Church Action eNewsletter Week of September 29, 2025

[RCCAtl]

Church Action eNewsletter Week of September 29, 2025

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

 

1. Love Your Neighbor, World Quaker Day is Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, and all are invited to celebrate with Atlanta Friends Meeting, worship at 10 a.m., potluck at 11:15, 701 Howard Avenue, Decatur. For the whole law can be summed up in this command “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
2. Organist Alexander Straus-Fausto will perform at the Cathedral of St. Philip in person and livestreamed on the Cathedral Website, Sunday, Oct. 5, at 3:15 p.m., playing works of Leonard Bernstein, Marcel Dupré, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, and Richard Wagner. Straus-Faustoserves as organist at Epiphany Catholic Church in Miami. A graduate of McGill University, Eastman School of Music, and Yale University, he has been named one of the top “30 under 30” by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Following the recital, the Cathedral offers its weekly service of Choral Evensong at 4 o’clock.
3. Panel Discussion in Honor of the late Dr. Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary, in person and livestreamed, Monday, Oct. 6, at 7:00-8:30 p.m. Panelists include Dr. Christine Roy Yoder, facilitator, Columbia Theological Seminary; Dr. William P. Brown, Columbia Theological Seminary; Dr. Kathleen M. O'Connor, Professor Emerita of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary; Dr. Brennan Breed, Princeton Theological Seminary; Dr. Davis Hankins, Appalachian State University; The Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress Williams, Virginia Theological Seminary; and Dr. Robert Williamson, Hendrix College. Registration and more information here.
4. Join St. Mary’s Sewanee each Wednesday at noon during the month of October for a free online program. Each week St. Mary’s will offer a program highlighting a different spiritual practice. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link and login information. View Event →
5. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Student Serve program is looking for churches and ministries to host interns this spring. If you or a congregation you know would be interested in serving as a host/supervisor, applications are open through October 9. Apply here. Email Dane Jacksonwith questions.
6. Certified Peer Specialist-Parent and Youth (CPS-P & CPS-Y). Georgia Parent Support Network and the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Office of Children, Young Adults & Families, and the Office of Recovery Transformation are accepting applications for the Parent CPS-P and CPS-Y trainings. This training will be offered virtually on Zoom. Use the drop down box at the beginning of the application to choose a training that works for you. Click Here: 2025 CPS-P & CPS-Y Calendar for September - January.... Click Here: CPS-P & CPS-Y qualifications to apply for each trai.... CPS-Y Application. CPS-P Application.
7. Featuring a Georgian with lived expertise and policy experts from Georgia Budget and Policy Institute and Georgians for a Healthy Future, “An Update on Georgia’s Pathways to Coverage Program and Georgia Access” webinar will highlight: New data on Pathways to Coverage’s enrollment, cost, and more two years since launch and an overview of how recent federal changes may impact the program going forward; A conversation with a Georgian enrolled in the Pathways to Coverage program; An update on Georgia Access and how a new federal law may impact cost and coverage for enrollees with lower incomes. October 9, 1-2 p.m. Register here today.
8. Silence is Golden (and Free). Life moves fast—especially when you're juggling school, work, relationships, and everything in between. In the middle of all that noise, it's easy to lose touch with your own voice... and with the Divine. That’s why Ignatius House offers free weekend retreats for young adults ages 18–25 and any student age 18+. Many young people today describe themselves as spiritual but are unsure where to explore that side of life. These retreats offer space to be still, reflect, and experience something deeper—without pressure or expectations. Thanks to the generous support of donors who believe in the next generation, this opportunity is offered at no cost to participants. If you or someone you know could benefit from a spiritual reset, contact Andrew Forrester,to learn more and sign up.
9. The women of St. Andrew United Methodist Church invite you to start the craft show season off right at the "Fall Into Crafts" Marketplace. Now in its 23rd year, this show offers a spacious, easily accessible indoor setting where you will be delighted by crafts from local makers. Friendly, helpful volunteers and wonderful food make "Fall Into Crafts" Marketplace a favorite among return customers. 3455 Canton Rd., Marietta 30066. The marketplace will be Friday, October 10, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
10. “Revisiting Modern Christian ‘Mysticism’:  What Did the 20th Century Mean by It, and Why Does It Still Matter?” In her first lecture, Oct. 15, 11 a.m., Sarah Coakley will critically compare the theories of William James, Ernst Troeltsch and Michel de Certeau, and reflect on what aspects of their work are still important in today’s context. Visit bit.ly/coakley-mcdonald-oct-15for details and to register for this event at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. These events are made possible by the McDonald Agape Foundation.
11. Sixteenth Annual Spirituality Conference at the Cathedral of St. Philip with Pádraig Ó Tuama, “Poetry, Prayer, and Place,” Saturday, Oct. 18. We carry desire and location with us: desires for change, improvement, revenge, release, joy or achievement; and locations of home or exile or anything in between. This retreat day will consider poems of longing and land, and by doing so, deepen reflection on language, truth, creativity and communication. There will be some writing exercises during the day — it is open to first time writers, as well as those who’ve been writing for a long time. Find out more and register at 2025 Spirituality Conference - Pádraig Ó Tuama.
12. Peachtree Road United Methodist Church is offering an unusual opportunity as All Saints Day approaches. The All Souls' Post Office, Sunday, Oct. 19, 10:00- 11:00 a.m., Hospitality Suite, and Sunday, Nov. 2, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m., Grace Hall, led by Susan Patterson of Gifts from the End Coaching. Participants will explore the transformative process of writing a letter to a deceased loved one. This gathering offers space for honoring grief, expressing loss, and finding catharsis through writing. Time and resources will be provided to begin your letter during the workshop, or you may choose to write and “post” it later in the Resource Room at Peachtree Road. All letters will be received and blessed during our Choral Evensong for the Feast of All Saints service on November 2.
13. An estimated 38 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood or platelets, but of those, less than 10 percent actually donate each year. If you are healthy and eligible, please come out to donate at Marietta First United Methodist Church. Most donations take about an hour, so book your appointment, roll up your sleeve and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross on Monday, October 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sign up today at www.redcrossblood.org, use sponsor code MFUMC.
14. Mark your calendar for Oct. 23 when Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center will host the annual Legislative Conference featuring presentations from interfaith advocates and policy experts ahead of the 2026 legislative session. There will be a county-by-county planning session on how to jumpstart the most critical work in our communities. Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Oct. 23, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. To register visit https://georgiainterfaithcenter.org/event/gippc-legislative-confere...
15. Registration is open for “Bonhoeffer for Today?” A Faith and Public Life in person symposium from Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary, Oct. 23. During complicated political times, few theologians get weaponized more fiercely or misread more easily than Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  But who was he? And how might we interpret him thoughtfully, accurately, and usefully for our present political moment? REGISTER HERE
16. Save the date for Organ Spooktacular, a concert benefitting the historic Austin Organ at Trinity United Methodist Church.  Help save the iconic 1912 Austin Organ from the wrecking ball. With the redevelopment of the church building to provide affordable housing for seniors, this amazing organ needs to find a new home.  Fearing the loss of this unique instrument, celebrity organists of the city are volunteering to demonstrate its unique capability and emphasize the need to preserve this small part of Atlanta’s downtown history.  Friday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m., 265 Washington Street, SW, parking validated, donation at the door. For more information: [e-mail] [phone].
17. Mark your calendar for St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church’s Annual Taize Service on Friday, Oct. 26, starting at 7 o’clock p.m. This contemplative service will be facilitated by the Mary Sandra Chapter of The Order of the Daughters of the King. The church is at 6780 James B. Rivers Drive, Stone Mountain 30083. St. Michael and All Angels is celebrating its 75^th anniversary. Did you know they offer a 2 p.m. Dinka service every Sunday? They also have a healing service on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel.
18. Don’t miss Reformation Day at Emory 2025. This annual event will be on campus and online, Thursday, Oct. 30. The theme is “Reforming Intelligence: New Technology and the Legacy of the Reformation.” Click on the link below to learn more and register for this exciting event! Reformation Day at Emory 2025 Registration

 

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Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter