Church Action eNewsletter Week of March 11, 2019

[RCCAtl]

Week of March 11, 2019
The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

There are so many opportunities for service, worship, education, enrichment, connection in the next few weeks. Take a look at the Community Event Calendar on our website and celebrate all the good things that people of faith are doing. www.RCCAtl.org.

Bishops and other prominent faith leaders issued “Call to Prayer, Fasting, and Action” to local cathedrals and churches for Ash Wednesday services. It is applicable to the season of Lent.

1.Living Your Best Life Lenten Soup Suppers at Lake Oconee Community Church, 5:30 on selected Tuesdays. March 12 topic is “The Gift of Years.” Contact Becky Matheny for information or to R.s.v.p.

2. Civil rights activist Lonnie C. King Jr. spoke publicly many times about his work and involvement in the student movement of the 1960s, this AIB Spiritual Journey interview conducted a few weeks before his death this March, was a reflection on the religious and spiritual underpinnings of his activism. Premieres Tuesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. Re-airs Saturday at 6 p.m., Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Thursday at 10:30 a.m., and Friday at 2:30 p.m. Comcast channel 295 | AT&T U-verse channel | 6, livestreaming at aibtv.com.

3. Do you provide emergency food or shelter? Atlanta/Fulton/DeKalb EFSP application process opens Wednesday, March 13. Materials will be posted at www.efsp-atl.org . Application technical assistance sessions will be in March and April. Application is due Monday, April 15. EFSP is a federal grant administered by United Way of Greater Atlanta in Fulton and DeKalb counties. It provides supplemental funding for emergency shelters, feeding programs, and emergency financial assistance programs. If you have any questions, contact Charles Sterne at [e-mail] or [phone].

4. End New Jim Crow Action Friends meets on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. at the Atlanta Friends Meetinghouse, 701 West Howard Ave, Decatur 30030, 0.5 miles east of East Lake MARTA. Meeting will focus on plans and updates on advocacy with legislature, End Money Bail DeKalb, and promoting Healing Justice.

5. A Moral Call to Action on the Climate Crisis: An Interfaith Mass Meeting, Thursday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m., Ebenezer Baptist Church, 407 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta 30312.

6. Pray The Way of The Cross - Outdoor Stations at Ignatius House Retreat Center, 6700 Riverside Dr NW, Atlanta 30328, every Friday during Lent 11:30 a.m. Please meet at the fish pond behind the Retreat House. Contact Karen Thomas [e-mail] or phone [phone].

7. Fish Fry, 5 – 7 p.m., every Friday in Lent at St. Clement's, 2795 Ridge Road Canton, GA 30114. All proceeds
go to outreach. Fried fish, hushpuppies, coleslaw, baked beans and a dessert all for $8, adults, and $4, children 10 and under.

8. Gloria! Music of Antonio Vivaldi, Friday, March 15, 7:30 – 9 p.m., The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta 30305. Tickets by Eventbrite

9. Creative Connections meets once a month for creative-types. The theme this month is “something old, something new”. Bring anything old or new and tell the story. Bring a snack to share; coffee will be provided. Saturday, March 16, 10 – 2, Neighborhood Church, 1561 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta 30307.

10. "AIB Classics" is a weekly series featuring programs from the AIB archives. Premiering March 16 at 9 p.m., Atlanta based writer Pearl Cleage speaks about her work beginning with her first book centering a woman facing a life with HIV, into her second novel that focuses on a character from her first book who also faces a life of hardship but is able to enjoy a full life.

11. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Montgomery, pastor of Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, is the preacher on Day1, Sunday, March 17, with host Peter Wallace, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org and on podcast apps. Hear him in the Atlanta area on News 95.5 and 750 AM WSB at 7:05 a.m. Visit Day1.org to read blog posts, hear sermons, and more.

12. The Jones Lectures in New Testament Studies enable McAfee theology students to hear the finest New Testament scholars in the world. This year’s lectures "An African American Interpretation of Scripture" March 18 and March 19 include: “After Thurman: Strides toward a New Identity,” Thomas B. Slater, Ph.D., McAfee School of Theology; “Surviving Rome: Womanist Interpretation as Prophetic Language of Resistance,” Mitzi J. Smith, Ph.D., Ashland Theological Seminary; “No Longer Invisible: Afrocentric Biblical Interpretation,” Kenneth L. Waters, Sr., Ph.D., Azusa Pacific University. Mercer University, Atlanta campus. Click here for more information. If you are interested, contact Nikki Hardeman at [e-mail]

13. Remember that the Interfaith Food Security Dinner is next Tuesday, March 19, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. To R.s.v.p. call the church office at [phone] or email Nikki VanDerGrinten at [e-mail]

14. Lenten Reflection at Ignatius House "In the Quiet of the Heart, God Speaks," March 20, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Directed by Fr. Peter Fink, SJ. Come away for a day to sit, rest, pray, and listen for God’s voice. When we “tune in” to the God within us we experience an intimacy with God that leads to conversion, renewal, and rebirth. Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, 6700 Riverside Dr. NW, Atlanta 30328. For more information go to IgnatiusHouse.org or phone [phone].

15. Community Clergy Training Program Webinar “The Twin Wounds of War II: Delineating Moral and Spiritual Injury and Suggesting a Pastoral Response,” March 20, at 1:00 p.m. This webinar will consider differences in the concept of moral injury and the seldom-reviewed concept of spiritual injury (for example, injuries to one's relationship and experiences with God, sense of justice and reconciliation, life meaning and purpose). The presentation will explore the roles of clergy in helping veterans who have experienced spiritual injury. Click to register.

16. Clint Harp, owner of Harp Design Co., maverick carpenter on HGTV’s smash hit "Fixer Upper," and star of "Wood Work" on the DIY Network, is at Peachtree Christian Church, Thursday, March 21. Clint will discuss his inspirational memoir and the relationship between faith and art. A reception will begin at 6 p.m. with discussion to follow at 7. Admission is free but parking is limited. Tickets.

17. Join Georgia Public Broadcasting and Compassionate Atlanta for a free screening of Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, in which Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville looks back on the legacy of Fred Rogers, focusing on his radically kind ideas. Thursday, March 21, 6:60 – 8:30 p.m., GPB, 260 Fourteenth St NW, Atlanta 30318. More Details.

18. Ahmed Abu Artema will speak at North Decatur Presbyterian Church, 611 Medlock Road, Decatur 30033, Thursday March 21, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A journalist, refugee, writer, and advocate from Gaza, his visionary writings about nonviolence inspired the Great March of Return in 2018. Local Sponsors: Jewish Voice for Peace, Atlanta Chapter, Joining Hands for Justice.

19. Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Johannes Passion,” a choral and orchestral work that recounts Christ’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion as described in the Gospel of John, Friday, March 22, 8:00 p.m. UGA Hodgson Singers conducted by Daniel Bara and the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Julie Andrijeski, artistic director. First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree St. NE, 30309 Atlanta. Free admission & parking, Lanier lot, 1337 Peachtree St. NE.

20. Candler School of Theology will host a conference March 22-23, “Giving Freedom: A Right-Side-Up Approach to Church Fundraising." The event features a keynote address by the Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of the 25,000-member U.M.C. of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., and author of “Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity.” Saturday, leading pastors, authors, philanthropists, and financial experts will share insights and teach practical strategies for “Giving Freedom” in participants’ congregations and communities. The conference is an outgrowth of Candler’s work through its Faith and Finance Program to promote financial literacy among seminary students. Registration fees $10-30 include Saturday. Register here.

21. “Answering the Call to Pray — Ancient Christian Wisdom for Finding the Love of God in Our Hearts and in Our Lives,” a day-long workshop with Carl McColman at the Cathedral of St. Philip, March 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cathedral of Christ the King, Cathedral of St. Philip, Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Admission $25, Students $15, Tickets.

22. An event for the siblings of special needs children from Lean on Me - Lucky To Be Me! This collage class is designed for these siblings to promote self-awareness and self-reflection and connect with others with similar experiences. Ages 5 and up. Registration is by email to [e-mail]. Materials will be provided, feel free to bring additional materials. March 23, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Wolf Creek Library, 3100 Enon Road SW, Atlanta 30331.

23. Choose gratitude. Make plans now to join Lutheran Church of the Redeemer as they welcome Diana Butler Bass speaking about her new book, “Grateful.” Everyone is invited to come explore cultivating a habit of thankfulness. March 24, presentation on gratitude from 2 – 4 p.m. She will preach in the morning at the 9:45 and 11:00 worship services. Please register for the 2:00 presentation by going to this link

24. Atlanta Friends Meetinghouse, 701 West Howard Ave., Decatur 30030, screening of “Healing Justice,” Sunday, March 24, 11:45 a.m.

25. Cascade United Methodist Church Music & Arts Ministry presents a noonday concert “Inspirational Sounds” Monday, March 25, with Kathleen Bertrand. For tickets and to order lunch contact Karen Lowery at [e-mail].

26. The annual "Great Futures Start Here" banquet, celebrating youths who attend The Salvation Army's three metro Atlanta-area Boys and Girls Clubs, is March 26, 6-8 p.m. at the Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center. Tickets are going fast, so click here to get yours.

27. Candler and the Aquinas Center welcome Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, Wed., March 27, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Room 252, Candler's Rita Anne Rollins Bldg. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided for those who register by March 20. Register here. Johnson's lecture, "Is God's Charity Broad Enough for Bears?" explores the question of humanity's relationship to the natural world in the face of ecological crises. Johnson is Professor Emerita at Fordham and author of many books and articles. A past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America and the American Theological Society, she has served on the editorial boards of major journals, seen her work translated into thirteen languages, and been awarded fifteen honorary doctorates among other accolades.

28. Storytelling Show featuring Andy Offutt Irwin at Neighborhood Church, Saturday, March 30, 7 – 9 p.m., 1561 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta 30307. Tickets by Eventbrite

29. St. Catherine's seventh annual Concert Series presents Shannon Gallier, St. Barthomew's, Atlanta, and Austin Clark, Church of Our Saviour, Atlanta, performing organ solos and duets from Bach, Mendelssohn, Shearing (jazz-inspired settings of hymn tunes), Howells, Hancock, and more. All lovers of music are invited to this free concert. A freewill offering will be taken. These concerts include introductory and anecdotal comments by the artists and opportunity to speak with them at the reception. 4 Hands + 4 Feet: Shannon Gallier & Austin Clarke at the Organ, Sunday, March 31, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m., St. Catherine's, 571 Holt Rd NE, Marietta 30062.

30. Crossroads announces the date for the annual “Empowerment Gala” - April 25 at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. This fun and meaningful night and will raise funds to benefit people experiencing homelessness in Atlanta. More info. For sponsorship opportunities contact Eddie Dill at [e-mail].
There are many ways to get involved at Crossroads! Click below to see how you can join in with us today! Spotlight on volunteer opportunities.

31. Grace Filled Turnings, a retreat, is a new initiative of Women Touched by Grace-Thriving in Ministry, a Lilly Endowment-funded program, to provide women Clergy with the tools and encouragement to meet life's transitions. Complete details of the program and application form can be found at www.wtbh.org. Application deadline is April 1, 2019.

32. The folks at Peacebuilders Camp know that learning happens best when youth are enjoying themselves and making friends. There are serious topics but also times to create joyful memories. This summer campers will learn about freedom of expression and dance the evening away with guest hip hop artist, they will challenge the whitewater of the Chattahoochee, U.S.A. Rugby's Player of the Decade will share her work to make sport more inclusive and teach touch rugby. There will be hayrides, campfires, card games, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, and talent shows, as campers from diverse backgrounds build understanding and respect. Registration is open here.

33. Emory’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers classes, designed particularly for people over 50. Registration is now open. This spring’s offerings include explorations of religions, Click the links in parentheses to get more information. The Sufi Tradition of Love in Islam (Temiz); Stories from the Bible and the Qur’an (Budak); Judaism Decoded: The Origins and Evolution of Jewish Tradition (Sollish); People of the Book: Bible Stories in Islamic Art (Fletcher).

34. Clergywomen in any denomination across the South serving in their first appointment as a solo or senior pastor, and associates hoping to serve as solo or senior pastors, are invited to apply for Thriving in Ministry, which provides resources for through ecumenical peer group meetings, congregational trainings, transformative retreats (including an international pilgrimage!), financial support for restorative practices that promote pastoral well-being, and spiritual direction and coaching over a 15-month period. Funded through a grant from the Lilly Endowment Fund and offered at no cost. Applications are open for the first cohort, beginning in Sept. 2019. Deadline is May 31, 2019. Information www.centerforministry.com/thrivinginministry.

35. Join with Truth students around the world for "The Hour of Blessing" with the Science of Living Study by "Rev. Ike" Guide led by Bishop Jack L. Bomar, every Wednesday from 7 - 8 p.m., Hillside International Truth Center sanctuary and live streamed at www.HillsideInternational.org and Facebook.com/hillsidechapel

36. “Lament and Hope: A Pan-African Devotional Guide,” produced by Bread for the World, was dedicated at a prayer service on Feb. 28, the last day of Black History Month. The free guide addresses past and current issues of unequal access to land, housing, and education. Beginning with verses from the Book of Lamentations that speak of homelessness and affliction, it ends with a proclamation of the “steadfast love of the Lord.” Download the guide here.

Remember that all events previously announced go into the Community Calendar on our website. Visit www.rccatl.org for the calendar, the Clergy tool Box for Mental Health Ministry, and more.
Peace,
Ethel Ware Carter