalm 131 Sunday's hymns: 403 Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty; 837 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Love & Gratitude, Rhonda