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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
by Wednesday morning. Text and images should be attached to 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, September 27, 2026
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Worship in English at 10 am
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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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The Sunday Adult Formation Class
September 27
Room M-110
Join Paul Martin for a discussion of his
newly-released book,
Monks on Main Street
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What if the monastery was never meant to remain behind stone walls?
What if the ancient rhythms of prayer, community, hospitality, simplicity and contemplation were meant to be woven into every believer's life?
The first disciples were known as "Followers of the Way". Paul Martin's just published "Monks on Main Street" shows "How new Dispersed Communities are Reimagining the Monastic Way for Modern Life."
Congratulations to Paul on this publication of this important book. This promises to be a fascinating discussion!
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Join us this Sunday, September 27th
9:30 am - 2:00 pm
The upper church parking lot
Cost: Free (Donations greatly appreciated)
Is your car looking a little more dusty than shiny? We have some great news for you.
The youth group is hosting a completely Free Car Wash this Sunday. Bring your cars, trucks, or SUVs by the church parking lot and let our energetic crew scrub away the dirt while you sit back and relax.
While the car wash is entirely free, we are gratefully accepting donations. Every single dollar raised goes directly toward funding our upcoming youth pilgrimage, helping our group embark on a life-changing spiritual journey.
Don't let your friends drive around in dusty cars either. Share this post, tag a neighbor, and tell everyone you know. Let's pack the parking lot for an amazing cause.
Come get a sparkling clean ride, listen to some fun music, and support an amazing cause. We cannot wait to see you there this Sunday.
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Children's Formation
for Children Age 3 - Grade 5
Join us for Children’s Formation (aka Sunday School) between Morning and Afternoon Worship. We’ll gather the kids during the fellowship time, around 11:45 am in the Commons, and then move to classroom M-102 in the Mission Wing. This formation time focuses on learning about the stories of the People of God and growing in understanding about what we do in church worship. The curriculum used is primarily Godly Play combined with lessons from other resources.
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.
We need additional teachers/helpers for this age group. Please contact Molly Graves at mgraves@stbedes.org to volunteer or for more information about our children’s faith formation program.
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Prayer Vigil for Extra-Ordinary Times
The prayer vigil for our country will return every month: June 7th, July 5th, August 2nd, September 13th, October 4th, November 1st, and December 6th. We will use the Book of Common Prayer to help guide our petitions for peace, justice, and flourishing in our country.
Contact Becca Love at rachelrebeccalove@gmail.com with any questions.
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Popcorn Theology
Saturday, October 3, 2026
5:30 p.m.—8:45 p.m.
“Boy Erased”
In observance of PRIDE Weekend
Join us to share a simple meal that will include pizza, salad, fresh fruit, popcorn and homemade cookies. There will be dairy free, gluten free and vegetarian options available. After dinner, we’ll watch this 2018 film, rated R, 110 minutes.
This is the thoughtful, courageous story of Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges), the
son of an owner of a car dealership and Baptist minister and a hairdresser in a small town in Arkansas. When Jared goes away to another town to attend college, he begins to feel safe to awaken to and to explore his sexuality as a gay man. He is taken aback when someone from his college outs him to his father and mother (Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman.) His parents struggle with how to reconcile their love for their son with their beliefs that he is sinning and has “made a choice to live like this”. Jared is pressured by his parents and church community into attending a conversion therapy residential program. While there, Jared comes into conflict with the leader of the program (Joel Edgerton), as he becomes increasingly clear about who he is and who he is not, finds his voice on behalf of himself and others, and grows in acceptance of his true self.
Based on the true story told in the memoir of American author Garrard Conley.
The movie won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Picture and received
two Golden Globe Nominations.
Following the movie, we’ll have a brief conversation about where we saw and
heard transformation, healing, God and Love in the movie, along with ways in
which our lives connect with the story in the film. We’ll end our time together
with Night Prayer.
A $10.00 contribution is requested for the meal, or whatever amount works for
you.
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Calling All Lay Weeders!
Do you enjoy getting your hands into the dirt and making the grounds at St. Bede's look a little better at the same time? We are forming a "Lay Weeders" group to give a little TLC to our cultivated garden areas. While trying to eliminate all weeds on our campus could seem an overwhelming endeavor, picking a small area - the bed around the mailbox, the entryway gardens, the garden at the end of the Mission Wing, the Memorial Garden - could make the task fun and manageable. We would also love someone to "dead head" some of the flowers and water the planters. You could consider spending an half-an-hour to an hour once or twice a month to have some fun with others and make a big difference in keeping our grounds neat and tidy. If you are interested, please let us know in the office and we will help get the group connected and going.
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The opening reception on August 15 was well attended. Our Delkalb CEO, Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, and our DeKalb County Super 7 representative, Dr. LaDena Bolton, were both there almost the whole time. And our Tucker Mayor, Anne Lerner, also attended as well as two of Tucker’s City Council members! The art this time is wonderful. Take some time to enjoy it.
The jewelry and the pottery in the glass case will be there through September as well. If there’s any interest in any of this, just leave a check with Laura or text Lois Shingler at 404-593-9001
Many, many thanks to everybody who brought food for hors d’oeuvres, helped clean up and set up!
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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 and Molly Graves
Please contact Muriel Diguette at digfam@att.net
if you are interested in joining.
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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
Ongoing Food & Baby Items Collection for Los Amigos
Please support our rapid food delivery for Los Amigos with food staples or baby items. Lists are on the table in the Commons. Items can be placed in the bin in the Commons.
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September 6 – 27
Last Sunday to bring socks!
Church of the Common Ground
Diabetic Sock Drive
October 18 – November 15
Emmaus House Home for Thanksgiving
October 18
Prepare and serve lunch for Church of the Common Ground
October 27
Trip to El Refugio
November 14
Trip to El Refugio
December 8 – January 3
Baby Jesus Baskets
Outreach Committee Meeting
Sunday, January 10, 2027
11:30 am in Room C101
Questions? Please contact Karen Werner at wernerksw@comcast.net
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Lunches for Church of the Common Ground
Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 am
“Church of the Common Ground (COCG) 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, October 18. We will meet Sunday morning at 9 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.
Please join us as we worship with Church of the Common Ground and share a together!
Questions? Please contact
Karen Werner at wernerksw@comcast.net or
Sheila de la Cruz at sshefflerdelacruz@gmail.com
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Annual Diabetic Sock Drive for
Church of the Common Ground
Last Sunday to Donate!
Hello, fellow cheerful givers!
From September 6 through September 27, the Outreach Committee is sponsoring a diabetic sock drive for the Church of the Common Ground, which is a worshipping community of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta.
This year, the Church of the Common Ground is asking for donations of:
· diabetic socks only (no regular socks) OR…
· $ cash donations $ and we will buy socks for you
Cash donations are welcomed. Be sure to place cash in an envelope with "For Sock Drive" marked clearly on the envelope.
The Outreach Committee has even created an Amazon wish list with suggestions of diabetic socks to make it easy for you. If you choose to order socks from Amazon, please have them sent to your home and not to the church office. Our office is open part-time, and we don't want packages to stay outside the door for too long as deliveries are often attempted at off hours.
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LOS AMIGOS RAPID FOOD DELIVERY
St. Bede’s is partnering with Los Amigos to provide rapid food delivery to Latino families in need of immediate help. This is a fantastic opportunity to practice radical hospitality in our community! Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus!
How can you help?
1. Bring food donations to St. Bedes and put in the collection bin under the table in the Commons. This food will be boxed and delivered with fresh food.
NEEDED FOODS:
Rice
Dried Black Beans
Cereal
Canned vegetables and soups
Vegetable Oil
Corn Flour
Peanut Butter
Jelly
2. Sign up to buy fresh food and then deliver the fresh food and box of staples from St. Bede’s.
A. Sign the list on the round table in the Commons.
B. Add the free Signal App to your phone.
C. You will be added to the Signal chat group and given the name of the Signal chat group.
D. A Los Amigos director will list who needs food, their address and any specific needs in the Signal chat group.
E. Buy fresh food and add to the box of staples at St. Bede’s and deliver.
F. Fresh foods to buy:
Corn Tortillas
Potatoes
Carrots
Eggs
Whole Milk
Chicken
Pork
Ground Beef
Fresh Fruit: bananas, plantains, mangoes, strawberries
Questions: Karen Werner
wernerksw@comcast.net
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Mark Your Calendar
October 5 Deadline to register to vote
October 13 - 20 Early voting. Any location in your county
October 23 Deadline to request an absentee ballot
November 3 Election Day. Polls open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Update on El Refugio and Stewart Detention Center
We will have a team of St. Bede's folks who will travel to the El Refugio hospitality house and Stewart Detention Center on October 27 and November 14th. The need for visitation is so great that El Refugio is starting a small initiative to have seasoned volunteers visit during the week when there are fewer families visiting. I went twice this summer, and each time I was able to visit with several detainees. The conditions at the prison continue to be horrible, but El Refugio has been advocating for change.
We will leave the gas card box out on the small table every Sunday. We continue to pass out gas cards to every family that stops by the house. Please pick up a card or make a donation (cash preferred) to the box, and we will buy the gas cards for you. Many thanks for your compassion for our immigrant neighbors.
Claudia Fedarko
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OUTREACH DONATIONS TO
EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT (ERD)
The Outreach Committee voted to send another $1,000 to ERD for disaster relief in Nepal. We have sent a total of $3,000 to ERD in the past several weeks to support relief efforts from earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, fires in the West, flooding in the Midwest and Hawaii, and now to Nepal for support for victims from horrific flooding there.
This support is possible only from your generous financial gifts to St. Bede’s. Thank you everyone for supporting our worldwide community and loving like Jesus!
| | As we all watch the tragic events of violence escalate in Iran, 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:
Caring God,
You invite us to participate in your work of restoration,
giving us a chance to say yes or no.
Fill our hearts with compassion and the desire to work with you,
sharing hope and healing with our world.
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.
(This group is currently on hiatus.)
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 as we explore the Gospel of Matthew and have fun.
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
Next meeting in person:
Monday, October 19
at 1 pm in Room M108
Our October book selection
is
The Things We Never Say
by
Elizabeth Strout
You're invited to join members and friends of St. Bede's to discuss favorite mysteries and thrillers.
For questions, please contact Cathe Echterhoff at jechterhof@aol.com
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Annual Holy Comforter Plant Sale
Saturday, October 10
10 am - 2 pm
Everything we grow is organic and all proceeds from our sales go towards running programs for the Friendship Center.
Holy Comforter is located at 737 Woodland Ave. S.E., Atlanta, GA 30316.
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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:
Prayer has been requested on a more long-term basis for:
Susan Cáceres
David and Martha West
Mary Porter
Margie Klein
Cheryl Murphy
Lewis Anderson
Jim Murray
Dixie Snider
Claude Oakley
Miriam Needham
Claiborne Jones
Michele Heller
Lynn Williams
Jim Handsfield
Barbie Olsen
David Boyd
Debhani Hernandez
Al and Regina Studwell
Sarah Jane 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:
Kathleen Hudson and her family, friends of Beth Cannon
Clarence DeMars, friend of Toni Graney
Margie Briscoe, friend of Loretta Vail
Cindy Alexander, friend of Loretta Vail
Debbie and John Hunziker, parents of Shane Hunziker
Carlos, friend of Claudia Fedarko
Joselina, friend of Claudia Fedarko
The People of Cuba
Susan Vail Casey, sister of Tom Vail
Susan Forte, sister of Cheryl Murphy
Zoe Bushart, granddaughter of Doris and Jim Bushart
Aila Craig, family of Helen Loeb
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:
Jim Ohl
June Bruce, sister-in-law of Nancy Bruce
Mary Nell McLauchlin, friend of Cathe Echterhoff
We give thanks for those serving our country in the military:
Alex Larrivey
Josh Bowers
Jonathan
We give thanks for those celebrating birthdays this week:
9/25 Sarah Jane Ohl
9/25 Sherry Poland
9/25 Victor Cáceres
9/25 Mark Engsberg
9/26 Sue Ellen Lampros
9/26 Suzanne Shapiro
9/27 Amanda Vaughn
9/27 Wilsie Kottke
9/28 Matt Wilson
9/28 Sheila de la Cruz
9/28 Melody Murray
9/29 Doris Bushart
9/29 Dee Weems
9/29 Max Kottke
9/29 Melodie Rose Walker
9/30 Elizabeth Flanagan
10/2 Sandy Spires
10/3 Pat Pickett
10/3 Susan Cáceres
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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
| | Bishop Wright has issued a a pastoral letter entitled: Immigration: Dignity, Solidarity, and Support. This letter calls on us all to view our current immigration crisis through the lens of faith and to seek dignity and compassion for all of God's beloved children. | | |
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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Atlanta Pride Celebration
Pride Eucharist
All are welcome to attend the Diocesan Pride Eucharist!
October 4
5:30 pm
Holy Trinity Parish
515 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur 30030
Celebrant: The Rev. Rhett Solomon
Preacher: The Rev. Horace Griffin
Pride Parade
October 11
Arrive time 11:30 am and the Parade begins at Noon
400 Park Drive, Northeast, Atlanta
The LGBTQ+ Commission of the Diocese of Atlanta
wants to see you at Atlanta Pride!
On October 11, thousands will gather in Atlanta to celebrate Pride, and we want you to walk with our group. Lunch is provided. Please register to walk using the button below.
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SAVE THE DATE:
Magnify:
A Women’s Justice Retreat
Nov. 16-19
Camp McDowell
Nauvoo, Alabama
All lay and ordained Episcopal women involved in ministries of justice and inclusion are invited to connect, be encouraged, build intergenerational connections, and bolster leadership for future women’s ministries.
Offered by the church’s Office of Gender Justice in partnership with lay and ordained women from several dioceses, Magnify will offer times for worship, prayer, Bible study, and teaching on women’s leadership.
Magnify will take place in Alabama, long regarded as a crucible for justice ministries both within and beyond The Episcopal Church. For women in particular—especially women of color, immigrant women, women living in poverty, and LGBTQ+ women—Alabama represents not only struggle but also the powerful witness of unsung saints.
“By gathering in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, we seek to learn from diocesan and community leaders on the ground who are holding the line for God’s inclusive love and Gospel-based work for human dignity and thriving,” said Aaron Scott, the church’s gender justice staff officer.
Mark your calendar and watch for more details to follow.
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