Church Action eNewsletter Week of June 1, 2015

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Weekly Church Action eNewsletter

Week of June 1, 2015

 

Check our website for useful and interesting information www.rccatl.org

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1. Looking for a meaningful way to serve this summer? In Georgia, nearly 1 million children receive free or reduced-price lunches at school. In the summer, this crucial meal disappears, leaving parents scrambling and kids hungry. Action Ministries’ Smart Lunch, Smart Kid program provides sack lunches to thousands of North Georgia children every week in the summer, and they need volunteers to donate, assemble, and deliver lunches and enrichment to kids in need. This is a great opportunity for kids to serve other kids! SLSK coordinators in 17 counties, including Fulton, Fayette and Gwinnett, are organizing churches and volunteers now to Erase Hunger in Georgia (2015 SLSK Coordinators).  Learn more and sign up to volunteer online at www.actionministries.net. If you can’t volunteer but would still like to help feed kids this summer, text LUNCH to 41444. Contact: Rachel Ruckart, lead program coordinator at [phone] or [e-mail].

2. Read a Wall Street Journal essay on the death penalty written by Phillip Thomson, executive director of the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory here.

3. The Rev. Timothy M. Smith, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, was elected May 30 to a six-year term as bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).   “I am shocked, humbled, and blessed by this opportunity to return to my home synod whose offices happen to be in my hometown, the office for which is next door to the Lutheran retirement complex where my parents live,” said Smith.  Smith has served at Redeemer since 2010. Information about the ELCA North Carolina Synod is here.

4. Free workshop Empowering Leaders to Impact Housing Recovery; St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 425 Peachtree Street NE,  June 6, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; ANDP is hosting this workshop designed to empower and educate neighborhood leaders in communities with high rates of underwater homeowners.  Participants will hear from top experts with practical, proven strategies to return neighborhoods to health.  Join other concerned leaders to learn about: loan modifications, code enforcement/property law; and lifting neighborhood values.  REGISTRATION  |  DETAILS

5. Last plant sale of the season at Holy Comforter Church, Atlanta, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, June 6, at,  Seedtime & Harvest Greenhouse and Garden of the Friendship Center, at Holy Comforter. Directions.

6. Sunday, June 7, on Day 1 the Rev. Andrew Taylor-Troutman will preach on Mark 3:31-35 in a sermon entitled “Go, Church, Go.” Visit day1.org to find your local station, read or hear the sermon, search sermon archives, and much more…

7. Summer Organ Festival continues on Wednesday, June 10, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta 30305, with Marilyn Keiser, professor emeritus at Indiana University, Bloomington, at 7:30 p.m.

And, June 24, 7:30 p.m., at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, with Benjamin Straley, organist and associate director of music at Washington National Cathedral.

 8. Candler School of Theology’s new Master of Religion and Public Life explores the dynamics of faith in the public sphere. Ideal for individuals in non-religious careers whose interests or work intersects with religion, the MRPL is a 30 credit-hour, residential program with a flexible curriculum and occasional evening classes to accommodate working professionals. Find out more at lunch and an information session on campus May 28, June 10, or June 23. These sessions will take place from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in Room 517 of Candler's Rita Anne Rollins Building. To learn more and register for this lunch & learn, go to candler.emory.ed and click "Register Now.” The MRPL application deadline for fall 2015 is July 15. For more information, contact [e-mail].

 9. Bishop Barbara L. King and Hillside International Truth Center Spirit of Brotherhood Men's Ministry presents "Dominique Speaks: An Afternoon with Atlanta Hawks Legend and NBA Hall of Famer, Dominique Wilkins." Saturday, June 13, at Hillside, 2450 Cascade Rd. SW, Atlanta 30311. General session: 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. is free. "Meet Nique" reception with food and beverages for only $25 following the general session. Only 100 tickets for the reception are available. For more information, call [phone] or www.HillsideInternational.org.

 10. The 3rd Annual I Will Intervene Challenge is fully underway with more than 600 community caregivers trained this year throughout Georgia. The Master Resilience Institute is seeking host churches in the Atlanta area where the focus will be for the remainder of the year.  These suicide prevention workshops provide caregivers from all walks of life with the skills to help those in crisis. Offered in one or two day formats, the workshops provide CE credit for mental health professionals. Contact director at [e-mail] or visit iwicampaign.com to learn more.  On June 15 and 16 Fayetteville First Baptist will host workshops.  Visit www.iwillintervene.com to register. Mental Health First Aid will be offered as well.

 

11. Gordon Parks Segregation Story will be open through June 21 at the High Museum of Art. This exhibition showcases more than forty color photographs by trailblazing African American artist Gordon Parks. Created for an influential 1950s Life magazine article, these photographs offer a powerful look at the daily life and struggles of a multigenerational family living in segregated Alabama. Museum website.

12. “Forget Me Not” will be presented at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in conjunction with the National Baptist Congress, Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m. This play focuses on Alzheimer’s in the African American community. Tickets are free and may be secured at www.forgetmenotplay.com.

13. Empowerment Resource Center seeks volunteers to help with testing in Hurt Park on June 27, National AIDS Testing Day. If you can help R.s.v.p. to attend the required orientation June 11, 17, or 20. Contact Karla Porch at [phone] to reply or for more information.

14. The Carver Neighborhood Market is open. The market, a program of FCS Urban Ministries (FCS), will provide access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food for the South Atlanta community. FCS Director of Economic Development Jeff Delp, long-time neighborhood resident, has led the planning process and will oversee its day-to-day operations. “We have followed the growing crisis around food deserts and identified the opportunity for FCS to convert the thrift store into a food market that would help to transform the neighborhood into a food oasis,” said Jim Wehner, president of FCS. In the Atlanta area, more than half a million people live in what the USDA would identify as food deserts, and the closest national chain grocery to the new market is 3.5 miles away. The market is at 1297 Jonesboro Road, Atlanta 30315. For more information, visit www.carvermarket.com.

15. Find out more about FSC (Focused Community Strategies) at an Open House July 16 – 17.  Hear the story and strategy of FCS from Dr. Bob Lupton, Jim Wehner, and Katie Delp, and directors and staff. Experience the neighborhood where FCS is currently giving energy and enjoy breakout dialogues focused on specific issues. Doors Open at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, July 16. Friday’s session will begin at 9 a.m. with discussion with the directors about housing, economic development, food co-operatives, and youth development. Light refreshments will be provided along with lunch both days. Cost is $60 per day ($35 per day for students). Register here.

16. The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA offers a new resource for those concerned about mass incarceration.  “Starter Kit for Teaching and Learning on Mass Incarceration” can be downloaded free. This is one of the two key priorities of focus for the council; the other is interfaith relations with peacemaking. This resource is a toolbox with various offerings to inform and engage individuals, small groups, congregations, and classrooms alike. Download Resource Here

17. Registration is open for the Neighborhood Summit coming in September. The theme is “Embracing the Power of Education.” Register here.

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

[e-mail]

404-201-6448

 

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