You are cordially invited to attend the College Park Woman’s Club Annual Thanksgiving Eve Service at the College Park 1^st United Methodist Church, 3726 Main Street, on Wednesday, November 26 at 7:00 p.m. The Rev. Jim Pritchett will preach.

As has been announced in church, Beverly Gordy resigned from the Vestry for health reasons. In accordance with the by-laws, the Vestry elected Carl Franzman to fill Beverly’s unexpired term (which expires at the end of 2004). Because Carl will fill a term of less than half a full term, he will be eligible to run again. As we keep Beverly in our prayers, please thank Carl for his willingness to serve.

Our stewardship season lasts all year — every day we are called upon to be good stewards of all the wonderful blessings God has given us. But one part of the year is devoted to making our financial pledge. This is it! Our pledge drive ends November 2, and we will bless the pledges on November 9. If you have not yet pledged, please do so. We need your support, and, more importantly, you need, for your soul’s sake, to make a commitment to God and St. John’s. Parents, talk to your children about pledging. How does the hymn go? “Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to thee.”

On November 7 at 10:00 a.m. the 97^th Council of the Diocese of Atlanta will convene at the Georgia International Convention Center (Salon 4), hosted by the Convocation of Southwest Atlanta (us!). The Highlight will be a presentation by the Long Range Planning Committee Friday morning. Our lay delegates (appointed by the Vestry) are: Robbin Iddins, Georgie White, and Carl Cheely. Please pray for them and council.

Many of you have volunteered to help. Thanks! Everyone is welcome to come observe council and see the display booths.

Start picking up items now for Emmaus House Christmas Stockings. Emmaus House is a ministry of the diocese to underprivileged neighborhoods south of Turner Field. The St. John’s Junior and Senior High Sunday school class invites you to share the holiday season with children helped through Emmaus House. The needs this year are great as families struggle to provide essentials such as food and shelter with little left over for Christmas presents. This year parishes are asked to provide “stockings in a bag.” The St. John’s Sunday school has chosen ages 10 to 12 years old to help. Here are the suggested items:

You may bring items or donate cash and the Sunday school will shop for you.

We will need your donations by December 7^th so that we can get items purchased and ready to “stuff” at our Second Sunday Brunch (and Annual Parish Meeting) on December 14^th.

Celebrate All Saints’ Sunday November 2 as we read the names of the dead, light candles, and (at 10:30) baptize two new brothers into the Body of Christ. “In the eyes of the foolish the righteous seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace.” Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-3.

Departed: Rosa Lynne Morgan McLeod died September 24. Lynne was a lay reader for 40 years and an active member of St. John’s. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

Please add to your directory: Kay Alston Bolton and her children Cecille, Camille and Richard Penson, IV. 781 Sir Charles Drive, Fairburn, GA 30213-1038

770/969-6350

KABartworks2@aol.com

Dear St. John’s Family,

A United Thank Offering Ingathering will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2003. You are invited to count your blessings—those coins you have put in the Blue Box in thanksgiving for large and small daily gifts from God that brighten your life and the lives of those around you.

The power of the Blue Box is unlimited. Your prayers and offerings have built churches and schools, made needed renovations, fed the hungry and clothed the poor. In our area, your offerings have enabled a grant to be given to “The Work of Our Hands” (Bishop Allan’s ministry ).

Please make your check out to St. John’s for United Thank Offering. We need you!! Regular, intentional thanksgiving can make a difference in your life as well as in the lives of those who receive your offering.

Yours in thanksgiving,

Georgie White,

The Cathedral Bookstore, located at St. Philip’s in Buckhead, is a wonderful resource to our Diocese. It’s a great place to browse, shop, visit, and learn. The Bookstore is full of excellent gift ideas for Christians (not just books — music, plaques, cards, jewelry, garden statues, etc.).

Construction at St. Philip’s has adversely affected the Bookstore’s business. Access is now restored from the horseshoe drive in front of the church. In 2004, the Bookstore will be moving to an excellent location on the Cathedral property, but until then, lets keep this rich part of our life together afloat by throwing them some business! If you’ve never been there, you won’t regret the trip!

We had a great Blessing of the Animals and Flea Market on October 4! Thanks to our Parish Life Commission and to the Bargain Shop for all their hard work.

We dedicated a new Gospel Book Cover to Ellie Bott. It is almost as beautiful as her memory.

I’ve been very busy getting ready for Annual Council. Who knew that the Dean had to deal with all these details? As I’m looking at seating charts, etc., I’m asking myself, “For this I went to seminary?” The answer, I think is, “Well, . . . yes.”

I continue to be thankful to Jeanne Condrey (and Dowann Perkins, who has filled in for Jeanne) for filling in during Beverly’s medical leave. Beverly has lots of chemotherapy ahead of her. Keep her in your prayers.

I’m waiting for the “Blessed to be an Episcopalian” bumper stickers to come back from the manufacturer. The people of St. John’s (through my discretionary account but with the approval of the Vestry) are making a gift of them to delegates to council. I feel blessed to be part of a church in which we don’t all have to agree, but we tell the truth. You will all have a chance to get a bumper sticker, and I hope you will proudly display it.

The nominating committee has met, and I am in the process of putting together a slate of candidates for Vestry elections. You will hear more about the candidates in the near future. Our Annual Parish Meeting will be December 14.

St John’s has joined the Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta. The Regional Council is filling the void left by the demise of the Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta. I have often thought of how Christ must weep when we Christians allow our denominational differences to interfere with the outreach work we could engage together, and I want us to be part of this ecumenical effort.

Whatever happens in the Anglican Communion will happen. We’ll be right here doing Christ’s work in College Park.

God bless you.