SSCC Outreach 2021 YEAR-END REPORT

Dear SSCC,

The Mission of SSCC's outreach, per our outreach charter, is to help the most vulnerable including, but not limited to, those in need of necessities like food, shelter, water, clothing, health care and safety. Whenever possible hands-on service and assistance are encouraged to assist those in need. The specific, people-centric areas which we aspire to serve include:

• Hunger and homelessness
• Youth Education 
• Low-income elderly
• High-impact national and global programs

The 2021 Committee was comprised of the following members: Cathy Cortright, Allen McCahren, Lynn McCahren, Kendra Plotkin, and Cindi McCollough, Chair.

The Outreach Budget is 10% of SSCC’s Annual Giving. Total financial support to projects, programs, and legacy programs for 2021 was $52,761.48. The following projects were completed in 2021 through congregants giving their time, talent and treasure:

MINI PROJECTS - $233.94

1)    Note cards – deployed military       

2)    Note cards & goodie bags – Campbell Stone North Residents

3)    Holiday stockings – CSN/SSCC members & visitors

4)    Holiday stockings – TDS staff

5)    Wrap up Breast Cancer w Fulton Co Sheriff

PROJECTS & PROGRAMS

6)    HomeStretch = $7857.92 which included rent for a sponsored family, refresh and furnishing of resident apartment, and financial counseling provided by SSCC member Jim Armstrong

7)    Community Assistance Center - CAC = $18373.72:

• a)     Kitchen equipment for new S. Sandy Springs Food Pantry for a total of $13815.00.
• b)     Backpacks/School supplies for 40 High School students & a stuffing party at $3204.71.
• c)     The Adopt a Family Christmas Program with sponsorship of 15 children = $1354.01         

8)    Campbell Stone North Chaplaincy program = $3000.00

LEGACY PROGRAMS

1)    Disciples Mission Fund = $14944.96

2)    Global Ministries – Family Farm Village = $840.00

3)    Camp Christian Scholarship = $1950.00

4)    Nursing Scholarship, Mungeli = $2500.00

5)    Mulberry Street Apartments/Craddock Center = $1645.63

• a)    Summer Day Camp
• b)    Holiday Party
• c)    Care Packs for new residents

6)    MUST Ministries= $1415.31

• a)    Hygiene Kits
• b)    Holiday Toy Drive

We want to thank SSCC for making our 2021 outreach efforts possible, especially during a challenging time. We are looking forward to more in-person opportunities in 2022, along with more overall funds given to organizations who are helping the most vulnerable among us. We would like your help in identifying those ministries you would like to see us support.

Below is a brief outreach survey, along with a description of those organizations we assist through our outreach budget currently. Please take five minutes to complete the survey at your convenience. (There will be paper copies also available at church on the Outreach credenza).

On behalf of the outreach committee, thank you for your generosity and for supporting the ministry of SSCC!

In Gratitude,

The Outreach Committee

LENTEN SERMON SERIES

Facing DOUBT. Finding FAITH.

A Sermon Series for the Season of Lent

We all have doubts. They seem to be more frequent during times of crises -- which means many of us have had plenty the last couple of years. Does God actually exist? Are my prayers really heard? Why do bad things happen to good people? Is Jesus the ONLY way? Questions are not the enemy of faith. They are the path to a deeper faith. Let us journey the wilderness of this Lenten season, exploring our questions, that we might face our doubts and find a more meaningful faith. ~ Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

Sunday, April 3, 2022 - Is Jesus the Only Way?

Romans 9:1-5

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.

IMPORTANT DATES

TOWN HALL MEETING

This Sunday, April 3rd, we will have our quarterly Town Hall meeting. The meeting will take place in the sanctuary following service. We will be discussing some of the following topics:

1. Sabbatical Committee Report
2. Financial Report
3. Visioning Update
4. Outreach Report
5. The Day School Report

Childcare will be provided during the meeting, for those who wish to utilize it. We expect our time together will last approximately 30 - 45 minutes. We hope you can be part of this time together to learn more about the ministry of SSCC!

Join us Thursday, April 14, at 7:00 pm for our Maundy Thursday service in the sanctuary. The Elders will recreate the last supper.

This year 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 important practice.

EASTER SCHEDULE:

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

COMMUNION BY INTINCTION

We have exciting news for you! 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!

SSCC NOTEABLES

EASTER BRUNCH FOOD SIGN UP

On Easter Sunday we will be having a brunch for all. We are looking for volunteers to sign up to bring breakfast food and beverages.

The sign up sheets are in the lobby. Please write your name in next to the item you will be bringing, and thank you for your help!

EASTER LILIES

For the next few Sundays, you will find an insert in your bulletin for donations for Easter Lilies. You can fill out this form to celebrate, honor or remember loved ones. Please note "Easter Lilies" on your check or CLICK HERE to enter a payment online. Please indicate if you wish to pick up your lilies on the form, and you may take it/them with you after Easter Services are complete.

The deadline to turn in your form is Monday, April 11th. Each of the Easter Service bulletins on April 17th will have an insert with all of the names of the honorees. 

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 $7.50 for delivery. We hope you will sponsor one arrangement for $55.00 or two for $110.00. 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".  

THE EASTER BUNNY NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The Easter Bunny will make a guest appearance at our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Easter (April 17th) at 9:45 am. He let us know that he's going to be quite busy that morning and he needs your help! Our goal is to have 1,000 plastic eggs for our children to hunt that day. 

Pre-stuffed eggs with candy are the most helpful, but we also welcome candy or eggs and we'll stuff them here. Whatever you can do is greatly appreciated. Please have them in by April 15th. Thank you!

EASTER SPECIAL OFFERING

Several times a year, congregations receive a special offering to support the ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). These gifts are given above and beyond the regular core support of Disciples Mission Fund.

The Easter Offering, received on April 3 & 10, 2022, supports several of the general ministries of the Christian Church. Your gift supports college students in leadership development programs, global mission partners, health and social service ministries, the formation of new congregations, support for pastors and chaplains, and so much more. 

EASTER ACROSTICS

This past Sunday our Youth and Children made Easter Acrostics in JAM and Youth Group. We wanted to share their wonderful work with the church!

Please stop by the Celebrations board in the lobby to see what they came up with and tell them "great job" if you see them!

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.

DONATE A DRESSER...

Spring is the perfect time to do some cleaning! Carmen Santiago is looking for a dresser for her daughter Demarise. If you have one that you were thinking about donating, please reach out to her. You can call her at 404.992.8219 or email Csantiago070@gmail.com. She lives very close to church, and might need help getting it to her apartment.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS UPDATES

PLEASE JOIN US!

Hello Modern Disciples! 

This Sunday, please attend our class that will gather in the Conference Room at our normal time... 9:00-ish for socializing & refreshments then class begins around 9:15-ish. 

This Sunday, we will continue our stroll through the final chapter of "The Walk". The theme of the last chapter is a summary of the first five through the lens of the resurrection story. We will likely continue this stroll up until Easter weekend. 

Over the next few weeks, Teddy & I will be researching and taking advice on new video-led studies to commence after we finally finish up our stroll through Adam Hamilton's, "The Walk". 

Hope to see you in class this Sunday... even if you haven't read the book or attended any previous Modern Disciple sessions!

All the best,

Casey

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.

PRAYER REQUESTS

PRAYER REQUESTS

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 to recover and remember his family as they care for him.

Pray for Phillip McCollough as he recovers from surgery.

Continued prayers for the perseverance of the people of Ukraine.

Florene Fowler requests prayers for her daughter, Tina Moseley's who is ill. 

Carmen Santiago writes, "Thank you God for everything you give us."

Please pray for Fran Michel's friend, Derek Wright, who is in ICU.

Prayers for JoAnn Baright's daughter, Linda Lee, who is undergoing lots of tests.

Dottie Gill asks for prayers for Phillip Higgins, her son-in-law, as he anticipates knee replacement surgery.

Please continue to pray for Bryant Hodgson as he continues rehab. Prayers for recovery and encouragement for good spirits are needed.

Prayers for Jim Armstrong as he recovers from surgery.

Dottie Gill requests prayers for her dear friend Diane Lanier who lost her husband Lance to cancer.

Please pray for Stephen Brown as he recovers from surgery on his spine.

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.

Camden Gibson April 01 Suzanna Torbert April 01

Caroline Filacchione April 03 Michael McCluskey April 03

Rev. Nathan Brown April 05

Emma McCluskey April 05

Tanner Hicks April 10

Nolan Jones April 10

Betsy Robinson- Hicks April 11

Leslie Kahrs April 11

Michelle Leek April 12

Tom Money April 13

David McGahee April 17

Evan Bensch April 21

Carol Armstrong April 25

Ryan Driemeyer April 25

Debb Olson April 28

Addison Brown April 29