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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@alpharettapres.com.

Ollie's Offerings

Sanctuary. It's a word that has been on my mind a lot this week. The APC sanctuary is now unusable and in the midst of renovation. The pews and carpet have been removed, walls are being painted, the chancel waits to be refinished, windows are being repaired and resealed and the sound system will get some needed work and recalibration. We commonly refer to "the sanctuary" as our place of worship and it certainly is that. A sanctuary is a place of prayer and singing, a place of quiet reflection, scripture and good news proclamation, a place to present our offerings and confess our faith...all important acts of the Spirit. We all look forward to having and enjoying our renovated sanctuary by summer's end!

APC is offering another type of "sanctuary" this week. Through our partnership with Family Promise of North Fulton County we are offering a decent, safe place for four families to stay. The Alpha and Omega buildings are serving as sanctuary to some homeless families. Thank God for the volunteers and space we have to share with folks who need a bed to rest, a place to shower, meals to enjoy, transportation to work and the support of friendship. Our guests are most grateful to the church. Please pray for them.

The church gym (which we call the multi-purpose room) has been transformed to a worship space...a temporary sanctuary. Thanks to the hard work of many (including all of you who helped last Sunday!) the space is ready to go for this Sunday. Our hope and prayer is that worshiping in a different space will be refreshing to us all, a reminder that God is present with us wherever we go throughout the world. Join us this Sunday at 9am or 10:30am!

Finally, I've been thinking about the emotional sanctuary longed for by those who struggle with mental illness. This Sunday, APC member and licensed professional counselor, Bill Waldorf, will lead an hour of education and discussion on the topic of depression, bipolar disorder and suicide. All of our lives-whether directly or not--are touched by the storms and challenges of mental illness. We pray for wholeness, healing and health for those who shoulder and endure such hardships. Indeed, we pray for sanctuary for those facing mental illness.

I thank God for the many sanctuaries we provide in Christ's name to a world in need.

Thank you all!

The move to the upper room last Sunday was a total success only because so many people were willing to help! Thanks so very much! Our scouts in particular stayed to handle much of the setup, and others finished during the week. As a result we still have a lovely space in which to worship during the lower level construction. You're going to like the way it looks! We guarantee it!

The Drake House

The Drake House needs gift cards in amounts of $15 or $25. If you have any questions, please contact Sheryl Wentworth 404-357-9084.

Welcome to the "Upper Room!"

Beginning this Sunday, 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.

As you know, this Sunday we begin meeting for worship upstairs in what has been referred to as the multipurpose room. It has been converted into a very comfortable environment, to be used until the work in the sanctuary and lower level is completed, hopefully in August. The space is a little different, however, and we each can make worship even more meaningful by observing a couple of suggestions.

First, especially if you come early, plan to sit on the far (north) side of the room rather than taking the closest seats. And as others enter please "close ranks" and move over, leaving no empty seats between you and the next person.

Secondly, since the later 10:30 service tends to be better attended, you might consider trying the 9:00AM instead, just during this period of construction. Both services are similar. Or, you might want to experience the "sunrise" services on July 7 and August 4. We were able to allow more room for extra seating if needed, so we should be just fine. But whatever you do, come! After all, when else in your life will you have the marvelous opportunity to worship and even have communion in the "upper room?"

Thanks for your consideration.

Foster Care Support

The APC Foster Care Support Mission Team invites you to join them for their monthly volunteer day in Roswell this Tuesday, June 25. We carpool from APC at 9:30 in the morning, help sort clothing, and fill mail orders for children in foster care. We then enjoy lunch and fellowship at a nearby restaurant before returning to the church by 2:00 PM. For more information, contact Marianna Raffensperger at 770-442-3672 or theraffs@juno.com.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Prayer Shawl Ministry June Meeting will be Tuesday, June 25 at 1:30pm. We will gather in the upstairs lobby for an hour or two of prayer, fellowship and needlecraft. All are welcome! If you have questions, please contact Mary Rogovin at 404-386-5591 or msrogovin@gmail.com.

New Member Class

Interested in membership at APC? Our next new member class will be Saturday, July 13 from 9:00-11:30am in Fellowship Hall. Joining Sunday will be July 14. Please let us know of your interest by RSVPing to carol@alpharettapres.com or call the church office 770-751-0033.

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 Preaching Series

Beginning July 7 and running for six consecutive Sundays, Ollie and Jamie will be a offering a summer preaching series, "The Furniture of Faith." We will consider why sanctuary's typically have: pew, stained glass, pulpit, organ, font & table, and cross. Displacement from our sanctuary due to the renovation provides us a good time to consider the vital elements of our worship space.

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 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.

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!

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

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

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

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

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Sybille Johnstone at 9:00 & Joyce Komala at 10:30

Serving as ushers this Sunday: Richard Boston, Kelly Vandever, Marian Cunningham, John McPherson at 9:00 & Stu and Kyle Laubenstein, Dave and Zach Berry, Nancy Hill, Mary Rogovin, Peggy Asher at 10:30

Promise Class Volunteers this Sunday: Fran Mosher 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).