Church Action eNewsletter Week of February 15, 2016

[RCCAtl]

 

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Church Action eNewsletter Week of February 15, 2016

Ash Wednesday

 

1. Thirty Seconds or Less is the world’s shortest podcast, a flash mob of ideas, hundreds of voices exploring each book of the Bible with reflections on the good news they contain.  If you can’t say it in thirty seconds, you’re probably not ready to say it at all. Thirty Seconds or Less is a daily project with over 800 episodes from over 250 Christians claiming the Bible as a book they know and love. ThirtySecondsOrLess.net/30SecondBible

 

2. The Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary is hosting an exhibit, Witness to Faith: The Biblical Art of Sadao Watanabe, featuring original works of graphic art by Japan's foremost Christian artist of the 20th century, now through April 25, Harrington Center, Columbia Seminary, 701 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur. Open to the public during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. Arrangements to view the exhibit at other times may be made by contacting the center at [phone] or [e-mail].

 

3. St. James' Episcopal Church in Marietta offers family suppers, followed by an adult book study starting on February 17. The series will last for five Wednesdays. A light supper will be served at 6 p.m. and the book program will last from 6:30 - 7:30. Children's activities are planned. People from outside of the parish are welcome. Please contact Sharon Whelan at [e-mail] to register or for more information. 

 

4. Aquinas Center Year of Mercy program, Religious Persecution Panel, with world-class speakers from the United States Commission on Religious Freedom and from four different faiths—Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, and Sikh— who will explore how we can seek to end the insanity of religious persecution in the world today. The Aquinas Center is partnering in this event with the Catholic Student Union at Emory who created and developed this event. February 18, 7:00 p.m., Woodruff Health Sciences Center Administration Building Auditorium, 1440 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta 30307. For more information and to indicate you are going visit here.

 

5. The Rev. Christopher Girata, rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis, is the featured preacher on Day 1 this week, Sunday, Feb. 21. His sermon for the 2nd Sunday in Lent is based on Luke 13:31-35 and entitled "Your Prophetic Voice." Find your local station and read or hear the sermon on Day1.org.

6. Temple Emanu-El, Spaulding Drive, Atlanta, is holding three Interfaith Dialogues. Last week Bishop David Talley, the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, spoke.  Dr. Robert N. Nash, the Interim Dean and Arnall-Mann- Thomasson Professor of Missions and World Religions of the MacAfee School of Theology, will speak Thursday, February 18, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.  Director of Interfaith Affairs at the Atlantic Institute, Kemal Korucu will be speak Thursday, Feb. 25, 7:00- 8:30 p.m. To Rs.v.p. or to inquire about these dialogues, email [e-mail].

 

7. The Jung Society of Atlanta presents a lecture, “Big Dreams, Religion, Science, and Jung’s Theory of Highly Memorable Dreams,” by Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D., at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3003 Howell Mill Rd., NW, Atlanta 30327, on Friday evening, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.  Dr. Bulkeley is a Visiting Scholar at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California and Director of the Sleep and Dream Database. Saturday, February 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dr. Bulkeley will lead a workshop. CEUs are available for some counseling professionals. More information here about the program and fees. The public is invited, and people may attend the lecture, the workshop, or both. Register online or at the door. 

 

8. Join the DeKalb Historical Society and 146-year old Mt. Zion AME, the second oldest African American Episcopal Church in DeKalb County, for a Black History Month presentation, Memories of the Little White Church on the Hill, on Sat., Feb., 20 and Feb., 27, from 10 a.m. to Noon.  Archivist Fred Mobley discusses photos circa 1800 to 1950, vintage news articles, and narratives of the strong black communities along LaVista Road to Toco Hills during the early 1800s.  All are welcome to attend.  Suggested donations, $10 for adults and seniors and children, $5. Mt. Zion AME, 2977 LaVista Road, Decatur 30033.

 

9. Connecting Congregations and Communities, The Cobb County Domestic Violence Task Force and the YWCA of Northwest Georgia bring local experts to a panel discussion about domestic violence in our community and the services that are available to individuals and congregations, breakfast, Feb. 23, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., Marietta High School, 1171 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta 30064.  R.s.v.p. to Holly Tuchman at (770) 423- 3581 or [e-mail].

 

10. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Law at Emory Law, associated professor in the Emory College of Arts and Sciences, and Senior Fellow of the Center for the Study of Law and Religion of Emory University, will speak on American Muslins in the 21^st Century, Friday, Feb. 26, 7-10 p.m., the Atlantic Institute, 591 N Main Street, Alpharetta 30009.  This is a free lecture; do R.s.v.p. here.

 

11. An incorrect link was provided last week for Seeking the Beloved Community: Race, Law Enforcement, and the Law conversation, Feb. 27, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m., the Commons, First Congregational Church, UCC. Reply here or call (4040 685-6710.

 

12. A Lenten Quiet Day at the Cathedral of St. Philip, What can we learn from our fear, and how can we respond to it as people of faith? This Lenten Quiet Day, Saturday, February 27, pray with stories, scriptures, and spiritual practices, including Welcoming Prayer, that can help us explore and befriend fear in scary times. Read more>>

 

13. Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church is pleased to offer a preventive health event.  Life Line Screening will perform affordable, non-invasive, and painless health screenings on Saturday, Feb. 27.  Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to blocked arteries, abdominal aortic aneurysms, hardening of the arteries, irregular heartbeat, and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount).  All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete.  To register for this event and receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call 1(888) 653-6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners. Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church is at 1150 Jefferson Avenue in East Point. Call the church for directions and additional information at [phone].

 

14. Bring your friends and come enjoy English tea and treats at Holy Trinity Church, 515 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, Feb. 28. This event benefits community outreach programs. Two seatings: 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door (if space is available). Call [phone] for tickets or visit HolyTrinityDecatur.org

 

15. Echoing Air Baroque Ensemble, Monday, Feb. 29, 7:30 p.m., All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta 30308. Echoing Air is a dynamic ensemble specializing in the repertoire of the English Baroque, with an emphasis on chamber works featuring countertenor voices with baroque ensemble. Click here to purchase tickets for Echoing Air

 

16. The community is invited to a Weekly Bible Study in Buckhead, Tower Place 100, Conference Room 1515, Tuesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. beginning March 1. Interested people should email Ryan Wilson, Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, at [e-mail].

17. Looking to hire? Sign up to meet pre-screened young adults looking for job opportunities in Atlanta on March 1 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Covenant House Georgia is one of the few organizations in the state that provides shelter, education, and vocational services for homeless youth, ages 18 to 21, so they can build a plan for their future. They seek especially positions accessible by public transportation. Please contact Michael Swahn at [e-mail] to register or for more information.

 

18. Sr. Simone Campbell, author of A Nun on the Bus and Pope Francis’ Challenge to Our Nation, will be at Emory, Wednesday, March 2, 7:30 p.m., Rollins School of Public Health Auditorium 1518, Clifton Rd., Atlanta 30322.   Register here.

 

19. Spring Worship Exchange: Conversations in worship, theology and the arts, March 2 - 4, Samford University, the schedule includes lectures on music, visual art, liturgy, and storytelling.  A Thursday panel discussion is entitled What Can the Arts Offer the Church. For information email [e-mail] .

 

20. Georgia Young Composers Festival Concert, First Baptist Church of Avondale Estates, Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. The finalists of this competition are present at this concert. The DeKalb Choral Guild chorus sings their works and the student finalists are questioned by judges. While the judges deliberate the DCG will sing works by established Georgia Composers. Then the winners will be announced. A reception will follow. See the finalists here.

 

21. Pastors are included in a one-day workshop, Care Ethics in a Complicated World, March 11, designed for mental health professionals by the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. Gun violence, racism, Islamophobia, and refugee crises are symptoms of social and moral suffering addressed in the 7.5 hour event. Speakers from mental health, medical, and pastoral care fields will discuss the impact of broad social issues on the lives of individual clients and/or congregants. This conference will fulfill counseling ethics CEU requirements and provide a fertile forum for looking at ourselves and our practices in the life of the larger community. For more information please visit CCCGeorgia.org. Register here.   Registration includes full breakfast and lunch plus 6 ethics CEU’s. A limited number of scholarships are available for pastors who do not need CEU’s. Contact [e-mail] for information before registering if you are interested in the scholarship.

 

22. Shaka Senghor, imprisoned for second-degree murder; now a university lecturer, a leading voice on criminal justice reform, and an inspiration to thousands will discuss his story of what came next Writing My Wrongs. The community is invited by Conversations at First Baptist and Georgia Center for the Book to join this conversation, Friday, March 11, 7:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church Decatur, 308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030.

 

23. Rev. Richard W. Voelz, Senior Minister, Johns Creek Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) announces a Building an Inclusive Church training to help you design and implement a process for your congregation to publicly and intentionally welcome people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. You will be equipped with ways to create dialogue, deepening relationships throughout the congregation rather than sparking debate and division. Grounded in scripture and discipleship, this training allows you to explore your own Christian call to hospitality and evangelism. If you are currently in a welcoming process, if you are thinking about starting the process, or if you fear what would happen if you began openly discussing it, this training could be for you. Invite your clergy and other members of your congregation to attend with you. And because this curriculum is shared across the ecumenical community, feel free to share this with friends from other denominations. March 11-12, Johns Creek Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Details, registration, and contact info can be found here.

 

24. The Lynn Swanson Festival Singers with the Orchestra of the Heartland, 11^th Annual Andrew Cain Memorial Masterworks Concert, present Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Sunday, March 13, 3 p.m., St. John United Methodist Church, 550 Mt. Paran Road, Atlanta 30327. Tickets, $25, at the door or online here.

 

25. 2016 Day1 Benefit Honors Community Leaders of Faith. Day1 and the Alliance for Christian Media will honor Atlanta community leaders of faith at a dinner on Tuesday, March 15, at the Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta. Honorees will be announced soon. For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact Patricia Reagan at [e-mail] or [phone].

 

26. Columbia Theological Seminary announces Dr. John F. Pilger, the William Rand Kenan, Jr. Professor of Biology at Agnes Scott College, is the next lecturer in its “Science for Seminaries” program. On March 16, at 11:00 a.m., Dr. Pliger will present his talk Evolution and Biodiversity in the Ellis Room on the Columbia Seminary campus located at 701 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur. The event is open to the public.

 

27. Opioid and heroin overdose deaths are on the rise! You are invited to attend a free training event on March 16 or 17, to learn the use of the Naloxone antidote and save lives. Registration is open to faith, community, and school-based partners, as well as civilians with family members or loved ones who may be at risk. Training will occur at two locations, Milton and the Temple, Atlanta. Seating is limited. Choose and register here. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Temple, and Fulton County Schools. For more information, please contact Dr. Arlene Lester [e-mail] or [phone]. 

 

28. Meet the most amazing people on the planet at the 2016 Global Humanitarian Summit March 18-20 at Unity North Atlanta Church, 4255 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta 30066. The Global Humanitarian Summit, founded by Dr. Neil Shulman, is a gathering of humanitarians from all over the world, and is FREE for everyone. For more information and to register visit www.GlobalHumanitarianSummit.org or email [e-mail]

 

29. Prison Fellowship’s Justice That Restores Volunteer Conference will be held Saturday, March 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tift Campus in Forsyth. The conference will increase the capacity of high impact volunteers to inspire, restore, and advocate. The lineup of speakers and breakout sessions is exciting! Breakfast and lunch will be served. Conference is free however registration is required. Anyone interested in receiving an invitation to register may email [e-mail] or call 800-251-7411.

 

30. Congregations of five different denominations in Gainesville invite the community to Stations of the Cross on the Street, Good Friday, March 25, 2 p.m., The Stations will be observed mostly along Green Street where various historical events will be highlighted through the placement of the crosses. All are welcome to participate. For more information contact Rev. Cynthia Park at (770)-536-0126.

 

31. Day1 Seminary Spotlight Luncheon on Thursday, March 31, at 11:30 a.m. at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. "The Future of Preaching for the Beloved Community" features Leanne Van Dyk, president of Columbia Theological Seminary, Paul T. Roberts, president of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, and students from those seminaries, reflecting on proclamation of the gospel in a diverse and changing world. The cost for the lunch is $25 per person. For more information, contact Pat Reagan at [e-mail] or 404-418-6772.

 

32. Save the date for the Emmaus House 2016 Gala, April 17, at the Carter Center.

 

33. The National Council of Churches has announced that the Christian Unity Gathering planned for May 4-7 in Baltimore will feature the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. Registration for “Fear Not: God’s Love in an Anxious Age” is open.  Register here.

 

Visit our website for more information and resources including a community calendar.

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

[e-mail]