August 16, 2017
Volume 7, Number 51
Don't miss a once-in-a-lifetime youth event
While others will see the public side of our Presiding Bishop through his passionate preaching at the Revival, teens taking part in a special weekend retreat will be able to sit with him and ask questions, really getting to hear from our denomination's chief pastor.

T
he Diocese is offering a youth weekend for young people in grades 6-12 at Honey Creek where they will explore Bishop Curry's theme "Fearless Faith, Boundless Love" from the perspective of Growth and Renewal. The Presiding Bishop will spend significant time just with our youth on Saturday evening. 

Sunday morning participants will travel to Good Shepherd, Pennick, to participate in the Eucharist to be held in honor of Deaconess Alexander and return to Honey Creek for the Revival on Sunday afternoon, where diocesan youth will be part of the group hosting and leading this much larger event. All parents are encouraged to come to the Revival and pick up their children
afterward.  Because this event is longer than usual, and involves travel expenses, the cost of this event is $150 per person. However, cost should never be an obstacle to attendance! If cost is a concern, please contact the Rev. Joshua Varner, Diocesan Missioner for Youth at  jvarner@gaepiscopal.org . If you would like to apply for scholarship, please go ahead and register to reserve your space, paying only the 1/3 deposit of $50.

In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 45:1-15
Psalm 133
 
Or
 
Isaiah 56:1,6-8
Psalm 67
 
And

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Go  here 
for the full text.
Barron to Lead New Church Plant
The Diocese of Georgia is partnering with the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCA) to start a new church in Grovetown. The Rev. Deacon Thomas Barron accepted Bishop Benhase's call to be the church planter for the new congregation. He will start work October 1. Bishop Benhase said of Deacon Barron: "Thomas is experienced in this ministry. He started a successful community church in Virginia Beach a few years ago. He knows what it takes to do it well. He knows a congregation is built one soul at a time as each is brought together in a vibrant community focused on the Gospel of Jesus."
Grovetown is a small city near Augusta  which has been seeing unprecedented growth in recent years as singles and young families have moved to the area near Fort Gordon. The Army Cyber Operations Center being built now is adding jobs to the already growing base po pulation. Since 2010 the population grew by 49% and is anticipated to grow another 30% in the next five years.

The new church plant effort is supported by a $100,000 anonymous gift to the Campaign for Congregational Development. The Episcopal Church will match that $100,000 through the Church's fund for church start-ups. The ELCA's Southeastern Synod is also  applying for a matching denominational grant to support the new congregation. The Lutheran seminary in Columbia, SC, will use this church plant as a site for field education placements to give their seminarians experience in starting a new congregation.

Barron, once on the ground, will m eet with community leaders, preach in Augusta area Episcopal and ELCA churche s, and network to   develop a core team who will assist him in starting the new church. As the core team develops, he will work with the group to identify an initial signature ministry for the church. The goal for the first 12 months is to develop the core team, begin holding launch team worship, and work toward a launch of public worship by Christmas 2018. 

Barron said,  "I have a passion for connecting with people who are outside of any church, but still curious about the bigger questions of life. I am excited to move to Grovetown and beginning to help people discover the life-giving Good News of Jesus."
Rowell to Chair Honey Creek Commission
Bishop Benhase has appointed the Rev. Becky Rowell as the new Chair of the Honey Creek Commission. In appointing her, the Bishop said: "Becky's experience in leading organizations is superb. She is the right leader for the Honey Creek Commission as it continues to live into its mission as the 'Diocese's Parish Hall'." Rowell is an Associate Rector at Christ Church Frederica. Her professional experience includes serving the Glynn County Board of Commissioners as Human Resources Director, Deputy Emergency Management Director, Assistant County Administrator, with stints as Acting Community Development Director and Acting County Administrator. Rowell follows Joel Coble as Chair of the Commission. Coble had to step down when a work transfer recently moved him outside the Diocese of Georgia. "Joel's energy and enthusiasm for Honey Creek was infectious," said Bishop Benhase. "All of us will miss his leadership on the Commission."
Stewardship Training in Every Convocation
Bishop Benhase is working with a team to bring stewardship training to all six convocations of the Diocese of Georgia. While vestries should become involved in this training, any member of the congregation may also take part in these three-hour sessions.

Once trained, members of parishes have the skills to build money, vision, and people--the three great resources of any church's mission. Success in carrying out this Project Resource 2.0 training will require each parish to have both a clear external purpose in its programs and a clear internal vision of its Christian faith. Purpose and vision, combined with increased congregational dialog and communication, will encourage success as Project Resource 2.0 is implemented.

You do not need to attend the training in your convocation if another date and location better fit your schedule. Follow the links below to register:

August 26
Central Convocation
Annunciation, Vidalia
Sign up  here. 

October 28
Albany Convocation
St. Paul's Albany
Sign up here.
September 9
Savannah Convocation
St. George's Savannah
Sign up here.
January 20
Southeast Convocation
St. Mark's Brunswick
Sign up here.

October 21
Augusta Convocation
Holy Comforter, Martinez
Sign up here.
February 3
Southwest Convocation
St. James Quitman
Sign up here.
Diocese Seeks Office Administrator
The Diocese of Georgia seeks a motivated individual to serve as its office administrator. This position requires a courteous and competent individual with strong communication skills, experience managing office and IT operations, events, and databases, and the ability to thrive in a self-directed environment.

Located on Bay Street in Savannah, the Diocese supports over 68 congregations and ministries across the state. Given the fast-paced nature of our work, the Diocese is looking for an individual that can help continue to advance and improve our work and ministry to our community. 

For a full job description, please go  here.

Please direct any questions or applications to 
Canon Katie Willoughby at   

Georgia Southern Ministry Center Remodeled
This summer, our Episcopal Campus Ministry at Georgia Southern University remodeled our house to better accommodate more students taking part in events. The changes included making a wider opening to the living room and renovating St. Monnica's Chapel, as well as freshening up with a new coat of paint. On August 15, our Missioner, the Rev. Charles Todd, kicked off the school year with a celebration of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the remodeled chapel with a meal following. The group meets weekly on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. "If anyone has students attending Georgia Southern, we would love to have them join us," said Todd. He can be reached at frcharlese@stpaulsavannah.org.

  
The Living Room area during and after renovations.

Students work on refreshing the exterior.
St. John and St. Mark, Albany
Church Hosts Ecumenical Prayer Vigil
St. John and St. Mark's Church in Albany hosted an ecumenical prayer vigil Tuesday night to bring the community together to pray following the  violent acts from the Charlottesville rally. Those attending included people from a variety of denominations and persons with no church at all. Gabriel Lawrence, coordinator, wanted people to be able to come together, "When one of us is hurting, when 10 of us are hurting, when a whole race of people in this country are systematically oppressed, we are all oppressed," Lawrence said.
  
The Rev. Johnny Tuttle offered a homily reflecting on the Gospel for evening prayer for the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin (John 19:23-27) focusing on Mary's presence with the Crucified One despite the absence of the 11 disciples. Mary manifests the fidelity of the church's call to be with, on the side of, and alongside, and lamenting the crucified ones in our day. In doing so a new family is created, there is a new creation. Tuttle sent the congregation out with the challenge that while prayer is a beautiful place to start, we can't stop there. He said, "The work of dismantling racism and white supremacy takes boots on the ground and skin in  the game."

Local news media covered the prayer vigil, sharing the message of love overcoming hatred. The single congregation emerged from the 1994 Albany flood, following which the traditionally African-American church, St. John's, merged with the largely white congregation of St. Mark's to form a united church within the building of St. Mark's. 
Around the Diocese


The Rev. Michael Chaney, Deacon Geri Nelson, and Lynn Wright attend a Candlelight Vigil in Savannah to honor Heather Heyer, killed in Charlottesville, and two Virginia State Troopers, Jay Cullen and Berke Bates, killed in a helicopter crash associated with the protests. 


St. Athanasius Brunswick distributes clothes and food in their Parish Hall.


The Rev. George Muir blesses students and teachers at St. Paul's Augusta.


Bradley Varnell completed his summer internship at St. George's Savannah this past Sunday. He is pictured above with the Rev. Jim Parker and his parents, Stephen and Gina Varnell. Bradley is a Master of Divinity seminarian at Duke Divinity School whose internship was a summer program of Columba House Savannah.
The Loose Canon
St. Luke's Rincon Creates Cardboard Testimonial
The video above is one the Rev. David Rose worked with parishioners of St. Luke's Rincon to create. The exercise is simple and profound. On one side of a piece of cardboard or poster paper, write about what you experienced without God and a church home and on the other name how your life is better because of your faith in Jesus. Then walk up, show first one side and then the other. In a brief video you see the many ways lives are transformed for good by the Gospel.

A video like this is, of course, an effective way for parishioners to learn something about each others stories. More importantly, the video can then be shared by parishioners on Facebook and other social media so that friends, family, and co-workers can see the positive impact their walk in Christ has had on their lives. This makes it possible for those of us who might not be comfortable talking about our faith to share what God has done for us with others.

Peace,
Frank

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary
Prayers for Weekly Liturgies
Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic. The 52 weekly prayers are available in one document  found here. 

August 13-19
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Sandersville, Grace Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Sandersville, especially St. William Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in San Francisco de Macorís, especially El Buen Samaritano  ( The Good Samaritan) and  Jesús Nazareno (Jesus the Nazarene).

August 20-26
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially Christ Church, the Mother Church of Georgia. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Ascension Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the Church of San Pablo y San Lucas (St. Paul and St. Luke) in San Isidro. 
Diocesan Office Update and News  

Bishop Benhase's schedule is available  here.

Your diocesan staff is hard at work on the details of the event so that the Revival will be an event to remember, while working on details for the diocesan convention.

The Rev. David Lemburg will officiate at the Thursday service in the Chapel of St. George at Diocesan House which will begin at 11:45 AM tomorrow only.
Share your news in From the Field
Send your news, events and photos to   so we can feature them in upcoming issues of From the Field. Deadline for submissions each week is Monday at 4:30 PM.  
Ready for a blessing

A parishioner at Good Shepherd Augusta stands ready for the Eucharist, during which the priests blessed backpacks and school supplies. 
Events

Deacons School
3 PM Friday, August 25 to Saturday, August 26 at 1 PM
Honey Creek
Go here to register

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase

August 26, 9:30 AM to noon
Annunciation, Vidalia
Register  
here
 

Retirement Party for Vicki Schuster
September 1 from 4:30-7 PM
The Charles H. Morris Center, 10 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401
Click here to register, so that we have a head count for the event

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
September 9, 9:30 AM to noon
St. George's, Savannah
Register  here.
 
Revival: Boundless Love Fearless Faith
September 17
10 AM Service at Good Shepherd Pennick
3 PM Revival at Honey Creek with Fellowship beginning at 2 PM
For more information, go here: www.EpiscopalRevivalinGeorgia2017.org
 
Fall Clergy Conference
September 17-19
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Cursillo #123
October 12-15
Honey Creek Retreat Center
For more information, go here.

Diocesan Council
October 20
Location TBA

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 21, 9:30 AM to noon
Holy Comforter Martinez
Register  here.

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 28, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Paul's, Albany
Register 
here.
 

Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee Meeting
1:30 PM Friday, November 3 until noon Saturday, November 4
Trinity Church, Statesboro

Diocesan Convention
November 9-11
Christ the King Church, Valdosta

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
January 20, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Mark's, Brunswick 
Register here.

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
February 3, 9:30 AM to noon
Christ Church, Valdosta
Register here.
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Events

Deacons School
3 PM Friday, August 25 to Saturday, August 26 at 1 PM
Honey Creek
Go here to register

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase

August 26, 9:30 AM to noon
Annunciation, Vidalia
Register  
here
 

Retirement Party for Vicki Schuster
September 1 from 4:30-7 PM
The Charles H. Morris Center, 10 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401
Click here to register, so that we have a head count for the event

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
September 9, 9:30 AM to noon
St. George's, Savannah
Register  here.
 
Revival: Boundless Love Fearless Faith
September 17
10 AM Service at Good Shepherd Pennick
3 PM Revival at Honey Creek with Fellowship beginning at 2 PM
For more information, go here: www.EpiscopalRevivalinGeorgia2017.org
 
Fall Clergy Conference
September 17-19
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Cursillo #123
October 12-15
Honey Creek Retreat Center
For more information, go here.

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase

October 21, 9:30 AM to noon
Holy Comforter Martinez
Register  here.

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 28, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Paul's, Albany
Register 
here.
 

Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee Meeting
1:30 PM Friday, November 3 until noon Saturday, November 4
Trinity Church, Statesboro

Diocesan Convention
November 9-11
Christ the King Church, Valdosta

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
January 20, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Mark's, Brunswick 
Register here.

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
February 3, 9:30 AM to noon
Location to be determined
Register here.