Rev. Linda S. Whitmire

Associate Minister

October 29, 2014

I want to update you on what is next after Linda leaves us in early January. You may be wondering, "What's next?" First, we will be making plans to celebrate Linda's ministry on January 4, 2015. Stay tuned for the details on this celebration. 

The Leadership Council and I will be putting together a team to assess the ministerial staffing needs for the future and look at the potential scope of an Associate role that will help us grow into our future at SSCC. When Linda's ministry concludes at the beginning of January, Bryant, Katie, lay leadership and I will work together to fill in the gaps as we move through the process of identifying the scope and the search for a new member of our team. I want us to be patient and thorough in our assessment and search to make sure we have the right person in the right role for our growth and success together.

Jazz Christmas Concert

 Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 pm

You are in for a Christmas treat!  The Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship will return to SSCC!! The world-renowned 14-piece jazz ensemble will present their Christmas Show: "Song of Simeon: A Christmas Journey." Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 pm. Comprised of many familiar carols, the music will inspire and delight you as it takes you on a Christmas journey through verse and song. For a little taste of music, click here to listen to the Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship on YouTube. 

 
We offered this program last year, and it is back by popular demand. Attendees were so happy to have such a quality musical Christmas program conveniently located just outside the perimeter! The musicians that perform have recorded nationally and internationally with well-known artists such as Natalie Cole, Cee lo Green, Art Garfunkle, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis and others. In 2012, when the Song of Simeon CD debuted, NPR awarded it the honor of one of the ten best albums (not just Christmas; not just jazz) of the year! Give yourself a gift this year and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. You will be glad you did!

Adult tickets are $15; students with ID are $10.
To buy tickets on-line with a credit card, click here; you may drop a check in the offering plate clearly labeled "jazz concert" or mail your name, phone # and e-mail address, along with your check made payable to SSCC.

SSCC has an impressive record of sponsoring members through seminary.  The Revs. Linda Whitmire, Danny Gulden, Craig McDonald are just three of the many.  Part of the sponsorship includes financial support.  This year's fourth quarter collections will be used to fulfill our $1500 pledge for Kristin Wolf's third year at Columbia Theological Seminary.  Please consider a donation to help Kristin fulfill her goal.

Third Quarter Sunday School Offerings

Thanks to all the generous donors from adult Sunday School and the Town Hall Meeting!  Third quarter offerings are sent to The Family Village Farm in Vellore, India for our annual pledge.  Several years ago, Sandy Springs Christian Church committed to sponsoring the education expenses of two students.  Thami and Karti have grown through our sponsorship and write to us regularly.  Click here to read a recent letter from Karti.  His letter expressing his appreciation is also posted on our Celebration Board. 

With two weeks left in the quarter, we were short of our goal.  During the Town Hall meeting an announcement was made that we needed an additional $320 in the next two weeks.  That day alone our collection was over $400!  Once again, we proved that we are a generous and compassionate congregation.  Many thanks for rising to the challenge and making an important difference in the lives of two well-deserving students. 

Fourth quarter Adult Sunday School offerings go towards scholarships for seminary students sponsored by SSCC.

top  

Nancy McDaniel

Chair, Outreach Forum

The Outreach Forum is pleased to share that the following donations were made in the third quarter:

THIRD QUARTER CHECKS:

• The Community Assistance Center:  $3750 of our annual $5000 commitment
• Global Ministries, earmarked for The Christian Hospital Mungeli:  $1000
• Week of Compassion to fight Ebola:  $1000
• Camp Christian towards a mortgage payment:  $1950
• Family Village Farm, Vellore India sponsorship of two Indian students:  $720

THIRD QUARTER PROJECTS:

• Staff the CAC the first Saturday of every month.
• Host Wandering to Nourish Atlanta the second Saturday of every month. 
• Over 30 people travel to Rattlesnake Ridge, KY to construct home improvements and many, many more supported us with financial and material donations
• Purchased supplies and made 600 lunches for the MUST Summer Lunch Program
• Had a successful Great Day of Service and designed, financed and built two raised garden beds for the senior residents at Initiative for Affordable Housing's Magnolia Center
• Harvested lots of produce from our Grace Garden and donated it to the CAC.

Bryant & Katie Gibson

Directors of Children and Youth Ministries

top  

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped our friends at Lake Forest Elementary School celebrate Halloween this year. The students were excited to see our people visit their classrooms to read. Many volunteers had great costumes that really entertained the students. Our volunteers always comment on what great students there are at Lake Forest and how much they enjoy the opportunity to celebrate with the kids.

Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 20 when we will serve Lake Forest families a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. 

top  

Terry Downs 10-19-2014

Terry Downs joined our faith family at Sandy Springs Christian Church on October 19, 2014.  He has a daughter, Bailey (16).  Terry resides in Atlanta and is an Independent Adjuster with Specialty Group. He chose to become a member because of the feeling of acceptance and community he experienced.  We welcome and congratulate Terry on this step in his faith journey.  

Marcia Sosebee 10-26-2014

Welcome home, Marcia!  After a brief sojourn with another church where she was helping with music, Marcia Sosebee re-committed her faith journey in community with Sandy Springs on October 26, 2014. Marcia resides at Campbell-Stone Sandy Springs. We welcome her back home!

 top  

The SSCC Church Library now has two copies of Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. You are encouraged to read this book, which is well written, spiritual and an interesting story. With three good reasons to approach it, I believe that your time will not be wasted as you read. 

When some of our congregation complete it and if there is an interest, we may meet together for a discussion of the writer's themes. Please let me know if you would like to do this.

Joanne Burgess

 top