A NOTE FROM BECKY AND TONY CHIMERA
Generosity
26 years is a long time. That is how long we have been members of Sandy Springs Christian Church. As we reflected on that for this article, we were struck by how grateful we are for the people and memories the church has provided over the years – too many to list so we picked a couple:
· Our son, Ryan’s first appearance at 6 months as Baby Jesus to Caroline Dalton’s role of Mary at the Christmas pageant
· Denny Sanford greeting everyone at the door each Sunday
· Leslie Lady’s wonderful prayers and reflections during service
· Susan And Ella’s music each Sunday
· Everyone who shares their talents and time here
· Events like Youth Group, Mission trips, Camp Christian
· Outreach like Campbell Stone, Must Ministries and the Craddock Center
· Countless Sunday school memories
We are so grateful for this church. The past couple years have been challenging. Many churches have struggled to stay afloat. Sandy Springs has thrived in the face of adversity and all of you are the reason why.
We are excited to chair the stewardship campaign this year. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Generosity”. Over the next three weeks, you will receive more messages and information on the campaign. This Sunday, we begin a three-week stewardship emphasis in worship starting with Sacrifice this Sunday, followed by Gratitude next week, and closing with Generosity.
When we reflected on the theme this year, we were immediately reminded of Tony’s father. He passed away three years ago. Tony wanted to write his eulogy and reached out to his cousins and uncles for some memories to add into the eulogy. They provided a lot of stories, but many had a central theme of generosity. Tony’s dad was the oldest of four and his father passed away when he was 22 and had just started working as an Engineer. No one in the family worked except Tony’s grandfather so his Dad jumped in and supported the family. He helped Tony’s uncles by paying for school. He would buy all the birthday and Christmas gifts for his nieces and nephews. We were not around to see that, but we remember always noticing how he was always treating people to meals. He was also a devout Catholic and always gave generously at church.
Thank you for all the gifts you provide to this church community. We look forward to sharing more about the campaign and are grateful for every one of you. Be well.
Becky and Tony Chimera
|
|
Generous
A Sermon Series on Stewardship
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts... Acts 2:46
Generosity. It comes in many forms. Among friends. Among strangers. In gifts large. In gifts small. From those who want to be known. From those who wish to remain anonymous. To maintain something ongoing. To build something new. There are numerous ways to be generous. As people of faith, we are called to discern how God might be calling us, both as individuals and as a community of faith, to share our gifts generously with the world.
September 19, 2021
Sacrifice
Mark 8:27-38
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
September 26, 2021
Gratitude
Luke 17:11-19
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
October 3, 2021
Laity Sunday
Generosity
Acts 2:43-47
|
|
To view the service this Sunday on our YouTube page, click here.
|
|
YOUTH KICK OFF!
Another year of youth fellowship has begun! We had an amazing kickoff last Sunday as Pete and Patty French invited us to their farm house for food, games, and fellowship.
We got to pet goats, chickens, and dogs, play 4 square and football, and even got a chance to do our pits and peaks.
We are excited to begin another year of youth ministry and can’t wait to see the amazing ways our youth grow together and with God!
|
|
You can the button below to view our schedule for the Fall. If you'd like to make dinner for the youth group, we'd love to have you! Reach out to Bryant at youth@sandyspringscc.org for more details and to sign up!
|
|
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR SHARON HANNA
There will be a private Celebration of Life for Sharon Hanna held on October 2, 2021. If you would like to send cards, Steve Nickelson's address is 2503 Shady Grove Rd., Carrollton, GA 30116. If you would like to reach out to Kelly Hanna, you can send cards to her address at 4 Stuyvesant Oval Apt. 4H New York, NY 10009. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society.
|
|
NEWSLETTER "NEWS"
Starting next week, SSCC's "This Week" newsletter will go out via email on Friday mornings. With all of the planning and preparation for Sunday that the staff and volunteers do on Thursdays, this will just give them some extra time that day.
If you have anything that needs to be put in the newsletter, or if you need to update an article, you will now have until noon on Thursdays to submit it. If you have any questions, or have something to submit, please email amy@sandyspringscc.org. |
|
WE NEED YOUR HELP
In August, we began having a worship leader for our service each week. The worship leader leads a call to worship, reads scripture, offers the call to giving and welcomes 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 a maximum of 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.
|
|
IT'S JAM TIME!
It's time to start our monthly JAM meeting. We will meet this Sunday (and every 3rd Sunday) after worship from 11:15 AM -1:30 PM. Please bring your kids down to Dunlap Hall to join us for food, games, bible fun and fellowship!
Lunch will be provided and pickup is at 1:30 PM. This month we'll be going old school as we focus on some of our favorite characters from the old testament. We do not have a mask mandate, but masks are strongly encouraged.
Hope to see your children there! Even if you are visiting!
|
|
VIRTUAL WOMEN'S RETREAT
The upcoming virtual women's retreat titled "Fill My Cup Lord" will be held Sept. 24-25.
The speaker is the dynamic Rev. Dr. Delesslyn Kennebrew, formerly of Georgia and now on Regional staff in the Greater Kansas City Region. Registrants need to be sure to go to "View workshops" on the registration page (or click on the link below to view the flyer) so they'll be familiar with the available workshops before attempting to register for women can go to gadisciples.org and scroll down and click on the retreat link in the list of upcoming events. The registration deadline is September 22, 2021.
|
|
TALENT SHOW UPDATE
Just a reminder....We’re still having a Talent Show and we still need you! The date and time is Saturday, October 16th, at 5:00. Remember that we are accepting “service” talent as well as the traditional kind. You are never too young or too old to participate! (Translation: Youth, we want you as well as our Octo- and Nonagenarians!) It’s definitely not too late to be thinking of what you could do.
So far, we have about a dozen people or groups signed up for services or performances.
Momentum is building and we are excited! Plan your contribution and then do one better: Go Ahead and tell us that you are planning to participate. At this point it’s not a firm commitment, but it will help motivate you and energize us! The firm deadline, TBA, will be in early October.
|
|
CAC CANNED FOOD DRIVE!
The orange and purple food barrels in the lobby are here to hold your food donations for the CAC. Standard sized items are preferred as large, economy sized items are hard not easy to distribute or pack.
These are the most needed items:
spaghetti sauce, canned meats, protein drinks, cereals and oatmeal, condiments, cooking oils, regular & decaf instant coffees, rice, sugar, and salt.
NEW! The CAC is also in need of volunteers to work at the Dunwoody Food Pantry (near the Georgetown Shopping Center in Dunwoody) on Thursdays from 9 am to 1 pm. The Dunwoody Food Pantry is a smaller location with lower volume than the main Food Pantry at 8607 Roswell Road. So, this opportunity would be much more low key. If interested please contact Nolan at volunteer@ourcac.org or nolanfeintuch@ourcac.org.
|
|
MUST MINISTRIES: MUST is always in need of food, clothing and hygiene products. Their most pressing hygiene product needs are travel-size shampoo and conditioner bottles. We have a bin in our Lobby near the Outreach board for you to drop off items. Our Outreach team will handle getting the items to MUST.
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 food items. The Marietta Donation Center address is 1280 Field Parkway, Marietta, 30066. Or, you can purchase much-needed food items from their Amazon.com wish list and they will be shipped straight to the Donation Center.
Finally, please start purchasing new toys for their upcoming Christmas Toy Drive. SSCC will be collecting toys (ages 0 to 18) during the month of November. More information will be forthcoming.
|
|
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The holidays will be here soon and Outreach will be organizing efforts for SSCC to make a difference in our community through several service organizations. More information will be shared in the coming weeks about how you might:
- Provide holiday baskets
- Donate toys, food, and more
- Donate some of your time
|
|
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. We are discussing the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation – the letters to the seven churches.
|
|
On Sunday, October 3rd join the Pathfinders as we explore an historical view of the impact that women have had on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). You'll learn about some specific heroes and the impact they have made on your denomination and our mission efforts. Teresa Bensch will be leading the lesson as part of her studies at Lexington Theological Seminary.
|
|
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.
This Sunday, Teddy Ivey is going to be leading this Sunday's discussion about the fourth chapter of our series on "The Difficult Words of Jesus". This week is themed around the topic "Nowhere Among the Gentiles", which the highlighted scripture theme is Matthew 10:5b-6:
Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
We look forward to you joining us whether or not you've actually read the chapter yourself!
You can learn more about the study by clicking the button below.
|
|
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 new "Whirl" curriculum which includes games, lessons, arts and crafts and Bible study. The kids will have fun and learn all at the same time.
|
|
PRAYER REQUESTS
AND THANKS
|
|
A THANK YOU NOTE FROM DOTTIE GILL
To My Dear Church Family,
Wow what a roller coaster. God threw some challenges at me this year that I could have not imagined without all of you, I would have been lost and probably hungry. BUT, you took care of this widow and made her feel loved and cared for through a very tough 4 months and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My foot is finally getting better. Some of you took care of my dog through donations to Camp Woof until I found him a home to go to. Thank you for that.
Then came July, some of you took time to come and share my 60th birthday with me and made me feel special. Thank you for that. Losing Kathy was so hard, she was one of the first ladies that made me feel welcome at Sandy Springs Christian Church. We shared our lives and cared for each other and I will miss that. I have and angle cookie jar she gave me for Christmas one year that I will be forever reminded of my GOOD friend Kathy. Thank you for being my friend Kathy.
Then there was Riley, he came into the world with complications but you all prayed and cared and bought him presents to the shower and thank you for the concern and all the prayers that have been said for my brand-new Grandson. Riley is home and doing well. Thank you
I am now game fully employed again, YAY. I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful church family you are to me and my daughters. Thank for seeing me through all of these difficult times and praying with me and for me. This is the greatest church in the world. THANK YOU FOR STICKING BY ME.
|
|
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for Claire Roper who is having eye surgery next week.
Janet Howell requests your prayers for Helen Wray who turned three this week. She was diagnosed with Leukemia July 1, 2021 and is scheduled to have chemo weekly for the next 2 1/2 years. Since being diagnosed, Helen has been hospitalized due to a staph infection, pneumonia and other challenges. She has only been home eight nights. Please pray for her to remain healthy and able to receive weekly chemo treatments.
RoyYn Hicks requests prayers for the Pro family as their daughter, Makayla, battles COVID in the ICU.
Prayers are requested for Walt Michels as they search for answers and a path forward from current medical issues.
Prayers are requested 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), Dalton Brown (Army) and Caleb (Marines), granddaughter, grandson and great grandson of Barb Duren. 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!
|
|
Kate Lee Sept. 21
Katie Gibson Sept. 22
Madelyn Rathinam Sept. 25
Jenna Hicks Sept. 26
Beverly Mitchell Sept. 26
|
|
Teresa Bensch Sept. 27
Becky Chimera Sept. 29
Sid Elliott Sept. 29
Marilyn Torbert Sept. 29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
