Dear Saints of SSPC,

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Zick Preaching Fellowship in Atlanta, GA, with several other pastors from around the country. The Zick Preaching Fellowship is a privately funded program given in memory of John and Mary Zick, who were longtime members of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. John and Mary loved preaching, and their daughter and her husband, Cathy & George Manning, began this fellowship in memory of her parents. In its earliest years, Zick had only a couple of preachers who worked closely with the Rev. Dr. Tom Tewell, a former Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church pastor. Today, the program encourages, empowers, and strengthens the preaching of more than 40 PC(USA) pastors nationwide, all of whom have had the privilege of participating in one of their 3-year preaching cohorts. 

My journey with Zick started in February of 2020 when I was selected as one of six preachers to join a 3-year preaching cohort (affectionally known as “Zick 2”) that would gather monthly over Zoom and every six months in person to discuss and practice the craft of preaching. While it was difficult to meet in person for those first couple of years due to the Covid pandemic, the group remained steadfast and, frankly, were a lifeline for one another as we all navigated the constantly changing landscape of Covid and the new skills needed. Who knew we’d have to figure out how to preach sermons on our cell phones or into an empty sanctuary?! 

My cohort journey ended with completing the program in 2023. However, I was asked to continue with Zick in a leadership role for a new cohort (Zick 5). That cohort began its journey together in August of 2024, and this past week, I gathered with them for the second time, alongside the leadership of Tom Tewell and the Revs. Emily Wilmarth (Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Highlands, NC) and Andrew Whaley (Senior Pastor, Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church in Roanoke, VA). Each cohort member (and its leaders) arrived in Atlanta with a full year of preaching planned for their individual congregations. Throughout the week, we prayed with and for one another and the congregations each person serves. We learned about each congregation and the opportunities and challenges they face. We worked on these preaching plans together, asking questions, challenging each other with new ideas, and ultimately returning home, having been renewed and enriched by our time together. 

Whenever we are together, we remind one another that we never step into the pulpit alone, nor do we ever step into it in our own power. Rather, we preach with the gift of colleagues praying for us from around the country and only by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through us. We don’t have to do this work. We get to do this work! The proclamation of the gospel is a sacred privilege, and it is not something that any of us take lightly. It was a gift to be surrounded by such wonderful colleagues last week and especially to spend such dedicated time on the task of preaching. Thank you, SSPC, for your ongoing encouragement and support as I venture into these opportunities for learning and leadership! I missed you, and yet am so grateful for opportunities I have been given to serve the wider church and its pastors.

With gratitude for each of you,

Rachel 

P.S. You may know one of the other leaders from Zick 4. Some guy named Alan Dyer asked me to say, “hello!”

Still more coming up! My thanks to all those who helped with the Maryville College Concert Choir. They had a wonderful time, and we were treated to beautiful music in our sanctuary. The home stays were gracious, and they so appreciated our hospitality. From the kitchen to the sanctuary, we fed, housed, and entertained with the love that is so evident in this church on a day-to-day basis.  

Thanks to the youth who provided extra special music – Emmeline Griffith, trombone; Ethan Tsai, Drums; Chase Busby, Ethan Tsai, Liam Holland, and Graham Holland, handbells. I’m certainly proud of all the youth who sang the songs for the service. Thank you to Lindsey Holland for playing the flute, as well. It was a great day of worship!

Coming up! This Sunday, Rabbi Rachel Bregman will be preaching. The choir is singing a piece by Walter Pelz. He was a friend of the late Roger Born, our former music director. The piece is O Come, Let Us Sing (based on Psalm 95). Next Sunday, March 23, Rev. Rachel Rhodes is back with us! At the 10:30 service, the choir will sing a standard, Create in Me a Clean Heart, by Carl Mueller. The Chancel Ringers will play My Shepherd Will Supply My Need.  

The Children’s Musical is coming up! On March 19, there will be a “dinner theatre.” (Dinner at 6:00 and musical at 6:30 pm). The children present STORMS, a musical about the storms of nature and the storms of life. One of the aspects of this presentation is a missions emphasis. We are collecting funds and/or supplies for flood buckets. These buckets, when put together by our children, will be taken up to Raleigh, NC, for distribution to those who need them. Look in your newsletter for an ad about the musical. There is a link that you can click on to get more information about what to give. We will be collecting during the musical in buckets on the tables and at the doors.  

Soon, Donna will have information about Easter flowers. Just a heads up – Easter is so late this year that Hydrangeas are unavailable. We will have Easter Lilies this year. The committee is going to work on getting the perfume at a minimum so as not to disturb those with allergies. If you would like to work with us on this project, please let me or someone on the committee know. Many hands make light work!  

Love & Gratitude, 

Rhonda 

Chancel Flowers Calendar:

Please look for the new 2025 flower sign-up list on the bulletin boards outside of the Social Hall.

Lenten Combined SS

VINTAGE SAINTS & SINNERS

Saints are people too.

This book explores the relatable struggles of revered figures in Christianity, revealing their doubts and heartaches. Karen Marsh shares her pilgrimage through faith, highlighting lessons from twenty-five saints who inspire with their honest spirituality. The book encourages readers to reflect on the lives of figures like Augustine and Saint Francis, inviting them to pursue an authentic life in Christ through included conversation starters.

Sunday, March 16

8:30 am Early Worship - Sanctuary

9:00 am Confirmation Class - Youth Suite

9:30 am Sunday School - Various Locations

10:30 am Late Worship - Sanctuary

4:00 pm Kidz Crew Musical Practice - Music Attic

6:00 pm Youth Group - Youth Suite

Monday, March 17

5:00 pm Diaconate Meeting - Upper Room

6:30 pm Al-Anon Meeting - John Law

Tuesday, March 18

7:00 am Youth Devotions -Yellow Deli

9:30 am Staff Meeting - Upper Room

4:00 pm Session Meeting - Upper Room

8:00 pm Codependents Anon - John Law

Wednesday, March 19

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 Sonshine for the Soul - John Law

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

6:30 pm KidZ Crew Musical - Social Hall

6:45 pm Chancel Choir - Sanctuary

Thursday, March 20

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

5:30 pm ODD Book Group - John Law

Friday, March 21

9:15 am TSN SSI Tour - Meet at Church