A NOTE FROM BRYANT
This has certainly been a year that continues to throw us curve balls.
I wanted to start by sharing that this Sunday the pulpit was to be filled by the amazing Rev. Linda Whitmire while Rev. Nathan is away. Linda is going to be fine, but took a fall this week that resulted in two cracked ribs and she is in recovery mode. I know she would appreciate your thoughts and prayers on the road ahead.
We will forge ahead together as I will fill in and bring the message this week... talking about... God’s Politics. Wait, why did I say yes to this again?
So much of this election has focused on whose side you are on...Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal. It has become you’re either with me, or surely you must be against me. Our identity has become rooted in red or blue and there’s no wiggle room to see virtue on the other side of the aisle.
In our scripture this week, Jesus was also asked to pick a side when asked the question “is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?”, pitting him against religion and government.
Join us this Sunday as we explore why the answer Jesus gives tells us whose side we really need to be on. I look forward to some of you in person at our 8:30 service and the rest of you virtually at 10:15 am.
Peace,
Bryant
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God’s Politics
A Sermon Series
It’s a touchy subject, especially in an election year. In fact, it might be the most divisive topic of the day: politics. Which, of course, makes it an issue of faith – something the Church should address or, at the very least, talk about. After all, people have questions. Was Jesus political? Should I, as a person of faith, be political, partisan, both? If Church and State are to be separate, can political issues also be matters of faith? Let’s come together, during worship, and spiritually prepare ourselves for an election season through a series we are calling God’s Politics.
October 18, 2020
Whose Side Are We On?
Matthew 22:15-22
Bryant Gibson
October 25, 2020
Fear Not
Isaiah 43:1-7
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
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SIMPLE SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE IN THE WHITMIRE PAVILION
Join us Sunday mornings for an in-person service in the Whitmire Pavilion at 8:30 am, in advance of our livestream at 10:15 AM. We will follow all the guidelines in the Whitmire Pavilion policy to keep everyone safe. Worship will only include prayer, a scripture reading, a message, an offering and communion. Communion will take place with pre-packaged individual, disposable communion cups and wafers, already placed in the seats.
In order to attend the service you must sign up in advance, as we are limiting attendance to 30 people, following the Whitmire Pavilion Guidelines recently set. Please click the button below to reserve your seat.
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PRAYER REQUESTS AND THANKS
Please pray for Linda Whitmire who fell in her Big Canoe home last evening. She received two cracked ribs in her fall. She is now home recovering.
Please keep Paul Kapphahn in your prayers. He had surgery for kidney stones this week and is now home recovering.
Debbie Hardman requests prayers for her mother Ginny Hamilton. She has been in the hospital with pneumonia and is now in High Shoals Rehab, 3450 New High Shoals Rd. Bishop, Georgia 30621.
Please keep Lolly Ross in your prayers. She is now home from the hospital after falling and breaking her pelvis.
Karla Worley requests prayers for her mother Darlene McCorkle. She is in a nursing home and has been diagnosed with Covid.
Please pray for our members and their families who serve as first responders and health care workers: Dr. Tim Helton, Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, and Pete French. Also those serving in the military: Derrick Brown (Army) and Michelle Brown (Navy), children 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). If we are missing someone, please let us know so that we can include their name in our weekly prayers.
JOIN SSCC!
You can join SSCC by a simple affirmation of faith anytime! If you want to join during this virtual time, just let us know you would like to join!
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GREAT NEWS!
The Welcome Back Team has discerned that we should try limited in-person worship in the sanctuary beginning November 1st. The team wrote and Leadership approved guidelines for this step and they are available here for you to review by clicking the button below.
First, let me say that if the risk of COVID transmission increases in the state, we may choose once again to rely solely on livestreaming. Our team is now working on the logistics of in-person worship to comply with the guidelines. Those will be communicated to you when they are completed. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either me (bwlady@bellsouth.net) or Nathan.
Sincerely, Leslie Lady
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ALL SAINTS SUNDAY
On Sunday, November 1st we will celebrate All Saints Sunday. This is our annual recognition of those members of our congregation who have died in the past year. We want to remember the deceased and the many ways in which they touched our lives.
Our records indicate that we do not have any Saints names to read during the service this year. However, because we have been so disconnected during this time, we want to make sure that we do not omit someone’s name who should be mentioned. Please leave a message at the church or email Amy Frost at amy@sandyspringscc.org.
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60TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY
On Sunday, November 8th Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown will help us celebrate Sandy Springs Christian Church's 60th Anniversary. You will want to be part of and tune into worship on this special day, as we hope to have several faces and voices from years past, present in worship. Come be part of celebrating this special milestone!
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COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION WEEKEND
November 14 and 15, 2020
As you know, part of our visioning plan calls us to have a courageous conversation event, annually, over the next three years, to help us, as church, model for the world how to have conversation about difficult topics and remain one community. Dr. Allen Hilton, author of "A House United," will be leading us in the virtual endeavor. Look to your newsletter for more information.
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THANKSGIVING SUNDAY
On Sunday, November 22, 2020 Bryant Gibson will lead worship as we observe our annual Thanksgiving Sunday. Let us come together and give thanks for the many blessings of this last year, despite the challenges we have faced!
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MEET THE HARPLES
Emily and Travis recently joined SSCC during the Morning Watch service and dedicated Derek Jude the same day! They are both originally from the Atlanta area, and both went to GA Southern. After they graduated, they moved to Raleigh NC for 4 years and started attending a Disciples of Christ church which they really liked. So when they moved back to Atlanta in the Sandy Springs area they knew they wanted to join a similar kind of church and they found SSCC was just down the road from where they live. They now live in Sandy Springs. Emily is a wellness consultant for Cigna and Travis is a manager of data and analytics for Captech Consulting. They said they have felt so welcomed and look forward to getting know everyone even better now that they are officially members!
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HELP SSCC SIMPLY BY SHOPPING!
The AmazonSmile Foundation recently surpassed $200 million in donations to charities worldwide!
In this time, many of you are purchasing items online for your household, and even for the holidays. By purchasing on Amazon using the link below, you can generate donations to our church simply by shopping.
You can help increase AmazonSmile donations to Sandy Springs Christian Church by shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/58-1083769 or with AmazonSmile on the Amazon Shopping app.
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FALL BACK REMINDER
Sunday, November 1st we "Fall Back" an hour. Please remember to set your clocks back!
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DOING MINISTRY DIFFERENTLY |
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UPDATE! FROM OUTREACH
CAC: For information regarding volunteering at the CAC, please CLICK HERE to access the Sign Up Genius link for available time slots. They are also looking for pantry, cash and boutique donations. If you would like to read the CAC's most recent newsletter, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE ON FOOD PANTRY & CAC BOTIQUE located at 8607 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs GA 30350. The Food Pantry has moved to an outdoor market format and the CAC Boutique will be open inside with limited hours. Homebound seniors may receive pre-packaged food delivered by CAC volunteers. Volunteers are needed; if you are interested, please contact Debbie Olson at the CAC or contact Cindi McCollough via email at csbfish@bellsouth.net.
CAC Outdoor Mini-Market Food Pantry
Food Donation/Delivery Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
CAC Upscale Thrift
Shopping Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 am-1:30 pm
(Retail store shopping hours open to clients and the public.)
Donation Hours for Clothing & Home Goods are Monday – Friday, 9:30 am-1:30 pm
Safety, of course, continues to be a number one priority. Greeters will take each customer’s temperature and ensure each customer sanitizes their hands and is wearing a mask before shopping. Plexiglass is up at the register and dressing rooms. Restrooms are unavailable right now. If you would like to help but aren’t comfortable being in the store with customers, know there are items in the back to sort and price every day of the week. Plenty of spots if you’d like one.
If you would like to read the CAC's newsletter, please click here.
FOOD INSECURITY: If you or someone you know in our church community are facing food insecurity because of a decrease or loss in income, please privately contact Jenna Hicks so that we can provide assistance to keep your pantry full. Email jennakhicks@gmail.com or call 404-441-1668.
MUST MINISTIRES: If you would like to donate and drop off items 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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SUBMITTING PRAYER AND CONGREGATIONAL CARE REQUESTS
Due to the fact that we are holding "virtual" church service, and are not able to submit prayer requests, feel free to reach out to Merilyn Dimmit, Congregational Care, via Merilyn@sandyspringscc.org or call her at 770-448-8784 and leave a message. Please indicate if your prayer request is confidential (for Clergy/Elders only or for congregational sharing in our newsletter).
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CONNECT WITH OTHERS
SSCC has subscribed to zoom for anyone who might need it to virtually meet using a video conference method. Only one group can use our account at a time. If you would like your group to use zoom to virtually meet, please contact Amy Frost via email (amy@sandyspringscc.org) to schedule your group on the calendar. We can help you learn how to send an invite to your group.
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Stephen Brown 10/1
John Dalton 10/1
Amy Helton 10/2
Kerry Bensch 10/4
John Mills 10/4
Mikayla Scarborough 10/6
Pat Emerson 10/7
Don Daugherty 10/8
Ginny Hamilton 10/8
Sandy Matthews 10/9
Amos Bolay 10/13
Bob Hicks 10/14
Ellis Torbert 10/14
Bryce Bowers 10/16
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Matt McKinney 10/16
Becky Kelly 10/17
Dawna Abel 10/21
Merilyn Dimmitt 10/23
Vijay Rathinam 10/23
Mary Shehan 10/23
Sally Tutterow 10/24
Paul Kapphahn 10/25
Cindy Brown 10/26
Alice Saunders 10/26
Chris Dalton 10/27
Shavette Turner 10/28
Bert Blackburn 10/31
Linda Davis-Rolen 10/31
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