Dear saints,
Over the next several weeks I’m doing some continuing education online with the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, out of Indianapolis. I’m learning alongside a cohort—as the singular Episcopalian in a sea of Baptists—and I've loved the opportunity to put into words the heart of this thriving and loving community we cherish in our lives called All Saints’.
A question we were asked this week is how we tell our story. One of the gifts of this challenging time of Covid has been listening to you articulate on the phone or on the screen your stories of All Saints’. They paint a picture for me of an intricate network of abundant grace and care, of deep goodness and the courage to break new ground together, making sacred what in our world today can easily become fraught spaces of dialogue and learning. To my new Baptist friends online I have been telling the story of a church called All Saints’ that ever widens my definition of how it looks to love like Jesus. What a gift that is; what a gift you are to me.
I pray that you will find opportunities this coming week to share your own sacred story of All Saints’, and speak of God’s deep movement of love welling up in your life.
Peace, |
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Sunday
8:00 a.m. Children's Church
10:00 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Service |
| Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
12:05 p.m. Noonday Prayer |
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Week of February 14, 2020 |
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| Join us for Children's Church and Children's Formation classes on Sunday morning.
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| Middle and High Schoolers |
Join us for Middle School Formation classes on Sunday morning and High School Small Group in the evening.
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| Join us next Sunday, February 14 for Virtual Brunch and Bible. Bring your own "cup of joe," along with a spirit of respect and generosity, as we unpack the unfolding texts of our lives in light of God's Living Word.
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| This Strange and Sacred Scripture |
Sundays, February 7, 14, and 21, 9:00-9:55 a.m., on Zoom |
The Old Testament can seem strange, even disturbing, for many Christians. Drawing on biblical scholarship and pastoral insights, this course offers strategies for reading and responding to the Old Testament in ways that are both faithful and constructive.
In partnership with The Candler Foundry, an initiative of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
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| The MICAH Project: Race and the Episcopal Church, Part II |
Sundays, February 7, 14, and 21, 9:00-9:55 a.m., on Zoom |
This Sunday, The MICAH Project at All Saints' will continue this series about Race and the Episcopal Church. The next three sessions focus on unsung heroes whose stories challenge and inspire in equal measure:
- Session 1: Arising Out of the Dust: The Life and Ministry of Absalom Jones with Des Dorsey
- Session 2: Bishop Henry Beard Delany: A Journey in the Episcopal Church with Elliot Watts
- Session 3: Austin Ford, Ethel Mae Matthews, and Emmaus House as a Center of Activism with Dr. Joe Crespino
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| Sundays, February 7, 14, and 21, 9:00-9:55 a.m., on Zoom |
In these divided times, how can we do meaningful work across difference? Join Representatives Mary Margaret Oliver (Democrat), Matthew Wilson (Democrat) and Edward Lindsey (Republican, retired) for a conversation about faith in public life.
Note: Jesus on the Front Page joins "Under the Gold Dome" on Sundays, February 7, 14, and 21. |
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| Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 a.m., on Zoom |
The Bible is full of journeys: short, long, searching, moving, fleeing and more. Things happen on these journeys: lives are changed, new directions are found; and through it all, "the feeling remains that God is on the journey, too” -Teresa of Avila. The Journey is a Bible study exploring the biblical journeys and what they have to say about our own.
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| Wednesdays, 6:00-6:30 p.m., on Facebook |
Join our clergy for a short piece of theologically informed social commentary. We’ll think about God and the world, and what it is like to live faithfully in it.
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Saints in the Light: Stewarding Sacred Spaces
Thursday, February 11, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., on Zoom
Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with leaders in Atlanta real estate as we imagine our place among the innovations unfolding in Midtown in the coming years. Panelists include:
- Michael Gragnani, Chair of the All Saints’ Future of the Block Committee
- John S. McColl, Executive Vice President of Development for Cousins Properties
- John Portman IV, President of Portman Holdings
Mark C. McDonald, President and CEO of the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and Chair of the All Saints’ Buildings and Grounds Committee, will moderate this dialogue.
Please note that this Zoom gathering will not be recorded, so be sure to join us live!
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Connecting the Dots with Natosha
Wednesday, February 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m., on Zoom
Join us for the next session in this monthly series to explore the intersection of our work and our faith with the Rev. Natosha Reid Rice. This month, hear from saints who work in the legal profession. Panelists include:
- Brent Gray, Assistant United States Attorney
- Nadia Fountain, Fiduciary Specialist and Vice President, Bank of America Private Bank
- Elizabeth Lindsey, Shareholder, Davis Matthews & Quigley, P.C
- Geoff Pope, Pope & Howard, P.C.
- Joseph Bryan, Partner at Taylor English Duma, LLP
Questions are welcome. Unmute and join us on Zoom!
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Faith in the City: Education and Equity with Dr. Beverly Tatum
Sunday, February 28, 9:00-9:55 a.m., on Facebook and Vimeo
Join the Rev. Dr. Simon Mainwaring, the Rev. Natosha Reid Rice, and special guest Dr. Beverly Tatum for a discussion about equity and education. Dr. Tatum has been a leading voice in the world of education for a generation. She is president emerita of Spelman College and the author of the best-selling book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race, now in its 20th anniversary edition.
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Service and Social Justice |
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 | Refugee Ministries
Volunteer to Help Lead our Online Tutoring Program
Refugee Ministries seeks volunteers with educational experience to step into leadership roles in our online tutoring program that currently hosts 32 students and 44 volunteers on Zoom.
We’re looking for the following support to help expand our program:
- Improving our student assessment
- Providing assessment and orientation to new students on Zoom
- Locating online educational resources
- Writing lesson plans
- Offering training to tutors and support to volunteers
Two Mentorship Opportunities
We invite two volunteer mentors to support two people through our Refugee Ministries program. Both people speak fluent English. - One mentor will assist an Iranian American friend in applying to university with a focus in the study of cyber security.
- The second mentor will assist a Burmese American friend who recently graduated from Agnes Scott. She has a full ride to graduate school in Education and would like help in improving her writing skills before she begins. A six session commitment (one hour per week) is desired.
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| Provide a Meal for the Men of Covenant Community
Available dates: February 15, 22, and March 1
Lent is but a few weeks away. In that spirit, we invite your help with Monday dinners for Covenant Community. Sharing a meal with the men inside the community is still not possible, but a supportive procedure is in place. Until further notice, dinner can be dropped off at CCI’s front door on Spring Street any time during the day. After dinner, the men would very much like to do a Zoom meeting with the parishioner(s) so that everyone could virtually get together. Your participation will be very much appreciated.
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| Lent from Home Drive-Through
Sunday, February 14, 12:00-1:30 p.m., in the Lower Parking Deck
Ash Wednesday (February 17) marks the beginning of Lent, a solemn season of prayer, fasting (giving something up), and reflection as we prepare for Easter.
As we begin this season, everyone is invited to this drive-through event to pick up ashes for Ash Wednesday and Lenten supplies, including prayers, practices, symbols, and daily wonderings to do with the whole family.
Please register online by Friday, February 12, so that we know how many supplies to prepare.
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| Praying in Color for Lent: Order a Coloring Book!
“The Word Gave Life to Everything that was Created, and His Life Brought Light to Everyone” John 1:4
Consider coloring as part of your meditative Lenten journey this year. May it provide calm, focus, relaxation and an end result that will shine light upon your life and those around you.
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| Pancake Cooking Contest
Break out the griddle and pass the syrup! We’re hosting a pancake cooking contest to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.
Although we would rather eat pancakes together in person, we’re excited to see what you create at home! Prizes will be awarded for the most creative pancakes (think: fun ingredients, toppings, shapes, and presentation, etc.!).
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| Neighborhood Connections Groups
Our *new* Neighborhood Connections Groups invite everyone to engage in fun, social activities with saints who live nearby, such as sharing a cup of coffee on a porch, taking a cooking class over Zoom, or going for a walk or hike together.
All participants will receive a free "Love Lives Here" yard sign!
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| Sign Up ASAP for All Saints’ Connects Small Groups
All Saints’ Connects small groups meet online to explore questions of spiritual growth and transformation.
There's still time to join! One of our monthly groups begins the week of February 7 and our weekly Lenten groups begin the week of February 15.
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| Novel Theology: The King at the Edge of the World by Arthur Phillips
Wednesday, February 24, 7:00-8:00 p.m., on Zoom
In the year 1601, Queen Elizabeth is about to die without an heir. The leading candidate is King James VI of Scotland, but there are rumors that James is not a Protestant and secretly shares his family’s Catholicism. If true, then forty years of religious war will have been for nothing, and a bloodbath will ensue. With time running out, London confronts a seemingly impossible question: What does James truly believe?
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| Jezebels: Women's Book Study
Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 p.m., on Zoom
Jezebels is a women’s reading group that has met continuously for 16 years. We read a variety of fiction, nonfiction, plays, and poetry, deeply exploring each selection over a period of weeks.
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| Contemplative Prayer
Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00 p.m., on Zoom
We learn about this centuries-old practice, reflect on relevant readings, and enter into holy silence in the discipline of centering prayer, offering another way to build communities of faith that bond us in mutual friendship and Christ’s love. All are welcome, from novices to longtime practitioners.
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“I have a dear friend who died recently. She had lived a long, interesting, and happy life. She loved All Saints’ Church and I made a gift to the church in her memory. It was exactly the right way to honor her life.”
The All Saints’ Memorials and Gifts Fund is a way to remember and honor friends and loved ones. Send a check made out to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 634 W. Peachtree St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30308 and include a note that names the person to be remembered or honored. We will acknowledge the gift to you and to the immediate family of your loved one. We have a beautiful Book of Remembrances in the church library that lists the names of those recognized each year with a gift.
Thank you so much for including this church in these gifts. These funds are used to support and enhance the ministry of worship at All Saints’.
Year-end giving statements were mailed a week ago.
Did you receive yours and did you check it twice? Let us know if you have questions. Many thanks.
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| [VIDEO] Faith in the City: Health and Equity |
In case you missed it: last Sunday, Simon and Natosha spoke with Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones to explore the theme of ‘Health and Equity’ and the kind of social contract Christians in particular are called to co-create with regards to the wellness of all people.
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| Last Chance to Sign Up: Adult Inquirer's Class |
Interested in becoming a member of All Saints'?
The Adult Inquirer’s Class is a six-part introduction to the life of faith at All Saints’ led by our rector, the Rev. Dr. Simon Mainwaring. Each session via Zoom follows a three-part movement from faith, city to action, inviting participants to grow as individuals and build community within the parish.
Dates: Mondays, February 1, 8, 22 and March 8, 15 and 22, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., on Zoom
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| A Service of Recovery and Healing |
Led by the Reverend Bob Book, our Service of Recovery and Healing meets on the second Sunday of each month at 4:30 p.m. ET. We focus on one of the 12 Steps in the context of an Evening Prayer service. Anyone interested in recovery is welcome; confidentiality is required.
Next meeting: Sunday, February 14 at 4:30 p.m.
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| Staying Resilient During Job Uncertainty |
A job search during COVID-19 can be a complicated puzzle to assemble. Chris Mathes, self-proclaimed family business survivor, has offered to help parishioners discern what this process toward employment looks like.
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| Donate Flower Memorials and Thanksgivings |
We welcome your support of our Flower Guild, whose work is offered to the glory of God. We invite your gifts in loving memory of those who have died, and in celebration of God's blessings in your life. The suggested donation is $150 and multiple flower memorials may be printed in our Sunday bulletins to accommodate our parishioners’ generosity.
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| Technical Help Desk Ministry |
Having technical trouble engaging church online? We have technical support ministry to help. If you experience issues accessing the Sunday morning worship broadcast or formation classes on Zoom, please submit a help form and someone will get back to you as soon as possible to help address your problem.
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Rite 13
Many thanks to the families and supporters of our Rite 13 participants! Last Sunday evening, we hosted a rite of passage ceremony with the teens and parents on Zoom. Rite 13 is a program designed for emerging adults (typically 7th or 8th graders) to explore their relationship with themselves, God, and the world. |
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Watch over your children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged; raise them up when they fall; and in their hearts may your peace abide all their days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. |
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