Church Action eNewsletter Week of August 12, 2024

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone. 

1. “The Student Body,” a play for teens and their adults by Dr. Aaron Levy, professor of English at Kennesaw State, co-produced by Destination Theatre, and directed by Megan Cramer, Director of Fine Arts at The Galloway School, continues this Friday and Saturday at Galloway’s Chaddick Theater. See The Student Body — DESTINATION THEATREfor times and tickets. The Saturday, August 17, 2 p.m. matinee will feature an interfaith talk back after the show that will explore insights and wisdom from several faith traditions. Ethel Ware Carter of the Regional Council of Churches, the Rev. Donavan Pinner from Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Justin Milrad from the Blue Dove Foundation are on the panel. Please reach out to me if you have questions or concerns. We hope to see you at a performance.
2. NAMI Cobb Education Series presents Charlett Harris speaking on self care for care givers. This is free community event, Thursday, August 15, 7-8:30 -.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Marietta, 189 Church Street, Marietta 30060.
3. Dr. Munther Isaac, Palestinian Christian pastor and dean of Bethlehem Bible College, is in the Atlanta area from August 16-17.

Community Table Lunch, 12-1:30 p.m., Friday, August 26, this event is intended for local activists, church leaders, educators, and pastors. Join Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac for a shared meal at Decatur Presbyterian Church, 205 Sycamore Street, Decatur 30030. RSVP required

Q&A hosted by Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Atlanta Chapter, Friday, August 16, 7 p.m. Come learn from Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac at St Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2045 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta 30307. Purchase ticket on PCRF website

Sips & Stories with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Saturday, August 17, 9-11:30 a.m., Have a warm beverage and tasty treats and share in casual conversation with Munther Isaac about Palestinian Christians, Palestine, and Gaza at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, 4480 Peachtree Corners Cir, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. RSVP required

4. From the Jung Society: “Ego-death and Evolution: a Wider Perspective on Individuation and Psychospiritual Rebirth” with Keiron Le Grice, PhD, Zoom online lecture, August 17, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. This talk will consider the possible relationship between the depths of individual inner transformation and the process of evolution at the cultural, psychological, cosmological, and spiritual/metaphysical levels. It will present a larger view of individuation as something more than an exclusively personal journey of transformation and growth. For more and to register, go to jungatlanta.com. The Carl Jung Society of Atlanta provides workshops and lectures for mental health professionals and anyone interested in the body of thought derived from the work of C.G. Jung.
5.  The Rev. Scott Hoezee, Calvin Theological Seminary, is the featured preacher Aug. 18 on “Day 1” with host Katie Givens Kime, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org.  “Real Food,” is drawn from the declaration of Jesus that he is the living bread from heaven found in John 6. Hoezee explores what would have been a shocking statement to those surrounding Jesus. “A lot of the time the sacrament has about all the wonder of making out a grocery list,” he says. “What we need is to be stretched, to be pushed out of our comfort zone, to be shaken out of our complacency so as to see again the radical nature of faith and of the union with Christ it makes possible by the grace of God.” Hear it in Atlanta on WSB 95.5 and 750 AM Sundays at 7:05 a.m.  For more information visit day1.org.   

6. Congregation Chai, Eatonton, series continues “Judaism's Gifts to the World: How Major Jewish Ideas Evolved Into Universal Values,” Wednesday, August 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., The Reynolds Landing Pool Clubhouse. Register at https://chabadruralgeorgia.com/gifts. Reynolds non-residents, please request a gate pass by phone/text at 678 462 6868. For an intro and brief summary see https://www.myjli.com/index.html?task=courses_detail&cid=1101 . This series is presented free of charge by LOCC Chai and Chabad of Rural Georgia.  Rabbi Chaim Markovits will lead the discussion.
7. Music in the Horseshoe Garden at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3480 East Main Street, College Park 30337. Coming up next is Nero Simon and the Sunsetters on August 23, 7-8 p.m.
8. Join Sandy Springs Eco-Stewards in helping remove invasive species from this unusual old growth forest remnant, which still thrives despite being located near highly developed areas.  Saturday, Aug. 24, Chestnut Oak Ridge. For more information and to register click here 
9. “The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis,” Saturday, August 24, optional boxed supper ($10) at 6 p.m., Movie (free) begins at 7 p.m., Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. Come for dinner and a movie! Spanning C.S. Lewis’ bitter childhood, WWI, and his life-changing friendships at Oxford, the movie depicts the events that shaped his early life and journey from hard-boiled atheism to prolific Christianity. After the movie, you are invited to stick around for discussion. The movie (PG) runs 1 hr and 13 minutes. The entire event will end 8:30–9 p.m. Supper and free childcare (through age 12) are available by pre-registration only. We also ask that you register for the free viewing to ensure adequate seating. Registration is required for all options by Friday, August 16 to ensure space. Sign up now!Questions or need help registering? Email [e-mail].  
10. Morningside Sings! Final Performance! Saturday, August 24 at 7 p.m. All are invited to celebrate the tenth - and final year- of Morningside Sings! They’re revisiting songs of the past nine years - memorable favorites from Jerome Kern, Jule Styne, Stephen Schwartz, and more - while supporting the congregation’s music and mission ministries. Invite friends and neighbors to enjoy this free concert - one night only - Saturday, August 24 at 7:00 p.m. All donations go to Morningside Presbyterian's music ministries and to support mission partners. Donate Here!
11. African Gospel Celebration, a free concert and workshop followed by a reception at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Athens, Sunday August 25, 2-4 p.m. A free concert/workshop on African choruses and songs for the Athens community, the event will introduce a free web resource with sheet music based on the oral traditions of Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Reception to follow with culturally relevant dishes. 1065 Gaines School Rd, Athens 30605.
12. Join Faith in Public Life for a town hall on the state of comprehensive reproductive healthcare in Georgia on August 29 from 9 -11 a.m. in Atlanta. They will be joined by state legislators and local policymakers from across the greater Atlanta area. Participants are invited to bring their questions and prepare to engage in meaningful dialogue. Breakfast and snacks will be provided. Location details will be provided upon registration. Register to reserve your spot at secure.everyaction.com/DtKmIViLJkeutULm5J4SXg2.
13. Ellen Koneck, Executive Director of Commonweal Magazine, will speak on August 29 at Christ the King Cathedralon the topic of young people leaving the church. Details about and registration for this free event can be found here. To learn a bit more about her and about her approach to young people, check out this article she wrote for “America Magazine” called "How Modern Technology Helped me Teach Theology to Uninterested Coll...."
14. “Christians Against Christian Nationalism," is part of the McComb Lecture Series at Northside Drive Baptist Church. On Sunday, September 8 at 4:00 p.m., Amanda Tyler, the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, will speak in the sanctuary. This is unique Baptist contribution to the national election-year conversation. Tickets are $15 and registration and more information is at northsidedrive.org.
15. Hundreds of women from all across the country who serve as pastors, preachers, teachers, faith based leaders, Christian educators, advocates, activists, ministers, scholars, professors, authors, psalmists, evangelists, chaplains, associate ministers, administrators and seminarians will gather to be spiritually renewed, refocused, revived and refreshed at the Women in Ministry Conference, Sept. 9-12. Registration is open at Conference Registration. Conference Hotel; Conference Schedule.
16. Registration is open for the 2024 Morgan Forum "When Translation Really Matters: Momentous Decisions in the History of the English Bible." This Thursday, September 19, event at Pitts Theological Library, Candler, Emory University, a celebration of and engagement with the library's J. Michael Morgan English Bible & Psalmody Collection, will feature a public screening of the documentary 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture. The day's program will include updates on and displays of the collection, presentations from this year's cohort of Morgan Fellows, and a panel discussion of the film, considering the issues in the church it highlights and current issues in Biblical translation. We hope to see you there! Learn more and register here
17. Women’s Spiritual Renewal Retreat Rest for the Weary September 20- 22, Lake Junaluska, NC. How can we rest at a time like this? WE CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO! If we want to be of service, we need to be healthy, centered, and clear on what is ours to do.  You are invited to come away for a time of rest, renewal, and nourishment. Join Kimberly Broerman and a community of women for prayer, reflection, time around the table and in nature, and searching conversation on staying in a balanced rhythm of spiritual rest and nourishment, not just when on retreat, but in busy lives.  Click here for more details, or email Kimberly.