February 9, 2022 | Volume 12, No. 6

The 201st Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia will meet November 10-12 on the south side of Savannah at Georgia Southern University's Armstrong Center. The conventions of the Diocese are on a six-year schedule, meeting in each of the six Convocations of the Diocese in turn. This year's convention returns to Savannah to meet in a new location in the city. The Diocesan Staff is working on hotel contracts and will release blocks of rooms in March.

As congregations look to reconnect after almost two years in Pandemic, today's Invite Welcome Connect Digital Gathering offers a webinar filled with creative ideas and takeaways to help your congregation. The gathering meets online today from 3-4:30 pm and you can still register online for $20.

The panelists and speakers include Bishop Frank Logue who will conclude the event. The webinar will cover two questions:

How do we Welcome and Connect those who are on our congregation's Digital Front Porch; i.e. - those whose initial contacts are online and invisible?

How do we Re-Connect with parishioners who are no longer as active as they were in their pre-pandemic faith communities?

The panelists, made up of both clergy and lay leaders, will discuss creative solutions and ways to address these questions in your congregation.

To register and learn more, visit the Invite Welcome Connect website.

On Thursday, February 10, Bishop Logue will celebrate the installation of the Rev. Eric Biddy as the Rector of Saint Paul's, Augusta. The liturgy, which begins at 7 pm, will include a baptism and ten confirmations and receptions. Clergy are encouraged to attend and to vest and process in cassock, surplice, and white stoles.

In writing to the congregation about a Celebration of New Ministry also having a baptism and confirmations, Biddy wrote, "We will be demonstrating in almost overwhelming fashion that the ministry of the priest is rooted in the ministry of the baptized. Our relationship is not primarily determined by me ministering to you (though of course that matters very much), but by us ministering together, according to our gifts and orders. This liturgy will be about the life that God is making possible at Saint Paul's through all of us: bishop, people, and priest."

At its most recent meeting, Diocesan Council consented to Bishop Logue's appointments to the Commission on Worship. The Commission is called for by diocesan canons, which define the group's role as follows:

"It shall assist the Bishop and the Congregations of the Diocese in liturgical and musical matters, provide leadership in good liturgical and musical usage and practice, serve as liaison with the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, and plan and carry out programs within the Diocese consonant with its purposes. The commission shall also give advice on preliminary plans for any construction in Congregations. Any such plans for renovation, enlargement, or initial construction shall include the recommendations of this commission when submitted to the Bishop and Standing Committee for approval and funding permission."

In its canonical role to serve as liaison to the Episcopal Church's Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, the Commission on Worship will survey liturgical practice in the Diocese of Georgia and report to that group as it prepares for this year's General Convention. Bishop Logue reported to Diocesan Council that this report to General Convention responsibility is why four of the persons appointed are among those in the Diocese most connected to that church-wide work.

The following persons have been appointed to a one-year term and are eligible to be appointed again:

The Rev. Guillermo Arboleda ​

The Very Rev. Leslie Dellenbarger ​

The Rev. Susan Gage ​

Mr. Jody Grant ​

Mr. Drew Keane ​

The Rev. Ian Lasch, Chair ​

Ms. Kathleen Turner 

On Sunday afternoon, Dr. Westina Matthews hosted a conversation with the Rev. Dr. Michael Battle, Director of the Desmond Tutu Center. Participants from across the Diocese and around the country gathered on Zoom for the enlightening conversation sponsored by Racial Justice GA. The event gave a glimpse behind the public persona to show how the Nobel Laureate's work to end Apartheid in South Africa drew from the archbishop's life of contemplative prayer.

A recording of the event is linked above. To find out more about the Diocese of Georgia's work in racial healing and Justice, go to racialjusticega.org.

I recently attended the Episcopal Camp and Conference Centers (ECCC) annual conference in Oakhurst, California. The meeting consists of representatives from Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers gathering at an Episcopal conference center, talking about Episcopal camps and conference centers. It is the most meta event in the known universe! 

At this conference the 100 Episcopal centers and camp programs come together to learn and share strategies, ideas, and best practices. If that was all it was, it would still be totally worth attending. However, participants also come together to care for each other as individuals and as children of God. The effects of the pandemic on our campuses and programs was a frequent topic, and in our small groups we talked about the stresses of caring for and worrying about our staffs and centers, and how are we holding up.

We are all at different stages of recovery (centers and ourselves), and the blessing of the opportunity to be together, face to face (with ALL the COVID protocols in place), made all the difference. It's safe to say we all returned home recharged, emboldened, and ready to change the world. In fact, that’s the same feeling that many of us get when we return home from an event at Honey Creek. We live in the mission field and we recharge at Honey Creek. 

This annual conference truly benefits me as much as it does Honey Creek, and my hope is that you can feel it the next time you’re at The Creek.

Dade Brantley

Executive Director, Honey Creek

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.

Bishop Logue is pictured at Christ Church Savannah with the clergy and those being confirmed and received during his visitation this past Sunday. In keeping with the congregations COVID protocol, everyone was masked except for a brief moment maskless to capture the faces in this group photo.

Bishop Logue confirms Anna Willis, a Senior at Tift County High School, on January 30. Those behind her L-R are presenter Kim Jacobs and Anna’s parents Jami and Patrick, who were also received that day at St. Anne's, Tifton, and the Rev. Lonnie Lacy, Rector.

Boy Scouts from Troop 226 at King of Peace, Kingsland, assist with Camden County's Ravens of Elijah feeding ministry.

St. John's, Savannah, enjoyed their Annual Oyster Roast & BBQ on Saturday.

Carter Dean Lovett's family is gathered around him after his baptism at St. Michael's, Waynesboro.

The Episcopal Church has launched parochial reports for 2021 data. They are due by March 1^st, 2022. The report is one of two mandatory reports due annually, including audits in September. 

The Parochial Report is completed online at: https://reports.dfms.org. Beginning in January 2022, everyone will login into this site with a unique login (usually a church or individual's email) and password. Diocesan Office staff can reset the login information for a congregation if needed. Reach out to Maggie Lyons or Daniel Garrick for support as needed (mlyons@gaepiscopal.org and dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org). 

In order to complete this report, please gather attendance, membership, and financial information. If you are unfamiliar with the process of completing the parochial report, please visit the detailed website here.

There is a helpful webcast available here: https://www.generalconvention.org/pr-screencast-for-parish-users

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
• Honey Creek (Waverly, GA)
• 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, TBD in August

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 are due upon registration. 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?”

Happening #105 is on the schedule for March 4-6, 2022 at Honey Creek! This event, led by youth for youth in grades 9-12 and offers participants (called candidates) a chance to explore their faith together, and address deep questions of piety, prayer, grace, reality, and more. It is open to any young person in Grades 9-12 who has not yet attended a Happening. Registration for Candidates is available here: http://bit.ly/Happening105Candidates. The event begins on Friday evening and ends with a Closing Eucharist on Sunday afternoon.

More information is also on the Georgia Happening Website: www.georgiahappening.com.

As with all Diocesan Youth Events, we will adhere to the Diocesan policies requiring Covid-19 vaccination and testing in the week prior to the event for all participants and staff. In addition, to allow for some spacing, we are limiting the total number of Candidates and Staff to fifty people.

The Georgia Happening website, georgiahappening.com, is updated and will continue to be updated as we move closer to our Happening date! 

Remember the BEST is yet to come!

• When: April 1-3, 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, which is scheduled for February 25-26, 2022. The staff application is here: https://conta.cc/3IT3C0C.

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

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 Episcopal 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 NurseryAttendants. 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 6 - 12

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Bainbridge, St. John’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Bainbridge, especially St. Joseph Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Bonao, especially Pentecost (Pentecostes) and St. Joseph of Arimathea (San José de Arimatea).

February 13 - 19

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Baxley, St. Thomas Aquinas and for our ecumenical partners in Baxley at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Bonao, especially St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista), and St. Nicodemus (San Nicodemo).

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 9/25/2021)

The Rev. Canon Loren Lasch celebrates the Eucharist at St. John's and St. Mark's in Albany last week as she was at the church to meet with the vestry. The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner served at St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Richmond Hill on Sunday so that the Rev. Dwayne Varas could be at Christ Church, Savannah, to present two persons to be received by Bishop Logue.

On Thursday at 7 pm, Bishop Logue will officiate at Saint Paul's, Augusta, for a Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Eric Biddy, which includes a baptism and confirmations. On Sunday, he will make his visitation to Christ Church in Dublin.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated 1/25/2022)

Canon Varner will be participating in the online staff retreat for Happening #105 on Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12.



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.

Bishop Logue listens as Vivienne reads the Epistle during his visitation to Christ Church, Savannah, on Sunday. A previous family service at Christ Church always included younger readers. In combining two services, the congregation retained the younger readers for every Sunday.