Dear saints,

Shortly after I was first ordained, I got talking with the vicar of my title parish about funerals and the more unusual requests that would come in with regards to interments. According to the vicar, a few weeks earlier a family member had asked if the remains of the family dog could be buried alongside her mom. Given that the Church of England is not particularly keen on burying pets, the sage response the vicar offered went something like this, “well, if I happened to turn around at a particular moment during the burial and something was sprinkled into the burial plot then I would be none the wiser when I turned around again, wouldn’t I”.

I thought about that conversation this week as I came across an article by Sara Miller-Schulte, a theologian and recent graduate of the School of Theology at Sewanee. The article was about the baptism of animals. Now before anybody gets any ideas, let me say right here that while we do continue the slightly eccentric practice of blessing pets once a year, I don’t think that any time soon we will be asking you to form an orderly line at the baptismal font in Ellis as sweet old Fido is marked as Christ’s own forever. Our bishop is a tolerant man, but even he has his limits. Apparently, in seventeenth century England there was a trend of baptizing animals, or accusations made that someone you didn’t get along with had baptized their goat some time last Tuesday. During the upheaval caused by the English Civil War and by religious dissenters set in opposition to the established church, animal baptisms were also sometimes carried out as acts of transgressive humor. The good old days.

Part of the debate at the time centered around whether or not animals possessed souls or might somehow share eternity with us in the afterlife. I imagine that there are a good number of folks reading this right now who might be hard to convince that animals do not possess in some measure whatever we think we are talking about when we say that humans have a soul. Surely there is more behind our own Lily’s labrador-retriever-rottweiler’s orange eyes than just a gentle inquiry as to when dinner might be being served this evening. There is many an account of animals grieving, or somehow being attuned to our own sorrow. Is it unimaginable that something of the Holy Spirit that animates our flesh and bones also dwells and moves and has her being in them? It is, like many of the best things in this life, a mystery. 

If there was ever a Sunday for us to lean into mystery, then it is this Sunday’s celebration of the Feast of Pentecost and that strange tale of a violent rushing wind and tongues of fire and a huddle of fearful first followers of the risen Christ, whom others were convinced were drunk, yet who knew for themselves that the great mystery of the Spirit that blows where she wills had come upon them. For many reasons, the Jesus movement should not have succeeded. It was poorly resourced, talk of its founding leader rising from the grave would have sounded like the stuff of fantasy, and the means of his execution on a Roman cross was widely considered an ignominious end. No wonder they were holed up together in one place. The gifting of the Holy Spirit changed everything. Yet, the opening that this story gives us in our appreciation of the earliest church is not some rationale as to why Christianity ultimately thrived; the opening is for us to ponder how our lives could similarly open up to such a generative disruption.

In March’s edition of The Atlantic, Elizabeth Bruenig argues that recent attempts to prove the existence of God via scientific argument miss the point of faith. Relaying her own life’s journey from a faithfully religious Methodist upbringing to her suspicion in young adulthood that the whole thing might just end up being some well-intentioned misunderstanding, she describes a disruptive encounter with the divine that would change her life inexorably. As one day she was waiting at a bus stop gazing lazily down the tree-lined road with college life and exams on her mind, she encountered a profound interruption: ‘a sudden icy wind tore around the corner…sweeping into gray branches and climbing ivy to send a spray of golden birch spiraling into the sky, taking my breath along with them. And I knew that my soul was bared to something indescribably majestic and bracing - something that overwhelmed me with the unmistakable sensation of eye contact. What I saw, I felt, also saw me’. 

Belief might be reasonable for some, and seem unreasonable to others, yet its essence evades us if we seek to tie it down with our attempts at reasoning with it. The invitation of Pentecost is to let go of the ropes of the circus tent our lives all too readily seek to pin God down within. There is no controlling the movement of the Holy One, the ruach of God that brought all life into being. The invitation is simply to allow ourselves to be swept up and be seen. 

Perhaps our beloved pets, and all the creatures that roam the earth will make the streets of heaven a livelier place than we might have imagined them to be. God knows. In the meantime, why not open our eyes to where the blessing of God has been sprinkled across creation. She calls. May our lives respond.

Peace,

This Sunday

Pentecost Sunday

Sunday, May 24, 2026

**SUMMER SCHEDULE STARTS THIS SUNDAY!**

• 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Traditional language, no music, Chapel)
• 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church & Livestream)
• 11:00 a.m. Fellowship & Cake (Gather for coffee, cake for Pentecost, and fellowship in the courtyard or Ellis, weather depending)
• 11:20 a.m. Forum with Simon & Naomi (Reflections on All Saints’ Pilgrimage to South Africa in Ellis)
• 5:00 p.m. The Welcome Table (Contemporary language, jazz trio, Chapel)

WORSHIP ONLINE: Please worship with us online! Since we start our summer schedule, our only livestreamed service will be available live at 10:00 a.m. 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.

NURSERY: Our nursery is open for children, ages birth through Pre-K, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

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.



Vacation Bible School - REGISTRATION CLOSES SOON! REGISTER TODAY!

Monday - Friday, June 1-5, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. with Aftercare option 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., 3rd fl Pritchett Center

VBS is the most spectacular week of the year! We get to dive deeper into our faith stories, play and pray together, do art, science, team-building games and drama with a lot of singing and story-telling added in. It is one of the few times where all ages of kids and teens interact together around their faith while parents, grandparents, and other adults help to make it all happen. Invite a neighbor/friend and get a special gift. Sign your child or grandchild up now at https://bit.ly/VBSAllSaints2026. Questions? Email kroberts@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Join the Summer Choir!

Sundays, starting May 24, 8:45 a.m., in the 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 each Sunday to learn an accessible anthem which is then sung at the 10:00 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!

Reflections on All Saints’ Pilgrimage to South Africa

Sunday, May 24, 11:20 a.m., Ellis Hall

Join Simon Mainwaring and Naomi Tutu after the 10:00 a.m. service as they offer a reflection on the recent parish pilgrimage to South Africa and the beginning of a new partnership with Holy Cross Anglican Church in Soweto. For more information, please contact Simon Mainwaring: smainwaring@allsaintsatlanta.org. 

Jesus on the Front Page

Sundays,10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m., P307

In this weekly Sunday morning discussion of a current news story, participants reflect on how the world of that story calls us 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, as we notice signs of grace, engage the scriptures, and learn to name our lament as well as our hope. Contact Clark Lemons at clemons@emory.edu. 

The Welcome Table: Sunday Evening Worship Service and Dinner  

Sundays at 5:00 p.m., In the Chapel and P305-306

We invite you to come to The Welcome Table, a service with singing, communion and prayer accompanied by The Welcome Table Jazz trio. A community dinner for all participants follows the service in Ellis Hall. The cost is $10 for adults and no charge for children under 18 years of age.

Future of Our Block

We would love to hear from you about our work on the block. If you missed any of the previous emails, you can catch up on our website, and access resources, here. 

Read this week's update with the Egleston Conditions Report.

If you'd like to be in touch please reach out to Simon or to any of the following parish leaders:

• Meg Fogel, Egleston Task Force: meg.fogel@icloud.com

• Sheldon Taylor, Block Development Committee: gsheldontaylor@gmail.com

• Briley Brisendine, Senior Warden: brileybrisendine@gmail.com

As we move through the Easter season, we give in gratitude for new life and shared purpose. Thank you for helping All Saints’ continue to grow and serve with hope. 

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

During Services: put a check, cash, or the tear-out card in the offering plate

QR code: one-time gifts

Direct Electronic Transfer: gift stocks and securities

Our Charles Schwab account is: ”All Saints’ Episcopal Church”

Account#: 1084-6679

DTC#: 0164 Code: 40 

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.

ADULT FORMATION

The Journey Bible Study

Mondays, 11:00 a.m., Zoom

The Journey Bible study will take a summer break, starting Monday, May 26 until Monday, September 14. If you want to read ahead for the fall, try 2 Kings 18 till the end and/ or Jeremiah. We wish everyone a joyful and safe summer. To join the group, contact Karen Evans at kevans@allsaintsatlanta.org. 

A Program on Faith, Law, and Democracy

Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., Ellis Hall

The event, co-sponsored by All Saints' Faithful Advocates, The Temple, Georgia Lawyers for the Rule of Law, and First Five Freedoms, weaves together spiritual reflection, legal analysis, and civic dialogue to address one central question: What does it mean to protect the rule of law and why does it matter for all of us, right now? Register online here. For more information, contact Suzanne Wakefield at faithfullocals@gmail.com.

Christianity 101: Faith Foundations

Wednesdays, April 15 - May 27, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Room P305/306 or Zoom

Are there things you think you should know about Christian faith but don’t? Things you wish you could articulate but don’t quite have the words for? Whether you are a new or

long-term parishioner, this class is for you! Taught by Jenny McBride, this course may serve as a bridge between the Adult Inquirer’s Class and the School of the Spirit offerings. It’s open to anyone who wants to learn — or relearn — the basic building blocks of the Christian tradition and their relevance for our life of faith. For more info, contact jmcbride@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Freedom Writers Prison Ministry and Threads: Looking for Gently Used Women’s Clothing

The All Saints’ Freedom Writers are looking for gently used clothing to donate to women who have been transferred from Georgia prisons to transitional centers in anticipation of their parole and release. They have a particular need for dress pants, work pants (like jeans), and tee shirts. (Please avoid donating high heels, boots, open toe shoes, tank tops, leggings, and jeans with holes in them). Please drop off your donations in the Threads bin at the bottom of the glass stairwell. If you need someone to pick up your donations at your home, please contact Ellen Porter at ellenp066@gmail.com.

PARISH LIFE

The Name Tag Nook: Name Tag Station in Parish House

Name tags are stored in a 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.

Volunteer Receptionists Needed

All Saints’ is seeking friendly, reliable volunteers to serve as receptionists. Duties include greeting visitors, answering and directing calls, and providing basic assistance. Half-day shifts available— ideal for college students on break or retirees looking for connection. Interested? Contact Marie-Louise Muhumuza mmhuhumuza@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Returning After Summer: Wednesday Night Supper & Sunday Breakfast
Wednesday Night Supper takes a break for the summer and will return on August 19. Sunday Breakfast is taking a break for the summer and will return on September 13. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Summer Break

Our children’s and youth programs take a break for summer, as do our children’s and youth choirs. Our nursery will remain open for children, ages birth through Pre-K, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All our children’s and youth programs will return in August. Questions? Email KRoberts@allsaintsatlanta.org.

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! 

Respite Care Atlanta-Alzheimer’s Association Lecture Series

Thursdays, May 14, June 11 & July 16, Offsite
Respite Care Atlanta is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Atlanta Neuroscience Foundation for a lecture series. The first has been held but there are three others: May 14, June 11 and July 16. This is a great opportunity to learn more about dementia and caregiving. For details and to register, go to the Atlanta Neuroscience Foundation website or email Kim Franklin at kfranklin@alz.org.

Threads Welcomes Families For Shopping

Threads welcomes families for in store shopping every Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. We offer more than clothing — we offer dignity, comfort, and hope. If you’d like to help, your presence makes a real difference.

There are many ways that you can help Threads Kids

• Drop off gently worn, clean children’s clothes

• Shop our Amazon wish list: bit.ly/ASECThreadsWishlist

• Make a financial gift — choose Threads Donation in the drop-down box: https://onrealm.org/AllSaintsEpisco85474/-/form/give/now

Current Needs: Boys cotton boxer brief underwear sizes small, medium, large and extra large; Girls cotton brief panties sizes small medium, large and extra large.


Thank you for caring.

Faith & Justice Collective

A great way to stay updated! May's Faith & Justice Newsletter.

Read more about these highlighted topics:

• Attorneys Provide Legal Assistance for Immigrants
• Ken Stewart Answers the Call
• Forum on Faith, Law, and Democracy Set for June 2nd
• Don’t Forget to Vote in May Primary Elections
• Threads Seeks Summer Clothing
• Join the Saints’ for MAC 5K Race

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.