No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life's Journey - 
You're Welcome Here!
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Sunday, February 14, 2016 
First Sunday in Lent
Worship at 8:30am (with Communion) and 11:00am
Rev. Michael, Preaching
Pericope for Preaching: Luke 4:1-13


Preparation for the "Centering Meditation" at both services:
  • What would resurrection look like, feel like for you this spring?
  • What might you say "yes" to in order to facilitate resurrection?
  • What might you say "no" to in order to facilitate resurrection?

Recently I had a conversation with a "conflicted congregant" who noticed that Valentine's Day comes "inside Lent" this year-their annual spiritual practice is to forsake chocolate during the 40-day preparatory period. Partly playfully, they astutely observed that Sundays are "in" Lent, not actually counted toward the two score season; they suggested that since Valentine's Day ...  »click here to continue reading Rev. Michael's article
RESURRECTION GRAFFITI: Making a Community Banner for Easter
A central feature of the Easter morning story, in all the gospels, is the "empty tomb:" that, which was presumed dead, rises to new life. That sealed sepulcher, is busted opened. Fear, betrayal, death have neither the last nor the lasting word. The seed sown in the soil rises green in the spring.

During this season of Holy Lent, the pastoral staff invites you into an intentional period of spiritual formation and service-enter the graveyards of your life and communities and speak resurrection to your fears, anxieties, and broken places. Imagine spray painting words on the walls of a tomb you've been laid but are vacating. Leave "resurrection graffiti" for someone later to find as words of encouragement when they are bound in linen cloth in a similar space.

In the Fireplace room on Sundays, a community banner will be placed for you to place your mark: write on it (colored chalk will be provided), glue poems, staple pictures, report your Lenten acts of service or reflections-mark your resurrection. It's your space, use it how and as often as you wish; there is no way to "do it wrong." We will feature it in worship on Easter-the Day of Resurrection.
Adult Spiritual Formation

Conversations: 
Sundays, 9:30-10:45am (Room 204) 
Come join our small group at any time.  Our only dogma is "no-prep."  We will resume on January 10 with the 21 session "Living the Questions 2.0" DVD series, a foray into progressive Christianity that encourages living the questions rather than forcing the answers. Featuring thirty acclaimed scholars, theologians and other experts, LtQ2 consists of 21 sessions. It was recently updated to include Diana Butler Bass, Brian McLaren and Robin Meyers. Drop in as your schedule allows and you'll find lively conversation and a warm community.  Contact Sally Harrell.  
 
 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.  We focus on scholarly Biblical and Progressive Theological issues of the day.  Past study has included God's love and gay marriage, "The Evolution of God," non-violent communication, inter-faith dialogue, Jesus' parables on money, power and faith, women's rights and the continuing scourge of racism.  Most of our class members are involved in social justice activities.
Last fall the class laid out a three-topic study  emphasis:

This past Sunday we considered what civil rights and/or labor laws (if any)  would we personally be willing to evade in the name of religious liberty.

February 14th:
This Sunday we will -
· Discuss the "religious freedom" legislation coming before the GA Assembly in 2016,   and
· Consider 10 companies (each) that progressive Christians should boycott or
  support.
· We might also have time to discuss the impact of Franklin Graham's 2/10 prayer
  rally in Atlanta.  "Google" Franklin Graham prayer rally  or Decision America Tour   '16 for more information.

The class shares leadership and begins each class with "How was your week?"  New members are always welcome.

Sacred Journeys:
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.
Contact Peter Benoit.

Great Decisions:  
Sundays, January 24 to March 13, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Fellowship Hall, WR2
Our annual Foreign Policy Association study series Great Decisions will begin January 24 with 8 challenging topics. Great Decisions Briefing Books are available as long as they last. No advance preparation is required for the class. We use the Great Decisions DVD to introduce the discussion each week. All are welcome.
February 14:   International Migration
February 21:   Korean Choices
February 28:   The United Nations Post-2015
March 6:         Climate Geopolitics
March 13:       Cuba and the U.S.
Childcare Every Sunday
Children's Sunday School:
Godly Play

CHILDCARE - INFANTS TO SECOND GRADERS
8:30 AM T0 12:15 PM (Rm 201, 202)

PRE-SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL
11:00 AM TO 12:00 PM (Rm 202)

5 YEARS OLD TO FIRST GRADES - GODLY PLAY
11:00  Gather in Room 202; 11:10 AM Story begins in Room 207
In the Godly Play program, the children hear sacred stories of the Old and New Testament, Jesus' parables, stories about Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter and stories about the church. After they hear the story, the kids have a chance to wonder about the story in conversation and respond to the story using art. We wrap up our day with a "feast" and a blessing for each child.

SECOND TO FIFTH GRADES - GODLY PLAY
At 9:30 in Room 208. The 2nd to 5th Grade Sunday School will be exploring the Old Testament all year. We will still hear the stories as in Godly Play then we will have time for art, exploration or even discussion. After the response to the story, the children will have an Agape Meal, prayers and sharing time. At the time of dismissal, we like to take time to give a blessing to each child.

CHILDREN'S MUSIC 
Central's Children's Music Group includes children in grades 1-5.  Children attending the 11:00 worship service leave with the Music Director during the closing hymn, and meet in Room 209, dismissing at 12:30. The Children's Music Group incorporates a mixture of vocal and instrumental music (tone chimes, barred instruments, percussion). On several Sundays each year, the children participate in the 11:00 AM worship, sharing the music they have learned. 
Contact: Rev. Ginnie 
Spirit Rising:  Mary Oliver, Morten Lauridsen & Rev. Michael
A Lenten Journey of Wholeness & Spiritual Formation
Wednesdays, 17 & 24 Feb, 2, 9, 16 March 6:00pm to 7:30
Using the poetry of Mary Oliver and music of Morten Lauridsen, Rev. Michael will offer a 5-evening Lenten series of meditation, restorative yoga and healing stillness.  Each session will be designed to be accessible to as many as possible-no "yoga or meditation experience" required.  We will read and share poetry from Mary Oliver and rest and restore with the music of Morten Lauridsen (those who don't want to do yoga can "sit" or are welcome to exit during the transition). 

Suggested donation is $12/session or $50/series 
(or whatever you can offer). 
RSVP strongly requested (late-comers always welcome). 
 
"Mary Oliver's poetry is fine and deep; it reads like a blessing. Her special gift is to connect us with our sources in the natural world, its beauties and terrors and mysteries and consolations." -Stanley Kunitz
 
Composer, performer and educator, Lauridsen has spent his lifetime listening in deep silence to the 'inner song', bringing forth choral works of radiant beauty for the world to hear and sing.
 
Participants are encouraged to bring a journal; handouts will be available and daily postings on Rev. Michael's Facebook page (already appearing).
PROMOTE CAMP BEECH GROVE Leafleting Our Church Neighborhood:
Sunday, February 21, 12:00pm following worship

Promote Camp Beech Grove with a sign in your front yard.

Help promote Camp Beech Grove throughout our neighborhood.  Put on your walking shoes, grab a map, then go out and place brochures on the outside of mailboxes.  Finger foods available before you leave, then rendezvous at The Grove (2761 Lavista Rd, 30033) at approximately 2:30pm. 

Camp Beech Grove yard signs are available for $5. Please help us to get the word out all over town.

Contact: Sally Harrell
Youth Serving at Atlanta Community Food Bank
Saturday, February 27, 
12:00-4:30pm
18.7 percent of the people living in Georgia are food insecure, meaning that they don't always know where they will find their next meal. ACFB supported programs feed thousands of hungry families in the metro area each week. On Sat, Feb 27 youth (6th-12th grade) will have the chance to work in their massive warehouse, sorting cans and packing boxes of food for hungry people. We need to be at ACFB by 1:00pm but we would like to eat lunch before hand. Please arrive at the church by noon and bring a little cash with you for lunch. We will be back to the church by 4:30pm. Have questions or want to volunteer as an adult chaperone? Contact Rev. Lacey
WHAT IS THIS WILDWOOD THING ON Saturday, February 27th at  7:00pm?
It's an energetic 90-minute concert of folk, gospel and Americana music featuring some amazingly talented singers, musicians and writers! It's a show where you can feel like a cool insider because you know the people onstage! It's a tradition that dates back decades here at Central and has been revived from time to time. It's a FREE concert with a freewill offering to benefit causes and communities that are important to Central members. It's a dessert and coffee reception after the show where you can MEET THE MUSICIANS! It's an event tailor made to bring your family and friends. It's an event that takes too many exclamation points to describe! Contact Bob Watson at robertwatson3000@gmail.com or call him at 404-790-6494 if you'd like to help - especially if you want to help take charge of the dessert reception - we really need someone to do that! See you there!
Fellowship of the Grape
March 5, 7:00pm



David at 7705707842 or email dcfinl1@att.net. 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.
Women's Daytime Book Group March 10, 1:30pm
The book is A Man Called Ove by Swedish novelist Fredrik Backman, a somewhat lighter choice to follow up last month's dive into Atlanta history.  Our informal group meets in the Fireplace Room, every four-to-six weeks. Great conversation always. Read and attend as you can; no commitment.  Send an e-mail to Geneva Benoit if you would like to be on the email list: neve44@bellsouth.net.
HUNGER WALK 5K
March 13, 2016
Begins at Turner Field, Walk/Run starts at 2:00pm
Join folks from Central UCC as we get active for a great cause!

To sign up people need to go to www.hungerwalkrun.org click "register" and then choose the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Choose "join a team" and click on the search. Scroll down to Central UCC and click on it. The rest of signing up is pretty straightforward. People will have to pay $25 to walk and they can donate more if they wish. Most of the $25 will go to the Toco Hills Community Alliance (THCA). 80 percent of online donations will go to THCA with the rest going to the Atlanta Community Food Bank. To donate people can go to the website referenced above and click on donate. Enter "Central UCC" as the team name and then click on the blue "Central UCC" and you will be taken to the Donation page.
Artists in the Commons:
Drawing Zentangle Style
by Cheryl Tarkington
Zentangle is a more formalized form of doodling and has been around for quite a long time. About 3 years ago I became interested in Australian Aboriginal art, which uses a lot of stylized symbolism along with the creative use of dot painting. When I stumbled onto Zentangle it reminded me of what I had appreciated about the Aboriginal art and carried it on beyond. If you are a purist of this art style you maintain strict adherence to certain rules, such as restricting the size of the work to a 3 ½ by 3 ½ card; not using tools like straight edges, compasses, or grids; and making the finished work abstract and organic.

Those who are not purists make their on variations on sizes and surfaces from copy paper to rocks and furniture. I have even seen a Zentangled car.

Most of my work has been on sketch pads, copy paper, small boxes and lamp shades. Any surface you can draw or paint on can be "tangled". It is a fascinating art style that has become a form of meditation in both the creation of the design and in adding color to those designs created by others. 
I can be reached by email: cherylltkn@gmail.com
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE UCC
Our Conference, the Southeast Conference of the UCC, is celebrating 50 years since its formation in 1966.  This historic event in the life of our church and our 50 sister churches will be celebrated throughout 2016 with special publications, music, and other special events, including a grand celebration at Annual Meeting June 10 & 11.  Small donations are being asked from every church to help fund these efforts. If you can donate $12 or more, the Conference thanks you with a Commemorative 2016 Calendar filled with historical information and pictures.  These are available at a table in the Commons or in the Church Office.  Checks should be made to Central and designated "SEC Anniversary".   Thank you for your generosity and your support of the United Church of Christ.
Villa International
Villa International, located on Clifton Rd. just up the hill from Wesley Woods, is a 33-room residence housing people from all over the world who are visiting or studying short-term at the CDC and Emory's Rollins School of Public Health primarily, but also many others including interns and seminarians.  Seven denominations joined the Presbyterian Church to create a welcoming community where visitors find acceptance, respect, and the comforts of home.   

Volunteers are needed to drive residents to shop for groceries and other necessities (they cook their own meals) or to occasionally provide a meal or an invitation to dinner or an outing.  Visit the website for details - www.villainternational.org. 

Helen Fredrick is the UCC representative to the Board.  Because the building is almost 50 years old, a capital campaign is in process to have money for maintenance and renovation.  You will be hearing more about Villa in the coming months!
Interfaith Community Initiatives 
Interfaith Community Initiatives has the mission of making Atlanta "interfaith friendly" and promoting understanding, trust, and respect between persons of differing faiths.  The website iswww.interfaithci.org, where you can go to find a speaker or schedule a seminar, learn about World Pilgrim trips or an "immersion weekend" (one is scheduled for March 4-6 and space is available!), or learn how to get on their mailing list.  Or call Jan at 404-622-3399.  
Contribution Statements
2015 contribution statements were emailed on January 25. Mailed statements were sent on January 26. Please contact Martha Smith if you have questions.  martha@central-ucc.org
Donate to our ministries today!
Central UCC wouldn't be the amazing community of faith that it is, without your on going support. Thank you for giving. Your generosity is changing lives. 
Central Congregational United Church of Christ
 | Phone | Fax | Email | Website
STAY CONNECTED: