We are excited to share some joyful news with you: 
Holy Innocents has a new logo!

This journey began last September, when parishioners were invited to take part in a series of listening sessions—opportunities to reflect together on the life of our parish, our hopes for the future, and what we long for our church to embody. These meaningful conversations helped inspire the Together. For Good. stewardship campaign and continued to shape ongoing conversations among our staff.

As we listened and reflected, it became clear that our visual identity should also reflect the heart and spirit of our congregation today. We met with several designers along the way, but nothing quite captured what we were hoping for.

Through our parish community, we connected with Elise Thomason, a talented artist and graphic designer, and one of our newer members. Elise brought forward a thoughtful and compelling vision for a new logo and beautifully brought it to life. Throughout the process, many parishioners were consulted, making this a collaborative and prayerful effort.

You will begin to see this new logo reflected in our bulletins, which will also feature a refreshed design. As we make this transition, we will continue using our existing stationery with the former logo until supplies are used up. Name tags will also remain unchanged for the time being, with plans to update them at a later date.

We are deeply grateful to Elise for her creativity, care, and dedication to this work. We invite you to join us at our Annual Meeting this Sunday, where Elise will share her design process and explain the sacred imagery woven into the logo.

We look forward to celebrating this new chapter together!

Warmly,

Emily Badacour
Director of Communications

Imbolc

The Rev. Ruth Pattison, Associate Rector

I’m wrapping myself in wool these days. Of course, because it is cold. But it is Oh-so-convenient for the integrity it lends, that the outside matches up with the inside. I am wrapping and wintering and at the same time, listening for the stirrings of what the winter has transformed within me.

February 1st marks the quarter turn of the year, the day when we are halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. This is the day we call Imbolc, on the Celtic Christian Calendar.

Imbolc means “in the belly of the mother,” the mother sheep, the ewe, as she grows big in the belly with her lamb, soon to give birth, and her milk is coming in and weighs heavily in her udder. “In the belly of the mother,” full of the life that has grown in the quiet of winter. Like this God-presence we invoked in Advent, “O Come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem.” Our Incarnate One, Isaiah told us, is a root that lies deep in the ground; finally, now, it begins to push to the surface.

It is indeed still winter, but by its name we understand the idea that the ewe is big in the belly and readying to give birth. It marks the first inkling, the first hint of spring. This season of wintering, when we have given over to the dormancy of the earth, when we have surrendered so much to the deep rest and holding darkness, when we have trusted the earth to keep for us, this season of wintering begins to stir.

Our spiritual disposition right now is to listen for those inklings deep within, to pay attention to the hints and stirrings, watch for the subtlety of shoots that break ground. This is a slow waking up from the dormancy of winter, not forced, not pressured, but ready for the life when it happens, as it happens.

We play-act on the public cultural stage with the famous groundhog. Will he see his shadow? Will we have 6 more weeks of winter, or will it be an early spring?

But those, in essence, are our questions too. Our spiritual questions. It is different for each of us. Am I ready to receive from the earth the new form of that which I surrendered? Has it formed yet, within me? Wintering into spring is a season, not a singular simultaneous surge. Not all ewes birth lambs on the same day!

Imbolc. It is now “in the belly of the mother,” stirring and hinting at the coming of spring.

Like the seed, that Jesus says, must fall to the ground and die, to rise as something altogether different. It is the spirituality of wintering into spring, and our waking.

Here’s to our taking our time with this gentle moment,

Ruth+

John Cox became a member of Holy Innocents last year with a letter of transfer from St. Benedict’s Episcopal (Smyrna, GA), where he served on their Vestry during its founding years. He is active in the men’s group (MOHI, book dinners, retreat, etc.) and offers his support to other activities such as the Ventulett Gallery displays and outreach to Holy Comforter, Habitat for Humanity, and CAC drives. John’s career background lends experience in several ways, including renovation and refurbishing medium-sized construction projects. Recently at HIEC, he began the Education for Ministry (EfM) series, enrolling in the inaugural ‘wide angle’ curriculum. John has two grown sons with their own families (4 grandkids!) and enjoys golf, hiking, yoga, and an array of other interests. 

Graham Hurtt is married to Clara Hurtt and father to Madison (10) and Sadie (7). He is a managing director in the Technology and Services investment banking group at Raymond James, focusing on financial services end markets. Graham is an embarrassingly big fan of science fiction in all its forms and media, often to the chagrin of his family. In his free time, Graham can most often be found transporting the girls to sports and lessons or losing card and board games to the other members of his family. 

Sunni Newton has been a member of HIEC since 2011, along with her husband, Tommy Newton. They have two children, Boyd (13) and Rosie (10), and live in Buckhead. Sunni works as an education researcher at Georgia Tech, where she has been a student or an employee since 2001. At Holy Innocents, she serves as a Reader, a Greeter, and co-chief mahjong enthusiast. Her favorite free-time activities include reading, cooking, doing crossword puzzles, and playing with the best dog in the world, Lita, whom her family is fortunate to have adopted in 2023. She looks forward to being in the room where it happens on the Vestry. 

Jan Stewart has been an active member of Holy Innocents for 25+ years. She has volunteered her time in all areas of the church community during those 25 years, which included serving as past chair of the Altar and Flower Guilds and as a past Junior and Senior Warden. Currently, she is a team leader for both the Altar and Flower Guilds, a lay Eucharistic Minister, and a member of Community of Hope. She has exceptional finance (profit and non-profit) experience, a passion for outreach, and a commitment to pastoral care. She is the mother of three grown children, and although she continues to work full time she always finds the time for the community of Holy Innocents. She is honored to serve on the Vestry and looks forward to representing the community. 

Anna Blair Gates is a ninth grader at Marist School. She has been a member of HIEC since birth. She has grown up in the church nursery, attending Sunday school, singing in the children's choir, and enjoying youth activities. She has also been a VBS volunteer for the past several years. Anna Blair plays competitive soccer with Concorde Fire; she also runs cross country at Marist.

Mary Brooks McCrystal is a sophomore in high school at HIES and has been a member of HIEC since she was born. She has attended Sunday school regularly as a child and is an active participant in the youth group. She has attended the school since Kindergarten and is now participating in their football cheerleading, basketball, and lacrosse programs. Mary Brooks is also on the yearbook committee as well as many clubs such as HI Trees, HIES for CHOA, and Blood Cancer United.

Prayer Shawl

February 3, 7:00-8:30 PM

Join us in the Parlor on Tuesday, February 3, 7:00–8:30 PM. We knit and crochet shawls for those in need, but bring any project—needlepoint, cross-stitch, even mending—and enjoy fellowship while you work.

Contact Cammie Ives | cammieives@gmail.com

Women of HI: Mahjong Night

February 6, 6:30 PM



Join us for a mahjong game night on Friday, February 6. If you are interested in playing or learning the game, please email Emily Wilkerson (embwilkerson@gmail.com)

Habitat for Humanity Build 

February 7-March 28

Holy Innocents, along with several local churches, is sponsoring Atlanta Habitat for Humanity’s Faith Build. Adult parishioners and teens ages 16 and up are invited to take part in this meaningful work. Each Saturday, at least four members of Holy Innocents will have the opportunity to serve. No skills required, just the desire to help an Atlanta family buy a home at a very affordable price.

Third Friday: Men of HI

February 20, 7:30 AM

Enjoy warm hospitality, engaging discussions, and a fresh breakfast in the Frost Youth Center. Come for the conversation and stay for the fellowship.

Contact Charles Crosby | charles@corepm.net

Bill Harkins returns as retreat leader for the Men of HI Retreat at Lake Logan Episcopal Center in the mountains of North Carolina. This year’s theme is “Arete, Faith, and a Rule of Life for Connection Among Men.” Bill will serve as both facilitator and homilist, offering the grounded presence and depth many have come to value over the years.

Contact John Harris harris4338@gmail.com

Reading Connections

February 9, 6:00 PM

This month’s book is Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. The novel follows an impoverished African-American family in Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. 

Contact Michelle Driscoll

dris1296@yahoo.com

Bucket List Book Club

February 3, 1:00 PM

The co-ed group is reading Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. We’ll meet at 1:00 PM in the Parlor room.

Contact Audrey Sumner audreysum4833@gmail.com

Men's Dinner & a Book

March 10, 6:30 PM

The book is Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home by Chris La Tray. Rolf Meinhold is hosting. All men at H.I. are invited! 



Contact Jeremy Webber

jhwwebber@gmail.com

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