Church Action eNewsletter Week of April 8, 2019

[RCCAtl]

Week of April 8, 2019
The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

There are so many opportunities for service, worship, education, enrichment, connection in the next few weeks. Take a look at the Community Event Calendar on our website and celebrate all the good things that people of faith are doing. www.RCCAtl.org. You will also find last week's edition on our home page www.rccatl.org.

1. Inspiritus (formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia) Faith Leaders Breakfast Wednesday, April 10, 9 to 11 a.m. Immigration and the Welcoming Church with a panel discussion with Bishop Julian Gordy (ELCA SE Synod) and Bishop Rob Wright (Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta), both strong advocates for immigrants and for social justice, to explore what it means to be the welcoming church. Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree St NE Atlanta 30308. Please R.s.v.p. today, Monday, April 8. View details and reply

2. The HHS Partnership Center is hosting a series of webinars to equip and engage faith communities on mental health issues. Part I: Mental Illness 101: What Are Co-Occurring Disorders? 12 p.m., Wed., April 10, register here

3. Several churches in Gainesville have a local Lenten tradition of holding weekly ecumenical gatherings of worship and fellowship over lunch. The weekly sessions this year focus on issues related to poverty in Hall County, Wednesday, April 10, the gathering is at Gainesville First UMC, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd, Gainesville 30506, more>>

4. The Afro-American Cultural Center and the Yale Alumni Association invite you to join in celebration of its 50th anniversary at First Congregational Church, 105 Courtland St NE, Atlanta. April 10, 6:30 – 8:15 p.m., activist, journalist, public theologian, and Yale School of Divinity graduate, Rahiel Tesfamariam will explore black America’s complex relationship with the American dream. Register at https://arise50thcelebration.eventbrite.com

5. Thriving in Ministry Program for clergy women of any denomination presented by the Center for Ministry at Millsaps College is accepting applications now. As folks consider applying for the program, they have a chance to hear more about it, ask questions of the program director, and connect with other interested women via two Digital Interest Meetings. Information on how to join these meetings via Zoom, Thursday, April 11, 3:30-4:30 p.m. CST and Monday, April 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST is here. Please share this information with your networks, and visit the website to learn more about this opportunity: www.centerforministry.com/thrivinginministry

6. The Aeolians of Oakwood University in Huntsville will be in concert at Grace Church, 431 Washington St, Gainesville, Friday, April 12, at 7:00 p.m. The concert is free and all are welcome! Since its 1946 inception, the choir has traveled widely, touching the hearts of young and old with their inspirational repertoire, from the Baroque era to the twentieth century. The Aeolians is an authoritative exponent of Negro spirituals and work songs which express the yearnings for freedom. They have won a host of awards. Grace Episcopal Church.

7. youthSpark 2019 Movers, Shakers, & Changemakers is Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m., Atlanta’s City Hall Atrium, an evening of celebration, including live performances, a silent and live auction. Visit the event website www.501auctions.com/youthSpark to see how you can get involved

8. If you have been waiting for more stable temperatures to plant your spring garden, the Seedtime & Harvest April Plant Sale at Holy Comforter is for you, 737 Woodland Ave. SE , Atlanta 30316; April 13, 10 to 2. Over 30 varieties of tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, and melons. Try a lilac bell pepper or a fiery hot little pepper called Datil; a Raspeberry Lyanna tomato or one of six basil varieties available. Perennial and annual flowers, indoor plants, strawberries, everbearing raspberries --all organically grown. Every purchase helps to provide a job for a gardener in the supported employment program.

9. The Amplify Decatur Music Festival, Saturday, April 13, downtown Decatur Square.
The line-up is amazing! Learn more here. Every dollar raised will go to Decatur Cooperative Ministry to help them prevent and alleviate homelessness in Decatur and DeKalb County. Last year, Amplify Decatur raised $40,000 for DCM. Buy a ticket here. Volunteer here.

10. The Rev. Dr. Steven Pierce, senior minister of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, is the featured preacher Palm Sunday, April 14, on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org. In Atlanta on News 95.5 and WSB 750 AM at 7:05 a.m. “Ain’t No Rock Gonna Shout for Me,” Pierce’s sermon for April 14, is based on the Palm Sunday story found in Luke 19:28-40. For more information, check the program’s website, http://day1.org.

10. Southern Folk Passion, Sunday, April 14, 4:00 p.m., the Church at Ponce and Highland, 1085 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta 30306. Free parking available in the deck behind the church. Passion Featuring Brenda Bynum, Timothy Miller, and the Meridian Chorale with Steven Darsey. An Atlanta tradition for a quarter of a century, Meridian Herald’s Southern Folk Passion features music drawn from Georgia’s famous 19th century tunebook, The Sacred Harp.

11. The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta invites people of all backgrounds to a Unity Gathering to remember the New Zealand victims from Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Mosque in Christchurch, to build our Beloved Community. Gather at Al-Farooq Masjid, 442 14th St. Atlanta, Sunday, April 14, at 4:00 p.m., one month since the tragedy. Leaders from Atlanta’s diverse faith communities will speak at the event. The media is welcome. For more information, contact Soumaya Khalifa at [phone].
12. The opening of “Inescapable: The Life and Legacy of Harry Houdini” at the Breman Museum is April 14, Read more>>

13. St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Sunday, April 14, 5 p.m., third annual Dreaming Together/Sonando Juntos pilgrimage walk with people who arrived in the U.S. by immigration, refugee process, or birth. This walk is a 1.5 mile spiritual journey past New American Pathways offices ending with Eucharist at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration office on Parklake Dr. Along the way, hear stories of our neighbors, pray, and read scripture. Any offering collected will go to St. Bede’s Welcoming Immigrants & Refugees fund which provides support to families with a member in ICE custody. 2601 Henderson Mill Rd, Atlanta 30345.

14. Choral Stations of the Cross, Good Friday, April 19, noon, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church,
followed by Good Friday Liturgy. Musical meditations taken from “Return to Me” by Taylor Scott Davis and Terry York are performed by St. Anne’s Adult Choir with Ann Moceyunas on cello and Julie McClatchey on piano. “A musical journey through the Stations of the Cross…[and] the text is intended to create a conversation between ancient scripture texts and current hard speech” (quotes from the composers). One of the most powerful examples of this is in the final section, ”No crying he makes,” which contrasts Jesus’ birth with his death by using the same imagery. Join in this unique opportunity and bring friends and family, 3098 St. Anne’s Lane, Atlanta 30327,( 404)237-5589.

15. “Lamb of God” a sacred work by Rob Gardner for choir and orchestra recounting the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, Friday, April 19, and Saturday April 20, 7:00 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 500 Norcross St. Roswell, 30075. No ticket necessary; free to the public.
16. “Founder of your religion, a powerful driving force to establish peace in our troubled world,” Religious Founders Day Peace Symposium with speakers from all major religions, April 20, 2 p.m., City of Light, 3125 Presidential Parkway, Atlanta 30340. Call [phone] if you have questions.
17. Shallowford Presbyterian Church will host a 3-week mindfulness class for new or experienced meditators, 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta 30345, Wednesdays, April 24, May 1, and May 8, 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. Cost is $50.00 per person for the series of three classes. Click to register here. Read more www.shallowford.org/mindfulness .
18. Lecture at Candler School of Theology, April 24. Teresa Morgan, professor of Graeco-Roman history at Oxford University and McDonald Visiting Distinguished Scholar at Candler, will give a lecture titled "Can Theology Talk to History?" Register here by April 16.
19. Find out about New Warrior Training Adventure, April 26-28, FDR State Park, Intensive exploration into values, restorative masculinity, connections with self and other men. 6 spots still available. Contact Jermaine Johnson [phone].

20. Join Bishop H. Julian Gordy, and fellow Lutherans and friends from across the synod on a pilgrimage to Montgomery, Saturday, April 27, to experience The Legacy Museum, and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice followed by a period of reflection and conversation with Bishop Gordy and members of the Equal Justice Initiative. Click here for information and registration.

21. 5th Annual Race for Empowerment supports the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Sunday, April 28 8:00 a.m. at Piedmont Park. Registration is $30. In person registration only at Packet Pickup and Race Day, April 26-28, is $35. Bring a friend, register a team of up to 5 for a group deal. Strollers welcome, please leave your dogs at home! Sign up.

22. Gene Editing, lecture and discussion with Dr. Paul Lewis, Mercer University, Monday, May 6, Lake Oconee Community Church, Lake Room, The Landing, 7 p.m., $5. Reservations open 1 p.m. April 5. CLICK HERE for more complete information.

23. Find out about Jazz Camp, June 3 – 7, at St. James Marietta, 161 Church Street, Marietta 30060, and the concert for family and friends on Friday evening of that week. https://www.stjamesmarietta.com/Jazz-Camp

24. We mention this early because it sold out right away last year. Join Ser Familia and Atlanta’s top Puerto Rican Chefs for a food, music and celebration experience to highlight their diverse heritage and culture. They will be joined by five award-winning chefs from Puerto Rico, June 9, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., The Battery at Suntrust Park in Atlanta. Space is limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. Buy your tickets today

25. The Beecken Center, with the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), invites clergy and lay spiritual caregivers of all faiths to take a disaster chaplaincy training on the campus in Sewanee, Tenn., July 15–17. Participants who complete this certification can volunteer in their own diocese or faith community, or with NDIN and its national partners. NDIN can assist unaffiliated volunteers in finding disaster spiritual care volunteer opportunities across the United States. Emergency managers and disaster mental health professionals may take this course to develop their knowledge of best practices in disaster spiritual care. Here is everything you need to know.

Remember that all events previously announced go into the Community Calendar on our website. Visit www.rccatl.org for the calendar, the Clergy Tool Box for Mental Health Ministry, and more.
Peace,
Ethel Ware Carter