The Good News - This Week

At our Session meeting last night we received two letters of resignation from church staff members. Esther Rudge will be retiring from her position of Organist and Choir Accompanist after having served us faithfully for the past four years. Heather Wagner, our Director of Children's Ministries, is stepping down after three years of service in order to take a full-time position at the Lionheart School (a school for children with special needs). Both Esther and Heather will continue on our staff through the summer months as we conduct searches. This will allow for summer programs to go well and aid in providing a smooth transition in music and children's ministries.

On my first call as a college chaplain in Arkansas I recall telling the the Dean of Students how much rapid change there was at the school. He assured me that, "on this campus there is always a lot of mud because we are building. There will also be endless search committees because staff transitions are a constant at any school. Change is normal around here" he said. That could be said about most congregations as well. Transition and change are a part of our life together. Ecclesiastes wisely states, "For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to plan and a time to pluck up; a time to break down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to keep and a time to throw away."

Through all of the seasons of our life together-whether building, membership, staff or ministry changes, let us trust that God is at our center and will provide for the needs of the church in all seasons.

Esther and Heather, Thank you! God's blessings on the next chapter of your lives and service.

An Invitation

You are cordially invited to attend

the

Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Reverend Helen Skillern

is awarded the title of

Pastor Emerita

in grateful appreciation for her long and outstanding service

Alpharetta Presbyterian Church

180 Academy Street

Alpharetta, GA 30009

Reception to follow at 12:15 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.

Pastor Emerita is an honor bestowed upon a retired female minister

of the church for her years of faithful service. The title indicates that the individual has retired from her regular daily duties to the church.

C.S. Lewis Lectures

2011 Adult Summer Sunday School - Special Announcement

Don't miss this! C.S. Lewis Lecture Series

A 10-week summer lecture and discussion series on the works of C.S. Lewis will begin Sunday, June 5 and run through August 10. APC member and Lewis scholar Jim Motter will lead this series that will be held during the 9:45 a.m. Sunday School hour in the theater. All are welcome.

This series will introduce C.S Lewis to new readers and refresh long-time readers on the life and writings of this brilliant Christian author.

Jim will provide a comprehensive overview of the unique faith journey and unparalleled genius of the man considered to be one of the most influential Christian authors of the 20^th Century. In addition, we will explore several of Lewis' contributions to Christian fiction and apologetics.

This series will include reviews of Surprised By Joy, Lewis's spiritual autobiography; The Great Divorce, a theological fantasy considered by some to be Lewis's greatest work of fiction; The Problem of Pain, a theodicy that talks about the response to pain and evil; and The Weight of Glory, one of the greatest sermons ever preached.

The schedule for the summer series is as follows:

Week 1 - June 5: Profile of a Great Man (Who was Lewis and why should you read him?)

Week 2 - June 12: A Man of Many Geniuses (Was Lewis the most erudite person ever?)

Week 3 - June 19: Surprised by Joy (Why is his faith journey unique?)

Week 4 - June 26: Paradoxes in Lewis' Thought (Which of Lewis' insights will surprise you?)

July 3 - no class

Week 5 - July 10: The Great Divorce (Part 1)

Week 6 - July 17: The Great Divorce (Part 2)

Week 7 - July 24: The Problem of Pain (Part 1)

Week 8 - July 31: The Problem of Pain (Part 2)

Week 9 - August 7: The Weight of Glory (Part 1)

Week 10 - August 14: The Weight of Glory (Part 2)

Those new to Lewis will come to know what Lewis books to read, and why he must be read, while even the most ardent Lewis fans will learn a great deal about the man, his incomparable genius and his deeply insightful, often surprising, thoughts. Please join us for this special series.

Foster Care Support

The APC Foster Care Support Mission Team invites you to join them for their monthly volunteer day in Roswell this Tuesday, May 31. We carpool from APC at 9:30 in the morning, help sort clothing, and fill mail orders for children in foster care. We then enjoy lunch and fellowship at a nearby restaurant before returning to the church by 2:00 PM.

For information, please contact Marianna Raffensperger 770-442-3672 or theraffs@juno.com.

Thank You!

THANK YOU!!! The Fellowship Committee would like to thank all of you who volunteered and helped at last Sunday's Church Picnic, making it a HUGH success with over 250 in attendance. If you'd like to be a part of this committee, please contact Nancy Lofdahl at dlofdahl@bellsouth.net

Website Update

The church event calendar on the website has been down due to a Google outage but has now been restored and viewable again under "Event Calendar". Also, the weekly church bulletin is now posted on the website under the Worship & Music page on the lefthand sidebar above "Listen on Line".

Adult Mission Trip

Interested in an adult mission trip? Please join your pastors for a brainstorming session on May 29 at 9:45 AM in the Alpha Building. We'll consider possible opportunities - national and international - for adult service and fellowship.

New Member Class

Interested in joining APC? Please speak to one of our pastors about our next new member class. Our next "Joining Sunday" will be June 19.

No Breakfast June 5

No Sunday Morning Breakfast on Sunday, June 5 - Preparations will be going on in the APC kitchen and Fellowship Hall for the reception honoring Rev. Helen Skillern. We will not be serving breakfast that morning but coffee will be available.

Disciple Bible Study

Disciple Bible Study has had another rewarding year of study and fellowship. We have preliminary plans to offer these classes next year: Disciple I (Monday morning and Sunday evening), Disciple II (as needed), Jesus in the Gospels, Christian Believer, and short term classes as interest indicates. Watch for more information in the summer or contact Mary Dantzler at 404-754-1763, jdantzler@bellsouth.net with questions. Registration is now open now for Disciple I. Email Mary to register for the fall.

Photography Exhibit

In keeping with the theme of grace, Liturgical Art is extending the deadline for submitting a photograph to 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. You may submit your photo and entry forms now through June 5. Questions? Contact Molly Elkind mpelkind@comcast.net or Sheryl Wentworth sherylwentworth@comcast.net.

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 & Child Safety Training

Required Training for Youth and Children's Ministry Volunteers in Room 206 (new volunteers, please pick one session to attend and RSVP to volunteer@alpharettapres.com).

Sunday, May 29 9:45am

Sunday, June 5 9:45am

Sunday, June 26 9:45am

Sunday, July 10 9:45am and 2:00pm

New Volunteers: Our training sessions are for all new or current volunteers who have not yet attended a required volunteer training session. Childcare is provided during the 45 minute training sessions. Volunteer training will be led by Youth and Children's Ministry staff and elders.

Returning Volunteers: If you have already attended a training session in the last two years and filled out the required forms (volunteer form and background check form) you only need to fill out the signature form saying that you have read and will abide by the revised APC Child and Youth Safety Policy. This includes the Discipline Policy (see below on how to find the documents).

All Volunteers: The revised safety policy is available on the APC website at www.alpharettapres.com. Go to "ABOUT APC" and find the "documents library" page. The policy and all required forms for volunteers can be found there. Please print the required forms, complete them and turn them in to "Carolyn Dillon, Volunteer Coordinator" in the church office as soon as possible. If you have questions about the process or the status of your paperwork, please contact Carolyn Dillon at volunteer@alpharettapres.com.

Youth Ministry News

There are great events happening over the next few months. Please take time to look over and if there is an event that you would like to participate in please let us know, especially offsite events.

CROSS Mission Trip PARENTS meeting on Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, May 29 8:30&11:00am - Commissioning for all participating in Summer Mission Trips. Please attend the service you regularly attend.

Sunday, May 29 - No Youth, Memorial Day

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

Vacation Bible School is July 11-14. Volunteers are still needed. Please signup online. We need YOU to make our VBS a success!

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sympathy - To Yvonne Chrimes and her family, at the death of her mother Mariette Renson, who died Sunday, May 22. A memorial service will be held Sunday, June 19 at 2:00pm at Alpharetta Presbyterian. Dr. Wagner and Rev. Butcher officiating.

Sympathy - To Tom Gould and his family, in the death of his aunt, Dorie Schultz, who died Wednesday, May 25 in Pennsylvania.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Mitchell B. and Anne Elise S. at 8:30 & Nick and Tyler H. at 11:00

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Sally Caudle at 11:00

Serving as ushers this Sunday: Youth volunteers at both services

11:00 Kinderkirk volunteers this Sunday: Ashley Birnbaum & Kristin Brannon

11:00 Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Volunteer Needed

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.