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

As you read this I am returning to Georgia from Canada. My family and I have enjoyed two weeks in Pennsylvania seeing family, New York enjoying the Finger Lakes, and Canada to speak a little French. Perhaps some of you are about to travel or returning from travels. Summer often affords us such opportunity! Thank you for providing your pastors and the church staff time for vacation! We appreciate that time to see loved ones, catch up on projects at home, travel and just get refreshed.

The first creation story which we know as the great hymn of creation (Genesis 1:1-2:4a) ends with God resting on the 7th day "after all the work that God had done." God's rest is instructional: you and I were not made to work non-stop. We need to rest and find time for renewal. We are finite, fragile and limited creatures. We need to care for ourselves lest we wear ourselves out. When we break from "making a living" we find time to be. Rest in the knowledge of God's care and provision. Rest in the company of friends and family, that you might enjoy some needed refreshment and re-creation.

Our culture runs on high-stress and non-stop action. It used to be that New York was the "city that never sleeps." Now, that seems to be just about all of us, anywhere. As people of faith, let us dare to demonstrate and give witness to another way as we take time to be, to pray, to consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. God rested from work, blessing and hallowing a needed day of rest as a gift for all of us to enjoy. "Our hearts are restless, O God" wrote St. Augustine long ago, "until they find their rest in Thee." This Sunday...and this Summer, commit yourself to rest in God.

Friends and Fellowship

The Friends and Fellowship reception is this Sunday. Visitors and members, please join the deacons after the 10:30 service in Fellowship Hall for a time of fellowship. Light refreshments will be served. It's a great time to meet new people and catch up with old friends!

Summer Preaching Series

We continue our summer preaching series this week, "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.

Open Arms Parents' Night Out

Open Arms Ministry next Parents' Night Out is Saturday, July 13 from 5:00-8:00pm. Please RSVP to Sarah Provow at shprovow@bellsouth.net. We are also looking for volunteers!

School Supply Drive

APC School Supplies Drive, July 21-August 8, to benefit APC Whiz Kids Tutoring Program, North Fulton Community Charities, Foster Care Support Foundation and The Place of Forsyth. Please consider donating any of the supplies shown on the display near the door to the multipurpose room. There are lists to take with you in the envelope on the display. Please leave items in the blue Mission bin next to the display. If you prefer to make a cash donation, please note "school supplies drive" on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your support. Questions, contact Sue White at 770-772-4667 or whitesbassets@bellsouth.net.

The Drake House

The Drake House needs Kroger and Walmart gift cards in amounts of $15 or $25. If you have any questions, please contact Sheryl Wentworth 404-357-9984.

Drake House Volunteer Opportunity

The 9^th Annual Miss Mary's Ice Cream Crankin' is scheduled for August 25, on the Square in Roswell. This is the major annual fund raising event for The Drake House, one of our APC Mission Partners. Participation from APC has waned over the past couple of years and we are looking for a coordinator for this year's event. If you are interested in organizing APC's participation in the event, please contact Gerard Ballard, gerardballard@comcast.net.

ACT1 Auditions

It's Audition Time! ACT1 Theater will be performing a series of skits for their fall production that prove that whatever the intentions, things are always more complicated than you think! There are multiple roles for all ages in these two comedies and one drama... information is on posters located in the church or on the ACT1 website, www.act1theater.com. Auditions for "Simply Complicated" will be held Monday and Tuesday July 22 and 23 at 6:30 PM - the production runs October 4 - 6. Call Lisa Matchen at 678-371-3079 with questions.

ACT1 Production

Opening next weekend! 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:

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

Career Transition

APC Career Transition Program - In May, the unemployment rate in Metro Atlanta increased from 7.6% in April to 8.2%. After years of job losses, the Construction Industry added 1,200 jobs in May. 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

Youth Group meets this Sunday, July 14 from 6:00-7:30 pm.

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

July 21 and August 4 from 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 3rd 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.

KinderWORSHIP continues its series titled, "Follow the Leader." The children who attend will learn about four ordinary people, Moses, Gideon, David and Esther, who God chose to become extraordinary leaders as God's people waited and prepared for the one true leader, Jesus Christ. Come and follow the footprints to join in the fun!

Plans are underway for an exciting change in Children's Ministries. We will be launching our new curriculum called 252 Basics. It is based on Luke 2:52 "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Over 3 years, we will learn: 150 Bible Stories + 30 Life Apps + 3 basic truths = 252 Basics.

As we plan for this fall we want to invite you to experience all the fun. Come and join us as we engage the hearts of the next generation here at APC. We need volunteers to help teach, to help tell stories, to help in the audiovisual piece and to help create the sets each month. You don't have to be a parent, you don't need to be wise, you just have to come as you are! Contact kristin@alpharettapres.com.

CLUB 45 will be getting together for a swim party and cookout at the Hicks home on Sunday, July 14 from 5:00-8:00pm. All rising 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are invited. Please contact kristin@alpharettapres.com to RSVP or for more information.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Steve and Eva Wardrup, Sybille Johnstone at 9:00 & Jack Hittle and Ray Appen 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: Trish Kent & Jim and Kris Moehring 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).