Dear saints,

As you may have gathered by now, I am something of a soccer nut, and so, along with several million other people, the kick-off of the World Cup here at home is a source of great delight. Soccer is the world’s sporting first love, with a staggering 270 million or so registered players, and an estimated fan base of between 3.5 to 5 billion people. It is what the late Brazilian legend, Pelé, famously called the “beautiful game”. I’ve seen it played under Howrah Bridge in Kolkata with a ball made of hundreds of elastic bands bundled together, and I’ve watched elite professionals attempt to play it in my beloved Tottenham Hotspur’s $1 billion dollar and change stadium. I’ve played it myself on four continents, enjoying games just the same whether as part of organized leagues or as I did as a child in our local park, with our sweaters acting as goalposts. You don’t need any money to play soccer; you just need feet, and those who don’t still find a way to play the game in various amputee soccer leagues around the world. Soccer doesn’t belong to any one place because it belongs to us all. 

As you may have gathered, I am a fan. Consequently, I have been trying to find a way through to that happier place as I pass by what feels now to be the inevitable potency of the human desire to ‘store up treasure’, expressed this time around with exorbitant ticket prices and a bloated roster of 48 teams, and a lot of people spending more money than they truly have while a very small number of other people become far richer than they will ever need to be. I suppose it is the way of the world, yet for a sport that has for so long been for all, each step away from those roots feels like a loss. 

At its heart, though, to state the obvious, soccer is a game. That may seem unnecessary to have to point out, but in my few years as a soccer coach of very young kids, the first rule of soccer I would try to instill in eager six year olds was that this round thing you are chasing around the field is first and foremost a toy. Go play with it. 

There is, then, something incongruous about what is expected to happen in Seattle, and I imagine elsewhere, as crowds line up to gather in and around stadia ahead World Cup games with street preachers like Ron Cardiel planning to take their chance to capitalize on what he calls a “no-escape mentality to hearing the word of God”. Ron and his preaching colleagues are no strangers to preaching on the move. According to a lawyer for the local Major League Baseball team, the Seattle Mariners, whose fans have heard the Word of God now several times over, the preachers’ volume outside the stadium has been measured at more than 110 decibels, apparently about the same as listening to a chain saw if you were standing three feet away - just in this case, the tree is only felled when you finally make it into the stadium. The incongruity for me is not the content of the preaching, per se, it’s the mismatch between the preacher’s intention and the fans with nowhere else to turn other than losing their place in line. 

Faith, much like soccer, is play. To pursue a life of faith is to seek to remember our yearning for the effervescent. Faith is a source of joy and delight. To seek it out is to engage in the kind of holy play that saves us from the tyranny of our own self-enclosure. In his book, The Histories, 5th century BCE Greek geographer, Herodotus, writes of the kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor which suffered a sustained period of famine. As a novel method of seeing that his people might survive the famine, the king of Lydia, Atys, devised a scheme where on one day the entire population was invited to play games, several of which they invented - dice, knuckle-bones, various ball games - as a distraction from their hunger, and the next day abstain from games and eat. According to Herodotus, this dedication to play sustained the population for a full 18 years. They survived what had wiped out other civilizations by finding one another in play. 

We need soccer, and whatever sports you love, and board games, and computer games, and murder mystery dinners, and treasure hunts, and tree climbing, and cliff jumping, and snowboarding, and all the rest because in play we are opened up to adventure and possibility. The street preachers should be giving out ‘God loves you’ soccer balls to long-suffering fans, or water bottles, or candy, or whatever else might bring a smile and make a nod to the hope that the world can indeed be a better place when we remember that we were made to discover one another, not persuade others that we are right.

So, dear saints, whether you’re a sports fan or not, I say, get on your playing gear and revel in the spirit of adventure and discovery that has come to this continent this summer. Go play, and in the words of that great Wesley hymn, be ‘lost in wonder, love and praise’.

Peace,

This Sunday

Third Sunday After Pentecost

Sunday, June 14, 2026

**SUMMER SCHEDULE**

• 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I (Traditional language, no music, Chapel)
• 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II (Church & Livestream)
• 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.

Jesus on the Front Page

Sundays,9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m., Ross Room

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. 

St. Hildegard 20s & 30s Women’s Chapter Formation Potluck

Sunday, June 14, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Offsite

Women in their 20s and 30s will gather for our monthly formation potluck. We will spend time connecting over a shared meal, followed by spiritual reflection. Please bring a dish or beverage to share. For address of potluck location and to be added to our email list, email Elizabeth Beck at ebeck.uga@gmail.com or Ani 

Hildebrandt at anihildebrandt93@gmail.com.

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. 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.

WORSHIP & MUSIC

Music at All Saints' New Season Announced

Four Jazz at All Saints' artists and four classical concerts are scheduled for 2026-2027! A new brochure has arrived to reveal the full lineup of inspiring performances, celebrated artists, and unforgettable evenings of music. We hope you'll support us with your presence and your generous donation to this ministry. Visit allsaintsatlanta.org/concerts for details.

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. 

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.

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

Thursday, July 16, Offsite

Respite Care Atlanta is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association and the Atlanta Neuroscience Foundation for a lecture series. The third installment of the series will be held 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.

Summer Volunteering at MAC

Summer is here and MAC needs extra help. With children out of school, the need for families facing financial crisis in Atlanta will be greater. We are currently looking for high school and college summer interns. Donations of food items and household products are always welcome. For more information on internships or how to organize a drive, please contact MAC at mac@midtownassistancecenter.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! June's Faith & Justice Newsletter. The newsletter takes a break in July, but will return again in August.

Read more about these highlighted topics:

• Celebrating Juneteenth
• Naomi Tutu and the National Council of Elders
• Holding on to Hope: All Saints’ Prison Engagement
• Clothing Drive Underway for Women in Transitional Centers
• New Chapter for Young Women at All Saints’
• Threads Performing Arts Camp

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.