Dear saints,

At the time of writing, hope is in the air that after two years of bloodshed and loss, peace may have been brokered between the Israeli state and Hamas. Most of us cannot begin to imagine what people there might be feeling after such trauma. Dare the families of hostages believe that this week might finally be the week that their loved ones return to them? Is it even possible for the displaced people of Gaza to imagine that there will come a night when they no longer have to fear the sound of an approaching missile? 

One of the many ways that contemporary political discourse robs us of our humanity is that it invites us to see the world in binary. To catch a glimpse of its alternative is a rare and wonderful gift, one that I managed to see earlier this week in a New York Times description of a rally in Union Square, New York City. The rally had been organized by 'Israelis for Peace', who advocate for a shared Israeli-Palestinian future. As was the intention, there were no flags, no signs, no signals as to whose side the people gathered there were on. One of the group's founders, Tamar Glezerman, offered this essential insight, "Trauma is not a zero-sum game. Empathy is not a zero-sum game." When we break from binarism, we have a chance to see one another. When we see one another, we have a chance at communion. 

Some years ago, I came across the Russian philosopher Mikhail Bakhtin, who made the case for what he calls the 'dialogic imagination' or 'dialogism' as it is sometimes called. In contrast to a monologic perspective, which assumes a singular view of reality and claims an indisputable authority to proclaim the truth, the dialogic imagination requires a real encounter between multiple and potentially disparate voices and viewpoints. Unlike, say, a presidential debate which Bakhtin would have deemed to be a sham struggle where the conclusions of the conversation are decided in advance, real dialogue is open-ended and so unpredictable. It is an inherently creative process in which meaning is not predetermined but is actively negotiated.

One of the things I most prize about All Saints' is our capacity as a church to practice a dialogic imagination. Presently, the clergy is being engaged in a dialogue about how we go about praying for people in public life, especially when that public figure is a cause of division and the diminishment of others. I am deeply grateful for the conversation we're having and for the member of the parish who has invited us to have it, because without getting to see the world from a vantage point I simply cannot see, I am left near-sighted. Empathy requires work on my part. It requires work on your part. It is predicated on the confidence that we will choose not to stay fixated on exactly where it is that we are standing, and instead demonstrate that we are capable of movement, of growth, of change. At its best, All Saints' has been that kind of church - capable of change.  

I had occasion to reflect on that fact this week at a new Bible study we have started at Canterbury Court, the senior living community All Saints' co-founded over six decades ago. Our conversation took us to the topic of human sexuality and marriage equality, and the ways by which the parish has learned to love each other as God loves us. Some people remembered Harry Pritchett's leadership, others the grace of former head verger Mark Graham. Some recalled an army officer's deep change of heart, while I remembered the story of the Sunday school teacher who asked if the children who attended his class could come to his funeral so that, in his words, his family could see that he was worth something. His funeral was packed. I suppose there are some outcomes we know ahead of time. He was worth everything. We all are. 

And so, as we march in the Pride Parade this Sunday, we do not do so sure that we are right; we do so sure that we are God's beloved. We do so, also, remembering all of the struggle in dialogue that has brought our parish to the place it is at today as a community, that can indeed say with integrity, "Whoever you are, you are welcome at this table." And, we do so, knowing that there is still plenty of the journey to go, plenty more for us to learn about one another's place in the world such that we might learn to see one another and be in communion with the world as it is, not as we believe it should be.

Hemingway wrote, "The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for." I could not be more grateful that I have this parish community in my life that reminds me how true that is. 

Keep the faith; and keep on talking.


Peace,

Witness to Belief: Conversation with Russell Levenson, Jr., moderated by Bishop Robert Wright

Thursday, October 16, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., Church & Ellis Hall

NEW location! Just moved to All Saints', so please make plans to join us. Don't miss this book talk with Russell Levenson, Jr. and Pastor Tony Lowden, moderated by Bishop Robert Wright. The talk will be followed by Q&A with audience, book signing, and reception. Read more about Witness to Belief here.

This Sunday

The Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Sunday, October 3

Weekly Service Times

• 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Traditional language, no music)
• 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Contemporary language, choral music, livestream, nursery available)
• See you at 10! (Gather in the courtyard from 10:00 -10:25 a.m. to be in community together - have a doughnut, get some coffee, learn about that week's ministry spotlight, meet someone new, etc.)
• 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Contemporary language, choral music, livestream, nursery available)
• 5:00 p.m. The Welcome Table (Contemporary language, jazz trio) 

WORSHIP ONLINE: Please worship with us online! Our 9:00 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. services 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 is open for children, ages birth through Pre-K, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Celebrating Harry Pritchett

TOMORROW - Saturday, October 11, 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Egleston Library

Join Simon and members of the Pritchett family for a celebration of our beloved former rector, Harry Pritchett, on the occasion of what would have been his 90th birthday. A special exhibition of Harry’s time at All Saints’ will be on display. Please RSVP, and send on any photos you have of Harry, or a special memory you want to jot down and share,

by contacting Mary Brennan, brennanmf421@gmail.com.

Pride Sunday at All Saints' | THIS SUNDAY


Pride Sunday Celebration
10:00 a.m., Ellis Hall

Please join All Sorts, the LGBTQ+ ministry of All Saints', for a reception of light refreshments between services to celebrate Pride Sunday.


Pop-Up Love Shop

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Front of Church 
Stop by our Love Shop and get some free goodies to spread the love of God for all people. The kids have been learning about how God's love is freely given to everyone and want to share that message.


Pride Parade

12:30 p.m., Front of the Church 
Our church's participation in the Pride parade is more important this year than ever. Join us in front of the church after the 11:15 a.m. service to go together to enter the parade. Signs will be provided or bring your own. Festive attire welcomed. 

Jesus on the Front Page 

Sundays, 10:30 a.m. - 11:10 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! 

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. 

Our parish retreat to Kanuga was glorious - it was so much fun to be together! This is a small snapshot of the joy shared. Still have photos to upload and share? Do it here.

Kathy is modeling our new shirts for Pride Sunday. Join us in celebration - don't miss the Pop-Up Love Shop and the All Sorts Brunch, PLUS meet us at the front steps of the church after the 11:15 a.m. service and walk in the parade with us!

Shining in the City: Why your pledge matters

Because generations before us pledged faithfully, and now it’s our turn to ensure All Saints’ continues to shine for those yet to come. Remember to get your pledge in by Wednesday, October 22nd to ensure your name is included on our Commitment Sunday Appreciation list in the bulletin.

Pledge now at allsaintsatlanta.org/pledge. Thank you for helping us shine more brightly by making your pledge today!

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.

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. 

WORSHIP & MUSIC

Jazz at All Saints’ Concert Coming Soon!

Friday, November 14, 7:00 p.m., Church; Reception to follow in Ellis Hall

The Grammy-nominated vocalist and composer Nnenna Freelon brings her distinctive style to the next Jazz at All Saints’ concert. Evoking deep emotion and quiet wisdom, the original songs in her latest album, Beneath the Skin, have kept it high on jazz charts since its debut last spring. Nnenna is a presence, in person and in her music, a consummate artist not to be missed. Get your ticket ($25/adult, $15/student) at allsaintsatlanta.org/jazz.

Composer of the Week

Amy Beach was a pioneering American composer and pianist who helped challenge the notion that women were not capable of creating serious classical music. She was a member of the "Second New England School" of composers. Despite facing the social restrictions of the Victorian era, she became the first American woman to publish a symphony and to have a large-scale work performed by a major American orchestra. Her more than 300 compositions span a wide range of genres, from piano music and art songs to major orchestral and choral works. Her “Peace I leave with you” is known for its flowing melodic lines and lush, Romantic-era harmonies.

ADULT FORMATION

Prayer in Motion with Erik Thurmond

Wednesdays, 5:30p.m. - 6:20 p.m., The Attic 

Prayer in Motion is a 50-minute spiritual exercise that helps participants become more aware of God’s presence in our bodies, particularly as we move with intention. Accessible to all ages and abilities, this form of prayer integrates guided meditation, visualization, and breathing exercises with stretching, shaking, and strengthening exercises. For more info contact Jenny McBride at jmcbride@allsaintsatlanta.org. 

Abundance in Community: A Course on Faith and Money

Wednesdays, October 15, 22, and 29, Hybrid P305/306 or Zoom

Join parishioner and Chartered Financial Analyst Emilie Hill, Director of Stewardship Julie Lockhart, priest Jenny McBride (and, for one session, New Testament professor Jennifer Quigley) for a course on faith and money. While acknowledging a common scarcity mindset, we will reflect on the biblical truth that abundance comes with community. We’ll examine our early experiences and personal patterns around money, learn from the practical wisdom of financial planning and behavioral science, and draw insight from scripture and the practices of the early church. All are welcome — no prior knowledge required! To join by Zoom, contact Jenny McBride for the link: jmcbride@allsaintsatlanta.org.

The Journey Bible Study

Mondays,11:00 a.m., Zoom

Chapter by chapter, book by book, we are learning together about what the Scripture really says according to the best scholarship of today. Currently, we are reading Second Kings, with a side glance at the writings of the prophets of the time. All are welcome. To join the group, email The Rev. Karen Evans at kevans@allsaintsatlanta.org. 

Join the New Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle

Every other Monday, starting October 13, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Zoom

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 over six months. The Circle kicks off with an in-person lunch on Sunday, October 12th. For more information and to sign up, please contact Ann Stuart Pearce at sacredground@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Novel Theology: Who gets to tell their story?

Wednesday, October 15, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Ross Room or Zoom

In October, Simon Mainwaring will lead the group in a discussion of Zadie Smith’s historical novel, The Fraud. Transporting the reader from Victorian England amidst the

real-life trial of the Tichborne Claimant to the sugarcane plantations of Jamaica, Smith weaves a story linking the rich and the poor, the free and the enslaved, and the comic and the tragic. Contact Laura Trott for more info at lmtrott@gmail.com.

Adult Inquirers Class-Fall Session

Wednesdays, October 29, 2025 – November 19, 2025; 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Zoom and In-Person Dinner

Adult Inquirer’s Class is a four-part introduction to the life of faith at All Saints’. The first three meetings are on Zoom with the final session in person over dinner at the church. Participants are asked to commit to all four sessions. Additional adult inquirers classes will be held in winter and spring 2026. Upon completion of classes, confirmation and membership will be available. For more details contact Tracey Sage tsage@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Bonhoeffer for Today? Columbia Theological Seminary

Thursday October 23, 2:00 pm – 8:45 pm

During complicated political times, few theologians get weaponized more fiercely or misread more easily than pastor-theologian and Nazi resister, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. But who was Bonhoeffer? What did he say and do? And how might we interpret him thoughtfully, accurately, and usefully for our present political moment?


This symposium draws together an international group of scholars who will address these questions through workshops, a keynote lecture, a screening of the Journey Films documentary Bonhoeffer, and a panel discussion exploring the legacy and current relevance of this compelling figure at the intersection of faith and politics. Rev. Jenny McBride will lead one of the workshops; contact her with questions at jmcbride@allsaintsatlanta.org. Register here.

PARISH LIFE

The Name Tag Nook: New Name Tag Station in Parish House

Name tags are now stored in a beautiful, custom-built vestibule in the Parish House. You are part of our community, and we want everyone to know your name! Click here to request a nametag.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Sundays, 7:45 a.m. – 8:45 a.m., Ellis Hall

Meet new families, reconnect with friends, and enjoy a delicious meal together.

Cost: $12 for adults & $7 for children.

Pet Blessing on the Beltline

Saturday, October 18, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., New Realm Brewery

We are joining our partners at VCA Pets are People Too (a local vet), Lifeline Animal Project (pet adoption), and New Realm Brewery to celebrate God’s creation with our neighbors on the beltline. Bring your family, friends, and pets, and enjoy a great lunch on the patio.

Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention

Sunday, November 2, 2:00 p.m., the Meadow in Piedmont Park

Join All Saints' in a 2-mile walk to support suicide prevention, organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. All Saints' will join other faith communities under the banner "Step Out & Speak Up: Faith Communities Uniting for Suicide Prevention." Faith communities play a unique role in prevention by creating spaces of belonging, reducing stigma, offering spiritual support, and equipping leaders to recognize and respond to warning signs. Registration deadline to join our All Saints’ group is October 15. If interested, please contact parishioner Liza Johnston at lizajohnston@comcast.net.  

All Saints’ is looking for a Parish Gardener

If you or someone you know has a green thumb and loves to be outdoors through the year, you may be interested to know that All Saints’ is looking to hire a part-time parish gardener in the new year who would tend to our grounds and care for them as a place of beauty and renewal for the parish and the city. For more information please contact our rector, Simon Mainwaring: smainwaring@allsaintsatlanta.org.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Children’s Church (Sundays)

2nd fl Pritchett, gathering 8:45 a.m., service 9:00 a.m.

We will join you in church at the Peace.

Children’s Formation (Sundays)

Takes a break from the classroom to tend the Pop-Up Love Shop. Join us up by the front of the church.


Youth Formation (Sundays)

3rd fl Pritchett (The Attic), 10:30 a.m. -11:10 a.m. Doors open after See You at Ten (10:00 a.m. -10:25 a.m. in courtyard).

SNL & Y’all Saints (Sundays)

No evening meeting. We will join the Pride parade after the 11:15 a.m. service.

Children’s Choirs Schedule (Wednesdays)

• Cherub Choir (PK-K) 4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Primary Choir (Grades 1-2): 4:35 p.m. - 5:10 p.m.

• Junior Choir (Grades 3-6): 5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Junior Handbells (Grades 4-6): 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Youth Choir (Grade 7-12) (Sundays)

We will see you Sunday, October 19th.

YOUNG ADULTS

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! 

Covenant Community Leadership Transition

All Saints’ offers its well wishes and deep gratitude to Christine Love, who has served Covenant Community as its executive director for the past five years. Christine guided Covenant with skill through challenging times during the pandemic, and she leaves the organization in a strong position to continue its vital mission. We also offer a warm welcome to Tamika Stewart who, starting October 1, will serve as the interim director. Tamika is currently the Director of Therapeutic Community at Covenant Community and has been in that role for four years.

Threads Needs Thursday Volunteers

Threads desperately need volunteers for Thursdays from 9:45 a.m. -1:00 p.m. We currently do not have enough volunteers to help our families shop on these days. Please consider joining us. Sign up here.

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 

Faith & Justice Collective

Hot off the presses! Read the October Edition of the Faith & Justice Collective Newsletter.

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.