Church Action eNewsletter Week of May 18, 2026

[RCCAtl]

Church Action eNewsletter Week of May 18, 2026

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

We welcome your announcements for the greater faith community. Send them in the body of your email, no attachments please, to [e-mail]. Past newsletters can be found at www.rccatl.org. 
 
1. Find resources to help you observe Mental Health Month 2026 | Mental Health America

2.  From the Interfaith Public Policy Center: Earlier this week, the Governor disregarded more than $344 million in state spending approved by the legislature to offset revenue losses from new tax cuts. The impact of these disregards will be felt most in our rural communities, and, more importantly, in areas of our lives that are critical to our families' well-being. This includes more than $81 million in healthcare funding, $61 million in Pre-K-12 education funding, $15 million in human services funding, and $11 million in transportation funding. If these figures concern you, as they did for more than a dozen interfaith leaders in our coalition, we encourage you to reach out to your legislator today.

3. The Overseer Class: A Manifesto -- Steven W. Thrasher in conversation with Donovan X. Ramsey, Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m., Charis Books & More, 184 S Candler St, Decatur 30030, and on Charis' virtual event platform. This event is free; registration is required for virtual attendance. Click here to register to attend virtually.  The Overseer Class by Thrasher explores what happens when members of historically minoritized groups are selected for high-visibility positions of power within existing institutions—but under the conditions of a kind of Faustian bargain. Ramsey is a journalist, author, and voice on issues of race, politics, and patterns of power in America. A donation of $5-20 in support of the work of Charis Circle is encouraged. Donate via www.chariscircle.org/donate or in person at the event. Accessibility information.  All attendees must wear a face mask during the event. If you have any questions or to request specific accessibility accommodations, contact call the store at 404-524-0304. Please contact [e-mail] if you would like ASL interpretation at this event. 

4. Global Voices for Peace, May 21, 10 a.m. Today, authoritarianism is rising. Militarism is spreading. And democratic and multilateral norms and processes are eroding. AFSC's "Global Voices for Peace" is a dialogue series that brings together peacebuilders and those concerned with human rights and social justice. You are invited to learn more about the challenges facing our world and how we can address them. Register now. 

5. The One Lamb Initiative Mental Health Awareness Lunch & Learn Series continues May 21 at noon with the Rev. Grace Guyton exploring relationships. Register for this Zoom meeting at https://peachtreeroadumc.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/892/responses/new.

6. If you are interested in creating real economic solutions together, join the Interfaith Children's Movement and Interfaith Public Policy Center  for Part 2 of building economic security together on May 21st.  The focus is exploration of how we can all work together to bring our shared values of love, justice, mercy, and hospitality into the discourse of the upcoming Special Legislative Session and create economic stability using the assets we already possess. Please register via this link.

7. Step into one of the most defining moments in Methodist history at the Arthur J. Moore Museum at Epworth by the Sea. Discover the story behind the moment that helped ignite the Methodist movement and continues to inspire faith journeys around the world today. Whether you are passionate about church history, theology, or simply looking for an inspiring evening along the Georgia coast, you are invited to a special free lecture presented by the Rev. Dave Hanson “John Wesley’s Conversion on Aldersgate,” May 24, 5:00 p.m., at AJM Museum at Epworth by the Sea.

8. Church Women United in Atlanta, Inc. will have a combined celebration of May Friendship Day and Everybody’s Birthday on Saturday, May 30, from 2 - 4 p.m. at Faith AME Zion Church, 38 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW, Atlanta. The theme for the 2026 May Friendship part of the day’s celebration is “A Place Called Home”.  Following the worship service will be Everybody’s Birthday, which is the annual fundraiser for the Atlanta CWU unit and is a fun recognition of birthdays for the whole calendar year. Any woman who would like to attend and learn more about Church Women United in Atlanta will be warmly welcomed.  

9. Are you interested in hosting a small group (4-10) of international students in your home or the community for an event? AMIS has many students who will be in Atlanta over the summer months and would love to participate in a small group event, such as a backyard BBQ, a hike, or a holiday celebration--the 4th of July and Labor Day are both coming up. If you would like to volunteer by organizing an event for a small group of students or including a few students in your event, please reach out to [e-mail].

10. The Pitts Theology Library is currently hosting “‘That the scripture should come to light’: William Tyndale and 500 years of the English New Testament.” It is open to the public all hours the library is open. But if you cannot make it to campus, they’ve put the entire exhibition online for you! You can tour the gallery virtually and see these wonderful books and read all the labels. Click on the link below to learn more about how the English Bible came to be! View now

11. 156th session of the Union Musical Sacred Harp Singing Convention is May 30-31, 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., each day. May 30, Parish Hall at Holy Trinity Parish, Decatur, May 31 - Decatur Legacy Park, Hawkins Hall. More details https://www.facebook.com/share/1CJZcHBfzX/

12. Path to Peace, come for food, entertainment, games, and booths, and a Walk for Unity, Saturday, May 30, 1:00 p.m., at Stanton Park, 213 Haygood Ave SE, Atlanta 30315.

13. Neighborhood Church, 1561 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta 30307, will host Shine On - an unforgettable evening of laughter, music, and community. Sunday, May 31, 6-9 p.m. This exciting event is more than just entertainment; it’s a vital fundraiser that helps sustain the programs and ministries of Neighborhood Church, supporting our anti-racism, pro-LGBTQ advocacy efforts, community outreach, youth programs, and more. Tickets at Story

14. Experience a preview of the Paris Concert Tour as the Trey Clegg Singers share powerful choral works from Lauridsen Lux Aeterna and Faure’s Requiem. By reserving your place, you support the mission to inspire, educate, and uplift communities. Come for an evening of music that bridges cultures May 31, 4-6 p.m., Northside Drive Baptist Church. Find more information and tickets at A Paris Concert Tour Preview.

15. The Quaker Call to Action invites you to a national zoom meeting, May 31 at 7 p.m., a conversation with Maria J. Stephan to explore what we all can do to protect our democracy. She is an author and organizer whose work has focused on the role of nonviolent movements world-wide advancing human rights, democracy, and peace. Dr. Stephan is the Co-lead & Chief Organizer at the Horizons Project, an initiative focused on strengthening connections and collective action among U.S. pro-democracy movements and sectors. She is co-author with Erica Chenoweth of Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict. Maria emphasizes the centrality of faith in the struggle for democratic rights and human dignity. She will be right at home among Quakers and other people of faith. Register at https://quakercall.org/meetings/register  

16. First Five Freedoms  joins Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law, The Temple, and All Saints Episcopal Church for "Faith, Law, & Democracy: A Community Conversation on the Public Good and the Rule of Law" on Tuesday June 2. Join this important discussion.  Americans across the political spectrum are grappling with a shared unease: the feeling that something foundational is slipping. Trust in institutions is eroding. The norms that once governed public life are contested. And the concept of the public good — the idea that we share a common stake in fair, just, and accountable governance — is increasingly hard to find in our public discourse. This program brings together faith leaders, legal experts, and engaged community members for an evening of honest conversation about what is at stake. Hosted at All Saints Episcopal Church, the event weaves together spiritual reflection, legal analysis, and civic dialogue to address one central question: What does it mean to protect the rule of law — and why does it matter for all of us, right now? The evening will include reflection, analysis, and discussion designed to:

• Connect faith, law, and civic responsibility in an accessible, nonpartisan framework
• Examine current challenges to the rule of law and their implications for democracy
• Create space for authentic dialogue across perspectives and institutions
• Foster relationships and identify opportunities for collective action

Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta 30308. Featured speakers include: Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, Minister for Public Life, All Saints’ Episcopal Church; Rabbi Lydia Medwin, Associate Rabbi, The Temple; Jill Steinberg, former U.S. Attorney for Georgia’s Southern District; Al Pearson, former University of Georgia Law professor; Richard Griffiths, retired journalist, and president emeritus of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation. Registration for this event is free. Complimentary parking, food, and refreshments. REGISTER HERE.
 
17. Cross-Cultural Ministries, serving children of immigrant families in the Chamblee and Doraville area, is seeking volunteers for a four-week Summer Reading Program running Mondays through Wednesdays beginning June 15. The program includes two daily sessions: the first session from 10 am - noon. and serves 20 1st and 2nd grade students, while the second session is from 12:15 pm - 2 pm and supports 12 targeted 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. All lessons and materials will be provided and will include themed activities, crafts, and interactive learning experiences designed to support literacy growth in a fun and encouraging environment. Volunteer sign-up sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1APxeGErRiu-0s1AtXwfsMS7UWVZ.... For more information, contact [e-mail].
 

18. The mission of Intown Cares is to prevent and reverse homelessness and hunger in Intown Atlanta. Compassionate and committed volunteers staff the food pantry and deliver food to neighbors who are unable to travel. Find out about these and other ways to help at https://www.intowncares.org/volunteer

19. Candler Foundry will offer a course on Christian Nationalism this summer, June 9-30, Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. For all necessary information visit Candler Foundry Online Course: "Let's Talk About Christian National... with Research Fellow Dominic Erdozain. Course fee: $50.

20. Weekend Recovery Retreat for Those in a 12-Step Program, June 12 – 14. Come to rest and renew your heart, mind, body, and soul at Ignatius House. Embrace the peace and beauty of our surroundings, designed to nurture your serenity, help you slow down, listen deeply, rest, and pray. You will spend time with the God of your understanding alongside others who are ‘trudging the road of happy destiny.’ The retreat offers a series of reflections that draw on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and their connection to the spiritual journey of 12-Step recovery. Together, you’ll explore prayers from the Big Book, including the Serenity Prayer, the 3rd Step Prayer, the 7th Step Prayer, the Prayer for Peace (11th Step), and the 12th Step Prayer. Register Today!

21. Praying with Black Spirituality The God of Us All: Praying with Black Spirituality is a 7-night, June 14 - 21, individually directed Ignatian retreat that invites participants into a deeper experience of God through the rich intersection of Black Spirituality and the Ignatian tradition. Rooted in the Spiritual Exercises, this retreat offers space for silence, daily prayer, and one-on-one spiritual direction, while also drawing on elements such as sacred song, scripture, and reflections shaped by the lived experience of the Black community. This retreat is open to all who desire to encounter God more deeply through diverse expressions. Learn More

22. Registration is now open for the 2026 YADA Retreat at Camp Christian Conference Center. Young adults who are one year post high school through age 30 are invited to a weekend retreat July 24-26, 2026, at Camp Christian, hosted by YADA (Young Adult Disciples Association) of the Christian Church in Georgia. The theme this year, “Make Room,” will focus on creating space in our lives for God to move. The retreat begins Friday at 6:30 p.m., and concludes Sunday at 11:30 a.m. The retreat fee of $125 includes 2 nights lodging in Woodland Lodge, plus meals. Questions? Contact Ella Higgins at [e-mail]. Use the link below to register now! Click here for info and to sign up!

23. Introduction to Contemplative Spirituality ONLINE from Columbia Center for Lifelong Learning begins August 5. When leaders cultivate inner depth, their communities feel it. Conversations grow calmer. Decisions grow wiser. Relationships deepen. Contemplative formation strengthens the foundation beneath every role you carry. It forms people who listen before they speak and discern before they act. It’s transformation of the heart by the Spirit. You can register now for Centering Prayer as a Doorway ONLINE, August 5-26. REGISTER HERE.

24. The Casa Alterna Intentional Community is a seven-bedroom, two-bath home shared by immigrants and allies committed to it’s mission: offering refuge and dignity to vulnerable immigrants, resisting unjust deportation systems, and cultivating a community rooted in belonging, mutual care, and shared responsibility. The home is located in the City of Atlanta with convenient access to MARTA, parks, restaurants, and other neighborhood amenities. Residents commit to:  Signing a one-year shared living agreement and participating in building community agreements together; Sharing weekly household chores, participating in regular community meetings, and respecting quiet hours; Embracing the charism of radical hospitality toward vulnerable immigrants, which may at times include welcoming guests who are transitioning toward stable housing; Contributing to a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all residents and guests. Move-in date is August 2026. If you are interested, you can contact [e-mail] for rent and other details.

Peace,
Ethel Ware Carter