Newsletter
September 11, 2020

520 Washington Avenue
Savannah, Georgia 31405
SERVICES FOR THE WORSHIP OF GOD


RALLY DAY!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 at 9:00 A.M. IN THE SANCTUARY
Registration Required; Email [email protected]

SERMON: “The Horse and the Rider”
TEXT: Exodus 15:1-10, 20-21
Stephen Williams, preaching


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 ON-LINE SERVICE
SERMON: “Mercy Wider Than the Sea”
TEXT: Matthew 20-1-16
Stephen Williams, preaching


SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 ON-LINE SERVICE
SERMON: “Unchanged Minds“
TEXT: Matthew 21:23-32
Will Shelburne, Sr., preaching
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COME HOME FOR RALLY DAY

This Rally Day Sunday we celebrate a new program year and call home all our members and friends. We have been worshiping on-line since late March and will resume on-line worship on September 20. But for Rally Day, there will be a mask-required and socially distanced in-person service.

A twist on the old aphorism is, “You can’t go home again, but you can always go back to church.”

“You can’t go home again, but you can always go back to church.” Does this mean any old church? No, for we need to be part of a church that takes seriously the gospel claims on our lives, where we are called to respond to God’s love rather than God’s power. 

It means we need a church that encourages the life of the mind, where we believe in thinking and wish to think in believing. Nor do we want to go back to a church full of people who make worship an optional activity and neglect the life of the spirit. We don’t want to go back to a church that lacks the fervor of faith, the joy of discipleship, the sharp- edged excitement of Bible study.

First is a church to which you can return on Rally Day, one that seeks to put God’s love into action. I like to think we are a church whose members rejoice to show forth their faith, not only in words but in deeds, and count faithfulness more important than success. 

Of course, it is for God and not us to say if all this is so. I confess that I have found the Spirit moving here. I confess that during these uncertain times of the global pandemic I have found the enduring primacy of love here. I confess that my Christian convictions have been repeatedly renewed here. And so I confess that I hope you will be sitting in a pew come this Rally Day Sunday. And if you are not in church this Sunday, you will find the service streamed on Facebook and later posted on the church website. --SCW
PRAYER CONCERNS, RECORD OF OUR FAITHFULNESS, ETC.


PRAYER CONCERNS, RECORD OF OUR FAITHFULNESS, ETC.


August 24 offering: $8,730.00…September 2 offering: $5,976.00…

Thanks to Felix Etinge for replacing an electrical outlet in the church courtyard…  

Bi-Weekly Announcements


MUSIC SERIES CELEBRATES HYMNODY OF THE CHURCH
Thanks to everyone who presented a program in the summer hymn series “When in our Music God is Glorified.” For those who missed it, the series can be found on Facebook and later posted on the church website. The musicians in the series were Deanie Strength, Bill McNair, Susan Wilson, John Palmer, Tim Robison, Grace Imholz, Danny Cohen, Gina Shields, Colin Harrison, and Diane Ricks.

Weekly Worship Music
The worship services in September will include music by a soloist or instrumentalist. The presenters will be Tegan Miller, Assaf Gleizner, Laura Taylor, and Dustin Palmer.

Sanctuary Piano Additions
Thanks to a generous donor for the gift of a beautiful light for the sanctuary piano. The light will enable musicians to read the music much easier while playing. In addition, a piano cover for the sanctuary Steinway piano has been purchased. A cover has also been ordered for the Stewart hall piano.

Handbell Choir News
Handbell Ringers will soon have the chance to ring again. With the social distancing guidelines in place, ringers will be offered opportunities to ring in small groups. Ringers will be notified by email regarding rehearsal times and sign up details. Email [email protected] if you are interested in joining the ringers.
 


MEN’S BREAKFAST GROUP TO MEET IN TIEDEMANN PARK
The men of First and friends will meet Monday, September 21 at 7:30 a.m. Bring your breakfast sandwich of choice, a lawn chair, and your mask. Paul Pressly will lead the Bible study. Social distancing will be observed.  



PROVIDE DINNER FOR FAMILY PROMISE
Our week of service is October 18-24. Due to Covid-19 precautions, the families will not be staying in our church building. However, dinners will be provided each day and delivered to the Family Promise Day Center at 126 Horizon Park Drive. Please email [email protected] to sign up and coordinate menus. Terry Yon serves on the board of Family Promise which has recently approved an expanded role in the region. There has been a merger with affiliates serving Bryan and Effingham counties, so it now called, “Family Promise of the Coastal Empire.” Katrina Bostick continues to serve as executive director. Also, Family Promise has acquired two houses from the city that will serve as transitional housing for families in the program. Tom Taylor has been guiding efforts to restore and update the houses with one house to be completed by the end of the year, and the second two months later.


WEDNESDAY ZOOM FORUMS
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Presentation and Discussion
A THREE-PART SERIES ABOUT COVID-19


September 16
“Covid-19 Transmission and Treatment”
Stephen Thacker, MD, Memorial University Medical Center

September 23
“Staying Emotionally Healthy During the Pandemic”
Brian Childs, PhD, Mercer University School of Medicine

September 30
“Coping Strategies for Students and Families”
Eliza Brooks and Howard Crawford, Hancock Day School




STAY IN TOUCH BY PHONE OR EMAIL
In this time while we are not meeting in person, we remain committed to living out our care for one another and remaining together while apart. We very much want to hear from you. Do you have prayer requests or pastoral care concerns? Call the church office; 354-7615 or email the ministers:
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