 July 2011 Grace Spoken Here Volume 12, Issue 7 |
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Viewpoints at SSCC |
Three years ago our family started out on a new journey in search for a new church... well, a church that would be new for us.
One of the first memorable experiences for us at Sandy Springs Christian Church was a middle school student addressing the entire congregation in the worship service. We cannot remember what was said or what the occasion was, but we were encouraged by the confidence of this young church member and by the congregation who listened attentively. There have been many other moments since and we are constantly encouraged by the depth and maturity of the Sandy Springs Christian Church youth. We are further encouraged when we see and hear the creative and sacrificial ways former SSCC youth are serving here and abroad. These things alone are enough for us to say, "This is where we want our children to grow in Christ."
Our search, however, was to find a church for the whole family, not just for our children. Here are a few of the many things we have found in Sandy Springs Christian Church:
· A church that thinks deeply about how to live out her faith in the world today
· A church that is not afraid to ask difficult questions
· People who realize that faith is not a destination but a journey full of surprises
· People who are open to discussion, varying opinions, and new possibilities
· People who disagree on matters of opinion but raise high the banner "In All Things Love."
· A church which strives to live out her tagline, "Grace Spoken Here."
This is only a snippet of the many great qualities of SSCC, but these are things which we were yearning for. and they are the qualities that keep bringing us back. Thank you for your gracious welcome and we look forward to expanding this list together.
Kevin, Mandy, Bailey, and Atticus Mooney
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Ministry Musings: "The Only Thing That is Constant..."
Rev. Phil Price, Senior Minister | |
The only thing that is constant...is change.
During times like these I need to be reminded that our faith forebearers were people of the tent. Change was a constant. Their rootedness came from not sameness of place but the constancy of a memory of God's faithfulness and a vision of God's promises. This memory and vision are the foundation and sky of faith.
Looking into an unknown always brings a certain anxiety and sadness because we are aware of what we are losing. Those losses are real and the sadness affirms that they are important to us. We are never admonished not to grieve, rather we are encouraged to not remain in grief.
Soon our foundation of the memory God's faithfulness will give us confidence to look beyond the losses and reach to embrace what is new. The promise that God will never leave us or forsake us, the promise that "I will be with you always even to the end of the age," will allow us to look into the sky and dream of what is next.
My prayers are with you as we journey together for a while on a path that will diverge, sending us into futures that are different but linked by memory and affection.
We have a solid foundation and the sky has no limits.
Blessings and Love,
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Adult Education Notes |
Community Sunday School
All are Welcome!
July 3, 10 and 17, 10:00-10:45 AM
Leader: Dr. Stan Saunders
Assoc. Professor of New Testament
Columbia Theological Seminary
"Imagining the Empire of the Heavens"
When the Community Class last met, we were exploring the nature of time in early Christian eschatology. We often do not realize, however, that eschatology has more to do with "space" (or relationships) than it does with time. Most of the New Testament is aimed at helping Christians discern the ways God's "empire" has come and is coming among us. During July we will look at the ways God's power is already at work in the world and, especially, how Jesus' parables are a way to prepare our imaginations to see what humans usually can't or won't see.
Join us downstairs in Dunlap Hall as Dr. Stan Saunders from Columbia leads a series of Community Explorations. The Community Explorations will bring together people from all the existing adult Sunday school classes at SSCC, as well as people who have never attended any classes.
Schedule for Additional Summer Adult Education Classes (subject to change)
July 24 Focus Groups
July 31 Focus Groups
August 7 Focus Groups
August 14 Community Class (Faith as Boundary Crossing)
August 21 Community Class (Church as Sustainable Community)
August 28 Community Class (Cruciform Ecology)
September 4 Community Class (The Reconciling Church)
September 11 Focus Groups
September 18 Focus Groups
September 25 Focus Groups
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Youth Ministry Upcoming Summer Events
Leslie Kahrs | |
Attention All Middle & High School Youth!
We have several activities planned this summer.
1) Please join us for an Atlanta Braves game on Sunday, July 17 for a 1:35 PM game time. We are going to Turner Field to watch the Braves play against the Washington Nationals. We will leave SSCC after the 11:00 AM service. We will coordinate transportation to/from the church. FRIENDS and FAMILY are welcome, including our college youth who may be in town this summer! We will purchase tickets at the game. Bring $10 for tickets and $ for food. We will return to SSCC after the game.
2) SonSurf VBS Helpers and Counselors Needed for Monday, July 25 - Friday, July 29, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. This has been a great way to share our time and talents and let the community know how awesome SSCC is. We have a variety of ways that you can help. Please plan to join us for hopefully the whole week or a few days, as your schedule allows. If you are new to the church, this has been a fun way to get to know the youth in our church. We usually go out for lunch afterwards. Please contact Leslie Kahrs with your availability.
3) On Sunday, August 7 from 5 - 7 PM, we are getting together for a pool party at the Belmont Clubhouse, off of Paper Mill Road. Hot dogs, chips & drinks will be provided. Bring towels, sunscreen, pool toys/floats, balls, etc. FRIENDS are always welcome to come.
If you have any questions about any of these events, please contact Leslie Kahrs' at 770-541-1771 or lkahrs@bellsouth.net for more information.
Thank you!
Leslie
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Your Sunday School Offering Is Making a Difference!
Bryant McDaniel |
Your generous giving in the adult Sunday School classes continues to make a difference in the lives of others, while enhancing the spiritual life of this church. I'm happy to report that your giving in the first half of the year has continued to grow at triple digit levels over last year (+140% year-to-date).
Your giving has allowed us to increase our contributions towards the Mexico Mission trip and enabled several disadvantaged Georgia youth to attend Camp Balaam. This is in addition to an honorarium given to Dr. Stan Saunders for his leadership in the Community Class.
As a reminder, our giving in the third quarter will be applied toward our ongoing sponsorship of Karthikeyan and Thamizharsi at the Family Village Farm in Vellore, India. Specifically, your support gives these wonderful and appreciative children the chance to receive a formal education that they would not otherwise have. We'll also continue to collect an honorarium for Stan - for his outstanding lectures and insights in the Community Class.
So thanks for your generosity and for giving meaning to our commitment to serve "from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth."
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| Nashville Mission Trip Fundraiser A Huge Success! | |
During the first days of May 2010, Nashville and surrounding areas received record-setting amounts of rain resulting in major flooding and devastating losses. In Nashville alone, over 60,000 people registered for FEMA assistance. On June 26, 2011 Sandy Springs Christian Church sent a group of volunteers to music city to help with recovery efforts. Pairing with Disciples Home Mission, our missionaries departed with a commitment to make a difference in the lives of those that have been dealing with losses this past year. Uncertain of specific work assignments, our SSCC volunteers showed a special level of compassion traveling away from home for a week of "camping" in the sanctuary of Donelson Christian Church ready to help wherever needed. They left expecting to hang drywall, put up siding and/or begin demolition on a house for a family that has been waiting over a year.
While some SSCC friends and members couldn't physically join the group in Nashville, our volunteers went with strong spiritual and financial support of the congregation. Prior to departure, a church-wide Poolside Picnic fundraiser was held. Over seventy-five people participated in the heat and humidity to show support for the Nashville volunteers by donating more than $1500 in one afternoon! This money will be used to cover some of the costs for our volunteers and to purchase building supplies for the Nashville projects. The generous way this church continually supports others reflects the compassion and spirit that makes SSCC a great church truly exercising its faith.
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Unique Opportunity for Interfaith Study and Dialogue
Bryant McDaniel | |
"RECLAIMING THE CENTER"
Thursday Nights - January 12 thru February 16, 2012
sponsored by
Sandy Springs Christian Church is one of three churches and three synagogues in Sandy Springs that have been invited to participate in a special interfaith program called "Reclaiming the Center," sponsored by the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies. The objective of the program is to address the contemporary challenges of religious pluralism by shaping a new relationship between Christians and Jews by:
- reexamining the meaning of our religious assumptions, particularly about each other.
- challenging the theological distortions and misconceptions that have contributed to the historical conflict between Christians and Jews.
- developing resources within our respective communities that inspire both Christians and Jews to honor the legitimacy and distinctiveness of the other.
Here are the details on the program:
- This is a six week program - with one session each week on Thursday nights - beginning January 12 and ending February 16, 2012.
- The sessions will rotate between each of the participating churches and temples during the six weeks.
- Dinner will be served between 5:30-6:30 pm. Study and discussion follow from 6:30-8:15 pm.
- Each congregation can have up to 20 participants, so there will be approximately 120 participants in total.
- The discussion will be a mix of large and small groups. The small groups will be comprised of 10 people with representation from each of the congregations.
- The other participating congregations include: Holy Innocents Episcopal, Mount Vernon Presbyterian, Temple Sinai, Temple Or-Hadash, and Temple B'nai Torah.
- Cost will be $120.00 for the program (includes all meals and materials).
We have been asked to determine our list of participants by the end of July, so we will post a sign up form for this program in the Centrum on Sunday, July 10. A formal invitation from the coordinators of the program will follow in August.
Please contact Bryant McDaniel, Phil Price or Erin Cooper if you should have any questions in the meantime.
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Do You Know About Caring Made Visible?
Ray Woods |
Do you ever wonder, "What happened to John or Jane" when you haven't seen them for a while? Are you concerned when someone in our SSCC family has an illness or other problem that can keep us apart? If so, please check in with your Caring Made Visible ministry team.
Caring Made Visible serves as a caring resource on behalf of SSCC when one of our families or friends needs some support or contact to maintain our sense of community. Sometimes it is just a phone call or a card; other times it may require a visit or some task to help them in their time of need. If you are one of our Caring People with a little time to share or you know someone who needs some extra contact, please let us know through the church office.
A tremendous thank you to our current ministry team: Dawna Abel, Carol Armstrong, Bert Blackburn, Erin Cooper (pastoral contact), Elaine Donnelly (Elder liaison), Barb Duren, Charlotte Hale, Pat Kapphahn, Mary Anne Little, Billie McGinley, Fran Michels, Phil Price (Senior Minister), Susan Spurgeon, Alice Villa, Mabel Williams and Ray (Woody) Woods.
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It Seems Strange, Don't You Think...
Rev. Linda S. Whitmire |
It Seems Strange, Don't You Think...
...that everyone has yet to jump on board to say "YES! count ME" as a Legacy Builder for our church. Are you waiting until you have MORE to give? Until the church is EXACTLY like you want a church to be? Until your SPOUSE says "Let's do it!" Until...WELL??? Until WHAT? I wish I knew. Giving for a future stronger mission and ministry seems just what YOU would want to be part of.
Want to talk to someone about how to go about that in a way that best fits YOUR budget and YOUR Christian commitment? Try Rev. Randy Johnson at the Christian Church Foundation (rjohnson@ccf.disciples.org). It's free. It's confidential. And it's really important--don't you think?? (Besides, he's an easy one to share the real stuff about dreams and possibilities and limitations. We know. We put him to the test!)
Your SSCC Legacy Builder Friends
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SSCC to Host "AtlantaStringMania" July 29 and 30 |
AtlantaStringMania 2011 is a string festival for students from 6th grade through age 18, or any string student that has had at least one year of playing experience. Our goal is to prepare students for the new school year by providing refreshers in instrument technique, small ensemble playing, large ensemble participation, solo playing, and theory.
The $100.00 two-day session will include cello choir, violin choir, viola choir, and bass choir rehearsals; full string orchestra rehearsals. Go to http://atlantastringmania.com/ for more details. Please pick up a postcard at the Welcome Desk to share with friends and family.
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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 | |
July Events & Special Worship
7/1 ThirdAgers Celebrate Independence Day, Free Patriotic Concert and Ice Cream Social,
6:45 pm, Johnson Ferry Road Baptist Church
7/3, 10 & 17 Community Sunday School with Dr. Stan Saunders, 10 am, Dunlap Hall
7/4 SSCC closed for Independence Day
7/9-13 General Assembly, Nashville, TN,
http://www.disciples.org/GeneralAssembly/tabid/59/Default.aspx
7/17 Youth Group at Atlanta Braves Game, 1:30 pm game time
7/24, 31 Focus Groups (Sunday School), 10 am
7/25-29 SSCC SonSurf VBS, 9:30 am - 12 pm
7/29-30 SSCC Hosting AtlantaStringMania camp (201, 202, 205)
7/31 Pancake Breakfast, 8:30 - 11:15 am
July Summer Camps 2011, http://gadisciples.org/Camp/C2011/Camp_for2011.htm
7/18-20 Chrysalis (1st or 2nd grade)
7/18-22 Junior II (3rd-5th grade)
7/22-24 Genesis (Kindergarten)
Save the Date
8/7 Focus Groups (Sunday School), 10 am
8/7 Youth Group Pool Party, 5-7 pm, Belmont Clubhouse
8/14, 21, 28 & 9/4 Community Sunday School with Dr. Stan Saunders, 10 am, Dunlap Hall
8/21 ThirdAgers Chat 'n Chew with Randy Johnson, 12 noon
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 August 1 Wellspring are due July 21. 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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