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I Keep Forgetting!
The Vicar's View
I keep forgetting to do my Tuesday morning Facebook Live meditation. The other clergy always remember. I think about it Monday night. I remember Tuesday morning. Then sometime after 9:00 a.m. I realize I forgot again and tell myself, “I’ll do it later.” And then Tuesday night arrives, I lay my head down to sleep, and remember that I never did it at all.
Luckily, you all are a very forgiving lot.
But the truth is, forgetting doesn’t just happen with Facebook meditations. We forget all kinds of things that matter. We mean to help. We intend to give. We think about reaching out to someone who is lonely or grieving. We remember that thank-you note we should send or the phone call we ought to make. We have every good intention.
And then another day slips by.
You know the saying about the road paved with good intentions. Good intentions are lovely, but they don’t feed hungry families or encourage weary hearts unless they become action.
So consider this a gentle reminder and invitation for all of us, me included, to follow through.
Our outreach volunteers continue faithfully delivering food and supplies to the Community Assistance Center Food Pantry and the Solidarity Sandy Springs Food Pantry. They especially need:
• Cereal and Cheerios/Granola
• Peanut Butter and Jelly
• Pasta and Spaghetti Sauce (plastic Aldi jars are great)
• Diced Tomatoes
• Canned Tuna or Chicken
• Canned Fruit and Pineapple
• Canned Vegetables (except green beans)
• Soup and complete entrée meals
• Diapers (sizes 5 and 6)
• Deodorant, Shampoo, and Soap
• Reusable grocery bags, paper/plastic bags, and egg cartons
They buy eggs in bulk and divide them up for families, so those cartons truly help.
Small acts of kindness may not seem dramatic, but they are often how the kingdom of God quietly appears among us.
Grace and peace,
Stewart+
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Adult Forum Series
Germany Pilgrimage Reflections • Sundays, May 17 • 9:15 am
Join us for a reflection on our recent pilgrimage to Germany, exploring faith, music, and witness across the centuries. Come for coffee, conversation, and a deeper look at how these voices still speak into our lives of faith today. This week we turn to the courageous witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose life and writings challenge us to faithful discipleship in difficult times. What does it mean to follow Christ with integrity and courage in our own day? The Outreach Team will host breakfast this Sunday.
May 24 • No Forum, Memorial Day Weekend
May 31 • Bishop’s Visitation
The Rt. Rev. Rob Wright, 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, will join us for a bounteous breakfast and conversation.
| | | | | | Ruth will preach at 8 & 10:15 AM this Sunday. Please join us as we give thanks for her ministry. After the late service please join us for a reception in her honor.
You may contribute to a farewell purse as a tangible expression of our gratitude through the provided link or by writing a check with “Gift for Ruth” in the memo line. | | Congratulations to Lucy Peterson (left) and Ellison Losin (right) for being state champions! Both girls were on the Youth Vestry and are active in the youth group. We are so proud of them! | | |
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, clean up, guide kids as they move between stations, or bring a baked treat to keep our volunteers energized and appreciated. Contact Renee at
rstephens@holyinnocents.org for more information or to volunteer.
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End of the Year Sunday School Celebration
May 17, 9:00 AM
Kids ages PreK-5th grade are invited to celebrate an exciting year of growth, learning, and faith at our End of the Year Sunday School Celebration! Join us on May 17th at 9:00 AM as we wrap up our programming year with a fun-filled tropical-themed celebration for all ages. Come dressed in your favorite bright colors or island-inspired outfits and get ready for a joyful morning together! Kids will enjoy a fun treat, a tropical egg hunt, and a special slideshow highlighting memories from the year. We will also recognize and celebrate our 5th-grade graduates, and every child will receive a gift. This will be a meaningful time to reflect on the year, celebrate our students, and enjoy fellowship as a community. We look forward to celebrating with you!
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Youth Group
May 17, 4:00-6:00 PM
6th–12th graders are invited to Youth Group on May 17 from 4:00–6:00 PM for a Build & Destroy Night! We’ll kick things off with dinner, then break into teams for some high-energy challenges where you’ll race to build creative structures like the strongest balloon wall and other surprise builds. But there’s a twist—everything gets tested, and the goal is to see whose creation can withstand the chaos. The winning team will take home prizes for the strongest surviving structure!
We’ll also spend time talking about something bigger than the games: how we can use this summer to build a stronger, more lasting relationship with God. Bring a friend, bring your energy, and get ready for a fun and meaningful night!
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VBS Decorating Party
May 28 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!
Please note: The final VBS Leader meeting is before the decorating party. Youth leaders, please be there at 10:00 AM, adult leaders at 10:30 AM.
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VBS 2026: Knights of the North Castle
June 1-5 from 9:00 AM-12:15 PM
Get ready for an unforgettable week of faith, fun, and adventure at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church! Kids will explore exciting Bible stories, music, crafts, games, and more as they discover how to “Be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10) and learn about the Armor of Faith. Cost: $85 per camper. Optional aftercare is available until 3:30 PM for an additional $85. Open to rising Pre-K through rising 5th grade. Spots are filling quickly. Register today!
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Third Friday Breakfast: Men of HI
May 15, 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
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Prayer Shawl Ministry
June 2, 7:00-8:30 PM
Join us in the Parlor on Tuesday, May 5, 7:00–8:30 PM. We knit and crochet shawls for those in need, but bring any project—needlepoint, cross-stitch, even mending—and enjoy fellowship while you work.
Contact Cammie Ives | cammieives@gmail.com
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Young Adults: Pool Party
June 6, 11:00-1:00 PM
Young adults in their 20s-30s are invited to kick off summer with us at a pool party at Jenny Cantrell’s home! Join us on June 6 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm for swimming, snacks, and a fun time hanging out together. Bring your towel, sunscreen, and a friend!
Contact Megan Atkinson |
matkinson@holyinnocents.org
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Church of the Common Ground
Sandwich Build
July 12, 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
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Reading Connections
June 8, 6:00 PM | Inglett C
The June Women’s Reading Connections book is Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B? by Terri-Lynne DeFino. A novel about a disgraced celebrity chef, who vanishes after a public downfall and resurfaces as a soup kitchen manager in New Haven, Connecticut, mentoring a struggling line cook named Gale Carmichael, who eventually gets cast on a cooking show, forcing her to confront her past and potentially make a comeback.
Contact Michelle Driscoll
dris1296@yahoo.com
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Bucket List Book Club
June 7, 1:00 PM | Parlor
This co-ed group is reading The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. The next meeting will be held on June 7 at 1:00 pm.
Contact Audrey Sumner audreysum4833@gmail.com
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Men's Dinner & a Book
May 12, 6:30 PM
The next Men's Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 PM and the book is Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose by Jennifer Wallace. Kevin Nuffer is hosting. 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:
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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
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