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Central UCC
Central Congregational
United Church of Christ
 
IN THIS ISSUE
Worship: Sept 6
Day of Service: Sept 12
Annual Meeting & Homecoming: Sept 13
Motion: 2016 Budget & Leadership Mtg
Office Closed
Parish Fund Needs
Adult Spiritual Formation
Youth: Sept 6
Children: Sept 13
Children's Music
Lena's Place Coffeehouse
Fellowship of the Grape
Mennonite Relief Sale
Singers Wanted
Human Right Luncheon: Sept 11
 
Phone

Office Phone: 
404-633-4505

24-hour Pastoral Care:
              678-672-7637

Email Links



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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Sunday, September 6, 2015
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 
  
Service of the Word and Table at 8:30  
 Celebration of Communion (every week)
Special music from Rev. Maureen, Thomas & Carlos

 Service of the Word at 11:00 
Celebration of Communion
Special music from Laurie & Carlos Alonso

Preaching: Rev. Michael
Pericope: Mark 7:24-37
Lectionary Readings: Click here to read them

Worship Notes: 

A powerful, painful and curious pericope for Sunday: Jesus calls a woman a dog, a community brings Jesus a person in need of healing and "begs him to lay his hands on him," and Jesus spits as part of the healing process.

The Gentile, Syrophoenician woman is one of my favorite characters in any Biblical story; this pair of Jesus stories are, for me, very powerful:  something happens to JESUS.  Perhaps he is healed and transformed; maybe this is a tale of Jesus' liberation.
 
MONTCLAIR ELEMENTARY
DAY OF SERVICE
Saturday, September 12 (9:00am-1:00pm)
As part of our Homecoming Weekend celebrations all are welcome to join us for a Day of Service at MES! We will be cleaning, mulching, painting, and weeding at the neighborhood school. The administration has invited the PTA and surrounding community to join us. Please plan on bringing a water bottle and any personal tools you think might be helpful.
Contact Rev. Lacey. 

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. We will have fresh roasted turkey breast available as the main course. Please bring your favorite salad, bread, or dessert to share. 
2016 BUDGET & LEADERSHIP
 ANNUAL MEETING
A motion from Council: to move the 2016 Budget and Leadership meeting from the date prescribed in The Articles from the third Sunday in May to June 5, 2016. This change is a one-time request and is made to accommodate the potential of a May 2016 Pilgrimage to Israel.
OFFICE CLOSED: Monday, September 7
Central's Office will be closed Monday, September 7th in observance of the Labor Day Holiday. The office will reopen Tuesday, September 8th and Vanessa will return on Thursday, September 10.
Parish Fund Needs Replenishing

The balance in our Parish Fund is currently much lower than this time a year ago.  It exists to provide emergency assistance to individuals in need, at the request of our clergy, and is administered confidentially by lay members of Central.  In addition to the expected level of requests at this time of year, there is one from Minister in Covenant Sally Purvis for money to enable the family of Kelly Gissendaner to be with her at the time of her scheduled execution and subsequent memorial service.  Rev. Sally has permitted the request to be handled without the usual confidentiality.  If you have postponed a memorial or other special gift to the Parish Fund, please consider making your donation now (note "Parish Fund" in the memo).  We wish to keep a balance in the Fund and at the same time extend aid to Kelly Gissendaner's family in this time of personal and public grieving.
ADULT SUNDAY 
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Click the title of each class to read more

Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Room 204)
The Jesus Fatwah:  Love Your (Muslim) Neighbor, as Yourself (Living the Question DVD series).  Come join our small group at any time.  Our only dogma is "no-prep," so join us at any time.  You'll find lively conversation and a warm community. Sunday mornings. Contact: Sally Harrell 

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. 
Lesson:  This Sunday we will discuss options for our next study.  Several class members have already made suggestions.  Please bring additional suggestions and be ready for discussion on Sunday.
Contacts: 
Jackie & George Dominick 

Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Library, Fellowship Hall)
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. We close the door to create a quiet space but you are welcome to open it and come on in.
Contact: Peter Benoit.
 
 
YOUTH
Youth worship will start back on Sunday, 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? Contact Rev. Lacey
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION:
Sunday, September 13, 9:15-10:45am
We are excited to begin a new Fall season with our children beginning on Homecoming Sunday, September 13. We will have Sunday School registration in the Education Wing beginning at 9:15am.
 
Children's Sunday School Schedule:
At 9:30am, we will be offering Godly Play to children in 2nd to 5th grades.
At 11:00am, we will have Bible Stories for the pre-school children and Godly Play for K-1st Grade.  Please bring your child to childcare and a childcare worker will bring them to their classroom.
Contact Rev. Ginnie.
CHILDREN'S MUSIC STARTS SEPT. 13
On Homecoming Sunday we will return to our children's music program at Central.  We welcome children in grades 1-5 to our group, which meets from 12-12:30 on Sundays.  We will be making music with our voices and with instruments.  Please add your child's voice to our group! 

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

FELLOWSHIP OF THE GRAPE
October 3rd, 7:00pm
RobinLee Fitch and Dan Jones will host October Fellowship Of the Grape Saturday, October 3rd 7pm.  RobinLee and Dan have selected "Fall Flavors of Beers, Ales or Wines" as the selection for the month. This would include--pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, butternut squash, mushroom, caramel, pecan and sweet potato flavors (to name a few). Please bring any sweet or savory or hearty appetizer or dessert that will compliment this selection.   For those not familiar with FOG, attending is one of the best ways to meet Central's members and visitors of all ages and stages of life in a casual setting.  The tastings are not formal, just informative.  You don't have to be a church member to attend and all are welcome! Event Details: October 3rd, 2015 at 7:00pm.  RSVP to hosts RobinLee at email robinleefitch@hotmail.com.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list for FOG, contact coordinator RobinLee Fitch at robinleefitch@hotmail.com.   We look forward to seeing you at FOG.
MISSION AND ACTION:
ONGOING MINISTRIES OF CENTRAL
SINGERS ALWAYS WANTED & NEEDED
We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful singers in Central's choir.  However, we always are eager to welcome new singers, as well, and now is the very best time for those of you who have been thinking about it to join us.  We begin our singing season on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 7:30-9 pm, with rehearsal in the choir room.  We will sing for the first time in the worship service on Sept. 13.  Please join us!  I am also considering offering a sight-reading class for those who are hesitating joining us because they feel their sight-reading skills are not strong enough.  Please let me know if this might be a class you might like to be a part of.  It would meet prior to choir, probably at 6:45 pm on Wednesday evenings.  

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.