The mission statement of the Communications Team is:
Engaging our community and congregation to inform, invite, and inspire participation in the life of The Episcopal Church of the Holy Family.

We strive to keep our parishioners informed and engaged, while also
attracting potential new members from our local community and beyond. To support this mission, we manage the Holy Family website, Facebook page, and weekly newsletter. We also share news, photographs, and announcements through local newspapers and
directories. In collaboration with the Broadcast Team and Parish Life, we ensure that accurate, timely information is shared across all platforms—wherever and whenever it’s needed.

We have nine members: Phil Anderson, Christie Beiring, Loran Davis, Lou Ellen Gibson, John Kirk, Jeannine Krenson, Rosemary Lovelace, Jim Reid, and Richard Smith. We meet monthly via Zoom to review the status of work in progress and develop plans based on the activities of the parish. Anyone interested in joining the Communications Team should contact Team Chair, Rosemary Lovelace.

MARK WINWARD, Incoming Rector

Ordained as a deacon in 1997 (VA); Priest 1998 (VA); Rector 1999-2002 (ME); Navy Chaplain 2001-2024; Joining Holy Family August 1, 2025

• During college, influenced by a professor who had been a student of C.S. Lewis, Mark fell in love with the Episcopal Church, drawn to the centrality of the Eucharist and the beauty of classic Anglican hymns. In addition to living healthfully and practicing mindfulness, he believes the key to a good life is found in Micah 6:8: “doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God.”
• He began his naval career as an active duty officer on surface ships and, over his 38 years of active and reserve service, was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in various Navy, Marine, and Special Operations assignments. He was also an Assistant Professor at the Joint Forces Staff College.
• After Mark received his Master of Divinity degree in 1997, he transferred to the Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps and served as rector in Episcopal churches in Virginia and Maine until he reactivated following the 9/11 attacks. During this time, Fr. Mark felt called to return to active duty as a Navy Chaplain, serving as the Senior Navy Chaplain for the Western Pacific, as well as for the National Security Agency until his retirement last year.
• Fr. Mark is an accomplished sailor, holds an instrument pilot’s license, and has been SCUBA diving since the age of 15. But his true passion is long-distance bicycle touring – riding from San Diego to Texas this past fall – and he hopes to complete the journey in segments to Florida.
• Thirty-eight years ago, he married his beloved bride, KC, and together they have 2 adult sons, Christian and Matthew.

BILL HARKINS, Interim Priest-in-Charge

First served Holy Family as a Postulate in 1999 and will fulfill his commitment as the Interim on July 31, 2025

• An accomplished cook, Bill’s personal favorite meal to make is Eggplant Parmesan, followed by fresh peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.
• The book, The Movie Goer, written by friend Walker Percy, greatly influenced Bill’s decision to change his career path from neuroscience to pursue theology and psychotherapy. He has practiced at the Cathedral Counseling Center since 2003 and was on the faculty of Columbia Seminary for 24 years, teaching pastoral psychotherapy.
• Bill runs, on average, around 40 miles per week, enjoying the wooded trails and even marathons. This year he will run the Peachtree Road Race for the 49th consecutive year – running in memory of a dear friend!
• His earliest memories include admiring the dangling mobile from his crib, his first car – a 1967 GTO convertible, and the time he and some classmates “liberated” a large T-rex dinosaur from an abandoned goofy golf and rehomed it on the roof of Sandy Springs High School. Playing wide receiver and defensive halfback in high school and college, he wore jersey #21 in honor of his hero, Roberto Clemente.
• Bill treasures his time with loved ones – married to Vicky for 44 years, 2 sons – Justin and Andrew, and 4 precious grandchildren, as a “pearl of great price”.

BYRON TINDALL, Priest Associate

Licensed Lay Reader (NY 1964); Vicar (Denmark, SC – retired 2006); joined Holy Family in 2007

• Byron’s career has been one of work and ministry together – beginning his long career in ministry as a licensed lay reader for 5 mission churches in 1964; entering a 5-year pilot program for ordination while continuing secular work; and retiring as a full-time City Editor for the Orangeburg Times and Democrat (SC) while serving as a part-time Vicar at Christ Church in Denmark, SC.
• Easter is his favorite liturgical season, because it is “part of what defines us as Christians” and he is partial to choral music composed before 1850. EfM (Education for Ministry) is obviously near and dear to his heart, faithfully mentoring this course for 24 years at Holy Family.
• He is active in the Sons of the American Revolution in the Robert Forsyth Chapter; an amateur radio operator, licensed by the FCC; and an accomplished wood-worker, always surprised by what the interior of the wood holds.
• He and Anne have been married for 62 years and have 3 children, 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren.
• Byron has celebrated 84 birthdays and calls his life fantastic. Chips, dark chocolate, nuts and ice cream, plus a good mystery novel, may be the key to the good life for our beloved priest and friend.

CHRISTIE BEIRING, Parish Administrator
Joined the staff of Holy Family in 2021

• The greatest joys of Christie’s life are her four sons: twins Christian and Cameron (28), Grey (20), and Ian (18).
• During her childhood, Christie lived in India, Uruguay, Spain, Germany, Greece, and Mississippi as her parents worked for the CIA. She graduated high school from TASIS (The American School in Switzerland) in Kississia, Greece and completed her bachelor’s degree in International Business and master’s degree in Spanish and TESOL at MSU, but says the place that has felt most like “home” is Jasper.
• Christie was determined to be a mermaid when she grew up, but her parents were not supportive of that idea.
• She used her language skills to teach Spanish at MS State, the Univ. of S. Alabama, UMS-Wright Preparatory, and locally at Wildwood Christian Academy. She loves writing YA fiction and has self-published one of her YA novels, A Pile of Stones, on Amazon.
• As the Parish Administrator, Christie wears many hats – office management, finance assistant, publications and communications, facility use, and event/calendar scheduling. She is responsible for processing contributions and statements, assisting finance, annual reports for the Diocese, SafeChurch compliance, church membership and service reporting, the Memorial Garden, employee onboarding, assisting various ministries with special tasks such as the annual stewardship campaign and the annual parish meeting, and other projects.

Clergy and Staff

The spotlight shines on two more members of our amazing clergy and staff this week. Hopefully, you will learn something new about each of them and will come to appreciate them even more. Please remember to use one of the notes in the Parish Hall to express your thanks to them.

KATHARINE ARMENTROUT, Deacon (retired)
Ordained as a Deacon in 2004, joined Holy Family in 2006, and retired in 2023.

• Before moving to Big Canoe to be near their children and grandchildren, Katharine and Scott had lived in Baltimore for 40 years.
• She grew up wanting to be a pediatrician, but decided to go to law school after her children were grown, and spent 20 years as an attorney (including 18 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and 5 at the Department of Justice).
• Her favorite part of the liturgical year is Maundy Thursday which is the most tender of nights and Pentecost which is the most joyous of celebrations.
• Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 121:8, “The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in from this time forth for evermore.”
• The part of her work she most enjoys is “being able to share the love of our Lord, trying to make a difference in our community, and listening to the stories of those I encounter in my work.”

JACQUES LEBLANC, Sexton
Sexton (from the medieval Latin word sacristanus meaning “sacred object caretaker”) for Holy Family since 2018.

• He was born in Sulphur, Louisiana and was named after Jacques Cousteau (his mother wanted him to have a French-sounding first name to go with his surname).
• His father was a “ferrier” (a horse shoer) working in Texas, California, Oregon, Washington, and back to Louisiana. Jacques eventually learned to be a blacksmith and metal worker after moving to Georgia.
• Jacques moved to Georgia in 1993, fell in love with all outdoor activities, and got to ride a mountain bike in the 1996 Olympics closing ceremony.
• He developed a passion for cooking (with his Cajun flair) when he opened a restaurant with his uncle Jack in 2005.
• His role as Sexton brings him great pleasure in getting the church ready for Sunday services every week.

Clergy and Staff

During the month of June, the spotlight shines brightly on our incredible Clergy & Staff. Each week we will be highlighting these devoted and dedicated persons who work tirelessly to make sure that our parish is inspired, cared for, informed, safe, and clean, among many other things. It is possible that the only place you see them is robed at church on Sunday mornings or perhaps you may not even know who they are. Each one has led an amazing journey to come to this place in this time and through sharing of their experiences, we hope that you might come to know and appreciate them better. There are notecards in the Parish Hall for you to express your appreciation and offer prayers of thanksgiving for all they do!

THE REV. DR. TED HACKETT, Priest Associate

Ordained in 1965 (Batavia NY); Professor Emeritus from Candler School of Theology (Emory) in church liturgy, history and ministries; joined Holy Family in 2006.

His love for liturgy has produced several Eucharistic prayers which are used often at Holy Family.

“Big Ted” was one of the East Coast’s premier rock-n-roll disc jockeys in the early 1960’s for WKBW in Buffalo, NY.

As a member of the “Concerned Clergy of Atlanta”, Ted served as a guard at Dr. Martin Luther King’s vigil.

Advent is his favorite liturgical season because “it is pregnant with new life.”

Ted was appointed the first director of Episcopal Studies at Candler for his design of the “Supervised Ministry” seminar which combined existing MDiv curriculum with the canonical requirements of The Episcopal Church.

JOHN KING CARTER, Choirmaster & Organist

Choir Director, Organist & Pianist, and Composer; joined Holy Family in 2008.

• John was born in Greenville, Alabama, where his ancestors have lived for 200 years. 
• His first job was as a church organist – while he was still in high school. He would continue his musical education at Birmingham Southern College (majoring in piano) and earning a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Reinhardt College.
• As the choral director of the Canterbury Choristers (Retirement Community), John directed the Gilbert & Sullivan opera, “Trial by Jury”, sung by an ensemble of 80-90 year olds.
• Beside many of the Psalters in the service leaflet, the initials JKC indicate an original arrangement by John.
• During COVID, John creatively utilized various technologies to ensure that music was still integral to the worship experience, thereby initiating Holy Family’s entrance into the virtual world.

CARES

Community Assistance Resources and Emergency Services (CARES) was started in 1997 at Holy Family as a food bank for Pickens County. With leadership from Holy Family parishioners and solid community interest, the organization became a separate, non-profit entity with the current building on Cares Drive in 2006. CARES’ mission is to provide food items, temporary financial assistance, and resource counseling for anyone in need of these services in Pickens County. These necessities serve to improve quality of life and strength of spirit for the recipients and give them hope in God’s world. Basic human needs must be met before people can have the initiative, drive, and hope for a sustainable future.

CARES provides free food boxes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and access to emergency assistance funds for living-related expenses on the first and third Friday mornings of every month. Food deliveries occur for those unable to come to the CARES building. Meats, fruits and vegetables, canned foods, bread, and other items are provided by several local stores, donations, and low-cost food from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. CARES services 1000 client visits per month. Emergency funds distributed range between $5000 and $8000 per month. Resource-contacts at Chattahoochee Tech are provided to those interested in pursuing their GED or job skills.

CARES’ small, service-driven staff and a dedicated group of volunteers contribute around 1100 hours of time monthly. Please let CARES Board of Director members Andy Edwards, Elaine DeNiro, or Vicky Harkins know if you are interested in volunteering or donating.
www.caresforpickens.com

The Hospitality Committee

If there is food involved at Holy Family, the Hospitality Committee is involved. From “Coffee Angels” who host the after-service coffee hour, to committee members who plan Wonderful Wednesdays from May to October in locations around the area, our committee is all about fellowship and fun. Starting with Advent and a Very Merry Advent Coffee, the“Hospitality Committee” decorates the Parish Hall and organizes for food and drinks provided at numerous events and activities such as Epiphany dinners, Lenten potlucks, Easter breakfast, a special Easter Festive Coffee, and Wonderful Wednesdays. In addition to those, we assist other committees with receptions and gatherings throughout the year until we come full-circle to Advent again. The Hospitality committee is always busy being “hospitable” all year long.

In true hospitality fashion, we welcome new committee members. To join the fun, please contact any of the following: Lynn Mayes, Katie Hawkins, Ann Pinner, Anne Tindall, Connie Moore, Melinda Edwards, Susan Rowan, Rosie Crowe, Patricia Stimmel, Debbie Freudenthal, Marlin Ferrell, Sandy Baggett or Martha Power.
We can certainly find a perfect place for YOU!

Lectors and Intercessors

The Lectors and Intercessors serve a very important part of each service at Holy Family. The Lectors read one of the two readings for each service. The readings are read from the ambo and provided to the lector in advance of the service. The Intercessors read the Prayers of the People following the Nicene Creed and are read from the ambo. As with the readings, the Prayers of the People (POP’s)are provided in advance and often need to be revised the day of the service due to additions to the illness list. Both roles are easy and all that is required is the ability to read a document in a public setting. We are always looking for more Lectors and Intercessors. If you have interest in serving as either or both, please contact Head Verger Jim Braley at jim@fleetfeetjohnscreek.com.