Watch Atonement's Pentecost parade

Pentecost Sunday was a particularly grand celebration at the Church of the Atonement in Sandy Springs, and you can watch it in a video slide show produced by Bill Monk, Atonement member and chair of the diocesan Communication Commission. The procession, which started in the parish hall, went down Highpoint Road and then back into the church. Following the liturgy, there was red-velvet cake and punch for everyone, and children distributed Mother's Day cards they made for their moms. Emory Chaplain Ben Anthony, who is filling in for Rector Trawin Malone while he is on sabbatical, led the celebration. Click here to watch the slide show, set to music. photo/Bill Monk

+ TRAVEL GRANT RECIPIENT. The Rev. Dr. Denni Moss, rector of St. Alban's, Elberton, and Church of the Mediator, Washington, has been selected by McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University for a grant to travel to the Holy Land for three weeks in May and June.   The CF Foundation this year will sponsor 20 pastors each from 10 seminaries. In this group are recipients from California, Missouri, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina -- 20 Baptists, two Methodists, one Lutheran, one Presbyterian and one Episcopalian.   
 

The Bible is chock full of activists. In my eyes, Moses, Elijah, Jesus and Paul are all examples of activists working to free an oppressed people. Today, Episcopalians are presented with the opportunity to be activists for the oppressed. Our brothers and sisters living in extreme poverty are oppressed by hunger and disease and trapped by inequality. > more

Acolytes at Trinity, Columbus, pose for a group photo following a special Acolyte Investiture during the May 11 Pentecost celebration. Matt Mueller serves as acolyte master, and Joy Farmer, director of children's ministries, made the highly popular doves and fireballs for the festive occasion. Photo/Debbie McEachern  

MUSIC

+ NESWICK RECITAL. Bruce Neswick will perform his final recital as canon for music at the Cathedral of St. Philip at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at the Cathedral. The program will consist of works by American composers David Hurd and Gerre Hancock. Neswick will become director of music at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City this summer. Immediately following the recital at 4 p.m., the St. Philip Choir of Girls, Boys and Adults will sing the Cathedral's final regular service of Evensong this season, featuring the music of Charles Wood and Gerre Hancock.

St. Thomas, Columbus, will host two performances of the award-winning play "The Laramie Project" Sunday, May 18. Performances are at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the St. Thomas parish hall.

The play focuses on a Wyoming town that discovers the reality of hate and the possibility of redemption in the wake of the brutal murder of a 21-year-old gay student, Matthew Sheppard.  

Written by Moisés Kaufman and directed by Springer Opera House actors Debbie Anderson and Steve Valentini, the play was hailed by Time magazine as one of the "Top Ten Plays of the Year 2000."

The play is rated R for adult content and graphic language. Admission is free; however, due to limited seating tickets must be reserved in advance.   To make a reservation, call the church office at 706-324-4264 or e-mail amynerone@aol.com   

St. Thomas, located at 2100 Hilton Avenue, Columbus, is hosting the event as part of its yearlong jubilee celebration.

+ U.B.E. MEETS. The Union of Black Episcopalians Atlanta Chapter meets at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at Absalom Jones Student Center and Chapel, 807 Fair Street, Atlanta. All are invited to attend.  For additional information, feel free to contact Lane Barnum, 770-730-8177 or lbarnum6@yahoo.com.

+ RETIRED CLERGY LUNCH. Retired presbyters Derwent Suthers and Dennis Smart will display art and photography at the next gathering for retired clergy at noon Wednesday, May 21, at the Cathedral of Philip. Lunch can be purchased at the Cathedral. Information: The Rev. Dwight Ogier, chaplain to retired clergy,dwightogier@bellsouth.net.

+ MIKELL GUEST CAMP. Dates for this year's Guest Camp at Mikell Camp and Conference Center are Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. The weekend is designed for all ages. Click to reserve a space at Guest Camp registration.

+ GOLF TOURNAMENT. Acts 29 Ministries will host a benefit Golf Tournament, Thursday, May 29, beginning with lunch at noon and a 1 p.m. shotgun start at Cobblestone Golf Course in Acworth. All proceeds will underwrite Youthquake, a youth conference for middle school and high school students held annually at Ridgecrest, N.C.  For details go to www.a29.com or call 770-952-2670.  Acts 29 Ministries, which is based in Atlanta, is celebrating 35 years of renewal ministry within the Episcopal Church. 

+ ANTIRACISM TRAINING. The next diocesan-sponsored Antiracism Training will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Cathedral of St. Philip.  Please register with Muriel Diguette in the Bishop's Office, 404-601-5320 or e-mail mdiguette@episcopalatlanta.org. Diguette can answer questions about the training and requirements.

+ AT THE BOOK STORE. May programs for Wednesday Nights at the Cathedral Book Store are:

• May 14    A Tribute to Madeline L'Engle with the Very Rev. Harry Pritchett. A friend and fan, the Very Rev. Harry Pritchett will read from the works of this beloved author and share some of his personal stories about her.   
• May 21    Book Discussion:  "Galileo's Daughter:  a Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love" by Dava Sobel

Programs begin at 7 p.m. Dinner is served in Bishop Child Hall Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. For more information call 404-237-7582 or e-mail  cbs3@mindspring.com.

To make arrangements to donate items, please contact Gini Peterson at ginireid@bellsouth.net or 770-879-0321. To learn if items, which are stored at St. Matthew's, Snellville, are available for an upcoming parish mission trip, please contact Gini. Items should be in good repair and either laundered and ironed or dry cleaned. There has been a specific request from the Diocese of Ecuador Central for banner patterns and instructions, Peterson said. 

+ PILGRIMAGE TO SPAIN. Stan Beecham, a member of St. David's, Roswell, is planning a pilgrimage Sept. 17 - Oct. 2 on Spain's El Camino de Santiago and invites others to join the group.  The Camino de Santiago is an ancient Christian pilgrimage route located in Northern Spain, first walked by the bishop of Le Puy, France, in 961.  For more than 1,000 years, Christians have traced the footsteps of St. James (Santiago). This trip will include 12 days of walking the Camino, averaging 25 kilometers (15 miles) each day.  Cost of the trip is $2,800 and includes all travel (Atlanta to Madrid round-trip, lodging and pre-trip preparation. Pilgrims also will be responsible for the cost of their meals ($20-25 day). To learn more, call Beecham at 770-262-5556 or e-mail: Stan@LeadershipResourceCenter.com.
 

+ CENTERING PRAYER WORKSHOP AND RETREAT. St. Mary's Sewanee and the Rev. Tom Ward will present both a daylong workshop and an eight-day retreat in Centering Prayer. The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 31, for a $35 fee. The retreat, to be led by Ward and the Contemplative Outreach staff, will be from 6 p.m. June 1 to 11 a.m. June 8. Fee is $575, with a few partial scholarships available.  Information: St. Mary's Sewanee: 931-598-5342 http://www.stmaryssewanee.org

+ CONVENT RETREAT DAY. "Living Beyond Stress and Hurt" is the theme for a retreat Saturday, June 7, at the Episcopal Convent of St. Helena in Augusta.  Retreat leader Sister Vernonica says: "When we feel bewildered and perplexed by the worries of this life, hardly knowing what to do or who to turn to, this is the time to grab our buckets and walk to the well like the young Samaritan woman. (There) we meet Jesus with his gift of living water that will satisfy our needs and wants." Information: 706-798-5201, augustaconvent@comcast.net or www.osh.org       

> more 

YOUTH

Episcopalooza!
Young people from throughout the diocese danced the night away May 2 at St. Peter and St. Paul, Marietta. Theme for the annual lock-in was "Episcopalooza: Time After Time." Everyone came dressed in gear from their favorite decade. Photo/Kim Smith