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EP Corner: On a Personal Note
by Aisha Brooks-Johnson, Executive Presbyter
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Our son, Ellington, will be graduating from Decatur High School this May. My family and I wanted to take a moment to thank you as a presbytery for the love and support you have provided for our family. Ellington came to this presbytery as young teenager facing the reality of the death of a parent and embarking on a new environment. From the beginning, this presbytery has surrounded us with love, encouragement, and support. I give thanks for the power and impact of youth ministry in our lives. Thank you, Decatur Presbyterian Church and to the presbytery-wide Youth Ministry leaders who walk alongside our youth during retreats, conferences, and triennium. Thank you, Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, for taking your baptismal vows seriously as you embraced him as your own and offered encouragement along the way. We ask that you keep him in prayer as he prepares for his last visit to Montreat’s Youth Conference and as he prepares to head to Presbyterian College this summer.
As we embark on a season of graduations, commencements, and holidays, may we remain grateful for all the opportunities we have to shape and inspire the next generations of leaders and change agents.
Congratulations to all who are embracing more in 2024!
With love and gratitude,
ABJ
#FindingMeaning #InsideAndOut
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During the month of May, we celebrate the gifts of Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander voices in this presbytery, across the country, and around the world. | |
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Spring Stated Meeting Highlights
by C. Anderson James, Stated Clerk
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The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta gathered for its Spring Stated Meeting on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, via Zoom. Over 285 people from across the Presbytery and beyond gathered online for this time of fellowship, sharing, worship, and work under the theme of “Hope and Humility.”
The meeting was shaped around the words of Romans 5:1-5 as we shared deep encouragement with one another for the hope that we have together in God’s love through the power of the Spirit. Rev. Emily Choi, leader of The Story New Worshiping Community, and Rev. David Lower, pastor of Saint Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody, each offered reflections on this text as the proclamation of the Word for the meeting.
The Presbytery’s communications staff and tech deacons offered their gifts to organize the online space for the meeting. Grace Korean Presbyterian Church and Hamilton Mill Presbyterian Church served as virtual co-hosts for our time together, and Hamilton Mill musicians offered their gifts to lead us in music. Other worship leaders included members of the Presbytery’s Worship and Presbytery Planning Committee and the campus ministers at UKirk Atlanta, WCF at Georgia Tech, and Atlanta Oikos. The full recording of worship and the meeting is available on the Presbytery’s YouTube channel. Click here to continue reading the highlights and find other meeting resources.
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A Season of Rebuilding from the Board of Pensions
by Clark Simmons, Church Consultant, Board of Pensions
| The Board of Pensions has invited the church to A Season of Rebuilding as it redesigns the Benefits Plan for a changing church and world. As the new plan takes effect in 2025, there will be substantial changes to the Board’s offerings to give congregations flexibility to provide a benefits package that meets the needs of pastors and the congregations they serve. Clark Simmons, our church consultant from the Board of Pensions, will be hosting a series of conversations around the presbytery from May 7-9 to outline these changes and explore what they mean for pastors and congregations. Representatives from the presbytery staff and Committee on Ministry will also be present. A full list of dates and locations is below. For information on these gatherings and to register for one, please contact Clark at csimmons@pensions.org. | |
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Mount Vernon's 70th Anniversary
by Barrett Abernethy, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church
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Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church cordially invites our friends from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta to join us for our 70th Anniversary Celebration. We will, appropriately, give thanks to God for reaching this milestone on Pentecost Sunday, May 19th. Today, MVPC is a thriving, flourishing congregation based in the heart of Sandy Springs. Planted by members of Peachtree Presbyterian in 1954, we have been a communally driven church throughout our ministry. This spirit continues today as we seek to embody the tagline:
Reaching Out to… Welcome. Worship. Share. Serve.
Each week, roughly 4,000 people from all walks of life venture to our campus and our 380 members are deeply committed to greeting them- whether that be to simply welcome, worship alongside, share our space, or serve them with God’s help. We are grateful for our connection in Christ and we hope to learn more of your individual stories as you join with us to learn more about how the Spirit has and continues to move us forward.
If you want to join us on May 19th, please RSVP at debbie@mvpchurch.org. Fellowship will begin at 9am, Worship will take place at 10:30am, and Lunch will immediately follow. We look forward to seeing you all!
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2024 Pledge Cards
by Aisha Brooks-Johnson, Executive Presbyter
| At the end of 2023, each congregation was sent a physical mailing of their pledge card. It has come to our attention that some congregations did not receive them or have not had a chance to reply. Our congregational consultants are following up with pastors and clerks of session via email this month to send an electronic copy. Thank you for the speedy responses that are already coming our way! If you have not already returned your pledge card, please send it via email to Andy Hill at ahill@atlpcusa.org by May 31, 2024. Andy can also assist if you need another copy of your pledge card. We are deeply grateful for you generosity and for our joint ministry together as a presbytery. | |
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64th Summer at Camp Calvin
by Jamie Ferguson, Program Director, Calvin Center
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As the warm breeze whispers through the trees and the sun dances in the sky, Calvin Center is gearing up for its 64th summer of summer camp! Nestled in the heart of nature, our beloved camp promises a world of adventure and discovery for campers kindergarten-11th grade.
From the thrill of archery to the refreshing splash of swimming, every day is filled with endless possibilities. Worship and Bible study help campers grow in their faith where they are reminded of how much Jesus loves them. And who can resist the allure of the legendary mud pit, where laughter echoes and friendships are cemented in muddy joy?
For those craving a serene escape, tranquil canoe rides offer a chance to explore the serene waters in the center of Calvin Center, while basking in the beauty of nature.
Calvin Center ensures that every camper's experience is not only fun-filled but also safe. Dedicated staff members are committed to providing a nurturing environment where campers can thrive, learn, and create memories to last a lifetime.
Registration for this summer's adventure is open! Secure your spot at www.calvincenter.org and get ready to embark on a journey of a lifetime!
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Presbytery Night at Atlanta United
by C. Anderson James, Stated Clerk
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Join your friends and colleagues from across the presbytery on Wednesday, July 17, for a night out at Atlanta United! As the Five Stripes take on the Pigeons of New York City FC, we'll have a tailgate party beginning at 5:30pm and make our way to the match—first kick is at 7:30pm.
We have 40 group tickets available in section 227 for $27 each. If you already have tickets, sign up for the tailgate only. Get your tickets and sign up for the tailgate now! Hope to see you on July 17!
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Southeast Region National Black Presbyterian Caucus Conference | |
The Southeast Region National Black Presbyterian Caucus will hold its biennial conference on July 19-20, 2024, at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport Hotel, 14670 Duvall Road, Jacksonville, FL. The theme is: “One Body, Many Parts: Connecting for the Greater Cause” 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27.
We have planned an intergenerational program that we hope will be spiritual, joyful, and educational, one that we hope will enhance the spiritual growth of each attendee. Additional information and forms can be found here.
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Clergy Gatherings
by Jane Hubbard, Pastor-to-Pastor Team Coordinator
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Clergy Gathering Dates for 2024
- Save The Date/location that suits you.
- Mark your calendar. Note: red dates have been updated
- RSVP to Jane no later than noon on the day before the gathering.
Northside - 2nd Thursdays – 12:30-2 PM - Rotate Roswell/Duluth
- Thursday, May 9 Wegman's Bayou
- Thursday, August 8
- Thursday, October 10
OTP Eastside – 3rd Thursdays –12-1:30 PM Rotate Churches
Southside – 5th Thursdays – 12-1:30 PM - Positano Pizza Napoletana
- Thursday, May 23
- Thursday, August 22
- Thursday, November 21
Young Pastors - 4th Wednesdays 1130-1pm Fox BBQ, Dekalb Ave.
- Wednesday, May 29
- Wednesday, August 28
- Wednesday, November 20
Decatur - 2nd Wednesdays – 12-2 PM – North Decatur PC
- Wednesday, July 10
- Wednesday, October 9
For the Decatur group, Catered Lunch is by Baddabing. Please RSVP by the Friday before the gathering and pay $15 here.
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Rev. Jihyun Oh Nominee to be the Next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
excerpt from the Presbyterian News Service
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The Rev. Jihyun Oh, a minister member of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta and director of Mid Council Ministries and an Associate Stated Clerk in the Office of the General Assembly, is the selection of the Stated Clerk Nomination Committee to be the next Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). If elected, the 1.5 generation Korean American, who was born in South Korea and raised in Kansas, would be the first Korean American to serve in the PC(USA)’s highest ecclesial office, only the second woman, and the first woman of color.
“I’m really honored and humbled to be nominated,” Oh said. “I certainly felt like I have some gifts I brought to this time and place, and I imagine others did too. I have enjoyed every conversation with them,” she said of the committee. “They are a diverse group of engaged people who are exercising faithful leadership. We got into deep theological discussions about the future of the church and society. They deepened my understanding of the church.” Click here to read the full article.
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Central Presbyterian Member, Journalist and Author Wins Book Award
submitted by Jeanne Byington, The Christopher Awards
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Atlanta, Ga.-based author and journalist John Blake, a member of Central Presbyterian Church, has been honored with a Christopher Award for his book, “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew,” (Convergent Books/Penguin Random House). It is one of 12 books for adults and young people as the Christopher Awards program marks its 75th year.
Forgiveness, faith, and racial reconciliation lie at the core of the book in which CNN’s Blake meets the white mother he never knew and learns that personal relationships can often move people beyond old prejudices based on stereotypes. As a black child who grew up in inner-city Baltimore, Blake never met his white mother. He was only told that she went away and that her family hated black people. Thanks to a loving aunt who took John to church, he gained a foundation of faith. He was 17 when he finally met his mother.
The Christopher Awards celebrate authors, and illustrators as well as writers, producers and directors whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit” and reflects the Christopher motto, “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”
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Summer Children's Programs Around the Presbytery | Explore the Children's Summer Programs page of the presbytery website to find Vacation Bible School, Summer Camp, and other summer programs for children. Want to add a program to the list? Contact Miranda Segrest at msegrest@atlpcusa.org. | |
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Ordination of Allison Arsenault
Saturday, June 15, 3:00pm
North Decatur Presbyterian Church
611 Medlock Rd., Decatur, GA
Join us as we celebrate the Ordination of Allison Arsenault to a validated ministry as Director of Community Engagement at the Forum for Theological Exploration. The ordination service will take place at North Decatur Presbyterian Church on Saturday, June 15, at 3 PM (ET). A reception will follow in the fellowship hall. Worship with us in person or worship with us online. An offering will be received to benefit the Inquirer/Candidate Scholarship Fund of the presbytery.
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Columbia Theological Seminary
Baccalaureate and Commencement
May 17-18
Columbia Theological Seminary will hold a Baccalaureate Service at Decatur PC and Commencement at Trinity PC, Atlanta the weekend of May 17-18. More information can be found here.
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Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference
Portland, OR
Sept. 23-25, 2024
Stewardship Kaleidoscope is an annual conference offering excellent plenary speakers, informative workshop leaders, provocative worship experiences, and incredible networking opportunities for all passionate about stewardship and generosity. Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to help participants explore stewardship in its many colorful dimensions!
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Each month we are taking the time to pray for our churches and new worshiping communities throughout the year. Please take a moment each week to lift up the following communities in prayer:
5/5 - El Nazareno, Emory, *David's Court Ministry
5/12 - Fairview, Fayette, *El Buen
5/19 - Fellowship, First Afrikan, *Faith Ghanaian
5/26 - Friendship, Good News Garden, *Faith Studio
*Denotes New Worshiping Communities
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The Presbytery Staff will never email or text you asking for money or gift cards. If seeking donations, staff will direct you to the Presbytery website or invite you to mail a check. If you have any suspicion, please reach out to one of us directly before responding! Stay safe in cyberspace! | |
Click here for CTS's Center for Lifelong Learning courses and events.
Click here for the Calvin Center's programs.
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The presbytery advertises employment opportunities within our congregations and partnerships. If you would like to browse opportunities or submit a new opening click here.
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The next newsletter will go out June 1. Articles will be accepted through May 20. The following newsletter will go out July 1. To request space for an article, email your Congregational Consultant or Mark Sauls at msauls@atlpcusa.org. Click here to view submission guidelines.
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Top Graphic Attribution:
Savage, Eugene Francis, 1883-1978. Messenger of Sympathy and Love, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=58598 [retrieved April 24, 2024]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mural_%22Messanger_of_sympathy_%26_love,_servant_of_parted_friends,_consoler_of_the_lonely,_bond_of_the_scattered_family,_enlarger_of_the_common_life,_by_Eugene_Francis_Savage_at_the_Ariel_Rios_LCCN2013634517.tif.
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