A NOTE FROM TEDDY
As we approach the Sunday of Advent in which we light the candle of Joy, I thought I would share some things that have brought me joy recently. First, as many of you saw on Sunday, our daughter Emily is walking so much more now and is becoming much cuddlier. Those hugs which I hope she will share with you all soon are just the best.
I also have great joy in all the work done by the outreach committee and others over the past couple of months. It’s so heartwarming to see baskets full of blankets for breast cancer patients, pictures and stories of successful trips to the Mulberry apartments, and so many toys collected for MUST ministries. The generosity of everyone here through giving of time and treasures to those less fortunate warms my heart each time I think about it.
Perhaps it’s the season we are in, but I also feel like I’m noticing more and more smiles recently. I find joy in your joy, each and every week. While Lauren and I are choosing to continue to wear our masks, I hope you can tell we are smiling back just as intensely. Your warmth and continued love are the absolute best. Your hard work, giving, and joyful attitudes do not go unnoticed. We love each of you and this place because of these and so much more. Please continue to share the joys in your life such as honor rolls, new jobs, or any other joyful news so we can celebrate with you!
However, I know some of you may be finding it hard to experience joy lately. Even in joyful seasons such as advent, the prayer requests for surgeries, sickness, and sadness continue to come in. For those of you struggling to find joy today, know that God and we are with you on your journey too. It’s ok to not be ok, even in this joyful season. If you need to cry instead of smile, then let’s cry together. If you’d rather hug or be together in grief instead of celebration, then that is what we will do. If you are having a hard time or you have the time to be a supportive presence for others who are, I invite you to the Blue Christmas service on Dec 19th at 5:30 followed by a light supper. Traditionally this service is done on the shortest day of the year. If there is less light in your world, come the evening of the 19th and let’s sit in the dark together for a while.
Peace, Teddy
P.S. Don’t forget the sanctuary is open when the church office is open! Come find some peace and joy by just sitting in there alone for a while. But bring a jacket too.
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NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION DEADLINE
If you would like to submit an article for publishing in our newsletter, please submit the article to amy@sandyspringscc.org by no later than Thursday morning, as the newsletter will be scheduled to go out early morning on Fridays. We will let you know if the submission date will be changed to work around holidays or special dates. |
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Sandy Springs Christian Church
An Advent/Christmas Sermon Series:
Landscape of Love
The Scriptures that help us prepare for the birth of Jesus are filled with places—holy
places, hard places, and the pathways in between. Together, these places present a
“Landscape of Love”—a map of the heights and depths we journey to Bethlehem and the
birth of the Christ Child. During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we will explore
this terrain in worship by way of Isaiah and his prophecy of the Messiah. Along the way,
we will find God’s love atop a mountain, out of a stump, in the desert, at a manger, and
any place we will allow God’s light to shine.
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December 12, 2021
In the Desert
Isaiah 35:1-10
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
To view the service this Sunday at 10:15 am on our YouTube page, click here. _______________________________________________________
December 19, 2021
Atop a Mountain
Isaiah 2:1-5
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
December 19, 2021
Blue Christmas Service
5:30 pm - Followed by a light supper
Teddy Ivey
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December 24, 2021
In a Manger
Luke 2:1-20
6:00 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
December 26, 2021
Christmas Sunday
Isaiah 9:2-9
Katie and Bryant Gibson
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POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS - LAST CHANCE!
Every Christmas season we offer the opportunity for you to remember and/or celebrate loved ones by donating to cover some of the cost of the Poinsettias. This is the last Sunday that you can fill out and return the form in the offering plate as it is passed. In addition, you may enter the information by clicking the button below.
Please remember to mark your checks on the memo line with "Poinsettias" and get the form to the church office by NEXT FRIDAY, December 17th. You may also use the "Donate Now" option on our website sandyspringscc.org by CLICKING HERE.
An insert with all of the celebrated and remembered names will be included in the bulletin on Sunday, December 21st and Christmas Eve. If you choose to take your poinsettia(s) home, you may do so after service on Christmas Eve service.
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UPCOMING SPECIAL SERVICES |
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BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE
This past year has certainly brought a great deal of grief into our lives. That grief can be particularly hard as we approach the holiday season.
If the Christmas season is bringing you sadness this year, join us for our Blue Christmas service on Sunday, December 19th at 5:30 pm in the sanctuary. A light supper will follow. If you cannot attend in person, you can tune in through our livestream on our YouTube Channel that evening. Come and feel God's love and healing during this meaningful time of worship.
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CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
On Sunday, December 24th (corrected date from last week's newsletter) please join us at 6:00 pm for our traditional Family Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion Worship Service.
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CHRISTMAS SUNDAY SERVICE
On Sunday, December 26th, join Bryant and Katie Gibson for a simple, festive worship service for the whole family at 10:15 am.
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WELCOME TO THE WORLD!
Congratulations go out to Caroline and Tyler Filacchione who celebrated the birth of their son, Hank Brooks on December 1, 2021. Proud grandparents are Scott and Chris Dalton.
We hope you enjoy this picture of proud big sister, Francie, holding her new baby brother.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP WITH SERVICE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS?
Last August, we began using Worship Leaders to help with worship each week. Worship leaders help the staff plan worship, give uniformity to the worship experience and provide individuals, who enjoy leading worship, the opportunity to sign up well in advance. We want to thank all of you who have served in this capacity, in the last year. The response has been wonderful!
We are looking to fill the Worship Leader slots for upcoming worship services in 2022. The worship leader, generally, leads four parts of the worship service: a call to worship, the scripture reading, a call to giving and the welcome to visitors. All the words are scripted for you, so there is nothing to prepare. However, those who feel comfortable are encouraged to use their creative license for the call to giving and welcome to our visitors. Additionally, if you are not comfortable being a worship leader, but still enjoy reading scripture in worship, please contact the church office and we will be glad to plug you in.
If you'd like to sign up to be a worship leader, please click on the link below. You may sign up for a maximum of two Sundays, for now. Those who enjoy leading communion, offering pastoral prayers and preaching will continue to be recruited as they have been. If you have any questions, please reach out to the chair of Worship, Arts and Education, Stuart Michels, or Pastor Nathan.
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A NOTE FROM JOHN MILLS AND BRYANT MCDANIEL
Greetings Sandy Springs Christian Church!
We hope you all have a great Thanksgiving. Like 2020, this has been a crazy year as we have gradually transitioned to in person Worship, Sunday School, and other events. Our Staff has worked extremely hard to ensure that our transition has been smooth and effective. We are continually amazed by their resourcefulness and ingenuity.
So, as we reflect on all that we are thankful for and begin to consider any year-end giving, please keep our church in mind, specifically our incredible Staff. As in past years, we would like to present our Staff with a special acknowledgement of our appreciation for all that they do and all that they’ve done this year.
If you would like to contribute to this effort, please place it in the offering plate, drop it by the church, or donate online. Be sure to indicate that the funds donated should be directed “Staff Christmas.” Please submit your contributions by Tuesday, December 14th so that gifts can be distributed to the staff on Sunday, December 19th, just in time for Christmas.
Thank you!
Bryant McDaniel, Chair of Personnel
John Mills, President of the Congregation
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A BIG THANK YOU!
A sincere thank you to SSCC Members and Friends as well as the Day School families who helped us gather three huge, overflowing boxes of toys to donate to MUST Ministries. Together, we collected 111 new toys that Jeff Moore and Cathy Cortright delivered to MUST last Tuesday, whereby they received a gracious “Thank You” from Donation Center employees. These are fabulous toys for children to receive this Christmas.
Kathy Gregory, Director of The Day School writes, "On Saturday, December 4th, The Whitmire Pavilion was ablaze with festivities and fellowship. Santa was engaging in conversations with hopeful children, the Polar Express took children and adults on festive rides, a face painter transformed children into their favorite characters and local artists sold their wares to holiday shoppers. The day was capped off with a performance by the Heards Ferry 4th and 5th grade chorus...many of whom were former Day School students. The donation baskets for MUST Ministries were brimming with donations from generous TDS families. For me, this was the most special day at TDS to date. SSCC Church members were in attendance and we collaborated efforts to gather donations for those in need - all while spreading holiday cheer!"
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CHRISTMAS CAME TO THE MULBERRY APARTMENTS!
Christmas is joy. Christmas is anticipation. Christmas is chaos. Christmas is love. Christmas came to the Mulberry Community in Ellijay last Saturday thanks to SSCC volunteers and donations from the congregation. Over $700 was raised in two Sundays at the Christmas Shop in the SSCC Centrum. The donations were used to throw a Christmas party for the children in the Mulberry Apartments in Ellijay, whom we first met six years ago through Camp Craddock. Ornaments were also donated for a shop where each child could select a family gift and wrap it.
Eight volunteers traveled to Ellijay on a beautiful Saturday: Cindy Brown, Chris Dalton, Elaine Donnelly, Art Edwards, Janet Howell, Cindi McCollough, Nancy McDaniel and Jim Torbert, to share your generosity. Kids were on the lookout on the road near the entrance to the apartment complex and on balconies in anticipation of our arrival. Overflowing with joy that they could hardly contain, they shouted "they're here!!" and "there is Miss Chris!", clambering to our cars to unload supplies and set up tables, transforming a scraggly patch of grass into Santa's Workshop. Chaos ensued as kids moved from tables of crafts to the ornament "shop" to snacks. Art Edwards commented that one of the truly amazing things to him was that the first thing the kids chose to do was make crafts rather than eat food. The kids wanted to make beautiful things and share them with others.
After a hearty snack of Chick-Fil-A nuggets and Santa cookies (homemade by Cindy Brown), kids went home with their personally decorated felt stockings (sewn by Cindy Brown, Janis Hill, Leslie Kahrs and Laura Prescott) stuffed with ornaments made by SSCC children in Becky Chimera's Sunday School class and other special gifts. They carried a gift for their family they had lovingly wrapped, a new book hand selected for them by Chris Dalton, crafts they made, a new pair of gloves and Christmas love.
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CAC NEEDS VOLUNTEERS - NEW DATES AND TIMES
CAC needs your help so we can finish the year strong. This year we have many Holiday Food Boxes and gift cards that need to be given to our clients. They are planning three days next week for them to be picked up. If you can help us hand them out that would be awesome.
The distribution will be at 8607 Roswell Road in the shed outside the food pantry. The dates are Monday (12/13), Tuesday (12/14), and Weds (12/15), from 9:30AM to 1:30PM. We need two people per shift. There will be lifting as well as some computer work to check in the clients. We will also be distributing the gift cards as well. If you can lend us hand, please reach out to Nolan as soon as possible. This is very rewarding and the recipients are highly appreciative that they can get a high quality festive meal to share with their loved ones.
Also, we need some help on Saturday, 12/18 in the Food Pantry, from 9:00AM to 12:00PM or so. Due to some scheduling changes, we need four to six people to help prepare the food pantry at 8607 Roswell Road. Please reach out to Cindi McDollough or contact Nolan at the CAC directly: nolan.feintuch@ourcac.org or 678-362-5583.
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SAVE THE DATE!
The Talent show that was previously cancelled has been rescheduled for Sunday, January 30th right after worship.
We wanted to give you as much notice as possible to get your act together! If you have any questions, please contact Janis Hill at janishill@comcast.net.
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PRAYER REQUESTS AND BLESSINGS
Donna Lassiter says, "Love and Blessings to all for a wonderful Holiday Season!"
Prayers for Merilyn Dimmitt while she goes through some testing.
Cindi McColloough asks for prayers for Spencer's Family - Kelly, Kai, his mom, dad and brothers.
Prayers for Milt and Janis Hill at the passing of Janis' mom, Carol Redge, this past Tuesday.
Allen and Lynn McCahren request prayers for Helena Jenkins, Allen's half-sister who is having surgery on December 10th. Also they ask for prayers for William T. Cash III, born on December 2nd to Lynn's niece.
Prayers for a close friend of Lauren Ivey, who is having a difficult time with their mental health.
Prayers are requested for our members and their families who serve as first responders and health care workers: Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, Dr. Vijay Rathinam, and Robyn Hicks. 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), Dalton Brown (Army) and Caleb (Marines), granddaughter, grandson and great grandson of Barb Duren. 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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Through 12/12, Casey Evans will lead “The Mulligan”. Then the class will recess until 2022 at which time they will discuss as a group what the first 2022 study series will be.
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PATHFINDERS CLASS
Whether you have questions, answers, both, or neither you can expect wide-ranging information, discussion, and support in the Path Finders’ class. Your ideas, experiences, and knowledge are all welcome. And, if you feel that you don’t have any ideas, experiences, or knowledge you’ll find more than you can imagine as part of this community.
Join John Mills and the Pathfinders in person every Sunday morning in Common Ground at 9:00 am.
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Bryant Hodgson December 03
Caroline Grant December 07
Kendra Plotkin December 07
Niki Norman December 10
Larri Wolf December 10
Laura Prescott December 13
Lorelei Lee December 15
Kyle Norman December 15
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Elinor Tollman December 15
Presley Campbell December 18
Jared Mills December 18
Jonah Mills December 18
Lorelei McGahee December 21
Elizabeth Adrion December 22
Julie Sanford December 27
Janelle Hicks December 29
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