On behalf of the Welcome Back Team, it is my pleasure to welcome you back!! Pending reports continue to trend positively in Atlanta, SSCC will resume “normal” operations effective June 27^th. We are planning a special Welcome Back Worship Service on that day we hope you can attend. While things in our world will never again be the same, here is what you can expect at SSCC…

Things are not always what they seem. That is a truth we experience over and over again. It happens in our reading from Mark this week, when the religious leaders mistake Jesus for a demon. Sometimes what appears to be evil turns out to be sacred. This week, we will once again reflect on how to best approach "Books and their Covers."

Mark 3:20-35 NRSV

Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown

To view the service this Sunday on our YouTube page, click here.

To view the scripture for this Sunday, click here.

Coming Soon!

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. On June 27^th, 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, is present, reminds, gives voice and challenges 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!

Women’s Choir is about to start rehearsing! Our first practice was last Wednesday, so if you couldn't make it, you can come on Sunday, June 6th from 9:15 – 9:45 a.m. As in the past, we will give you opportunities to come either on Wednesday or Sunday mornings as your schedule allows, and then we put it together the day of the performance! This particular time back together is bittersweet, as we will miss Joyce terribly, but also such a joyful occasion to be able to sing again!!!! We are celebrating by doing a fun and uplifting medley from Sister Act! Please join us for some musical time together! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Also, Adult Handbells are starting back again! Rehearsals will be held on Sundays directly after worship for 45 minutes. Come on out! All experiences welcome – beginners, advanced, and complete never done it before people!

If you are interested in joining our handbell group or women's choir, please email Susan Wallace at susanwallace03@gmail.com.

We bring you good tidings of great joy! Recently, the Leadership Council, Elders and Welcome Back Team met to build consensus around a plan for suspending all safety protocols for in-person activities at SSCC, including worship. We concluded, pending circumstances in our world continue trending positively, on Sunday, June 27^th, we will lift all protocols and resume in-person activities at SSCC. In the meantime, we will continue with our normal safety protocols with the exception that, while masks are strongly recommended for all, masks will not be required for those who have been vaccinated. Thank you for your patience as we move toward finding our new normal at SSCC. Please look to your email in the coming week for more information about what to expect on June 27^th and beyond.

Sunday, June 13th we will honor all SSCC graduates for the year 2021.

We know it was a challenging year for all, and we want our grads to know how proud we are of them. If you have a graduate, please let us know as we plan to recognize them that day.

On Sunday, June 13, beginning at 5:00 p.m. the Care and Connect team will host a light cookout supper (of hamburgers and hot dogs) and then together we will watch the film, which has already been shared with a number of Atlanta churches. This will be followed a discussion led by our guest speaker, Bert Skellie, Quaker and local justice and peace activist.

Please put this event on your calendar and sign up by June 11th through the link below so we know how many people to plan for.

On Sunday, July 11, we will hold our Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary immediately following service.

Then join us in the Whitmire Pavilion for a hot dog lunch prepared by the Torberts.

In addition, Marlene Rhine has been moved to the Brian Center in Canton. She would love to receive some cards. Please send them to her attention at: The Brian Center, 150 Hospital Circle, Canton, GA 30114.

Please send them via email to: Teddy@sandyspringscc.org. Thank you!

Father's Day is coming up on June 20th, and we know you will start shopping for gifts soon. Just a reminder that by shopping for gifts at smile.amazon.com or with AmazonSmile in the Amazon shopping app, Amazon will donate a percentage to SSCC just by designating the church as your favorite organization.

In total we were able to contribute $798. Half of the gifts go to regions to support new church development. The other half goes to New Church Ministry, which trains, equips, assists, and multiplies new church leaders.

SSCC Members should have received a reminder email invitation on Monday to sign up for our new Church Member software called Breeze. Please remember to sign up, log in and verify your profile information in the system. It's a great new way to keep up with your SSCC Family! More exciting updates to come soon!

Join John Mills and the Pathfinders for Zoom discussions every Monday evening from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. You can CLICK HERE to join the video call each week, or you can call in 929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID: 985 6868. The passcode is 831869. For more information please contact John Mills.

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! 

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.orf to volunteer at the Thrift Store. Visit CAC’s website for more details

Give Kids Tools for School for the Next School Year!

Deliver items to the church by Sunday 6/13. Thank you.

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.