Church Action eNewsletter Week of September 23, 2019

[RCCAtl]

Week of September 23, 2019
The Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, Inc.

God calls us to some things we cannot do alone.

Take a look at the Community Event Calendar on our website and celebrate all the good things that people of faith are doing. www.RCCAtl.org. You will also find the last few weeks' editions on our home page www.rccatl.org. Send us your events.

1. Traveling the Way of Love, Episode 5: Pray, the latest installment of a new video series, premieres Sept. 24, 3 p.m. on The Episcopal Church website and Facebook page. Each episode highlights one of the seven Way of Love practices: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. In this episode, Sikkema visits the Rev. Canon Katie Churchwell in St. Petersburg, Fla. to discuss Pop-up Prayer, a Facebook ministry started when the church was shut down in anticipation of a hurricane as a way for people to connect and counteract feelings of isolation and fear.

2. The Refugee Advocacy Consortium, will host Week of Action for Refugees with 3 events to write postcards and make phone calls to lawmakers to ask them to support the refugee resettlement program: 1. Wed., Sept. 25, 6:15 to 7:30 p.m., Shaffer Room, All Saints’ Episcopal Church (634 W. Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta 30308). Dinner before starting at 5 p.m.; 2. Thur., Sept. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (515 E Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur 30030). Lunch provided; 3. Thur., Sept. 26, 12- 2 p.m., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (435 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta 30308). Lunch provided.

3. The Week of Action will culminate at the Rally for Resettlement Saturday, Sept. 28, 2-4 p.m., at the Clarkston International Bible Church, 3895 Church St, Clarkston 30021, to honor World Relief, a refugee agency that must close due to the reduction in refugee arrivals, and other agencies whose services will be reduced. There will also be a community building activity to create new networks of service. Questions? Contact Louisa Merchant at [e-mail]. R.s.v.p. here.

4. For over four decades, the Greek Orthodox Christian community has opened its doors to host one of Atlanta’s landmark cultural events, the Atlanta Greek Festival. Sept. 27-29, Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Rd NE, Atlanta 30329. Ticket information and more here.

5. September 28, Volunteer Orientation at New American Pathways. Come learn how you can help. More information and registration information can be found here.

6. Reminder of Coro Vocati “Can You Hear Me?,” a special concert focused on giving a voice to the voiceless and disenfranchised with music from around the world in 11 different languages, Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at Marietta First UMC. For more information or tickets, visit corovocati.org. Share this information with your congregations – this event is not to be missed!

7. The Rev. Scott Jones, popular podcaster and minister based in the Philadelphia area, is the featured preacher Sept. 29 on “Day 1.” “Live and Let Die,” Scott’s sermon is drawn from Luke 16:19-31, the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Hear Day1 Sundays at 7:05 a.m. on News 95.5 and 750 AM WSB or visit Day1.org to hear it now and find other audio, video, and text resources.

8. Worship in the Park is Sunday, Sept. 29. Come worship in the community, 11 a.m. at
the corner of Cherokee and Sydney, Grant Park. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic lunch for a wonderful morning of worship and fellowship with neighbors at St. Paul UMC, Alexander Memorial AME, Park Avenue Baptist Church, Ormewood Church, and Holy Comforter Episcopal Church. All are welcome.

9. It’s Greek to me! Enjoy Biblical Greek in a faith community at study open to all, Cathedral of St. Philip, fall 2019 – summer 2020, Sundays 1:15- 2:45 p.m., Open to beginners, this class includes long-term members who translate using grammar aids, lexicons, and commentaries, enjoying how the Greek text reveals nuance and depth in scripture. Provided on a drop-in basis, first-time visitors need no previous knowledge of Greek. Room 356, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta 30305. For more information contact the Rev.Thee Smith, [phone] or [e-mail] or visit this website.

10. Also! Saturday Greek Tutorial, alternating Saturdays, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Taylor Rm., 1790 LaVista Road NE, Atlanta 30329. R.s.v.p. to Sandy Schieman, [phone] or [e-mail].

11. Reminder of Coro Vocati “Can You Hear Me?,” a special concert giving a voice to the voiceless and disenfranchised with music from around the world in 11 different languages, Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m., at Morningside Presbyterian Church. For more information or tickets, visit corovocati.org. Share this information with your congregations – this event is not to be missed!

12. Seeds of Hope Counseling is hosting an evening conversation, "Anxiety in the Workplace," on Monday, September 30 from 7-9 p.m. at Sandy Springs UMC. Anxiety is one of the largest mental health concerns these days permeating all parts of life, especially the workplace. Join for an evening of identifying symptoms, learning how to initiate conversations with colleagues, and tools to reduce anxiety. Registration here.

13. The Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust will be in Atlanta Oct. 1-3 with events in three churches: Central Presbyterian, the Cathedral of St. Philip, and St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Find out more about Taizé and get all the details here.

14. Clergy, how is your soul? In a culture where we promote self-care, we often feel like something is still lacking. Join other clergy for a day-long workshop to explore the aspects of soul care that can help us seek contentment and restoration. "Soul Care for Clergy" is hosted by Seeds of Hope Counseling on Thursday, Oct. 3. Registration here.

15. Special Volunteer Opportunity at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Friday, Oct. 4. Come help glean food and products from the trade show floor at the Georgia World Congress Center. It’s a great hands-on opportunity sure to go fast. Register for this opportunity.

16. Jay Haggard will be at First Friday at First, Oct. 4, 6-9 p.m., great food, fun, and fellowship! Tickets are $20, students $10. Call [phone] to inquire about season tickets. The Commons, First Congregational Church, 125 Ellis Street, Atlanta 30303. Free parking in the CARE lot on Piedmont Ave. The Rev. Dwight Andrews will be performing with Haggard.

17. Gifts from God: a contemplative approach to spirituality and sexuality, Saturday, October 5, Absalom Jones Episcopal Center, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Within faith communities, perhaps no other topic provokes such heated debate as sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This workshop offers healthy and honest discussions . . . with no attempts to convince one another to adopt any view. Dr. Westina Matthews, Center for Christian Spirituality, General Theological Seminary and the Rev. Tommie Watkins, Jr, Rector, St. Andrew’s Church, Birmingham, will facilitate. For more information email [e-mail]. Registration is $10. Register Here

18. Orchard invites people all over the city will make the world a better place by participating in The Do Good Challenge Oct. 5. Teams of friends, families, small groups, etc. are invited to enter this scavenger-hunt-style competition. People will complete random acts of kindness and challenges in categories like “be kind”, “get active”, “go green.” People of all ages can play for a variety of prizes. Learn more and register at www.meetorchard.org.

19. Compassionate Leadership for the City: A Dialogue, Sunday, Oct. 6, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 W. Peachtree, Atlanta 30308. Join The Rt. Rev. Dr. Katharine Jefferts Schori, former presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, and The Rt. Rev. Robert C. Wright, bishop of The Diocese of Atlanta, for a dialogue about leadership for this time in our city's life. The evening will begin with Holy Eucharist in the church at 5:30 p.m., followed by a reception and dialogue in Ellis Hall. For more information, email the Rev. Dr. Simon Mainwaring at [e-mail].

20. Home: Bringing Compassion to Life, Sunday, Oct. 6, 4 – 6 p.m., Cator Woolford Gardens at The Frazer Center, 1815 S. Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta 30307. Join Compassionate Atlanta to embrace community and look at what home means to each of us. How can we use compassion to work towards creating a safe, affordable, comfortable home for everyone? All are welcome you into this space of storytelling and the shared human experience of home.

21. The Mercer Preaching Consultation is Oct. 6-8 at McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta 30341. More

22. Book Launch, talk and signing, with Catherine Meeks and Nibs Stroupe for “Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells as Prophet for Our Time,“ Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7-9 p.m., Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta 30305. Free and open to the public. Wells was a powerful churchwoman and witness for justice and equity from 1878 to 1931. Born enslaved, her witness flowed through the struggles for justice. Her life is a profound witness for faith-based work of visionary power, resistance, and resilience for today's world. R.s.v.p. here.

23. Fitness, Fun & Fellowship meets Thursdays at 10-11:15 a.m. This free class is for men and women of all fitness levels. Shallowford Presbyterian Church, 2375 Shallowford Road, Atlanta, [phone] www.shallowford.org.

24. Action Ministries fifth annual Life Changers Breakfast, Thursday, Oct. 17, 8-9 a.m., will bring together community leaders, donors, and volunteers to celebrate and support the work being done to offer opportunities for change to Georgia’s youth and families living in poverty. Action Ministries Georgia Seating is complimentary but limited; sign up soon here.

25. OWL (Outreach, Wellness, Learning) seminars from Mental Health of America Georgia are 60-90 minute trainings designed to increase mental health literacy and combat the stigma associated with mental illness. There are six options any of which would be beneficial for a congregation or organization. If you are interested in scheduling training, contact Erin Clayton at [e-mail]

26. The Fall Historic Pews and Pulpits Ramble is Oct. 11, $60 per person-- visit churches and hear about their beginnings-- be inspired by songs and words from some of the pulpits. Snacks & lunch are included. Contact [e-mail]

All events previously announced go into the Community Calendar on our website. Visit www.rccatl.org for the calendar, the Clergy Tool Box for Mental Health Ministry, and more.

Peace,
Ethel Ware Carter