HI-Lights | Veterans Day, Episcopal Schools Sunday & $$$ update

Stewart's Stewings

Ministry has taken us all over the place this week, so here is a winding tour of what's happening around this terrific campus and beyond.

All Saints' Sunday was simply divine. Thanks to our musicians and all who made it such a powerful service. You can watch it online on Youtube. And check out the Buddy Bags the youth made for us to distribute to those in need!

Monday morning took me to St. Joseph's Hospital for the first time to visit one of you. Thankfully you are home now! But I want to remind you that WE ARE HERE FOR YOU and want to visit you if you are sick. We can't do that if we don't know you're there! If you have a pastoral emergency at any time, please call the church office and follow the prompts. 404-255-4023. You will immediately be connected to clergy who take turns on-call.

We will commission our five Pastoral Care teams on Sunday November 20 at the 10:15 am services. Those include the Prayer Shawl Ministry and Eucharistic Visitors as well as the Community of Hope, a group of lay persons in the parish who have been deeply and thoroughly trained in the care and practice of being a pastor. If you would like to talk or pray with a lay pastoral caregiver, please email Karen Calhoun at CoH@holyinnocents.org. The Intercessory Prayer Team meets on Monday afternoon to lift up your names in prayer. We will also bring back the Laying on of Hands for Healing on November 20.

At our Monday morning staff meeting we celebrated that we have 54 new Facebook Page likes and 28 new Instagram followers just in the last 90 days. This is huge and lines up with many new young families with children who have joined us this fall already. Thanks to Emily for her great work with Social Media.

Ruth and the Welcome Team are planning a Newcomers Dinner at Bill's house on Friday, December 2. Please email Ruth if you don't get your invite in the mail in the next few days. We're glad you're here! Follow us please on FB and Instagram!

Today and tomorrow we are hosting 500 of our siblings from across the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta for the 116 Annual Council meeting. The theme is "I am about to do a new thing!" Thanks to Elaine, Lisa, Jan, Wendy, and Bill for being our delegates and the Altar and Flower Guilds who helped with details.

Finally we invite you to celebrate Episcopal School Sunday this week. Students from Holy Innocents' Episcopal School will join Bill for the Adult Forum at 9:00 am in Inglett Hall. We'll also have special music and young readers at the 10:15 am service.

Hope to see you Sunday!

Stewardship Update
We are excited to share that we are still receiving pledges daily. We are currently over $1.6 million toward our $2 million goal to retire our debt and over $900,000 toward our 2023 Operating Budget. Almost 90% of the church’s budget comes from your gifts. Please take a moment to consider giving both of these efforts. As interest rates climb, our mortgage becomes more and more expensive. Any amount you can give over the next three years will help us to be Set Free to Serve! If you have pledged already, thank you for your support.
If you haven’t pledged yet, please take a moment to show your support by pledging here. If you have questions please contact Caroline Fleming.
Blessings,
The Stewardship Committee

This Sunday
8:00 AM: Worship, Christ Chapel
8:45 AM: Breakfast hosted by the Wisdom Circle, Bishop Commons
9:00 AM: Formation
Adult Forum: HIES Students share what's happening next door, Inglett Hall
Faith and Fiction, Large Conference Room
Children: Sunday School, Parish Hall Classrooms
Youth: Sunday School, Frost Youth Center
10:15 AM: Worship, Nave
5:00 PM: Spanish-speaking Worship, Nave
6:00 PM: Celtic-style Worship, Christ Chapel
All Day: Still Processing, Ventulett Gallery

All Saints Service and Baptism Sunday!

Buddy Bags Update
Last Sunday the HIEC youth assembled enough Buddy Bags to serve 230 of our community friends in Atlanta! Each bag contains essential items such as socks and gloves to help make the upcoming colder months easier. Church members will be able to take a bag this upcoming Sunday to keep in their car and the additional bags will go directly to our friends in Atlanta. Thank you so much to all those who donated items!

Outreach Opportunity: Church of the Common Ground | November 13
We will be packing lunches and attending the Church of the Common Ground worship service on Sunday, November 13. Please join us in the Parish Hall after the 10:15 AM service to help make sandwiches and assemble lunch bags. This is a great opportunity for adults and children to serve our unhoused brothers and sisters. An additional part of our outreach is to worship with the men and women of CCG at their 1:00 PM service. We will leave the church at 12:15 to be downtown by 12:45 and return to Holy Innocents after the service. Please contact Peggy McCurry at pegmccurry@gmail.com if you are interested in attending.

Children: Thanksgiving Service Project | November 13
We are excited to offer a children’s service opportunity this fall! Children are going to be preparing and serving dinner for 65 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 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. We need adult volunteers to help in the preparation, heating and serving of the meal.

Artist Market | November 20
Shop till you drop on November 20! Select your one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts or personal treasures at our artist's market. The market will open at 9:00 AM and will include free coffee and some delicious breakfast purchases. Sales will continue after the 10:15 AM service concludes.
Are you an artist, a crafter, a baker, or a jelly maker? Bring The work of your hands to market. The tables are free and we welcome you to join us. Email rsvp@holyinnocents.org to reserve your spot!

EYC: Trivia Night | November 20
Time to test your skills! The youth group is having a trivia night on Sunday, November 20th for our EYC gathering. All 6th-12th graders are invited to come to compete for some awesome prizes from 4:00-6:00 PM in Frost Youth Center. Friends are welcome, dinner is provided, and the cost is free. So grab your friends and don't forget to RSVP!

Thanksgiving Food Drive for Emmaus House | November 20
Celebrating the holidays together is an important factor in maintaining family ties. Thank you to the 50 HI families who volunteered to fill 50 bags for our siblings at Emmaus House. Please make sure you return them to the information desk by Sunday, November 20.

Youth Advent Fundraiser | November 27
It’s time for our church-wide Advent Fundraiser! Last year we had a blast with live music, great food, and beautiful wreaths. Join us again on November 27 from 9:00-10:00 AM as we celebrate the season and prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ. Our youth will cook you breakfast for $5 online and $10 at the door. Advent wreaths are $15 with all proceeds going directly to the youth group. Please register by November 21!

Celebrating The Rev. John Potter's 40 Years of Ministry at Holy Innocents' | December 4
You are invited to help us honor the faithful, dedicated, and loving ministry of The Rev. John Porter on Sunday, December 4. As we close out our sesquicentennial year, join us for worship at 10:15 to celebrate John’s 56 years of ordained ministry and 40 years at Holy Innocents.

A Royal Visit | December 4
Join us for Formation at 9:00 AM with a visit from one of England's royal composers, Dr. Paul Mealor. In addition to being commissioned to write music for multiple royal occasions across the British royal family, Dr. Mealor is also a professor at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. He will speak on one of his favorite topics: the intersection of faith and music. Seating will be at capacity, as the choir is also attending this talk, so we encourage you to come early.

CAC Adopt a Family for Christmas | December 4
Starting this Sunday, 11/13, you can adopt a child for Christmas by picking up a red envelope containing their wish list at the front desk in Bishop Commons. You are asked to spend about $75-100 per child. Gifts (unwrapped) must be brought to HI by Sunday, December 4th. Contact Doug Peterson | dopete29@gmail.com

St. Nicholas Sunday | December 4
On Sunday, December 4 we will celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas with a special Children's Chapel and then leave our shoes out for a fun treat from St. Nicholas!

Children: Polar Express Christmas Party | December 10
Step onto the Polar Express at Holy Innocents and remember that we all believe! Join us on Saturday, December 10 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a very special Children’s Christmas event! Enjoy hot chocolate, cookie decorating, crafts, playing with snow, Christmas games, and letters to Santa. All Aboard! Cost $20, registration coming soon!
Renee Stephens | rstephens@holyinnocents.org

Lessons and Carols with the Georgia Boy Choir | December 11
Friends of Music is proud to welcome the Georgia Boy Choir this advent season. Please join us for lessons and carols at 7:00 PM on December 11.

Children's Christmas Pageant | December 24
The children have been practicing and are so excited to perform on Christmas Eve! Family, friends, and guests are invited to the pageant and worship at 3:00 PM in the Nave.

Annual Parish Retreat | February 10-12
Each year we get away for fellowship, worship, and fun together at Amicalola Falls. Registration coming soon, but mark your calendars now!

PRAYERS & BIRTHDAYS