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A NOTE FROM NATHAN
It’s not a trait I am proud of, and it is certainly not my best quality. In fact, you wouldn’t even know it about me. I’ve learned to hide it well. When it comes to just about everything, I am highly competitive. To put it more succinctly, I hate to lose.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a sore loser. I don’t throw golf clubs after a lost match or slam my tennis racket at the end of a failed set. In fact, I always go out of my way to congratulate the winner. I believe it’s important, no matter the circumstances, to be a good sport.
Yet, I worry the flaws I keep hidden deep down are spilling into my children. I’ve watched them struggle to navigate loss, to control their emotions, to show humility in the face of defeat. While some of us take it better than others, the truth is, none of us like to lose. Whether it’s a competition, our wallet or a friend, loss is never easy.
Which is the reason today is so difficult. We call it Good Friday, but we all wonder what is so “good” about it. Violence, death, grief – the losses on this day are almost too much to bear. And yet without today, we can forget an important lesson in the life of faith – one of which I need reminding more than just once a year. In life, loss is inevitable. In Holy Week, Jesus shows us a better way lose.
In an article in the Christian Century, Richard Lischer writes about this lesson: In each Passion account, and especially in the Gospel of John, Jesus suffers humiliation and defeat but does not relinquish his identity as the Son of God. His final cry is addressed to his Father. His divinity is confirmed not by coming down from the cross but by his gestures of love while impaled upon it. From the cross he provides for his mother and forgives his tormentors. From the cross he draws a world of lost souls to himself. As it turns out, what remains in each of us is not the bravado of mastery but the vulnerability of love.
The old saying is true: “Winning isn’t everything.” Simultaneously, in losing, there is always something to be gained. A boy dies of a drug overdose, and his parents take a new and active role in drug education for teens. A woman survives breast cancer, but instead of nesting with her own anxiety, reaches out to other women with the same disease. Poor people help other poor people. The bereaved understand and comfort the bereaved. Today reminds us that loss can be “good.” After all, it’s only in loss that resurrection can be found.
Jesus teaches the art of losing. It’s a lesson I so desperately need. So, today, I’m going to spend some time in the dark, waiting for Sunday. Will you join me?
Peace,
Nathan
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CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED
Monday, April 18th the office will be closed for Easter Monday. If you call, please feel free to leave a message, we will return your call on Tuesday.
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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Today on Good Friday, April 15, from 9 am to 6 pm, SSCC will offer a self-guided Stations of the Cross on the Whitmire Pavilion side of the church. Stations will include scriptures and a meditation or prayer. Please make time for this meaningful practice. | |
Join us this Easter Sunday, April 17th, as we celebrate the risen Christ. | |
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Join us Easter Sunday!
Sunday, April 17, 2022
7:00 am Sunrise Service in the Whitmire Pavilion
9:00 am Easter Breakfast in Dunlap Hall
9:45 am Easter Egg Hunt starts on the lawn and playground
10:15 am Traditional Easter Service in the sanctuary
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COMMUNION BY INTINCTION
We have exciting news for you! This Easter Sunday, April 17, we will return to communion by intinction. Obviously, we will still offer a gluten free option as well. We look forward to getting back to this meaningful practice at SSCC!
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UPCOMING STUDY – A HOUSE UNITED
Coming soon, we will be studying the book “A House United” by Allen Hilton. As you know, Hilton has led SSCC in two different Courageous Conversation events over the last two years. His work is aimed at helping churches witness to the world that we can have conversations about challenging topics and still love one another, despite our differences. In preparation for Allen’s return, we would like to spend time in small groups, in different locations and at different times, reconnecting with one another, while engaging this book. Be on the look-out for sign-ups and more information. There will be opportunities for both hosting and attending. Stay tuned!
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SPEAKING OF FLOWERS...
Are you looking for a way to commemorate/celebrate something or someone? Would you like to express your love or gratitude in a special way? AND beautify your church at the same time? Well, we have just the thing!
Starting the first Sunday in May, we will be adding flowers to our church space. Every week, two arrangements from Flowers of Marietta will be on the baptistry. They have agreed to supply the flowers at half price if we mention their name in the bulletin. We are paying $50.00/per arrangement ($100 value) plus delivery. We hope you will sponsor one arrangement for $57.50 or two for $115.00. Your name and why you purchased will be acknowledged both in the bulletin and in Nathan’s announcements. Best of all, you will get to take the flowers home with you at the end of the service! You can sign up for your date/dates by clicking the button below, by signing up on the sheet in the lobby or just call the church office 404.256.2582. Then write a check to SSCC any time prior to your date or you can ZELLE the amount to "accounting@sandysppringscc.org".
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WEBSITE UPDATE
The website redesign team is planning to have a videographer, Stephen Buchness, at our Easter Service, April 17th. He will be taking some candid video before and after the service as well as parts of the Easter Service from discrete locations in the sanctuary. He will edit this film down to short segments for our website redesign. This is just an FYI, there’s nothing to do except be yourself. He will be doing candid shots of activities after the service. So, if you want to ham it up for the camera, feel free to hang around and socialize after the service.
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OUTREACH UPDATE!
SSCC STAFFS the CAC on 3rd Saturdays! Please help your neighbors in need on April 16th by CLICKING HERE TO SIGN UP. Thank you for volunteering.
The Sandwich Project notified SSCC and other volunteer groups in the community of an urgent need for spring break foods and necessities. With local schools being closed for spring break many food insecure children do not have access to breakfast and lunch meals normally provided at area schools.
Also, seniors and others are in need of non perishable food and toiletries. The Outreach Committee provided: protein bars, applesauce, snack crackers along with toiletries, diapers and some coolers for the Sandwich Project.
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TAKE THE OUTREACH SURVEY
The Outreach team is looking for your feedback regarding the programs you would like to see SSCC support. Please contact any member of the Outreach team if you have questions. There are paper copies of the survey and the current program descriptions available on the Outreach credenza in the lobby (but we prefer that you take the survey using the link below).
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INTERNATIONAL DINING IS BACK!
Our International Dining Group is resuming meeting this month. Our first time together will be on Sunday, April 24, at noon at Kid Cashew, 6090 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. This is a very new Mediterranean restaurant.
All are welcome - members and/or visitors. If you care to be added to our mailing list - to guarantee being advised of our upcoming dates, times and places - please contact Milt Hill at: milthill@comcast.net. We usually meet on Sundays after church, but not always. We usually meet near the church, but not always. Our group began meeting fourteen years ago and met eleven months of the year until Covid hit.
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DID YOU MISS LAST OUR TOWN HALL MEETING?
We held our quarterly Town Hall meeting last Sunday after service. If you missed it, or just want to rewatch it, just click the button below.
Thanks to all who contributed to the meeting. There was a lot of valuable information shared.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS UPDATES | |
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PLEASE JOIN US!
Hello MD Friends!
As a reminder, MD will not be meeting this Sunday as a class, but instead will be joining the church for Easter Sunday breakfast & egg hunting before the 10:15 service. Can't wait to see all of your joyful faces there!
P.S. Remember to share (email or text me) anything that brings you Joy! We'll share these stories of Joy! together starting the following Sunday, 4/24/22, which is when we will resume Rob Bell's video, "An Introduction of Joy!"
All the best,
Casey Evans
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CURRENT STUDY
Please join the Pathfinders Class at 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning in the Common Ground Room. We are currently studying Ephesians, facilitated by John Mills.
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PRAYER REQUESTS AND A THANK YOU
Fran Michels requests prayers for her friend, Richard LeBlanc who has health struggles.
Prayers of joy for Casey Evans who passed his teaching certification exams to become a Special Education teacher!
Dan and Lolly Ross wish to thank everyone for their love, cards, letters, prayers and support. They want you to know you are wonderful appreciated and not forgotten.
A personal thank you from Cindi and Phil McCollough for the love and support of them for Phil's neck surgery. The surgery was successful and he is recovering well. Your prayers were felt and so appreciated.
Carolyn Dishman asks for prayers for ten families who are now without a home after their condo building burned on 3/26. Thanks to all the firefighters, police and Red Cross who were there to help the families.
Pray for Jim Torbert as he continues successful rehab. Feel free to send cards to the house with well wishes.
Florene Fowler requests prayers for her daughter, Tina Moseley who is ill.
Please pray for Fran Michel's friend, Derek Wright, who is in ICU.
Dottie Gill asks for prayers for Phillip Higgins, her son-in-law, as they investigate options for his knee.
Please continue to pray for Bryant Hodgson as he continues rehab. Prayers for recovery and encouragement for good spirits are needed.
CLICK HERE to see the list of our first responders and military members who we continue to pray for.
If you have any prayer requests or joys to share, please contact Teddy Ivey, Director of Congregational Care via email: Teddy@sandyspringscc.org.
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David McGahee April 17
Evan Bensch April 21
Carol Armstrong April 25
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Ryan Driemeyer April 25
Debbie Olson April 28
Addison Brown April 29
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