A WORD FROM PASTOR

Pastor Michael Morss

Greetings, Church Family!

With Valentine’s Day one week away, love is in the air – at least $25.8 billion worth of love (or $185.81 for the average lovebird) - according to spending forecasts from the National Retail Federation for 2025. This includes jewelry, flowers, clothing, candy, dinners, and more. No pressure, friends.

Now that you know the minimum expectations for V-Day (Gentlemen!), I want to follow up on an invitation I made last year - an opportunity to begin or rekindle your relationship with Jesus. Starting Wednesday, February 19, at 6:30 pm, I will be launching a new Bible study called “Bible and Bagels.” You bring your Bible and favorite topping, and I’ll provide the bagels.

Rather than the first Sabbath of each month (once a month is not enough, and I’m far too busy that day), we will meet each Wednesday evening to strengthen our faith through prayer, explore why Seventh-day Adventists believe what we believe, and learn a layman’s approach to exegesis.

If you struggle to articulate what you believe or have ever found yourself saying, “Adventists are pretty much the same as all Christians; we just go to church on Saturday,” come. To be sure, this is not an old-school Bible study where we check off our good ole “28” and then say, “Sayonara!” No; this study will frame everything we discuss in the context of your relationships with Jesus and your neighbor. In other words, our goal is not for others to ask why we are Seventh-day Adventists; our goal is for others to ask us why we are so full of love!

If you’re ready to flip the script and invest in an everlasting love, shoot me an email at mmorss@gccsda.com.

10 days of Prayer

January 8 - 17, we participated in the Ten Days of Prayer. This year, the theme was “But when you pray…”, and it explored lessons from the Lord’s Prayer and Jesus’ teachings. Many helped lead the session each night and many more prayed. The first nine nights, we met online, and the tenth night was held at the church. Emil Dumitrescu played the shofar, which symbolically calls God down to us.

Several participants talked about what a blessing the ten days were, and we were reminded to pray every day.

Women’s Vespers

On the Sabbath evening of January 25th, the Women’s Ministry kicked off our “Transformed by Grace” 2025 journey with an amazing vespers program focused on Chapter 1 of Steps to Christ and God’s incredible love for us. We dove headfirst into this special book with an interactive discussion, sharing our favorite parts and discovering new depths of God’s Word.  Many of us were moved when we wrote private love letters to God, pouring out our hearts and expressing our gratitude for His amazing grace. And the blessings kept coming as we looked at the beautiful world God has given us here but allowed our imagination to wonder about the earth made new.   But most importantly, we experienced the power of prayer as we prayed together. It was a beautiful reminder that we’re not on this journey alone. As if that wasn’t enough, we had a hilarious time with a blindfolded “Mr. Potato Head Challenge.” Who knew putting those ears in the right place could be SO tricky? Of course, no Vespers program is complete without delicious food and fellowship, and our baked potato bar hit the spot. Ladies, don’t miss out on the next vespers on February 22nd. In the meantime, grab your copy of Steps to Christ and start reading Chapter 2.  We can’t wait to continue this transformation journey with you.

Bible Journaling

On January 18th, we had a wonderful time with Bible journaling after the church service. During this session, we reflected on Bible verses, shared our thoughts, and expressed our understanding through drawing and painting. We explored Matthew 17:20-21, where the children illustrated mountains, mustard seeds, and plants that are symbolic of faith. Then, we looked at Proverbs 15:23, with drawings of hearts, honeybees, beehives, and flowers, representing the power of kind and sweet words. Finally, in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, the children created images of palms and different activities to show how each of us has unique gifts to serve God. It was a fun time of creativity and reflection, and the children enjoyed the experience. We would love for you to join us for our next Bible journaling session on April 27th, where you can tap into your drawing and painting skills while diving into Bible verses. This event is open to everyone.

CPR Class

Learning CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is crucial because it can save lives. During cardiac arrest, it helps maintain blood and oxygen flow to the brain and other vital organs. CPR is a lifesaving skill that anyone can learn. When more people are trained in CPR, the community is better prepared to respond to emergencies.

On February 2nd, eight members attended a CPR class led by our own Ms. Amor Raparla MSN FNP-C. Her training was engaging, hands-on, and highly informative. All attendees have received CPR certification. We are grateful to the Alpharetta SDA Church safety and security committee for making this training possible.

“I didn’t realize how many youths we had, and how cool everyone was.”

By Amiel Lewis

Young Adult Meet-Up

On January 25th, 2025, Young Adult (YA) Ministries officially kicked into full swing. Under the leadership of Cristal Pizarro, it recently hosted a vibrant, family-friendly night designed to bring the young minds of our community together. The evening began with snacks and plenty of socializing, setting a welcoming tone for the night ahead. As the event continued, more guests arrived, drawn by the contagious energy that filled the space. Was it the pizza that brought them in? Perhaps the irresistible home-baked cookies? Not quite. It was something much more powerful: the spirit of connection and community. If you’re seeking a space that’s welcoming and full of energy and excitement, then YA Ministries is the place for you. It’s a place where connection thrives, and we’d love for you to be part of it. We hope to see you at our upcoming events and continue building this ministry together!

Cradle Roll is our Sabbath school class for kids aged zero to five. Our teachers create a fun and exciting environment where learning comes alive through hands-on activities like flower-picking, playing with stuffed animals, blowing bubbles, and singing. Young children get an introduction to many Bible stories by exploring the world Jesus created around them. By emphasizing cooperation and friendship, our activities help build strong social skills and friendships. We invite other young parents to bring their toddlers to join us. Together, we can create a warm and welcoming environment for all families to learn about Jesus’ love.

“My baptism now is more meaningful, and further it will be the starting point for my new life and marriage with Imani.”.…

Lowe Dantzler

Trivia

What verse is the word LOVE first mentioned in the Bible?

(Genesis)

Which did Jesus say was the most important of all God's commandments?

(Exodus 20: 1-17)

Who was doing the speaking and who was on the other end of the conversation in which John 3:16 was spoken?

(John 3:1)

Exciting News, Church Family! 

We’re launching a new way to stay connected!  Very soon, you will be able to receive church event updates and reminders via SMS directly on your phone.

Stay tuned for more details coming your way!