A NOTE FROM NATHAN
As I briefly scrolled through social media yesterday morning, the sentiment was the same, over and over again. “I just can’t watch.” “I had to turn it off.” “How did we get here?” Ten minutes into a presidential debate and most of the folks in my feed, both conservative and progressive, could not stomach it.
Of course, it’s no surprise. It has been this way for a while now. Although, it seems to get increasingly worse. Candidates personally attacking one another rather than speaking to the issues of the day. Partisanship taking priority at all costs. Sharing facts that skew the truth, so much, that no one really knows what to believe.
In the midst of it all, it’s difficult, as people faith, to know how to navigate the political landscape these days. How do we participate faithfully? Should we participate in what feels like a morally broken system? Can we even make a difference? What does our faith, if anything, have to do with politics?
Over the next four weeks, in worship, we will be exploring these questions, among others, as we engage a sermon series entitled, “God’s Politics.” Perhaps there is no more divisive topic in our time than politics. As people of the Church, we will undoubtedly be faced with the political issues of the day because many of these issues are also matters of faith. Sometimes following the party line can put us in conflict with following Jesus.
I hope you will tune in this month for worship, as we all prepare our hearts and minds not only for an election, but also for being faithful people in increasingly complex times. Join us on Sunday mornings at the in-person worship service, Morning Watch, in the Whitmire Pavilion at 8:30 AM or for the livestream on our YouTube and Facebook pages at 10:15 AM.
As you will read below, our Welcome Back Team and Leadership Team have approved guidelines for us to begin phasing in, in-person worship, in our sanctuary, on Sunday, November 1st. Please take a moment to read through the plans we are beginning to implement, to make in-person worship safe at SSCC. More information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
It has been a pleasure to see many of you in person, for the first time in more than six months, at the Morning Watch service. I look forward to the same in the sanctuary, as we move toward the next steps in finding our new normal. Thank you for your continued support of and engagement with SSCC. See you soon!
Peace,
Nathan
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God’s Politics
A Sermon Series
It’s a touchy subject, especially in an election year. In fact, it might be the most divisive topic of the day: politics. Which, of course, makes it an issue of faith – something the Church should address or, at the very least, talk about. After all, people have questions. Was Jesus political? Should I, as a person of faith, be political, partisan, both? If Church and State are to be separate, can political issues also be matters of faith? Let’s come together, during worship, and spiritually prepare ourselves for an election season through a series we are calling God’s Politics.
October 4, 2020
The Politics of Jesus
Matthew 27:33-37
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
October 11, 2020
Can We Talk?
James 3:1-12
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
October 18, 2020
Rev. Linda Whitmire
October 25, 2020
Fear Not
Isaiah 43:1-7
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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SIMPLE SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE IN THE WHITMIRE PAVILION
Join us Sunday mornings for an in-person service in the Whitmire Pavilion at 8:30 am, in advance of our livestream at 10:15 AM. We will follow all the guidelines in the Whitmire Pavilion policy to keep everyone safe. Worship will only include prayer, a scripture reading, a message, an offering and communion. Communion will take place with pre-packaged individual, disposable communion cups and wafers, already placed in the seats.
In order to attend the service you must sign up in advance, as we are limiting attendance to 30 people, following the Whitmire Pavilion Guidelines recently set. Please click the button below to reserve your seat.
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Fran Michels asks for prayers for Walt who has been having several health issues and for her friend Phillis Slaught who has been fighting a long battle with cancer.
Please pray for Sharon Hannah Nickelson who is still in a battle with cancer and severe side effects from chemotherapy.
Please keep Pat and Paul Kapphahn in your prayers as they continue to recover from their injuries due to an accident while walking.
Please pray for our members and their families who serve as first responders and health care workers: Dr. Tim Helton, Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, and Pete French. Also those serving in the military: Derrick Brown (Army) and Michelle Brown (Navy), children 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). If we are missing someone, please let us know so that we can include their name in our weekly prayers.
JOIN SSCC!
You can join SSCC by a simple affirmation of faith anytime! If you want to join during this virtual time, just let us know you would like to join!
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GREAT NEWS!
The Welcome Back Team has discerned that we should try limited in-person worship in the sanctuary beginning November 1st. The team wrote and Leadership approved guidelines for this step and they are available here for you to review by clicking the button below.
First, let me say that if the risk of COVID transmission increases in the state, we may choose once again to rely solely on livestreaming. Our team is now working on the logistics of in-person worship to comply with the guidelines. Those will be communicated to you when they are completed. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either me (bwlady@bellsouth.net) or Nathan.
Sincerely, Leslie Lady
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VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR - THIS SUNDAY!
We are starting back with virtual coffee hours after worship on the first Sunday of each month. Our next coffee hour via Zoom will be this Sunday, October 4th from 11:30 to 12:30 pm. Feel free to stay as long as you like. Click the button below to join, or you can call in via phone to 646-558-8656 or 301-715-8592 and use the meeting I.D. 84471406450.
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CARE AND CONNECT CONCERT!
This is your last chance to sign up to join us in the Whitmire Pavilion (and/or adjoining parking) enjoying the company of one another and the musical talents of Jay Memory. The Care and Connect Team hopes you can attend on Sunday, October 4th at 2:00 p.m. with an inclement weather date of October 18th.
Many of you will remember Jay, a former member and a professional musician. Newer members and friends are in for a treat! Normally, Jay is booked solid and plays for larger audiences, but the Pandemic has changed that. Dealing with this new reality and the fact that SSCC has a special place in his heart, we are getting an opportunity we might normally not be afforded. He will be playing for a love offering! We ask that you keep two things in mind: Jay is one of the many people whose work and income has been adversely affected and besides that what would you pay for concert tickets? We want this to be mutually beneficial, so please be generous!
This will be a great time that you will not want to miss! We will be adhering to the Whitmire Pavilion safety guidelines, as well as other Covid guidelines set, and request that you wear a mask.
However, to help us figure out how many to plan for, parking, safety measures and logistics, we need you to please sign up ASAP using the button below. We have asked that you sign up by this Wednesday at noon. to determine the amount of people interested, and plan the set up of the event accordingly with the maximum of 30 people in the Whitmire Pavilion, and then overflow into other areas or the parking lot. We can plan for more if we fill the first 100 spots by this Wednesday, if not, the event will be limited to 100 attendees with the final sign up deadline of Friday at noon.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Please join us in officially welcoming the Harple Family as members of SSCC! Travis, Emily and their new son, Derek joined SSCC at last Sunday's Morning Watch service. In addition, Derek was dedicated the same day! What a wonderful way to celebrate!
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HELP SSCC SIMPLY BY SHOPPING!
The AmazonSmile Foundation recently surpassed $200 million in donations to charities worldwide! In this time, many of you are purchasing items online, and by shopping on Amazon using the link below, you can generate donations to our church simply by shopping.
You can help increase AmazonSmile donations to Sandy Springs Christian Church by shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/58-1083769 or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app.
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DOING MINISTRY DIFFERENTLY |
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A BRIGHT SPOT FROM BENAY GUNBY
"Many of us volunteer at the Community Assistance Center as I do on Mondays (Thrift Shop: sorting, pricing, racking). Donations during the in-place sheltering have brought out the best in us to declutter our attics, closets and pass on our grown children’s stuffed toys. One of those donations caught my eye. I offered to take home Four Teddy Bears to wash and donate to Cobb County Community Affairs. Debbie Olson told me she had some Teddies that could not be distributed to CAC clients this Christmas due to new COVID19 protocol, so she gave me 100’s and 100’s of Teddies for the Cobb County BEAR HUG campaign! It is a good thing to see how citizens from neighboring counties reach out to help each other during trying times such as these. Happy to play a small part in connecting these two fine organizations to comfort the little ones during their hour of need. Sometimes just a simple BEAR HUG will do..." - Benay Gunby
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UPDATE! FROM OUTREACH
CAC: For information regarding volunteering at the CAC, please CLICK HERE to access the Sign Up Genius link for available time slots. They are also looking for pantry, cash and boutique donations. If you would like to read the CAC's most recent newsletter, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE ON FOOD PANTRY & CAC BOTIQUE located at 8607 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs GA 30350. The Food Pantry has moved to an outdoor market format and the CAC Botique will be open inside with limited hours. Homebound seniors may receive pre-packaged food delivered by CAC volunteers. Volunteers are needed; if you are interested, please contact Debbie Olson at the CAC or contact Cindi McCollough via email at csbfish@bellsouth.net.
CAC Outdoor Mini-Market Food Pantry
Food Pantry Hours for Clients
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Food Donation/Delivery Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
CAC Upscale Thrift
Shopping Hours
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 am-1:30 pm
(Retail store shopping hours open to clients and the public.)
Donation Hours for Clothing & Home Goods
Monday – Friday, 9:30 am-1:30 pm
Safety, of course, continues to be a number one priority. Greeters will take each customer’s temperature and ensure each customer sanitizes their hands and is wearing a mask before shopping. Plexiglass is up at the register and dressing rooms. Restrooms are unavailable right now. If you would like to help but aren’t comfortable being in the store with customers, know there are items in the back to sort and price every day of the week. Plenty of spots if you’d like one.
If you would like to read the CAC's newsletter, please click here.
FOOD INSECURITY: If you or someone you know in our church community are facing food insecurity because of a decrease or loss in income, please privately contact Jenna Hicks so that we can provide assistance to keep your pantry full. Email jennakhicks@gmail.com or call 404-441-1668.
MUST MINISTIRES: If you would like to donate and drop off items 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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SUBMITTING PRAYER AND CONGREGATIONAL CARE REQUESTS
Due to the fact that we are holding "virtual" church service, and are not able to submit prayer requests, feel free to reach out to Merilyn Dimmit, Congregational Care, via Merilyn@sandyspringscc.org or call her at 770-448-8784 and leave a message. Please indicate if your prayer request is confidential (for Clergy/Elders only or for congregational sharing in our newsletter).
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CONNECT WITH OTHERS
SSCC has subscribed to zoom for anyone who might need it to virtually meet using a video conference method. Only one group can use our account at a time. If you would like your group to use zoom to virtually meet, please contact Amy Frost via email (amy@sandyspringscc.org) to schedule your group on the calendar. We can help you learn how to send an invite to your group.
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Stephen Brown 10/1
John Dalton 10/1
Amy Helton 10/2
Kerry Bensch 10/4
John Mills 10/4
Mikayla Scarborough 10/6
Pat Emerson 10/7
Don Daugherty 10/8
Ginny Hamilton 10/8
Sandy Matthews 10/9
Amos Bolay 10/13
Bob Hicks 10/14
Ellis Torbert 10/14
Bryce Bowers 10/16
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Matt McKinney 10/16
Becky Kelly 10/17
Dawna Abel 10/21
Merilyn Dimmitt 10/23
Vijay Rathinam 10/23
Mary Shehan 10/23
Sally Tutterow 10/24
Paul Kapphahn 10/25
Cindy Brown 10/26
Alice Saunders 10/26
Chris Dalton 10/27
Shavette Turner 10/28
Bert Blackburn 10/31
Linda Davis-Rolen 10/31
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