Category: Celebrations of Life

“Feeling Hopeful in Times of Fear”

“Dawning: An Existentialist Easter”

Dr. Jean Heinrich, practicing clinical psychologist and musician, humbled human being:

“I’ve been struggling with how to embrace existentialism and Easter in our pandemic zeitgeist. Like all existentialists, realizing it’s a personal thing, I’ve landed on Dawning.   Dawning, beginning, becoming, actualizing.  Remember Camus’ writing (Return to Tipasa), “In the middle of winter, I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.”  Invincible, a strange word to use in the midst of our virus humbling vulnerability, and yet highlighting the power of the human spirit in our ability, as free agents, to choose kindness, generosity, courage.”

Please tune in to our live-streaming of this spoken-musical word on First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta Facebook page 11:00 EST, Sunday, April 12th.

“The Twists and Turns of a Life”

Ellis Leon Clymore was born on a farm outside of Chelsea, Oklahoma on Nov. 21, 1935. His family moved around a lot before settling in Oklahoma from the 5th grade through 2 years of college. The family became members of the Church of Christ when he was about 12. He went to Church of Christ related colleges in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He met Lou at Harding College, Arkansas. They were married in Sept., 1958 and they left for Zambia, Africa in Dec., 1958. Three children were born in
Lusaka, Zambia. They moved to Malawi and stayed there in evangelistic work for 5 years. They returned to California in 1972. Leon was pastor of the Church of Christ in Riverside, California for 6 years, then resigned and became a computer programmer. They moved to Atlanta in 1979 and have lived here since. Leon went to Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur for 3 years. Then he became a minister/administrator in the Atlanta Union Mission, becoming the founder/director of the recovery program for men at the Mission, having been certified as an addiction counselor. He retired in 2004. Then later began teaching English to immigrants for 8 years, part-time. He fully retired in 2015. He and his wife were members of the Oakhurst Baptist Church for 20 years (Lou still is there). They have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren, all living around the metro Atlanta area (except their son and wife who are living and working in Antigua, an island in the Caribbean.) Leon enjoys reading theology and novels, playing pickleball, exercising, studying Spanish and helping Lou in the garden.

• Facilitator: Robert Stewart
• Musician: Charli Vogt

“Monsters, Saints, and the Space in Between: Changing How We Talk about Violence and Trauma”

Christine Ristaino is a professor at Emory University, where she teaches Italian literature, culture, and language classes. She has co-authored an academic publication entitled Lucrezia Marinella and the “Querelle des Femmes” in Seventeenth-Century Italy through Farleigh Dickinson Press as well as the first edition of a book series called The Italian Virtual Class, which teaches language through cultural acquisition. She currently teaches a creative writing-focused class on Italian memoir, as well as co-teaches a class comparing Italy and China through the medium of food (noodles in particular).

Ristaino is also an Atlanta author whose memoir, All the Silent Spaces, published in July 2019 by She Writes Press, was a 2019 Best Book Awards Finalist in Social Change as well as Women’s Issues. Her book confronts the topics of violence, identity, and discrimination. She writes and publishes articles, essays, OpEds, and non-fiction, and presents her work in various forums throughout the U.S. and abroad. In addition, Ristaino has published articles in the Guardian, Pacific Standard, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, and the Atlanta Journal- Constitution on child advocacy, coping with violence, and topics around diversity. Ristaino participates in efforts around social justice, education reform, and violence prevention. She is an award-winning advisor and teacher and has experience organizing powerful symposiums, seminars, conferences and events. She leads workshops on the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion, privilege, coming to terms with violence through memoir, writing and talking about difficult topics, and creating a public voice.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/43340332955/watch_parties/

• Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
• Musician: Cecil Walker

“Self Soothing and Social Compassion”

Because the First Existentialist Congregation has temporarily suspended our Sunday services, our Celebrations of Life, effective March 13, Franklin has graciously given his talk, “Self Soothing and Social Compassion” on Facebook Live and may be viewed again at: https://www.facebook.com/counselingandcreativecoaching/videos/345366846377505/

Franklin Abbott has been a practicing psychotherapist in Atlanta for nearly forty years. He is also a poet, musician, community organizer and amateur oral historian. His connection to the Congregation and Old Stone Church goes back more than 40 years to early urban radical faery gatherings held in the sanctuary before First E became its steward. He has spoken at First E many times, performed music and poetry there, and coordinated events and memorials.

• Facilitator: M. Charlene Ball
• Musician: William Chelton