SSPC Weekly Newsletter - September 5, 2024

September 5, 2024

Reflections by Rev. Jim

The Reverend Dr. I. B. Goodfella says: "We got a problem." It has to do with dog poop picker-uppers. Can you believe it? I'm startled to realize there are three such companies on St. Simons Island. I believe in creating more jobs, but there's gotta be a better way to make a living.

Think about it: dogs have to go every day. Must the picker-up people come every day? And if they do, doesn't that get expensive? Sometimes I wonder and worry about what America is coming to. Oh, I know it can be a real problem if you are inclined to walk barefoot in your yard. But don't try to convince your dog to choose your neighbor's yard. Sure, fences do make good neighbors, and so does picking up behind your own dog. Neighbors seeing you doing the work yourself will judge you to be a conscientious, self-reliant neighbor and friend of the furries.

Actually, I've thought a lot lately about this new marketing of creative services. It's caused me to think of what primitive people of the fifties and sixties did. Ah, those were the days of innovation. Remember the tail fins on cars, girls wearing crinolines, or guys who wore duck-tail haircuts and pegged the legs on their jeans? And how about Elvis, who sang: "You ain't nothing but a hound dog"? Now that gets me back to the subject, but only temporarily, for I've been thinking about Noah and his ark full of animals on that ark.

Seems to me Noah had a problem which the Bible doesn't address, a messy problem to say the least. What do you suppose he did? Surely, there must have been no people who specialized in animal dropping disposal. If there were, there would have been no eco-friendly means of disposal, and forty days is a long time to wait. Well, that leaves me with one more challenging mystery.

I've said all of the above to approach a more serious issue. Whatever happened to people cleaning up after themselves? Near my house, there's a couch tossed on the side of the road. Why should we dare to be so thoughtless as to expect someone else to clean up behind us? Think of the plethora of trash that's tossed out of cars onto roadsides. But there's a more personal note here. Sometimes we make an ugly mess of our relationships with others—careless, angry, hurtful words and actions. Shall we leave it to clutter up our lives with regret and guilt? No! There's a better way. Jesus spoke of offenses among God's people: "First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." Clean it yourself!

Musical Notes

I write this while watching torrents of rain come down. The children in KidZ Crew (Wednesday program) learned all about Noah and the Flood this week. I hope that some of them are not worried with all the rain today! Me, I can’t wait for the rainbow!

This coming weekend, we return to two services on Sunday – 8:30 and 10:30 am. This will be Rev. Jackson’s last sermon for just a little while. I, for one, have really appreciated his words of encouragement in his sermons, his help with worship, and the wisdom he imparts on a daily basis in the office. Thank you, Jim!

All of us in the Music Ministry are looking forward to Rachel’s arrival in the office on Monday, September 9th. As we all settle in and get to know one another, there will be a lot of meetings and information sessions that go on. The Worship and Music Council is meeting on Monday at 1:30 to discuss the many facets of worship. There will perhaps be changes in the order of worship, but since Covid times and having had interim pastors, we have become used to lots of variety in our worship. Thank you for participating in the Introit at the past few services. Through September, we will be singing Hymn 301, Let Us Build a House (All are Welcome). Each week, we will add a verse.

The Chancel Choir will sing “Awake, My Heart” by Jane Marshall this coming Sunday. This is an old standard for many choirs. On September 15, the choir will sing “Come Celebrate” by Robert Leaf. It is definitely a fitting anthem for Rev. Rhodes’ first Sunday.

Youth Ensemble starts back on Sunday at 5:00 pm. I look forward to seeing what we can come up with this year. The group is ever-changing in many good ways. The Olympic Kickoff Party was a blast!

The Early Music Ensemble meets in my office after a long summer off on Wednesday, September 11, at 11:00 am. This group plays recorders, strings, harpsichords, and other ancient instruments. Chancel Ringers are now meeting on Wednesday at 5:00 pm.

With all of that, everything is back in full swing! If you are interested in any of these groups, give me a call or email.

INVITATION: Come sing with the Chancel Choir for the Christmas Cantata. Come to the sanctuary after dinner at 6:45 and stay for about 20 minutes. We will rehearse the Christmas music first, then anthems for each Sunday. The cantata is on December 15 with a “dress” rehearsal on December 14 from 10-12 noon. Please consider joining us!

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda

P.S. Two lovely volunteers stepped forward to help with acolyte robes and roses for babies! Thank you to these silent servants!

Happenings & Updates