Weather Alerts

We will communicate with you on Friday evening if there are changes to our Sunday schedule. We anticipate that all systems are go since the latest forecast looks promising.



As a precaution, though, we will be making the sandwiches for Church of the Common Ground on Thursday morning at 10:15 AM in the Parish Hall instead of Sunday after church. Join us for a few minutes if you can. 

Updated Security

To help ensure the safety of our staff and school students, we have updated our security procedures during regular business hours.

All visitors are asked to press the buzzer at the single door. A member of our staff will respond and can see you before unlocking the door remotely and welcoming you inside. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our community safe.

For pastoral emergencies, please call the church office at 404-255-4023 and follow the prompts to reach a member of the clergy.

Thank you for helping us care for one another and for our shared spaces.

Office Hours

Mon-Thurs: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Fri: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM

Feast of the Holy Innocents

The Rev. Dr. Bill Murray, Rector

Describing our patron saints is always a difficult conversation. People will ask the simple and innocent question, "Who are the Holy Innocents?" I try to answer quickly; they are part of the story of Matthew after the wise men. It is sort of a conversation stopper when I say, "We are named for the children in Bethlehem killed by King Herod in an attempt to kill Jesus." 

According to her own telling, Miss Nellie Peters Black named us the Holy Innocents, becasue she saw children suffering from poverty in the aftermath of the Civil War. They were innocent and had nothing to do with the position they found themselves in. When I went to South Dakota to help with the consecration of the new church of the Holy Innocents, they spoke of the Holy Innocents, the women and children, killed by the Calvary at Wounded Knee. Many of the members are direct descendants of those families. I am still waiting to hear from Lahaina in Maui about how they speak of the Holy Innocents.

In all of those conversations, I am reminded that there are Holy Innocents today. Children and families who are caught in difficult situations. Sometimes it is the government, sometimes it is leaders, and sometimes it is just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You do not have to look far to see them. They are in Sandy Springs, and in Atlanta, and around the world.

I suppose the real answer to the question of who we are named for might be those children who suffered under King Herod. I think it is also fair to say that we are a church that seeks to be reminded to care. We are a community that is called to see how people suffer from unfair policies and from self-important leadership. We are a people called to remember that there is, sadly, always a new generation that needs help. We must simply work to do something about it. 

Join us Sunday as we talk about our church, our community, and the world, and the ways we are working to care for each other and the Holy Innocents.

John Cox became a member of Holy Innocents last year with a letter of transfer from St. Benedict’s Episcopal (Smyrna, GA), where he served on their Vestry during its founding years. He is active in the men’s group (MOHI, book dinners, retreat, etc.) and offers his support to other activities such as the Ventulett Gallery displays and outreach to Holy Comforter, Habitat for Humanity, and CAC drives. John’s career background lends experience in several ways, including renovation and refurbishing medium-sized construction projects. Recently at HIEC, he began the Education for Ministry (EfM) series, enrolling in the inaugural ‘wide angle’ curriculum. John has two grown sons with their own families (4 grandkids!) and enjoys golf, hiking, yoga, and an array of other interests. 

Graham Hurtt is married to Clara Hurtt and father to Madison (10) and Sadie (7). He is a managing director in the Technology and Services investment banking group at Raymond James, focusing on financial services end markets. Graham is an embarrassingly big fan of science fiction in all its forms and media, often to the chagrin of his family. In his free time, Graham can most often be found transporting the girls to sports and lessons or losing card and board games to the other members of his family. 

Sunni Newton has been a member of HIEC since 2011, along with her husband, Tommy Newton. They have two children, Boyd (13) and Rosie (10), and live in Buckhead. Sunni works as an education researcher at Georgia Tech, where she has been a student or an employee since 2001. At Holy Innocents, she serves as a Reader, a Greeter, and co-chief mahjong enthusiast. Her favorite free-time activities include reading, cooking, doing crossword puzzles, and playing with the best dog in the world, Lita, whom her family is fortunate to have adopted in 2023. She looks forward to being in the room where it happens on the Vestry. 

Jan Stewart has been an active member of Holy Innocents for 25+ years. She has volunteered her time in all areas of the church community during those 25 years, which included serving as past chair of the Altar and Flower Guilds and as a past Junior and Senior Warden. Currently, she is a team leader for both the Altar and Flower Guilds, a lay Eucharistic Minister, and a member of Community of Hope. She has exceptional finance (profit and non-profit) experience, a passion for outreach, and a commitment to pastoral care. She is the mother of three grown children, and although she continues to work full time she always finds the time for the community of Holy Innocents. She is honored to serve on the Vestry and looks forward to representing the community. 

Anna Blair Gates is a ninth grader at Marist School. She has been a member of HIEC since birth. She has grown up in the church nursery, attending Sunday school, singing in the children's choir, and enjoying youth activities. She has also been a VBS volunteer for the past several years. Anna Blair plays competitive soccer with Concorde Fire; she also runs cross country at Marist.

Mary Brooks McCrystal is a sophomore in high school at HIES and has been a member of HIEC since she was born. She has attended Sunday school regularly as a child and is an active participant in the youth group. She has attended the school since Kindergarten and is now participating in their football cheerleading, basketball, and lacrosse programs. Mary Brooks is also on the yearbook committee as well as many clubs such as HI Trees, HIES for CHOA, and Blood Cancer United.

Prayer Shawl

February 3, 7:00-8:30 PM

Join us in the Parlor on Tuesday, February 3, 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

Women of HI: Mahjong Night

February 6, 6:30 PM



Join us for a mahjong game night on Friday, February 6. If you are interested in playing or learning the game, please email Emily Wilkerson (embwilkerson@gmail.com)

Habitat for Humanity Build 

February 7-March 28

Holy Innocents, along with several local churches, is sponsoring Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s Faith Build. Adult parishioners and teens ages 16 and up are invited to take part in this meaningful work. Each Saturday, at least four members of Holy Innocents will have the opportunity to serve. No skills required, just the desire to help an Atlanta family buy a home at a very affordable price.

Third Friday: Men of HI

February 20, 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

Bill Harkins returns as retreat leader for the Men of HI Retreat at Lake Logan Episcopal Center in the mountains of North Carolina. This year’s theme is “Arete, Faith, and a Rule of Life for Connection Among Men.” Bill will serve as both facilitator and homilist, offering the grounded presence and depth many have come to value over the years.

Contact John Harris harris4338@gmail.com

Reading Connections

February 9, 6:00 PM

This month’s book is Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. The novel follows an impoverished African-American family in Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. 

Contact Michelle Driscoll

dris1296@yahoo.com

Bucket List Book Club

February 3, 1:00 PM

The co-ed group is reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. We’ll meet at 1:00 PM in the Parlor room.

Contact Audrey Sumner audreysum4833@gmail.com

Men's Dinner & a Book

March 10, 6:30 PM

The book is Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home by Chris La Tray. Rolf Meinhold is hosting. All men at H.I. are invited! 



Contact Jeremy Webber

jhwwebber@gmail.com

Click here 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