Church Action eNewsletter Week of December 5, 2016

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

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Church Action eNewsletter Week of  December 5, 2016

 

 

We want to remind you again that all events from newsletters past can be found in the community events calendar on our website in chronological order. This time of year the opportunities for glorious music are plenteous. We also  know a few Blue  Christmas services are coming up. We usually only mention events once… so, check the calendar. 

 

1. You are invited to join in a viewing and discussion of Defying the Nazis: The Sharp’s War on Saturday, December 10 at 9:30 a.m., UU Congregation of Gwinnett, 12 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville 30044. Find out more about UU Congregation of Gwinnett here.

 

2. The Rev. Dr, Shawnthea Monroe is the featured preacher on Day 1, December 11, 3rd Sunday of Advent. "We may not see evidence yet of Mary's vision of the world, but these words she's singing have the power to generate a new reality. All we need is for enough people to join in the singing." Click here to download, stream, or read.     Find a station

 

3. St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 3098 St. Anne’s Lane, Atlanta 30327, will offer a special program at the adult formation hour, Sunday, Dec. 11, 9:15-10:15 a.m. Get acquainted with Jesus as a Jewish man of his time. Rabbi Hillel Norry will present The Jewish Life of Christ. Rabbi Norry has served as spiritual leader at Congregation Shaare Zedek on the Upper West Side NYC and as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta. A passionate teacher, he is widely recognized as a scholar, musician, and dynamic motivational speaker.

 

4.  “The Sounds of Christmas” at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, Sun., Dec. 11, at 4 p.m., a concert and sing along with choir and orchestra. The community is welcome to a free, professional concert right in the neighborhood, 2375 Shallowford Rd., Atlanta 30345. Guest soloist Timothy Miller, who sings the national anthem regularly at Braves’ games, joins in. Bring the family! Invite the neighbors! Sing along to your favorite carols and learn some new ones. All are welcome! Enjoy cider and cookies served after the concert. It’s a wonderful event for all ages. Visit shallowford.org or call [phone] for more information.

 

5. The mission of Trinity House is helping homeless men reclaim their lives and return to their families and communities as mentors and leaders. There will be an open house there this Sunday, Dec. 11, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Board. Staff, and residents would like to introduce their historic house and program to you. Come enjoy an afternoon of refreshments and a silent auction, 21 Bell Street,  Atlanta 30303. Call [phone] if you have questions.

 

6. Holy Cross Cathedral will celebrate the season with a Festival of Lessons and Carols December 11, at 5:00 p.m.  A holiday reception will follow.  All are invited!  Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral, 3836 Oak Grove Road, Loganville 30052.  For more information call [phone].

 

7. The Interfaith Children's Movement is offering training for people who want to become ICM Child Advocates.  The training will focus on preparing you to be effective in both personal advocacy and in involving others-especially faith communities and organizations, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 2089 N Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta 30307. The training is free. If you have questions or planning to attend, please reply by December 8 to [e-mail]. 

 

8. Wellsprings Worship on the second and fourth Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Atlanta Friends Meeting House, 701 W. Howard Street, Decatur. Dec. 13 is the next meeting. Join this gathering for a time of quiet stillness, singing and chanting, reflection with Scripture and other sacred texts, intimate prayer and conversation, and silent meditation in a contemplative space. 

 

9. Blue Christmas Worship, we may be anxious, sad, and blue for all sorts of reasons. Add to that the stress of the holidays where good cheer is supposed to be the order of the day. This annual service of scripture, reflection, a cappella music, prayers, and the lighting of Advent candles may be a welcomed respite, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m.in the chapel at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree, Atlanta. For more information contact the Rev. Kim Jackson at (404)267–4276 or [e-mail] . If you are interested in reading the prayers and the litany of remembrance, a bulletin from a service can be found at worship page here.   

 

10. The youth and children’s choirs of Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church will present

 The Power of the King!  a musical set on Christmas Eve at a 1970s radio station called K-I-N-G. When a major winter storm knocks out power and strands a bus carrying a children’s choir, events conspire to reveal some real Christmas spirit - the good news of the season. Come to the sanctuary, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 6:15 p.m., and hear the good news.

 

11. Atlanta-based Coro Vocati, Sunday, Dec. 18, 3:00 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree, Atlanta 30308. Coro Vocati serves as a master class for singers and an inspiration for audiences. Their Advent and Christmas program will be sure to brighten the holiday season. All tickets are general admission. Click here to purchase tickets.

 

12. Winter Solstice Meditation, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Central Congregational Church, 2676 Clairmont Rd, Atlanta 30329. Rev. Shannon Michael will lead a service of meditation and gentle movement. Service will begin in the Fellowship Hall for meditation on “the light in the darkness” and then go to the parking lot to luminarias to place in the woods. An R.s.v.p. is helpful, but not required: [e-mail]. 

 

13. Bishop Robert Wright, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, will teach a course at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Jan. 3-5, 2017. The Cross of Jesus: Holding Steady in Leadership. This course will surface synergies and strategies between the leadership practice and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth with special attention to His Cross and those of Adaptive Leadership as taught by Ronald Heifetz. Register for this class here.

 

14. Theology Matters courses at First Presbyterian of Atlanta, Wednesdays, 7-8:20 p.m. Starting in January Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things The Bible Doesn’t Say. January 11, 18, 25; February 1. Register here.

 

15. The Georgia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting 2 education trainings in early 2017—January 7, a one-hour Talk Saves Lives community-based presentation in Lawrenceville and February 18 a half-day safeTALK suicide alertness training in Powder Springs. Both are free of charge but online registration is required. All information is available at afsp.org.  Contact Chris Owens at [e-mail] or [phone] with questions.

 

16. NAMI DeKalb Peer to Peer is a free unique experiential learning program for people with mental illness who are interested in establishing and maintaining their recovery. It consists of ten two-hour units and is taught by a team of trained mentors who are personally experienced at living well with mental illness. Starts Tuesday, January 17, 2:00-4:00 p.m. To sign up call or email Crystal Gail [phone] or [e-mail].

 

17. From Standing Rock to Flint, many of today’s most pressing social issues revolve around water. Faith communities can help. Please note that the date for Trinity Institute 2017:Not Just Flint: Water Crises and Inequality in the United States has changed to February 4. If you have already replied but can no longer attend, please email [e-mail].  Register here.

 

Visit our website for a complete community calendar, links to the Toolbox  for Mental Health Ministry, websites for daily devotionals, and many other resources. We will be happy to include your announcements in an upcoming eNewsletter. Send them to [e-mail].

 

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

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