What is a Family?

Megan Atkinson, Dir. of Youth, Young Adults, and Family Ministries

For some of us, family means parents, children, siblings, and relatives. For others, family may look very different. Sometimes family is the people we were born into, and sometimes it is the people we choose and who choose us. Family can be the friends who show up when we need them, the people who sit beside us in difficult seasons, and the community that reminds us we are never alone. 

The Bible gives us a beautiful picture of family that goes beyond biology. Scripture calls us to love one another, care for one another, carry one another's burdens, and welcome one another. Jesus even expanded our understanding of family when he said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). 

At its heart, family is about love, belonging, care, and connection. 

And for many of us, our pets are part of that family. 

Our animals become part of the rhythms of our lives. They greet us when we come home, sit with us when we're hurting, make us laugh, and offer companionship without asking for anything in return. We care for them deeply, and they become woven into the story of our families. 

That is one reason our Pet Blessing this Sunday is such a special opportunity. We aren't simply blessing animals. We are giving thanks for the creatures God has entrusted to our care and for the joy and companionship they bring into our lives. 

Everyone is welcome to bring their pets to receive a blessing from our clergy. And if your pet is anxious, nervous, or just doesn't love crowds, that's completely okay! Bring a picture of your pet instead. And yes, even a beloved stuffed animal is welcome. 

Because family comes in many forms, and God's love is big enough to encompass them all. So bring your family, bring your pets, bring a picture, bring a stuffy, and come celebrate the beautiful gift of belonging together. 

We can't wait to bless your furry, feathered, scaled, or stuffed family members this Sunday! 

Women of HI: Mahjong Night

October 2, 6:30-9:00 PM

Join the Women of HI for an evening of laughter, fellowship, and Mahjong! Everyone is invited, no matter your skill level. Whether you’re a seasoned player or have just had one lesson, come enjoy a friendly, welcoming evening and connect with friends. There is no cost to attend. Please bring an appetizer or drink to share. Come ready to play, connect, and enjoy a fun evening with the Women of HI!

Please note the October 2 meeting will be off campus due to HIES Homecoming. Please RSVP for the address. 

Contact: Emily Wilkerson (embwilkerson@gmail.com)

Sunni Newton (sunni.newton@gmail.com)

Men of HI: Low Country Boil

October 4, 5:30 PM

The Men of HI are heading to the banks of the Chattahoochee for their annual Low Country Boil! Spend the evening enjoying great food, drinks, and good company by the river.



Tickets are $30 and include dinner along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The Corinthians Conversation

Sundays through November 1
9:00-10:00 AM Ingeltt hall

Breakfast hosted by the Vestry!

A new class led by Dr. Ebby Arnold Emory's Candler School of Theology was a big hit on Sunday morning. Many of us who have been reading the Bible for a long time walked away saying, "I learned so much about Paul that I didn't know! I'm so glad I came." We’ll look to the emotional relationship between Paul and a church in crisis. We’ll ask how their conversation can offer support and guidance to the church today as we navigate the conflicts of the 21st century.

How to Read the Bible

Wednesday evenings through October 21

Fellowship at 6:30 PM, Class from 7:00–8:00 PM

The Rev. Larry Varghese, a Hebrew Bible doctoral student at Emory, leads this six-week course. Larry is a phenomenal teacher with a gift for making biblical scholarship engaging and accessible. Feel free to join us for the last 4 sessions.

Blessing of the Animals

October 4, 6:00 PM

Join us for our annual Blessing of the Animals on October 4th at 6:00 PM. Our youth group and 4th-5th graders will be hosting this event and will provide tons of fun and fellowship for our pet families. Youth will arrive at 5:00 PM to help set up for the event. Youth sign up below. Club 45: email Renee Stephens (rstephens@holyinnocents.org)

Caregiver Support Group

October 6, 6:00-7:30 PM | The Parlor

You Don't Have to Navigate Caregiving Alone

Join us for conversation, encouragement, and education as we care for aging parents, spouses, siblings, and other loved ones.

Share what's on your mind, ask questions, discover helpful resources, or simply spend time with people who understand the joys and challenges of caregiving.

Open to the community. First Tuesday of the month.

Contact: Carol Shutley (carolshutley5@gmail.com)

The Rev. Stewart Lucas (slucas@holyinnocents.org)

Prayer Shawl

October 6, 7:00-8:30 PM | Parlor

The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers this fall to knit and crochet shawls that are given to those who are ill or grieving. Not working on a prayer shawl? Bring your needlepoint, cross-stitch, mending, or another project and enjoy an evening of crafting and conversation. All are welcome!

Contact: Cammie Ives (cammieives@gmail.com)

Women’s Progressive Dinner

October 8, 6:00–8:00 PM

Join us for an evening of good food, meaningful conversation, and the joy of getting to know one another better.  Our Women’s Progressive Dinner is designed around a simple idea: connection. As we move from table to table throughout the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with friends, and share conversation with women from across our church community. Whether you’re new or a longtime member, there’s a place for you at the table.

We’ll begin the evening with appetizers and beverages in Bishop Commons, then gather for dinner in Inglett Hall. Each course will bring a new table group, with thoughtful conversation prompts led by Renee Stephens to help us share our common experiences, discover what makes each of us unique, and build deeper relationships.  Come ready to eat, laugh, listen, and connect. Together, we’ll make space for community, friendship, and fellowship. The cost is $15, register on Realm.

Pride Parade 

October 11, 11:45 AM



All are invited to participate in this year's Pride Parade as a volunteer or walker. On October 9 and 10, volunteers are needed to help decorate the float at St. Luke's Atlanta. On October 11, the day of the parade, walkers can arrive on site at the Civic Center MARTA Station at 11:45 AM. If you plan to participate as a volunteer or walker, please register here.

Joe Alterman Jazz Trio

October 24, 7:00-8:30 PM

Settle in for an evening of live jazz, wine, and cheese in Bishop Commons with Atlanta jazz pianist Joe Alterman. Known for bringing swing, soul, and an unmistakable sense of joy to the piano, Alterman is a longtime mentee of jazz greats Les McCann and Ramsey Lewis, carrying forward their groove-filled, life-affirming approach while bringing a musical voice all his own. McCann called him “a giant,” while Ahmad Jamal hailed him as “a very special artist.”

Alterman has released eight critically acclaimed albums and performed at celebrated venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland, and the Blue Note. His work also appears on two Grammy Award-winning projects, and his collaborators have ranged from jazz legends to Atlanta music icon Dallas Austin.

Beyond the stage, Alterman is a writer, interviewer, and host and producer of The Upside of Jazz on WABE 90.1, where he explores the music, people, and stories that have shaped jazz. At the heart of it all is his piano—joyful, swinging, and alive.

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat

October 25, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM

Celebrate the season with us at our Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 25! Come in costume for Sunday School and worship, then stick around after the service for an afternoon full of fall fun and festive fellowship. We’ll have something for everyone, including: Trunk or Treat, Hayrides, Petting Zoo, Lunch, Cake Walk, and more! Whether you're young or just young at heart, all are welcome to join in the fun as we enjoy the beauty of fall together.

Trunk or Treat Volunteers

We need you! Sign up to host a trunk for our Trunk or Treat on October 25. Decorate your trunk as simple or as elaborate as you would like. Prizes will be offered for Most Creative Trunk, Best Decorated Trunk, and Funniest Trunk. Setup will begin immediately after 10:15 worship, and Trunk or Treating will begin after lunch. Email Renee Stephens (rstephens@holyinnocents.org) to volunteer to host a trunk.

Women of HI:
Corks, Colas & Conversation

October 28, 5:30-7:00 PM

Join the Women of HI for a relaxed evening of conversation, fellowship, and community. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends or meeting someone new, this casual gathering is a wonderful opportunity to spend time together, build connections, and support one another. Refreshments will be available, and all women are welcome! Come as you are and enjoy a fun evening of conversation and connection.



Contact: Jenny Cantrell (jennypcan@aol.com)

Holiday Market

November 8, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Holy Innocents Holiday Market! Browse gifts and goodies from local artists, makers, bakers, and other creative vendors, all gathered right here at Holy Innocents. Whether you’re checking off your Christmas list or just seeing what catches your eye, there will be plenty to explore throughout the morning.

Interested in being a vendor? We’d love to feature artists, makers, bakers, and anyone with something creative to share. There is no cost to participate, and Holy Innocents will provide a table and tablecloth for your display.

Contact: Elaine Morgan (ewmorgan1@bellsouth.net)

Immigration Assistance Fund

We have established this fund to provide compassionate support for families in our Our Lady of Guadalupe community who are facing hardship due to immigration-related circumstances. So far we have supported three families with rental, translation and legal support. Our fund currently is sufficient for the immediate needs, but we will continue to keep you posted.

GLOW

October 7, Dinner: 5:30 PM, Program: 6:00–7:00 PM

Come & GLOW with us for a special STEAM-themed evening where kids will learn about the power of prayer through an exciting science experiment and art activity. 

Adults and kids are invited to gather for dinner at 5:30 PM, and then kids will leave for GLOW program from 6:00-7:00 PM. Parents are invited to stick around for conversation and connection while the kids are at GLOW.

Children’s Choir

October 18

Our Children’s Choir has been preparing to sing a beautiful anthem at the 10:15 service on October 18th following Children’s Chapel. All kids preK-5th grade are welcome to participate. Rehearsals are ongoing in Sunday School and Children’s Chapel.

Contact: Renee Stephens (rstephens@holyinnocents.org)

Club 45: Halloween Breakfast Party

October 25, 9:00–10:15 AM

4th & 5th graders, join us this Sunday at 9:15 for a Halloween Breakfast Party. Wear your costume and come ready to enjoy breakfast, special treats, and fun times with friends!

Dollywood Trip

November 13-15

The youth group is heading to Dollywood November 13-15! All 6th-12th graders are invited for a weekend of fun and fellowship in Pigeon Forge, TN. The cost is $475 plus extra cash for fast food on the way there and back. We'll head to our beautiful Airbnb on Friday night, spend all day Saturday exploring the rides, and head back Sunday after a devotional. Friends are welcome to join us but must attend 3 youth group events before we depart.

Youth Basketball League 

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, in partnership with HIES Basketball, is excited to sponsor the 2026–27 Holy Innocents’ Youth Basketball League! Open to boys and girls in 1st–5th grade, the league welcomes players of all skill levels and focuses on building basketball skills, confidence, sportsmanship, and friendship, all while having fun.

Registration is now open, and spots are expected to fill quickly!

• $200 registration fee
• Weekly practices and Saturday games at Duncan Gymnasium
• Divisions for 1st–3rd grade and 4th–5th grade boys and girls
• Volunteer coaches needed! Coaches receive a $25 registration discount.
• Questions? Contact Maria Smith at hiyb@holyinnocents.org

Our motto: Have Fun & Get Better!

Reading Connections

October 19, 6:00 PM

The October Women’s Reading Connections meeting will be held on Monday, October 19, 2026. The group meets in the Inglett Hall Small Conference Room C, at 6:00 PM. The meeting begins with light refreshments and the book discussion begins at 6:30 PM. This month’s book is Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. The book recounts a sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller. Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives.

Men's Dinner & a Book

November 10, 6:30 PM

The next Men's Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, November 10, at 6:30 pm and the book is The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson. Kevin Nuffer is hosting. All men at Holy Innocents are included and invited.



Contact Jeremy Webber

jhwwebber@gmail.com

Click the video to watch last Sunday's service!

Realm Access

Realm is our database system, which allows us to communicate all of the things that the clergy and staff do behind the scenes to make Holy Innocents' our home. You are also now able to connect to your record with instant access to the directory, your giving, event registration, and more. To connect to your account:

• Email Renee Stephens at rstephens@holyinnocents.org for an invitation link.
• Create your password and remember it!
• Use your email address and password to log in through a browser or the Connect app

Connect app for iPhone: click here. Connect app for Android: click here.

Once you have your account access, update your contact information and upload a picture that will be used in the directory. Contact Renee for help. rstephens@holyinnocents.org

Pastoral Notes 

If someone is in the hospital, has died, or has some other pastoral emergency, please contact our clergy directly. Call the church office at 404-255-4023 and follow the prompts. This will connect you directly with the clergyperson on call. 

If you have joys to share, new births, grandbabies, graduations, or job announcements, we will gladly share them in our weekly Hi-Lights email if you send a note to communications@holyinnocents.org