Youth and Children's Survey/Sunday School Registration

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God is Still Planting Seeds - A Word from Meghan

 

Every community of faith experiences seasons of transition. There are seasons of growth,
celebration, uncertainty, and seasons when we find ourselves listening more closely for where
God is leading us next.

St. Margaret's is in one of those seasons. Over the past several months, we have experienced
many changes. Transitions invite us to grieve what has been, give thanks for what we have
shared, and trust that God is still at work among us. Even when the path ahead feels new or
unfamiliar, God continues to guide us, form us, and plant seeds of hope and new life.
It is in that spirit that I want to share some personal news with you.

After nearly two years of prayer, discernment, conversation, interviews, and listening for where
God was leading, I was received in February as a postulant for the diaconate in the Diocese of
Atlanta.

The word "postulant" simply means that the Church has recognized and affirmed my continued
discernment toward ordained ministry. This has not been a journey I have taken alone. It has
been shaped and supported by this community every step of the way.

Many of you know me through my work as Pastoral Assistant for Outreach. The ministry of a
deacon is rooted in much of what we are already doing together—serving our neighbors, seeking
Christ in every person, and remembering that what happens on Sunday morning matters deeply
for how we live the rest of the week.

The next step in this journey will be two years of formation through La Mesa at the Candler
School of Theology at Emory University. This time will include classes, retreats, spiritual
formation, and continued discernment as I prepare for whatever ministry God has ahead.
 

As part of the diocesan formation process, I will also be worshipping with another Episcopal
congregation two Sundays each month. This is an important part of formation and an opportunity
to learn from the many ways God is moving throughout our diocese. I will be sharing more
details soon about which Sundays I will be away and where I will be worshipping so that
everyone has a clear understanding of my schedule.

I also want to be clear about what this means for my ministry here at St. Margaret's: I have no
plans to leave St. Margaret's.

St. Margaret's is my church home. It is where I have served, grown, laughed, cried, and been
formed for ministry for more than ten years. I will continue serving as your Pastoral Assistant for
Outreach and remain deeply committed to the ministry and mission we share together.
 

Discernment is never a solo endeavor. I am deeply grateful for my family, this parish, and all of
the people who have loved, encouraged, and walked alongside me over the last two years.

I am especially grateful to the leadership of this parish for their willingness to allow me the space
and time needed for formation. Their support has been a true gift and a beautiful reflection of St.
Margaret's commitment to nurturing and supporting one another as we all seek to live more fully
into the promises we make in our Baptismal Covenant.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I welcome the
opportunity to talk, listen, and walk through this season together.

While this season has brought change, I believe with my whole heart that God is not finished
with St. Margaret's. God is still planting seeds. New life is still growing. God is still calling
people to serve.

Because remember, friends—God is not elsewhere. We belong to one another. And when it feels
easier to lean out, don't. Lean in.

There is good and holy work still to do together.

May we continue to love our corner of the world—and love it well.

With gratitude for this community and the ministry we share,
Meghan Bennett
Pastoral Assistant for Outreach

 

​​Parish Retreat Update

 

the Spirit gently reminds us that the best plans unfold in God's time, not always our own. After prayerful consideration, we have decided to postpone our Parish Retreat until the spring.

With the original date falling so close to the start of the school year, many of our parish families are navigating the busy rhythms of new schedules, activities, and commitments. We understand that this season can be overwhelming, and we want our retreat to be a time when people can come with open hearts rather than hurried calendars.

We trust that this change offers us an opportunity to listen more closely for where God
is leading our parish. We look forward to sharing our new spring retreat dates as soon as
they are finalized.

 

Thank you for your understanding, your flexibility, and your continued prayers.

 

May God bless each of you during this busy season, and may we all look forward with hope to a meaningful time of renewal together this spring.

 

 

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​St.Margaret's Welcomes Back Mother Angela Shepherd - July 12th-July 26th

 

The Rev. Canon Dr. Angela F. Shepherd was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 1996. In 2018, she accepted a call to St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, becoming the first African American woman to serve as rector in the Diocese of Atlanta. Prior to this call, she shared in a rich and wide-ranging ministry within the Episcopal dioceses of Maryland and Ohio. After a 7.5-year tenure Mother Angela concluded her ministry at St. Bartholomew’s and is prayerfully discerning her next chapter. She is a member of Daughters of the King, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and has one adult daughter. 

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