Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

  • Children follow adults waving streamers over the congregation, as they lead the opening procession into and around the sanctuary during the gathering hymn. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Members of the St. Aidan's Episcopal Church Choir, under the direction of Charles Higgs, open the community Thanksgiving service with a prelude depicting songs of rejoicing. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Father Reginald Simmons of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Alpharetta, delivers a sermon on the theme of “God Will Provide.” His church, along with five other local faith communities, gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church for the ninth annual Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Service. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Ali Mohammed Rashid, 13, a member of the Sunday school program at the Islamic Center of North Fulton, leads the congregation in a moment of intercessory prayer. The Islamic Center’s Imam, Hafiz Asad Khan, also did a reading from the Quran in Arabic during the service. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • St. James United Methodist Church liturgical dancers, Megan Onubogu and Makeda Bryce, accompany the Alpharetta Community Choir, as they sing the traditional spiritual “Down to the River to Pray.” The choir was comprised of vocalists from Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, St. James United Methodist Church and St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • As host of the ninth annual Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Service, Msgr. Dan Stack, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, gives some closing remarks. Photo By Michael Alexander
  • Members of the congregation join hands throughout the church for the final prayer and blessing. Photo By Michael Alexander

Children follow adults waving streamers over the congregation, as they lead the opening procession into and around the sanctuary during the gathering hymn. Photo By Michael Alexander

Alpharetta

Thanksgiving service offers time for collective prayer

Published November 27, 2017

ALPHARETTA—St. Thomas Aquinas Church hosted the ninth annual Alpharetta Community Thanksgiving Service the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 14.

Five other houses of worship participated in the night of prayer, music and messages of unity. Members of Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, The Bahá’í Community of Alpharetta, the Islamic Center of North Fulton, and St. James United Methodist Church joined St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners for the service.

Highlights included a banjo piece by Msgr. Dan Stack, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, a message from Alpharetta Mayor David Belle Isle, and songs presented by the Hispanic Children’s Choir.

Claudia Lopez of Centro Familiar Cristiano read from Isaiah 32, “Justice will bring about peace and the effect of justice will be calm and security forever. My people will live in peaceful country, in secure dwellings and quiet resting places.”

A collection was taken for North Fulton Community Charities.