July 24, 2019
Sunday @ Central
July 28, 2019 | Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
11:00 a.m. Service for the Lord's Day
Jessica Patchett, preaching

Two Sides of Devotion: Devoted to Delight
Last week, we explored God’s devotion to us and how we can mirror that devotion as witnesses of love to those around us. This week, we’ll consider our devotion to God by reflecting on the prayer Jesus taught when his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. If you or someone you know has ever struggled with how to pray or whether prayer changes anything, I hope you’ll join us this weekend to consider it in the context of morning worship.
Sunday, August 4 
11:00 am Worship

At Central, we support and encourage students of all ages in their journeys of learning, growth, exploration, and education. As Atlanta schools and area colleges and universities begin a new school year, we'll take the opportunity to offer a blessing for students in worship on Sunday, August 4. Students, please join us and bring your friends. 

A note for rising 6th - 12th graders: Please meet Youth Coordinator Lauren Scott from 9:45-10:45 in the youth suite to help prepare a special gift that we'll give to students later in the morning. 
REMINDER!
Our Sunday Fellowship Lunch is on hiatus until
NEXT Sunday, August 4, 2019. See you then!
WORSHIP
From the Organ Bench
Sunday’s Opening Voluntary is a setting of “You Servants of God,” which serves as our opening hymn, set to the tune HANOVER. Composer of this setting, Flor Peeters (1903-1986), was a Belgian composer, organist and teacher. Peeters gave concerts and masterclasses all over the world, and was noted for his organ method books for students. He composed a large collection of shorter and more lengthy settings of hymn tunes such as the one played this Sunday.

Sunday’s anthem is Bobby McFerrin’s version of Psalm 23, sung by an ensemble within the Chancel Choir. McFerrin dedicated this version to his mother and says of the text, “I wrote this feminine version of the 23 rd Psalm to address a group of singers who felt excluded by the patriarchal aspects of the Bible.
LEARNING
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 The Rev. Ryan Bonfiglio. The class bell rings at 9:45 a.m.
CLICK HERE for the 2019 Summer Series Course Description Booklet
2019 ALL CHURCH RETREAT
Register for the retreat in person after worship at the designated table in Tull Hall, Click Here to register now, or Follow us on Facebook and register from that page.
SERVE
Meet our Mission Co-Workers Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather
Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather are Mission Co-Workers of the Presbyterian Church, USA and are supported (in part) by Central's Global Mission Committee. They serve together in South Sudan, Africa, and feel called to join South Sudan’s churches in building a better future for the country.

Shelvis and Nancy, who are both ordained PC(USA)ministers from the Greater Atlanta Presbytery, were married and took their first ordained calls in Africa. They were assigned to Kenya in 2008 with the PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program and signed up for an additional year after their initial one-year appointments ended. Both were able to experience Africa beyond the borders of Kenya, which helped them develop relationships and then a love for the people of South Sudan.

In 2012, the Smith-Mathers’ son, Jordan, became the first child born in South Sudan to US born parents. Jordan and his younger sisters Adalyn (2014) and Nicole (2016) received South Sudanese names from elders in their community. In many parts of the country, it is the elders who name children. Jordan’s name, “Yopay,” is given to a child who is born early, as he was born prematurely. Adalyn’s name, “Keji,” means “home” and was given to her to let the Smith-Mather family know they are welcome in South Sudan. “Nyepal” means “prayer” and was given to Nicole by a South Sudanese pastor who told the family that many in East Africa were praying for Nicole’s healing when she was sick after she was born in the US.

Both Shelvis and Nancy grew up in Atlanta and attended high school, college and seminary together. They are graduates of The Westminster Schools; Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina; and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.

The Smith-Mather family is humbled by the opportunity to be a part of building peace, fighting poverty through education, and restoring hope alongside the church in South Sudan. They realize they could not do so without family, friends and churches who pray, support and care for them as they serve the Lord in a distant place. They invite you to sign up for their e-newsletters by clicking here .
Although the Central Night Shelter will not open until November 1, and the first night of Foot Clinic is not until November 6, it is flip flop season now! This is the best time of year to buy the flip flops that help us prevent the spread of athlete’s foot in the showers because you can find them for $1 a pair at Walmart or the Dollar Store. We need men’s sizes 9-14. There will be a basket in the narthex for the rest of the summer for your gifts. Thank you.
Want to Get Your Child's Summer Wardrobe & Raise Money for the Child Development Center of Central? 

Shop Primary Clothing! You'll love these soft, easy care fabrics, in brilliant colors for your children.
  • CDC receives 10% of each purchase.
  • Use the link  www.primary.com/school/cdc
  • New customers get 25% off their first order with the code: CDC 
Lunch for the Main Frame Job Readiness Students
As a part of the Main Frame Job Readiness Program we offer lunch to our students on Mondays and Tuesdays of the three week class. We are extremely grateful for the generosity so many of you have displayed by donating lunch, and sometimes staying and eating with our students. Providing lunch can be as easy as donating to Central Outreach and Advocacy Center online and letting us know that the amount donated is to pay for a Main Frame lunch. You can donate food in person and eat lunch with the students--something the students always enjoy. You can also purchase a Kroger or Publix gift card. Any of these ways is a low commitment way for volunteers to have a hand in the ministry of Central Outreach and Advocacy Center, and the Main Frame Job Readiness Program in particular. If you are able to provide lunch in one of these ways, please take a moment and sign up link. Feel free to contact Ahren Cassinari-Foster with any questions you may have … afoster@centraloac.org or 404-601-3146.
Thank you for your consideration!
CONNECT
Looking for an Easy Way to Give This Summer?
Our ministries depend on your steady giving, so even when you're away, you can take advantage of electronic giving via three different ways. You can make a single contribution or set up a recurring gift on Central's website by clicking this link. You can also give through the ChurchLife app, or you can text “cpcatlanta” to 73256 (Click the link you receive in your text message response and follow the prompts to give; text giving even saves your payment method so you can quickly give/pay again.)

Thanks for your continued support!
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 Glen Rock. 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! 
Save the Date
Central Women's Retreat-- March 6-8, 2020
Mark your calendars and plan to join us as we travel
to the Calvin Center for this annual event. 
Details will follow in January 2020.
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