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September 2014                Grace Spoken Here      Volume 15, Issue 9
In This Issue - click a topic to quick link
Save the Date!
Grace Notes: "The Power of Shared Purpose"
SSCC Viewpoints
Hear Ye! Read Ye!
September Focus Groups
Celebrate Anniversary Sunday on September 14
SSCC Town Hall Meeting on September 21
The Day School Has a New Playground!
English as a Second Language
It's a God Thing...
Welcome New Members
Sunday Night Youth Group: A Game of Bigger and Better
SSCC College Bound Achievers
Rest & Reclaim Women's Retreat
Memorials Committee
Church Calendar
The Wellspring Contribution Guidelines
Join Our Mailing List!
Save the Date!
Upcoming September events offer great opportunities for service, celebration, learning more about the Disciples of Christ and Sandy Springs Christian Church, and learning about next year's vision for SSCC.  Hope to see you at these events!

 6 - Great Day of Service, 8:30 AM coffee & donuts, 9:00 AM projects

14 - SSCC's 54th Anniversary Sunday, worship at              9:00 and 11:15 AM.  Enjoy a piece of cake between  services.

21 - "Beginnings Class" for visitors and new                       members, 12:30-2:00 PM; includes a  light  lunch. RSVP to Sharon 404.256.2582

21 - Town Hall - 10:10-11:00 AM in Dunlap Hall - learn about SSCC's vision for next year.  (no Sunday School)

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Grace Notes:    "The Power of Shared Purpose"

Rev. Danny Gulden, Senior Minister

 

There have been a lot of people having buckets of ice cold water dumped on their head in the last month. Why in the world would someone do such a thing? The Ice Bucket Challenge is raising money and awareness for the terribly debilitating disease ALS. In this same period last year, 2.6 million dollars was raised for ALS. This year, during the same period of time, $88.5 million dollars and counting has been raised. I find the way the challenge works fascinating. Someone is challenged by someone else to take the challenge and donate to ALS. The person dumps ice water on their head and then they challenge three other people to do the same thing. Awareness at its height, a tremendous amount of money raised, one at a time, three at a time. A powerful testimony to what happens when individuals come together behind a common purpose to accomplish something amazing. 


Now shift focus to a Starbucks in Florida, where a popular concept called "paying it forward" took on a life of its own. A woman ordered an iced coffee at 7 am and offered to pay for the coffee of the person behind her in the drive thru. That person returned the favor for the car behind him. The chain continued for 378 cars and until 6 pm. I find this pretty amazing considering these are strangers who are in a hurry and on the go. A powerful testimony to what happens when individuals come together behind a common purpose to accomplish something amazing. 


As we prepare to celebrate 54 years of Sandy Springs Christian Church on September 7, I am reminded that we are poised for the future because of the firm foundation on which we stand. Many individuals, working together as community, have brought us to this point in our life. As I look around and see the major renovations and additions that have taken place because of Grace Alive!, I am reminded that this has not been made possible by one or two people, but by many individuals working together to make sure these dreams become reality. An amazing testimony to what happens when individuals come together behind a common purpose to accomplish something amazing. 


The movement of God in the world has never been about one person doing something really big. Its always been about individuals uniting behind a common purpose, a common mission and vision. While we do hold power as individual followers of Jesus, we are powerful beyond our greatest imagination as a community of followers of Jesus. I believe we are only scratching the surface of our power as Christian community, as a church. What will we do next as a church? I can't wait to find out, and I know if we have shared purpose, shared mission, and shared vision it will be more powerful than we could ever do on our own. 


Grace and peace,

 

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SSCC Viewpoints

"Love Does."  I know that it is no accident that the last sermon series my family will share at SSCC has this title.  These two small, simple, four-letter words pack a powerful punch and this is the perfect description for our time at SSCC.

 

When we initially attended, less than a year ago, we came to SSCC as a united family.  We had a journey of hardship and challenge, but we were united in our love for each other and our commitment to find a church home to share that love with others.  But our truth was that we had been broken.  Our church experiences had left us a little jaded and leery, believing that we came for spiritual food, but did not seek to receive much else from church.  We had no idea that in a single Sunday we would find an entire congregation that shared the same desire to demonstrate love as we did!

 

Our first Sunday was filled with friendliness and warmth.  People made an effort to engage us and to share their time.  We enjoyed it, but suspected that it might be limited to new guests.  When we returned repeatedly, there was no diminishing of the initial warmth; instead it was intensified through invitations of participation and inclusion.

 

We asked questions about the involvement of the church in the community, only to learn that this congregation actively gives of their time, money and talents more than all of the members of the mega church we previously attended combined.  This congregation is dedicated to doing at home, at church, in the community, across the country, around the world..Because its very essence is rooted in the idea that "loves does." 

 

Individuals embraced each one of us and pulled us into their world, not first as personal friends, but as comrades in arms to demonstrate the love of Christ by any means necessary, from donning aprons to run the dishwasher in the kitchen for a pancake breakfast benefiting scholarships for the youth to sending those same youth out of the country to help be a blessing there.  The personal relationships we established were icing on this glorious cake of love, compassion and kindness that emanated from every member we encountered who was so willing to serve in any capacity necessary.

 

And no one shied away from difficult conversations.  They were the same after private hardships were shared as they were before they became privy to personal information.  The lack of judgment and condemnation only allowed the acts of love to project even further.

 

Today we must leave the cocoon we have found in SSCC, but we feel truly blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to first witness, and then participate in the implementation of such an amazing concept expressed by this congregation.  As we continue our life journey, we will be reminded and stand committed to take a part of SSCC with us for the rest of our lives by letting others see that truly, "love does."

 

Sincerely, 

 

The Walker family - Scoville, Trella and Bridget

 

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Hear Ye!  Read Ye!

Micki Gonzalez, Director of Music Ministries    


The Sanctuary Choir (hereinafter SC) hereby petitions the members and friends of Sandy Springs Christian Church (hereinafter SSCC) for an important announcement.

 

SSCC: What's up, Choir?

 

SC: First, we hope you've noticed we've been expanding our numbers lately.

 

SSCC: Why, yes, actually, we have!  Good job!  So what's your problem?

 

SC: In two words: Warren Reed.

 

SSCC: Care to elaborate on that?

 

SC: No problem.  Warren moved to North Carolina last June.  He has a voice which is roughly equivalent to three normal tenors.  While we have added one, this still leaves us down two in order to replace the amount of sound he contributed.

 

SSCC:  So why is that such a big problem?

 

SC: Well, all sections have to balance.  So if the tenor section is generating less vocal power, everyone else has to cut their own vocal power to equal what the tenor section is putting out.

 

SSCC: Um, so why is that a problem?

 

SC: Ever ask a bass section to sing softer?  But seriously, having one of the four sections in a choir understaffed affects the music we can sing.  All of our music that is scored for Tenor 1 and Tenor 2, for example, can't be brought out right now.  We can't cover the parts.  We have over 600 titles in the SC collection, and a significant number of those divide out parts.  Also, having only three tenors means that when one is gone, (and these guys have to travel and have vacations and sick leave, you know) we have to implore a second alto to help out, but women's voices are very quiet in that voice range so that really isn't a solution.  Besides, the women don't enjoy singing that low.

 

SSCC:  We think we get where you are going with this. . . . .

 

SC: Yup.  No mystery here.  We really need men who think they might sing in the tenor range to come offer to serve you in this very important way.

 

SSCC:  Ok.  Give us your pitch.

 

SC:  Ok, thanks.  Members and friends, if singing is something you think you can do, please come volunteer to sing with us.  If you don't read music, well, we have a few members already who don't read particularly well, but they have ears and can follow.  Besides, Micki has offered to meet with anyone who is interested and give some assistance to get started.

SSCC: Uh Oh.  We're sensing that some work may be involved in this.

 

SC: Absolutely.  Anything worth doing and is fun takes work.  All service to the church takes work.  We do, however, claim to have some of the best parties.

 

SSCC: Yes, harrumph, we've, er, heard.  Anything else you want to add?

 

SC: Just that rehearsals are on Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM.  We're pretty set on that ending time.  Just ask Micki, who would stay all night if we'd let her!  We have a liberal vacation and sick leave policy, as well as work-related leave.  You get a spiffy robe, a folder, and free use of a copy of each choral piece we sing. What's not to love? Along with a whole new family - us!

 

SSCC:  Ok.  You've made a pretty good case.  Choral music adds so much to the worship life of our church, so we'd like to see you continue to grow.  And we'll put something in This Week to ask men to seriously consider joining your tenor ranks to help us all out.

 

SC: Thanks, SSCC.  We love to sing for you.  We just want to do it better.

 

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Focus Groups - September 2014  

10:10 AM 

Contemporary Class -- ANNIVERSARIES

Art Edwards, facilitator - Leslie Classroom

                 

We mark, measure, and memorialize our lives with anniversaries.  Some bring pleasure, some bring sadness, and some bring challenge.  I don't know about your family, but in my family it's easy to let anniversaries slip by with only a nodding notice.  By failing to take the time and effort required to truly mark milestone events in our lives and experience we lose the larger context that deepens meaning.

 

And so, on September 7 and 14 we will take some time out to remember two important anniversaries. 


September 7 -- REMEMBERING 9/11

We're closing in on 13 years since the towers fell.  This event has shaped and reshaped our country, our psyches, and our souls.  We'll look at what it means, what it meant, and what it might mean -- especially for people of faith -- as the years roll on.  We'll get assists from Lucy Kaplansky and Sarah McLachlan.

                                                                                                     


September 14 -- ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY

Sandy Springs Christian Church has now been seasoned by 54 years. We'll spend our time this morning remembering the past, assessing the present, and imagining the future.  The guest speakers for the class are too many to list.  It doesn't matter how long or short your time with SSCC has been, please plan to bring your memories and your dreams with you. 


MODERN FAMILY

Rev. Danny Gulden, facilitator - Common Ground

 

September 7

Where were you on 9/11/2001? Everyone remembers where they were on this tragic day. We will share a bit about our experience as a jumping off point for discussing how we talk to children about tragedy. Kids today see and know more than ever and with this comes some of the pain of the world. How do we help our children talk about and deal with tragedy?

 

September 14

Not another birthday! With children, milestones seemingly take place all the time. We will share some of our favorite ways of celebrating with our kids and also talk about the balance between celebration and helping our kids to see outside of themselves. 

 

BIBLE STUDY - Ancient Heresies & How to Avoid Them

Jeff Morgan, facilitator - Conference Room 

September 7 & 14

The history of Christianity has never been smooth or simple. Church history is filled with "heresies" and schisms. Many of these ancient beliefs still flourish in different forms today. For example, Marcionism stated that the Old Testament God was evil and the books of the OT should be abandoned. The early church, however, believed in the goodness of the God as portrayed in both testaments. This, then, teaches us how we should view the OT. In this Focus Group, we will look at these ancient heresies, how the church responded to them, and how that impacts our faith today. The class will be a blend of theology, church history, and Bible study.           

LECTIONARY

Larry Steinmetz, facilitator - Volunteer Office

Bible Study based on each Sunday's scripture lesson

 

BELIEVERS SHARING -  9:20 AM

Barb Duren, facilitator - Campbell-Stone Conference Room

Bible Study using The Present Word

 

September 21 

Town Hall Meeting - no Sunday School

 

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Celebrate Anniversary Sunday on September 14

Sandy Springs Christian Church has enjoyed 54 years of vibrant ministry. There have been many rich moments of joy and celebration in our life together. Sunday, September 14 will be our Anniversary Sunday, and the celebration will not be complete without you. Many hands and spirit have built this church. If you know of people who are no longer here, will you take time to extend them an invitation to join us? Do you know someone who will be a part of SSCC's future, someone who needs the experience of God's welcome? Will you invite them to join us? We will be excited to see you on September 14th. Rev. Danny Gulden's sermon at each service will be "Welcome, You Are Home!" based on Isaiah 56:1-8. Make plans now to be a part of this special day in the life of SSCC. 


 

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SSCC Town Hall Meeting on September 21

Please plan to attend the Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, September 21 at 10:10 AM in Dunlap Hall.  The meeting will conclude by 10:55 so everyone will still have plenty to time to attend either worship service.

 
The objective of the meeting is twofold.  First, to share some initial thoughts and plans for SSCC and each of the Ministry Forums in 2015 with you.  Secondly, to answer any questions you might have and to hear your feedback.
 
In the spirit of our new bylaws, it is hoped that these meetings will provide an opportunity for the ongoing dialogue between the Congregation and its elected leaders.
 
We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you on the 21st!

Bryant McDaniel
President of the Congregation

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The Day School Has a New Playground!

Kathy Gregory, Director of the Day School


What a WONDERFUL time to be a student at The Day School!!!  Thanks to the generosity of SSCC and our Day School families, we have a brand new playground on our property.  My heart was full as I watched our Day School parents and SSCC members come together to make this dream a reality.  Day School alumni and current students manned our Lemonade stand which drew people from far and wide and helped us earn an additional $600.00 for our playground.  Several Day School teachers, parents and church members bravely worked in rooms filled with children as their parents sweated it out on the playground.

 

I will be forever grateful to Ryan Beach and Alyssia Leggett and Laura Campbell for leading the project and truly making this long-time dream a reality for our current students, teachers and generations to come.  The playground will be ready for business Thursday, September 4th....our first official day of school.   


 

Click here for more pictures from the tremendous effort and hard work building the playground.

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English as a Second Language!

Nancy McDaniel, Outreach Chair

SSCC Outreach is really excited about expanding our relationship with Lake Forest Elementary School this year!  Thanks to generous and talented SSCC members, we will be offering English language learner classes to the adults of Lake Forest students.  At the back-to-school program for parents, we had a bi-lingual flyer explaining the program and the students' required commitment.  We signed up nine adults (limit is 12) that first day. They are so excited and appreciative of our offering!!

 

The classes will be held at the Holy Spirit Catholic Center which is walking distance from several apartment complexes in which many Lake Forest families live.  Holy Spirit is loaning the space and the text books.  SSCC is providing the teachers and subsidizing the students' dictionaries.  The students are required to attend classes twice a week, pay a $25 class fee, complete two hours of homework each week and work a babysitting rotation for children of the students who are not old enough to be in school.  It is a great community collaboration!!

This would not have developed if not for Rollin Mathis's interest and experience.  He and Carol Armstrong worked with Lake Forest Elementary School staff over the summer to bring the program to fruition.  Judy Edwards jumped on board when she learned of the program and Sandy Matthews is interested in helping.  All three of these SSCC members have retired from teaching English at the college level, and we are thrilled that they are willing to devote themselves to this long term and meaningful program that is a gift to our community.

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It's a God Thing...

Rev. Linda S. Whitmire, Associate Minister

 

I think we have something pretty special here at Sandy Springs. Having been around since the early dark ages, I find myself seeing the changes, the ups and downs, the growth in our spiritual depth, our embrace of direct mission, our continued  pushing boundaries in understanding the roots of our faith in a dynamic and ancient book, a living and active God. Like many of you, I have journeyed through other denominations, spent a goodly measure of time as a born and bred Southern Baptist, an eager and enthusiastic Unitarian, a true agnostic and existentialist, a starting over Methodist, and with the luck of a visit after a move to Atlanta, a Disciple of Christ. I was married by a Lutheran minister, studied in a Methodist seminary and have three Catholic children-in-law... just a good all round taste of the mystery we each seek to apprehend in our journey through life.

 

Sometimes I imagine my faith journey as a multicolored bunch of bright balloons. Each has its own beauty and contributes to the completion of the colorful bouquet of my God story. As I grow into life's closing years, I add other balloons to my bouquet. Some are dark in hue, others iridescent with love. But all are that which carries me forward in life and wisdom and trust in this great mystery I have come to experience as God.

 

Sandy Springs Christian Church is a huge part of the faith bouquet of my life. My church: this community of hope to which I have committed my growing into God. I believe many of you have found this true of your journey, of beginning your children's journey. How blessed we are to have participated together in building a place of openness and learning and service, a place of grace and growth.

 

Many of us are choosing to invest in the future of this church beyond our own lifetimes. In part, out of gratitude for what we have found here. In part with a strong sense of giving back to God as a Christian discipline. In part that the youth and children who grow here in Christian grace will always have such a place. And in part that the unique voice of openness with which we speak remains vibrant in Sandy Springs. It's a God thing for us to be part of the future of this faith community, the future to which God always calls. We call ourselves Legacy Builders. We hope you will choose to join with us by setting aside some financial gift for SSCC either now or at your life's close..

 

Be a Legacy Builder for Christ with us! Keep us growing into the future calling of God.

Contact Rev. Randy Johnson at [email protected], Danny or me for more information.

 

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Welcome New Members

Caroline & Rusty Grant with their children Frances, Thomas and Hannah

Rusty and Caroline Grant joined our SSCC faith family on August 10.  They have three children: Frances (8 years old),Thomas (6 years old) and Hannah (3 years old). Rusty is an attorney (Cruser & Michel), Caroline is a property manager (AT&T), and they reside in Norcross. We welcome these new members and congratulate them on this step in their faith journey.


 

 
 

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Sunday Night Youth Group:  A Game of Bigger And Better

Bryant & Katie Gibson

Co-Directors, Youth and Children's Ministries


 Several Sundays ago, our youth got together for a "Destination Unknown" activity.  We refused to give any hints as to what we were doing; we only promised it would be fun.  About 20 youth and sponsors showed up, and we announced that we'd be playing a game of "Bigger and Better."  If you've read the book Love Does, you recognize the game Bob Goff's son plays in his neighborhood.  He started with a dime and asked the first house, "What can you trade me that's bigger and better than a dime?"  He received a mattress and continued the game until he finally came home with a car!  He left with a dime and returned with a car. 

 

We were not especially thinking we would come back with a car, but we knew it would be a fun adventure, and so we set off.  Each group took a pair of SSCC yellow sunglasses, and what we returned with was pretty amazing!  The girl's group brought back a fire hose, donated by the wonderful Sandy Springs fire department.  The boy's group came back with a TV!  Even though we came back with these fantastic items, the best part was that everyone had a blast.

 

I'll offer a spoiler alert. Goff ends his story by saying that his son donated the truck to a local church.  The TV that our boys received has made a new home with a family who couldn't afford to buy one. And the fire hose?  It will live in The Pit as a reminder to our group that it is not the destination that is so important, but it is the journey that we take together as a group. 


 
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SSCC's College Bound Achievers

Mary Anne Posey

Big congratulations go to four of SSCC's top achievers!

 

In a short Awards program held the first Sunday in August, Joanne Burgess, founder of the Scholarship Program, gave an overview of her passion for the program and how it has progressed. The following students were presented with a Certificate of Award and a check for $1,000 to assist them in their upcoming studies.

 

Samantha French will be attending Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville;  Kaitlin Kahrs has selected the University of Denver in Colorado; Aspen Ono will stay a little closer to home by attending Emory University; and Bridget Walker will be leaving Georgia to attend Pepperdine University in California. Each of these students achieved better than a 3.5 grade point average, were active members of the SSCC youth programs, wrote a spontaneous essay for the Scholarship Committee to evaluate and displayed their desire to be considered for this award.

 

The guidelines for the essays stated: "The Leadership for the SSCC Scholarship fund is constantly looking for ways to grow the fund and to have the prospective applicants participate in this effort."  Their essays were wonderful and you will be seeing their various suggestions as we strive to build the fund for future applicants.

 

Since the start-up funding of Coffee Houses, of late the Scholarships have been almost entirely funded by our 5th Sunday Pancake Breakfasts.  The Scholarship Committee looks forward to implementing the suggestions of this year's recipients, while continuing the Pancake Breakfasts.  And, we look forward to seeing you there!

 

Thank you, Sandy Springs, for your support of this important activity.  It is you, our SSCC family, who have made this program a success.

 

Click here to view pictures from the Awards program

  

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Rest & Reclaim Women's Retreat

Heather Rees

Thank you to the wonderful women who attended the Rest & Reclaim Women's Retreat at SSCC on August 24. What an awesome retreat we had!  Some of the very favorable comments were:

  • Met beautiful ladies and filled my "love tank"  - great day
  • Loved the positive energy
  • Very well done - the people at this church are all warm and friendly
  • Wonderful - loved the music and journal activity was great way to get to know people at your table - thank you so much
  • Loved it all but especially the fellowship and the final segment  
  • Fun, touching and cool music - inspiring - liked it so much
  • Got a lot of encouragement from today - thanks for sharing 
Kim Hill
Paulette Wooten
Click here for more pictures from the Retreat.

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Memorials Committee

Nancy Trusty

The Memorials Committee acknowledges with appreciation the following gifts

IN MEMORY OF:

GIVEN BY:

DATE:

Maxine Shaller

John and Martha Dalton

May 2014

Maxine Shaller

Rev. Linda Whitmire

May 2014

Maxine Shaller

Dick and Ginny Hamilton

June 2014

Richard Jenkins

Noel Jenkins

June 2014

Mike Crowe

Dick and Ginny Hamilton

June 2014

Nancy Whitaker

Floyd and Charlotte Hale

June 2014

Nancy Whitaker

Rev. Linda Whitmire

June 2014

Whit Whitmire

Dick and Ginny Hamilton

June 2014

Whit Whitmire

Larry and Bunny Steinmetz

July 2014

Grace Sweat

Bryant Hodgson, Jr.

June 2014

Grace Sweat

Les and JoAnn Baright

June 2014

Grace Sweat

Barbara Duren

June 2014

Grace Sweat

Rev. Linda Whitmire

June 2014

Grace Sweat

John and Martha Dalton

June 2014

Grace Sweat

Floyd and Charlotte Hale

June 2014

Grace Sweat

Ray and Nan Woods

July 2014

Grace Sweat

Bob and Elinor Tollman

July 2014

Virginia Lee

Larry and Bunny Steinmetz

July 2014


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Church Calendar

Go to www.SandySpringsCC.org to view our monthly calendar 

"Invitable events" are highlighted in red

 

SEPTEMBER 2014 

 1-  SSCC closed for Labor Day

 4 -  Medicare Counseling with Joyce Edwards, 10 AM-2 PM (by appt)

 6 -  Great Day of Service, 8:30 AM coffee; 9:00 AM Projects

 6 -  Outreach to staff CAC

 7 -  Focus Group Sunday School, 10:10-11:00 AM

 7 -  J.A.M. Pool Party at the Bentleys', 1-3 PM

11 - Financial Counseling with Jim Armstrong, 10 AM-2 PM (by appt)

13 - Wandering to Nourish Atlanta, 5:30 PM (DH, 120,121)

14 - No Sunday School 

14 - Anniversary Sunday, cake served between services

15 - Widowed Helping Others, B's Bistro, 12-2 PM

18 - Medicare Counseling with Joyce Edwards, 10 AM- 2 PM (by appt.)

21 - Town Hall, 10:10-11:00 AM, Dunlap Hall

21 - No Sunday School

21 - "Beginnings" Class, 12:30-2:00 PM (lunch served); RSVP to Sharon Hanna

24 - Women's Bible Study, 10:00-11:30 AM

25 - Financial Counseling with Jim Armstrong, 10 AM-2 PM (by appt)

26 - The Day School Playground Ribbon Cutting, 4-6 PM 

28 - Stewardship Campaign

 

THE DAY SCHOOL

2 & 3 - TDS Orientation 

2 & 3 - TDS  Parent Meeting, 10:30-11:30 AM (CR)

8 - TDS AEP & MMO Begins

10 & 11 - Spanish Class, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (201/203)

17 - The Day School Parent Bible Study, 9:30-11:00 AM (CG)

17 & 18 - Spanish Class, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (201/203)

24 & 25 - Spanish Class, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (201/203)

 

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The Wellspring Contribution Guidelines

Wellspring contributions are due 4 workdays before the end of each month. October articles are due September 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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