March 1, 2022 | Volume 12, No. 9

The Rev. Eric Biddy burned palm crosses to make ashes for Ash Wednesday during the Mardi Gras Party last evening at Saint Paul's in Augusta so that children could watch the ashes being made.

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

If you're ever in Brunswick and looking for good, second hand items, then hello Goodbuy should be your first stop! A ministry of St. Mark's in Brunswick, the store donates to local charities in the Glynn County area. Since its inception in 2011, the group has donated over $1.3 million to 125 local charities and nonprofits. Any money made over the cost of staff and overhead makes its way right back into the community. In 2021 alone, the store was able to distribute more than $210,000.

The store came to a critical point not long after opening - either shut down or invest in a bigger space. The Rev. Alan Akridge, Rector of St. Mark's, said "It works because God makes it work, because it's not for us, it's for others. When you put it in God's hand and do for others, it will all work."

To read more, visit the hello Goodbuy website, or the most recent article from The Brunswick News here.

The 1Book1Diocese for Lent begins this coming week as we read Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans.

Questions for every week of the study

Each week, the group may use the following prompts as an icebreaker:

• How have you seen or experienced God’s love in the previous week?
• Put another away, what has been Godly or what was your moment closest to Christ?

After working through the questions for the week, close with the following questions as time permits:

• What stood out to you in the section you read?
• What reinforced your existing opinions of the Bible and what challenged them?

Week 1 - Discuss the Introduction, The Temple, and Origin Stories

What Bible story do you remember from childhood? Do you see the story differently now?

Rachel names the ways she saw the Bible in her life, as a storybook, a handbook, or answer book, etc. Which of these do you relate to? What differences stood out to you in these two creation stories in “The Temple”—the Babylonian account offered by little Haggai and the biblical one offered by his father?

How have you traditionally understood the nature of the Bible’s creation stories? As scientific, historical accounts? As myths? How does the context of the Babylonian Exile inform understanding?

What are some ways in which you’ve observed the Bible treated as a conversation-ender or a conversation-starter?

The full reading guide can be found here.

As you make plans for a holy Lent, consider a Creation-focused retreat for adults at Honey Creek, led by the Creation Care Commission. The retreat will begin on the evening of Friday, March 25, and end late Saturday afternoon with Eucharist. 

The theme for the retreat is “All Things New,” inspired by Rev. 21:5 (“See, I am making all things new”). Christ’s redemptive work began as an angel announces to Mary that she would give birth to the Savior, and it will be completed in the New Creation when Christ makes all things new. God has graciously invited us who live between these two events to participate by planting seeds that Christ will bring to fruition. Join us as we explore these themes through worship, contemplative prayer and conversation, hands-on activities, and earth art. The retreat will also include fellowship with others in the Diocese of Georgia who are interested in the care of God's Creation, and conversation with Bishop Logue. 

The retreat will be led by Creation Care Commission members Rev. Leeann Culbreath (St. John & St. Mark's, Albany), Rev. Nathan Wilson (St. Paul's, Jesup) and Laura Walker (St. Paul's, Savannah). 

There is no registration fee. Meals (Dinner on Friday, Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday) cost $45. Lodging options include Hunt Cottage (women), Lodge rooms, and camping (with dorm access). Commuter rate is $10 + meals. Weather and gnats permitting, the bulk of the retreat will be centered out of the Ecology Center, near the dock.  Please fill out this form first https://forms.gle/2UHSvEwuZLLUFGFb7 which includes information on completing your registration with Honey Creek. 

Registration is now open for the Diocese of Georgia's new diocesan training school called Leading With Grace. Please sign up to participate by March 4, 2022. To register, click here.

A complete year consists of four weekends, each of which will begin on Friday evening at 5 PM and will finish at 3 PM on Saturday, interspersed with prayer, small and large group discussion and practice. LWG will take place in one year cycles in four different regional centers around the diocese.

• Augusta (St. Augustine’s)
• March 18-19 or 25-26, 2022
• May 13-14, 2022
• August 19-20, 2022
• Savannah (St. Peter’s)
• March 18-19, 2022
• May 13-14, 2022
• August 19-20, 2022
• Western Side of the Diocese 
• St. Annes Tifton on Mar 25-26, 2022
• Christ Church Valdosta on May 20-21, 2022
• St. Paul's Albany, August 26-27, 2022

There will be a final weekend for all participants at to be held at Honey Creek October 21-22, 2022.

The cost per parish team is:

For a team of four the fee is $ 225              

For a team of three the fee is $ 200                  

For a team of two the fee is $ 175                     

For an individual the fee is $125

Those individuals that started CDI and finished only 2 weekends will be given first priority at registration and will owe 50% of the fees above. All fees will be invoiced to respective churches. Please sign up to participate by March 4, 2022. To register, click here.

We’ll consider together, “What does faithful leadership look like

at this moment in the life of the church?”

Bishop Logue with those who were confirmed and recieved at St. Augustine of Canterbury in Augusta on Sunday.

The Rev. Eric Biddy baptizes Mary Thomas Greneker at Saint Paul's in Augusta (left), and the Rev. Jim Strickland, Deacon baptizes his grandson Jonathan at St. Luke's in Hawkinsville (right).

Choir members in Mardi Gras masks were part of the "Fat Sunday" at St. Peter's on Skidaway Island in Savannah on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany.

The Rev. Aaron Brewer (left) and members of King of Peace in Kingsland (right) participate in the annual Mardi Gras parade.

Our two St. Simons Island congregations, Holy Nativity and Christ Church Frederica, joined together once again to offer Pancakes at the Pier last evening.

The Church of the Good Shepherd burned palms and buried the Alleluia on Sunday.

Mardi Gras at St. Anne's in Tifton.

Teaching how to serve others was part of the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at St. Paul's in Albany as the Boy Scouts assisted with the meal.

The Episcopal Campus Ministry at Georgia Southern joined with the Presbyterian Church's UKirk for Shrove Tuesday worship followed by pancakes.

Our Savior in Martinez held their Mardi Gras dinner and dressed to the 9's!

St. John's in Bainbridge's Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper.

Sewanee's School of Theology is hosting a free,Thursday-night webinar conversation between members of the student Creation Care Committee at Sewanee's School of Theology and the Center for Religion and Environment. One panelist will be our own seminarian Gabriel Perkins-Lawrence.

The event will focus on what the connections are between the Season of Lent and the practice of ecological discipleship, and between the church's forty-day fast and the rest of the Earth Community.

The Creation Care Committee is a student group at the School of Theology that facilitates hands-on environmental ministry experiences and ideas with an aim to inspire future clergy and lay church leaders for the work of environmental stewardship. The committee provides educational programming and encourages discussions of sustainability, environmental justice, ecotheology, and green ministry in all aspects of life at Sewanee's School of Theology.

The Center for Religion and Environment is a resource for the church housed within Sewanee's School of Theology; it offers free monthly webinars, tuition-based short online courses, resources and materials, a certificate program in nature contemplation, and consulting for creation care ministries. 

To register, click here.

• When: May 6-8, 2022
• Who: Youth in Grades 7-9
• Where: Honey Creek!
• Cost: $125 per person

New Beginnings #57, a retreat for youth currently in Grades 7-9, is open for registration. This event is led by older youth, with adult support. In a time of increased anxiety and uncertainty, New Beginnings offers young people a chance to gather at Honey Creek offers young people a chance to step back from their daily lives and reflect on some of the big issues of life, such as Family, Peer Pressure, Friends, and how the Love God has for all of us is unconditional and everlasting. Participant Registration is available here: https://bit.ly/NB57Participants. 

Applications to serve on New Beginnings Staff are also available! Any youth who has attended either New Beginnings or Happening is eligible to serve on staff. Serving on staff includes a commitment to attend the entire weekend, and to attend the staff lock-in. The staff application is here: https://conta.cc/3IT3C0C.

The Lead Teen for New Beginnings #57 is Jake Diamond, of Christ Church, Valdosta.

As each day gets a little bit longer, our thoughts turn toward summer, even while it’s still cold. And this coming summer we are planning to return to our traditional Summer Camp Season! Registration is now open! Visit honeycreek.org/camps to register for the appropriate camp sessions!

• High School Camp (Completed Grades 9-12, & graduated seniors): June 12-18
• Camp St. Peter I (Completed Grades 6-8): June 19-25
• Camp St. Joseph & Mary I (Completed Grades 3-5): June 26-July 2
• Camp St. Joseph & Mary II (Completed Grades 3-5): July 10-16
• Camp St. Peter II (Completed Grades 6-8): July 17-23

We are actively recruiting college students and others who have completed high school to serve as Summer Camp Counselors. If you are or someone you know are interested in a summer experience that can be life-changing both for yourself and for the campers, apply now! The Staff Application is available online here: https://bit.ly/HoneyCreekSummerStaffApp

Have questions about camp? About serving as a counselor? Contact Summer Camp Director Karen Bell at karenmackenziebell@gmail.com or Canon Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org.

St. Thomas in Savannah is looking to hire a part-time facilities administrator. The Facility Administrator provides maintenance and upkeep for the buildings and grounds of St Thomas Episcopal Church, consisting of 4 buildings, a memorial garden, and various other gardens.  The Administrator reports to the Church Rector and Parish Administrator. This is a non-exempt salaried position, part-time, expected to be 10 – 15 hours per week on average, not to exceed 780 hours per year. Rate of compensation begins at $15 per hour commensurate with experience. To see the full job posting, visit the St. Thomas Facebook page. Interested candidates should email a resume to Amy Washabaugh at amyjo@stthomasioh.org.

Christ Church in Savannah is seeking an Administrative Assistant. This will be 12-16 hours per week, and includes the following:

• helping to develop and coordinate docents and the docent program
• Coordinate, train, and supervise the bulletin assembly team
• Meet parishioners or workers in the church as needed
• Assist with other administrative tasks as needed

This position will report to the Director of Administration. For more information, contact Catherine Gussler at cmgussler@gmail.com.

St. Peter's in Savannah is seeking Nursery Attendants. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is a group of Christians enthusiastic about making a difference for others on Skidaway Island, in Savannah and abroad, which you can read about at www.saintpeterssav.org. If you are interested, please submit a resume and cover letter to The Rev. Kelly Steele, Priest-In-Charge at St. Peter’s at ksteele@saintpeterssav.org or 912-598-7242.

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 2022 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2022 Prayer Cycle.

February 27 – March 5

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Brunswick, Good Shepherd, St. Athanasius’, and St. Mark’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Brunswick, especially St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and St. James Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Church of the Holy Name (El Santo Nombre) in Catalina. 

March 6 – 12

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Cochran, Trinity and for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Cairo. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Gabriel (San Gabriel) in Consuelo. 

Newly Revised 31-Day Prayer Cycles

We also offer 30-day prayer cycles for those who wish to pray daily for the clergy and clergy spouses: Diocesan Prayer Cycle and Clergy Spouses Prayer Cycle. (Updated 3/1/2022)

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated 2/25/2022)

Pictured left: Bishop Logue with Bishop Benhase at the ordination and consecration of the Rt. Rev. Daniel Richards, the 9th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina.

Canon Easterlin and Bishop Logue will meet with the Board of the Corporation on Thursday.

Canon Lasch will celebrate and preach at St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah on Sunday while the Rev. Melanie Lemburg is serving on staff for Happening #105.

Canon Varner and Liz Williams will serve on staff for Happening #105 this weekend.



The best way to reach a staff member is via email as we will always get back with you promptly in many cases and in 24-72 hours when working on more pressing matters. Staff e-mails can be found here with a list of responsibilities so you know who to contact for what.

You may also reach diocesan staff by phone at (912) 236-4279.

The Rev. Wallace Marsh at St. Thomas in Thomasville walks around with a surprised Fletcher James

after Fletcher's baptism.