A NOTE FROM NATHAN
At age nine, my daughter is a better swimmer than me. She loves all things water, so much, we’ve nicknamed her "the fish." In fact, she’s already decided on a career path in marine biology. Ask her about it sometime, but only if you have several minutes to listen.
Naturally, she was on a competitive swim team this summer for the first time. She learned the fundamental strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. I was amazed at how smoothly she glided on top of the water. Watching her reminded me of what my swim teacher used to tell me. “If you relax your body, you will float. If you tense up, you will sink.” Clara floats like a boat because of her comfort level in the pool. I sink like a stone because I’ve never fully trusted the water.
I was reminded recently that the while the Greek word in the Bible, pistis, has customarily been translated as "faith" or "belief," more recently, scholars have suggested a better translation in English may be the word "trust." It’s one thing to psychologically assent to an idea. It's something different to give our lives to it.
The truth is many of us are living with a great deal of anxiety these days. Between COVID, racial unrest, political tension and a great deal of uncertainty, we have been living in a tension-filled time. As a result, like Peter as he walks out to Jesus on the water (or me anytime I jump in the pool), many of us are sinking. It’s not that we lack belief, it’s that we are losing our trust – in our leaders, in our neighbors and even in our God.
The Church, however, is built on pistis. When we relax into God’s ultimate care, our lives reflect this trust. We are gentler with one another. We see one another not first as enemies, but as neighbors. We are more prone to place our lives in one another’s hands, if we place our lives in God’s hands.
I’ve never seen Clara happier than when she is in the water. I know it’s for lots of reasons. I suspect the deepest reason being, she’s free. It never occurs to Clara that she will not be buoyed. As a result, she enjoys the water and those in it with her, even more. I’ve learned a lot watching Clara this summer. I even learned a little about swimming.
See you Sunday!
Peace,
Nathan
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Make a Joyful Noise
Summer Sermon Series 2021
For over a year, we did not sing together in worship. We were singing with our families and friends in front of a television or computer screen. We were humming along to the tune, in the sanctuary. We were listening to our leaders sing. Finally, on June 27th, for the first time since March of 2020, we will be able to sing the hymns of our faith, as a congregation and choir, without protocols. What better way to spend the first few Sundays of this gift with a series in worship that highlights your favorites! Therefore, for the last month, we have been compiling these hymns, along with your stories about them, in order that they might be used in worship. Through this series we plan to rediscover how God, among other things, reminds, inspires, challenges and is present through song. We hope you will make plans to be part of this special series at SSCC. Let’s come together and make a joyful noise!
Sunday, July 18, 2021
God Challenges Through Song
Theme Hymn: “Here I Am, Lord”
Deuteronomy 32:1-12, 44-47
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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Sunday, July 25, 2021
"Hero or Villain?"
2 Samuel 11:1-15
Teddy Ivey, Pastoral Intern
Teddy writes, "We will look at the darker side of David and what we do with this information when it comes to our faith."
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WE NEED YOUR HELP
Starting in August, we are going to have a worship leader for worship 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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BACK TO SCHOOL SUNDAY
Can you believe another school year is upon us? Sunday, August 1st we will celebrate "Back to School Sunday." There's a lot happening in the life of the church that day. Our children and youth will finally return to Sunday School (adults too)! We will have Promotion Sunday in the Sanctuary at 9:00 am and children and youth will get to return to their old and new classes. We will also have a Blessing of the Backpacks during worship.
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BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
Students of all ages are welcome to bring their backpacks to be blessed on Back to School Sunday, August 1st. We want all our SSCC family to know that we are here to support them over the upcoming school year.
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NEW 12-WEEK STUDY STARTING 8/1
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.
Starting August 1st, I will be leading a study of The Heart of Christianity. For 12 weeks, 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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INTERNATIONAL DINING RESUMES
It has been eighteen months since our International Dining Group last met. Our July 2021 International Dining Group will meet on Monday, July 26 at 7 PM at Cylantro's Venezuelan Cuisine, 1570 Holcomb Bridge Road, Unit 365, Roswell. This is the third location of a restaurant which began operations in 2015. Their original location was recommended by a friend who was a resident of Colombia for nineteen years before moving back to Cobb County. It is excellent!
We would appreciate knowing if you plan on joining us, so that we may arrange seating for whatever size group we end up having. Please contact Milt Hill via email milthill@comcast.net or phone: (770) 241-6435.
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REMEMBERING GINNY HAMILTON
We were notified by the family this week of Ginny Hamilton's passing on July 11, 2021.
Ginny and her husband, Dick, were long-time members who joined SSCC 57 years ago in 1964. They had four children who grew up in the church: David, Richard, Debbie, and Dan. Ginny was a faithful member of the choir, lead the children's choir was a part of the hospitality/ kitchen/cooking team, and a member of the Sigma Delta ladies group. She also was instrumental in putting together information of the church's history for its anniversary celebration. She was always volunteering, attended every Sunday and was known for her quick witted sense of humor. Ginny always wanted to make sure people felt comfortable and welcome, often times giving them gifts. She was an artist and drew pictures for Christmas programs, and used her many talents at church.
At this time there will be no service but the family is planning to hold a private family memorial in October. The family is grateful to Ginny's son, Dan, and his wife, Patty, for spoiling her and giving her excellent care until her passing. Feel free to reach out to the family via Dan.
Dan and Patty Hamilton
852 Gainesville Hwy., Winder, GA 30680
678-630-1197
If you would like to make a donation to SSCC in Ginny's honor, the family requests that you mark it for choir/music specifically.
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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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GREEN CHALICE UPDATE
Sandy Springs Christian Church received Green Chalice designation a couple of years ago. While Rev. Bryce Bowers was our Pastoral Intern, he brought our congregation into compliance with Disciples Home Missions and the Green Chalice standards. We do an excellent job of recycling Sunday bulletins as we leave the sanctuary and using ceramic coffee mugs which helps us avoid filling landfills.
For other recyclables, we have a large blue cart near the upstairs elevator for office paper, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, etc. Please try to put your recyclables in that recycling container instead of one of our regular trash cans.
ALSO YOU CAN...
- NEW! We are collecting (rinsed) food-grade plastic caps (from water, soda, teas, orange juice bottles, milk jugs, fruit juice, sports drinks, etc.) smaller than the size of your palm. We will accept vitamin or medicine caps if they do not have the insert in top. These recycled plastic bottle caps will be used to help clean lagoon water in Florida (in Amy Frost's hometown). CLICK HERE to view the flyer for information.
- Bring aluminum can tabs to church for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
- Bring clean (real) corks - not the plastic kind - and place them in the Outreach cabinet.
- Community Assistance Center (CAC) can use clean plastic and paper bags - like you would get from the grocery store, and/or other retailers. These bags are used in the Food Pantry and the larger bags are needed in the Boutique. Bags may be left in the kitchenette upstairs.
- Unfortunately, we are no longer taking cloth/clothing for ReLoom.
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COFFEE ANYONE? - UPDATE!
We’re looking for someone who is willing to take on a “Coffee Ministry” for SSCC. It’s truly as easy as pushing a button and you don’t even have to know how to make coffee!
Your main qualification must be that you are willing to arrive most Sundays (perfect attendance is not a qualifier) around 8:40 a.m. in order to push said button. After that you are free to go back home, exercise, read the AJC, or meditate before the Sunday School crowd arrives. If you are an Early Bird, this just may be your kind of Ministry.
We have someone willing to do it half-time, we need someone to partner with this volunteer to work out a schedule, either every other week, month, etc.
Please call the church office 404-256-2582 if you are willing to help.
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LOST AND FOUND
Are you missing your favorite coffee tumbler, sippy cup, Pokémon water bottle, fancy hearing aid, umbrella and/or Banana Republic sunglasses?
Well look no further. We have them here for you at church. Feel free to claim your lost items. But after two weeks, the unclaimed items will be donated to charity.
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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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PATHFINDERS CLASS - UPDATE!
Join John Mills and the Pathfinders in person every Sunday morning in the Leslie Classroom 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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PRAYER REQUESTS
Allen McCahren requests prayers for Gail Braun, who is recovering from a stroke, and also Lynn McCahren would appreciate prayers for back pain.
Milt Hill requests prayers for Alice Bartelli, his niece, who lost her husband, Steve Bartelli.
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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HELP DISTRIBUTE BACKPACKS FOR THE CAC!
If you are interested in helping to distribute not only the backpacks that SSCC stuffed, but others that were also donated. The CAC needs two to three volunteers each day. Please reach out to Cindi McCollough (csbfish@bellsouth.net or text 770-365-0365 ) see which times and dates need coverage.
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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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Dottie Gill July 15
Lynn McCahren July 17
Bryant McDaniel July 18
Breijanna Dyke July 20
Floyd Hale July 21
Karla Worley July 21
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Bailey Mooney July 22
Patty French July 23
Cooper Gibson July 25
Alan Burgess July 30
Tyler Brown July 31
Donna Lassiter July 31
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