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| The Good News - This Week |
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This Sunday
Fellowship Breakfast
8:00 - 10:00 AM
Worship Services
8:30 & 11:00
Preaching this week:
Dr. Oliver Wagner
Youth Group,
grades 6-12, meets tonight at 6:00 PM at APC |
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.
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Ollie's Offerings
The church's impact on the world can perhaps best be seen in the lives of our young. APC is extremely blessed to touch the lives of hundreds and hundreds of youth and children. Jesus welcomed the children into his care and blessed them. I think of how the care, nurture, fellowship and ministries of my home church shaped my own life and am forever grateful. So too are we touching the future as we bless each child in our midst. Allow me to share a few recent observations and examples:
* VBS was phenomenal once again! We had 350 children participating and 120 youth and adult volunteer leaders. Their mission fundraiser to benefit our partners in Haiti raised over $2,000. Young children learned with joy, games and songs (as was their theme) to "always trust God."
* Three summer youth mission trips have now been successfully completed and the ever-popular, fun trip called "destination unknown" is about to take off. Altogether, more than 100 youth and adult leaders have participated in these life-changing experiences. In addition, two of our college students are doing mission work right now - one in Kenya, another in Haiti. Our youth are growing in faith, love and service.
* Dayschool continues to be a major part of our church's ministry to the community. Caring, dedicated and talented teachers are once again preparing to welcome under our roof about 200 wonderfully diverse students for another school year. APC is a partner with families in nurture and education.
* I just spent a day visiting our members at the Calvin Center - our beautiful Presbyterian camp located south of Atlanta near Hampton. Two of our college students are on staff and several of our youth and children have been campers this summer. That ministry blesses hundreds and hundreds of children with God's love all summer and every year. What an impact on youth lives camping ministry is making!
* Last night the Session met with Emily Culp, a young woman who is an APC member. We voted to support her desire to become an "Inquirer" in the process of ordination to ministry. Emily is a second year student at the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta and the daughter of APC members, Steve and Mary Culp. APC is a partner in preparing future leaders for the church.
* Next Sunday we will baptize our fourth child this month! Did you see the baptism of the twins the other week? We are carrying out Jesus' "Great Commission" to preach, baptize and teach.
* It won't be long before our "ordinary" schedule resumes with Sunday School for all ages (which beings at 9:45am on Sunday, August 19th), weekly children's choir, youth choir, youth group, drama ministry and prayer breakfasts for our teens. Whiz Kids tutoring will fill Fellowship Hall on Mondays and dozens of homeless children will be cared for through our partnership with the Drake House and the apartment we sponsor there.
I could go on, but try to keep these newsletter comments brief. Thank you for each gift of money, time, talent and prayer you offer! I wanted you to know what a difference you are making on young lives, and therefore, on the future itself.
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Presbyterian Women
Ladies, please make plans to join Presbyterian Women for a complimentary luncheon to kick-off our 2012-2013 year. Representatives from each circle will be available to give you information on circle meeting times and dates. We will talk a bit about our Bible Study for this year and we'll also recognize and install officers.
Our Bible study this year promises to be insightful and fulfilling. The six books of the New Testament explored in this study-1 and 2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude-teach us what it means to live in community, what it means to belong to the household of God. A subset of New Testament letters, known as the General Epistles, were written to be shared and read aloud in early Christian communities. During the time in which the authors of these letters lived, believers regarded one another as members of God's family. Thus, a guiding and powerful metaphor in these epistles is the understanding of family-what it means in the world of the Roman Empire as contrasted with the more expansive idea of being a member of God's household through the Holy Spirit.
You are cordially invited to join PW at a Kick-off Luncheon on Sunday, August 19 after the 11:00 service in Fellowship Hall. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Please watch The Good News for details on how to RSVP. You do not have to be a member of a circle to attend. All women are invited and welcome. We do hope you will consider becoming a part of PW! |
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.
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| 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. |
 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. |
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Youth Ministry News
Youth Group meets this Sunday, July 22 at APC from 6:00 to 7:30pm (no dinner).
Braves Game on Sunday, August 5 vs Houston Astros, game time 1:35pm, $10 plus personal food money...sign up outside of Kelly's office...departure information being worked out...parents are welcomed to attend as we'll need drivers!
Important dates to note for the balance of the summer:
July 26 to 28 - Destination Unknown trip - departure at 7:00am (details confidential!)
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.
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Children's Ministry News
Vacation Bible School: APC had a very successful VBS. We had over 350 children attend (80% non members) and had over 120 volunteers. The children learned that no matter what they could trust God through service projects, science projects, Bible lessons, games, and fellowship. On Friday, the children were able to raise over $2600 through their fun walk to be given towards a solar powered battery for the clinic in La Gonave, Haiti. Thanks again to all who donated their time and resources!
Sunday School 2012: Believe it or not we are already gearing up for fall and are looking for more Workshop Leaders and Grade Level Teachers for elementary Sunday School. We also need several more helpers for our youngest in the preschool Sunday School. Please contact Kristin Hicks at kristin@alpharettapres.comfor more information.
Kinderkirk: We are in need of several toys to add to our Kinderkirk rooms. Please look through your things and consider donating any unwanted or unused toys. Specific items wanted: doll babies, and cars. Any toys we are unable to use will be donated to North Fulton Charities. Donations should be labeled and placed in the Bread of Life Cafe.
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. |
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Sympathy & Celebrations
Sympathy - To Jason Tweedy and his family, at the death of his grandmother, Phoebe Tweedy, in Iowa last week. Services were held in Iowa.
Celebration - To Jody Bancroft, at the birth of her granddaughter, Elliot Blake Bader, on Friday, July 13. |
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Sunday Volunteers
Serving as greeters this Sunday: Joyce Komala at 11:00 Serving as ushers this Sunday: Beau and David Armistead, Kelly Vandever, Donny Matchen, Marian Cunningham at 8:30 & Stu and Kyle Laubenstein, Dave and Zach Berry, Drew Rhoades, Mary Rogovin at 11:00 Promise Class volunteers this Sunday: Kate McChesney |
| 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
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 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). |
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