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The Shamrock
April 29, 2015
In This Issue
Children & Youth MInistry
Stephen Ministry
Anam Cara
Parish Happenings
Christian Formation
Outreach
Income Summary
This Week at St. Patrick's

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You will find St. Patrick's is home to families & singles of all ages. We seek God through outward expressions and inward contemplation, finding spirituality on a personal level. We also enjoy our fellowship time together! Join us on any Sunday!


PARISH BIRTHDAYS:

May

1-Jeff Dykes, Scott Perkins, 3-Anne Duncan, 4- Gloria Collins, 5-Anne Keeton, Lizzie Barrett, Isabella Huelsbeck, 7-Julia White, 8-Addi Stephens, 9-Diane Rankin, 10-Rachel Solomon, 11-Kat Rasche, 15-Leigh Cooper, 16-James Harter, 19-Tom Nichols, Cathy Sanders, 20-Lorie Tola, Nick Jackson, 21-Pam Williams, 23-Sherri Richards, 24-Elizabeth Sosnowski, Jillian Hall, 25-Wayne Ware, Max Farley, 26-Keith Sanders, 27-Lorraine Cary, 28-Jessica Clark, Valerie Hendrickson, Carli Wright, 31-Dick Game, Robert Solomon, Haley Chapman


Happy birthday!

 

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Stewardship: Pledge cards for the 2015 Operating Budget are available in the office and  you can find a printable pledge card here.
Pledge cards should be returned to the parish office. "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 Cor. 9:7 

 

Want to Join St. Patrick's? Please  email Amanda Vaughn or call her at 770-455-6523 for more information.

 

STAY CONNECTED

Contact us:

The office is open Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The phone number is 770-455-6523.

 

Deadline for submitting news items for The Shamrock and bulletin is noon Tuesdays. Send news and photos to [email protected]. Most news items will run for two weeks. 

 

The Shamrock is published weekly. It is distributed most Wednesdays.

 

All content submitted is subject to editing. 

 

Contact: Amanda Vaughn, Director of Communications, 770-455-6523 or [email protected]

Out and About in the Diocese of Atlanta    
Want to stay current on all the events going on in the Diocese of Atlanta? Click here to sign up for Connecting, the Diocesan email newsletter. Visit their website here.
Children and Youth Ministries

Dear friends,

 

Such excitement and energy is gathering around our Children and Youth Ministries! Our Youth are preparing for their mission trip in Harrisburg, PA in June and plans are well underway for our Adventure Camp in July! I am so very grateful for the many hands and hearts at work among our young people, and particularly for the way our Youth are assuming leadership. You should know that the Youth accounted for the majority of the volunteer force for parking during Lemonade Days, and their efforts resulted in over $5,000 in donations for our new playground!  

 

Even as the Children and Youth Ministries are thriving, we are doing some long term visioning and planning for the future. Over 40 of you participated in the parish assessment by Ministry Architects last month. The results of their work are summarized in a report found here. As you will read, this report confirms what we have suspected: we have a solid foundation on which to build a sustainable program-and we have some work to do!

 

While we probably will not implement every one of the recommendations in the report, it does provide broad and useful guidance on how we discern the best path for St. Patrick's.

 

One of the centerpieces of the recommendations to us is the establishment of a Children and Youth Ministries Renovation Team, made up of five volunteers who will work with Sarah Fisher. The Team will address the immediate pressure points facing the ministries, while discerning and implementing strategic, long-term changes.  

 

I am thrilled to report that Cowen Harter has agreed to serve as Chair of the Renovation Team and is in the process of inviting others to join the Team. 

This is important, holy work for the present and our future, and I so appreciate your prayers and support of the Team and our Children and Youth Ministries.  

Stay tuned for updates throughout the summer.

 

Peace,

D+

 

 


Stephen Ministry   

St. Patrick's Stephen Ministers at the Atlanta Stephen Ministry 4th Annual Meeting April 25.
 

What are these women doing? Why did they give up their Saturday morning to meet with other Stephen Ministers at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church? To get continuing education pertinent to the ministry's work: to listen in Christ.

 

Stephen Ministry is a ministry of Presence. We are spiritual companions in hard times. We listen non-judgmentally. We seek to embody Christian love for those in distress. We pray. We focus trained, loving attention on our care receivers.

 

Stephen Ministers are carefully trained to listen, especially about such human trials as the death of a loved one, job loss, illness, and other sources of human distress. We participate in continuous training in order to be able to understand particular sources of distress more completely.

 

This past Saturday's training offered a keynote address from Rev. Scott Uzzel, Crossroads Hospice Chaplin entitled Visualizing Joy - Discovering Joy Through Faith and Imagery. The breakout sessions were Ministering to Those in Long-Term Dementia Care, Conquering Divorce With God, and Addiction and the Brain - How Stephen Ministers Can Help.

 

Because we went to the Atlanta Stephen Ministry Meeting, we understand these sources of distress a little better. Yes, we had a minister at each of the breakout sessions. That makes the quality of Christian support the Stephen Ministers are able to give a little better.

 

Commissioning of Stephen Ministers will be held this Sunday, May 3 at the 10:30 a.m. service. At this time Stephen Ministers rededicate themselves to their ministry of service to the people of this parish  If you are a trained Stephen Minister and would like to join us in service for the upcoming year, please contact Anne Duncan (770) 454-9053 or Kathryn Turman at (404) 303-8691  


Anam Cara is Gallic for "Soul Friend." It comes out of the Celtic
tradition of encouraging us to find a spiritual companion who journeys with us on our path of life. Along the way the Anam Cara supports you in your own discernment of the presence and invitations of the Spirit towards healing, towards transformation, towards freedom, towards authenticity and towards service in the goodness and love of God - all grounded in a growing intimacy between you and God. To get more information, email The Rev. Julia Rusling or call her at 770-455-6523.  Click here to read the brochure.

PARISH HAPPENINGS

    

 

 



Closed Sign
Office Closure:
The office will be closed Friday, May 1, as a belated honor of Administrative Professional's Day.

 

 

Multi-Parish Youth Gathering: Youth from St. Aidan's, St. Columba's joined our youth at St. Pat's for pizza, community and fun! Thanks to Wendy Lauber for the great pics! Find more photos here on our flickr page. 

 

Wednesday Night Dinner Program: Join us this Wednesday, for our study series on "Getting to Know our Jewish Cousins". Discussion will be based on the PBS series by Simon Shama, "The Story of the Jews".

Parish Family Dinner is at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall; study at 7:00 p.m. in the Nave.
 

Adult meals are $7, Youth and Children (3-12 years of age) are $5, with a Family Maximum of $20.   Please email Amanda Vaughn to make your dinner reservation by noon the Monday before. Childcare, at no charge, is available by reservation through the church office by the Monday before.

    
The Gathering May 3 at 5:00 p.m.: "Bring your own Gathering." All are invited to bring a short reading. A few of these readings will be selected to share with the group, and these will be the basis of our group reflection. The Gathering is a contemplative and progressive meeting with prayer, poetry, music, guided meditation, and silence, inspired by wisdom traditions, modern Celtic spirituality, and natural spirituality. This is an open invitation to all ages, for anyone who may enjoy an off-center, earthy and experiential approach to gathered spirituality. For news and updates on The Gathering, LIKE us on Facebook. 

Celebrating Graduates: At the 10:30 a.m. service on May 17, we would like to recognize St. Patrick's high school, college, and graduate students who will be graduating this year by listing their names in the bulletin. If you are graduating, or know a St. Patrick's parishioner who is graduating, please send their name to Amanda Vaughn by Tuesday, May 12.

Pentecost Picnic:
May 24 following the 10:30 service  
Come to church in your red, orange and yellow picnic clothes. Parents please bring extra clothes for your children and youth that might take a turn in the DUNK TANK! There will be a moonwalk for the small children and other games for all. We will be eating fried chicken, potato salad, deviled eggs and more. The cost is $7 for adults, $4 for kids, $25 per family maximum. Buy your tickets during Hospitality House starting May 3, and sign up to bring one dozen deviled eggs or a dessert or sodas. This is a great time to invite your friends and neighbors to experience God's richness at St. Patrick's.  It takes many hands doing a little work to pull off a big event like this. Please email Keith Harper and Elaine Judge to offer your help.

  

 

 

 

Stories of the Kingdom Adventure Camp
This is THE summer camp of St. Patrick's!

 

Who: Rising K through Rising 5th Graders

When: July 20 - 24, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., after care available until 5 p.m.   

Cost: FREE - no charge to attend

Click here for printable registration form or pick one up at St. Patrick's.  

 

This year's theme will be on the parables of Jesus. Activities will involve literature, parables, art, discovery, movement, and so much more! Registration and Volunteer information coming soon. The involvement of many hands and hearts supports the camp's blossoming as a ministry of the whole of St. Patrick's.  

 

There are many ways to be involved. We are actively recruiting adult and youth (rising 8th graders and above) volunteers to join the fun. Please speak to Sarah or Julia if you discern a call to join us in this wonderful ministry. 

   

 

 
PARISH RETREAT

 

 

It's time to mark your calendars for our Retreat Weekend this year, August 28 - 30. We will be trying a new venue, just an hour away outside Dahlonega, with good wholesome southern fayre prepared for us on site. Watch this space for program and reservation details over the coming weeks.

 

Name tags: Remember, wear your name tag when you come to St. Patrick's! They're hanging alphabetically on the name tag nametag board. Each Sunday the board can be found in the narthex. Otherwise it lives in the back hallway. If you need a nametag, please email Amanda Vaughn.



CHRISTIAN FORMATION


 

  

  • Nursery (newborn - 4 years old) - 9:00 a.m.
  • Catechesis of the Good Shepherd classes (ages 2 � - 11) in their classrooms.
  • Youth - Rite 13, J2A, and YEA classes meet in their classrooms.
  • Adult Christian Formation -
    Join us for any of these groups:

SCRIPTURE STUDY: PRAYER

Room 8 (Board Room), led by Kathryn Turman

This class is an investigation of what the Scripture has to teach us about prayer.

 

SINGING FOR JOY TOGETHER

Chapel, led by Edie Krakowiak

Now for something completely different: community music making that is inherently spacious, holy, inviting, gentle, creative, dynamic, and not a little mischievous. No musical training needed. This activity is for spiritual pleasure, not performance perfection.

 

PAINTING LOOKING UP 

Art Lab, led by Nancy Dusenberry and Diane Rankin

Do you have fantastic dreams that you'd like to keep as teachers? Memories that you'd like to freeze in time and revisit? We begin with a meditation time to "call up" and focus our chosen images, talk a bit, and sketch. Subsequent weeks are spent producing and resolving. No prior experience needed.

 

DREAMS: LISTENING TO GOD

Library, led by Brenda Marquis and Kendra Yates

The Dream Group provides a safe and sacred space to share dreams and help participants find spiritual fulfillment in them. Participants are also helped to discern what God might be telling them in "God's forgotten language." Every week varies according to who attends and the dream selected for discussion.

 

THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION SERIES

Parlor, led by the Rev. Dick Game

Join us in an atmosphere where everyone's ideas and experiences are shared freely. Each week we participate in a theological reflection on a selected topic of interest, inviting conversation from biblical, cultural/political, societal, and personal perspectives. All are welcome.

 

Adult Christian Formation classes for Easter - Pentecost 2015: Click here to see the full schedule and see which one interests you.  

 


 
OUTREACH


 

 

 

 

 SHINE A LIGHT 


More sandwich making for kids at risk this summer

We had such a great response for this event last year. This year there will be two dates to pack a lunch for kids this summer who are at home, unsupervised and hungry. It is our hope it will prevent the possibility of going to lunch with a pimp because they are hungry. Dates published soon.

 

Posters and Book Marks

SAL will be supplying Malachi with bookmarks with the 800# hotline to be handed out during registration. One side is in English and the other side Spanish. Posters with the national hotline will be placed in the Parish Hall in both English and Spanish. One more step toward Prevention.

 

Malachis web logo
Garden of Eatin' Sign
The Garden of Eatin': Malachi's garden located on the back lawn is ready for spring planting. All we need are cilantro and pole beans to add to the tomatoes and peppers. While u are shopping for your own garden needs, would you buy a flat of cilantro or pole beans for our garden? A flat consists of 8 to 10 plants, and we need one of each. Simply drop off the flat at the garden and we will get them in the ground! Many thanks from us and the Malachi's clients who will harvest and take the vegetables home to their families!
 
Malachi's Closet in Need of Men's Clothing: It's time for spring cleaning - as you clean out your closets, please be mindful that the Malachi's Clothing Closet desperately needs men's clothing (shirts, slacks, jeans, etc). Thanks in advance for helping our guests!

   

 

INCOME SUMMARY

 

 

Actual Income (Adjusted) - YTD*

Budgeted Income - YTD

Year to Date Difference: Actual - Budgeted

Projected Year End Difference
Projected Year End Difference (% of Annual Budget)

$149,669
$149,071
($19,738)
($64,149)
-13.2%

  * : pre-payments of pledge values have been annualized

 

 

 

CALENDAR   

 

 

This Week at St. Patrick's

 

For more detailed information, please check the website. If you are not on the weekly Shamrocks email list and would like to be, please email Amanda Vaughn.    

                                    

Thursday, 4/30

12:30 p.m.          Holy Spirit Prayer Group, Library

8:00 p.m.           The Male Room (AA - Men only), Room 14 

 

Friday, 5/1      

**CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED** 

8:00 p.m.           The Dunwoody North Group (AA), Room 9

 

Saturday, 5/2

9:00 a.m.           Malachi's Mobile Food Pantry 

 

Sunday, 5/3     

8:00 a.m.            Holy Eucharist, Chapel    

9:00 a.m.            CGS and Youth classes

9:15 a.m.            Adult Christian Formation classes 

10:30 a.m.          Holy Eucharist, Nave
12:00 p.m.          Hospitality House, Parish Hall
5:00 p.m.            The Gathering

 

Monday, 5/4        

9:30 a.m.            Tai Chi, Parish Hall

11:00 a.m.          Staff Meeting, Room 1
1:00 p.m.            Centering Prayer, Library 

7:00 p.m.            EfM, Room 8 

7:00 p.m.            Men's Accountability Group, Room 1

8:00 p.m.            AA (open), Room 14

  

Tuesday, 5/5               

6:45 a.m.            Men's Prayer Group, Room 8

10:00 a.m.          Centering Prayer, Library

6:00 p.m.            German Ensemble, Choir Room

 

Wednesday, 5/6             

11:00 a.m.          Malachi's Storehouse, Parish Hall     

12:15 p.m.          Healing and Eucharist Service, Chapel      

6:00 p.m.            Wednesday Parish Family Dinner, Parish Hall

7:00 p.m.            Wednesday Parish Family Series, Nave

 

Thursday, 5/7

12:30 p.m.          Holy Spirit Prayer Group, Library

8:00 p.m.           The Male Room (AA - Men only), Room 14 

 

Friday, 5/8      

8:00 p.m.           The Dunwoody North Group (AA), Room 9

 

Saturday, 5/9

 

Sunday, 5/10      

8:00 a.m.            Holy Eucharist, Chapel    

9:00 a.m.            CGS and Youth classes

9:15 a.m.            Adult Christian Formation classes 

10:30 a.m.          Holy Eucharist, Nave
12:15 p.m.          Stephen Ministry Mtg., Room 8