Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church Newsletter

We Gather Together

Refer to our calendar page for upcoming events.

Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church Abingdon, Virginia

Our mission: To learn and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ through

worship + proclamation + education + service + fellowship
SSPC NEWS TO USE
The Monthly Newsletter from Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church

Volume 1 Issue 1
May 2008

WEDNESDAY NIGHT COOKOUT
Wednesday, May 14, at 6:00pm. The Wednesday night supper/program has been moved to Sugar Hollow Park at Exit 7. The church has reserved a shelter (A) and supper will be served at 6:00pm as usual. Our own David and Kate Shockley will be grilling hotdogs and hamburgers. The church will provide all the fixings and drinks. You are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. Please plan to come and enjoy the beautiful weather and being together with friends. Bring a lawn chair if you like. There is a $1.00 charge per car at the ranger’s booth so carpool as much as possible.   If you need more information, please contact the Church at 628-3361.

You are invited to
a Baby Shower for
Marianne Ratliff-Harvey and Olivia Harvey
on Sunday May 18, 2008 at 3:00 pm at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church.
For more information, call Janet
at 628-3361.

Janie and I are eagerly and with great excitement looking forward to serving the music ministry of Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church. Having been in Church music for several years, we have never been able to visit other churches. Our intention, upon arrival in Abingdon, was to visit many churches. We came to Sinking Spring on our first Sunday and you, the membership, gave us such a warm welcome, we never went to another church!
There is a wealth of beautifully arranged and composed music, which appropriately fits many different seasons of the church calendar. The choir will sing an anthem written for Communion on the first Sunday in May. On May 11, we will sing a lovely anthem honoring our mothers, and handbell choir will play. On May 25 Memorial Day Sunday, we will sing an anthem depicting our loved ones who have gone on before us, as they tell us that, “Every word has now been proven! All we knew and even more.” During the seasons of Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and beyond, appropriate selections will be sung through all this; we will continue to sing the great traditional classics of church literature.
If you have ever been in, or considered being in the choir, now would be a wonderful time to join us. Please see me, or just show up for choir rehearsal on Wednesdays at 7:30pm in the sanctuary.
Again, Janie and I do look so forward to getting to know you and serving with you.
In His Name,
Arch and Janie Snyder

Nursery Schedule for May
May 4     Robin Cozart
   & Kate Shockley
May 11 Jan Hardman
& Audrey Perkins
May 18   Elizabeth Tolar, Vickie
Cornelius & Meredith
Pippin
May 25   Erin Tolar
& Mindy Bonin

May Birthdays

2 Kathy Hayter, Hazel Warden
3 Darcy Janson
6 Eleanor Munsey
7 Faye Snidow, Paige Tolar
10 Patricia Hensley
11 Gail Moore
14 Lexi Patrick
15 Erin Tolar
16 Dorothy Pledger
18 Lynda Campbell
19 Michael Cozart
20 Sue Spirup
21 Mary Cumbo, Rachel Hayter
23 Elizabeth Lowe
24 Judy Mink, Madison Cozart
29 Hannah Janson
A Message from the Office
In an effort to keep our records as up to date as possible, we are asking that you let us know your birthday, and those of the people in your immediate family. If you would like to provide us with your birthday, please e-mail them to Laura Taylor, Church Office Manager at sspcoffice@eva.org, or call the Church Office.

Prayers of Thanksgiving: New music leaders Arch and Janie Snyder, New leaders emerging for various ministries, the Easter season (lasting until May 4), the Men’s Bible study (Thurs. 6:45 am), those attending the study on Christian relationships led by Christine Mellon (10:00am on Sunday), our youth group leader (Leticia Peltzer), the after-school program for children on Wednesday,and our missionary families.
Prayers of Intercession: Georgia Robair-West (health), Katherine Sharp (health), Winkie Barton (son’s health), Haynes Wright (health), May Joe Craig (health), Thelma Musick (health), Gladys Cornelius (health), Gladys Friesland, Edwin Brown, Dora Lee Ornduff, the following people with relatives in the military: Delana Woods, Carol Holcomb, Mackenzie Jarvis, Janet/Dean McGraw and Mazie Cook.

Notes from the April Session Meeting
• The meeting opened with prayer.
• Celebrations and concerns of the church were uplifted in prayer.
• Present were Bill Parrish and George Aichel from the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery
• Kitty Henninger discussed the holdings in the Heritage Room.
• With regret accepted the resignation of Jerry Mink from the Session effective immediately.
• Dismissed with regret members Jim and Sue Spirup to Central Presbyterian Church, Bristol.
• Prayer cards were distributed.
• Discussion about the auction of the Garrett property was deferred until May.
• Musser Scholarship: Several applications were received. The Education Ministry Team will make the selection of individual(s).
• Hired Dr. David Sawyer from Louisville Seminary as consultant to assist in developing a vision for the church and assist us in resolving attendant conflict.
• Authorized the Treasurer and the Clerk to execute letters to the various financial institutions for the purpose of transferring ownership of our financial instruments from Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church to Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church Trustee Corporation.
• Received the Presbytery report from Commissioner Mildred St. Leger.
• Approved an intergenerational mission trip to Cabell-Lincoln Workcamp in West Virginia, June l5-21, 2008.
• Set teacher recognition Sunday for May 18, 2008.
• Approved Charlotte Parsons to be responsible for Sanctuary flowers for the rest of the year.
• Approved Rachel Fowlkes to be responsible for communion preparation.
• Approved the hiring of Archie Snyder as Chancel Choir & Adult Handbell Director with Janie Snyder as Organist/Pianist. Other approvals were Sharon Miller as Children’s Choir Director & Youth Handbell Director, and Amanda Mercer & Debra Stitt as Praise Team Leaders.
• Closed with prayer

As I see it…
By Robert Tolar, Jr.
I was sitting in a church meeting as several people attempted to decide who would be the organizer of a specific ministry task. As the question was asked. Nobody volunteered. Eventually one person asked, “Should one of us have to do this? I thought the church provided this ministry.” It then occurred to me, “These people don’t know who ‘the church’ is.”
The church is you: all the members and attendees of SSPC. Some SSPC people are specifically called to preach (me). Others are called to specific ministries (Education, music, office administration, etc.) Yet, the day-to-day ministry of Christ’s church in the world comes from… YOU! If a church (any church) is going to provide a specific ministry, it needs the support, input, and leadership from you (“the church”).
All of us have our desires for what ministries should be offered through our church. So, the next time you hear the need for a specific ministry don’t wait for “the church” to provide it. Take the initiative and see if God is calling you (“the church”) to begin that ministry. As pastor, I will be more than willing to assist any person in beginning a ministry that will touch the lives of others for Jesus Christ.
As I look around our congregation, I see so many talented and gifted people! I am constantly amazed by the depth and quality of the people in our congregation. Claim the gifts God has given you! Use them as your ministry to the world. After all, you are “the church” of Jesus Christ!
In Christ
Robert
Women's Summer Bible Study
“Lord Teach Me to Pray”
By Kay Arthur
Led by Janet McGraw
Begins Wed. evening May 28 at 6:30pm
Thursday morning May 29 at 9:30am
“Jesus gave His disciples a perfect pattern for prayer in the Lord’s Prayer. In this update of ‘Lord Teach Me to Pray’ by Kay Arthur she leads us to put the Lord’s Prayer into practice. During this 5-week study, we will gain insights from God’s Word on how to pray, what to pray, and what to expect when we pray.”
This Bible Study uses a workbook and a 30-minute teaching video by Kay Arthur.
If you are interested in this Bible study, sign up today. Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the hall.

A Sanctuary Guild
A Sanctuary Guild is forming to prepare Communion each month, to provide flowers and seasonal decorations, and to replace materials in the pews.   If you would enjoy helping with one or more of these tasks, contact Charlotte Parsons or Rachel Fowlkes .    The Guild will not hold meetings!

Congregational Care
The Congregational Care Team would like your worship experience to be as accessible as possible. If you have any of the needs below please let us know by dropping a note in the collection plate or in the suggestion box.
o Do you need transportation to the Church?
o Would you like a visit from an elder?
o Do you need to have Communion served in your home?
o Would you like to add to the visitation list to be visited yourself?
o Do you know of other needs or have suggestions?
The large print hymnals are located over the coat rack at the front left entrance of the church.   More hearing devices are being ordered. Congregational Care Ministry Team will meet on Thursday, May 8, at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Parlor. All Visitation Committee members are invited and encouraged to attend.
The Chairs of the Congregational Care Ministry Team are Susan Lowry and Anne Sword.
Christian Education
Upcoming plans include:
1. Awarding the Musser Scholarship to a high-school college-bound student from Washington County, VA. There are six applicants this year for the scholarship. The scholarship recipient’s name will be announced in the next newsletter.
2. Celebrating a Church Teacher Recognition Sunday in May to show appreciation for our Christian Education volunteers.
3. Planning Vacation Bible School July 7-11, 2008. This year's theme is "Beach Party.” The mission will be diapers, formula, and baby products to be donated to Faith in Action (EFIA).
4. Helping the SSPC Pre-School raise money for new playground equipment. In April, Session approved the use of the parking lot during the Highlands Festival as a fund-raiser for the pre-school. Volunteers will be needed to collect money in the parking lot during the festival (probably weekends only). Look for sign-up sheets in the coming weeks and add your name for a few hours of
5. work. New playground equipment will not only help the pre-school but also will add value and enhance our church property.
Please contact Kay Bunn, Chairman, if you need more information or have questions/comments..
Missions
If you have any questions about the following mission opportunities, please contact Jan Hardman, Chairman.
Storytelling Festival
The Presbyterian Children’s Home of the Highlands in Wytheville will be having a Storytelling Festival to raise funds on June 6 and 7. There will be a number of storytellers and musicians performing in two large tents on the campus. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. They may be purchased online at www.pchh.org, or by contacting Peta Patton, Jan Hardman, or the church office. Please join us in supporting this worthwhile effort!
Food Pantry EFIA’s Stone Soup Food Pantry serves 650 needy families each month. Our church is responsible for donations of canned fruit (either cans or funds for purchase of cans). Sadly, we have fallen just short or our goal for the first quarter of 2008. Average donations for Jan-Mar of 2008 were 627 cans/dollars. More detail can be found on the graph posted on the mission bulletin board. Let’s meet our goal of 650 cans/dollars in May!
A special “thank you” to all of the volunteers who worked at the food pantry the week of April 27. Your faithful service is much appreciated!

Mission Trip
Interested in a mission opportunity next month? Please consider a week of work at the Cabell-Lincoln Workcamp in West Virginia. This year’s camp will be held on June 15-21, and costs $225. Flyers have been distributed in the April bulletins.   For information about the camp, please visit www.cabell-lincoln-workcamp.org, or speak to a member of the mission team. Registration must be completed soon, as space is limited.
Coming soon
Abingdon Presbytery has announced plans for a mission trip to the New Orleans area some time in the fall. Please stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

C.L.A.Y. (Christ Leading Awesome Youth) Group
Grades 8 – 12 meet each Sunday at 4:30 pm for a Christ-centered evening of fun. We have had a progressive dinner in reverse, had a Sunday social, and had contests in pizza making, a treasure hunt, and a Rock Band competition. We have many fun activities planned, such as a lock-in next month, a picnic, and other great events. Any 8th through 12th grader is welcome, and friends are always encouraged to attend!
Contact Leticia for more information.
Jr. Youth Group has started!
We now have a NEW youth group for grades 4-7 are meeting once a month for fellowship and fun. We had our first outing on April 6 and went bowling in Bristol, Va. We had 7 youth in attendance and are very encouraged about future events. We will be contacting the Jr. Youth in the near future about our May outing. Contact Paige Tolar or Todd Yates to learn more or become involved in this youth group
After-School Program Update:
     The school year is fast ending. The After-School Program has continued to have great participation and a good time has been had by all who participated. The children went on several trips this past month. Wednesday, April 23 the children visited the Highlands Animal Hospital in Abingdon. They saw first-hand how the veterinarians take care of God’s creatures. We baked dog biscuits and took them to the hospital for the dogs there. We have been learning all year how we can be servants for the Lord.
     Saturday, April 26 the children went to Hands On! Museum in Johnson City. Everything there is meant to be touched, played with, manipulated and experienced. After several hours of fun at the museum, the children went to lunch before returning to the church.
     The last day for the After-School Program will be May 14. The children will come to the church and have snack as usual. Following snack, the group will go to Sugar Hollow Park to play until parents arrive for the church-wide cookout. (Read about the cookout in Cookout article).   As DCE, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the parents who brought snack, the adults who helped with the program and most importantly the children! I have loved every minute of working with them. Their eagerness, energy and earnestness in loving the Lord is truly a blessing to me. God bless you all this summer. I am looking forward to next year!     Janet McGraw
Congratulations Seniors!

Alyssa Groves – Daughter of Vaughn and Mary Groves Graduates from Abingdon High School on May 30. She is a Washington County Scholar and participated in Band and Soccer. Alyssa plans to attend Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA. in the fall.
Lauren Groves – daughter of Vaughn and Mary Groves-graduates from Abingdon High School on May 30. She is a Washington
County Scholar and participated in Band and was the President of the French Club. Lauren plans to attend Randolph College in Lynchburg, VA. in the fall.
Courtney Groves - daughter of Vaughn and Mary Groves-graduates from University of Tennessee on May 9, 2008.
Franklin Massey - grandson of Rosemary
Sweet will graduate from Hampton Sydney College.
Calling all dudes and dudettes!
Would you like to spend a whole week this summer at a huge beach party complete with surfing lessons, great beach music, beachcombing adventures, and so much more?     Sign up for a VBS leadership role and you will be promised an incredible week of fun in the Son as you help our children surf through the Scriptures and develop new Beach Be-Attitudes!
     See the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board to see where your talents can be used. Yes, I mean YOU!

A special thank you to the following people who helped with After-School Program in April;
Drivers: Joanne Ross & Mildred St. Leger
Leaders: Kate Shockley, Diane Saunders & Lisa Johnson
Snack Ladies: Gail Proffitt & Suzanne Lowe
Thoughts from a SSPC volunteer at
Faith In Action

I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT. I WAS THIRSTY, AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK. I WAS ALONE AND AWAY FROM HOME, AND YOU INVITED ME INTO YOUR HOUSE. I WAS WITHOUT CLOTHES, AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO WEAR. I WAS SICK, AND YOU CARED FOR ME. I WAS IN PRISON, AND YOU VISITED ME." MATTHEW 25:35, 36. Monday, April 28, 2008, 9:00 AM. I am one of four of the volunteers from our church that will be helping to give food to those who live in poverty or crisis. As I approach the building behind St John's Lutheran Church, I notice that the parking lot is packed with cars and trucks on this rainy morning-a quick reminder of anxiously waiting people.
As I sign in, I can feel all the eyes of the people seated and standing in the waiting area. There are men and women, young and old, but all with helpless expressions and eyes that search for caring and compassion.
The banana boxes used for giving look full and ready for waiting hands! How grateful I am for this opportunity to be a part of the body of Christ. I glance at this mission statement posted behind the workstation. It states why I am here. ”To Love the Lord Our God is the heartbeat of our mission, and from it, streams of service overflow.”
Another volunteer and I begin calling numbers clutched in the hands of the waiting crowd.
“I can help Number One." As they make their way to the counter, I grab the hand of the other volunteer and we bow our heads, turn around and huddle closely for prayer. "Lord, let us be our very best for your people today. Please allow your kindness, patience; love and joy shine through us this day."
One by one, they come to have their ID checked and to sign for food. One man shared that he had just gotten out of the hospital yesterday and can't carry anything. For another, it is her first time and she is the mother of three little girls. Each of them is different, but all of them are very grateful for the food. By 1:00pm, we have called 66 numbers.
The woman who is in charge of filling the boxes, Miss Lily, is concerned. She says," We don't have any more cans of food to fill the boxes for the people that will be coming tomorrow evening.” She points to the shelves. We promise to make some phone calls for pleas for some help. PLEASE BRING to the church, ANY CANS OF FOOD, BUT ESPECIALLY FRUIT, THAT IS OUR ASSIGNMENT. DID YOU KNOW THAT IN 2007, THE STONE SOUP FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTED 8,203 BOXES OF FOOD WITH THE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF EACH BOX BEING 68 POUNDS. THE COST OF PROVIDING THIS FOOD WAS $3.73 PER BOX, BUT THE VALUE OF EACH BOX WAS $82.32. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REMEMBERING THESE FOLKS. YOU ARE THE PEOPLE OF FAITH, TOGETHER, WE CAN SERVE OTHERS.

This year the organization of Presbyterian Women celebrates its twentieth birthday. In 1988, it was created by the joining of United Presbyterian Women of the Northern Church and the Women of the Church of the Southern Church. Many adjustments have had to be made, but in this anniversary year, we celebrate! Here are important events for Presbyterian Women in Sinking Spring Church to remember.
Birthday Party – On May 4, at 2:00pm there will be a birthday party in our Fellowship Hall, sponsored by Presbyterian Women. Not only will we celebrate another year of many successful projects, achieved by PW and install new officers for next year, but also we will celebrate the 20th birthday of the organization. We invite not only women in circles to our ice cream and cake party, but also anyone in the church, men or women.
Synod Summer Gathering of PW – To be held at Massanetta Springs, Harrisonburg, VA, on June 12-15. Leaders will include the writer of next year’s Bible Study of Luke. Brochures will be located in the church office if you are interested in getting more information.

Ten of us have just completed week number 7 of our 10-week Men’s Bible study, “Five Steps to Christian Growth.” The excitement of seeing what God says to us in the Bible about daily living is always strengthening. We have experienced growth in our own Christian lives.
Beginning on February 7, we have met each Thursday morning form 6:45–7:45 to accommodate those men who must be at work by 8:00 or 8:30. We will explore additional days and times, perhaps a study at noon with lunch to include men who would prefer a time later in the day. Let us know your wishes.
Come and Join us.
Donald Preston

A Special Thank You A special thank you to the following people for the dedication and servitude they showed this past year teaching and leading music and working with the children. They will be recognized on May 18 during the 11:00 Worship Service.
Donna Jarvis, Joanne Ross, Gypsy Holt, Don Preston, Valerie Sharp, Mildred St. Leger, DeLana Woods, Jeanne Preston, Lisa Johnson, Suzanne Lowe, Roxanne Waugh, Paige Tolar, Gail Proffitt, Sherry Thacker, Lucy Phillips, Kate Shockley, Debra Fulton, Jack Ferratt, Glenda Woods, Robin Cozart, Peta Patton, Diane Saunders, Kate Shockley, Jan Hardman, Steve Barlow, Audrey Perkins, Christine Mellon, Elizabeth Tolar, Dexter Peltzer, Erin Tolar, Ruth Brown, Leticia Peltzer, Vickie Cornelius, Nell Clark, Meredith Pippin, Diane Carmack, Mindy Bonin,

CHURCH STAFF

Robert R. Tolar, Jr., Pastor
Janet McGraw, Director of Education
Laura Taylor, Office Manager
Arch Snyder , Choir Director
Janie Snyder, Organist

(276) 628-3361

e-mail: : sspc@eva.org
www.sinkingspring.org

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