Church Action eNewsletter Week of March 28, 2022

[RCCAtl]

Church Action eNewsletter
Week of March 28, 2022 
The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc. 

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

We want your announcements! We are happy to help get the word out about anything you would like the greater faith community to know. Send announcements to [e-mail].

1. Question, Persuade, and Refer: Suicide Gatekeeper Training from Mental Health America of Georgia, Tuesday, March 29, 12:00 - 1:15 p.m, a 75-minute educational program designed to teach lay and professional "gatekeepers" the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond.  Gatekeepers 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. Register here.
 
2. Coffee at the Capitol with Faith in Public Life, Tuesday, March 29, 2 p.m.  Register HERE. 
 
3. Apply by March 31 for Trinity Leadership Fellows: A free program for community leaders and the newly ordained Find out more here.
 
4. Lenten Lament Walks with Roswell churches, Thursdays 6-7 p.m., March 31 will be at the Mack Brown Memorial at Riverside Park. Brown was lynched in 1936. Heading north on Roswell Road, cross the Chattahoochee River, take an immediate right onto Riverside Road, then an immediate left into a small parking lot. Sign there states NPS Riverside Vickery Creek Unit.
 
5. Support Intown Collaborative Ministries at their Heart & Home Fundraiser! Sunday, April 24.  Intown Collaborative Ministries - Heart and Home 2022 (bidpal.net) Purchase tickets at early bird prices by March 31.
 
6.  Ignatius House is starting to bloom with new Stations of the Cross, vibrant, stunningly simple, and quietly transformational. Experience the new Stations each Friday. Ignatius House offers Mass at Noon, followed by self-guided outdoor Stations of the Cross. 6700 Riverside Dr. NW, Atlanta 30328.
 
7. The Rev. Dr. Annemarie Kidder, Pennfield Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, is the preacher April 3 on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org and by podcast.  “Poured Out,” is drawn from the story of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus feet with costly perfume.  “It is certain that whatever we do for Jesus, whatever jar we open for his benefit will not go unnoticed,” she says. “It says here that the perfume filled the entire house.”  “Day 1” is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. Hear it in Atlanta on WSB 95.5 and 750 AM. For more information, check Day1.org.  
 
8. Atlanta Chamber Winds presenting Mozart’s Serenade in E-flat, Dvorak - Slavonic Dance No. 9 in B-flat Major, and works by Söderberg. This concert is in-person and livestreamed. Purchase Tickets or tickets will be available at the door.  For more information, please contact Katie Patterson at [e-mail]. First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, Concerts@first,  April 3, 3:00 p.m.
 
9. Stephan Griffin, director of music at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Brookline, Mass., enjoys an active career as a singer, conductor, and organist. He will perform Sunday, April 3 at 3:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta 30305, in person and livestreamed on the Cathedral website.
 
10. Week-Long Retreat Made Just for You: April 3-8, this extraordinary five-night retreat at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Sandy Springs, provides individualized guidance that meets you where you are. Each day, you’ll work with a spiritual director from Ignatius House. You’ll spend time in solitude with prayer suggestions chosen just for you.  $650 per person includes private room and bath, all meals, Mass, guided prayer and use of 20 acres of natural forest. https://bit.ly/WeeklongApril2022  
 
11. The Babes of Wrath, Re-Learning the Impact of Childhood Homelessness: Post Pandemic PTSD/Trauma. Join Diane Nilan and Pat LaMarche for a virtual CEU training to explore the new landscape of serving homeless youth and their families in a post-pandemic society, resource shortages and funding inadequacies. April 6, 2:00 p.m.  1.5 credit hours. Click HERE to Register.
 
12. Emory University’s Candler School of Theology will host a major conference this spring on the life and work of 20th century theologian and civil rights leader Howard Thurman. “The Unfinished Search for Common Ground” will be April 8-9 available in both online and in-person formats. Visit the conference website to learn more and register. View the full conference schedule and the complete list of speakers.
 
13. Blood donations are greatly needed in the metro Atlanta region. Northside Drive Baptist Church, 3100 Northside Drive, Atlanta 30305, will host a blood drive with the American Red Cross on Wednesday, April 6, from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. You may schedule your appointment by clicking here. Walk-in donors are also welcome.
 
14. Join Unity Atlanta, 3597 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners, Saturday, April 9, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. for a community block party. This is a kid-friendly block party for the tall and the small! There will be free food, $1 hot dogs, a corn hole contest, games, a DJ, line dancing, an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids and much more. And we have it on good authority that the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance! Bring your lawn chair and a party attitude! There is no cost to attend, but registration is limited. Deadline for registration is April 2. Rain date is April 16. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unity-atlanta-easter-block-party-regis...
 
15. The Atlanta Jewish Committee is empowering young Americans to develop bold ideas to take on antisemitism locally, nationally, and virtually. Join ACCESS Atlanta and the World Affairs Council of Atlanta’s Young Leaders for a conversation about what you can do to disrupt antisemitism.   “Young Americans Combating Antisemitism” features AJC’s Dov Wilker in conversation with World Affairs Council of Atlanta President Rickey Bevington Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., GSU Buckhead Center.  Parking validation, food, and beverages will be provided. REGISTER HERE Tower Place 200, 3348 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta 30326.
 
16. Community Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church Green Space. Free event and open to the public. Grab your baskets and your buddies and come to the annual Community Egg Hunt! Come enjoy candy, games, music, food, pictures with the Easter Bunny and so much fun!
 
17. Interfaith Atlanta, once again, is proud to be a sponsor of the Atlanta Interfaith Hunger Seder. Using the traditional Jewish seder as a template, the Hunger Seder is an opportunity for people of all faiths to join together to examine our Community's food insecurity landscape and to reach for solutions. Bill Bolling, founder of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, will be our featured speaker. Please join in the evening for good food, meaningful discussion, and a call to action and advocacy. April 20, 6 p.m., Temple Kol Emeth. Register to attend here.
 
18. The Greater Gwinnett Reentry Alliance 2022 Better Chances Symposium, Friday, April 22, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Church on Main dining room, 2400 Main Street, Snellville 30078. Each year GGRA invites the community to join in a celebration of citizens who have demonstrated incredible achievements through the second chance they have been given, and to honor the service providers who lovingly serve them. Get more information. Register Now!
 
19. Ilia Delio is the rare theologian with doctoral degrees in both science and theology. But at her heart, she is a teacher. She longs for you to see what she sees: the vast interconnectedness of human beings, God, and the universe. Her engaging personality has made her a popular speaker not only among women religious, but in spiritual and academic circles. The breadth of her knowledge can make events where she speaks downright epic. Save the date for “Ilia Delio” or get your ticket now. Buy Tickets The Cathedral of St. Philip, Saturday, April 23.
 
20. Saturday, April 23, Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation will hold its inaugural Strides 4 Sight & Sound Walk, a 1.2 mile walk starting and finishing at headquarters in Chamblee.  Join the walk or participate virtually to take strides to bring sight and sound to Georgians who need it most. Sponsorships and volunteer opportunities are also available. Learn more at strides4sightandsound.com. Funds raised will directly impact people living in Georgia. Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation is committed to transforming vision and hearing services in Georgia.
 
21. Wil Gafney, The Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School: “Women, Academia, and the Church, ” April 25, noon, Candler School of Theology Emory University.  Learn more and register.
 
22. The Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta and Resetting the Table is creating a unique opportunity to bring faith leaders together from rural and urban settings to a common table for skill-building, learning, and discussion across denominational and political differences. You can learn more and sign up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUM4FeQCXI21tntAgOMyXW7G_... Application deadline is April 25 for these workshops that will met in June.
 
23. Souls to the Polls - Save the date Tuesday, May 3, 6:30 p.m., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, The Temple, and Ebenezer Baptist Church will present a panel discussing how people of faith can empower voters during the 2022 election. More info to follow.
 
23. Save the date. Every 65 seconds another person is diagnosed with dementia. Four out of five affected families fracture emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually. People of all faiths, all communities and all backgrounds are affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Join the Dementia Ministry at Due West United Methodist Church to explore how we can help meet the needs of suffering people. Tuesday, May 17, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Although this event is intended for leaders interested in serving families living with dementia, care partners and families are welcome. For questions email [e-mail]. Learn More. Register Here Speakers include Bishop Kenneth Carder, Kathy Berry, and Daphne Johnston.
 
24. Applications are now being accepted for SUMMA Theological Debate Camp 2022, July 19–27, on the beautiful campus of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Read more about this opportunity for high school students at SUMMA Theological Debate Summer Camp.

25. The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. For over 50 years, VITA has offered free tax help to people who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, including: people who generally make $58,000 or less; persons with disabilities; and limited English-speaking taxpayers. Find a VITA site near you with this simple tool Get Free Tax Prep Help (treasury.gov)
 
26. Registration is open for the in-person Green Team Summit – an opportunity for people of faith across the state to learn about ways you and your faith community can engage in the work of environmental justice and sustainability efforts. Click the button below to learn more about the May event or to register for the event -- Early Bird prices are available now! 

 Visit our website for a clergy toolbox for mental health ministry, and more . . . 

Peace,
Ethel Ware Carter