WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY, RESPONSE SUNDAY IS TODAY!, TODAY'S ANTHEM, YOUTH GROUP, THANKSGIVING GATHERING TOMORROW, ONE GRAY HAIR LUNCH, LGBT & FRIENDS GATHERING, BEAUTIFICATION DAY, RHO READERS, ANNUAL CANNED FOOD COLLECTION, FREE HOLIDAY BABYSITTING, MUSICAL OUTING, CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, CONGRATULATIONS TO, GIVING UPDATE, CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT MORNINGSIDE, THIS WEEK AT MORNINGSIDE

Life@Morningside

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Sunday, November 13, 2011

"The Importance of Being Prepared"

Baron Mullis preaching

Texts: Amos 5:18-24; Matthew 25:1-13

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RESPONSE SUNDAY IS TODAY!

Today, we celebrate our commitment to follow Jesus Christ by offering pledges of our time, talent and treasure for the coming year. Please join us downstairs after worship to enjoy some entertaining music, to help us celebrate during the fellowship hour. Atlanta Opera soprano Amy Little and Walter Huff will provide several vocal selections (inspirational and popular).

TODAY’S ANTHEM

Composer Marty Haugen wrote You Are Salt for the Earth to be used as a “processional song” for outdoor worship, during a residency at Holden Village, a retreat center in the state of Washington.

YOUTH GROUP

Regular Youth Group is 5 to 7 p.m. tonight. Be sure to be here next Sunday, November 20 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. for bowling with Chris Peters! Keep up with all the youth news by joining our email list. Contact Chris Peters at chrispeters@morningsidepc.org.

THANKSGIVING GATHERING TOMORROW

This event is our way of giving thanks for the Preschool Community. Games, crafts, music and dinner are featured. We hope you will join us.  The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow, November 14.

ONE GRAY HAIR LUNCH

Canine assistance comes in many forms and this month’s luncheon program for One Gray Hair will introduce one of the less-familiar:  Diabetic Alert Service Dogs.  At 12 noon on Wednesday, November 16, the group will welcome Trevor Jordan, of Marietta, and his four-legged friend Boss. Come learn more about this new possibility, as diabetes continue to rise. RSVP to Sarah Brownlee rsbrownlee1046@att.net. 

LGBT & FRIENDS GATHERING

Start your Thanksgiving celebrations early with the next LGBT & Friends gathering at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 at the home of Leslie and Lloyd Prince (91 Lakeview Dr. NE, 30317).  The LGBT & Friends group meets regularly for fun, food, fellowship and building connections within our faith community. Events are open to all MPC members and friends who support full inclusion of LGBT individuals within the church. RSVP for this event or add your name to the mailing list by contacting Peter C. Dickson (peter.dickson@comcast.net).

BEAUTIFICATION DAY

Thanks to all who came out for Beautification Day yesterday.

RHO READERS

RHO Readers’ final book selection for 2011 takes us to 18^th Century Japan with the novel The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell. Daisy Ottmann leads the discussion on Sunday, November 20 at 12:45 p.m., in the Session Room.

ANNUAL CANNED FOOD COLLECTION

We have one month (November 12-December 10) to partner with the Preschool to fill five large canisters to overflowing.  This annual holiday canned food drive will benefit Atlanta Community Food Bank which strives to provide healthy food to those facing hunger.  Bring in your items throughout this season of thanksgiving to help us reach out to those in need.  (Lists of recommended items are on website and the barrels themselves.)

FREE HOLIDAY BABYSITTING

On Monday, December 5, we will offer a gift to the community of three hours of free babysitting from 5 to 8 p.m. for children, three months through fifth grade. We will serve pizza and have planned activities for each age group. You must sign up your child ahead of time, so we can have enough babysitters in place. Contact Jennifer James jennjames@comcast.net by Wednesday, November 30 with the names and ages of your children or to volunteer to help make it all happen.

MUSICAL OUTING

On Tuesday, December 13, All Saints Episcopal is hosting its annual Christmas program of sacred and popular favorites presented by soloists from The Atlanta Opera Chorus. Directed by our own Walter Huff, this concert traditionally sells out. If you would like to attend, go to www.allsaintsatlanta.org to purchase tickets now! Once you have purchased tickets, email the church office @morningsidepc.org to let us know you are coming. We plan to meet for dinner and carpool to the 7:30 p.m. performance.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Information is now available for participation in the pageant held on Sunday, December 18 at 5 p.m. Practices have started on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. in Room 001. Don’t miss next week, November 20, when Children’s Choir Director Rebecca Shipley will teach us new songs. If anyone is willing to sew a costume, build a prop, bring a pot of soup or chili, or help on the weekend of the event itself, contact Melinda Sandkam msandkam@morningsidepc.org or sign up in the Narthex.

CONGRATULATIONS TO:

MPC’s newly elected deacons, elders and officer nominating committee members! Deacons are: Pat Antenucci, Curt Barrett, Robin Boren, Jeff Peters (filling Anna Garcia’s unexpired term), and Ken Sharpe. Elders are: Sue Ballay, Peter Cobb, Bonnie Daneker, Jennye Guy, Leslie Prince, and Caroline Tanner. Congregational representatives to next year's officer nominating committee are: Will Barnette, Van Jensen, and Becky Medearis. 

GIVING UPDATE

Needed Weekly—$13,845                

Received 11/6/11—$19,699

Needed Year to Date—$623,037

Received Year to Date—$571,146

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AT MORNINGSIDE

Adult Sunday School Classes

The books of Luke and Acts in the Bible actually are considered as one literary unit. How do scholars arrive at this conclusion? Next Sunday, November 20, we will continue our study, led by Paul Roberts, Dean of Johnson C. Smith Seminary. This class is exploring the authorship, themes, distinctiveness, and practical application of what some consider the most engaging sections of the New Testament. The class meets at 9:45 a.m. in Room 201. All are welcome.

Bible Series

Join us next Sunday, November 20, as we continue the discussion of Jesus' ministry on earth as written by Mark in his sixteen-chapter gospel message to the Gentiles in Rome. The class begins at 9:45 a.m. in Room 107. For more information, contact Link Marx at fmarx25@yahoo.com.

Children’s Classes

This morning, preschool children will learn about Moses and the burning bush in the story I’ll Do It! Younger elementary children will learn how Jonah tried to run away from the job God gave, only to find he could not hide from God. As they continue their study of worship, Double Digits will have a lesson on “The Offering.”

THIS WEEK AT MORNINGSIDE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13

9:30 a.m. Coffee & Conversation

9:45 a.m. Church School

11 a.m. Worship/Response Sunday

12 noon Fellowship

12:15 p.m. Deacons Meeting

12:45 p.m. Congregational Nurture

2 p.m. Harmony Chorus

4 p.m. Harmony Ensemble

5 p.m. Venture Crew

5-7 p.m. Youth Group

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

9 a.m. MPP

5:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Gathering

7 p.m. Mandolin Society

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15

9 a.m. MPP

4:30 p.m. Tai Chi

6:30 p.m.  Weight Watchers; Community Outreach Meeting

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16

9 a.m. MPP

12 noon One Gray Hair Lunch

6 p.m. Cherub Choir

6:30 p.m. Treble Choir

7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17

9 a.m. MPP

6:30 p.m. Prayer Group

7 p.m. Handbell Choir

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

9 a.m. MPP

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

7 p.m. LGBT & Friends Gathering

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20

9:30 a.m. Coffee & Conversation

9:45 a.m. Church School

11 a.m. Worship

12 noon Fellowship

12:30 p.m. Youth Group Bowling

12:45 p.m. RHO Readers

5 p.m. Venture Crew