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
Chad will be away at a meeting from
Monday, May 20 through Friday May 24.
If a matter needs immediate attention during this time,
please contact the Parish Administrator,
the Senior Warden (warden@stbedes.org)
or another member of the clergy or staff.
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Sunday, May 19, 2024
The Feast of Pentecost
Bilingual Worship in English at 10 am
followed by Pentecost Potluck
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 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".
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Adult Formation on Hiatus
for Sunday May 19
We'll take a little break for Pentecost (so that we all may gather for the Pentecost Potluck) and then resume on May 26 for our final regular Adult Formation class until Autumn.
On Sunday, May 26, we'll pick back up with the second installment of the class on discovering your spiritual type. Please see information below.
What is Your Spiritual Type?
On Sunday, May 26, we will continue our conversation begun on Sunday, April 28 around a tool called the Spirituality Wheel. This tool was published in the book “Discover Your Spiritual Type”, by Dr. Corinne Ware. Dr. Ware was an Assistant Professor of Ascetical Theology at Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.
From the book’s preface “The purpose of this book is to enlarge the reader’s consciousness of God, of others who worship God, and of oneself. Specifically, it asks why some people worship one particular way, while others choose a very different way of expressing religious devotion.”
In these 2 Adult Formation Classes we will discover what are the actual differences we have in expressing our religious devotion, our spirituality, if you will. The first class (April 28th) looked at how this tool divides spirituality into 4 groups or “types”. At the end of the first class the Spiritual Type Selector Test was given out for the participants to do at home.
In the second class (May 26th) we will discuss the 4 Spiritual Types, what they imply, and how can we use them see a little clearer our own individual ways of our spirituality. This handout is available on the church website and by clicking the button below. You don’t have to share your own Spiritual Type indicated by the test.
If you have questions, please contact Raz Schreiber
at (404) 790-1367 or Raz.Schreiber@gmail.com.
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Children's Faith Formation
Summer Hiatus
Beginning May 12, Children's Faith Formation during 10 am worship will be on summer hiatus. We invite families to worship all together during the summer and take advantage of the Pray Ground space. We look forward to resuming formation during the 10 am worship after Labor Day.
Parents of young children, if you would like to attend the May 26th adult formation session and need childcare, please contact Molly Graves at mgraves@stbedes.org.
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Insight into our final
regular Youth Group gathering
of the 23-24 School Year
The youth group celebrated our end-of-the-year by creating 200 Bede's Bags, the largest number we've done to date. It was a small but mighty force that made the trek to the Embry Hills Kroger and purchased the supplies to make all of the bags. There were quite a number of looks from fellow customers and the look on our cashier's face when our bag makers pushed all three shopping carts through the line was priceless.
Between the shopping time (29 minutes) and the actual putting together of the bags (1 hour 53 minutes), Lucy, Vanessa, and Odette (with a wee bit of help), created 200 bags, that we ask the members of St Bede's to now help us distribute to those in need of a meal. We placed several in the Connecting Area and have additional back up bags when the need arises.
Bede's Bags fun facts from May 5, 2024:
-It took at total of 2 hours and 22 minutes to shop and create all of the bags.
-The shopping and putting together of the bags was done by Lucy Vaughn, Odette de la Cruz, and Vanessa Fraga.
They were responsible for:
- Comparing prices,
- Figuring out that sometimes the cost difference between individual items and bulk items isn't as good as you would think,
- Asking for help from Kroger employees to find items
- Loading and unpacking all of the supplies
- Organizing and setting up the "assembly line" to put the bags together
-Chad and Orisha helped the group by putting a prayer in each bag and stapling them closed.
-The money we received from 9 parishioners and the Outreach committee helped us cover 87% of the total cost of $331.51 (or only $1.66 a bag).
Please grab some Bede Bags and keep them in your car to hand out to those whom you encounter who may benefit from a shelf-stable meal!
Have a safe and super summer! See you all in September
Peace, prayers, love, grace and grooviness,
Beth & Judah
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High Tea a Success!
The 14th annual high tea at St. Bede's was a wonderful event. Lovely flower arrangements and fine china transformed the parish hall into a beautiful setting. Attendees enjoyed delicious savories and sweets and copious amounts of tea. The silent auction and raffle were highlights of the day and provided entertainment.
The tea is a wonderful opportunity for our neighbors to visit St. Bede's. It also provides an opportunity for St. Bede's parishioners to become better acquainted with fellow parishioners.
The tea proceeds will be added to the Sisters of Bede fun. As you recall, we sent a survey regarding project the Sisters fund should benefit. The responses are being reviewed and an announcement will be forthcoming.
HEARTFELT THANKS to all who participated:
- Bakers
- Sandwich makers
- Tea Servers
- Donations of silent auction and raffle items
- Basket makers
- Setup and cleanup helpers
- Attendees
Tea Committee
Fran Snider & Loretta Vail
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Mothers' Day Lunch
May 12, 2024
With great pleasure and gratitude, the Hispanic Community celebrated Mother’s Day. Padre Raymond had a beautiful sermon and blessed the mothers. After the worship, they met in the parish hall for a delicious meal. Alex and Yesenia led the initiative with other members of the community. Our musician, Darguin Salazar, played the saxophone with a special repertoire dedicated to the mothers.
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Congratulations to the following graduates:
Violet Kottke from The Galloway School will be headed to Georgia College and State University
Savannah Spires from Lakeside High School will be headed to Georgia Tech
Glenn Carroll Boatenreiter from Education for Ministry
Carol Kemker from Education for Ministry
Lynnsay Buehler from Education for Ministry (for the 9th time!). Lynnsay has now completed 36 years as a mentor which is 9 4-year cycles!
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We want to recognize all of our graduates and want to make sure that all are included. If you know of additional graduates in our community that need to be added to the list above, please email Laura Pittman and let us know from where they are graduating and what their plans are for the future (further study, career plans, etc.) This can be a graduation from any kind of school or study program. We want to recognize all of our grads in E-News.
lpittman@stbedes.org
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Save the Date for VBS 2024!
(Vacation Bible School)
July 15 - 19
Join us for a bi-lingual, intergenerational event
celebrating five Saints of the Church
July 15-19, 6-8 pm
We will have dinner, storytelling, crafts, games, and music
All households – neighbors, friends, and families are welcome!
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We need your help with VBS!
Do you enjoy crafts, cooking, acting, playing games,
singing, or playing an instrument?
Are you available weeknights July 15-19,
or perhaps 1-2 evenings that week?
Or maybe you can help shop for supplies in advance?
If so, we can use your help!
Join us for a brief meeting
Sunday, May 19, around noon
(after the potluck lunch) in room M-110
for more information about volunteer opportunities.
Can’t make the meeting on May 19 and want to participate?
Contact one of the VBS coordinators:
Molly Graves mollygraves724@gmail.com (404-234-3605)
Judah Sali judahs26@gmail.com
Junior Abraham jrabraham1953@gmail.com
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Online worship opportunity
with the Community of Aidan and Hilda
for the Feast of St. Bede
on May 25 at 7:00 pm
St. Bede's member Paul Martin
invites you to an ecumenical online worship offering
celebrating St. Bede - May 25 at 7 pm.
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Thank you to all who have returned
their 2024 "Offer to God" pledge cards!
As of May 9, we have received
87 pledges totaling $454,000.
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
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Sweet(s) Summer Sundays
The Hospitality team will be taking a break this summer, but treats are always welcome during the coffee hour after our worship service. If you would like to provide cookies or any other snack to share, please sign up in the Commons.
Thanks!
– Nancy Ward nlbward@comcast.net
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Thank you, Connie and Claudia!
We ended another great year of our ESOL program on Tuesday evening, May 7 with a joyous fiesta in Parish Hall. We celebrated with delicious food and celebrations honoring our fabulous students.
We also honored our amazing program coordinators, Connie Coralli and Claudia Fedarko, who have faithfully run the program since 2012. After this year, Connie and Claudia will step down as coordinators. Never fear, though! They will still remain in the program as teachers!
When Connie and Claudia took over the program, there were 4 levels of English proficiency and about 20 students. They even kept the program running during Covid by coordinating students and teachers to continue via Zoom. In August 2023 we had an unprecedented registration of over 80 students in 6 levels of proficiency! In addition to English classes, the program has offered childcare for children of our students. Coordinating the ESOL program is a big job!
Many thanks to Connie and Claudia for their hard work and dedication to the program which not only teaches language skills, but facilitates community across the languages.
Thank you to our new ESOL leadership team headed up by Orisha Parsons and Judah Sali. The team will include Iñaki Guevara and Erica and Jelani Valdez.
¡Muchísimas gracias, Connie y Claudia!
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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.
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Caring for God's Creation
Go Green with Your Cleaning Routine
Here’s a follow-up to using eco-friendly cleaning products that reduce use of harmful chemicals and save you money:
Homemade Cleaners to Make with Ingredients from Your Pantry
Must-have essentials include:
Baking soda—best for proteins, grease, and animal messes; it’s a natural deodorizer and good for scouring surfaces without fear of scratching.
Distilled white vinegar--works on alkaline substances by dissolving scale, inhibiting mold, and cutting soap scum. As a mild acid, it’s great for removing tea and coffee stains. It’s typically sold at 5% concentration, but it’s more effective at higher concentrations.
Hydrogen peroxide--breaks down into harmless oxygen and water, so it’s a more eco-friendly alternative to chlorine bleach.
Borax--is an alkali that’s good for cutting grease, oil, and dirt.
Essential oils--such as lavender, eucalyptus and others enhance a cleaner’s scent. Tea tree oil is also naturally antibacterial.
Castile soap--is available in liquid or bar forms and helps rinse away dirt.
Click HERE to read the full article which includes “recipes” and instructions for homemade carpet deodorizer, air freshener, window and glass cleaner, and more!
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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 wind and fire,
thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to bring us together
and remind us we all belong in your loving community.
May we always remember you are with us.
Amen.
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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.
6:30 – 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.
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Note the date change!
Healing Our Racism
Book Discussion Group
Next meeting:
Monday, June 17 at 2:00pm on Zoom
(There will be no meeting in May.)
June's selection is
Born A Crime
By Trevor Noah
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.
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Mostly Mysteries
Book Discussion Group
Next meeting:
Tuesday, May 28 at 7:00 pm on Zoom
May's selection is
Stranger Diaries
By Elly Griffiths
Meeting Time: Normally the 4th Monday of each month at 7 pm on ZOOM, but note the date change for May.
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.
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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!
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Would you like to receive
a brief Morning Devotion each day?
I have been emailing them to about 100 Episcopalians from churches I have served across the country. Currently, there are five monthly themes: Baptismal Covenant, Gospel of John, Hymns, Paul’s Epistles, and the Psalms. They only take 3 to 5 minutes of your time and they are free to all who wish to receive them. If you would like to receive them, send your email address to me at:
bmclemore@stbedes.org
God’s blessings,
Bill McLemore +
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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:
Robin Schreiber
Debhani Hernandez
Miriam Needham
Prayer has been requested on a more long-term basis for:
Al and Regina Studwell
Sarah Jane and Jim Ohl
Mary Rodriguez
Helen Abraham
Aree Bancroft
Laura Ribas
Hilda Bell. Nancy Waring
Frances Bowen
Ann Foote
Cameron Maddox
Peg Harriss
Sue Ellen Lampros
Prayer has also been requested for these in our wider community:
Jessica Pursley, friend of Larry Bing
Fay Key, friend of the St. Bede's community
Eleanor Pearlman, granddaughter of Gwen Heaton
Allen Townes Cunningham, sister of Rob Townes
Anne Jones, sister of Claiborne Jones
Elizabeth Graham, friend of Toni Graney
We pray for those who have died:
Raymond Walker, Sr., grandfather of Raymond Walker, III
Dorine Celestine Webster, grandmother of Orisha Parsons
We give thanks for those serving our country in the military:
Josh Bowers
Will Grimm
We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week:
5/17 Melanie Alexander
5/17 Ellis Crowell
5/18 Leslie Webster
5/20 Jenny Martin
5/21 Anna Graves
5/23 Nicolas Cáceres
5/23 Miriam Needham
5/23 Janice Welch
5/24 Lynnsay Buehler
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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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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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