Church Action eNewsletter Week of March 9, 2015

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Weekly Church Action eNewsletter

Week of March 9, 2015

 

 

1. Update, March 10, on Kelly Gissendaner and her case from those working to save her life. If you are so inclined visit our website for an update and ways you can help whether you are clergy or laity. Read More>>

2. C.H.I.P., the mental health coalition of which the Regional Council of Churches is a member, is now offering Mental Health First Aid. If your faith community or ministry is interested in exploring the possibility of offering this training to your congregation or staff, we would be happy to talk with you. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it builds mental health literacy, helping the public identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness. Mental Health First Aid is intended for all people and organizations that make up the fabric of a community.  Please send an email to Mary Wilson at  [e-mail]. Visit ChipGeorgia.com for a look at the “Creating Compassionate Congregations Tool Box for Mental Health Ministry.”

3. Georgia Cares, the single statewide coordinating agency serving children who have been exploited or trafficked, is offering free DMST community trainings across the state.  Click HERE to register at a location near you! 

Oak Leaf Church, Canton  March 12 (9:00-12:00)

First Christian Church, Atlanta March 18 (9:00-12:00)

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Savannah March 26 (1:00-4:00)

 Episcopal Church of the Epiphany April 21 (9:00-12:00)

University of Georgia April 16 (4:00-7:00)

 Brookhaven Church, Atlanta May 7 (1:00-4:00)

 Christ Community Church May 18 (1:00-4:00)

 

4.  A report on the Georgia Peace & Justice Coalition’s involvement with the School of the Americas Watch; the Campaign to Shut Down Stewart Detention Center; how the work of these organizations is connected; and how others can join ongoing work to end militarization in Latin America, detention of immigrants and mass incarceration. Saturday, March 14, Atlanta Friends Meeting House, 701 West Howard Avenue, Decatur 30030. Brunch at 11 a.m. followed by speakers and Q & A. Speakers include Nashua Chantal on School of the Americas,  Anton Flores on Stewart Detention Center, Dianne Mathiowetz on GPJC’s work.  Free admission and parking. Meeting house is 3 blocks east of East Lake MARTA station. www.georgiapeace.org, [phone].

5.  Dr. J. Bennett Guess, executive minister of the United Church of Christ’s Local Church Ministries and a member of the UCC’s four person Collegium of Officers, is the featured preacher for three Sundays in Lent  on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, the ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org. Guess’s sermon for March 15, “The Appropriate Response,” is drawn from John 3. “Jesus was asked more than once what must be done to inherit eternal life,” he says. “And he never gives the same answer.” Find your local station or  hear on line at day1.org

6. The Cathedral of St. Philip welcomes organist Jason Overall, from St. John's Cathedral in Knoxville, this Sunday, March 15 at 3:15 p.m. for a program of works by Bach, Howells, Willan, and Arvo Pärt. They welcome the community to this opportunity to hear this talented American organist. St. Philip’s, 2744 Peachtree Road, Atlanta 30305.

7. The National Council of Churches USA, the Canadian Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches invite you to a live webinar Evangelizing Each Other. March 17, 2 p.m., sign up for free  here.

8. National VA Chaplain Center announces a webinar “How to Start and Facilitate a Support Group for Veterans, March 18, 3:00-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  This interactive webinar will provide participants with tips and guidelines for planning and facilitating peer support groups in community settings. They will also learn about characteristics to look for when choosing group facilitators and strategies for meeting the facilitators’ training needs. REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR NOW! You will receive the link to the webinar with your registration confirmation.

9. The ACM BrewHaHa, Atlanta Community Ministries young professionals awareness event, has been rescheduled for March 18. Click Here To Register For the BrewHaha !  More information on ACM and the current projects they support can be found on their website. 

10. Dr. Ron King, former executive director of the Pastoral Institute is the special guest speaker at “A Clergy Wellness Workshop,” Thursday, March 19, 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Johns Creek United Methodist Church. Cost is $50 and includes lunch. CEUs are available through NGUMC. For registration call the Summit at [phone]. Limited seating for 75 Clergy. Sponsored by Clergy & Congregational Care: An Outreach of Summit Counseling Centers

11. Central Outreach & Advocacy Center is hosting its second annual Central ArtWorks event, an art show featuring incredible works created by their guests—men and women experiencing homelessness in metro Atlanta. This year’s show, StoryScapes: Art from the Heart of the City, focuses not only on the art but also on the stories of our artists and will be on display for two weeks this March. Come on Thursday, March 19, or Friday, March 20, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. for opening night parties at Fuse Art Gallery in downtown Atlanta. View or bid on art, enjoy food and drink, listen to live jazz, and support the work of Central OAC in opening doors out of homelessness. Space at the gallery is very limited, so purchase your tickets now! Here.

12. Atlantic institute in partnership with the Halle Institute and the Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Studies, Emory University will host Professor Robert Pape who will discuss ISIS suicide attacks and assess whether President Obama's strategy is likely to keep America and its allies safe. Tuesday, March 24, 11:30 a.m., Miller Ward Alumni House. Admission is free and includes lunch; however, seats are limited. Please RSVP by Monday, March 23. R.s.v.p.

13. Simple Needs GA invites you to get a team together and bowl on March 28 to raise funds for two of their programs “My Birthday Matters” and “Shoe Them Love. Read more here.

14. Church of the Resurrection, restoring people, families, and communities, is now meeting at Hapeville Elementary School on Sundays at 10:10 a.m.

15. Columbia Theological Seminary presents Dr. Celia Dean-Drummond, Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, as its next science lecturer on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Harrington Center Chapel. Dean-Drummond’s lecture is entitled, "Evolution, Humans, and Other Animals: Engaging Theology and Anthropology." Columbia Seminary is located at 701 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur.

16. “Howard Thurman speaks to 21st-century spiritual pilgrims”, Saturday, April 18, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 306 Peyton Road, Atlanta. Registration here.  Read more>>

17. Training and Counseling Center at St. Luke's is hosting its annual speaker's event, Meaningful Conversations.  The topic this year is “Life After Prison: Navigating the Challenges of Successful Reentry after Incarceration.” Panelists will focus on reentry and the challenges of building a stable life after the experience of incarceration. They include Renee Snead, Governor's Office of Transition, Support and Reentry; Colleen Higgins, Woman in Transition; Charles Sperling, Director, Stand Inc; Shannon Ball, Director of Support Teams and Volunteer Relations, Action Ministries; Dan Matthews, Jr., Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church is moderator. Also featuring a special musical performance from some surprise guests. Hors d'oeuvres in the Parish Hall, 6:15; Musical Performance and Panel Discussion in the sanctuary, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday April 29, at St. Luke's, 435 Peachtree Street, 6:15 p.m. Buy Tickets Here

18. Camp SOS is a family weekend camp for suicide survivor families. Families are defined by who "Family" is for you. There have been attendees from 6 to 96 years old and from all over the state of Georgia: moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends, May 8, 9 and 10, 2015; 5:30 p.m. Friday to 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Camp Twin Lakes, Winder.  A loss by suicide changes lives forever, but having access to tools that support the journey can help. Camp SOS gives survivors support to help them travel this journey in a safe environment.   Attendance is limited to 30 families, register early. For a look at the flyer with all the details, click Here  To download the forms and register  now, click Here  For information on volunteer opportunities, contact SPAN-GA, Here  REGISTER HERE.

19. Registration is open for Peacebuilders Camp at Koinonia Farm!. This overnight camp in Americus is open to all youth Tuition is on a sliding scale. Camp sessions are July 13-18, (ages 11-12) and July 20-25 (ages 13-14). Register online here. For more information, contact Jonah McDonald [e-mail] or 404-373-8036.

20. Empowerment Resource Center announces the call for applications for its Programs for Positive (P4P) Peer Educator Certification Program, March 11-March 25.  Space is limited. This program is a free training program designed to build capacity in communities of people living with HIV and AIDS and develop intergenerational peer networks which support entering care, remaining in care, and adhering to medical treatment.  The P4P Peer Educator Certification Program is funded in part by the Georgia Department of Public Health's CAPUS Program.  Click here to learn more about the P4P Program.  

21. The last weekend of July is the 25^th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Across the country, organizations and communities are planning a variety of events and activities to celebrate the passing of the ADA and the progress made in 25 years while also recommitting to the Act’s unfulfilled promises. For ways to start planning and resources Read More>>

22. The Beatitudes Society voted  to expand the Beatitudes Fellowship from 8 to 12 Fellows for 2015-2016.  This expansion is in response to the increasing numbers of young entrepreneurial faith leaders who are doing innovative work in the world. In order to allow sufficient time for additional nominations, the deadline for nominations is extended to May 1.   Do you know a young entrepreneurial faith leader?  During the year-long Fellowship, each fellow develops a great idea for a new way to do church and pursue social justice, working in their congregation, and gathers four times each year for contemplative reflection and customized leadership training workshops to help move their project from dream to reality. Read about the fellowship and nominate someone today.  Use  the form from the Beatitude website!

23. Climate Conversation: Kenya is a new resource from World Renew and the Christian Reformed Office of Social Justice. The series of four short videos and companion discussion guide combines on-the-ground footage and interviews from Kenya with study materials to help faith-based groups and individuals get past climate politics and ideology. We have to have creation and its care at the center of our gospel to the poor, or we’re living a lie.”  The resource was launched March 6 at www.climate-conversation.org.  

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

[e-mail]

404-201-6448