May 1, 2019
dgm
The EP's Corner
by Rev. Aisha Brooks-Lytle, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta 

This month kicks off the next focus in our 2019  Presbytery of Greater Atlanta theme "Flourish: Prayer, Passion, Priesthood, and Purpose."  In February, we talked about passion. During our Stated Meeting on May 4th, we will discuss and participate in the power of prayer

There is so much that can be said about the role of prayer in our lives. It is my desire for us to consider the power of praying together as the people of God. Praying together can transform our lives as we serve together. Praying in group settings can reframe our perspective and redirect our hearts as we seek to pursue God's vision and mission together. While it is my desire for us to find new and creative ways to pray together for our lives, our communities, our churches, and our world, I know that praying together is not always as easy as it sounds.
 
There are barriers that naturally arise in our efforts to come together on one accord in prayer. We carry fears that our prayers are not good enough. We are concerned that we will be judged by others if we pray out loud. We fear that the matters of our heart could be used against us as soon as we hear that final "Amen". With every fear around praying together, there is a possibility to watch God do the impossible by bringing unlikely people into one space to be bound together by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
In my own life, I have watched and witnessed the amazing work that can be done by the people of God when we pray and ask that God's will be done in our lives and in the world. This month, I will be returning to Philadelphia to participate in a dedication of the newly remodeled kitchen project at The Common Place, the urban/suburban collaborative ministry that is reaching children and families in Southwest Philadelphia. The kitchen will be dedicated in my late husband's memory. When I think back over all of the moving parts for that project, I can testify that the prayers of an unlikely and diverse group of believers made a difference in that place. There was not only diversity among the people praying together, but there was diversity in the modes and methods of prayers that led to a ministry that is a blessing to so many.
 
My prayer for all of us this season is that we will pray without ceasing. I pray that we will open our hearts to pray with people who may see the world differently than we do. I pray that we will be open to God's movement in our lives and see how we are called to draw closer to God in prayer and to draw closer to one another when we pray with hearts filled with compassion and hands ready to serve.
 
Blessings,
 
Aisha
#flourish
#prayer
#praywithoutceasing 
Upcoming Stated Meeting of Presbytery on May 4th
by Donna E. Wells, Stated Clerk
 
Attention Presbytery Commissioners:
We have just been made aware that Georgia Tech's Convocation is happening on Saturday morning, so please be aware of traffic and time as you make your way to the Presbytery meeting. For those interested, there is a MARTA station one block away. See you Saturday.
 
The upcoming Stated Meeting of Presbytery will be held on Saturday, May 4 at North Avenue Presbyterian Church from 9:00-12:45. In keeping with our focus on growing healthy and vital churches and leaders (Passion, Prayer, Priesthood and Purpose), this meeting's focus is on prayer. Join us as we are led in a variety of styles and expressions of prayer, as we join together for a deeper spiritual focus in the midst of our business!
OGHS Features Project Initiated by PGA Churches
by Gordon French, Co-Chair of Atlanta EcoVillage School Partnership
 
This year's video produced by PCUSA to support the One Great Hour of Sharing offering focused on a project that was initiated by PGA churches. Click here to watch the video. 
 
The EcoVillages of Haiti were built for refugees from the devastating 2010 earthquake by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program, one of the 3 funds supported by the OGHS offering. After the villages were built, North Decatur, Good Shepherd and Emory churches created a partnership to help villagers build an elementary school. The project goal was a school that will meet the government's standards and will become financially self-sufficient. In its 5th year, the school has 8 of the 10 classrooms it needs and has recently been accredited by the Haitian Ministry of Education, opening the possibility for future government financing. The school was featured in the OGHS video.
 
Each year the Atlanta EcoVillage School Partnership raises funds, sends a delegation to Haiti and actively builds connections between the people of the EcoVillages and Atlanta. The Partnership has active participation of Haitian-Atlantans, making the project a cross-cultural experience even for those who don't travel to Haiti. To learn more, visit haitiecovillageschool.org.
aijcast: Two Years and 100+ Episodes Strong
by Marthame Sanders, New Church Development Commission
 
aijcast, a weekly podcast featuring conversations and performances at the intersection of art, inspiration, and justice, has just celebrated its second anniversary! In that time, they have produced a total of 117 bonus and weekly episodes, featuring artists from a variety of media discussing how they strive to create beauty and justice in the world.
 
Marthame Sanders, minister member of the Presbytery, hosts the conversations, and has found them to be both challenging and rewarding. "For so long, my ministry context has been focused on traditional church," he says. "And now I see that artists can be faithful prophets. They can hold up a mirror to the world as it is, so that we might see how far away we are from what it is that God's desires; and at the same time, they can imagine the world as it should be, giving us glimpses of the Beloved Community."
 
Aijcast celebrated its second anniversary with an episode of live music recorded on the podcast, including a performance by our own Aisha Brooks-Lytle! You can listen to the special second anniversary episode here.
 
For more information, visit  www.aijcast.com . You can listen to episodes at the website, or subscribe to aijcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Youth and Young Adults Grants Deadline May 15
by Chip Blankinship, Director of Operations
 
The Grants Committee is now receiving applications for the Youth and Young Adult Grants.  These grants  are for creative, innovative approaches to individual and collaborative ministries on behalf of young people. They are designed to enable creative, life-transforming ministries with young people to take hold and begin to spread the fire and passion throughout our Presbytery of Greater Atlanta (PGA), our communities, and ultimately the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Funded projects will address the causes of critical issues related to young people in their local context, with an eye towards how their work can have a broad impact on the priorities of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The maximum amount awarded per application will be $5,000. The deadline for application will be midnight on May 15, 2019. The application may be found here. The Grants Committee looks forward to hearing about the exciting ministries by which your churches are engaging the youth and young adults of our presbytery.
Introduction to Boundaries Training Coming on May 8, 2019
by Donna E. Wells, Stated Clerk
 
Once again we will be offering introductory boundaries training geared towards those in the parish on May 8 at the Presbytery office. Holly Tickle facilitates this training and touches on the topics of: social media, friends in the congregation, self-care, and safety for our children.
 
You can register by clicking here. The cost is $30. Please sign up if you have not been to a boundaries training in the last 5 years. For more information, contact Donna Wells at the presbytery office, 404-898-0711 ext. 123.
Big Tent Conference 2019
by Donna E. Wells, Stated Clerk
 
The Big Tent conference will be in Baltimore, Maryland in August 1-3. The theme is from Romans 12:2, Called to a Movement Beyond Institution . Everyone is invited to come and enjoy learning and worshiping together at the Inner Harbor area in Baltimore. Be a representative from your church or ministry! Registration and additional information is found here.
ECKAM Women's Leadership Training
by Rev. Dr. Hyunsung Cho, Congregational Consultant for ECKAM Churches
 
On Sunday, March 24, ECKAM had their annual leadership training for female leaders and clergy of Korean churches. The training was held at KCPC's Community Center, and the ECKAM Women's Committee invited Elder Jung In Lee (7th from the left, front row), Moderator of Presbyterian Women in the PCUSA, as the keynote speaker. Elder Lee is the first Korean immigrant to be a moderator of PW. She holds a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary (NJ), and she is the founder of Women Together, Inc.

The theme of this training was "Women, Word, and Life." Elder Lee started by defining Presbyterian Women and giving a testimony about how she can involve the PW as a young housewife who has two young sons. She can attend PW meetings and seminars with her two sons and with her husband's full and strong support and encouragement. Then, she shared a message about the Canaanite Mom in Matthew 15:21-28.
 
Her lecture was about Leadership skills: Drawing/Seeing the big picture, Listening, Self-awareness, Purpose/Goal and Planning, Hospitality and Teamwork.
 
The next morning (Mon), she gave a special lecture and allowed a Q&A for the female Korean church clergy. She shared a message entitled "Where are They?" from the passage of John 8:1-11.
Job Opportunity: Coordinator of Pastor to Pastors Pastoral Team
  
The presbytery's Pastor to Pastors Pastoral Team is seeking a coordinator. The Coordinator is responsible for the Pastoral Team, coordinates meetings and activities, and serves ex officio on the Committee on Ministry. Click here to view the position description. Resumes can be sent to resumes@atlpcusa.org
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Decatur - Give-Away Items
  
If you are interested in any of these things, please contact elder Tamara Stewart at tstewart@atlpcusa.org.
  
3 pianos
4 cabinets
Several children's desks
2 office desks
Cubicles
Podium
 
There may also be old hymnbooks and assorted office supplies.
Pastor Group
by Chip Blankinship, Director of Operations
 
This month, Pastor Group will meet  in the sanctuary of St. Andrews on May 9 at 10:00 a.m. and will cover chapter 9, "Endings and New Beginnings." Our discussion will be on the topic of discerning and deepening God's call.
 
The May 9 meeting will wrap up our conversation on Scazzero. Thank you for joining us for the 2018-2019 Pastor Group season.
The 2019-2020 season will begin on September 12, 2019. 

May 4 - Stated Meeting @ North Avenue PC
May 8 - Boundaries Training @ Presbytery Office 
May 9 - Pastor Group @ St. Andrews PC
May 13-16 - Vital Congregations East Coast Conference @ First Pres. ATL 
 
June 16-12; 23-28 - Presbyterian Association of Musicians Conf. @ Montreat
June 27-29 -  National Black Presbyterian Caucus 45th Biennial Convention @ Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel  

Click here for CTS's Center for Lifelong Learning courses and events .
Click here for the Calvin Center's programs.
The next newslett er will go out May 31. Articles will be accepted through May 20. The following newsletter will go out June 29. To request space for an article, email your Congregational Consultant or Mark Sauls at msauls@atlpcusa.org . Click here to view submission guidelines.
Top graphic attribution:
Swanson, John August. The Great Catch, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56550 [retrieved March 27, 2019]. Original source: www.JohnAugustSwanson.com - copyright 1993 by John August Swanson.  

Like us on Facebook          View on Instagram          Follow us on Twitter