Dear saints,
Several years ago All Saints' made a decision to invest in the future of the church by laying aside a portion of the money raised in the last capital campaign for young adult ministry. In the midst of all of the competing priorities of a vibrant church like ours, to have chosen to commit to the lives of young adults in that way was an important statement about the wish for this church to be a source of life for the generations to come.
In 2019, Sarah Stewart joined us as associate rector for young adults and innovation. Her gifts in this community have been rich and varied, creating networks of young adults to grow in relationship, build programmatic structure, and nurture leadership in young adult ministries within and beyond the parish. She is an adept leader and an attentive and grace-filled pastor, a truth many of you will have experienced first-hand through her pastoral care work and the attentiveness she offers to everyone she meets. Sarah is very thoroughly a parish priest, and while I am very sad to share here that she will soon be leaving us, it also feels right that someone of her gifts for parish leadership now has the opportunity to offer those gifts as a rector back in California where Sarah and her family have their roots. You'll be able to read below a note from Sarah to the parish.
I will be sharing future plans for young adult ministries over the coming weeks and would welcome any insights you may wish to share. Sarah's final Sunday at All Saints' will be August 21 when there will be an opportunity for us say a fond farewell. In the meantime please do join me in thanking Sarah for her ministry among us.
Peace,
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Dear friends,
No matter what the poet insists, parting is not sweet sorrow. I have always felt heartsick at farewells, humbled by even happy departures. This moment proves no exception. David Whyte’s wisdom steadies me as I face Atlanta leave-taking far sooner than I imagined when I first arrived at All Saints’. Whyte writes “every transformation has at its heart the need to ask for the right kind of generosity.”
You have showered creative and generous love upon me during these past three years of shared ministry in Midtown, proving that there really is no wrong form of generosity. Connections in which we have invested have changed my life, especially as we witnessed grace at work in the world around us and found ourselves ministering courageously, despite many challenges. I pray God nourishes and multiplies our seeds of faith so that Jesus’ abiding joy may continue to shine in our lives.
As I follow the Spirit’s call to serve as rector in a wonderful parish in the San Francisco Bay Area and to reside closer to my extended family, I am grateful for your generous support. Pandemic living has revealed the bonds of affection in the Body of Christ are stronger than we imagined, even as the wider Church embraces institutional transformation. Amid these realities, we discover God’s generous love persisting. This gentle mystery that sweeps each of us into its story is trustworthy and true. As is my gratitude, affection, and prayers for you who have taught me that faith risks all to follow Christ, whenever his mission of love leads.
May we flourish in our daring to serve generously in Jesus’ name,
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American Red Cross Blood Drive at All Saints'
Sunday, July 17, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Ellis Hall
Don't forget to register for the Blood Drive happening this Sunday. Just click here and enter sponsor code "AllSaintsAtlanta" to register early!
Find out more about donating by reading the FAQs here.
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Safe Space for Conversation Among Women
Sunday, July 17, 9:00 a.m., Ross Room
Join All Saints' women in the Ross Room before the 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship service as we reflect on recent events in our national life. We are designing our time together specifically for women seeking safe space to acknowledge hopes and hurts we carry as we pray for strength, courage, and creativity in our ongoing witness to Christ's love. For more information contact The Rev. Sarah Stewart.
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Giving Thanks for David Brensinger
This Sunday marks the final Sunday that David will be with us as interim organist. We are grateful to him for the gift of music he has shared with us over these last several months and we wish David and Anita every blessing as they get even more time now with their children and grandchildren.
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Summer Worship Schedule Continues This Sunday
- 8:00 a.m.: Holy Eucharist Rite I in the Chapel
- 10:00 a.m.: Worship with Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Church
- 5:30 p.m.: Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Chapel
Our regular Sunday worship schedule will resume on Sunday, August 21 and Noonday Prayer will resume on Monday, August 22.
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Bank of America Parking Unavailable Until August 21
The overflow parking that is usually available on Sunday mornings at the Bank of America building will be unavailable until we resume our normal Sunday worship schedule on August 21. If both parking decks and the surface lot are full, additional parking is available on North Avenue and in the gravel lot next to Covenant Community.
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Stump the Organist
Every Sunday of the Summer (10:00 a.m. service only)
Come to church a little early and play Stump the Organist! At 9:50 we will open up the floor to your hymn requests, singing as many as we can until the start of the service. Come prepared to call out the number of your favorite hymn and see if you can "stump the organist."
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Nominations Open for Diocesan Council Delegates
All Saints’ is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, which will hold its annual Diocesan Council meeting on Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12. We send 5 representatives from a slate of 5 delegates and 5 alternates chosen by the Nominating Committee and presented to the Vestry for approval. Delegates must be confirmed communicates in good standing. Under policy adopted by the Vestry in 2021, those who were delegates to the prior two councils are not eligible to serve again until 2024. Information about Diocesan Council can be found on the Diocesan of Atlanta website. If you would like to nominate a parishioner or self-nominate, please send an email to Tracey Sage by July 20. |
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Registration is now open for our Annual Parish Retreat to Kanuga!
Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2, Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC
We are excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our annual parish retreat this year! Please make sure to mark your calendars for Friday, September 30 through Sunday, October 2 for a memorable parish gathering at Kanuga. The deadline to register is September 2.
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Summer Social: Sending Sam
Friday, July 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Kennedy Courtyard
Come share food and summer fellowship with young adults from All Saints', as we wish all the best to one of our very own, Sam Osakue, who departs later this month for a service year with the Episcopal Service Corps in Boston, MA. Feel free to bring your favorite beverage to share and contact Justin Averette if you'd like to help contribute to the love offering we'll collect for Sam!
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Call for Nominations: All Saints' Roundtable
Nominations must be received by August 1
Are you interested in future leadership roles at All Saints’? Do you want to know more about the parish from history to finances and everything in between? Do you want to get to know a small group of parishioners better? Are you willing to commit to a monthly meeting for nine months? All Saints’ Roundtable may be the place for you! The group is limited in size due to the nature of the meetings. Candidates will be notified the first week of August and the first meeting will be Monday, October 3 (tentative).
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Sports and Spirituality
Thursday, July 21, 7:00-8:00 p.m., on Zoom
Please join Judd Asbill and Paul Terlemezian as we talk about sports and spirituality with playfulness and humor. Later this summer we'll aim to venture to an outdoor venue to take in an event together as a group. All are welcome!
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Each year Giving USA publishes a report on national giving trends. The 2021 report on philanthropy in America has just been released and we are continuing to share some notable highlights:
Giving trends in the nation continue to teach us the importance of all types of giving. In particular, giving to endowments via planned and legacy gifts is key to healthy institutions today. These gifts offer a level of support that allows financial resilience in organizations that rely on annual campaigns. At home at All Saints', we encourage everyone to consider making a planned gift to the church that collectively will continue the work of our vibrant church in the future.
Give a Gift or Make a Pledge Payment Today:
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Online at allsaintsatlanta.org/give
- Mail a check to All Saints’ Church, 634 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308
- Put a check or cash into the offering plate during services
- Text to Give: text AllSaintsAtlanta to 73256
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Gift stocks or securities (click here for instructions >>)
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Save the Date for Youth and Children's Choir Kickoffs
Beginning August 21 and 24
Join us as we begin another year of singing, learning, and building community. We offer choirs for 4-18 year olds and all choirs rehearse in the Children’s Chapel on the 2nd floor of the Pritchett Center. The youth choir (7th-12th grades) kick-off rehearsal and cookout with families will be at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 21. Regular rehearsal times are 4:15-5:00 p.m. for handbells and 5:00-6:00 p.m. for choir. The first children’s choirs (age 4 through 6th grade) rehearsals will be on Wednesday, August 24 at 4:00 p.m. For more information visit our website or contact Karol Kimmell, Director of Youth and Children’s Music.
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Service and Social Justice |
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Read The MICAH Project's July Newsletter
The July edition of The MICAH Project at All Saints’ newsletter is now available!
This edition includes:
- Actor Brenda Bynum returns with her one-woman play Jordan Is So Chilly: An Encounter with Lillian Smith
- Parishioner reflections on the Legacy and Justice Pilgrimage to Selma and Montgomery
- Focus on the Fourteenth Amendment
- New leaders for MICAH
- And more!
Click here for a compelling profile of our Minister for Public Life, Natosha Reid Rice
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Backpack Buddies
Sundays, beginning July 10
Donate a backpack with school supplies for a student in our Refugee Ministries program. Pick up a backpack label from the courtyard on Sundays from July 10 through 24 to receive the name, age, gender of student and school supplies list or email Louisa Merchant to receive one. Email Louisa to sign up to deliver backpacks to Clarkston on July 30. Backpacks can be picked up between 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at All Saints' on July 30. Thank you for making the back to school experience a happy one! |
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Refugees Ministries: Swimming Buddies
Saturdays, July 23 and August 20. 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., various locations
Saturday, September 10, all day, Lake Jackson
Cool off with Refugee Ministries this summer and enjoy some swimming fun in the sun with our refugee friends. This is a great opportunity for families with children, and we can provide service hours for teens. We also need volunteers to transport our refugee friends; drivers must be at least 25 years old. For locations and more information, contact Louisa Merchant at louisam@allsaintsatlanta.org.
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Refugee Ministries: Welcome a New Family to the United States
The first three months after arrival are often very challenging for a newly arrived refugee family. We invite volunteers aged 25 and over (who are welcome to bring families and friends, including children, to any outing) to offer three resettlement activities for a new family to be completed over a period of six months.
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Threads Back-to-School Uniform Event
July 14-16, July 21-23, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Tate Courtyard
Threads is re-opening for a school uniform Back-to-School giveaway and there are many opportunities to volunteer during the event! We need volunteers to work with children as personal shoppers and volunteers to bring children to the shop. Please reach out to Lori Guarisco at threads@allsaintsatlanta.org to find out more information about volunteer needs.
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Threads Clothing Needs
- We invite donations of new or gently used children's clothing and new shoes for summer. Donation boxes are located on the first floor of the Pritchett Center and in the first floor stairwell between Ellis Hall and Egleston Hall, outside of the choir suite.
- In preparation for a School Uniform Back-to-School giveaway in July, please also consider donating school uniforms. We are requesting white, light blue, or navy collared shirts and khaki or navy pants and shorts. All sizes, boys and girls styles are needed.
- Threads also needs new sneakers, boys sizes 5-10.
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Share a Meal with the Men of Covenant Community
Mondays, July 18 and July 25
Please continue the All Saints’ tradition of providing dinner to the men of Covenant Community on a Monday night. Meals for around 15 people can either be shared with the men inside the residence or they can be dropped off during the day. The available dates are July 18 and July 25.
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Connect with us on Realm!
Don't forget to join Realm, our new platform for online giving, directory, and event registration.
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