Church Action eNewsletter Week of March 5, 2012

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone. 

Remember that all events listed in the eNewsletter are placed in the Community Events Listings on our website .  Newsletters are archived there at  eNewsletters --- with the most recent featured below the slide show of member churches on our home page under Featured RCCA Activities.

Lenten Resources including community events, series, and study and liturgical aids. 

 

 Read a thoughtful essay at For Some Christians, Lent Means ‘Giving Up’ Carbon.

 

1. March is Women's History Month. Strong women of the Bible  will be the focus for the Atlanta Friends Meeting Bible Study in March. The women of the Bible are becoming appreciated today for their strength, courage, daring, wisdom, and endurance. Prophets, generals, queens, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, these are women to cherish, admire and fall in love with. Some suggested resources include: Back to the Well by Frances Taylor Gench, Reading the Women of the Bible by Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Helpmates, Harlots, and Heroes by Alice Ogden Bellis, Texts of Terror by Phyllis Trible and The Women's Bible Commentary. Bring one of these or any other resources you want to share and your favorite edition of the Bible. All women --and men who love women --are welcome! Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m. in the Library at Atlanta Friends Meeting, 701 West Howard Avenue, Decatur 30002. 404-377-2474,  Office hours 9 a. m. to noon Mon-Fri. Or for more info contact Julia Ewen [e-mail] 

2. Fulton County continues to hold tax exemption information workshops for senior citizens. You will want to alert your congregation to a workshop at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, at Benjamin E. Banneker High School at 5935 Feldwood Road, College Park, 30349. For more information or assistance with special accommodations to attend the workshops, residents may contact Florence Brooks at 404- 612-9184.

 

3. Silver Lining Villages is a new nonprofit, 50 month/three phase educational program providing housing and coordinated services for a combined veteran/civilian population in substance abuse recovery. A working, self-help environment, residents rehab and construct their own sustainable housing, while learning cognitive, alternative healing, nutritional and life skills training.  First information session and fundraiser to raise funds to purchase an abandoned 42 unit apartment complex on March 8 at 7 p.m. Please contact Toni Colley-Lee,  [e-mail] or 404-755-7672 if you'd like to be placed on the guest list. More info at http://silverliningvillages.org.

 

4. Not about religion overtly but tomorrow is International Women’s Day In celebration of Girl Scouts 100^th anniversary next month, children’s book author Shana Corey shares the true story of Savannah native and Girl Scouts founder, Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, and the first Girl Scouts troop. With determination, a passion for service, and a firm belief that girls could do anything, she founded Girl Scouts. Daisy’s dream for young girls’ success continues to thrive through adventures, good deeds in the community, and a cherished sisterhood. Talk and book signing at the Little Shop of Stories, on the square in Decatur on March 11 at 3 p.m.

 

5. A time change for the John Dear event at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic  Church—the Jesuit priest, peace activist, and Nobel Peace Prize will discuss his latest book, Lazarus, Come Forth! at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church at 2855 Briarcliff Road in Atlanta at 7:00 p.m. (not 7:30) on Wednesday, March 14.  This free event will conclude with a book signing.

 

6. If you are interested in an opportunity to perform Requiem by Gabriel Faure with a chamber orchestra, here's your chance! Druid Hills Presbyterian is hosting.  This performance is a part of the SONO LAUS: Voices United in Song Invitational Choral Festival, started two years ago to give singers an opportunity to perform major works in an ecumenical and community-minded venue. For the inaugural festival, Bradley Ellingboe conducted his Requiem with over 100 singers from seven choirs participating. Contact Phillip Shoultz, [e-mail] or 404-435-6067, by Thursday, March 15 if you are interested.

 

7. John August Swanson addresses himself to human values, cultural roots, and his quest for self-discovery through visual images. These include Bible stories and social celebrations. All his parables optimistically embrace life and spiritual transformation. Central Presbyterian Church, 2021 Washington Street, will hold an open house, reception, and lecture for an exhibition of Swanson’s work on March 15 at 7 p.m. Larry Gerben will lecture on the art of John August Swanson. Free parking is available in the parking garage entering off Central Avenue. David VanderMeer is the contact for this event,  404-601-3138 or [e-mail]

 

8. Join Pastor Aaron L. Parker and the Zion Hill Baptist Church family for Outreach Ministry Sunday worship service,  Reaching Out in Christian Love and Service, March 18.  At the 8 a.m. service, hear Rev. Melanie L. Conner, Director of the Zion Hill Community Development Corporation, and at the 10:30 a.m. service, hear from Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins, Associate Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur.  For more information  call 404-691-8025 or visit  www.zionhill.org. The church is at 6175 Campbellton Road, Atlanta, where they’re “Living to Love and Loving to Serve”.

 

9. Remember the Atlanta InterFaith Leaders Fellowship program on the Baha’i faith coming up on Sunday, March 18, 3-5 p.m., at Baha’i Unity Center, 2370 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur 30035. Greg Kagira-Watson, a leader in the Atlanta Baha’i community,   will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Baha’i Faith. All are Welcome. No reservations are required. There is no charge for this event. For more information email Bill Voss, AILF Secretary, at [e-mail]

 

10. American Jewish Committee, the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition, and the Temple invite you to the Black-Jewish Seder. This biennial event celebrates freedom from slavery and oppression. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Black-Jewish Coalition, Congressman John Lewis and Sherry Frank will serve as Honorary Chairpersons. Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6 p.m. registration, 6:30 program. At the Temple. Register   

 

 11. The Congregational Health Ministry of Gwinnett Medical Center presents the Parish-Faith Community Nurse Preparation Course. Are you being called to utilize your nursing gifts in your faith community? They can help equip you for health ministry! The next course will be March 22-24 and April 19-21, 2012.  See  more and register.  Presented by Congregational Health Ministry of GMC and Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer

 

12. AMIS Day Celebration with supper and a program to celebrate 34 years of ecumenical ministry and mission with 9000 international students from 160 nations studying in the 30 Metro Atlanta colleges. Come to St. James UMC, 4400 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, NE, Atlanta 30342, Sunday, March 25 at 6 p.m. Rev. Fahed AbuAkel, AMIS Executive Director and Founder, will share the story of AMIS- the longest ecumenical ministry in Metro Atlanta. An Amigo host- Nadeen Green will share her journey with the International students R.s.v.p. by calling the AMIS office- 404-846-4396 or emailing [e-mail]

 

13. Cobb Faith Partnership General Meeting, March 28, Turner Chapel AME Church. Lunch starts at 11:45 a.m. with the meeting following at noon. As always, the Have Some/Need Some item exchange table will be up. Bring your flyers, business cards, and other information to share. Bring a guest or two with you. For more information contact [e-mail], visit www.cobbfaithpartnership.org, or the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/cobbfaithpartnership.

 

14. Faith Talk 970 WNIV presents the 2nd Annual Pastors Classic:  Pastors...enjoy a free round of golf at The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farms in Woodstock! The Outing takes place on Monday, April 9 (Monday after Easter). This is a great opportunity to fellowship with other local Pastors, unwind from the busy Easter season, and just have FUN!  Check-in begins at 10:00 a.m. with shotgun start at 12 Noon.  Free Lunch will be provided on the carts plus free dinner and awards ceremony directly following the conclusion.   Just one way Faith Talk 970 WNIV honors our Pastors! Register here   

  

15. Author and professor Jenell Paris leads a diverse program of speakers and worship leaders for A [Baptist] Conference on Sexuality and Covenant, co-sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University April 19-21, at First Baptist Church, Decatur.   Paris, professor of cultural anthropology at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., and author of “The End of Sexual Identity: Why Sex is Too Important to Determine Who We Are,” will lead the opening session titled “While We Were Avoiding the Subject: What’s Going on in the World (and the Church)?”The three-day conference is being designed to offer context for a comprehensive reflection on Christian sexual ethics in a changing cultural environment. The prospectus and draft of the program. See the full lineup of presenters, worship leaders, session topics . Online registration. Learn more about the Fellowship at www.thefellowship.info.

 

16.  Creation Care begins at home and Atlanta Friends Meeting Green Friends with Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) will offer training on home energy audits for interested members of congregations. This training will cover patterns of energy use, the building envelope, heating and cooling systems, lighting, appliances, and water use. This is a good opportunity for congregation members to become educated on energy usage, enabling them to use less energy (and save money on utility bills) and become better stewards of creation. GIPL has been working over the past nine years with faith communities. Dan May will present GIPL's Home Energy Audit Training at AFM on Saturday, April 21, from 9:30 to 12. (Includes a free goodie bag!) Sign up or contact Dan May at [e-mail] or 404-377-6326.

 

17. In commemoration of International Women’s Day Celebrate the Gifts of Women 2012 Liturgy, a download from PC(USA).   

 

18. A special offer for youth groups from Safe America Foundation. Spring Break Drivers Ed classes are coming up and there will be a $50 discount to teens that sign up and take the 30/6 class. The dates are April 2-6 and the locations are Safe America Foundation on Sandy Plains Road in  Marietta and the Hembree Rec Center in Roswell. Find out all about this great foundation, the offer, and registration at www.safeamericadrivers.com

 

19. AIB TV concludes its series on The Ten Commandments on Mondays in March at 7 p.m. Imam Suleyman Eris, Director and an Imam of the Turkish American Islamic Institute, delivers a sermon on the 8th Commandment, "Thou Shall Not Steal," on March 12. On March 19, Father Timothy Gallagher ordained as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, interprets "Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness." The series concludes on March 26 with Charmaine Johnson, a student at Candler School of Theology and member of Victory for the World United Church of Christ presenting the last commandment, "Thou shalt not covet…."

 

20. Elaine Pagels is stirring up talk about Revelation. Read two essays about her book on Revelation. “What Revelation Reveals,” The Wall Street Journal, March 2, 2012.   “The Big Reveal: Why Does the Bible End That Way?” The New Yorker, March 5, 2012.

 

Next Tuesday, March 13,  celebration of  the passage of House and Senate resolutions declaring April Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month in Georgia.  See the schedule  Here .    

 

What will revolutionize the Christian community?  Read Academy of Preachers  and be thinking about what young person in your congregation may be called to preach. National Festival of Young Preachers in Atlanta January 2013!!

 

Join Twitter and follow us as we tweet the Bible one chapter at a time. We are @RCCAtl   

 

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

404-538-0246

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