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June 2009 Grace Spoken Here Volume 10, Issue 20
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Dear Members and Friends, 
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Welcome to the first monthly issue of The Wellspring.
The goal is to provide a user friendly format that contains current and informative news about the life of Sandy Springs Christian Church.
Remember to go to the church website to view the monthly Calendar and the weekly Chalice Chat. These sources provide you current information on church activities.
Click Forward email at the bottom of the newsletter to send to friends, neighbors, family or other contacts to encourage them to know about us. After receiving the newsletter they may click Join our Mailing List to add their email address for future issues.
Soul Food and
Fellowship
Ministry Highlight
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The Noor Family
by Darby
Peterson
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As this congregation knows, the Noors are a family
of five (single mother and fours children) from Somalia that Sandy Springs
Christian Church "adopted" in November 2008. The family's successful
transition from African refugees to American immigrants has been possible because of
the congregation's kind and generous hearts. They have received many home
furnishings and now reside in what Mrs. Noor describes as a beautiful home. The
financial assistance provided has been incredibly valuable to the family.
The children, ages 3, 8, 10, and 12, are doing very
well. The older children attend school and are learning quickly. Mrs. Noor was
recently hired as a part-time cook at a local Somalia restaurant. So the family
is on the road to self-sufficiency. Many members of the congregation have
visited with the family in their home. As many may recall, the whole Noor
family came to the church in January for a visit.
The organization that sponsors refugees and
immigrants, Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta, recently
reported that the family is a wonderful success story because of the support
and efforts of this congregation. Mrs.
Noor attributes much of the family's success to the welcoming arms
of the congregation and its demonstration of acceptance for the family. Well
done shepherds of Sandy Springs!
Needs remain and include:
Prayers
Outings for the family (Stone
Mountain is on their agenda)
Visits with the children to the local library
during the summer
Visits to their home
Used or new computer tutorials and games for the children
Hand held electronic gizmos
School supplies for next year
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Covenant Group
by Leslie
Lady
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Chris Dalton, Lisa Sutton, and I all own Springer
Spaniels. Andy Torbert, Larri Bass, and
Janet Lochery can pray as well as any minister.
Milt Hill makes me LOL. The
McDaniels share a taste for the same furniture as I. The Halfords collect first edition books
by Charles Dickens. How do I know these
things, and why would I care? I know
because I have spent time with each of these people in small groups, and
learning things such as these has connected me to them in a way that has
enriched my life. In August, you will
have the opportunity to hear about the formation of Covenant Groups: small, intimate groups designed to enhance
both community and spiritual growth, offering the chance to make lasting
friendships and to connect with each other in a very meaningful way.
Positive feedback from people who were part of a
triplet during our discernment process was a primary reason why expanding
opportunities to connect with one another became one of the tenets of the
Future Story. I have had the opportunity
to be a part of a Covenant-Group experiment, and based on my experience I can
promise that you will enjoy getting to know and value each other. There are many wonderful people in this
congregation, and you will take pleasure in making new and deeper friendships. How bad can that be? I encourage you to attend one of the
informational meetings and then sign up to join a group.
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The Ministry of Soul Food by Jim Torbert
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 This issue begins a new Wellspring format where each month will highlight a different ministry at SSCC. I would like to think that the best was selected as the first ministry to be highlighted, but my guess is you will probably hear each ministry leader talk about being the best.
We are truly blessed at "The Springs" in having many loyal and dedicated people carrying out the work of the church--or carrying out the work and the fun of the church. So, can I use the word "fun" to describe the Soul Food Ministry? I think I can find a better word, how about "Yummy." So to tell you about Soul Food, I am going to borrow from a fraternity brother of mine with the "Top Ten" Yummy things about the Ministry of Soul Food.
10. Planning Menus - At what other time do you get to look through all those cookbooks on your bookshelf to come up with a new and exciting meal plan? Oh, and that recipe that you saw in the magazine in the doctor's office--wouldn't that be Yummy?
9. Good Grades - Did you know that we have a straight A report card? In every inspection from Fulton County, the State of Georgia, or the City of Sandy Springs we have received an "A." Way to go team! A clean, healthy, sanitary kitchen makes it Yummy for everyone.
8. Great Equipment - Having a wonderful work space with the best equipment makes for a fun place to serve. We have also been blessed with many gifts to continue working with the greatest equipment available.
7. Fluffy and Fresh - It is a great feeling to have all the kitchen towels, aprons, and rags through the washer and out of the dryer when they are clean, warm, fresh, fluffy, folded and ready for the next event. They smell so clean!
6. Super Stuff - We are lucky that we get great stuff--from Trader Joe's, Costco, Sam's, Fresh Market, Publix. We use only the best supplies and food products to produce our Yummy meals.
5. Shopping - What a joy and blessing to have a list several pages long and to find exactly what you need at a great price, at a great discount, or in some cases at no cost as a donation!
4. Quality Time - What wonderful benefits we receive from having a meal together. Sunday night dinners, Candlelight Café, Mexico Fiesta, Pancake Breakfast, Coffee House--all are events that are working with the Youth Ministry and are excellent times to be with our outstanding students.
3. Celebrations in the Centrum - The excitement and congratulations of a new baby, of an earned degree, of a new hire, of a job well done, or of the special remembrance of an old friend--great times for celebrations.
2. Extra-Special Events - There are many opportunities to be a part of all the special events at "The Springs." To name a few: Anniversary Lunch, Chat & Chew, Member Lunches, Board Dinner, Women's Brunch, Senior Banquet, Box Lunch Sundays, All Church Picnic, Lenten Dinners, Ice Cream Social, Game Nights, and many others. All are events that are Yummy!
1. Helpers and Friends - We have some super, super helpers in the Soul Food Ministry. We are always looking for new ideas, and new helpers. Want to have a Yummy time?
If you want like to join the Soul Food Ministry or have questions, call Jim Torbert at 770.410.9434.
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Fellowship
Ministry by
Lynn McCahren
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Fellowship Ministry provides opportunities for friendship and fun in the life of the congregation. We work closely with Soul Food Ministry to coordinate Fellowship events requiring food service and room set up and take down. Theme appropriate decorations for the tables are provided when needed. We are looking for helpers as well as
new ideas of what the congregation would like to do together. If you want to join the Fellowship Ministry or have questions, call Lynn McCahren at 404.895.7278 (cell).
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| Ministry Musings by Rev. Philip Price, Senior Minister |
"Summertime and the living is easy . . ." school is out, kids go to camp, fa milies go on vacation.
In lots of churches things slow down for the summer. Sunday School teachers often take a break, choirs take a breather, preachers recycle sermons, and people choose to sleep in rather than make the effort to go to worship. This is unfortunate because summer time is often the time when folks "shop" for a new church. What they often find is less than appealing. They experience bare bones worship and a feeling that everyone has deserted the church.
This summer let's break with this tradition. Yes, our kids' Sunday School teachers are taking a much deserved break and, yes, our choir is off for the month of July. BUT, we are planning to have a robust children's program through the summer, we are arranging special music for every Sunday, and there will be no recycled sermons.
Let's continue to be a place of vibrant and meaningful worship. Worship that dares to speak hope in a world often given in to despair, that dares to speak of love in a world often committed to getting even.
We continue to "dream dreams."
Our dream is of a church where people connect in deeply important ways. All year there have been dedicated people designing, crafting and preparing to launch our small groups ministry. We are almost ready to go. In the fall we will launch our small groups ministry. I encourage you to be in prayer for this effort. The strength of any church is the strength of the relationships among the members. There is nothing that facilitates and supports these relationships better than a small groups ministry.
We continue to "have visions."
We want to be a church in mission. Our Outreach Committee has been busy. They are on the verge of leading the church into an important and exciting new partnering in ministry with CAC. There will be great opportunities for all of us to serve right here in our own community, to match our words of love with the work of love.
We continue to learn and stretch our minds. Rev. Landa Simmons is leading a course called "Living the Questions2." I heartily encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. You are not the only one to have questions. You may not be the first to have the questions that trouble or excite you. It may be nice to find out that you are not alone, that someone has pondered some of your questions before you and may offer you a new way of understanding some things. Do yourself a favor and sign up for this class!
This summer, let's not retreat, lets ADVANCE! See you in worship!
Blessings,
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Children's Ministry by
Rev. Erin Reed Cooper
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In June, several exciting and important
changes will be taking place in our children's ministry programs. Beginning June 7, our wonderful Children's
Worship & Wonder program will move from its current time slot at the 9
AM worship service to the 11 AM service.
Many families have been asking for this transition to take place for
years, but we've been unable to staff it to make it happen. Also on June 7, we
will welcome Ljiljana Petricevic as our Sunday Morning Childcare Provider. She comes to us with much experience in Early
Childhood education. I'm sure she will
be a blessing to our children. Our own
Courtney Strickland will be the Assistant Childcare Provider. Together Ms. Lily and Ms. Courtney will
provide worshipful content at the 9 AM time slot, to replace CW&W for our
younger children, and will be using The Way of The Child curriculum with
0-3 year olds during the Sunday School and 11 AM worship time.
Our Summer Sunday School will be
taught by our returning college students who will use Live B.I.G. curriculum
with our children, giving our faithful teachers a well-deserved break from
June-August. Children Pre-K - 5th
Grade will meet downstairs in the "old worship and wonder room" (110) at 10 AM
to watch "The Station," a DVD program about the day's lesson before breaking
out into their age appropriate classrooms.
At 10:50 AM, parents may pick up their children back at room 110. Thank you so much to our college students who
are volunteering their time this summer.
Please remember to mark your calendars
for August 3-7 for Crocodile Dock Vacation Bible School. Registration is now open. You can register
your child at the church, by phone or, new this year, at http//www.groupvbs.com/webtoybox/myvbs/sscc. Many adult and youth volunteers are needed to make this a fun and
successful event. You can register to
volunteer at the same site.
My
overwhelming gratitude goes to our Sunday School teachers for the 2008-2009
school year. Our children
have been blessed by the leadership and love of Amanda Hodgson, Florene Fowler,
Chris Dalton, Janet Lochery, Delane Bickelhaupt, Billie McGinley, Greg Peterson
and substitute Teresa Bensch. These teachers are faith-filled and
dedicated. Bless you for your service to
SSCC.
Last, but most definitely not least, we
say farewell to our beloved Childcare Provider of 15 years. Sue Leverette has been the first point of
contact with the church for our children, and has nurtured their faith. I would like to share with you a quote from
one of our college students, Courtney Strickland. "Words can never describe the influence you
have had on my life. You have been my
second mother, best friend and teacher all my life, and that I am grateful
for." Thank you, Sue, for all you have
meant and will continue to mean to our children.
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From the Church Office by Sharon Hanna, Church Administrator
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 Oh, what a world we live in! The
old saying "desperate people do desperate things" sometimes comes to
mind.
In our daily lives we've all seen
increased security measures being taken at places like the airport, the
courthouse, concerts, sporting events, etc.
SSCC is
responding to the times with our own prudent security measures. Not only
does our insurance require it--it just makes good sense. We try not
to inconvenience anyone while we protect the children, members, staff and
community groups who use our building.
A form called "Minister, Lay Leader or
Member - Room Use Request" has been created.
The forms are available in the work room and can be submitted to Sharon by e-mail or
fax. This will allow us to ensure the room is available and prepared
for you. In return, we ask that when you are the last to leave, you
complete a quick security check of doors, lights, etc. A reminder
checklist is posted by each door.
When we look out for each other we
are not only fulfilling insurance requirements--in many cases we
are also saving the church money while making it more secure.
Thanks so much for your cooperation!
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Ministry and Fellowship Opportunities |
6/8-12 Junior I (3rd, 4th, 5th grades), Camp Christian
6/9-8/4 Tuesdays, Living the Questions2, dinner 6 pm, class 7- 8:30 pm
6/12-14 Chrysalis (1st, 2nd grades), Camp Christian
6/15-20 CYF (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades), Camp Christian
6/21 Baptism Sunday
6/22-27 Chi Rho (6th, 7th, 8th grades), Camp Christian
6/24-26 Genesis (Kindergarten)
6/27 Hot Dogs and Hamburgers Family Event, 5:30 pm
Save the Date
7/12 New Member Lunch, 12:00 pm
7/29-8/1 General Assembly, Indianapolis, IN
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A reminder: Wellspring contributions are due the 25th day of the previous month. Email your contributions to Nan Woods. Call the church office or look in the church directory for the address. Thank you.
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