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God With Us: From VBS to Every Step Beyond
Renee Stephens
Last week, a team of 16 adult leaders welcomed 96 children and 37 youth volunteers for this year’s VBS. It was everything you would expect it to be, a beautiful, coordinated chaos of laughter and love fueled by a childhood hunger to know and experience more. Every day in our morning meeting, I told our leaders that yes this is all about the kids- it’s all about the crafts and the dry ice and the games and the music. It’s about everything that we’ve done to prepare ourselves and our spaces for these children, but the core of everything that we are doing is also for us as leaders.
We always do our VBS at the very beginning of the summer because we want to signal to our own heart and soul that this is what we are anchoring our entire summer on. Our VBS was centered on Joshua 1:9, “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” which is an important reminder for all of us. Life takes us on some very unexpected journeys sometimes. Many are good and full of joy beyond our wildest expectations. But some of our journeys are very hard: death, divorce, moving…grief in all its forms… God doesn’t cause our pain and suffering but God is indeed there with us in the midst of it.
So no matter where you are in your journey, know that God is already there. God is with you in your deepest grief and in your moments of utter joy. Wherever your travels take you this summer, God is with you.
And when you're in town, we hope you’ll join us on Sunday mornings for our Children’s Chapel summer series, Under the Sea. Each week, we’ll explore ocean-themed Bible stories and discover how God gives us hope that holds us steady, just like an anchor. It’s a joyful, meaningful continuation of all we experienced together during VBS, and we can’t wait to continue the fun!
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Gallery Opening: For His Glory
June 18, 6:00-7:30 PM
Ventulett Gallery is proud to present For His Glory, by artist Kelley Doran. This collection explores themes of faith, reflection, and the search for meaning through rich textures and bold color.
You’re invited to the opening reception on Wednesday, June 15, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Join us for an evening of art, conversation, and connection, with food and drinks provided. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet Kelley, experience her work up close, and engage with the stories behind each piece.
If you can’t make the opening, the gallery will be open for viewing Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 4 PM. The exhibit will be on display from June 18 until August 25. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing this beautiful collection!
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Summer Adult Forum Series | Sundays at 9:00 AM | Inglett Hall
June 15: Am I Savior or a Servant?
Rosalyn and Chris Devine lead our conversation with a talk by Sister Theresa Sullivan on the profound impact of serving others, emphasizing that it's not just an obligation but a gift. Seeing service as a privilege, rather than a burden, can transform the way we approach helping others. The responsibility that comes with caring for those around us requires effort, empathy, and sometimes sacrifice.
June 22: Emily Wilkerson asks 3 Big Questions that Change Every Young Person. How can church leaders and parents can address these questions.
June 29: Stay tuned...
July 6: Lin Stradley: Jesus the Ingrate: The Subversive Power of Gratitude
July 13: Dave Stockert: Life After Death: Jesus, Judaism, and Justice.
July 20: Matt and Lindsey Parrish lead the conversation
July 27: Maggie Menkus: discovering your spiritual gifts and Servant Leadership
Aug. 3: Stay tuned...
Aug. 10: Stay tuned… Blessing of Backpacks Sunday. Choir Returns
Aug. 17: Bill returns and shares about his sabbatical. Sunday School for all ages begins.
Funeral Planning Resources
If you missed Sunday's presentation, please find our funeral planning workbook and Holy Innocents' Memorial Garden and Columbarium burial options on our website here: https://holyinnocents.org/funerals/. Contact Melody McNeil with any questions.
Upcoming Office Closures
Please note that our office will be closed on the following dates:
- Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth
- Friday, July 4, and Monday, July 7, in celebration of Independence Day
We’ll resume regular hours after each closure. Wishing everyone a meaningful Juneteenth and a safe, festive Fourth of July weekend!
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Habitat for Humanity Build
June 7-August 2, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM
Holy Innocents’ is once again joining forces with seven other Atlanta-area churches to sponsor Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s Summer Faith Build! This year’s build days are Saturdays—June 7, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26, and August 2—from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. All adult parishioners and teens 16+ are invited to serve (no skills required!) as we help an Atlanta family achieve affordable homeownership. Holy Innocents’ has 6 volunteer spots on June 7 and 4 on each following Saturday. Volunteers must register individually online; registration closes at 7:30 AM the Thursday before each build day. Youth volunteers (ages 16–17) must bring a printed waiver signed by a parent or guardian. If all slots are full when you register, you’ll be added to a waitlist and notified if a spot opens. Visit our website for full details and to sign up!
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Third Friday: Men of HI
June 20
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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Men's Dinner and a Book
July 8, 6:30-9:00 PM
The next Men's Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, July 8 at 6:30 pm and the book is The Spy and The Traitor by Ben Macintyre. Joe Nuzzaco is hosting. If you would like to attend, please contact Jeremy Webber at jhwwebber@gmail.com for details. All men at Holy Innocents are included and invited.
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Reading Connections
July 14, 6:00 PM
The Women's Reading Connections will meet on Monday, July 14, at 6:00 PM in Inglett Hall, Room C. This month, we are reading The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. The novel is set in the 1960s in Maine. A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels a community, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years. All are welcome!
Contact Michelle Driscoll (dris1296@yahoo.com)
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Church of the Common Ground
July 20
HI will be packing 80+ 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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Pilgrimage to Germany
From Reformation Roots to Musical Heights
A Pilgrimage of Faith and Witness
with Luther, Bach, and Bonhoeffer
April 8-16, 2026
Join 20 pilgrims from Holy Innocents and 20 from Holy Trinity Lutheran (Hickory, NC) for a joint pilgrimage through Germany, co-led by Vicar Stewart Lucas and Lutheran Deacon Mitzi Budde. We’ll follow in the footsteps of Luther, Bach, and Bonhoeffer, traveling from the printing presses of Mainz to the music halls of Leipzig and the memorials of Berlin, reflecting on faith, justice, creativity, and community.
This Episcopal-Lutheran journey will deepen our connection to God and one another through worship, shared meals, and meaningful conversation. An optional Prague extension is available from April 16 to 19.
Let Stewart know if you're interested and join us for an informational meeting on June 22 in Inglett Hall. Registration for 20 Holy Innocents pilgrims opens at noon on June 25 (first come, first served).
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Welcome Back, Bill!
August 16, 6:00 PM
Let’s give Bill a warm welcome home from his sabbatical with a festive Low Country Boil on Saturday, August 16 at 6:00 PM in the Parish Hall—adults only this time! The kids will have their turn with the Backpack Blessing and Foam Party the week before, so this evening is just for the grown-ups to relax, reconnect, and celebrate. Want to lend a hand with setup, cooking, or clean-up? Contact Jenny Cantrell, we’d love your help!
Contact Jenny Cantrell | jpcantrell@pittman-construction.com
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The Community of Hope will be offering a regional zoom training beginning Sunday, August 3rd. Community of Hope is an international organization, based on Benedictine spirituality, which equips people to participate in pastoral care.
Through ongoing spiritual formation and practical lessons on caregiving, members learn to align theological insights and spiritual practices with their experiences of ministering to others and giving spiritual care.
Pastoral care is when a person is being “present” in a listening, compassionate, non-controlling manner for the purpose of responding to their spiritual needs.
Training sessions will take place weekly on Sunday afternoons for 12 weeks, with an additional Saturday session.
For those who have completed training and decide to move forward in the parish with pastoral care ministry, we gather monthly as the Circle of Care on Monday nights for worship, continuing education, and spiritual support.
Please contact Karen Calhoun (kncalhoun@yahoo.com) or Craig Wilson (crwilson01@gmail.com) if you are interested in understanding more about the group; contact Ruth Pattison (rpattison@holyinnocents.org) if you would like to discuss the discernment process for participation in the upcoming training.
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Children’s Chapel Summer Series:
Under the Sea – Anchored in Christ
Dive into a faith-filled adventure this summer! Kids in PreK-5th grade are invited to explore exciting Bible stories from the sea that show us how our hope in Jesus is the anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19). Each week features a fun object lesson, a hands-on ocean-themed craft, and a message that helps children trust God in every wave of life. Come set sail with us each Sunday while we discover a treasure of truth under the sea! June 15th - August 3rd, during the 10:15 service.
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Meetup with Megan
Rising 6th–12th graders, you're officially invited to grab coffee or lunch with Ms. Megan this summer! Whether you're in the mood for an iced latte or a midday bite, she is looking forward to catching up with each of you.
Choose a time that works best for you using the link below, and come hang out!
| | | | Click here to watch last Sunday's service! | | |
Unknown Donations
We’ve received unidentified donations from Fidelity Brokerage Services. If you have any information regarding these gifts or believe they may be connected to your efforts, please reach out directly to Caroline (cfleming@holyinnocents.org) for
further coordination.
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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 410-255-4023 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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