Welcome to St. Bede's E-News!
We hope that this weekly offering will keep you up-to-date
on the latest information from the parish
and from around the Diocese of Atlanta and wider Church.
Our e-newsletters are now being archived on our website.
at the top of the home page to find past newsletters.
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Don't forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed on Saturday night.
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St. Bede's Announcements
Online Worship
for Sunday, March 12, 2021
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
can be found here
10 am - Morning Worship (in English) on Zoom
Join us for Morning Worship on Zoom
also live streamed
1 pm - Worship (in Spanish) on Facebook
Join us for Sunday Worship in Spanish
Querida Comunidad de San Beda, Unase a nosotros a orar.
Nuestro servicio en español es los domingos
a la 1 p.m. a través de Facebook live.
8 pm - Compline (in English) on Zoom
End your Sunday by joining others from St.Bede's
in the quiet evening prayer form known as Compline.
We usually take a few moments at the end to catch up as well.
Information about how to join
all of our Sunday offerings on Zoom
will be sent out in a separate email
by Saturday afternoon.
There is always a call-in (from a regular telephone) option for
all worship, fellowship, and meeting opportunities
that are offered on Zoom.
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Reflecting on Faith:
A Lenten Conversation Series
St. Bede's parishioners and staff members will pair up to lead us in Lenten conversations about some of the big questions around how we live-out or practice our faith. This series will borrow from Bishop Wright's weekly Lenten teaching series as well as scriptural themes during the Sundays in Lent.
Some of the questions we will explore are:
How Can We Move Closer to God?
What Does Love Look Like When Neighbor is Enemy?
Where Do I Stand in Sinking Sand?
What are the Directions to Joy?
Each week we plan to introduce and explore the theme for a bit and then break out into some small groups to have more intimate conversations about what the questions are stirring in us.
Join us on Sunday March 14
on Zoom
after Morning Worship
(around 11:15 - just stay on Zoom,
or join through the same link as for Morning Worship)
Nora Cruz-Diaz and Orisha Parsons
will lead us through Part Three
of Bishop Wright's
"5 Lenten Questions" video series.
Join us then when we explore the question:
What Does Love Look Like
When Neighbor is Enemy?
Building Beloved Community
From the February 28th Conversation:
On Sunday, February 28, Carmie McDonald and Kim Padgett led us through a conversation on Bishop Wright's teaching on "How to Move Closer to God." In small groups, they invited us to explore the following questions:
- These is often a gap between what we say and how we live as individuals and as groups. Can you identify such gaps in any areas of your life?
- In what ways do we possibly oppose how God wants us to be in the world? How do we identify the things we may be participating in that are against God?
- How has the pandemic played a role in recognizing or breaking patterns in your life? How will you change your approach to these patterns when we return to “normal life”?
- We sometimes find ourselves in prisons of our own making. How has God shown up as liberator in your life?
- Where are you experiencing “soul blindness” in your life? How can self-reflection along with listening to the Spirit help us to face the reality of these situations?
Also, because we skipped
week two of Bishop's Wright's series for our Together Zoom Gathering,
On Sunday we will pick back up with the third teaching in the series.
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“Good News: A Virtual Easter Pageant”
Creating and watching
the virtual Christmas Pageant together
was
So. Much. Fun. Right?
So let’s create something together again, shall we?
We need YOU -- participants of all ages and abilities -- as part of the team that will create St. Bede’s very first Easter Pageant!
The script, Illustrated Ministry’s “Good News: A Virtual Easter Pageant”, takes us on a journey through some of Jesus’ life and ministry, to the despair of his death, and then to the Good News of the resurrection--outlining the way in which Jesus upended corrupt systems of power. In the end, death was not the end of Jesus! Bad news, tragedy, and sorrow do not have the final word!
Please contact Alyssa at asali@stbedes.org to get your parts (from a single-word to a scene your whole household can film), optional costumes, and lots of support. No memorization is necessary and video editing will be taken care of for you!
The more the merrier, so feel free to invite non-local family to participate as well.
Alyssa Sali (she/her)
Director of Children's and Family Ministries
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HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Sunday, March 28th - Morning Worship
with The Liturgy of the Palms
and the Passion Gospel at 10am on Zoom
Thursday, April 1st - Compline for Maundy Thursday
at 7pm on Zoom
Friday, April 2nd - The Liturgy of Good Friday
will debut on YouTube at Noon
and be available to pray there for the rest of the day
at your convenience.
Sunday, April 4th - Morning Worship
for the Feast of the Resurrection: Easter Day
at 10am on Zoom
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING
This Sunday, March 14th
12:30pm on Zoom
All are invited to join the Community Engagement Team
to plan for how St. Bede's engages in outreach and advocacy
with the local and global community outside of our doors.
The Zoom link will be in the Saturday worship email.
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Pastoral Care - Hug Division:
During our last Together Zoom, Victor, one of our young leaders, and his mom Veronica taught us how to make mailable hugs. If you missed it, watch the delightful 4 minute video by clicking on Victor's picture above.
Now it’s your turn: if you--or especially a young person in your household--would like to create mailable hugs for St. Bede's members who need them, the Pastoral Care Team would love to have you join the Hug Division. Please contact Alyssa at asali@stbedes.org for more information.
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A note from the Rector...
Many of you may have received notification from the Bishop's office this week that through the work of the Diocesan COVID-19 Task Force and with declining viral infection rates as well as increasing vaccine availability, he is now authorizing an "indoor, in-person" option to be used in conjunction with online and "outdoor, in-person" options for our worship through the next phase of our pandemic journey. This is Good News! But at the same time, it does not mean any immediate changes for us at St. Bede's.
What each parish has been offered is a "first step" that we can take in our own contexts, on our own timeline, and as we discern our own readiness and capacity to do so. Your Vestry, Staff, and Gathering Going Forward Team will be having discussions in the weeks ahead as to what these various options will mean for St. Bede’s moving forward.
As the “in-person” options are still very limiting at this point in time in terms of what they allow (no hymn singing, no choir, no processions, no food, no nursery, no Easter Egg hunt, etc. ) and limiting in terms of how many may attend, all of our Holy Week and Easter liturgies will proceed as online-only for this year to assure maximum accessibility for all.
Rest assured, God is good, you are loved, and we live in hope of what is now visible on the horizon. You will hear back from me, your Vestry, your Staff, and your Gathering Going Forward Team soon as to when and where our next steps will be. Please keep us in your prayers as we do this continuing work of discernment and planning.
Peace,
Chad
P.S. If you would like to review the guidelines and protocols under which the Vestry, Staff, and Gathering Going Forward Team will do their work of discernment and planning, you may review those by clicking here.
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Diálogos de Cuaresma.
Alimento para el camino
Programa de Cuaresma 2021
Con Fabio Sotelo
Fabio Sotelo is leading
a five-part conversation series in Spanish
on Wednesday evenings during Lent.
Spanish speakers
can join in those conversations
by following the link below.
The Zoom Link for this meeting will be sent in the
Saturday Worship Email.
Primer Miércoles de Cuaresma, Febrero 24:
Confrontando las fuerzas del mal
Segundo Miércoles de Cuaresma, Marzo 3:
Avergonzados de nuestra fe?
Tercer Miércoles de Cuaresma, Marzo 10:
Renovando la iglesia
Cuarto Miércoles de Cuaresma, Marzo 17:
Significado de La cruz
Quinto Miércoles de Cuaresma, Marzo 24:
La hora de la Angustia
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Are you looking to embrace some Lenten practices or disciplines that can draw you closer to God and closer to others around you? We've brainstormed a number of small things that you might want to adopt as daily practices to help connect you with God and with one another in the days ahead in Lent. These are suggestive and can be adapted to you in your own context. They may also inspire you to imagine some other daily practice of your own.
* Walk 40 miles (1 mile per day)
or 40 minutes (per day)
or Walk 40 steps per hour
* Write 40 notes of gratitude (1 per day)
* Give $40 to some organization that helps folks in need
($1 per day for 40 days)
* Engage in 40 minutes of contemplative prayer per day
* Engage in 40 minutes of playtime/playfulness per day
* Spend 40 minutes reading and meditating on scripture per day
* Call 40 people and connect/reconnect with them (1 per day)
* Create something
(a piece of art, a poem, a piece of music)
each day for 40 days
* Make use of Lenten devotional booklets each day
(Episcopal Relief and Development
& Illustrated Ministries booklets
are available from St. Bede's)
* Pray with the online Stations of the Cross
* Take 40 "gratitude photographs"
or photographs of where you see God (1 per day)
* Offer 40 Random Acts of Kindness
to anyone - known to you or unknown
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The Rev'd Claiborne Jones
is back with us!
The Rev. Claiborne Jones has returned to St. Bede's after serving as Interim Rector of St. Benedict's in Smyrna for an extended season. Prior to her her retirement a few years ago, Claiborne served as Director of Emmaus House and Vicar of Emmaus House Chapel. Before that, Claiborne was the longtime Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in Atlanta.
As a Priest Associate here at St. Bede's, Claiborne will join us to serve and teach and preach, and to enjoy the fellowship of all. Many will remember that Claiborne served as the Sabbatical Priest-in-Charge while Chad was on Sabbatical four years ago, so she is a very familiar face among us and we are glad that she is back!
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Popcorn Theology on Zoom
Saturday, March 20, 2021
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
We'll be watching "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," a film about Mr. Rogers (Tom Hanks), which is based on the true story (told in summary on the documentary about Mr. Rogers, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?") of the friendship between Fred Rogers and the journalist Tom Junod. In this movie version of the story, Tom Junod is named "Lloyd Vogel." Lloyd is a cynical magazine writer who is assigned to write a profile of Mr. Rogers. He is accustomed to discovering what is less than honorable in a public figure and is known for writing profiles in which he knocks someone off her or his pedestal. He assumes this will be the case with Fred Rogers; he assumes that the "Mr. Rogers" on television is a persona and is frustrated and puzzled to discover that Fred Rogers is who he shows himself to be on his television show. In the process of observing and talking with Fred Rogers, Lloyd's jadedness "melts" and heals, as he awakens to his and the world's need for kindness, love and forgiveness.
It is a beautiful and timely story of healing for our world with its divisiveness and distrust of the neighbor.
The film is rated PG and runs about 1 hour and 49 minutes including the end credits. The film was released in 2019 and stars Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Susan Kelechi Watson and Chris Cooper.
Click on the image below
to watch Lynnsay's introduction to the film:
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Please plan to watch the movie between now and Saturday March 20th . Here are the ways you may watch the movie:
~ the DVD is available to rent from Netflix but not to stream
~ the movie may be streamed on Amazon Prime
~ the movie may be streamed on Hulu with STARZ add on
Also
~ Lynnsay Buehler has a copy that she is able to loan to someone
We'll meet on one of the St. Bede's Zoom accounts from 7-8 the evening of March 20th to share our insights, to reflect on where we saw and heard God in the movie, and to share our connections with the story told in the movie. We'll end our time together with Compline.
Everyone is invited to participate. Pop some popcorn and join us!
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St. Bede's Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross that were created by Virginia Roach Munroe present a vision of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Each painting is a close-up, as if viewed on television, and each uses a basic color symbol, such as red for the hands of Pontius Pilate. The idea came to Monroe in the late 1960's, during the turmoil of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement, when anger and hatred were expressed vividly on the nightly news. The title of each painting is a few words on how the event might relate to modern times.
St. Bede's member and webmaster Ray Callaway has digitized and curated an online gallery of the St. Bede's Stations of the Cross that you can pray at home.
[What you might not know about these stations
is that members of the St. Bede's parish posed for the portraits.
See if you can recognize anyone you know.
Hint: Junior Abraham is in this painting.]
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All-ages Lent Formation Resources
The all-ages formation team has found two great resources for all of us to use during the season of Lent.
We encourage you to open the resources and skim the first few pages to help you decide how you might use them. Use as much or as little of the resource as fits the needs and energy of your household. Our hope is that you will feel blessed and encouraged, not burdened!
Households with children may enjoy the packet that includes coloring pages, paper crafts, and child-centered devotionals to read and wonder about together. (Purple cover) Households with teens or adults may prefer the personal/family devotional booklet written for adults, with places to journal and doodle and suggestions for responses in your daily life.
Contact Alyssa Sali ( asali@stbedes.org) to receive a printed copy of either resource or she can send you the link to download it yourself from a PDF.
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Healing Our Racism Book Discussion Group on Zoom
Meeting Time - 4th Monday of each month at 2:00 pm
on ZOOM
Monday, March 22nd at 2:00 pm
Please join Muriel Diguette and other members/friends of St. Bede's to discuss current books pertaining to the issues of racism and white privilege.
We will meet the 4th Monday of each month at 2:00 pm.
For our March meeting on March 22nd we will be reading The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of the Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.
In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER
From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America. Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves.
If you want to go ahead and order books for future discussions:
April 26: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
May 24: The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
June 28: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
July 26: The Devil You Know by Charles Blow
August 23: Native Son by Richard Wright
September 27: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
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Mostly Mysteries Book Group on Zoom
The Mostly Mysteries Book Group is continuing to meet on Zoom. If you would like to take part, please contact Connie Coralli and she will send you the link.
For our March 22nd meeting at 7:00pm we will be reading "The Red Lotus" by Chris Bohjalian.
It is a twisting story of love and deceit. An American man vanishes on a rural road in Vietnam. Bohjalian also wrote “The Flight Attendant.”
If you are interested in receiving the Zoom link, please email Connie Coralli
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St. Bede's Prayer List
Prayers have been requested for:
Pat Fracher, friend of Lynnsay Buehler
Peg Harris
Jeff Pierce, friend of Ron & Connie Aylor
Rosalene Larson, mother in law of Michael Daniel
Bryce Cannon
The Cannon Family
Aree Bancroft
Laura Ribas
Jane Wiggins
Hilda Bell
Willie Diaz
Tim Waring
Peggy Allen, mother of Lisa Main
Ray Lampros
Gwen Cordner
Arlene Means, sister of Larry Bing
Maggie Williams
Mary Rodriguez
Hollis Pickett
Margie Klein, mother of Jody Klein
Anita Maloof
Lynn Edgar, mother of Beth Cannon
Nancy Waring
John Branan
Kerry Penney
Patrick Newberry, stepson of Gretchen Berggren
Andy Matia, friend of Ann Foote
Brooke & Taylor Harty, granddaughters of Nancy Waring
Jim Ohl
Frances Bowen
Max Carpenter, grandson of Sarra David
Judy Penney, sister-in-law of Kerry Penney
Sydney Lund
Ann Foote
Helen Abraham
Cameron Maddox
For those who have died:
The Rev'd Jim Curtis, former Interim Rector of St. Bede's
Bill LaBorde, friend of Toni Graney
We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week:
3/14: Alexis Zuniga
3/14: Liam Vergara
3/17: Jeroham Bonilla
3/17: Glenn Boatenreiter
3/18: Molly Seif
3/19: Jody Klein
3/19: Fatima Rodriguez
3/19: Himelda Galindo
3/19: Luis Piedra-Sujia
3/19: Yeily Romero
3/20: Sam Cannon
We rejoice at the birth of Townes St. Teresa Gibson - daughter of (former St. Bede's seminarian) Justin and Kristan Gibson
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Vestry Establishes
Community Emergency Assistance Fund
In addition to all of the wonderful ways that the Community Engagement Team is leading us in supporting community ministry partners (locally, churchwide, and globally) during this critical time, the Vestry has established a Community Emergency Assistance Fund to help people within the greater St. Bede's community with food assistance during the current public health crisis. This fund will be administered confidentially by the clergy in a similar way as their normal discretionary funds, but will be used exclusively to help with food assistance during this crisis.
UPDATE of February 25: We have collected around $9,800 and distributed over $6,000 in assistance though food and utility support for individuals and families so far during the current public health crisis. The current balance of the fund stands at around $3,800 and new needs continue to present themselves. A dedicated group of members work with Fabio to help identify need and deliver food. Thank you to all who have contributed!
If you have questions about this offering to the greater St. Bede's community or if you are in need of food assistance or know someone who is, please contact either the Rev'd Caroline Magee or the Rev'd Fabio Sotelo.
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Your Amazon purchases can support St. Bede's
through Amazon Smile
If you shop on Amazon, consider accessing Amazon through
and designating St. Bede's as your charitable beneficiary.
To find St. Bede's in the beneficiary list,
you must search for "St Bedes Episcopal Church"
(without the apostrophe)
and choose the one located in Atlanta.
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From around the Diocese
and the wider Church...
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Support the Cathedral Book Store.
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Episcopal Relief & Development Focuses on Lament in 2021 Lenten Meditations
In response to the unprecedented events of the past year, Episcopal Relief & Development's 2021 Lenten Meditations share deeply personal reflections on the theme of lament from a diverse group of writers. Many of the authors share experiences related to a variety of issues including disease, violence, racial injustice and poverty.
"2020 was a deeply challenging year for many, filled with losses," said Sean McConnell, Senior Director, Engagement, Episcopal Relief & Development. "We hope our supporters will use the 2021 Lenten Meditations to guide them through the four steps of lament and to help them heal and grow."
The meditations follow the "Four Steps of Lament" outlined by author and speaker Heidi Weaver:
- Rest, to take sabbath time to simply be present to our current situation
- Reflect on that which has been lost
- Repent for the sufferings and loss we have caused or overlooked
- make Restitution and be Restored to God and to one another
The authors of the meditations are all leaders in The Episcopal Church and represent diverse perspectives, ministries and backgrounds.
"Editing the collection was powerful to me on a personal level," said Sandra Montes, Editor of the 2021 Lenten Meditations. "Reading each reflection by Episcopal leaders of color who invited me into this season of Lent by opening up their hearts and using their voices to help me lament, while giving me hope, was incredibly moving."
The 2021 meditations are available online to download. Supporters are also invited to sign up to receive the daily meditations in English and Spanish by email. Unlike previous years, the meditations are only available online, not as printed booklets.
"As many churches have moved their services online, we felt it was important to create a Lenten experience that would continue to be useful for our supporters," continued McConnell.
Episcopal Relief & Development also invites churches and supporters to observe Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday this year on Sunday, February 21 or another Sunday in Lent. Lent was officially designated at the 2009 General Convention of The Episcopal Church as a time for dioceses, congregations and individuals to remember and support the work of Episcopal Relief & Development. Although the first Sunday in Lent is the official day of observance, churches may hold a special service on any Sunday. Liturgical resources to help congregations observe Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday are available at episcopalrelief.org/sunday.
"The expressions of lament in the 2021 Lenten Meditations share sorrow, but they also come from a place of deep love," said the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church. "Because God loves us we know that God joins us in lamenting the loss of any living being."
Download the Lenten Meditations and learn more about planning an Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday at episcopalrelief.org/Lent.
For 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus' words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.
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Episcopal Relief and Development
Responds to Winter Storms
in Texas and Oklahoma
The February 2021 winter storm, which devastated communities in Texas, Oklahoma and beyond, continues to wreak havoc. The ice and snow are melting and power has been restored to many, but the region continues to deal with burst pipes, lack of safe water supply and uninhabitable housing.The US Disaster Team at Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting affected dioceses as they respond. Please donate today. Your gift will help provide emergency shelter, groceries and other supplies in affected areas.
La tormenta de invierno de febrero de 2021, que asoló comunidades en Texas, Oklahoma y otros lugares, sigue causando estragos. El hielo se está derritiendo y muchos recuperaron la electricidad, pero la región sigue lidiando con tuberías reventadas, falta de agua potable y viviendas inhabitables. El Equipo de Desastres en EE UU de La Agencia Episcopal de Alivio y Desarrollo está apoyando a las diócesis que están respondiendo en esos lugares. Por favor done hoy mismo. Su donación ayudará a proporcionar refugios de emergencia, alimentos y otros suministros a las zonas afectadas.
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Several St. Bede's regulars subscribe to-and like! - these e-publications. To stay up to date on activities throughout the Diocese of Atlanta, sign up for the e-newsletter, Connecting.
You can also sign up to receive For Faith, which is a weekly devotional podcast from Bishop Rob Wright sent by email on Fridays. To sign up for either or both, click here
Quick Links
To schedule events, please contact our
Muriel Diguette
For the weekly lectionary readings visit:
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