A NOTE FROM NATHAN
If you are like me, you’ve undoubtedly been paying attention to the many story lines of this year’s Olympic games in Tokyo. Some are heart-breaking. Some are heart-wrenching. But many are heart-warming.
Specifically, the story of high jumpers Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy comes to mind. What, at first, appeared to be a story that would inevitably end in tears, turned out to be a symbol of the sportsmanship and friendship the Olympics were designed to create.
Round after round, the two athletes could not outdo one another. Over and over again, they both matched the other as the bar continued to rise. However, at 2.39 meters, the Olympic record, both failed to clear all three of their attempts.
This prompted the official to tell them that they would be having a jump-off, to see who could outlast the other. This, in essence, would determine who is the greatest. That’s when Barshim asked the improbable question, “Can we have two golds?” To which the official gave an improbable answer, “Yes, it’s possible.”
Immediately, the two slapped hands and embraced, accepting their simultaneous victory and defeat. On Monday, according to Barshim via Twitter, a picture of the two of them became the most popular in the world. Turns out, the world needs to see that, yes, it is possible. Love can win.
Obviously, Jesus never got to see the Olympic games. But I suspect he understood the benefit of both competition and collaboration. As Cameron Trimble writes, “Competition heightens our skills and teaches us bravery and perseverance. Collaboration joins us at the heart, teaching us generosity and gratitude.”
When pushed on the greatest, however, he did have an answer: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
In other words, in all things, let love win….
Peace,
Nathan
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PATHFINDERS CLASS
Whether you have questions, answers, both, or neither you can expect wide-ranging information, discussion, and support in the Path Finders’ class. Your ideas, experiences, and knowledge are all welcome. And, if you feel that you don’t have any ideas, experiences, or knowledge you’ll find more than you can imagine as part of this community. Check out our topic each week in the newsletter and plan to join us.
Join John Mills and the Pathfinders in person every Sunday morning in Common Ground at 9:00 am. You can also join via Zoom by CLICKING HERE or to join by phone just dial 929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID: 985 6868. The passcode is 831869. For more information please contact John Mills.
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NEW 12-WEEK STUDY STARTING 8/1
THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY
Have you struggled with faith? I have. I have spent hours in prayer asking God to give me the faith to believe what, to me, is unbelievable. Reading one book changed all that for me—The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. I thought faith meant I was to believe what the Bible writers, theologians, and church leaders told me to believe. As I struggled to believe them, my relationship with God suffered. I was on their path to God; not mine.
Reading this book, I learned: Faith is not the goal; knowing God is. It’s more important to belove than to believe. The Bible is not all fact, but it is true. And our spiritual journeys are as unique as we are.
I will be leading a study of The Heart of Christianity. For 12 weeks, (which started August 1st) we will meet in the Whitmire Pavilion at 5:00 PM on Sundays to study, while sharing a meal and community. We plan to include a virtual component for this study as well. If you are interested in the study, please click on the sign-up genius below and include your contact information so that you are included in communications about the study. I look forward to going on this journey with you!
Leslie Lady
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MODERN DISCIPLES
Our name, Modern Disciples, accurately reflects our mission to strive to live Christ-centered lives in this ever-changing modern world. We welcome you to visit our class no matter your age, your marital status or family make-up. If you are seeking to grow in your walk with Christ in a fun, casual setting, please consider joining us.
We meet in the Conference Room each Sunday at 9:00 AM and use video series, book discussions and service projects to grow spiritually, connect with one another and to serve others.
On August 8th, we will start a new study called, "The Difficult Words of Jesus," based on the new book by Dr. Amy Jill Levine. You can learn more about the study by clicking the button below.
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KID'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES
Every Sunday at 9:00 am, kids age Preschool - 2nd grade will meet in the Leslie Classroom upstairs. Kids ages 3rd through 5th grade will meet downstairs in room 120.
They follow a curriculum which includes games, lessons, arts and crafts and Bible study. The kids will have fun and learn all at the same time.
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Back to the Basics
The Olympics are back, along with concerts, family reunions and theater productions. We are coming together, again, in person. It’s been too long. As with beginning anything anew, it’s good practice to go back to the basics – to remember the reasons for which we are part of the groups and gatherings we attend. For people of faith, it’s a perfect time to refresh ourselves on the fundamentals of our faith. What are the basics of being church? Perhaps we can gain some insight from many of the “firsts” in scripture. What did Jesus do first after the resurrection? And what does Isaiah say to do first, to the people Israel? As we kickoff in-person programming once again at SSCC, let’s spend a few weeks reflecting on the “firsts” of being a community of faith.
August 8, 2021
The Essentials
Micah 6:1-8
Mark 12:28-34
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
August 15, 2021
Take Care
Genesis 1:26-31
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
August 22, 2021
Staying Power
Luke 24:36-49
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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August 29, 2021
Whoever Welcomes a Child
(TDS Sunday)
Mark 9:30-37
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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To view the service this Sunday on our YouTube page, click here.
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WE NEED YOUR HELP
Starting in August, we are going to have a worship leader for our service each week. The worship leader will lead a call to worship, read scripture, offer the call to giving and welcome visitors. All the words are scripted for you, so there is nothing to prepare. We just need individuals willing to serve as worship leaders each week. Having one worship leader each week will help the staff plan worship, give uniformity to the worship experience and give individuals who enjoy leading worship the opportunity to sign up well in advance. If you'd like to sign up to be a worship leader, please click on the link below. You may sign up for two Sundays, for now. Those who enjoy leading communion, offering pastoral prayers and preaching will continue to be recruited as they have been. If you have any questions, please reach out to the chair of Worship, Arts and Education, Stuart Michels, or Pastor Nathan.
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IMPORTANT SERVICE INFORMATION |
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REMEMBERING KATHY ELLIOTT
Please join us in sending condolences to the Elliott Family on the passing of long-time SSCC Member, Kathy Elliott.
A memorial service will take place at Sandy Springs Christian Church on Saturday, August 7th at 1:00 p.m. She was certainly an extraordinary person and we expect a large turn out for the service. We are preparing for this in several ways:
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We will livestream the service on Saturday at 1:00 pm on our YouTube Channel. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK.
- We ask that you carpool with others attending, if possible, so that we have sufficient parking.
- There is handicap parking available behind the church, near the Whitmire Pavilion, along with access to an elevator. You may also drop off people in the circle, should they need a more direct way into the church building.
- We have added additional seating in the Sanctuary. Should it become necessary, there will be additional seating in the Leslie Classroom where the service will be livestreamed.
- At this time, SSCC does not have COVID restricted seating and masks are optional but encouraged.
There will be a reception, following the service, downstairs in Dunlap Hall. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SSCC in Kathy's memory.
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WELCOME TO THE WORLD!
Dottie Gill's grandson, Riley Thomas Paul Higgins came into this world at 7:39 pm on August 3rd, weighing 9 lbs 11 oz.
The proud parents are Dianna and Phillip Higgins and Elizabeth Adrion is now an Aunt!
Wishing the family all the best.
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REMEMBERING MARLENE RHINE
Please join us in sending condolences to the family of Marlene Rhine, who passed away on August 3, 2021.
Visitation for families and friends will be held on Sunday, August 22nd 2021 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Woodstock Funeral Home located at 8855 Main St, Woodstock, GA 30188. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 22nd 2021 at 3:00 PM at the same location.
Marlene and her famly joined SSCC almost 50 years ago and Marlene always enjoyed spending time with her SSCC family and volunteering where she could.
If you would like to send a card to her daughter, Linda Parrott, her address is 251 Bennett Farms Trail, Acworth, GA 30102
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in Marlene's memory to SSCC.
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COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION
If you haven't already, make sure to save block your calendars on September 11-12, 2021 for this year's Courageous Conversation weekend. The purpose of this event is to help promote healthy and productive conversation about some of the difficult issues facing our community, nation and world today.
We are excited to welcome Allen Hilton back to lead the event. If you missed the event with Allen last year, you can access both the sermon he preached during worship and the first session of the event he led on our YouTube page. Just go to the archive and look to worship on November 15, 2020 and the video posted December 3, 2020.
Below is a short video that was played during worship last Sunday from Leslie Lady about the event. We hope you will make plans to join us!
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WE ARE HAVING A TALENT SHOW!
Saturday, October 16th @ 5:00 PM
“Talent? Great idea, but I don’t sing, I can’t play an instrument...Wish I could help you but, sorry, you really don’t want me!” Yes, we do want YOU! and we are issuing a challenge in support of a great cause: the Chaplaincy program at Campbell-Stone! So, think outside the music-box, think fun, think creatively. Think “nothing ventured, nothing gained!“
Then, think not only of “performance” talents but also about “services” you could perform: dog-sitting, car-washing, cooking, photography, knitting. Chances are, all of us can contribute an infinite number of services...after all we live in a service economy—your talent may be how you make a living or something you do for fun or extra income.
This Talent Show will be a lot like Talent Shows you may have participated in or been an
audience for in the past— with one exception. This show will also include an auction of
services! An auction is a performance in and of itself, right?
We all know the more you put into something the more you get out of it! This is an opportunity for some lasting dividends in fun, friendship (do something with a friend or a group), and relaxation! AND you have time (two months) to figure out how YOU can make a contribution!
Thank you! We are counting on YOU! It will only be as fun and financially successful as we make it. So assignments one and two: Reserve the date and time: October 16th at 5:00 pm then think creatively “How can I contribute?” More information to follow.
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MEN'S GROUP RESUMING SOON
We will be resuming our Friday Morning Men's Group soon. All adult male members and friends are welcome to attend. Since 1990, we have been meeting at 7:00 am on Friday. After a sixteen-month hiatus, we are open to changing our meeting time, if a better time can be determined. There may be some, or many, who have not joined us in the past because of our early meeting time. That time was set over thirty years ago so that those who are employed could attend before work. Most of our current participants are retired. Will more attend if we change our meeting time? We are open to changing the time of day, the day of the week, or having an evening meeting. We will resume meeting after receiving input.
If you would like to participate, what is the best time for you? Please respond to: milthill@comcast,net, (770) 241-6435, or in person on a Sunday morning.
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THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT?
Did you know you can download the Breeze app onto your phone and access SSCC Member Directory information right at your fingertips? You can download the app from the app store (for iphones and ipads) by CLICKING HERE. Please call the church office if you have any questions. |
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PRAYER REQUESTS
Dottie's new grandson, Riley, is not eating well and his belly is distended. Please pray for him, Dianna and Phillip.
Prayers are requested for Lolly Ross who is in the hospital.
Please pray for Justina Frost who will be having surgery today.
Please add the family of Craig Colemen. He is an old college friend of Teddy Ivey's who died from Covid this week.
Donna Lassiter says, "Thank you for prayers and well wishes on my behalf! Blessings to everyone also!"
Please pray for our members and their families who serve as first responders and health care workers: Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, Dr. Vijay Rathinam, Robyn Hicks and Pete French. Also those serving in the military: Michelle Brown (Navy), daughter of Cindy and Pete Brown. 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) and Dalton Brown (Army) granddaughter and grandson of Barb Duren and Chaplain Kevin Mooney (Navy), Linda Whitmire's grand-daughter, Hayleigh Whitmire (Army) and Kathy Woodworth's step grandson Parker Mansel (Marines). 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 would like to reach out to Teddy Ivey, our Director of Congregational Care, please email him at Teddy@sandyspringscc.org.
JOIN SSCC!
You can join SSCC by a simple affirmation of faith! If you are attending virtually, just let us know you would like to join!
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HELPING THE CAC
CAC Pantry/Thrift Shop Expands to 5 Days,
The Community Assistance Center’s food pantry and thrift shop, Upscale Thrift, will once again be open 5 days a week. Contact Nolan at volunteer@ourcac.org for volunteering at the food pantry and Debbie at Debbie.Olson@ourcac.org to volunteer at the Thrift Store. Visit CAC’s website for more details.
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MUST MINISTRIES: If you would like to donate and drop off items at Must Ministries please CLICK HERE to access a flyer that outlines the most needed items. Monetary donations are very much needed and can be done so online via their website, or send a check in the mail to MUST Ministries, P.O. Box 1717, Marietta, GA 30061. If you have questions please contact Cathy Cortright at cortright13@gmail.com. |
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Janet Lochery August 05
Les Baright August 06
Tim Helton August 06
Emily Harple August 07
Ruth Brown August 09
Amy Frost August 15
Zachary Chimera August 16
Benay Gunby August 16
Aubrey Norman August 16
Jim Ruehman August 16
Jim Bickelhaupt August 19
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Walt Michels August 19
Andy Torbert August 19
Kimberly French August 23
Suzanne Ruehman August 23
Brooks Torbert August 24
Lisa Berger-Gilmore August 25
Barbara Duren August 25
Maggie Driemeyer August 26
Sheri Mason August 27
Courtney Strickland August 28
Jay Donnelly August 30
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