The Good News - This Week

Summer is here! School is out, seniors have graduated, pools are open, and temperatures are on the rise. At the church, the season is marked by the end of children's Sunday school, increased watering of the Prayer Labyrinth, and lots of summer camps.

This year, APC hosts Faith N Sports camp, Faith N Arts camp, and Vacation Bible School. There are also mission trips with the youth heading to Puerto Rico, and southern Georgia, and returning today from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Another important summer camp that takes place at APC is Camp Hollywood. With about 30 participants and 25 volunteers/staff, this camp is organized by FOCUS, Families of Children Under Stress, a non-profit organization providing services to families with children who are medically fragile or have significant developmental or physical disabilities.

http://www.focus-ga.org

This means, the summer camp includes wheelchairs, and diet restrictions, seizure procedures and an on-site nurse. It also means the summer camp includes music and movies, recreation and snacks, beautiful smiles and warm hugs, lots of fun and much love. Many thanks to those members of APC who volunteered, brought in snacks, and/or participated in the activities. Also, we offer our thanks to the FOCUS family for being with us this week.

This Sunday we celebrate the Day of Pentecost remembering the movement of God in the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. As we hear about the power of the Spirit transcending the barriers of language in the book of Acts, let us remember the ways the Holy Spirit empowers the church to transcend barriers in today's world. Let us remember Jesus' commandment to love our neighbors and serve our brothers and sisters. And in word or deed, let us do all things in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God continually through him.

Sincere Thanks

To the Session and congregation of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church

It is with deep appreciation that I thank you for the honor of being named Pastor Emerita at APC on June 5. Thank you to all those who made it happen; the worship service, the reception that followed, the wonderful food and the beautiful photo of the rose window! I have been your pastor in many different roles, through good times and hard times, sharing friendships, joys and sorrows. It has been a great ride together! APC has a bright future under the leadership of Ollie and Jamie. You know God is present with you. Live in the wholeness of new life.

With love and affection,

Helen Skillern

APC Book Club

The APC Book Club will meet on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall to discuss Helen Simonson's Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. All are welcome! The book club will not meet during July, but will resume the regular 2nd Tuesday schedule in August.

Nominations Requested
Congregational Nominations Requested - Elder Mike Holt and Dave Hadley, and Deacon Keith Scott and Bobbie Hadley are unable to serve their complete term as church officers. The Nominating Committee is requesting nominations to replace their positions. Please submit names to the church office or in the nomination box in the lobby. Please submit nominations by June 19.

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 life and works of C.S. Lewis continues Sundays through August 10. APC member and Lewis scholar Jim Motter leads this series that is held during the 9:45 a.m. Sunday School hour in the theater.

In a poll conducted by Christianity Today, Lewis was voted the most personally influential Christian writer of the 20^th Century. His Mere Christianity was also accorded the honor as "greatest Christian book in history, other than the Four Gospels," placing Lewis among the pantheon of great Christian thinkers.

Did you know that Lewis is often called the "Apostle to the Skeptics?" He earned this distinction because for several decades he went into the Oxford Socratic Club on a weekly basis to confront in vigorous debate Oxford University's most brilliant and skeptical professors. Local lore contends Lewis never lost. It is no surprise, for Lewis was well equipped for this task. Not only was he a master of logic, rhetoric and argumentation; he was a polymath and arguably one of the most erudite individuals in history.

Moreover, Lewis was once an ardent atheist himself. He knew full well the weight of the atheists' arguments against belief, such as:

It is only natural that Prehistoric Man would invent the notion of gods.
Faith is a product of a vivid imagination.
Christians cling to a medieval worldview.
Evolution is a fact.
Christianity is a myth.

During this lecture series we will learn about Lewis' extraordinary faith journey and his genius. We will also delve deeply into several of his most powerful and enduring literary works, including:

The Great Divorce-a theological fantasy on Heaven and (you know where).

The Problem of Pain-considered by many philosophers to be the greatest response to the question: "Why is there pain and evil?" ever written.

The Weight of Glory-one of the greatest sermons ever preached.

Please join us for this special series to learn how Lewis responded to the atheist's arguments against belief. But, be forewarned: you may be surprised.

Please note: Attendees are strongly encouraged to read The Great Divorce in advance of the third session. It would be beneficial to read The Problem of Pain, but not essential.

The schedule for the summer series is as follows:

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)

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.

Tornado Assistance

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has set up a direct response account to help all areas affected by the recent tornado in Joplin, MO. PDA is a member of ACT Alliance, an international coalition of churches working for humanitarian aid and development. Individuals can donate by making their check payable to APC and marking PDA (Tornado Response-Joplin) on the memo line. All donations will be forwarded directly to PDA.

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, with questions. Registration is now open now for Disciple I. Call Mary to register for the fall.

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, 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.

Destination Unknown - Sign up for an awesome trip to who knows where? Destination Unknown will be held August 3 - 5. This trip is open to rising 6^th graders through recent high school graduates. The signup sheet is on the youth bulletin board.

June 12 on site movie night "Narnia"

June 19 Fathers' Day, no Youth Group

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 now FULL. You may place your children's names on the waiting list.

Parents bring your children this summer so you can attend the C.S. Lewis Series during Sunday School. Parents attending the summer Sunday School series on C.S. Lewis can bring their children over to the APC cottage and garden for an hour of art and gardening. Children 4 years old through 5th grade are welcome to join Miss Margaret and Miss Heather for basic art projects and lessons in the vegetable garden. Parents can sign children in at the garden/cottage at 9:45am and sign them out at 10:45am. The vegetables are growing and they will be donated to the Drake House. Children younger than 4 are welcome in our nursery and toddler room. We also have the Promise Class open from 9:30 - 12:30pm for children and youth with special needs.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Sybille Johnstone at 8:30

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

11:00 Kinderkirk volunteers this Sunday: Jodie Asher & Ashley Birnbaum

11:00 Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Trish Kent

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.