The Good News - This Week

"Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified."

-1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Olympic Games offer valuable insight and inspiration for our own walk of faith. As you enjoy the events and get acquainted with some of the athletes and their stories, consider how their pursuit of athletic excellence informs your spiritual life. The years of practice required, the physical exertion and pain endured in training, the countless obstacles to overcome and the deep desire to win are all facets of athletic competition that the Apostle Paul likens to how you and I should pursue the call of God upon our lives.

Being a committed disciple of Jesus Christ requires effort, sacrifice, self-control, focus and a deep desire to please God. As Ringo Starr sang this summer from the fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta, "You got to pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues and you know it don't come easy." Indeed, whatever is worthwhile "doesn't come easy." Watch the gymnasts, swimmers, runners, boxers, swimmers and athletes from all over the world compete with an eye to the medal stand and consider all that they gave in order to get where they are.

The new church program year is about to kick off with many opportunities for service, education, fellowship, and worship. Our ministry programs are not Olympic events to be sure, but they are intended to be training opportunities for those seeking to glorify and enjoy God. I invite your committed participation, not only for the strength and vitality of the church, but for your own growth in faith.

"Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."

-Philippians 3:12-15

Time for Vacation

The Good News, along with its editor, will be on vacation next week! There will not be an electronic newsletter on Friday, August 10. Look for the next Good News on Friday, August 17!

Nominations Needed

Looking for a few good names - The Nominating Committee is requesting nominations for elders and deacons. Please submit names in the nomination box on the table in the lobby, to the church office or the APC web site, www.alpharettapres.com by August 12.

School Supplies Drive

APC School Supplies Drive July 29 - August 12 to benefit APC Whiz Kids Tutoring Program, North Fulton Community Charities, Foster Care Support Foundation, and The Place of Forsyth.

Please consider donating any of the following supplies:

Backpacks - no wheels

3-ring binders 1" and 2"

College and wide- ruled paper

Colored pencils

Crayons - 24 piece regular

Index cards -3x5

Paper napkins

Paper cups - 5 oz

Dividers for binders

Erasers - Pink Pearl and pencil top

Folders (2 pocket) with or without prongs

Glue sticks

Hand-held calculators

Highlighters

Markers - washable

Notebooks - wide-ruled spiral

Pens - all colors

Pencils

Pencil boxes

Rulers

Scissors

Snack size ziplock bags

Plastic school supply pouches

The collection bin will be in the lobby next to the School Supply Drive display. If you prefer to make a cash donation, please show "school supplies drive" on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your support. Questions-call Sue White at 770-772-4667 or email whitesbassets@bellsouth.net.

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.

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 RSVP by Wednesday, August 15 to Gail Bullock at gbull205@bellsouth.net or 678-773-6993. You can also rsvp online by clicking this link. 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!

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.

ACT1 Production

THIS IS THE LAST WEEKEND for The Wind in the Willows by Douglas Post; produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois.

Show Dates: Friday and Saturday night August 3 and August 4 at 7:30pm. Sunday Matinee on 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!

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 - Monday morning, 9:30-11:30; and Sunday evening, 5:00-7:00. This class is the ideal place to begin and 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.

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:

August 5 - Youth Group heads to the Braves game immediately after the 11:00 service

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

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. Specific items wanted: doll babies, and cars. 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.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Larry and Mim Prohl at 11:00

Serving as ushers this Sunday: Dick and Sharon Bean, Tom Hyatt, Richard Boston at 8:30 & Steve Ludlow, Dale Carter, Duane Lofdahl, Lee Jones at 11:00

Promise Class volunteer this Sunday: Laurie Peebles at 11:00

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).