Hey Friends

Matthew 18:20"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them"

The other night, I was at dinner with friends when something unexpected happened. From the table where I was sitting, I heard a loud, joyful question from across the room. A man called out, “Are you Ed Thomas?” Without skipping a beat, Ed responded, “James Tucker, I can’t believe my eyes!” The instant recognition between the two was so filled with joy that it immediately grabbed my attention. All the conversation at my table stopped as my friend and I sat quietly, watching this beautiful moment unfold. Here were two old friends reconnecting after years apart, and you could see how their faces lit up with warmth and excitement.

I wouldn’t call them long-lost friends because they had found each other again after all these years. There was no sense of sadness or distance in their reunion—just pure joy. As they chatted, they began to reminisce about the old days—back when they were tennis partners. It felt as if a lifetime of memories had been shared in just a few minutes—memories brought to life through laughter and a simple reunion.

As they wrapped up their conversation and parted ways, my friends and I sat in silence, reflecting on what we had just witnessed. It was one of those rare moments when the joy around you is so palpable that it makes you stop and bask in it. After a couple of quiet moments, I turned to my friends and said, “That is what joy is to me.” It was in that pure, unfiltered connection between two people, meeting once again. It was in the way their faces lit up in recognition and how their laughter filled the room. That moment of joy wasn’t just something they shared—it was something that swept up everyone around them.

This Sunday marks the 3rd Sunday in Advent, and we’ll be lighting the Joy candle. Joy is in the world. God is in the world. But where do you hear joy? Where do you see joy? Where do you hear God? Where do you see God? For me, that moment of connection at the restaurant was a reminder of how joy and God can be found in the simplest, most unexpected moments of life.

Youth Event Schedule

Events Schedule

Sunday December 1 10:20-11:05 am

Advent Adventure and Nativity Museum, Ellis Hall {Advent 1}

No formation in Pritchett, go to Ellis!

Wednesday Dec 4

St. Nicholas Celebration/Feast. Church/Ellis Hall.

5:00 1st dinner. 6:00 St. Nick Service, 6:45 2nd seating.

Sunday December 8

10:20-11:05 am NORMAL FORMATION

SNL- ornament making

Y'all Saints- Off campus dinner

Sunday December 15

10:20-11:05 am NORMAL FORMATION

SNL& Y'all Saints White Elephant Gift Exchange Christmas Party, last SNL for program semester

Wednesday Dec 18

MARTA Caroling/Hot Chocolate/Ellis 5:00-6:00

Sunday December 22 9:00-10:15 PAGEANT, Children's Choir Sing

10:20-11:05 am

No formation in Pritchett, go to Ellis!

Cookies from Around the World and Burmese Gift Packing with Refugee Ministries,

No SNL & Y'all Saints

No Youth Choir Rehearsals in evening

Tuesday Dec. 24

3:00-4:15, Children’s Choirs in Christmas Eve Service

5:00-6:00, Youth Choirs in Christmas Eve Service

Sunday December 29 10 am Service

NO formation

No Youth Choir Rehearsals

No SNL & Y'all Saints

SPRING 2025

Friday Jan 3 & Sunday Jan 5

Diocesan Youth Community (grades 6-12) Camp Mikell, afternoon to afternoon

Youth Events

Marta Station Christmas Caroling

Hot Chocolate and Cookie Bar

Wednesday, December 18

5:00 singing/5:30 desserts

Come share some Christmas Carols with our neighbors to prepare the way for the birth of Jesus. We will meet in Ellis Hall at 4:45 and walk over together to the Marta station. Wear your favorite festive attire - hats, bells, costumes! Then we will head back to Ellis Hall for some Hot Cocoa and Sweets. This is a great night to invite a friend to come with you!

EYC DIOCESAN EVENTS

Christmas Carol Camp-in

December 21-22, 12p Saturday-1p Sunday | Macon, GA

Take a break from your holiday break! A few days before Christmas, we’re bringing some holiday cheer to our gathering in Middle Georgia for a camp-in at St. Francis Episcopal Church. Join us for caroling, Christmas movies, Capture the Flag, campfire hang-outs and more. (Don’t worry, we’re sleeping inside.) Cost is $50.

DYC Winter Camp

January 3-5 | Camp Mikell

The Diocesan Youth Commission plans and hosts this weekend in January at Camp Mikell. Our goal is to create spaces where people have fun and make friends as their most authentic selves. Together, we react to Jesus, talk about ways to live out our faith, and take care of our mental health. The theme of Winter Camp changes each year, but it’s always a fun weekend of music, worship, program, camp activities, hanging out with Bishop Wright, and a Saturday night dance. Cost is $150. Register here by December 22.

Happening 81

February 7-9 | Camp Mikell

This high school formation retreat is a longstanding rite of passage in the Diocese of Atlanta. Planned for students and by students, Happening is an experience that invites us into deeper faith. Once you ‘Happen,’ you’re connected to a community that spans The Episcopal Church and allows you to create the Happening experience for others at future retreats. Come see what all the fuss is about! Register by January 22. NOTE: These retreat dates have changed from Feb 14-16 to Feb 7-9. Cost is $150.

New Beginnings 49

February 28-March 2

Middle school is a unique time so we’ve designed New Beginnings, a retreat uniquely for middle school students! This is a Camp Mikell weekend where youth can learn more about who they are and who God is while enjoying games, activities, worship, skits, small groups, and hanging out. Cost is $150.

Photo from last week!

PARENT CORNER

Parents Needed for SNL Dinner!

It's that time again, SNL begins September 8th which means our parent meal sign-up is back! There is so much that goes into Sunday's in The Attic and one of the best ways that parents can help is by providing our meal during SNL. This can be anything from a homemade meal, take-out, or catering...whatever is easiest for you! This is usually for about 20-25 people.

Please take a look at the available dates and sign-up for a time that works best for you! Thank you so much for your dedication to our youth program, we couldn't do it without awesome parents like you!

SNL Fall Dinner Sign-Up

SNL Parent Volunteer

If you are a parent and are looking to be apart in youth ministry this year well I have exciting information to tell you. There are multiple ways for you to be apart of youth ministry here at All Saints'. Parents can be involved by providing dinner for SNL and Y'all Saints, being a chaperone for Outings, mission trips and pilgrimages, they can also be drivers for events and being a helper at SNL. If you are interested please sign up with this link and click on "2024-2025 Youth Registration

Parent Volunteer Sign-Up

MIDDLE SCHOOL CORNER

Be on the look out for exciting event details!

HIGH SCHOOL CORNER

High Schoolers join Y'all Saints' on Sunday Nights in the high school brand new high school room. Join us for tasty dinners, hilarious games and in-depth discussions.