Church Action eNewsletter Week of November 21, 2016

[RCCAtl]

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta

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Church Action eNewsletter Week of  November 21, 2016

 

 

1. Joyous Toys Buckhead Christian Ministry— help 650 kids wake up with gifts under the tree this Christmas. At the Joyous Toys Store low-income parents have the joy of finding just the right things for their children to open on Christmas morning. Deliver new unwrapped toys to Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, 2715 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta 30305, now through Dec. 3. Parents are less likely to select stuffed animals, clothing, and craft sets.. just so you know.

 

2. Pre-Advent Quiet Day & Blue Christmas Service, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 306 Peyton Road SW, Atlanta 30311. Nov. 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. —help with grieving during holidays. The holidays can be a sad time for those who have experienced loss. Not everyone is cheery for the holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other prognosis that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make joviality painful for many people in our communities. St. Paul's, being mindful of and attentive to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas, will create and hold sacred space for people living through dark times. For more information, contact The Rev. Arlette D. Benoit at [e-mail]

 

3. Hear the Matsiko World Orphan Choir this Saturday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 1875 Joseph E. Boone Blvd., Atlanta 30314, Hear the Joy ~ See the Hope ~ Feel the Love. Read more about the choir here.

 

4. The Rev. Elaine Dreeben, associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville, Tex., is the featured preacher Sunday, Nov. 27, on Day 1. Her sermon for the first Sunday of Advent is “A Homegoing Song” based on Psalm 122. Hear it, read it, find your local station and a wealth of audio video, and text resources at Day1.org. 

 

5. If you care… be there! We have work to do and it is time to talk. Mary Margaret Oliver invites you to the Georgia State Capitol, Room 341, on Nov. 29, at 1:00 p.m.to discuss gun violence and legislation to ban the sale of assault type weapons, large capacity magazines, and armor piercing and incendiary bullets in the State of Georgia.  Religious leaders and experts will guide the discussion.

 

6. The Dementia Caregivers Support Group meets every other Tuesday at the Lake Oconee Community Church, 10:30 a.m., upcoming meetings are Nov. 29, Dec. 13, Dec. 27, and Jan. 10. Click to contact the leaders for more information.

 

7. Atlanta Community Ministries Advent Sabbath Rest, Thursday, Dec. 1, 12 Noon-4:00 p.m. at Ignatius House—  “The Light Shines in the Darkness”John 1:5. Four hours of silence in the midst of election and post-election convulsion. What could be better? What could be better leading into Christmas? These mini silent retreats are a balm to soul, spirit, body and mind—and more necessary than ever! The cost including lunch is $22, and scholarships are available, just ask. Register now here. 

 

8. Start your holiday season off by joining the children of Decatur First Baptist for “The Inn Crowd” by Fanfare Music Kids, Friday, December 2, 6:00 p.m., Carreker Hall (first floor, Sanctuary building). Cost is $6 Adults, $3 Child, Maximum $18 per family. Fee includes a family-style meal.308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur 30030. 

 

9. The Festival Singers of Atlanta open their 35th season "A Season of Celebration" Friday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m., Northside Drive Baptist Church Chapel, 3100 Northside Dr. NW, Atlanta 30308 and

Sunday, December 4, at 3 p.m. at St. Mark United Methodist Church, 781 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta 30307. The program includes works by Parry, Lauridsen, Morley, Howells, Victoria, and Atlanta-based composer N. Grant Pfeifer. Concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.  For more information, check www.festivalsingersofatlanta.org. 

 

10. L'Arche Atlanta community annual Holiday Party, hosted by L'Arche's neighbors, Trinity Anglican Mission, 630 East Lake Drive, Decatur 30030 — a potluck dinner, caroling (if you have an instrument, bring one), raffle prizes, a holiday photo booth, and a hot cocoa bar. It will be a festive evening full of fun on Saturday, Dec. 3, 5:30 to 8:00. The mission of L’Arche is to build community with people of all abilities, to help our society imagine the human family differently, to inspire others to similar initiatives. They do this primarily through small homes where three adults with intellectual disabilities and three assistants share life together, living in the manner of a family, trusting God, and living fully engaged lives in the larger community. Each L’Arche community is a grassroots, local effort. L’Arche Atlanta opened its first home in August of 2012. R.s.v.p. to [e-mail] and find out what you can bring. All who wish to celebrate with this unique community are welcome.

 

11. Voices of Zambia from The International Bible college of Zambia will perform in Greensboro on Dec. 4, at First United Methodist Church, 4741 Carey Station Road location, at 9 a.m. worship, and at First UMC, 202 West Broad Street, at 11 a.m. worship. At 6 p.m. they will be at First Baptist Church, 203 S Main Street.

 

12. Holiday Jazz Vespers, Sunday, December 4, 5:30 p.m., Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, 5135 Memorial Dr., Stone Mountain 30083. Invite your family, friends, and co-workers to welcome the Holiday Season with professional jazz music from Rock of  Ages members Gary and Veronica Motley and a few of their incredibly talented jazz musician friends.

 

13. Advent Quiet Day, The Wolf Shall Live with the Lamb: Praying with the One who is Peace,  Saturday, Dec. 10, 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., The Julian of Norwich Center, St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, 2601 Henderson Mill Road, NE, Atlanta 30345, $40 includes lunch. Call [phone] for information or to register.

 

14. Have you volunteered at the Open Door, worked against the death penalty, worked for affordable healthcare for all, or any number of other social justice issues in Atlanta?  Then you know Ed Loring and Murphy Davis, who are moving away after long years of tireless advocacy. Join in on Dec. 13, 12 p.m..-2 p.m. to honor Ed and Murphy at the People's Agenda Luncheon,  Wheat Street Baptist Church, 359 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, 30312. $10 at the door.  Please R.s.v.p. to Heather Gray- [e-mail] this week.

 

15. Newtown – what remains after all is lost? Filmed over the course of nearly three years, the filmmakers tell the never before heard story of the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history on December 14, 2012. Newtown documents a traumatized community fractured by grief and driven toward a sense of purpose. Joining the ranks of a growing club to which no one wants to belong, a cast of characters interconnect to weave an intimate story of community resilience. Following the film, hosted by the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, join interfaith organizations and community groups for a conversation about trauma, healing, and the actions individuals can take to address gun violence nationally and locally. Hendrix Chenault Theater at The Lovett School, 4075 Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta 30327, Wednesday evening, Dec. 7, 6 p.m. registration and reception, 6:45 film, 8:15 panel discussion.   Panelists include Newtown director Kim Snyder;  Rabbi Peter Berg, The Temple, Georgia Outcry;  Imam Plemon El-Amin,  Linda Degutis, adjunct at Emory / former director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (her story is here);  moderator, John Bare, Blank Family Foundation. Registration is required. To register click here.

 

16. Children and Youth Ministries of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 306 Peyton Road SW, Atlanta 30311, will present a Christmas cantata entitled "Jesus Matters," Saturday, Dec 17, 5:00 p.m.  This is a narrative production of vocal and instrumental, accompanied by other artistic expressions such as dance and spoken word. For more information contact Rev. Arlette D. Benoit at [e-mail].

 

17. Mark your calendar for the first annual "Christmas on Clairemont", a collaborative music spectacular, December 18, at 7 p.m., hosted by Daniel Solberg of First Baptist Church Decatur.  The event features a full orchestra, organ, piano, a special surprise guest soloist, and a festival choir of more than a hundred local voices from First Baptist Decatur, Decatur Presbyterian Church, the Georgia State University Singers, and many others. The concert is presented free of charge to the public. Voluntary contributions will benefit clean drinking water in the Lake Victoria region of Kenya. More information to come or read more here.

 

Visit our website for a complete community calendar, links to the Toolbox  for Mental Health Ministry, websites for daily devotionals, and many other resources. We will be happy to include your announcements in an upcoming eNewsletter. Send them to [e-mail].

 

Peace,

Ethel Ware Carter

The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

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