December 20, 2018 On Tuesday evening, the deacons and elders of St. Simons Presbyterian gathered together in the social hall. In addition to welcoming our newest class of deacons and elders, we celebrated and said thank you to those officers who are completing their three-year terms of service this month. We presented all of our outgoing officers with hand carved crosses as a sign of our gratitude and to remind them of their continuing call to serve Christ both in the church and in their lives. We thank God for all of our church officers but especially today for those elders and deacons who are completing their terms of service: Mel Baxter, Riddick Ackerman, Fred Griffith, Lynda Bisher, Brenda Jones Teresa Hodgdon, D.A. Martin, Jean Hurst, Fleming Martin, Bethany Legget, Anne Stembler, Jerry Spencer, Jean Sucher, and Greer Anderson This week is a two-week newsletter on account of Christmas. Live Nativity is this Friday and Saturday on the front lawn followed by the 4 th Sunday of Advent in the sanctuary on Sunday. Christmas Eve worship will be at 5:30 and 10P on Monday. Bring yourself and invite a friend. All are welcome. Casual is fine. The star is rising. The Savior is near. Thanks be to God. Peace, Alan
Christmas Eve Advent Events Caroling and Soup Delivery All are invited to join us as we trolley around St. Simons to spread Christmas cheer and deliver a warm treat to members & friends of our congregation! We will meet on the front steps at 4:30 and will return by 6:30 PM. We hope you can join us to help spread some Christmas Cheer! Date: TONIGHT, December 20th Time: 4:30-6:30 Where: Meet on front steps, in front of sanctuary Live Nativity Our Live Nativity has been a St. Simons Presbyterian Church tradition for over 50 years! By the time the animals are in
place, the children dressed and the luminaries lit, a very meaningful story is retold and shared with the island community watching in silence. Please join us for this memorable event, that helps to remind us of the true meaning behind the Christmas Season. Dates: Friday, December 21st & Saturday, December 22nd Times: 6 PM & 7 PM Upcoming Events Third Day of Christmas Party Adults of SSPC! Do you ever experience the post- Christmas blahs? This year you don't have to! On the third day of Christmas, come to the Britt Room for a fun evening of warm fellowship, great food and a festive atmosphere. This event, put on by the "Try Something New" team, is sure to put a smile on your face! Invite family, friends, neighbors, or guests! All are welcome!
Thursday, December 27th 6:00-9:00 pm Britt Room $15.00 per person paid to church office Please RSVP by December 23rd Click Here to Sign Up! Sign Up Here! Movie Night Please join us for a fun night with family & friends while we enjoy watching a movie together in the Social Hall and dine on some yummy pizza (and salad, too!). This is an event for all ages, so bring your family & friends to join the fun! Date: January 13, 2019 Time: 6 PM Where: Social Hall Sign Up Here!
Save The Date Marriage Enrichment Weekend Drs. Genie and Preston Dyer - retired social work and family studies professors from Baylor University in Texas - will be coming to the island to lead a Friday/Saturday marriage enrichment retreat at SSPC. More info to come, but mark your calendars now for the weekend of February 22nd & 23rd! The Weeks Ahead Sunday, December 23 8:30 am - Chapel Service - Sanctuary 9:00 am - Coffee Hour & Breakfast - Social Hall 9:30 am - Sunday School - Various Locations 11:00 am - Traditional Service - Sanctuary 5:00 pm - Advent Communion - Sanctuary Monday, December 24 Monday, December 24 5:30 pm - Christmas Eve Worship Service - Sanctuary 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room
8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room 10:00 pm - Christmas Eve Communion - Sanctuary Tuesday, December 25 (Merry Christmas!!) All Day - Church Office Will be Closed Wednesday, December 26 All Day - Church Office Will be Closed Thursday, December 27 7:00 am - Men's Bible Study - Britt Room 4:00 pm - Yoga Class - Youth Suite 6:00 pm - Third Day of Christmas Party- Social Hall 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room Friday, December 28 10:00 am - Book Study and Prayer - Jann's Office Saturday, December 29 11:30 am - AA Women's Meditation Meeting - John Law Sunday, December 30 8:30 am - Chapel Service - Sanctuary 9:00 am - Coffee Hour & Breakfast - Social Hall 9:30 am - Sunday School - Various Locations 11:00 am - Traditional Service - Sanctuary Monday, December 31 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room Tuesday, January 1 (Happy New Year!!) All Day - Church Office Will be Closed Wednesday, January 2 No Activities Scheduled for this Day Thursday, January 3 7:00 am - Men's Bible Study - Britt Room 4:00 pm - Yoga Class - Youth Suite 6:30 pm - Stephen Ministry- Parlor 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room Friday, January 4 10:00 am - Book Study and Prayer - Jann's Office Upcoming Dates: Pictorial Directory Reminder: Pictorial Directory Reminder: The deadline to turn in your submitted photos is December 31st. These can be either digital or print. Please turn in to Ada at the front office or email ada@sspres.org. The cost
for submitting photos is $10. Please turn in your money to Jeannine at the front office. If a professional photographer took the photo, LifeTouch requires a release form. Please contact Ada to receive this form. If you are interested in providing the Chancel flowers on a Sunday for worship during 2019, please sign up for a specific week on the Flower Board in the Memorial Garden Hallway. Please be sure to email Ada Owens what you would like to have printed in the bulletin a week prior to the Sunday you sign up for! (ada@sspres.org) Joys & Concerns A Noel Celebration, Indeed!
The staff at Saint Simons Presbyterian would like to give a special "thank you" to all of the amazing members of our congregation who have showered us with your gifts, shared your love, & holiday joy this Christmas Season! It is truly a blessing to share the holiday cheer with you all. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the staff at SSPC! Giving Opportunities
Click Here to Give Online Giving online is easy! Just follow the link above to tithe and donate online. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at (912) 638-2220.
Worship This Sunday Scripture: Micah 5:2-5, Luke 1:39-45 8:30 am Service Hymn: Love Has Come - 110 11:00 am Service Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - 88 Love Has Come - 110 Preacher: Rev. Alan Dyer MUSICAL NOTES The end of the calendar year is approaching and many of us are rushing around trying to get things done because December 31 st is such a deadline. The world ties us to this schedule with taxes, business, and financial tasks to accomplish. The Christian liturgical year has just begun with Advent and now Christmas is just around the corner. It s hard to think of December as a beginning, but it is! The theme that has been going through Advent is Draw Near. The Worship and Music Committee and Worship Planning Team have coordinated all the services that you have been experiencing this season. Quiet times of worship - Sunday afternoon Communion, the Longest Night service, and Wednesday afternoon Vesper Services - have given those who attended a peaceful moment they might not have had. Our Sunday morning services have been filled with special music and visuals to enhance the Word and Message of the day. There are many hands and feet that make all of this possible. Drawing Near helps all of us to become better servants. To all those that serve with sacrifice and joy through worship and music, thank you. It is a joy to serve with you. Here s what s coming for the next two weeks. On Sunday, the Chancel Choir will be singing Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella accompanied by Harlan Hambright on the guitar. Hymns will be: 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and 110 Love Has Come (same tune as the
Anthem sung by the choir.) Beverly Fetter and Amy Bishop will be playing duets for Prelude and Offertory music. Monday evening, Christmas Eve, at the 5:30 p.m. service, the Chancel Choir will sing He Shall Feed His Flock, Prepare the Way, and Noel Festival, accompanied by some of our instrumentalists. Ann Nermoe will be a featured soloist. We will sing our usual traditional carols during the nativity tableau and meet on the lawn afterwards to sing some more carols with our candles and faces aglow. At the 10:00 pm service, Camille Hathaway and Ann Marie Morrison will be on hand to sing solos and duets. Prior to the service, there will be Music for Meditation provided by Stephenie Powell on Violin, Brooke Zell on Viola, Nola Cox on Bassoon, and myself at the harpsichord. This is a quiet communion service with a message and favorite carols. On December 30, Dr. Emri Comer will be our organist and will be joined by members and alumni of the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra. This is becoming an annual reunion event at our church for these young people to get together with each other and play. Draw Near with us as we celebrate the season of Advent and Christmas. You will be blessed. Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, with much gratitude, Rhonda [912-638-2220] [ada@sspres.org] [sspres.org] Follow Us