A NOTE FROM NATHAN

Find your way back, don’t let this life drive you crazy. Find your way back, come back home ’fore the street lights on.                                Beyonce’

I suspect that Beyonce’ is the last person you expected to hear from in the newsletter today. Yet, her words ring true. After all, it’s been easy for life to drive all of us crazy the last couple of years. As a result, many of us have felt disoriented, disillusioned, and discontent. Perhaps, we have even found ourselves disconnected from friends, family, and our community of faith. Slowly, but surely, we are all trying to find our way back home.

This Sunday is an opportunity for us to take another step toward this end, as we celebrate the 62nd anniversary of Sandy Springs Christian Church. We hope the day serves as a homecoming of sorts, as we celebrate with congregants both near and far.

Worship will focus on remembering our past, reflecting on the present, and re-tooling for the future. I will offer a sermon entitled, “Lost and Found,” which will serve, in part, as a state of the church address. We will honor the incredible ministry we have lived together, especially these last five years, acknowledge the challenges we face today, and pray for our future. If you live close enough to attend in person, we hope you will make every effort to be present. If you cannot attend, we hope you will tune into our livestream.

Sunday School, for all ages, will take place at 9:00 AM. The children and youth will meet with Bryant and Katie Gibson downstairs for fun and fellowship. The Modern Disciples group will meet in the conference room and the Pathfinders will meet in Common Ground. Worship will take place at 10:15 AM in the sanctuary. Then, a potluck luncheon will follow worship in Dunlap Hall. In addition to lunch, there will be games and activities for everyone to enjoy.

We have much to celebrate at Sandy Springs Christian Church. Sixty-two years of ministry is no small feat. Given the challenges of the last several years, we have even more to celebrate – a strong community of faith that continues to thrive! Let us come together and thank God for the gift of Sandy Springs Christian Church, all those who gather here in Christ’s name, and for the mission to which God has called us: “to share God’s love through inclusivity, service and spiritual growth…from our doorsteps, to the ends of the earth.”

Whether you are a long-time congregant, a new member, a visitor, or someone in-between we hope to see you this Sunday. Come on home.

Peace,

Nathan

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PICK UP YOUR STEWARDSHIP PACKETS IN THE LOBBY!

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.

UPCOMING SERVICES

Pastor Nathan and the Worship, Arts and Education team are planning a special celebratory worship this Sunday, October 16th to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the founding of our church. Immediately after the service, Care and Connect is hosting a potluck luncheon in Dunlap Hall. We hope you will bring your whole family to share some food and fellowship followed by some fun and games in the Whitmire Pavilion.

We are asking everyone to bring a "dish" to share according to the following list (by your last name):

A - G please bring dessert dishes

H - N please bring salads

O - Z please bring meat, a casserole or side dish

You may drop off your food before church,

downstairs in the kitchen. If at all possible please bring your dish in disposable containers. Otherwise, put your name on your dish and be prepared to pick it up from the serving area after the lunch is over on Sunday.

The deadline to sign up is tomorrow, Saturday, October 15th at noon.

Sunday, October 16, 2022 (Anniversary Sunday)

Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-10

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

____________________________________________________________

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Nones, Dones, and Umms

Luke 18:9-14

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Short Man Syndrome

Luke 19:1-10

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

COMMUNITY WIDE SUNDAY SCHOOL

During the last year we have lost a number of SSCC saints. In the midst of this, we heard many families say, "I wish I had known..." or "I had no idea that..." Navigating the complexities of death, dying and celebrating a life can be challenging. Being prepared helps significantly.

On Sunday, October 23rd, we will begin a four-week community-wide Sunday School class. The class will take place at 9:00 AM in Dunlap Hall on Sunday mornings. We will explore how to navigate this time of life. Mark your calendars now and plan to join Pastor Nathan and others as we prepare to honor and celebrate our Saints on All Saints Sunday.

October 23 –  Acknowledging Your Grief: Getting through loss (Rev. Mary Malcolm)

October 30 - Getting Your Affairs in Order: Wills, Advance Directives, POA’s, etc. (John Mills)

November 6 – Preparing for the End: Navigating health care, hospitals and hospice care (Rev. Angi Brown)

November 13 – For All the Saints: Celebrating the Life of Your Loved One (Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown)

NOTABLE DATES

REMEMBERING...

As some of you may know, Monica McGahee's father, Magne Nygren, passed away on August 24, 2022. A service of remembrance and celebration will be held at Sandy Springs Christian Church on Saturday, October 22nd at 2:00 pm.

Following the service, family and friends are invited to join the family for a Celebration of Life, hosted by Monica and David McGahee at their home. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that you consider a donation in Magne’s name to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, by visiting https://curealz.org/giving/donate/.

Please continue to hold the McGahee family in your prayers at this time.

SANDWICH MAKING - SAVE THE DATE!

Immediately following the service on Sunday, October 23, the Outreach Committee will be making sandwiches for The Sandwich Project in Dunlap Hall. Please plan to stay a few extra minutes that Sunday. Many hands make light work!

SSCC's 14th ANNUAL TRUNK -N- TREAT (Includes a Service Project)

We will have our annual Trunk n Treat event directly after worship on Sunday, October 30th from 11:15 am to 1:00 pm. We encourage you and your kids to wear your Halloween costumes to church that morning!

After worship, we will have a service project in Dunlap Hall for kids to participate in, as well as a light lunch for them. During this time, we invite those of you who will be decorating and setting up your trunks to do so.

The children will head to the parking lot after the service project (around noon) to Trunk n Treat!

We need "trunkers" though! If you would like to volunteer to provide a trunk, you can email Bryant at youth@sandyspringscc.org, or sign up at the church anytime.

We hope you'll make plans to join us for a wonderful day of service, fun and fellowship!

DISCIPLES REGIONALY ASSEMBLY

The Regional Assembly of the Christian Church in Georgia is meeting Nov. 11-12, 2022 in Augusta, GA-- THE FIRST IN-PERSON GATHERING SINCE 2018 - YEA! -- and it promises to be a great weekend of learning, worship, and reconnecting around the theme of "RE-CHURCH: RE-CAST YOUR NET" from John 21. 

Registration is online now. Go to www.gadisciples.org/regional-assembly to learn more and register. If you prefer mailing a check with a paper registration form, that's available, too, in the "Registration" section. For Hotels, room blocks have been reserved in several hotels, but reservations need to be made by October 9-12 (depending on the hotel) to assure availability. Go to the "Hotel Accommodations" section on the website.

SAVE THE DATE!

This year's annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Celebration will take place on Thursday, November 17th, at 7 PM, at Temple Kol Emeth, located at 1415 Old Canton Road, Marietta - 30062.  The theme is "Finding Common Ground". The celebration will be both entertaining and inspirational.  

SSCC is one of approximately 20 faith organizations participating. In addition to encouraging our members and their families and friends to attend, we have been asked to provide several ushers and choir members, as well as some refreshments typical of our own celebrations (for the reception afterwards).  

For more information or to volunteer, contact Mary Robeck, at jmrobeckga@aol.com or 404-849-0727, or Owen Janeway, at owenjaneway@bellsouth.net.

SSCC NOTABLES

CARE PACKAGES FOR OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS

During our Trunk n Treat event, our children will help put together care packages for our college kids. We need your help to stock those packages! We are asking you to bring 20 items (all the same) to church one of the next 3 weeks to go in the care packages.

This can include candy, snacks, school supplies (pens, post-its, etc.), notecards, comfort items. You can find some great ideas here, but remember small items are best (and not expensive!).

You can drop them by Bryant's office anytime up until October 30th! Thank you for supporting our college kids!!

YOU MISSED OUT!

This past Wednesday, the Sigma Delta Ladies' group met for their monthly fellowship and yummy lunch and dessert.

If you would like to find out more about this group, please contact Ann Walker.

LET'S SUPPORT OUR YOUTH!

The YAC (Youth Activities Council) is doing a fundraiser. YAC is made up of high schoolers from the Region which includes SSCC's own Frances Grant, William Cox, Thomas Grant, Ainsley Crutchfield, Josh Wagner, Natalie Jurado, Zach Chimera and Perry Westbrook. They will plan and put on the Regional Youth Assembly. You can support them by purchasing a t-shirt. Please contact Caroline Grant via email to order at (carolinehubbs@hotmail.com) or let her know at church. The shirts are peach color with the disciples logo on front and back, and will be available in early November for $25. You can pick them up at church and pay then. 

FOOD COLLECTION FOR CAC

THANK YOU! Because of your generosity, we have already filled FOUR barrels with much needed food items. But we are still accepting pantry items until further notice. Let's continue to help our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. Please bring the following items to the food collection barrels in the church lobby. Standard size containers and no glass, please! Pasta, Sauces, Dry Grains (Beans, Lentils and Rice), Peanut Butter, Canned Tuna and Chicken, Baby Food and Diapers sizes 0, 1, 5, 6.

SSCC at CAC 

We’re excited about partnering with Temple Sinai for our 3rd Saturday volunteering opportunity at CAC THIS SATURDAY, October 15th.

CAC NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

• Come and assist us in the food pantry in South Sandy Springs, helping clients and processing food on Wednesdays and Fridays (9:00 am-1:30 pm)
• Help distribute coats to kids on October 15, 8:30am-12:00pm (contact coatsforkids@ourcac.org if interested)
• Want to assist people with not having our government wasting more of our hard earned $$, come and help with our VITA program helping to prepare taxes(training provided) and assisting in other ways; no tax background necessary. Bilingual volunteers (Spanish/English) helpful but not required. 
• Interested in helping CAC decorate a tiny house for the Sandy Springs Sparkle House display? Come to the Sparkle House Volunteer Interest Meeting on Tuesday, October 11 at 4:00pm! cameron.darweesh@ourcac.org

INSPIRITUS UPDATE

On Sunday, September 23^rd, Jennifer Garcia, from Inspiritus, came to a luncheon at SSCC to talk about a refugee ministry in which several Disciples Churches in Atlanta have been involved. Specifically, these congregations have been helping a family from Afghanistan, resettle here in the greater Atlanta area. There are many ways to be involved with this family, including donating to a fund to help offset the cost of rent at this time. Additionally, the mother needs help with transportation from time to time, getting to doctor’s appointments, running errands, etc. If you would like to help with transportation or contribute to this fund, please contact Kathy McDowell at kathymcdee@gmail.com. She is coordinating our efforts. We hope to provide more ways in which you might become involved in the future.



As special needs arise for families settling here from Afghanistan and Ukraine, we will pass them along to you. Susan is a refugee from Afghanistan and is in need of a small kitchen table, 36-42 inches, with up to 4 chairs. This needs to be standard height, not bar height, and the chairs be sturdy enough for strapping on a baby booster seat, as she has an almost 7 month old baby who will be sitting up soon to eat. If you can help, please contact Kendra at kendra.plotkin@gmail or 770-655-7675.

HURRICANE IAN RELIEF

Week of Compassion is receiving updates from Regional Ministers, local church pastors, and ecumenical partners to assess immediate needs and responses in Florida, South Carolina, and elsewhere.  In the coming days, we anticipate many more reports of damage, plans for long-term response, and of Disciples providing care for their neighbors. 

You can donate to the Week of Compassion fund by clicking the button below. Make sure to select "Hurricane 2022" in the drop down for your gift designation.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS UPDATES

THIS SUNDAY

Join us this Sunday as we listen, discuss, and enjoy some "Fruit (and Dunkin' Donut holes) for Thought" by Art Edwards together in the conference room before church on Sundays. There will be no pre-reading necessary ahead of time. Just come to learn & share your Fruit!

CURRENT STUDY

The Pathfinder’s class will conclude the study began a month ago which compares Allen Hilton’s A House United to Andy Stanley’s Not In It to Win It. Janis Hill will lead the discussion comparing and contrasting the methods the two pastor-writers present for the Church to take the lead in solving our nation’s polarization. All are welcome.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayers for the people who were in the paths of storms recently in Puerto Rico, Florida and Kentucky and for the first responders and volunteers trying to help the victims of this horrible storm.

Prayers for the family on the death of Edward (Eddie) James Rose on October 5th. He participated in SSCC's youth program several years ago. His parents, John and Robin, attended regularly for several years.

Stephen Brown asks for prayers for his boss, Jack, after the passing of his wife Celeste. May the family still see God in this difficult time as they grieve and remember.

Prayers for the family of Fran Michel's niece, Mary Lou Meaher, who passed suddenly last week.

Prayers for the family of Jan Hill, Milt Hill's oldest niece who passed away last week from a perforated colon. She lived in Brenham, TX.

Prayers for Dottie Gill as she faces several upcoming medical tests.

Please pray for Stephen Brown as he continues to recover from a recent surgery.

Continued prayers for Scott and Amy Nesbit who both face serious health challenges.

_________________________________________

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, Director of Congregational Care via email: Teddy@sandyspringscc.org.

Bob Hicks October 14

Ellis Torbert October 14

Matt McKinney October 16

Becky Kelly October 17

Dawna Abel October 21

Lily Grace Norman October 21

Merilyn Dimmitt October 23

Vijay Rathinam October 23

Sally Tutterow October 24

Paul Kapphahn October 25

Cindy Brown October 26

Alice Saunders October 26

Christine Dalton October 27

Bert Blackburn October 31

Linda Davis-Rolen October 31