Church Action eNewsletter Week of July 30, 2012

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.   

 Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta 

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Clergy Sabbath Retreat, Len FooteHike Inn , August 15     Buckhead Christian Ministry’s 25th AnniversaryAugust 25    

                                     Labor Day, Action Ministries First Annual Action Dash    Volunteer at Covenant House 

 

1 . St. John's Episcopal Church, 3480 Main Street, College Park, is re-booting the monthly Taize worship service. The kick off is today.  Join them on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. A small chamber music group is providing music for the service. All are welcome, including musicians who would like to participate! 

And, the adult choir at St. John's, College Park, is currently accepting applications for four section leaders. Applicants can click here to visit the music department intranet to view the job announcement (the link is under the large graphic).  The parish is looking for people from within the university student population AND from the larger community.

2. Atlanta Habitat for Humanity Faith Relations Associate Andrew Johnson has put out a call for some volunteers.  Two houses in East Point need some painting and landscaping. The houses are right next to each other and about 10 people are needed on each (20-25 total). Andrew would like to get this done in August. If you would like to help yourself or have a group  that could help please let Andrew know as soon as possible. Call him at 404-223-5180 x171. www.atlantahabitat.org   Building a Better Atlanta, One Home at a Time   

3. The Essential Bible Story for this Sunday, August 5, at Cathedral of St. Philip is Gideon.  This is part of the summer series on Bible stories that are essential to like in the world today  meeting Sunday mornings at 10:10 in Child Hall. At Brookhaven UMC this Sunday the fruit of the spirit that will be explored is gentleness. You will find these and  a few others of the series at  RCCAtl.org  are continuing into August.

4. The community is invited to Share Life: Each One Reach One: Organ and Tissue Transplantation/donation Symposium, Saturday, August 11, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m,. at Cascade United Methodist Church, 3144 Cascade Road SW, Atlanta 30311. Sponsored by The Links, Incorporated, Azalea City Chapter, and Health & Wellness Ministry of Cascade UMC. Contact [e-mail] for more information.   

5. Delight in an evening of sacred classics and spirituals with the Cobb Summer Singers, Lynn Swanson, Music Director and Conductor; Ivy Pirl, Accompanist. St. Benedict's Episcopal Church, 2160 Cooper Lake Road SE, Smyrna. Saturday, August 11 at 7 p.m. More information at  www.festivalsingers.org

6. Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Black-Jewish Coalition, August 15, 7 p.m., at The Breman Museum, 1440 Spring Street NW, Atlanta  30309. The community is invited to bring their memories of the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition and come for a panel discussion featuring Congressman Lewis, Tommy Dortch, Imara Canady, Lois Frank, Elise Eplan and Sherry Frank, who will serve as the moderator.  Guided tours of The Breman Museum’s special exhibit, Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow, Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges are offered before the program and throughout the evening. Congressman Lewis will be signing copies of his new book, Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change, after the program. General Admission $10; Students $5

7. The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Cumming will host a solo performance of the Gospel of Mark on Friday, August 17,  at 7:30 pm. Find out more about this performance by Fr. Joseph Morris at  www.gospelofmark.org . Your parishioners and friends, neighbors, and family are welcome. There will be light refreshments during the intermission. There is no charge but an offering will be taken.  Holy Spirit is located at 724 Pilgrim Mill Rd., Cumming, 30041.

8. A huge church wide garage sale at Roswell United Methodist Church will be held Saturday, Aug. 18, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. The church is located at 814 Mimosa Blvd. in Roswell’s historic district. Thousands of items will be available in the church’s fellowship hall area including furniture, collectibles, appliances, exercise equipment, clothing, household goods, toys, and books. Bring your friends and neighbors for this incredible garage sale!    

Items can be donated Aug. 15 (5-7 p.m.), Aug. 16 (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.), and Aug. 17 (9 a.m. - 4 p.m.) at the church fellowship hall. Please no TVs, computer equipment, fax machines, mattresses, sofa beds, or  large wall units. All clothes must be on hangers. Proceeds will go to RUMC’s community outreach program Job Networking, to MUST Ministries, and to RUMC’s Global Impact Celebration. For more information or to make a donation, call Ann Gordon, 770-594-5423.

9. Street GRACE invites you to join them for a Drop-in Shower to help furnish 52 dorm rooms for the new Imagine Me Academy, a ministry of Jars of Clay. Drop in and drop off your gift or stay as long as you'd like,  Tuesday, August 21,  from 4. to 7 p.m. at the Street GRACE office, 5995 Financial Drive, Suite 180, Norcross  30071.  Come hear more about this new facility that will provide housing and guidance in a surrogate family setting to sexually exploited homeless girls, ages 14-21, and their babies.  They’d like everyone who attends to please purchase a specific item(s) from either the Target or Wal-Mart registry link by clicking here.  If you cannot make the shower, but would like to give a gift, contact Lisa at the address or number below.   Please register by emailing [e-mail] or call 678-809-1471.

10. Come to Ignatius House Retreat Center in Sandy Spring to meet and hear from Randy Hain author of The Catholic Briefcase: Tools for Integrating Faith and Work voted Best Catholic Book of 2011 in the About.com Reader’s Choice Awards.  Randy will discuss his own conversion to the Catholic Faith in 2006, provide practical advice on how to integrate the Catholic faith with work, and offer inspiration through examples of real life Catholics in the workplace.  He will also sign copies of his book.  Books will be available for purchase through the Trinity Book Shop.  Tuesday, August 21, 6 to 8 p.m. There is no charge. For more information or to register visit www.ignatiushouse.org or call Sharon at 404-255-0503.

11. Mindful Eating returns for a fifth season.  Every other Wednesday evening, August 22 through November 28 (8 sessions ), 6:30-9 p.m, at Amerson House Spirituality Center.  Led by spiritual director Kimberly Broerman and local chef Tamie Cook, participants come together around the dinner table to read and dialogue, study, and eat their way into deeper awareness and gratitude for the food we eat and the connections that sustain us. Participants explore different themes each session and are invited to make life-giving changes in the ways they acquire, prepare, and enjoy their food. Think of it as a book club, cooking class, support group, and supper club all rolled into one!  Some previous participants dubbed it “food church" where the body, mind, and soul all get fed. Contact Kimberly at mailto:[e-mail]" href="mailto:[e-mail]"">[e-mail] or 404-275-3328 for more information.

12. I became familiar with My Name is Asher Lev, a novel by  Chaim Potok, American author and rabbi, when my children read it in highschool. The conflict between individualism and the community of religious faith is a valuable topic for study in our world today. The stage adaption of this coming-of-age story exploring art, family, and religion will be at the Theatrical Outfit August 22 – September 16.  For tickets call 1-877-725-8849 or buy online . 

 13. Put your dancing skills at work and join More Than Conquerors, Inc. for a back to school Zumba Fitness® marathon to support drop-out prevention. The MATURE Plus Project of More Than Conquerors, Inc. provides youth development activities, services, and training for youth ages 14-19. The goal is to empower youth to succeed by utilizing the proven “success sequence” of Education, Employment, Marriage, and then Children. ZUMBATHON® is Friday evening, August 24, 6:30-9:00 p.m. at The Community Achievement Center, 4522 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur 30034, 404-214-7400. The cost is $15 for adults 18 and older and $10 for students age 10-17. All proceeds will benefit More Than Conquerors, Inc. youth development services. Please call Ms. Flip for your ticket at 770-483-3299.

14. Dr. David Greenland will discuss "Geographies of the Middle East" from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, August  25, at St. Bede's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, in a program sponsored by the Diocese of Atlanta Institute for Ministry and Theological Education. All are welcome. Greenland is a retired professor of geography. He will cover some of the older civilizations, spending more time on the empires after the time of Christ.  He will examine geographical aspects of the three great monotheistic religions that have arisen in the Middle East and consider the ways in which the current Middle Eastern nations came into being . He will conclude with discussion on what he considers to be "some important issues for the future of the Middle East." Registration is $35.  For more information and to register, click here. 

15. An invitation to all Presbyterian women from Presbyterian Women of Greater Atlanta  to a Fall Workshop on Saturday, August 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, 800 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville 30046. Topics include Leadership, Kenyan Women Update, Celebration Giving, Bible Study Overview, Treasurer 101, and PW Manual Review. Please call to R.s.v.p., church number is 770-963-9498, number for Mary Bullock is 678-423-0233, Jo Ann Nelson is at 404-791-3679.

16. The American Red Cross is pleased to present Reconnection Workshops, Presented by Walmart, for our country’s service men and women, their families and loved ones. The goal is to support and ease the transition home with workshops that enhance the likelihood of positive reconnections among family members and the successful re-engagement of the service member in civilian life. The workshops assist all impacted by a military deployment bridging all branches of the Armed Forces. Reserve, National Guard, active duty service members, veterans and their families, including spouses, parents, siblings and significant others, are invited to participate. Read about the available workshops and find out more in   this brochure.To register for one or all of these valuable workshops, please email your name, city/state and which workshop you are interested in attending to [e-mail].

17. Emory University’s Candler School of Theology and The General Theological Seminary (GTS) are offering a new joint continuing education program in peacebuilding and conflict transformation Jan. 9-12, 2013, on the GTS campus in New York. Practical Peacebuilding: Skills and Spiritual Practices for Conflict Transformation is an ecumenical program designed for clergy, other church leaders, and anyone interested in learning practical skills in conflict transformation. Continuing education units are available, and online registration is now open. “Conflict is simmering within our congregations and communities, yet it can be the catalyst for positive change,” says Jan Love, dean of Candler. “ Practical Peacebuilding is the first collaborative education program of the Candler-GTS partnership, which also includes the sharing of library resources and the exchange of both students and faculty members. Learn more about Practical Peacebuilding and register.

18. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs HomeSafe Georgia program is part of the Hardest Hit Fund® program - $330 million to help Georgia homeowners who have experienced a substantial decrease in income due to job loss or underemployment by providing a mortgage payment bridge while they seek new or better employment. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs under contract with Georgia Housing and Finance Authority’s GHFA Affordable Housing, Inc. will administer Georgia’s program, as HomeSafe Georgia. This is a program that may help some of your congregants and members.  For more information about the program you can go to  www.homesafegeorgia.com   

 19. At Amos Art Academy the arts are used to create a Biblical world view while teaching a craft.  Amos Art Academy offers photography, painting, pottery, print making, comic book making, and other visual arts.  Professional artists serve as both teachers and positive Christian role models, engaging students in lessons that blend visual arts history, and instruction with character-building biblical principles while encouraging self-expression.  The classes are taught in your location and the teacher and art supplies are provided by the academy.  Please contact Richard Franklin, Director [e-mail] or 770-596-0940 to learn more about classes and scheduling.  http://www.atlantayouthproject.org/AmosArts.html

20. In the first half of last year over 5000 children were placed in foster care when their undocumented parents were deported despite available family care for many of them. The Episcopal Church  is committed to creating fair and humane immigration policies, believing that enforcement of immigration laws should respect human rights, and treat immigrants with dignity. Children and families should not be forced to live in fear or face permanent separation due to our broken immigration system. Here is an opportunity to speak on this issue. Follow this  link Stand with immigrant children and families and ask your Representative to join you- ask your representative to cosponsor the Help Separated Families Act.

21. Read a reflection by Dwight Moody, Academy of Preachers, on a young preacher’s experience encountering a youth camper who stated that he did not believe in God  hereIf you have a young person in mind who is called to preach be sure to help them get registered for the January 2013 National Festival of Young Preachers in Atlanta. Many of the participants will be preaching their very first sermon. Registrations are ahead of last year. Read more

Go to www.rccatl.org  for a slide show of member churches, featured articles, Community Events calendar, past eNewsletters,  membership information, and other resources.

 

 Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

404-538-0246

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