Church Action eNewsletter Week of December 10, 2012

[RCCAtl]

  God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Underlined words are live links

 

Look on the right hand side of our website for lots of Advent resources and several online Advent calendars.

The National Festival of Young Preachers will be in Atlanta January 2-5, Registration has been full for a while and many people who are not young preachers are planning to be at the festival, too. Read more about who is coming>>  

 

1. Thirty-seventh annual Music of the Holidays presented by Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on December 15 and December 20 at 8 p.m., 435 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30308 Call 404-873-3365  to purchase tickets. This is an Atlanta holiday favorite with works old and new.   

2. “All I Want for Christmas,” a music, spoken word, and dramatic presentation  for the entire family brought to you by the Sunday School at Ben Hill United Methodist Church, 2099 Fairburn Road, Atlanta 30331, December 16, 1 p.m.

3. The choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Macon, will present "Gloria" by Antonio Vivaldi at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, at the church. The performance will include other Advent anthems and will be directed by Nadine Cheek, with Susan McDuffie at the organ. St. Paul’s, 753 College St,. Macon  31201

4. The Christmas Eve Lovefeast, with its lighted candles, is one of the most beautiful services in the Moravian Church. In recent years, it has made its way into the hearts of a few Baptists too! Come and join Northside Drive Baptist Church as the Youth and others lead in a service of simple Christmas joy. They will light beeswax candles, share sweet buns and coffee, hear stories of Christmas tradition, and sing favorite carols. Sunday, December 16, at 6 p.m.

5. Golden Bells of Atlanta will play at Douglasville First Presbyterian Church,  Monday, December 17, 7:30 p.m., 9190 Cambellton Street, Douglasville. This is Atlanta's premier community handbell choir comprised of ringers from all over the metro area. The concerts are noted for their musical variety.

 6.  More opportunities for those for whom Christmas holidays are difficult:

If you struggle during the holidays with sadness, loss and grief consider the  "Blue Christmas" service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta.  All are welcome.  more 

Embry Hills United Methodist Church, 3304 Henderson Mill Road, Chamblee, offers a special “Longest Night” service on December 20 at 7 p.m. in the Chapel. Parking is available in the rear lot. Come join in prayer, scripture, music, and Holy Communion worship re-affirming that God’s presence comforts those who mourn and strengthens those who struggle. God’s light overcomes any darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome. The service will be followed by light refreshments and fellowship.

7. Bach’s Magnificat in D, Jauchzet Gott in Allen Landen,  Brandenburg Concerto, No. 2 featuring The Choir of St. Benedict's and the Kazanetti Chamber Orchestra, Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Benedict's Episcopal Church,  2160 Cooper Lake Road, Smyrna  30080. Donations Graciously Accepted . Find out more at www.MySaintB.org

 

8. "A Mouse Christmas," a family musical, will be performed by the Nativity Players on at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Fayetteville, 130 Antioch Road, Fayetteville 30215. The musical is was an adaptation of the Christmas story told from a mouse-eye perspective. A mouse family accompanies Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and witnesses the birth of Christ. All are welcome. more

9. A Live Nativity that began as a thanksgiving for a life saved has evolved into a gift to the wider community from St. Teresa's Episcopal Church in Acworth. The Nativity presentation, Dec. 21 and 22, will repeat every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. After each 30-minute presentation visitors will be invited inside the church and treated to hot chocolate and cookies.  A free community choir performance of excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah” will be held on the second night of the Live Nativity, Dec. 22, at 7 p.m.  Read about it here. 

10. Celebrating the power of hope, “One Christmas Story” from Odyssey Networks will be aired on CBS without commercials starting at 11:35 p.m. Christmas Eve. Like so many of America’s once bustling industrial centers, Reading, PA, has been on a downward spiral for decades. The city has lost factories, jobs and population. The latest economic recession amplified its burdens. Something that Reading has never lost, however, is hope—hope and an abiding belief in the power of community. ONE CHRISTMAS STORY: People Rich in Spirit takes viewers to the heart of this small American city for a celebration that reflects the true meaning of the holiday season—hope and caring. More information here: http://odysseynetworks.org/OneChristmasStory

11. Truthville Theater presents Faith Without Fear, Wednesday December 26, 8:00 p.m. The location is the Hyatt Regency, 265 Peachtree, in Atlanta, Georgia. The AME Zion Church invites you to a family-friendly, after-Holiday play. The community is welcomed as the church opens the exciting annual Christian training and development conference. There is no admission fee for the play. Donations will be accepted. For more information, please call [phone] or send an email to [e-mail].

12. Blood supplies drop during the holidays and I wanted to let you know of an Atlanta American Red Cross  blood drive at the Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, December 27   11 a.m. - 5 p.m.  All presenting donors will receive free admission to the Center for themselves and a guest, free American Red Cross soup bowl, and be entered into a drawing for an iPad2 and other prizes. To schedule an appointment go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: arcboard or call 1-800-RED-CROSS

13. First Presbyterian Youth present  " Footloose the Musical, "  Thursday, January 3 at 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, January 4 and 5, at 7:30 p.m. There will be a matinee on January 6 a6 3. Tickets are $12 at the door.

14. NAMI FDL, (National Alliance on Mental Illness, Forsyth Dawson Lumpkin,)  will be starting a new Family-to-Family Course in Cumming on Sundays beginning on Sundays January 13. This is a free educational course suitable for parents, siblings, spouses, adult children, and significant others who are caregivers of adult individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), borderline personality disorder, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and co-occurring brain and addictive disorders. This class entails an 11-week commitment to the series; each week’s topic is different. All classes fit together to form a better understanding of brain disorders and help participants learn to cope more effectively with the burden of mental illness. A follow up study shows after attending the class, family members and friends are empowered and become a positive influence with recovery.  The classes will be from 4:00 to 6:30 pm, January 13 through March 24. If you are interested, please contact Ovie Hughie at [e-mail] or blocked::tel:[phone]" href="tel:[phone]" target="_blank""... .  blocked::http://www.namifdl.org/" href="http://www.namifdl.org/" target="_blank"">www.namifdl.org

15. Faith and Family Night at the Atlanta Hawks featuring a free post-game Christian concert with the band Family Force 5. Discounted tickets are offered for the Hawks game with the San Antonio Spurs, Saturday, January 19, 7 p.m., for this special night – fun for a youth group, a senior group, or the whole congregation.  To purchase tickets, or if you have any questions, please contact Ryan Coller at 404-878-3714 or by email at [e-mail]

16. Learn Spanish, Learn Culture! The Latin American Association offers a unique language learning experience that focuses on fluency and uses experienced and highly trained teachers. In both Spanish and English classes, an environment is created in which students are comfortable and excited to learn. LAA is the only institution that offers the unique experience of Intercambio (Interchange)— an interaction between Spanish and English students. This is a great way to increase fluency and learn from someone and help them learn as well. Registration is currently underway for the January session. Learn more or sign up today for Saturday or Week Day Classes Spanish classes!   Feel free to contact Lana Gavrilov at [e-mail] with any questions about registration of classes or stop by the offices, 2750 Buford Hwy., Atlanta 30324.

17. Phillip Thompson’s new book is “Returning to Reality: Thomas Merton’s Wisdom for a Technological World.”  Thompson, executive director of the Thomas Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory's Candler School of Theology, has examined the ideas of Catholic intellectuals engaged with science and technology for some time.The book is his answer to the rampant consumerism all around us, what he calls our "technological mentality" that ends up changing the way we live, even the way we think. Read the full story in Spirited Thinking »

18. Feeling down, depressed and stressed to the max? Spirit-Boost is just an App away! To access Spirit-Boost, download the 'Call on Faith' App on any any iphone, ipod, ipad, or IOS 4.0 device for inspirational messages that will uplift, revive and give a boost of spiritual nourishment.  

19. The Advent gift of prayer from a pastor in the SE Synod ELCA

20. Find out all about the Atlanta Prosperity Campaign from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Be prepared to help people in your congregation toward financial stability through free income tax preparation and financial literacy opportunities. 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

 404-201-6448

 [e-mail]  www.rccapilgrims.ning.com

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