The Good News - This Week

Congratulations! North Fulton Community Charities has named APC the "2011 Faith Partner of the Year." Your incredible generosity allows NFCC to assist area families with emergency needs. 125 families are helped every day at NFCC. This year 6,000 families have been given $1.1 million of financial assistance. Nine tons of food are given out every week!

Congratulations on your service award and thank you for:

Donating to the NFCC Thrift Shop
Supporting NFCC financially through the APC mission budget (or directly)
Participating in our Angel Tree ministry which provides holiday gifts for their clients
Volunteering your time at NFCC (sorting food, in the thrift shop, working in the reception area)
Sharing your non-perishable food items through APC's Harvest Food Drive.

Remember to bring in your filled grocery bags this Sunday so the mountain of APC's food donations can be delivered this week to our neighbors in need.

Jesus said,"As you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me."

Angel Tree

Angel Tree: Angels will be available for the next three Sundays (through November 27). Stop by the Angel Tree in the lobby to bring joy to a child in need this Christmas. You can also take a gift card or make cash contributions to help purchase gifts. If you have questions, contact Michelle Olsen, 770-777-0549 or Eva Wardrup, 770/-54-1226.

Slate of APC Officers

The following is a slate of officers for elders and deacons for the to be voted on at the Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 13 immediately following the 11:00 service in the sanctuary.

Elders: Lynn Danson, Scott Doll, Molly Elkind, Jan Hughey, Stu Laubenstein, Anne Mahone, Charles Moriarty, Sarah Provow, Ferrell White, Kylie Vacko

Deacons: Heidi Alatar, Jennifer Autian, Richard Boston, Deb Carter, Steve Culp, Nell DeVore, Jeanne Goodwell, Sybille Johnstone, Bob McHugh, Amy Neal, Esther Rudge, Sydney Schneider, Eva Wardrup

The following are the four at-large members for the Nominating Committee: Bill Harris, Julie Jagmin, Louise Kennedy, Brian Moore

Veterans' Day

Sunday, November 13, APC will recognize members of the armed forces and veterans at each worship service.

Friends & Fellowship

Second Sunday Reception is this Sunday! Visitors and members, please join the deacons following the Congregational Meeting after the 11:00 service in Fellowship Hall for a time of fellowship. Light refreshments will be served. It's a great time to meet new people and catch-up with friends.

APC on Facebook

Find us on Facebook! That's right Alpharetta Presbyterian Church has a facebook page! You can "like" APC at http://facebook.com/alpharettapres. Look for the latest information about activities and missions of the church!

9:45 AM Service Added

9:45am worship time added at APC!

To better serve the needs and interests of young families, Alpharetta Presbyterian Church,

180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA will be adding a 9:45am worship time

to its Sunday morning schedule starting Sunday, November 27.

All are welcome to attend...tell your neighbors...bring a friend!

APC's new Sunday morning schedule will be as follows:

8:00am - 10:15am Full, Hot Breakfast Buffet ($5 adults/$3 children)

8:30am Public Worship (child care provided for ages 0-6)

9:45am Public Worship (nursery provided for ages 0-2)

9:45am Sunday School for all ages

11:00am Public Worship (child care provided for ages 0-6)

www.alpharettapres.com

Poinsettias for Christmas

You may purchase a poinsettia, in memory or honor of a loved one, to be placed in the sanctuary for our Advent and Christmas worship services. You may take your poinsettia home after the 11:00 Christmas Eve service. The cost is $11.00 per flower. In lieu of flowers (or in addition to flowers), loved ones may be honored or remembered by making a monetary gift to APC's Pastor's Emergency Fund that supports members and friends of the church going through financial emergencies. This fund will be used to help support those in need during the holiday season and into the new year. Deadline to purchase/make a donation is Tueday, December 13. Please see the table in the lobby in front of the church office to complete a form and leave your payment in the box provided.

Be the Match

Be the Match! Join the National Bone Marrow Registry. APC's Cancer Care Group is hosting a bone marrow drive on November 20 following the 8:30 and 11:00 services in Fellowship Hall. Look for more information in this Sunday's bulletin.

Hanging of the Greens

Hanging of the Greens, Sunday, November 20 following the 11:00am service in Fellowship Hall. Stay after the service to enjoy fellowship, and light refreshments while decorating the church in preparation for the Advent season. Everyone is welcome!

Cancer Care Group

APC's Cancer Care Group is collecting teas and gently used DVDs, books and baskets for holiday care packages for cancer patients. Please put donated items in the CCG basket in the lobby. Deadline is November 20.

Thanksgiving Service

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.

La Gonave Haiti

La Gonave Haiti Partnership Update: "...the new Adult Literacy program is up and running and in every community we visited the folks were showing up, with an eagerness that was so humbling, to learn to read and write! Books in hand, homework done, they came, they sang and they learned. We lost count of all the people who hugged us, showed us their work and thanked us for bringing this program to La Gonave. Every community in the Partnership now has an Adult Literacy teacher. When you visit, you are not likely to miss the students as they will show up mid afternoon, dressed in their Sunday best with hats on and books in hand. They will be the ones with big smiles on their faces."

"One of our friends, a cook at the Episcopal compound, carried her workbook with her at all times so she could practice. By the end of the week she showed us how she could now write her name!"

This update is courtesy of two Partnership leaders this week. APC voted to send $400 to support the adult literacy program in September as part of our Mission budget. Already, we are hearing of the fruits of this support. A big "Thank you" to APC donors. Contact sydschneider@comcast.net for more information or if you would like to contribute individually or as a class to this program.

http://lagonavepartners.org/category/blog/

APC Book Club

Love to read? All are welcome to join the APC Book Club for a holiday party at the home of Lisa McKemey on Tuesday, December 13 at 7:00pm. Bring your most festive dessert or appetizer and enjoy good fellowship and a discussion of Lorna Landvik's Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. For more information, contact Katie VanBrackle at 770-777-1931.

Food Drive

Last weekend for the Harvest Food Drive to benefit area food pantries that serve the needy. We ask that your donations of non-perishable food items be returned in those bags by November 13. They will be delivered to North Fulton Community Charities and The Place of Forsyth the week of November 14. Thank you for your generous response to this mission effort!

fallapc Fall at APC

"Then the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the people

shall see it together..."

Isaiah 40:5

Faith & Families

The 2011 adult Advent study, "From Longing to Receiving," is now available! Writer Patricia Tull leads participants through the Old Testament and the Gospel lectionary texts for four weeks, tracing important Advent themes of longing for God's help, anticipating God's presence among us, recognizing God's work among us, and receiving God's new gifts to us.

Each week's handout is filled with important information about the texts, yet written for personal devotional use for group discussion.

November 13 - From Longing to Receiving (Advent)

November 20 - From Longing to Receiving

November 27 - No class

December 4 - From Longing to Receiving (Advent)

December 11 - From Longing to Receiving (Advent)

Adult Sunday School

The 2011 - 2012 Adult Sunday School Offerings are:

The Present Word-a curriculum-based weekly Bible study taught by Tom Denham in the Alpha Building classroom #2.

Young Adult Lectionary Bible Study for those between the ages of 19 and 29; taught by Mary Anne Mahone in the Alpha Building classroom #4.

Crossroads-a continuing class currently studying "Presbyterian History" facilitated by class members in Room 210.

Faith and Families-in the multipurpose room, "From Longing to Receiving" (Advent)

Career Transition

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.

Kitchen Talk at APC

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

There will be NO Fun Wednesday on November 23. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

FW Plate 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 November 16: Chili and baked potato bar, rolls, salad and dessert Adult program is from 6:15-7:15pm and this week will be a presentation of the APC Survey results.

Youth Ministry News

Click here to view this week's Youth Ministry newsletter.

Youth group will meet Sunday night 5:30-7:30pm for Middle School night (6^th, 7^th & 8^th grade only).

High schoolers will leave church tonight at 6:30pm for their retreat at Calvin Center. We will return by noon on Sunday. No youth group for high school this Sunday.

Our outing to the Atlanta Community Food Bank has been postponed until further notice.

Youth Summer Mission Trip information is available on the Youth Website. Sign-up sheets for these trips are on the bulletin board outside Kelly's office.

For questions or more information, please contact Kelly Edwards, Director of Youth Ministries at kelly@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-0033.

Children's Ministry News

Fun Wednesday, November 30, from 6:15-7:15pm is a multi-generational event. All are welcome to join with the children during ths time to create Advent Wreaths for Companion Care. Additional supplies will be on hand to create wreaths to take home. Please contact Kathy Ailts, Director of Children's Ministry, if you plan to come contact kathy@alpharettapres.com.

December 1, 9:30am in Room 201, Join us as we get together for coffee and to select from "finalists" for our VBS curriculum. All are welcome; we'll make this fun!

Sunday School for preschool and elementary age children is from 9:45 - 10:45am.

Nursery care is provided on Sundays from 8:15am - 12:15pm for ages 0-2 in the nursery.

Children's Choirs practice is on Sundays at 9:30am; children will join the rest of their classes following this time.

Promise Class is provided on Sundays from 9:30 am - 12:30pm for our special needs students in the Rainbow Room.

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 Room 108 (Kindergarten & First) during the 11:00am service.

Fun Wednesdays' enrichment program for children meets from 6:15pm - 7:15pm following Fun Wednesday dinner. Activities include music, aret, Bible stories, drama and games.

For more information, contact Kathy Ailts at kathy@alpharettapres.com.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sympathy - To Bob Worden and his family, at the death of his daughter-in-law, Nancy Worden, who died Saturday, November 5. Services were held Thursday, November 10 at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, GA.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Jack Shevlin and Daniel Redder at 8:30 & Kyle Laubenstein, Sam Moen and Sarah Gould at 11:00

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

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

11:00 Kinderkirk volunteers this Sunday: Kristin Hicks

11:00 Promise Class volunteer this Sunday: Fran Mosher

APC Church Officers

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

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 (Mon-Thurs, 8:00am-4:00pm and Friday, 8:00am-1:00pm).