SSPC Weekly Update : November 19, 2020

November 19, 2020

As we move towards another holiday season, even though vastly different than last year, that same familiar spirit of giving is upon us. Next week, we’ll give thanks for the many gifts that are in our lives as we eat too much turkey and stuffing. In the following month, many of us will give gifts to one another celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior. The season of giving is upon us, and the church is leaning right in.

There’s an opportunity to give you time this weekend as we will come together to conclude our Fall Season of Service by cleaning up the lawn at Manna House. Manna House provides lunch to anyone who shows up every day, but we won’t be serving food. We will be working outside picking up trash around the lot, installing new metal benches, and removing and replacing the plants that are in the two boxed beds in front of Manna House. Sign up on the church website and bring your gardening supplies!

Our church has a long standing Angel Tree ministry that is continuing its work this season despite a pandemic. While you won’t find a tree filled with angels at the church this year, you can sign up to shop for a child in our community on the church website and a person on the Angel Tree ministry will be in touch with you. If shopping is not your forte and you still want to provide gifts for a child this season, you can do that as well by making a monetary donation and someone will shop on your behalf!

A final opportunity to give this season can be done through SSPC’s Alternative Giving Market. Usually you see this market in the back hallway and we call it Hope Hallway. This year, we’ll have two opportunities to participate in the Alternative Giving Market. First, We’ll support Heifer International where you can give living gifts such as cows or chickens to families in need abroad in honor of your loved ones without ever visiting a farm! You can explore SSPC’s Heifer Shop by clicking on the ad below. Any purchases made through the link below will be counted towards SSPC’s fundraising goal which is an ark!

Another way you can participate in the Alternative Giving Market is by purchasing a gift at the Advent Festival-Dec 2! We’ll have a one time outdoor gift market set up that is stocked with goods that are hand made by artisans throughout the world from the Serrv Shop. All these goods are fair trade meaning the artisans that make them receive a fair wage. Purchasing a gift at the Advent Festival creates employment opportunities in impoverished nations, encourages sustainable practices, supports community development, and helps to preserve traditional crafting techniques throughout the world. The global missions ministry team hopes to see you there!

I hope you’ll find this season of giving to be a meaningful one, and I hope you’ll consider sharing this season with your church! Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

See you all soon.

Rev. Annie Franklin Arvin

Associate Pastor

Stewardship 2021

This past Sunday, November 15, we dedicated our pledges of time, talent,

and resources at both worship services. Thank you to all those who have already submitted a pledge online, in-person, or by mail. It is not too late

to submit a pledge if you have not already done so. Click the link below

for more information about our upcoming year of ministry and to make

your pledge online.

Upcoming Events

Advent Season

Sunday Worship

November 15, 2020

Christian Education

Musical Notes

I keep cards and letters. If there are enough from one person, I put them in a box and tie them with ribbon to read again. When you are friends with an author, the amount of mail that comes is prolific. Joyce Blackburn, a local author, was a dear friend and fellow musician. She sent me clippings of many poems and writings from her own collection and from those of Luci Shaw and Madeleine L’Engle plus a few cartoons appropriate for the occasion. She never failed to say the words “Thank You” in each letter or card. Many are signed, “Love and Gratitude.” Each newsletter that I write is signed in that same way not only because I feel those things, but because of Joyce’s legacy of friendship to me.

There are many things and people to be thankful for, but I would like to single out the people involved and committed to the music ministry of this church. This has been an unprecedented journey that continues to get more complicated day by day, yet everyone is acting with care, concern, and cooperation to bring the best we can despite the limitations. Today, several choir members showed up to set up and inspect the choir chairs. They were in excellent shape and are really nice. The space that has been renovated to enhance our worship is beautiful and I can’t wait to make music in it with everyone. I am thankful for the support of the vision that was made into reality.

The Chancel Ensemble that entertains Kelvin Grove Subdivision each Monday morning is going to be playing for the November 22nd service. You will recognize all the top Thanksgiving tunes in their pieces. We will play something newly composed for the Introit. Ed Jackson, our new trumpeter in the group, introduced me to a new piece that was initiated by Martin Schippers and composed by Steven Verheist. Here’s a message from these musicians:

Due to the recent ban on large events in order to curb a further outbreak of the coronavirus, many of us musicians, are left sitting at home bursting with creativity. Let’s use the power of music to support the efforts of our incredible healthcare and public service workers who are at the frontlines of the corona pandemic. It simultaneously will raise awareness of the importance of music for society.

This piece, Song for Health is “An appreciation song for our health care and public service workers at the forefront of the corona pandemic.”

Advent immediately follows Thanksgiving this year on November 29th! We begin with a Taize song by Jacques Berthier – Prepare the Way of the Lord. It can be sung in a round. Let’s try this out at the 10:30 outdoor worship service. The advent candle of Hope will be “lit” while we sing Natalie Sleeth’s Light One Candle. Each week we will add a new verse. Our hymn of the day is a beautiful tune – 92 While We are Waiting, Come. There will be a duet at this service for the anthem. Stay tuned for more about Advent Music the week after Thanksgiving.

Christmas is coming and I’m thankful!

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda