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.

Jamie's Jottings

Tomorrow from 4 to 7pm, the Open Arms committee is hosting a big party on the APC grounds. There will be yummy hotdogs, tasty hamburgers, home-baked desserts, arts and crafts projects, live music (lots of it), an open playground, and an intentionally inclusive worship service. We've invited multiple groups who serve people of all abilities. Emory Autism Center will drive up from Decatur. Just People Village is bringing a bus from Roswell. The Lionheart School and APC's own folks will flow in from North Fulton locations. We've run an ad in the paper for the last few weeks, so you might say we've invited the entire community serving folks with disabilities.

One of the Open Arms committee members showed me this scripture from Luke as a way to describe our Family Service & Festival. Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

In keeping with radical hospitality of the kingdom of God, the amazing love of Jesus Christ, and the energizing movement of the Holy Spirit, we are extending the reach of the ministry of Open Arms and Alpharetta Presbyterian Church by inviting "outsiders" in. People who may not be invited to many graduation celebrations, work holiday parties, or neighborhood pool parties. Individuals who can not easily attend county fairs, community events, or music concerts. We are opening our doors and arms.

Thank you for your investment in and excitement for this ministry. For more information or to volunteer, contact jamie@alpharettapres.com.

Sunday Morning

Worship will take place in the sanctuary for the next two Sundays, through June 16, at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.

Beginning June 23, we will worship at 9:00 and 10:30 in the multipurpose room on the second floor of the education building. We will worship in the MPR until renovation in the sanctuary is complete in mid-August.

Moving Day

APC is Movin' on Up! June 16, one week from this Sunday, will be "moving day" for our church. We have to move everything we need for continuing worship out of the sanctuary and to the multipurpose room (MPR) so that construction can start in the sanctuary the next day. That includes some 145 padded chairs, four risers, hymnals, and several other items. So, immediately after the 10:30AM service those who are comfortable doing so will be asked to take a few of the chairs out the east door to waiting trailers, and then to go upstairs to help unload the chairs to the MPR. It's a rather big task, and we need help! With many hands it won't take long, so if you can help you might want to wear something comfortable and plan to stay for just a short time. Thanks so much for your consideration.

Music by Van Wagner

This Sunday, we look forward to having Pennsylvania singer, songwriter and recording artist, Van Wagner, provide musical leadership for morning worship. Van is an acoustic musician, school teacher and Ollie's "little" brother.

Family Promise Guests arriving in two weeks!

Our second Family Promise host week is rapidly approaching and we need lots and lots of helping hands! Donations of groceries and household items will be critical; but even more important will be the members of our congregation who volunteer with love and support for our guests while they are staying on our campus. Please visit the APC Family Promise website page to see how you can help, or call Alli Neal at 770-317-9628. We have also posted resumes for several of our guests who are seeking employment.

APC Book Club

The APC Book Club meets Tuesday, June 11 at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall to discuss "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. All are welcome!

ACT1 Production

ACT1 Theater - Tickets now on sale for "Give My Regards to Broadway!" Combine the greatest show tunes of George M. Cohan with a sparkling story and you have the most entertaining, charming, toe-tapping musical of the season. Tickets are available online or look for the ACT1 table in the lobby the next two Sundays and thereafter in the upstairs lobby on Sunday mornings. The production runs from July 19 - August 11. For questions, contact Director Lisa Matchen at 678-371-3079 or lkmatchen@gmail.com.

Summer Adult CE Series

APC will be offering a summer adult education series titled, "The Spiritual Challenges of Mental Illness." We will be learning about the symptoms, prominence and treatments of several disorders, discussing their impact on health, families and friends, asking questions about faith and forgiveness, and considering implications for the church's ministry and response.

The classes will be held from 9:00am-10:00am in the APC theater. The series will be facilitated by counselors and physicians as follows:

June 16 Anxiety Disorders (Stress, Panic and Phobias) Rev. Neal Kuhlhorst
June 23 Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar and Suicide) Mr. Bill Waldorf

June 30 Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders Dr. Jerry Jenkins

July 7 Cognitive Disorders (Dementia and Alzheimer's) Dr. Salpi Adrouny

July 14 Childhood Disorders (ADHD, Autism-spectrum, and Dr. Brooke Jones

Behavioral Disorders)

July 21 Substance Dependence (alcohol and drugs) Mr. Kevin Moore

July 28 Personality Disorders (borderline personality, narcissism) Dr. Deborah Silver

New Drake Closet

The Drake Closet of Alpharetta is opening soon!!! Due to the overwhelming support of its first store in Roswell, The Drake House is pleased to announce the opening of a second resale boutique this fall. The Drake Closet Alpharetta will be located at 26 Old Roswell Street (formerly The Cannery gift shop behind SmokeJack's restaurant) and will be convenient to dining, shopping and all of the unique events that downtown Alpharetta has to offer. All of the profits generated by The Drake Closet are used to fund programming for the families who reside at The Drake House.

In preparation for the September opening and planned to coincide with Alpharetta's Food Truck Alley, volunteers will be conducting a clothing drive at the new store every Thursday in June from 6-8pm. New and gently used ladies' clothing apparel is needed to stock the store and all of the following items are requested: dresses, formalwear, skirts, slacks, blouses, sweaters, jeans, shoes, boots, coats, handbags and costume jewelry. The Drake House is a 501(c)3 non-profit and all donations are tax-deductible.

The Drake House is one of APC's mission partners. The Drake House provides short-term crisis housing and support for homeless mothers and their children. It is the only emergency residential housing facility in north metro Atlanta.

For information on volunteering at The Drake Closet, visit The Drake House website at http://www.thedrakehouse.org/tdh/ and click on the Volunteer tab. Don't forget that you can still visit The Drake Closet Roswell located at 825 Mimosa Boulevard.

Divorce Recovery Group

Are you going through a divorce or already divorced? APC is hosting a Divorce Recovery Group this fall using Dr. Bruce Fisher's "Rebuilding" program. Let us know your interest as we plan for the fall. Contact jamie@alpharettapres.com for more information.

Cancer Support Group

Are you a cancer survivor or have you lost a loved one to the disease? Are you looking for a way to offer encouragement and support to others? Members of APC are training with the national CanCare network this summer in Atlanta. There is a spot for you. Contact jamie@alpharettapres.com for more details.

APC Dayschool

The APC Dayschool is currently enrolling students for the 2013-2014 school year. The Dayschool is a ministry of APC that serves students from ages 2-5 in weekday program. For more information, please contact the Dayschool office at 770-751-3862. As our registration drive will continue through the summer, please refer your friends to our outstanding program!

Church Directories

The Church Directories are still available for pick up. If you "sat" for a photograph, you will receive a free directory. Directories may also be picked up in the church office Monday-Thursday 9:00am to 3:00pm and Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm. You may also pick up your copy on Sunday morning between services in the church office.

Career Transition

APC Career Transition Program - Recently, the unemployment rate in Metro Atlanta dipped below 8% for the first time in four years in the month of March, as a result of 14,700 jobs that were added in the first quarter of 2013. 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

June 9 from 6:00pm-7:30pm Youth Group will meet with Kristin Hicks to help Children's Ministry continue to set up for Vacation Bible School. Come experience the fun and fellowship while serving others.

Our Summer youth group will begin to follow the Youth Summer Calendar:

June 9 - 6:00-7:30pm Youth Group

June 23 - 5:00-7:30pm - High School Only (including rising 9th grade students) -Dinner, Briars in the Cotton Patch Video and Discussion at Ollie Wagner's Home.

June 30 , July 14, July 21 and August 4 at 6:00pm-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

Important: ALL VOLUNTEERS must turn in immediately the background check consent form! A copy can be found on the lobby table or on the website under "Documents Library-background check consent form-First Point." Contact kristin@alpharettapres.com. VBS Payment and Medical Forms - If you have not yet turned in your payment or medical release form. Please do so as soon as possible so that we can order finalize our supplies and turn in or final orders.

Nursery care is provided on Sundays from 8:45am-11:45pm for ages 0-2 in the nursery. (Summer)

Promise Class is provided on Sundays from 10:00-12:00pm for our special needs students in the Blue Room. (Summer)

KinderWORSHIP (Children's Worship Education for children ages 3 - rising 2nd graders) - We do have summer KinderWORSHIP at the 10:30am worship service. Come join us as we learn about "Rough Waves - Jesus Saves." It will be held in the Solid Rock Theater during the summer.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sympathy - To David Bateman at the death of his mother, Greta Bateman, on Tuesday, May 28. Services will be held on Wednesday, June 12 in Bexhill-on-Sea, England. She was 91 years old.

Sympathy - To Marylyn Dahl at the death of her husband and APC member, Harlan Dahl, on Wednesday, June 5 in Milton. Services will be held Monday, June 10 at APC. He was 88 years old.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Sam Moen at 10:30

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Sybille Johnstone at 9:00 & Jack Hittle at 10:30

Serving as ushers this Sunday: George and Susie Myers, Carolyn Dillon, Wilson Borden at 9:00 & Ken Bogle, Larry Prohl, Dale Carter, Dot Van Dyke at 10:30

Promise Class Volunteers this Sunday: Meredith Brogan at 10:00

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).