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The Chimes nline
Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
SUNDAY Schedule Sunday, September 16 • 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, Rm 222 • Youth Choir - 9:30 am, Rm 223 • Sunday School for all ages - 10:05 am • Worship Service - 11:15 am, Sanctuary • Fellowship Hour - 12:15 pm, Reception room
Sunday, September 23 Focus Sunday
• 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, Rm 222 • Youth Choir - 9:30 am, Rm 223 • Sunday School for all ages - 10:05 am • Worship Service - 11:15 am, Sanctuary • Focus Luncheon - 12:15 pm, Reception room
September 16 & 23, 2012 Christ at the Center
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o r d s . We live in a world of words. Sometimes it seems like they are coming at us relentlessly, especially in this season of political conventions and September 16 - Rev. Craig campaigns. Much Goodrich to preach of what we hear we might characterize as “negative” or at best “argumentative,” words spoken or written against another in an attempt to prove the validity or dominance of one’s position, or one’s party or candidate. But it is not just in our politics, is it? It’s everywhere, including in our own lives. So let me ask you this, do you ever stop to think about not only what you hear, but what you say? Or going even deeper, why you say it? In the letter of James, the writer in speaking about the responsibility of those who teach the faith, cautions his readers on the power of speech and the need to tame the tongue, “How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire….. (Think of the forest fires that have raged out West this summer). He goes on to say “With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not be so.” (James 3: 5, 6, 9-10). What about you? Do you need to tame your tongue? To move from negative to positive, from cursing to blessing? You know, it starts with what is going on in our own hearts and minds. And it starts with the grace and the love of God in Jesus Christ. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. The sermon is entitled, “What Did You Say?” Faithfully Yours,
Craig
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n September 23, we look forward to welcoming the Rev. Oliver (Buzz) Thomas and his wife Lisa to First Presbyterian Church for our annual FOCUS celebration, co-sponsored by the September 23 - Dr. Oliver Christian Education Thomas to preach and Worship Councils. Rev. Thomas will preach at both the 9:00 and 11:15am worship services and his sermon is entitled “A City Set On A Hill”. Then at 12:30, everyone is invited to the luncheon in Fifield Hall as Rev. Thomas delivers the Marion Kenan lecture focused on the theme “Civility and the Common Good”. Allison and Tim Bennett are the co-chairs of the committee which had made all of the plans. Rev. Thomas is an ordained minister, attorney, author, teacher, community leader and serves as President of the Great Schools Partnership in Knoxville, TN. He is also a columnist for USA Today, has been legal counselor to the National Council of Churches, Southern Baptist Convention and the Children’s Defense Fund, and has often been seen and heard as a guest commentator on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and National Public Radio. Buzz Thomas is a dynamic preacher and speaker, we are very excited about his time with us in September, and we are grateful that his lovely wife Lisa will be joining him for that special day here at FPC. So please plan to be with us for FOCUS 2012 on Sunday, September 23! Faithfully Yours, George B. Wirth