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Earnest Calvin Simmons, M.D. died on Monday October 15 after a brief battle with cancer. His funeral will be in the church next Saturday, October 26 at 11:30 am. Ursula and their children Tameka and Calvin will greet visitors at a reception in Inglett Hall following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to Holy Innocents will be designated for the Outreach Fund.
Rest eternal grant to him, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon him.
May his soul, and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with Ursula and her family in their grief. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Gallery Opening: Spaces&Places
October 17, 6:00-7:30 PM
Art lovers are invited to a special gallery opening showcasing the works of two remarkable artists, Susan Westmoreland and Sharmila Ghose Roy. Both artists bring unique perspectives to their art, drawing inspiration from nature, travel, and everyday life, but their approaches are as diverse as they are captivating. Read more here.
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Sharing Responsibility
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
At Holy Innocents, we have much to be grateful for. We are a healthy, growing church community where we nurture our faith, care for one another, and make an impact in the wider community that surrounds us. We succeed in these things because we all understand that our mission is a shared responsibility. To be clear, sharing responsibility means a deep commitment to being transparent as a church so that we can talk about our successes, our failures, and all the details of how we do this together.
During this season, we talk a lot about money and our budget. We are transparent about such things because this is the way that we fund our church and our ministries and we share those values together. Money is the means, not the ends. Every dollar that we raise has a face behind it, a story, a purpose, a mission. We use our financial gifts to serve God, to care for each other, and to show our love for our neighbors.
The work of the church is a shared responsibility, and each of us has a role in nurturing faith and growing our community. To meet the needs of our growing ministries, we have set a 2025 goal to increase giving in 2025 by 10% to $1,540,000. Your generosity will enable these critical ministry areas in our community to thrive: Expanded Outreach Efforts, Music & Worship, Staff Raises, Spanish Language Ministry, and ministry with Children, Youth, & Young Adults.
You should have already received a pledge packet in the mail with an invitation to make your promise to the church for the year to come. We ask you to pray about it, discuss it with your family, and discern how God is calling you to share your gifts. Please return your pledge this week at our Ingathering Sunday October 20, when we will bless all our gifts so that we might be a blessing to the world.
Click here to learn more about our Stewardship Campaign.
Click here to make your pledge today.
In Gratitude,
The Rev. Dr. Bill Murray
Rector
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This Sunday at HIEC
Join us for breakfast this week hosted by the Men of Holy Innocents at 9:00 am in Bishop Commons. Dave Stockert will lead the Adult Forum on the Epistle of James in Inglett Hall. Bill and Ruth will lead Episcopal 101 in classroom 109 for newcomers or those wanting a refresher.
Please bring needed Food Pantry items, especially cereal, oatmeal, fruit cups, tuna, corn, tomatoes, and baking goods.
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Join Us for Episcopal 101
October 20
Curious about the Episcopal Church? Whether you're new to the faith or seeking to deepen your understanding, our Episcopal 101 class is the perfect opportunity to explore the rich traditions, beliefs, and practices of our community. This engaging series will cover the history of the Episcopal Church, its role in the wider Anglican Communion, and the significance of our liturgy and sacraments. Led by our Rector, Bill, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow seekers, learn about our core values, and find out how you can become an active participant in our church family. This Sunday, October 20th at 9:15 in Parish Hall Classroom 109. All are welcome—bring your curiosity and an open heart!
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An Unexpected Guide
to Human Nature & Happiness
Beginning Sunday morning October 27
Join the Rev. John Porter and Rev. Dr. Bill Murray as they lead conversations filled with quotes and ideas from thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, the French Enlightenment as well as Jesus, the prophets, and a long line of Christian thinkers.
Each session promises moments of insight, reflection, and humor on the human need to be happy. How do we work together? What do I owe my neighbor and myself? What do we do when they drive us crazy? What do we want in this life or the next? How does all of this work as individuals, as a community, and with our faith?
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Third Friday: Men of HI
October 19
Enjoy warm hospitality, engaging discussions, and a fresh sausage and biscuit breakfast. Come for the conversation and stay for the fellowship. 7:30 AM in the Frost Youth Center.
Contact Charles Crosby | charles@corepm.net
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Reading Connections
October 21
Readings Connections is the women’s book club!
The book for October is Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr. Join us at 6:00-7:30 PM in the conference room.
Contact Kathie Larkin | kathie.larkin@retired.paceacademy.org
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Thanksgiving Food Drive for Emmaus House
October 21-November 21
Emmaus House believes the holidays together is an important factor in maintaining family ties. With your help, we will help families in need enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We seek donations of bags filled with customary holiday side items. Please pick up a reuseable bag, with the list of requested items. Drop off filled bags between October 21st through November 21st.
If you are able to help drop off bags to Emmaus House, please sign up below.
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Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat
October 27th
Join us after 10:15 worship for an exciting Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat! Children and children at heart are invited to wear costumes to Sunday School and worship and then stay after for a Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat where we will enjoy some time of fellowship and celebrate the change of season. Enjoy chili and hotdogs, a petting zoo, train rides, and trunk or treat! We will have a cake completion so bring your favorite fall flavors!
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Trunk or Treat Volunteers
We need you! Sign up to host a trunk for our trunk or treat on October 29th. 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 to host a trunk.
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Men’s Dinner & A Book
November 12, 6:30 PM
The next Men’s Dinner and a Book is Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30 pm and the book is The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann. John Harris is hosting at Jeremy Webber’s house. All men at Holy Innocents are included and invited.
Contact Jeremy Webber | jhwwebber@gmail.com
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Church of the Common Ground
November 17
HI will be packing 80+ lunches for our unhoused brothers and sisters who attend Church of the Common Ground in Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta. Please join us in Parish Hall after the 10:15 AM service to help make sandwiches and assemble lunch bags. An additional part of our outreach is to worship with the men and women of CCG at their 1:00 PM service in Woodruff Park.
Contact Robin Hickey | hickeys5040@gmail.com | churchofthecommonground.org.
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Artist Call for Angels Among Us Exhibition at Ventulett Gallery
Ventulett Gallery is excited to announce an artist call for our upcoming show, Angels Among Us, on display from December 5 to January 13. We are seeking artists interested in showcasing their work alongside featured artist Judie Jacobs and friends. If you are inspired by themes of angels, spirituality, or the divine in everyday life, we encourage you to submit your artwork for consideration.
For more information or to express interest, please contact Caroline Fleming.
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Volunteer with the College Connection Program
The College Connection Program is a wonderful opportunity for our church community to support and encourage our college students during their time away from home. Volunteers in this program are paired with one or two college students and send small care packages three times a year to remind them that they are loved and cared for by their church family. Packages can include anything from gift cards and candy to personal notes of encouragement—whatever you feel will brighten their day.
With 31 college students currently enrolled, we are seeking several more volunteers to ensure each student is covered. Your involvement will make a significant impact and help us continue this important ministry of connection and support! Please contact Megan Atkinson if you would like to get involved.
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Buddy Bags
October 1-25
Our students will be collecting items during the month of October to create buddy bags for our unhoused friends. You can bring your items to church or use our Amazon Wishlist to have them shipped directly. The youth will assemble these bags and distribute them to our church members during the Fall Festival on October 27th to keep in their cars for those in need. You can use the link below to view our Amazon wishlist.
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Children’s Choir
October 20
Rehearsals are ongoing in Sunday School and Children's Chapel and kids can join in any time. We are so excited to give children this opportunity to share their joy. Contact Ms. Renee if you have any questions!
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Youth Halloween Party
October 20
All 6th-12th graders are invited to a special youth group on October 20th from 4:00-7:00 PM. We will enjoy delicious Halloween treats, watch a spooky movie, and play some awesome Halloween games!
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GLOW
November 6, 6:00 – 7:00 PM
Let’s GLOW for November. Kids ages PreK-5th grade are invited to join us for a special time of gratitude. We will talk about our upcoming food service volunteer opportunity, make a craft and play some games. Friends are welcome!
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HI Youth Basketball
November 17
It’s time for some fun with basketball! The Holy Innocents Youth Basketball, season is open for registration! All kids in grades 2-5 are welcome to join us.
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Children’s Service Opportunity
November 20
We are excited to offer a children’s service opportunity this fall! The Children’s Ministry will be serving dinner for 50 students at Agape, which is a local Youth & Family Center that empowers children from under-served families. Agape provides after-school academic support, development programs, and dinner for approximately 200 children every school night throughout the year. We are pleased to be able to join in that effort and allow this great opportunity for children to experience the joy of giving back to our community. Volunteer spots are limited to 15 children 3rd- 5th grade.
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Youth Group
November 24
All 6th-12th graders are invited to youth group on Sunday, November 24th from 4:00-6:00PM. We will enjoy a meal together, learn about gratitude, and play some hilariously awesome Thanksgiving games! You don't want to miss this!
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Click above to watch Stewart's sermon from last Sunday! | |
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Pastoral Notes
If someone is in the hospital, has died, or has some other pastoral emergency, we hope you will contact our clergy directly. Please call the church office at 410-255-4023 and follow the prompts. This will connect you directly with the clergyperson on call for the week.
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
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Warning about email scammers
When you receive an email from a Holy Innocents staff member, please check if the sender's email address ends with 'holyinnocents.org'. If it does not, it is likely not from us. Unfortunately, some individuals are attempting to scam various church members, posing as clergy and requesting gift cards. We never ask for money in this way. If someone claiming to be Bill, Stewart, Ruth, or another staff member contacts you, please let us know immediately. Report the email, block the sender, and delete the message. If you have any doubts, please give us a call.
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