Quick Notes | scroll down to read more

• If you have not received the latest monthly Good News newsletter in the mail, you can read it online.
• There are still 2 seats on the bus for the concert tomorrow night.
• The Exploring Holy Innocents class starts Sunday night. 
• The Annual Meeting is January 29. Meet the vestry candidates!
• The Vestry meets Monday night to finalize our 2023 Operating Budget. If you have not yet made a pledge, now is the perfect time. We currently have 221 pledges for $1,269,000. Give and pledge online here. Thank you!
• We received a generous stock donation through Morgan Stanley without the owner's information. Contact Caroline Fleming if you are the donor. 
• If you can join us on the Parish Retreat Feb. 10-12, please register ASAP!

Lift Every Voice and Sing
A hymn or a call to action?

I was on a musician’s social media post that wham-blasted Trinity Wall Street for processing to LEVAS. I followed the post to see who was saying what, especially since we recessed to this at our Sunday morning service on January 15. I asked Dr. Kevin Johnson, Director of the Spelman College Glee Club, about this, and he said he was not aware of any such processional/recessional rule. Additionally, we recess with the Light of Christ to symbolically carry that light (message) out and into the world. It seems fitting that the hymns (first and foremost, text) we sing also carry the same weight, purpose, significance, and responsibility.
 
When I auditioned here three years ago, LEVAS was one of the hymns chosen. I did it but did say there will come a point where something more authentic needs to be explored – the accompaniment in our hymnal’s keyboardist’s version does not seem authentic to the tradition, based on my experience, and I never play what’s written there. January 20, as we join two historic and prominent HBCUs, will certainly change that.
 
Our 150^th anniversary has come to a close but “telling our story” continues. I couldn’t think of a better way to P.S. our anniversary with this event while continuing our story with this important message: Lift Every Voice and Sing. I hope you will join us Friday night.

Sean Vogt, Director of Music

Christian Formation Opportunties
Better Together
The Rector’s Forum in Inglett Hall
Sundays at 9:00 AM 
This week our Vicar Stewart will share the story of how a Lutheran Church in Baltimore sold their building and moved in with his Episcopal Church. Come and hear how it all unfolded, what was challenging and hard and what was fun and surprising. Here's the church's website. https://nativitycomforter.org

Faith and Fiction
Small Conference Room | Sundays, 9:00 AM 
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. Email Ruth with questions.

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. Sign up to come.

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. The candidates for election to the vestry are John Cummings, Hayley Kelly, John Rash and Karla Smith. Bennett Kelly and Lillian Thomas are the candidates for Youth Representatives. See more about them on our website here.

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 $1,269,000 in pledges! Thank you! 

This Week

8:00 AM:  Worship, Christ Chapel
9:00 AM:  Christian Formation
10:15 AM:  Worship, Nave
4:00 PM:  Small Group Sunday Youth Center
5:00 PM:  Exploring HI Class
5:00 PM:  Spanish-speaking Worship, Nave
6:00 PM:  Celtic-style Worship, Christ Chapel