Pastoral Notes

Melinda Smith, sister of Sally Combs, died on July 5. Stewart will officiate at her graveside service on Monday, July 22 at 11:00 am at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell with a reception to follow at the funeral home there. Her obituary is here.

The funeral for Mike Shortal will be Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 AM in the church. Bill will officiate. His obituary is here.

The funeral for Helen Johnson will be on Saturday, July 27 at 1:30 pm in Christ Chapel with Bill officiating. Her obituary is here.

In lieu of flowers, you may give online to the church here by clicking on the drop down menu to make a memorial gift, or write a check to the church with their name in the memo line.

Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord;

And let light perpetual shine upon them.

May their souls, and the souls of all the departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Sunday Notes

• Join us for donuts and camp skits this Sunday morning at 9:00 in the Parish Hall.
• We will congratulate Alex Allen and Terrell Johnson upon their graduation from the Education for Ministry class at our 10:15 AM service.
• Church of the Common Ground Sandwhich Build after the 10:15 service.
• And don't forget your food pantry donations or give online to the CAC.

Young Adulthood

It is hard to be 26. Just as it was hard to be 16, and will probably be at 36. Young adulthood involves so many challenges and transitions; moving away from home, going to college, starting a career, or maybe a family. No one expects the reality of post-graduate life.  

There is no rule book on how to handle the big emotions that accompany these changes. Holy Innocents’ Young Adults (HI-YA) started as a discussion with Megan and I as we realized how much the church needs a group for this age range (20-30s). Last Sunday, HI-YA met at Mellow Mushroom and got to know each other better. We laughed at silly jokes and bonded over shared interests. Most importantly, there was a realization that this was the start of something wonderful. 

Our next event is a pool party and seafood boil on August 3, noon-3:00 PM, which Jenny Cantrell has graciously offered to host. We are so excited for this event and all the ones planned for the rest of the year! Join us as we begin this new adventure of supporting our young adults. If you have any questions, please reach out!

Emily Badacour

Director of Communications

Who had more fun at Holy Innocents this week?

The drummers, the young adults or those who attended

the Jersey Boys Fundraiser for CAC?



Camp HIEC - Summer Formation

July 21: Bible | The Skit

“The gospel is not a story we accept, but one we enter.” (Liturgical Curator, Mark Pierson). Summer camp is famous for its breaking open the Bible in such a way that we can indeed enter. Often, the method for this cracking open is none other than “The Skit”! The brilliance of the Skit as an art form is its ability to be simple and dramatic, roughhewn, unrehearsed, sometimes ridiculous, or even hilarious, and surprisingly revelatory, with props to hide behind. Join us! All fun, no pressure.

July 28: Hiking, Pilgrimage | The Labyrinth

Summer camp always includes hiking. The Labyrinth is a long-time spiritual practice at Holy Innocents and will provide the means for putting one foot in front of the other for a meditative journey. Judy Fielder and Ursula Simmons will lead the event complete with our room-size canvas labyrinth, icons, votives, and music. We will also provide palm-size labyrinths for those who might prefer to sit as they make their pilgrimage.



August 4: Cabin Devotions | “Tea and B”

At the end of the day, campers gather in their cabins to wind down and connect in conversation about their wild day before they hit their bunks. It’s just a time to connect. To talk. Tell stories. Laugh. (And occasionally, cry). On this final day of Summer Formation, we will engage in conversation with a practice called “Tea and B”. The B is to simply invite each participant to just “Be”. We will have conversation starters on the placemats, to invite you to connect with others in our faith community, over a cup of tea.

Third Friday: Men of HI

July 19

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

HIYA: Pool Party

August 3, 12:00 PM-4:00 PM

All young adults are welcome to enjoy a refreshing pool party and savor a delicious seafood boil crafted by Jenny Cantrell. Bring your swim gear and your appetite! Please RSVP. Contact Megan Atkinson | matkinson@holyinnocents.org

Backpack Blessing and Picnic

August 11

Join us for a special Backpack Blessing and Picnic on August 11 during the 10:15 service! Bring your backpacks for a blessing to kick off the new school year with positivity and prayer. After the service, stay for a hamburger and hotdog picnic with your church family. It's a wonderful opportunity to come together, celebrate, and enjoy some summer fun. Don't forget to invite friends and family! We look forward to seeing you there.

Reading Connections

August 12

Reading Connections is the women’s book club! The book for August is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pel. We meet at 6:00 PM in the conference room.

Contact Kathie Larkin | kathie.larkin@retired.paceacademy.org

EfM Registration

September 3

Interested in joining a faithful community to explore God’s call and our response within the Christian faith? EfM (Education for Ministry) is a four-year adult Christian formation program by the University of the South (Sewanee). It delves into the Holy Scriptures, Church history, and theology, helping us understand our relationship with God, neighbor, and creation. Our EfM group meets every Tuesday from 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, September 3 through May 27, both in-person and via Zoom. The vibrant community engages in stimulating weekly discussions. Registration is open until August 13. Tuition applies; scholarships are available.

Contact Lin Stradley | lstradley@gmail.com (404) 233-3155

Contact Nicole Yarsawich | cole.yarsawich@gmail.com

Episcopal School Sunday

September 8

Join us for Episcopal School Sunday on September 8, as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of HIES's founding. We will unveil the portrait of the Rev. Hugh Saussy, and breakfast will be provided by the school at 8:45 AM.

Ministry Fair

September 15

There are numerous groups where you can worship, connect, and serve! During Formation time, Inglett Hall will be transformed into a Ministry Fair where each group will have a booth and you can learn more about ways to get involved at the church. We are enthusiastic about our ongoing growth and community involvement, and we invite you to join us on this journey.

Iconography Workshop

October 6-11

Join us for a six-day retreat in Byzantine icon painting technique and Meditation where spirit will inspire you in the sacred art of painting in egg tempera. The schedule for the course begins on Sunday evening with introductions and continues daily from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM for five days.

If needed and depending on each participant's progress, extend the schedule every day throughout the workshop, allowing time to finish.

You are invited to take time anyway from your regular life. Miller is a full-time iconographer dedicated to egg tempera and the love for spiritual awakening through painting with Mother Earth. A Window into Stillness retreat includes prayer, solitude, materials, painting, and lunch. Each participant will complete one Icon.

Backpack Drive

July 20

Help ensure every child starts the school year prepared by donating backpacks and school supplies for Sandy Springs students. There are two ways you can provide help: either by purchasing prefilled backpacks or by dropping off new or gently used backpacks at the Church or Solidarity’s location. Your donation can make a big difference in a child's education and future. Join us in supporting our community's students! You can also make donations through the Amazon Wishlist now online.

Important Updates for Backpack Drive

Also, new this year elementary schools have specifically asked for headphones rather than earbuds, which are more functional for younger children. Headphones have been added to the list. Earbuds with a microphone remain on the list for middle and high schoolers.

Backpacks for all ages are not included on the supply list. If you’d like to purchase backpacks, the following are needed based on students’ ages:

· Pre-K – 20

· K-5th grade – 425

· Middle and high school – 375

Backpacks can be ordered online or purchased locally and delivered to the address listed in the flyer. Or donations to Solidarity of $50 will cover the costs of a backpack and supplies. Simply scan the QR code or mail a check to the listed address. The deadline to deliver items is July 20.

Contact Jan Paul | janpaul1005@gmail.com

Contact Charles Crosby | charles@corepm.net

Church of the Common Ground

July 21

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. 

CCG Shoe Drive Update

More than 100 pairs of shoes have been delivered to the Church of Common Ground. While Duffy and I were still there, a size 10 and a size 13 were given to two of the men at CCG’s foot clinic. The Outreach Committee thanks you at HI so much for embracing the Lenten shoe drive and making it a success. 

Also while making the delivery, it was confirmed to us that these dog days of summer are being tough on the homeless. We always include bottles of water when we provide lunches to CCG. If you would like to make an extra donation for our next CCG lunch delivery on July 21, please drop off some of those individual packs of water

Mocha Meetups

Every Wednesday, 1:00 PM

Join Megan every Wednesday this summer at Starbucks (6350 Powers Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327) for Mocha Meetups! All middle and high schoolers are invited to join a midweek treat to unwind and connect with new friends.

Contact Megan Atkinson | matkinson@holyinnocents.org

Click above to watch Ruth's sermon from last Sunday!

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

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.