Church Action eNewsletter Week of July 6, 2015

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Weekly Church Action eNewsletter

Week of July 6, 2015

 

1. Ron, an 89-year-old man from Australia, describes himself as a drunk. When asked if he had an AA or Al-Al-Anon story he said, "It's both, but most importantly it's about recovery through working the 12 steps." He is a drunk who stopped drinking in December 1954 in Sydney and got into Al-Anon 20 years later. He now has 60 years of sobriety and 40 years of Al-Anon participation. He continues to be very active in both programs. While he is in Atlanta Ron has offered to share his story, tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8, at 8 p.m. at the Sandy Springs Christian Church at 301 Johnson Ferry Rd. NW, Sandy Springs,  30328.  You will want to hear his beautiful story of recovery.  All are welcome.

2. Street Grace Quarterly Meeting, Thursday, July 9, webinar at noon. Log in from the comfort of your office to hear about Street Grace organizational updates. Hear from special guests Lauren Kane, Georgia Attorney General's office, and Special Agent Brian Johnston, G.B.I., as they discuss the Not Buying It Initiative, a forum for all 50 states to collaborate and develop strategies that finally put an end to sex trafficking in our country. After you register, you will be sent a link to enter the webcast. Quarterly meetings are open to the public and will conclude no later than 1:00 p.m. Please call Street Grace for registration information.  [phone]

3. Day 1 continues its special 70^th anniversary series this week welcoming Dr. Barbara Lundblad, Joe R. Engle Professor of Preaching Emerita, Union Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, to the pulpit on July 12. Find your local station or read or listen to a podcast of the sermon at Day1.org

4. Iftar Dinner with Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, July 12, 5^th Avenue Hall, 2720 Mall of Georgia Blvd., Buford 30519, talk begins at 7:30 p.m., R.s.v.p. at www.facebook.com/friendsofupmrcatl  or text or call [phone]. Sponsored by Satary Foundation.

5. The Georgia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting a safeTALK training on Saturday, August 1 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Rush Center in Atlanta.  safeTALK prepares anyone over the age of 15 to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety.  Online registration is required (no walk ups).  $15 fee includes materials and snacks.  Register here. If your congregation or group (15-30) is interested in hosting a safeTALK training, AFSP-Georgia offers these free of charge. Contact Chris Owens at [e-mail] or 770-843-3836 for details.

6. If you are headed to the mountains for a little respite from the heat consider worshipping with Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church in Clarkesville. Summer services are at 8:30 and 10 a.m. Grace-Calvary is home to the oldest working pipe organ in the State of Georgia. The "Erben Organ"--as it is known--is the work of Henry Erben (1800-1884) of the Erben Organ Factory which was located in the State of New York. The organ dates from 1848 and has been virtually in constant use singing the praises of the Lord. It is one of the treasures of this 177 year-old church.

7. If you are headed toward the coast you could worship with the oldest continuing congregation to worship in its original building in Georgia. Jerusalem Church, now a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, worships on Sundays at 11:00 a.m., 2966 Ebenezer Road, Rincon, Ga. The church and Ebenezer Township are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Jerusalem Church survived not only the revolution but also occupation by Union general William T. Sherman's troops during the Civil War as well as an 1886 earthquake. It was established in 1734 by 150 Salzburger Protestants who had been expelled from the Archbishopric of Salzburg in present-day Austria. The Salzburgers' pastor, the Rev. Johann Martin Boltzius, sought to build "a religious utopia on the Georgia frontier."

8. A free, monthly grief support group meets every first Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia, 1814 Clairmont Road. This group is open to the community; anyone is welcome to attend. The group is sponsored by A.S. Tuner and Sons Funeral Home in Decatur. Contact Lanta Cooper with any questions or interest at [e-mail] or [phone] ext. 580.

9. Interfaith Power & Light and the Catholic Climate Covenant have teamed up to bring you Pope Francis' encyclical Climate Action Kit. No matter what your faith tradition, this five-step guide will help you leverage this watershed moment and Pope Francis’ encyclical for your own activities. Please click here to get the (free) encyclical Climate Action Kit

10. Want a link to a good summary of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical? Visit the Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University Facebook page.

11. The Spirituality Program at the Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary is celebrating its 20^th Anniversary with the program Common Ground, Holy Ground. The program is the weekend of September 18-19, 2015. Workshop details and weekend schedule can be found at ctsnet.edu/common-ground-holy-ground . For 20 years, the Spirituality Program at CTS has helped guide those seeking holy mystery and deep connection. Those who have completed the Certificate in Spiritual Formation, those who have taken select classes, and even those who have no experience with the Spirituality Program are invited to explore the program’s rich history and to take a look at its. The celebration is open to all who wish to attend. Register for Common Ground, Holy Ground here.

12. Would you like to read the homily from the Archbishop of Canterbury at Princess Charlotte’s baptism? Here it is.

13. For those of you who missed the “Webinar on Resources to Help Prepare Houses of Worship for Emergencies” the recording is here.

 

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

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404-201-6448