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Dear saints,
“I’m gonna wear my bowtie on the first day of school!” said one of the boys walking out of Ellis Hall on Thursday. He carried his bag of navy trousers, crisp white shirts, and black shoes, accompanied by Superman underwear and new socks like he had just won a prize at the State Fair. His three brothers walked out beside him in various stages of pre-teen growth spurts (low, medium, and high). They showed off their haul, excited to head back to school, at least for a minute there.
Naomi Tutu was just walking through this year’s Threads Uniform Giveaway and she laid it on thick: “Ooooooh (3 syllables) don’t YOU look sharp.” The boys stood a little taller and strutted out to play in the courtyard. Meanwhile, Naomi moved through the hall to cheer on the 10 volunteers who were prepping clothes for the next day’s guests.
One of them was Barbara, a recent guest of Threads who had wanted to volunteer when the time was right. Now a host, Barbara took a special pride in clothing other people’s kids, because she had experienced how meaningful that had been for her own family.
I asked her if there was anything she wanted you, the All Saints’ congregation to know, and she said, “Just tell them we’re so grateful to God for blessing us with this ministry. Now my grandkids have clothes, and I wanted to give back.” I heard her name a faith that had carried her this far, a living God who is active in the world, gratitude that sparked generosity.
A few days earlier, Todd Silliman and friends from the office had pooled some money and time to fill hundreds of backpacks with school supplies. Invesco had done the same, so we’d be able to give fully stocked book bags to 500 children (a new high). Have you ever seen a parking lot full of lawyers, carrying blue and pink bags in 92 degree Atlanta heat? This work mattered.
Back in Ellis, once families had finished moving through the clothing stations, their final stop was the Midtown Assistance Center’s table, where they got a bag full of groceries, and an even more valuable list of resources. They learned about affordable housing, job training, food pantries, and strategic assistance to help prevent hunger and homelessness. In other words, they received clothes and food for the near term, and support to move toward stability in the long term.
We hosted about 150 kids on Thursday, and we were expecting another 350 by the end of the day on Saturday. That’s what Elizabeth Nadal said, as she checked her lists twice by the registration table. She was texting friends to recruit a few final volunteers for Saturday, and all she had to do was ask- they mostly said, “yes.”
Marcia Mayfield kept an eye on the whole enterprise, filling water coolers, checking supplies, ensuring that volunteers knew what to do, and where to go. Phil Turks, the sexton on duty, had driven to pick up lunch, helped set up the room, carried boxes, and he was clearly available for hugs. Throughout the room, there was a buzz, an energy, a sense of purpose. You could feel it, especially when you saw the kids light up. Real smiles.
A mentor once told me that ministry initiatives ought to be urgent, compelling, and obvious. Those are the ones that fund themselves, that attract volunteers, and that tend to be sustained. Read theologically, those are the ministries that track the energy of the Holy Spirit in our midst, participating in the work God is already doing in the world.
Threads is 21 years old and MAC is about to celebrate 40 years of ministry. It seems that they have both stood the test of time, and I wonder if you’ve had a chance to be transformed by the relationships God is bringing to our block every day. That’s what makes these ministries so important– transformation through relationship.
They become a gathering space where people who would normally walk right past each other get to make eye contact, respect one another, share a conversation. We share delight in a child’s joy. We “seek and serve Christ in one another, loving our neighbors as ourselves.”
To volunteer with Threads, please email Marcia Mayfield.
To volunteer with MAC, please email Savanna Keo.
Thanks be to God!
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The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday, July 13
**SUMMER SCHEDULE**
Updated Weekly Service Times
- 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Traditional language, no music)
- 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Contemporary language, choral music, livestream, nursery available)
- 5:00 p.m. The Welcome Table (Contemporary language, music)
| | WORSHIP ONLINE: Please worship with us online! Our 10:00 a.m. service will be available live at allsaintsatlanta.org/live and on youtube.com/@AllSaintsATL. Recordings will no longer be available on Facebook, but will still be immediately available on our YouTube channel. | |
PARKING: Overflow parking is available at the Bank of America—please enter on North Ave. Get a validation ticket upon entry. 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. The lot at The Varsity is under new management and is no longer available for parking. Ticketing and towing are being enforced. On Sundays, street parking is free.
NURSERY: Our nursery remains open for children, ages birth through Pre-K, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
| ATTENTION: Beware of Email Scammers! Please remain vigilant against email scammers pretending to be Simon or another member of the clergy or staff, including those who might appear to use a legitimate All Saints’ email address. We will never ask you to buy gift cards, send us money individually, or fulfill any task for us on a personal basis. If you have any suspicion about an email you receive from someone who looks like they could be from All Saints’, please call or text the staff member in question to double check. | | |
Backpack Buddies
Continues this Sunday, July 20, Kennedy Courtyard
Our Backpack Buddies backpack and school supplies drive for former refugee children is back! Please stop by the courtyard on Sundays, July 13, 20 and 27 to pick up a backpack tag to shop in person or email Holly Stevens at hollybstevens@gmail.com for donation information. All backpacks are due August 3 and can be dropped off in the collection bins in the Ellis Hall Foyer.
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Register NOW! Annual Parish Retreat at Kanuga Conference Center
Friday, October 3 - Sunday, October 5, 2025, Hendersonville, N.C.
Save the Date to join the All Saints’ Parish for a weekend of fun and fellowship. Registration is now open! Register here. Contact Marcia Mayfield, mmayfield@allsaintsatlanta.org, for more information.
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Join the Summer Choir!
Sundays through August 17, 8:45 a.m., Church
Have you always wanted to sing in the All Saints’ Choir but time or experience has kept you away? Now is the time to give it a try! The Summer Choir meets at 8:45 a.m. each Sunday to learn an accessible anthem which is then sung at the 10:00 a.m. service. No previous experience as a singer is necessary. Feel free to commit to singing one or many weeks; all we ask is that you let Director of Music Scott Lamlein know you’re coming: slamlein@allsaintsatlanta.org Let’s praise God together in our song!
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Stump the Organist
Sundays through August 17, 9:50 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Church
Our summer prelude begins at 9:50 a.m. in the summer. Come request your favorite hymns, as played by our Director of Music, Scott Lamlein and our Associate Director of Music, Justin Maxey.
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Jesus on the Front Page
Sundays, 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m., Parish Hall 307
In this weekly Sunday morning discussion of a current news story, participants reflect on how we are called to live as faithful people. In a nonpartisan reflection, we explore how we might be called to pray differently, think differently or act differently in our private and public lives. We ask where God might be found in this story and learn to name our lament as well as our hope. Email Clark Lemons (clemons@emory.edu) if you have questions!
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The Welcome Table: Sunday Evening Worship Service and Dinner
Sundays at 5:00 p.m., In the Chapel and Ellis Hall
Before your busy week begins, the Welcome Table is a place to join with others and find rest and refreshment. Come to the Welcome Table: a service with contemplative music, singing, communion and prayer (together and in ways that speak to us individually). A community dinner for all participants follows the service.
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Did you see the beautiful handmade vestments from Ghana that were used during services last week?! They are a gorgeous and generous donation from the Yankey family, as Barbara Yankey ends her seminarian assignment at All Saints' at the end of the month. We have loved having her with us and give her our love and blessings as she continues on her journey. Watch Simon bless the vestments and Barbara here.
Thank you Barbara - we are so thankful for your service to All Saints'! Photo credit to Stephen Smith.
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Here, you are welcome. Here, you are accepted. Here, you are valued. Here, you have a place to be and a part to play.
Join us and make your offering to All Saints' at allsaintsatlanta.org/give or leave a check or cash in the plate. Thank you so much!
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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
| | Have You Moved Recently? Let the church know your new address and contact information! To update these details, contact our Membership Coordinator, Betsey Gibbs, at bgibbs@allsaintsatlanta.org. | | |
Join the Mighty, Mighty Chorus!
Sign up today!
We’re excited to launch The All Saints’ Chorale—a brand-new ensemble led by Justin Maxey. All are welcome, and there’s no Sunday commitment required! Click this link to sign up and be part of something joyful and inspiring: bit.ly/AllSaintsChorale
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Sacred Ground DIalogue Circles Forming Now, Begin in October
Zoom Information Session, August 13, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wondering what you can do in these turbulent times? Join Sacred Ground, a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. This nonpartisan, 11-session curriculum, developed by the national Episcopal Church offers an opportunity to explore our history while bonding with a confidential small group. Homework consists of videos and reading. Circles meet for two hours (on Zoom or in person, to be determined) every two weeks for six months. New participants, as well as alums wishing to take a deeper dive with a new group, will benefit from this opportunity. Contact Ann Stuart Pearce at sacredground@allsaintsatlanta.org with questions or to receive the Zoom link for the August Info Session.
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Education for Ministry (EfM) Groups Forming Now
Where are you in your “Faith Journey”? If your answer is “I’m not sure,” then EfM is waiting for you! The Education for Ministry (EfM) program is a four-year program sponsored by the theology school at the University of the South (Sewanee). Not only do we cover the Bible and other church documents, but then we discuss how to use that knowledge to better your daily life. All Saints’ has more than 400 EfM graduates, including another new grad, Kevin Lyman. If you are interested in learning more about the program and possibly joining a group, please contact Steve Hines: jobguru@aol.com.
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Mark your calendar!
Wednesday Night Supper will return from summer break on August 20th.
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Summer Break!
Nursery/Little Saints: Birth-Pre-K, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., 1st floor of the Pritchett Center - Remains open for the Summer
Our children’s and youth programs take a break for summer, as do our children’s and youth choirs. All other children’s and youth programs will return in August.
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Children's and Youth Choirs Fall Start Dates
Youth Choir (Grades 7-12) Kick-Off: Sunday, August 10, 2025
More details coming soon!
Regular Rehearsal Schedule (Sundays starting September 7):
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Youth Handbells
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Youth Choir Rehearsals
Children’s Choirs Begin: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Regular Rehearsal Schedule (Wednesdays starting August 20)
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cherub Choir (PK-K, must be 4 by Sept. 1st)
4:35 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. Primary Choir (Grades 1-2)
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Junior Choir (Grades 3-6)
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Junior Handbells (Grades 4-6)
Junior Choir (Grades 3-6) Retreat: Service & Sing Day
Saturday August 23, 2025, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 2nd Floor of Pritchett
Join us for a morning of donuts, singing, and service as we kick off the 2025–2026 program year!
Be sure to register for our Children's and Youth Choirs 2025-2026 Program Year
using the link, https://bit.ly/ChildrensYouth.
For more information, contact Emily Rebecca Halbert at ehalbert@allsaintsatlanta.org. We can’t wait to make music with you again soon!
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Young Adult Fellowship Online!
Are you in your 20s or 30s and interested in fellowship, discipleship and service? Reach out to Piper Shifflett 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!
| | SERVICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE | | |
Bring and Share a Meal with Covenant Community Residents
Mondays, 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m., Tate Hall
What better way to get to know the residents at Covenant Community than breaking bread together? Sign up for a Monday Insight Dinner, where parishioners bring and share a meal with approximately 15 men. Most residents arrive after detoxification to live in Covenant Community for six to nine months, building a new life without addiction, while learning new life skills to enable their success. Sign up here or contact Arjun Srinivasan at arj6950@gmail.com.
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Summer Volunteer Opportunities at MAC
Spend your summer with MAC! We are looking for volunteers to help throughout the summer months. MAC is a great place for high school students who would like to help serve the community or need any volunteer/service hours. Please reach out to savanna@midtownassistancecenter.org to sign up.
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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!
Threads is having a great summer but we still need your help! Threads is in need of the following:
Boys shorts - size 10, 12, 14, and 16
Boys summer pants - size 12, 14 and 16
You may purchase items via the Threads Amazon Wishlist here: bit.ly/ASECThreadsWishlist
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Faith & Justice Collective
The Faith & Justice Collective news team is taking a vacation for the month of July. If you would like to read previous copies of the newsletter, please click this link. Look for the next issue on August 1st.
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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.
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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.
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Connect with us on Realm!
Learn more >> Don't forget to join Realm, our new platform for online giving, directory, and event registration.
Questions? Please contact Betsey Gibbs at bgibbs@allsaintsatlanta.org.
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