Faith That Comes Alive
Our youth ministry is off to a great start! This year, our students are diving into the life and letters of Paul and discovering that studying the Bible can be interactive, meaningful, and fun.
Through games, hands on activities, and conversations, we’re connecting Paul’s experiences and teachings to the challenges and questions our students face today. We’re learning that Scripture isn’t just something we read. It’s something we live out. Just as Paul encouraged the early churches to grow together in faith, our students are learning the importance of community, encouragement, and putting faith into action.
Our high schoolers gather Sunday afternoons for lunch, fellowship, and faith filled conversations, while our middle schoolers meet Sunday evenings for fun, friendship, and engaging Bible lessons.
We’re grateful for the laughter, curiosity, and growing faith of our students. As a church, we have the joy of walking alongside them, encouraging them, and learning from their questions and perspectives. We’re excited to see how God continues to work through our youth and our whole church community!
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Sunday Morning Formation
Come for breakfast provided by the Ushers and Welcome Team this Sunday.
Here’s what’s coming up each Sunday at 9:00 AM in Inglett Hall:
August 30 — Invite, Welcome, Connect
Emily Wilkerson, chair of the Welcome Team, will speak with Stewart for a conversation about the many new faces, especially the many young people, joining our community. What are we doing that is working? How can we do even better? How do we help newcomers become involved? And how can those of us who have been here forever do our part to meet them, so no one feels lost?
September 6 — Labor Day Weekend
It will be a surprise! (as in we haven’t decided yet…)
September 13 — Episcopal School Sunday
HIES will provide its always-wonderful breakfast. Our forum will include religious education teachers from each division, along with Head Chaplain Dr. Stefanie Taylor. Lower School Chaplain Trey Davis will preach, and we’ll enjoy special music from the HIES chorus, instrumentalists, and our adult choir.
September 20 — Building and Renovation Update
Our Building and Renovation Team will update us on the work they have been doing this summer with our architects, led by Hank Houser. The Covenant Group will provide breakfast.
September 27 to November 1 — The Corinthians Conversation
A new six-week class led by Emory faculty begins. We’ll explore the issues faced by the church in Corinth and the Apostle Paul’s conversations with its members. Paul consistently returns to the “big picture”: the Corinthians’ embodiment of Jesus. We’ll also look to the emotional relationship between Paul and a church in crisis. Finally, we’ll ask how their conversation can offer support and guidance to the church today as we navigate the conflicts of the 21st century.
And there’s more! Beginning in September, we’ll also offer a Wednesday-night opportunity here at HIEC with friends from Sandy Springs United Methodist Church and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church.
How to Read the Bible
Six Wednesdays, September 16–October 21
Fellowship at 6:30 PM, Class from 7:00–8:00 PM
The Rev. Larry Varghese, a Hebrew Bible doctoral student at Emory, will lead this six-week course. Larry is a phenomenal teacher with a gift for making biblical scholarship engaging and accessible.
The course will explore the various genres found in Scripture, the differences among English translations and how they came into existence, and the Scripture we have inherited. Blending biblical scholarship with the practical questions congregants commonly encounter, the class will equip us with tools for our own reading and study of the Bible.
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Heidi Garcia-Nava
Bilingual Administrative Assistant
We are delighted to share that Heidi Garcia-Nava is joining the Holy Innocents’ staff as our Bilingual Administrative Assistant. Heidi was raised here in Sandy Springs. She graduated from Riverwood High School. She has been working as a Co-op Leader for Urban Recipe, a feeding ministry that serves families at Lake Forest Elementary and St. Anne’s. She has a son, Noel, who attends Lake Forest. Her role will be welcoming folks at the church, collaborating with Father Brito and the people of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and helping with a wide variety of administrative tasks in offices. “I am so excited to welcome Heidi to the staff,” Rector Bill Murray shared. “She has a welcoming, kind demeanor and an emotional intelligence that shines in working with people. I pray that she will be able to help us deepen our connections with our Spanish speaking members.” Heidi begins on Tuesday, September 1.
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Angela Waddy-Bell
Candler Seminarian
After a brief hiatus, we are delighted to announce that we will have another seminarian from Candler School of Theology at Emory. Angela Waddy-Bell is an active member of St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church in Smyrna. A native of Birmingham, Angela’s resume is an impressive list of achievements. She spent more than twenty-five years leading complex technology and project management initiatives in both the public and private sectors and served eight years in the United States Navy. Her professional experience in leadership, organization, and collaboration now informs her approach to ministry, where she seeks to lead with humility, thoughtful discernment, and
compassionate presence. She has four grown children and has been married to her husband, Tommy Wells, for 26 years. “I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my formation at Holy Innocents,” Angela shared. She will join be exploring ministry across the church- everything from Eucharistic ministry to preaching to vestry to altar guild. We are excited to welcome Angela and share in raising her up to the priesthood.
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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. So far we have supported three families with rental, translation and legal support. Our fund currently is sufficient for the immediate needs, but we will continue to keep you posted.
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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
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Men of HI: Third Friday Breakfast
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
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Coffee for Parents of Young Children
August 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, breakfast, conversation, and community.
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Prayer Shawl
September 1, 7:00-8:30 PM • Parlor
The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers this fall to knit and crochet shawls that are given to those who are ill or grieving. Not working on a prayer shawl? Bring your needlepoint, cross-stitch, mending, or another project and enjoy an evening of crafting and conversation. All are welcome!
Contact Cammie Ives cammieives@gmail.com
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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.
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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
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Senior Youth Group
August 23, 11:30-1:00 PM
Our Senior Youth Group (9th–12th grade) is meeting after worship from 11:30 am–1:00 pm for lunch, community, and real conversation. Lunch is free and friends are always welcome. We’ll hang out, eat together, and talk about what it looks like to live out your faith in real life.
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Jr. Youth Group
August 23, 4:00-6:00 PM
We invite all 6th–8th graders to join us on Sunday, August 23, from 4:00–6:00 pm for youth group. We’ll dive into our theme for the year, Unashamed in Faith, inspired by 2 Timothy 1:7-8. Together, we’ll create our UNASHAMED Banner & Testimony Wall using sticky notes to share our stories, experiences, and reminders of how God is working in our lives. We’ll also spend time connecting with friends, enjoying dinner, and building community as we begin this year together!
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GLOW
September 9
Dinner at 5:30 PM, Program 6:00–7:00 PM
Come and GLOW with us on Wednesday, September 9th as we kick off a new year with a focus on spiritual renewal and grounding. In a world full of noise and busyness, this is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and help kids reconnect with God through simple but powerful spiritual practices. Children will explore four core spiritual disciplines that we’ll build on all year long and they’ll get to take home a fun, hands-on reminder they create themselves! For kids in PreK-5th grade. Come hungry for food, fun, and faith!
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Sunday School
Sunday Mornings @ 9am
Our new Sunday school year is officially underway and we'd love for your child to join us! Whether you're returning or joining us for the first time, there's always a place for you here. We can’t wait to see you there! Please register for the new school year here:
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College Connection Deadline
September 16
Do you have a child in college who was once part of the HIEC Youth Group? We would love the opportunity to remind them that they are still a valued part of our community! We are putting together care packages to let them know they are loved, supported, and thought of while they are away at school.
Please send Megan Atkinson their updated mailing address, cell number, and any gift card preferences by September 16, and we will make sure they receive a little piece of home from HIEC!
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Dollywood Trip
November 13-15
The youth group is heading to Dollywood November 13-15! All 6th-12th graders are invited for a weekend of fun and fellowship in Pigeon Forge, TN. The cost is $475 plus extra cash for fast food on the way there and back. We'll head to our beautiful Airbnb on Friday night, spend all day Saturday exploring the rides, and head back Sunday after a devotional. Friends are welcome to join us but must attend 3 youth group events before we depart.
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Reading Connections
September 14, 6:00 PM
Women’s Reading Connections will gather on Monday, September 14, beginning with light refreshments at 6:00 pm and book discussion at 6:30 pm.
This month’s selection is The Guest List by Lucy Foley, a gripping mystery set at a glamorous wedding on a remote Irish island. As secrets surface and tensions rise among the guests, the celebration takes a deadly turn. With its atmospheric setting and classic whodunit structure, the novel has drawn comparisons to the mysteries of Agatha Christie.
Contact Michelle Driscoll
dris1296@yahoo.com
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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:
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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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