Church Action eNewsletter Week of February 3, 2014

[RCCAtl]

 

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

   Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta 

 

The Rev. Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly and the Reformed Church in America, and Bishop Elizabeth Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, call for a Day of Prayer for South Sudan on February 16. "The world is increasingly concerned over the rampant violence in South Sudan," the Bishop said. "The recent increase in armed conflict, murder, and mayhem has been fomented in part by inaccurate reports of tribal partisanship. The new nation needs peace, in order that all its people might thrive. I ask your prayers for peace, as well as your awareness and involvement in the lives of our brothers and sisters across the globe. The Prince of Peace serves the whole world. As his disciples, may we do no less!"

1. The Atlanta City Council District 10 Ministerial Alliance will hold its monthly meeting at the Greenbriar Mall Piccadilly Cafeteria tomorrow, Thursday, February 6 at 11:30 a.m. This month’s host church and Senior Pastor are Rev. Douglas Demetrius Prather who also serves as vice-moderator and the Greater Mountain Baptist Church. For more information please contact [phone].

2. Dr. Eugene Bianchi will read from his book of poetry, “Ear to the Ground.” A member of the Jesuit order for twenty years, Dr. Bianchi has been a member of the Emory faculty as a professor of religion since 1968. He wrote among a number of books, “Passionate Uncertainty: Inside the American Jesuits.” Thursday, February 6, 4 p.m., Emory University Barnes and Noble.  More about Dr. Bianchi.

3. Shaun Casey, head of the U.S. Department of State's Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives, will give a public talk at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at Emory University titled "Exploring Religion and U.S. Foreign Policy: Launching the State Department's Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives." Casey's talk will be held in Room 206 of White Hall 302 Dowman Drive on the Emory campus. Admission is free. Parking is available at Peavine Visitor Parking Lot, 27 Eagle Row. Casey is currently on leave of absence from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. View story online at news.emory.edu »

4. Religion Roundtable is a program that invites scholars, ministers, and thought leaders to reflect on issues of faith and religion, public policy, and societal concerns. This week on Religion Roundtable join Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins and his guests, Dr. Johnathan E. Alvarado, Chair, Division of Religious Studies, Beulah Heights University, and Dr. Joe Martin, President, Atlanta Bible College, as they discuss how bible colleges prepare men and women for Christian Service, Friday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m.

5. Find out about Five from Five at Georgia State University. Contemporary writers representing the creative works of Georgia State University’s five focus countries—Brazil, China, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey—will give public readings beginning this Friday, February 7, with Da Chen describing growing up during the Cultural Revolution. This wonderful opportunity to hear from writers of other cultures continues through April. Full schedule.

6. Catholic Archdiocese Justice & Peace Ministries is hosting the second annual Archdiocesan Justice & Peace Exposition allowing clergy and laity from across north Georgia to learn about practical applications of living the Catholic faith. The day is designed to share ministries and organizations that are reflective of some aspect of the Church's social teachings – an integral part of Catholic faith. Saturday, February 8, 10 a.m.  – 4 p.m., Chancery, 2401 Lake Park Drive, Smyrna 30080.

7. “Finding Her Here In and Out of Love,” the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, February 8, 8 p.m. Druid Hills Presbyterian Church.  From Dante to Broadway, this moving collection will feature music that celebrates love found and love lost, and will showcase Atlanta’s newest vocal ensemble with something for everyone. Tickets and info.

8. Grace Keepers Church International (non-denominational) will hold a Youth Breakthrough Sunday Service, Sunday, February 9,for youth who are in foster care or involved in the juvenile system or fatherless, 6254 Memorial Drive, Suite H, Stone Mountain, Ga 30063. The 11 a.m. service will only last one hour and there is limited seating. If you are bringing youth, please call with the name of your group home/organization and the total number of people attending at [phone].

9. Peter Fletcher, an acclaimed classical guitarist, will perform on Sunday, February 9, at 3 p.m. at Peachtree Christian Church, 1580 Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30309. Peter is a native of Atlanta who now lives in Manhattan. He has performed around the world. His performance here is sponsored by the Pro-Mozart Society;admission is free. Learn more about Peter.

10. An important meeting for the Southside Ministerial Association will take place on Monday, February 10.  The meeting has been moved to Monday to accommodate an expert guest who will bring the group information on signing up for the ACA (the Affordable Care Act, also referred to as ObamaCare) and beyond.  The presenter has been secured by Mary Wilson, in conjunction with the Community Health Interfaith Partnership or C.H.I.P., and will come to SMA from SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.)  Noon to 1:30 p.m., Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church, 1150 Jefferson Avenue, East Point  30344. Please R.s.v.p. to Robby Jackson at Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church to let him know you will be in attendance.  You can call the church at [phone] or contact Robby via email at [e-mail]. Lunch is being provided for the first 25 folks who show up by C.H.I.P.

11. The LOCC Lecture on Culture and Classics “Christianity and Islam: Can We Get Along?” with Dr. Robert N. Nash that was cancelled due to weather has been rescheduled. The registration process below is new. Tuesday, February 11, 7 p.m. at The Lake Oconee Community Church. Register Now

12. If you are concerned about domestic child sex trafficking you, please read this reminder about registration for Lobby Day February 13 from Street Grace, youthSpark, and Wellspring Living. Registration.

13. Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta invites you and your congregation to an interfaith event. The celebration takes place at the Dunwoody Library, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, on Saturday, February 15, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. The aim of the program is to generate goodwill, acceptance, and respect between our respective religious communities. Children, youth, and adults will use story-telling, chanting, singing, cultural music, and dance so that we can all connect in a positive way to religious traditions different from our own. The program is free of charge and open to the public.  Please call Farhad Vojdani at [phone] or email him at [e-mail] if you have any questions.

14. 4th Annual LaAmistad Buckhead 5K Peachtree Qualifier — registration is on line at www.active.com for this run to make miles of progress in closing the education gap that impacts the Latino community, Saturday, February 22. Start and finish is Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Road, Atlanta 30305. Race day registration is at 8 a.m. in the Gym at Peachtree. Park across the street at The Lodge.

15. Atlantic Institute announces an educational lecture “Anti-Semitism & Islamophobia: Origins, History and Relationships” with Rabbi Firestone, professor at Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles, Sunday, February 23, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 1075 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell 30076. Register here.

16. Religious Legal Theory Conference Currie Lecture by Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook. Hunter Atrium at Emory Law, February 24-25. "A Global Conversation: Exploring Interfaith and International Models for the Interaction of Religion and State" explores how law, embodied in the state, manages and frames its relationship with religion, and how religions internally manage and frame their relationships with the state. The Conference is free and open to the public. For planning purposes, please register. Registration includes free lunch on both days. Register here.

17. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Research Connection, Metro Atlanta Chapter, Breakfast Briefing by Courtney  Bagge, PhD, “The Impact of Alcohol on Suicide Attempts,” Friday, February 28, 8 – 10:15 a.m., Atlanta VA Medical Center, Pete Wheeler Auditorium, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur.  The program’s content has been developed for both health care professionals and the lay public. Attendance is free, continental breakfast will be served. Register for reserved seating Here.

18. NAMI DeKalb in Partnership with Soul Journers Studio Presents Art Therapy Group at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. There will be a Tuesday group and a Saturday group for those living with mental illness and a Saturday group only for family members of those living with mental illness. Sessions start March 1. Memorial Drive Presbyterian is at 5140 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain 30083. Cost is $5 per group. No drop-ins. Call Sandra at 404-455-8530 or e-mail [e-mail] for information and to register.

19.Social Media From Alban a discussion of how one pastor deals with social media especially in time of transition.

20. We extend this suggestion from Lake Oconee Community Church Prayer Partners to all of you to include prayer for safe travel and participation for all those involved in the 22nd Olympic Winter Games. For more about the games, click here.

21. Are you interested in hosting a Better Choices, Better Health®—Diabetes workshop at your house of worship? The YMCA is enrolling participants with type 2 diabetes and 18 years or older into a study conducted by Stanford University to determine the effectiveness of diabetes self-management workshops. The study is funded by the National Council on Aging. Not all participants in the workshop will qualify for the study, but may take the workshop anyway. If your church is interested in hosting a free workshop, please contact Jennifer Rewkowski at [phone] or [e-mail]. Three workshops are already scheduled and you will find the locations, dates, and contact information on our website. RCCAtl.org

22. Georgia's Rural Churches. Read a piece by Jamil Zainaldin, president of the Georgia Humanities Council, on rural churches in Georgia from Saporta Report .

23. The Forefront Arts program is based on 3 pillars:  Bravery, Creativity, and Integrity in the belief that experience in the performing arts provides students with valuable life skills including self-confidence, resourcefulness, teamwork, and self-control.  Classes are offered around town --maybe one at a church near you. Check out the Schedule.

24. United Way’s Project Overcoat lost work days because of the weather and now needs volunteers badly for sorting and delivering coats. Volunteer here.

25. A 46-inch round stained-glass church window depicting Jesus in the Gethsemane garden is for sale through St. James' Episcopal Church, Clayton. Made in 1978, the window is the work of Joseph Victor Llorens Sr., founder of Llorens Stained Glass Co. in Duluth. Contact Beverly Mannes at  [e-mail] or 706-782-9717.

26. Looking for a Lenten program? Here's a great opportunity to bring one of the world's top New Testament scholars into your church on Wednesday evenings during Lent. The Cathedral of St. Philip will present the Luke Timothy Johnson 2014 Lenten Series with a focus on "Practical Christianity: Letters from the Letter of James." The fee to stream the series is $100 per site. For information or contact information, click here.

 

Remembering to Pray by a Jew in the Bible Belt.

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

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404-201-6448

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