Christ is risen, Alleluia!
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Sunday, May 1, 2016 
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Worship at 8:30am & 11:00am, Communion at both Services
Preaching: Rev. Shannon Michael
Pericope of the day: Acts 16:9-15
WORSHIP NOTES:

A portion of the liturgy for Sunday:

Holy One, guide us to stillness where we must depend upon compassion and deep wisdom - more of each than we have - inspiration, work, growing older, patience - for patience joins time to eternity.
Breathe into us the unconditional breath, the unconditioned air. 
Help us to shun electric wires and communicate slowly.  
Keep us away from anything that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.  
Accept what comes from silence. Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come out of the silence, like prayers prayed back to the one who prays, hold a space that does not disturb the silence from which it came.
-inspired by "How to be a Poet (To Remind Myself)," Wendell Berry
Commitment Sunday: May 1

The ministry boards have submitted their "dream budgets" to the Trustees and the first draft the annual operating budget has been completed - it represents an audacious vision for next year. 

We currently only need around a 5% increase in income (from pledges or other sources) to fully fund the "dream budgets."

This Sunday is "Commitment Sunday."  Giving Cards are in the pews (and were mailed); please help us live into the vision we have of worship, spiritual formation, and service for the upcoming year by placing your card in the offering plate this Sunday or returning them to the church office in the next week.

 

The Nominating Committee and members of Council recently met and will be contacting members to volunteer to serve on boards and committees. 

 

The Council will vote on the budget on May 16 and present it to the congregation during Sunday morning "church chats" on May 22 & 29. All members are requested to attend the Budget & Leadership Meeting following worship on Sunday, June 5.

 

Young Adult Gathering at Himalayan Spice
Friday, April 29, 7:00-9:30 pm
Himalayan Spice Address: 2773 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30329
Do you love curry? Yes! Join us as we gather at one of our favorite restaurants: Himalayan Spice. They are located just one traffic light down from Central and they serve up incredible, authentic Indian and Nepalese dishes. Feel free to bring a friend. Have questions? Email Rev. Lacey 
Elsie Dresch's Art Sale
Saturday, April 30
11:00am - 5:00pm
Elsie's Dresch paintings will be on sale Saturday, April 30 at her home.  Elsie has approximately 60 paintings to show at a very good prices.  Please contact Janet at (jdmozley@gmail.com) for more information. 
End of the year celebration for students and parents!
Sunday, May 1, 9:30am-10:45am 
Please join us in Fellowship Hall at 9:30am for good food, laughter, and stories. We will go over the highlights of the past school year and share ideas for the future of youth group. If you'd like to help organize this event or provide food -please email Sally Harrell sally.harrell@riverside.net
EARTH TOPICS MOVES TO
FIRST MONDAYS
Monday, May 2, 6:30 to 8:00pm  (Fireplace Room)   
We decided to explore what "sustainability" or "living sustainably" might mean at our next gathering. It is a complex subject and many of us are challenged to know what it means or how we can live sustainably. Ron Smith has put together a power point for conversation starters. We have a poster with Wendell Berry's "17 Rules for a Sustainable Community". There is no preparation for this gathering. All are welcome to join us.
For more information email Rev. Ginnie.
Next meetings: Monday, May 2; Monday, June 6; Monday, July 11
Women's Fellowship: May 4, 11am 
Women's Fellowship will meet Wednesday, May 4 at 11:a.m. for business, followed with lunch by Priscilla Circle and the program, "Central and the Environment" presented by Reverend. Ginnie Ferrell
Fellowship of  The Grape- Saturday, May 7, 7pm
Dianne and Paul Hiltman will be hosting Fellowship Of the Grape Saturday, May 7th at 7pm.  They have chosen IMPORTED Pino Grigio.
 
Please bring one bottle of wine our hosts have selected and 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 and they bring the beverage of their choice.  FOG is NOT about the alcohol it is about the FELLOWSHIP.   All are welcome!
 
Event Details: May 7th, 2016 at 7:00pm.  RSVP to Dianne 
(678) 468-9430 or email hiltmans@gmail.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.
Leaptrott Trio Concert at Central
Monday, May 9, 7:30pm
This concert will feature chamber works by Schubert and Piazzolla performed by the Leaptrott Trio. They will be performing the B flat major Trio by Schubert and The Four Seasons by Piazzolla (Argentinian composer known for his tango music) among other pieces performed by Ben Leaptrott.
All are welcome to attend.

The Leaptrott trio includes: Kenn Wagner, Charae Krueger, and Ben Leaptrott. Kenn Wagner is first violinist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Chaerae Krueger is principal cello with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. Ben Leaptrott, our Organist, is Assistant Professor of Music at Brenau University. He has also been the official accompanist for the District and Regional Metropolitan Opera auditions in Georgia. The Leaptrott Trio has been selected to perform in the Spotlight Series for the 2016 season of the Piccolo Spoleto festival in Charleston, S.C.
May Second Sunday Luncheon Changed to MAY 22
Join us on the THIRD Sunday of May for a cookout after worship. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs outside. There will be fun games for all ages- face painting, corn hole, and a few other surprises. Are you a grill master? Rev. Lacey needs your help because she is NOT a grill master. Please email Rev. Lacey.
Childcare is available every Sunday 
from 8:30 AM T0 12:15 PM (Rm 201)

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."  Our current DVD, featuring Walter Brueggemann (back by popular demand), reframes the Exodus story in surprising ways.  Brueggemann says, "It is a journey from slavery to covenant that we keep making over and over again . . . [because] Pharaoh has immense power always to draw us back into slavery." In thinking about our modern lives, how have we been drawn back into slavery?  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. 
May 1 - Study: DO GUNS MAKE US FREE? by Firmim DeBranbander
Chapter 4:  Guns and the Threat to Democracy; Leader:  Daniel Sullivan
Contact Jackie Graves Dominick: georgedominick169@comcast.net

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.
Elsie Moe Soup Kitchen 
One of the few ways Central folks get directly involved in helping the poor, many of them homeless, is by providing a hot lunch to Women and Children twice a month.  We have two groups, each consisting of a half dozen or so of our folks, who prepare and serve lunch to 40 to 50 women and their children at Grace United Methodist Church downtown.  We support this effort, which we call the Elsie Moe Soup Kitchen (named for a former Saint of Central) via some help through our annual budget and an occasional endowment grant.  

Our work is supportive of Action Ministries, a mission effort of the North GA Conference of the United Methodist church.  You can view a recent report of this important work at: https://t.e2ma.net/message/v0x7l/b10uvj
You might be interested in participating.  If so, contact one of our coordinators, Liz Joyner, ehjoyner@aol.com, or Paule Emde at Paulaemde@yahoo.com
Thank You!
Thank you so much for the thoughtfulness and to everyone who signed my Administrative Professional Day card.  It made my day!
 
Many thanks,
Vanessa
Camp Beech Grove
Registration Is Open: central-ucc.org
6 wks, May 31-July 8, All-Day Sessions, 5-8 years
Our small camp (24 maximum campers) offers young children opportunities to play in and learn about the forest and its habitats. We work to create a safe environment for their spirits to be fed and their hearts and minds engaged in the wonders of the forest at Central UCC. We do yoga, hear sacred stories, sing, play, dig in the dirt, and enjoy hands-on nature and science activities. Every day the kids enjoy forest walks and soak in all they can see, touch and hear. Cost is $195 per week ($175 for church members). Email: beechgrove@central-ucc.org
 
Social Media
It's a good time to re-post Camp Beech Grove on your neighborhood listserve and then contact Sally Harrell if you place information about the camp on a listserve.
Like us on Facebook: Camp Beech Grove. 

We are so excited to be offering Camp Beech Grove to folks around Atlanta including our friends in the Montclair Elementary School neighborhood!
Volunteers Needed for
Children's Programs
Thank you to all those who have signed up to help!
 
Needed May 31-July 8 for Montclair Children attending Camp Beech Grove:
  • Morning church bus drivers (8:30-9:30am, M-F)
  • Morning church bus assistants (8:30-9:30am, M-F)
  • Afternoon church bus drivers (3:30-4:30pm, M-F)
  • Afternoon church bus assistants (3:30-4:30pm, M-F)
  • Morning time, adult leaders, assistants to serve cold breakfast (8:00-9:00am, M-F)
  • Bag lunch makers to coordinate with breakfast servers (Work at home)
  • Morning welcome persons are needed at Central UCC to welcome the children, give them their nametags and tend to any other needs. (8:30-10:00am, M-F)
 
Needed on Sunday Mornings, September to June:
  • Greeters for families with children during 11:00 am worship.
  • Greeters in the Education Wing from 9:30 to 11:10 am.
  • Godly Play Storytellers and Door Persons needed for 2016-2017
If you have questions or interest, please contact Rev. Ginnie.
Recycled Art for Camp Beech Grove
We are collecting hand-sized recyclables, such as: empty cereal boxes, bottle caps, jar caps, small items that you might throw away but are clean and creative art materials. Please bring them to the church office.
If you have questions, contact Rev. Ginnie.
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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