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Central UCC
Central Congregational
United Church of Christ
 
IN THIS ISSUE
 
Phone

Office Phone: 
404-633-4505

24-hour Pastoral Care:

              678-672-7637


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Senior Minister

Associate Minister

Rev. Lacey
Pastoral Fellow

Older Adult Day Program
Email Links



Senior Minister

Associate Minister

Rev. Lacey
Pastoral Fellow

Older Adult Day Program
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United Church of Christ 





Sunday, August 16, 2015
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 
  
Service of the Word and Table at 8:30  
 Celebration of Communion (every week)
Special music with Rev. Maureen, Carlos & Thomas

 Service of the Word at 11:00 
Special music: Bess Winebarger, soprano

Preaching: Rev. Michael
Pericope: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18

Lectionary Readings: Click here to read them

Sermon Notes
A portion of the lesson for Sunday was on a cross-stitched plaque in my childhood home:  Choose you this day whom you will serve...

And, in fact, we do. Some research suggests that adults make thousands of decisions a day; many to most go unnoticed.

While we can drive ourselves off the cliff trying to analyze all the choices we make, mindful care and attention to what guides us will probably result in greater compassion and care.

As my philosophy professor at university use to oft say: pays your money, takes your choice. The text invites us to remember, so that we can choose to move forward.


Special "Sing Service": Sunday, August 23
Both services on Sunday, August 23, will be a special "music and meditation" service that features new music pieces from the UCC "Sing Prayer and Praise" hymnal.  Members of the worship staff will do a diversity of meditations before introducing a new selection of music.  Our very own Maureen and Jill have two pieces published in the collection. 



Joan Harrison Memorial Service
Volunteers Needed
Saturday, August 15, 4:00pm

We will celebrate Joan's life and the extraordinary impact she had on our faith community on Saturday, August 15 at 4:00pm.

If you would like to sing with the choir for the service, contact Leona (leona@central-ucc.org).  The choir will practice at 3:00 before the service. 

For the reception after Joan Harrison's memorial service, we need for the generous people of Central to bring the following finger food items.  Please e-mail Helen Fredrick (hpfredrick@gmail.com) or call 404-636-1862 and let her know what you can bring.  And, so that no one misses the service, we request that you bring your dish ready to put on the table, on an attractive plate or platter (except for nuts and potato chips).  Please have your food at the church by 3:30 if possible.  

8 people - 3 doz. mini-sandwiches (your choice of filling)
8 people - 3 doz. cookies, finger-food desserts (Dianne Hiltman will bring gluten-free)
6 platters/bowls of ready-to-eat cut-up fruit (grapes, strawberries, things easy to pick up)
6 large bags of potato chips
3 cans mixed nuts
6 platters/bowls of ready-to-eat cut-up vegies -- carrot/celery sticks, peppers, etc.

Help Deacons set up - 1-2 people 
Help Deacons clean up - 2-3 people

 

We also need someone to bring flowers for the food table and to help arrange small vases of flowers on the tables in the Fellowship Hall.

 

Thank you for your offers to support this celebration of Joan's life and especially for what she meant to the life of Central. 

BOARD ANNUAL REPORTS DUE: ASAP

Please submit your annual report ASAP so that we may have time to prepare for the Annual Meeting. Please send finished reports (font - Times New Roman, font size 12) to our office manager, Vanessa: office@central-ucc.org

 

ADULT SUNDAY 
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Click the title of each class to read more

Conversations Sunday School Class on Break - will resume August 23.

 

PRACTICAL THEOLOGY:

Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Room 206)
Practical Theology: A Just Peace Covenant Community Class studies, explores and takes action on current issues. The class shares leadership and begins each class with "How was your week?" and a short devotional.  All are welcome.  Contacts:  Jackie & George Dominick - georgedominick169@comcast.net

 

Current Study:  A CALL TO ACTION:  Women, Religion, Violence and Power by Jimmy Carter.

Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Library, Fellowship Hall)

WAYS TO CONNECT AND 
MEET NEW PEOPLE:


 
WOMEN'S DAYTIME BOOK GROUP:

August 20 ~ 1:30pm

"Classics Revisited." Read a book of your choice:  EITHER a title you read as a young adult and want to revisit OR a title typically assigned in high school or college that you are ready to take on now.  This informal group meets in the Fireplace Room, every six weeks. Read and attend as you can; no commitment.  Send an e-mail to Geneva Benoit if you would like to be on the group's email list: neve44@bellsouth.net.

 

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED:


 

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED

We need several Sunday school teachers for our K to 2nd and 3rd to 5th grade Sunday school classes. We are grateful to have people teach or assist once a month. We have a Godly Play training the weekend of August 21 & 22, hours to be decided. This is a volunteer program that is dependent on people giving a bit of time through the year. If you love being with kids and have some time, please consider this opportunity. You may contact the Christian Education Board Co-Chair, Sally Harrell (ce@central-ucc.org) or Rev. Ginnie (ginnie@central-ucc.org)

 

YOUTH
Youth worship will start back on Saturday, Sept 6 from 9:30am-10:45am in rooms 102 and 103. All 6th-12th grade students are welcome to join. Our time together includes various things such as: sharing about our joys and concerns, praying for one another, theological discussion and of course, hanging out. All are welcome! Want to provide a breakfast snack or help out? Please contact Lacey@central-ucc.org

Young Adult Gathering
Thursday, August 20 from 7-9pm
Our 20-30 somethings meet on a monthly basis as a way to connect with one another and meet new people. This month Rev. Lacey will be hosting a pot-luck at her house. Please email her Lacey@central-ucc.org for event details or join the Central Young Adults group on Facebook for more info.

Lena's Place Coffeehouse 
upcoming schedule:

 

September 12 

8:00pm Twin Courage, 

9:00pm Sonny Houston Band

Supported Charity of the month: Men Stopping Violence

 

October 10 

8:00pm Chris Emerson and Ty Bennett, 

9:00pm Sweetwater Creek Bluegrass Band

Supported Charity of the month: Open Door
Homecoming & Annual Meeting
Sunday, September 13


Homecoming Sunday is set for Sunday, September 13.  Special worship events, including the return of the Sanctuary Choir (at the 11:00 service) are being planned.
 
Following worship, the business of the Annual Meeting shall include the receipt of reports of the officers, boards and committees, the financial reports for the previous fiscal year, and any motions that are "in order" brought forward by a member.
 
The Annual Meeting will happen in the Fellowship Hall over lunch.  The Youth will provide the drinks and meat; please bring sides and desserts to share.

PEACH COBBLER RELIEF SALE:

Saturday,  Sept. 12 

Each year, Mennonites from across the southeast hold a relief sale to raise money for Mennonite Central Committee, the primary relief and development agency of Mennonites throughout the world.  (http://mcc.org/)  Quilts, handcrafted furniture, and baked goods are sold and auctioned.  The sale is Saturday, Sept. 12 at the State Fairgrounds in Perry, GA, beginning at 8:30.  See http://www.peachcobblersale.org/ for more details.

 

MISSION AND ACTION:
ONGOING MINISTRIES OF CENTRAL


 

Supporting Montclair Elementary School 

Our MES leadership team is currently collecting elementary school uniforms for the students at MES. The pants can be navy or khaki. The shirts must be white, navy blue, or light blue. These items can be purchased at most major retail stores including Walmart, Target, and TJMaxx. Please consider donating one pair of pants or one shirt as you are able. Also, the school is in desperate need of printing/copying paper for each classroom. If you have some extra lying around, please drop it in the bins outside the church sanctuary. Your donations are greatly appreciated and make a difference in the lives of the teachers and students at MES. Have questions? Please contact Lacey@central-ucc.org

 

UCC Justice Alert: Support Diplomacy - 
Defend the Deal with Iran

After months spent at the negotiating table, an important deal has been struck between the U.S., our allies, and Iran. This is an historic, comprehensive agreement which would verifiably cut off Iran's pathways to a nuclear weapon. It represents not only an important moment for U.S. foreign policy, but a victory for all those who supported a more peaceful way forward with Iran- including many like you who wrote letters or called in support of a diplomatic solution rather than war with Iran.


As a Just Peace Church that issued a resolution calling for "friendship and solidarity" rather than war with Iran, it is incumbent upon us to lift our voice at this time to support this agreement. Congress could vote on the Iran deal later this month and unless members hear strong, pro-deal, pro-peace message from constituents, they could vote to kill it.We cannot risk another war in the Middle East.

We've come too far to let a comprehensive deal and secure peace slip away. There's too much at stake.

Urge Congress to defend the Iran Deal.

CWU HUMAN RIGHTS LUNCHEON

September 11

Church Women United of Atlanta will hold its annual Human Rights Luncheon on Friday, September 11, 11:30-2:00 at St. Paul A.M E. Church, 1540 Pryor St SW, Atlanta.  Bettieann Hart is this year's honoree.  For tickets, at $35, or more information, contact Joyce Myers-Brown, jmyersbrown@aol.com.  All are welcome.

 


 

[GFADP] Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Statewide Meeting: Lessons From Repeal, August 15

We're really looking forward to Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty's Statewide Meeting on Saturday, August 15, Lessons From Repeal.  It will be a full day of community building and visioning of GFADP's work for the year ahead.  We're so pleased that Stacy Anderson from Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty will be joining us to share lessons learned from the successful campaign to repeal the death penalty in Nebraska. In addition, Tim Franzen from the American Friends Service Committee will lead us in a workshop about campaign messaging as we continue to work towards changing the standard of proof for proving intellectual disability in death penalty

case's.

 

GFADP Statewide Meeting 

Sat, August 15 - 9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Central Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall,

201 Washington Street, SW, Atlanta, GA  30303

 

Free Parking is available behind the church. Access from Central Avenue.

Entrance to garage is next to Catholic Shrine of Immaculate Conception

Church.  This event is free and open to the public. Please register by NOON on

Monday, August 10, 2015, so we can have an accurate count for food. For more

information, please visit www.gfadp.org. Register at http://goo.gl/forms/20HEAXoKLU

If you have any questions, please contact Dorinda Tatum at

dtatum42@gmail.com or 404-749-6889.  We look forward to seeing you on August 15!