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St. Bede's E-News
We hope that this weekly offering will keep you up-to-date
on the latest information from the parish
and from around the Diocese of Atlanta and wider Church.
Our e-newsletters are now being archived on our website.
You can go to www.stbedes.org
and look under the "Connect With Us" tab
at the top of the home page to find past newsletters.
Please send your submissions ready to go into the newsletter,
text and images attached in an email to the Parish Administrator.
Laura's email address is lpittman@stbedes.org
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There's a lot going on at St. Bede's!
Looking for an activity?
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Sunday, December 14, 2025
The Third Sunday of Advent
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Worship in English at 10 am
This Sunday we welcome
Dr. Catherine Meeks
as our guest preacher at 10 am
Worship in Spanish at 1:30 pm
We will also be streaming our worship live
on
St. Bede's YouTube Channel
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If you would like to preview the scripture lessons and hymns for the upcoming Sunday, you can find Sunday's bulletin uploaded to the parish website each week on Thursday afternoon. From the home page of the website, scroll down to the colorful "Worship" icon, and click on that. Then scroll to the bottom of the "Worship" page and you will see where the bulletins for Sunday have been posted under "Downloads".
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This Sunday we welcome
Dr. Catherine Meeks
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Dr. Meeks will lead us in a conversation about "Loving Your Enemies" as we seek to understand how to overcome what separates us from one another and how we may do the challenging but important work of growing together in truth telling and reconciliation.
Dr. Catherine Meeks is the Founding Executive Director and Chief Midwife of the Turquoise and Lavender Institute for Transformation and Healing. She is a respected teacher, preacher, and public voice in the Episcopal Church and beyond for matters of healing, liberation, and transformation. For many years, Dr. Meeks served as the Founding Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta. She also has served on the faculties of Mercer and Wesleyan Universities in Macon.
This class will meet at 11:30-ish in Room M110
All are Welcome!
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Young Adult Fellowship
(20's - 30's)
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Join us for
Cocoa and Crafts
Saturday, December 13
2:30 - 4:30
In Room M110
We'll be making all sorts of Advent and Christmas crafts, enjoying hot chocolate and cookies, and watching a holiday movie!
If you were not able to RSVP, please come anyway. We will have extra and would love to see you.
Friends are always welcome!
We hope to see you there!
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Here's What's Happening!
Sunday, Dec 14 - No youth group
Sunday, Dec 21 - Las Posadas and tree decorating
Sunday, Dec 28 - Youth Christmas Party 5-9pm
Sunday, Jan 4 - Shopping for Baby Jesus Baskets
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Children's Formation
for Children Age 3 - Grade 5
We have two offerings of Children's Formation on Sundays.
The first is during 10 am worship where children begin worship with their families for a short time and are then invited to process out with their teachers to the Godly Play room (M-102), usually during the Hymn of Praise or other hymn. During the time of the Sermon and the Prayers of the People they hear a special story and engage in activities tailored just for them. The children return to church at the Passing of the Peace to join their families and the congregation for Communion.
The second formation time is between the 10 am and 1:30 pm worship, during which time there are also formation offerings for adults and youth. We gather around 11:30-11:45 am in the Commons, and then move to classroom M-102 in the Mission Wing. This formation time focusing on learning about the stories of the People of God and growing in understanding about what we do in church worship.
All 3 year olds through 5th graders are welcome to join us. Older children are welcome as helpers and younger children may join with a parent, grandparent, or other caregiver. Both classes are taught in English.
If you have questions, please contact Molly Graves at mgraves@stbedes.org.
We will use this model for the start of the Christian Formation year and, in the weeks ahead, we will be inviting parents, grandparents, and guardians of young children into conversations about how we can shape our Children's Christian Formation program to better serve the needs of our community.
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Prayer Vigil for Extra-Ordinary Times
We are holding a weekly, half-hour prayer vigil for the country on Sundays after 10 am worship, in room M108. Feel free to come by for a short time or for the entire time.
Contact Becca Love at rachelrebeccalove@gmail.com with any questions.
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Ordination of Alyssa Sali
This Saturday at 2 pm
at The Cathedral of St. Philip
The Parish is invited to the
Cathedral of St. Philip
on Saturday, December 13 at 2 pm
for the ordination of our own
Alyssa Sali
as a Deacon
(on the path to being ordained a Priest)
in Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
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You're Invited to Our Holiday Bake Sale!
This Saturday and Sunday
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Date: Saturday, December 13
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Location: St. Bede’s Episcopal Church
We hope you'll join us for a delicious day filled with homemade goodies and friendly faces. Whether you have a sweet tooth or just want gifts for teachers, hostess gifts or friends, there's something for everyone!
Enjoy a variety of baked goods, including cookies, candy, brownies, breads, casseroles and much more!
Want to Help?
If you'd like to volunteer or donate baked goods,
please contact Fran Snider by text (404-808-7289)
or email fran.snider@gmail.com.
Contact Doris Bushart (678-361-5222)
if you would like to help set up the Christmas Attic Shoppe.
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Mark your calendars and spread the word!
Attached is a flyer to print or email to neighbors & friends.
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As of Thursday, December 11,
we have received 52 pledges
totaling $256,000.
If you have not received your packet
and would like to receive a packet,
please contact the parish office
and we will send one to you.
Thank you to all who have
faithfully returned their pledges
of financial support to St. Bede's.
If you have not yet made your pledge,
we would love to hear from you.
Please prayerfully consider
your response to all that
God has shared with you.
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Please join us for any or all
of the following
special worship offerings
for Advent and Christmas:
Sunday, December 21
The Celebration of Las Posadas
(Bilingual)
and Decorating of
the Parish Christmas Tree
12:15 Gather for Las Posadas
12:30 Las Posadas begins
Santa Eucaristía will follow in the Nave
Las Posadas commemorates the arrival
of the Holy Family in Bethlehem
as they seek to find room in the inn.
("Las Posadas" means "The Inns".)
Join in the pageant of the arrival of the Holy Family
and remain for refreshments
as we decorate the Parish Christmas Tree
in the Commons.
Wednesday, December 24 at 4 pm
Christmas Eve Worship
(in English)
with Pageant, Carols, & Festive Music
Wednesday, December 24 at 10 pm
Christmas Eve Worship
(in English)
with Carols & Choir
Sunday, December 28 at 10 am
A Festival of
Christmas Lessons & Carols
(in English)
You can also join the livestream
each of these worship offerings
on our YouTube channel.
Christmas Flower and Music
Dedication Envelopes
are available in the Commons.
Any dedications must be submitted
to the Parish Office by
Monday, December 22 at 10 am
to be included
in the Christmas Eve bulletins.
In the meantime, you can always email your Christmas Flower and Music Dedications to our Parish Administrator, Laura Pittman (lpittman@stbedes.org) and you also may make payments for Christmas Flowers and Music Dedications through Realm (choose flowers or music from the fund drop-down menu).
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Christmas Pageant
Wednesday, December 24
4 pm
Invite your grandkids, other relatives,
neighbors, and friends to join us!
All-ages, no-rehearsal Christmas Pageant!
Costumes are provided at the door.
ALL children - in all their wiggly glory -
as well as tweens, teens,
and adults are welcome to be part of the story.
Invite your grandkids, other relatives,
neighbors, and friends to join us!
(Email Molly Graves at mgraves@stbedes.org if you would like to participate, help out, or would like more information)
There are three main ways to participate:
1) An assigned part - Please arrive close to 2:30pm to grab your costume and
rehearse. This will be the only rehearsal of the pageant and is for READERS and the PRINCIPLE CHARACTERS only.
2) An impromptu part - Starting at 3:15, costumes will be available in the Parish Hall -- shepherds, wise one, angels, sheep, and other animals. (Children can also bring a costume or stuffed animal from home to represent their part.)
3) Observing and listening - Please let children know that being part of the listeners and wonderers is an important role as well. If a more active role is not a good match for your child, please do not feel a need to pressure them to participate in that way.
All are invited to a “potluck” reception following the 4pm liturgy.
Please bring a simple treat to share if you are able, such as cheese and crackers, Christmas cookies, fruit, or finger sandwiches.
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Practicing an Interfaith Advent
The Christian seasons of Advent and Christmas annually overlap with the Jewish observances of Hanukkah. One way that we can explore the depths of our joint Judeo-Christian heritage is to consider joining the observances to deepen our awareness of God’s activity in our lives and in the world. From this Sunday evening through the next eight days, you might consider adding a Menorah beside your Advent wreath and lighting candles for both observances – accompanied by prayers for peace and understanding in our war-torn and divided world. Sharing in this practice may be one small way that we can help overcome ever-growing tide of antisemitism in our world as well as strengthen our understanding of our common religious heritage.
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New Exhibition Open
The new exhibition in our Art from the Heart Gallery opened on Saturday, November 22 featuring artists from the St. Bede's community, Episcopalians from around metro Atlanta, and friends of St. Bede's in the wider community.
Many attended a wonderful opening reception and we hope you will enjoy the new exhibition and invite friends to come and experience it as well.
Thank you to all who made this exhibition
and opening reception a huge success!
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Our Own Beth Cannon
Receives the Bishop's Cross
at Annual Council
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The Bishop's Cross is an award given annually to faithful Episcopalians in each of the Diocese of Atlanta's eleven convocations whose life and ministry embody the Diocesan Purpose Statement - "We challenge ourselves and the world to love like Jesus as we worship joyfully, serve compassionately, and grow spiritually!" Beth has served in Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Atlanta for thirty years.
The citation that accompanied Beth's award read as follows:
Beth Cannon has served as a Youth Director in the Diocese of Atlanta for thirty years – first, for almost a decade, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta and, for the past twenty-one years, at St. Bede’s. Beth is also a teacher of special needs children in City Schools of Decatur. Beth’s passion for and commitment to young people is evident in the number of J2A Pilgrimages that she has led, the number of spaghetti and pancake suppers she has planned, the number of church floors upon which she has slept, and the number of lives she has enriched and transformed by sharing the love and grace of God through her ministry. Beth has a particular gift in her ministry for walking alongside youth through issues of family transitions, mental and physical health issues, gender and sexual identity discovery, and all of the other challenges of growing into the fullness of who God is dreaming for them to be. At St. Bede’s, we lovingly say that Beth has been doing Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Atlanta since Jesus was in the Youth Group. We celebrate and give thanks to God for all of Beth’s gifts and wish her blessings as she continues serving God through her ministry to youth and families.
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Finding Healing
for Our Divided Country
Now meeting weekly
on Monday evenings on Zoom
from 6:30 to 8 pm.
In person every Thursday morning
9 to 10 am
at Mint Coffeehouse
3926 Lawrenceville Hwy in Tucker
A discussion group, grounded in prayer, for those who have questions, concerns, and emotions that feel too big, and need a safe place to process with others.
We will see what participants need from this group. Perhaps it will just be a place to express what you are feeling, or maybe some will want to know what action can be taken.
And we will pray together.
Some questions to consider:
How are you doing, and what are you feeling?
Where are you in terms of processing changing public policy?
How can we live the values of our faith
in the face of conflicting public policy?
Facilitators: Muriel Diguette, Molly Graves, and Miriam Needham
Please contact Muriel Diguette at digfam@att.net
if you are interested in joining.
| | Georgia Senator Kim Jackson met with us recently! | |
Outreach Opportunities
Ongoing Soap Drive
Please place new wrapped bar soap in the basket labelled “Bar Soap and Toiletries” in the Connect Center outside the kitchen
November 30 - December 28
Gas Card Collection for El Refugio
Please place $25 gas cards in the box in the Commons. You may also contribute cash in lieu of a card.
December 7 - January 4
Collection for Baby Jesus Baskets to benefit Our House,
a nonprofit supporting unsheltered families and their children
December 1 - 18
Advent on Ice
January 3
Trip to El Refugio
January 11
9:00 am Prepare lunches for COTCG in Parish Hall
12:30 Carpool to Woodruff Park to serve the lunches
February 8
Outreach Committee Meeting
11:30 am in Room C101
February 8 – March 8
Food collection for NETWorks Food Pantry
March 18
6:00 pm Prepare and serve dinner to Holy Comforter parishioners
Have Questions?
Contact Anita Montelione (ammontel12@gmail.com)
or Karen Werner (wernerksw@comcast.net)
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ESOL Program Wraps Up
a Successful Semester
Our wonderful ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program wrapped up another successful semester on Tuesday evening, December 9 with the annual Christmas party in Parish Hall. Our students and teachers came with their families and shared food, fellowship and some amazing carol singing!
Many thanks to all of our St. Bede's folks who have served as ESOL teachers and of course our amazing program directors, Orisha Parsons and Judah Sali!
Registration for our next semester will be held on Tuesday and Thursday, January 6 and 8. Classes will begin again on Tuesday, January 13.
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Baby Jesus Baskets
During the seasons of Advent & Christmas, we will be filling baskets with donations to help homeless mothers with newborns and young children. Baskets will be in the Commons by the round table or Christmas tree until Epiphany (January 6). Donations will go to Our House Shelter.
The most needed items are:
Enfamil Ready to Feed Gentlease Formula
Enfamil Ready to Feed Infant Formula
Unscented Baby Wipes
Diapers (sizes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7)
Boys & Girls Pull-Ups (sizes 2T-3T, 3T-4T, 4T-5T)
Other items needed:
Baby Lotion (sensitive skin)
Baby Shampoo (sensitive skin)
Baby Wash/Soap (no antibacterial)
Children's Toothpaste
Children's Toothbrushes
Towels / Towel Sets
Bar Soap
Wash Cloths
Sorry, no stuffed or used toys. No clothing.
Our House opened its doors in 1988 to offer reliable, free childcare to metro Atlanta families experiencing homelessness. They now have three locations that provide quality childcare for ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age; one location includes a shelter for families with young children. Additional interrelated programs and services addressing the root causes of family homelessness include Rapid Rehousing assistance, free quality healthcare for children and adults, and training in Education and Culinary fields to secure and sustain employment. All Our House programs include case management support for families on their path to stability and lasting self-sufficiency. Learn more about Our House by visiting https://ourhousega.org.
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Lunches for Church of the Common Ground
“Church of the Common Ground is a church community on the streets of Atlanta living the Good News that we are all God's beloved. We're like any other church—we just don't have a building.”
Each week volunteers are asked to provide sack lunches for the service participants. St. Bede’s is providing lunches on Sunday, January 11. We will meet that morning at 9:00 am in Parish Hall to assemble 80 lunches. And we will take the lunches to the COTCG and attend worship at Woodruff Park, rain or shine.
We need volunteers to help make the lunches that morning and volunteers to attend the service and distribute the lunches afterwards. We will carpool to Woodruff Park. A sign up sheet is in the Commons on the round table.
Please join us as we worship with Church of the Common Ground and share a meal together!
Questions: please contact
Karen Werner wernerksw@comcast.net
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Advent on Ice: A Silent Witness for Immigrant Justice
In this Advent season, faithful folks will stand together at the gates of ICE to offer prayers and a witness to love and compassion. Any are invited to join us as we will stand quietly, yet our presence shouts: there is another way. A way of God's justice, of God's mercy, of God's relentless love for the oppressed.
Each week of Advent, while volunteers continue to bring a presence of hospitality to vulnerable immigrant neighbors waiting outside the gates of ICE, Casa Alterna invites other volunteers to hold signs bearing a Scripture verse and a question for reflection. Our hope is that this small, silent witness will serve as a call - to those working at ICE and to all of us - to care for the poor and oppressed, to show love for the whole human family and to be beacons of God's vision of peace and justice.
If you are interested in volunteering for a shift, click on the link below to sign up for a volunteer slot.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen Werner at wernerksw@comcast.net
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GAS CARD COLLECTION
Yes, a small group of folks is heading to Stewart Detention Center and El Refugio on January 3rd to welcome families of detainees to the El Refugio house as well as to visit detainees at the prison. As you all know, we collect gas gift cards that are handed out to families who drive long distances to visit their loved ones. When you are doing your errands this month, please pick up a $25.00 gas card. You can also give cash to Claudia Fedarko or Karen and Paul Werner and we will buy the gas cards.
Many thanks for your continued dedication and support of this ministry!
| | As we all watch the tragic events of violence escalate in Jerusalem and Palestine, it is so important to keep the people of the Holy Land in our prayers. | | |
Family Ministries Micropractice
Join our households with
birth through elementary aged children
in this simple intentional practice
as we bring our learning from the lectionary
into our everyday lives.
You may wish to conclude this micro-practice with this prayer:
God of peace,
Your love clears the way for justice, and your justice makes room for peace.
May we turn to you and join the work of peace: valuing kindness over hurt,
listening with care, and practicing forgiveness each day.
Amen.
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Invitation to Prayer Shawl Ministry
Prayer shawls are used to provide comfort, acknowledge joy or appreciation, say goodbye, or any other reason to share God’s love. They may be used in prayer, and the act of making them is prayer. Making them with friends is church.
Currently, a prayer shawl group meets one morning and one evening a month. You are invited to attend one or both meetings.
Monthly Prayer Shawl Meeting Times and Locations
First Monday Prayer Shawl Meeting: 10 -11:30 am in room M108.
Email Junior Abraham at jrabraham1953@gmail.com with questions.
Fourth Thursday Prayer Shawl Meeting: 6:30-8 pm in off site locations.
Email Cheryl and Fred Murphy at murphyfbfm@gmail.com with questions.
Note that you can participate at home on your own as well.
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Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study
Join with others for a study of The Wisdom of Solomon.
All are welcome.
6 – 8 pm
on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of each month
in the Commons Hallway Classroom
(across from the Julian of Norwich Center)
6:00 light supper
6:30 Bible Study
Contact Fred Murphy for more information.
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Mostly Mysteries
Book Discussion Group
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Next meeting in person:
Monday, January 26
at 1 pm in Room M108
We will not meet in December.
Our January book selection
is
Hollow Girl
by Alan Jackson
You're invited to join members and friends of St. Bede's to discuss favorite mysteries and thrillers.
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New Digital Assisted Listening System
for St. Bede's Nave
Thanks to a a generous grant, we have upgraded our Nave sound system with a new digital assisted listening server. This digital server will stream the Nave audio directly to your smartphone and, from there, it can be delivered through wired headphones, Bluetooth devices, or, if you have smart phone enabled hearing aids, the audio can be streamed directly into the hearing aids. Our hope is that this system can improve speech intelligibility for any who have a difficult time hearing or understanding the spoken word in the Nave.
The FIRST STEP to use the new system is download the "ListenWIFI" app onto your smartphone by clicking on one of the links below. The app is free and does not require any type of registration or password (thank goodness!). The app will not work until you are at St. Bede's and connected to our Wi-Fi network.
The SECOND STEP is to arrive at St. Bede's and connect to the new "St. Bede's - Guest" Wi-Fi network which is an open network that requires no password (thank goodness, again!). The system will not work if you connect to the old "stbedes" password protected network.
Please let us know if you need help connecting!
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St. Bede's Prayer List
A note about our prayer list:
We have reorganized our prayer list and are trying to make it more manageable going forward. Names will remain on the prayer list for 3 weeks unless otherwise requested. If you have placed someone on the prayer list and you would now like that person removed, please notify the office. Please request removal only for names which you have placed on the list. We are always happy to request prayer for our parishioners and our extended community.
Please contact Laura Pittman in the church office to add or remove names from the prayer list.
Laura Pittman
lpittman@stbedes.org
In our St. Bede’s community, prayer has recently been requested for:
Larry Channell
Jim Helms
Carlin Lutz
Rebecca Pope and family
Raz Schreiber
Suzanne Shapiro
Doug Weaver
Prayer has been requested on a more long-term basis for:
Helen Loeb
Margie Klein
Michele Heller
Lynn Williams
Jim Handsfield
Barbie Olsen
Dixie Snider
David Boyd
Debhani Hernandez
Al and Regina Studwell
Sarah Jane and Jim Ohl
Mary Rodriguez
Helen Abraham
Cameron Maddox
Aree Bancroft
Nancy Waring
Frances Bowen
Ann Foote
Sue Ellen Lamros
Prayer has also been requested for these in our wider community:
Robin Herring, friend of Larry Bing
Laura DeMars, friend of Toni Graney
Issy Weaver, mother of Doug Weaver
James Smythe, great nephew of Molly Graves
Anne Parker, sister of Robin Schreiber
Larry Sullivan, friend of Joan Greer
John Borden, friend of Joan Greer
Kayt Hoch, daughter-in-law of Martha and David West
Reagan Koski, friend of Beth Cannon
Bill Edgar, father of Beth Cannon
Carol Guthrie, sister of Ann Foote
Andy Matia, friend of Ann Foote
Mary Robert, sister of Martha Robert
Wright Coleman, son of Jennie Couture
Fay Key, friend of the St. Bede's community
Eleanor Pearlman, granddaughter of Gwen Heaton
Anne Jones, sister of Claiborne Jones
We pray for those who have died:
Fred Pope, brother of Rebecca Pope
“Honey” Philomena Cesaro, friend of Connie Coralli
Linda Byrne, mother of Alexis Carter
Teresa Powell Spires, mother of Drew Spires and grandmother of James, Caroline, & Savannah Spires
We give thanks for those serving our country in the military:
Josh Bowers
Jonathan
We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week:
12/12 Anita Montelione
12/12 Randy Roberson
12/16 John Sawyer
12/17 Arely Chavez
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From around the Diocese
and the wider Church...
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Bishop Wright's Weekly Podcast
Did you know that Bishop Rob Wright has a weekly podcast? You can take a spiritual "deep dive" each week with Bishop Wright and his special guests and grow deeper in faith and understanding as you listen and learn.
Explore For People, Bishop Wright's Podcast, Here
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Save the Dates for
Spring Sessions at Camp Mikell
February 27 - 29, 2026 Allan Folk School
April 7-9, 2026 Mindfulness at Mikell
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Pathways
the magazine of the Diocese of Atlanta
The new Pathways is now available online! Through original photography, articles, and interviews, Pathways shares inspiring stories from Middle and North Georgia — examples of spiritual growth.
Read Pathways Here
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Would you like to keep up with news from around the broader Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion? Episcopal Journal and Cafe is a convenient place to find out things going on around the Church. You can even subscribe to get news sent to your email inbox.
Click Here for Episcopal Journal & Cafe
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Friend in Christ,
As violence escalates in Ukraine, over one million people have already fled the country — and the borders are flooded with many more people desperate to leave.
Almost all of them are women and children who have had to seek safety on their own, leaving their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons behind.
As this crisis continues to evolve, we are working with Anglican agencies and our other partners to provide humanitarian assistance, and urgently ask for your help.
Your emergency gift today will support our immediate response, providing cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needs as this crisis unfolds.
Our faith networks are currently on the ground in the border areas of Poland, Hungary and Romania, and we will continue to coordinate with them in order to help those who have been displaced. Specifically, our partner ACT Alliance is helping families on the Hungarian border, and our Anglican partners are mobilizing both an immediate and long-term response in Poland, Romania and Hungary.
Yours faithfully,
Robert W. Radtke
President & CEO
Episcopal Relief & Development
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