Church Action eNewsletter -- May 9, 2011

[RCCAtl]

Reminder: Due to the April tornado recovery efforts the Georgia NLE tabletop exercise scheduled for May 19 has been cancelled. Please help us get this word out.

1. Men’s Night Out: Men Leading and Learning. Male parents, grandparents, guardians, relatives, mentors, and community members are invited to learn how to support male
students in Atlanta Public Schools. May 12, 6:00 p.m., The B.E.S.T. Academy, 1890 Donald L. Hollowell Pkwy., NW, Atlanta 30318. Facilitator will be: Dr. Gerald L. Durley. Complimentary Dinner. No Registration Required. Adult Event. For more information call 404-802-2733

2. Its play time again at Decatur First United Methodist Church! See Alfred Uhry’s ‘’Driving Miss Daisy’’ directed by member Melinda Mobley. Driving Miss Daisy is a poignant story of the lives, times, and relationships of three characters set in Atlanta between 1948 and 1976. Performances will be May 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and May 14 and 15 at 5:30 p.m. General admission tickets will be available at the door. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $10 for students. Tickets may also be purchased at the church office on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 1p.m. and at the door every night of the performance. You may also call the church office for tickets at 404 378-4541.

3. The auction benefiting Saint Mark United Methodist Church’s Missions ministries will be held one week later than previously announced. Plan to attend the first annual "Open Closets" on Friday, May 13, 7 -10 p.m., at The Jungle (2115 Faulkner Rd NE). The evening will be hosted by Bubba D. Licious with performances by Bubba, Wild Cherry Sucret, Amber Divine, Ginger Vitis, and Trashetta Galore. We’ll also have a silent auction and a live auction. Please consider donating something of value to be auctioned to support our Missions Program. Already donated items include: a Sicilian feast prepared and served by our own Beth LaRocca-Pitts; a year's worth of cakes from the Cake Daddy; an Xbox 360 with Guitar Hero; voice lessons; time at various vacation houses; Waterford Crystal; and more. Contact Phil Hulst, 404 784-3222,[e-mail], to donate.

4. Ben Hill United Methodist Church is holding its 3rd Annual Open Air Market Saturday May 14 from 9 am – 2 pm - Books, Crafts, Garage Items, Clothes, Food...you name it & you may see it and your neighbor too! Sponsored by Ben Hill UMC Jewels & Partners Ministry. Please contact Carrie Shipp with the Jewels & Partners Ministry at 404 343-2999 for vendor registration. Ben Hill UMC is located at 2099 Fairburn Road SW, Atlanta, 30331.

5. The 2nd Annual Drake Walk for Drake House will be held Saturday May 14 at 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Festival at the start/finish site features free food, drink, health screenings, chair massages, children’s hair cuts and other activities courtesy of 11+ local businesses. See TheDrakeHouse.org for information and registration. Bring your family, friends and neighbors for a walk through beautiful historic Roswell and help homeless mothers and their children get back on their feet. Start at Roswell United Methodist Church ~ corner of Magnolia and Mimosa.

6. The Mission Board of First Congregational Church invites you to a “Community Forum on The Issue of Sex Trafficking of Our Youth in Atlanta” sponsored by theAuburn Avenue Church Collaborative on May 14 from 9 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Continental Breakfast will be served. Parking available in First Congregational Church lot at 105 Courtland St., NE, Atlanta. For directions and more information: 404 659-6255. For email inquiries, contact Deacon Butler: [e-mail].

7. Boy Scout Troop 18. is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church Sunday, May 15, 8 a.m.-10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Come get the best pancakes in this part of the world. Adults: $6, seniors $4, children under 11, no charge. Glenn Memorial UMC is located at 1660 North Decatur Road NE, Atlanta 30307.

8. The Fine Arts Council at First Presbyterian Church presents Andrew Crawford, Metal Artist on Sunday, May 15. Join Andrew at his design - Nancy’s Garden Lamppost – outside of the Smith Building to hear from the artist and then travel by car to his Westside studio to see his artisans at work. Complete the tour with more conversation and light urban bites and wine. Tickets are available online or outside Fifield Hall. This special event is reserved for 50 people so reserve your space today! Cost $20. Tickets available by emailing Kate Breytspraak at [e-mail] online at FirstPres.org

9. Antioch Bible College Institute and Seminary announces summer schedule. May 16 – August 10, A Series of Seminars for Undergraduate and Graduate Students meeting at different locations in Georgia and Tennessee. Each series features a distinguished teacher. Visit ABBCIS or call 770-334-3946 for details.

10. Catholic Church of St. Ann offers ‘’Careerquest’’ on Tuesday evenings. Come build your confidence, skills, and refuel your job search. Next week, May 17, 6:30, Dick Fallon will speak on stress management. This session provides a step by step analysis of experiences leading up to stress in our lives and provides participants with proven techniques for putting them into their proper perspective. Dick Fallon is a time-proven professional, successful in management, consulting, and sales. The evenings feature networking, one-on-one resume reviews, and workshops. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge and dress is casual. See a schedule and get more information at St-ann.org


11. ‘’Living Out Justice: Partnering with the Poor’’ is the topic for a presentation at 2 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, sponsored by the Hispanic Ministry Commission. Sarah Junkin Woodard of the Center for Development in Central America will talk about “Building Lives and Sustainable Communities in Nicaragua.” All are welcome. For information contact Llewellyn Bell, [e-mail]

12. A reminder that early registration for the ‘’Hands Around the Hill Race to House the Homeless’’ sponsored by Central Presbyterian and the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception ends on May 20. This 5K run/Walk will be held on June 11; an 8 a.m. start is scheduled. The proceeds from the race will benefit the Central Night Shelter (which is operated by Central Presbyterian and the Shrine), a place of winter refuge for men finding themselves without shelter and Outreach Advocacy Center of Central Presbyterian Church. This organization serves the poor and homeless with a focus on moving towards self-sufficiency and permanent housing. Registration is online atActive.com. There will be no race day registration.

13. The Atlanta chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America presents a reunion concert in celebration of its 35th year at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church, 1070 Rice St. NW, Atlanta. Special guests will be the organization's Birmingham chapter, Eugene Brown, Wanda Nero Butler, and others.

14. On May 21, the Historic Friendship Baptist Church’s Forum Ministry with the Atlanta Urban League and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development will present ‘’Motivating & Stimulating African American Males in Gaining Access to the Workforce.’’ The keynote speakers are Mr.Melvin Everson, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and Ms. Nancy Flake Johnson, President/CEO of the Atlanta Urban League. The forum will be held in the Pastors Memorial Fellowship Hall at the church, 437 Mitchell Street, Atlanta 30313-1423 from 9 a.m. to noon. The forum program includes a panel discussion and small group career coaching sessions. Networking and light refreshments afterwards. This event is free of charge and open to the public. For additional information please contact the church at 404-688-0206 or [e-mail]. Information may also be found at FBCatlanta.org.

15. The members of the Glenn United Methodist Women are sponsoring a follow-up to the recent meeting with U.S. Attorney Sally Yates and Candler Dean Jan Love. Come Sunday afternoon, May 22 from 4 -5 in the Fellowship Hall to hear a representative from Street GRACE. Street GRACE is a movement of the faith based community in Atlanta to raise awareness of and combat the issues of child exploitation in Atlanta. Please join us as we learn how we can help. You can find more information on their website streetgrace.org.

16. Free Jazz Jam Concert Friday June 3 at Church of the Atonement, Sandy Springs. Atonement is hosting Lynn Wright and Friends for a free Jazz Jam concert, open to the public, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 3, 4945 High Point Road, located one block north of the intersection of Windsor Parkway and High Point Road. Coffee, dessert and a baby sitter is also free along with Lynn Wright on Piano; Stacey Houghton, Sax; Dave Back, Bass and Paul Vogier on the Drums. For more information please contact Judy Guard, 678-428-1196, [e-mail].

17. This June, AIB viewers will get a peek inside the classroom at The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy, a triple accredited Reform Jewish Day School, located in Atlanta. The weekly television series, ‘’A Taste of Judaism at The Davis Academy’’, showcases elementary and middle school classes, celebrations, and activities. A Taste of Judaism premieres on Monday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. Special encore presentations can be seen on Saturdays at 3 and Sundays at 5:30.

18. ‘’Arab-Israeli Coexistence in Jerusalem: What's Happening on the Ground?’’ Come hear Alan Freeman, Vice President of the Jerusalem Foundation, and Forsan Hussein, CEO of the Jerusalem International YMCA, discuss efforts in Jerusalem to foster understanding and peace in this beautiful, complex, and divided city. Wednesday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m., Carl E. Sanders Buckhead YMCA, 1160 Moores Mill Rd., NW More on Mr. Hussein
More on the Jerusalem Foundation Please R.s.v.p. or send questions to Tamara Serwer Caldas at [e-mail].

19. June 11 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at First Metropolitan Community Church of Atlanta, author and clergy person Chris Glaser will lead an exploration of "The Intersection of Spirituality and Sexuality." Glaser has written a dozen best-selling books, more than half dealing with this topic. His interactive workshops and retreats have been welcomed by hundreds of congregations, campuses, and communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, go to chrisglaser.com and also visit his blog. The event is open to the public but registration is requested. For more information or to register call 404-325-4143.

20. If a young woman in your congregation or community is facing breast cancer you will be interested in the Young Survival Coalition which offers help and programs. A Making Peace with Your Body Retreat will be held this Saturday. See more at Youngsurvival.org.

21. In the summer of 2012, residents will have the opportunity to vote on a penny sales tax to fund transportation projects in metro Atlanta. Your input is critical to help guide the Atlanta Regional Roundtable in developing the list of projects that would most benefit you and the entire region. If you would like to share your thoughts on the region’s transportation future spend five minutes on this survey.

22. We mentioned upcoming retreat and study opportunities at St. Mary’s in Sewanee last week. The Order of St. Helena, an Episcopal community in Augusta, has programs and opportunities scheduled throughout Eastertide. Topics include the Wisdom of the Psalms, the Wisdom of the Enneagram, and the Roman Experience. VisitOSH.org for information.

23. ‘’Best of the Christian Press Awards 2010’’ were announced April 29.
‘’Friends Journal’’ was honored with eight awards this year — for media review, critical review, poetry, seasonal article, cover art, and illustration. The Journal congratulates all the staff, volunteers, writers, poets, editors and artists — not to mention readers-- who made this possible! Here's the complete list of winners:
Awards. The journal.

24. Beulah Heights University Website has added an Accelerated 14 month/Saturdays Only MBA Degree to its list of degrees offered. The TRACS Accredited Program is designed to prepare you to be Kings and Queens in Ministry. Kings and Queens are the BUSINESS PEOPLE of the church who are equipped to help the church meet all its business and financial needs. Next cohort begins August 2011. Accepting applications now! To register for upcoming info session on May 31 at 6PM or a one-on-one via phone contact Monique Wilson at 404-695-1360 or [e-mail]

25. We recommend to you some Easter Season meditations on resurrection in daily life from Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries. Read them here.