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| The Good News - This Week |
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This Sunday
Fellowship Breakfast
8:00-10:30 AM
8:30 & 11:00 AM Preaching this week:
Rev. Jamie Butcher
Youth Group,
grades 6-12, meets from 6:00-7:30 PM in the multipurpose room
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The Good News Email Information
The Good News - This Week is a publication of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church for its members
and friends.
Send your comments and suggestions to connections @alpharettapres.com.
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Joel's Jive
Now that the debt ceiling crisis has been averted, the NFL lockout is over, the final "Harry Potter" movie has arrived and the kids are going back to school, you are probably wondering what to focus on next. The answer is simple: APC Music Ministry
Chancel Choir: Our first rehearsal is Wednesday, August 17 at 7:30. We need all voice parts!! If you cannot commit to the entire season, consider joining us for just the Advent/Christmas season (Oct, Nov, Dec) and/or the Lent/Easter season (Feb, March, April).
Daybreak Choir: This ensemble sings at the early service and will start Sunday, August 21. This group is an off shoot of the Chancel Choir but it allows those who cannot make a Wednesday night practice, to come at 8:00 am on Sunday mornings to learn the music.
Women's Ensemble: We practice between services from 10:00 am to 10:30 am and will start Sunday, September 25.
Children's Choirs: This year we have moved the main choir practice to Sunday mornings from 9:30 am to 10:00 am in room 109 for kindergarten through 5th grade and from 10:00 am to 10:15 am for preschoolers in their Sunday School rooms. We will start Sunday, August 28. We will continue to also have music activities and singing on Wednesday nights as part of the Fun Wednesday program.
One Voice: Singers from grades 6-12 are invited to join One Voice. We rehearse only a few select Sundays after the 11:00 service. For the schedule of practices and performances for this fall see the box at the top of our MusicNotes page.
Youth Praise Band: We are always looking for instrumentalists and singers for the youth praise band. We practice on Sunday evenings from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the multi-purpose room whenever the youth meet on site.
Handbells: We meet Wednesday evenings at 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm. If you are interested in playing, please contact Joel Lillethun.
New Jubilation Singers: This group is made up of older adults who love to sing and fellowship. Made up of singers from churches throughout our area, we meet every Monday morning (this year starting September 11) in the choir room at Alpharetta First United Methodist Church from 11:00 am to noon. We sing a little bit of everything including the classics from the 30's and 40's, gospel standards and seasonal music. We perform at nursing homes and assisted living facilities and other gatherings in our area. The group is co-directed by Joel and Barbara Holbrook.
For all you instrumentalists, we are exploring a church band/orchestra this fall. Dust off that old clarinet and watch the Good News for more information in a few weeks.
This year, join us in the call of the psalmist: "....sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee". Psalm 144:9. Now is the time....This is the year. Come join us!
It is time for you to put your talents to work. As we enter into our new season, please consider being a part of our ministry. |
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APC Book Club
Please join the APC Book Club on Tuesday, August 9, 7:30pm in Fellowship Hall for a discussion of Geraldine Brooks' "Caleb's Crossing," the story of a Native American who graduated from Harvard in the 1600's. All are welcome whether or not you have read the book! |
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Eldercare Program
APC's Open Arms Ministry Eldercare program is preparing for the upcoming year, and we would appreciate your feedback! Please take just a few moments of your time to participate in the following Eldercare survey. If you click on the link below, you will be taken to a prepared survey, and the information you give will help guide us as we look to the 2011-2012 program. Thank you!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LYLZVH7
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Ladies Night Out
Plan ahead for your hectic fall schedule by stocking your freezer with a few dinners. Please join us Saturday, August 27 at 9:30 am at Dream Dinners - Mansell Oaks Shopping Cente., 900 Roswell Road, Suite 10, Roswell. Assemble delicious dinners from easy-to-follow instructions using fresh, pre-cut ingredients. Signup and select your meals ahead of time at www.dreamdinners.com/manselloaksga. Please RSVP and questions to pamheydinger@comcast.net or (770) 664-8354. |
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Calling All Cranky People!
The 7th Annual Miss Mary's Ice Cream Crankin' will be held Sunday, August 28, from 2 - 4:00 PM on the Square in Roswell. For a $5 donation ($15 max per family,) guests are invited to sample a vast array of homemade ice cream brought by an army of volunteer "Crankers". All proceeds benefit "The Drake House," an emergency housing facility for homeless women and children in North Fulton County. We are looking for APC volunteers to bring their favorite ice cream creation(s) to the event. Veteran Crankers and First Time Crankers are all welcome. Please send your name, contact information and the type of ice cream you will bring, to: Gerard Ballard, gerardballard@comcast.net, 404-775-9928. It's great family fun, for a great cause!
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Family Retreat
Join us for Koinania at APC's family retreat in Montreat, NC, October 14 - 16. The Greek word for community, Koinania, points us to strengthening fellowship within the church, nurturing spiritual growth and deepening our connections to each other, creation and GOD. Registration and more will be at an information table in the lobby starting Sunday, August 14. We hope to see you there! |
STARS News
The STARS will have their next potluck luncheon and meeting on Wednesday, August 10 at noon in Room 206/207. Bring a dish to share and your own beverage. This will be a planning meeting for the upcoming year so come with ideas for activities and travel. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Open Arms Sunday
Open Arms Ministry would like to invite everyone to attend Open Arms Sunday on September 11, at the 8:30 and 11:00 services. We will enjoy the participation of our Promise Class members, special speakers and a performance by the Angel Kisses dance troupe of St. James United Methodist Church. Come help celebrate the welcome we are called to give to all members of God's family. |
Disciple Bible Study
Calling all prospective Disciples!! Disciple Bible Studies offer a way to meet the challenge which Jesus gave in John 8:31, "If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples." In small groups, participants commit to daily preparation and weekly class sessions. We are currently in the process of organizing classes, and encourage you to consider joining us in this exciting opportunity for study and fellowship. We are offering four long-term studies (six different classes) beginning the week of August:14: Becoming Disciples through Bible Study (Disciple I) - a thirty-four week overview of the Bible - Monday mornings, 9:30-11:30, and Sunday evenings, 5:30-7:30. This class is the ideal place to beginand is the prerequisite for all other long-term studies; Into the Word Into the World (Disciple II) - for those who have completed Disciple I, a thirty-two week study of Genesis, Exodus, Luke, Acts - Monday mornings, 9:30-11:30 and Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30; Jesus in the Gospels (2nd Generation Disciple Study) - a thirty-week comparative study of the four gospels for those who have completed several of the other Disciple classes - Thursday mornings, 9:30-11:30; Christian Believer - a thirty-week study of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith - Monday mornings 9:30-11:30. We are also offering one short-term study, Invitation to the Old Testament, beginning Sunday, September 11 and ending before Thanksgiving - Sunday evenings, 5:30-7:30. Previous participation is not required - details forthcoming. JOIN US!! Stop by the Disciple table in the lobby to sign up. Call or email Mary Dantzler for more information - 404-754-1763 or jdantzler@bellsouth.net. |
Ecumenical Picnic
Please come and join St. James Methodist, Alpharetta First United Methodist, and Alpharetta Presbyterian at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, 13560 Cogburn Road, Alpharetta, on August 7 at 1:00pm for the First Ecumenical Picnic. Alpharetta Presbyterians will need to bring chairs and/or blankets and a dessert for the event. Each church will be providing a musical group for our enjoyment and there will be games for all ages. If you plan to attend we will need you to RSVP to Carol by Thursday, August 4, at the APC church office carol@alpharettapres.com, 770-751-0033 or http://www.alpharettapres.com/picnic on the website. |
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Seeing and Savoring the Psalms
Ryan Bonfiglio will lead a four-week study of the Psalms August 28-September 18 Sundays at 9:45 am in the theater.
Few books in the Bible are more cherished than the Psalms. Its evocative metaphors and penetrating imagery are so thoroughly ingrained in our Christian faith that Luther once called the book of Psalms the "little Bible."
Though ancient in origins, the psalms also provide an ever-relevant window to our most authentic praise and our most honest doubts. As such, the Psalter provides believers, both past and present, with a rich vocabulary of faith. Yet, while the psalms are dearly loved, they are not always deeply understood.
What sort of book is the Psalter and how should it be read? What types of prayers does it contain and where do they show up in our worship and liturgy? How can both psalms of praise and psalms of lament function as a vital resource in our lives of faith? By beginning to answer these and other questions, this four-week series is designed to enrich your understanding of and love for the book of Psalms. All are welcomed to join us.
The next and concluding lecture in Jim Motter's series on C.S. Lewis will be Sunday, August 21. For this closing presentation, Jim will review and provide commentary on C.S. Lewis' extraordinary sermon, "The Weight of Glory." If you have not yet read it, you can access and download a PDF copy of his sermon text on-line at http://www.verber.com/mark/xian/weight-of-glory.pdf. You need not read it prior to the review, but Jim's commentary will be more meaningful if you have. |
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Nominations Requested
Congregational Nominations Requested - The Nominating Committee is requesting nominations to the 2011-2012 Nominating Committee. Please submit names to the church office or in the nomination box in the lobby. Please submit nominations by August 14.
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Snapshots of Grace
Thank you to all who submitted Snapshots of Grace to the photo exhibit. Again, we enjoyed an inspiring and thought-provoking show. You may pick up your photo in the lobby on Sunday mornings or in the office on weekdays. |
| Fun Wednesday
Fun Wednesday RETURNS-August 24 and dinner is served at 5:15pm by our own Chef Doug. All that is missing is YOU. If you attend Fun Wednesday's WE NEED YOU to take your turn in the kitchen and help clean up after dinner, so grab a dish towel and meet new friends. The ideal number in the kitchen is three/four people which makes clean up move smoothly & quickly. If we all take a turn, this mission will not be a burden on anyone. Watch for the sign up sheet to be posted on the kitchen door and on the website. Any questions please contact Nancy Lofdahl at dlofdahl@bellsouth.net. Keep The Fellowship Going! |
School Supply Drive
APC School Supplies Drive July 16 - August 7 to benefit APC Whiz Kids Tutoring Program, North Fulton Community Charities, Foster Care Support Foundation and The Place of Forsyth. Please consider donating any of the following supplies: Backpacks - no wheels 3-ring binders 1" and 2" College and wide- ruled paper Colored pencils Crayons - 24 piece regular Index cards -3x5 Paper napkins Paper cups - 5 oz Dividers for binders Erasers - Pink Pearl and pencil top Folders (2 pocket) with or without prongs Glue sticks Hand-held calculators Highlighters Markers - washable Notebooks - wide-ruled spiral Pens - all colors Pencils Pencil boxes Rulers Scissors Snack size ziplock bags Plastic school supply pouches The Mission collection bin will be in the lobby next to the School Supply Drive display. If you prefer to make a cash donation, please show "school supplies drive" on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your support. Questions-call Sue White at 770-772-4667 or email whitesbassets@bellsouth.net. |
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To Kill a Mockingbird
ACT1 steps back in time for the important story of To Kill a Mockingbird based on the book by Harper Lee, dramatized by Christopher Sergel. 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 there. 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.
Performances are every Friday and Saturday now through August 7 at 7:30pm with Sunday Matinees on July 24, 31 and August 7 at 2:00pm.
SPECIAL PRICING FOR APC MEMBERS! Adults - $10, Children (under 12) and Seniors (over 60) $8. Use coupon code "APCCC" online at www.act1theater.com or call 770-663-8989. |
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. |
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Youth Ministry News
Youth Group will meet this Sunday, August 7 from 6:00 to 7:30pm in the multipurpose room. All youth and their families are encouraged to attend the Ecumenical Picnic at 1:00pm and then join us later for Youth Group at APC!
Sunday, August 14 - Youth Mission Sunday (both services) and Youth Group onsite from 6 - 7:30pm
Sunday, August 21 - Youth Group Kick-Off and Parent Meeting with dinner
We typically meet during the summer from 6 - 7:30 pm. Dine ahead of time as we give our volunteer chefs the summer off!
Watch the bulletin, Good News, Facebook and email announcements for more details as specific events near.
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
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Children's Ministry News
We ask all parents to register their children NOW for Disciples' Village Sunday School, preschool through 5th grade, and other programs like children's choirs and Fun Wednesday. Forms can be found on the lobby table and the table downstairs in the Children's Ministry area. Forms may be turned in to the church office.
Sunday, August 7 at 9:45am Child and Youth Safety Training for all new volunteers, Room 206/ 207. This is a required course for all volunteers that will work with youth and children at APC this fall. Please contact Carolyn Dillion, our volunteer coordinator if you have any questions: m
Preschool and Elementary Disciples' Village Children's Sunday School Teachers, Shepherds, and Workshop Leaders will have a meeting Sunday, August 14 at 9:45am in room 206 and 207. All volunteers are needed. Come to learn about the curriculum and set the volunteer schedule. Contact Dianne Berry or Heather Wagner for more information.
Kinderkirk Teacher Meeting is Sunday, August 14 at 12 noon in room 206. All youth and adult teacherrs need to attend to go over teaching schedule,curriculum, and get together with your teaching team. . For more information contact Libby Masters and Elizabeth Shevlin.
NEW Sunday Schedule for Children at APC starting August 28, 2011
Parents make the commitment and see your child's faith and your joy increase.
9:30am - 10:00am (NEW TIME) Children's Choirs Practice for ages K - 5th grade: 10:00 to 10:15 AM for Preschool ages (beginning of Preschool Sunday School)
9:45am Opening Warm Ups for Elementary Sunday School in Solid Rock Theatre
* Gathering and Sharing Time for Preschoolers in Room 106
10:00am - 10:45am Preschool Sunday School Lessons and Elementary Workshops
Sunday school for children at APC is not only an educational tool for faith development but it is a fun time to spend with friends. Children and adult volunteers really enjoy the workshop rotation model that we use in Disciples' Village (Sunday school for children). The elementary children every five weeks learn a new Bible story and how to apply it to their lives. Children go with their age group each week to one of five workshops where they learn the Bible story in creative ways. This year our theme is "Hello God, Are You Calling Me?" We will explore call stories from both the Old and New Testaments.
Adults that would like to help with Sunday school for children can contact Dianne Berry, Children's Ministry Elder at dianneberry6767@gmail.com You can volunteer to assistant teach in the preschool classroom, shepherd a group of elementary children, or teach elementary children in the art, game, mission/science, storytelling, or cooking workshop. We welcome new volunteers. You do not have to be a parent of preschool or elementary children to volunteer. It is fun and heart-warming. Ask Pat Hudson, Kathy Davis, Sheryl Wentworth, or Sue White.
Children's Choirs will begin their new practice time on Sunday, August 28 from 9:30am - 10:00am. The preschoolers ages 3-5 will practice in room 105 and then move across the hall for Sunday school at 10am. The elementary children will practice in room 109 from 9:30am - 10:00am and will then be escorted to their age group's workshop. Sunday school ends at 10:45am. Parents will pick up their children from designated rooms and workshops. Maps are available in the children's ministry hallway.
Nursery care is provided on Sundays from 8:15am - 12:15pm for ages 0-3 in the nursery and red room. (all year long)
Promise Class is provided on Sundays from 9:30 am - 12:30pm for our special needs students in the Rainbow and Noah's Ark Room. (all year long)
Kinderkirk (Children's Worship Education for children ages 3 - First Grade) meets in room 108 for the 8:30am service and room 105 (Preschool) and 108 Kindergarten & First) during the 11:00am service. Children are escorted back to Kinderkirk by their Kinderkirk teachers. Parents pick up children from the designated rooms after worship.
Fun Wednesdays plans are in the making for a new enrichment program for children that involves drama, music, art, Bible study, and games. Dinner will start at 5:30pm followed by new and exciting activities for children from 6:15pm - 7:15pm. Our first Fun Wednesday will be August 24. Stay tuned for more details.
APC Sunday School Kick-Off is August 21, 2011 at 9:45am in the sanctuary. All ages will gather in the sanctuary to kick-off the year, to celebrate, and to introduce all the teachers. Age groups will be dismissed gradually. Children will walk with their parents to tour classrooms and meet teachers. Youth will meet their teachers in the classrooms upstairs. Adults will go to the Fellowship Hall to meet class faciliators, learn more about their class offerings, and fellowship with other adults. |
Sympathy & Celebrations Sympathy - To the family and friends of Angela Abel, who died Thursday, July 28. Services will be held at APC Saturday, August 6 at 2:00pm. Celebration - Congratulations to Lee Adolph and Kristen Stafstrom, who will be married on Saturday, August 6 in Asheville, NC. Lee is the son of Todd and Ellen Adolph. |
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Sunday Volunteers
Serving as greeters this Sunday: Nancy Chisolm at 8:30 & Larry and Mim Prohl at 11:00
Serving as ushers this Sunday: Dick and Sharon Bean, Rick Caudle, Tom Hyatt, Richard Boston at 8:30 & Steve Ludlow, Dale Carter, Duane Lofdahl, Lee Jones at 11:00
11:00 Kinderkirk volunteers this Sunday: Holly Palmer
11:00 Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Mary Culp
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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.
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