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Megan's Maternity Meditation
Infertility can be one of the most challenging and emotional experiences a couple may face. Wanting to have a child coupled with constant reminders of happy families can lead to feelings of frustration, heartache, and despair. For nearly three years, my husband and I faced this challenging journey and endured In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We navigated 103 doctor’s appointments, countless procedures, and an emotional rollercoaster of hope and disappointment. Today, I am overjoyed to share that I am finally pregnant!
For us, the physical and emotional side effects of IVF were overwhelming. The treatments left me feeling exhausted, each appointment carried the weight of our dreams and the fear of potential failure. There were certainly days when the emotional burden seemed too heavy to bear. It was during these times that we turned to prayer, seeking comfort and strength from God. Our faith provided us with the resilience to keep going, even when the odds seemed stacked against us.
The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 11:1 that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Despite the visible challenges and setbacks, we held onto the belief that God had a plan for us, even if we couldn't see it at the time. Our faith helped us to know that we were not alone in our journey and would find happiness in God’s future for us.
To anyone currently playing the waiting game or suffering in silence, we offer our heartfelt encouragement. Our story is a testament to the power of faith, the strength of God, and the miracle of life. Miracles do happen, and sometimes, they are born from the most challenging journeys. We hope our experience inspires and uplifts others who are walking similar paths, reminding them that with faith, all things are possible.
Love,
Megan and Jacob Atkinson
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VBS Thank You
We are so grateful for everyone who helped out with VBS this year. We could not have done it without you! Your ministry helped 95 kids have fun and learn more about God. Thank you for your hard work and for having a wonderful week!
Congratulations to our Pie Winners! Pam Rivers' Cherry Crumble Pie won first place, and Emily Wilkerson's Blueberry pie won second. We think we'll have Cake Contest at our Fall Festival in October. Also thanks to Sarah Hyser and Melody McNeil for their help with our BBQ lunch and Jenny Cantrell for organizing the Bake Sale. We raised $1,001 for our Children's Ministries!
See more pics from VBS & the BBQ here.
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Pilgrims Return
Our Scotland Pilgrims will be flying back on Thursday afternoon. They have been singing everywhere they stop! Bill has posted several live videos on our Facebook Page. Here they are posing with composer Paul Mealor. They will be sharing more about their experience with us in the weeks to come.
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Our VBS families brought in 1,135 school supply items to support Horizons Atlanta! | |
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Gallery Opening: Wonderlust Musings by Ines Schmook
June 20, 6:00-7:30 PM
Ines Schmook, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1962 from Cuba, grew up in Chicago and used art to bridge the language gap. Influenced by her father, she honed her skills and majored in printmaking at Cleveland State University. After a 30-year career in education, Ines retired in 2012 to focus on art and travel, visiting over 40 countries. Since moving to Atlanta in 2017, she has created art in her home studio and showcased her work at the Spruill Center for the Arts and with the Atlanta Collage Society. Ines describes her creative process as a mental journey through her past experiences, which she captures expressively and abstractly in her paintings. Join us on opening night from 6:00-7:30 PM!
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Third Friday: Men of HI
June 21
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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Film Screening of "Mama Bears"
PRIDE Month event with Temple Sinai
June 25, 2024 | 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Temple Sinai Social Hall
Join us during Pride month for a screening of the documentary Mama Bears by filmmaker Daresha Kyi. Follow the stories of moms of LGBTQIA+ kids who overcome their conservative backgrounds and communities to become fierce advocates for their children. The evening will be hosted by Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer and Rev. Stewart Lucas of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church who will share some of their stories about being gay clergy. We will also hear from the filmmaker Daresha about her experience making the film. Light dinner will be served.
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Men of HI: Dinner and a Book
July 9
The next Men’s Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, July 9 at 6:30 PM and the book is Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. Tony Clarke is hosting. If you would like to attend, please contact Jeremy Webber at jhwwebber@gmail.com for details.
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Habitat for Humanity Build
Now through July 13
Holy Innocents, St. James Methodist, Cathedral of St. Philip, St. Martin in the Fields, and St. Luke’s Presbyterian are sponsoring Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s summer faith build. All parishioners 16 and older may participate. No skills are required, just the desire to help an Atlanta family buy a home at a very affordable price. Learn more here.
Contact John Harris | harris4338@gmail.com | 678-761-6765
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Volunteer for Emmaus House Dinner
June 27
Holy Innocents is sponsoring a dinner for parents and their children who are enrolled in The Children’s Defense Fund summer program at Emmaus House on June 27th. We need volunteers to assist with serving the meal and/or providing desserts, tea, and lemonade. Contact Lilia Romero at lgrrn@comcast.net for additional information and to sign up!
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Get Your Tickets to the Show!
City Springs Theater has designated Tuesday evening, July 16, as “CAC Night of Hope.” In recognition of the Community Assistance Center’s vital work, they are dedicating that evening’s performance of Jersey Boys to the support of the CAC, and they will contribute 20% of the proceeds from ticket sales to the CAC.
Holy Innocents has already purchased 20 tickets, and we are offering them at a discounted rate of $60 thanks to a generous donation. Please send Caroline an email if you would like to purchase them.
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Mocha Meetups
Every Wednesday, 1:00 PM
Join Megan every Wednesday this summer at Starbucks for Mocha Meetups! Calling all middle and high schoolers for a cozy gathering filled with laughter, friendship, and of course, delicious coffee. It’s the perfect midweek treat to unwind and connect with new friends. See you there!
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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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