The Good News - This Week

The Good News - This Week is a publication of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church for its members and friends.

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@alpharettapres.com.

Ollie's Offerings

This week's headline read: "US Protestants no longer a majority". According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, for the first time ever Protestants compose less than 50% of the US population. Five years ago that number stood at 53%, today it stands at 48%. The number of those claiming no religion increased to 20% while one third of adults younger than 30 now claim no have no religion. Mainline denominations now make up only 15% of all religious affiliation in the US. The full report is fascinating and can be found at www.pewforum.org.

A 7th grade student and baptized member of APC said she was surprised in her Social Studies class to learn that Presbyterians were not listed as one of the major religions. Instead, she said, she learned Presbyterians are a part of a larger group called "Protestants." So, we did a little research and found that there are 600 million Protestants worldwide, making up about 30% of all Christians. Protestantism is a movement in Western Christianity following the work of German monk Martin Luther who in 1517 began to protest practices and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Protestantism spread through northwest Europe over the next two decades and continued to reject the notion that divine authority is channeled through one particular human person (the Pope) or institution (the Roman Catholic Church) and instead stressed the Bible as the source and norm for teaching Christian faith and life. For this reason, Protestants made it a priority to put the Scriptures into the common language of the people and make the Bible more widely available (thanks to the printing press.)

While a diverse group, general Protestant beliefs and practices are these: we are saved not by our good works but only by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. A response to God's grace which includes disciplined living, faithful stewardship, a strong work ethic and an earnest striving to live a godly life is rather typical. The celebration of two (not seven) sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper is common among Protestants. Church polity which has an important role for the laity (church members), and a belief in "the priesthood of all believers." With a tendency against iconoclasm, Protestants have pushed religious expression toward the orderly, simple and even austere. Because of the lack of central authority, Protestants have a great deal of religious diversity regarding opinion and expression, but almost all share in an emphasis on preaching the gospel and a strong musical tradition.

Blessings on you, APC. May your tribe increase!

Haiti Mission Trip News

Kelly Edwards, Cynthia Hale and Sydney Schneider report that they brought gifts made by the Vacation Bible School children to school children at Ticolette and Nouvelle Cite on the island of La Gonave, Haiti, this past week. The children were excited to receive jump ropes, friendship knots and games. The children from Holy Cross School (Nouvelle Cite) drew pictures to bring back to share with our children. Teaching aids made by VBS were also presented to the teachers. Many thanks to the VBS teachers, boys and girls for making these gifts to carry to Haiti!! They were a hit! Our three APC travelers had a meaningful trip and will report on their trip for our First Wednesday dinner in November.

Safety and Security

Please help APC with safety and security issues by locking your car, alerting staff to any suspicious behavior you witness on the property, and locking the exterior doors when you leave from evening or weekend meetings. Safety is everyone's concern and we all need to be involved to help. Take responsibility for turning out lights and locking doors when you leave - don't assume someone else is doing it. Thank you.

Eldercare News

APC Open Arms Eldercare News - Attention Veterans: If you have ever served our country YOU are entitled to benefits! These benefits may also assist you with some of the costs associated with elder care expenses. On Sunday, October 14, come visit the Eldercare table in the Fellowship Hall during breakfast time. Veterans specialist and attorney, Patricia Elrod-Hill, will be available to answer questions between 9:30am and 12:15pm. We hope to see you then! For questions please contact Ellen Adolph at hbunnies@gmail.com or 678-637-2928.

Road Construction Update

The City of Alpharetta has now closed Haynes Bridge Road from Old Milton Parkway to Academy Street through December 31. You will need to take an alternate route to APC, either Highway 9 to Academy or Westside Parkway off Old Milton to Academy.

Property Workday

Property Workday, Saturday, October 27-We will be working on the grounds from 8:00am until noon. All are welcome to come and help. We will work to beautify the Memorial Garden, prayer labyrinth and any other projects as time allows. If you have any questions, please contact Chuck Watson at chuck@alpharettapres.com.

Fall Festival

APC Fall Festival, Wednesday, October 24 - Children (and adults, too) get your costumes ready! The Fall Festival will be held on Wednesday, October 24. Dinner is from 6:00 - 6:30PM in Fellowship Hall. We will have chicken bites (BBQ, Buffalo, and plain), French Fries, coleslaw, pumpkin pie, apple crisp and caramel apples. Children will parade in their costumes before going up to the multipurpose room for an evening of games, prizes, and lots of fun provided by the Alpharetta High School Key Club. Children's Activities begin at 6:30PM.

Make your reservations by noon on Sunday, October 21 by either (1) going on-line at http://www.alpharettapres.com/acs ; (2) by filling out a card on the table in the hallway, or (3) by using the bright lime green sheet posted by the APC kitchen door.

Dinner fees are: $4.00 for children 8 years and younger; $6.00 for adults/youth.

Nursery will be available.

Sound System Operators

The Worship Committee is hoping to add a few new sound system operators to help conduct Sunday morning worship services. Training will be provided. If you are able to help, please contact Carol in the church office, carol@alpharettapres.com.

Mom's Morning Cafe

All mothers of preschoolers and Dayschoolers are invited to a "Mom's Morning Café" from 9:15-10:30am on Thursday, October 18. We hope to organize a Bible study and discussion group for mothers of APC Dayschool students. For more information, please contact Meg Hardt at meghardt@yahoo.com.

Habitat Aid Update

A note from Habitat Aid staff:

Hello Walter,

Thanks you so much for making it possible, I confirm that already we have purchased and delivered the photo copier printer for ESHINUTSA SECONDARY SCHOOL last week. The staffs were trained on operational manual practically as per attachment and by the time we left the school the 3 staffs were able to manage the machine without any trouble. The Principal said that the machine will make the work of teachers more friendly than before, especially during examination setting time. He will be writing an official appreciation letter to Habitat Aid soon.

With Kind Regards

Love

Sammy

Mission Opportunity

Interested in traveling with a Presbyterian mission team to Zambia? ZAMJAM 2013 will be held July 16 - August 2, 2013. Trip expense (including airfare) is expected to be $2660. Zambia is caught between the challenges of poverty (80% of their population) and HIV/AIDS (one in seven are infected). Mission work is being done through the Alliance for Children Everywhere (www.childreneverywhere.org). Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church is organizing this effort and Ms. Barbara Hughes is the trip leader. For more information, contact Barbara at 770-396-9313 or MVPC.

C.S. Lewis Series

The Sunday evening C.S. Lewis lecture series continues. Jim Motter, an APC member and C.S. Lewis scholar, will lead a 10-week Sunday evening lecture and discussion series on C.S. Lewis' masterwork, Mere Christianity. The lectures will be held in the theater now through November 11, from 5:30 to 7:00pm. The public is invited.

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

Youth Group, grades 6-12, Sunday, October 14, 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Meet in the multipurpose room for MOVIE NIGHT. Pizza will be served for $4 per person.

We need parents to sign up to help with meal prep for Youth Group. Contact Wendy Curl to select your date.

Please update your information in Access ACS! The Youth Ministry will begin transitioning all sign ups for events and volunteering to this system over the next few weeks and we want to make sure that we have current information for everyone. If you are having trouble, please contact Michelle Burton for assistance.

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

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 - rising 2nd graders) will be during the 11:00 service only during the summer. Preschool classes will meet in Room 101 and Kindergarten and rising second graders in Room 102.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Isobel Still at 8:30 & Ethan and Jessie Berry 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

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 Nancy Hill-Personnell/Nominating Charles Moriarty-Property/CE Adult

Jessie Prigge-Youth Ministry Jan Hughey-LRP/Finance Sarah Provow-Open Arms/Commitment

Amy Rogers-Communications Kylie Vacko-Open Arms Ferrell White-Worship/Fellowship

Jean Williams-Nominating/Membership

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).