What a gift to be your pastor and to know that God’s hand has been guiding this entire process! What a joy to begin this new chapter together! I can’t wait to see what God will do among us and through us in the months and years to come! 

With gratitude for our life together,

Rachel 

The saying “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” is generally attributed to an Indigenous proverb, replacing the word shoes with moccasins. It became popular in a poem by Mary Lathrap in 1895. Thus brings the question, why sing the music of other cultures? See the sentence above - that’s why. Empathy leads to understanding and promotes peace. We could use some of that in this world. Some of the most meaningful, sad, fun, and energetic music comes from African American Spirituals. If you look at the back of our hymnal on page 991, you will find a list of hymn numbers for spirituals. There are 26 listed. Last night, the choir launched into learning all their music for the coming month. There was spirited singing and clapping as we went through each piece. 

Worship Notes: This month, we will sing the Doxology with the same tune as always but with a different rhythm. Don’t worry, Amy will be playing the melody on the organ very strong so that you can follow along. We should be able to get it down in a couple of Sundays. We are returning to 582 – Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me this month for the Gloria Patri as well. The hymn (769) “For Everyone Born” will have verses printed in the bulletin that should be sung instead of what is published in the hymnal. These are alternate verses adapted from the original by the lyricist, Shirley Erena Murray.

The choir will start out with a traditional song, He Has Done Marvelous Things. Listen as each part builds and clap along with the choir. The offertory anthem for Sunday is the title of the sermon series, Plenty Good Room. The arrangement is by John Horman, a well-known children’s composer. Our Chancel Ringers will bring the folk tune, “I am a Poor, Wayfaring Stranger,” as we prepare for worship. Next Sunday, the spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” will be featured. We will sing it from the hymnal. The choir will sing a traditional Negro Folk Tune, “Until I Reach My Home,” arranged by my good buddy, Brandon A. Boyd. Here are his words about spirituals:   

“What makes the African American spiritual so appealing to performers and audiences around the world? It’s the message and the meaning. Spirituals (or Negro folk songs, African American spirituals, Jubilee Songs, Sorrow Songs, or Slave Songs) were created by those enslaved on plantations and farms out of the most dehumanizing conditions imaginable. As a coping strategy, slaves found that singing was one way to express their feelings as well as sending hidden messages to those planning to escape to the North. As African American Sacred music scholar, J. Wendell Mapson, Jr., states, “spirituals are distinctly an American contribution, not born in Africa. Emerging out of the experience of a people in slavery, spirituals express the full range of human emotion: pain, fear, joy, sorrow, despair, hope, futility, and faith.” -Brandon A. Boyd 

So, get ready to thaw out and stomp your feet and clap your hands. This will continue throughout the month of February.   

Something else that happens in February is the Island Concert Association’s February Festival. Each Tuesday at 7:00 pm, a world-class musician or musicians take the stage in the sanctuary to bring us fantastic music. These concerts are free and open to the public. The way we finance them is through memberships. Many of you have already joined, and I thank you for your generous contributions. We have just about covered this season’s expenses, so we could stand to have some more members to help support this great series. PROJECT TRIO – A group of 3 guys playing flute, sax, and bass playing classical pieces with a jazz twist and standards from the American Songbook is the first offering. The next week features a classical pianist. Check out our website for further details about the artists and join online while you’re at it.  http://www.islandconcertassociation.org

The Sacred Music Festival is happening this weekend. The public is invited to attend the final concert at 3:30 pm on Saturday, February 1 at St. Simons United Methodist Church. I am participating along with choir members Richard Hathaway, Mary Jo Thompson, and John Sergey.

As my cousin says, “If I don’t see you before Easter, go ahead and hide the eggs.” But I hope I’ll see you before that at some of these services and events.

Love & Gratitude, Rhonda

P. S. WE NEED HOST FAMILIES FOR UPCOMING MARYVILLE COLLEGE CONCERT CHOIR ON MARCH 6. CALL OR EMAIL ME IF YOU ARE INTERESTED OR HAVE QUESTIONS.

rhonda@sspres.org 

ANNOUNCEMENT

We will hold a Congregational Meeting immediately following the 10:30 AM worship service on February 2, 2025. The purpose of this meeting is for the Congregation to formally vote on the Terms of Call for the Pastors for the coming fiscal year and the formal disbanding of the Pastoral Nominating Committee.

Sunday, February 2

8:30 am Kirkin Early Worship - Sanctuary

9:30 am Sunday School - Various Locations

10:30 am Late Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 am Congregational Meeting - Sanctuary

5:30 pm Youth Ensemble - Music Attic

6:00 pm Youth Group - Youth Suite

Monday, February 3

9:00 am Manna House - 1408 G Street

6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law

Tuesday, February 4

7:00 am Youth Devotions -Yellow Deli

9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room

10:00 am PW Leadership Council - John Law

7:00 pm Island Concert - Sanctuary

8:00 pm Codependents Anon - John Law

Wednesday, February 5

9:00 am Hands and Heart Quilting Ministry - Music Attic

10:00 am Grief Support Group - Parlor

10:00 am Men's Bible Study - Upper Room

11:00 am Early Music Ensemble - Rhonda's Office

3:00 pm Chancel Ensemble - Sanctuary

4:00 pm Kidz Crew - Veranda

5:00 pm Chancel Ringers - Sanctuary

6:00 pm Wednesday Night Supper - Social Hall

6:45 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, February 6

10:00 am Womens Bible Study - Upper Room

Friday, February 7

All Day - Kashey Odum's 101st Birthday!

Sunday, February 9

8:30 am Kirkin Early Worship - Sanctuary

9:30 am Sunday School - Various Locations

10:30 am Late Worship - Sanctuary

11:30 am Love One Another Luncheon - Social Hall

4:00 pm Kidz Ensemble - Music Attic

5:00 pm Kidz Fellowship -Veranda

5:30 pm Youth Ensemble - Music Attic

6:00 pm Youth Group - Youth Suite

Monday, February 10

10:00 am Worship and Music - Upper Room

3:00 pm Salvation Army Cooking - Kitchen

3:00 pm Congregational Life Qrt Meeting - Upper Room

6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law

Tuesday, February 11

7:00 am Youth Devotions -Yellow Deli

9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room

10:00 am PW Morning Glories - Upper Room

12:00 pm PW Lunch Bunch - Britt Room

4:00pm PW Ladies of the Night - Upper Room

7:00 pm Island Concert - Sanctuary

Wednesday, February 12

10:00 am Men's Bible Study - Upper Room

11:00 am Early Music Ensemble - Rhonda's Office

3:00 pm Chancel Ensemble - Sanctuary

4:00 pm Kidz Crew - Veranda

5:00 pm Chancel Ringers - Sanctuary

6:00 pm Wednesday Night Supper - Social Hall

6:45 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, February 13

8:30 am TSN Day Trip to Savannah - Off Campus

10:00 am Womens Bible Study - Upper Room

Friday, February 14

No Activities Planned for this Day