APC Career Transition Program - This week the unemployment rate in Georgia rose to 10.3%. 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%. Elder Bill Harris leads efforts at APC to address the employment concerns of our congregation and needs your help.  We are trying to get a handle on the reality of how many of our members are unemployed and underemployed - whether or not you currently attend the Career Transition Group at APC, if you fit either category please email Bill at w.m.harris@att.net.  In addition, the job market is tight and the impersonal internet has made it difficult to get recognized among the many. If you work for or own a company, we would appreciate any information on positions to come available or contact names that would ensure a more effective outreach. We need our employed professionals to reach out and make information available that will give a fighting chance to members of our congregation who are struggling to get a sense of the real jobs versus automatic postings, and to get noticed!  Please email Bill with any help you can give as we renew our commitment to serve our members in this difficult and ongoing recession.

Update on La Gonave Haiti Partnership - Hungry students, living on one meal a day or for several days, is not a recipe for successful education.   Two years ago during a year of skyrocketing food prices, one Atlanta church partner visited their sister church on the island of La Gonave Haiti. They noticed that school enrollment was down and children were showing signs of malnutrition.  They hired cooks, sent funds for food and began a school lunch program twice a week.  Unlike our school kitchens, the cooks prepared the food and cooked outside the classrooms in large iron pots over charcoal fires. When lunch was ready, the children sat patiently for what was often their only meal of the day until everyone was served.  After the blessing was said, they quietly focused on eating until their plates were clean.  At school year end, the teachers reported better school attendance as well as improved academic achievement. The results are amazing and gratifying. This program is changing the lives of these children, offering them hope for a better life through improved health and education. We pray that one day this program will be able to expand to offer each child a meal on every school day at each school. [P.S. the cooks moved indoors this spring]

Mark your calendars!  The Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Worship Service will be held on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:00pm at St. James United Methodist Church (3000 Webb Bridge Road, Alpharetta). This third annual community Thanksgiving celebration will include beautiful choral music and a St. James dance troupe.  APC's Ollie Wagner will preach the sermon and several area clergy will share in worship leadership for this ecumenical event.  An offering will be taken in support of North Fulton Community Charities.   

Faith and Families - Parenting and Technology series

Did you know that the average American teenager sends over 2,200 text messages each month?  Were you aware that Facebook currently has over 800 million users?  Instant messaging, chatting, Tweeting, and Facebooking are rapidly becoming the preferred means of communication for today's young people.

What forms of communication technology are available today, and what risks do they pose for children and teens? What are some basic methods parents can use to protect their children? What resources are available to parents of young children and teens?

To learn more, please join the Faith and Families class at 9:45am in the multipurpose room.  The class will identify trends in digital media communication, and outline the potential benefits and risks for parents looking for information on how best to support and protect their children.  Upcoming topics include:

October 23 - What's My Child Doing on the Internet? Part I (email, texting, blogging)

October 30 - What's My Child Doing on the Internet? Part II (social media, cyber-bulling)

For questions, please contact John or Kristin Hicks 678-428-3937.  

Please take a moment to complete the APC Long Range Planning survey at http://www.alpharettapres.com/survey. It only takes about 15 minutes and will be very helpful to church leadership as we strive to discern and follow God's call as a congregation. Responses are due by November 2.

For those who prefer to complete the survey by hand, copies will be available in the church office (Monday through Friday) and they will be available in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday. You may also request that Carol in the office mail you a copy (770-751-0033). If you complete the survey by hand, please "deposit" it in the secured mail drop slip along the church office wall under the "Church News" bulletin board. In addition, we plan to have a laptop available in the Fellowship Hall each Sunday for folks who would like to complete it at that time.

Welcome to Kitchen Talk!  In this section you will find news or information related to the activities of the APC Kitchen.  There will also be links provided that will get you to reservation pages for events such as Fun Wednesday Dinners at APC Fun Wednesday Dinner reservations.  If you would like to comment on something related to the APC Kitchen and/or the meals provided, please feel free to click on this link  http://www.alpharettapres.com/dinner

APC Drinks a lot of Coffee 

We at APC like coffee!!  Please consider making a donation if you are just getting a cup of coffee, hot tea, or hot chocolate.  Donation boxes are out each Sunday and Wednesday both in the kitchen and upstairs in the Educational Building. 

Care of Creation through use of paper products

As we continue to work to be better stewards in the care of God's earthly creation, the APC kitchen continues to use more and more paper products rather than Styrofoam products.  We also continue to use the silverware, plates, plastic glasses, and white coffee cups that require washing.  Recently, we began using the special paper cups for hot drinks like hot chocolate and coffee for those individuals who wish to take their hot drinks outside of the Fellowship Hall.  Please do not double cup your hot drinks.  Use a paper napkin to wrap around your cup if you need.  

FW Dinner Reservations 

You can now make your Fun Wednesday Dinner reservations on-line. Go to www.alpharettapres.com/dinner and follow the directions to make your dinner reservations. Please make your reservations in advance as stated in the example on the website. If you are not making your reservations on-line, you may fill out the reservation cards on the table in the church lobby.     

Dinner for October 26: Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, French fries, vegetable, salad & dessert  Program is from 6:15-7:15pm and this week we will have our Harvest Party and Children's Costume Parade

Sympathy - To Kathy Ailts, at the death of her aunt, Roberta E. Jacobson, who died Thursday, October 6 in Freeport, IL.

Sympathy - To Bridgie McNulty, at the death of her father, Vonell Gilland, who died Monday, October 17. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 29 at Beulah Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA. He was 83 years old.

The Session

Class of 2011                                           Class of 2012                                           Class of 2013       

Pat Chisolm-CE/Worship                       Dianne Berry-Children's Ministry         George Bancroft-Property

Anne Dantzler-Worship/Dayschool       Michelle Burton-Youth Ministry             Jody Barger-Children's Ministry

Mike Marcin-Personnel                           Morris Estes-Finance                            Patrick Dennis-Property/Youth

Nancy Lofdahl-Fellowship                     Jim Gray-Clerk of Session/CE      Stacy Guy-Membership/Commitment

Ross Mynatt-Long Range Planning     John Shevlin-Mission                         Nancy Hill-Commitment/Personnel

Elizabeth Shevlin-Children's Ministry   Jessie Prigge-Youth Ministry           

Kelly Vandever-Comm./Nominating     Amy Rogers-Communications

Sue White-Mission                                  Jean Williams-Membership/Nominating  

Deacon Care Teams

Hospitality - Scott Doll, 678-984-3389, scottd@ymcaatlanta.org

Companion Care - Wendy Cory, 770-663-4141, coryswa@yahoo.com

Hospital & Recovery - Tyler Jones, 404-625-5324, tyler@mac.com

Sympathy & Celebrations, Ken Bogle, 770-355-5360, lyons26@aol.com