Prayer After Worship

Prepare to Discuss the World Join us in a monthly discussion on foreign policy. Great Decisions is America's largest discussion program on world affairs. The first group was established in 1954 and it has grown to over 650 local chapters. The program is affiliated with the Foreign Policy Association , an organization originating in 1918 as a response to World War I, with the intent and hope that a knowledgeable and educated body of citizens would lead to more informed political decisions and help reduce the potential for future conflicts. Today, the Foreign Policy Association aims to provide balanced, nonpartisan programs that inform, engage, and inspire. Each month, the group reads one of the eight articles from the Great Decisions briefing booklet, which includes over 100 pages covering a wide variety of aspects of foreign policy. Examples include: - American Foreign Policy at a Crossroads - U.S. Changing Leadership of the World Economy - U.S.- China Relations - International Cooperation on Climate Change - The Future of NATO and European Security - India: Between China, the West, and the Global South - After Gaza: American Policy in the Middle East We aim to foster greater awareness and understanding as well as informed opinions on U.S. foreign policy and global challenges by discussing the most pressing issues facing America today. Regular members would be asked to purchase a copy of the annual briefing booklet at a cost of approximately $42.00. Each meeting would be about an hour and a half in length. If interested, please contact either Phil Beltz at philbeltz@aol.com or Russ Lowe at russmlowe@gmail.com or to reach either Phil or Russ by telephone, contact the office and we will connect you. Please let Phil or Russ know whether you prefer to meet during the day or the evening. For your convenience, an eight-page detailed review is available on the Opportunity table at the back of the Sanctuary. Visit https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/ for further information.

Join us for our 4th Annual Trunk or Treat

Take a Break over Brunch This Sunday, October 6th at 10:30 am

What a Time We Had! We had everything this year - beautiful weather, lots of activities, and an amazing turnout! We all gathered outside the main doors and enjoyed music from our Bell Choir and the Senior Choir as we entered the Church en masse! Penants were handed out and fun was had! After our services, we all gathered outside on the patio and in front of Church for food and fun games. Spoon races, balloon relays, and many other games were on the agenda! Here are a few memory collages to remind us of another fabulous ACC event!

A Deeper Look In recent months, politically motivated decisions have reignited the debate about the separation of Church and State in America. The State of Louisiana passed a law requiring that a very specific version of the Ten Commandments be posted in every public school classroom. In June, Oklahoma’s State Superintendent, the top education official in the state, ordered all public schools to incorporate the Bible and Ten Commandments into their curricula. 

Delve into the New Book by David Brooks The Faith and life Book Study is back. This fall, we will dive into David Brooks’ new book, How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen .” This is a synopsis of Brooks’ book provided by PBS Books :“As David Brooks observes, “There is one skill t hat lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen—to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood.” And yet we humans don’t do this well. All around us are people who feel invisible, unseen, misunderstood. In How to Know a Person, Brooks sets out to help us do better, posing questions that are essential for all of us: If you want to know a person, what kind of attention should you cast on them? What kind of conversations should you have? What parts of a person’s story should you pay attention to? Driven by his trademark sense of curiosity and his determination to grow as a person, Brooks draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience and from the worlds of theater, philosophy, history, and education to present a welcoming, hopeful, integrated approach to human connection. How to Know a Person helps readers become more understanding and considerate toward others, and to find the joy that comes from being seen. Along the way it offers a possible remedy for a society that is riven by fragmentation, hostility, and misperception.” Reading Schedule – Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in person September 18th – Part 1: I See You September 25th – Part 2: I See You in Your Struggles October 2nd – Part 3: I See You with Your Strengths Location – To be announced. Please purchase your own copy or borrow a copy from your local library to follow along. RSVP to Rev. Paulo by Sunday, Sept. 15th at paulo@actonc.org .

Get Ready for Rally Sunday Rally Sunday marks our first service after Labor Day, when we get into our Fall routine. Historically, this has been a Sunday of reunion with friends after summer holidays and a day of churchwide fellowship. This year, we will be enjoying an inspiring worship service followed by family-friendly games and activities and a festive picnic and barbecue. Want to volunteer to help? Contact Ryan Harrison at ryan@actonc.org . We hope to see you there!

An Inside Look Every Sunday during the Welcoming and Announcements part of service there is a statement, “Prayer After Worship will be available after service today. Two team members will pray with you and your prayers will remain in confidence. The Prayer Room is located to your right then down the stairs.” What does that even mean?

Volunteers Needed: Family and Youth Ministries Every survey and study I've read over the past few years has indicated that adult church goers want to see more children and youth attending the Sunday morning service. I would also like to see more children and youth in church. There is no magic button one can push to make this happen. Similarly, there is not a single Director of Youth and Family Ministries staff member out there that can make this happen by themselves. If you want multiple generations to attend church, it's time to engage them where they are. That means volunteering for Sunday School, JHYF (Junior High Youth Fellowship), and SHYF (Senior High Youth Fellowship). Ask any family therapist, teacher, or child development professional and they will agree that the more adults that act as mentors in a younger person's life, the more likely they are to succeed. The same is true for ACC. Want to see more kids attend church? Then volunteer for Sunday School, ask them about their lives, and tell them why attending church is important to you! The same goes for JHYF and SHYF.

More info about Matt, his book and meditation work can be found here:

The Deacons announce September 21st for the date of the 2nd Annual Barbara Aiello Spirituality Workshop will take place.