 June 2011 Grace Spoken Here Volume 12, Issue 6 |
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Viewpoints at SSCC |
It's easy for veterans in a congregation to lose perspective on their church. And so, as "newbies" Joyce and I would like to share some of what we've found here.
We wandered into SSCC one Sunday because we were impressed with its website and wanted to know what the church was like "in the flesh."
We meandered about trying to figure out what a "centrum" was until Denny Sanford greeted us. He looked at me and said, "Your face seems familiar." I replied, "You've probably seen it in the post office among the 'Wanted' posters." Without a nanosecond's hesitation, he shot back, "That's OK. You're still welcome here."
Since then, we've seen the Torberts turn every church gathering into a feast. We've heard sermons from Phil, Erin, Betty, and others that challenge us to think, feel, and act. We've enjoyed choirs, cellos, handbells, trumpets, guitars, flutes, clarinets, drums, and keyboards.
We've been surprised by a rose on the altar at our grandchild's birth.
We've been invited to Easter dinners by Becky Strickland after she learned we were alone.
We've seen support for missions in Mexico, at the Lake Forest School, and for Haiti's earthquake survivors, We've found adult education coordinated by Bryant McDaniel that integrates facts, fellowship, and scholarship.
We've found people we want to be like in a place where every activity is an adventure.
And, best of all, we know we've just scratched the surface of SSCC's great cloud of witnesses, wonderers, and wayfarers.
Art & Joyce Edwards
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| Lake Forest Elementary Appreciates SSCC! | |
Lake Forest Elementary School principal Dara Wilson gushed, "Sandy Springs Christian Church came on like a powerhouse this year and has really helped with everything we asked." In the church's inaugural year as a Partner in Education, almost 50 different SSCC members participated in projects for the three year old school.
An estimated ninety-five percent of the school population does not speak English in their home. While the families are gracious and appreciative, many do not have the time, money or education themselves to support the staff and assist the kids the way we can. SSCC began the school year last August with a back-to-school lunch for staff during their planning week. Throughout the year, our volunteers tutored students one-on-one weekly, read during special events and on a regular basis, prepared and served Thanksgiving dinner for more than 350, wrapped hundreds of donated Christmas gifts for the school Christmas party, helped with book fairs, volunteered during a parent information night, provided hours of manual landscape labor, and prepared and served a staff appreciation lunch.
We also donated a set of hospital art panels to brighten the school. It has been a wonderful partnership that we hope to continue next year, as our volunteers enjoy the convenience of the school's Sandy Springs location, the dedicated staff and the adorable students. If you would like to participate next year, please contact Nancy McDaniel, mcdannan@gmail.com.
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top: Principal Dara Wilson presents "Partners in Education" plaque
Jay Donnelly, Darby Peterson, Ruth Brown, Principal Dara Wilson, Nancy McDaniel and Bryant McDaniel
bottom: Lake Forest kindergarten class singing at Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast |
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| Nashville Update |
The following people have volunteered to participate in SSCC's Nashville Mission Trip 2011: Teresa and Evan Bensch; Steve, Ann & Steven Butz; Niki Brody & Brad Norman; Connie Cannon; Steve Clark & Debbie Lenz-Clark; Charlotte & Floyd Hale; Kaitlin, Leslie, Megan & Ryan Karhs; Michael McCluskey; Nancy McDaniel; Jeanie Morgan; Gary & Elizabeth Peterson; Phil Price; Courtney Strickland; Jim Torbert; Sara Witherington; and Woody Woods.
The group will be based at Donelson Christian Church in Nashville during the week of June 26 to July 2. SSCC members Linda and Dick Mitchell are summer volunteers with Disciples Hands-On Mission, our sponsoring organization, and promise to find us meaningful work! We plan to work hard, grow spiritually during devotional time, eat well (Torbert in the kitchen!), and have fun (AAA baseball game, movie night and Nashville entertainment) while repairing homes and changing lives.
Please keep these volunteers in your prayers.
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| Week of Compassion Response Fund |
 We want SSCC to be aware that your Outreach Team is monitoring the devastation created by natural disasters this spring and is waiting for instruction on the best way to help. For now, we have been asked to: PRAY, PAY and STAY. Until recovery efforts can be organized we are asked to stay where we are and send prayers and cash donations. Until our Week of Compassion professionals can work in the devastated areas and assure volunteers have meaningful work and safe accomodations and drinking water, it is not prudent to visit the destruction. In the meantime, please consider a donation to Week of Compassion marked "Compassion Response Fund." While designating donations more specifically is possible, it ties the hands of the professionals keeping them from using funds where most needed.
Below is a message from the Week of Compassion website:
Reaching Out to "Each as Any Had Need": Deadly Twisters Devastate Joplin Disciples
The numbers coming out of Joplin, MO, are overwhelming.
According to news reports as of this morning, 123 people were killed by the tornado that ripped through Southwest Missouri making it one of the deadliest tornados in the state's history. Property damage is estimated in the millions, and the loss of life and livelihood will inevitably have a catastrophic impact on this close-knit community. We (Week of Compassion) have been in touch with South Joplin Christian Church and Joplin's First Christian Church. Many, many families from those congregations have lost their homes. Others have sustained extensive damage. Each and every member has a neighbor or friend or relative who is suffering unbelievable loss. The situation can only be described as devastating--with so many of our own Disciples families gravely affected.
With the needs mounting, we need your help and hope.
Already this year, close to 500 people have been killed by tornados--far higher than the average. Communities have been affected in Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Texas and Oklahoma. Every time we reach out on behalf of those suffering in the wake of unbelievable damage, you have responded out of generosity, solidarity, and compassion.
Amidst all of this seemingly unending destruction, we invite your continued support. Your generosity is the beating heart of Week of Compassion's response. We are incredibly grateful for the sustained impact your Courageous Compassion provides. Thank you for all that you have contributed and provided to communities you may have never even visited. Week of Compassion is what it is because of you. We respond immediately and effectively because YOU respond.
We have no idea what this disaster-filled spring will continue to bring. Contributions to the Compassion Response Fund will enable us to prepare for the worst, so we can continue to reach out to "each as any had need" (Acts 4:35).
For a complete listing of responses made to date in 2011, click here.
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Ministry Musings: "What Is It to Live Forever?"
Rev. Phil Price, Senior Minister | |
What is it to live forever? For the early Hebrews it meant having progeny -- bearing children  so that your name would "not depart from the earth." Eternal life was through your "seed."
Subsequent to the exile in Babylon, they adopted a notion of the soul and came to believe that the soul could live on after death and some believed in the possibility of resurrection, where not only the soul would live on but the body as well would enter into some kind of afterlife.
I don't speculate much about afterlife, whether we are on the great wheel of karma, or whether we meet Peter at the pearly gate, or whether our children are our way to live on. I'm content with Paul to consider it to be a mystery and a blessed hope. I side with those who understand that the gospel is much more about, "Thy Kingdom come, on earth . . ." than it is about trying to get into some afterlife eternal real estate.
That being said, one very practical and gospel way to live on is through legacy giving. A legacy gift continues our influence, our intentions, our goals and our values even after we have crossed over into the mystery. It funds "Thy Kingdom come on earth . . ." Even after we pass on, we live on.
'Legacy giving churches' allow those churches to offer ministries that 'non-legacy giving churches' can only imagine -- youth programs, lecture series, mission trips, facility upgrades and repairs.
As we begin the next fifty years of this church's life, let's be aware of the gift we have received from so many faithful people before us who sacrificed and gave and passed to us this amazing church. As we receive this gift, let's be willing to match their faithfulness and generosity so that folks fifty years from now will be blessed by the generous faithfulness of our time in the life of the church.
Legacy giving is one faithful way of living on.
Legacy Building information is available in the church office. Or you may contact Randy Johnson, Christian Church Foundation, at rjohnson@ccf.disciples.org or via phone at 317 694-7884.
Blessings,
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ThirdAgers!!! Let's Celebrate Independence Day!
Shelton Blackburn |
 What better way to celebrate July 4th (Independence Day), get into the spirit of the day, and honor the birthday of our great nation than by attending a grand and rousing concert followed by an ice cream social!
Who: ThirdAgers (all SSCC members and guests who have achieved the wonderful age of 50).
When: Friday, July 1, 6:45 PM.
This gives us time to park and gather in the sanctuary before the concert begins at 7:30.
Where: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church at 955 Johnson Ferry Road.
The church is located in East Cobb on the opposite side of the Chattahoochee River from SSCC, between Lower and Upper Roswell Roads. As you travel north on Johnson Ferry, the church will be on your left.
Costs: None
Sign up: If you plan to attend, please enter your name on the sign-up sheet in the ThirdAgers book located in the Centrum just outside Erin's office. Or, call the church office, 404-256-2582, and ask a staff member to add your name to the sign-up sheet. That way we can notify you of any changes.
By the way, all you young whippersnappers (younger than 50) are invited to join us if you think you can keep up.
If you have any questions, contact Shelton Blackburn at 770-977-2970 or shblackb@comcast.net.
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Bridges to the Future - Stepping Stone |
Linda Bridges has retired as The Day School Director AFTER 34 YEARS! Her last day was May 31, and Kathy Gregory has been hired to fill the position.
From a news article in the Neighborhood Newspapers, Sandy Springs Neighbor, May 18, 2011:
"It's like an institution is leaving," Becky Kelly said, "but at the same time, what a wonderful time to start the new chapter of your life."
"Rev. Erin Reed Cooper, Associate Minister at SSCC, has known Bridges for six and one half years and was her direct supervisor. Cooper said she is impressed with the "amazing way [Bridges] knows the needs of the community and responds to them." "It seems like magic to me," Cooper added. "I'm not sure how she gets such a good read on what moms in the community need, but she gets it and nails it every time."
In commemoration of her lasting commitment to excellence in preschool education, please join The Day School in honoring Mrs. Linda Bridges by purchasing an engraved brick paver, or "stepping stone," in The Bridges to the Future Walkway that will be incorporated into a renovated entrance of the Sandy Springs Christian Church.
An Order Form with purchase information is available at the Welcome Desk. $50.00 per brick is payable to The Day School. Questions: Amy Abney, (404) 256-9623 or abney2@comcast.net
Congratulations, Linda!
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The Day School Adventure Camp |
The Day School Summer Camp
Sandy Springs Christian Church
301 Johnson Ferry Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30328-1819
June 13-17: Splish, Splash Bash
June 20-24: Girly Girls
June 27-July 1: Manly Men
July 5-8: Snack-o-Licious Kids Cafe
Go to http://www.thedayschool-sscc.com/ for information and a registration form. Telephone 404.252.3950
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SSCC Lay Leadership 2011 |
Click here to view a list of SSCC Lay Leadership 2011. You can also pick up a copy from the Welcome Desk.
The list includes lay leadership contact names in the following positions:
Leadership Team
Ministry Council
Miscellaneous Committees
Trustees
Elders
Deacons
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Campbell-Stone Corner Shop Volunteers Honored at Women's Ministries Spring Luncheon - Barb Duren |
On May 14, Women's Ministries/Christian Women's Fellowship hosted a luncheon to honor the residents of Campbell-Stone Sandy Springs who volunteer in the Corner Shop. Members of SSCC who volunteer were also honored. The volunteers were presented with small gifts to symbolize appreciation for their work. A lunch of salads and dessert was provided by the loving hands of Gamma and Sigma/Delta members.
The Spring Luncheon has been an annual event for many years and is looked forward to by residents and SSCC members of Women's Ministries/ Christian Women's Fellowship. Micki González presented a message entitled "Give Me the Crumbs," bringing a new insight to the meaning of the challenging verses from Matthew 15:21-28. Mary Shehan and Valarie Boss delighted us with their gift of song. The dining room was beautiful with spring floral creations designed by Nan Woods.
The mission of the Corner Shop is to provide reasonably priced necessities, small gift items, jewelry, handbags and a variety of greeting cards for the residents. The shop is a gathering place for residents. Profits from the shop are given to Women's Ministries/Christian Women's Fellowship who then use it for Outreach projects such as the Youth Mission Trip, the Scholarship Fund, Camp Christian and Community Action Center among others.
The time we share at the Spring Luncheon is important to all.
All women of the church and their guests are invited to Women's Ministries events. Be sure to mark your calendars for the December 3rd annual Christmas Communion Service and Brunch.
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top: Guest Speaker Micki Gonzalez, SSCC Director of Music Ministries; Valarie Boss & Mary Shehan, entertainment; a few of the Campbell-Stone Sandy Springs resident Corner Shop volunteers.
bottom: Fellowship and delicious food! |
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Community Sunday School Resumes July 10 |
Leader: Dr. Stan Saunders
Assoc. Professor of New Testament
Columbia Theological Seminary
July 10, 17, 24 and 31
10:00 AM, Dunlap Hall
Look for upcoming information on this Community Sunday School series with Dr. Stan Saunders.
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| In the Life of SSCC
Go to www.SandySpringsCC.org to view our monthly calendar
"Invitable events" are highlighted in red | |
June Events & Special Worship
6/6-11 CYF at Camp Christian, grades 9-12
6/11 Churchwide Poolside Picnic, 4-7 pm, hosted by Nancy & Bryant McDaniel
6/11-12 YADA at Camp Christian, grade 12 or 18 to 30 something
6/13-17 Junior I at Camp Christian, grades 3-5
6/13-17 The Day School Adventure Camp, 9:30 am - 1 pm
620-24 The Day School Adventure Camp, 9:30 am - 1 pm
6/20-25 Chi Rho at Camp Christian, grades 6-8
6/26-30 Camp Balaam at Camp Christian, qualifying 12th graders
6/26-7/2 Family Mission Trip to Nashville, TN
6/27-7/1 The Day School Adventure Camp, 9:30 am - 1 pm
Save the Date
7/4 SSCC closed for Independence Day
7/9-13 General Assembly, Nashville, TN,
1st & 3rd Monday: Learner's Bridge, 12:45 - 4:00 pm (P)
4th Monday: Experienced Bridge, 12:30-4:15 pm (205)
1st Tuesday: Gamma Circle, 11 am (205)
1st Wednesday bi-monthly: Caring Made Visible, 12 noon (CR)
2nd Wednesday: Sigma Delta Circle, 10:30 am (P)
Sigma Delta lunch, 12 pm (CR)
Prayer Group, 12:30 pm (P)
4th Wednesday: Women's Bible Study, 10 am (CR)
1st Saturday: Outreach Ministry staffs CAC, 9:45am - 1:15 pm
4th Sunday: PAC Meeting (3:30-5:30 pm) (120) 1st through 4th grade
Wednesdays: Handbell Choir, 6:15 pm (Room 202)
Sanctuary Choir, 7:30 pm (Room 202)
Fridays: Men's Fellowship, 7 am (CR)
Saturdays: SSCC Garden Group, 8-10 am
Sundays: Youth Groups, 4:30-6:30 pm (DH) high school and 5th grade/middle school
Early Risers, 8:15 am (Room 202)
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| The Wellspring Contribution Guidelines |
Wellspring contributions are due on Thursday before the last Monday in the month. Contributions for the July 1 Wellspring are due June 23. Thank you for your timely submissions!
Please limit your article to not more than 350 words. Submit your articles on ministry news and upcoming events; report on past events; send pictures! Keep the congregation and others informed about our busy, vital church.
Email your contributions to Nan Woods: woodynan@bellsouth.net
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