Pastoral Note

We give thanks for the life of Russ Paul, who died early Tuesday morning after several months under hospice care. Rusty and Jan are grateful for your prayers and for the grace-filled moments they have seen through the last days. We will let you know when they finalize plans to celebrate his life.

Jessica Keller Martin died unexpectedly last Wednesday. They have two children in the lower school at HIEC. She was a faithful member of Kairos Church just up the street. We will host overflow seating and live streaming of her service Saturday at 3:00 pm. View her obituary here.

The service for Bob Watts will be in the church on Friday at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow in Bishop Commons. View his obituary here.

Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with these families in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Vicars’ View–In the Blink of an Eye

The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas, Vicar

The office has been unusually quiet this week. Five members of the staff are away. Bill returns from vacation tomorrow and will be back in the pulpit on Sunday. Those of us who have been here have actually gotten quite a lot done in the quiet.

And yet, somewhere along the way this week, it hit me: school starts again VERY soon. We look forward to something like summer with such great anticipation. We make plans. We imagine slower days and long evenings and time to do all the things we never seem to have time to do.

And then, in the blink of an eye, it is almost over.

Perhaps that is why the old blessing I use so often has been on my mind: Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make this journey with us.

Those words feel especially poignant this week. Our community has experienced three deaths in a matter of days as you read above. There are those weeks when the fragility of life seems particularly close.

This Sunday, I will lead the final session of our summer forum series exploring biblical passages from Jewish and Christian perspectives. We will talk about Psalm 22, the psalm Jesus quotes from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When I first looked at the schedule, I thought, Well, that is not exactly an uplifting way to end a summer series. But perhaps it is exactly the right one.

Faith does not ask us to pretend that everything is fine. The Bible gives us words for grief, anger, fear, loneliness, and even the feeling that God has disappeared. Lament is part of faith because lament is part of life. And yet that is not the whole story.

Lately, what has been getting me through some evenings, when I am not watching the World Cup, are clips from CBS Sunday Morning. Obviously I never get to watch the actual program, but who does not love that trumpet theme and all those happy sun logo?

On Sunday, alongside our Psalm of lament, we are going to watch a few of the show’s stories of hope. Interviews with remarkable people, stories about 1776, and, best of all, stories about ordinary people helping other people. Small acts of courage. Unexpected kindness. 

There is sorrow in the world. There is also extraordinary goodness. Life is painfully short. So, gladden someone’s heart today. 

I look forward to being with you on Sunday. Bring a bag of food for hungry neighbors, then enjoy another of Jenny Cantrell’s delicious breakfast offerings, and get your photo taken for our new directory!



Faithfully yours,

Stewart+

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.

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
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.

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