A NOTE FROM LINDA

Happy New Year and counting, everyone! As I write this, we are nearing the close of the twelve days of Christmas, those days most of us know only through the song that tells us infinitum all the true love’s gifts throughout the Christmas season. But officially yesterday (January 6) marked the time to pack up the crèche, remove all the lights, and put the stockings back in their box till next year. We call this day, “Epiphany” and celebrate it, at least at Sandy Springs Christian Church on whatever Sunday falls before the actual date of January 6.

Epiphany means an experience of the in breaking of the holy into human living. But epiphanies aren’t limited to the Christmas season when the Word was made flesh and came to live among us startling shepherds and beckoning wise men. Epiphanies happen in those moments when we feel the overpowering presence of God. I experience it sometimes when a piece of music triggers a sense of joy or some powerful emotion that erases whatever came before or after in the pure joy of the song. It happens sometimes when I look out from my mountain perch and the second by second setting of the sun overwhelms me with the beauty of God’s world. I suspect we’ve all felt something of the wonder of the sacred when first we held our daughter or had our new grandson wrap a tiny finger around our own. Little epiphanies of grace and wonder and God.

Sunday we will explore one of the most powerful stories in our bibles of an extraordinary epiphany: God tearing open the heavens to be among God’s people. It is the Sunday each year where we remember our baptism and that of Jesus and perhaps understand a bit more about this sacred ritual many of us hardly remember or  and perhaps never had. I look forward to sharing with you and wish you joy for the journey!

Linda

UPCOMING SERMON SERIES

Glow

A Sermon Series for the season of Epiphany

“You are the light of the world” -- that’s what Jesus says, according to Matthew 5:14. He doesn’t say, “you should,” or “you could” or “you can.” No, he says, “You are the light of the world," which means we glow. Each and every one of us emanates light. Yes, sometimes we forget. Sometimes we fail to recognize it. Sometimes we have a hard time trusting it. Perhaps we are not putting it under a bushel basket, but sometimes we do try to hide it. So, during this season of light, we call Epiphany, let us spend some time in worship reflecting on how we might spend less time living in woe and start learning to embrace our glow.

January 16, 2022

Recognize the Light

John 2:1-11

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

January 23, 2022

Choose the Light

Matthew 5:13-20

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

January 30, 2022

Share the Light

Luke 4:14-21

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

February 6, 2022

Follow the Light

Luke 4:21-30

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

February 13, 2022

Trust the Light

Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

February 20, 2022

Woe or Glow?

Luke 6:17-26

Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown

SSCC NOTEABLES

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Have returned to normal, Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSION DEADLINE

If you have something for publishing in the newsletter, please submit it via email to: amy@sandysprings.org by 10:00 Thursday mornings.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

SSCC's Members and friends generously contributed $450.00 to the DOC's Special Christmas offering which helps specifically in our Region.

In addition, each year we receive a special offering during the Christmas Eve worship service, 100% of which is designated toward a specific ministry. This year, because of the degree of need, our special offering of a remarkable $11,150.00 went toward Week of Compassion, earmarked for tornado recovery and relief. Thank you for your compassion and generosity as we seek to help those in need during this special time of year.

OUTREACH UPDATE

Outreach is looking for suggestions for community and individual volunteer opportunities. We want your input. If you have an organization or project in mind, or want a place for your talents and time to make a difference, please join the Outreach Committee. Call or text Cindi McCollough at 770-365-0365.

Food barrels will be in the welcome area of SSCC in the near future. A list of requested items will be published in next week's newsletter and will be posted on the Outreach bulletin board.

Collections of travel sized toiletries for MUST will be ongoing with baskets placed next to the Outreach bulletin board.

The Community Assistance Center will be re-opening the CAC Client-Choice Mini Market at 8607 Roswell Road location beginning Saturday, January 8. SSCC will handle the 3rd Saturday sessions beginning Saturday, January 22 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Strict Covid-19 protocols will be in place to protect both clients and volunteers.

PLEASE JOIN US!

Attention Modern Disciples Sunday School Fans (and Soon-to-be Fans)! This Sunday and for many many Sundays ahead in 2022... please attend our "class" that will begin at 9:00am (ok, more like 9:15ish) in the Conference Room. We will start the year off with the introduction of a new Adam Hamilton book study called "The Walk". No reading necessary to attend class... purely optional! We'd love to see you on Sunday morning for coffee & refreshments before Sunday worship!

All the best, Casey Evans

THANK YOU FROM TDS!

The Day School Staff and Teachers send a sincere thank you to Cindi McCollough and the Outreach team for the beautiful Christmas stockings they received in appreciation of all they do.



TALENT SHOW UPDATE

Once again, we are forced to postpone the Talent Sow and Auction scheduled for January 30th. In order for it to be successful, we need YOU. We understand that you, your friends, and family are not likely to get out with the recent increase in Covid cases. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience, (keep practicing your talent) and stay tuned for the new date and time. Thank you, Care & Connect Team

SAVE THE DATE!

Greetings SSCC Leadership,

The SSCC annual leadership retreat will take place o Saturday, February 12th. Save the date now! More details will follow in the next few weeks. Once again, thank you for agreeing to take on your respective leadership roles. I look forward to serving with each of you in 2022!

Peace, Nathan

PRAYER REQUESTS

Prayers for improved health for Jan Moore, mother of Jeff Moore.

Please pray for a speedy recovery from Brandi Evan's broken foot.

Prayers are requested for Nicole, Julie Sanford's granddaughter, whose dad died on Christmas Day.

Please keep members of our Armed Forces, both current and former, safe and healthy. Also, please pray for our Aunt Betty Anne. (Anonymous).

Prayers for improved health for Leslie VanOverberghe, sister of Larri Wolf.

Prayers of healing and strength for Peter Lochery's cousin, Brodie, who has been diagnosed with cancer. Brodie is also the main caregiver for his twin sister, so prayers for her as well.

Prayers of healing and strength for Dan and Patsy McBride after an extended hospital stay and future rehab for Patsy.

Please pray for Nancy Trusty who is having knee replacement surgery on January 11th.

Visitor, Ramsey Morris, from Hopkinsville, KY requests prayers for the most recent victims of the tornados there.

CLICK HERE to see the list of our first responders and military members who we continue to pray for.