Church Action eNewsletter Week of January 21, 2019

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone. 

TONIGHT Oxford College of Emory University will hold its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at Old Church in Oxford. Dr. Gregory Ellison II, Mr. Julian Reid, and Mr. Tavares Stephens will present: The King Letters: A Retrospective. The MLK community choir will perform along with the college’s gospel choir and a cappella musical groups. This event is free and open to the public. Please contact Rev. Dr. Lyn Pace with questions.

Opportunities for advocacy training and advocacy days at the Georgia Capitol are now at one place on www.rccatl.org

Remember all the events from past newsletters are in the Community Events Calendar until the date they occur.

1. St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Marietta needs a musician for a service on Sundays, with a weekly rehearsal with the choir on Saturdays. Keyboard or organ skills needed. Please contact Father Scott Harding at [e-mail]. He has pay and other information for serious inquiries.

2. "Healing Justice," on January 26 from 9-11 a.m. We can begin to imagine a replacement for the criminal punishment system through viewing and discussing this inspiring film. It will also be screened on the following dates: Thursday, February 21, 7 - 9 p.m.; Sunday, March 3, 12:15 - 2:15 p.m.; Sunday, March 24, 11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Atlanta Friends Meeting Library, 701 West Howard Ave, Decatur 30030.  For more details and to download the free study guide, go to world-trust.org

3. The Archdiocese of Atlanta is partnering with In Our Backyard in their work to eradicate sex trafficking surrounding the Super Bowl. On January 26, come for a one-day public awareness and outreach event that can allow you to help in the recovery of missing children and victims of human trafficking in Atlanta. More about this...

4. St. Teresa’s Episcopal Church invites you to a Holy Hike, Saturday, Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m. Come hike the Leone Hall Price Park trails, an easy slog, 4715 Stilesboro Road NW, Kennesaw 30152.

5. The Rev. Dr. Tony Sundermeier, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, is the featured preacher Jan. 27 on “Day 1.” The program includes interviews with Sundermeier conducted by Peter Wallace, who is also executive producer. “Day 1” has been broadcast nationally every week for over 73 years. For more information check the program’s website. Hear it in Atlanta on Sundays at 7:05 a.m. on News 95.5 and AM 750 WSB.

6. “Charles Dickens's Case for Redemption and Love,” a lunch and talk by Dr. Katie Bell at First Presbyterian Church, Fifield hall, Sunday, Jan. 27, 12:30 – 1:45 p.m., 1328 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta 30309. Register Sandwich lunch is $10.

7. Green Team Summit, Sunday, January 27, 2 - 8 p.m., The Temple, 1589 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta. Tickets: $15 for students, $30 general admission, Tickets.

8. You Are Invited: Book Tour of Ramzy Baroud’s “The Last Earth, a Palestinian Story” Sunday, Jan. 27, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., Harrington Center Auditorium, Columbia Theological Seminary, 701 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur 30030. Enter campus from Inman Drive, park in the parking lot on the left behind the library. R.s.v.p. to Sarah Humphrey, [e-mail]

9. Have you been looking for a way to get involved at Northside Drive Baptist Church? On Souper Bowl Sunday, January 27, volunteers are needed to either prepare a pot of soup or chili, or to bake cookies or brownies. They can use help with set up and/or clean up, too. Whatever your talents are, come for a day of fellowship and fun. To volunteer contact Mona Stines at [e-mail] or [phone].

10. The Atlanta Jazz Chorus from the Jazz and Arts Ministry at First Congregational Church in Atlanta under the direction of Dr. Dwight Andrews will present their unique vocals during Jazz Vespers at 4:00 p.m. at the Roswell Presbyterian Church Sunday, Jan. 27. The program will feature spiritually-inspired jazz works from artists such as Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, and Leon Thomas. The church is at 755 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell 30075.

11. Come hear the Voices of Hope choir of Arrendale State Prison led by the incredible Rev. Susan Bishop at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Road Ne, Atlanta 30305. This 42 member choir has inspired us with their extraordinary faith and voices for many years. Jan. 27, 5 p.m. No admission charge.

12. Presbyterians for a Better Georgia presents Advocacy Training - Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church Atlanta: Want to advocate for important issues but don't know how? Here you can learn key skills from the experts themselves. Learn how to advocate for access to healthcare and affordable housing, and develop effective ways to reach your state legislators. Click here to register. 

13. “The Jesus Fatwa: Love Your (Muslim) Neighbor,” a 3-week Wednesday evening series, Jan. 16, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, sponsored by The Cathedral Bookstore. At 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 30, guest dialogue partner with Rev. Thee Smith, Cathedral priest assoc., is Prof. Abdullahi An-Na’im of international human rights law at the Emory Law School (http://law.emory.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/faculty-profiles/annai...), a Sudanese Muslim, and has published extensively on the prospect for an Islamic reformation of Sharia law. For more information contact the Cathedral Bookstore at [phone]. The bookstore is in the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta 30305.

14. TREE House program director Laura Davis and her team will join the North Fulton Mental Health Collaborative Thursday, January 31, 9 – 11 a.m., at Mt. Pisgah UMC, Third Floor, Room S305, 2850 Old Alabama Rd, Johns Creek. The TREE House program will include intervention and recovery services and an intensive outpatient day treatment program for youth and young adults suffering or recovering from a substance abuse disorder. Register here. NFMHC is open to all behavioral healthcare stakeholders in the community including counselors, faith leaders, parents, consumers, educators.

15. First Friday at First Jazz 2019. Dwight Andrews kicks off the season on February 1, 6-9 p.m., great food, fun, and fellowship! Tickets are $20, students $10. Call [phone] to inquire about season tickets. The Commons, First Congregational Church, 125 Ellis Street, Atlanta 30303. Free parking in the CARE lot on Piedmont Ave.

16. It'll be “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!” Neighborhood Church, 1561 McLendon Ave NE, Atlanta 30307. The documentary on the life and work of Mr. Rogers Friday, February 1, at 6:30 p.m. There will be some snacks, but feel free to bring your own as well. And, a Daniel Tiger party for kids at the same time as the documentary so everyone is welcome.

17. Immaculate Heart of Mary 60th Anniversary Concert featuring Tony Alonso. Admission is free. A freewill offering will be taken in support of The Atlanta Homeward Choir. Friday, February 1, at 7 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 2855 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta 30329.

18. “Dead Man Walking - The Opera,” starts Feb. 2, 8 - 10 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway Atlanta, 30339. Based upon the book by Sister Helen Prejean, it is the true story of Sister Prejean’s time as spiritual advisor to Joseph de Rocher, a murderer on death row. This magnificent work, stars superstar mezzo-soprano and Georgia native Jamie Barton as Sister Helen and Michael Mayes as de Rocher. Ticket information.

19. A Women’s Bible Study led by Karen Harwell on “Sacred Rhythms” by Ruth Haley Barton will begin on Feb. 5 at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. This 8-week study will meet Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. and run through March 26. The class will explore Christian disciplines related to scripture, solitude, Sabbath, discernment, and self-examination. Email [e-mail] for information or to sign up.

20. Atlanta Chamber Players 43rd Season Annual Community Concert, Sunday, Feb. 10, 4 p.m., Friendship Baptist Church. Audience will be treated to opera and art song selections, and a world premiere by Atlanta composer Marian Harrison titled “Snow” based on the paintings of Atlanta area artist Chase Campbell. Get Tickets for this popular event early. 

21. The Gammon Theological Seminary, located on the campus of ITC in the Atlanta University Center, is hosting three exciting retreats this year beginning February 18. The Clergy Retreats: Renew, Refresh and Reconnect, Spiritual Retreats: Pathway to Physical, Mental and Spiritual Renew and Writer Retreats: Gifted Hands and Gifted Minds. There is limited space don’t miss out! For further information, see www.gammon-itc.org or contact Minister Brenda Bennefield at [phone] or email [e-mail].

22. CBF’s ChurchWorks conference creates space each February for congregational ministers of education and spiritual formation to be equipped for the journey through creativity, community, and worship. This year focuses on sharing the love of Christ by battling injustice, exclusion, and marginalization. Feb. 25-27, 2019, at Third Baptist Church in St. Louis. Register today at www.cbf.net/ChurchWorks

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23. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Go to slaveryfootprint.org on your laptops, and take the survey. It will tell you how many persons are enslaved to produce the items you have in your home. Then make a list of which purchases you will replace with fair-trade items throughout this year. In order to Human Traffick Proof The ATL, we all have to learn something, see something, then do something.

24. Nadia Bolz-Weber, the “Shameless” book tour, March 2, 7 – 10 p.m., the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta 30305. Tickets are already sold out at some stops on this tour. Buy tickets here. See www.nadiabolzweber.com

25. Peacebuilders Camp at Koinonia Farm applications are being accepted for 17- and 18-year old counselors in training. See the job description and application process here.

26. ITC's Professor Mark Ellingsen has a resource for you if you are looking for help with sermons for Lent and the Easter season. His newest book, A Rebellious Faith, provides sermons and sermon ideas that break the mold, present our faith in a way that makes clear how counter-cultural the Gospel calls us to be. For those wanting sermon models which make clear that our faith is not just about middle-class American values, you can obtain the book at store.csspub.comor just order it on Amazon.

27. ARCEL: The ARC Emerging Leaders Fellowship is focused on young people who are feeling a call to serve in a way that brings together spiritual and creative practices. Creativity, imagination, and the arts have a vital role to play in our faith, and ARC is proud to build on the long list of ARC Fellows from the past by making a particular commitment to support young adults (18 - 35 years old) in this work. Read all about this upcoming opportunity here.

28. The Atlanta Community Food Bank is working to support impacted federal employees and contractors. If you or someone you know is met with the new challenge of putting food on the table during the shutdown, visit the ACFB Government Shutdown relief page to find help. 

29. Lutheran Services of Georgia has officially joined forces with Tennessee Lutheran Services and changed its name to Inspiritus! Read more about the name change at weinspirit.org/name-change