HI-Lights | Pastoral Note & A Guest Preacher this Sunday!

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This Week

8:00 AM: Worship, Christ Chapel
8:45 AM: Donuts provided by the Women of Holy Innocents
9:00 AM: Christian Formations
10:15 AM: Worship, Nave
5:00 PM: Spanish-speaking Worship, Nave
6:00 PM: Celtic-style Worship, Christ Chapel

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Funeral Notice

A reception follows in Bishop Commons.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to
either of the churches Harmony loved and called home,
Holy Innocents Episcopal Church or St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

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ATTENTION... The Church received a stock donation through Morgan Stanley without the owner's information. Please contact Caroline Fleming if you are the donor.

Renee's Reflection
For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

Happy Epiphany! I love the seasons of the church and I find great meaning in moving through the seasons and making it a special point to teach my own kids and all the kids at Church that these are the reasons we do the things we do. I love to tell kids that the origin of our word “holiday” is “Holy Day” and that all the fun and flair that modern society has added to our celebrations is because the sacredness of our Holy Day was so important, to begin with. It is human nature to want to create and expand upon the things that are special to us.

During Epiphany, we pay special attention to the various manifestations of the divinity of Christ. First with the Magi coming to worship Jesus as a young child, then with the Baptism of our Lord, and Jesus’ first miracle. In these stories, we see dramatically that Jesus is God. God is revealed to us through Jesus because Jesus is God. Then we carry this presence, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” around in “jars of clay,” our fragile human bodies, as a reminder that we are not the source. If we are not the source then we have to keep working to carry this light. During Epiphany, I invite you to consider the many offerings of Holy Innocents for children and adults to continue to be formed into the image of Christ. Beginning tonight with children at GLOW where we will make sleds and talk about God’s creativity to the various Bible Studies and formation classes, to the much anticipated Parish Retreat, a time in which we all look forward as a breath of holy renewal in body, mind, and spirit.
With Love in Christ,
Renee Stephens
Assistant Director of
Children's Ministry

Christian Formation Opportunties
Better Together: Churches in Full Communion
The Rector’s Forum | Sundays, 9:00 AM, Jan. 8-Feb. 19
The Episcopal Church has entered into “Full Communion” with six denominations and is talking with several more. The idea is that clergy, bishops, and people can move interchangeably between these denominations. As the Rev. Stewart Lucas discovered in Baltimore, Lutherans and Episcopalians have much more in common than you might think. Join us and the Lutheran Bishop of the Southeastern Synod, Kevin Strickland for a fascinating conversation about our church’s present and future.

Faith and Fiction
Dr. Sally Parsonson in the Small Conference Room | Sundays, 9:00 AM Jan. 15-Feb. 19
Join Dr. Sally Parsonson, a long-time English professor at Millsaps College and member of Holy Innocents, as she leads a vibrant discussion on American Short Stories and their relationship to faith and life. The roundtable discussion is open to all. The short stories are shared each week.

Exploring Holy Innocents
The Clergy of Holy Innocents | Sundays, 5:00 PM | 1/22-2/26
Join us at the fireplace in Bishop Commons to explore the rich experience of membership in our faith community. Have you thought about joining the church? Are you already a member of Holy Innocents, or have you never taken that intentional step? Let’s talk about it! This is what we have planned for a Sunday evening 5-week series in Epiphany. 5:00 Conversation with Clergy - 6:00 Celtic Eucharist and Kindling the Light - 6:45 Chili supper. Nursery provided.

Shared Narratives: Wisdom Literature
Rabbi Ron Segal & the Rev. Bill Murray | Wednesdays, March 1-22, 7:00-8:15 PM
Bill and Ron will continue their shared teaching between the communities of Temple Sinai and Holy Innocents’ during Lent. Each week will focus on a different book of Wisdom Literature: Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes. Join us as we share our narrative and seek understanding between our communities.

Better Together, Praying for Christian Unity | January 15-18
The Week of Prayer for Chri stian Unity is annually coordinated by the World Council of Churches each January, between the feasts of St. Peter and St. Paul, January 15-18. Each year we are reminded of our ecumenical partners and Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe.” (John 17.21)

The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland | January 15
We are delighted to welcome The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland, Bishop of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Rector’s Forum this Sunday January 15, 2023, at 9:00 am in Inglett Hall. Our Vicar Stewart met Bishop Strickland through his work in Baltimore when Stewart was the pastor of an Episcopal Church that fully blended with a local Lutheran Church, doubling their congregation. We’ll hear more about Called to Common Mission that established full communion between our denominations and discuss the future for our denominations and the church at large. Bishop Strickland will also preach at the 8:00 & 10:15 am service.

With a heart for justice and advocacy ministry, Bishop Strickland has served on various local and national non-profit boards. Bishop Strickland has been published in several worships and preaching journals and books. In April of 2021, he was inducted into Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Ministers. He and his spouse, Robby, live in West Atlanta, and they are just back from a Holy Land Pilgrimage with the SE Synod.

Lift Every Voice and Sing | January 20
Postponed from the pandemic, this interfaith event will feature a new Spelman College arrangement on “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Dr. Kevin Johnson, Director of the Spelman College Glee Club. We will be joined by multiple choral ensembles for this event, accompanied by gospel instrumentalists. Join us at 7:00 PM at Sisters Chapel, Spelman College.

Bus to Interfaith Martin Luther King Jr Concert
Worried about traffic and getting back and forth to the choir event? Then ride the charter bus with other members of the church. We will park in the church parking lot and leave by 5:20 pm to make it downtown for the 7:00 pm concert at the Sisters’ Chapel. We will then drive everyone home as soon as the concert is over. We need to charge $25 a person to cover some of the costs of renting the buses. Sign up soon- spots are limited!

Women of HI: The Dignity Lens | January 26
Come join the Women of Holy Innocents for dinner and inspiration! Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright will be speaking on "The Dignity Lens: Bridging the Gap between your Hopes and Reality." Don't miss this special opportunity to learn effective strategies for living a more authentic life. The event is on Thursday, January 26th at 6:00 PM in the Bishop Commons. The cost is $25; it includes dinner and a presentation.

Annual Meeting | January 29
Please join your church family at 9:00 AM in Inglett Hall as we review the finances of our ministry, look back at 2022 and forward to our next adventure together.

Annual Parish Retreat | February 10-12
We’ve reserved a spot for you at our Annual Holy Innocents’ Parish Retreat at Amicalola Falls State Park on February 10-12, 2023. This is simply a time of fun, fellowship, rest, worship and renewal together with your church family. There are activities for children and youth as well as the young at heart. What does it mean to have Open Minds and Full Hearts? Join us as we delve deeper into our church’s tag line. Our new Vicar Stewart will coordinate the retreat year with a fun planning team.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper | February 21
On Tuesday, February 21st, our youth group will compete in teams from 6:00-7:30 PM to create the most delicious pancakes possible. Parishioners will taste each team’s pancakes before tipping their favorite batch. The team with the most tips at the end of the night will win an incredible prize! Bacon, eggs, and other breakfast favorites will also be provided to those who register. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children with all proceeds going toward the youth program. Please RSVP by February 17.

La Femme Noire | February 26
The Celebrated Woman is an artistic celebration of African-American women and the artistic contributions they have made to Western classical music. Curated by Jayme Alilaw, soprano, this program highlights poetry, neatly woven together through storytelling. This concert tells the story of Black Girl Magic personified!

Stewardship Update

So far you have generously pledged over $1,851,320 to pay off our capital debt. The interest rate on the loan for building renovations has increased greatly, so principal payments make a big difference. As for our 2023 operating budget, we have over $1,129,510 in pledges!
Thank you!

Please consider pledging here so that we can be Set Free to Serve!