Friends have taught me that prodigious service to others brings great joy. I used to think of prodigies as "whiz kids" who show up on the planet with the knack for something unique. I can't say I was born with intuition about how to lean into service, prodigious or otherwise. Subverting my own needs and prioritizing the well-being of others still can be hard for me.
Yet, in community, my life slowly is being reshaped by the surprising joy that shows up every time I embrace Jesus’ humble path. Such a downwardly mobile life as his shows up in Philippians 2:1-11, where Paul describes that “complete joy” of giving oneself away and helping others learn to do the same. This sort of service sweeps us into the joyful life of God.
This week, you're find here several opportunities to open ourselves to this invitation. Maybe you feel inspired to tutor a refugee child or beautify the grounds of Emmaus House. Perhaps you've been mulling what it might mean to make a financial pledge to the church, perhaps for the very first time. Or maybe you're wrestling with issues of justice and want to learn more about the local record restriction project on tap in Midtown next month. Lifting through generosity, in whatever ways we choose to give ourselves, centers God's priorities and grows our capacity to serve as Jesus did.
I am grateful for the life we share at All Saints’, and in this particular moment in the world, despite its seeming difficulties. May Jesus’ joy overflow in our lives as we let it draw us outward, giving ourselves away for the sake of God’s great love.
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Rejoicing in your witness to this life of loving service, |
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The Rev. Sarah Stewart
Associate Rector for Young Adults and Innovation
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Virtual Evening Prayer
Thursdays from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Please click here to join Compline, which is led by Justin Averette.
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Faith in the City: Justice and American Identity
Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m.
Join Revs. Simon Mainwaring and Natosha Reid Rice in conversation with parishioner and former Acting U.S. Attorney General, Sally Yates, as they explore the theme of Justice and American Identity.
Sally served for three decades at the Department of Justice, here in Atlanta and in Washington, with civil rights, criminal justice and prison reform measures among her many achievements.
Sally currently co-chairs the Council on Criminal Justice, is a board member at the Ethics Research Center and is Partner for Special Matters and Government Investigations at King and Spalding.
The conversation will be broadcast live to Facebook and Vimeo on Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
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Second Sundays Young Adult Formation
Continues on Sunday, October 11 at 11:00 a.m.
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Gather ‘round our virtual/communal table the second Sunday of each month for a lively bring-your-own-brunch conversation with peers and mentors.
You only need a posture of respect and generosity (and a suitable mobile device) to be in the “Zoom Where It Happens” as we explore God’s Living Word in scripture and in the unfolding texts of our lives.
Click here to sign up and Mark Kolojejchick-Kotch will send you the Zoom meeting link and password.
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Pumpkin Pickup for Saints Untapped in October
Come pick up a pumpkin in the All Saints' Courtyard from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Our October gathering (and virtual pumpkin decorating) will be on Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Click here to sign up for the October 15 gathering and Michael Asmussen will send you the Zoom meeting link and password, or, click the link below to connect directly via Zoom.
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Beautifying Emmaus House
Saturday, October 31
from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
You may remember that the Young Adults were planning to host a landscaping service day this past April at Emmaus House called "Beauty Belongs Here."
Fortunately we are able to reschedule this event with some modifications. Participation will be limited to Young Adults only and the following safety precautions apply:
- Participants will wear masks and work outside, staying six feet or more apart at all times.
- Participants should bring and wear their own gardening gloves.
- Participants will not share landscaping tools. Emmaus House will provide appropriate tools for the projects we are undertaking.
- Please bring your own mask and gloves to wear (a small number of disposable masks will be available for those who forget theirs).
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Please sign up using this form for contact-tracing purposes.
We will have a very safe and fun morning of beautifying the Emmaus House and getting it ready for winter. Please do join us for this autumn project!
Questions? Contact Sarah Stewart at sstewart@allsaintsatlanta.org or Jessalyn Rogers via Slack.
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Help Tutor Former Refugee Children (over Zoom)!
Refugee Ministries welcomes volunteers to help bridge the gap in online learning for former refugee students in 2nd through 12th grades through our Zoom tutoring program.
We ask for a 12 session commitment to be completed one hour (15 minute set up, 45 minute instruction) weekly, with breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Tutors will access the student's online learning in order to help with homework. Lesson plans and website resources will also be provided if online work is completed or inaccessible. Each tutor is provided with a Refugee Ministries mentor who will attend the first session and help you get to know your student as well as provide ongoing support.
If you are interested in volunteering, please view the 52 minute video orientation (volunteers under the age of 16 are required to watch it with an adult) and then send an email of interest to Louisa Merchant, Director of Refugee Ministries, at louisam@allsaintsatlanta.org in order to sign up.
If you prefer to attend a synchronous orientation, there are two sessions available with experienced volunteers:
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Join Anne Stanford and Kris Birkness on October 13 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click here to sign up.
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Join Marissa Zwald and Keith Clark on October 26 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Click here to sign up.
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Record Restriction Summit
Wednesday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Join the Georgia Justice Project, the Temple, and Ebenezer Baptist Church for this year's Record Restriction Summit on November 11. The opportunity to restrict records has been expanded to include those with non-violent misdemeanor convictions and we are excited to be able to facilitate not only the restriction of people’s records but also spread the word to the community about these amended laws.
The plan this year is also to launch our Record Restriction efforts, in coordination with Fulton County’s Solicitor General’s office, with a small press conference on Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11, likely at 10:00 a.m. Following the launch (around 10:30 a.m.), we plan to share an online screening called “Faith in Action,” a short documentary of previous summits at The Temple and Ebenezer Baptist Church, share ideas on ways that congregations with a heart for this issue can lead, and invite even more faith communities into this work.
More details to follow!
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2021 Annual Canvass:
Lifting Through Generosity
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An astounding 82 cents of every dollar we raise goes to program and outreach. Please consider making a pledge of any amount if you haven't already.
In case you missed it, this past Sunday's video focused on our support of Covenant Community and how lives are being changed every day.
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All Saints' Connects Small Groups in November
All Saints’ Connects small groups will foster dynamic, facilitated, conversational environments for 6-8 adults to journey together for a season (60 min. weekly, 4 weeks at a time), as we seek to...
Center our lives around Jesus Christ
Care about one another
Converse about topics that truly matter
Create transformative community
through listening and sharing stories of faith
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Jesus as a Radical Revolutionary
Thursday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m.
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This month's conversation will engage "The Social Dilemma." Watch the film in advance and join us for a lively discussion, during our monthly Young Adult fall formation series, held on the first Thursday of each month. We hope you will join us as we explore topics of revolution, dissent, disruption, and change in society and the church. These discussions begin at 7:00 p.m. and are followed by Compline prayers at 8:00 p.m.
Please click here to sign up for this gathering, which is led by Justin Averette.
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[Save the Dates]
Saints Untapped in November and December
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Saints Untapped: Save the Date(s) and Strut Your Stuff
November 19: Sizzlin' Saints Cooking Competition (ingredient list, TBA)
December 17: Christmas Cookies (decorating kit pick-up @ church, TBA)
Click here to sign up and Michael Asmussen will send you the Zoom meeting link and password, or, click the link below to connect directly via Zoom.
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Get Connected: Join All Saints' Slack Channel |
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Looking for the best way to catch up All Saints' Young Adults?
Stay up on the salient daily details via Slack!
Young Adults use our Slack Channel to communicate about activities such as hikes and socially distanced service projects. Haven't yet joined? Email Sarah Stewart at sstewart@allsaintsatlanta.org.
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Resources for Personal Prayer in Daily Life |
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CONNECT WITH PRAYING PEERS via Young Adults @ All Saints' Slack Channel: youngadultsallsaints.slack.com #prayers
Compline by Candlelight from Trinity Wall Street:
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For more information contact The Rev. Sarah Stewart
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