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A NOTE FROM NATHAN
The German mystic, Meister Eckhart, is credited with having said, “If the only prayer you ever offer is ‘thank you,’ that will suffice.” I’ve always appreciated the wisdom in Eckhart’s quote. After all, offering thanksgiving captures a great deal of what it means to live a life of faith.
It acknowledges that we are not our own, but rather belong to and are part of something beyond ourselves. It recognizes that what we have has not been earned or created in a vacuum, but is part of a much larger network of relationships and communities, which have helped make it possible. It is an act of humility, embodying Jesus words, “those who humble themselves will be exalted.” If the only prayer you can offer is one of thanksgiving, both in what you say and how you live, you have embodied, to a large degree, what it is to follow the God we know in Jesus Christ.
I came across a story recently about an elderly woman is who doing this. During the early part of the pandemic she discovered that the only thing that kept her sane was her daily walk in her neighborhood. Separated from her friends, family, and church, she decided to make each walk a kind of prayer-walk.
While she walked outside in God’s creation, she would give thanks for the many blessings in her life. Though she walked slowly through her neighborhood, burdened by the aging process and the grief accompanying her years as a widow, she confessed that she never ran out of things for which to be thankful. Her simple practice of thanksgiving shaped how she lived her life, faced aging, and related to others. To this day, she still practices her daily prayer walk.
This Sunday we will observe Thanksgiving Sunday during worship. Believe it or not, this is the last Sunday on the Christian Calendar, before we start a new Christian year, the following Sunday, on the first Sunday of Advent. You might think of it as our religious New Year’s Eve – an opportunity to make a resolution for our spiritual lives in the coming year. Perhaps you cannot commit to a daily prayer walk. But maybe you can commit to daily prayer – even if all you can muster is, “Thank you.” That will suffice.
Peace,
Nathan
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NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION DEADLINE
If you have something for publishing in the newsletter next week, please submit it via email to: amy@sandyspringscc.org
by noon on Thursdays.
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THANKSGIVING SUNDAY
This Sunday we will celebrate our annual Thanksgiving Sunday. This is an opportunity to give God thanks for all that we have been given and to celebrate our ministry in the last year. Let us come together and give thanks to God for the ongoing ministry of Sandy Springs Christian Church!
Free Bread
John 6:35-51
Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown
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Join us for our annual Hanging of the Green service. Next Sunday, November 27th, during the normal worship hour at 10:15, we will prepare our sanctuary for the Christmas season. We look forward to sharing in this special holiday tradition with you and yours!
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NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITY | |
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THE CHRISTMAS STORIES
Most of us think of the birth of Jesus as one story about two people who travel to Bethlehem, can’t find a room, bring a baby into the world in a stable, are visited by shepherds who have heard about the birth from angels, and kings who follow a star. We have combined two stories – a Luke version and a Matthew version into one simple story leaving behind what Jesus meant to each writer.
Let’s read and discover together the stories that Luke and Matthew wanted us to hear. Each is a Christmas gift!!!
We will meet in the Leslie Classroom for three Sundays during Advent (December 4th, 11th, and 18th) at Noon. Get some lunch and bring it with you. Tis the Season for Christmas STORIES! ~ Leslie Lady
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Signs
A Sermon Series for the Season of Advent
We follow signs every day, whether we realize it or not: traffic signs, billboards, posted instructions. If they are clear, signs can help point the way. Unfortunately, some signs are obscured. Just read your daily horoscope, as an example. The season of Advent is full of signs. Some are obvious. Some, less so. All of them, though, lead us to “the reason for the season.” Let us journey to the Christ Child together, as we attempt, along the way, to look for and follow the signs.
Sunday, November 27th, 2022 (Hanging of the Green)
The Symbols of the Season
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Written in the Stars
Matthew 24:29-44
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Prophets to Point the Way
Matthew 3:1-12
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
Sunday, December 18, 2022
One Song
Luke 1:46-56
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
Sunday, December 24, 2022 (Christmas Eve)
A Light in the Darkness
John 1:1-14
Sunday, December 25, 2022 (Christmas Day)
The Manger Full of Hay
Luke 2:1-14
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVENT!
Join us for a fun-filled evening on Sunday, December 11th. At 5:30 pm we will have a special all-church Christmas Dinner, followed a performance by our children and youth of, "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The event will take place in Dunlap Hall and dinner will be prepared by the famous Chefs Torbert and their wonderful team. We hope to have a special visitor that night as well! Mark your calendars now!
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BLUE CHRISTMAS
If the Christmas season brings you some sadness instead of joy, we will have a Blue Christmas service on Wednesday, December 21st at 5:30 pm lead by Rev. Teddy Ivey. Come and feel God's love and healing.
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5:30 PM
Traditional Candlelight
Christmas Eve Service
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7:30 PM
And intimate service of singing and lighting candles
in the Whitmire Pavilion
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Sunday, December 25, 2022 (Christmas Day)
A Virtual Worship Experience
(There will be no In-Person Worship on Christmas Day)
The Manger Full of Hay
Luke 2:1-14
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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POINSETTIAS
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. Each Sunday starting November 20th through December 18, there will be a form in the bulletin that you can fill out and return in the offering plate as it is passed. Please wrap the poinsettia form around your donation and remember to mark your checks on the memo line with "Poinsettias".
An insert with all of the celebrated and remembered names will be included in the bulletins on Christmas Eve. If you choose to take your poinsettia(s) home, you may do so after service on Christmas Eve.
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SSCC STAFFING THE CAC
The CAC is in need of volunteers this Saturday, November 19th, to help with stocking the food pantry and sorting in the thrift store at 8607 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. Here's your chance to give just a few hours of your time to help our neighbors in need. SSCC will be volunteering the 3rd Saturday of every month at the CAC Food Pantry (no previous experience necessary):
Click the button below to view time slots available in the sign up
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CAC ADOPT-A-FAMILY
Thank you to everyone who has signed up to help make a child's holiday brighter! We are almost filled up with only a few gifts yet to be selected. Click HERE and sign up today. Reminder, please deliver all gifts to the Intern Office at the church no later than November 27. Bring your unwrapped gifts with receipts, each identified with the child's unique number to the church no later than Nov. 27th, if not before.
Additional families are available to adopt. Click HERE to visit the CAC website.
Help CAC prepare and distribute holiday gifts to over 500 families. Click HERE to see opportunities to volunteer from 11/28 - 12/15.
Questions? Contact Kendra Plotkin.
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CAMPBELL-STONE RESIDENTS NEED YOU!
Every year SSCC has generously provided
gifts for Campbell-Stone residents for their
annual Christmas Day lunch party. This is an event for the residents who are unable to be with their families on this special day. This effort was coordinated by our very own Barbara Duren. We want to continue this effort in honor of her.
We sincerely hope you can help! We are looking for presents that you might consider sending to your parents or grandparents. Examples would be: notecards, stamps, gift cards, gloves, scarves, warm socks, puzzle books, soap, shampoo, toiletries, (no candles please). Feel free to be creative!
Please wrap or bag your gifts and mark for a gentleman, lady (there are generally more ladies than gentlemen) or either and place them in the baskets at the Outreach credenza in the lobby area at church. You can drop your gifts off to the church during the office hours or while you are here for church on Sunday. Email Amy Frost (amy@sandyspringscc.org) if you have any questions.
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INSPIRITUS UPDATE:
Inspiritus, our refugee agency partner, is conducting a drive called Hope Tree 2022 to collect Walmart and Visa gift cards as well as new winter coats for refugees and immigrants who are newly arrived and needing a coat for their first winter in the US.
Inspiritus Family Update: A small team of volunteers continues to support Susan, and her 7 month old baby. Please click on the link below for the entire update on the family and for important links on how you can help with the Hope Tree.
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LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS
Now that fall is here not only do we have beautiful fall foliage and cooler temperatures, we also have the opportunity to nominate members to lead and serve our church. In the coming days, a Nominating Committee will be formed to develop a slate of officers, elders, deacons, and ministry forum chairs.
If you want to serve or want to nominate someone, please contact Laura Prescott, Nomination Committee Chair, or look for the nomination forms and drop box in the Lobby. Thank you for your help with this very important task.
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SPECIAL THANKSGIVING OFFERING
The Thanksgiving Offering, to be collected this Sunday, benefits the Colleges, Universities, Seminaries, and Divinity Houses affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Higher education has been an important focus for Disciples since the very beginning of the movement. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is still committed to higher education. Your gift to the Thanksgiving Offering helps support the education of thousands of students at our fifteen colleges and universities as well as our seven seminaries and divinity houses.
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Do you watch This Old House or countless reality remodeling shows? Then we would like to talk to you!
From time to time we have small handyman and/or set up requests here at the church and school, and in order to keep building costs down, we wonder if you might be able to help. Requests could range from anything like painting, to minor repairs, setting up chairs and tables, blah, blah, blah. If interested please call the church office and let us know.
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MODERN DISCIPLES CLASS
In Modern Disciples, we will resume our study of Art Edwards' book "Fruit of the Spirit." We will listen/watch/read/study the chapters on "Kindness: Chrestotes" and "Goodness: Agathosune." These fruits are different but are intertwined. We will discuss how they reveal themselves then (when the Bible was written) & now (as we read/interpret/live it today). See you in the conference room around 9:00 am.
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We have opened up slots for Worship Leader sign ups starting January 8th and beyond. If you would like to participate in Sunday's service, please sign up.
Worship Leaders typically do the Call to Worship, Scripture Reading, Call to Giving and the Welcome to Visitors. We have a guide we can send you that outlines exactly how to do the respective parts, and we can send you everything you need in advance of the service. Please call the church office if you have questions. We appreciate your willingness to serve.
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Prayers are requested for Sandie Reed who had surgery on November 14th at Cherokee Northside Hospital.
Dottie Gill requests prayers for Rev. Dr. James Brewer-Calvert of First Christian Church of Decatur who is undergoing treatment for recurring cancer.
Prayers are requested for JoAnn and Les Baright.
Please pray for Mary Robeck's niece's husband, Buddy Harvey, who has a cancer diagnosis. And also for her former coworker, Markita, whose teenaged son was killed in a car accident last week.
Continued prayers for Scott Nesbit (Jeff Moore's brother-in-law) and his wife, Amy who both face serious health challenges.
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Prayers are requested for our members and their families who serve as first responders or health care workers: Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, Dr. Vijay Rathinam, and Robyn Hicks. Also those serving in the military: Tyler Brown (Army), son of Tami and Stephen Brown. 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), and Linda Whitmire's grand-daughter, Hayleigh Whitmire (Army). 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 joys to share, please contact Rev. Teddy Ivey, Minister of Congregational Care via email: Teddy@sandyspringscc.org.
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Dan McBride November 18
Mary Robeck November 18
Clinton Campbell November 19
Leslie Lady November 19
Hannah Yarber November 19
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Stuart Michels November 23
Allen McCahren November 24
Rusty Grant November 26
Mandy Mooney November 26
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