|
|
|
| The Good News - This Week |
|
|
|
|
This Sunday
Fellowship Breakfast
8:00 - 10:00 AM
Worship Services
8:30 & 11:00
Preaching this week:
Rev. Jamie Butcher
Youth Group,
grades 6-12,does not meet tonight |
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.
| |
|
A General Assembly Report from
APC Member John Shevlin
Walking, running, soaring, into hope (Isaiah 40:31)
As many of you know, I was elected to be a commissioner to the 220th General Assembly (2012) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. I thank you for your prayers while the assembly met (I am sure some of your prayers were: "Thanks be to God, it was John and not me"). The week included daily worship, the election of a new moderator and vice-moderator, committee meetings, and plenary meetings. I want to briefly share my experience and the issues from Pittsburgh.
First, I did follow the charge to me from our pastor and was able to see the Pirates beat the Astros. One of the most unique things about my experience is that I shared it with my father-in-law who was a commissioner from the Foothills Presbytery in South Carolina. We were not only roommates but also randomly assigned to the same committee. In committee, we spent a little more than two days addressing nineteen overtures to change the Book of Order. Beginning Wednesday afternoon, while many of you were celebrating our independence, I was celebrating the freedom of religion in the plenary session of the assembly. We met late for the next three nights to address the work of the twenty-one committees.
While we addressed approximately 800 items of business, I want to highlight three items: non-geographic presbyteries, the Middle East, and the definition of marriage. A commission recommended permitting churches to form non-geographic presbyteries. This proposal was voted down by vote of 480 to 169 with the thought that it "would be used more to gather theologically compatible congregations together than to focus on innovative mission." The central debate about the Middle East was a proposal to divest from holdings in companies that are participating in non-peaceful activities in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. By a vote of 333 to 331, the divestment recommendation was disapproved. The third debate was focused on same sex marriage. Currently the Book of Order defines marriage as "a civil contract between a man and a woman." In another close vote the assembly voted down a recommendation to change the definition to "between two people" by a 338 to 330 margin.
As you can imagine there were many less controversial things that took place in this one busy week of the larger church. I would encourage you to look for the discussed business items at www.pc-biz.org. You can also get a sense of the assembly through the picture and video gallery found at www.pcusa.org/ga220. An entertaining blog written by a fellow commissioner can be found at http://trinityatlanta.wordpress.com. I would be happy to discuss anything further that you wish to know.
|
|
|
|
|
| Church Calendar
The church calendar is now back up and running. Thank you for your patience. |
Disciple Bible Study
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY - IT'S TIME TO SIGN UP!
Don't miss this exciting opportunity for spiritual growth and fellowship through Disciple Bible Study in the coming year! Materials are being ordered and it is important to know how many will be joining in this special experience.
The following long-term studies will be offered and will begin the middle of August:
Disciple I, Becoming Disciples through Bible Study - Sunday morning, 8:30-10:30;
Monday morning, 9:30-11:30; and Sunday evening, 5:00-7:00. This class is the ideal
place to beginand is the prerequisite for all other long-term studies. It is a 34-week
overview of the Bible.
Jesus in the Gospels - Sunday evening, 5:00-7:00. This is a 32-week in-depth
comparison study of the four gospels.
Christian Believer - Thursday morning, 9:30-11:30. This is a 30-week study of
Christian doctrine.
Several short-term studies will begin after Labor Day:
Invitation to Psalms - Monday morning
Invitation to John - Monday morning
Invitation to Genesis - Sunday evening
To register please stop by the information table in the lobby at your earliest convenience or contact Mary Dantzler 404-754-1763, email jdantzler@bellsouth.net.
|
| Sunday Breakfast
Sunday Morning Breakfast - For the remainder of the church's summer schedule, breakfast will be continental style. Continental breakfast: cereal, fruit, yogurt with toppings and pastries plus beverage for $3 per person. Super continental breakfast: will be the above plus one special hot dish for $4 per person. |
| Haiti Mission Trip
An APC mission team will be traveling to Haiti to work October 6-10, 2012. If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact Dr. Ollie Wagner in the church office, ollie@alpharettapres.com. |
|
Back to School
Back to School! On August 11, North Fulton Community Charities (11270 Elkins Road, Roswell) will be offering a Back to School Fair to provide K-12 students new backpacks filled with school supplies. Last year 1,300 new backpacks were distributed to students in need! If you would like to make a school supply donation or volunteer at the event, please contact Eden Purdy at epurdy@nfcchelp.org or call NFCC at 770-640-0399.
|
AMIS Ministry
AMIS is a ministry of hospitality. The Atlanta Ministry With International Students, Inc. has been providing friendship to international students studying in our area for 35 years. Students come from more than 160 countries. To learn more about how you can be involved in providing friendship and hospitality to a student or students please visit www.amis-inc.org or call the AMIS office (located in Peachtree Presbyterian Church) at 404-846-4396. The email is amis@peachtreepres.org. Rev. Lisa Majoros is the Executive Director and Dene Dixon the Program Administrator. Help students to get away from campus and into an American home! |
 ACT1 Production
Tickets are now available for The Wind in the Willows by Douglas Post; produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Produced at over 200 theaters across the country, this musical tells the story of the friendship of the good-hearted Water Rat, the shy and curious Mole, and the sensible Badger. What tests that friendship are the antics of Mr. Toad, a wily and impulsive animal given to sudden crazes such as stealing motor cars and driving them recklessly around the countryside. Their task is to save Toad from himself and then rescue the magnificent Toad Hall from the devious weasels, ferrets and stoats. This show is great for kids of all ages! Show Dates: Every Friday and Saturday night now through August 5 at 7:30pm. Sunday Matinees on July 22, 29 and August 5 at 2:00pm Special Pricing for APC Members! Adults: $12 each, Children under 12 and Seniors over 60: $10 each. Group Discounts ARE available - just call our box office! Get Your Tickets Today! Check out our website at www.act1theater.com or call the box office at 770-663-8989. Use coupon code APCCC for APC Members Discount! See you there! |
Divorce Care Group
New Beginnings, is a new divorce care group that is forming here at APC. If you are going through a divorce or have been through a divorce, this group is looking for you. It will be focused on understanding the effects of divorce - physical, emotional, spiritual - as well as fellowship and support of each other and preparing for what's next. If you are interested, please contact Greg Jones at gjones38@yahoo.com or 678-620-8879. |
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
Important dates to note for the balance of the summer:
July 22 - Youth Group meets onsite - 6:00pm to 7:30pm (no dinner)
July 26 to 28 - Destination Unknown trip - departure at 7:00am (details confidential!)
August 5 - Youth Group offsite - details and time to follow
August 19 - Rally Day for the Sunday School Year
August 19 - Youth Group meets onsite - 6:00pm to 7:30pm (no dinner)
August 24 & 25 - Student Leadership Retreat
August 26 - Mission Sunday at worship services - submit mission trip pictures to Kelly Edwards or Michelle Burton
September 9 - Youth Group kick-off for the school year (dinner with parents and tons of fun!)
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
A BIG THANK YOU to all the many volunteers and participants who made APC's Vacation Bible School a huge success this year!
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 Cliff Hale and his family, at the death of his mother, Ethyl Hale, on Sunday, June 30 in Tryon, NC. |
|
Sunday Volunteers
Serving as greeters this Sunday: Volunteers needed Serving as ushers this Sunday: Kim and Valerie Fulkerson, Sybille Johnstone, Alan Crowell at 8:30 & Ed and Pat Rea, Jeff Stewart, Ralph Pollifrone at 11:00 Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Trish Kent |
| 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). |
|
|
|
|
