Church Staff

Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church in Abingdon, Virginia

Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church
136 East Main Street
Abingdon, Virginia 24210
276-628-3361

office@sinkingspring.org

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Interim Pastor

Rev. Beth Yarborough

I was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina, third child of four children and the only girl. My family lived on a farm in a rural part of the county in the house where my mother was raised. My mother is now 88 years old and still lives in the house. My father died in 2003. The church has always been central to our lives. Living in a rural community, most of the social fabric of our neighbors was woven together in the church. My parents were both active in the church – my mother as an organist and my father as an adult Sunday School teacher and an active deacon.

As I developed into an adult, church continued to be a vital part of my life. Prior to attending seminary in 1996, I was active in choir and as a teacher in both Sunday School and Bible Studies. Even as early as high school I was aware of a call to some kind of full-time Christian work. Following graduation from college, I visited seminaries but put off applying for admission. In the meantime I had interesting jobs that seemed to center around public relations, marketing and economic development. I had a wide circle of close friends and acquaintances in Columbia, South Carolina and enjoyed many activities in the area.

A call to ministry continued to nag at me and once again in my 30’s I visited seminaries again opting to wait. Finally in 1996, the call came loud and clear that it was time for me to make the application to Columbia Theological Seminary. Throughout my years as a student, it became increasingly evident that waiting was not so much procrastination as it was God’s way of preparing me for the rigors of theological study. My early adult years were more focused on social things and the demands of serious study may not have taken a top priority. By the time I started school, I was ready to be a serious student.

The years prior to attending seminary were spent involved in Economic Development activities for the State of South Carolina. I learned a lot during that time about bringing people from different areas together for a common purpose and have been able to use this experience in the church. I have trained as a mediator under the Tennessee Supreme Court Rule for Mediation and have found many uses for those skills in the church.

My first call out of seminary was as Associate Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsport, Tennessee where I served for two years. I have served as pastor of Jonesborough Presbyterian Church for the past seven years. I am a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary with an anticipated graduation date of May, 2010.

Rev. Beth Yarborough (Interim Pastor) pastor@sinkingspring.org

Director of Christian Education

Janet McGraw

Janet McGraw became the Director of Christian Education in the fall of 1996. Her husband is Dean. Their three children are Joseph, Angela, and Nathan. They have two grandchildren. Janet is an inspiration to everyone who meets her. She often delivers the children's message during the worship service. She says, "God has blessed me with a talent for creativity. I'm thankful I am able to use it to serve Him and bring glory to his name." Her favorite Bible passage is Psalms: 23.

Office Hours
Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. -5 p.m.
Wednesday 8 a.m.- 8 p.m.
christianeducator@sinkingspring.org

Music Director and Organist/Pianist

Arch Snyder
Choir Director and Adult Handbell Choir Director

Janie Snyder
Organist/Pianist

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
musicmakers@sinkingspring.org

Archie and Janie come to us from The First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton, Florida. Arch was the Director of Music. He adirected the Adult Choir, Praise Team, and 3-octave Handbell/Chime Choir. He was also the Director of the Bay Chorale, a community choir, in Bradenton. In the past he has also been a high school band director and high school orchestra conductor.

Over the past month, SSPC has been blessed to have Arch Snyder as our new chancel choir and adult handbell director and Janie as our new organist/pianist. In addition to these ministries, they are now in leadership positions as “Co-Directors of Praise Team and Youth Handbell Choir,” In their previous church, Arch and Janie led the contemporary worship services for seven years. We welcome them to these new ministry areas!

Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church warmly welcomes the Snyders to our Church.

Youth Director

Will McLeod

Please welcome our new Youth Director Will McLeod. Many of you know Will as a member of our Chancel Choir. Will is a student at Emory & Henry College with an interest in teaching. We welcome Will to our staff.

will.mcleod@sinkingspring.org

Ministry Teams And Session

The Session

Class of 2009	Class of 2010	Class of 2011
Kay Bunn	Hazel Ramos-Cano	Connie Bundy
Mildred St. Leger	Donald Preston	Fred Holt
Robert Bonin	Dexter Peltzer	Jeff Johnson
Dean Barr	David Shockley	Peggy Semancik
	Steve Barlow