February 24, 2012

"The fast I choose: justice, kindness, humility"

Lenten Worship                                       6:30-7pm, February 29, March. 7, 14, 21

                    "Unwind: Song, Scripture and Prayer"

Children's Easter Egg Hunt                   6:15pm, Wednesday, March 21

Taize Worship Service                           6:30pm, Wednesday, March 28

Palm Sunday Worship Services*        8:30, 9:45 and 11:00am, Sunday, April 1

Maundy Thursday Service*                   7:30pm, Thursday, April 5 (Holy Communion)

Good Friday Service*                               7:30pm, Friday, April 6
 

Mission Day of Service                           9am-12pm, Sat., April 7,  APC volunteers in the community

Easter Sunrise Communion                  6:00am, Sunday, April 8 (outdoor chapel)

Service

Easter Worship Services*                     8:30, 9:45 and 11:00am, Sunday, April 8 (sanctuary)

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*Nursery care provided for children ages 0-5.

APC will celebrate "Scout Sunday" on March 11.  All Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Daisy Scouts and Girl Scouts who are members of the APC or who attend APC-hosted troops are invited to come in uniform for worship.

The APC Foster Care Support Mission Team invites you to join them for their monthly volunteer day in Roswell this Tuesday, February 28. 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. 

All are invited to attend North Fulton Community Charities' Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the official opening of their Education Center at noon on Wednesday, February 29.  Many APC members volunteered time and labor to clean and prepare this new space for use.  The center will hold computer, job and life skills classes for NFCC clients.  They are currently looking for volunteers to help provide child care at the center's nursery while parents attend classes. 

The new art in the niches just outside the sanctuary marks the start of a new project by the Liturgical Art Team to exhibit a selection of art on spiritual themes. We would like to showcase new art three or four times a year. Members and friends of the congregation who make art or fine craft are invited to contact Molly Elkind mpelkind@comcast.net or Sheryl Wentworth sherylwentworth@comcast.net about displaying their work in the niches. Let's use our God-given gifts to glorify God!

As we enter our building, we all know how to get to the sanctuary.  Passing the restrooms along the way, we also know which hallway leads to the nursery, and even the roundabout route to the theater and classrooms.  However, these familiar places are not obvious to visitors. Our convoluted structure is intimidating for them.

Throughout our building, the Communications Committee aims to keep the spirit of hospitality going.  On Sunday mornings, it staffs two locations, an actual booth in the narthex and the desk in the upstairs lobby where gracious volunteers provide answers to basic questions about worship, our church life and  logistics.  They even walk visitors to their destinations.  APC relies on these new faces to grow and enhance our church.  We must make every effort to welcome them.  If you encounter a visitor and cannot offer guidance, please direct him or her to an information station. 

During January, our elders have attended the information stations. The committee thanks them for their time.  The Diaconate will help in February, and the Worship Committee has volunteered for March. The committee hopes each APC ministry will adopt a month going forward.

Although hospitality appears effortless, it takes deliberate scheduling. Please contact Mike Marcin, marcinmikeapc@gmail.com or Amy Rogers, amyrrogers@bellsouth.net. if you wish to help.  Thanks.      

The Women's Retreat is ready for you! Registration is now open for the APC 2012 Women's Retreat, Saturday, March 10, at Deer Creek Shores Presbyterian Church in Cumming from 9:00am to 4:00pm. The retreat is open to all APC women and their friends. For all the information about the retreat go to the APC website by using this link: www.alpharettapres.com/womensretreat. To register for the retreat, go to this link www.alpharettapres.com/womensretreatreg.  Remember if you register online you will need to make your registration payment as stated on the registration form.  A Women's Retreat table display will be in the church hallway on February 12, 19 and 26. We hope to see you at the retreat! Contact person:  Sheryl Wentworth at sherylwentworth@comcast.net.   

Come join us as we will be Celebrating - 25 Years of APC Women!

Sunday, April 22, 2012, is APC's 25^th year anniversary celebration, which includes a guest minister, who grew up at APC, preaching at 8:30 and 11:00, followed by a picnic and other activities at noon.  Mark your calendar and spread the word to any former members you know how to contact.

Adult Mission Trip to La Gonave, Haiti -  Haiti was once called the Gem of the Caribbean and was more valuable to France than all of the 13 colonies were to England.  Is it possible that Haiti is as bad as all of the stereotypes?   Can there still be beauty in spite of deforestation?  Is it possible that God has abandoned Haiti?  Come join us on the Adult Mission Trip to Haiti this fall to see why I think God is so very present there!  Come meet fellow Christians who see God at work and joyfully sing his praises.  We'll travel to the beautiful Is. of La Gonave to visit the site of APC's mission work for the past 12 years.   

During the October visit (Oct. 6-10, 2012, pending final confirmation of dates) we will visit the comprehensive ministry of healthcare, education, economic development and water/sanitation projects undertaken jointly with the Haitians. Youth age14 and older accompanied by a parent are invited. Trip cost will be around $1,200 to $1,300. APC member Sydney Schneider and partnershipmember Deb Griffin will co-lead the trip.  For questions or sign-up, contact Sydney Schneider at 770-664-0942 or sydschneider@comcast.net.  Link for first time impressions and other trip reports.

Stay tuned for the first introductory meeting in March when you can learn more so that you can decide if God is calling you to this place at this time.

Adult Mission Trip to Kenya - June 1-11 and the deadline to signup is March 19. Anyone interested should contact Dr. Ollie Wagner as soon as possible. 

ACT1 Play

The New Kid on the Block by Pat Cook 

Produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Co.
March 2 - 25

Carl, Lloyd and Parker, three older gentlemen who share a large home, need to rent out their fourth bedroom to help with bills. Their problem seems answered when Will shows up...except Will turns out to be a lady... and brings a whole host of hysterically funny new problems. Why do Carl and Will fight like brother and sister? Who's planting rumors that they are sweethearts? Why is Lloyd in fatigues and running night maneuvers through suburbia? Why is Parker sneaking around the neighborhood with his walkie-talkie? Who is the mysterious Woman in Black? This comedy has more turns than your uncle's map to grandma's house. And you'll finally find out just who really is The New Kid on the Block.

http://www.act1theater.com/schedule.html  APC members use coupon code APCCC at check out for special rates.  Box Office 770-663-8989

Fun Wednesday  

We hope to see you at  Fun Wednesday Dinners. Reservations are no longer required for dinner. Please sign in when you pay for your meal. Dinner for February 29: Spaghetti & meatballs, vegetable, garlic bread, salad & dessert

Program - "UNWIND on Wednesday." A brief and informal time of Scripture, song and prayer beginning at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall 

APC Career Transition Program - Recently the unemployment rate in Metro Atlanta dropped from 10.2% to 9.9 %. When individuals are no longer job hunting, as well as those who seek full-time jobs are counted, the real rate of unemployment is a conservative figure of 15%. Since 2007, Georgia has lost 360,000 positions, so the state now has approximately the same number of jobs that existed in 1999. Elder Bill Harris leads efforts at APC to address the employment concerns and needs your help.  We are trying to get a handle on how many of our members are unemployed and underemployed and whether or not they participate in the Career Transition Group at APC. If you would like employment assistance, please email Bill at w.m.harris@att.net.

If you work for or lead an organization, we would appreciate any information on positions that might represent opportunities that become available or contact names that would ensure a more effective outreach. We need our employed professionals and executives to reach out and make information available that will give a competitive edge to members of our congregation who are endeavoring to gain a sense of the real jobs and hidden market versus Internet postings. In the Lobby, the Career Transition Bulletin Board is now up and running. Please email Bill with any assistance you can offer as we renew our commitment to serve our members, veterans and the community in this challenging and prolonged Recession.

The Session

Class of 2012                                     Class of 2013                                        Class of 2014

Dianne Berry-Children's Ministry            George Bancroft-Property                 Scott Doll-Membership/Youth Ministry

Michelle Burton-Youth Ministry              Jodie Barger-Children's Ministry        Molly Elkind-Worship

Morris Estes-Finance                             Lynn Danson-Fellowship/Mission      Stu Laubenstein-Personnel

Jim Gray-Clerk of Session/CE                Pat Dennis-Open Arms                      Anne Mahone-Dayschool/LRP

John Shevlin-Mission                             Stacy Guy-Commitment/Commun.      Charles Moriarty-Property/CE

Jessie Prigge-Youth Ministry                 Nancy Hill-Personnel/Nominating        Sarah Provow-Open Arms/Commitment

Amy Rogers-Communications               Jan Hughey-LRP/Finance                   Ferrell White-Worship/Fellowship

Jean Williams-Nominating/Membership  Kylie Vacko-Open Arms

Deacon Care Teams

Hospitality - John Hicks, 678-513-4570, hicksjc@bellsouth.net

Companion Care - Carolyn Dillon, 770-751-3799, csdillon@bellsouth.net

Hospital & Recovery - Paul McChesney, 678-234-8471, paulsmcchesney@gmail.com

Sympathy & Celebrations, Steve Ludlow, 770-722-5473, ludlowst@comcast.net 

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!