April 1, 2020
Volume 11, No. 31
Bishop-Elect Unveils Portrait and New Diocesan Seal
With two months remaining until his ordination and consecration, Bishop-Elect Frank Logue is sharing the formal portrait to be framed and placed on the wall in every congregation of the Diocese. Taken on the grounds of the diocesan Retreat Center, Honey Creek, the portrait captures the essence of the priest and canon who will become the 11th Bishop of Georgia on May 30. 

"I wanted a picture that showed how I hold myself lightly even as I take this call seriously," Logue said. I think the photographer met the challenge, even if I need more practice at tire swing ing with a crozier. I will be sure to get in more swing time when at The Creek."

Logue also revealed an updated diocesan seal with new iconography.  The imagery from the 19th-century seal of an ox standing in front of an altar and a plow remains meaningful, but Logue said the time had come for a fresh image. 

The Latin motto in utrumque paratus agere et pati, meaning "always ready for either action or sacrifice," is lost in the process, which Logue said is unfortunate. But he noted that the upside to having a cat riding a flame-throwing unicorn makes the change worthwhile. "Who doesn't want to be a part of a Diocese with a seal like this?" Logue added.

Please note today's date when deciding on the veracity of this article. Given the seriousness of most of the news, we thought we'd risk a little levity. Bishop-Elect Logue will have a more traditional portrait (taken on the same day at Honey Creek as the picture above) and the seal of the Diocese of Georgia remains unchanged. Actual news of the Diocese of Georgia follows.
IN THIS ISSUE
Portrait and Seal
An Update on In-Person Worship
Find Worship Online
Holy Week
Diocesan Office Update
Prayers
Curious Cat
Join Our Mailing List
WEB LINKS
 



An Update on In-Person Worship
Given the uncertainty about when public health officials will give the all clear to end current physical distancing and shelter in place guidelines, the Diocese of Georgia is extending the halt on in-person worship.  Bishop Benhase said, "Until further notice from the Bishop's Office there will be no in-person, public worship in the Diocese of Georgia . We will monitor all the guidelines as they are published and will let you know when things change."

This suspension of in-person public worship is for the health and safety of our parishioners and our communities. Below, you will find resources to assist you in worshiping at home and for gathering for worship online, both that offered by the Diocese and by individual congregations. Bishop Benhase added, "We will get through this together."

COVID-19 Resources
The Diocese of Georgia website now has a COVID-19 Resource Page, which will remain our one-stop location for information and resources.
Quickly Find Livestream Worship
There are a lot of options each day for Episcopalians in the Diocese of Georgia to worship online and now they are listed in one place. The Livestream Services calendar tells the time, location, and which liturgy the congregation offers for the whole Diocese. Click the image above or this link: Livestream Services Calendar.

Diocese of Georgia Evening Prayer Tonight 
The Diocese will once more offer Wednesday Evening Prayer tonight at 6 p.m. with a sermon by the Very Rev. Galen Mirate . 


This liturgy will stream on both 
Looking Ahead to Holy Week
This Holy Week presents an opportunity for individuals and families to bring Holy Week home in a way that promises to be life-giving. To assist in this process, the Diocese of Georgia has a resource page at our website ( gaepiscopal.org/holy-week-2020/ ) with documents you can download and use in your home. 

For example, there are materials you can use to bring the Stations of the Cross into your home or even your yard. There are materials for talking about Holy Week with children of different ages and a booklet for three days of in home worship taking you from Maundy Thursday through Good Friday to the Easter Vigil. These in-home resources can add to the  liturgies congregations offer online .

Diocesan Livestream for Holy Week
The Bishop and staff are readying the following liturgies for Holy Week. With one exception, they will be streamed via the Diocesan Facebook page and on the Diocesan Youtube Channel. For all these liturgies, we will utilize various participants from across the Diocese.

April 5, 10 a.m. - Palm Sunday Liturgy
This Sunday, Bishop Benhase is the preacher for a livestreamed liturgy offered on both the Diocese of Georgia Facebook page and  YouTube Channel .  The service will include the blessing of palms and a procession. In order to enter into this liturgy most fully, all are encouraged to cut a suitable branch in their yard. Scripture does not specify palms and so any branch you would like to wave as you process is appropriate. 

April 6, 11 a.m.  - Renewal of Vows
The bishop, deacons, and priests of the Diocese will gather on Zoom to renew their ordination vows.

April 8, 6 p.m. - Evening Prayer 

April 9, 7 p.m. - Maundy Thursday 

April 10, noon and 7 p.m.
Good Friday Stations of the Cross - noon 
Good Friday Liturgy - 7 p.m. 

April 11, 8 p.m. - The Great Vigil of Easter

April 12, 10 a.m. - Easter Sunday Eucharist
 
Coble Family Builds Gathering Deck in Memory of Daniel
Joel, Amy, Drew, and Anna Coble spent the first weekend of March at Honey Creek building a gathering deck from scratch in memory of their son and brother, Daniel, who passed away in February of this year. Daniel was active in all things Honey Creek from summer camp to Happening.

Dade Brantley, Executive Director of Honey Creek, notes that the Coble family was one of the last groups on campus before COVID-19 forced them to temporarily close the campus. "The latest addition to the campus was built with love on the last weekend of group activity that we've had", Brantley says, "The Coble family wanted to have a tangible and lasting memory of their beloved Daniel here at The Creek, one of his favorite places. We can't wait for y'all to come back to campus and sit with Daniel in this holy place."
Around the Diocese

St. Mark's, Brunswick clears the back yard of the parish hall in preparation for a deep water well.

Fred Richter, Bobby Randolph, and Eric Garside freshened up the memorial garden at Trinity, Statesboro.
Dade Brantley, Executive Director of Honey Creek, snaps a photo under the trees near the creek.
Diocesan Office Update and News

Today we welcome Liz Williams to the staff as our Communications Manager. 

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19,  Diocesan staff will be working remotely until further notice. Email will be the quickest way to get in touch with the staff, although you are still welcome to call us on the phone! Staff e-mails can be found here.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and  Bishop Scott Benhase will preach for a livestreamed worship service. We will offer this liturgy via Facebook live on the Diocese of Georgia's Facebook page and also on the the Diocese of Georgia's YouTube Channel, both at 10 a.m.
Prayers for Weekly Liturgies
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 2020 one year prayer cycle is now online here:  2020 Prayer Cycle

March 29 - April 4 
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Darien, St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Darien, especially Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Anthony of Padua ( San Antonio de Padua) in El Carreton. 

April 5 - 11 
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Douglas, St. Andrew's and for our ecumenical partners in Douglas, especially St. Paul's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for The Ascension ( La AscensiĆ³n) in El Seibo. 

Additional 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 .
Curious Cat

While Bishop-Elect Frank and Victoria Logue were leading Morning Prayer for the Diocese on Sunday from
their home in Savannah, one of their two cats decided the Nicene Creed was the right moment to check out
the candle she had been eyeing curiously. That liturgy remains online on the Diocese of Georgia YouTube Channel.
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