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Let us give a warm welcome to Karen Juarez, St. David’s new Director of Youth Ministries. Karen is an active member of St. David's Church in Roswell, where she has been attending for 13 years. Growing up in Roswell, Karen has been deeply involved in various church activities, including the youth choir and serving as an acolyte. Recently, she accepted a role in youth ministry, where she looks forward to contributing her passion and experience. Karen cherishes her fondest memories of growing up at St. David's, particularly attending Camp Mikell, VBS and decorating her trunk for Trunk or Treat. She is excited to start her new position and make more memories with the youth at St. David's. Outside of her church involvement, Karen is a dedicated Atlanta Braves fan and enjoys watching and attending their games. As a bilingual member of her community, Karen attends both English and Spanish services, using her knowledge to serve both communities and foster a sense of unity within her congregation.

Saturday, August 17 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Lunch provided) Join us for the annual St. David's Adult Choir Retreat to kick-off the program year! Returning choir members and any who are interested in joining are welcome!! The retreat includes honing your singing technique, leaning new music, and previewing selections for the Fall through the Christmas season. Lunch will be provided. If you are new to the choir, please email Sue Wallace for a time to get together for a quick "vocal orientation" before the retreat (this it NOT an audition). Please join us! Singing in a choir benefits emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. And it's fun! Sue Mitchell-Wallace, Organist and Choir Director Email Sue.

Mentoring a child is one of the most neighborly things St. David’s does. Every Wednesday during the school year, from 2:30-5:00 p.m., our Path to Shine mentors meet with kids from our next door neighbor, Mimosa Elementary. Together, we eat and play and read and learn. Each child is matched one-on-one with the same mentor, so a real bond forms and real progress gets made. Many of our kids have been with us for years and each of them is precious to us. We’re always seeking new full-time mentors, substitute mentors, and snack providers. Path to Shine is actively recruiting new mentors for the 24-25 school year. If you’re available Wednesday afternoons from 2:30-5:00 p.m., and you want a meaningful and fun experience, please contact Patty Ormsby.

Vacation Bible School 2024: Camp Firelight! Monday-Thursday July 8 through July 11! 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. St. David’s invites you to join us in community for Vacation Bible School 2024 Camp Firelight!! VBS "Campers" will explore timeless Bible stories that show how Old and New Testament people trusted God in the face of their own fears and went on to do great things in God’s name. VBS will be Monday-Thursday, July 8-11, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Click Here to register online. Youth and Adult volunteers may also sign up using the same form! Please contact Lauren McClendon or Eliza Isham at vbs@stdavidchurch.org with questions. Preschool Summer Camps 2024 We look forward to welcoming children ages 18 months to 9 years old. New students are welcome–invite your friends! 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Optional Stay‘N’Play available until 2:00 p.m. Sign up for 1, 3. or 5 days per week $45 for one day, $120 for three days, $175 for 5 days per week. Register NOW to save your spot by clicking here. Pay by March 1st. Payment plans are available. Here are the themes by week: June 3-7– Beach June 10-14– Rainbow June 17-21– Nature June 24-29– Winter Wonderland July 15-19– Detective July 22-26– Super Hero's St. David's is convenient to Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, John's Creek, Woodstock, and North Fulton County.

As we love our young adult neighbors who are struggling with illness, join the St. David’s Team for the Team Maggie’s Dream Run. This 5K/10K run/walk supports young adults battling cancer and facing potential infertility. St. David’s has fielded a team in this event in the past several years, but we’d like to increase our participation and support. Information tables will be in the hallway on Sunday, June 2 and June 9. The Event will be held on Saturday, September 14 at 7:30 a.m. It’s a great way to Walk (or Run) in Love and be a better neighbor! Questions? Contact Janet Horton. Click here to learn more about Team Maggie's Team. Click here to register for the Run.

St. David's Children and Family Ministries have a Summer planned of Worship, fellowship, and fun! Nursery Care: While  children of all ages are welcome in our worship services, nursery care for little ones, infants - 4 years, is available from 9:15 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. all Summer. Children's and Youth Ministry will be Marvelous in May and Jammin' in June and July! Sundays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. Children 5 years old through 5th grade check in and out downstairs Jeffords Hall, Grace Classroom. St. David's Youth are welcome to join in and serve for this morning fun! Stay tuned and connected! There will continue to be childcare and fun for children Infants to 5th graders during June and July! Questions? Ideas? Please reach out to Judy Hine, Director of Children's Ministries. We look forward to having you join us this Summer! Worship and Children's Chapel, 10:30 a.m.: Children 5 years-5th grade attend church with their families. Children leave the sanctuary with the Chapel Team for Chapel in Jeffords Classrooms and return around the middle of the service at the Peace. Children 4th-5th grade also serve as acolytes, and children of all ages serve as greeters and assist at the offering. St. David's Youth are valued Chapel Team volunteers! Please join in as you can this summer.

Join the fun of VBS as guides and helpers for 2024 VBS, Camp Firelight! Make a difference today! July 8-11, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.! St. David’s invites you to join us in community for Vacation Bible School 2024 Camp Firelight!! VBS "Campers" will explore timeless Bible stories that show how Old and New Testament people trusted God in the face of their own fears and went on to do great things in God’s name. Click below to register as a youth helper. Please contact Lauren McClendon or Eliza Isham at vbs@stdavidchurch.org with questions.

We’ve had two awesome guest speakers so far this semester. You can tell how well received they were by the Intense expressions and smiles on all the faces. Richard Morris took us to Africa for Black History Month and taught us about the rhythms, drums, and dancing that move us all. For Women’s History Month, Marilyn Schuster introduced us to Georgia O’Keefe and taught us how to paint sunflowers with acrylics. Every week at Path To Shine, we try to find the beauty in every one of the precious Mimosa students entrusted to our care. This mentoring program meets on Wednesdays from 2:30 to 5 and is one of St. David’s favorite ways of being neighborly. It helps kids discover their gifts, build their confidence, and improve their academic skills. In the process, all of us are blessed. We’re always looking for new mentors, substitute mentors, and snack providers. If you want in on the blessings, contact Patty Ormsby at 678-925-1422.

Advent at St. David's Episcopal Church is Roswell is a wonderful, joy filled time as we prepare our hearts for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a season of anticipation and we have several events with which to celebrate . Please take a look at our Advent and Christmas Eve schedule below, and if you would like more information, please feel free to search our "Upcoming Events", or feel free to contact the church office. St. David's invites you to join us as we celebrate!

St. David's has five beautiful Christmas Eve services for you to attend. This year since Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, we will have one morning service to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. If you would like your children to participate in the Pageant, please scroll to the bottom of the page for instructions. St. David's Episcopal Church is convenient to Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, John's Creek, Woodstock, and North Fulton County. We are a like-hearted and diverse community of faith gathered and shaped by Jesus’ abundant love. We are focused on growing deeply and serving passionately, so that we might shine Christ’s light wherever God might call us. We warmly invite you to celebrate the birth of Jesus with us. 10:00 a.m. Advent IV - Holy Communion No Parish Breakfast, Nursery, or Sunday School. 2:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion Family Service with Children's Pageant. Nursery is available. This service will have both traditional and contemporary music. 6:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion en Español Spanish Language Service. 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion Festival Choral Service with no incense. This service will also be live-streamed. 10:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service with Holy Communion High Mass with incense and chanting. Christmas Day Monday, December 25 10:00 a.m. All children are welcome to join in for St. David's Christmas Pageant at the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service! No signups or rehearsals! We will have the costumes, and your child can choose their character! Children 4 years-5th grade can dress as shepherds or angels, and younger children as sheep or other animals! Just arrive a little early for the 4:00 Family Christmas service, come to the Children's Table in the main church hallway, and a volunteer will help you with a costume. Questions? Please contact Judy Hine, Director of Children's Ministries.

The deadline to drop off presents is this Sunday, December 10! North Fulton Community Charities has helped families with holiday assistance for over 30 years and St. David’s will again be supporting the Toyland Shop program which provides toys and gifts to local children in need at the holidays. This program is unique because unwrapped, donated toys are arranged in a toy store format and qualified parents can pick out their child’s holiday gifts. Last year, this annual program served hundreds of families benefitting thousands of children. This holiday assistance relieved the additional financial stress for families living in poverty or from paycheck to paycheck. All the families live in the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, and Roswell. There are two ways to participate. First, gift “stars” are posted in the sanctuary hallway sorted by various categories. Browse the gift categories and select as many stars as you and your family desire. Gifts should be returned to the church on Sunday, November 26th, and Sunday, December 3rd and 10th. They must be turned in by Sunday, December 10th. Second, you can support this effort by making an online donation through the website here. From the online giving page, enter the amount you want to donate, and select “Christmas Families” from the drop-down list. You may also send a check to St. David’s and please add “Christmas Families” in the memo line. If you have any questions, please contact Robert Ward via email here. Thank you for your continued support and for helping St. David's Shine a Brighter Light into the Roswell and North Fulton Communities!

This class has been pushed to January 2024. Are you grieving? St. David’s is starting a new class in January that will meet on Sunday afternoons, called Walking the Mourner’s Path, to help walk with you through your grief. Walking the Mourner’s Path is a Christ-based, spiritually directed 8-week workshop with exercises, reflections, and prayers. It seeks to help participants to get through loss, rather than get over it. This workshop is designed for participants who have experienced loss as recently as a few months ago and those who have been grieving for years. St. David’s parishioners, Toni Cathcart and Ron Bagwell, will facilitate the workshops along with clergy. The only cost to participants is the cost of the workbook which is estimated at $50.00. Scholarships are available to help cover the cost. If you are interested in this workshop, please email The Rev. Michelle Fritch. All interested participants will be contacted before the class begins to ensure the program is right for them. Participants do not need to be a member of St. David's. St. David's believes that relationships come first and all are welcome at the table. If you would like to register, please click here. St David's is convenient to Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, John's Creek, Woodstock, and North Fulton Count. We are a like-hearted and diverse community of faith gathered and shaped by Jesus’ abundant love. We are focused on growing deeply and serving passionately, that we might shine Christ’s light wherever God might call us.

For the first time in several years, St. David's is planning to return back to Honduras for a week of amazing work and relationship-building with the LAMB Institute, one of our international outreach partners! Our trip is scheduled to take place from July 20th - 27th, 2024, and we would love to bring as many St. David's folks as we can! If you are interested in learning more about this trip or already know you want to take part in this opportunity, please fill out the interest form linked below. We will reach out to everyone who fills out the form with more details in the next couple of weeks.

St. David's is committed to being a better neighbor to Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, and North Fulton County and is honored to once again partner with NFCC as their Thanksgiving Dinner Distribution location. This year we are expanding this partnership to also serve as the location for their Warm Coat Program. St. David's is committed to shining the light of God's love into our community and we invite you to walk in love alongside us by donating a coat or food, volunteering your time and energy, or both! Here is how you can support the Warm Coat Drive. Donate a new or gently used winter coat or winter accessories by bringing them to the Church mailbox hallway by Sunday, November 5. All sizes are needed: Infant through Adult. Purchase an item from NFCC's Warm Coat Amazon Wish List. You may see the list here. Volunteer for NFCC to help collect, sort, and distribute coats to families in need in Jeffords Hall, please sign up through NFCC's website, click here. Some lifting may be required. Here is how you can get connected and support the Thanksgiving Meal Distribution. Buy a frozen turkey, chicken, ham, or lasagna and drop them off at the Jeffords Hall Kitchen (side door) on Sunday, October 29, and November 5. Pull around the parking lot and look for the inflatable turkey. Welcome and greet those visiting St. David's in the parking lot as they drop off donations or pick up their dinners and coats! If you are interested in volunteering, please email Shelby Crain here. Volunteer to help receive, sort, and distribute food donations the week of November 6 –11. Sign up using the link here. This year 525 families have registered for the Thanksgiving Meal Program, and 420 have registered for the Warm Coat Drive Program. The need is great, join us as we seek to meet that need as a community.

This past Sunday, the Hispanic Ministry of San David celebrated 20 years of ministry, service, and love. This Spanish language service has faithfully served the communities of Roswell, Alpharetta, John's Creek, Milton, and Woodstock, spreading the hope of Christ and creating a beloved community. Bishop Rob Wright joined us to help celebrate and bless this occasion. Thanks be to God!

All Saints' is one of the major feast holidays of the Episcopal Church, and All Saints’ provides a dedicated day to call to memory those saints who have gone before us. We remember them and their lives and celebrate our continued communion with them through membership and participation in the body of Christ. It is customary here at St. David's to observe All Saints' Day on November 1, and the following Sunday, which will be November 5. There are three All Saints' worship opportunities this year for you to choose from. Memorial Garden All Saints' Day Service - Wednesday, November 1, 11:00 a.m. There will be a service with Holy Communion in the Memorial Garden to honor those who are interred in St. David's Memorial Garden. This service will be immediately followed by a luncheon in Jeffords Hall. Please R.S.V.P. by clicking here. Remembering Together: An All Saints' Intergenerational Service - Wednesday, November 1, 5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Join us in the Grace Hall for a simple service of prayers and candle lighting to remember our loved ones who have died. All are invited to bring a photo to place on the altar in remembrance. Come as you are, all ages are welcome. Bring a friend. All Saints' Sunday- November 5, all services. All Saints' Sunday is the Sunday closest to All Saints' Day when remember loved ones who have died, especially those who have died in the past year. There will be a special bulletin insert for the All Saints' Sunday services on November 5 and we invite you to submit the names of those you would like to remember by using the button below. All names must be submitted by Sunday evening, October 29. If you have trouble with the online form, please contact the church office here.

Wednesday, November 1 5:30 p.m. Church ​Join us in the church of St. David's for a simple service of prayers and candle lighting to remember our loved ones who have died. All are invited to bring a photo to place on the altar in remembrance. Come as you are, all ages are welcome. Bring a friend.

The symbol for the Six Mercies ministry is an anchor. The anchor stands for hope. We founded the ministry based on the six mercies in the Gospel of Matthew – feed the hungry, ransom the captive, bury the dead, shelter the stranger, comfort the sick, and cloth the naked. Each Monday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. we open our doors to those in our community that are in need of assistance. We interview each one on our bridge, determine the need, and try to bring hope to all that come. We serve in teams of two during each time period. We dispense grocery gift cards, Marta cards, toiletry kits, and snack kits. The volunteer determines which items are needed based on the interview. We are looking for more volunteers to help staff this ministry. We are flexible and will work with you on your availability. If you are not able to volunteer on Mondays, we also need volunteers to stuff toiletry and snack kits. You are welcome to join us on Mondays to discern if this Six Mercies is a way you would like to serve. During the month of October, we will have a table in the church hallways at all Sunday morning services. Please stop by to hear more about this ministry and how we are being a better neighbor to those around us. We invite you to come serve – meet new volunteer friends and our neighbors that come. You will not be disappointed!! Contact Jan Georges or Bill Irwin with any questions or to volunteer!

St. David’s has been blessed for over thirty years with beautiful handbells, organized and directed by Eileen Nahser. The handbells had to take a hiatus during Covid, but have been re-organized by Sue Mitchell-Wallace. Several of our former bell ringers have moved away, so we need to add some new faces to our group. Our bell choir rehearses 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings, in the handbell room (the end of the back hall) on the administrative level of Harrison Hall. If you have played handbells, you will know the joy and fun of making music together. If you are new to handbells, you will enjoy learning and making music with our wonderful ringers. Please contact Sue Mitchell-Wallace HERE to join this joyful group. If you have never heard of handbells, this is a little history. The first handbells were simple gourds or shells which were struck with a stick of wood. Eventually, they were crafted from clay, wood, and stone. Small metal bells can be traced back to 3000 BC, and larger bells were present in China before the birth of Christ. Bells sewn to the garments of priests are evidenced in readings from the Old Testament ( recounted in the Book of Exodus). Bells have been part of the Christian liturgy for over 1500 years. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola in Campania, Italy, conceived in 400 AD that a large brass kettle made a resounding din, heard for quite some distance. He hung it above the church and had it struck with a hammer to announce an assembly. By the mid-6th century, monks were casting bells weighing several tons each. These particular bells became so popular that, by the 7th century, bells rang throughout Italy. In the 8th century, the first set of tuned bells (called a peal, and evenly-tuned like the piano) was erected in Croryland Abbey, England. By the 10th century, there were bell towers throughout England. By the 12th century, bells were molded in bell foundries, although churches often cast their own bells in an earthen pit beside the church over which the bell would be hung. Bells, always referred to as “she,” were believed to carry mystical powers and to imbue a town with honor. If a town was conquered, the conquerors would take the bells with them – indicating not only that the town was powerless but also that its liberty had been forfeited. In the Middle Ages, tower bells announced births and deaths, cited victories and defeats, awakened people in the morning, summoned firefighters, heralded the moment when shops should be opened or when it was time to go to market or put the bread in the oven, time to pray, and time to sleep. ​ It was soon observed that the higher the bells were suspended above the ground, the farther away they could be heard. Holland and Belgium, for instance, became famous for the height of their “singing towers” which contained between 23 and 70 tuned bells, called carillons. These sets were played by a single carilloneur, who sat in front of a keyboard of horizontal levers. When the carilloneur pushed down upon a lever with his fist or foot, wires caused the clapper to strike a bell. The Riverside Church in New York City has a 72-bell carillon, which weighs 200 tons, customized after this fashion. ​ The British devised their own mathematical system of ringing tower bells, called change ringing. Instead of one person playing all the bells from a keyboard, a rope hung from each bell and a single change ringer pulled one of the ropes to turn the bell and sound it – one bell, one rope, one person! St. James Episcopal Church in Marietta plays their tower bells in this fashion. The bells were rung in numerical order from highest to lowest. All bells had to be rung once before the order could restart. Each order is called a “change.” There exists no regularly notated music for change ringing. Rather, the music is graphed as a numerical sequence. Change ringing was noisy – it awakened the entire town, even if just for rehearsal – and the ringing hall (many feet below the suspended bells) was neither heated nor air-conditioned. In the 17th century, change ringers invented hand bells for practice. Bell rehearsals became “movable” to match the climate: pubs in winter; and outside in summer. In 1673, The Ancient Society of College Youths was organized for handbell ringers in Great Britain. ​ In 1923, Margaret Shurcliff of Boston founded The Beacon Hill Ringers, the first indigenous handbell choir in America. This led in 1937 to her founding the New England Guild of Handbell Ringers. The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR) was formed in 1954, with Ms. Shurcliff as President. In 2004, AGEHR celebrated 50 years of organization. Being portable, bells have many uses in worship and in making music in many varied ways and places. They have appeared in commercials, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and the Tournament of Roses festivities. Contact Sue Mitchell-Wallace today to begin your handbell adventure!

The 2023 Solar Light for Africa Adult Mission returned to Uganda with the first major 16-member team event since the COVID shutdown. Seven schools were electrified across central and northern Uganda, including the Nancy–Shaunti School for the Deaf in Lira, and several slum schools for the First Lady Janet Museveni in Kampala. Over 2,500 watts were installed to power 115 interior LED lights and 15 exterior security LED floodlights. By our estimation, over 2,500 Ugandan students, ages 5 – 18 years old, are now benefitting from the new lighting. Lighting is important in reducing the fear from which these children often suffer, not just improving the classrooms. We installed security floodlights to light up the exterior of the schools, often lighting up access to the latrines. But many of the young children claim it is to keep the night dancers away. A night dancer is a thief or witch doctor some fear would kidnap children. Above is the entire team in Lira, ready to install solar panels at the Nancy – Shaunti School for the Deaf. The Ugandan Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, is Pictured in the Center. St. David's supports missions abroad and closer to home. We are conveniently located to Roswell, Alpharetta, Milton, Johns Creek, and Woodstock. If you are interested in getting involved and seeing how you can shine a brighter light to those around you, we invite you to join us online or in person!