A WORD FROM PASTOR

Pastor Michael Morss

Proverbs 15:22 - “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.” (NLT)

Happy Sunday, Church Family!

As we reflect on our 20 th Anniversary celebration at One Alpharetta and Run It Back, it would be difficult to miss the hand of God at work in our church. Of course, if you were one of the 345 people at church on September 20 or one of the 263 people who attended our concert that evening, I don’t have to tell you. If you attended Run It Back, even just one session, “Inspiring” doesn’t quite capture the experience. But what’s next?

I’m glad you asked, because it’s that question that we will be discussing this coming Sabbath, October 18 at our Town Hall meeting immediately following church. We have several short reports/presentations to share with you, but then the fun begins. We want to hear from you! This is not a meeting where we bash what has been done or discount someone’s new idea; rather, it is an opportunity to prayerfully and thoughtfully discuss how we can position our church to “Tabernacle” amongst our community. So, if at all possible, don’t miss this event! Please RSVP here as lunch will be provided. This event is for members only.

Join me in prayer as we continually seek the Lord!

Sincerely,

Pastor Michael

WOMEN’S MINISTRY EXPO

Guests at the Women’s Ministry booth enjoyed tea service and warm fellowship. We shared information about our upcoming “My Cup Runneth Over” retreat, encouraged new members to join the Church Center app, and promoted our ongoing underwear drive supporting homeless women. It was an evening filled with connection and fun.

MEN’S MINISTRY EXPO

At the booth for Men’s Ministry, sharing one of the books we are currently reading and discussing, The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men, helped give understanding to what we as men stand for as Christians in the times we are living in now. Being able to represent the men of our church under Men’s Ministry at the expo was a great opportunity to invite those interested in learning more about how one can be a part of a group that builds each other up. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). We are reminded that we are in this together. The evening was a wonderful experience and perfect way to unify the church while providing a way for the community to take part in the various ministries and Grow Groups our church has to offer.

PRAYER MINISTRY EXPO

The Prayer Ministry booth at One Alpharetta provided opportunities to pray with people. We reminded those that stopped by that there are opportunities to pray together nearly every day of the week. We meet every Sabbath at 9:00 in the pavilion if it is warm enough or in the overflow room during winter. Plus, there are times to join a Teams call Monday through Friday. Check out the Connect Center for times.

CHILDREN MINISTRY EXPO

The Children’s Ministry’s booth was a lively spot of connection and learning.

Visitors were invited to mark on a world map where they were from, revealing that, while many attendees came from right here in Georgia, we also had friends representing India, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and more.

A special highlight was the raffle drawing, where two excited children—Jackson Moss and Christian Myrie—each won their very own journaling Bible. The booth also featured a new addition to the Sabbath School curriculum, which focus on the 7 “S’s” of Adventist belief and creative ways to teach them to children.

Mrs. Mrin and Mrs. Paige enjoyed spending time with all the kids and families who stopped by, making it a joyful and faith-filled experience for everyone.

CONNECT CENTER EXPO

At the Connect Center booth, we were able to update members' information and help some people get transfers started and just connect with our church. We are excited to continue connecting and growing our church family. It was great just being able to share memories about our church from the past years too.

On September 5th, over twenty enthusiastic Alpharetta Omega Pathfinders gathered for a three-hour adventure in life-saving skills in a lively CPR and First-Aid class.

The kids dove into learning the perfect rhythm and depth for CPR compressions, mastering choking maneuvers for both tiny tots and grown-ups, and discovering how to manage all sorts of emergencies: from pesky cuts and scrapes to serious heart attacks, strokes, and even heat exhaustion. Each of the participants proudly walked away with a portable carrier for safe mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and every single one passed with flying colors! It was a day of learning, laughter, and becoming real-life heroes.

Ready for more excitement? The Alpharetta Omegas' next adventure is on November 2nd at Sawnee Mnt Hike/Vespers (Photo scavenger hunt).

  OCTOBER FAMILY FUN

How Can I Be Like a Tree?

You might be thinking,
"Wait... I'm a kid, not a tree! How can I be like a tree?"

That’s a great question!
In the Bible, a prophet named Jeremiah gives us a clue. (Fill in your answers with the help of the decoding chart!)

🌳 We are blessed when we _______________ in the Lord.

   ट   र  उ  स  ट
🌳 We are blessed when we make the Lord our _____________ and

                 ह  ओ  प  ए

____________________________.

स  ओ  ण  फ  इ  ड  ए  ण  स  ए

Now, go outside for a second. Look at a tree—or even a plant nearby.
Does it look strong, with green leaves and maybe even fruit or flowers?
Or does it look dry and droopy, with brown leaves?

Healthy trees need water to grow. Water helps them stay alive and strong.
And guess what? We’re kind of like trees too.

The Bible says that Jesus is our “living water.” That means Jesus is the one who helps us grow inside—not with leaves or branches, but with love, joy, kindness, and strong faith.

When we spend time with Jesus, we’re like a tree planted near a river.
We don’t dry up—we stay full of life and grow good fruit! (Not real fruit on our heads—but good things like love, peace, and patience.)

So how can you be like a strong, healthy tree?
Here are some ways:

🌱 Talk to Jesus by praying
🌱 Listen to Him by reading the Bible
🌱Spend time with Him by thinking about Him and loving others

What will you do today to grow like a tree?

BIBLE HUMOR

Q: What’s a missionary’s favorite kind of car?

A: A convert—ible!

Q: Who was the greatest babysitter in the Bible?

A: David; he rock—ed Goliath to sleep!

Q: Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?

A: Noah; he was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q: Why was Goliath so surprised when David hit him with a slingshot?

A: The thought had never entered his head before.