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In Sure and Certain Hope
Adult Forum Series | Sundays at 9:00 AM | Inglett Hall
Join us for a three-week series exploring faithful end-of-life planning:
- May 18 – Planning with Purpose
Attorney Ben Appel, Endowment Chair Meredith Gurley Johnson, and Assistant Treasurer Dave Stockert will discuss the essentials of end-of-life planning, including legal documents, financial considerations, and the importance of organizing personal affairs. Breakfast will be provided by the Outreach committee.
- May 25 – The Meaning of a Christian Funeral
The Rev. Dr. Thomas G. Long will present a video session examining the historical development and theological significance of Christian funerals, drawing insights from his book The Good Funeral.
- June 1 – Planning Your Own Service
The Rev. Stewart Lucas will lead a reflective session on planning your own funeral service, utilizing Holy Innocents’ updated Funeral Planning Booklet to select scriptures, hymns, and prayers that reflect your faith journey.
This series is designed to provide peace of mind and spiritual grounding as we consider our legacies and the hope of resurrection.
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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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Resting in God’s Love
Renee Stephens
If you’ve ever sat with or near a child in worship, then you know their attention is in and out as far as what’s going on from the front of the room. My oldest is ten now, but ever since he first learned the Lord’s Prayer, he would drop whatever picture he was drawing or coloring and recite with the congregation as soon as it starts. He’s not quiet about it either, he recites every word boldly and with the confidence that shows that he knows what’s he doing and that he knows what he’s doing is important. It undoes me a little bit every time. Now my 6-year-old has started doing the same thing. It’s like a switch is flipped, as soon as they hear “Our Father,” they drop what they’re doing, stand a little taller, and recite with confidence. As if they count this as their contribution to worship and while there’s a lot of other stuff that goes on, and lots of words are spoken, this is the one thing that they know and count on.
Sometimes things happen in life that shake our entire foundation. Someone dies, moves, or gets really sick, and we are left holding the crumpled pieces of the past, thinking wait a minute, how could this happen? It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Suffering changes you. The things that initially seemed so incredibly important all of the sudden become trivial. In a crisis, our plans and our preferences are all diverted and some things never go back to the way they used to be.
This is why it’s so important to nurture your faith. All things in life change, but the one thing that will never shift is the presence and love of God. This is what we’re working on when we come to worship and pray and study the Bible. We’re strengthening our recognition of God’s love and presence. So, if that day comes, that the entire rug is swept out from under your life, then you already know that one thing that you can hold fast to.
It starts with the Lord’s Prayer and eventually it becomes that spark that you feel when you know you are in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Pray for me, the clergy and staff, all of our incredible VBS volunteers in the coming weeks. This is the very thing that we are seeking to nurture in the youngest amongst us: the ability to recognize and rest in the presence and love of God. Check out the many ways that you can be a part of this ministry from bringing snacks for volunteers, to donating supplies or helping with set up or clean up. Every role is important!
| | Click below to preview the May newsletter! | | |
Support VBS – Donate or Volunteer!
Vacation Bible School is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a fun, faith-filled experience for our kids! You can support VBS by donating supplies through our Amazon Wishlist or by volunteering your time. We’re especially looking for helpers to set up themed rooms, serve as the VBS nurse, guide kids as they move between stations, help with cleanup after the fun, or bring a baked treat to keep our volunteers energized and appreciated.
Every gift and helping hand makes a big difference—thank you for being part of it!
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Third Friday: Men of HI
May 16
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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HIYA: Health & Wholeness Bible Study | Sundays in June, 11:30 AM
This June, we’re creating space for honest conversation and deep reflection as we gather for a Bible study series rooted in The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. Each week, we’ll explore how trauma shapes the body, mind, and soul—and how Scripture invites us into healing, restoration, and peace.
Whether you’re carrying old wounds, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about the intersection of faith and emotional health, you are welcome. We’ll read, reflect, and process together in a space that’s safe, grace-filled, and grounded in truth. Bring your book, your questions, and an open heart.
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Dementia & Caregiving:
An Evening with Nancy Kriseman
June 2, 5:00-7:00 PM
Noted author and geriatric consultant Nancy Kriseman, LCSW, will be with us to discuss her book, Meaningful Connections: Positive Ways to Be Together When a Loved One Has Dementia, on Monday evening, June 2nd, from 5:00-7:00 PM. We will gather with snacks and beverages in the Narthex, and our speaker will begin at 5:30 PM. Our lay pastoral care team, The Community of Hope, is hosting this event and invites anyone in the parish and friends you might like to bring along. Please RSVP on Realm.
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Bucketlist Book Club
June 3, 1:00 PM
The next meeting is Tuesday, June 3, at 1:00 PM in the Parlor. The reading is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This book club is open to men and women.
Contact Audrey Sumner | audreysum4833@gmail.com
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WOHI: Mahjong Night
June 6, 6:30-9:00 PM
It’s game night! Mahjong is a tile trading game akin to Rummy or Bridge that’s having a revival in Atlanta. Come learn to play mahjong Friday, June 6th. No experience needed - beginners will learn from Casey Freedman, an experienced mahjong instructor. If you already know mahjong (even if you’re a beginner), join us to play a few games.
Cost is $65 for the lesson with Casey and your own Mahjong card. Free for experienced players.
Please note in your rsvp whether you are signing up to learn or to play, and whether you’ll bring your own tiles and mahjong card (for players). Snacks will be provided; please bring your own beverage of choice.
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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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Pentecost & Parish Picnic
June 8, 10:15 AM
Join us for a vibrant Pentecost service where we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. Wear your favorite red attire! After the service, join us for a parish picnic. We’ll provide BBQ & hot dogs. Those with last names beginning with A-L bring desserts, and last names beginning with M-Z are invited to bring sides and salads.
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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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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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End of the Year Sunday School Celebration
May 18, 9:00 AM
Join us on Sunday, May 18 at 9:00 AM for a fun-filled morning as we wrap up an amazing year in Sunday School! Kids will make their own tasty Bunny Bait snack mix, play some exciting games, and celebrate all the fun we've had this year. We'll also take a special moment to honor our graduating 5th graders as they prepare to move up to youth group—and every child will go home with a special gift to remember the day! All kids PreK-5th grade are welcome!
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Youth Group: Laser Tag
May 18, 4:00-6:00 PM
Calling all students in grades 6-12! Don’t miss our end-of-year bash on Saturday, May 18 from 4:00-6:00 PM! We’re turning the whole campus into a giant laser tag arena. Bring your friends, your best moves, and your game face. After the action, refuel with a build-your-own taco bar. It’s going to be an awesome way to kick off summer—come ready for fun!
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VBS Decorating Party
May 29, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
We need your hands to help prep for VBS. In just a few short weeks we will welcome 100 kids for an entire week of crafts, science experiments, music, games, and other activities. Help us prepare our space and supplies for this exciting ministry. Pizza provided! May 29, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM.
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VBS
June 2-6
Join Holy Innocents Episcopal Church for a very special Road Trip VBS June 2nd-6th! This year's VBS is based on Joshua 1:9, "The LORD your God is with you wherever you go." It reminds us that God's presence is always near no matter where the journey of life takes us. Kids will go on an exciting journey to discover new places, new friends, and new ways that we can discover God's goodness and presence everywhere. Open to rising Pre-K to rising 5th grade. Rising 6th grade and up are invited to serve as youth leaders. The cost is $85 with optional aftercare until 3:30 for an additional $85
| | Click here to watch last Sunday's service! | | |
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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