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

We all worry - some of us more than others. While our worry is evidence that we care about something or someone, too much worry can be crippling and destructive. Too little stress and nothing ever gets accomplished; too much stress and we break down. I have long appreciated the words of Paul to the Philippians,

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (4:6-7)

They challenged us in seminary to be a peaceful, non-anxious presence in a worry-filled and anxious world. I invite you to find peace through faith in God. Recall the greeting of the risen Jesus to his fearful, anxious disciples:

"Peace be with you. Do not be afraid."

In an unpredictable, rapidly-changing and often unfair world, I suppose there are many reasons to worry, be anxious or upset. Chicken Little, you'll recall from childhood, was sure the sky was falling. Turns out, it was only an apple that had landed on his head. The sky was fine.

On my desk at APC, in the midst of all my work and the countless things on the "to do" list, I display a small button for me to see as a reminder. It simply reads, "Breathe." There are many days and moments when I need that calming, reassuring word. We all do. The message today for God's people is not just for your hearing, but a word to be absorbed and lived. The word is God's and it is for you:

Do not worry. Do not be afraid. Do not be anxious. Trust in God's love. Be at peace. Pray and breathe.

Ordinary Time

The season following Epiphany and leading up to Lent is known as Ordinary Time on the liturgical calendar. During this season, Christians are encouraged to grow spiritually, mature in their faith, and strive in the building up of the church. The Liturgical Art team invites you to look at the new installations in the niches outside the sanctuary in light of this "green" season.

MLK Jr. Day

The church office will be closed on Monday, January 21 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will also be NO Dayschool, Disciple I, guitar lessons or Whiz Kids.

Job Posting

APC is seeking a part-time Director of Music to provide overall leadership for its music programs. Responsibilities include leading music for Sunday worship, scheduling and conducting choir rehearsals on Wednesday nights for the chancel choir and handbell choirs, and supervising all music staff and guest musicians.

See the full job description at www.alpharettapres.com/dm.

Please email resume, letter of interest and three references to search@alpharettapres.com. Interviews/auditions will be held February 16-28, with expected hire date by the end of March, 2013.

Island Night

Join us on Saturday evening, February 9 from 6:00-8:00pm as we escape to a warm, sunny island to enjoy a tropical meal, entertainment and games. Please bring a tropical dessert to share and feel free to wear that tropical shirt! A suggested donation of $5 per person to support APC's Family Promise mission will be accepted at the door. Reservations can be made at the table by the entry door or at www.alpharettapres.com/acs.

Vote for Drake House

Help The Drake House win an office technology makeover from Milner, Inc. valued at $20,000! Have you volunteered at The Drake House? Then you know we need new printers and office equipment. How can you help? By voting for us - January 15-31! You can vote once per day per IP address. The more votes, the better chance we have to win.

Go to www.milner.com/jumpstart and vote for The Drake House. And please ask your friends, family, and colleagues to vote for us too. Happy voting and thanks for your support!

New Member Class

Interested in membership at APC? We have the class for you! APC's next New Member Class will be held three consecutive Sundays from 9:45-10:45am in the theater beginning February 3. Come hear more about the faith and life of the Church, as well as the history of and opportunities for involvement at APC. We look forward to welcoming you! Questions? Please don't hesitate to contact Ollie or Jamie or call the church office at 770-751-0033.

First Wednesday Dinner

February 6 - First Wednesday - Family Promise 101. Come and enjoy dinner while learning about APC's newest mission partner - Family Promise.

Dinner will begin at 6:00 PM. Reservations required. Evening programs begin at 6:35 PM. As a partner in Family Promise, APC will host homeless families on our church campus for four weeks each year. Join the APC Mission Committee for an informative evening that will answer all of your questions. What is Family Promise? What is APC's Role? Who is involved? How can you help? These topics and many more will be presented; and our new Executive Director, Bill Hardison will be in attendance.

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 on Sunday, February 3: (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 entering info on the bright lime green sheet posted by the APC kitchen door.

Dinner Menu will be: Pot Roast, vegetables, green salad, breads, drinks. Desserts will be King Cake and Chocolate in honor of Mardi Gras on February 12 and Valentine's Day on February 14.

Children's Ministry will provide activities for the children from 6:30-7:15 PM and nursery will be available.

Family Promise

APC Helps Homeless Families. As we prepare for APC's first Family Promise host week (March 3-10), please check APC's Family Promise website page often for news. You can find details there now about the February 6 First Wednesday program. We're calling it Family Promise 101: a time where you can meet Family Promise leaders, ask questions and learn more about the organization overall. Did you know it's one of the very few homeless shelter programs which keep families intact....that is, fathers and teenage boys are not sent to the men's shelter?! There are many ways you can help Family Promise, including donating items for the Day Center (find that list at this link.) and participating in a special APC Caribbean-themed fundraiser, Island Night on Saturday, February 9.

This Sunday

This Sunday we welcome to the pulpit APC member Ryan Bonfiglio who will be preaching at the 8:30 and 11:00am services; and APC member Emily Culp who will be preaching at the 9:50am service. Ryan is a PhD. student in Hebrew Scriptures at Emory University and the husband of Rev. Jamie Butcher. Emily is a second year seminary student at Candler School of Theology who is pursuing ordination as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Emily is the daughter of APC members Steve and Mary Culp.

Financial Peace University

APC will again offer Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Course beginning Sunday, January 27. The nine week course will end on March 24. Class time will start at 6:00pm and run to 7:30pm. Ted Lynam and Richard Boston will serve as co-coordinators.

Many have already benefitted from this course in getting control of their finances and attaining some degree of "Financial Peace". This class will also be available to anyone in our community. The cost of the course materials is $89.00.

Please contact Ted Lynam at 770-754-0445 or tedlynam3895@comcast.net if you are interested in the class or would like additional information. You may also want to go to the Dave Ramsey website: www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home.

Dayschool Registration

Come join the FUN! Registration for the 2013-2014 Dayschool classes to begin in August is taking place in January. If you are interested in four hours of uninterrupted fun and learning for your child, please call the Dayschool office 770-751-3862 for details.

Adult CE Winter Term

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

January 20: The Early History of Biblical Hebrew - "The Language of God" and its On-Going Legacy

January 27: The Early History of the Jewish Faith - The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Birth of the New Testament

Guitar Lessons

All children ages 7 and older are welcome to join Ollie Wagner for group guitar lessons which are held on Mondays from 4-5:00pm in the Choir Room. The lessons are free and guitars are provided. Parents are welcome to join their child in learning! To confirm your participation please email ollie@alpharettapres.com.

Sunday Flowers

The 2013 Flower Donation Chart is now up! APC members and friends are invited to donate flowers to beautify our sanctuary on Sunday mornings. The flowers may be placed in memory or honor of loved ones, or to mark a special occasion such as an anniversary, birthday or baptism. As many as three donors may participate on any given Sunday. The cost for each donor is $65. Our deacons take the flowers to homebound members after the service. The Flower Donation Chart is located outside the church office. Please complete a yellow form when you sign up and return it with your check to the church office.

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

January 20 - Youth Group Unplugged - 5:30-7:30pm. Please bring $4 for dinner.

January 27 - Youth 5:30-7:30pm

February 3 - Souper Bowl of Caring. Collection will be after each service. Souper Bowl of Caring is young people across the nation working together around the time of the Super Bowl football game to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities. Last year more than 260,000 youth participated in Souper Bowl of Caring, collecting more than $10 million in dollars and food for local hunger-relief charities. This year's goal is to empower 275,000 young people to collect $11 million fro charities in their communities. Help us grow this movement and tackle hunger in America!

February 3 - New 12 week Bible Study for High School Students, 3:30-4:30pm Room 210. Spiritual Gifts: Are They for everyone? If you are involved with praise band this would allow you to have time to go to practice after the bible study and for those students that are not participating in praise band we will open a "study hall", so you will have an hour to study before youth group.

February 9 - The Revolve Tour - Meet at APC 7:30am. Return to APC at 5:00pm. Cost $60. Sign up is first to pay basis beginning this Sunday, January 13. Limited number of 12 girls.

Let's face it, being a teen girl is hard, fun, crazy and exciting - all at the same time. Some days seem perfect, and others you're unsure of yourself and your purpose. Your happiness tends to revolve around things and feelings that make you blush or leave you feeling crushed. The good news is that you are never alone. There's a real love to lean on through your ups and downs. That's why Women of Faith is excited to bring you in 2013 The Revolve Tour: this is Love in churches nationwide.

Designed for 6th through 12th grade girls, this unforgettable, high-energy event is packed with cool speakers, authors and award-winning music artists that YOU relate to, who want you to know you are beautiful, unique and loved unconditionally by God, just the way you are.

Whether your relationship with God is strong, weak or even non-existent, it doesn't really matter. Come to this exciting event, have fun, leave your daily dramas behind and experience what real love means- to live a life that revolves around Christ.

February 17 - NO Youth - Winter Break

February 24 - Youth 5:30pm - 7:30pm

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 8:15-12:15pm 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

Sympathy - Kelly Posey and her family at the death of her brother, Bernie Posey, on Sunday, January 6 in Florida.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Daniel Redder and Jack Shevlin at 8:30 & Allyson Curl and Sam Moen at 11:00

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Volunteers needed

Serving as ushers this Sunday: Kim and Valerie Fulkerson, Sybille Johnstone, Alan Crowell, June Fortson at 8:30 & Ed and Pat Rea, Jeff Stewart, Ralph Pollifrone at 11:00

APC Church Officers

The Session

Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2015

George Bancroft-Property Zach Berry-Youth Ministry Gerard Ballard-Mission

Jodie Barger-Children's Ministry Scott Doll-Youth Ministry/Membership John Bullock-Membership

Lynn Danson-Fellowship/Mission Molly Elkind-Clerk of Session/Worship Julie Jagmin-Children's Ministry

Pat Dennis-Open Arms Stu Laubenstein-Personnel/Nominating Tyler Jones-Communications

Nancy Hill-Nominating/Personnel Anne Mahone-Dayschool/LRP Dave McKemey-Youth Ministry

Jan Hughey-Finance/LRP Charles Moriarty-CE Adult/Property Steve Wardrup-Finance/Commitment

Mike Marcin-Communications Sarah Provow-Commitment/Open Arms Beverly Williams-CE Adult/Fellowship

Kylie Vacko-Open Arms Ferrell White-Worship

Deacon Care Teams

Hospitality - John Hicks, john.c.hicks@gmail.com

Companion Care - Janice Armistead, janice.armistead@att.net

Hospital & Recovery - Eva Wardrup, zumaland@aol.com

Sympathy & Celebrations - Jennifer Autian, jautian@hotmail.com

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).