No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life's Journey - 
You're Welcome Here!
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Sunday, March 13, 2016 
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Worship at 8:30am with Communion and 11:00am
Rev. Michael, Preaching
Pericope for Preaching: John 12:1-8 
Worship notes: 
"You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Try not to read that verse as a "permission slip."
Resist reading it as a "pain/guilt killer."
They are hard words, maybe even an indictment.  Let's give to and walk for those who are hungry on Sunday (see Hunger Walk below). 

Communion at 8:30.  Children singing at 11:00.
The anthem from the adult choir at 11:00 was dedicated by the composer "for all who grieve and in memory of the children and adults of the Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012."  Click here to read a powerful blog post about the anthem.

Second Sunday Luncheon to follow worship at 12:00pm
Join us for lunch in Fellowship Hall. We will have a variety of ingredients for delicious sandwiches. If you'd like to bring something to share, please consider a side dish, chips, dessert, or a drink. Also, for those who can stay and wash dishes, your help is greatly appreciated. If you don't know you way around the kitchen yet, there will be someone there to show you.

Hunger Walk 5K to follow worship at 12:00pm
If you have signed up to run/walk the Hunger Walk 5K we will leave directly after worship to head down to Turner Field where the race begins at 2:00pm. There will be bag-lunches provided for those participating. If you'd like to car-pool contact Rev. Lacey.
Special UCC Mission Offering: March 13 during worship 
One Great Hour of Sharing is an offering that makes the love of Christ real for individuals and communities around the world who suffer the effects of disaster, conflict, or severe economic hardship, and for those who serve them through gifts of money and time. Today, projects are underway in more than 100 countries, including the United States and Canada. In the 1990s, receipts have exceeded $20 million annually. While specific allocations differ in each denomination, all use their One Great Hour of Sharing funds to make possible disaster relief, refugee assistance, development aid and more.

One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing: Click to Play the Video
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.
Spirit Rising:  Mary Oliver, Morten Lauridsen & Rev. Michael
A Lenten Journey of Wholeness & Spiritual Formation
Wednesdays, 16 & 23 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).
Radical Hospitality for Families with Children
We are inviting persons to serve as Children & Family Greeters during 11:00 worship.  Lookout for new families with children, welcome them, give them informational packets as they leave, and ensure they connect to the many ways in which Central embraces children and their families. During worship, you are invited to accompany unattended children if they leave the sanctuary. If you would enjoy getting to know new people and our children with this act of kindness, please email Rev. Ginnie (ginnie@central-ucc.org). 
Safe Church training is required.
Camp Beech Grove
Registration Is Open: central-ucc.org
6 wks, All-Day Sessions, 5-8 years

Neighborhood Leafleters Needed
Would you be willing to walk for about an hour in a neighborhood near church? We are placing camp brochures on the outside of mailboxes in designated neighborhoods.
Please contact Sally Harrell. Thank you!

Yardsigns
We would love to have a Camp Beech Grove yard sign in your front yard wherever you live in metro-Atlanta. Please stop by the Camp Beech Grove table on Sunday mornings or contact Sally Harrell and we will bring the yard sign to you. Donations of $5 to help defray the cost of the signs are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Social Media
Like us on Facebook: Camp Beech Grove.  Or even write a review! Put information on your neighborhood listserves. Registrations are coming in. Contact Sally Harrell if you place information about the camp on a listserve. Thank you!

We are so excited to be offering Camp Beech Grove to folks around Atlanta including our friends in the Montclair Elementary School neighborhood!

https://www.facebook.com/CampBeechGrove/

For the Children
Please note all children begin in Room 202.

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

PRE-SCHOOL Bible Story Time
11:00 AM TO 12:00 PM (Rm 202)

Children's Sacred Program: Godly Play

5 YEARS OLD TO FIRST GRADES - GODLY PLAY
10:50 Gather in Room 202; 11:00 AM The Godly Play teachers bring the children from Room 202 to Room 207 where the Godly Play program happens!
In the Godly Play program is a sacred time with our children. Its story and reflection, community sharing and prayer, feast and blessing. All the parts of Godly Play make for the whole sacred time. The room is set up so that the children can live visually, verbally and with hands-on connections in the middle of the stories of our faith. 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 special time together with a community time of sharing, praying and blessing.

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. For the older children, we, too, are engaging the older children in a sacred time of story, reflection, sharing, praying and blessing. With all the "liturgy" of our hour together, we hope for the children to gain a sense of the mystery and sacredness of God's presence in their lives.

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 
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. 
Sunday, 03/13:  The sharing of our individual spiritual journeys has been surprisingly fun, interesting and touching.  Each "journey" has led us to some spirited discussions.  There are still several class members who want to share.  In addition to our sharing time, we will spend some time on the current political campaigns/environment.
 
Sunday, 03/20:  PALM Sunday - It is anticipated that our "spiritual journey" discussion will continue on 03/20.
 
Sunday, 03/27:  EASTER Sunday - NO class; Hope to see everyone at the Easter breakfast.


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:  
Sunday, 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.
March 13:     Cuba and the U.S.
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.  Email Geneva
Garden Team - Saturday 
March 19, 10:00 - 12:00
Spring is 'round the corner - bursting with flowers and joy!  In preparation for Easter, join the Garden Team for workdays on Saturday, March 5 and 19 from 10:00 - 12:00. We'll be beautifying our grounds by clearing weeds from the parking lot median and other beds, mulching and planting wildflowers deserving of a good home. 
Thanks!- Ron Smith
Young Adult Gathering 
Tuesday, March 29
Thinking Man Tavern
7:00 -9:00 pm
Join us for a night of team trivia at Thinking Man Tavern, a great local pub in Decatur. Arrive at 7:00pm, trivia starts at 7:30pm. The challenge will be to come up with a team name other than, "Central Young Adults." I have a feeling we can be more creative than that!
Questions or concerns: Email Rev. Lacey
Fellowship of  The Grape
Saturday, April 2, 7pm
Barbara and Joe Alfano will be hosting Fellowship Of the Grape Saturday, April 2nd at 7pm.  They have chosen Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine drinkers and Zinfandels for the red wine drinkers.  Please bring any appetizer or dessert that will compliment this wine 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!
 FYI:  Several people have said, "I would love to come to FOG, but I don't drink alcohol."  Several folks attend FOG who do not drink alcohol.  FOG is NOT about the alcohol it is about the FELLOWSHIP.   All are welcome!
 Event Details: April 2, 2016 at 7:00pm.  RSVP to Barbara at (404) 728-1570 or email. If you would like to be added to the mailing list for FOG, contact coordinator RobinLee Fitch.  We look forward to seeing you at FOG.
Toco Hills Community Alliance
Dinner Plates & Forks Needed!
At Toco Hills Community Alliance we serve about 60 hot lunches each day. We use real plates and forks. It is less expensive and better for the environment, but that's not the main reason. When an honored guest comes to your house, you give them your best, not a floppy plate and a plastic fork that may break! Please look around your house and see if you've got any plates that you are not using, even 2-3 would be a help. Either drop them off at THCA (1790 Lavista Rd) or give them to someone at your church who volunteers with us. Of course, we will end up with a wide assortment of patterns and styles, but we don't mind! THCA is like that, all patterns and styles of people coming together to get fed.
Wildwood raises $1,500 for important causes!
Thank you to all who turned out for the show and generously donated for a great cause. And thanks to the musicians, technicians, "roadies" and everyone who made sure there were plenty of sweets to eat after the show. The most recent iteration of Wildwood Concerts at Central raised $1,500 for the Georgia Justice Project and the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice. Specials thanks to GJP Executive Director Doug Ammar who joined us that night and shared his agency's mission and work on behalf of people our greater society often deems the "least of these".
 
The church was packed; the music was terrific; the spirit was joyful. So go ahead and "Like" our page on Facebook: @Wildwood Concerts at Central UCC. We'll post pics and videos in the coming days (and weeks). And stay tuned for news about the next Wildwood. Almost 18 months passed between our shows; we'll try to make it sooner next time!
Sanctuary Flowers
If you would like to offer flowers for the Sanctuary on a particular Sunday, please sign up on the bulletin board across from the main restrooms just outside the CE wing. You may also contact Vanessa (office@central-ucc.org) at the church office to sign up.
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. 
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