The Good News - This Week

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.

Ollie's Offerings

APC had a joyful and meaningful "Commitment Sunday" recently. Those in the congregation that day brought their completed "2013 Estimate of Giving" cards to the front of the sanctuary and received a small gift from APC which read "Make a Difference!" We dedicated our giving estimates with prayer and sang of our hope and commitment to God.

Pledge totals are still being calculated so if we haven't heard from you yet please act now to let us know what your 2013 financial commitment will be. It is very helpful for purposes of our budgeting...and more importantly, it gives each of you a goal for which to strive and forces greater discipline in your stewardship and practice of the faith. The direct link to our pledge card is: http://alpharettapres.com/stewardship. You can also communicate your intended giving directly to Susan Schiltz in the finance office 770-751-0033 or susan@alpharettapres.com. I pray God will lead you to show forth greater faith, commitment and generosity in the upcoming year.

Tomorrow the calendar moves us from the church's November Thanksgiving and stewardship focus to December's Advent waiting and Christmas joy. The sanctuary has already been "greened" and the Advent wreath awaits our use this Sunday! Following worship, each home will be given an Advent devotional to encourage your observance of prayer through this holy season. It is time for us to wait, hope, pray and watch through these shortened days of December. For what do we wait? The very salvation of God which draws near in Jesus Christ. As you "made a difference" in your financial giving to the church in November so now let the activity of God in this blessed season make all of the difference in you.

Wishing for each of you Advent's deepest blessings!

Ollie

Angel Tree

All Angel Tree Gifts must be brought to APC no later than noon THIS SUNDAY, December 2! We also need help sorting gifts and doing last minute shopping on Thursday, December 6. Contact Michelle Olsen, 770-777-0549 or Eva Wardrup, 770-354-1226 if you would like to help. Thanks to everyone for sharing what you have with those in need.

Devotional Booklets

Advent Devotional Booklets are now available on the lobby table and the large cabinet in the narthex. Additional APC Advent and Christmas schedule are also available.

Poinsettias

You may purchase a poinsettia, in memory or in honor of a loved one, to be placed in the sanctuary for Advent and Christmas worship services. You may take your poinsettia home after Christmas services are completed. The cost per poinsettia is $11.00. In lieu of flowers (or in addition to flowers), loved ones may be honored and remembered by making a monetary gift to APC's Pastor's Emergency Fund that sponsors members and friends of the church going through financial emergencies. Your donation will be listed as a gift in the Christmas Eve bulletin. See the table in the hallway to complete a form and make a payment by the December 9 deadline.

Liturgical Art

As you enter the sanctuary for worship this Advent, be sure to take a look at the installations in each of the niches outside the sanctuary. Through Advent, Christmas, and into Epiphany the Liturgical Art team will tell the story of the birth of Jesus in a display that changes each week. This week we invite you to read a short poem and consider your own journey across the desert as you prepare your heart for the coming of Christ.

Church Directory

Time is flying by and our church directory is progressing beautifully! We nned all members participating to be sure the directory is complete! The directory will include full-color family portraits and will work with ACS to provide congregant information. Portraits begin on January 4, 2013. Each family will receive a free 8x10. You will find sign-up posters on Sunday in the lobby and during the week in the church office. SIGN UP TODAY! SLOTS ARE FILLING UP FAST!

If you should need to reschedule your Web Appointment please do so by calling The Portrait Cafe at 1-877-896-9667 extension 325.

First Wednesday
First Wednesday during the Advent Season

Advent is a time of new beginnings and awaiting the arrival of the Christ Child. On the first Sunday of Advent we light a candle, the Candle of Hope." On First Wednesday, December 5, APC will have special guests from The Drake House. These guests will share dinner with us and will tell us about the HOPE they have as they "begin to turn their lives around' while staying at The Drake House.

The Dinner Menu will be old fashioned chili, hot dogs, condiments for your chili and hot dogs, salad, an assortment of desserts, and drinks. Dinner is from 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM. Dinner fees are: $4.00 for children 8 years and younger; $6.00 for adults/youth. Reservations are required for dinner. Make your reservations by noon Sunday, December 2: (1) go on-line at http://www.alpharettapres.com/acs ; (2) fill out a card on the table in the hallway, or (3) enter info on the bright lime green sheet posted by the APC kitchen door.

The Adult Program will be from 6:30-7:30 PM in Fellowship Hall with guests from The Drake House; children's activities; and, nursery will be provided.

Grief Suppport Group

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, December 19 at 2:00pm in the library to discuss the formation of a grief support group at APC. We would like your ideas and look forward to seeing you. Please RSVP to the church office.

NFCC Thank You

A big thank you from Barbara Duffy, Executive Director of North Fulton Community Charities, for the Community Thanksgiving Service offering of $1,413.97 that was collected for them.

Office Angels

Calling All Office Angels! Volunteers are needed to help collate the Christmas bulletins on Friday, December 21 at 10:00am in Fellowship Hall. Please contact Carol in the church office if you are able to help.

Family Worship Service

Open Arms Ministry is sponsoring a Family Worship Service to celebrate the coming of the Christ child this Saturday, December 1 from 4-5:00pm in the sanctuary followed by a craft and fellowship time in the Fellowship Hall. This is an inclusive service geared towards those with disabilities. Come help us begin the holiday season with story and song!

Ladies Event

Ladies' Night Out - Dinner and Ornament Exchange. Enjoy dinner catered by Panera Bread and an Ornament Exchange on Friday, December 14 at 6:30 PM. We will meet at APC in Room 206/207. the price of $7.00 per person includes salad, drinks, and dessert! Bring a wrapped ornament or Christmas decoration. Friends welcome! RSVP by December 9 to pamheydinger@comcast.net or 770-664-8354.

A Christmas Carol

"Bah! Humbug!" The refrain follows us every Christmas...into parking lots and out of long lines. Gather the family together and take a break from the go-go Christmas Season. Meet our classic characters: Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and of course, Ebenezer Scrooge and his three "spirited" friends. We'll weave our tale with a ribbon of all your favorite Christmas carols. Bring the spirit back to your Christmas Holiday at ACT1.

Shows are every Friday and Saturday night from November 23 - December 16 at 7:30pm and Sunday, December 2, December 9 and December 16 at 2:00pm.

Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for children 12 and under and seniors 60 and over.

You can get tickets by calling our box office at 770-663-8989 or finding us online at www.act1theater.com.

Special Pricing for APC Members! Use Coupon Code APCCC when checking out.

ACT1 Theater is located inside Alpharetta Presbyterian Church at 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

Living Nativity: ACT1 is calling any gentlemen that can sit, stand or kneel for a while and will be available Christmas Eve from 3 - 5pm. We are helping to build a beautiful living nativity tableau on the front lawn for Christmas Eve. NO LINES TO LEARN! If interested, please contact Lisa Matchen.

Career Transition

APC Career Transition Program - Recently, the unemployment rate in Metro Atlanta decreased to 8.2% as a result of 19,500 jobs that were added in October. If you would like employment assistance, please contact Elder Bill Harris at w.m.harris@att.net. If you are employed in a decision making level position, please contact Bill with opportunities in your own organization, as well as positions that might be open in other Metro Atlanta organizations.

Youth Ministry News

Thank you to all who donated cookies and candy for the college students. Youth Ministry and The Deacons were able to send over 60 boxes to our college students. This is such a great way to share the love of Christ to our college age friends.

Thank you to the 6th &7th grade Sunday School class that sent two larges boxes of treats to Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins, West Virginia. This was an awesome outreach project to reach those children that were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

December 2 - Youth Group from 5:30pm-7:30pm

December 5 - Student Leadership Meeting 6:00pm-7:00pm Read Chapter 8, and Youth Committee Meeting (Adults) 7:00pm. Room 206&207

December 9 - Youth Caroling 5:00-8:00pm

December 16 - Youth Christmas Party

5:30pm-7:30pm

The Burton Home

750 Briars Bend

Alpharetta GA 30004

Please bring a gift card. This year will be donated to The Place of Forsyth.

*Please bring a food item to share: Using the First letter of your last name.

A-F Warm Appetizer

G-K Veggie or Fruit

L-P Drinks (2 liter bottles, water, lemonade, ice tea)

Q-S Chips and Dip

T-Z Dessert

All other items provided.

December 23 - No Youth

December 30 - No Youth

January 2, 2013 Wednesday, 10am-2pm Important Student Leadership Meeting at church Room 206&207.

Youth Orchestra Forming - calling all Youth Instrumentalists. APC will again form a Youth Orchestra to play on Sunday, December 9 at the 11:00 service. We will rehearse on Sunday, December 2 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm and then again before the 11:00 service on December 9. If you play an instrument and have played at least 2 years, let Joel Lillethun know joel@alpharettapres.com and he will get music to you. If you cannot make the December 2 practice but would still like to play, let Joel know and he can make arrangements for you.

Join us for Sunday School! Middle and High School Youth meet in the upstairs education wing from 9:45 - 10:45 on Sunday mornings. We hope you'll come and feed your spirit through thoughtful discussion and fellowship.

Morning Prayer Breakfasts - West Side meets every Wednesday morning, 7:00 AM, at Crabapple Starbuck's. East Side meets monthly on Tuesday morning, 7:00 AM, at Bronx Bagels (next meeting will be December 11). Additional details on the Youth Website.

We need parents 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

Children's Ministry Dates:

December 2 - Advent Unit begins

December 23 - Children's Christmas Pageant at 9:50

December 30 - No Sunday school

VBS Planning Meeting

We will hold our first VBS planning meeting for this upcoming summer's VBS on Sunday, December 2 in Room 206. We will be choosing a curriculum for VBS, which will be held June 10th - 14th. Please join us as we begin to plan. Everyone is welcome.

Nursery care is provided on Sundays from 8:15- 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) is offered at the 8:30 and 11:00 service. Preschool classes will meet in Room 101 and Kindergarten and rising second graders in Room 102.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Celebration - To Jim and Louise Kennedy at the birth of their great-grandson, Jackson Kennedy Zolan, who was born Monday, November 26 in Arlington, VA.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Daniel Redder and Jack Shevlin at 8:30 & Zoe and Thea Genet at 11:00

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

Serving as ushers this Sunday: Dick and Sharon Bean, Tom Hyatt, Beau and David Armistead at 8:30 & Steve Ludlow, Dale Carter, Duane Lofdahl, Lee Jones 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, john.c.hicks@gmail.com

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).