Holiday Weekend Reminders

The office will be closed July 3rd and July 6th.

Join us as we gather on Sunday to sing and pray for our country. At 9:00 AM, join us for coffee and donuts. We will watch a speech by John Meacham, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer and author of the New York Times bestsellers including And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle and The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels. Stewart will lead the conversation about this Baccalaureate Address to the graduating class of Sewanee this past May. Meacham is the Canon Historian of Washington National Cathedral.

Stewart will preach and we will welcome back the Rev. Marycelis Otero as our Guest Celebrant! Marycelis served as our Seminarian during her time at Candler School of Theology at Emory. She was ordained last June. She serves as part-time associate for Hispanic/Latino ministries at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens. And Dock Anderson will debut at the organ bench to lead us in singing O Beautiful for spacious skies and offer a postlude you'll want to sit down to enjoy. Welcome Dock!

Pastoral Note

Long time parishioner Pattie Allen Bock died early Monday morning after an extended illness. She was 88. Pattie had been under hospice care for some months in Asheville close to her family. Please join us in giving thanks for her life and minstry here at Holy Innocents and keep her family in your prayers. They are planning a memorial service here in the Fall.


Rest eternal, grand unto her, O Lord.
And let light perpetual shine upon her.
May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.



A New Song

Dock Anderson, Director of Music

One of the great joys of these first few weeks at Holy Innocents has been meeting so many of you. Whether we've spoken for a few minutes after a service, exchanged emails, or simply introduced ourselves in passing, I have already experienced the warmth and hospitality that make this parish so special.

As I begin my ministry here, I'd love to continue those conversations.

If we've not yet had the chance to meet, I hope you'll introduce yourself. Tell me about your family, how long you've been at Holy Innocents, and what first brought you here. If you've been here for decades, I'd love to hear the stories that have shaped this community. If you're brand new, I'd love to hear what drew you to Holy Innocents and what you're hoping to find here.

And because I'm a musician, I'm going to ask about music.

What hymn has carried you through difficult seasons? Which anthem still stays with you years later? Is there a piece of music that has helped you pray, celebrate, grieve, or simply feel closer to God? Those stories matter because they tell us something about how God has been at work in your life.

I'd also love to hear your hopes. What dreams do you have for the music ministry at Holy Innocents? How can music help deepen our worship, strengthen our fellowship, and reach our wider community?

I'm grateful for the rich musical heritage of this parish and for the many faithful people who have built such an excellent program over the years. That foundation gives us every reason to look ahead with excitement. We honor the past best not by trying to recreate it, but by building upon it together. There is wonderful work ahead of us, and I believe God has exciting things in store.

One other exciting development is our upcoming Friends of Music Concert Series. Plans are nearly complete, and I'm delighted by the outstanding artists and ensembles who will be joining us during the coming season. We look forward to sharing the full lineup with you in the coming weeks. I hope these concerts will not only enrich the musical life of our parish but also welcome our neighbors into Holy Innocents through the gift of great music.

My door is always open. Whether you'd like to share a favorite hymn, tell me a story, offer an idea, or simply say hello, I'd love to get to know you.

I look forward to making music—and making ministry—with all of you.

Grace and peace,

Dock

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.

Women of HI: Mahjong Night

July 10, 6:30 PM

Join Women of Holy Innocents for an evening of laughter and lively games at our Mahjong Night! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just learning the tiles, all are welcome for this special time of community and connection. You don’t need to be an experienced player to attend, but you should know the basics of how to play. This is not a learning session.

Church of the Common Ground 
Sandwich Build

July 12, 11:15 AM

Please join us in the Parish Hall 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

Coffee for Parents of Young Children

July 26, 9:00-10:00 AM

Parents and caregivers of children age 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.

Christmas in July

July 29, 6:00-7:00 pm

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

Christmas isn't just for December! Bring the whole family for an evening of summer fun with a Christmas twist! Kids will enjoy Christmas games, crafts, music, and a special Bible lesson about the greatest gift ever given, Jesus! While kids are enjoying the program, 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 this July!

Help Local Students Start the School Year Strong

CAC & Solidarity Sandy Springs

HIEC is partnering with Community Assistance Center (CAC) through their Tools for School program, with a goal to provide 1000 backpacks and school supplies to local children in need.

There are several ways to get involved:

1. Make a Financial Donation (by mid-June): CAC can stretch monetary donations further by purchasing supplies in bulk, allowing them to serve even more students. To donate, visit: ourcac.org/donate/ and select "Tools for School."

2. Donate Backpacks or Supplies (by 7/15): Purchase backpacks and/or school supplies and deliver them to CAC. Their volunteer teams will pack and distribute them to students before the school year begins. A list of needed supplies will be shared soon.

3. Volunteer: Help prepare backpacks beginning July 16, or volunteer during distribution events on July 25 at the South Sandy Springs Mini-Market or July 30–August 1 at CAC's Main Office.

Backpack Drive for Solidarity Sandy Springs

Holy Innocents is partnering with Solidarity Sandy Springs to help provide backpacks for students in our community. Please join us as we collect much-needed items to ensure all kids start off next school year on the right foot. More information to come!

Reading Connections

July 13, 6:00 PM | Inglett C

The meeting begins with light refreshments, and the book discussion begins at 6:30 PM. This month’s book is The Henna Artist by Alak Joshi. A historical fiction novel set in 1950s Jaipur, India, following Lakshmi, a young woman who escapes an abusive marriage to become a sought-after henna artist for the wealthy elite, navigating a world of tradition, secrets, and the challenges of independence. 

Contact Michelle Driscoll

dris1296@yahoo.com

Men's Dinner & a Book

July 14, 6:30 PM

The next Men's Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, July 14, at 6:30 PM, and the book is Phantom Fleet by Alexander Rose. Jeremy Webber is hosting. If you would like to attend, please contact him 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