Church Action eNewsletter -- May 30, 2011

[RCCAtl]

Remember World Refugee Day coming up on June 20. Bulletin inserts for June 19, suggestions, and more resources are on our website at

RCCAtl.org

1. In honor of World Environment Day, please join EARTH University Foundation on Thursday, June 2 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Southface Eco Resource Center, 241 Pine Street NE, Atlanta 30308, for a complimentary screening of the environmental documentary, HOME. The breathtaking images will take you around the world, explaining its vulnerability to change in terms of human impact relating to agriculture, deforestation, and natural resources management. Be inspired to consider how you can be better stewards of our Earth. Complimentary food and beverages will be provided. R.s.v.p. to Tracie Driggs at [e-mail] or 404-995-1258

2. The Friendship Center's Seedtime & Harvest Gardening Program plant sale this Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., features Lychnis (rose campion) along with other great perennials, tarragon, moonvines, gorgeous hanging baskets, tomatoes, strawberries, and blackberries. Don’t miss the treats. You haven't lived until you've eaten a sweet potato fried pie! Holy Comforter Church, 737 Woodland Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

3. A Barbecue Festival, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 1795 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta 30062, will feature a 1 p.m. "Best Barbecue" judging by some bishops and raise funds for the summer camp program at Emmaus House. Visit EmmausHouse for more on this congregation.

4. The Living Room and AIDS Alliance for Faith and Health present We Remember... An Interfaith Memorial Service commemorating 30 years of HIV/AIDS. Saturday, June 4, 5:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 265 Washington Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Reception to follow. Please R.s.v.p. to [e-mail].

5. For the fifth straight year, Peachtree Corners Christian Church, Norcross, is taking Vacation Bible School “on the road” to some of the community’s children who will otherwise not likely have an opportunity to go to Bible School. During the week of June 6-10, volunteers from the church will host a full-fledged VBS at Norcross Cooperative Ministry in Norcross. For more information about this program, contact Rev. Kathy McDowell, Senior Pastor, Peachtree Corners Christian Church, [e-mail].

6. A retreat on spiritual healing for veterans and their spouses will be offered June 6-9 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers. It will be led by HealingVeterans.org, a ministry founded by a Vietnam veteran. For information contact Andy Farris, 770-597-5536, or [e-mail] Read more at HealingVeterans

7. Rent a space, sell your stuff, keep your cash at the St. Anne’s Episcopal Church Community yard Sale, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, June 11, at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 3098 St. Anne's Lane NW, Atlanta. Purchase a space for $30 (roughly the size of a parking space). Then, on Saturday, come and sell your stuff and keep all the cash you make. All proceeds from purchased booth spaces and donated items will benefit St. Anne's youth ministries. To reserve a space, donate items, or get more information, go to St.Annes or call Charles, 404-237-5589 x143.

8. Peachtree Corners Christian Church will celebrate its 25th Anniversary at the 11 a.m. worship service, Sunday, June 12, followed by a BBQ lunch. Worship will feature guest preacher Dr. Fred Craddock, Professor Emeritus of Preaching and New Testament in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Dr. Craddock was recently named as one of the “25 most influential pastors of the past 25 years” by Preaching Please go to RCCAtl.org and read all about Peachtree Corners Christian Church: A Shining Light for 25 Years. For lunch reservations, call 770 447-5475 and leave a message. For more information on the church, visit PCCC

9. Midway Missionary Baptist Celebrates its 22nd Church Anniversary on June 12. The guest speaker at 10 a.m. worship will be the Rev. Dr. Arthur Carson, Pastor of Springfield Baptist Church, Atlanta, and President of the New Era Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia. For information call 404-768-5648. Midway is located at 2280 Godby Road, College Park. The community is invited to join the congregation and Rev. Edward Reynolds and Rev. Judge Penny Brown Reynolds for this celebration.

10. Conference on Religion, Conflict, and Peace Building
Local Peace Building and Religion: Context, Practices, and Models
This year’s conference will focus upon application within specific local and global contexts. It will include presentations from engaged academics, research-oriented practitioners, as well as grassroots activists whose work addresses a variety of issues involving religion and conflict, as well as modes, models, and best practices of religious peacebuilding. It will also feature internationally renowned plenary and panel speakers.
For details, see our website RCCAtl.org or visit Emory.edu
June 17-19, 2011, Emory Conference Center Hotel

10. You’re invited to attend an inaugural event, Saturday morning, June 18, for a newly-forming guild in Atlanta. Liturgical Artists Living Around Atlanta, or “LALAA,” invites artists of all types, from dancers to painters, musicians to weavers, to come network at its June 18 event. The group’s goal is to promote the use of the Arts in worship and provide a place for artists to get to know and encourage one another. The first goal is to provide a place for liturgical artists of all types to get together, exchange ideas, and encourage one another. Anyone with a talent to share or who is interested in encouraging the arts in worship, or would like to see what area artists have to offer their congregation is welcome. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta. More about LALAA can be found at LALAA or email [e-mail].

11. An Altar in the Kitchen: The Sacred Art of Cooking. Interactive workshops exploring how to approach time in the kitchen as holy work, as prayer and spiritual practice. Workshops include readings and reflection and then hands-on practice followed by sharing the meal together. Participants will leave with the readings and recipes, the fruits of creative labor, and a well-nourished body and soul. Find out about these monthly Saturday workshops starting June 18 led by Kimberly Broerman, Spiritual Director, by contacting Kimberly at at 404-275-3328 or [e-mail]

12. ‘’Impacting The Marketplace: Faith and Ethics Conference’’ with Chuck Colson, Friday, June 24, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at Turner Field’s 755 Club: Chuck Colson’s “Doing the Right Thing” and Alpha USA’s “Workplace Faith Gathering” conferences are combining to reach business people, pastors, students, and anyone else who is interested in encouraging a higher level of ethical behavior in our society! Click here for all the details and to register. Cost is only $25; pastors, church staff, and students are free, but still need to register. For more information, please [e-mail] or call Andrey Tsupruk at 224-588-8534.

13. A ‘’Celebrating Ignatian Spirituality’’ conference and a pre-conference day of reflection are planned June 24-26 at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Sandy Springs. The events are open to all people, especially spiritual directors, ministers, pastors and others interested in learning more about Ignatian spirituality.
Register

14. Teaching Spiritual Formation in the Congregation, Sunday, August 7- Friday, August 12, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur. Interest in spiritual formation is usually related to our individual lives. This course will explore many practical ways for building a community dedicated to spiritual formation by teaching spiritual formation in our congregations. The course will be experiential including prayer, small groups, individual reflection, and silence as well as presentations and discussion. You will begin your own teaching plan and have the opportunity to share your ideas with other participants so as to learn from one another. Registration information is atRegistration

15. ‘’Off the Beaten Path’’ presents the work of 28 contemporary artists from 24 countries, whose work addresses the issues of violence against women and girls around the world and their basic human rights to a safe and secure life. The project combines cutting-edge art with important social messaging and storytelling to help create awareness, inspiration, and address systems for positive social change and action. The goal is to help create a new conversation on the full spectrum of issues that surround this important topic. At the CDC Global Health Odyssey Museum, Atlanta, Georgia, June 6 – September 9, 2011. VirtualTour .

16. Conference for pastors coming up the end of August from Alban Institute—Nurturing a Healthy Spirit: Tending to the Holy will be held August 30– September 1 at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. Read all about this opportunity at Alban.org

17. From Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Are you at a point in your life journey when you are wondering what God might be inviting you to do in your career? Career Crossroads is a spiritual retreat that can help with difficult decisions. The next course will be September 9-11, 2011. For questions, contact the Region 9 office at 803-461-3263 or email [e-mail]. Register today, space is limited. The deadline for registrations is August 8. See CareerCrossroads

18. The Spiritual Lives of Children and Youth (Certificate in Spiritual Formation), Columbia Theological Seminary, September 15-18. This course explores how children and youth grow and dwell in faith at different ages and will offer helpful methods and resources for spiritual formation for ages 0-18 and beyond. Find registration and all the
Details

19. Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, a constituent of the Interdenominational Theological Center and one of the 10 official seminaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has elected eight members to its Board of Trustees and named Martin Lehfeldt as its new board president. Trustees from Atlanta include Sue Colussy, recently retired Director, Immigration Services, Catholic Charities of Atlanta; Rev. Cecelya Taylor, Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Decatur; Henry M. Quillian III, attorney with Taylor English Duma; and Roberto Young, Founder of One Touch Holding Company. New board chair Lehfeldt is an author, speaker, and consultant to foundations and nonprofit organizations who recently retired from the presidency of the Southeastern Council of Foundations. He is an Elder of Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta.
20. Are you a lay person who wants to know more about Jesus and the many ways you can serve God's people? Are you a pastor interested in earning continuing education units? Are you a ministerial candidate or thinking of becoming one? Then the ‘’ITC Certificate in Theology Program’’ may be just what you need. Cascade UMC is now a Host Site for this program. For a nominal fee per course, you will attend eight courses over an 8-month period and increase your knowledge of the Bible, the church, and ways to serve. Courses are taught by ITC professors. Classes begin in August, but you must register early. If you are interested in learning more or getting registered contact Lillie Robbins at 404-758-5897, [e-mail], or Rev. Dr. Elaine Crawford at 404-691-5770, [e-mail].