Sacred Ground is an eye-opening 11-session film and readings-based curriculum on race and faith. It was created by and is administered by The Episcopal Church nationally. Over 10,000 people have participated to date, of which about 100 are from All Saints’ dialogue circles. If you are interested in learning more and/or joining a new circle through All Saints’, please email sacredground@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Led by the Reverend Bob Book, our Service of Recovery and Healing meets on the second Sunday of each month at 4:30 p.m. ET. We focus on one of the 12 Steps in the context of an Evening Prayer service. Anyone interested in recovery is welcome; confidentiality is required. Click here to register for the Zoom meeting on the website and the meeting link and password will be sent to you.

Beloved Atlanta actor Brenda Bynum returns to All Saints’ with her stirring, one-woman presentation of the life and work of Lillian Smith, the courageous Southern author who devoted her life to racial justice. Her example and Brenda Bynum’s art will make for an unforgettable hour in Ellis Hall. Light finger foods and drinks will be provided.

Our regular Sunday worship schedule will resume on Sunday, August 21 and Noonday Prayer will resume on Monday, August 22.

This Sunday we welcome Naomi Tutu as our new part-time priest associate. Naomi will be with us a couple of Sundays a month and she will preach, lead worship, and teach as part of our clergy team through the end of the year. She is an Episcopal priest and a leading voice internationally for the cause of justice and reconciliation. Naomi started her public speaking as a college student at Berea College in Kentucky in the 1970s, and has taught at the University of Hartford, University of Connecticut and Brevard College in North Carolina and has also served in multiple Episcopal churches around the country. She has led Truth and Reconciliation workshops for a wide array of groups and organizations and has led numerous educational and partnership trips to South Africa. Please do pray for Naomi’s ministry among us.

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.

The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church. Every three years it meets as a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, composed of deputies and bishops from each diocese. Please be in prayer for all those in attendance as they meet to discern the order and governance of the Church. Learn more online here.

If you have questions, please contact Jill Gossett at jgossett@allsaintsatlanta.org.

Join us to watch "Salam Neighbor," an award winning feature documentary and campaign to connect the world to refugees. In an effort to better understand refugee life, two young documentarians spent one month living alongside displaced families in the Za'atari refugee camp. Run time is 75 minute and subtitles will be included. We'll have time for discussion immediately following the film. This movie is for all ages. Popcorn will be provided. Please feel free to bring your own beverages.

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!

 

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).

 

If you would like to be considered, please contact David Smith by email to submit your nomination or to seek more information. 

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:

Overall, fewer Americans participated in giving in 2021. What causes did America support? Giving to religion increased 5%, giving to the arts, culture, healthcare and innovation went up while giving to education and human services declined. Overall giving to environmental causes grew over the last two years. All Saints’ experienced similar trends. Fewer people participated in giving but giving to All Saints’ increased 5%. The challenge is to demonstrate how everyone can give and serve the church.

Questions? Contact Ellen Hayes, Director of Development, at ehayes@allsaintsatlanta.org.

We are heading to the beach! All rising 6th-9th graders are invited to join us for a weekend of fun in the sun while also building community and growing in faith. The cost of the weekend is $200 and includes transportation, lodging, food, and all activities. For more information, contact Hope Westervelt.

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!

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.

All Saints’ Vestry met on May 23, 2022, in person and by Zoom. Following a meditation by outgoing Senior Warden Sydney Cleland, Mary Jo Bryan gave the Clerk’s Report. The Vestry elected Russ Wofford as Senior Warden, Lynda Herrig as Junior Warden, and Louisa Johnson as Clerk. Sheldon Taylor gave the Treasurer’s Report, highlighting that Bright Horizons’ enrollment has increased, pledge payments remain largely on track, and new pledges have come in since the budget was finalized, so there may be some modifications to the budget. The Vestry approved the creation of the “Charlene Smith-Stewart Gospel Choir Fund” and the renewal of the church’s line of credit. Dan Pennywell and Sydney Cleland gave the Junior and Senior Warden’s reports, respectively, with both thanking Simon and the Vestry for the opportunity to serve. Simon Mainwaring introduced the incoming Vestry members elected at the annual meeting: Deborah Cox, Beth Frilingos, Sheffield Hale, Michael Kennedy, Jack Norton, and Martie Zakas. Sydney Cleland led a thoughtful and honest discussion about the Vestry’s past and ongoing work toward racial equity and healing. The June Vestry meeting was held on Monday, June 20, 2022 at 4:30 p.m.

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