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

St. Bede's Holiday Office Hours

Week of December 21:

Office open Monday, December 22

and Tuesday, December 23

from 9:30 am - 2 pm



The parish office will be closed from

December 24 through January 1.

E-News Deadlines for next two weeks:

Tuesday, December 23 for December 26 E-News

Tuesday, December 30 for January 2 E-News

Please have all submissions to Laura

by 10 am on those Tuesdays.

The staff will also be checking-in periodically

to attend to any pastoral matters

and to process any end-of-the-year gifts.

There's a lot going on at St. Bede's!

Looking for an activity?

Sunday, December 21, 2025

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Worship in English at 10 am

The Celebration of Las Posadas

(the arrival of the Holy Family in Bethlehem)

at 12:15 pm (Bilingual)

followed by the

Decorating of the

Parish Christmas Tree



12:15 Gather for Las Posadas

12:30 Las Posadas begins

Santa Eucaristía will follow in the Nave

We will also be streaming our worship live

on

St. Bede's YouTube Channel

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".

This week in place of regular Adult Formation, we encourage all to linger in the Commons for some time of fellowship and the celebration of Las Posadas (or "The Inns") in which we will retrace the steps of the Holy Family as they arrive in Bethlehem and look for shelter in the Inn. There will be festive food and we will conclude with carols and the decorting of the Parish Christmas Tree.

Young Adult Fellowship

(20's - 30's)

The young adults had a fun afternoon of hot chocolate and craft making on Saturday, December 13. We have some incredibly creative folks among us!

The young adult planning team met in late November and evaluated the program and brainstormed for 2026 events. Upcoming events for early 2026 will include lunch with the rector and participation in a St. Bede's campus work day. Watch this space for times and places so you can mark your calendar to join us!

We hope that everyone has a joyous holiday and will join us at St. Bede's for all of our worship offerings!

Here's What's Happening!

Sunday, Dec 21 - Las Posadas and tree decorating

Sunday, Dec 28 - Youth Christmas Party 5-9pm 

Sunday, Jan 4 - Shopping for Baby Jesus Baskets

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.

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.

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).

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.

As you prepare to celebrate Christmas this year,

please remember St. Bede's 

on your Christmas list 

and consider making

an additional Christmas offering 

to support the ongoing 

mission and ministries of the parish.

Or you may mail your offering,

drop it off in the secure mailbox

at the Midvale Road entrance, 

or drop it in the collection plate.

End of Year Giving

You may also use the link above to keep current

on your 2025 pledge or to make any other

gifts or offerings to St. Bede's online.

Information about

end-of-the-year gifts of securities

or other types of charitable distributions

can be found by clicking here.

(please be advised that these instructions changed in 2023)

Congratulations to The Rev'd Alyssa Sali

on her ordination as a deacon

(on her journey to being ordained a priest next year)

on Saturday, December 13 at the Cathedral.

As of Thursday, December 18,

we have received 57 pledges

totaling $288,000.

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.

HOLIDAY BAKE SALE

ATTIC CHRISTMAS SHOPPE

The Holiday Bake Sale and Attic Christmas Shoppe was a great success! The event raised $2,008.50, which is allocated for renovating the Commons area.

The Sisters of Bede wish to thank everyone that took part in the Holiday Bake Sale and Attic Christmas Shoppe….bakers and shoppers!

New Exhibition Open

We hope everyone is enjoying the latest "Art From the Heart Gallery" show. This exhibition will remain installed until January 9th. If the art has sold you will see a red dot on the description card next to it. All the rest is for sale unless it is specifically identified as "NS" (not for sale.)  Everything is there for you to enjoy!  

If you, or people you know, would like to come see the exhibition and/or purchase a piece, you can come on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 am - 2 pm. Ring the doorbell to the right of the glass doors to let someone know you are there. It is best, however, to call the office (770-938-9797) and make an appointment to be certain that the office is open, or contact Lois at afthgallery@gmail.com, or (404) 593-9001.

Our next show is scheduled for sometime in April. The date and the theme are yet to be determined, but we will keep you posted!

Thanks to everyone who helped install this show and/or helped with the lovely Opening Reception! 

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

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)

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.

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. Tuesday/Thursday evening classes will begin again on Tuesday, January 13.

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

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 love,

You are with us through every high and low of life.

Like a parent cradling a baby, you draw us close with gentle care.

No matter what we face, help us find strength in knowing we are not alone.

Amen.

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.

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.

Mostly Mysteries

Book Discussion Group

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.

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!

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:

Sally Cook

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 Lampros

Prayer has also been requested for these in our wider community:

Sue Engsberg, mother/mother-in-law of Mark and Rebecca Engsberg

John Sommers, brother-in-law of Barbara Helms

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

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:

Rufus Williamson, father of Kay Entrekin

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:

12/24 Larry Bing

12/24 Lois Shingler

12/27 Roger Warlick

To stay up to date

on activities throughout the Diocese of Atlanta,

sign up for Connecting, the Diocesan E-newsletter.

You can also sign up to receive For Faith,

which is the weekly meditation

from Bishop Rob Wright

sent by email on Fridays.

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

Save the Dates for

Spring Sessions at Camp Mikell

February 27 - 29, 2026 Allan Folk School

April 7-9, 2026 Mindfulness at Mikell

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

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



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