Church Action eNewsletter Week of Sept. 22, 2014

[RCCAtl]

 

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

   Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta 

Weekly Church Action eNewsletter

Week of September 22, 2014

 

It is exciting that our state has Sunday voting for the first time ever.  It's one thing we can all agree on and can do together with neighboring churches.  Let's make casting a ballot a community celebration. Remind your people to register to vote. Here are three reasons to emphasize this responsibility and opportunity.

• ·         First, it speaks to the idea of our church being involved in what's going on locally — a value that we hold dear and believe important.
• ·         Second, it dovetails nicely with a non-partisan approach and the idea that political involvement — of all stripes — gives us a voice in important decisions that affect our lives and those of our families.
• ·         Third, we realize that we have incredible power and responsibility to participate in civic functioning. Voting gives individuals the right to complain! ;). Plus, it is stewardship season, and voting is a big way we determine what is most important. Visit our website for a sample email, a bulletin insert you might use this Sunday and next, and a list of early voting locations.

1. St. Johns Apostolic Church in Tucker is sponsoring a Men's Prostate Awareness Walk, cookout, and time of fellowship, Saturday, September 27, at Peters Park, 1852 Clark Dr., Tucker.  Registration: $20 for men; $10 for women. Proceeds will benefit The American Cancer Society & St. John Church Outreach Ministry.  Registration information is available by email at [e-mail].

 

2. With Loving Concern –Medicine Knows No Religious Boundaries: A Joint Meeting with the Interfaith Community of Clarkston, Christ Community AME Church, 4145 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Clarkston, is Sunday, Sept. 28, 3 p.m. If you plan to come please R.s.v.p. to [e-mail] to help with meal planning.

3. The Rev. Sarah Jackson Shelton, pastor of the Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, will preach Sept. 28 on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace. Her sermon, based on the story in Exodus 17:1-7 of the Israelites quarreling with Moses because there was no water, is entitled “Is the Lord with Us or Not?” Find your station or view on line at day1.org.

4. There is a time change for the Concert of Pipe Organ and Piano Music presented by Alice Walker and Becky Ramsey on Sunday, September 28. The concert will be at 3 p.m. at Covington First UMC. The concert is sponsored by the Newton County Arts Association and is free.

5. Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church, 1150 Jefferson Avenue in East Point, is hosting the 30th Annual Combined Choirs Concert, Sunday September 28, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  This concert will feature the Sanctuary Choirs from Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Hapeville and a number of additional singers from some of the churches who used to be a part of this event.  The four original Ministers of Music will be directing this 30th and final concert.  They are Darwin Caldwell, Reed Benson, Steve Jett and David Williamson.  The public is invited; the event is free.  If you need additional information, call Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church at [phone].

6. The Center for Black Women’s Wellness, the City of Atlanta, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority invites women to the annual Breast Health Community Forum, Wednesdays, October 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Rosel Fann Recreation Center,365 Cleveland Avenue, S.E. Atlanta 30354.  This free forum features an expert on the topic Dr. Sheri Prentiss and a special guest performance by Jazz Contralto Anita Canada. This event is for professionals, survivors, caregivers, advocates, and the entire community. For more information, call [phone] ext. 110

7. Cobb County Donation Drive Oct. 4, Simple Needs appreciates the donations they have received lately to help the families who went through fires. They continue to need small items to have on hand for those situations. See donation page in case you’d like to help out at this time. Donations will be collected Saturday, October 4, from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the warehouse space. Please email [e-mail] for the address.

8. The Seedtime and Harvest Greenhouse and Gardens at Holy Comforter Church, 737 Woodland Ave. SE, Atlanta, is holding its last Plant Sale of the season Saturday, October 4, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. October is the best month for planting trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and fall annuals and vegetables. They have a great selection. If you're thinking ahead to Christmas, there are amaryllis and unusual indoor plants. As always, all is organic. (The 2015 schedule is on website -holycomforter.episcopalatlanta.org)  Come and welcome fall!

9. Many people describe feeling closest to God in nature. Fall Mini-Retreat, on the feast day of Saint Francis, guided reflection, time to pray, listen, and be guided by nature, picnic lunch, and conversation.  Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Yellow River Park, 3232 Juhan Road, Stone Mountain 30087. Investment: $25 (includes lunch.) Amerson House Spirituality Center.   Email Kimberly to sign up.

10. Oktoberfest 2014 hosted by Holy Trinity, Marietta, the 6th year of this safe and inexpensive day of fun and fellowship to encourage community support of the MUST Ministries Food Pantry. Participants are asked to donate nonperishable food in lieu of the $4.00 admission. Click here for information about the October 4 event. To learn about MUST Ministries, click here.

11. The magic of Flannery O'Connor continues. Yes, we have another opportunity to hear the Aquinas Center lecture of Bryan Giemza, "Flannery O'Connor with Her Irish Up". Oct 6. Tickets The good news is that the venue is an intimate one with about 120 seats with parking on the side of the building. Directions The location for the auditorium is the uppermost floor of the Oxford Road Building. If you wish to switch from Tuesday to Monday night, please let them know.

12. A reminder that award-winning journalist and author Eyal Press will present the inaugural lecture hosted by the James T. and Berta R. Laney Legacy in Moral Leadership. “Beautiful Souls: The Courage and Conscience of Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times,” will be Thursday, October 9 at 3 p.m. in room 252 of the Rita Anne Rollins Building, Emory. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  Register here.   Press’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Nation, and the Raritan Review. He is a past recipient of the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism.

13. National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward and Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey in conversation at First Baptist Church Decatur on Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 p.m., discussing their writing influences, in particular, how life on the Gulf Coast pre-and post-Hurricane Katrina shaped their work. This event is sponsored by the Georgia Center for the Book and hosted by Conversations at First Baptist. No tickets or reservations are required.

14. No registration is required for the Oct. 9 "Life Sentence", performance at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2461 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta.  This production chronicles the story of Clarence Harrison, the first wrongfully convicted person to be freed from prison thanks to the efforts of the Georgia Innocence Project.   Musicians Melanie Hammet and Ben Holst wrote the music for their album, "Life:20/20" to raise funds and awareness for Georgia Innocence Project.  This performance will feature music from their album and Clarence Harrison will share his inspirational journey. Suggested donation is $15.00.   Reception will follow performance.   For more information, contact Karen Turney, [e-mail].

 

15. New Life Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 4th Annual Cancer Awareness Weekend including a Golf Tournament on October 10; Walk & Gospel Jazz Concert on October 11, and special worship service Oct 12 at 10:30am featuring  guest speaker Jocelyn Dorsey, WSB-TV - Director of Editorial & Public Affairs, Executive Producer and Host of “People 2 People.” Events will be at the church located at 6600 Old National Hwy, College Park. For information visit www.newlifepresatl.com or call 770-996-7159. Proceeds will benefit “Sisters by Choice Foundation” and St. Jude Children’s Research. Rev. Billy Honor is the pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church. All the details are on our website.

16. Atlanta Music Festival Concert, Friday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m., African American Concert Music with Dwight Andrews. Atlanta’s First Congregational Church, Meridian Herald, and Emory University present the 2014 Atlanta Music Festival Concert: Songs of Aspiration, Hope and Progress, October 10, 4:00 PM in the sanctuary of First Congregational Church, 105 Courtland Street NE. Admission is free. Free and paid parking is available. Read more>>

17. Sweet Auburn Churches will host an Election Forum, Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Wheat Street Baptist Church, 359 Auburn Ave.  Moderators will be Dr. Joanna Adams, experienced Presbytery minister and interfaith activist, and Mary Pat Hector, 16-year-old National Youth Director.

 

18. Freedom from Fibroids Women’s Health Seminar, October 11, at Higher Living Christian Church, 2455 Mount Carmel Road, Hampton 30228. Lunch, presentation, Zumba class; registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Call 678-861-7787 to reserve a place.

19. Senior adults in the community are invited to the 2014 Senior Adult Fun Day, “Say Hello to Broadway,” on Thursday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Roswell UMC fellowship hall. The church’s senior adult choir, Prime Time Singers, will offer a program of famous Broadway songs. Bingo with tons of prizes follows the meal ($7). Register by Oct. 9: Rachel Turner, [e-mail] or [phone].  RUMC is located in the Heart of Historic Roswell at 814 Mimosa Blvd.

20. Topics have been announced for Caring for the Care Giver: Celebration of Spiritual Care Week, October 21-23, hosted by the Chaplain Service of the Atlanta VA Medical Center. Find out everything you need to know at RCCAtl.org

21. North Fulton County Symposium Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) and Cyber Safety, Thursday, October 23, 7- 9:00 p.m., Hosted by Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 10250 Haynes Bridge Road, Johns Creek 30022.  Presented free of charge and open to the public. Click here for additional information

22. Save the date for the 11th Annual Woodall Lecture. All Saints’ Church, 634 West Peachtree Street, will welcome Dr. Dwight D. Andrews (Associate Professor of Music Theory and African American Music at Emory University and Senior Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta) and musical colleagues to feed our spirits with "Jazz, Spirituality, and the Church" Thursday, November 6, 2014, 7:00 p.m. in the church. Lecture and post-lecture dessert reception free and open to the public.  No registration required.

23. It is time for flu vaccines. The CDC reports that flu costs the U.S. more than $87 billion annually, including an estimated $10.4 billion a year in direct medical expenses and an additional $16.3 billion in lost earnings annually. Over 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized for flu each year.  Vaccination is the single best way to prevent the flu. Did you know that a vaccine affective for the 4 strains of influenza is now available for 2-49 year olds in a nasal mist? Babies, children, teenagers, and adults should be vaccinated. Your doctor’s office, public health departments, and many pharmacies offer flu vaccines.

24. Georgia Cares created as an initiative of the Governor’s Office for Children and Families is  now an independent, non-profit organization and the single, statewide coordinating agency to connect services and treatment care for victims of child sex trafficking.  Visit the new website.

Join us in welcoming new pastors to congregations all over the region.

 

The Rev. Christopher R. Hermansen, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Suwanee.

The Rev. David Armstrong-Reiner, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Conyers.

The Rev. J. Erik Allen, Christ the King Lutheran, Cumming.

The Rev. Tony Sundermeier, First Presbyterian Atlanta

The Rev. Licia Affer, Saint Anne's Episcopal, Atlanta.

The Rev. Jane Weston, St. Simon’s Episcopal Church,  St. Simon's Episcopal Church, Conyers.

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

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