July 5, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 27

The Diocese of Georgia at Episcopal Youth Event

1,500 Episcopalians are gathered on the campus of the University of Maryland for the second largest and most fun gathering our church holds. EYE (pronounced E-Y-E) is a really big summer camp for 15-19 year olds that focuses on helping develop leadership skills, spiritual practices, and early stages of vocational discernment. Time is spent in awesome and authentic worship, large group presentations, small group discussions, workshops on a variety of topics, and time to hang-out and meet Episcopalians from around the world. Above: Bishop Logue took an ussie with the Diocese of Georgia group on arriving at EYE.

Usually held every three years, this is the first such gathering since 2017. The Diocese of Georgia is represented by 16 youth from Augusta, Savannah, Cochran, Valdosta, Griffin, Thomasville, Waycross, and Albany; together with 4 adult chaperones and Bishop Logue.

EYE began last evening. On Thursday, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be the preacher. EYE ends Friday evening with a Holy Eucharist sending the participants back out into the church.

Below: the EYE participants from the Dioceses of Georgia and Atlanta are shown in the River Room at Saint Paul's in Augusta for evening worship on Monday. They rode on a bus to Maryland together on Tuesday.

Creator God, who empowers us in faith, be with us as we gather in a community of joy, comfort, and hope. Be with us as we celebrate our regreso a casa to a new age of faith. Let your spirit move through us to broaden our minds and open our hearts to one another. Send us from this place with your strength and courage to show the world your truth and accessibility so we may know our own dignity and belovedness. All this we ask through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Registration open for Cursillo #127

Registration for both team and participants for Cursillo #127 is now open!

Cursillo (pronounced ‘kur-see-yo’) is a Spanish word meaning ‘little’ or ‘short course’. This is the name given to the Short Course in Christianity which first developed after World War II with Roman Catholic men. The short course has now been given to men and women around the world and in the process has assisted generations of Christians to more faithfully follow Jesus in their daily lives. There is no real secret here, just the basics of the faith with an emphasis on how would you like to live it out in your life.

Cursillo begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday evening. During those three days the participants engage in listening to talks given by priests and lay people, and small table discussions, while worshiping and playing together.

The next Cursillo weekend will be held at Honey Creek September 7-10, 2023.

To register for team, click here.

To register as a participant, click here.

Join RJGA for July book discussion

On Thursday evenings at 7:00pm in July, Racial Justice Georgia will be hosting a Zoom-based discussion series of Melissa Fay Greene's Praying for Sheetrock--a gripping account of the struggle for civil rights in McIntosh County, Georgia. The book can be ordered through Amazon, Indiebound, and Barnes & Noble. On July 6, we'll discuss the Author's Note, Prologue, and Chapters 1-4. Please join through this Zoom link: RJGA Book Discussion.

Episcopal Cursillo Ministry National Conference

The national commission for the Episcopal Cursillo Ministry presents the first annual conference since 2019, Come to the Holy Hill. The conference will take place September 21-23, 2023 at Virginia Theological Seminary. To view all conference details, including the schedule and workshop sessions, visit episcopalcursilloministry.org.

Any cursillistas or fourth day group like Walk to Emmaus are welcome and encouraged to attend. Can't wait to see you there!

Across the Diocese

All Saints' and St. Thomas in Thomasville held a joint Vacation Bible School and got to talk to

local farmers!

The Rev. Joe Bowden gets the children of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta to assist him as he blesses newly knitted prayer shawls.

Holy Comforter in Martinez held their second annual Fourth of July service.

The Christ Church Frederica youth mission team from St. Simons Island get ready for their mission experience in Puerto Rico.

The three Episcopal congregations in Valdosta - Christ Church, Christ the King, and St. Barnabas - gathered at Christ Church for a July Fourth Eucharist. Pictured are Valdosta's Episcopal clergy. In front are the Revs. Hal Weidman, Peter Ingeman, and Jim Elliott. On the back row are the Revs. Marcia McRae, Susan Gage, Yvette Owens, Patricia Marks, Nancy Sartin, and Jim Pace.

Upcoming Events

Funeral for the Rev. Judy Jones Keith

August 5 at 11 a.m.

Bishop Frank Logue will officiate and preach the funeral for the Rev. Judy Jones Keith at St. Thomas in Thomasville. Clergy are encouraged to to vest in cassock, surplice, and white stoles.

Clergy Conference

Fall Clergy Conference: October 2-4

The Fall Conference will be a deep dive into the Gospel of Mark with the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, a New Testament scholar who is Dean and President of the Seminary of the Southwest. This is to prepare us for preaching Year B of the lectionary, with its readings from Mark's Gospel. The conference will be held at Honey Creek.



Diocesan Convention

November 9-11, 2023

Registration will be open this summer.

If you would like to have your submission considered for From the Field, it needs to be sent to Communications Manager Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org) by noon on Tuesday.

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 2023 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2023 Prayer Cycle.   

July 9 - 15

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Rincon, St. Luke’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially the Lutheran churches in Rincon—Jerusalem and St. John’s. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Divine Grace (Divina Gracia) in Mozovi. 

July 16 - 22

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in St. Marys, Christ Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in St. Marys, especially Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Timothy (San Timoteo) in Nizao

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised February 28, 2023

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 2/28/2023)

Bishop Logue is with the Georgia delegation to the Episcopal Youth Event in Maryland this week.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2024 - 6/20/2023)

Picture: Bishop Logue with newly confirmed Max, his parents, and his grandparents at St. George's in Savannah.

Communications Manager Liz Williams and Canon Joshua Varner are at the Episcopal Youth Event in Maryland this week.

Canon Lasch is celebrating and preaching at St. Michael and All Angels in Savannah on Sunday.

Assistant Administrator Daniel Garrick is on vacation July 4-7.

Canon Katie Easterlin is on vacation July 2-5.

The office will be closed on July 4.

The office has instituted summer office hours of closing at noon on Fridays.

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. Jimmy White celebrated his 91st birthday with Christ Church in Savannah on Sunday, where his son the Rev. Michael White (at left) is the Rector; and his grandson, Ethan White, is spending the summer before he starts his studies at Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS). Both Ethan's father and mother, the Rev. Helen White, are graduates of VTS.