Volume 40 May 18, 2017

The heat, humidity, and building traffic are all good reminders that thesummer months are nearly upon us. As summer approaches, many of ournormal programming around church slows down or takes a break asvacation, camps, and travel fills up our calendars. That said, there is still lotsof good mission and ministry happening in the coming months and weinvite you to be a part of it!

This Sunday, we are thrilled to welcome the Rev. Dr. Joanna AdamsRev. Dr. Joanna Adams as ourpreacher. Joanna is a distinguished pastor and preacher in the PresbyterianChurch (USA) and has preached in pulpits that include the NationalCathedral in Washington D.C. and Harvard's Memorial Chapel. Joanna andher husband, Al, are part-time SSI residents and regular worshippers at SSPC.Also, this Sunday we will be recognizing and praying for all our high schooland college graduates during the 11A worship service.

Looking ahead to June, July, and August, Bob and I will be leading aasummer sermon series called, "Following God in the World."summer sermon series called, "Following God in the World." BarbaraBrown Taylor's book An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith will be ourguide as we explore how and where God is at work far beyond the fourwalls of the church. This book will also guide our joint summer Sunday Schoolclasses which will begin on Sunday, June 4. If you would like to read thebook along with us this summer please feel free to buy a copy online (clickhere) or pick up one of the copies that will be available for purchase in thechurch office starting next week.

Today's newsletter is full of other good opportunities coming up in the life ofthe church. Please make special note of the Sapelo Kayak AdventureSapelo Kayak AdventureTripTrip happening June 5-8 and Vacation Bible SchoolVacation Bible School happening June 13-15 - now is the time to sign up for these events if you plan to participate!

Take care, stay cool, and look forward to seeing you at church and out inthe community this summer.

Peace,

Alan

This Sunday | 6 PM | The Binkney Home 630 Beachview Drive SSI

Let's get into the summer spirit together at our annual Church FamilyBeach Picnic! This year we are so blessed and grateful to churchmembers, Alex & Ron Binkney, for offering their home to host this eventthat we look forward to each year. All are invited to attend! We are askingguests to please bring a side dish. Be sure not to miss this evening full offellowship, fun, and food!

Questions? Contact Nat Scott (nat@sspres.org)

Explore Sapelo & the Backland Islands!

Adults & Youth (Grades 9-12)

$400-adult | $200-youth

Fee covers equipment, housing, and food.

Marking it's fifteenth year, the Sapelo Kayak Adventure has becomean annual tradition at St. Simons Presbyterian. It is a great experiencefor youth and adults alike to enjoy God's creation as weexplore this beautiful barrierisland on foot and by kayakunder the careful eye andhelpful guidance of trained stafffrom Southeast AdventureOutfitters. During our time wewill kayak, hike, makesweetgrass baskets withinternationally known artistYvonne Grovener, visit and explore centuries old tabby ruins, go onturtle walks at night, play games, have a beach picnic, etc.

This event will fill up fast! Please sign up below and reserve your spot!

Click Here to Sign Up!

This Sunday...

2017 Birthday Offering2017 Birthday Offeringof Presbyterian Women

The Birthday Offering ofPresbyterian womencelebrates Presbyterian women'shistory of mission giving. Since itslaunch in 1922 it has become anannual tradition. The missionprojects selected for 2017 are:

1. The Fami ly Justice Center1. The Fami ly Justice Center inSouth Carolina which operatesan emergency shelter for victims ofdomestic violence;

2. Navajo Water Project2. Navajo Water Project in NewMexico which will provide arunning water system for 40families that do not have access torunning water in their homes;

3 . Fi rs t Hand Aid3 . Fi rs t Hand Aid in Cuba which will build, fund, stock and staff six medicalclinics housed in long-existing and established Presbyterian churches whereneeds are great and supply is limited.

We continue to need broad, consistent support in order to continue fundingthese mission projects. We ask that you give as you have been blessed,generously and as led by the Holy Spirit. Your gifts make a difference!

The Week AheadThe Week Ahead

Sunday, May 21 Sunday, May 21 8:45 am - Early WorshipEarly Worship - Sanctuary 9:30 am - Breakfast - Social Hall 9:45 am - Sunday School11:00 am - WorshipWorship - Sanctuary12:15 pm - Global Mission Team Meeting - John Law Room12:15 pm - Montana de Luz Mission Trip Meeting - Youth Suite 3:30 pm - Magnolia Manor Worship - Magnolia Manor 6:00 pm - Family Beach Picnic - The Binkneys / 630 Beachview Drive

Monday, May 22Monday, May 2212:00 pm - Men's Noon Day Bible Study - Britt Room 3:00 pm - Congregational Life Meeting - John Law Room 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room

Tuesday, May 23Tuesday, May 23 7:00 am - Youth Breakfast Devotion - SSI Chick-fil-a / Last one!10:00 am - Savannah Presbytery Meeting - FPC Savannah

Wednesday, May 24Wednesday, May 24 6:00 pm - Chancel Ringers - Bell Room 7:00 pm - Chancel Choir - Choir Room

Thursday, May 25Thursday, May 25 7:15 am - Men's Breakfast Bible Study - Britt Room10:00 am - Ladies Bible Study & Prayer Group - Upper Room / Last one! (Titus 3) 4:00 pm - Free Flow Yoga - Youth Suite 8:00 pm - Al-Anon Meeting - John Law Room 8:00 pm - AA Meeting - Britt Room

Friday, May 26 Friday, May 26 10:00 am - Book Discussion & Prayer - Jann's Office

Click for More Information About Upcoming Events

Prayers and ThanksgivingsPrayers and ThanksgivingsClick here for the Weekly Prayer & MeditationClick here for the Weekly Prayer & Meditation

Worship This SundayGraduation Recognition Sunday

Scripture: John 14:15-21John 14:15-21 | | 1 Peter 3:13-18a1 Peter 3:13-18a

Hymns: 687- Our God, Our Help in Ages Past687- Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

353- My Hope is Built353- My Hope is Built

This Sunday, we are excited to welcome our guest preacher,Rev. Dr. Joanna AdamsRev. Dr. Joanna Adams

Joanna Adams is a preacher, pastor, and teacherknown for building bridges of understanding in boththe community and in the church.

A graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary, Rev.Adams holds an honorary Doctorate of Divinity fromDavidson College and was awarded the AlumniAssociation Medal of Honor from Emory Universityand Columbia's Distinguished Alumni/ae award.

Rev. Adams has been named Georgia Woman of the Year as well as Woman ofthe Year by the YWCA of Greater Atlanta. She has authored over 40 publishedarticles, sermons, and chapters in books.

Rev. Adams has been involved in starting more than a dozen non-profitorganizations and has also coordinated a series of Christian/Jewish dialogues in Atlanta under the sponsorship of the Institute of Christian and Jewish Studiesin Baltimore, MD. She is a cofounder of Higher Ground, an initiative of theCommunity Foundation for Greater Atlanta, which encouraged civil discourse andbrought insight and wisdom from their different religious traditions to bear oncontemporary challenges. From 2013-2014, she served as Interim Senior Pastor of First Presbyterianchurch, Atlanta, GA. Prior to that, she was Senior Pastor of MorningsidePresbyterian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and North Decatur PresbyterianChurch, all in Atlanta. Joanna and her husband, Atlanta attorney Alfred B. AdamsIII, have a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.

Musical NotesMusical Notes Our hard working bell choir, the Chancel Ringers, will be playing thiscoming Sunday at the 11:00 am service. They will play Dale Wood's Alleluiafor the prelude and a piece from the movie "The Mission" by EnnioMorricone and arranged by Kevin McChesney - Gabriel's Oboe - for the

offertory.

Thank you to those of you who were able to host members of ThePresbyterian College Ringers - Mary Ann and Bob Brearley, Beth Evans,Rhonda and Harlan Hambright (us), Suzanne and Hal Morrison, Karen andPeter Schmidt, and Alison Schueneman. Special Thanks to Walter Lynn andKaren Holland for set-up and clean-up.

The Chancel Choir will be singing Precious Lord, Take My Hand by ThomasDorsey/ arr. J. Schrader. Hymns for Sunday: 687 Our God, Our Help in AgesPast; 353 My Hope is Built.

The main busy season is winding down, only to be replaced by anotherbusy season - summer! Montreat Worship and Music Weeks will be fromJune 18-24 (week 1) and June 25 - July 1 (week 2). See me about attendingif you are interested. It's a great experience even if you are not registeredfor the conference. This year's Preacher is John Wurster, pastor at St. PhilipPresbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. The Liturgist will be Erika RembertSmith, pastor at Washington Shores Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida.Tom Trenney, who has given a couple of organ concerts for the IslandConcert Association (silent film accompaniment), will be the Adult Choirand Chamber Choir Director. The theme this year is "Then Sings My Soul."

Now is a great time to join the choir and be with people who like to havefun and sing together. The Chancel Choir will sing each Sunday through July2, then take a summer break until August.

Love & Gratitude,

Rhonda