July 2013 Grace Spoken Here Volume 14, Issue 7
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Viewpoints at SSCC
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When I contemplate the 18 months I have spent as a member of the staff at SSCC and the year that I have been a church member, I am filled with joy and gratitude that I accepted the offer to work with the children at SSCC in October of 2011. I can't believe all the changes in my life that have occurred since the end of 2011! I came to SSCC as an ordainable candidate in the United Church of Christ and a long time member of an inner city UCC church.
Little did I anticipate that in my first six months at SSCC, I would work for three senior ministers, change denominations, join a new church, and begin seeking ordination in the Disciples! Each step along the way, I have been supported by the members and staff of the church as I made these momentous decisions in my faith journey. I have made many new friends and have been offered many wonderful opportunities for Christian service.
One of my favorite things about SSCC is that it is fun to come to work each day, and I really look forward to worship each Sunday. I just love the way everyone in the church participates to make our ministries and programs successful, and boy, have I gotten to take part in a lot of successful programs...Children's Ministry, CAC, Trunk n Treat, our interfaith work with Congregation Or Hadash and the Islamic Center, ICJS, Youth Rally, Camp Christian, summer mission trips, VBS, playing bells on Sunday mornings...the list just goes on and on! I feel blessed to be a part of this vibrant, welcoming faith community, and thank everyone who has offered me advice, support, and friendship as I have moved into SSCC and the Disciples! I am so glad I took the leap of faith 18 months ago and decided to come to SSCC. I feel like I have come home. Many thanks to everyone who has made SSCC a place of extravagant welcome for me!
Leslie Raymer
Minister for Children and Families
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A Note from Danny: "Staying Out of the Weeds"
Rev. Danny Gulden, Senior Minister
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Rev. Danny Gulden,
Senior Minister
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Do you ever feel like you get lost in the weeds and lose sight of the big picture? This past week, I made a confession to our staff and to our Leadership Team that for a couple of months, I had felt lost in the weeds. We have been in the middle of some major renovations, using new technology, and exploring new ways of doing ministry. I fully believe that God has plans for our congregation that are beyond even what we can imagine. Our message of love and grace for all is necessary in our community, and by being faithful to God's call, we can impact a multitude of lives. In the midst of change, it is very easy for any organization or person to look down and simply begin to nibble themselves lost, focused on items that in the big picture aren't important.
I noticed that our growth and momentum had slowed. Sometimes, when you are caught up in the weeds, its hard to see two feet in front of you, let alone catch a glimpse of the vision. We desire to be a different kind of church, one where grace and love abound, and all are welcomed. We want to be a church that recognizes people are in different places on their journeys of faith. If we focus on our vision, then it becomes clear which ministries are life-giving and transformative for people. This sometimes means that we must put the vision of the church before our own interests. This tension is the elephant in the room in most any organization. In his book The Advantage, Patrick Lencioni shares this nugget of wisdom, "Collective responsibility implies, more than anything else, selflessness and shared sacrifices from team members."
Our mission is :
To Connect with God and one another,
To Inspire faithfulness, and
To Serve in joy - as members of the one body of Christ
And our three Strategic Vision Points for this year are:
Creating a culture of Generosity
Attracting people to SSCC and Connecting to life-giving ministries
Engaging New Generations in life and ministry
I don't know about you, but I discovered the weeds are not a fun place to be. The vision for the church is a compelling vision, and we have made many faithful strides. I look forward to seeing where, with God's help, we continue to go. My hope and prayer for all of us is that in all walks of life we don't nibble ourselves lost. May we make the grand discovery that life begins when we stay out of the weeds.
Peace to your path,
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Good News and Important Facts You Should Know About Our Upcoming Mission Trip to Appalachia
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We were blessed with beautiful weather for the annual pool party on June 22. About 75 people came to swim, socialize, eat and raise funds for this year's summer mission trip to Rattlesnake Ridge in Appalachia, Kentucky. The event raised over $1000!! Thanks to everyone for their support!!
Click here to view photos on Skydrive
Our mission team will leave from church on Sunday, July 7 and settle at a bunkhouse in McCreary County, Kentucky. On Monday morning, we will begin work at one property with two homes on it. The owners of the homes are related and currently unemployed as the tire factory where they worked burned down last year. The area was formerly a lumber and coal mining town, but both of those industries have died out. SSCC is sending 27 people on the trip: Delane Bickelhaupt, Evan and Teresa Bensch, Tracy and Rachel Carfagna, Katie Gibson, Debbie Lenz-Clark and Steve Clark, Jay Donnelly, Kim, Pete, Patty and Samantha French, Emma and Susan McCluskey, Nancy McDaniel, Austin and MacKenzie Michels, Linda Mitchell, Aspen Ono, Elizabeth and Gary Peterson, Justin Stanfill, Jim Torbert, Sara Torbert, Lindy Watkins, and Kristin Wolf.
PLEASE GATHER GENTLY USED CLOTHING ITEMS FOR US TO TAKE AS A DONATION. Our sponsoring organization, Integrated Community Ministries (ICM) also runs a food pantry, thrift shop and educational center. They have a big back-to-school event for students at the thrift shop in August and would love for us to bring items to help with this. There will be a collection box in the Centrum on Sunday morning, July 7. Please contribute new or clean, gently used clothing for children and/or adults if you can.
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Real People, Real Faith Coming in September
Leslie and Bruce Lady, Adult Education Leaders
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Sandy Springs Christian Church
is pleased to host
NADIA BOLZ-WEBER
Friday, September 13, 6:30-9:00 PM
and
Saturday, September 14, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
$30 if registered before August 15th; $40 if after August 15th
(cost includes lectures, dessert reception Friday & continental breakfast Saturday)
or call the church office, 404.256.2582.
Please mark your calendars for September 13th and 14th because SSCC will be presenting a speaker you will NOT want to miss. Her name is Nadia Bolz-Weber, founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints, an Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)---a mission church in Denver, CO. She is considered a leading voice in the emerging church movement.
Ms. Bolz-Weber is the author of Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television, and her new book, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint, will be released days before she arrives at SSCC. She does not look like your typical pastor, but then, her story is also not typical. Her website states, "Heavily tattooed and no holds barred, Nadia, a former stand-up comic, sure as hell didn't consider herself to be religious leader material - until the day she ended up leading a friend's funeral in a smoky downtown comedy club." Phylis Tickle, author of "The Great Emergence," says this about her: "Nadia Bolz-Weber has probably done more than any other pastor in recent times to poke therapeutic fun at the misdemeanors and flaws of overly-churched Christianity and Christians. The passion behind her words, however, is as deeply pastoral as it is God-drenched and liberating..."
If you would like to experience the magic of Nadia Bolz-Weber, watch her on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM9Y5S3UYi8.
301 Johnson Ferry RD NW
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
www.SandySpringsChristianChurch.org
404.256.2582
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Hallelujah, We're Exposed!
Ralph Bowlin and Bryant Hodgson
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Since the virtual completion of the Georgia DOT Johnson Ferry/Abernathy intersection improvements, Sandy Springs Christian Church has become one of the most visible landscape icons in the City of Sandy Springs, with a vehicular traffic count averaging 70,000 vehicles flowing by each day.
Second to our Sanctuary, care to guess what the next most dominating and visible aspect of our campus would be? Yep, it's our parking lot: over 8,000 square yards with parking spaces for 250 cars. While the space is adequate for current and projected near-term needs, the surface needs extensive restoration in order to uphold and contribute to the higher aesthetic standards to be set by our planned Grace Alive! Landscaping and new Signage, and to make the entry and exit experiences for our user constituents pleasant and safe.
Here is the scheduled time line to accomplish the Parking Lot Improvements in a safe and efficient manner:
Monday, June 24 for Three Weeks
Work will begin on the parking lot storm drains and the curbing on the Abernathy Road side of the parking lot.
This work should not impact the normal operations of the Church. However, the parking lot that faces Abernathy Road will not be accessible for parking. All parking should be done on the Johnson Ferry Road side of the parking lot or in the parking lot at the rear of the Church. Anyone using the entrance or exit on Abernathy Road should use extreme caution when using that entrance during this period.
Monday, July 29 through Friday, August 2
The church will be closed during this period. Staff will be working remotely and meetings and functions customarily held at the church during this time will be relocated or rescheduled.
Saturday, August 3
Work on the parking lot will continue.
Sunday, August 4
The church will be open for worship, Sunday School, and any other customary Sunday activities.
Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9
This period is reserved as a "buffer" to permit the contractor to deal with unanticipated delays encountered during the previous week, such as unsuitable weather.
Saturday, August 10
The church will be closed and there will be no parking allowed in order to re-stripe parking spaces.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this period. And be encouraged that the warm welcome people experience within the walls of Sandy Springs Christian Church will now commence with approach and entry into our beautiful, refreshed campus.
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Grace Alive! Message
Congregational Meeting on July 7 after both services
Tony Chimera and Stuart Michels, Generosity Team Leaders
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As you will recall, last year we initiated a capital campaign to modernize and redesign our facilities and grounds. Our goal was to raise $1,000,000 over a three year period and the congregation pledged $1,020,000 so far. We want to thank you for your gracious support of the Grace Alive! Capital Campaign and want to report that the church has received contributions to date of more than $500,000 of the $1,020,000 pledged for the three year program. Hopefully, you have had a chance to see and experience some of the projects that have been implemented like the audio visual upgrades to the sanctuary, new lighting in many areas of the church, the new security system and door locks, and the renovation of the narthex, centrum, parlor, and bathrooms.
Big and exciting things are already happening as a part of Grace Alive! and even bigger projects are in the final planning stages for implementation in the next few months. These projects include:
- The repaving of the church parking lot
- The upgrading and replacement of the church's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- The replacement of the church's roof
- The landscaping for the church and an edible island
- The upgraded and replaced signage for the church
Due to expenses and scheduling of these upcoming projects and of the projects currently being completed (which together total approximately $750,000), the church needs to obtain a loan for approximately $100,000 to meet the near term financial requirements for the timely completion of these projects. The loan would be paid off as the remainder of the Grace Alive! pledges are fulfilled over the next 2-1/2 years. There will be a congregational meeting on Sunday, July 7th following each service to obtain the congregation's approval for the loan to finance these upcoming projects. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact Scott Dalton (Grace Alive! Chair), Jim Armstrong (Finance Director), Bryant McDaniel (President of the Congregation), or Bryant Hodgson (Chair of Trustees).
We would like to invite those who have pledged annual gifts to the Grace Alive! program to consider getting those pledges into the church, if you are willing and able do so, at this time. We would like to invite others who have pledged to give at different rates to consider accelerating your giving to this program as you are willing and able. All your efforts are much appreciated as the Grace Alive! team focuses on effectively completing the projects.
Grace Alive! is one of many ways that the congregation has demonstrated its generosity over the past year. We appreciate everyone's contributions whether they are time, talent or treasures. If you are not currently participating in the Grace Alive! Program or have an interest in contributing to our Generosity efforts, we would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about in these exciting programs.
Grace and peace to you,
Tony Chimera & Stuart Michels
Generosity Team Leaders
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General Assembly in Orlando, Florida - July 13-17
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Disciples clergy and lay leaders from the United States and Canada will gather in Orlando, FL for the biennial General Assembly in July. Disciples gather for worship, learning, fellowship, and conducting the business of the General Church. This year's Assembly will be one where SSCC will be well represented:
On Tuesday evening, SSCC will receive the James P.Johnson Stewardship Award from the Christian Church Foundation
- Rev. Danny Gulden will be leading a learning track on Spiritual Vitality
- Rev. Linda Whitmire will be leading a learning track on Stewardship
- Rev. Dr. Glen Miles, former Senior Minister, will be preaching at the opening night worship and will be elected moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Business will be conducted, including Sense of the Assembly resolutions. These are non-binding resolutions that simply inform congregations where the church gathered is on particular issues of the day. A particularly important resolution is GA-1327, A Place of Welcome and Grace for All People. You can learn more about this resolution and resolutions in general in the video from our General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAdqIIQIOVA
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Legacy Builders: We Knew We Wanted to Make a Commitment
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Dear Wonderful Faith Family,
Jim and I have been asked to share with you why we chose to make a long-term commitment to Sandy Springs Christian Church through the Legacy Builders initiative. I grew up in the Disciples Church, my grandparents were members, and my mother grew up in the Disciples Church as well. I can't begin to tell you what an impact this church has had on me. Disciples Churches have molded me, guided me, married me, and made me who I am today. Now that I am "grown" (in age not height) it was important to both Jim and meI to make certain that we are giving back to the church that has given us so much. We do our best to share our time, talents, and treasures but somehow this feels different.
When we heard about the Legacy Builders initiative, we knew it was something we wanted to be a part of. While none of us like to think about the end of our days, it was really a very simple commitment we needed to make. After we are gone, leave something to help make sure Sandy Springs Christian Church continues to influence lives for future disciples. We knew that we wanted to make this commitment, and to do that, we needed to do it officially by including Sandy Springs in our will.
Jim and I are so thankful for the opportunity to serve Sandy Springs Christian Church beyond our years. To know that when we are gone we will be able to CONTINUE giving to something bigger than ourselves feels amazing. One day we will both meet our savior; knowing that on that day, when our souls reach heaven, we will still be serving God and his disciples here on earth makes our hearts smile!
Delane and Jim Bickelhaupt
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Third Quarter Sunday School Collections
Child Sponsorship Program (through Global Ministries)
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Just wanted to remind everyone that even though there will not be any Sunday School in July, we will still accept your donations for the sponsorship of Thami (age 13, 8th grade) and Karti (age 10, 5th grade) at the Family Village Farm in Vellore, India. Specifically, our sponsorship will be applied towards their formal education at a cost of $360 per year for each child. 100% of your donations go directly towards the sponsorships, meaning there are no administrative costs.
This will be the fourth year of our sponsorship of these two precious--and very grateful children. Our goal this quarter is to cover the cost of an annual sponsorship of both children for another year, with the hope and intent that we will be able to continue our sponsorship of both children through their graduation.
| Thami and Karti | top
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Memorials Committee
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July 1, 2013
The Memorials Committee acknowledges with appreciation your gift
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SSCC Children's Programming Through the Year: Fall 2012-Spring 2013
Leslie Raymer, Minister for Children and Families
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SSCC offers our children opportunities throughout the year for spirit and fun-filled worship, service, and education. It is wonderful how everyone in the church participates to make this ministry a success. Please take a moment and enjoy the children's smiles as they are connecting with God, inspiring us all to faithfulness, and serving with fun and joy!!
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Camp Christian: The Place to Be
Katie and Bryant Gibson, Co-Directors of Youth Ministries
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| Katie & Bryant Gibson, Co-Directors of Youth Ministries |
Several of our children and youth have spent some time at Camp Christian this summer. Our Junior campers (3rd-5th grade) started off the camp season in early June, and despite the rain, they had a fantastic week!
CYF Conference (high school) was the second camp, and it was a record breaking week! We had almost 90 campers registered for the camp, and in our staff of 17 adults, 7 of them were members or friends of SSCC. We have always been blessed with the adult sponsors at Sandy Springs Christian Church, and they definitely helped to make our camp as wonderful as it was. We spent the week learning about "All Things New," and trying new things. We had CYF's first Hunger Games Competition, the first flash mob at camp, the first CYF bonfire in years, and the first life size game of "Clue" during cabin clean up (great job, Bryant, and SSCC boys!). It was an exciting and meaningful week, and we heard from several youth that it was "the best week ever!"
The high school kids left camp just in time for all of our middle school youth to come in for Chi Rho camp--all 60 of them! Patty French and Maria Hicks were our brave adult volunteer counselors for the camp, and we've heard they did a wonderful job! Our Chi Rho campers spent time playing lots of games, doing crafts, swimming, having a fun talent night and, of course, eating the good camp food!
Don't forget to check the website throughout this week for a report of Camp Balaam. With the help of Sandy Springs Christian Church and our volunteer directors and counselors, we will be providing a special camp for 40 children from Wilkinson County! Thank you for all of the support you give to this important week and to Camp Christian in general. Camp Christian is certainly "The Place To Be."
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2013 Sandy Springs Young Adult Summer Retreat
Stephen Brown, Leader
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Stephen Brown
Leader, Young Adults
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Our 1st Annual Young Adult Retreat had 15 participants. We had a great time camping at Lake Rabun, even though some got cold (Including ME). We enjoyed music by Stephen Westbrook, Charlie and Lauren - food by Stephen and Tami - Deep discussions around the camp fire with s'mores - swimming at the lake and a great closing worship on Sunday morning. All in all, it was a wonderful time with no major injuries. Well, there was that incident with Charlie trying to make a new trail to the falls...OOPS. Thank goodness we had several that were willing to patch him up.
Later this summer, we will plan one more outing. Please let me know if you have any ideas (B-ball game, whitewater rafting, dinner and a movie, etc...)
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In the Life of SSCC
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Go to www.SandySpringsCC.org to view our monthly calendar
"Invitable events" are highlighted in red
JULY 2013
July 4 & 5 - Church offices closed for Independence Day holiday
July 7 - Congregational Meeting following both services
July 7-13 - Family Mission Trip, Rattlesnake Ridge, Kentucky
July 13-17 - General Assembly, Orlando, FL
July 22-26 - Vacation Bible School, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
July 29-Aug 2 - Parking lot closed for Paving; Church office closed
AUGUST 2013
Aug 4 - Do Not park on Abernathy side of parking lot
Aug 5-9 - Rain Date for Parking Lot paving; Church closed if needed
August 6, 7 - Staff Retreat
Aug 10 - Parking Lot closed for striping
Aug 11 - Do Not Park on Abernathy Side of parking lot
Aug 11, 18 & 25 - Beginnings Class, 10:10-11:00 AM
Aug 18 - Sandwich Making after 2nd service
Aug 25 - Youth Family Pool Party
THE DAY SCHOOL
Adventure Camp, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM - Fourth Week: July 1-5
ONGOING GROUPS
1st & 3rd Monday: Learner's Bridge, 12:45 - 4:00 pm (P-Common Ground)
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-Common Ground)
Sigma Delta lunch, 12 pm (CR)
Prayer Group, 12:30 pm (P-Common Ground)
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
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The Wellspring Contribution Guidelines |
Wellspring contributions are due 4 workdays before the end of each month. August articles are due July 26. Thank you for your timely submissions!
Please limit your article to no 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: [email protected]
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