Church Action eNewsletter Week of January 5, 2026

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone. 

1. Breakthrough /ˈbrākˌTHro͞o/, Jan. 1 - March 15, is a group exhibition in testament to the power of persistence, imagination, and courage. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Pulgram Gallery is the renewed iteration of the oldest art gallery in Atlanta continuing a legacy and commitment to cultivating a radically inclusive and diverse artistic community. Art is a vehicle for engaging in authentic conversations; Pulgram Gallery is a home for courageous connection through fine art. Visit at 2650 N. Druid Hills Road NE, Atlanta 30329.

2. Volunteers are needed to help plan the third annual AMIS Afternoon of International Tea. Held in the spring (tentatively planned for Saturday, April 25), this annual event celebrates the international students and scholars who are part of the AMIS community. Guests enjoy international refreshments from around the world presented by AMIS students along with cultural artifacts, art, and their personal stories. This fundraiser supports AMIS Atlanta’s mission to promote cultural and global understanding through friendship and hospitality with international students and scholars in Atlanta. AMIS is seeking corporate and individual sponsors, table hosts, silent auction donations, and dedicated volunteers to help plan and execute this very special event. Please email  by Thursday, January 8 if you are interested in helping. Click Here to Volunteer. 3. Silent Retreat Day at the Shallowford Center for Mindful Living, Saturday, Jan. 10. As the new year unfolds, set aside time for deep listening. A free silent retreat led by Kay Stewart. Email [e-mail] for information.  4. Singing at Shawn Taylor's house in Atlanta, near Kirkwood & Candler Park, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2 p.m., singing from the Shenandoah Harmony. Loaner books will be available. We'll have a break with snacks! Email [e-mail] for the address. 5. Rev. Dr. Damon P. Williams, a pastor, scholar, and academic leader whose vocation bridges the worlds of Christian ministry, theological education, and engineering, has served for more than thirteen years as senior pastor of Providence Missionary Baptist Church in southwest Atlanta. Williams is the Day1 preacher for Sunday, Jan. 11. Hear Day1 in Atlanta on WSB 95.5 and 750 AM Sundays at 7:05 a.m. And, the program is also accessible now online at Day1.org, on the “Day1” YouTube channel and on Apple and Spotify podcasts.  So you can listen any time. 6. An Afternoon of Stories at the Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival, Sunday, Jan. 11, The Breman Museum, cost is $18 for Members, $20 for Non-Members, 1440 Spring Street, Atlanta 30309. BUY TICKETS. Events included with registration: Children’s Storytime; crafts and snacks; an afternoon of building community through storytelling, workshops, and tales from the pulpit; several fascinating concurrent workshops; Holy Moly! Tales from on and off the pulpit by Rabbis Lauren Henderson (Congregation Or Hadash), Brian Glusman (MJCCA), Cantor Tracey Scher (The Temple) and more! The Breman invites families, synagogues, schools, and senior centers to incorporate the magic of storytelling into their Shabbat celebration. They’ve created toolkits with suggestions and story prompts to make the experience easy and joyful for all. Toolkits Available Here 7. Faith & Justice Collective will host Dr. Caroline Weinberg, the founding director of Plan A Health, at a luncheon at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Sunday, Jan. 11, 12:30 p.m.  Dr. Weinberg will speak about her work creating mobile clinics in Georgia and Mississippi that bring free healthcare directly to underserved communities. If you would like to learn more about Plan A Health, click here for a video (skip the ad at the beginning) produced by Scripps News on Plan A's work in Mississippi, specifically around infant health. Please register here in advance for lunch ($16). Contact Jenny McBride with questions, [e-mail]. 8. The Reinhardt Chorale will perform at the Cathedral of St. Philip Sunday, Jan. 11, at 3:15 p.m., in person and livestreamed on the Cathedral website.  The Reinhardt Chorale is the flagship choral ensemble of the School of the Arts at Reinhardt University, conducted by Georgia native Dr. Jacob Augsten, director of choral activities and assistant professor of musicThey will sing an eclectic selection, works from Bach and Felice Anerio to “Rockin’ Jerusalem.” Following the recital, the Cathedral offers its weekly service of Choral Evensong at 4 o’clock. 9. The Kick-Off, Monday, Jan. 12, begins the 2026 King Holiday Observance, inviting the community to gather in celebration and reflection on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hosted on The King Center campus, this day of unity and action sets the stage for a week of meaningful engagement. Attendees can experience The Empowerment Fair; spotlighting local and national partners advancing civic participation, health, education, and economic justice, alongside food trucks, interactive storytelling, collaborative art murals, and trainings that equip participants of all ages with the principles of nonviolence and social change. The evening continues from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 p.m. with the exclusive premiere of “Hoops, Hopes & Dreams,” executive produced by Dr. Bernice A. King. Presented in partnership with Andscape, this program features a red-carpet welcome, a screening, and a thought-provoking conversation exploring the film’s themes and their connection to Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. An unforgettable opportunity- see Events - The King Center 10. Shallowford Presbyterian Church offers an opportunity to explore grief through small group discussion and spiritual practices designed to provide comfort and foster healing. Faith & Grief Workshop, 7-weeks- begins Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7-8:30 p.m., at the church in conference Room B. Visit shallowford.org for details or to register. 11. Join Luther Seminary Tuesday, Jan. 13, 6-8:30 p.m., online for the Rutlen Lecture on Faith and Creation with William P. Brown.  “Be-Wilded by Wonder: Just Creation in the Book of Job” will explore the value of God’s creation in Job and for us all in the face of climate crises. Brown will address questions such as: What would it be like to read the story of Job by reading the ending first? How does one understand the book of Job as a whole, with creation taking center stage? And what about all those wild animals God presents for Job’s consideration? Brown, ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA), is the William Marcellus McPheeters Professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. Learn more and register. 12. From Mental Health America Georgia: Question, Persuade, and Refer, Wednesday, January 14, 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. QPR is a 75-minute educational program designed to teach lay and professional "gatekeepers" the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond. Gatekeepers can include anyone who is strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide (e.g., parents, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, caseworkers, police officers). The training is delivered by certified QPR gatekeeper instructors. REGISTER HERE. 13. The ‘First Thursday’ singing at Emory Presbyterian Church will be held on the Third Thursday, January 15, for this month, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., singing from “The 2025 Sacred Harp.” Emory Presbyterian Church, 1886 North Decatur Rd, Atlanta 30307. Park behind the church, off Westminster Way.   14. Beloved Community Global Summit, Jan. 15-16. Join world leaders, change makers, and visionaries, including Keynote Speaker Dr. Bernice A. King (The King Center), Paige Alexander (The Carter Center), Jill Savitt (National Center for Civil and Human Rights), Howard Wright (NVIDIA), along with civic, corporate, and community partners, for an inspiring two-day convening dedicated to advancing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision of the Beloved Community: a world rooted in justice, compassion, and nonviolence. Together, we will engage in powerful dialogue and collective exploration of what it truly means to build community and unite our nation...The Nonviolent Way. 2026 Beloved Community Global Summit - The King Center 15. Annual celebration of Dr. King’s life and legacy at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 West Peachtree St, Atlanta, Saturday, Jan. 17, 5 p.m. Members of Theodicy Jazz Collective– Saxophonist Will Cleary and Vocalist Imani Grace Cooper– will play with our hometown rhythm section: Pianist Andy Barnett, Grammy-Winning Bassist Kevin Smith, and Grammy-Winning Drummer Robert Boone, hosted by the Rev. Natosha Reid Rice.  16. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called on each of us to confront injustice with courage, compassion, and action. This MLK Day, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights invites you to honor his life and legacy. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the galleries and participate in meaningful, hands-on experiences throughout the day, including a Dr. King scavenger hunt, a DIY King button-making activity, a collaborative mural inspired by King’s life and words, and King-themed challenge cards that encourage us all to become change makers beyond the Center’s walls. GET TICKETS FOR MLK DAY. Don’t miss the Palefsky Collision Project’s MLK Day performance at the Center on Monday, January 19 at 11 a.m. This year’s reimagining of “Blaze”—inspired by Parable of the Sower—honors Dr. King’s legacy through powerful youth-led storytelling. Free with museum admission. 17. AMIS Volunteers and their friends and family are invited to a special, free tour of the newly expanded National Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum on Saturday, January 17 at 10:45 a.m.  Come gather with AMIS international students and friends to learn about the Reconstruction Era, the Civil Rights Movement and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and see where Atlanta’s Civil Rights movement began. Pre-Registration is required. This event is open to AMIS international students, supporters, and guests. All participants must be registered through the site to be able to attend without paying.  Meet outside the front entrance of the NCCHR. Please note: the group must enter the Museum together at the same time.  After the tour, you're welcome to explore Centennial Olympic Park or other downtown Atlanta locations or restaurants on your own. It should be a fun day full of learning and exploring with AMIS friends! Register Here. 18. At the heart of The King Center commemorations is the MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Awards; a signature evening that shines a spotlight on extraordinary leaders and organizations from around the globe who embody courage, justice, and the spirit of the Beloved Community envisioned by Dr. King. This year’s celebration kicks off at Jan. 17, 6:00 p.m. with a vibrant pre-reception filled with entertainment and a variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres. Then, at 7:30 P.M. EST, the spotlight turns to the awards show, where changemakers will be honored for advancing justice, compassion, and nonviolence across communities worldwide. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of inspiration, recognition, and unity! Purchase Tickets 19. October 2025 marked the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican declaration that transformed Jewish–Christian relations. Commemorative program will be Jan. 21, 7-9 p.m. Location will be provided following registration.  This revolutionary statement of the Second Vatican Council marked an unprecedented turnaround in interreligious relations.  In a post-Holocaust self-reflection, , it formalized an attitude of dialogue and respect from the Catholic Church toward the other faith traditions of the world, including Judaism. It was also notable for officially condemning antisemitism and holding that Jews cannot collectively be held responsible for the death of Jesus. Join American Jewish Committee Atlanta, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, and the Bearing Witness Institute in a special commemoration. Register at  Atlanta Celebrates 60 Years of Nostra Aetate - Campaign 20. Join Georgia Budget and Policy Institute for Insights 2026: Resetting the Table and Building an Economy that Serves Us All, Jan. 23.   GBPI will provide its annual deep dive into the current year budget and the new fiscal year state budgets. We are in unprecedented times; we need to reset the table with policy that will help build a better life for all Georgians. The GBPI team will lay out a menu of options we have to do this with, using the most up-to-date analysis on just-released state budget proposals and an in-depth look at the policies impacting everyday people. They will share insights on the rapidly changing federal issues that will impact Georgians. This year’s Insights conference will feature a budget overview given by senior fiscal analyst, Danny Kanso, and chats with a team of experts to explore the budgets (and opportunities) for key issue areas. Let’s make sure every Georgian has a seat, let’s make sure every Georgian has a plate. Let’s build an economy that serves us all. Please purchase your tickets in advance here. Breakfast will be provided. 21. Journey to Justice: Exploring Justice as Spiritual Practice, Ignatius House Retreat Center, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, led by Matthew Cressler, invites participants to step into reverent silence and reflect on the inner work that supports justice and healing in our world. While learning and action are certainly part of racial justice, there is also a deeper, spiritual dimension — what James Baldwin called the “death of the heart” that must be tended if we hope to foster meaningful change. Through prayerful reflection and guided practices, this retreat offers space to listen, open our hearts, and consider how a commitment to justice can be nourished as a spiritual path. Learn More. 22. Kay Warren is coming to Atlanta!  Kay is an author, speaker, co-founder of Saddleback Church with husband Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life.”  She is a nationally recognized mental health advocate. After the loss of her son Matthew to suicide, she dedicated her ministry to breaking stigma and helping families experience hope, compassion, and belonging.  Sunday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m.  Register to attend - free:  https://www.prumc.org/event/step-out-speak-up-faith-and-mental-heal... Sponsored by The One Lamb Initiative & Peace of Mind Partnership Network. 23. Free Suicide Prevention Trainings.   Step Out & Speak Up Summit- Are you a community citizen who wishes to be trained in seeing the signs of distress and knowing how to point people towards help? Or Are you a clergy leader who may feel uncertain about what to say, how to respond pastorally, or how to best care for grieving families? Or, Are you a mental health professional who could benefit from the same suicide prevention therapeutic training that is being used with great outcomes at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - plus, get continuing ed credits? Sign up for Feb. 2, 2026. Space is limited.  For more information and registration visit  https://www.prumc.org/event/step-out-speak-up-faith-and-mental-heal.... Sponsored by The One Lamb Initiative & Peace of Mind Partnership Network