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Mini Parish Meeting
Sunday, September 29 at 9:00 AM in Inglett Hall
The Church Staff is providing breakfast on this fun day, and then during this gathering, you'll hear important updates from our Stewardship Committee, vestry leadership, and clergy. We'll cover topics like our church's finances and the progress of the master plan process. Most importantly, this will be a time for us to listen to one another, share in the blessings we celebrate, and express our hopes for the future.
And let's set the record straight—the rumor is NOT true! We are not announcing a capital campaign, but we do want to share and celebrate all the wonderful things happening in our community. Come and be part of this important conversation as we continue to nurture our faith and cultivate a strong community and faithful future together!
Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans
Sunday, September 29 at the 10:15 AM service
Join us for the annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans, a cherished tradition where parishioners of Scottish descent bring their clan tartans to be blessed. This special service celebrates our Scottish roots and the contributions of Scotland to the Episcopal Church. The St. Andrew's Society will lead a lively procession with tartan banners, bagpipes, and drums at the 10:15 AM service.
Did you know the Episcopal Church owes its first bishop to Scotland? After the American Revolution, Samuel Seabury was consecrated as the first American bishop in Aberdeen, Scotland, since English bishops required an oath to King George III. This unique connection between our churches is symbolized in the Episcopal flag’s blue field and white crosses in the pattern of St. Andrew’s cross.
Celebrate our shared history, enjoy the vibrant tartans, and let the sound of pipes and drums stir your spirit!
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Vicar's View
At least once every two weeks someone asks me what a ‘vicar’ is. Here’s what I normally tell them. I stand in for the rector sometimes. When he asks me…
A vicar (/'vīkər/; Latin: vicarius) is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting “in the person of” or agent for a superior (compare “vicarious” in the sense of “at second hand”). Linguistically, vicar is cognate with the English prefix “vice,” similarly meaning “deputy.”
The Pope bears the title vicar of Christ (Latin: Vicarius Christi). I could make the point that we are all vicars of Christ, his hands and feet in the world now to show his love to all. But I digress.
So, there you have it. There’s a lot going on at Holy Innocents especially with the exciting action of the school on campus all the time. Bill simply can’t do it all, so we all share the work together. I’ll definitely stand in for him when he goes on sabbatical this summer.
I get to do a little bit of everything around here, and I love it. As you know I don’t sit still very well, so the flexibility and variety of jobs is a good fit. This Fall Bill asked me to be his vicar for Stewardship. We put together an energized team that has met every Monday afternoon since June! Chris Protos has been the chair with Greg Euston, Nora Hattauer, and Julie Skaggs joining the team. Each Saturday you have been receiving an email with a weekly reflection on different areas of ministry we are highlighting this year.
Your generosity continues to make miracles happen through our community. We hope and pray you will be able to pledge of your many blessings to keep supporting the work we feel called to do, Nurturing Faith and Cultivating Community. Your pledge card and more details will be in the mail to you in early October. Thank you!
The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas +
Preview the September Newsletter below!
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POSTPONED Women of HI: Progressive Dinner
October 10
Due to the inclement weather, the dinner has been postponed. Please RSVP again if you can make it to the new date.
Let’s begin the year progressive dinner style! Each course will invite a new combination of dinner guests to the table with fun get-to-know-you conversations, to cultivate the depth and breadth of our relationships with one another. Bring a bottle of wine to add to the table, as you are able. Please RSVP.
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Compact Wisdom Series
In August and September, we have studied the shortest books of the Bible. We have just a few more to go! Join us in exploring these compact yet powerful books, each offering unique insights into faith, perseverance, love, and redemption. This study will nurture our faith and grow our community as we break open the scriptures together.
October 3: The Rev. Ruth Pattison leads us through 1 & 2 Peter, 1 & 2 Timothy.
October 10: Dave Stockert shares what he has gleaned from James.
October 17: The Revs. John Porter and Bill Murray will begin a class entitled Human Nature & Happiness.
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Foyers Sign Up
A Foyers group is a random collection of 8 people from church, who don’t already know each other, with the sole purpose of sharing a meal and getting acquainted. Foyers captures Holy Innocents’ fall theme of Nurturing Faith, Cultivating Community.
The meals are meant to be simple, inexpensive, and stress-free. For each dinner gathering, two participants co-host a meal.
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Newcomers Dinner
October 3, 6:00-8:00 PM
Join the Holy Innocents’ Church Clergy, Vestry, and Welcome Team for a BBQ dinner while making new friends. Alex Allen is hosting!
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Matthew Dickerson, Dulcimer
October 6, 4:00 PM
Come and hear the unique Alpine sounds of the hammered dulcimer; played by virtuoso artist Matthew Dickerson, who tours regularly on the instrument. The hammered dulcimer is acquainted with many countries and regions, often heard at Bavarian, Swiss, and Austrian festivals as well as folk events in Hungary, and other Eastern European countries. The “sweet sounds” [dulcimer = sweet sounds (Greco-Roman origin)] will be perfect in the intimate acoustics of Christ Chapel. We hope you’ll join for this “sweet sounding” opportunity on Sunday, October 6 @ 4pm.
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Blessing of the Animals
October 6, 5:00 PM
Calling all pet owners! Our youth group and 4th-5th graders will be hosting this event and will provide tons of fun and fellowship for our pet families. We are also collecting old Halloween costumes for Agape Youth and Family Center, an organization that serves underserved children. Please bring your pet and your old costumes and join us October 6th!
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Men of HIEC Low Country Boil
October 6, 5:30 PM
Join the Men of HIEC for food, fellowship, and fun at our annual Low Country Boil on the banks of the Chattahoochee.
$30 per person, includes food and beverages
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Iconography Workshop
October 6-11
This year, we will be painting the icon of Jonah. Jonah may well be the perfect prophet for this moment as we think and pray on our election, our nation, and our world. Where is God in all of this? Where is Jonah? Where are we? Noted iconographer Mary Jane Miller will be joining us again and leading us in prayer, reflection, and conversation around this unique icon of faith, daily from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM. The class is open to all but limited to 15, register online.
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LaAmistad Needs Volunteers to Teach Basic ESL Classes October 7-December 18
LaAmistad returns to Holy Innocents offering adult immigrant students in our community the opportunity to improve their English fluency in its English for Successful Living (ESL) program. The curriculum focuses on the use of English for everyday situations, and volunteers are trained and mentored by experienced and certified ESL professionals. Speaking Spanish is not required; conversational English is the goal of this basic class. Classes run October 7-December 18, on Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Contact Howard Clark | ghowardclark@gmail.com.
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Gallery Opening: Spaces&Places
October 17, 6:00-7:30 PM
Art lovers are invited to a special gallery opening showcasing the works of two remarkable artists, Susan Westmoreland and Sharmila Ghose Roy. Both artists bring unique perspectives to their art, drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and everyday life, but their approaches are as diverse as they are captivating.
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Third Friday: Men of HI
October 19
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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Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
October 27th
Join us after 10:15 worship for an exciting Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat! Children and children at heart are invited to wear costumes to Sunday School and worship and then stay after for a Fall Festival and Trunk or treat where we will enjoy some time of fellowship and celebrate the change of season. Enjoy some festive food, a petting zoo, train rides, and trunk or treat!
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Reading Connections
October 21
Readings Connections is the women’s book club!
The book for October is Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr. Join us at 6:00-7:30 PM in the conference room.
Contact Kathie Larkin | kathie.larkin@retired.paceacademy.org
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Men’s Dinner & A Book
November 12, 6:30 PM
The next Men’s Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30 pm and the book is The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann. John Harris is hosting at Jeremy Webber’s house. All men at Holy Innocents are included and invited.
Contact Jeremy Webber | jhwwebber@gmail.com
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Church of the Common Ground
November 17
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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Buddy Bags
October 1-27
Our students will be collecting items during the month of October to create buddy bags for our unhoused friends. You can bring your items to church or use our Amazon Wishlist to have them shipped directly. The youth will assemble these bags and distribute them to our church members during the Fall Festival on October 27th to keep in their cars for those in need. You can use the link below to view our Amazon wishlist.
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GLOW
October 2
Come and GLOW with us as we continue our series about renewing our strength through spiritual disciplines. Kids will have fun discovering tools to use in their day to day lives to find respite from the constant demands of school and extracurriculars. Come hang out with friends, share a snack, and play some pumpkin games on October 2, 6:00- 7:00 PM. Kids ages PreK-5th grade.
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Youth Halloween Party
October 20
All 6th-12th graders are invited to a special youth group on October 20th from 4:00-7:00 PM. We will enjoy delicious Halloween treats, watch a spooky movie, and play some awesome Halloween games!
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HI Youth Basketball
November 17
It’s time for some fun with basketball! The Holy Innocents Youth Basketball, season is open for registration! All kids in grades 2-5 are welcome to join us.
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Click above to watch Ruth's sermon from last Sunday! | |
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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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