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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Kristin's Korner

I had the privilege this past weekend to attend a retreat at Camp Calvin with many of our 4th and 5th graders or as they like to be called, Club 45. We spent our time there together learning about how conditions are for much of the developing world at Camp Calvin's Global Village, singing around a campfire, making giant s'mores and worshiping together. I was so impressed with the thoughtful discussion and comments that each child made. I enjoyed watching them interact with each other, knowing that the friendships they have made will bond them together for years to come. It was a great time for all!

This coming weekend the 5th graders will be having a special breakfast with Kelly Edwards, our Youth Director, as she welcomes them into youth ministries and they are given the Bible that they will use for the next several years in middle and high school. If you are like me, this time of year is always a little bittersweet as we watch our children move onward and upward to the next phase, whether it is the sweet faces of our four year olds at our APC Dayschool who are graduating and moving on to elementary school, or the 5th graders who will move out of children's ministries and into youth ministries. I hope you will join me as we rejoice in their growth and accomplishments and celebrate with them these milestones.

As you and your family plan your families' events this summer we would love to have your participation in this year's VBS as a participant or a volunteer. We need volunteers for all ages. You can register by going to our website http://www.alpharettapres.com and clicking on the horse on the right hand side.

Blessings,

Kristin

Director of Music

This Sunday we welcome Drew Bowers as our new Director of Music. Drew is the Choral Director at Milton High School, a position he has held since 2007 and will continue to hold as he works with us. He is a graduate of Shorter College where he majored in music education. He earned his Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University with a major in choral conduction. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the Chorister's Guild and the Georgia Music Educators Association. Please join us in welcoming Drew, his wife Leslie and daughter Tucker at a reception Sunday immediately after the 11:00 service in Fellowship Hall.

The Drake Walk

The Drake Walk-Bring your family, friends and neighbors for a walk through beautiful Historic Roswell and help homeless women and children get back on their feet. The Drake Walk is Saturday, May 4 beginning with check-in at 9:30am and ending at 2:00pm. Cost is individuals $15 and families $30. The walk begins at Roswell United Methodist Church and is followed by a family-friendly festival with activities and entertainment. For more information go to www.thedrakewalk.org or call 770-587-4712.

Calling All Graduates

We are so excited that your senior is a part of APC however they involve themselves, with Sunday School, mission trips, Praise Band, Youth Group or other APC events. If your child graduated any time following May of 2012, we would like to include them (December 2012 grads, etc.)!

We will be having our Senior Recognition at APC towards the end of worship services on Sunday, May 5. Please be looking through your photos to find 4-5 that you would want included in the Senior Slide Show. If you have candid, group shots of these youth at their Confirmation, Christmas pageants, retreats or the like, you can submit those as well and we'll use as we can. Bob Cookson has graciously offered his time to put the slides to music! You can email pictures to him directly at blackwatch@bellsouth.net. If you'd prefer, they can be dropped off at the church or in Kelly's office (appropriately marked!) Bob has the ability to scan images and we'll return any prints to you...higher resolution pictures are desired. Please let us know which school they are graduating from. If you would like your senior's future plans mentioned (work, college, intended field of study, travel, military, trade school, undecided, etc.) we will be happy to include this information as we are able within our space and time constraints. Please submit any pictures by Sunday, April 21 so that we have time to compose the video.

Confirmation Class

The APC Confirmation Class will have a dinner meeting with the Session to share their faith statements on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:00pm in Fellowship Hall. All class participants, their teachers, parents and mentors are invited to be present. Session members will provide the meal. The youth will be joining the church by making their public profession of faith at the 11:00 service next Sunday. Thank you for your prayers for these youth!

Presbyterian Women

Presbyterian Women-During the month of April we will complete the voting for the 2013-2014 officers of PW. Some women voted at their circle meetings, while others, who are not members of a women's circle, will now have the opportunity to vote. Ballots and a voting box are located on a table in Fellowship Hall. A formal vote on a ballot is required. Last date to vote is Sunday, April 28.

First Wednesday

Save the Date! Our final First Wednesday of the school year will be Wednesday, May 1! After our fellowship meal, we will enjoy a music program featuring a variety of APC's musical groups. Make your reservations by Sunday, April 28 at noon by: (1) going online at http://www.alpharettapres.com/acs; (2) filling out a card on the lobby table, (3) signing up on the sheet by the APC kitchen door.

Parent's Night Out

Our next Parent's Night Out is Saturday, May 11 from 5:00-8:00pm for our children with special needs and their siblings. Volunteers are needed to staff this event. Please make reservations for your children as soon as possible so we may then open it to the community. To volunteer or to make a reservation, contact Sarah Provow at shprovow@bellsouth.net.

Safety & Security

APC has a Safety and Security Task Force that is currently studying ways to improve procedural and building security. The task force is being chaired by Brian Moore and hopes to present recommendations to Session this summer. To share a concern or idea, please contact Ollie Wagner.

Church Directory

Church Directory Update - If you had your picture taken earlier this year for our updated church photo directory, you may be wondering when the directories will be available. A "proof copy" supplied by the photographer was reviewed by APC staff and has been returned to the photographer for final publication. We should receive the printed directories in about 30 days or so. However, we have already received a digital file from the photographer containing all of the directory portraits taken during the photo sessions, and these pictures were recently uploaded into our Access ACS system. You can find them in the "Directories" portion of the system.

For those of you who were unable to schedule a portrait session with the photographer, did you know that you can still upload a picture of yourself, or your family, into Access ACS? Instructions for doing this can be found on APC's website by clicking on the "Access ACS" menu item near the top of the main page. This will take you to a page listing some "Frequently Asked Questions", one of which is how to upload a photo. If you encounter problems or still have questions, you can contact APC's ACS support at acssupport@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.

Camp Calvin

The Calvin Center is the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta's summer camp and year-round conference center. Our camp has just released information on its summer camping program and would love to serve the needs of our youth, children and their families this summer. For more information, please visit their website www.calvincenter.org or contact Kelly Edwards or Kristin Hicks.

Youth Ministry News

Youth Group meets this Sunday, April 21 from 5:30-7:30 PM. Please bring $4 for dinner.

Dinner Help Needed: We offer youth dinner at youth group which is a vital part of our ministry. We need your help in by helping with cooking, set up and clean up. Chef Doug does the prep work and leaves instructions on preparing and set up. Won't you please take some time to volunteer to help serve the youth dinner. Here are some available dates April 7, 14 & 21 and May 5 &19, please contact Wendy Curl at wmcurl@comcast.net or sign up on ACS.

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

VBS: Registration for this summer's VBS is now in progress. The Epic adventure begins June 10-14. Your kids won't want to miss this one! Kingdom Rock is filled with a colossal castle, knights on horseback, drawbridges and armor. An adventure where kids learn how to stand strong for the one true King! See the APC website www.alpharettapres.com for registration information.

APP'S - Alpharetta Presbyterian Parents : Want to get to know other parents at APC with young children?!?! Us too!! Join us for fellowship and fun while we get to know each other. The evening's theme will be camping and activities will include music and food. So grab your family and your APPetite and join us! April 27 from 5:00-7:00 $5.00 per adult - $3.00 per child - $20 Max. per family Nursery care available - Children's activites.

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 9:50 and 11:00 worship services 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 - To Morris Estes at the death of his great aunt, Madge W. Smith, on Saturday, April 6. Services were held last week in Spindale, NC. She was 92 years old.

Sympathy - To Susan Gant at the death of her husband, Jon Gant, on Tuesday, April 16 in Buckhead, GA. Services will be held on Saturday, April 27.

Sympathy - To Joel Alvis, former interim pastor of this congregation, at the death of his father, Joel Alvis, Sr., on Saturday, April 6. Services were held in Black Moutain, NC.

Sympathy - To Bonnie Clyne, friend of APC, at the death of her son last week in Tucson, AZ.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Daniel Redder and Isobel Still at 8:30 & Caroline and Kate Tweedy at 11:00

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Steve Ludlow at 8:30 & Kathy Hopkins and Jennifer Autian at 11:00

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

Promise Class Volunteers This Sunday: Trish Kent at 8:30 & Fran Mosher 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).