In the countryside of Taizé, France, southeast of Paris lies a monastic community made up of over a hundred brothers, drawn from around thirty nations. As with so many monastic communities, daily prayer is essential to its life. Three times a day, everything on the hills of Taizé stops and the bells call everyone to church for prayer.

The Taizé prayer service is special in many ways:

* The worship setting is simple, quiet, with subdued lighting. The liberal use of candles throughout the space gives a contemplative feel.

* The service is a mixture of readings and song, drawn from Scripture and with heavy reliance on the Psalms. Singing is one of the most essential elements of the worship. Short songs, repeated again and again, give a meditative character. The music is simple with little instrumental support. Using just a few words they can express a basic reality of faith.

* The service is unrushed and silence plays an important role. In the middle of each common prayer, there is a long period of silence, a unique moment for meeting with God. Each congregant is invited to "calm and quiet their soul" (Psalm 131), for prayer does not always need words.

On Wednesday evening, April 13, APC will have a prayer service in the style of Taizé. It will be held in the church theater beginning at 6:30 pm and will last about 30 minutes. We at APC are a community of prayer and so we invite everyone to join us for this service as we approach the end of our Lenten journey together.

Easter Flowers

Last Sunday to purchase Easter Flowers to help decorate the sanctuary and church for Easter. Honor or remember a loved one by contributing $20 for Easter Flowers. Order forms can be found on the table in the lobby. Cash or checks (made out to APC with "Easter Flowers" on the memo line). The order deadline is Sunday, April 10. Any flowers not taken home after the 11:00 service will taken to shut-ins.

Eldercare Support

Attention Veterans! APC's Eldercare Support Group is pleased to welcome attorney Patricia Elrod-Hill as the speaker for our next meeting on Thursday, April 14 at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Ms. Elrod-Hill is a veterans advocate and will speak regarding veterans benefits as well as answer any questions you may have. For questions or additional information, please contact Ellen Adolph at hbunnies@gmail.com or 678-637-2928.

FW Dinner This Week

Fun Wednesday dinner this week will be prepared by Chef Doug and members of the Centro Familiar Cristiano group. They will be offering a sampling of foods from Colombia, South America. The dish is called Bandeja Paisa, "Plate of the Country".

Friends & Fellowship

Reception Sunday! The Friends & Fellowship Moment continues this Sunday, April 10. Please join us in Fellowship Hall after the 11:00 service. This is a time to catch up with friends and make some new ones! Brought to you by your deacons.

One Great Hour of Sharing

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING ON PALM SUNDAY

Lent is a time for prayer and contemplation. It's also a time to consider the many gifts that God has given us, especially the gift of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. Each year during Lent, Presbyterians join with millions of other Christians to give hope to those in need through the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. APC will take up this offering on Palm Sunday, April 17. The children of APC are also asked to bring their "money banks" to church that morning to give their offering during the children's moment.

Our gifts will support ministries of hunger and disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. Recognizing that the hope we have in Christ is lived out in our hope for one another, we respond with gifts that help our sisters and brothers around the world find the hope for a brighter future.

ACT1 Auditions

ACT1 Theater announces open auditions

for "To Kill a Mockingbird" based on the book by Harper Lee, dramatized by Christopher Sergel. Auditions will be held Tuesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 14 at 6:30pm in the theater.

Scout Finch lives with her brother, Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus, in the sleepy Alabama town of Maycomb. Wide-eyed Scout is fascinated with the people of her small town but, from the start, there's a rumble of thunder just under the calm surface of the life here. Racial tensions in Maycomb come to a head when a black man is accused of a grave crime against a white woman. As Scout's attorney father fights the case, Scout learns valuable lessons of humanity, compassion and what it means to be a good neighbor.

There is a wide range of roles available from leading roles to "extras". Preview scripts and audition information booklets available in the church office. More information is available on our newly redesigned website at www.act1theater.com.

APC Book Club

The APC Book Club will meet Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. All are invited to join us as we discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Photography Exhibit

Liturgical Art invites everyone to submit a photograph for our second photography exhibit. The theme this year is Snapshots of Grace, and the show will run concurrently with the summer sermon series, Grace upon Grace, through the month of July. Your photograph can be color or black & white, film or digital. We ask that it measures 8" X 10" and be your own original work. Questions? Contact Molly Elkind mpelkind@comcast.net or Sheryl Wentworth sherylwentworth@comcast.net

Day of Service

APC Mission Day of Service Saturday, April 23 at 9:00 AM

Holy Week will be especially meaningful at APC this year as we emphasize our commitment to mission. On Saturday, April 23, you have an opportunity to give, not with your checkbook; but with your willing spirit, your serving hands and your grateful heart.

Our day will begin at 9:00am at APC with coffee and doughnuts and a Prayer for the Sending. Afterwards, volunteer teams will participate in various projects to benefit many of our APC mission efforts.

The Mission Committee has been hard at work planning projects for all ages. Please visit our information table in the lobby this Sunday to volunteer or donate supplies. We hope you will choose to serve on this very special day for our church.

Save the Dates

Save the dates of Sunday, June 5 and Sunday, October 30 on your calendar. On June 5 Alpharetta Presbyterian Church will be celebrating with Helen Skillern her Pastor Emerita Award, and October 30 we will be celebrating with Walter Jones his Pastor Emeritus Award.

Missing Books

While reorganizing the church library, the following reference books were discovered to be missing; Interpreter's Bible, V.8, and New Interpreter's Bible, V.4.

If you have borrowed and forgotten to return either of these books, please return them to the church library.

Faith & Family Class

Faith and Family Sunday School Class -Relationships Between Adult Children and Aging Parents

On April 10, the Faith & Families Class will begin the second phase of this study. Our guide will be the book "When Your Aging Parent Needs Care" by Candy Arrington & Kim Atchley. The study will last through May 22. We welcome anyone with an interest in this topic to join us. We meet at 9:50am in the multipurpose room. If you have questions, please contact Ted Lynam, 770-754-0445.

Open Arms

Open Arms at the Church Picnic - The Open Arms Committee is offering help for families with special needs at the May 22 church picnic. A pre-set table will be available with extra helping hands for anyone who needs help. To reserve your places, please, call the church office.

Calling All Gardeners!

It's Spring! Our Garden Workdays are starting up again and we would love to have you join us. Meet us at the Cottage Garden either Saturdays from 9:30 - 10:30am or Wednesdays from 4:30 - 5:15pm.

Also, our Prayer Labyrinth is looking for volunteers to help maintain it's beautiful, peaceful space. If you have not seen the labyrinth, it is located at the end of the back parking lot. If you are able to help, please contact Mary House at 770-887-9174 or Lucille Gelpke 770-663-7899.

Global Village

Trip to the Global Village: Children, parents, interested APC members and friends, be immersed in the life of a developing country without traveling too far. Join us Saturday, April 16 as we journey to the Calvin Center's Global Village in Hampton, GA. We will leave at 9:30am and return at 8:00pm unless you would like to stay overnight under the stars in the village. We will make adobe bricks, cook our own food, work in the field, make a slum house and simply learn a lot about life. Contact volunteer@alpharettapres.com ASAP if you want to go or learn more. The cost is $15 per person. All ages welcome.

Coffee Orders

If you are ordering coffee through the PCUSA program, you can get your coffee faster and save money if you order by the case (6 bags). In order to get free shipping, we need to order at least 4 cases at a time. Order information is in the hall next to the church office. For more information, please call Tom Cunningham, 770-442-1708.

Nominations

The Nominating Committee requests names of members for consideration to serve on the Crisis Inquiry Committee. The Crisis Inquiry Committee will review incidents that allegedly violate the Child and Youth Safety Policy within our buildings, on our property or at an event sponsored by Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. The committee will be made up of three people, one of whom is a legal professional, one a professional educator and one a licensed counselor. Members will serve a three-year term which may be renewable. An elder currently serving on Session cannot serve on this committee. Please submit names to the church office by April 10.

FW Plate

Fun Wednesday Schedule

APC Fun Wednesdays Winter/Spring, 2011

5:30 - 6:15pm Dinner 6:15 - 7:15pm Adult Program

April 13 Taize Service Joel Lillethun

April 20 Social/Easter Egg Hunt

April 27 Summer Travels Report Ollie Wagner

May 4 Final Fun Wednesday Concert Joel Lillethun

Career Transition

APC Career Transition Program - With Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate still hovering around 10%, many members and friends of APC find themselves unemployed or underemployed. When those who have given up are no longer job hunting, as well as those who want full-time jobs, but still work part-time, the real total unemployment rate leaps to 16.7%.

If your organization is seeking candidates to recruit, please contact Elder Bill Harris at w.m.harris@att.net. It's possible that some of our own members could be a good fit for your opportunity. Thank you for keeping our Career Transitions Ministry and the lives it touches in your prayers. For more information, or how to be involved with this ministry, please contact Bill Harris.

Youth Ministry News

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

Youth Group meets this Sunday, April 10. Our $4 dinner and activities begin at 5:30pm in Fellowship Hall. We hope to see you there!

Senior Recognition pictures are now due to Lisa and Ryan Gould at TLRSC@hotmail.com. Join us for a celebration of our graduating high school seniors on Sunday, May 15. All other post-secondary graduates (during the 2010-2011 school year) can submit their name and school information for recognition in the bulletin at the same time!

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

Children's Ministry News

Parents: Looking ahead to spring and summer already?

NEW Faith 'N Sports Camp is set for June 1- 3. This new camp is for APC children that are rising Kindergarteners through rising 3^rd graders. APC Adults and Youth will lead the camp Wednesday - Friday from 9am -12 noon. Many different sports will be enjoyed as they focus on faith, exercise, and being good sports. Registration now open for church members.

Faith 'N Art Camp for APC's rising 4th - 6th graders will be June 13-17. Registration has begun for church members.

Vacation Bible School is July 11-14. For church members registration is now in progress and for friends/community registration starts April 15 and runs through May 15.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Haley J. at 8:30 & Zoe G. and Caroline T. at 11:00

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Nancy Chisolm at 8:30 & Jim and Jeanne Kreiser at 11:00

Serving as ushers this Sunday: George and Sue Myers, Carolyn Dillon and Wilson Borden at 8:30 & Ken Bogle and Larry Prohl at 11:00

11:00 Kinderkirk volunteers this Sunday: Erika de Greef & Shannon Pickerel

11:00 Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Nancy Hill

The Good News - This Week

Alpharetta Presbyterian Church.
You can visit the church on line at www.alpharettapres.com or contact the office during regular business hours at 770-751-0033.

APC Mission ﻿Day of Service Saturday, April 23 at 9:00 AM

APC Mission Day of Service Saturday, April 23 at 9:00 AM