THE GOOD NEWS
May 21, 2020
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Breathe
By Dr. Oliver Wagner
"Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7
These are anxious times and anxiety takes a toll on us all. The passage I’ll preach from this Sunday is from 1 Peter 5 and contains one of my favorite quotes: “cast all of your anxieties on God who cares.” A former church employee and friend gave me a button that I keep at my desk. It reads very simply “Breathe.”
From military SEAL training I learned about this exercise to calm down and focus in the midst of a stressful situation. Inhale through your nostrils for four seconds. Hold the air in your full lungs for four seconds. Exhale from your mouth for four seconds. Allow your lungs to remain empty for four seconds. Then repeat, over and over. They say that as you do this you should picture making four sides of a box with your finger—
across the top, down the right side, across the bottom, up the left side. Repeat. I do that often and find it very helpful in restoring calm and peace, perspective and focus.
Researchers tell us we take about 25,000 breathes per day. The air we breathe is about 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. When we breathe out, the oxygen is down to 16% and 4% of what we breathe out is carbon dioxide. In that exchange we have oxygenated our blood with nutrients and our cells with energy! The Hebrew word “ruah” means breath, spirit or wind! Consider that as we approach Pentecost and receiving the Holy Spirit.
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For this devotion I have borrowed from an article in this month’s issue of Presbyterians Today written by Diane Stephens Hogue, a writer and spiritual director. At the end of her column she makes this invitation to do the “Breathe Prayer”:
- Choose a phrase of up to 12 sacred words, divided into two parts.
- Pray the first part as you inhale and the second part as you exhale.
- Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Tune out distractions.
- To prepare, take three deep breaths, slowly. Resume your normal pace of breathing
- Do the breathe prayer, inhaling and exhaling. Repeat the phrase in the silence of your heart, breathing naturally for up to twenty minutes.
- Slowly let the words fall away. Tend to your breathing. Open your eyes and reorient yourself.
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She suggests this phrase from Psalm 23: (inhale) “beside the still waters”…(exhale) “you lead me.” Or, from Romans 8, “Nothing can separate us…from the love of God.” The one I like to use is:” Jesus, Son of God…grant me your peace.” Amen.
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APC's exterior received a fresh coat of paint last week.
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Alpharetta's Virtual Memorial Day Tribute
The City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Rotary Club invite you to remember and honor our fallen heroes during a virtual tribute online at
youtube.com/user/alpharettagov
. The ceremony will be shared beginning at 9 am on Monday, May 25.You may remember that Dr. Ollie Wagner delivered a prayer during last year's Memorial Day Tribute held at Brooke Street Park in City Center.
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"APC Family" Private Facebook Group
"APC Family" is a closed Facebook group just for APC members. Posts are NOT visible to the public. Members can share prayers, inspiration, and humor---as well as share information or ask for assistance and support. Simply login in to Facebook and search for "APC Family," then request to join. You may also use this link:
www.facebook.com/groups/APCfamily
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June Adult Education Series
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Please register to attend!
June Adult Sunday School Series to Focus on PCUSA's Matthew 25 Initiative
The PCUSA’s Matthew 25 initiative challenges us to embrace Jesus’ call in Matthew 25:31-46 to deepen our faith and become more actively engaged in our community and the world. This includes serving people whom our society has oppressed, marginalized, or excluded. In June, APC will offer an adult Sunday school series focusing on ways to be more inclusive, welcoming, and loving in our diverse community and world.
June 7: LGBTQ Inclusion.
Derek Scheidt and Kevin Isom will discuss what it was like to be excluded by the faith community and to live in fear of discrimination for having a same gender relationship, and how the search for a spiritual place of refuge took many different turns until they landed at APC, a fellowship of believers who welcome all. For details contact
Derek Scheidt
.
Please register through Realm no later than 5 PM on Friday, June 5. Zoom information will be emailed to you.
Realm link
June 14: Serving Refugees
. David Roth, from Memorial Drive Ministries in Clarkston, will speak about refugee ministries, the importance of refugee resettlement services in the Atlanta area, and what churches can do to support this work. For details contact
Erin Noh
.
Please register through Realm no later than 5pm on Friday, June 12. Zoom information will be emailed to
you.
Realm link
June 21: Seeking Interfaith Friendship.
In the first of two sessions on her book,
Neighbors: Christians and Muslims Building Community,
Deanna Womack will address how interfaith friendship is a Christian calling and what steps we can take to build better relationships with neighbors of all faiths. For details contact
Deanna Womack
.
Please register through Realm no later than 5pm on Friday, June 19. Zoom information
will be emailed to you.
Realm link
June 28: Understanding our Muslim Neighbors.
In this second session on her book,
Neighbors: Christians and Muslims Building Community,
Deanna Womack will challenge us to build understanding with Muslims in our community and stand up against Islamophobia. For details contact
Deanna Womack.
Please register through Realm
no later than 5pm on Friday, June 26. Zoom information will be emailed to you.
Realm link
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We encourage you to stay connected with all of our mission partners by checking out their websites and newsletters. You can find out more about all of our partners by going to
https://alpharettapres.com/give-serve/mission-partners/
. Let us continue to pray for our community and our world, for those who are in need and those who are working to meet those needs every day.
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Make a Pentecost Pinwheel
Next week, on Sunday May 31, we will be celebrating Pentecost. Help your children celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit by making a Pinwheel:
Pinwheel Instructions
Pinwheels show us that the wind is blowing when they spin wildly. Our pinwheels will remind us and the world that on this day the Holy Spirit blew like the wind through the room where the disciples were and changed them in exciting ways and helped them to tell others about Jesus and God’s great love for us all.
Please send a picture of your pinwheel to
Kristin
when you complete it!
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We celebrate the birth of
Jackson Lewis Molnar
on May 16 with his parents, Meghan and Bradley, and his grandparents, Craig and Donna.
We share our Christian love and sympathy with
Sue and Marshall White
on the death of their son, Marty White, who died on May 21 in Savannah after a long illness. The family will hold a memorial service in Kentucky at a later date.
As God's people called to love one another, we remember in prayer:
Mary Dantzler
at St Joseph's Hospital.
Ed McLaurin
at North Fulton Hospital.
Lee Ann Redmond
is in rehab at North Fulton after surgery for a broken hip.
Dot Rouse
, who is in hospice care and her husband, John, who cares for her.
Florence Heimlich
, who is in hospice care, and her daughter and son-in-law, Pete and Susan Smith, who care for her.
All who are receiving long-term treatments.
All who have lost income or employment due to COVID-19.
Lord, hear our prayers.
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Session Digest:
The next Session meeting is May 22, 2020.
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Alpharetta Presbyterian Church
180 Academy Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009
770-751-0033 www.alpharettapres.com
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