Pastor's Corner

Dear Saints of SSPC,

What a joy it has been to be the church these past few weeks! From the laughter, music (who knew the fruit of the Spirit’s not a coconut?), and wonderful leadership of our children on Children’s Sunday to the fun and fellowship of our Fall Festival, we have been reminded again and again of the gift of this community. There is something holy about watching generations come together—children and adults learning from one another, sharing in joy, and growing in faith.

Throughout our Generous God, Generous Life series, we have been reflecting on the abundance of God’s generosity and the ways we are called to respond. And what a gift to see that generosity reflected in the life of our congregation—in the gifts our children share, in the volunteers who give so freely of their time and energy, and in the countless ways we love and care for one another. God’s generosity is all around us, and it is a joy to see it bearing fruit in this community.

This Sunday, we will celebrate All Saints Sunday, giving thanks for the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and whose faithfulness continues to shape our lives. And I am reminded that this great cloud of witnesses is not only a story of yesterday. It is a story of today and tomorrow, too. We are part of something so much bigger than ourselves—a story of God’s faithfulness unfolding across generations.

What a gift to be part of this story of God’s faithfulness—to receive the generosity of those who have gone before us, to share it with one another today, and to trust that God will continue this good work for generations to come.



With gratitude for our life together,

Rachel

Worship & Music

This coming Sunday is actually All Saints’ Day. Halloween, of course, is the night before. It won’t fall on a Sunday again until 2037! “It is at the beginning of the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the Christian liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), Christian martyrs, and all the faithful departed. One theory holds that many Halloween traditions were influenced by Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, which are believed to have pagan roots. Some theories go further and suggest that Samhain may have been Christianized as All Hallows' Day, along with its eve, by the Christian Church. Other scholars say Halloween began independently as a Christian holiday, being the vigil of All Hallows' Day. Celebrated in Ireland and Scotland for centuries, Irish and Scottish immigrants brought many Halloween customs to North America in the 19th century, and then through American influence various Halloween customs spread to other countries by the late 20th and early 21st centuries.” The choir will sing “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” arranged by Mack Wilberg. We will also recognize our dear departed members by providing a list, calling their names, and ringing a bell for each one.

On November 8th, the choir will be singing a song that has been made popular in commercials and fund-raising projects for many years. You’ll have to come to find out what it is! Word is that some staff members will be joining us in the loft.

There’s still time to join us to sing in the Christmas Cantata. I have “part-dominant” recordings to practice with for your convenience. This year’s cantata contains all the popular carols, hence the name “Carols” by Heather Sorenson. There will be a lot of congregational involvement. Join us by giving me a call – I’ll set you up with music, recordings, and a schedule.

Many thanks to all who helped and continue to help with the Children’s music program. We had a great time working on Children’s Sunday. If you enjoyed worship this past Sunday, maybe seeing it in action is for you! Volunteer to help on Wednesdays – you’ll be glad you did. Working with Dara and Iris is amazing, and we look forward to more to come throughout the school year. We are so proud of all of the children who participated in this year’s Children’s Sunday.

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda

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