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

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@alpharettapres.com.

Ryan Bonfiglio will teach a  4-week series called "The Early History of Faith". Ryan's series will focus on the really early history of the faith traditions that the church inherited - i.e., ancient Israelite religion, language, history, etc. The series will address historically-oriented questions about the OT, early Judaism, etc. that often surface in Disciple and other similar studies. The series consists of the following 4 topics:

Week 1: The Early History of the People of God - The Origins of Israel and the Promised Land

Week 2: The Early History of Israelite Religion - The Development of Monotheism

Week 3: The Early History of Biblical Hebrew - "The Language of God" and its On-Going Legacy

Week 4: The Early History of the Jewish Faith - The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Birth of the New Testament

  

  

  

  

Cross Mission - Sun., June 2 - Fri., June 7   Eligible: completed 6th thru 8th grade Cost: $175.00   Cross is a week-long mission. While in Charlotte we will be taking advantage of the opportunity to serve in several different urban situations, participants have found that their work for others brings them closer to Christ in surprising ways. We will be housed at Myers Park Presbyterian Church.

Appalachia Service Project - Sun., June 16- Sat., June 22 Eligible: Participants must be 14-18 years Cost: $200.00. Appalachia's poorest families urgently need your help to make their homes warmer, safer and drier.   When you arrive for your week of service, you'll be housed in one of ASP's several base camps -- often a school or community center rented for the summer to put you closer to Appalachia's remote communities. Your group will receive all the tools, construction materials and supervision they need to be productive, not to mention three meals a day and plenty of opportunities for worship and reflection.

Presbyterian Youth Triennium. "I AM". - Mon., July 15-Sat., July 20 Eligible: completed 8th - 12th. Cost: TBD   The Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches are centered around the worship of and the trust in God as lived and taught by Jesus Christ and carried on by the power of the Holy Spirit. This includes the daily invitation to all of us to pray, serve, and "Go into the world!" For young people it helps to spend dedicated time discerning what these invitations mean, what they look like, and how they connect to their lives. At the Presbyterian Youth Triennium, through the presentations, studies, recreational events and mission experiences we strive to connect youth and adults with activities that inspire them to be alert, active and seek ways to connect their lives with their growing faith.

Kidz2Leaders - Camp Hope - Sat., July 13 - Fri., July 19  Eligible: completed 9th-12th  Cost: $100.00   Camp Hope exists to help change the lives of prisoners' children and to break the vicious cycle of incarceration. We help them rise above their circumstances, teach them to become leaders and provide a life of hope through Christian programming and a fun environment. Our students are counselors and are 9th-12th graders or in college. They are leaders and well-grounded in their Christian faith. All counselors go through the Camp Hope training and must commit to the entire week of camp. Every teen counselor is paired in a one-on-one relationship with a camper. College counselors might have two or three campers. We have high expectations for our counselors because we depend on them to oversee their camper 24/7. In addition, counselors learn how to be a "kid" again with their camper and teach their camper by actions rather than words. The teen or college counselor is not only a counselor, but a mentor, sister or brother, and friend for the whole week. Every cabin is led by a head counselor that supports each counselor in many ways.

Destination Unknown - Fri., July 26 thru Sun., July 28   Eligible: rising 6th thru completed 12th grade Cost:  $175.00 Youth are told what to pack and what to wear the first day as they venture on three days of adventure to various locations in the southeast - destinations planned but unknown to participants (youth and adults alike!)

***The youth must constantly participate in youth group and the fundraisers.   No trips are eligible for a reduction in fees due to fundraising activities. Scholarships are available.

  

Look for a New High School Bible Study starting on January 13, 2013 at 3:30pm   More details to follow.

 

For questions or more information, please contact Kelly Edwards, Director of Youth Ministries at kelly@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-0033.    

Sympathy - Wendy Curl and her family at the death of her grandmother, Vivian Smith, on Sunday, December 23. She was 92 years old. Services were held in North Carolina on Thursday, December 27.  

  

Sympathy - Eric Hale and his family at the death of his father, Richard Hale, on Saturday, December 29 in western North Carolina. Services to be determined.

  

Sympathy - Keith Still and her family at the death of her uncle, Ed Stembridge, on Friday, December 28 in Florida.

  

Celebration - Paul and Kate McChesney at the birth of their son, Noah Paul McChesney, on Sunday, December 30.