Announcements

• We are happy to share that our former seminarian, the Rev. Marycelis Otero, has accepted a position as Associate Rector at St. Timothy's in ----. Her husband, Rev. Edgar Otero, is the new Minister for Hispanic/Latino Communities for the Diocese of Virginia. Read more about Marycelis. Read more about Edgar. Please keep them and their children in your prayers as they make this transition!



• Back to School: For those who have been asking, our church is gearing up for school to start in Fulton and Cobb County, as well as our school here on campus. Our Children and Youth Programs are ready to welcome all of our families back to full programming. The public schools around us begin on Monday, August 3, 2026. Holy Innocents' Episcopal School begins on Thursday, August 13. 

Forum: Sacraments

• There are seven sacraments in the Episcopal Church. We really focus on baptism and communion. There are five more we do occasionally. Join us for a five-week program talking about the ways that God reaches out to us in physical and concrete ways. Come with questions, share your thoughts, and see which sacrament Stewart cuts for time. Should be a fun class all around!

Beginning Again

The Rev. Dr. Bill Murray, Rector

The time has come for children, teachers, and administrators to begin another school year. While the church has a completely different liturgical calendar, we often live into the academic calendar because that is when everyone is ready to begin again. The next month is where we often see a whole host of newcomers, especially new families. Something about new shoes, books, pens, and notebooks invites us to try new things. So why not try a new church or a new rhythm of life?

Benedict, long considered the founder of Western monasticism, believed deeply in starting again each day. Born in Italy around 480 AD, as the Roman Empire was crumbling, he realized that the chaos of the world could pull you in a hundred directions. What is happening to the government? What is happening to the farmers? Is there war? Is there famine? What about my family? What about my friends? 

Benedict's prescription for his community and the world was to have a set order. He encouraged commitment to a fixed daily pattern of both prayer and work, which creates a sense of stability and purpose. This rhythm becomes a “second nature,” making it easier to begin each day with intention rather than reacting to the day’s chaos. His ideal was set times for prayer, set times for work, and even set times for rest and reflection. He understood that we could begin again each day and focus on what comes next if we have that pattern.

I can say that for my family, the ability to start the day is much easier when we are back in a pattern of life each day. The summer can be hard because one person is sleeping late, another is going to camp, another to work, and another is not sure and will see what happens. Having a set time to rise, a set time to leave, a set time to work, and a set time to come home leads to an ability to focus on what is happening today more clearly. I am always happy when summer comes and to get a break from the rhythm. By the end of summer, I am ready to get back into the rhythm.

The invitation to me and likely for many of you is to find a rhythm that includes God as part of all of those things to do. A time to pray and reflect, a time to come to church and share the burdens of life, and a time to care for others. It is not about squeezing more into the day. The invitation is to begin again and find a balance for all that we can do. Beginning again is the gift of God in every sunrise. Why not try? Why not begin again? 

Christmas in July

July 29
Family Dinner: 5:30 PM 
Kids Christmas Program 6:00–7:00 PM

Bring the whole family for an evening of summer fun with a Christmas twist! Kids will enjoy games, crafts, music, and a special Bible lesson about the greatest gift ever given, Jesus! Parents can unwind with a relaxing fellowship hour featuring wine and cheese. Whether you're wearing flip-flops or Christmas socks, come celebrate the joy of Christmas with us.

Immigration Assistance Fund

We have established this fund to provide compassionate support for families in our Our Lady of Guadalupe community who are facing hardship due to immigration-related circumstances. Gifts may be used to assist with urgent needs such as rent, food, legal expenses, and other pastoral care as determined by Father Brito in consultation with the clergy.

To make an online gift, please use the link below. If giving by check, please make it payable to Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church and write "Immigration Fund" in the memo line.



Thank you for helping us care for our neighbors with compassion, dignity, and hope.

Sign up for Foyers!

Want to make new friends or renew acquaintances? Sign up for Foyers on the sign-up sheet at the Welcome Desk. The purpose of Foyers is to get to know fellow parishioners in a small group setting (which is usually a simple dinner). After the sign-up period is complete, groups of between 6 and 8 will be formed. Each group will have a starting host couple (or two singles) who will host the first dinner based on the availability of everyone in their group. At each get-together, plans for who will host the next are made and a date set. Everyone in the group is expected to host one dinner during the year. Since the fall is such a busy time, most groups won’t have their first get-together until the new year. Historically, Foyers met Sunday evenings, but each group can determine the best time for their dinners. A Foyers brochure with complete details is available at the Welcome Desk.  

Contact Phyllis Weisser | pcweisser@yahoo.com

Third Friday Breakfast: Men of HI

August 21, 7:30 AM

Enjoy warm hospitality, engaging discussions, and a fresh breakfast in the Frost Youth Center. Come for the conversation and stay for the fellowship.

Contact Charles Crosby | charles@corepm.net

Coffee for Parents of Young Children

April 30, 9:00-10:00 AM | The Parlor

Parents and caregivers of children aged 4 and under are invited to a cozy coffee hour to connect and get to know one another. This gathering is open to members, newcomers, and families baptized within the last three years. No agenda, just coffee, hot breakfast, conversation, and community.

Men of HI: Braves Game

September 13, 1:35 PM

Cheer on the Atlanta Braves with the Men of HI! Join us for an afternoon of baseball, fellowship, and fun at Truist Park. Tickets are $33 each, and space is limited to 30 participants. Reserve your spot today! Payments may be made online or by cash/check in the office. 

Church of the Common Ground 
Sandwich Build

September 27, 11:15 AM

Please join us in the Parish Hall tomorrow to make sandwiches for our unhoused siblings who worship in Woodruff Park weekly. If you would like to help deliver the lunches and worship with our friends, we will leave at 12:15 PM.

Contact Robin Hickey | hickeys5040@gmail.com

Reading Connections

August 10, 6:00 PM

The August Women’s Reading Connections meeting will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026. The group meets in the Inglett Hall Small Conference Room C, at 6:00 PM. The meeting begins with light refreshments and the book discussion begins at 6:30 PM. This month’s book is The Meeting of Air and Water by Sharon Lacour. A debut novel that follows three generations of women in Louisiana, focusing on their artistic pursuits, particularly photography, and their struggles against societal expectations. The story begins in 1923 with a young girl named Dolores and explores themes of love, family secrets, and the creative spirit within the rich backdrop of Cajun culture and the Louisiana landscape.

Contact Michelle Driscoll

dris1296@yahoo.com

Men's Dinner & a Book

September 8, 6:30 PM

The next Men's Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, September 8 at 6:30 PM, and the book is Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention–and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari. Rolf Meinhold is hosting. We will be meeting at Holy Innocents Church. If you would like to attend, please contact Jeremy Webber for details. All men at Holy Innocents are included and invited.



Contact Jeremy Webber

jhwwebber@gmail.com

Click the video to watch last Sunday's service!

Realm Access

Realm is our database system, which allows us to communicate all of the things that the clergy and staff do behind the scenes to make Holy Innocents' our home. You are also now able to connect to your record with instant access to the directory, your giving, event registration, and more. To connect to your account:

• Email Renee Stephens at rstephens@holyinnocents.org for an invitation link.
• Create your password and remember it!
• Use your email address and password to log in through a browser or the Connect app

Connect app for iPhone: click here. Connect app for Android: click here.

Once you have your account access, update your contact information and upload a picture that will be used in the directory. Contact Renee for help. rstephens@holyinnocents.org

Pastoral Notes 

If someone is in the hospital, has died, or has some other pastoral emergency, please contact our clergy directly. Call the church office at 404-255-4023 and follow the prompts. This will connect you directly with the clergyperson on call. 

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