Seen Around Church: Week of January 5, 2024

SMPC Hosts ‘Bonus’ Blood Drive to Help Address Blood Shortage

Thank you to our donors and volunteers at this month’s American Red Cross Blood Drive! We had 30 donors and 7 volunteers who came to the drive. Nineteen of the donors were SMPC members. The Red Cross collected a total of 27 units (21 whole blood and 3 Power Red donations)!

One fun note from the blood drive: SMPC Office and Database Manager Adrienne Jaquith came to the drive as a first-time donor (snaps!)! 

“I was a little nervous to donate blood since it was my first time, but I’ve heard about the blood shortage, and I felt like it was the right time to donate,” said Adrienne. “The American Red Cross staff members were so patient and walked me through each step. It was also comforting to be surrounded by people I knew at my church home! I encourage you to donate if you’re thinking about it; it doesn’t take long and it makes a huge difference to those in need.”

The January blood drive was a “bonus” blood drive. We partnered with the Red Cross to host the drive to help with the blood shortage due to the hurricanes in the fall and the holidays.  Our first “regularly scheduled” blood drive for 2025 is Saturday, March 8 in the Commons from 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. It’s never too early to register! Please click here to schedule an appointment. We are also in need of volunteers for the March drive! Click here to sign up to volunteer. 

Photo credits: Bill Ramsey and Terry Gaines

Epiphany Sunday Casts a Bright Light on our Week

We celebrated Epiphany Sunday on January 5. Everyone was encouraged to pick a star word at the end of worship – a star word is a guiding word for the year ahead. We invite you to remember your star word often, seeking the ways God might be moving through the meanings and definitions the word contains. If you missed worship on Sunday, please use this link to generate a star word online. 

Photo credit: Terry Gaines

Church Music Institute Honors SMPC Music Director/Organist with Society Selection

We are so proud of SMPC’s Director of Music and Organist Zach Bowyer for being selected to the Dr. Paul Lindsley Thomas Society for 2024-25! The Paul Lindsley Thomas Society benefits trained musicians who want to further their understanding of church music.  Membership is through the Church Music Institute and is by application, asking respondents to react to the document “Aspiring to the Ideals of Paul Lindsley Thomas” as they view their own calling as church musicians.  Dr. Thomas was a deeply committed church musician, composer, and organist/choir director who served St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, TX for decades.

As a member of the Society, Zach will participate in monthly online meetings with other early career church musicians to share and learn about church music and will have access to thousands of titles of music to deepen his knowledge of church music. We are so proud of Zach and continue to thank God for bringing him and his talent, love and passion for music to our congregation!