ABOVE: A pastoral letter from Bishop Wright issued today focuses on an Oct. 22 event designed to bring together people of the diocese to focus on repentance and reconciliation for the sin of racism. Read more here.
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A BLESSING. Bishop Rob Wright delivers a prayer to bless the marriage of the Rev. Cynthia A. Hizer and Margaret Putnam on Sept. 21 at Church of the Epiphany, Atlanta. He is assisted by the Rev. Benno Pattison, rector. Hizer is the parish's senior associate rector. She and her lifelong partner were married Aug. 27 in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Photo: Bill Monk | more photos here > |
+ Bishop Rob Wright today concludes the annual Fall Presbyters Conference at Mikell Camp and Conference Center, Toccoa. Priests of the diocese have participated.
+ Bishop Wright will lead a parish weekend for the people of All Saints', Atlanta, from Friday evening, Oct. 3, through Sunday morning, Oct. 5, at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
+ Assistant Bishop Keith Whitmore will visit St. Mary Magdalene, Columbus, on Sunday, Oct. 5. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. following adult Bible study. All are welcome.
+ Bishop Wright will preside and preach for the Gay Pride Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Atlanta. All are welcome.
+ Assisting Bishop Don Wimberly will visit Church of the Epiphany, Atlanta, on Sunday, Oct. 12. Worship times are 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. The Rev. Benno Pattison is rector. All are welcome.
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HEARTS TO SERVE. A Sept. 13 conference exploring ways for churches to serve people in need drew Bishop Wright (at rear), guest speaker the Rev. Bob Leopold (right) from the Diocese of East Tennessee, Vicky Partin of CVEM in Columbus, who chaired the event, and the Rev. Chad Vaughn, rector of host church St. Bede's. Photo: Bill Monk | more photos here. |
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RESOURCES
Deadline for submitting news items for Connecting is noon Fridays before the next week's publication. Send news and photos to
Please include location address for all events and a web link to the full story.
This newsletter is published biweekly by the Diocese of Atlanta except for occasions involving Thanksgiving, Christmas and the editor's vacation. It is distributed on alternating Tuesday evenings.
Nan Ross, Editor
Office of the Bishop 404-601-5348
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Pastoral letter from Bishop Wright encourages
dismantling racism, taking part in Oct. 22 event
Bishop Rob Wright has issued a pastoral letter on dismantling racism that includes calling Episcopalians in Middle and North Georgia to gather for a Service for Repentance and Reconciliation at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Cathedral of St. Philip.
"The enterprise of dismantling racism as agents of racial reconciliation is the work of all the baptized in every age," he writes in his letter issued today.
This is Wright's first pastoral letter since being ordained bishop nearly two years ago. A pastoral letter is a public letter from a bishop to all members of a diocese. more
108th Council deadlines and reservations are coming due
Key dates are coming up regarding activities at the 108th Annual Council -- Nov. 7-8 at the Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Conference Center.
Also learn about special events planned by the host Marietta Convocation -- pre-council a golf tournament and a Friday Evening Gala, which are open to all people of the diocese.
Send questions to council@episcopalatlanta.org, or view the council website pages here. |
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Bishop Wright to preach at Oct. 9 Pride service
The 26th annual Integrity Atlanta Gay Pride Eucharist will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Atlanta. Bishop Rob Wright will preside and preach at the service, which is open to all. For those who wish to sing in a choir, click for details. more
Renowned choral director to lead Evensong in Marietta
An Evensong service featuring the St. James' Parish Choir directed by Dr. Stan Engebretson of Washington, D.C., is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at St. James' Episcopal Church, Marietta. Engebretson is director of the National Philharmonic Chorale and director of choral studies at George Mason University. All are welcome.
It's October: Time for Blessing of the Animals
Animal blessings to mark the Feast of St. Francis are scheduled throughout the Diocese of Atlanta in the next week or so. Here are a few:
- All pets are invited to a special blessing at St. James' Episcopal Church, Marietta, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4. A procession of animals in the small parking lot is open to everything from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses. Please make sure your pets are caged or leashed.
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Episcopal Priest Rob Wood and Veterinarian Chad Bishop will team up for a blessing of animals Saturday at the Bishop's office.
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St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Milton, will hold its annual Blessing of the Animals from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at North Main Animal Hospital, 562 Main St., Alpharetta. Dr. Chad Bishop, owner of the veterinary practice, will join the Very Rev. Rob Wood of St. Aidan's for the blessing. "We are happy to host this event, and to celebrate what it signifies: our stewardship, as humans, to properly care for all our pets and animals," Bishop said.
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St. Francis Art Center opens Friday in Macon
The grand opening of the new St. Francis' Art Center at St. Francis' Episcopal Church, Macon, features a 6 p.m. reception and an awards ceremony for its first juried art show on Friday, Oct. 3. The show continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Final fall plant sale at Holy Comforter is Saturday
 Seedtime & Harvest Garden and Greenhouse is holding its last plant sale of the season from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Atlanta. October is the best month for planting trees, shrubs, perennial flowers, and fall annuals. There's a great selection of gardenias, crape myrtles, and forsythia; day lilies, iris, cannas, hostas, and heuchera; plus pansies, violas, fall vegetables and herbs. If you are thinking ahead to Christmas, there are amaryllis and unusual indoor plants.
Pride Festival, Parade will have Episcopal presence
Diocese of Atlanta will have a presence at the Pride Festival in Piedmont Park on Oct. 11 and 12. Look for Booth P25, which will be in the purple section near the 12th Street gate to the park. If you want to help staff the diocesan booth, sign up for one or more shifts here. We also will have a contingent marching in the Pride Parade on Sunday, Oct. 12. We will gather in Section D. If you want to carry one of the signs identifying welcoming and affirming parishes, sign up here.
Winder parish celebrates 50th year Oct. 11
A celebration of St. Anthony's (Winder) Episcopal Church's 50 years of ministry in Barrow County will include a festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the church. Come enjoy arts and crafts booths, homemade barbecue, a children's carnival, the Brenau College Gospel Singers, The Side Winders bluegrass band, and "recycled treasures." Proceeds will benefit Camp Mikell and local outreach.
Buy tickets now for Camp Mikell benefit pig roast
Tickets may be purchased now for the second annual Camp Mikell Pig Roast, to be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Alpharetta. There will be food, fun, music and games for all ages. Tickets are $15 per person or $40 per family (kids 3 and under are free). The cost will cover all the food you can eat (vegetarian options available) and nonalcoholic beverages. Please email mikellpigroast@yahoo.com with any questions or if you wish to contribute towards the event by donating supplies or time as a volunteer. Purchase tickets here.
 Retreat on 'Listening to the Land' Oct. 19
The Rev. Hugh Grant of Eastsound, Washington, will lead a retreat on "Listening to the Land: Opening Our Hearts to the Wisdom of the Earth" from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at Amerson House Spirituality Center at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Atlanta. more
Yard sale Oct. 25 at St. Bede's
Bargains, Bangles 'n' Bede's, a 250-family yard sale, runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at St. Bede's Episcopal Church, Atlanta. The sale features household items, toys and games for kids, jewelry, arts and crafts, food, silent auction and great bargains. A children's carnival will be sponsored by St. Bede's Episcopal Day School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All are welcome.
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St. Dunstan's hosts chamber musician Sunday
Bassist and chamber musician Sam Casseday will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Atlanta. Casseday is in his third year of studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and has performed widely. There is no charge for the concert, one of several events celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary.
Classical guitarist performs Sunday at Cathedral
Classical guitarist Michael Nigro performs at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at the Cathedral of St. Philip. A graduate of the University of California and Indiana University, and currently serving as assistant professor of music at Vanguard University, Nigro will perform four pieces.
Organ and piano duets in Marietta Oct. 12
Local musicians Sarah and Eugene Martin will present a concert of organ and piano solos and duets including works by Bach, Franck, Pachelbel, Debussy, Lubeck and more at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at St. Catherine's Episcopal Church in Marietta. more
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PREMIERE BRASS in COVINGTON. Church of the Good Shepherd will feature The Premiere Brass at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. An eclectic program spaning the 19th and 20th centuries will be featured. All are welcome. Suggested donation: $10 or $5 for students. |
Cathedral of St. Philip Recitals | 3:15 p.m. Sundays |
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REGISTERED TO VOTE? The Georgia voter registration deadline is Oct. 6. If you're not registered to vote, you may do so online right now: Click to register. If you are already a registered voter, share this link with any friends and family who may not be registered.
GREAT YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITY. Youth groups are invited to use Trinity Church, Columbus, as a home base for visits to a whitewater rafting center and zip line on the Chattahoochee River. "This is really a perfect youth group overnight trip," said Trinity Rector Tim Graham. "It is fun, affordable, service oriented, and interesting." Four diocesan parishes have sent groups in recent weeks. Hurry, before it gets too cold! For information and a brochure, call Trinity Church, 706-322-5569.
BALLROOM DANCING. St. Paul's, Atlanta, will host its second "Dancing under the Stars" at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at City Ballroom in Atlanta, offering dance lessons, refreshments and a dance party. Beginner and intermediate levels for dancers. Tickets ($25) must be purchased by Oct. 22. For information, write to Tami Boyd, spoc@stpausatl.org.
FREE WEBCASTS FOR CHURCH LEADERS. The October schedule for free webcasts on church leadership is available from the Episcopal Church Foundation. To learn more, click here.
LEARN THE ENNEAGRAM AT KANUGA. The Kanuga Enneagram Conference returns Dec. 4-7 at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to reveal an ancient process of raising consciousness. The conference will introduce concepts of the Enneagram and its impacts on our lives and faith. Attention will be paid to self-reflection and application, body and soul, renewal and transformation. For information, visit
www.kanuga.org/enneagram.
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Who needs to take
Safeguarding God's Children training?
Here's who: All clergy whether stipendiary, non-stipendiary, or otherwise who are engaged in ministry or service to the church; all persons who teach, supervise or assist with supervising children or youth in ministries, programs or activities more often than occasionally. All paid or volunteer Church Personnel whose work regularly takes them throughout the facility or grounds; all persons who provide transportation to children or youth without other adults in the vehicle more than occasionally; all vestry members or members of similar decision making groups who have the authority to approve the creation of ministries, programs or activities for children or youth.
For questions: Please contact the Rev. Deborah Silver, dsilver@episcopalatlanta.org
A training event will be offered in Spanish on Sunday, Nov. 9,
from 3 to 6 p.m. at St. Benedict's Episcopal Church, Smyrna
Protegiendo al Pueblo de Dios / Previniendo el abuso Sexual en la Iglesia with bilingual trainer Claudia Fedarko
Registration: dsilver@episcopalatlanta.org or 404-601-5348
Who needs to take
Safeguarding God's People training?
Here's who: All clergy, church employees, vestry members, lay pastoral care ministers (including Stephen Ministers), spiritual directors, eucharistic visitors, hospital visitors authorized by the church, leaders and facilitators of all adult programs and small group ministries, seminarians, interns and lay chaplains. For questions: Please contact the Rev. Deborah Silver, dsilver@episcopalatlanta.org
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HABITAT PEOPLE. Members of Church of the Common Ground, the diocesan ministry of people who are homeless, paused for a rest after sharing tools and tasks and working side by side with members of St. Anne's, Atlanta, last weekend. St. Anne's is sponsoring a house build for Habitat for Humanity. Photo: Church of the Common Ground
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+ PARISH ADMINISTRATOR for St. Gabriel's, Oakwood
+ PARISH ADMINISTRATOR for Christ Church, Kennesaw
+ FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR (full-time) for St. Anne's Church and Day School, Atlanta |
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