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We are proud of our rich
liturgical tradition that includes the use of vestments, music,
candles, bells, and incense. While we fall on the "high
church" end liturgically, neither the facilities nor the
people are formal. For example, one is more apt to see casual
clothes at Sunday services than suits and ties. The depth of our
spiritual experience cannot be measured by the unconventionality
of our appearance, and the joy we feel in our worship is evident
even at the most solemn occasions.
St. Bartholomew's was
founded in 1954 and a our 50th Anniversary was celebrated during
2004 with monthly events and a Grand Jubilee Celebration in August, 2004. We currently have approximately 1000 people
worshiping with us on a regular basis. From its earliest
days, this church has had a strong outreach program, being
pioneers in addressing homelessness and other urban problems,
reaching out to people living with AIDS, and cooperating with
people of other faiths. We are a training parish for
Episcopal seminarians at Emory's
Candler School of Theology, home of the Emmanuel
Center of Pastoral Counseling and the Toco
Hills Community Alliance, and share our property with the Anglican
House of Studies and the Nicholas
House Shelter located on our property.
We come together to
celebrate what we believe about life and to be nourished and
renewed for our daily living: in the workplace, at school,
among family and friends, and in times of solitude or
loneliness. Worship is the center of our community's life
together, and the Eucharist is the center of our worship.
Who
was St. Bartholomew?
We know
very little of Bartholomew; even his name is something of a
mystery. Bartholomew is a patronymic meaning “Son of Tolmai.”
He is mentioned only in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and
Luke) but he is generally believed to be the same person as
Nathanael in John’s Gospel.
He is
credited by several reliable historical sources with writing a
gospel, but the Gospel According to Bartholomew is lost today.
Tradition holds that he traveled to India and this is certainly
not inconceivable. He is regarded as the founder of the Church
in Armenia and may have been martyred there. An ancient
tradition maintains that he was flayed alive at Albanopolis,
Armenia, by the authorities as a consequence of his evangelistic
work.
–David
Veal, Saints Galore (Forward Movement Publications, 1996)
 Reminding
us of the story of the saint’s martyrdom is a depiction of
three flaying knives incorporated into one of the altar hangings
and into the St. Bartholomew icon on the wall behind the pulpit.
Also, at the rear of the nave is a carved wooden statue that
recalls a passage from St. John’s Gospel by depicting
Bartholomew standing under a fig tree.
Please come and meet us
and introduce yourself to our family. You can find us at 1790
LaVista Road N.E. in Atlanta, Georgia 30329 (map).
Or call us at 404.634.3336 or
e-mail us. top
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