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Rejoice in the Lord
The Rev. Ruth Pattison
“Let the earth glorify the Lord,
Praise him and highly exalt him forever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams,
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord,
Praise him and highly exalt him forever.”
[Canticle 12, Morning Prayer II, A Song of Creation]
Ok, so truth be told, I’m enamored by a Bullfrog. And now, I realize there may actually be more than one, which comforts me, because I thought to myself, “what a wonderful life this bullfrog is living in his pond kingdom, with the rocks stacked just so, and the lily pads with their beautiful pink profusion of blooms. . . but for want of a friend.”
I take my morning walk along Edgewood Ave. in Inman Park. Right there where I park my car, is a small law office, safely ensconced by a lovely privet hedge standing as tall as me.
But it’s behind the hedge where this little kingdom lies.
I pop out of my car and immediately hear the bullfrog call out with his deep guttural vibrations, more akin to a cello tuning up than what one would call a ‘ribbit ribbit.’ It tickles me, as though he knows I’ve arrived, and he calls out to say “Good Morning,” or “Welcome,” or “I hear you over there,” but most likely he’s just singing the Song of Creation: “Rejoice in the Lord, Praise him and highly exalt him forever!”
It’s just that easy, isn’t it? To Rejoice in the Lord. It’s just a matter of saying the words, no matter the circumstance, no matter the weather, no matter the want of a friend to share the pond. We can just strum the cello strings of our hearts and let the vibrations shape into words “Praise him and highly exalt Him forever.”
If we personally find it difficult on any given day, creation is happy to help. Just listen. The creation is singing. Wherever you find yourself in these summer days, just listen for the song of creation and lift your voice. Be bold. Let yourself be tickled and join in the song.
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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 22: Emily Wilkerson asks 3 Big Questions that Change Every Young Person. How 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.
¿Habla español?
If you speak Spanish, even just a little, please email Stewart! We’re putting together a list of folks who might be willing to support our ongoing collaboration with the 1:00 PM Our Lady of Guadalupe community. Your language skills could make a big difference!
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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CAC Needs our Help with Their Backpack Drive
CAC is having another backpack drive this summer to provide 1,000 students with backpacks and school supplies they need to be successful during the coming school year. There are a couple of ways in which you can help:
1. Purchase backpacks and/or supplies and deliver them to CAC by July 7 or 8 so volunteers can pack and distribute them. Click here for a list of supplies.
2. Volunteer to help pack backpacks beginning the week of July 7. Also, help distribute backpacks to families on July 18 and 19 from 3 of our locations at CAC Main Office, CAC South Sandy Springs food pantry, and the CAC Dunwoody food pantry.
Thanks so much for your donations to CAC to help their children they serve.
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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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Bucketlist Book Club
July 1, 1:00 PM
The next meeting of the book club will be Tuesday, July 1, in the Parlor. The book we’ll be discussing is Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. The club is open to men and women. Contact Audrey Sumner (audreysum4833@gmail.com) if you have any questions.
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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!
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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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