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Backpacks, burgers, and big smiles!
What more could we ask for?
Our Back to School Bash was a blast! Huge thanks to everyone who made it festive and fun. And cheers to the amazing generosity that helped raise over $1000 for Episcopal Relief & Development Texas flood relief.
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What You Need to Know!
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Bill's Low Country Boil: Welcome Back Celebration – Come hungry and ready to reconnect! Saturday, August 16 at 6:00 PM. Due to the record response, we have had to bring reservations to a close.
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Sunday School resumes for Children & Youth this Sunday morning! John Porter continues his Adult Forum Series this Sunday at 9:00 AM: Difficult Conversations - how to talk about what matters most. And why that is important. This Sunday the Mens's and Women's Book Clubs and Prayer Shawl Ministry will be providing Breakfast!
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Scroll down and make sure to put our next Ventulett Gallery Opening on your calendar for August 28.
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Holy Innocents' Episcopal School is back in session! Please use caution when you are approaching our campus, especially in our parking lots.
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Foyer Groups are forming for this Fall. This is a great way to meet and stay connected at HIEC. See more below.
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The Vicar's View
Welcome Back, Gratitude,
and Exciting Days Ahead!
As we come to the close of this sabbatical season, I want to take a moment to thank our amazing staff for the extraordinary work they have done these past three months. My deep gratitude also goes to our wardens, Haley and Jenny, who have been a constant source of wisdom, steadiness, and support. We have truly been in good hands.
I have officially laid eyes on Bill—whether or not he shaved off his “sabbatical beard” is something you’ll have to see for yourself! You’ll have the perfect opportunity this Saturday night at his Welcome Back Low Country Boil. We already have about 140 people signed up, so we have had to bring reservations to a close. If you have questions or can’t make it after all, please email Melody in the church office.
I’m also excited to share that our Stewardship Team, Newcomers Team, and Vestry are coming together to listen to you. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be holding Focus Groups to gather some of your thoughts:
- Why do you belong to Holy Innocents’?
- What do you find here?
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Which connections matter most to you?
Sign up here to attend a meeting in person after the 10:30 am service in the Parlor on August 17 or 24 or on Zoom at 7 PM on August 20. If you cannot attend, we have a list of questions in a Google Doc here that we would love for you to complete as you are able.
This is an exciting time to begin a new program year—worshiping together, sharing life together, and finding new ways to be agents of peace, healing, and the love of Christ in our world.
See you soon,
Stewart+
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A Message from Leslie Boyette
Summer Organist
It has been a blessing to be with all of you this summer while Sean was on sabbatical. My heartfelt thanks to Stewart, all the office staff - Emily, Camille, Caroline - and of course the very talented members of the Choir. All of you, parishioners, clergy, staff, musicians, audio tech guys, have made me feel like a part of the community from the first Sunday I was with you in May. The Spirit of the Lord is surely in this place. Thank you also for the gorgeous orchid that you gifted me with at the service last Sunday! It will represent for me the beauty of the people and the spirit at Holy Innocents. May God continue to bless this parish!
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Realm Access
Realm is our database system, which allows us to send emails, mailings, schedule events, and all of the things that the clergy and staff do behind the scenes to make Holy Innocents' our home. The neat thing about it for you is that you are able to connect to your record in the system and have instant access to the directory, track your online giving, register for events, and more. To connect to your account:
- Click on the link in your invitation email that you received this morning
- Create your password and remember it
- Use your email address and password to log in through a browser or the Connect app
Connect app for iPhone: click here.
Connect app for Android: click here.
Once you have your account access, check to see if all of your contact information is up-to-date and upload a picture that will be used in the directory. Reach out to Renee Stephens at rstephens@holyinnocents.org if you need any assistance.
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Third Friday: Men of HI
August 15
Enjoy warm hospitality, engaging discussions, and a fresh sausage and biscuit breakfast. Come for the conversation and stay for the fellowship—7:30 AM in the Frost Youth Center.
Contact Charles Crosby | charles@corepm.net
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Gallery Opening: Woven Paths
August 28, 6:00-7:30 PM
The Ventulett Gallery invites you to Woven Paths, a dual-artist showcase featuring Jennifer Ferris and Janine McKenney. Jennifer and Janine follow their creative instincts, one through bold abstraction, the other through soft impressionism. Their works weave together at the intersection of color, emotion, and storytelling, creating a layered exhibition that invites viewers to explore both harmony and contrast.
Opening Reception: August 28 | Exhibit Dates: Through October 13
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Bucketlist Bookclub
September 2, 1:00 PM
The next meeting of the book club will be on Tuesday, September 2, at 1:00 PM. The book we’ll be discussing is Geronimo by Geronimo as dictated to S.M. Barrett. The club is open to men and women.
Contact Audrey Sumner | audreysum4833@gmail.com
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Prayer Shawl
September 2, 7:00-8:30 PM
The Prayer Shawl Ministry will gather in the Parlor on Tuesday, September 2, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. All are welcome! We would love to have you join us this fall. We knit and crochet prayer shawls that church staff deliver to those who are ill or grieving, but if you're currently working on some other project of your own – needlepoint, cross stitch, or even mending – come join us and socialize while you work.
Contact Cammie Ives | cammieives@gmail.com
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Reading Connections
September 8, 6:00 PM
The Women's Reading Connections will meet on Monday, September 8, at 6:00 PM in Inglett Hall, Room C. This month's book is Tom Lake by Ann Patchett.
Contact Michelle Driscoll | dris1296@yahoo.com
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Men’s Dinner and a Book
September 9, 6:30 PM
The next Men’s Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, September 9, at 6:30 PM, and the book is Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Kevin Nuffer is hosting. If you would like to attend, please contact Jeremy Webber for details. All men at Holy Innocents are included and invited.
Contact Jeremy Webber | jhwwebber@gmail.com
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Church of the Common Ground
September 21
HI will be packing 120+ lunches for our unhoused brothers and sisters who attend Church of the
Common Ground in Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. Please join us in Parish Hall after the 10:15 AM service to help make sandwiches and assemble lunch bags. An additional part of our outreach is to worship with the men and women of CCG at their 1:00 PM service in Woodruff Park.
Contact Robin Hickey | hickeys5040@gmail.com | churchofthecommonground.org
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Foyers
September 21
Want to make new friends or renew acquaintances? Sign up for Foyers on the sign-up sheet at the table in Bishop's Common. The purpose of Foyers is to get to know fellow parishioners in a small group setting (which is usually a simple dinner). After the sign-up period is complete (September 21st), groups of between 6 and 8 will be formed. Each group will have a starting host couple (or two singles) who will host the first dinner based on the availability of everyone in their group. At each get-together, plans for who will host the next are made and a date set. Everyone in the group is expected to host one dinner during the year. Since the fall is such a busy time, most groups won’t have their first get-together until the new year. Historically, Foyers met on Sunday evenings, but each group can determine the best time for their dinners (or lunches). A Foyers brochure with complete details is available at the table next to the sign-up sheets.
Contact Phyllis Weisser | pcweisser@yahoo.com
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First Day of Sunday School
August 17
Join us as we kick off a brand-new year of Sunday School on Sunday, August 17! Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, we’re excited to grow in faith, friendship, and fun together. Kids ages Pre-K to 5th grade will enjoy engaging Bible lessons, music, crafts, and a welcoming environment where they can learn about God’s love. Don’t miss this joyful start to a meaningful journey — we can’t wait to see you there! Please register for the new school year.
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Sunday School Begins
August 17
Sunday School kicks off again on August 17 at 9:00 AM for all middle and high school students! We meet every Sunday in the Frost Youth Center downstairs, and you're always welcome—even if you're running late. Just come as you are and jump in when you arrive. We can’t wait to grow, learn, and laugh together this year!
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Wet Sponge Dodgeball
August 17
All 6th–12th graders are invited to help us launch a brand new year of youth group! This year, we’ll be asking bold questions like, “If Jesus was serious…”—and exploring how His words shape the way we live. After the lesson, get ready for some fun with wet sponge dodgeball, a slip & slide, and a build-your-own ice cream sundae bar! Friends are welcome—just make sure to RSVP and come ready to get soaked and have a blast!
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GLOW | September 10
Dinner at 5:30 PM
Program from 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Come and GLOW with us on Tuesday, September 10th, as we kick off a new year with a focus on spiritual renewal and grounding. In a world full of noise and busyness, this is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and help kids reconnect with God through simple but powerful spiritual practices. Children will explore four core spiritual disciplines that we’ll build on all year long, and they’ll get to take home a fun, hands-on reminder they create themselves! New this year, we’re offering family dinner at 5:30 PM, for kids in PreK–5th grade. Come hungry for food, fun, and faith!
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Club 45: Waffle House Day
September 14, 9:00 AM
Join us for a special day in Club 45! We will enjoy a catered Waffle House breakfast and have a special guest speaker. No rsvp needed. Reach out to Ms. Renee (rstephens@holyinnocents.org) if you have any questions.
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Club 45 Kickoff Event
September 24, 6:00-8:00 PM
4th & 5th graders are invited to a very special Club 45 Kickoff Party. Join us for pizza, an escape room, and a very special time of fun and fellowship as we start an exciting new year at Club 45. Register by September 20th here:
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Dollywood
November 7-9
Students in grades 6-12 are invited for a weekend of fun and fellowship at Dollywood on November 7-9! We’ll stay in a mountain cabin, enjoy the park, and connect over meals, games, and laughter.
This trip is all about building lasting friendships that help students stay engaged in church life. Spots are limited so sign up fast!
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Click here to watch last Sunday's service!
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Pastoral Notes
If someone is in the hospital, has died, or has some other pastoral emergency, we hope you will contact our clergy directly. Please call the church office at 404-255-4023 and follow the prompts. This will connect you directly with the clergyperson on call for the week.
If you have joys to share, new births, grandbabies, graduations, or job announcements, we will gladly share them in our weekly Hi-Lights email if you send a note to communications@holyinnocents.org
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Warning about email scammers
When you receive an email from a Holy Innocents staff member, please check if the sender's email address ends with 'holyinnocents.org'. If it does not, it is likely not from us. Unfortunately, some individuals are attempting to scam various church members, posing as clergy and requesting gift cards. We never ask for money in this way. If someone claiming to be Bill, Stewart, Ruth, or another staff member contacts you, please let us know immediately. Report the email, block the sender, and delete the message. If you have any doubts, please give us a call.
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