Chili Cookoff 

Elder Care Support  

The February Elder Care meeting will take place Thursday, February 17 at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall.  We are pleased to announce that both pastors, Dr. Oliver Wagner and Rev. Jamie Butcher, will be our speakers this month.  Dr. Wagner will discuss APC's new Memorial Garden. Our garden is a beautiful spot; a place for remembrance, thanksgiving, prayer, reflection and worship.  It may also be the place which meets your family's needs for interment of ash remains.  Rev. Butcher will address the details of advanced directives and other documents about which you may have questions.  We hope you will join us. For questions or other information, please contact Ellen Adolph, 678-637-2928 or hbunnies@gmail.com.

The Drake House extends heartfelt appreciation to all of the talented chefs and donors who contributed to and prepared the meal on Monday, January 31.  Each Monday night the families residing at The Drake House come across the street to The Drake Center for a Life Skills Class. A warm and lovingly assembled meal awaits them before the children begin tutoring, the teens enter their life skills class and the moms begin their class. The infants and preschoolers are cared for by volunteers and also enjoy the dinner, if able.  We are very thankful for Alpharetta Presbyterian Church for volunteering to help with the meal this week. It was evident that lots of time and effort went into planning and preparing the food, and it was enjoyed by all.

Christy Merritt

Director of Programs

The Drake House

Gifts of Women 

Sunday, February 27 is Celebrating the Gifts of Women Sunday.  Please join us as we celebrate women, their service and the beautiful things they do that keep the church vibrant, active and full of God's love.  Women have the opportunity to greet, usher, and assist with liturgy.  Volunteers are needed for speaking and non-speaking roles for 8:30 and 11:00 services.  Please contact Robyn Guy at 770-331-1924 to volunteer.

Men's Softball

Spring Softball - This year, February 14th has multiple meanings in addition to that all important Valentine's Day holiday. It's also the day that pitchers and catchers for the Atlanta Braves report to Spring Training AND, it's the deadline for signing up for the APC men's softball team. The season begins the week of February 28 and we play at Alpharetta North Park so if you are interested, send an e-mail to David Neal at dkn183@comcast.net before February 14. The estimated cost will be $40 for Alpharetta city residents and $65 for non-residents (final cost TBD once the final roster is complete).  So find your mitts, loosen up that throwing shoulder and get ready to play some softball.

Michael O'Neal Chamber Singers

The Michael O'Neal Chamber Singers will present a choral concert here at APC on Sunday, February 13 at 3:00 pm.  Entitled "Gloria: Expressions of Joy", the program is based on different settings of the "Gloria" text.  The music is the expression of almost indescribable religious joy, bringing to mind such terms as rapture, ecstasy and exhilaration. The program will feature the 20th century French composer Francis Poulenc's exuberant and jazzy Gloria, as well as many other choral declarations of joy and praise.  $10 general admission at the door. 

The "Faith and Families" Adult Sunday School class will be hosting a 4-week series called "The Marriage Journey: a journey towards mutual love, respect and understanding" in the multipurpose room from 9:45-10:45am every Sunday in March.  This class is for those who have been on the marriage journey for a brief time or a long sojourn. The class is also designed for those who are contemplating making this journey at some point in their future.  Over the four weeks we will cover: 

Mapping the way ahead. Taking the road less traveled or the one that's familiar?

Faith and Families Aging Parent Study - The Faith and Families Class will be offering a study about relationships between adult children and their aging parents beginning on February 13. We welcome anyone who has an interest in this topic to join us. This study will take place in two segments, the first running for three Sundays in February and the second beginning on April 3 and running for six weeks. During the month of March, we are excited to have Deborah Silver leading a relationship class for married couples.

For one or two Sundays of our elder care study, we plan to offer a panel discussion.  Please consider serving on our panel if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are currently the primary caregiver for your parent who either lives with you or lives nearby
• You are a professional in the field of eldercare
• You are a senior citizen experiencing the challenges of advanced age
• You and your siblings are coping together with the challenges presented by an aging parent or parents

Our panel discussions will be open forum question and answer sessions.  Please contact Allison Neal alli-neal@comcast.net or 770-751-0260 if you would be interested in serving on one of our panels. 

The APC Day School Advisory Board is currently accepting applications for two open positions beginning fall of 2011.  This is a two year commitment with monthly meetings during the school year.  The board is composed of both church and non-church members.  All letters of interest must be submitted to the Day School office by Friday, February 25.  Interviews will be conducted on Thursday, March 10 from 9:30-11:30am(childcare provided).  Please contact Nancy Fain, Director for more information. 770-751-3862.

Are you interested in membership at APC?  We will welcome new members on Sunday, February 20.  New member education classes will be held on February 6 and February 13 at 9:45am in the "Alpha Building" (the mobile classroom closest to the sanctuary) for any interested in considering membership.  Please let Dr. Wagner or Rev. Butcher know if you would like to participate in this new member process by calling the office 770-751-0033 or email (ollie@alpharettapres.com or jamie@alpharettapres.com)

Ladies' Night Out

Ladies' Night Out at Just for Giggles!  Local artists lead you step-by-step as you create your very own work of art (Rosenberry Trees) on canvas that you will take home at evenings' end on Thursday, February 10.  Social and set-up at 6:30pm  Painting begins at 7:00pm  Cost is $30 upon arrival to class. Register at www.just-for-giggles.com. Click on the calendar link. Also, e-mail pamheydinger@comcast.net.  Register early as the class will likely fill up a week in advance.

The Youth of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church would like to invite you to our silent and service auction to raise money for the youth group mission trips and other youth activities.  All are invited to join us on Saturday, March 12 for an evening of fun, festivity, music and fellowship.  There will be some fabulous items that will be auctioned off such as vacation home stays, handmade jewelry, guitar lessons, landscaping services, boat rides and much, much more.  Please consider spending the evening with us from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Your attendance will help make this evening a success.  Please note that childcare will be provided.  If you would like to donate items to be auctioned off and or be a part of this evening, please contact Peggy Messawer at 678-457-4560.  Thank you.

Promise Class

Promise Class Volunteers Needed - Volunteers are needed to assist the Promise Class teachers at 11:00 AM Sundays.  We need two volunteers for each Sunday now to May.  Our Promise Class provides a safe and welcoming place for special needs children and youth. This allows their parents and siblings to fully participate in the life of our church including worship. As a volunteer, you are NOT responsible for the curriculum or activities. No special experience is required; just the ability to love children.  Sign-up using this online link: alpharettapres.com/Google or by contacting Sydney Schneider 770-664-0942 or sydschneider@comcast.net.  

Last week for Adult Sunday School Mini-Series!  Some stories in the Bible get more "air-time" than others: we drew pictures about them as kids, we sang songs about them in Sunday School classes, and we heard sermons on them throughout our lives.  The series is led by Ryan Bonfiglio (the Rev. Jamie Butcher's husband) who is completing his Ph.D. in Old Testament and Hebrew studies at Emory University. The class meets in the theater beginning at 9:45 AM. 

Sunday, February 6      Jesus Calms the Wind & the Waves (Mark 4:35-41)

Fun Wednesday Schedule

Here are some of the amazing events for the youth this month. 

Please remember it is very important to RSVP to the events that are off site. 

 This will help the youth advisors in planning each event.  Thank you

Please invite a friend to APC!

If you have any questions, concerning Youth Ministry at APC please contact Kelly Edwards at Kelly@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-0033