Dear saints,

It is slightly odd to prepare a note for you to read on Good Friday. Our excellent, new communications director, Kathy Powell, asked this week whether or not we send an e-news out today, as usual. I said that we did, but it struck me as a particularly astute and attentive question. We send this e-news out because there's a lot we want folks to be aware of as we head into the Easter weekend. It's necessary that we communicate as fully as we can, yet at the same time it does feel a little odd, doesn't it, to treat Good Friday like any other end of a working week. 

For any of us who take the theological themes of holy week seriously, surely Good Friday should be a day when we "stop all the clocks", as W. H. Auden's beloved poem says. For is it not the case that the everyday nature of the world must now contend with the in-breaking of an entirely new thing, an event not only without compare but beyond comprehension. This is the day, after all, when God is put to death, when the Creator is executed by the created. This is not a day to once more get stuck in traffic on the connector, or to eat too much at lunch, or to scroll our thumbs idly over a glowing screen. 

Of course, between picking up groceries for Easter and feeding the dog, there might be a chance for you to practice a little religion today and see if that helps at all. At All Saints’, you could come at noon for the Seven Last Words of Christ, walk the Midtown Stations of the Cross or pray with your body on the labyrinth in the courtyard. And if all of that is just too ‘alternative’ for you, I am sure the cathedral has something suitably Anglican, or perhaps the Catholics will be better, or go all out and see what the Lutherans are doing. 

Yet, don't be too hopeful about it, because I am not sure that religion will do us any good in the end, not when it comes to the disjunct of the cosmic nature of the death and resurrection of God, and the shape of the world beyond the church doors. For surely, if God conquers death this weekend, then the world should look different. Or at the least, the world should have noticed. But I fear that it hasn't noticed. 'Love conquers death' doesn't make it to the headlines in my newspaper. 

Why does it all this religion matter, then? Why does the church matter? Why does Easter, in a world such as this? 

Because, at dawn two millennia ago, when others of us were scratching around for some glimmer of truth about the meaning of their lives, the tomb was found empty. The body on the cross was no longer waiting to decay. Jesus was free, and the possibility that we might be free too somehow became more real than it had before. 

So, yes, please do answer your emails today. Feed the kids. Obey the law. And eat your greens. Go on about your business. But know, even as the world continues to be blithely unaware, this Sunday the tomb will be empty, and perhaps this is the year when you will also know a resurrection.

Keep the faith, and when Sunday comes, Happy Easter!

Peace,

TODAY: Good Friday at All Saints'

Walk the labyrinth before or after the noonday service or before the Midtown Stations of the Cross. The labyrinth walk will be in the courtyard from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please allow at least 10-15 minutes to walk and reflect.

Reflect on Jesus’ last words from the cross and join us for our Noon service both in the church and livestreamed to our website, Youtube, and Facebook. Read today's bulletin for the Good Friday service.

Experience the Way of the Cross by joining our neighborhood churches and walking the Midtown Stations of the Cross. Please gather at 1:30 p.m. in the Courtyard.

Read Jenny's meditation for Good Friday as our Lenten Parishioner Meditations series ends with this week's meditations. Read the meditation here.

This Sunday

Easter at All Saints' | All Are Welcome!

Saturday, April 19

• 6:00 p.m., Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park, Vigil in the Park

Sunday, April 20

• 6:00 a.m., Church, The Great Vigil of Easter and Holy Eucharist Rite II with Adult Choir
• 8:00 a.m., Chapel, Holy Eucharist Rite I
• 9:00 a.m. Ellis Hall, Holy Eucharist Rite II with Children’s and Youth Treble Choirs
• 9:00 a.m. Church & Livestream, Holy Eucharist Rite II with Adult Choir and Festival Ensemble
• 11:15 a.m. Church & Livestream, Holy Eucharist Rite II with Adult Choir and Festival Ensemble

Please note: There is no 5:00 p.m. Welcome Table service on Easter.

We hope you will worship with us in-person or online this Holy Week & Easter! Visit allsaintsatlanta.org/holyweek2025 for the full schedule and more information.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Please worship with us online this Easter! Two of our Easter day services, 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., will be available live at allsaintsatlanta.org/live, facebook.com/AllSaintsATL and on youtube.com/@AllSaintsATL. Feel free to join us via your preferred platform and be sure to give us a follow! 

PARKING: Overflow parking for Easter is available at the Bank of America—please enter on North Ave. Please request an additional validation ticket from an usher in the church narthex upon arrival or exit. Use both validation tickets upon exiting the Bank of America parking deck to park free of charge. Be aware, also, that on Sundays in Midtown Atlanta, street parking is free. More information on Easter parking.

Remember a loved one, honor a graduate or welcome the baptized with a gift to our Memorials and Gifts Fund. These funds are used for worship at All Saints'. All Saints' notifies your honoree or family of the deceased of the gift you gave. Their name is also inscribed in the All Saints' Book of Remembrances and in the All Saints’ Day bulletin in November.  

Make checks payable to All Saints' with “Memorials and Gifts” in the memo line or for online giving, click the "Memorials and Gifts" dropdown choice. Questions? Please contact Charlie Boyd, Chair of the Memorials and Gifts Committee at chsboyd@aol.com. 

Please give generously to our All Saints’ offering plate, in-person and online. 

All Saints' offers easy ways to pay your pledge or to make a gift:

Give online: allsaintsatlanta.org/give

Mail a check: to All Saints’ Church, 634 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308

Text to Give: text AllSaintsAtlanta to 73256

Put a check or cash into the offering plate during the services, gift stocks or securities

Discover more ways to give at: allsaintsatlanta.org/give. 



If you have questions, please e-mail them to:

Julie Lockhart, Director of Development, jlockhart@allsaintsatlanta.org. 

A Meditation for Good Friday

By Jenny McBride

Together with the incarnation that we celebrate at Christmas and the resurrection that we celebrate at Easter, the crucifixion is foundational to Christian faith. Because of this, there is so much one can say and should say theologically about the meaning of the cross. Yet, now, when I read the passion narrative about Jesus’s trial, sentencing, and execution, I can’t help but first see the human dimension, on account of accompanying Kelly Gissendaner, the only woman on Georgia’s death row, through her own execution in 2015. Kelly’s execution has helped me better understand the biblical account of the crucifixion in a visceral way: Experiencing the horror of her execution has helped me better understand the horror of Jesus’s own. And Jesus’s crucifixion has helped me better understand the depth of God’s solidarity with those who suffer, particularly those who suffer state violence in all its forms.

Read Jenny's full reflection and other parishioner meditations here.

Read the last mediations of this Lenten series from All Saints' parishioners in preparation for the Passion. Visit this link to read reflections from Kevin Lyman, Fifi Guest, Jenny McBride, Clark Lemons, and Charlie Cork. Though they are labeled for each day, all of meditations from the week reflect upon the same scripture, so they do not need to be read daily.

The Faith & Justice Collective Luncheon

Sunday, April 27, 12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m., Ellis Hall

Join Rev. Jennifer Butler, founder of Faith in Public Life, as she shares insights from her book, Who Stole My Bible?, which makes a biblical case for multi-racial democracy in the face of rising white Christian Nationalism and authoritarianism in the U.S. and around the world. She will offer biblical reflection and share strategies about how to confront authoritarianism from a Christian perspective. Please register in advance at https://bit.ly/FJLuncheon5 to reserve a $16 box lunch and contact Rev. Jenny McBride with any questions at jmcbride@allsaintstalanta.org.

Rule of Life Small Groups Forming

Join a small group to follow a rule of life that involves a monthly meal, prayer, and action. With so much happening in our public life, have you wondered, “How can we live a better way?” — where we aren’t reacting but discerning, where our outward life of action and our inward life of prayer mutually influence each another? How can we live more intentionally, guided by God’s Spirit? Contact Jenny McBride jmcbride@allsaintsatlanta.org if interested or for more information. 

The Journey Bible Study - Prophets & Kings 

Weekly on Mondays, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., on Zoom - Will not meet April 21

First the history and then the prophetic response will be our format for Bible study through May. The history of the two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, will be read including the stories of the prophets Elijah, Elisha and Amos.  For more information or to sign up for the class, please contact The Rev. Karen Evans kevans@allsaintsatlanta.org.

PARISH LIFE

2025 Annual Parish Meeting

Sunday, April 27, 10:20 a.m. - 11:05 a.m., Ellis Hall

Join us for our Annual Parish Meeting, when we reflect on the past year and elect new members of the Vestry. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wednesday Night Supper

Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Ellis Hall

Join us for Wednesdays @ All Saints'. Grab a friend to come enjoy a meal while connecting with the community. For more information, contact Marcia Mayfield, mmayfield@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Dance with Louisa and Dawn

Thursdays through May 8, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., North Ave MARTA Station New Plaza

We are excited to work in partnership with the amazing Dawn Peck from the Atlanta Beltline and Midtown Alliance to participate in FREE Zumba classes at the newly renovated North Ave. MARTA Station Plaza. This class, featuring Hip Hop, AfroBeats and Salsa music, is very welcoming to all bodies, ages, and abilities. For more info email Louisa Merchant at louisam@allsaintsatlanta.org. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Weekly Children & Youth Formation (Sundays)



Nursery/Little Saints: Birth-Pre-K, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 1st floor of the Pritchett Center

Children’s Church: K-5th Grade, 8:40 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., 2nd floor of the Pritchett Center

Children Formation:  K-5th grade, 10:20 a.m. - 11:05 a.m., 2nd floor of the Pritchett Center

Youth Formation: 6th-12th grade, Youth Formation takes a break until April 27th. 

SNL (6th-8th grade) and Y’all Saints’ (9th-12th grade):  SNL & Y'all Saints takes a break until April 27th.

YOUNG ADULTS

Easter Brunch & Bible Study

Sunday, April 20, 12:30 p.m., Ross Room

Come enjoy a delicious catered Easter meal, lively conversation, and bible study with the All Saints' Young Adults' following the 11:15 a.m. service. All are invited – whether you're looking to connect for the first time, reconnect after a long while, or keep connections going! Childcare is available upon request. Contact: Tasia Blair at youngadults@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Young Adult Fellowship Online! 

Are you in your 20s or 30s and interested in fellowship, discipleship and service? Reach out to Tasia Blair at youngadults@allsaintsatlanta.org to receive our monthly newsletter, get added to the WhatsApp group chat and find out what events we have coming up! 

MAC Annual Lenten Food Drive

Thank you to all who donated food to support our neighbors through the Midtown Assistance Center.

Threads Welcomes Families for Shopping 

Threads welcomes families for in-store shopping Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Interested in volunteering? Contact Marcia Mayfield. Threads needs you! Contact Marcia Mayfield at threads@allsaintsatlanta.org.

You may purchase items please via the Threads Amazon Wishlist:

bit.ly/ASECThreadDecember2024 

Don't miss April's Faith & Justice Newsletter! Here are the highlights:

• Part 3 of series on Church of the Common Ground
• April F&J luncheon speaker addresses Christian Nationalism
• Labyrinth Ministry schedules two spring walks
• A history of the Integrity ministry at All Saints’
• Letter from a Prison Engagement Penpal
• Jenny McBride podcast explores Bonhoffer themes of public witness

• Novel Theology >> Meets one Wednesday a month on Zoom from 7:00-8:00 p.m.. Click the link above to learn more and register.

• The Journey Bible Study >> Meets every Monday at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom. Register here

• Jesus on the Front Page >> Meets every Sunday morning at 10:20 a.m. in P307 in the Parish House.



• Sports and Spirituality >> Meets the third Thursday of each month on Zoom. Register here

Share Your Photos! Share Your Expertise!

Did you know that you can submit photographs of All Saints’ events to share with the Communications Team? If you want to make a habit of it, join the Photography Guild! Contact Kathy Powell at communications@allsaintsatlanta.org.