A BIG WEEKEND at HIEC!
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• Enjoy the Joe Alterman Jazz Trio on Saturday night. Music, friends & goodies.
• Parents’ Coffee: Connect with other parents and caregivers of children 4 on Sunday 9-10AM in the Parlor.
• Corinthians Chat Sunday. Explore Paul’s letters with donuts from 9-10 AM.
• Fall Festival: Lunch, Trunk or Treat, hayrides, a petting zoo, & more.
• Help out by decorating a trunk or donating a cake for our Cake Walk supporting meals for children.
• Thanksgiving Bags for Emmaus House will be available for pickup Sunday.

Dear friends,

“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above.” —James 1:17

This year's stewardship theme expresses who we are at Holy Innocents. Together. For Good. God has gathered us into this community, blessed us with gifts to share, and called us to make Christ’s love known.

We see signs of that ministry flourishing. Since 2022, average Sunday attendance has grown 21.6% to 360 folks in our pews. This year, we have welcomed 48 new Episcopalians. In 2025, 80 children participated in Sunday School, and we celebrated 51 baptisms.

The love here reaches beyond our walls. Our outreach efforts have provided 640 lunches for Church of the Common Ground, 200 dinners at Agape House, and 100 Thanksgiving bags for Emmaus House, along with $80,000 for community organizations. Through your generosity, we answer Christ’s call to feed the hungry and care for our neighbors.

To sustain this work, our 2027 budget totals $2,334,226, with $1,882,544 or approximately 80% coming from pledges. Your commitment supports worship and music, children and youth, pastoral care, outreach, and the people and spaces that make these ministries possible.

The 22 members of your clergy, vestry, finance, and stewardship committees, have already made our 2027 pledges.

Will you join us? Please watch our stewardship videos and take time to pray about your pledge. If your circumstances allow, we invite you to increase your giving for 2027. Every pledge matters; we welcome each commitment offered in faith and gratitude.

Please pledge by October 25, online at holyinnocents.org/give or by returning your pledge card by mail or in person this Sunday during our worship service..

Thank you for the love, service, and generosity you bring to Holy Innocents. May God guide our giving and bless the work we undertake together.

Your Clergy, Vestry, Finance, and Stewardship Committees

 View this year's brochure here.

Joe Alterman Jazz Trio

October 24, 7:00-8:30 PM

Join us Saturday in Bishop Commons for an evening of live jazz, wine, and hors d'oeuvres with Atlanta pianist Joe Alterman. A longtime mentee of Les McCann and Ramsey Lewis, Alterman brings swing, soul, and infectious joy to the piano. McCann called him “a giant,” while Ahmad Jamal hailed him as “a very special artist.

Alterman has performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Birdland, and the Blue Note. He also hosts and produces The Upside of Jazz on WABE 90.1, sharing the music and stories that make jazz come alive.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

October 16-November 22

Emmaus House believes celebrating the holidays together is an important factor in maintaining family ties. With your assistance, we will help 400 families in need enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We seek donations of bags filled with items to make their favorite side dishes.

Pick up a bag or 2, fill them with the listed items included in the bag, and return them to the church. We will be collecting the filled bags from October 16th through November 22nd.

The Corinthians Conversation

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

This class led by Dr. Ebby Arnold Emory's Candler School of Theology has been 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." Join us for breakfast by the parents of our youth.

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat

October 25, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM

Kids of all ages, come in costume for Sunday School and worship, then stick around after the service for an afternoon full of fun and fellowship. Chili, hotdogs, Mac and cheese and more for lunch inside. And then Trunk or Treat, Hayrides, Petting Zoo, and Cake Walk outside! Whether you're young or just young at heart, 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 Sunday. 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.

Parents' Coffee

October 25, 9:00-10:00 AM

Parents and caregivers of children aged 4 and under are invited to a cozy coffee hour to connect and get to know one another. This gathering is open to members, newcomers, and families baptized within the last three years. No agenda, just coffee, breakfast, conversation, and community.

Contact: Renee Stephens (rstephens@holyinnocents.org)

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)

Prayer Shawl

November 3, 7:00-8:30 PM | Bishop Commons

The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers 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)

CCG: 20th Anniversary

November 7, 1:00–5:00 PM

Church of the Common Ground is celebrating 20 years of ministry, and Holy Innocents is helping mark the occasion! We’re putting together a group of volunteers to assist with the celebration at St. Luke’s on Saturday, November 7, from 1:00–5:00 PM. If you’d like to lend a hand and be part of this special milestone, we’d love to have you!



Contact: Robin Hickey (hickeys5040@gmail.com)

Holiday Market

November 8, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Get a head start on your holiday shopping in Inglett Hall! Browse gifts and goodies from local artists, makers, bakers, and other creative vendors. 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 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)

CCG: Sandwich Build

November 15, 11:15 AM, Parish Hall

Please join us after the 10:15 am service to help make sandwiches for our unhoused siblings at Church of the Common Group. If you would like to help deliver the lunches and worship with our friends, we will leave at 12:15 pm and return to HIEC after the service.

Contact: Robin Hickey (hickeys5040@gmail.com)

Men of HI: Third Friday Breakfast

November 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)

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.

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!

Senior Youth Group

November 8 & 22, 11:30-1:00 PM

Our 9th–12th graders are meeting after worship from 11:30 AM–1:00 PM for lunch, community, and real conversation. Lunch is free, and friends are always welcome. We’ll hang out, eat together, and talk about what it looks like to live out your faith in real life.

Junior Youth Group

November 22, 4:00-6:00 PM

We invite all 6th–8th graders to join us on Sunday, November 22, from 4:00-6:00 PM for youth group! Get ready for a wild game of Fear vs. Faith Dodgeball where fear can’t be knocked out, and faith has a special way to bring teammates back into the game. Dinner included!

Advent Wreath Fundraiser

November 29, 9:00 AM

Join us on November 29th from 9-10 AM as we celebrate the season and prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ. Our youth will cook a delicious breakfast for $5 online and $10 at the door. You and your loved ones can create your own Advent wreaths for $15, with all proceeds going directly to the youth group. Please register by November 25th. 

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

November 10, 6:00 PM | Inglett Hall C

Light refreshments begin at 6:00 pm, followed by book discussion at 6:30 pm. This month’s selection is My Friends by Fredrik Backman, a moving story about friendship, art, and the lasting impact of the people who shape our lives. Spanning generations, the novel explores how a group of childhood friends and a remarkable painting bring unexpected lives together.

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