eNewsletter Week of December 11, 2023

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone. 

If your ministries serve Medicaid/PeachCare for Kids members visit  Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta - Regional Council of Churc... for important information and tools for you from the Department of Human Services.

You will also find there last week’s eNewsletter, there are so many opportunities.

1. Georgia Brass Band Concert at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta 30345, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. Welcome the band back for their annual holiday concert in the sanctuary. Holiday attire is encouraged and admission is free. 

2. The M. Rev. Gregory J. Hartmayer and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta invite you to an ecumenical and interreligious service to pray for peace and commemorate the dead throughout the world, especially in the Holy Land and Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2855 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta 30329.

3. Taizé Advent Service, Thursday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., St. Thomas More Church, 636 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. Prayerfully celebrate the season with scripture, song and silence in the Taizé tradition. Contact Andy Otto for details at [e-mail].

4. Summit Counseling offers DBT Skills for Getting Through the Holidays, a free virtual workshop, Friday, Dec. 15, 12 – 1 p.m. The holidays can bring so many things – decorations, traditions, and usually family and friends. There can be laughter, reminiscing, conflict, and sometimes grief. If you are concerned about possible emotional or relational triggers during this time of year, this talk focuses on DBT skills that can help you get through the holidays effectively!  Register Now
5.  Lunchtime Live! St. Luke's annual mini-series of lunchtime concerts Fridays at noon during Advent. The series continues December 15 with pianist Matthew Brown. Performances are followed by a sack lunch from Henri’s Bakery in Budd Hall. A suggested $15 contribution is requested for lunch. 435 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta 30308.

6. Archdiocesan Choir Advent Program, Friday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. St. Andrew Church, 635 Riverside Dr., Roswell. This program of lessons and carols will be presented by the Archdiocesan Choir, whose members represent many parishes. The choir is led by Donal Noonan, Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The program theme is “Be still, the child is near.” Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer will preside. Contact [e-mail] for more information. 

7. Lessons and Carols, Friday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m., at Mary Our Queen Church, 6260 The Corners Parkway, Peachtree Corners. Scripture passages recount the fall of mankind, the promise of the Messiah, and the anticipation of the Nativity of Christ. Each lesson is followed by a choral piece, soloist, or congregational carol that helps all reflect on the scripture message. The service will feature MOQ’s Adult Choir, Schola Choir, and Youth Choir accompanied by the organist and the MOQ instrument ensemble. Free and open to all. Contact 770-416-0002 or visit www.maryourqueen.com for details. 

8. Come celebrate the holiday season with the smooth sounds of jazz at the 2023 Holiday Jazz Vespers at First Congregational Church, Friday Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7p.m., featuring Holiday Jazz Vespers All Stars: Kathleen J. Bertrand, Tyrone Jackson, Doc Powell, Will Scruggs, Robert Boone Jr., Steve Montgomery, and the Atlanta Jazz Chamber Chorus! Tickets can be purchased here.  Looking for Unique Holiday Gifts? Come early and stay late to shop the First Church Holiday Extravaganza, filled with an eclectic mix of extraordinary Fine Art, Collectors’ Items, Decór, Fashion and Accessories, Literature, Edibles, Health & Beauty, and more! All Proceeds benefit the Outreach Ministries of the First Church CDC.

9. Due to rain last weekend Eco-A has rescheduled two new dates for Sandhill Cranes, Cherokee History and Canyon Hike. Saturday morning tour the Cherokee Removal Memorial with archaeologist Quentin Bass and spend the afternoon viewing thousands of Sandhill Cranes. Sunday there is an optional hike at the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge.  One in January and one December 16-17, for more information and to register click here

10. Christmas with Coro Vocati, The Christmas Story, Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m., St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, 571 Holt Road, Marietta. "Christmas with Coro Vocati" is a program of beloved carols and songs to celebrate the season. This annual event features a blend of traditional carols, arrangements by modern composers, and Christmas-themed standards of choral repertoire. There's something for everyone - and even a chance to sing along with us! We hope you'll join us for this beloved tradition. Ticket Information

11. The application due date has been extended for the 2024 Marvin C. Goldstein Project Understanding Retreat. Apply by Sunday, December 17. Project Understanding is not just any retreat; it's a transformative weekend, where Black and/or Jewish thought-leaders engage in exploration of each other's experiences while building profound connections. Saturday, March 16, to Sunday, March 17, 2024. This year’s retreat will have two cohorts:  Project Understanding for Emerging Leaders (ages 25-39); Project Understanding Gen X (ages 40-55). Program is open to those who identify as Black and/or Jewish and live in Metro Atlanta.  Learn More and Apply. Questions about the experience or application...

12. The Rev. Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine, senior pastor of St. Joseph AME Church in Durham, N. C., is the featured preacher Dec. 17 on “Day 1” with guest host Dalton Rushing. Hear Day1 in Atlanta on WSB 95.5 and 750 AM. Sundays at 7:05 a.m. The nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program is also accessible online at Day1.org and by podcast.  “The Joy of Carrying Jesus” is drawn from Luke 1:46-55, Mary’s song.  “Mary found herself in the midst of what I call a situation … all of us have been in a Mary-like situation,” Jay Augustine says. “God does God’s best work when we find ourselves in the midst of situations, because when it seems like all hope is lost, that’s when God shows up.”   “Day 1” has been broadcast every week for more than 78 years. For more information and many resources, check the Day1.org

13. The Christmas Story, Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2:30 p.m., All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree, Atlanta. "Christmas with Coro Vocati" is a program of beloved carols and songs to celebrate the season. This annual event features a blend of traditional carols, arrangements by modern composers, and Christmas-themed standards of choral repertoire. There's something for everyone - and even a chance to sing along with us! All are invited to join in this beloved tradition. Ticket Information

14. Bring your own score (or purchase one at the door) and join voices with hundreds from all over Atlanta as The Michael O'Neal Singers, Kaleidoscope ensemble, soloists, and orchestra lead a sing-along of the Christmas portion of Handel's glorious masterwork Messiah, Dec. 17, 3 – 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for both singers and "listeners" in advance and may be purchased online or by phone at 770-594-7974. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the concert. Kingswood Church Dunwoody, 4896 N. Peachtree Rd., Dunwoody 30338. 

15. Cathedral Schola will sing A Festival of Nine Christmas Lessons and Carols, Sunday, Dec. 17, at 4:00 p.m. The Cathedral of St. Philip. In person and livestreamed via the Cathedral website (cathedralATL.org/concerts). Biblical readings narrating the prophecy and birth of Jesus are illuminated by congregational carols and choral music of the Christmas season.  Whether you best sense the Eternal through beautiful choral music or popular carols sung by all, this service modeled on the famous worship service at King’s College, Cambridge, holds something for everyone.

16. Christmas Lessons and Carols. St. David’s Episcopal Church, Sunday, Dec. 17, 5:00 p.m. This beloved candlelight service of music and readings will begin with the traditional “Once in Royal David’s City” and includes handbells, hymns, and carols for all to sing plus anthems sung by our choir. Short readings by members of the congregation are included, as candles are lit to light the way to the birth of Christ. 1015 Old Roswell Rd., Roswell, GA 30076.

17. A reminder of Christmas on Clairemont, 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 17, at First Baptist Church of Decatur. This is the 6th annual community benefit concert and will feature a professional orchestra with the Decatur Avondale Children's Choir, Grammy award-winning tenor, Victor Robertson, WABE's Chris Chandler, operatic soprano Tiffany Uzoije, and a surprise performance by one of the leads at Shakespeare Tavern.  All of this is free and open to the public, but 100% of an offering taken during the performance will benefit the humanitarian work happening in Macedonia through CBF Global Missions.

18. Eighth Annual Festival Sounds of the Season with the Trey Clegg Singers, Sunday, Dec. 17, 6:00 p.m. at the Church at Wieuca, 3626 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. Ticket information here.

19. Lessons and Carols, Sunday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m., Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta 30305. The Cathedral Choir will sings songs of the season while lectors read the story of salvation threaded through the Scriptures. 

20. Service of Comfort & Hope at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Tuesday, December 19, 7:00 pm, Chapel. A 45-minute service of remembrance, consolation, and assurance. Worshippers will have the opportunity to light candles for loved ones, or for loss or concerns of any kind. 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta 30345. For more information, visit shallowford.org.

21. Blue Christmas Service at Northside Drive Baptist Church. For some of us the holiday season is not very merry and not a time of joy. For some, it is the first year without a loved one. For some, the season is a reminder of those no longer with us. For some, the holidays stir up difficult memories. Northside Drive Baptist Church creates space for some of the ‘blue’ feelings of the season at a quiet, reflective service with words of comfort and hope. Come to the sanctuary on Wednesday, December 20 at 6:30 p.m., 3100 Northside Drive, Atlanta 30305.

22. The Christmas season is a time of joy and expectation but it can also deepen the pain and isolation experienced by those who are grieving. The Longest Night is a worship service with Holy Eucharist meant to speak to the needs of those experiencing grief and loss, and is scheduled around the winter solstice, Dec. 21. The service will also be live-streamed.   Dec. 21, 6 p.m., in-person & live-streamed, Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 2089 Ponce de Leon Ave, NE, Atlanta 30307

23. While we celebrate and anticipate the joy of this season, we also recognize that the holiday season is not cheerful for everyone. On this day of the longest night of the year, Sandy Springs Christian Church will release a virtual Blue Christmas service for your viewing and participation. This will be our chance to acknowledge any grief, sadness, or lack of joy that may arise during this time of year. The service themed Abide With Me will help those missing the excitement of the season. Sandy Springs Christian Church. Dec. 21. Call [phone] for information.

24. 3-Night Year - End Retreat, December 27 at 6 p.m. – Dec. 30 at 12 p.m., Ignatius House, 6700 Riverside Dr., Sandy Springs. This retreat is designed to introduce participants to the profound principles of Ignatian prayer, guiding them through meditations inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in both guided prayer experiences and individual one-on-one spiritual conversations with a spiritual director. Additionally, there will be occasions for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. This is a silent retreat. To register visit https://bitly/3QwFMhN

25. Save the date for the 2024 Beloved Community Awards commemorating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center recognizes national and international individuals and organizations that exemplify excellence in leadership, pursue social justice, and who are helping to create the Beloved Community, as envisioned by Dr. King. The show will be livestreamed on Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, and via website, Monday, January 15, 5:30 p. m. 
Peace,
Ethel Ware Carter