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Bishop Search Committee Appointed
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Georgia has appointed a Bishop Search Committee chaired by the Rev. Joy Fisher. Over the next several months, the Search Committee will work on the search materials and the nomination process for candidates who will be considered in the vote for the Eleventh Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia at the diocesan convention in November 2019.
Below is a complete list of the members of the Bishop Search Committee:
Albany Convocation
Clergy - The Rev. Tar Drazdowski
Lay - Mr. Bardin Hooks
Augusta Convocation
Clergy - The Rev. Billy Alford
Lay - Ms. Cissy Bowden
Central Convocation
Clergy - The Rev. Joy Fisher (Chairperson)
Lay - Dr. Fred Richter
Savannah Convocation
Clergy - The Rev. Kevin Kelly
Lay - Mr. Darrell Naylor-Johnson
Southeastern Convocation
Clergy - The Rev. Tommy Townsend
Lay - Ms. Gladys Lyde
Southwestern Convocation
Clergy - The Rev. Will Brown
Lay - Ms. Lauretta Gibbs-Hadley
The newly formed committee will begin its work with a joint meeting of the Bishop Search Committee and Standing Committee. The Committees will meet together with the search process consultant, the Rev. Canon Rick Callaway, on January 18-19 at the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah.
The Diocese will share more information on this bishop search process as their work progresses.
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This Sunday's Lections
First Sunday after the Epiphany
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Isaiah 43:1-7
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Psalm 29
Go
here for the full text.
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Lowery Called to Auburn, Alabama
The Rev. H. Lee Lowery has accepted a call to serve as the Interim Rector of St. Dunstan's in Auburn, Alabama, with the particular call to assist what had been almost solely a college chaplaincy in becoming more fully a church. Lowery previously served as the Rector of St. Paul's Albany and as the Dean of the Albany Convocation. He grew up in Repton, Alabama and in 1977, graduated from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama with a bachelor's in Speech and Drama. He received his Master of Divinity from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1990. He served churches in Alabama and Utah and then as the church planter for the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Alabaster, Alabama, prior to moving to Georgia.
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Click the image for The Good Book Club - Week 1 on YouTube.
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Join Bible Study with the Bishop
The Good Book Study with Bishop Scott Anson Benhase continues on Wednesdays, 10:30 to 11:30, live on Facebook through February 20. A copy of this week's session can be found on Facebook and on YouTube
.
For more information on the series, go
here
.
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St. Matthew's Hosts MLK Day Events
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| Marchers gather in front of St. Matthew's Church following an earlier MLK observance. |
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia has a float in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Day Parade in Savannah, GA, on Monday, January 21, 2019. The Diocese has participated since the event's inception in 1985. Participation in the event includes (1) marching in the parade with a float dedicated to the Diocese of Georgia, (2) holding a service of Holy Eucharist after the march at St. Matthew's Church, and (3) hosting a concluding reception with a light lunch in St. Matthew's Parish Hall. All are welcome to participate in these events.
The parade begins promptly at 10 AM from East Broad Street and East Liberty Street. The Diocese of Georgia's float and marchers will be somewhere in the vicinity of the East Broad Street Elementary School (400 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401) in the "middle of the pack." The float will have signs on it and, weather permitting, live musicians to lead those who march in song. For a detailed map of the parade route, go to
https://www.mlkingsavannah.com/blog/parade-route.
Try to gather there no later than 9:30 AM. Dress appropriately for the weather since the march takes at least one hour. It is difficult to park near the starting point so plan to walk or arrange to be dropped off. Some St. Matthew's parishioners may be able to shuttle people from the church parking lot to the parade starting point.
The parade concludes in front of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415 with a Holy Eucharist following directly, between 11 and 11:30AM. Immediately following worship, a reception will be held in the St. Matthew's Parish Hall. Those unable to join the march are still welcome to come to worship and the reception.
For up to date information, see the Facebook event. For more information, contact the Rev. Guilermo Arboleda at FrGAA@StMattSav.org.
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Mockingbird Ministries Director Comes to Georgia
Christ Church Valdosta will welcome David Zahl, Director of Mockingbird Ministries and editor in chief of the Mockingbird Blog, right, on February 2nd & 3rd.
Mockingbird is a ministry that seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways with the conviction that none of us ever move beyond our need to hear the basic good news of God's Grace. Founded in 2007 to reach out to young adults in Manhattan, the ministry has expanded its scope, while keeping a special emphasis on those who considered themselves to have been "burned by the Church."
Zahl's first book, A Mess of Help: From the Crucified Soul of Rock N' Roll, appeared in 2014. Most recently, David co-authored Law and Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints) with Will McDavid and Ethan Richardson.
A 2001 graduate of Georgetown University, Zahl worked for several years as a youth minister in New England. Today Zahl and his wife Cate reside in Charlottesville, VA with their three boys, where David also serves on th
e staff of Christ Episcopal Church.
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From the Canon for Children and Youth
Creativity at the Heart of God
Have you ever seen a child focusing on something intensely? I don't mean trying to complete a task that someone else has given them, but choosing to focus on a goal that arises from within them. Their goal may or not make sense to the people around them, but they ch
oose to pursue it in such a way that they lose track of the world around them, and in that moment, they may even lose their own sense of self. In that moment of focus, I believe our children touch the heart of God, that creative force of Love in whose image we are made.
As an adult, we cannot force children toward self-directed creativity. We cannot order them to stack blocks, or draw pictures, or make paper hats or anything else without those activities becoming externally imposed. And in that moment of external suggestion, or imposition, something of the internal impulse toward creativity is lost. But part of our task is to provide space and structure so that such internally motivated creation can take place. We may provide a choice of physical materials to work with, but, in this age of distraction, a more important gift may be the gift of time without demands, without a need to prove themselves or amass accomplishments.
In this season of Epiphany God's love, made visible in the Incarnation, continues to shine. And when children, and adults as well, are given the time to stop, to focus, to create, they touch that manifestation of Love.
The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner
Canon for Children and Youth
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Around the Diocese
Soprano Indra Thomas sings at the fifth annual Joy of Christmas: Carols for a Cause concert Sunday, December, 23 at Christ Church, Savannah. A benefit for Emmaus House Feeding Ministry, the festive evening of music drew an audience of over 400 and raised more than $7000 to feed the homeless. The brainchild of Timothy Hall, Organist/Choirmaster at Christ Church, the yearly concert is a blend of local talent, including Savannah Children's Choir, Savannah Brass Quintet and Christ Church Parish Choir, alongside internationally acclaimed musicians. The audience plays a key role, and they get to experience not only the joy of singing, but also the joy of giving.
The Rev. Charles Todd hands candles to those Baptized on Epiphany at the Collegiate Church of St. Paul, Savannah.
An Epiphany Pageant at St. Thomas Isle of Hope, Savannah.
The Magi at St. Paul's, Augusta, and Epiphany, Savannah.
St. Michael's Waynesboro celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany in the Parish Hall due to an issue with heat in the nave.
Canon Logue preaches on Epiphany at St. Paul's, Albany.
The Rev. Samantha McKean, Deacon, to the right of Bishop Benhase, at the Eucharist following her ordination held at Christ Church, Savannah.
Epiphany celebrated at St. Augustine's, Augusta.
The Convo of Savannah youth was held on Epiphany at St. Thomas' Isle of Hope.
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Happening 101 Scheduled for February 1-3
Happeners in Stuart Hall during Happening #100.
Happening #101 will be held at Honey Creek February 1-3, 2019 and is open to those in grades 10 - 12. Katie Grant from Good Shepherd, Augusta, is the Rector for the upcoming weekend.
Led by teens for teens, during a Happening weekend, participants worship, play, sing, and talk about God's place in their lives. They make new friends who share similar concerns and questions - a reassuring discovery. A teenager who acts as "rector" leads the weekend with the help of a staff consisting mostly of young people. Some staff members give challenging talks, after which there's time for discussion and activity. Together, the staff and participants share in an exploration of the impact of Christian faith in their daily lives. Happeners who attend a weekend for their first time are called "Candidates." To be a Candidate, one must:
1. Have completed the 9th grade and have not begun college.
2. Fill out the application.
Happening costs $101 to attend, and financial assistance is available. For more information, please visit the Georgia Happening
website
.
Click
here
to register for Happening!
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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.
January 6 - 12
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Albany-St. John & St. Mark's , St. Patrick's, and St. Paul's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Albany, the Lutheran Church of Our Savior and St. Teresa Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. James the Apostle (Santiago Apóstol) in Angelina.
January 13 - 19
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Americus, Calvary, and for our ecumenical partners in Americus especially St. Mary's Catholic Church and for St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Plains. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Azua-Reconciliation (La Reconciliación) and St. George (San Jorge).
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Benhase, the Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon for Administration Katie Willoughby, the Rev. Canon Joshua Varner and Director of Communications Anna Iredale will attend the Diocesan Council Meeting, 1-5 PM Saturday at Annunciation, Vidalia. The Bishop will hold a luncheon meeting with the Diocesan Deans and Archdeacon beginning at 11 AM.
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will make his annual visitation to Annunciation, Vidalia, Sunday, January 13th at 10:30 AM. The bishop's
full schedule is available
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
will preside and preach at St. Patrick's, Pooler, this Sunday.
The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner will be attending the Winter Youth Retreat at Honey Creek with approximately 50 teen-agers.
The Rev. David Lemburg, Priest-in-Charge at St. George's Savannah, will serve at the noon, Thursday Eucharist at Diocesan House this week.
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One Last Pageant Photo
A gathering of shepherds, angels and Mary before the Three Kings arrive at St. Paul's Savannah.
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Events
Bishop's Bible Study
Wednesdays 10:30 to 11:30 AM through February 20th
St. Peter's Savannah or online at
Winter Youth Retreat
January 11-13, 2019
Honey Creek
Diocesan Council
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Annunciation, Vidalia
11 AM Deans/Archdeacon Luncheon with Bishop
1-5 PM Council Meeting
Celebration of New Ministry
The Rev. Guillermo Aboledo
St. Matthew's Church
1401 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Savannah
Happening #101
January 31 (for staff) through Sunday, February 3
Staff register
here
,
candidates
here
Honey Creek Retreat Center
CreekFest
February 15-17
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Register
Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee Weekend
March 8-9
Diocesan House, Savannah
Happening #102
Thursday, April 11 (for staff) through Sunday, April 14, 2019
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Diocesan Council
May 17-18
Augusta
Diocesan Youth Mission Trip
July 13-20, 2019
Happening #103
Thursday, August 22 (for staff) through Sunday, August 25
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Diocesan Council
September 13-14
Savannah
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The Diocese of Georgia also has a
YouTube Channel
where you can watch past videos and subscribe to get updates when new videos are posted.
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