Church Action eNewsletter Week of March 29, 2021

[RCCAtl]

Church Action eNewsletter Week of March 29, 2021
The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc. 

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone. 

Dear Friends, we welcome announcements from all area congregations. Send them to [e-mail]

1. Hear Holy Week reflections from “Those Preaching Women” on Facebook, tonight - Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (2) Those Preaching Women - ATL | Facebook. Preachers include the Rev. Dr. Yvette Massey, the Rev. Cassandra Henderson, the Rev. Renetta Hobson, the Rev. Johnnetta Johnson, the Rev. Amber Lowe-Woodfork, and the Rev. Angie Johnson.
 
2. Join Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley and walk with Jesus through the final hours of his life, meet the people he encountered in those final hours, and see some moments that challenge us to ask questions. How might the Holy Spirit speak to and challenge us? A new reflection each day, Palm Sunday - Good Friday at www.cbf.net/holyweek.
 
3. Grace UM Church (Midtown Atlanta) is seeking a part time (16 hours/week) office manager.  Duties include website and social media updates; weekly e-news and bulletins, Monthly newsletter and church brochures; maintenance of church master calendar, coordinate use of church facilities, tech and supply needs; maintain church membership and other required records; input of visitor information; serving as receptionist; and supporting the pastor and other staff as needed. The person must also have light accounting experience and be familiar with and/or easily trained in ACS Financial Suite and Realm database systems, and competency with Microsoft Office. This position reports to the pastor. The ideal candidate will exhibit a strong Christian character, meet the public well, be able to show respect to others, work as a team player, maintain confidentiality, and have strong organizational, time management and problem-solving skills. Some in-office time is required (very safe and protocoled environment), although during peak infection times working from home is possible. Send resume and references to [e-mail]. Interviews will occur as soon as possible.
 
4. Unity & Diversity Seder “The Four Questions in Different Languages” Passover 5781, Saturday, March 27 - Sunday, April 5.  This year, American Jewish Committee brings the Seder to your home by sharing a unique tradition of Atlanta-based Consuls General reading the "Four Questions" in their native languages. Featured are Carlos Abreau, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Brazil (Portuguese); Javier Diaz de Leon, Consul General of Mexico (Spanish); Ciara O'Floinn, Consul General of Ireland (Gaelic/Irish); Dr. Heike Fuller, Consul General, Federal Republic of Germany (German); Jorge Lopez Minardi, Dean of the Atlanta Consular Corps and Consul General of the Argentine Republic (Spanish); Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of the State of Israel (Hebrew); Ard van der Vorst, Consul General Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch); Kazuyuki Takeuchi, Consul General of Japan (Japanese). Watch the Four Questions
 
5. This week, March 30, the Cathedral Bookstore “March for Our Mental Health” features the Rev. Cynthia Park. Free. All you will need to participate at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays is https://zoom.us/j/94409098041 Dr. Park will give a presentation titled “Twice Upon A Time” discussing how we can engage damaging stories from our past in ways that enhance our mental health and overall wellness. More information at  March for our Mental Health.
 
6. JCRC is hosting the 11th Annual Interfaith Hunger Seder on Wednesday, March 31, from 7 - 9 p.m.  The theme is “Our Sacred Obligation:  Fighting Food Insecurity.” Although donations to partner agencies will be encouraged, the seder is virtual and there is no cost to attend. Events include volunteer marketplace where you can learn more about organizations across Atlanta that fight food insecurity, interfaith networking around the issue of food insecurity, forums to increase awareness and advocacy.  More information on the Hunger Seder Flyer. Register Here.
 
7. Attention all gardeners, available now from Seedtime and Harvest at the Friendship Center are peppers sweet and hot; okra; Genovese, Thai, Lemon and Greek basil; perennial herbs, including sage, oregano, chives, bronze fennel; blueberries, raspberries; woodland phlox, hosta, anemone, Solomon's seal and many other perennial flowers; annual flowers, moonvine; many varieties of indoor plants. Limited number of tomatoes – more in April when there will also be cucumber, cantaloupe, zucchini, yellow and delicata squash, and eggplant seedlings. Buy local and organic! Contact May C at [e-mail]
 
8. Alliant Health Solutions offers QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), a suicide prevention virtual training. This training is offered at no cost and is made possible through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
 

Training Date	Time	Registration Link
04/02/2021	10:00 AM – 11:30 AM	Webex Training
04/09/2021	10:00 AM – 11:30 AM	Webex Training
04/15/2021	12:30 PM – 2:00 PM	Webex Training
04/20/2021	10:30 AM – 12:00 PM	Webex Training

9. 
   The Rev. Mark Zabriskie, rector of Christ Church Greenwich, is the preacher Easter Sunday on “Day 1.”  “God Says, ‘Nevertheless’” is drawn from the account of the visit to the tomb, Mark 16:1-8. “The resurrection is an outrageous assault on our shrunken worldviews,” he says. Broadcast every week for more than 75 years, “Day 1” is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations. Hear it in Atlanta Sundays at 7:05 a.m. on WSB News 95.5 and 750 AM. For more information and a treasure trove of resources visit http://day1.org.  
    
   10. Hosea Helps Drive-Through Easter Blessing, Sunday, April 4, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., 2545 Forrest Hills Drive SW,, Atlanta 30315, food boxes, fresh produce, PPE essentials, hams and chickens, MARTA cards, Easter baskets, and hot food off the grill!
    
   11. “6,000 Waiting,” documentary screening & panel discussion, Tuesday, April 6. This 45-minute film highlights the stories of three Georgians with developmental disabilities whose lives are significantly impacted by the staggering lack and complexity of state Medicaid waiver funding. Join in this and learn more and how you can be part of the solution. It was created by The Storytelling Project of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, in partnership with L’Arche Atlanta. Click here to register.
    
   12. Candler School of Theology welcomes Dr. M. Shawn Copeland as this year's Alonzo L. McDonald Family Chair on the Life and Teachings of Jesus and Their Impact on Culture. He will give the Spring Lecture, "Beyond Imagining to Resurrection" as a webinar. The lecture will be followed by Q&A moderated by Dr. Jonathan Strom, Professor of Church History; Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs. April 7, 4:00 p.m. Register here.
    
   13. From HHS Partnership Center: For many the pandemic has meant a loss of work and livelihood.  Faith and community-based groups are building their capacity to provide job readiness skills and/or support their members in finding work.  You might be interested in joining Made to Flourish’s webinar, How Churches Can Start a Jobs Ministry on April 8. 
    
   14. A reminder of the last Mountain Top Lecture, free and online on April 10, 9:30 – 11 a.m., followed by interactive Q & A.  Dr. Diana Butler Basswill introduce her latest book Freeing Jesus. To receive the link, you must register here Freeing Jesus : Lecture with Diana Butler Bass
    
   15. Find out about Just (Us) Kids from Park Avenue Baptist Church and Virginia Highlands Church, growing dreams, questioning, learning Saturday afternoons, Watch promo here. Meeting Registration - Zoom
    
   16. This spring’s Evangelism Matters conference invites participants to turn off the Zoom screen and “tune in” for an audioconference on the opportunity and challenge of evangelism today. Launching on April 12, at www.episcopalchurch.org, the conference will feature eight podcast/audio episodes, six in English and two in Spanish. Each episode will contain three 18-minute talks led by leaders on evangelism and discipleship. Those who wish to interact with the speakers in real time can join any of six weekly “Zoom Coffee Hours” Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., April 15 - May 20. Registration is free. Sign up here. For more, contact Greer, 212-716-6219.
    
   17. “Eco-Faith from Home,” April 13 to May 6, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light will host a series of workshops and plenary session to empower you to take climate action from home. Registration for this free series is open at Eco-Faith from Home: 30 Days of Climate Action (everyaction.com)
   
   18. National Center for Civil and Human Rights offers “How Young People Can Get Involved in the Fair Food Fight” Saturday, April 17, 12 – 1 p.m. Register HERE.
    
   19.  Becoming Beloved Community - a five-week course starting June 6 with Bill Cruise from Kaleidoscope Institute - explore the roots of systemic racism and transformative responses personally, interpersonally, culturally, and institutionally to enact the vision of Beloved Community. Becoming Beloved Community: Racial Reconciliation and Anti-Racism T...
    
   20. Georgia Supportive Housing Association called together the HousingFirst Georgia Coalition with more than 80 partner organizations and individuals. Email to join or receive more information.
    
   21. Upcoming St. Mary's Sewanee March Retreats and Workshops March and April at Ayres Center for Spiritual Development, St. Mary’s.
    
   22. In order to vaccinate the entire United States population and end the COVID-19 pandemic, faith leaders know we need to work together. The National Council of Churches has brought #Faiths4Vaccines, a multi-faith movement dedicated to advance equitable vaccine distribution and combat vaccine hesitancy, to our attention. Surveys show that 76% of Americans identify with a faith tradition. We know that faith leaders hold a place of trust within their communities. Find out more at the newly-launched website Faiths4Vaccines.org. 
    
   23. In the Catholic Church “Safe Heaven Sunday” is Sunday, April 25. This prayer connected with this observance speaks to the tragic shootings in Atlanta on March 16.
   For all leaders in government and in our Church, that they may lead with wisdom reflecting the Church’s teaching on human dignity and sexuality, we pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
   That the values of our faith may guide us in creating homes that are safe havens for our families, we pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
   For those who suffer from addictions, that they may seek support and come to know God’s healing, we pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
   For those who struggle with pornography, that they will come to an appreciation of human dignity and experience conversion of heart which Christ offers, we pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.
   
   Reminders:
   “Scared Work: Science, Religion and Human Health,” Emory University, Wed., March 31, 1-2:30 p.m., Free registration here.
   
   April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month.  Community Action Guide 
   
   The Protecting Places of Worship virtual forum , Tues., April 6, 1 – 3 p.m.  Register Here To find out more about the event, email Randy Czarlinsky at [e-mail].
   
   Kessler Conversation with David Fink, “Wealth, Work, and Wisdom in Early Modern Society,” April 7, 1:00 p.m. Learn more and register.
   
   “Being Black and Christian in America: The Black Church and New Vistas of Race in the U.S.” April 8, 5:00 p.m. Candler Learn more and register.
   
   Visit our website for a tool box for mental health ministry, and more . . . 

Peace,