Dear saints,
This Sunday we will give thanks for our friend and brother Kirk Rich. His ministry of music has been such an incredible gift here—to the choir, congregation, and larger community. We will pray God's blessing on Kirk and Laura as they prepare to move their lives to Kentucky, and we will enjoy a musical feast, with a guest choir from Holy Innocents, a small orchestra, and Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever. The congregation is invited to contribute toward a financial gift for Kirk and Laura (click here), which we will present during a festive reception after the service in Ellis Hall. Even though we're entering a holiday weekend, if you will be within 100 miles of Atlanta, you won't want to miss this Sunday!
We will also have an opportunity to celebrate our strong music program at All Saints', led by our fabulous adult choir. Though they are currently on break, we also thank God for our children and youth music program, under the able direction of Karol Kimmell. Please rest assured that received Anglican traditions will remain at the core of our worship experience, even as we diversify our offerings to meet the changing demographics of our neighborhood.
We can expand our traditions without ever abandoning them. Some good examples of this "broad church" approach include hymns like Blessed Assurance, Great is Thy Faithfulness and songs like Calvin Hampton's gorgeous Repeating Alleluia, alongside barnburner choir anthems from the English Cathedral tradition like I Was Glad and Spirituals such as Were You There?
Though some of these selections are not found in The Hymnal 1982, they work beautifully for the congregation to sing, led by the organ, piano, and choir, and they help us welcome folks who are hungry for community and a relationship with God who may not yet know the treasures of Episcopal tradition. Kirk has led us in this gracious and open-minded approach to music, and we are deeply grateful. We have every confidence that this program will grow from strength to strength as we begin a search for a full-time director in the fall.
Sincerely,
Andy+
