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.

The deadline each week for submission to the E-News is

Wednesday at 10 am.

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

Sunday, February 18, 2024

The First Sunday of Lent

Worship in English at 10 am

Worship in Spanish at 2:30 pm

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 church 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 bulletin for Sunday has been posted under "Downloads".

This week we begin a new

Lenten Adult Formation Series

Letting Go

with Bishop Wright

Bishop Wright will offer a video teaching

on the theme of "Letting go..."

and then a team of St. Bede's folks

will facilitate a conversation on the video teaching.

This week,

Lynnsay Buehler and Kim Padgett

will lead a conversation on

"Letting go of the familiar"

This class will meet in Room M-110 at 11:30.

Watch the introduction to the "Letting Go" series here:

Children's Faith Formation

offered during 10 am Worship

Instead of Sunday School being either before or after worship, children will be invited to gather together during the time of the Sermon and the Prayers of the People for a special story or activity that is tailored just for them. Children will come to worship with their families and will be invited to process out for this special time during the signing of a hymn. They will then return at the Passing of the Peace to join their families and the congregation for Communion.

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. 

Please know that children are always welcomed to remain with their families for the full worship service if that is their preference.

Sunday, February 18th -  Join us for church at either 10:00 or 2:30. From 11:30 - 1:30 we'll break bread together (aka, have lunch) and then continue our conversation of the Episcopal Church's 7 sacraments otherwise known as the outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. 

Sunday, February 25th -  Join us for church at either 10:00 or 2:30. From 11:30 - 1:30 we'll break bread together (aka, have lunch) and then continue our conversation of the Episcopal Church's 7 sacraments otherwise known as the outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. 



Sunday, March 3rd -  Join us for church at either 10:00 or 2:30. From 11:30 - 1:30 bring your own lunch and we'll head out to hike Stone Mountain and have lunch on top of the mountain. Please respond to Beth or Judah by Wednesday, February 28th so that we have enough drivers and let us know if you can join us.

Sunday, March 10th - Join us for church at either 10:00 or 2:30. From 11:30 - 1:30 we'll break bread together (aka, have lunch) and then continue our conversation of the Episcopal Church's 7 sacraments otherwise known as the outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. 



Beth and Judah

Thank you to all who have returned their 2024

"Offer to God" pledge cards!

As of February 8, we have received

78 pledges totaling $441,000.

Thank You!

If you have not already,

we hope that you will prayerfully discern

your response to God's gifts in your life

and make your pledge of financial support

to all that God is doing

in and through St. Bede's.

If you need a pledge packet,

please contact the parish office at:

info@stbedes.org

Liturgical Ministry Invitation

from Raz Schreiber

Have you ever wanted to read scripture in worship?

Or help in serving communion?

Or lead the Prayers of the People?

Or serve as a crucifer or acolyte in worship?

If any of those opportunities interests you, we'd love to welcome you to join one of the liturgical teams that supports worship at St. Bede's!

When we faced the realities of COVID, the way we worshiped changed. We had to change how we served as Lectors, Intercessors, and Eucharistic Ministers. While these changes may have been necessary at the time, they need not be necessary now.

We would like to begin reinvigorating our liturgical teams and adding back in roles like Intercessors, torch bearers, and a second Lector to lead the Psalm - gradually bringing these parts of worship back to the parish starting with Easter. Adding back these additional roles to worship may not be doable without additional members to our liturgical teams. Members of these teams currently serve as crucifers, Eucharistic Ministers (EM’s), and Lectors for their assigned Sundays.

There are 5 liturgical teams (one for each Sunday of the month) which provide people for those roles on a rotating basis. This means (normally) that members don’t have to serve on their assigned Sunday every month. Without adding people to the ministry as Intercessors, Psalmists, and torch bearers, no one in the Liturgical Ministry would be able to take a break and would have to serve every month, or even more than once a month.

I invite you to consider serving in the Liturgical Ministry. We have members who only want to do one role, for example to only read or to only EM. We have made the schedule work so that they can do that. That does mean that some must serve every Sunday when their team is scheduled. We don’t have enough people return to having Intercessors, and Psalmists without overburdening the people we have now. We would love to see the return of the youth acolytes so we can return to serve as torch bearers and crucifers.

We would love to return some of these roles starting with Easter worship. Depending on how many people volunteer for this ministry, we would like to permanently return these rolls to regular worship, not just for special services.

It has become important spiritually to Robin and to me to be a part of the worship service through this ministry. I hope you will consider seeing if this ministry could be important to you as well. Please reach out to me through Realm or by email (raz.schreiber@gmail.com) or in person at church if you have any question about the Liturgical Ministry, or to volunteer to serve on the ministry. We would love it if some of the youth could volunteer as acolytes. If we have enough youth we can bring back the Acolyte Ministry. But we don’t have to do this all at once. Please help us take the first steps in bringing back these parts of our worship.

Raz Schreiber

Liturgical Ministry Coordinator

raz.schreiber@gmail.com

It's Time for Tamales!

Join us on Sunday February 25

before and after 10 am and 2:30 pm worship

to dine in or take out your tamales.

Make your orders by

calling or texting Victoria Esquivel at 770.895.2728

or by emailing Laura Pittman at lpittman@stbedes.org.

Orders must be made by Friday, February 23 at Noon.

1 DOZEN Tamales for $25.

Proceeds will support ministries of the parish

including support for music at 2:30 worship and for families in need.

Calling All Sisters of Bede

We Need Your Input

Over the past 14 years we have developed a significant amount of money in the Sisters of Bede account. The money accumulated for various reasons, such as the exact project we had designated the funds to go towards, did not need the entire amount. Or the designated project never got off the ground. Or a number of other reasons.

We want to put that money to work. In the belief that all the Sisters of Bede have contributed to raising these funds, we are asking you for your ideas. To paraphrase Chad: If you have baked a cookie, pie, cake or casserole – give us an idea; if you bought a ticket to a fundraiser – give us an idea; if you participated in a game night – give us an idea; if you volunteered to help – give us an idea; if you led a fundraiser - give us an idea. We want each of you who has participated, in any one of the million ways each of us do, to suggest a project you would like to see funded.

You may just suggest a project or give a more detailed idea. For example: “a Starbucks in the Commons on Sundays” or “$500 every Sunday for one Starbucks employee to come to St. Bede's between 9:30 am till 12:30 pm and make whatever type of coffee anyone wants for free”.

The ideas will be cataloged and researched. An estimated cost will be assigned to each project. Then an information sheet will be sent out and everyone will be asked to vote on which project to fund.

Please email your ideas to

Barbara Helms at atlhelms@comcast.net

before February 24^th.

A Special Word of Thanks

from Parishioner Kay Howington

Dear Sisters of Bede,

How can I thank you enough for spending the time and energy to pack up my apartment while I was in rehab? I am humbled at best, not only at the deed, but that so many participated.

Please know that I am deeply grateful.

A special thank you to Anita Montelione for organizing the day.

Sincerely,

Kay Howington

It's February Bunco Time!

When: Sunday, February 18 at 4 PM.

Where: Snider Residence: 1516 Regency Walk Dr, Decatur 30033

Please RSVP to Fran or Nancy

so that we will have enough tables set! 

As always, bring a snack to share and $10 to add to our kitty.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Hosted by 

Nancy Bruce &

nbruce2222@aol.com 

Fran Snider

fran.snider@gmail.com

Food Pantry Ingathering

St. Bede’s continues to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Networks Ministry with a food drive during the month of February. Thank you all for the generous donation this week of 580 pounds of food! To date we have donated 1,101 pounds of food to Networks this month! We are hoping to beat our September food ingathering of over two tons. Below you can see the empty shelves at the food pantry this week that your generous donations will help to fill! Thank you everyone for your ongoing support!



Co-Chairs:

Anita Montelione ammontel12@gmail.com

Karen Werner wernerksw@comcast.net

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.

In addition to our prayers, St. Bede's has also transmitted a gift of $500 to Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) for relief efforts related to the travesties of this conflict. Sadly, one of ERD's strongest and longest-standing partners in the Diocese of Jerusalem is the Al Ahli Arab Hospital - the Anglican hospital in Gaza that was severely damaged by explosion and where hundreds of people were killed. Please keep relief workers on the ground in your prayers as they attempt to offer care and relief.

Caring for God's Creation

During Lent we will offer liturgies from

The Episcopal Church's Creation Care resources.

Bountiful God, you call us to labor with you in tending the earth: Where we lack love, open our hearts to the world; where we waste, give us discipline to conserve; where we neglect, awaken our minds and wills to insight and care. May we with all your creatures honor and serve you in all things, for you live and reign with Christ, Redeemer of all, and with your Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   

Ezekiel 47:6–12; Psalm 33:3–9, 13–15; Romans 8:18–23; Mark 16:14–15 

Please contact Martha Robert at marthabob59@gmail.com or 404.374.7643 with ideas, suggestions, or questions about the Caring for God's Creation.

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 curiosity, you make yourself known through the world around us.

Your colorful love flows like the wind; your rumbling sadness pours like rain.

May we never forget to look for you in rainbows, sunshine, and rain.

Amen



Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study

Has Resumed!

Join with others for a study of the Book of 1st Kings.

All are welcome.

Bring whatever translation of the Bible you like.

6: – 8 pm on Wednesday nights

on the 1st & 3rd Wednesdays of each month

in the Commons Hallway Classroom

(across from the Julian of Norwich Center)

Contact Fred Murphy for more information.

Healing Our Racism

Book Discussion Group

Next meeting:

Monday, February 26 at 2:00pm on Zoom

February's selection is

Jabbok

By Kee Sloan

Meeting Time: 4th Monday of each month at 2 pm on ZOOM

Please join Muriel Diguette and other members/friends of St. Bede's to discuss current books pertaining to the issues of racism and white privilege.

Email Muriel for the Zoom link to join the discussion.

Mostly Mysteries

Book Discussion Group

Next meeting:

Monday, February 26 at 7:00 pm on Zoom

February's selection is

The Way of the Bear 

by Anne Hillerman

Meeting Time: 4th Monday of each month at 7 pm on ZOOM

You're invited to join members and friends of St. Bede's to discuss favorite mysteries and thrillers.

Email Cathe Echterhof for the Zoom link to join the discussion.

McLemore's Musings

We hope you are enjoying this feature in St. Bede's E-News - McLemore's Musings. Many of you have met the Rev'd Bill McLemore who has joined the St. Bede's community. Bill has been a priest for over 57 years and has served parishes all over the Episcopal Church. Bill is the former archivist of the Diocese of Atlanta and authored the 100th anniversary book on the history of the Diocese. Bill is also an artist and has used his artistic skills and sense of humor for many years to draw hundreds of cartoon that comically comment on life in the Episcopal Church. Each week we will share a cartoon here that Bill selects from his collection. Enjoy!

St. Bede's Prayer List

Prayers have been requested for:

Mary Kyle, friend of Lynnsay Buehler

John Richardson, friend of Larry Bing

Anita Montelione

John Bruton, friend of Larry Bing

John Ralph Henly McIntosh, friend of Suzanne Shapiro

Peg Harriss

Tra Walker

Sue Ellen Lampros

Shirley Family, friends of Jerimiah Easley

Roman Family, friends of Jerimiah Easley

Gail Whatley, friend of Larry Bing

Kirsten and Reg Stainback, friends of Helen Loeb

Andrew Patch, friend of Connie Coralli

Pat Buehler Pfeifer, aunt of Lynnsay Buehler

Philip Carroll, cousin of Lynnsay Buehler

Emily Richards, friend of Lynnsay Buehler

Staton Family, friends of Steve Hadler and Claudia Fedarko

Don Wildsmith, friend of Tom and Loretta Vail

Jim Handsfield

Jeane Custin, aunt of Lynnsay Buehler

Braxton Metcalf, nephew of Susan Reef

Walt Ehmer, friend of Will Mizell

Leslie Lutz

Sarah Jane and Jim Ohl

Ed Maniotes, friend of Susan Reef

The Baca/Muth family, friends of the Cannon family

Junior Abraham

Tom VandenBosch

Jim Begnaud, friend of St. Bede's

Dollee Cooper, sister-in-law of Larry Bing

Jennifer Valdez, cousin of Sarah Jane Ohl

Ben Harrison, cousin of Sarah Jane Ohl

Jean Davis

Peggy Franks, friend of Tony and Laura Sellers

Carolyn Snider, friend of Suzanne Shapiro

Brian Metcalf, brother-in-law of Susan Reef

Jodi Collins, cousin of Sarah Jane Ohl

Lisa Frank, friend of Larry Bing

Elizabeth Ashworth, friend of April Whitt

Susan Semple, sister of Kim Padgett

Mel Stills, brother-in-law of Gwen Cordner

Donareen Oakley

Carter Garrett, family member of Sarah Jane Ohl

Jim Baldy, friend of Susan Reef

Michelle Schultz, sister of Doris Bushart

Paige Bushart, sister-in-law of Doris Bushart

Helen Hernandez and her son Derek, ESOL Student

Ken Turner, friend of Claudia Fedarko and Steve Hadler

Marge & Sharon Emerling, friends of Helen Loeb

Margie Klein

Kay Howington

Mary Rodriguez

Andy Matia, friend of Ann Foote

Eleanor Pearlman, granddaughter of Gwen Heaton

Diana Segovia, cousin of Zulma Gutierrez

Caroline Spires

Timothy Knapp, friend of Susan Reef

Denise Benson, friend of Susan Reef

The Sujia Family

Robin Schreiber

Allen Townes Cunningham, sister of Rob Townes

Anne Jones, sister of Claiborne Jones

Joan Davis

Carmen Graciaa, friend of Laura Martin

Jim Poulos, husband of Carol Kemker

Helen Abraham

Fay Key

Aree Bancroft

Laura Ribas

Jane Wiggins

Hilda Bell

Nancy Waring

Frances Bowen

Ann Foote

Cameron Maddox

We pray for those who have died:

Carmen Navarro, mother of Mimi Guerra

Emily Richards, friend of Lynnsay Buehler

We give thanks for those serving our country in the military:

Joshua Bowers

Will Grimm

We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week: 

2/17 Milagros Acosta

2/17 Jim Helms

2/17 Lucy Pettitt-Schieber

2/20 Cate Faulkner

2/21 Jan Swoope

2/23 Carol Bowers

2/23 Jerre Lutz

2/24 Loretta Vail

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

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



To learn more about the programs and offerings

of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing,

click on the link below.