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

When Christ calls us, he calls us into communion with himself and into community with others. Communion with God is nourished and lived out in weekly worship through word, sacrament, offering, prayer and song. At home and daily, I urge you to take time with God through scripture, silence and prayer. Be mindful and aware. Take notice of every evidence of grace you encounter. Indeed, "pray without ceasing." Every meaningful relationship demands regular, honest, two-way dialogue. Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches." Take time to connect with the source and hope of your life. Listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd and delight in his presence and provision.

As for Christ's call into community, be thankful that you are not alone. Sitting at a congregational dinner last week a church member was sipping tea with me as we finished our desert and said, "It is so nice to be connected to Christ's body at events like this. It's really important that we have time like this just to be together. In worship, we don't get to visit like we do in Fellowship Hall." Whether with our softball team, women's circles, choirs, Club 45, youth prayer breakfast, ACT1 drama ministry or in many other ways, we are blessed with opportunities to be together in smaller groups. May God bless every tie that binds us together as a community.

In his Romans commentary, Columbia Seminary professor David Bartlett writes, "True faith brings us together; false faiths drive us apart. Differences may have their place in the body of Christ, but divisiveness does not." I invite you to meditate on David's insights and the teaching of the Apostle Paul, "We who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another." (Romans 12:5)

Care Packages

Make a college student's day and help fill our college care packages! Donations needed: granola bars, micro popcorn, hot chocolate mixes, tea/lemonade mixes, instant oatmeal, ramen noodles, box mac-n-cheese, jerky, small plastic jars of peanut butter/nutella, gum, mints, tissues, toothpaste/toothbrush, post-its, highlighters, pens/pencils. Place items in the marked bin outside of Fellowship Hall. Care packages will be assembled on October 20.

All volunteers for children and youth

If you have not yet received Child and Youth Safety Training, there will be a session on Sunday, October 27 at 12:15 pm in Fellowship Hall. RSVP to Dianne Berry, dianne@alpharettapres.com.

Race to Rally Hope

Bring your family to the Kiddos' Clubhouse Foundation's "Race to Rally Hope", hosted by APC members Brett and Nell DeVore, on Sunday, October 20 at 8:00 am for the Kid's 1K Fun Run or at 8:30 am for the Peachtree Road Race Qualifer 5K and 10K event! You can be finished in time for the 11:00 service. Proceeds from the event will go directly to scholarship funding for families all across Georgia who are unable to afford critical therapy services for their children with special needs. Register online at www.racetorallyhope.com/, or walk-up on Sunday morning to register! For more information, please contact Nell DeVore at npdevore@yahoo.com.

First Wednesday

First Wednesday Dinner is Wednesday, November 6. The adult program will be highlighting Foster Care Support. The Appen family will speak from personal experience about the joys, challenges and unexpected blessings they've encountered as foster parents. Marianna Raffensperger and other APC members will share stories about their volunteer work with Foster Care Support Foundation. Join us as we expore new ways of caring for children in our community.

Time: Dinner 6:00-6:45 pm in Fellowship Hall Reservations required for dinner.

Adult Program 6:45-7:30 pm

Children's Activities 6:45-7:30 pm

Dinner Menu: Thanksgiving Feast

Reservations can be made in three ways: Make your reservations by Sunday noon of November 3: (1) going on-line at www.alpharettapres.com/acs ; (2) by filling out a card on the table in the hallway, or (3) by entering info on the bright lime green sheet posted by the APC kitchen door.

Contact person is Sheryl Wentworth at 770-777-1229 or sherylwentworth@comcast.net

Property Work Day

Help spruce up the Lord's House and grounds! Saturday, October 26 from 8:00 am - noon. Bring rakes, clippers, trimmers, wheel barrows, pressure washers, cleaning cloths, furniture cleaner, etc. We'll be spreading pine straw and mulch, trimming limbs, trees, and vines, cleaning the pews, chancel, windows, and polishing the wood. Coffee, juice, and donuts for early birds. Contact Gene Casey, gene@alpharettapres.com for more information.

Parent's Night Out at APC

The Open Arms Committee is sponsoring a Parent's Night Out at APC on Saturday, October 26 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm for our children with special needs and their siblings. Please bring your parental consent forms and any necessary medications or special snacks for your child. The suggested donation is $5. Volunteers also needed; no experience necessary. RSVP to Sarah Provow, shprovow@bellsouth.net

Young Mothers

Looking for a fun group of women in your same circumstances? Then check out "Mom's Cafe"! Enjoy food, fellowship and a good book. Upcoming meetings: October 22, November 5 and 12 in the theater at 9:00 am. Free childcare available. For more information, contact Meg Hardt, meghardt@yahoo.com.

Support APC's Ambassador Girl Scout

Nicole Redder, APC member, is attempting to earn her Gold Award, the highest award given in Girl Scouts. To help her in this effort, donate your plastic grocery bags which will be given to Canine Assistants for waste disposal. Place your bags in the collection box in Fellowship Hall.

Vases Needed

Each Sunday after worship the sanctuary flowers are rearranged and delivered to those needing a lift in their day. But we need vases. Please donate vases at least 10" tall and 3 �" wide or more. Place in the Sunday School wing kitchen, by the nursery. Thank you for helping our beautiful flowers bring beauty into the lives of others throughout the week.

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.

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, 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.

Update Your Information

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 News

Youth Group, grades 6-12, meets this Sunday, October 13 at APC from 5:30-8:00 pm for Reel World Movie Night. Please bring $4 for dinner.

Youth Group signups for the outing to Cagle's Dairy Farm on October 27 are on the bulletin board and online. Please sign up soon, as space is limited!

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!

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, Administrative Assistant for Youth and Children at dianne@alpharettapres.com or 770-751-0033.

Children's Ministry News

Join us for this year's Fall Festival on Wednesday, October 30. Dinner begins at 5:00 pm in Fellowship Hall and the festival begins at 5:30 pm in the multipurpose room. Activities will include arts and crafts, games, and treats! Wear your costume and bring a friend!

All children ages K-5th grade will be learning about Honor this October in Sunday School. Honor is letting someone know you see how valuable they really are. Like God's honor is fueled by His love for us, we show honor back to God because we love Him. And we follow God's example when we show honor to others. Showing honor demonstrates that we see others as God sees them. Every person we meet has value to God and deserves our honor. Join us in the multipurpose room Sundays at 9:45 am.

Our Preschool Sunday School class for 3-5 year olds is growing and has moved to the Solid Rock Theater for the 9:45 hour. Come and join us as we learn all about God and God's people, through stories, songs, crafts and play.

Club 45, a 'tween youth group for 4th and 5th graders, has two activities this month:

Join us on October 27 at Cagle's Dairy Farm for food and fall fun. Arrive at APC at 2:15 pm. Children will return to APC at 6:45 pm. Entrance cost is $10 plus the cost of food. Concessions are available on site. Please RSVP to kristin@alpharettapres.com.
Club 45 will be participating with the Open Arms Committee to help with Parents Night Out for Promise Class on October 26. Club members will volunteer to help with crafts and activities from 4:30-8:00 pm. Be sure to register with kristin@alpharettapres.com and wear your Club 45 t-shirt.

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 Nancy Fain at the death of her mother, Mary Miller, on Friday, October 4.

Celebration - To Todd and Ellen Adolph at the birth of their granddaughter, Kaylee Ann, to Lee and Kristin Adolph on Thursday, October 3.

Celebration - To John and Esther Rudge at the engagement and upcoming wedding of their son, Brian, to Amanda Krisiewicz, both of Chicago. The wedding will be November 9 in Columbus, OH.

Sunday Volunteers

Serving as greeters this Sunday: Jack Hittle and Elizabeth Hughey at 11:00.

Serving as acolytes this Sunday: Michael and Matthew A. at 8:30 and Ashley H. and Anna H. at 11:00.

Serving as ushers this Sunday: George and Susie Myers, Carolyn Dillon, Wilson Borden at 8:30 and Ken Bogle, Larry Prohl, Dale Carter, Dot Van Dyke at 11:00

Promise Class Volunteers this Sunday: Trish Kent 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 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).