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Central UCC
Central Congregational
United Church of Christ
 
IN THIS ISSUE
Sunday Worship: Sept 7
Homecoming Weekend
Wildwood Music Event
Homecoming Sunday Sept. 7
Annual Mtg & Luncheon Sept. 14
Conversations about Jesus
Sacred Journeys
Practical Theology
Godly Play Training
For Youth - Sexuality Education
Young Adults
No FOG in September
Pilgrim and Priscilla Circles Sept. 10
Lena's Place Coffeehouse
Women's Daytime Book Group
Pathways
Toco Hills Grant Awarded
Ongoing Outreach Ministries
Books for Montclair Elementary
Atlanta Interfaith Sisters Sept. 8
Human Rights Luncheon
Gardening at Central
Desserts for Plymouth Harbor
Flowers for Sunday
Sermons Online
Fall 2014
 
Phone

Office Phone: 
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Senior Minister

Associate Minister

Lacey Brown, M. Div.
Pastoral Fellow

Older Adult Day Program
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United Church of Christ 






Sunday, September 7, 2014 
Homecoming Sunday

LECTIONARY READINGS (Click to read them)
 
8:30 AM Service of Word and Table
11:00 AM Service of Word and Table

FOCUS TEXT:  Matthew 18:15-20
Rev. Michael, preaching    
 
WORSHIP NOTES  
Sunday is Homecoming...a time to return, remember and celebrate relationships, community and the journey itself.  Two pieces of liturgy from Rev. Michael (from both services) will support our exploration and celebration:

We have walked through many lives, some of them our own, and we are not who we once were-though some principle of being abides from which we struggle not to stray.  With awe and an awareness of the Companion, we are reminded that all who wander are not lost.

We often need to look behind before we can gather strength to proceed on our journey:  joy and grief, belonging and longing, community and isolation-every stone on the road is precious to us.

Sometimes we roam and sift through the wreckage of our lives looking for some remnant to give us meaning and direction.  Hear the voice of the Companion whisper:  "Live in the layers, not on the litter."

We often lack the art of interpreting the whisper or discerning the presence of the Companion; no doubt, however, the next chapter in our book of transformations is already being written--we are not done with our changes. (Stanley Kunitz, alt.)

We shall not cease from exploration:  of place, of self, of faith, of living.  And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started, and know the place and experience the Presence of Love and understand our true self for the first time.  (T.S. Eliot, alt.)

Homecoming Weekend 

 

Saturday Evening, September 6,  

Wildwood Concert, 7:00 PM  

 

Sunday Morning, September 7,  

Worship, 8:30 am, 11:00 am,  

Reception, 12:15 PM

Rev. Michael returns to the pulpit after his sabbatical time in India. 

Wildwood Homecoming  

Saturday, Sept 6, 7:00 PM 

Saturday night. September 6. Come enjoy a wonderful evening of entertainment! Some of your Wildwood favorites will be performing- The Joyners, Reuben and Linda Fair, (our very own Everly Brothers (Andy and John).  Marlee and Darin (can't wait to hear how Marlee's coming along on bass). Marion and Anna are both singing beautiful songs. And several new voices are joining us on the Wildwood stage: Margie Swint, Bess Winebarger, Bill Tomlinson; others. And yes, there's a rumor that we'll get to hear more of Abigail's terrific fiddling!

 

Donations received will go to the terrific organization, Wholesome Wave Georgia. The group is working to get fresh and healthy food from the fields of local, organic farms onto the tables of families with limited means and few financial resources.

 

E-Mail Bob Watson for more information.

LIKE us on Facebook at Wildwood Concerts at Central UCC- set list posted soon!
Homecoming Sunday 
September 7
8:30am & 11:00am Worship
12:15pm Reception  
Join us on the first Sunday in September as we welcome Rev. Michael back to Central UCC and back to the pulpit. We look forward to hearing about his time there as we celebrate his return.

The Church Council and Deaconate invite EVERYONE to Sunday's 12:15 p.m. Cookie and Punch reception to welcome back Rev. Michael Pater from his sabbatical. (immediately following 11:00 a.m. worship) This will be a special time of friendship and sharing stories with our Senior Minister. It's also a time for old members, new members and visitors to greet each other.   Come to church and stay for the reception in the Commons area! It will be good to be together.  And remember to wear your nametags.
Central UCC
Annual Meeting & Luncheon
Sunday, September 14
12:15 PM, Fellowship Hall
The church has an annual meeting to formally conduct the business of the church. We will have celebrations as well as business. All members and associate members are requested to attend. The youth will be busy in the kitchen preparing our second Sunday luncheon of tacos! Please bring a side dish, dessert, or drink to share. Visitors and friends are welcome to join us for both the meeting and the lunch!

 

Over the last year, Rev. Ginnie and Joan Moore have gone through the membership rolls as they are, not adding or removing others. It is requested that we re-align the total membership, members and associate members, with the Power Church Plus database. We will bring that number to the Annual meeting for a vote by the congregation to be the count for the official membership of the church. This new number will then supersede the number of members listed in the 2013-2014 Clerk's Report voted at this same Annual Meeting.
Adult Spiritual Formation

Conversations about Jesus 

On Sundays beginning Sept. 14,  

9:30 AM, Room 204

"Saving Jesus Redux" is a 12 session DVD-based small group exploration of a credible Jesus for the third millennium. Join folks from Central in a lively conversation while living the questions of Jesus for the 21stcentury. Questions? Contact Sally Harrell.
ONGOING SUNDAY GATHERING: 
Sacred Journeys

Sundays, 9:30 to 10:50 AM

Fellowship Hall, Steinhaus Library

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. We close the door to create a quiet space but you are welcome to come in.

For the next several weeks, we will be discussing the book, The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew - Three Women Search for Understanding by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner.
ONGOING SUNDAY GATHERING:
Practical Theology
Sundays, 9:30 to 10:50 AM, Room 206

The Practical Theology class (Room 206) studies, explores and takes action on current issues.  The class shares leadership and begins each class with "How was your week?" and a devotional.   

 

Sunday, September 7th

Devotional:  Nancy

 

Next Study --

Occupy the Bible: What Jesus Really Said (and Did) About Money and Power by Susan Thistlethwaite. 

 

Occupy the Bible is an eye-opening, no-holds barred look at the real message of Jesus, using the scriptures that are foundational for the Christian faith. OTB is also a practical "how to" guide for potential Christian "occupiers"-people sincerely committed to confronting the rising poverty and economic inequality in the United States using the powerful, unvarnished message of Jesus of Nazareth."

 

This book can be purchased from Amazon or Barnes and Noble - paperback only.  Both Amazon and B & N have used copies available for  ½ to 1/3 the price of a new copy.

 

Questions? Contact Jackie and George Dominick.
Children and Youth

Godly Play Training   

(Sunday, September 7, 12:30 PM, Room 207)

All people participating as Storytellers and Doorpersons are requested to come to a training and sharing about the role of the Doorperson. We are trying to discern what are the best practices for the Doorperson in our Godly Play classrooms. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Ginnie.  

Our Whole Lives this Fall  

Parent/Youth Orientation
Sun September.7, 9:30 Rm 102
There will be a mandatory parent/student orientation on September 7 from 9:30am-10:30am in Room 102. The first OWL class will begin Sunday, September 21 from 9:30am-12:30pm and will be consistently offered every Sunday morning until early December. The cost is $25 for members and $100 for non-members. We only have a few spots left. Contact Lacey if you are interested.
Adult Gatherings
Young Adults  
Wildwood on 9/6 will serve as our young adults gathering for the month of September. We will meet at Jonathan and Melissa Burch's house for our gathering in October. Date and time TBA.
No Fellowship of the Grape 
in September
Fellowship of the Grape (FOG) will not meet September 6 to honor the Wildwood Concert at Central. We encourage all "FOGGERS" to attend Wildwood. The next FOG will be Saturday, October 4, 7pm hosted by Dianne and Paul Hiltmann.
Pilgrim & Priscilla Circles

 Both Priscilla and Pilgrim Circles resume meetings starting Wednesday, September 10.  Priscilla Circle will meet at 11:00am in the library.  Pilgrim Circle will meet at 7:00pm in the Fireplace Room.
Lena's Place Coffeehouse 
Saturday, September 13, 8:00 - 10:00pm

Since 1984, Lena's Place Coffeehouse is a monthly opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of acoustic artists in a coffeehouse atmosphere. Lena's is staffed by volunteers who love (and often play) music and who take pride in a professional presentation.

When?

Second Saturday of each month.

What time?

8:00-10:00 pm; Doors open at 7:30 pm 

First set starts at 8pm, second set starts at 9pm

What else?

Candlelit coffeehouse setting. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, snacks, and yummy desserts available. Plenty of free parking. Wheelchair accessible. Great sound system. Wonderful, full audience of appreciative listeners.

All proceeds go to a chosen charity of the month. 

  

September Show:  

Supported Charity for the month: Men Stopping Violence

8:00: JustBe'Cause (Jerry Brunner, Bruce Gilbert, Cyndi Craven)

9:00 :: Out of the Rain (Ron Hipp & Carol Statella)
Women's Daytime Book Group

 

The next gathering is The next gathering is Thursday, October 9 at 1:30 in the Fireplace Room.  Each reader will make a personal selection of fiction or non-fiction related to WWI. From Hemingway to historian Margaret MacMillan, we anticipate a stimulating  round-robin conversation. Send an e-mail to Geneva Benoit to request a sample reading list or to add your name to the group's email list.  

 

PATHWAYS   

Transformative Theological Education for a Changing World

PATHWAYS is a SE conference wide approach to theological education and ministry formation, bringing theology into the midst of the people, for the purposes of individual, congregational, and global transformation. To read more, click here. 

 

Click here for the PATHWAYS website.

Outreach Activities 

Grant Awarded to Our Neighborhood Community Outreach Partner

Toco Hills has just received word that we have been awarded a Capacity Building Grant from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. We applied hoping to get a walk in freezer and a walk in cooler. We have to increase our purchasing from the food bank by 10 per cent annually for the next three years. Our grant is for $23,700. Wonderful news!

ONGOING OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AT CENTRAL UCC

Our life is full here at Central UCC. Through the year, we serve our local community in many ways. To read about the activities, please  click here. 

Books for  

Montclair Elementary School

We are collecting items for students at Montclair Elementary School. If you would like to contribute back packs, gently used books, or school supplies, please place your items in the bin outside the sanctuary marked "Books for Montclair"  For all those who have contributed so far THANK YOU. Please contact Lacey Brown for more information.

Atlanta Interfaith Sisters

Monday, September 8, 6:30-8:30pm,  

Rock Springs Presby Church, Atlanta

Atlanta Interfaith Sisters begin their program year September 8 with a topic of concern to all persons of faith who value human life.  Audrey Galex will speak about "Sex Trafficking", in Atlanta and worldwide.   Interfaith Sisters gather 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Rock Spring Presbyterian Church, 1824 Piedmont Ave NE.  All are welcome.  Bring your own supper & something to share; or just come for the program.  For more information contact  

Joyce Myers-Brown. 
Human Rights Luncheon
with Brenda Wood
Friday, Sept. 12, 11:00am, Downtown
Church Women United (Atlanta) will honor TV journalist Brenda Wood with its annual Human Rights Award on Friday, September 12 at First Presbyterian Church (next to High Museum). The celebration will take place from 11:00am-2:00pm with lunch provided. Tickets are $30.00. Contact Joyce Myers Brown if interested.

Next Gardening Workday and Other Happenings

Saturday, Sept. 20, 9:00 - 11:00 AM

Several of you cannot always make the regular monthly workday (normally the third Saturday), and asked what you could work on during the week. There is always a need to pull weeds. In fact, weeding could be less of a focus for our regular workdays if some of it was done weekly.

 

John Cox plans to begin our pond restoration on Saturday, September 6. He'll begin by draining it, and then cleaning it with a pressure washer. Questions? Contact Ron Smith. 
Plymouth Harbor - 100%
Please Donate Desserts
Plymouth Harbor recently received 100% on the inspection, Congratulations!!!!!  
We can no longer accept desserts made outside of our own CCUCC kitchen, all items must be catered, store bought our made in house.  Please feel free to donate sweets to our participants.  Sale at the bakery?  Sure, Plymouth Harbor would greatly appreciate it!
 

Flowers for  

Sunday Morning Worship 

Would you like to give flowers in honor or in memory of someone? There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board between the double entry doors and the nursery.
Sermons Available Online
If you would like to hear a sermon from this week or an earlier week, they are available on our website. Go to www.central-ucc.org. Click on the "Worship" tab at the top of the site. On the drop down menu, you will see "Sermon", click on "Sermon". Click on "Audio (mp3)" and you will see a list of the sermons by date and, recently, by name. The date is year/month/day with no spaces in between. If there is a certain sermon for which you are searching, please contact Rev. Ginnie and she will help you find the date.
Fall at Central
Fall is right around the corner and with that means the return of groups, circles and choir practice!  We look forward to seeing everyone.  Just a reminder office hours are from 9:00am until 4:00pm.