AFUMC E-News, May 10, 2013

May 10, 2013

You likely know by now that our Associate Ministers, Rev. Larisa Parker and Rev. Brent White, will move in mid-June to serve as senior pastors of their own churches. Larisa will be moving to Smyrna where she will lead Faith UMC. Brent will move to the Hampton UMC and lead that congregation. I'm sure you join me in keeping them and their families in your thoughts and prayers. They have served us well over the past six years, so saying goodbye to them is painful. They have earned the opportunity and challenge that is in their future. The faith and love and skill they have displayed among us will allow them to excel and grow. The people in Hampton and Smyrna are fortunate.

The itinerant process of assigning and moving preachers is woven into the fabric of the Methodist Church. John Wesley sent preachers to the Colonies, and Bishop Francis Asbury began sending preachers way back in the 1780s. We know that we are stepping into this circuit-riding life when we kneel to be ordained Elders in the Methodist Church. I love it and hate it all at the same time -- but it works. I hope you will be here in your place of worship on June 16, Father's Day. Brent will preach at the Vinebranch worship services where his ministry has flourished and the church has grown. Larisa will preach in the traditional services and turn in the key to the church condo in the Bahamas. Bring your crying towel. I'll be sitting quietly and reverently in my chair grinning like a possum. I've been re-assigned to serve as your senior pastor for another year.

Y'all come,

Don's Signature

Dr. Don Martin, Senior Pastor

Sunday is final day to register for Vacation Bible School!

Sunday is deadline to register for VBS 2013.

Have you registered your child for Vacation Bible School yet? Better hurry! The deadline is this Sunday, May 12. Teen and adult volunteers also need to sign up no later than Sunday. Register online now or visit the Trinity Hall lobby from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, where you'll find volunteers ready to help you sign-up.

This year's theme is "Kingdom Rock: Where Kids Stand Strong for God!" VBS will be June 3-6 (Monday through Thursday) from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children who are three years old (as of Sept. 1, 2013) through rising sixth grade are invited. The cost is just $10 per child and includes a T-shirt and materials. There is a $30 maximum per family. Nursery care will be provided at no charge to on-site parent volunteers. Children age three and four must be accompanied by an on-site volunteer. If you have questions, please contact Director of Children's Ministry Ellen Sanders.

VBS volunteer training May 14 and 15

All VBS volunteers must attend one of our training meetings -- Tuesday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. or Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. -- in Vinebranch Chapel. Volunteers who have not yet completed AFUMC's Child/Youth Protection Training will have an opportunity to do so following each VBS volunteer session. Nursery care will be available. To reserve the nursery for your child, please contact Nursery Coordinator Helena Manning.

Holly Hunter, United Methodist Women president, presents a pin to graduating senior Jamie Fredlund, show here withYouth Director Jay Gulbin.

Jamie Fredlund receives UMW's inaugural Sarah Manning Award

AFUMC's United Methodist Women have presented the organization's inaugural Sarah Payne Manning Award to Jamie Fredlund. Jamie, a senior graduating from St. Francis High School this month, received the award during the church's graduate recognition banquet last Sunday.

The award was named in honor of Sarah Manning, a longtime church member who passed away in March at age 100. She served in numerous leadership positions and supported the UMW's mission and ministry projects, many of which assist women and children around the world. The award will be given annually to a young lady graduating from high school who's a church member and exemplifies the spirit of the UMW's mission. She will receive a lapel pin, bearing the United Methodist Church's symbol of a cross and flame, and a financial donation will be made in her name to an area of mission supported by the UMW.

According to UMW President Holly Hunter, Jamie was selected to receive the award because of "her example of reaching out to those in need and establishing a mission emphasis that benefits children with debilitating illness." Fredlund organized a collection drive for cola pop-top tabs to help fund Ronald McDonald House. She has also been active in the church's music programs and other AFUMC ministries.

Jamie thanks everyone who has helped with the pop tops program. The mission is ongoing, and those who'd like to contribute the soda can tabs can drop them in the birdhouse shaped collection box in Trinity Hall.

The UMW also gave a gift to missions in the name of each graduating girl who is a member of the church.

Contemporary Worship

This Sunday in Vinebranch, which is Mother's Day, we will turn our attention to the very tenacious mother who fights for her daughter's life in Mark 7:24-30. What can she teach us about parenting, faith and commitment? The Vinebranch Band will feature a song about another tenacious mom, the Beatles' "Lady Madonna," as well as "Your Mother Should Know," from "Magical Mystery Tour." We will also celebrate the Lord's Supper.

Click here to read or watch last week's sermon, "The Word Is Love, Part 4." You can also watch last week's graduation-themed video, in which we asked AFUMC people the following question: "If you could go back in time, what advice would you give the 18-year-old version of yourself?"

The Beatles-themed sermon series continues throughout May. The schedule is as follows:

Date	Title	Scripture	Beatles' Song
May 12 (Mother's Day)	Part 5	Mark 7:24-30	"Lady Madonna" "You Mother Should Know"
May 19	Part 6	Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 11:22-33	"Strawberry Fields Forever" "The Long and Winding Road"
May 26	Part 7	Revelation 21:1-8	"Revolution" "Let It Be"

Gulf Coast mission trip starts May 31. It's not too late to join the team!

AFUMC's Gulf Coast mission trip is May 31-June 3. The mission team will work on light construction projects alongside members of Heritage UMC in the vicinity of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to help those still suffering the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina. If you'd like to join the mission team or just want more information, please contact Susan Monson.

If you can't go on this mission trip but want to help locally, take a look that these two opportunities:

Help area animal shelters. Girl Scout Troop 14126 is collecting items for local animal shelters. Please look for the green collection box in the Missions area of the Trinity Hall foyer, where you can donate old socks (to make cat and dogs toys); old adult-sized T-shirts (to make small cat/dog beds); old towels; used tennis balls; paper towels and 13-gallon trash bags. The troop will collect these items through May. If you have any questions, please contact Crisanne Triplett.

Recycle children's choir T-shirts. If your child participated in one of AFUMC's many children's choirs this year, please considering recycling his choir T-shirt. Please place the used shirt in the collection bin on the pew bench outside the choir room. Drop off the shirt by May 20.

UMW-sponsored fashion show a success

More than 150 women and men gathered Friday evening to watch 30 of their church friends dress up and model 2,000 years of fashion, enjoy refreshments, make new friends and raise money to purchase tennis shoes for Haitian children. After learning of this special need through the United Methodist Women's Haiti mission study during Lent, your hearts were touched and your wallets opened. With all the donations, the UMW was able to sent $1,050 to Worldwide Benevolence Fund, Inc. to purchase tennis shoes for these precious and needy children. John and Lisa Schilling, former AFUMC members and WBF representatives, will travel to Haiti in June, purchase shoes from the local merchants and tell children about Jesus Christ as they place the shoes on their feet.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the fashion show and those who worked behind the scenes to make the event a success. The UMW is grateful for each of you who so generously supported this outreach.

Alpharetta First

United Methodist Church