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November 2009 Grace Spoken Here Volume 10, Issue 25
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Dear Members and Friends, 
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This Wellspring is filled with good news of ministry, fellowship and activities at Sandy Springs Christian Church.
Read Erin's article about the very successful 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat held October 25 in our parking lot and in Dunlap Hall. The decorated trunks were amazing, the costumes very creative, and all enjoyed a great time.
Bryant McDaniel has exciting news about a new series of Sunday School classes called "Beginnings." You'll want to read his article.
The Wine and Cheese Scholarship Fundraiser held at the home of Carol and Jim Armstrong brought in an amazing contribution to the Youth Scholarship Fund. Read to find out how much!
Homecoming is a process that starts with your gifts to the 2009 Thanksgiving Offering on November 22.
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2nd Annual Trunk or Treat a Huge Success Rev. Erin Reed Cooper
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On Sunday night, October 25th, the SSCC parking lot was filled
with witches, warriors, cheerleaders, dragons, pandas--and a whole lot of
people in costumes too! Our second
annual Trunk or Treat was a grand success thanks to the participation of nearly
50 cars, tripling last year's participation.
The event directors were Larri and Brent Bass and Sheri Mason.
The youth group helped coordinate
activities, including managing the Cake Walk, sponsored by delicious donations
from The Little European Bakery, Henri's Bakery, Kroger, Whole Foods Market,
generous donations by Mary Anne Posey and gifts from the Day School Craft Show. Our guests enjoyed hot dogs and chips,
lovingly prepared by Jim Torbert, Leslie and Dan Kahrs, and Allen and Lynn
McCahren. Neighborhood children and
their families came out to join the fun, as well as several new SSCC families.
Congratulations to the award winning
trunks of the McCluskey family, the Bensch family, the Strickland family--and
to Vivian Thrasher, the favorite pink dragon!
 
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| Informal "Meet and Greet" with Phil November 8 |
Phil is offering
an information opportunity for people to discover more about our church on
Sunday, November 8th. The informal "Meet and Greet" will be held in Phil's
office between services and is open to new members and those people who have
been visiting with us this year.
Call Barb or Sharon if you have a
friend or neighbor who has been visiting and would like to come.
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Ministry Musings Rev. Philip Price, Senior Minister
Exciting Things Are Happening in Adult Education Ministry
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We have described ourselves
as a "journey church," meaning that we know that we are to grow, we are to
change our minds, we are to think new thoughts and express our love in new
actions. Each person is on their own
personal journey, and yet we journey together, learning from each other and
teaching each other.
One of the Seven Commitments
we have been talking about is a commitment to learn, but
why do we take learning so seriously? We learn because it is ESSENTIAL in
our quest to be faithful in mission.
We live in a deeply divided
world and in confusing times. Being
knowledgeably grounded in our faith is indispensable as we seek to be faithful
in mission. The love we express in
mission must be built on knowledge and wisdom, or it can become a thin veneer
of any one of the various social agendas floating around out there. Another danger is, if we are not firmly and
knowledgeably grounded in our faith and in scripture, any attempts to bring our
faith to speak to the critical moral issues of our day will be dismissed as
"being too political."
Think of Adult Education as
a "Missions Training School" where you are being
groomed, fed and empowered to be a missionary! Your life becoming a
channel through which the love of God flows freely and engages the world is the
purpose and goal of our Adult Education program.
Here are the four major
platforms we are designing for you.
1. Beginnings - An 18-week program
starting in January for new members and visitors, giving an overview of how we
understand scriptures, how we understand "progressive theology" and what it
means to be a Disciple in today's world.
2. Pathways - Consists of our existing
and ongoing Sunday School classes. Right now we offer six adult
Sunday School classes.
3. Excursions - Includes various curriculum based
classes and events. Living the Questions
II, our Lenten Classes, January Adventure, and Real People Real Faith are all
examples of available "Excursions."
4. Beyond - This level will involve study that
is directly related to mission engagement.
We learn by doing. Here we apply
everything we have learned and are learning to a specific mission
opportunity. This will involve
self-directed study in partnership with one of your ministers.
A big thank you to Bryant
McDaniel, Rev. Erin Reed Cooper and the rest of the Adult Education team who
have worked so diligently to bring you the very best in Mission Training
programming.
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Stewardship
"Thank You" Laura Prescott, Stewardship Chair
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Over the past few weeks, you have heard
stories of feeding ducks, family dinners, unexpected blessings and uncertain
times. Those who have returned cards
have prayerfully considered their pledge and responded in faithfulness. Thank you for your generous support of this
church and God's mission. For those who
are still considering your pledges, thank you for your continued prayerful
consideration, and we look forward to receiving your pledge cards soon.
As of October 26, we have
received 102 pledges. The amount pledged
is over $395,000, which is approximately 85% of the total for last year. Pledges continue to come in daily, which is
typical for this congregation. I am
confident that as the remaining pledges trickle in, we will meet or surpass last
year's total. This is a true sign of
faithfulness in tough economic times.
Thank you to all who made
the campaign a success. To the
Stewardship team - Wayne Dimmitt, Melody Elrod, Virginia Gregory, Rachel Haney,
Phil Price and Ray Woods. Your ideas, input,
letters, articles, and more gave this campaign a personal touch. Your support made it possible for me to step
out of my comfort zone and lead this team.
I could not have done this without you!
To the Fellowship Team -
Lynn McCahren, Mary Anne Posey and Becky
Strickland for the reception on Celebration Sunday.
To our bakers - Nancy McDaniel, Cindy Brown and
Lynn McCahren for the homemade breads and muffins for the reception.
To our honorary team members - Nan Woods and Barb
Duren for the graphic, printing and behind the scenes support of this campaign.
Special thanks to Rev. Phil
Price for our theme song and inspirational sermons. The song captured the spirit of the campaign
and emphasized the message of the scripture.
Your sermons challenged us to let go and trust God.
It is an honor to belong to
this church. The membership is generous
with their time, talents and money.
Thank you for casting
your bread
and making it possible for Sandy Springs Christian Church to continue to do
God's work in the coming year.
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Covenant Groups Rev. Betty J. Halford
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Carol Armstrong, who facilitates the
Sunday night Carol's
Clan Covenant Group,
beamed as she said, "It was great!"
Nancy Davis, facilitator of the day group, said, "We have already begun
to bond!" As Julie Sanford left her
first meeting she gave a thumbs-up and said, "It was great; no one wanted to
leave."
What an exciting time
at SSCC!! By the time you read this article, five
Covenant Groups (almost 50 of you) will have met. Our first topic is Prayer-what a powerful subject!
"Covenant Groups are foundational to our
church and provide a basis from which everything else flows" says Rev. Phil
Price. We know people grow faster
spiritually in a caring, interactive group where they feel the support of group
members.
Additional groups will begin in the New
Year! If you missed the opportunity to
get involved this fall, watch the Wellspring for exact dates of our next Informational Meetings.
Questions: call Rev. Betty Halford
at 404.771.7655.
Covenant
Groups provide a warm, welcoming environment for
people
to meet together and explore the Seven Spiritual Commit-
ments (Prayer, Small
Groups, Worship, Study, Mission,
Evangelism,
Giving). Through a series of structured, monthly meetings,
the
group
discusses how spiritual beliefs become part of everyday life.
Participants share their experiences and connect with each other at
a deeper
level of trust and authenticity.
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Welcome Back, Dr. Larry Grimes |
September 8 Guest Preacher
Director of Church Relations, Emeritus Professor of English
Bethany College,
Bethany WV
In the summer
of 1963, I completed a second internship at Peachtree Christian Church. The highlight of the summer was canvassing
house by house in the sparsely populated Sandy Springs
area to determine whether a new church start would be viable there. The answer:
yes.
Four years
later I graduated from Yale
Divinity School
and headed south to do a PhD at Emory.
While studying at Emory, I served as Assistant Minister at the new (Roswell Road) Sandy Springs Church.
My wife will confirm that our three years at Sandy
Springs were among the very best in our life. We grew as the church grew in a time of great
social and theological turmoil. My
ministry there has been a durable blessing.
My wife,
Carol, and I went from Sandy Springs to Bethany College.
I taught English there for 39 years.
Along the way, I had the privilege of watching young women and men come
of age intellectually, socially and spiritually--Erin Cooper among them. Last May I retired from teaching. In July I began a new life as Director of
Church Relations at Bethany. For the last 14 years, I have also served as
minister of Community Christian Church in Beech Bottom, WV. From that I have not retired. They are a well from which one can drink
deeply.
The Spirit continues to blow grace and grace upon my
life, including this wonderful return to the beginnings of my ministry.
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Adult
Education Ministry Announcing New "Beginnings" Course Bryant McDaniel
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Adult Education is excited to announce a
new series of Sunday School classes that will be offered sequentially beginning
January 10, 2010. These classes are
intended for new members and visitors who have expressed an interest in joining
the church.
The overall program is called
"Beginnings." It is made up of the
following three courses over an 18-week period - which we plan to offer
throughout the year:
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Bible
Talk (7 weeks) covers how we view the Bible and its authority. This class will be taught by Rev. Phil Price.
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Disciple
Talk (3 weeks) covers Disciples history, polity and
ethos. This class will be taught by Rev.
Erin Reed Cooper.
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Faith
Talk (8 weeks) will discuss how our faith intersects with our
daily lives. This class will be taught
by Rev. Phil Price.
Space is
limited. We are hoping to keep the class size to 15 to 20 people so that
everyone will feel comfortable asking questions and engaging in group
discussions. Make reservations by
calling the church office at 404.256.2582 or by e-mail to Sharon Hanna at Sharon@SandySpringsCC.org.
Please help
spread the word to those who might be interested in participating in this new
program!
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Ministry and Fellowship Opportunities
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11/3 LTQ2
Dinner 6:15-7:00 pm, Class 7-8:30 pm
11/5 Elaine
Donnelly Covenant Group, 7-9 pm (P)
11/6-7
Regional Assembly (Cherry Log)
11/7 Outreach
Team to CAC
11/8 "Meet
and Greet" with Phil, 10:10 am (213)
11/8 Youth
to Thrasher's Game
11/10 LTQ2 Dinner 6:15-7:00 pm, Class 7-8:30 pm
11/15 Chrismon
Workshop, after 9:00 and 11:00 o'clock worship services
11/15 MUST
Sandwich Making, 12 pm
11/17 Leslie Lady Covenant Group, 6 pm (P)
11/17 Trusty
Covenant Group, 7-9 pm (P)
11/17 LTQ2 Dinner 6:15-7:00 pm, Class 7-8:30 pm
11/21 Advent
Wreath Making Workshop, 3-5 pm (120, 121)
11/21
Church-wide Chili Cook-off, 5-7 pm, (DH)
11/22
Congregational Meeting & Lunch, after 11 o'clock service (DH)
11/22 Chrismon
Workshop, after 9 and 11 o'clock worship services 11/24 LTQ2 Dinner 6:15-7:00 pm, Class 7-8:30 pm
11/25 & 26
SSCC Office Closed for Thanksgiving
11/29 Pancake
Breakfast, 8:30-11:15 am (DH)
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Advent and Christmas at SSCC
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■ Chrismon Workshop, November 15 and 22, after the 9 and 11 o'clock services
For new members or anyone who has not
made a Chrismon for their family.
Rm 120 & 121.
Questions: Becky Strickland, 404.587.3051
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Family Advent Wreath Workshop, Saturday, November 21, 3-5 pm
Rm 120 & 121. Sign up in the Centrum.
Questions: Teresa Bensch,
770.564.2026
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Church-wide Chili Cook-off, Saturday, November 21, 5-7 pm, Dunlap Hall
Call Lynn McCahren by November 10 to enter the cook-off (and bring a
crockpot of chili for judging), 770.579.3122.
To make a reservation for this event, please sign up in the
Centrum. You will be a judge for the
best chili!
■ Annual Congregational Meeting, Sunday, November 22
You are invited to the Annual Congregational Meeting for the election of
elders, deacons & officers and a Luncheon following the 11 o'clock service
in Dunlap Hall. Please make a
reservation for lunch by signing up in the Centrum.
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Sandy
Springs Interfaith Clergy Association Dinner and Service, Temple Emanu-El, Tuesday, November 24, 6:00 pm
The reservation deadline is Tuesday, November 17. Go to www.templeemanuelatlanta.org to make reservations. If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact Beverly Brown, Executive Director, or Rabbi Colbert. 770.395.1340, ext. 255
■ Holiday Book Sale, Sundays, December 6 and December 13
In the Centrum. Sponsored by Children's Ministries.
■ Women's Ministries Christmas
Communion Service and Brunch, Saturday, December 5.
All Women of the Church are invited. 9:45 am Gathering Time, 10:00 am Service, 11:00 am Brunch.
Tickets are on sale now ($9.00). Invite your family and friends! Guest Speaker Dr. Julie Johnson, "Mid-Wifery
for the Holy One." Brunch prepared by
Jim Torbert and crew and served by men of the church. Brunch entertainment by Sanctuary Choir
family members.
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Hanging of the Greens, Sunday, December 6
Pre-music 5:30 pm, Service 6:00 pm, Reception 7:00 pm
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Youth Christmas Party, Sunday, December 13
■ Lessons and Carols & Children's Christmas Pageant, Sunday, December 20, 9 & 11 am worship services
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Longest Night Service, Monday, December 21, 7:00 pm
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Christmas Eve Worship Services, December 24, 7:00 & 11:00 pm
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College Age Sunday, December 27, 10:00 am service only
■ 2010 Real People, Real Faith
Seminar, Friday evening and Saturday morning,
January 22 & 23. Mark your calendar and make plans to participate.
Presenter: The Reverend
William L. Lee
Pastor, Loudon Avenue Christian Church, Roanoke, Virginia
Moderator, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 2005-2007
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Wellspring Contributions for December 2009 Are Due November 25
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Email your contributions to Nan Woods. Call the church office or look in the church directory for the email address. Please keep your article length to not more than 350 words. Have pictures? Send them along with your article. Advertise your event. Write an article after your event.
Thank you.
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I heard the most rewarding comment from
a new family after church this week. "We want to be a part at SSCC because our
children are excited about coming to church on Sunday mornings. That's what we want for them." 
