A NOTE FROM BRYANT

I received a postcard last week from Amor Ministries. It simply said "we miss you". I've been thinking a lot about our Mexico Mission trips lately. The value this trip has had to our youth is invaluable. I've watched over the years as they gain confidence in themselves as they learn to saw and hammer. I've seen them in small groups talking about God's love for all and around campfires late at night singing songs and laughing about the days mishaps. I've also seen the tears on their faces as we hand the keys over to the family for the first time and pray together in Spanish and English.

And finally, I've seen the support and pride that our congregation has had for our youth as they hear and share the stories of faith on Mexico Sunday.

 

We took over 25 trips into Mexico to help build homes for and with families in need and that is something to be extremely proud of...but I also know that the work is not done. There is so much work left to be done with Amor Ministries and with organizations around our community and all over the United States.

 

When I met with the Ministry Table this week, I began formal discussions on resuming mission trips for our youth group. We had meaningful discussions about Mexico and other chances for our youth to serve. We had conversations about intergenerational mission work and the value of serving together as a church. I left feeling inspired and hopeful as we seek to live out our calling "to serve from our doorsteps, to the ends of the earth."

 

You will hear more in the coming days and weeks as we look more into mission trips for this year, but I wanted to just start by saying thank you. Thank you for always encouraging our youth to serve and to find their gifts and share them. We look forward to another great year of youth ministry and mission work!

 

See you in church on Sunday! Bryant

THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH IN OBSERVATION OF LABOR DAY


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.

THIS SUNDAY

Sunday, September 3, 2022

Koinonia

Philemon 1:1-21

Bryant Gibson


Join us this Sunday as we dive into one of the lesser known books of the new testament, Philemon. In this short epistle, Paul writes a letter to Philemon from prison, a letter that deals with forgiveness and reconciliation. A letter on behalf of Philemon's former slave, Onesimus.


This story of redemption has a lot to teach us, but we will learn together the meaning of "koinonia" and how we can live that message out at SSCC and in our everyday lives. 

CLICK HERE TO READ SUNDAY'S SCRIPTURE
VIEW SUNDAY'S BULLETIN
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE LIVESTREAM 10:15 SUNDAY AM OR TO VIEW PAST SERVICES

NEXT SUNDAY

Sunday, September 3, 2022

Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown


Join us for a special service honoring and blessing our

Day School Staff, Parents and Students in the new school year.

CLICK HERE to sign up for Sanctuary Flowers on a future date

NOTABLE DATES

UPGRADE THURSDAYS

GEORGIA DISCIPLES CLERGY PANEL Thursday, September 8, 2022 FROM 7:00 - 8:00 PM.


What’s Next? The Future of the Church – and the Church of the Future 

The past two-plus years have posed tremendous challenges and change in the life of our churches. Many churches have adopted new strategies for being the church that are here to stay. In this panel discussion led by five pastors from across the Christian Church in Georgia, we will explore these questions: 1) What is working at my church? 2) What is the best idea we've implemented in recent years? and 3) What is God calling the church to be and do as we look ahead to the future? Panel discussion will be led by Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown, Senior Pastor of Sandy Springs Christian Church; Rev. Cheryl Cloar, Pastor of First Christian Church, Winder; Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, Founder and Senior Pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church, Decatur; Rev. Joel Tucker, Senior Pastor of Guyton Christian Church; and Rev. Richard Williams, Senior Pastor of First Christian Church, Lawrenceville. 


Join Zoom Meeting - Meeting ID: 823 1392 8170 - Passcode: 121289

CLICK HERE FOR PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE MEETING
CLICK HERE FOR THE ZOOM MEETING LINK

SSCC ALL-CHURCH WORK DAY

All hands on deck! We are planning a work day at SSCC on Saturday, September 10th starting at a light continental breakfast at 8:30 am. We will be doing some grounds work, organizing, and also cleaning the kitchen.


Please sign up (either by the link below, OR the sign up sheets in the lobby) so we know how many to plan for breakfast and snacks. Thank you!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

REMEMBERING BUNNY STEINMETZ

Arrangements for Bunny Steinmetz have now been finalized. A memorial service will take place at Sandy Springs Christian Church on Saturday, September 10th at 2:00 pm. A reception will immediately follow the service, in the Centrum, hosted by the family and the Care and Connect team.


In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions be made in Bunny's memory to Sandy Springs Christian Church. For more information, click on the link below to read Bunny's obituary. Please continue to keep the Steinmetz and McCluskey families in your prayers during this time.

DISCIPLES WOMEN'S RETREAT

Deadline is September 9th! Georgia Disciples Women are invited to gather in person for a fall retreat on September 23-25, 2022 at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island, GA. In this beautiful seaside retreat setting, Disciples women will gather for fellowship, worship, learning, and service, guided by the theme “Let’s Fish or Cut Bait!” Keynoter Rev. Nancy Oliver will lead us through a creative exploration of the focus scriptures, Matthew 4:18-20 and John 21:1-14. Jesus called us to fish — for people! You will not want to miss these fishing lessons! Learn more and register here

SSCC NOTABLES

A THANK YOU FROM BARBARA DUREN'S DAUGHTERS

"Dear SSCC, 


We want to thank you with heart felt gratitude for being Christ's face to us after our Mama's passing. We so much appreciate your love, care and support. 


From the first contact with Amy, then Nathan, we were wrapped in your kindness. Her memorial service was beautiful. Her every wish granted. The words spoken full of love and comfort. The words were like hearing Mama's prayers straight from heaven. The reception so full of the people and "goodies" she loves so much.


There is no greater gift than knowing how much our Mama was loved by the people she loved. That is what church is!


Thank you! We will never forget. We know she rests with God and the church she loved so much.


With deep gratitude, Barbara's girls, Beth, Donna and Lisa"

OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY!

With rising food and fuel costs many families and individuals are struggling to make ends meet. Supplies are running low on food pantry shelves. Please bring items listed below for food collection barrels in the church lobby. No glass, please! Urgently needed: Pasta, Sauces, Dry Grains (Beans, Lentils and Rice), Peanut Butter, Canned Tuna and Chicken, Baby Food and Diapers sizes 0, 1, 5, 6.

CAC Needs Volunteers

If you have computer skills, office experience or just want to help, volunteers are needed in the Career Center; as client interviewers; Food Pantry volunteers and Upscale Thrift volunteers. Find more here: CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER!

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS UPDATES

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UPDATE!

We will not meet this Sunday due to the Labor Day Weekend.


On 9/10/22, we will resume our normal 9 am class meeting in the Conference Room to finish up The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen with a focus on "The Father".


On 9/17/22, we will join Teresa Bensch's churchwide Sunday school class in Dunlap Hall at 9 am.

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CURRENT STUDY

Opportunity Knocks at House United! If you attended this past week’s activities, here’s a short term way to practice what Allen Hilton preaches—looking at a problem from the viewpoint of the “other side.” Another more conservative church’s pastor, you may have heard of him, Andy Stanley, has written a book Not In It To Win It in which he identifies the same issue: division in our churches as well as in our community and nation, which he also finds alarming. Janis Hill will lead a two-session class (9/4 and 9/11) reviewing Stanley’s book, and finding mutual ground upon which to stand and work on this together.

PRAYER REQUESTS AND A THANK YOU

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Please pray for friends of the McCahrens, Robert and Colleen Foltz, in their trials and tribulations with their home in F so that it can be repaired quickly after they had a fire. 


Fran Michels asks to pray for healing for her niece, Janet, who suffered a light stroke. 


Please pray for the McGahee family on the passing of Monica's dad, Magne Nygren, yesterday morning.


Please pray for Anita Taff's dear friend Jimbo. He has been successfully treating stage 4 colon cancer for 3 years. Immunotherapy is no longer controlling the growth and he is experiencing intense side effects from the new treatment.


David McGahee requests prayers for their neighbor and friend, Chuck Chapman. They ask prayers for healing for Chuck as well as prayers for his family.



Continued prayers for Jeff Moore's sister, Amy Nesbit, and brother-in-law, Scott.


"Sending heartfelt thanks. After hearing from so many of our church family in celebration of our 75th wedding anniversary and Les's 99th birthday. God bless you all!" ~ Jo Ann and Les Baright


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. Jared Mills (Army), son/stepson of John and Floy Mills. 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, Director of Congregational Care via email: Teddy@sandyspringscc.org.

Milton Hill September 04

Asher Rathinam September 04

Ben Gibson September 08

Trenton Brown September 09

Floy Mills September 09

Kenneth Strahm September 09

Megan Kahrs September 10

John Robeck September 10

Victoria Smith September 10

Janet Howell September 13


Kelley Rathinam September 13

Tim Dyke September 15

Kate Lee September 21

Katherine Gibson September 22 Madelyn Rathinam September 25 Jenna Hicks September 26

Beverly Mitchell September 26

Teresa Bensch September 27

Becky Chimera September 29

Sid Elliott September 29

Marilyn Torbert September 29