 February 2013 Grace Spoken Here Volume 14, Issue 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Viewpoints at SSCC |
A LIFE CHANGING INVITATION
Attending a Friday Morning Men's Group (FMMG) is, to me, like getting up to watch a sunrise at the beach --- both occur early in the morning; each day is always different and almost always uplifting.
We have been gathering in the Conference Room from 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. each Friday morning since January 5, 1990. There we have breakfast--which we take turns providing. This group creates an opportunity for developing a closer relationship with God (individually and collectively) by sharing the concerns, celebrations, and insights we are experiencing on our journey of faith and self-discovery.
We have found it beneficial to study and discuss in depth books from a varied selection of authors. It usually takes 2-3 years to work our way through a book. This allows us time to challenge and expand our individual perceptions. It also helps us stay focused when the discussion strays from personal to general. We are more interested in learning about each other's experiences --- than just getting through the current book.
In March we will begin using our next book: "REMEDIAL CHRISTIANITY - What Every Believer Should Know About the Faith, but Probably Doesn't" by Paul Alan Laughlin.
Mike Crowe
PLEASE COME JOIN US
ON FRIDAY MORNINGS
|
|
|
|
|
A Note from Danny: "Leaning Forward, Aiming High"
Rev. Danny Gulden, Senior Minister |
 | |
Rev. Danny Gulden,
Senior Minister |
It is rare that a meeting of the congregation can provide a significant amount of energy, excitement, and encouragement. I believe we achieved all of these goals this past Sunday. Thank you for your presence, your gifts, your treasure, and your energy.This is a dynamic faith community with a bright future and I am grateful to be a small part of that future. In the coming year, I want to put forth a challenge (or two).
Worship - Continue to make worship a priority. It is each and every one of you that make this such a wonderful church. We promise to continue to strive for every worship experience to be meaningful, inspiring, and challenging. Stretch yourself to not only be present, but to invite someone to experience SSCC with you.
Stretch Yourself. Take a Chance - Listen to how God is calling you to do something you have yet to do. It could be joining a Covenant Group, taking part in a Sunday School class, or serving in a new mission project. It will be different for each individual or family. These are just a few examples of ways in which you can do something new.
Be Generous - As we seek to be even more faithful stewards of our gifts, continue to be generous. Your gifts to the ministry of SSCC are meaningful to so many people in so many ways. Continue to be generous so that our ministries continue to make a difference.
Let me close by sharing once again our three vision points for 2013. It is critical for our shared vision to be a shared ministry. Michelangelo once wrote, "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." The way of Jesus calls us to reach high in bringing wholeness to our world.
- Generosity - Increased awareness and focus upon Stewardship and further creating a culture of generosity.
- Attract and Connect - Invite people to our fellowship and connect them with people and ministries in ways that help them share their gifts.
- Engaging New Generations - Develop a focus and a culture for young adults who are not currently active in a faith community.
Grateful to be your pastor,
top |
|
Congregational Meeting Celebrates Accomplishments and Future Plans
Bryant McDaniel, President of the Congregation |
 | | Bryant McDaniel |
One hundred and twenty five members enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner prepared by the Torberts before hearing several presentations about 2012 accomplishments and future plans for SSCC.
Bryant McDaniel opened the meeting by sharing some reflections on the many accomplishments at SSCC in 2012: recognizing the wonderful additions to our ministerial staff, thanking our "retiring" elected leaders, celebrating our 55 new members, and acknowledging the impact of the many ministries at SSCC. Danny Gulden then gave an inspirational presentation about his vision and priorities for the church in 2013. (See Danny's article in this Wellspring for more detail).
Treasurer Cindy Brown walked everyone through the financial results of 2012 and the proposed budget for 2013. Scott Dalton provided an update on the Grace Alive! project plans. Joyce Edwards gave an overview of the process the Bylaws Team will follow. Bryant shared information on various committees, their roles and their meeting routines. (A printed version of this is available in the Centrum). He closed the meeting with a reminder that our next Congregational Meeting will be on our second "Celebration Sunday," October 27 in Dunlap Hall.
Motions were passed at the meeting to approve the following: 2013 Vision and Priorities, 2013 Budget, Extension of the Interim Guidelines, Affirming the 2013 Nominating Committee.
Click here to view/print a list of the church leadership positions for 2013.
Click here to view/print the 2013 Operating Budget.
These two documents are available on the Welcome Desk in the Centrum.
top
|
Grace Alive! Update
Scott Dalton, Chair, Grace Alive! Campaign | |
At last Sunday's Annual Congregational Meeting I informed the attendees that Grace Alive! pledges now total $1,020,000 and that as of December 31, 2012 we have $376,000 of that amount in hand! Quite an amazing result, and I want to thank you again for your generous support of the Grace Alive! campaign!
While several families chose to pay some or all of their commitment in 2012, please remember that the pledge period runs over three years through YE 2015. You can fulfill your pledge in any way that works best for you....weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, or all at once. For record keeping purposes, it is best if you write a separate check and notate "Grace Alive!" in the memo line.
At the meeting, I also shared the expected project timeline by year and total anticipated cost. To see that presentation you can click here. For those of you not at the meeting, the last slide speaks to the reason for the difference in the planned spending and the pledged amount. In a nutshell, our consultant tells us that a fulfillment rate of 90-93% is very good. People's financial condition can change over three years, some may get transferred and move away, and no doubt economic conditions can change. On the other hand, we hope to have many new members during this time who will hopefully support the campaign. So while we certainly hope that our fulfillment result is higher than 93%, we would be poor stewards if we spent more than what might be fulfilled and end up in debt. To avoid that scenario, we did two things. First, we applied an 89% factor to our earlier estimates for each project which puts pressure on the project team to find the highest quality work at the most competitive price. Then secondly, we pushed some projects out into 2014 and 2015 based on priority so we do not get ahead of ourselves. Should fulfillment be higher than 93% and we succeed in keeping these projects near the adjusted targets, that would be a wonderful thing. We'd then have options in 2015 to address additional needs or have a capital fund for future maintenance, a luxury we've never had before.
Your project leaders are working hard already to bring much of the high impact work to fruition in 2013. I will continue to keep you updated periodically. And, of course, you can always ask me questions at church, via email at dsdalton@bellsouth.net or telephone 770-916-854.
Thanks again for your faithful support of Grace Alive!
Scott
top |
Legacy Builders: Larry and Bunny Steinmetz |
 | |
Bunny and Larry
Steinmetz |
My middle name is Steward--steward as in stewardship. It was also my Father's middle name and that of Phillip, our late son.
As I have reflected on our middle names, I am reminded from the Scriptures that a steward (a form of servant) is one who is entrusted to administer the resources of another (often a master or a lord) during one's stewardship (e.g. John 2:7 and following). In our world, we are also like biblical stewards insofar that we also do not ultimately own what we have. Instead we merely have use of these items and resources during the period of our lifetime. Thereafter, what we have used and enjoyed during our season of life, will be inherited by others or disposed of.
However, we can make decisions during our life, the benefits of which will last beyond our lifetimes; thereby, responsibly extending our stewardship of the resources we have managed while we were alive. Therefore, as stewards who have been richly blessed in so many ways, through Legacy Builders we have begun committing a portion of our present resources to continuing our ongoing witness to that which we value through the mission and ministries of Sandy Springs Christian Church.
Larry and Bunny Steinmetz
Would you like more information relating to Legacy Builders? Contact Linda Whitmire or Randy Johnson at rjohnson@ccf.disciples.org. Be a legacy Builder for Christ at SSCC!
top |
|
Youth Group: Spring Kickoff and Upcoming Fun Activities
Bryant & Katie Gibson, Co-Directors of Youth Ministries |
 | | Katie & Bryant Gibson, Co-Directors, Youth Ministries |
The youth had their official kickoff for the spring semester on January 13th with "God's Amazing Race." During this race, the kids were sent to different stations to complete activities such as creating artwork, doing Bible trivia, sharing Pits and Peaks, racing though an obstacle course and worshiping together. This was an activity designed not just for fun, but to remind us that as we "race through life," God provides people to help us through obstacles. He gives us talents and creativity and He's always here to listen to anything we have to share. Check out the pictures below to see what a great time we had!
Coming up this spring, we will have more exciting adventures at Youth Group. We will host "Sandy Springs Got Talent" which won't be a talent show, but will instead challenge the youth to show talents and gifts that they might not even know they have. We will also have "Extreme Home Makeover: Church Edition," where the youth will get the chance to build houses (made out of cardboard). And finally, we will have an "Iron Chef" competition where the youth will get a chance to show their culinary skills! Friends are always welcome and all are invited to share in these fun activities!
top |
|
SSCC Youth Scholarship Ministry | |
The Youth Scholarship Ministry was initiated at Sandy Springs Christian Church in 2003 by a team led by Joanne Burgess. It was initially supported by a Coffee House Production Team which produced a coffee house evening three times a year at SSCC. Other sources of income have been Women's Ministries of SSCC, gifts from individuals and proceeds from CD sales as well as Chili Cook Offs, a Knightsong concert, the 5th Sunday Pancake Breakfasts and other SSCC events. All money has been invested in a Scholarship Fund managed by the SSCC Financial Administrator.
Scholarship applications are available to High School Seniors in good standing with the SSCC youth program and who have demonstrated academic success and leadership.
Applications are available March 1 in the Centrum or contact Cindy Brown at cindyfbrown@gmail.com.
top
|
|
2013 SSCC Calendar of Events | |
Are you trying to get your calendar set for 2013? The SSCC Calendar of Events provides the dates for church events as we know right now. We thought you might be interested in marking your calendars and holding dates for events you would like to attend! Of course, any of these dates are subject to change, but we will do our best to keep you updated.
A copy of the 2013 SSCC Calendar of Events dated February 1 is available at the Welcome Desk, and you can view/print it online by clicking here.
top
|
|
In the Life of SSCC | |
Go to www.SandySpringsCC.org to view our monthly calendar
"Invitable events" are highlighted in red
FEBRUARY 2013
February 2 - Candlelight Cafe, 6:30-8:30 pm
February 3 - Laity Sunday
February 8-10 - Regional Youth Assembly at Epworth (Youth-a-Palooza)
February 10 - Sandwich Making
February 13 - Ash Wednesday, Lenten Dinner 1 of 6 (6:15-7 pm), Worship 7 pm,Classes 7:30-8:30 pm
February 20 - Lenten Dinner 2 of 6 (6:15-7 pm),Worship 7 pm, Classes 7:30-8:30 pm
February 27 - Lenten Dinner 3 of 6 (6:15-7 pm), Worship 7 pm,Classes 7:30-8:30 pm
MARCH 2013
March 1 - Read Across America at Lake Forest Elementary
March 3, 10, 17 - Beginnings Class, 10:10 am (Danny's office)
March 6 - Lenten Dinner 4 of 6 (6:15-7 pm), Worship 7 pm, Classes 7:30-8:30 pm
March 10 - Interfaith Hunger Walk/box lunch
March13 - Lenten Dinner 5 of 6 (6:15-7 pm), Worship 7 pm, Classes 7:30-8:30 pm
March 20 - Lenten Dinner 6 of 6 (6:15-7 pm), Worship 7 pm, Classes 7:30-8:30 pm
March 28 - Maundy Thursday service
March 31 - Easter services, Pancake Breakfast, Easter Egg hunt
THE DAY SCHOOL
February 5 - Zumba Class, 9:15am (DH)
February 11 - VIP Luncheon Set-Up. 3-5 pm (DH)
February 12 - Zuba Class, 9:15 am (DH)
February 12 - TDS VIP Luncheon, 1:30-12:30 pm (DH)
February 12 - Valentine Family Night, 6-8 pm (DH)
ONGOING GROUPS
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, 10:30 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 5th 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, 8:30-10 am
Sundays: Youth Groups, 5-7 pm (DH) Middle School and High School
Early Risers, 8:15 am (Room 202)
Children's Music Program, 9:30 am
Youth Handbells - after second service
top
|
| The Wellspring Contribution Guidelines |
Wellspring contributions are due 4 workdays before the end of each month. March articles are due February 25. Thank you for your timely submissions!
Please limit your article to not more than 350 words. Submit your articles and pictures on ministry news and past events. Keep the congregation and others informed about our busy, vital church.
Email your contributions to Nan Woods: nanwoods@bellsouth.net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
