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Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
SUNDAY Schedule Sunday, April 21 • Prayer breakfast for Homeless persons - 6:30 am, Fifield Hall • Communion Service 8:15 am, Winship Chapel • The Mustard Seed Bookstore Open 9:00 - 1:00 • Worship Service 9:00 am, Sanctuary • Cherub Choir - 9:30 am • Sunday School for All Ages - 10:05 am • Fellowship Hour - 11:00 am Fifield Hall • Worship Service 11:15 am, Sanctuary • Fellowship Hour - 12:15 pm, Reception Room • Sunday School Coordinator’s Lunch - 12:15 pm, Room 322 • Elementary Musical 3:30 pm, Fifield Hall • Five @ First - 5:00 pm, Reception Room • Officer Training - 6:00 pm, Room 323
Sunday, April 28 • Prayer breakfast for Homeless persons - 6:30 am, Fifield Hall • Communion Service 8:15 am, Winship Chapel • The Mustard Seed Bookstore 9:00 am - 1:00 pm • Worship Service - 9:00 am, Sanctuary • Cherub Choir - 9:30 am • Sunday School for All Ages - 10:05 am • Fellowship Hour - 11:00 am Fifield Hall • Worship Service - 11:15 am, Sanctuary • Martha Olson Reception 12:15 pm, Reception Room • Five @ First - 5:00 pm, Reception Room • Officer Training - 6 pm, Rm 323
April 21 & 28, 2013 Christ at the Center APRIL 21, “An Appointment With April”
APRIL 28, “Not Goodbye, But God Be With You” Legacy Giving Sunday
I have always been intrigued by the quote For the past 23 years, from the American Martha Olson has served as philosopher and writer the executive secretary and George Santayana, administrative assistant to who said to his class of the pastor of our church. students at Harvard in Martha has been “the voice” you April 21 & 28 George Wirth to preach 1912 as he looked out the window hear when you call the office, the at a forsythia uncurling in a patch person you meet as you come into of muddy snow, “Gentlemen…I have just the church on weekdays, and the beloved friend discovered that I have an appointment with of more members and visitors than any of us April”. Somehow, he had realized that the could ever possibly count. Speaking personally, changing of the season from winter to spring I cannot imagine what I would have done or was beckoning him to explore a new chapter in could have done without her alongside me since his life, and in our sermon on April 21, I plan to we both began our work here at First Presbytell you more of his fascinating story. The text terian Church in 1990. All of us are grateful for that day comes from Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, for Martha’s outgoing personality, her warm verse 1: “For everything there is a season and a and welcoming presence, her patience and time for every matter under heaven”. And so it persistence, and for her highly productive work is in your life and mine!. As we finally embrace and faithful witness as a person who embodthe springtime here in Atlanta, there are signs ies the Christian virtues of grace, compassion, all around us of new life, new opportunities and loyalty and love. So I invite you come join us on a renewed sense of God’s plan and purpose for Sunday, April 28 as we celebrate Martha Olson’s each of us. But change does not come easily for retirement and express to her our profound most of us, even though we know it is necessary gratitude for the ministry that she has shared and inevitable. My hope and heartfelt prayer with all of us. The title of our sermon that day is that we will be open and receptive to the is “Not Goodbye, But God Be With You,” and transitions that the Lord has in store for us at following the 9:00 and 11:15 worship services, First Presbyterian Church, trusting that He will there will be a reception in Reception Room at guide us and provide us with what we need as 12:15pm to recognize and honor Martha Olson’s He leads us forward into the future. ministry among us. Let’s lift up the glad and grateful affirmation that day, rejoicing together as we say “well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25). I look forward to seeing you in A P R I L 2 8 worship and at the reception! Legacy Giving Sunday Recognition of all Legacy Giving donors and unveiling of Legacy Giving Plaque. Richard Felker, Chair
Faithfully Yours,
George B. Wirth