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

The terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya has raised concern about the vulnerability of so-called "soft targets" throughout the world. When I was in Kenya with Walter Dean last year for our "Habitat Aid Initiative" mission trip our vehicles were checked for bombs at the hotel and church every time we entered the parking lot. To enter worship at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Nairobi we had to go through metal detection and frisking by security guards. Despite that vigilance, safety could not be guaranteed. A week after we returned home a church in the north of Kenya was bombed with fatalities. Now the shopping mall in Kenya, as a church in Pakistan and even our own Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. reveal just how real and close violence is.

Earlier this week, less than a mile behind the church in a neighborhood known as much for drug dealers as for its close proximity to an elementary school where we tutor children, a young man lost his life to gun violence. I encourage you to pray for all victims of violence and for peace. I encourage you to work for safe schools, churches and neighborhoods.

APC has two important policies meant to help ensure the safety of all involved with our ministries-especially our children. Our Child and Youth Safety Policy and our Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found in the document library portion of our website. With both policies, we try to create a safe environment (physically, emotionally and verbally) through prevention, education and enforcement. In addition, a "Safety and Security Task Force"

which was chaired by US-Navy veteran and APC member Brian Moore has given to the Session several valuable recommendations that deal with everything from safeguarding finances to computers to exterior doors and weather or fire emergencies. Many of those recommendations are currently being discussed and implemented.

Safety, peace and security are concerns that belong to all of us. Each one, do your part and add your prayers!

"May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!" - Psalm 29:11

Rev. Caitlin Phillips

Rev. Caitlin Phillips will be commissioned to the position of APC Ministry Associate next Sunday, September 29 at the 11:00 service. Caitlin's family will be joining us for the celebration and a reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.

Welcoming Team

Smiling faces and welcoming souls needed for our new APC Welcoming Team! One Sunday each month starting in the new year, be a part of an organized effort to welcome and inform visitors to the ins and outs of APC, including Sunday school locations, youth activities and general information. Contact Patricia Chiroux in the Church Office, patricia@alpharettapres.com.

New Deadline

The new deadline for submission of announcements for the bulletin and The Good News has been changed to Tuesday at noon. Please send them to communications@alpharettapres.com.

The New Sound System

The final piece of the puzzle was completed this week! Listen for new and improved sound this Sunday in worship.

Mission Haven

Mission Haven is adjacent to Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur and provides six residences for Presbyterian missionaries while they are in the U.S. Several volunteer opportunities are available. If you would like to help with apartment repairs, gardening, painting and other apartment needs, please contact Glenice Johnson at 404-373-5252.

ACT1 Show & Dinner

ACT1 Theater this fall presents "Simply Complicated," a collection of three vignettes. The production will run October 4-6. The Saturday production will be held cooperatively with the Fellowship Committee as a dinner theater, and the Sunday matinee offers the show plus the possibility of a lunch and "show special" with nearby Mittie's Caf�.

Friday Show at 7:30 pm - $10

Saturday Dinner Theater, Dinner at 6:00 pm - $20 (new price)

Sunday Matinee at 2:00 pm - $10; Sunday Lunch at Mittie's and a Show - $25 (Lunch at 11:30 am, Show at 2:00 pm)

Call 678-371-3079 for tickets or go online to www.act1theater.com.

Weekend of Service

Our fall Weekend of Service is October 5 and October 6. On Saturday, October 5, we will have the opportunity once again to participate in the sorting of medical supplies at MedShare, www.medshare.org, at 1:00 pm. On Sunday, October 6, we will be making soup packets in Fellowship Hall for NFCC immediately after the 11:00 service. We will also be sorting items listed below for Haiti Partnership.

Help us collect lightweight items for projects at Holy Innocents Church, Ticotelette, La Gon�ve, Haiti. Projects include sewing small dolls and dresses for children, a birth kit for deliveries and health day. We need reading glasses, toothbrushes, small bars of soap and sewing supplies. Place them in the bin in the lobby for sorting during our Day of Service Sunday, October 6 after the 11:00 service in the Fellowship Hall.

MedShare

Join APC for a day of service at MedShare on Saturday, October 5. We will leave by bus from APC at 10:45 am, stopping for lunch at Subway before arriving at MedShare in Decatur at 12:45 pm. There will be a 15 minute training session before we start sorting medical supplies for clinics in developing countries around the world. We will depart for APC at 4:00 pm.

This project is open to adults and youth (6th - 12th grade). Middle schoolers must be accompanied by a parent; high schoolers may attend unchaperoned if they have a permission note from their parent to ride the bus.

If you prefer to drive yourselves, please arrive at MedShare no later than 12:45 pm and plan to stay until 4 p.m. The address to MedShare can be found on their website at www.medshare.org.

We have reserved 40 volunteer slots for this day of service so please reserve your space by clicking here. Contact Walter Dean at 770-598-6553, wwdean@bellsouth.net with questions.

First Wednesday

First Wednesday Dinner is October 2! Anne Hallum, founder of AIR Guatemala, will be our guest speaker. AIR implements educational programs and agro-forestry methods in Central America. Since 1993, they have trained over 2,000 farmers, constructed over 750 fuel-efficient stoves, provided 18 high school scholarships to rural teenagers, established hundreds of tree nurseries and planted over 3.7 million trees! Dinner is from 6:00-6:45 pm in Fellowship Hall. The Adult Program is 6:45-7:30 pm and Children's Activities are 6:45-7:30 pm. Dinner menu: Roasted pork with sauerkraaut and apples, saut�d red cabbage, spaetzle, biscuits, salad, apple German chocolate cake. Reservations required for dinner by noon Sunday, September 29 by: (1) going on-line at www.alpharettapres.com/acs; (2) filling out a card on the table in the hallway, or (3) entering info on the bright lime green sheet posted by the APC kitchen door. For questions, contact Sheryl Wentworth, sherylwentworth@comcast.net or 770-777-1229.

Adult Sunday School

Be a part of an Adult Sunday School class! Three lively and interesting classes are being offered from 9:45 - 10:45 each Sunday morning. To learn more about our Crossroads, Courageous Conversations for Contemporary Christians, or Faith and Families class, and for class locations, go online to www.alpharettapres.com/CE, or pick up a brochure at our Welcome Center.

Dave Ramsey Classes

The Legacy Journey is an all-new, seven-week, biblically based class that teaches you how to truly live and leave a legacy for generations to come. This class will lead you deeper into investing, basic estate planning, purposeful living, safeguarding your legacy, and discovering the keys to generational wealth and true generosity. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small-group activities, you'll learn a biblical framework for living intentionally now so that later you'll be able to leave a legacy that will secure your family's future and make a lasting impact on the world around you. The Legacy Journey classes meet for around an hour and a half each week for eight weeks (seven weeks plus a bonus week) beginning Sunday, September 29 at 5:30 pm. Class materials are available at cost through APC.

Financial Peace University - We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God's ways of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more! FPU classes meet for around an hour and a half each week for nine weeks at 5:30 pm. Class materials are available at cost through APC.

For locations and class information, contact Ted Lynam at tedlynam3895@comcast.net.

Career Transition

APC Career Transition Program - The unemployment rate in Metro Atlanta increased from 7.6% in April to 8.2% in May. 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

Our hearts are heavy at the thought of goodbye, but we know that God has a plan, both for the APC Youth Ministry and for the Edwards Family. Kelly's final day with us will be September 30. Join us on Sunday evening, September 29, to pay tribute to Kelly's ministry at APC. We will start Youth Group at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall for middle and high schoolers and advisors, and we invite parents and siblings to join us at 7:00 pm in the multipurpose room for a celebration.

Parents of College Students: At an upcoming Youth Group gathering, our APC college students will be in our thoughts and actions. Please take a moment to send an email to dianne@alpharettapres.com with your child's college address for USPS mailings. We know that throughout these years they move many times and we want to keep up with where they can best obtain mail. We will be sending college care packages on October 6, so the deadline for receiving addresses is October 3. This will allow us just enough time to compile the full list and purchase supplies needed. Church members wanting to make cookies or donate candy, please contact Scott Doll, scottd@ymcaatlanta.org.

Did you know that you can enter information into the church's database, ACS? You can edit any family information and even obtain a church directory online! If you haven't checked out ACS yet, create a login using your email address at the APC website and see all of the great work the Communication Committee has done to better connect our membership.

Youth Ministry needs YOU!!! Every Sunday night at youth group volunteers serve dinner to the youth. This is a time for students to relax, fellowship and share a meal together. It is a crucial part of the ministry that needs your help by serving dinner. Chef Doug does all the prep work and leaves instructions for preparing the meal, so it is super easy and fun. It is also a great way to meet the students at APC! If you are a part of a ministry that is not involved with youth, this is be a great way for your team, Sunday School Class or small group to serve. Parents can sign up as well. Please contact Wendy Curl at wmcurl@comcast.net. Thank you so much!

Middle School students are collecting shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotions, toothpaste and toothbrushes to help supply local ministries with hygiene packets. Please drop your items off in the box marked 'Hygiene Packets" in the upstairs lobby. Middle School students will be putting together packets on October 6, so please have donations in by then.

F.I.S.H. (Fellowship in Someone's Home), is a new and exciting part of Youth Ministry for High School students. The first Sunday of every month they will meet at someone's home for youth group. The host will provide the main course for dinner and students should bring a side dish, dessert or drinks. High School students will meet from 6:00-8:00 pm. This allows parents with middle school students to drop off and pick them up from church for Youth Group from 5:30-7:30 pm. On October 6, FISH will be held at the Gould Home, 1375 Mayfield Manor Drive, Alpharetta GA 30005. ALL High School students are encouraged to attend and bring a friend!!!

If you are not a part of the APC Youth Group Facebook page, please friend request. We will be using Social Media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and email to communicate about youth events and activities. Parents, please check Access ACS to be sure your email is current.

For questions or more information, please contact Dianne Berry, Adminstration Assistant for Youth and Children at dianne@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-0033.

Children's Ministry News

Come and Join us this week on Phobia Island as we remember God's promise to Abraham that he would receive the Land of Canaan. But the great city of Jericho is blocking Abraham's family from moving into Canaan (Joshua 6). Our Bottom Line for the week: I can be brave because I know God keeps His promises. Sometimes it's our fear that keeps us from ever living in the promises God has given us. All ages meet in the multipurpose room at 9:45 am.

Nursery care for ages 0-36 months in the nursery.

Preschool Sunday School for ages 3-5 years PCUSA Wee Believe curriculum.

Sunday School for ages K - 5th grade based on the Orange Curriculum 252 Basics.

KinderWorship - Children's worship education following the Children's sermon during the 11:00 am Sunday worship service.

For questions or more information about Children's Mininstry, please contact Kristin Hicks, Director of Children's Ministry at kristin@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-0033.

Sympathy & Celebrations

Sympathy - To Jerry Hopkins at the death of his mother, Jane Hopkins, on Saturday, September 21 in Syracuse, NY. Services were held this week.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as greeters this Sunday: John Hicks at 8:30 and Ken Bogle at 11:00.

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Isobell S. at 8:30 and Ethan and Jessie B. at 11:00.

Serving as ushers this Sunday: Volunteers needed.

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 www.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 (Monday-Thursday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm and Friday, 8:00 am-1:00 pm).