A NOTE FROM NATHAN
I didn’t know Gene Siller personally, but I felt like he, at least in part, was in the care of my son for a week. Last month, Harrison attended a golf camp at Pinetree Country Club, where Siller was the head golf pro. Harrison played hole #10 where Siller was shot and killed. As you can imagine, for my family, the story hit close to home.
Obviously, I’m not alone. It captured the attention of the nation for several days, for lots of reasons. The gruesome details. The seemingly random nature of the shooting. By all accounts, a wonderful human being’s life taken senselessly, too soon.
However, I can’t help but wonder if, more than anything else, it was the location. After all, the words “shooting” and “golf course” are not often associated with one another. It’s another reminder that gun violence does not discriminate. It can happen anywhere, anytime and anyplace. And it does. Or at least that was the headline from several news media outlets in the last couple of days.
According to data compiled by the gun violence archive, by 11:30 PM on Monday, there were over 180 people killed and over 560 injured in shootings throughout the United States over the 4th of July holiday weekend. In total, there were more than 540 reported shootings that took place in only 72 hours in our country. No matter how you feel about guns, that’s a significant problem.
Although, it shouldn’t be a surprise. The pandemic only exasperated an already growing epidemic. Record increases in gun sales, children homebound like never before, social isolation, and economic struggles due to COVID-19 put many people at increased risk for gun violence in the last year. In fact, according to the same source, 2020 was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States. Gun homicides and non-suicide-related shootings took approximately 19,300 lives, a 25 percent increase from 2019.
I realize the conversation around guns is not an easy one. We all have very personal reasons for which we buy them, carry them or refrain from them altogether. Gun control is a complex, nuanced issue of our day. As people of faith, however, who follow a man whose teachings were non-violent, at the very least, I hope we can agree that a world with fewer guns would be a better one.
As we emerge from this time, we are doing so only to discover that the issues which existed before the pandemic have not gone away. In most cases, they have only been amplified. If we do not address them thoughtfully and faithfully, they will only get worse.
I don’t have the answer for a perfect solution. However, I know that part of our call, as people of faith, is to help create a world in which people don’t feel like weapons are necessary for their personal well-being and safety, a world where trust and love of neighbor is foundational, a world where violence, if it is even necessary, is always a last resort, not a first one.
I pray that as we build whatever the new norm might be in this country, that we no longer are desensitized to gun violence, accepting it as a reality to the degree it has become and, instead, be heart-broken enough, with the families who have been affected by it, to make gun violence something of the old norm.
Peace,
Nathan
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Make a Joyful Noise
Summer Sermon Series 2021
For over a year, we did not sing together in worship. We were singing with our families and friends in front of a television or computer screen. We were humming along to the tune, in the sanctuary. We were listening to our leaders sing. Finally, on June 27th, for the first time since March of 2020, we will be able to sing the hymns of our faith, as a congregation and choir, without protocols. What better way to spend the first few Sundays of this gift with a series in worship that highlights your favorites! Therefore, for the last month, we have been compiling these hymns, along with your stories about them, in order that they might be used in worship. Through this series we plan to rediscover how God, among other things, reminds, inspires, challenges and is present through song. We hope you will make plans to be part of this special series at SSCC. Let’s come together and make a joyful noise!
Sunday, July 11, 2021
God Inspires Through Song
Theme Hymn: “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Luke 1:46-56
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
Sunday, July 18, 2021
God Challenges Through Song
Theme Hymn: “Here I Am”
Deuteronomy 32:1-12, 44-47
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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To view the service this Sunday on our YouTube page, click here.
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We will have our second JAM meeting this Sunday, July 11 right after the worship service. You can drop your children (preschool-5th) off in Common Ground and head to the Town Hall meeting and cookout!
Our focus for this JAM meeting will be science! We will have some awesome experiments and focus on the story of David and Goliath. Lunch will be provided and pick up is at 1:30.
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JOIN US FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING
This Sunday, July 11, we will hold our Congregational Town Hall Meeting in the sanctuary immediately following service. Leadership will provide updates on our financials and other upcoming programming and opportunities for ministry.
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THEN JOIN US FOR LUNCH...
Right after the meeting is over, please join us in the Whitmire Pavilion for a hot dog cookout lunch prepared by the Torberts. We hope to use a portion of this time together to discuss upcoming Christian Education opportunities at SSCC!
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BACK TO SCHOOL SUNDAY
Can you believe another school year is upon us? Sunday, August 1st we will celebrate "Back to School Sunday." There's a lot happening in the life of the church that day. Our children and youth will finally return to Sunday School (adults too)! We will have Promotion Sunday in the Sanctuary at 9:00 am and children and youth will get to return to their old and new classes. We will also have a Blessing of the Backpacks.
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BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
Students of all ages are welcome to bring their backpacks to be blessed on Back to School Sunday, August 1st. We want all our SSCC kids to know that we are here to support them over the upcoming school year.
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HELP DISTRIBUTE BACKPACKS FOR THE CAC!
If you are interested in helping to distribute not only the backpacks that SSCC stuffed, but others that were also donated, please look at the dates/times/locations for distribution listed below. The CAC is giving SSCC first choice to fill the slots, and they need two to three volunteers each day. Please reach out to Cindi McCollough (csbfish@bellsouth.net or text 770-365-0365 ) to reserve your spot by Monday, July 12th. After that date, the CAC will open the slots to everyone on their volunteer list.
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THANK YOU FROM THE OUTREACH TEAM!
Cindi McCollough and the Outreach Team would like to send out a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who helped assemble hygiene kits for MUST Ministries and school supply filled backpacks for the CAC following worship last Sunday. They couldn't have done it without you!
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THANK YOU PART TWO!
Through the pandemic, our Outreach Team has remembered the community at the Mulberry Apartments in Ellijay. Last week, a small group of SSCC volunteers returned to the apartments where we were first introduced six years ago through The Craddock Center. We were pleased to see the population at the apartment complex has stayed consistent so we enjoyed marking the growth of the campers and rekindling friendships. Most of these kids have known SSCC for well over half their lives! As always the campers were waiting on their apartment balconies as we drove in and quickly ran to help set up activities. This year, the one-day camp theme was Fourth of July. Beads were strung to make keychains and ball caps were decorated in red white and blue. One boy took his hat around and had everyone sign it, then surprised Miss Chris with it as a gift so she would always remember everyone. Each camper received a new book and a large reusable cup (thanks to Jenna and Betsy), and every apartment was given a patriotic door decoration. Thanks to Chris Dalton for planning and preparing the activities, Jim and Marilyn Torbert for preparing, delivering and serving a hot dog lunch, to Cindi McCollough and Nancy McDaniel for assisting in the semi-annual tradition of sharing God's love with these kids at Mulberry.
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COFFEE ANYONE?
We’re looking for someone who is willing to take on a “Coffee Ministry” for SSCC. It’s truly as easy as pushing a button and you don’t even have to know how to make coffee!
Your main qualification must be that you are willing to arrive most Sundays (perfect attendance is not a qualifier) around 8:40 a.m. in order to push said button. After that you are free to go back home, exercise, read the AJC, or meditate before the Sunday School crowd arrives. If you are an Early Bird, this just may be your kind of Ministry. Please call the church office 404-256-2582 if you are interested.
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CAMP CHRISTIAN LETTERS!
If you would like to send a letter to a camper at Camp Christian this summer, the address is 3735 Dennard Hardy Rd., Gordon, GA 31031.
Camps are the following dates: Junior camp - July 12-16 (3rd-5th), Chrysalis camp - July 12-14 (1st-2nd), Genesis camp - July 16-18 (K).
If you would like to know which camp a specific camper is attending, please reach out to Bryant at youth@sandyspringscc.org.
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THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT?
Did you know you can download the Breeze app onto your phone and access SSCC Member Directory information right at your fingertips? You can download the app from the app store (for iphones and ipads) by CLICKING HERE. Please call the church office if you have any questions. |
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PATHFINDERS CLASS - UPDATE!
Join John Mills and the Pathfinders in person every Sunday morning in the Leslie Classroom at 9:00 am. You can also join via Zoom by CLICKING HERE or to join by phone just dial 929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID: 985 6868. The passcode is 831869. For more information please contact John Mills. |
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Prayers for Janet Lochery's friend in Florida who is unable to travel to the UK to be with her 90 year old mother who is facing health issues.
Allen McCahren requests prayers for two friends, Angie Harris and Kim Moore, who are both in critical condition.
Please pray for our members and their families who serve as first responders and health care workers: Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, Dr. Vijay Rathinam, Robyn Hicks and Pete French. Also those serving in the military: Michelle Brown (Navy), daughter of Cindy and Pete Brown. Tyler Brown (Army), son of Tami and Stephen Brown. Jared Mills (Army), son/stepson of John and Floy Mills. Rachel Robeck (Navy), daughter of John and Mary Robeck. Jamie Price Smith (Air Force) and Dalton Brown (Army) granddaughter and grandson of Barb Duren and Chaplain Kevin Mooney (Navy), Linda Whitmire's grand-daughter, Hayleigh Whitmire (Army) and Kathy Woodworth's step grandson Parker Mansel (Marines). If we are missing someone, please let us know so that we can include their name in our weekly prayers.
If you have any prayer requests or would like to reach out to Teddy Ivey, our Director of Congregational Care, please email him at Teddy@sandyspringscc.org.
JOIN SSCC!
You can join SSCC by a simple affirmation of faith! If you are attending virtually, just let us know you would like to join!
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DOING MINISTRY DIFFERENTLY - OUTREACH |
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HELPING THE CAC
CAC Pantry/Thrift Shop Expand to 5 Days,
The Community Assistance Center’s food pantry and thrift shop, Upscale Thrift, will once again be open 5 days a week. Contact Nolan at volunteer@ourcac.org for volunteering at the food pantry and Debbie at Debbie.Olson@ourcac.orf to volunteer at the Thrift Store. Visit CAC’s website for more details.
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MUST MINISTRIES: If you would like to donate and drop off items at Must Ministries please CLICK HERE to access a flyer that outlines the most needed items. Monetary donations are very much needed and can be done so online via their website, or send a check in the mail to MUST Ministries, P.O. Box 1717, Marietta, GA 30061. If you have questions please contact Cathy Cortright at cortright13@gmail.com. |
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Alexandra Reese July 02
Larry Reese July 06
Tami Brown July 08
Becky Strickland July 09
Corey Lee July 11
Philip Rowell July 11
Alice Villa July 11
Kiera Bass July 13
Linda Whitmire July 13
Dottie Gill July 15
Betty Saygbor July 16
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Lynn McCahren July 17
Bryant McDaniel July 18
Breijanna Dyke July 20
Floyd Hale July 21
Karla Worley July 21
Bailey Mooney July 22
Patty French July 23
Cooper Gibson July 25
Alan Burgess July 30
Tyler Brown July 31
Donna Lassiter July 31
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