Church Action eNewsletter Week of June 15, 2015

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

Weekly Church Action eNewsletter

Week of June 15, 2015

 

We were contacted last week by a young woman who identified herself as a part time high school student with autism, part time intern at Learning Lab. Her work involved pulling together resources for families and organizations affected by autism. She offered her work to us for inclusion in the Clergy Tool Box for Mental Health Ministry. We have checked these resources out and she did a great job. Visit Creating Compassionate Congregations on www.CHIPGeorgia.com to find these and other resources.

1. Date correction. Introduction to Co-Listening. All are invited to attend one or more session offered this month by the Rev. Thee Smith.  These classes offer an introduction to this simple but potentially powerful practice where two people take turns listening to each other. Introductory classes for two Wednesday evenings are offered free of cost, from 6:30-8 p.m., June 17 and 24.  The series will begin on July 1. The entire course is offered at a sliding-scale cost affordable for any budget.  Classes meet at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Room 122 or 133, 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW Atlanta 30305.  For more information visit www.rc.org and contact Thee Smith at 404-727-0636 or [e-mail]  

2. World Refugee Day is June 20, we have resources at www.rccatl.org if you are looking for a prayer or liturgy, facts or inspiration. Our resources include a prayer from the U.S. Congress of Catholic Bishops that includes this line, “Give us the courage to welcome every stranger as Christ in our midst.”

3. The Men of Radcliffe Presbyterian Church will sponsor their annual Communion/Scholarship Breakfast on Saturday morning, June 20, 9:00 a.m., in the Dr. Lloyd Green, Jr. Multipurpose Room.  This is an annual event honors members of the church who have graduated from high school, college, or university since the breakfast the previous year.  The speaker will be Miguel Southwell, Aviation General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.  The program theme is “A Core to Soar," CORE being an acronym for Christ, Opportunity, Resilience, Excellence.  The graduates will receive scholarship awards and special recognitions from the Men of Radcliffe and the scholarship funds of church families.  Tickets for this seated breakfast, a signature event of Men of Radcliffe, are $10 and may be purchased at the door. Pastor Andrew Stephens, Jr. joins the men in extending an invitation for all to come and experience radical hospitality  at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church, 286 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive, NW, Atlanta 30318. (Diagonally across the street from Frederick Douglass High School.)  The church office telephone number is [phone].

4. The United Nations' World Refugee Day will be celebrated on June 20 from 2-5 p.m., at the Family Life Center, 4007 Church Street, Clarkston 30021. This event honors the courage, strength, and determination of women, men, and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. You are invited. For more information contact Glory Kilanko [phone] or Basmat Ahmed [phone] or email [e-mail] or [e-mail]

5. Friends of L’Arche Atlanta invites the community to Family Bingo Night & Potluck Supper, Saturday, June 20, 6 – 8 p.m. Transfiguration Catholic Church, 1815 Blackwell Road, Marietta 30066. Last name A-K bring a main dish; L-Q bring salad or side; R-Z bring dessert. Please R.s.v.p. to [e-mail]. Visit www.larcheatlanta.org to find out more about this unique community.

6. Saturday evening, June 20, 7:30 pm, the Jung Society of Atlanta presents a lecture, “In Praise of Solitude,” by Atlanta based Jungian Analyst and author Susan Olson. She will explore the contrast between solitude and loneliness plus examine the value of intentional creative solitude.  The location is the Fellowship Hall of Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3003 Howell Mill Rd., NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30327, and the fees are $20 for the public, $10 for students, and free for Jung Society members. Additional information is at www.jungatlanta.com .

7. This week on Day 1, hear Dr. Stephen McKinney-Whitaker, United Presbyterian Church of Peoria, Ill. His sermon for Sunday, June 21, is “We of Little Faith” taken from the story of Jesus calming the storm. Find your station or read or hear the sermon online at Day1.org  

8. Camp Meeting 2015, June 21-25, First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville. This tradition began in 1832 when the Methodist Campground was founded. All who wish to share God’s love in Christian fellowship will be welcome to this week of worship, singing, covered dish suppers, fellowship, and camping. Get all the details at www.fumclv.org

9. Center for Civil and Human Rights program in honor of its first anniversary “Out of the Gloomy Past: A conversation of faith and the continuing struggle to create a just world.” June 23, 5:30-9 p.m. Leaders of the Atlanta faith community will lead a discussion about seeking social justice. Building on the faith leadership of the Civil Rights Movement, they will share their thoughts on the roles of faith-based organization as catalysts for social change. Table discussions will follow led by World Pilgrim alumni who have taken interfaith journeys together. This event is free and open to the public; R.s.v.p. is required. In partnership with Interfaith Community Initiatives, Inc. Come early to see the exhibits. RSVP here.

10. Suicide Prevention Training, Gainesville / Hall County Chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness will hold a free educational meeting, Tuesday, June 23, snacks and speaker, 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Gainesville, 751 Green Street, NW, Gainesville 30501, 2^nd Floor, Room 208.

11. Career Quest is closed this week but will return on June 23 with Susan Nofi on “Starting Your Job Search,”  speed networking, and job search coaches. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge, no reservations are needed, dress is casual. Learn more at St-Ann.org Located at St. Ann’s Church, 4905 Roswell Road/Rte.120, Marietta, 30062.

12. Join the Party Zumbathon for CHOICES. Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., First Church Commons, 125 Ellis Street, Atlanta. Click here for map. This is a fund raiser. Click here to get started.

13. “All Aboard for the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot,” Saturday June 27, 7:00 -11:00 p.m. The Barbara Lewis King Scholarship Foundation presents “Dancing Through the Decades,” a celebration of music and dance from the 1960’s to the present. Come dressed as your favorite decade, and get ready to party for a purpose. The foundation since 1997 has been raising funds to give financial support to deserving college bound students. Tickets for admission and dinner are available at www.HillsideInternational.org. Donations are always welcomed. We thank you for your continued support in helping students fulfill their educational dreams.

14. When Grief Won’t Relent: Advanced Strategies in Grief Counseling and Therapy with Jack Rainer, PhD. Care and Counseling Center of Georgia, 1814 Clairmont Road, Decatur 30033. June 30, 8:30-11:45 a.m. The workshop is appropriate for clinicians and clergy holding an understanding of the theories and practices of grief counseling and therapy.  Advanced strategies and interventions will be discussed, based on fundamental knowledge of grief and bereavement. Three hours of core CEUs have been applied for through the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia, the Georgia Society for Clinical Social Work, and the Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  Contact Cori Sackin for more information at [e-mail] or visit cccgeorgia.org 

15. Neshama Interfaith Center and The Atlantic Institute present Annual Interfaith Iftar Dinner, Sunday, July 12, from 7.30 – 10 p.m., Istanbul Cultural Center, 591 N. Main Street, Alpharetta 30009. This wonderful evening will feature three speakers representing the three Abrahamic faiths in conversation -Mr. Kemal Korucu, Director of Interfaith Affairs of the Atlantic Institute; Rabbi Michael Bernstein, Congregation Gesher L'Torah; and Father Jeffery Ott, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. The topic of conversation is "The Power of Our Words". The program will conclude at nightfall when the gathered people will eat together. Neshama Interfaith Center and the Atlantic Institute offer this program for the 3^rd year; it is free and open to the whole community.  Reservations are required. To reserve your seat (via Eventbrite), please click here.  (Space is limited, so reserve your seat as early as you can!) Any questions?  Please email Sue Chase at [e-mail]. 

16. The First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Arts Council is excited to present ArtSpark, an engaging week of activities designed to celebrate and explore the gifts of creativity in each of us. Mark your calendar for July 13-19 for concerts, workshops, worship, and more! Please visit http://www.firstpresatl.org/upcoming-events/ for more information or contact [e-mail]. Everyone is welcome.

17. Evangelist Tiffany Morriar as seen on the Word Network, is coming to Atlanta, for a free one night revival on Friday, July 31 at 7 p.m. Evangelist Morriar is a powerful and prophetic woman of God and also a powerful singer. The event is called “Let The Fire Fall” and will be held at Full Counsel Ministries, 1311 Veterans Memorial Hwy SW, Mableton.  Call [phone] for more information. 

18. Purple Pens + youthSpark Voices = Purple Sparks: An anthology featuring poetry by survivors of sexual violence will offer a creative curriculum for healing and justice. Tell a survivor you know about this.  If you are a survivor consider donating your "voice" to this project, submit your poem by Friday, July 31, 2015. Guidelines for submissions here. Proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to youthSpark Voices, the early intervention program serving exploited, abused, and neglected youth. Poems are sought from diverse populations; this collection will illuminate a broad scope of sexual violence and exploitation. Email [e-mail] or [e-mail] for questions or details. NOTE: Only unpublished poetry and electronic submissions accepted. Poems can be submitted anonymously. 

19. Churches in the Wesleyan tradition are joining together to advocate, serve, nurture, and expand faithful efforts on behalf of children in poverty. Your church is invited and encouraged to take part in the That They Man Be One campaign to affirm the Wesleyan heritage to care for the poor by encouraging “the people called Methodist” to serve children and youth at risk to poverty. Read more about the campaign here. Local information here.

 

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

[e-mail]

404-201-6448

 

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