BRING FOOD FOR TOCO HILLS FOOD PANTRY (Now until March 9)

CHILDREN WALKING FOR HUNGER

LUNCHEON FOR TOCO HILLS FOOD PANTRY  

(Sunday March 9, 12:15 PM)

On Sunday, March 9, the children will have an opportunity to raise money for hungry people. They will have a walk at Central. Please support their walk by pledging money to our young walkers. There will be a table in the Commons during the next few weeks. Money raise will go to Church World Service and to Toco Hills Community Alliance.

Following worship, we will have a lunch. All donations will go to Toco Hills Community Alliance. A representative of the Toco Hills Community Alliance will speak to us during lunch about all the services they provide. They are our ecumenical neighborhood outreach. They always need more volunteers.

Please bring food for the Toco Hills Food Pantry over the next few weeks. You may leave them in the containers in the entryway. We thank you for any non-perishable donations you are able to donate.

SOUL STRETCH: LENGTHENING IN LENT

Mondays, March 10 to April 14 (5:30 - 6:45)

Rev. Michael will be writing and posting in Lent on three "Cs":  center, compassion, and cleanse.  More information about how to follow and participate in the online daily devotional/thought/practice will soon be available.

Additionally, he is offering a weekly meditation and GENTLE yoga practice on Monday nights on March 10 through April 14 (skipping March 31) from 5:30 to 6:45pm.  This practice will include a brief "talk," breathing meditation, several contemplative (Yin) yoga poses, and ends with an extended relaxation.  Registration is STRONGLY requested (for one session or the series).  For more information or to register: Rev. Michael.

WIFI RETURNS MARCH 12! (Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 PM - Fellowship Hall)

Supper and fun at Central -- no cooking! -- every Wednesday March 12 through April 16. Supper from 5:30 - 6:30 and an intergenerational activity from 6:30- 7:30.  Yummy casual food (home cooked or catered) followed by games or music or an outdoor walk, even our own Passion Play on April 9.  Put WIFI on your calendar now (Wednesday Intergenerational Families and Individuals). And btw, there really is WIFI.  OK to bring your homework with you.

LENTEN BOOK GROUP

(Wednesdays, March 12 to April 16, 6:30-7:30 PM - Fireplace Room)

Michelle Holtman will lead a discussion of the book, Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self by Joyce Rupp. Please contact Michelle if you are interested.

"Joyce Rupp brings new life to the ageless spiritual image of the door, weaving insights from East and West with the wisdom of contemporary spiritual writers, poets, and novelists in a practical format that is just right for contemporary readers. Structured as a daily prayer guide for everyday use over six weeks, each day offers a thematic reflection, a guided meditation, an original prayer, a thoughtful question, and a related scripture quote. A built-in guide for use by small groups makes this the perfect resource for groups of all kinds as well as for individuals." - Ave Maria Press

CALMLY PLOTTING THE RESURRECTION -  

Lenten Booklets Available

A devotional booklet written by the UCC Stillspeaking Writers' Group is available. The writers are composed of UCC ministers and authors who collaborate on a wide variety of resources for people in the church, outside the church, and not so sure about the church. Their motto is "Hearing God where you live (and other surprising places." If you would like a copy of their Lenten Devotional Booklet, please email ginnie@central-ucc.org. Supplies are limited. The booklet cost is $3.

James Detherow is building a garden shed as his Eagle Scout project. This is a much needed storage space for the gardens and the forest care. The youth are raising $2500 for the shed. Thank you for the $1000 given so far. There will be a table in the Commons on the next few Sundays where the youth will continue to receive donations. Thank you.

Each week this group explores how spirit guides our personal journeys, and we gain new insights by listening to each other.  It is a sacred hour +, from 9:30 to about 10:50, where the discussion might be inspired one week by a poem, another by an excerpt from a book, a film clip, or an audio tape.  You do not need to read or prepare in advance, and you can join this class from time to time, whenever you wish.  Sacred Journeys is wide open.  We close the door to create a quiet space but you are welcome to open it and come on in. Get to know new people at Central or revisit old friends and explore how the spiritual intertwines with the personal for you. 

CHURCH EQUIPMENT 

USAGE SCHEDULE

All requests for use of a TV and DVD player need to be scheduled with the Office Administrator, Charlotte Shirley.  There is a 42 inch and a 30 inch TV (with DVD player) available for use.

Provide Charlotte the following information:         

• A dated request in writing.
• The date/dates needed.
• The room in which the equipment is to be used.
• The size of the TV requested/preferred.

NOTE:  Requests are granted on a first come/first served basis.

EARTH TOPICS  

(Tuesday, March 4, 6:30-8:00 PM, Fireplace Rm)

Our discussions about our sacred planet and our place in it continue. At our March meeting, we will discuss the chapter, "Creation as the Body of God" (by Richard Rohr) in Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth edited by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. Questions? Contact  Rev. Ginnie.

(Sat., March 8, 8:00 - 10:00 PM, Fellowship Hall)

The second Saturday of every month, one of the finest coffee houses in Atlanta convenes at Central with live music. The proceeds go to the Lena Werking Fund which supports outreach and service.  On March 8, traveling minstrel, Chuck Henderson, will engage the audience by telling stories through his songs. At 9:00 PM, Jeremy Parks, a singer-songwriter from Atlanta, will share his songs. All donations will go to the charity, El Refugio. For more information, contact Mary Ellen Myers.

SERVING A MEAL AT  

HAGAR'S HOUSE

Central will be serving dinner at Hagar's House April 1, 3, and 4. Hagar's House is a shelter for women and their children located in Decatur. Central and a number of other churches in the area have a long-standing relationship with Hagar's House. Volunteers are requested. Anyone who's interested can contact  Bill O'Steen for more information or to volunteer to serve.  

HOSTS, SANDWICH MAKERS, COOKIE BAKERS

If any of the above are the way you like to help out, please send your name to the Fellowship Committee. For memorial service receptions, various celebrations or all-church events, the Deacons and Fellowship Committee send an email to request food and serving helpers. Your phone won't ring, and there's no obligation to say Yes every time.  But you'll be part of what may be the largest non-standing, most serving, un-committee of Central.  Email Fellowship to add your name and email address.

KITS AND CLOTHING

The youth are collecting clothing (long pants, long sleeved shirts, sunglasses, hats and shoes) and items for hygiene kits (wash cloths, hand towels, hotel-sized bars of soap, and band-aids). You can make donations for the hygiene kits and we will buy combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, nailclippers wholesale from Minimus.biz).There are labeled collection bins in the entryway.

Questions, please contact lacey@central-ucc.org.

RECYCLING TEAM  

NEEDS MEMBERS

MONTCLAIR  

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 

Between Central and Buford Highway there is an elementary school of about 1200 students with 90% of those students receiving a free or reduced price lunch as well as breakfast at school. Over the last several months, we have collected monies for holiday "Food Baskets" and winter clothing. Volunteer tutors have begun to work with the students. We are looking into ways of providing books to read and weekend food. If you would like to help with this ministry, please contact Jean Haller or Bill O'Steen.  

NAME TAGS

Treasurer's report - February 24, 2014

The balance sheet shows a total bank balance of $188,136 with an additional $661,146 in Endowment accounts.  The Minister for Children and Youth fund has $18,314 while the Music fund has $14,999.  The Preschool 2012/2013 fund has $26,201 and the Preschool 2013/2014 fund has $28,000.  Our church mortgage is now down to $119,671!!!!!

For the operating budget in January, we received $25,037 in pledge giving so that our total pledge giving is now $239,198 for the first seven months of our fiscal year, 59.8% of the yearly budgeted amount.  Plymouth Harbor income is $56,566 for the first seven months, 55.5% of the yearly budgeted amount.  Total income for the first seven months is $345,725, 58.6% of the yearly budgeted amount.  Note that seven months represents 58.3% of our fiscal year, so our income is very close to tracking our budget projections.

Staff expenses for the first six months were $182,835, 60.12% of the yearly budgeted amount.  Maintenance and repairs remain higher than budgeted, with $20,399 spent in the first seven months, 102.1% of the yearly budgeted total. Plymouth Harbor expenses were $61,896 for the first seven months, 66.14% of the yearly budgeted total. Total expenses for the first seven months were $362,759, 61.5% of the yearly budgeted amount.

     We thus have a net deficit of $17,033 for the first seven months of our fiscal year, with the primary reason being unusually high levels of maintenance and repair costs for the first half of our fiscal year.  Thank you for your continuing support.