Thanks to your graciousness, I spent this past week on retreat with a group of 

Rev. Danny Gulden, Senior Minister

clergy here in Atlanta. Wednesday was an intentional 24 hour period of silence for our group. During silence, I spent some time focused upon and wrestling with this poem by Mary Oliver:

"Instructions for living a life. 
Pay attention. 
Be astonished. 
Tell about it." 

Mary Oliver has it right when she says to pay attention. When we pay attention, we begin to see the work of God around us, most often in the places we least expect. Rather than not being able to see evidence of God's work in the world, we begin to see it all around. Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it. Not a bad way to make your way through life.

Grace and peace to you,

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The goal of the entire Grace Alive! Capital Campaign has been summarized as follows: "To invite and challenge every member of the church to pray the following prayer on a sustained basis:  "Dear Lord, What would you do through me to accomplish your vision for our church?'"

A Prayer Team has been formed and charged with the responsibility of making sure that prayer is not simply the campaign's religious window dressing, but the campaign's power--the engine moving the campaign forward as a unified effort to enable, enhance, and facilitate our church's ministries and missions.

Many other teams are also working on other aspects of the Grace Alive! Campaign. The Prayer Team prays weekly as a group and daily as individuals for our church, its members, its ministries and missions, and the Grace Alive! Campaign. More specifically, our Prayer Team systematically prays for each of the campaign's leaders and for other workers to support them and their work.

Our Prayer Team will also sponsor and lead a church-wide prayer walk beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 16.   As a group we will begin in our church's Conference Room and walk together to several different locations in and around our church building stopping from time to time to pray together for our church, for its members, for its missions and ministries, and for the Grace Alive! Campaign and its leaders and workers. Our prayer walk will last no more than an hour and will include several locations where we will sit and pray. Everyone who would like to join us is welcome.  

Our prayer walk can focus our envisioning and praying on the missions and ministries which the Grace Alive! Campaign will enable, enhance, and facilitate--for example, our worship services; our education and other ministries for children, youth, and adults; our outreach/missions programs and projects; our ability to continue to attract new members into a mutually beneficial relationship with us; and our obligation to be good stewards of both the facilities that our predecessors have built for us and our environment.

The bookmarks which have been made availlable will help you remember to pray for the campaign and to pray the following prayer on a sustained basis:   "Dear Lord, What would You do through me to accomplish Your vision for our church?"

Our Prayer Team meets in our church's Conference Room at 10 a.m. each Tuesday thru November 6.    If you want more information or want to join the Grace Alive! Prayer Team, please call Floyd Hale at 678-402-6238 or send him an email at hale789@hotmail.com. If you want to participate in any of our meetings by telephone or listen to a recording of any of our meetings by telephone at any time after the meeting has concluded, please contact Floyd for instructions concerning how you can easily do that.

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Dear Church and Faith Family,

I know that many of us are prayerfully considering what "Grace Alive!" is going to look like for us. While you are considering your personal pledge and what your part in God's Grace and work through this church will be, we wanted to take this opportunity to share some information regarding the SSCC Operating Budget. For us, one of the draws to Sandy Springs Christian Church is the caring community that surrounds us. It's the big things like exceptional educational opportunities, an inspirational message on Sunday morning, and a familiar and smiling face when you walk in the door. But it's also the little things like that prayer card that comes in the mail just when you need it. And the amazing music that serves as a cornerstone during worship. This is what draws me to Sandy Spring Christian Church. This Grace also requires that we prayerfully provide our time, talents, and hard earned dollars to make this community what it is.

The costs of running the Church are largely fixed. Given our current ministries, programs, and staffing levels, we need slightly more than ½ million dollars in income to reach breakeven. Recognizing that virtually every dollar spent is contributed from a member or visitor, the Trustees and Leadership Team aggressively manage costs. We spend about $225,000 on ministers and program staff, and office expenses and staff run about $115,000. Operating our facilities along with custodial staff run around $100,000. That totals $440,000 for normal Church operations in 2012. But we are a generous community of faith and have committed to at least 10% of our budget be given back to mission. With this commitment and along with additional ministries, we provide about $80,000 in mission totaling a budget of $520,000.

We are blessed that we receive around $60,000 for the cell tower property rental and building use. That means we need to receive $460,000 in member and visitor contributions to break even. For 2012, an under run in member giving was more than offset by an overage in visitor giving, which is not expected to continue in 2013. In fact, member giving will need to increase 10 to 15% in 2013 to continue our planned ministries and programs at current levels.

On October 20th, we will mail pledge cards for both the Annual Operating Budget Campaign and Grace Alive! Campaign. When praying and planning for what your heart is telling you to give, please remember that our church operating budget funds are separate from the Grace Alive! Campaign. We will need your prayerful giving and support for our annual operating budget as it is what keeps the church operating, praying, celebrating, serving one another from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth and living out GRACE ALIVE! On October 28th, Commitment Sunday, we will celebrate together the generosity that we are called to provide.

Delane and Jim Bickelhaupt

Operating Budget Campaign Leaders

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Narrative

                                                                       2012 Outlook     2013 Budget

Member Giving                                                           375,000 to 390,000         430,000

Visitor Giving                                                                                65,000          30,000

Other Income*                                                                              60,000          64,000

Total Income                                                              500,000 to 515,000         524,000

Ministries                                                                                     74,000          84,000**

Ministers & Program Staff                                                            225,000        225,000

Office & Administration                                                                115,000        115,000

Facilities & Custodial                                                                   100,000        100,000

Total Expense                                                                             514,000        524,000

Net Income                                                                  (14,000) to   1,000                  0

  *Cell Tower and Building Use

** Ministries increases in 2013 primarily reflect additional expenses for Children, Youth and Music

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The SSCC children had their first service project of the fall season on Sunday, September 23, when we made fleece blankets for use in the ICU at Egleston Children's Hospital. We also wrote and decorated 'get well' notes that will be placed in the babies' cribs. Many thanks to everyone who donated material for this project. We have LOTS of fleece left, and will be continuing to knot blankets in Sunday School in November!! Please contact Leslie Raymer if you are interested in helping make more blankets for the Children's Hospitals (leslieraymer@sandyspringscc.org). There is plenty of fleece for the adult Sunday School classes to help!

Leslie Raymer, Minister for Children and Families

Please click here for more 

          pictures

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Grace is truly alive and well at SSCC!! This past Sunday, five of our children, Aidan & Eva Jones, Noah & Emma Hicks, and Yewell Volin were baptized and became full members of our church in our first Fall Baptism class. And to add spice to this wonderful Sunday, the Hicks and Jones families also joined SSCC! We welcome these wonderful folks who have decided to join the SSCC church family.

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It all began in July of 2003 when Joanne Burgess had a vision for SSCC to create a means of supporting graduating seniors financially as they enter into further education. It was then that the Sandy Springs Christian Church Youth Scholarship Ministry was formed. This exciting Ministry was 

nitially supported by a Coffee House Production Team which sponsored a community wide Coffee House three times each year. Later, the Women's Ministries of SSCC and generous gifts from individuals have helped the Scholarship fund to grow. 

At the present time, the major fund raiser for the Scholarship Fund is the Pancake Breakfast, which is offered every 5th Sunday at the Church. A dedicated team of "food people" go early to prepare the bacon, sausage and pancakes for all who attend. Payment for the breakfast has always been on a contribution basis, but everyone should remember that this is the "major" means of growing the Scholarship Fund, and contributions per person should be in line with most average breakfast costs. 
 

One additional fund raiser the Team is announcing is the creation of a Sandy Springs Recipe Book. The plan is to have the book completed and ready for sale before Christmas of this year. So, everyone please send your favorite recipes to Mary Anne Posey at map@mindspring.com. Get them in no later than October 26th. Mary Anne says she will publish the Almond Bars recipe if you share you own favorite recipes for this venture. Everyone please join this effort as we continue to Fulfill the Dream!

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In 2009, Congress declared September 11 a Great Day of Service, encouraging Americans to find a way to serve others in honor of those who lost their lives on 9-11-2001. With September 11 falling on a Tuesday this year, we took some liberties and gathered to work on the Saturday before that anniversary. About twenty faithful members and friends gathered to deep clean the kitchen, write letters to our two "adopted" students in India, and complete many semi-annual tasks around the grounds. Volunteers were encouraged to move among the projects. In Dunlap Hall, volunteers wrote notes that will travel to the other side of the world in response to the letters our children at The Family Village Farm in Vellore, India sent us. Workers in the kitchen were scrubbing and organizing to help ensure SSCC will earn the prestigious "100" rating from the health department again this year. Everyone enjoys the food prepared in the kitchen and this was a great way to pay that back. Out on the grounds, workers braved the heat while trimming, mowing, weeding, blowing and spreading 100 bales of pine straw. With an estimated 75,000 vehicles passing our property each day, the efforts of this service are likely to be enjoyed by the community as well as our members. Thanks to all who gave of their time! 

Click here to see a slideshow of our volunteers at work. 

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This is an email from John Mullis, the resident of one of the homes worked on by the Tuscaloosa Mission group. He recently sent Chris Dalton this note from him to SSCC.

I am not sure if you received the note that I sent some time ago 

John Mullis and Chris Dalton

thanking you for the gift. It was such a wonderful surprise. I can not remember the last birthday present that I received for my days run mostly one into another. I have great news from my doctor and that is my growth on my lung is in remission so hopefully it will remain behaving itself between now and December when my next check up comes.

It was such a joy when you and the others came to help. Since y'all left it has mostly been rain and not much else has been going on here.

Please tell Susan, Erica, Dan the preacher, Delane and her sister Brandy that I think of y'all often and fondly. I heard from Cameron and his mother; please tell them hello and if they wish to write this is now a working email thanks to Cameron and his patience for it has taken me quite some time to figure out how to do this.

Again my fondest thoughts towards you and thank you again.

I remain your humble servant,

John Mullis

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Real People, Real Faith was a great success. Diana Butler Bass treated us with her communication gifts and her insights into the future of Christianity. Next September, we will have Nadia Bolz-Weber as our speaker -- you will not want to miss this!

Also, you will want to plan on attending Community Sunday School on October 7th. Our resident theologian, Dr. Stan Saunders, will speak to us about giving. As congregants, we are asked annually to give of our fruits to support the church. Stan will teach us what the Bible really says about how we should give.

In November, we will focus on Islam. For four weeks, different speakers will give us a greater understanding of a faith that shares our roots but is misunderstood by most Americans.

Come and grow at SSCC!

You don't need to figure out these or

other Medicare questions by yourself!

• Are you approaching your 65th birthday and trying to make sense out of the stacks of mail you're getting from insurance companies about Medicare? 
• Are you already on Medicare and wondering what is included in the new preventive health benefits and how to access those benefits?
• Do you know how to get the best possible coverage for prescription drugs for yourself or a family member during the annual enrollment period (Oct 15 - Dec 7)? (The plan you currently have may not be the best one for you in 2013.)

The Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies (ICJS) is the sponsor and originator of this program, called "Reclaiming the Center". Since its founding in 1987, ICJS has been charting new ground in Christian-Jewish relations. ICJS scholars have helped thousands of laity and clergy gain new insights into one another's traditions, and in the process found new ways to approach today's most pressing issues.

You Are Invited!
 

In January and February 2013, the next chapter in this extremely important interfaith endeavor will be launched. We are extending an invitation to each of you to participate in Part 2 of "Reclaiming the Center". In six sessions we will explore rhetorical arguments, troubling texts, sacred arguments, and Biblical authority. You will also have the opportunity to discuss religious perspectives on hot and timely issues. Participants will have the chance to raise questions of particular importance to them and hear a panel present differing religious perspectives on these contemporary and challenging issues.

The six sessions for 2013 are scheduled for consecutive Thursdays from January 10 through February 14. Three sessions begin at 6:00pm with dinner served and three begin at 6:30pm with snacks served. All sessions conclude at 9:00pm. Each of the six participating congregations will host one session. There is a cost for food and materials of $120 per person.

What could be more important in our polarized social and political environment than to learn across our difference and reclaim the indispensable art of civil discourse?

Signup and Training Sessions for New Participants

There is a signup sheet in the Centrum. We are limited to twenty participants from our congregation. Additionally, there are two training sessions for new participants to enable you to become familiar with the materials studied and discussed in the 2012 sessions. Scholars from ICJS will facilitate these meetings on Tuesday, November 6 and Tuesday, December 11. Please contact Milt Hill with any questions you may have.

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We acknowledge with appreciation your gift

October 4 - Medicare Counseling every 1st and 3rd Thursday

October 18 - ThirdAgers Lunch & Gibbs Garden, Ball Ground, Ga

October 21 - Medicare Workshop

October 30 - More Hands for God Day

October 28 - Grace Alive! Celebration Sunday, 10 am sevice followed by lunch

October 28 - SSCC Trunk & Treat, 6:00-8:00 pm

October 31 - Book Character Reading at Lake Forest Elementary, 8:30 am-2:00 pm