October 25, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 43 | |
New Beginnings #60 provides teens a space to explore their faith | |
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This past weekend, approximately fifty youth and adults gathered for New Beginnings #60, a youth retreat for youth in grades 7-9 led by youth in grades 9-12. The Lead Teen for this weekend was Garrett Grant, from The Church of Our Savior in Martinez. During the weekend the participants heard staff give talks on topics that directly impact them in their daily lives. These included questions most of us have, such as “Who am I” and how do I deal with Changes that are happening in my life? Talks also included our relationships with our Family and Friends, and theological topics such as God is Love, and Who is Jesus. On the final morning, staff offered reflections on The Church and Me, Prayer, and Sharing Gifts. During each of these talks the staff discussed their own lives in ways that the participants could relate to. Small group time included projects, creating skits, and lots of laughter! There was also plenty of time for games, worship, and music!
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For many of the participants, New Beginnings was their first experience of Honey Creek, and for some their first experience of any retreat for youth beyond their own congregation. In conversation with a staff member, one participant said, “I had to be convinced to come this weekend, but I’m really glad I did, and I’m definitely coming back for the next one!” Another participant said, “I just wanted to say thank y’all for a wonderful weekend and letting me experience my first New Beginnings. If I had a chance I would do it every weekend…I'm looking forward to [the next] New Beginnings and many more.”
New Beginnings #61 will take place in the spring of 2024. The Lead Teen will be Eva Purdy, from Christ Church, Frederica. Registration will open in a few weeks. Be sure to follow our youth Instagram page, @diogayouth, for more information!
To see the full photo album, follow this link to our Flickr album!
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Volunteers needed for convention | |
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The Diocesan Staff are looking for volunteers to assist in the behind-the-scenes assistance at the 2023 convention in Augusta.
Specifically the staff asks for volunteers for clergy and delegate check-in and a welcoming committee for Friday morning. See below for more information.
Check-In
2-3 very organized people to assist with clergy and delegate check-in
Thursday, November 9: 3:30-5:30pm at Our Savior Episcopal Church
Friday, November 10: 7:30-9:00am at Episcopal Day School
Welcoming Committee at Episcopal Day School
Group of no more than 10 to greet and direct attendees around the property. Would also be willing to assemble a list of restaurants/activities to do while in Augusta.
Friday, November 10: 7:30-9:00am
Voting Assistance
2-3 tech savvy people to assist with online voting and other online documents
If you are interested in volunteering, contact the Executive Assistant to the Bishop Maggie Lyons at mlyons@gaepiscopal.org.
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Honey Creek Silent Auction needs YOU! | |
Help Leading With Grace choose sites and dates! | |
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The leaders of Leading With Grace are continuing to receive feedback about othe proposed 4-workshop series, but they need to hear from more of you! These workshops have been tentatively set for a month and a location, but they need to make sure these are the best places/times to hold these workshops. Please follow the link below to indicate the needs of your parish. Remember, participants may attend any or all of the standalone, one-day workshops.
Registration will cost $35/person per workshop or $100 for all four. A link for registration will be available as soon as specific dates and locations have been set. Leading With Grace plans to roll all of this out at Convention and will be present for any of your concerns/questions. Follow the link below for descriptions of workshops, possible locations, and a survey to help us determine the details.
Click here for the Saturday Workshop Series Survey
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Open Enrollment Ends November 1 | |
If you are enrolled or need to enroll, read the details on the Diocesan website here and make your changes by November 1st. If you do not desire to change your existing coverage, you are still required to take action on your dental plan coverage if you wish to maintain it with the new vendor.
To enroll in a Delta Dental plan, sign into MyCPG Accounts at cpg.org. For more information visit the Delta Dental page on the CPG site at cpg.org/deltadental or call 888-894-7059.
You can view 2024 rates here.
For information about eligibility for the Episcopal Health Plan, the Small Employer Exception (SEE) Plan, and the Group Medicare Advantage Plan, refer to the Medical Trust Administrative Policy Manual.
Please note that you can also leverage Health Advocate to assist with Annual enrollment decisions. They can be reached at 866.695.8622. If you need additional support, please reach out to Canon Easterlin (keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org) or Daniel Garrick (dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org).
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Nominations
The following committee positions are open for nominations.Nominations are open until they are closed on the floor of convention and will continue to be updated in From the Field and online until November 8.
This year's Nominations Chair is Ms. Katie Grant from Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta. Photo: Clergy ready to process in to the Eucharist at the 2022 Diocesan Convention.
Board of Officers of the Corporation – 1 lay person
Whit Davis
Church Disciplinary Board – 2 lay persons & 1 clergy person
Diocesan Council – 1 lay person or clergy
Standing Committee – 1 lay person & 1 priest
Lay
Lisa Gibbs
Priest
The Very Rev. Al Crumpton
The Rev. June Johnson
The Rev. David Wantland
Trustee of the University of the South – 1 clergy person
The Very Rev. Tom Purdy
To view full nominee bios, click here.
To view the full job descriptions, click here.
To make a nomination, click here.
Once nominated, nominees will need to fill out the nominee form that can be found here.
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Biographical information and photo must be received by October 10 to guarantee inclusion in pre-conference printed materials. | |
Additional Information
For lodging information, click here.
To register, click here. *Please note that each delegate needs to be registered individually with separate email addresses and cell phone numbers.*
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Saint Paul's Church, Augusta GA is looking for a Director of Children, Youth, and Intergenerational Ministries. This person will work collaboratively with a dedicated team of clergy, staff, and volunteers to continue to develop a small but vibrant ministry with and for children and youth in the parish. There is some flexibility in how the position may be embodied. But the essentials are to work within a team of people serving God at Saint Paul’s, while taking primary responsibility for ensuring that our ministries with and for children and youth continue to deepen and expand. This is currently a half time position, with an ambition to extend it to full time.
A job description is available here: https://saintpauls.org/director-of-children-youth-intergenerational-ministries/
Calvary Episcopal Church, Americus, GA is looking for an organist. Duties include Sunday services, choir practice, Holy Week services, Christmas Eve, funerals, weddings, and coordinate with the Choir Director. For more information, please contact the Rev. Richard Nelson at frrichard388@gmail.com.
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The students at the Episcopal Campus Ministry ay Georgia Southern enjoyed a night of pumpkin carving by the fire. | |
St. Augustine of Canterbury inducted four women into their newest Daughters of the King chapter, St. Sophia (left), and at Holy Comforter in Martinez 10 women were inducted into their chapter of DOK (right). | |
St. Patrick's in Pooler celebrated their time with their interim priest, the Rev. Gay Rohn. | |
Clergy and parishioners from the Savannah Convocation marched in the Savannah Pride Parade. | |
Bishop Logue with those confirmed and received at his visitation to St. Luke's in Rincon on the congregation's 20th anniversary. | |
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Diocesan Convention
When: November 9-11, 2023
Where: Augusta
To register, click here.
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Happening #108
When: November 17-19, 2023
Where: Honey Creek
Candidate registration here
1Book1Diocese
For Advent, we will read and discuss Everything Happens for a Reason (and other lies I have loved) by Kate Bowler
Discussion Guide for Advent
In Lent 2024, we will read and discuss The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz.
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Lay Ministers' Conference
This conference is intended for any lay person in the Diocese who is in any active ministry in their congregation. Led by Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, the Academic Dean and Professor of Christian Ethics at the Seminary of the Southwest, this conference will focus on the ministry of the laity, including its joys and challenges especially over the past two years. It will frame our various calls in the context living them in a world in which "Christendom" is no longer the dominant culture (if it ever truly was!).
When: December 1-2, 2023
Where: Honey Creek
Click here to register.
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Clergy Conflict Transformation Workshop
Who: All clergy
Where: Honey Creek
When: March 4-8, 2024
Contact the Rev. Becky Rowell (browell221@gmail.com) and the Rev. Melanie Lemburg (revmelanie@stthomasioh.org) to RSVP.
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We want to hear from you! | |
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. | |
Prayer for Weekly Liturgies | |
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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.
October 29 – November 4
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation on Tybee Island, All Saints. We also pray for our ecumenical partners on the island, especially St. Michael’s Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially St. Andrew (San Andrés).
November 5 - 11
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Valdosta, Christ Church, Christ the King, and St. Barnabas. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Valdosta, especially St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially St. Philip the Apostle (San Felipe Apóstol).
31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised October 1, 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 10/1/2023)
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Diocesan Office Update and News | |
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Bishop Logue is in Augusta this morning to preach and to serve alongside the Revs. Larry Jesion and Glenn Palmer for worship at the Georgia War Veterans home.
On Sunday, he will make his visitation to St. Michael's in Waynesboro on Sunday.
Photo: Bishop Logue with the congregation of St. Luke's in Rincon on their 20th anniversary.
To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2024 - 6/20/2023)
Canon Varner is in Nashville this week at the Diocesan Youth Leaders conference.
Canon Lasch will be traveling for a meeting on Wednesday. On Sunday she will be be preaching at Calvary in Americus.
Canon Easterlin will be traveling for meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.
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.
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While at the Board of Trustees meeting at Sewanee, Bishop Logue met with our residential seminarians - Brenda Brunston, Roger Speer, and Shelley Martin. | | | | |
