The Good News - This Week

This Sunday will be our last 9:45am service for the summer and the last Sunday School class for youth and children. The children will have a Celebration Carnival this Sunday during the 9:45 hour. Also, an adult summer series will be offered beginning June 3 at 9:45am in the theater.

As summer quickly approaches with college and high school graduations, Vacation Bible School, sports camps, Camp Hollywood, mission trips and more, there will be plenty going on in the life of APC! We hope everyone will continue to worship and fellowship with us, and look forward to good things to come in August and the beginning of the new program year!

College Graduates

If you have a child graduating from college this May and would like them recognized in the bulletin next Sunday, May 13, please email the child's name, college graduating from and major to carol@alpharettapres.com ASAP or by noon on Monday, May 14.

STARS Picnic

Don't miss the STARS potluck lunch and picnic at Clark's Bridge Park on the lake in Gainesville on Wednesday, May 23 at noon. Bring your own beverage and a potluck dish to share. Park entrance fee is $4 per car - pay at the park, or carpool from the APC parking lot at 11:15am and SAVE! Please signup by Monday, May 21. For more information contact Kathleen Wien at 770-521-6738.

New Summer Series

Don't Miss the Summer Adult CE Series! Molly Elkind will offer a five-week series of slide talks called Seek His Face: Images of Jesus in Art beginning Sunday, June 3 at 9:45am in the theater. Come see the wide variety of ways artists and believers have pictured Jesus over the centuries, beginning with the Roman catacombs and going right up through modern times. Some of the questions we'll consider are: How has art reflected both Christian truth and the culture of its time and place? How can these images of Christ inform and deepen our faith-not just illustrate it? Can we as reformed Christians reclaim Christian visual art as meaningful for us today?

Faith & Families Class

New Faith and Families Series - Civility. What happened to civility in public discourse? While civility has long been a factor of Christianity and even in American politics, more recently it seems that our society and many of its leaders suffer from an appalling lack of it. This three-session, adult study by James Calvin Davis considers ways to think about political discussion between people who disagree in light of the four virtues of civility and the principles of civility found in Christianity. Please join us in the multi-purpose room at 9:45am on Sunday for an informal group discussion on this topic on May 13 and 20.

Urgently Seeking Field Mice!

ACT1 Theater is currently rehearsing Kenneth Graham's classic tale, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. The show is a really great musical and we have a super cast, but we still need a few young children, about 7-11yrs to play our field mice. Please see our website at http://www.act1theater.com/auditions.html for complete details of the schedule and loads of other information. If you would like to know more, please contact Lisa Matchen at 770-663-8989, or email to lkmatchen@bellsouth.net or Anne Voller at 404-314-0764 or e-mail to vollera@bellsouth.net

Thank YOU!

Please let all of the incredible APC cooks for last night's dinner know that everything was delicious and enjoyed by all!! Everyone was talking about how good the meatloaf and potatoes were and what great comfort food it is! The fruit and salad were also delicious. They kids came back for seconds on the fruit, which I love to see!! We are so grateful for the support and time and effort that went into making this dinner so special for our families. I know that they feel valued when they see the care and thought that goes into this meal.

Christy Merritt

Director of Programs

The Drake House

Summer Camp

The Calvin Center is our Presbyterian Summer Camp located on 500 beautiful acres near Hampton, GA. They are currently accepting registrations for summer camp. You can learn more at www.calvincenter.org. The camp features horseback riding, swimming, lake activities, hikes, campfires, beautiful lodges, a large dining hall, lots of singing, games and fun.

APC has a strong relationship with the camp and will have two of our college students on the summer camp staff. Camping ministries change lives and grow faith! Why not check out this week how your son or daughter could participate and benefit from a week at camp?

VBS Registration

VBS Registration has begun and spots are filling up fast. Don't miss out on the fun! Sign up today! At this years theme, SKY, kids learn that with God everything is possible. VBS is for ages 3 (potty trained) through rising 6th graders and will be held July 10-13 from 8:45-12:00. Adult and Youth volunteers are needed as well. Don't wait! Sign up online today at www.alpharettapres.com/VBS.

Sports-N-Faith Camp

Sports-N-Faith Camp (June 6-8, 9:00am-noon) Signup sheets will be posted outside the Disciples' Village Sunday School gathering place; the Solid Rock Theater. This camp is open to rising Kindergarteners through 3^rd graders, whose families are members of (or regularly attend) APC. We are looking forward to a few fun-filled days of activity! We also welcome additional youth and adult volunteers to join us. We hope everyone interested will sign up ASAP! Please contact Kathy Ailts at kathy@alpharettapres.com for more info.

Drake House Library

Mission opportunity! The Drake House is hoping to assemble a library of books, movies, DVDs and other resources that can help bridge the gap and bless the lives of youth while they live at the Drake House.

Please scan the shelves in your own home libraries and donate used (or new) reading and other materials that are appropriate for teenage boys and girls. This includes not only teen literature, but classic literature, self-help books and faith-based literature. We welcome books, dictionaries and encyclopedias, as well as DVDs of great movies and documentaries. Your support can make a meaningful difference in a young person's life.

APC member and a junior at Johns Creek High School, Brandon Motter, has set up a collection box in the lobby. Or you can contact him by email: DrakeLibrary@jbmotter.com or by phone: 770-619-2998

Career Transition

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.

Youth Ministry News

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

NO YOUTH GROUP THIS WEEK....HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

During the summer, we will not send a weekly newsletter via e-mail, rather, we will send periodic information about summer activities and mission trips as needed. Please continue to refer to the Good News and the Youth Website for information.

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

The end-of-the-year Celebration Carnival will be held May 13 during the Sunday School hour for all children preschool through 5th grade. Teachers will assist the children at different stations based on the workshops we've had this year. Shepherds will help guide their class groups through these stations. Parents who would enjoy helping may join us as well. On May 13 during the 11:00 worship service, fifth graders will be recognized and receive a Bible.

Disciples' Village will not meet during the summer. We will welcome everyone back on Rally Day, August 19.

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

Promise Class is provided on Sundays during the 11:00 worship service for our special needs students in the Blue Room.

Kinderkirk (Children's Worship Education for children ages 3 - First Grade) will be during the 11:00 service only during the summer. Preschool classes will meet in Room 105 and Kindergarten and first grade in Room 108.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sympathy - To Robert Beal and his family, at the death of his stepfather, James Mintz, in Lenoir City, TN.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Ethan Berry and Sam Moen at 11:00

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

Serving as ushers this Sunday: George and Susie 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: Kim Dore

Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Jerri Temple at 9:45

APC Church Officers

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

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!

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).