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A NOTE FROM NATHAN
I read recently that animals have all kinds of way-finding capacities built into their various bodies. Apparently, many of these navigational systems are far more sophisticated than any human counterpart. Monarch butterflies make their journey to Mexico using the angle of the sun as a compass, in combination with what scientists believe may be an internal body clock operating with a circadian rhythm. Dung beetles navigate via the Milky Way galaxy. Homing pigeons have tiny iron oxide crystals in the skin lining their upper beak that function as sensors for the earth’s magnetic field. Sea turtles swim across vast oceans and, using geomagnetic cues, are able to land at the very nest where they were born decades earlier.
Apparently, we humans develop cognitive maps, which help guide us in the world. Our experiences inform or memory, which then help us to, say, navigate our way home. These maps, though, guide not only our physical movement, but also our social behavior. What we take in can result in drawing vastly different social maps, ranging from dangerous ones that move us toward the hatred of outsiders, to ones that inspire understanding and empathy.
This week I am in Dallas at the annual Senior Minister’s conference for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I look forward to this retreat every year. It serves as one guidepost, among others, in my spiritual journey of serving as a Pastor. One of the consistent themes ministers shared at this year’s meeting was just how disorienting the last few years have been for the Church. With so many of our spiritual practices having changed, seemingly overnight, not to mention the people with whom we practice them, it’s been a difficult time to navigate.
However, while the ways in which we practice our faith have shifted, the guideposts are still the same. Things like prayer, worship, and Bible study continue to serve as our “GPS devices,” no matter the circumstances in the world. For people of faith, these serve as the ways in which our cognitive maps are formed, helping us to interpret the world, that we might follow Jesus more faithfully. After all, it is Jesus who, ultimately, serves as our road map. Or at least he refers to himself as, “the way, the truth and the life.”
This Sunday, we continue in our series, “Follow,” which explores those spiritual guideposts that help shape our theological maps. We will be focusing this week, specifically, on worship. While overall worship attendance has decreased during the last several decades, it’s importance in shaping our spiritual maps has never been greater. For the God we worship leads us in how we live and navigate this world. So, if you are feeling a little lost these days, come this Sunday to be reminded that with the God we know in Jesus Christ, you are always found.
Peace,
Nathan
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Follow
A Sermon Series for the
Season of Epiphany
Follow -- easier said than done. Play the game, “Simon Says,” and you discover even obeying commands can be difficult. We have the best intentions. We want to be faithful. We hope, when called upon, we will, as the disciples did, “drop everything and follow him.” Unfortunately, life gets in the way. The world gets in the way. We get in the way. The result is wandering, more than following. Thus, we are beginning the near year with a series which reflects on those practices that ground us in our faith. Prayer, worship, and service help us keep focused on God and remind us that following Jesus means doing all things in love.
Sunday, January 29, 2023 - Worship - 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
Sunday, February 5, 2023 - Service - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
Sunday, February 12, 2023 - Love - 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
SSCC's family grew by three on January 15th.
Jonathan and Madison Riviere are elated to finally join SSCC! After 3 years in New York City, they now call Canton home as newlyweds where Madison works in tech support and Jonathan works in tech sales.
Jonathan has been an active counselor and camp director with the Florida Disciples Outdoor Ministry Committee for over a decade now, and Madison was an active Sunday school teacher within the Lutheran faith. They met at a Barbershop Quartet Singing Convention and spend their free time playing Guitar Hero and eating chicken nuggets. Please tell them hello!
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In addition, Hugh Stout joined SSCC on January 15th.
Hugh tells us he moved to Atlanta in 1979 and was baptized in 1991 in Christ Fellowship Church in Norcross.
He found SSCC by way of the CAC, and later after befriending Barb Duren, Donna Lassiter and Dawna Abel at Campbell-Stone North Apartments. He also attended Barb's Sunday School class there.
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REMEMBERING LES BARIGHT
A Private Burial will be held for Les Baright today, January 27th at 11:00 AM, in the Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, Georgia. Rev. Teddy Ivey will be the presiding minister from SSCC. Please keep Joann and her family in your prayers.
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CARE & CONNECT NEEDS YOU!
If you would like to join this amazing group of people, please reach out to Joan Bramblett at joanbramblett@gmail.com. They are responsible for ministry programs that strengthen the SSCC community through invitation, fellowship, support & assistance. They help provide food for various church receptions, making and delivering meals to members in need, and planning church-wide functions.
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DO YOU LIKE TO COOK? OR HELP?
We are looking for folks to provide meals for the youth group Sunday evenings (average 20-25 people). There are several ways you can help. You can help prepare the meals, send one via DoorDash, or just drop the prepared food off and Caroline Grant will take care of the rest. Please sign up by clicking the link below to find a date that works for you. It is always a joy to have members come join our youth group! Feel free to contact Caroline with any questions at 404-697-0317.
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LOST AND FOUND
Are you missing your favorite gold earring, insulated wine tumbler, kid's jacket or sweatshirt, keys, reading glasses, eyeglass case, sippy cup, umbrella, or fuzzy unicorn diary?
Feel free to stop by the table to get reunited with your items. Thanks!
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FLOWER SIGN UPS ARE READY FOR 2023!
Are you looking for a way to commemorate/celebrate something or someone? If so, we hope you will sponsor one arrangement for $57.50 or two for $115.00 for the sanctuary. Your name and reason why you sponsored 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 use the sign-up button below to select the Sundays you wish to sponsor and fill in your name, who/what the flowers are for. Then write a check to SSCC any time prior to your date or send the amount through ZELLE to "accounting@sandysppringscc.org". If you have any questions, or want to reserve a date over the phone, just call the church office at 404.256.2582.
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WORSHIP LEADERS NEEDED
Would you like to participate in our Sunday service? We are in need of Worship Leaders for the new year.
We can provide you with everything you need (call to worship, scripture, call to giving and a welcome to visitors). Please click on the link below to sign up, or call the church office if you have questions. Thank you for your willingness to serve!
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING NOTICE
This Sunday, January 29th, we will have our annual congregational meeting to vote on the 2023 leadership slate and approve the annual budget. This will also be a time to thank our leadership for an amazing year of ministry. If you are a member of SSCC, please stay after worship, in the sanctuary, for this brief but important meeting.
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LEADERSHIP RETREAT - SAVE THE DATE
The SSCC annual leadership retreat will take place on Saturday, February 18th from 9 am to 3 pm Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs. A reminder email was sent out Tuesday, please respond and let us know if you are or are not able to attend. Once again, thank you to those of you in your respective leadership roles.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES | |
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THE GATHERING HOUR 9AM ON SUNDAY
We bring you: "The Gathering Hour". This hour offers two adult options and a children's option for spending time in fellowship. Come Join us this Sunday, January 8th, 2023.
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John Mills will conduct a Walk Through the Bible study from Genesis to Revelation in a year or so. You can join for the entire series or drop in when you see a book you'd like to cover. They are finishing up Genesis this Sunday and will meet in the Common Ground Room.
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The children will continue to Gather with their leaders in Room 120.
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PRAYER REQUESTS AND CELEBRATION | |
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Lynn McCahren is celebrating her browther-in-law who is now cancer free!
Rev. Linda Whitmire asks for prayers for Mary Anne Posey as she seeks healing. Please feel free to give her a call at 404.580.4128 or send an encouraging card to her attention at Roselane Health Center, 613 Roselane St. NW, Room #211, Marietta 30060.
Elaine Donnelly requests prayers for Bernadette and Dorsey Gray over the loss of their daughter, Julia.
Lynn McCahren asks for prayers for her brother, Doug Blount, whose cancer has returned and he prepares for radiation treatment on his brain.
Prayers for Stephen Brown as he recovers from recent surgery.
Mary Robeck would like continued prayers for her niece's husband, Buddy Harvey, as he undergoes chemotherapy.
| 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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Joan Bramblett January 27
Brad Norman January 27
Francie Filacchione January 29
Thomas Grant January 29
August Lee January 30
Joshua Moore February 02
Nancy Trusty February 02
Scott Dalton February 04
Dirk Huttenbach February 06
Dan Ross February 07
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Peter Brown February 09
Anne Bradford February 10
Judy Edwards February 11
Fran Michels February 11
J.R. Torbert February 14
Jim Torbert February 16
Kathleen Reese February 20
Wayne Dimmitt February 21
Pat Kapphahn February 22
Tom Bratten February 23
Charles Rolen February 23
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