December 5, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 49 | |
Jekyll Island United Methodist Church has been the home of St. Richard's Episcopal Church as well as the Roman Catholic Church on the island. | |
St. Richard of Chichester on Jekyll Island Closes | |
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The vestry of St. Richard of Chichester on Jekyll Island recently voted to close the parish. In conveying their difficult decision to the Bishop and diocesan staff, the members of the vestry emphasized the legacy that St. Richard's is leaving behind. After making a significant gift to the Methodist Church that has been their home for many years, the vestry gave their liturgical items to St. Mark's in Brunswick and their Prayer Books and hymnals to Honey Creek. In addition, they have directed that the funds invested by the congregation be used to replace the roof on Lodge 1 at Honey Creek. Beyond this, they have a former Vicarage on the island that will be able to help support further ministry in the Diocese of Georgia.
Founded in 1968, the congregation met at the Methodist Church at 8:30 am every Sunday but the last Sunday of the month. On the last Sunday of the month, as well as Christmas Day and Easter Sunday their service was held at Faith Chapel in the Jekyll Island Historic District (pictured above). They were active participants in Glynn Episcopal Ministries, which included the five Episcopal Churches in the county — St. Richard's, St. Athanasius, St. Mark's, Good Shepherd, Holy Nativity, and Christ Church.
During an October 2022 mini-retreat with the vestry, Bishop Logue heard first-hand how changes to the island were affecting the congregation. St. Richard’s had always reflected the demographics of Jekyll Island with a mix of three distinctive groups depending upon the season — a cadre of year-round residents, winter members who regularly outnumbered the year-rounders, and summer short-term vacationers. In recent years, the congregation saw long-time members move closer to family while the number of year-round residents decreased and short term rentals on the island increased.
"The vestry faithfully navigated these changes before ultimately deciding that closing at this time will permit them to leave significant resources to further the mission of the Episcopal Church," Bishop Logue said. "Yet we also see how the legacy of St. Richard's goes well beyond these significant contributions to ongoing ministry. This side of heaven, we will never know the full impact of the lives changed by the Gospel in this congregation and its outreach."
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Lay Ministers' Conference provided time for conversation and reflection | |
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Last Friday and Saturday 19 lay ministers from 11 different parishes gathered at Honey Creek for the Lay Ministers' Conferece. This year's topic, The Church Post Christendom, was presented by Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Academic Dean and Helen and Everett H. Jones Chair in Christian Ethics at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX. Dr. Bader-Saye's presentations allowed participants to reflect and learn about the church as it is today, and hope for what it could be in the future.
Susan Borchert from St. Barnabas in Valdosta reflected on the event saying, "This weekend was illuminating and inspiring as well as uplifting. Dr. Scott Bader-Saye was an excellent speaker talking about the post-Christendom church and what adventures await us going forward. There are many reasons why the church has changed and it is up to us to move forward through these times fraught with fear and hope for the future of the church."
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In addition to a lecture-style presentation, Dr. Bader-Saye included Bible study into each session. This allowed for table discussions that centered around the questions of what about the passage made the Church stand out? And what does this say about our lives as lay people in the Church today?
In Canon Lasch's sermon during the Holy Eucharist on Saturday, she built upon what Dr. Bader-Saye had said earlier in the day, "I can risk acting like Jesus because I have a community that can hold me," and used it to continue to encourage the participants to take risks in building the kingdom of God.
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Susan Borchert of St. Barnabas in Valdosta told how she came to see that there are many reasons why the church has changed and it is up to us to move forward through these times fraught with fear and hope for the future of the church. Of being together with other lay leaders at Honey Creek she added, "There were times during the weekend where we came together to pray: Evening Prayer, Compline, Morning Prayer, and Holy Eucharist. We were in communion with each other and nature. We sang a capella and in harmony with each other. Truly a beautiful time."
Linda Cowan of Grace in Sandersville reflected on the spirituality that encompassed the whole retreat, "The quiet beauty of Honey Creek enhanced the spiritual base for the conference. Canon Lasch’s solemn, soothing leadership brought us closer to Jesus. We all learned so much, both academically and spiritually, that will inspire us to grow in our service to God and to our church. Thank you for providing this opportunity to learn and grow."
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Ordination of the Rev. Shayna Cranford to the Sacred Order of Priests | |
On Saturday, Bishop Logue ordained the Rev. Shayna Cranford to the Sacred Order of Priests at Trinity in Cochran. The only congregation in the Diocese to fully embrace Bishop Louttit's invitation to the Mutual Ministry Model. In this model the congregation is seen as a community of ministers rather than a group led by a minister, the priest is raised up within the congregation to serve there. In the nearly three decades that have followed, Trinity has raised up the Revs. Joy Fisher, George Porter, Vernon Wiggins, Dale Jones, and now Shayna Cranford. In the liturgy, Bishop Logue also named Cranford as the Rector of Trinity in Cochran. | |
A group photo of the clergy present for Cranford's ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests (above). Priests are shown below joining Bishop Logue in laying on hands during the prayer of consecration in the ordination on Saturday. | |
Cranford and Bishop Logue flank the Rev. Joy Fisher who mentored each of them. Bishop Logue learned about the canons and church governance from Fisher, while she mentored Cranford as a model of pastor, priest, and teacher. | |
The Rev. Shayna Cranford offers the peace following the prayer of consecration and being vested as a priest (left) and communes one of her sons (at right). Cranford and Logue are pictured below elevating the consecrated elements in the Eucharist with the Venerable Yvette Owens, Archdeacon of the Diocese of Georgia. | |
Please pray for our Presiding Bishop | |
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On December 3, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry was admitted to the hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, after experiencing a fall in Syracuse, New York, that resulted in a subdural hematoma. He underwent surgery, which was successful, and he will continue his recovery in the hospital in Raleigh. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Please pray for Bishop Curry, his family, and his medical team. Bishop Logue offers this prayer:
Most merciful God, we pray to you on behalf of our brother Michael who seeks your healing touch: give him your peace, comfort his family, and sustain the wisdom and compassion of the doctors and nurses who seek to foster his healing and relieve him of pain as you give him anew the confidence and hope that come from you alone. We ask this in the name of your son, the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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New Year Yoga Retreat at Honey Creek | |
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Honor the new year by releasing the past, tuning into the present, and yielding to an unfolding future. This winter weekend retreat intends to reignite, rejuvenate, and reset the mind, body, and spirit. Professor Emerita of Georgia Southwestern State University, Gabriele Stauf, will use her own poetic voice to lead participants to find their own, while Karen Kinnamon of Just Peace Yoga and Wellness will provide yoga sessions to nurture body, mind, and spirit. Using the inspiration of place and space and the wisdom of yoga, participants will have time for deep inner looking and listening. For more information and details, visit this link: Register here.
Participants can register to secure their spot and can pay retreat fees in January at the time of the retreat. If you have any questions, please email justpeaceyoga.americus@gmail.com.
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John Pavlovitz coming to Trinity in Statesboro | |
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John Pavlovitz is a writer, pastor, activist, and storyteller from Wake Forest, North Carolina. Over the past decade his thought-provoking blog, Stuff That Needs To Be Said, has reached a diverse worldwide audience, with over 100 million views.
A 25-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice—both inside and outside faith communities. His books include A Bigger Table, Stuff That Needs to Be Said, and If God is Love, Don't Be a Jerk. His new book Worth Fighting For: Finding Courage and Compassion When Cruelty Is Trending arrives in April of 2024.
John currently directs Empathetic People Network, a vibrant online community which connects people from all over the world who want to create a more compassionate planet.
Friday, December 8th at 7:00 p.m.
“An evening with John Pavlovitz”
Tickets: $25.00
Register here
Saturday, December 9th at 9:00 a.m.
Workshop: “EMPATHEOLOGY: Cultivating a Life of Sustainable Compassion”
Tickets: $45.00, includes boxed lunch
Register here
Sunday, December 10th
John will be preaching at the Holy Eucharist at 8:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Worship services are free and open to the public.
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This year's Advent choice for 1Book1Diocese, Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler, traces her journey from her need for certainty in her life, to learning that life is just as beautiful without it.
The Rev. Melanie Lemburg from St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah is working through the book with a group at her congregation and reported after the group's first meeting that it has been very well received. She added that "the questions provoked a gentle thoughtfulness which I really appreciated. We were surprised by a group of [people] who are loosely connected (not all parishioners) who showed up; they are all dealing with some heavy stuff and engaged the conversation whole-heartedly."
As the days shorten and the lectionary considers the Second Coming even as we prepare to celebrate Jesus' first advent in Bethlehem, Bowler brings home the depth of our incarnational faith.
Week Two Read chapters 4-5
When have you experienced a season of waiting for something that was not within your control?
Oprah Winfrey’s statement, “Nothing about my life is lucky”contrasts with Kate feeling those around her were the world’s luckiest people. Is winning the lottery chance or fate? What about having a healthy baby or getting a promotion? How do you see chance and destiny?
Kate is pleased to find out that some of the most serious scholars she has known cried snotty tears as they pleaded with God to extend her life. When have you experienced others holding you or someone you love in prayer?
Kate writes that we are all floating on the ocean, holding on to our own inner tubes, and we’re all sinking. How might the knowledge that we will die help us as we live our lives?
How does surrendering fit into your faith? To what degree are we to stay in control and when do we let go?
The discussion guide for small groups is now online here:
Everything Happens for a Reason Discussion Guide
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Three youth, one adult, and one Canon of Program and Liturgy joined with other youth from Province IV for the Leadership Meeting in Charleston last weekend. | |
Advent wreaths of all types were made at Saint Paul's in Augusta. | |
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The Rev. Jim Pace and Archdeacon Yvette Owens celebrate the first Sunday of Advent at Christ the King
in Valdosta.
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St. Mary Magdalene in Louisville set up their manager scene for the Advent season (left); Grace in Sandersville donated $2,305 to Officer Greg Haynes, the director of the Washington County Animal Shelter in support of lost or abandoned animals (right). | |
Christ Church in Dublin held an open house for tours of the historic parish, which included free cookie decorating for kids in the front yard. | |
Parishioners of Christ Church in Savannah gathered on the porch overlooking Johnson Square to make Advent Wreaths. | |
Mary Margaret Lemburg (at left) joins fellow choristers in singing during the University of the South's Advent Lessons and Carols. | |
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.
December 10 - 16
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for Diocesan Youth Programs and our Episcopal Campus Ministries at Augusta, Valdosta State, and Georgia Southern Universities. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially those in Springfield—St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and St. Boniface Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Jesus the Teacher (Jesús Maestro) in Tamboril.
December 17 - 23
In our diocesan prayer cycle, we pray for Honey Creek, for our ministry with homeless persons in Savannah, the Community of St. Joseph, and for our Racial Justice and Healing Ministry. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially the Catholic congregations of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Sandhill, San José in Twin Lakes, Holy Redeemer in McRae, and Holy Cross in Pembroke. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Diocese of the Dominican Republic Parochial Schools.
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.
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Diocesan Office Update and News | |
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Bishop Logue will make his visitation to Holy Cross in Thomson on Sunday.
To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2024 - 6/20/2023)
Photo: Bishop Logue is pictured here with the congregation of St. Matthew's in Fitzgerald during last Sunday's visitation. Below, Bishop Frank and Victoria Logue are with the three teens who joined Canon Joshua Varner and Brandy Holland to represent the Diocese of Georgia at a Province IV Youth Event that crossed over with the bishops and spouses meeting at Camp St. Christopher in the Diocese of South Carolina.
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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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Lay Ministers come in all shapes and sizes | |
Mason Riggle joins his parents Sarah and Kay from St. Barnabas in Valdosta in the table conversations at the Lay Ministers' Conference at Honey Creek. | | | | |
