A NOTE FROM NATHAN
This weekend, the larger leadership of Sandy Springs Christian Church will gather for our annual leadership retreat. On the one hand, this event will look a little bit different than usual. Rather than meeting in person, we will be meeting via zoom. Instead of spending time in the car driving to a destination, we simply roll out of our beds and join one another from our respective homes. As opposed to making plans for what we know, we will be planning more for what we have yet to know.
On the other hand, much will remain the same. We will pray and worship with one another. We will spend time getting to know those with whom we will be serving in ministry. We will onboard new people to their roles and review responsibilities. We will plan, as best as we are able, for our coming year of ministry together.
As we live into whatever the new normal will be, some things will be different and some will remain the same. The questions for all of us have to do more with what kind of future we want to create together for our personal lives, the life of our congregation and the greater world.
To that end, during the check-ins for which many of you have signed up, I’m asking you the same questions I’m posing to the leadership team on Saturday. These questions are not novel. In fact, we adapted them from elsewhere. The truth is they are the questions that any viable organization ought to be asking at this point:
- What should we never do again that we had to stop doing during the pandemic?
- What should we have been doing all along that we should now start?
- What have we learned that we want to carry forward?
I hope you will sign up for a check-in to have some conversation about these questions with me and other congregants. If you have not yet signed up and wish to, see below for more information and click on the link to sign up. Otherwise, feel free to send me your thoughts by email. Better yet, let’s set up a zoom or give me a call.
As we reconnect to the ministry of SSCC in the new year, we want to do so in ways that make sense for our future, growing out of and building on all that we have learned from the last year. Thank you for your ongoing love for our church and commitment to our ministry. I’m excited about what is to come!
Peace,
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Brown
|
|
Please note: Our HVAC contractors are presently working on the heaters for the Sanctuary, in hopes they will be operational for the service. However, if you choose to worship with us in person, please come prepared for either scenario. |
|
Promise
We’ve heard plenty of them recently. After all, elections are full of them. Of course, we make our own to ourselves this time of year too. We call them resolutions. They go by other names like commitments, pledges or agreements. While we do our best to keep promises, we all know they are difficult to uphold. More often than not, they even get broken, except, that is, for God’s. While we have placed much of our hope in the
promise of 2021, we have already been let down. Instead, at the beginning of
this New Year, let’s turn our focus, energy and attention to God’s promises, which
are always and forever unbreakable.
January 31, 2021
God’s Promise of Ministry
Mark 1:14-20
Rev. Nathan C. Brown
February 7, 2021
God’s Promise of Blessing
Matthew 5:1-12
Rev. Nathan C. Brown
February 14, 2021
God’s Promise of Guidance
Matthew 5:13-20
Rev. Nathan C. Brown
To view the service on our YouTube page, click here.
|
|
PRAYER REQUESTS
Mary Robeck requests prayers for her sister Zielda Gandy and her husband Johnny. They live in Enterprise, Mississippi and recently lost their home to fire.
Anita Taff requests prayers for Barry White and his family. He is 53 and is on a ventilator due to Covid.
Anne Bradford had throat surgery on 1/25/21. She will be in the hospital for at least three days. She is in Emory in Decatur. Please keep Anne in your prayers.
Fran Michels is having eye surgery on February 1st. Please keep Fran in your prayers.
Please pray for Dottie Gill. She fell and hurt her ankle. She is in Northside Hospital and is having surgery due to the injury. Dottie is worried about being in the hospital due to Covid. Dottie has asked if someone can take her little dog Toto for a week or so. If you can, please contact Merilyn Dimmitt to make arrangements at (740) 972-2241.
Judy Edwards moved to Summitt Place in South Carolina. This move will allow her to be near her daughter. Cards may be sent to Judy in care of her daughter Anne Parker Ballance at 121 N. Hermitage Road, Beaufort, SC 29902. Please keep Judy and her family in your prayers.
Please pray for our members and their families who serve as first responders and health care workers: Dr. Tim Helton, Katie Gibson, Tracey McCluskey, Dr. Vijay Rathinam 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!
|
|
SSCC'S NEW PODCAST
Casey Evans and Pastor Nathan have been working on a podcast they are calling, "SSCConversations." Its purpose is "to be a hope filled effort by and for the people of Sandy Springs Christian Church, as a way to connect to and communicate with both people in our congregation and the greater Sandy Springs/Atlanta area, with positive conversations about our community and its/our relationship to God.”
Click below for our inaugural podcast entitled, "Hope," during which we talk about the inspiration for the podcast and its overall purpose. We intend to publish future podcasts as well in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for more information.
Finally, a big thank you to our Organist, Ella Lewis. Both pieces of music used for the podcast were recorded by Ella. The opening piece is entitled, "Joy Song." The closing piece is called, "The Tocatta." Enjoy!
|
|
CHECK IN WITH YOUR SSCC FAMILY
As you have read by now, our theme for the ministry of SSCC in 2021 is "Reconnect." To get us off on the right foot, we are offering a series of "check-ins," by which we hope to reconnect with many of you.
Each session will last approximately thirty minutes and include up to eight individuals/families, including Pastor Nathan. Click on the button below to sign up for a session. Various dates and times are available through February 11, 2021. Please sign up for only one session to ensure that all those who wish to participate are able. Thank you, in advance, for your participation. This is one way, among many, we hope to begin reconnecting with each other in the coming year!
|
|
WINTER MOVIE SERIES
Here’s a perfect way to reconnect with SSCC friends, while social-distancing at home! Care & Connect is launching a Winter Movie Series —with two movies to start off in January. One is for families with children and another for adults. If you’d like, you can join both!
You can search the movie titles, listed below, on the internet or through your TV service provider to see your best option for viewing. Some of the movies will be free or have a nominal cost depending on whether you subscribe to Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Vudu, etc. Pick a time to view the movie(s) that best fits your schedule, then join us this Sunday the 31st for the Zoom discussion(s).
The January movie selection for adults is the highly-reviewed production of Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President. The Zoom discussion for this movie will be this Sunday, January 31st at 5:00 P.M.
|
|
The January movie selection for families is Soul. The Zoom discussion for this movie will be this Sunday, January 31st at 7:00 P.M. Since the Youth meet on Sundays participants will want to choose another time for the rest of the series.
|
|
LEADERSHIP RETREAT REMINDER
THIS SATURDAY!
If you are part of the Leadership Council, Eldership, Trustees or Program Staff you are invited to participate in the 2021 SSCC Leadership Retreat, this Saturday, January 30th from 8:00 am - noon. You should have received an email with the agenda, Visioning Updates and the Zoom information via email this morning.
|
|
INSTALLATION SUNDAY
This Sunday, January 31st, we will be officially installing our leadership for 2021 during worship. This is a time to pray for our shared ministry, to affirm those who have been called to serve and to acknowledge the transition of leadership that takes place from one year to the next.
If you are part of the Leadership Council, Eldership, Trustees, Diaconate and Sunday School teachers, we hope you can make it to worship either in person or virtually for your official installation. It's going to be an exciting year of ministry. Let's come out and support those who will lead us along the way!
|
|
THE CAC SENDS THANKS
Dear friends,
We are pleased to share the amazing results of CAC’s work in 2020 thanks to you and so many others who care to make a difference. Let us know if you would like any additional information. Take care and we hope to see you again soon…
Warmest regards,
Pam Jones
Development Director
Cell: 404-668-0420
|
|
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Just a reminder that the Church office will be staffed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm.
We are also retrieving phone messages remotely each day as well. So feel free to call the church if you need anything or email Amy@sandyspringscc.org if you wish. |
|
DOING MINISTRY DIFFERENTLY |
|
HELPING THE CAC
The CAC is in need of volunteers for the following shifts:
- Retail Store: M, W, F 9:30-11:45 and 11:45-2:00
- Donations/Pricing: M – F 9:30-11:30 and 11:30-1:30
Or you can work both shifts in a day. Eventually, they would like to be open M, W and F from 9:30-3:00, expanding the shifts to 9:30-12:30 and 12:30-3:30.
If you have any questions, please contact Cindi McCollough via email -csbfish@bellsouth.net or cell 770-365-0365.
________________________
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.
|
|
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).
|
|
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.
|
|
 |
Thomas Grant 1/29
Francie Filacchione 1/29
August Lee 1/30
Joshua Moore 2/2
Nancy Trusty 2/2
Scott Dalton 2/4
Dirk Huttenbach 2/6
Dan Ross 2/7
Peter Brown 2/9
Anne Bradford 2/10
Judy Edwards 2/11
|
|
|
|
Fran Michels 2/11
Dianna Gill 2/13
J.R. Torbert 2/14
Jennifer Armstrong 2/15
Jim Torbert 2/16
Travis Harple 2/19
Kathleen Reese 2/20
Wayne Dimmitt 2/21
Pat Kapphahn 2/22
Tom Bratten 2/23
Chuck Rolen 2/23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
