Church Action eNewsletter Week of September 9, 2019

[RCCAtl]

1. Atlanta Legal Aid Instagram Photo Contest open through Sept. 15. Atlanta Legal Aid invites photographers of all ages and skill level to enter the first ever photo contest. What does justice means to you! Here’s how to enter: Follow @atlantalegalaid on Instagram. Post a photo that answers the prompt, “How do you picture justice?” Get creative with it, and explain your interpretation of the prompt in your caption. Use the hashtag #ipicturejustice in the caption of your photograph. Guest judges are professional photographers, Melissa Golden and Dustin Chambers. The winner’s photograph will be displayed at the Picturing Justice exhibit at Atlanta Legal Aid in October. Information, terms, and conditions.

2. Sign up to be a 2019-2020 Amigo Friend with AMIS and help welcome students who are far from home to our community. Learn more at AMIS-inc.us.

3. End New Jim Crow’s next meeting on Restorative Justice Advocacy is Wed., Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Friends Meetinghouse, 701 West Howard Ave, Decatur 30032. Everyone is welcome! Discussion will center on next steps in the connection with the DeKalb D. A.'s office. Fania Davis's “The Little Book of Race and Restorative Justice: Black Lives, Healing, and U.S. Social Transformation” will be available at the meeting for $5.

4. Atlanta Friends Meeting will host Leila Zand, Iranian peach activist, at the Meeting House, 701 West Howard Avenue, Decatur 30030, from 6:30-7:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12. Light refreshments; free admission and parking. Sponsored by Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition www.georgiapeace.org 404-378-5424.

5. Alliant Quality free Mental Health First Aid training. Sept. 13 at 1455 Lincoln Parkway, Atlanta; Sept. 20 at Oakhurst Medical Centers, Stone Mountain; Sept. 25 at Mercy Care, Chamblee. If you are interested in attending, email [e-mail], be sure to specify your desired date. These classes will be from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. with a break for lunch.

6. The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, one of the most acclaimed choirs in the world, will be hosted by Friends of Cathedral Music, Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Road, Atlanta 30305, Friday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 p.m., Atlanta. Tickets here. 

7. 20th Annual Peach Cobbler Auction for Mennonite Relief at Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Sept. 13-14. Friday night hymn sing starts the weekend for guests though cooks and woodworkers and needlework artists have been busy all year. Saturday features a pancake breakfast, barbeque lunch, children’s activities, and auction with items from $5 to thousands. Information and photos. 

8. Want to see local food feeding local people? Join the Society of St. Andrew to glean muscadines near Fayetteville. Use this link to register: https://signup.com/go/aHoeUXP Contact Adam F. Graham, Georgia Director with any questions at [e-mail]

9. The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints Atlanta Preparedness Fair, an educational and entertaining event that is free to the community, focused on things people can do to be more prepared for the future. Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 1947 Brockett Rd, Tucker 30084. Check out all the fun things for kids and the impressive array of supporting and participating community organizations, public and private here.For more info or to participate contact [e-mail] or [phone].
To sign up for the American Red Cross Blood Drive at the event with the same contacts or sign up directly at www.redcrossblood.org. Enter sponsor code: LDSTUCKER

10. Citizens for a Healthy and Safe Environment, Atlanta for the Planet, and Stonecrest Citizens Coalition will share information about cell towers in residential areas. One was placed at 3610 Evans Mill Road in Stonecrest. Come to the Stonecrest Public Library, 3123 Klondike Road, Stonecrest 30038, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2-5 p.m.

11. Evolution Concert at Neighborhood Church, Saturday, Sept. 14, 6:30 p.m. This jazz, blues, and R&B infused spiritual journey with B-Renee is a benefit for Georgia Prison Ministries. Tickets www.evolutionconcert2019.com

12. The Rev. Dr. Simon Mainwaring, rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta, is the featured preacher Sept. 15 on “Day 1” with host Peter Wallace, the nationally broadcast ecumenical radio program also accessible online at Day1.org and via podcast. Day 1” has been broadcast every week for 74 years. Featuring outstanding preachers from the mainline denominations, it is currently distributed to more than 200 radio stations across America and overseas. For more information, check Day1.org.

13. Les Trois Voix, a women’s vocal ensemble based in Atlanta, will present a full concert Sunday, Sept. 15, 3:00 p.m. at Northside Drive Baptist Church, 3100 Northside Drive NW, Atlanta 30305. For more information visit their website www.lestroisvoix.org.

14. September 18 and 28, Volunteer Orientation at New American Pathways Come learn how you can help. More information and registration information is here. 

15. Women's Bible Study with Rev. Linda Whitmire at Sandy Springs Christian Church in the Barbee Conference Room begins Wednesday, September 18, 10 a.m., 301 Johnson Ferry Road NW, Sandy Springs 30328.

16. North Fulton Mental Health Collaborative September Meeting. Fact or Fiction? Dispelling Suicide Myths with Dr. Rachel Geller, Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, Thursday, Sept. 19, 9-11 a.m., Mount Pisgah UMC, 2850 Old Alabama Rd., Johns Creek. Register.

17. Enigma: Decoding the Mysterious Language of the Soul, Ashok Bedi, M.D. Friday lecture, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Members $20; nonmembers $25; Students $10. Saturday Workshop, Interpretation of Dreams, A Jungian Perspective, Sept. 21, 10:00 am- 5:00 pm (see website for prices) CEU’s available Both programs at Sandy Springs Christian Church, 301 Johnson Ferry Rd, Sandy Springs 30328 see www.Jungatlanta.com for specifics.

18. The Eighth Annual Care Partners’ Conference is offered by the Dementia Ministry at Due West UMC, 3956 Due West Rd, Marietta 30064, Saturday, Sept. 21, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Topics for exploration include Finding the Pillars of Personhood: Keys to Living Well in Dementia with; Are These "Challenging Behaviors" or Expressions of Unmet Needs?; Seeking Help Sooner Rather Than Later. Register here. This is a free event and lunch is provided.

19. Keep Atlanta Beautiful is no longer offering monthly recycling at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Buckhead. The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials will offer recycling the last Saturday of each month, 8 a.m. – 12, at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Rd, Atlanta 30305. The CHaRM September recycling event has been moved from September 28 to September 21. CHaRM Permanent Location, Tuesday & Thursday 9-4; Saturday 8-3, 1110 Hill Street SE, Atlanta 30315.

20. “Bearing Witness: Faith, Remembrance, and the Journey Toward Racial Justice” featuring Austin Channing Brown, a speaker, activist, and author of the Amazon top 20 bestselling memoir I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness and Hank Klibanoff, an Emory professor, veteran newspaper editor, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-author of The Race Beat, managing editor of the Civil Rights Cold Case Project, and host of the Peabody Award-winning Buried Truths podcast. Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of Decatur First United Methodist Church. The event is free and open to the public, with registration required by Sept. 20. Register here.

21. TheoEd Talks,Sunday, Sept. 22, 5 p.m., The Carter Center. This ecumenical speaker series brings together leading thinkers in the church and the academy to give a TED-style, “talk of their lives” in 20 minutes or less. TheoEd is presented by First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta and Candler School of Theology, Emory University. For tickets and more, visit TheoEd.com. Speakers include: Jonathan Merritt, an award-winning journalist on religion and culture, and author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch; Austin Channing Brown, a leading new voice on racial justice; Mihee Kim-Kort, an ordained Presbyterian (USA) minister who writes and speaks on kinship, identity, and Asian-American feminist theology; Ted Smith, Professor of Preaching and Ethics at Candler School of Theology whose work focuses on the intersections of theology, ethics, and society.

22. Falls Prevention Awareness Day, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2208 East Main St., Snellville. Sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Church, the Ga. Dept. of Public Health, and Emory University. Come for this free event with demonstrations, health checks, screenings, and prevention classes. Free lunch with pre-registration. Simply click this link to register and for more info. .

23. Georgia Cares invites you to attend the 2019 Mastering the Art Gala celebrating a decade of service, ensuring all survivors of child sex trafficking receive quality care in the state of Georgia. Friday, Sept. 27, at 6:00 p.m. Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Read more here.

24. “Love Divine” the Trey Clegg Singers 2019 Fall Concert, Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Saint Mark United Methodist Church, 781 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta 30308 General admission $25. Tickets.  

25. St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ponce de Leon and Oakdale, will offer a Pet Blessing Service to the public Sunday, Sept. 29, at 10:30 a.m. “In this service, the life of all God’s creatures is celebrated. Bring your beloved pet to church with you as we honor our animal companions and the joys they share with us!” says pastor Rev. Nancy Christensen. All pets are welcome. For safety, please have your pet on a leash or in a carrier. For more information see www.stjohnsatlanta.org.

26. Sabbath Rest is designed to help you grow as one who listens to God. Participants will receive a video tutorial about a week before the event. It’ll offer some teaching and tips on listening and hearing from God. You’ll then be welcomed to a beautiful retreat facility in Sandy Springs for about 3 hours of focused time with God. Your relationship with God and your ministry in the world will be richer because of it! Registration is free but required.Tuesday, Oct. 1, 12 – 4 p.m., Ignatius House, 6700 Riverside Dr. Atlanta. 

27. Two brothers from the ecumenical Taizé community will be in Atlanta for three nights of Taizé prayer and conversation. Oct. 1-3, Tues.–Thurs., Oct. 3, you are invited to gather for ecumenical prayer and conversation at successive churches. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m., prayer at Central Presbyterian Church followed by a brief welcome of the brothers to Atlanta. Wednesday, Oct. 2, 7:00 p.m., Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip, conversation about the theme of “Taizé and Hospitality” followed by prayer. Thursday, Oct. 3, St. Thomas More Catholic Church Decatur, 7:00 p.m., “Pilgrimage and Building Trust,” followed by Taizé prayer. For more information see the Taizé Atlanta Facebook page or www.taizeatlanta.me.

28. "Clergy burn out and isolation are real." "Clergy self-care and colleagueship are important.” If you experience or believe this, join a newly forming ecumenical Clergy Support Group at Training and Counseling Center at St. Luke's (TACC), October 3. 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month/ 1-3 p.m. $40 per group session (attended or missed). Facilitator is Rev. Dorothea Lotze-Kola, LMFT. For more information call [phone] #2002

29. Are you getting ready for the Do Good Challenge coming up on October 5? Read more.

30. Atlanta Master Chorale All Creatures Great and Small, Friday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 5, 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Inspired by the phrase, “All creatures great and small,” from the poem by Cecil Frances Alexander, the first concert of the season is an exploration of music about birds, animals, and all manner of assorted fauna. You might be surprised to discover how much music has been written about the animal kingdom and what “all creatures great and small” might teach us about ourselves. Purchase tickets.

31. The Georgia Crisis & Access Line is available 24/7 for problems with developmental disabilities, mental health, drugs, or alcohol at 1-800-715-4225. Now the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) has created another avenue to connect Georgians to 24/7 help; the MY GCAL app was designed with Georgia's youth in mind. The mobile application, made for both Andriod and Apple, connects one immediately with a trained professional. One can choose the method of connection, through text, chat, or phone. Spread the word.

32. Saddened by the persistent racial and theological division, President Jimmy Carter determined to do what he could to heal the divides. In 2007, President Carter brought together prominent leaders from across the Baptist family representing more than 30 organizations and more than 20 million people. From this effort, the New Baptist Covenant was born, renewing a pursuit of unity and justice on a local and national scale. New Baptist Covenant offers a number of free resources, from Bible studies to be used in small groups to litanies to be used in worship. Click the resources tab on the website to see offerings. 

33. Promise Place operates in Fayette, Spalding, Pike, and Upson Counties and serves more than 3,000 survivors of domestic violence a year providing shelter, crisis intervention, legal advocacy, community education, safety planning, support groups. Their community outreach work includes law enforcement training. Their Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program educates over 2,500 youth each year. Learn more about their programs and upcoming events here.