Sunday @ Central
June 30, 2019 | Thirteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time
11:00 a.m. Service for the Lord's Day
Jessica R. Patchett, preaching
Sermon -
Acts of Faith: Following
Text:
Luke 9.51-62
Central to Jesus' life and teachings was a ministry of healing and a proclamation of freedom. Many of us, including me, are all too well acquainted with how much we long to receive such gifts. We know pain. We have strained relationships. We see a fractured world and know things can be better. So we might stand before Jesus, as Luke says many did, and say, "I'd love to follow you into this kingdom of heaven you proclaim, Jesus. But I have to deal with all of these things! They're real! So what am I supposed to do?" Join us on Sunday, and we'll consider together Jesus' response.
|
|
REMINDER!
As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure Central is being a good steward of its resources, the Administration Committee (with Session approval) has made the decision to suspend our Sunday Fellowship Lunch for the month of July. The last regular Sunday lunch will be
THIS SUNDAY, June 30
; our lunches together will resume on August 4, 2019.
During this summer hiatus, the Ministry of Engagement has planned a special opportunity for fellowship following worship on July 14 (see article below).
If you have any questions, please contact Dean Hammond, Chair of Administration by
email
.
This Sunday's Menu
Roasted Pork Loin
Red Beans and Rice
Squash Medley
Pound Cake
Fruit and Salad bar
Corn Bread Muffins
|
|
Update from the Pastor & Personnel Committee
|
|
Dear friends,
Sunday was a poignant day. The strength of the Central community was alive and vibrant.
Our chancel and bell choirs offered their very best in witness to God’s goodness and in gratitude for the gifts that Dave VanderMeer and Brent Ivey have been to us for 18 good years. Vicki Fey and an impromptu choir of dozens offered a beautiful sung blessing.
Friends from near and far gathered to express heartfelt thanks to Dave and Brent. Over and over, people thanked Dave and Brent for noticing them, going out of their ways to reach out to them and help them become part of the Central community, and using the vehicles of music and art to bring out the best in them.
As Dave and Brent make their way to Ann Arbor, we will feel our loss intimately.
And, as many members of the choir remarked on Sunday, we will express our ongoing gratitude for the gift of this vibrant worship, music, and fine arts ministry by continuing our investment in it.
Some will do so with the gifts of their time singing or ringing in choirs.
Others will reach out in selfless love to people who might enjoy the privilege of coming alive in a community of faith.
Many will do so with financial contributions to ensure that the Central community will continue to offer vibrant worship, meaningful service and advocacy, and ministries that nurture the lives and faith of children, youth, and adults of all ages.
The Personnel Committee and leaders from across the congregation are collaborating to ensure the Central community will work well together to nurture vitality across these ministries of the church. Here’s a brief update on their work:
On Monday evening, two search committees began their work, including one in search of an Interim Choral Director. The members of this search committee include: Frances St. John, Chair; Cindi Yarbrough, Personnel Liaison; and Jane Fahey, Trace Haythorn, and Matt Baum. The second search committee will recruit and hire a Director for Ministries with Children, Youth, and their Families. The members of this search committee include: Wills Moore, Chair; Susan Landrum, Personnel Liaison; and Denise de la Rue, Sally Wood, Mary Elizabeth Pope Davis, and Zac Hilimire.
Vicki Fey will assume additional responsibilities for coordinating worship, music and fine arts ministries, including summer soloists and ensembles who will serve in worship each week beginning this Sunday in accordance with Central’s typical summer music program.
Leaders of the Worship, Music, and Fine Arts Committee will meet with Vicki and Jessica in the coming weeks to plan for summer retreats and begin laying the groundwork for this year’s choir camp and fall program.
Finally, in light of Micah Dowling’s upcoming departure, Lauren Scott will provide interim support for the committees leading Youth and Children’s ministries. She will also work with the Fall Retreat planning committee to ensure an energetic start to the youth program as school resumes.
Please join me in thanking Vicki and Lauren, our two search committees, and all those serving on committees supporting children, youth, worship, and music. The above-and-beyond efforts of these devoted Central members will undergird us and strengthen us as we move forward together.
As our search processes unfold, we will continue to provide you with updates here and in in-person gatherings. If you have questions or need help identifying who to collaborate with in ministry, please contact Mary Lillian Walker at 404-262-9839.
With gratitude,
Mary Lillian Walker and Jessica Patchett
|
|
From the Organ Bench
The Opening Voluntary for June 30 is an arrangement of our middle hymn, “Jesus Calls Us.” The arrangement is by Emma Lou Diemer. Ms. Diemer (b. 1927 and, as far as we know, at age 91 is still living!), has written many works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, keyboard, voice, chorus, and electronic media. She is an organist as well as a composer and teacher, having taught at the University of California, and has performed programs of her own works at such prestigious churches as Washington’s National Cathedral, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, and both Grace Cathedral and St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco.
continued >>
We begin the season when the Chancel Choir takes a few weeks off. Trace Haythorn will be our soloist on June 30, singing Mendelssohn’s “I Will Sing of Thy Great Mercies,” from Psalm 89.
|
|
Be a Greeter!
Do you remember being a church visitor? Did someone welcome you at the door? Sunday Greeters are the first welcoming face visitors see, and they help newcomers find their way around our maze of a building! We are in need of additional people to volunteer to be a greeter before worship one Sunday per month. If you are interested, please
email
Janet Abercrombie. The greeters will have breakfast together on June 30 to receive a thank you gift and talk about how best to welcome visitors.
|
|
The Adult Education Committee invites you to take a seat in our seminary classroom (a.k.a. OAC Lobby/Atrium) which continues this Sunday with "Professor" Stan Saunders. Class convenes at 9:45 a.m.
CLICK HERE
for the 2019 Summer Series Course Description Booklet
|
|
Remember Your Baptismal Vows
As Charlie Richards reminded the congregation Sunday, each baptism "lays a solemn obligation on us, the people of God." We are asked to answer the following questions: Will we be faithful to our calling as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, so that this child may grow in the knowledge and love of Christ? Will we nurture and love this child, share the good news of the gospel with him/her, and help him/her know and follow Jesus Christ?
If you have ever answered "yes" to these questions, the Children's Committee has a way for you to live into these vows: become a teacher in our Sunday School for children (ages 4 - 10) starting this fall. All of the classes are led by a team of teachers--thus, it is not an every Sunday commitment. The curriculum used in our children's classes is Godly Play (
click here
to learn more about this curriculum), and training will be provided.
If you would like to join other Centralites in nurturing our children, please contact Micah Nutter Dowling by
email
.
|
|
2019 All-Church Retreat
August 31 - September 2 | Montreat, North Carolina
Oh, the weather outside is hot and sticky...but fall will be here before you know it. Won't you join your fellow Centralites for a weekend in the mountains in Montreat, North Carolina, for the 2019 All-Church Retreat?
OR
Follow us on Face Book and register from that page.
|
|
This Sunday, June 30, is the day we will bless the backpacks collected by our parishes in support of the Georgia Justice Project. We can say Centralites have stepped up to the challenge and have collected WAY more than the 10 backpacks requested of Central by the GJP! The Local Mission Committee extends its thanks to the Parish Coordinators and all who contributed to this important project!
|
|
Central's Local Mission Committee invites you to march with us for the first annual Stonewall March, happening on
Sunday, June 30.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an historical event that galvanized the queer liberation movement and changed LGBTQ history forever, as well as the founding of the Georgia Gay Liberation Front. The 2019 Stonewall March was created to honor the legacy of Stonewall, and to highlight the incredible communities and activists who are doing the work here in Atlanta, and throughout the Southeast.
The march happens
Sunday, June 30
. Line-up for the march will start at 12:00 pm at the Arts Center MARTA Station. Step-off will happen at
1:00 pm.
The march will take Peachtree Street northwards, then make a right onto 10th Street, Left onto Piedmont Avenue, and will enter Piedmont Park through the 12th Street gate. Following the march, there will be a rally featuring speakers from the community at large.
Learn more about the march and follow the information leading up to the march through their
Facebook page (
click here
).
|
|
|
|
OAC Volunteer Opportunities
|
Front Desk
M, T, or F, 9 am - 12:30 pm
Inputting information on guests to receive services. Requires some basic computer skills. Training provided.
Front Desk Phone
M, W, Th or F, 9 am - 12:30 pm
Answering phone: mail checks; food pantry appointments; answering basic questions. Requires some basic computer skills. Training provided.
Administrative Assistant
Thurs 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Answering the phone; mail; filing. Requires some basic computer skills. Training provided.
To start your volunteer time with Central OAC, please contact Chatrelle Gillyard by
email.
|
|
|
|
December 5-11, 2019
Every other year, Central members go visit our mission partners in Haiti to build and sustain relationships, listen to their needs, and learn from their vibrant faith and culture. Trip cost is around $1300, and scholarships are available. Contact Anna by
email
to sign up or learn more information!
|
|
 |
August 9 - 11, 2019
Montreat Women’s Connection
Central women, let’s go to Montreat!
The annual Montreat Women’s Connection is a great opportunity to worship, learn, and laugh with women from Central and around the nation. The keynote speaker is Valerie Kaur, Sikh activist and founder of the Revolutionary Love project. Register now at
www.montreat.org/women, and select “conference, room, and meals” on the registration page. Select a single or double occupancy room in Winsborough. If you want to be paired with a roommate,
email Anna. The registration cost for sharing a double occupancy room is $345, and we are looking into scholarship funding. The cost on the website for a double occupancy room will say $400, but it will be lowered to $345 once you are paired with a roommate. Be sure to list Central Pres ATL as your church so that our rooms will be together, and then let Anna know you registered so we can help plan carpools.
This will be a great trip!
|
|
|
|
After worship on
July 14, join your Central family in Candler Park for an old-fashioned potluck picnic! We will be under the picnic shelters. Bring a dish to share and an outdoor chair if you have one.
Email Anna if you would like to help organize the fun. See you there!
|
|
Do you want to stay up to date with all that is happening within the larger church? Check out
these blogs and newsletters at the PC(USA) website.
|
|
Share the
Good News about the life and mission of Central! Follow us on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
