May 5, 2021
Volume 11, No. 33
IN THIS ISSUE
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One Month until Family Camp
Session One begins!

"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!"
- Psalm 133:1



In less than one month, the first of three sessions of Family Camp will open! There is still space at the first session, but it is filling up fast, so go ahead and sign up now! Registration can be found at http://honeycreek.org/camps

Family Camp is intended for all families: those with young children, those with teenage children, those with no children or grandchildren, or any other combination. Camp opens on Friday afternoon and continues with supper and evening activities. Saturday includes time for participants to rotate through traditional camp activities such as pool time, arts & crafts, nature programming, and self-guided Chapel stations. Worship for all ages will take place each morning and evening, including a Sunday Eucharist led by Bishop Logue. Camp sessions will conclude after lunch on Sunday.

All activities will be structured in order to minimize the risks associated with COVID-19. These structures will include having open windows, fans to increase air circulation, an increase in outdoor activities, and an expectation that participants will be masked and distanced from those not part of their own household.

Camp will be supported by the Rev. Joshua Varner, Canon for Children and Youth, together with many others from Diocesan Staff (including Bishop Logue, who promises to bring his juggling equipment!) and other youth leaders from around the Diocese. Cost depends on the number of people in your household and the number of rooms required. Please contact Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with questions about the program, about financial assistance, or anything else related to Family Camp!

For the schedule of the weekend, click here.

EYCS College Scholarship Deadline Is May 31
 
Attention college-bound students! 

If you are ages 17-22 and headed for college in the fall, you are encouraged to apply for a needs-based EYCS scholarship for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Visit eycs.georgiaepiscopal.org and click on 'Education Scholarships.' Applications are due by May 31st.

About EYCS
Episcopal Youth & Children's Services is a unique organization in the Episcopal Church that provides need-based college scholarships for undergraduates, while also supporting Summer Camp scholarships at Honey Creek. To date, the EYCS Trust has provided over $1 million in college scholarships for more than a thousand youth of the diocese.

Episcopal Youth and Children's Services is the offspring of the Episcopal Home for Girls, a Savannah orphanage established in the early 1800's by fifteen women from Episcopal churches in that city. In the 1960's the orphanage closed as it no longer met the increasing needs and challenges of the time. The proceeds from the sale of the property were placed in a trust by the board of the Home, and Episcopal Youth and Children's Services was established. In addition, an annual Thanksgiving Appeal is in the Diocese of Georgia Canons, requiring each congregation to either take up an offering for EYCS or to provide for this ministry through a line item in the church budget. 

New Beginnings Online creates a Cloud of Prayer

The staff for virtual New Beginnings

Last week middle school students from across and beyond the Diocese gathered together online for two nights. The event was led by high school students and used talks and worship plans that come from our middle school youth event known as New Beginnings. While this was not a full New Beginnings event, it offered our middle schoolers a chance to experience just a hint of what is to come when we can gather together in person. High school students offered their reflections on Friends, Changes, the Church and Me, and Sharing Gifts. Each night the small groups provided an opportunity to reflect on these ideas and how they fit into their own lives. 

One of the overarching activities that takes place at New Beginnings is the creation of the Prayer Chain, in which participants and staff write prayers on strips of paper that are then linked together in a chain and processed into the Chapel for the closing Eucharist. For the online version, participants offered their prayers digitally and they were combined into a real-time word cloud of prayers.

This event was led by high school students Lachlan Davidson, Catherine Craig, Brooke Steinhauser, Jake Diamond, Mary Margaret Lemburg, and Jay Garrity. They were supported by Canon Joshua Varner and Communications Manager Liz Williams.

The final prayer cloud created by the prayers submitted by participates and staff of the event.

The Rev. Sonia Sullivan-Clifton called as Episcopal Day School Chaplain
 
A native of Georgia, The Rev. Sonia Sullivan-Clifton is returning home to serve as the Chaplain to Episcopal Day School in Augusta. The first woman raised up for the priesthood in this diocese, she earned her MDiv at Sewanee after earning a BBA and MBA at Valdosta State and working in private industry for a time. In Georgia, she served at Good Shepherd, Swainsboro, while leading youth programs for the Diocese. Since that time she has very successfully paired church work at St. Matthew's in Orlando, Florida with school chaplaincy at Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park and Canterbury School of Florida, St. Petersburg. She is a gifted and experienced school chaplain with a deep and infectious passion for youth, and particularly their spiritual development. Her connections to the Diocese of Georgia, include a good number of clergy raised up for ordination who give her significant credit in their formation. She describes her time with youth programs and as Happening Coordinator as, "The BEST time....fun and rewarding and life changing!" 

Her husband, the Rev. Steve Clifton, is a priest who served at St. John's, Bainbridge, and was actively engaged with youth programs. He retired from full-time ministry after serving many years in the Diocese of Central Florida and looks forward to continuing to serve in retirement here in Georgia.

Emilie Cornelia Cross (1942-2021) 
Emilie Cornelia Wognum was born in Chicago, IL on 6 September, 1942 to Theresa B. Wognum and James N. Wognum. Emilie met Freeman G. Cross, Jr. at the University of Illinois, and they were married on December 6, 1961. The lovely photograph is her engagement photograph.
 
Emilie was a loving and supportive wife, a beloved mother, and a cherished best friend. She was a generous and giving soul and will be greatly missed.
 
Emilie passed away on March 22, 2021 and is survived by her husband, Freeman; children, Alexander and Theresa; and grandchildren, Kayla, Stephen, and Kathryn.
 
A memorial service was held at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Dawson, GA, on April 24, with the Very Rev. Galen Mirate and the Rev. Ridenour Lamb, Deacon, officiating. Committal followed in the columbarium on the grounds of the church.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to The Rev. Freeman Cross, c/o The Phoenix, 1721 Beattie Road, Room 208, Albany, GA 31721.

Join the Presiding Bishop for a live Q&A session with our diocese!

Bishop Logue will moderate a Zoom session on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:00 pm where we will discuss the Presiding Bishop's book Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times. We will also have time for questions live from those in attendance and will put a video of the event online after for those who can not attend.

In the meantime, our 1Book1Diocese read of the book continues. We are currently reading Chapters Eight and Nine for discussions this week. 

A book discussion guide for the Diocese of Georgia's 1Book1Diocese read of Love is the Way is now online here: Discussion Guide PDF. Some congregations are holding discussions of the book on Zoom, but you can create your own group as well by asking a friend or two to discuss the book with you each week. 

Read Chapters Eight and Nine this week
Here are the discussions questions for these two chapters:

When have you struggled with a long held belief and felt God calling you to let go of it? How did you see the need to change? 

Have you experienced someone making space for you to honestly and respectfully hold a different opinion? What makes this difficult in practice? 

Bishop Curry describes the tension between e pluribus (out of many) and unum (one). How can we make love real with someone while holding convictions counter to theirs? Have you seen this happen? 

How can we live together in profound difference. What does that look like at this moment in history? Are there any differences that make living together impossible?

Holy Comforter looking for Part-Time Youth Minister
 
Church of the Holy Comforter is looking for our next great youth minister.  This is a part-time position, mentoring our youth in grades 6 - 12.  Previous experience in working with youth or Christian Education or a background in teaching is a plus.  Holy Comforter is an inclusive church located in Martinez, GA.   We are looking for someone who is a self-starter but can also work collaboratively with others.  And a sense of humor is always a blessing! Please send your resume to the rector, The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Taylor at pastor@holycomforterchurch.org.  

Muchas Gracias! From the Dominican Republic 
 
Over the past year, Episcopal mask-makers across the Georgia diocese combined to send nearly 15,000 masks to children attending 22 Episcopal schools in the Dominican Republic. Except the schools never opened.
Nine months later, the pandemic is easing, and the severe lockdown in the Dominican Republic is gradually being lifted. Children are visiting their schools, and our masks are being distributed. All schools are expected to open in August and students will be required to wear masks. The prospect of opening schools prompted a call for help from Bishop Moises Quezada Mota in Santo Domingo. That arose from the special Companion relationship we in Georgia have had with Episcopalians in the Dominican Republic for 21 years - a period of both physical and spiritual growth.
Our mission teams have helped build churches and schools, they've painted and landscaped schools and church properties, conducted vacation bible school, provided health care and improved the vision of families, children and the elderly. It is a rich relationship that has brought parishioners and churches in Georgia and the Dominican Republic especially close.
 
Now, Georgia Episcopalians can add masks to the list. Ten churches responded to the Bishop's request. Mask-makers at St. Peter's, St. Matthew's, St. John's and St. George's in Savannah, Christ Church in Valdosta, King of Peace Church in Kingsland, St. Patrick's and St. John's and St. Mark's in Albany and St. Augustine's in Augusta joined the crusade. They were joined by St. Timothy's in Columbia, S.C, and the Ulm Family and MLU Medical Supplies Co. in Athens, GA. Our masks were carried to the Dominican Republic by Agape Flights of Tampa, which transports mission supplies throughout the Caribbean. 
 
The Dominican Republic, particularly its public health system, was hard hit by the Coronavirus. That means the need continues. There are two ways to help. Make the masks yourself, or buy them. Then ship them is to Jim Toedtman at 3 Seaside Lane, Savannah, GA, 31411. Any questions can be directed to him by email (jstoedtman@gmail.com) or cellphone (703) 967-0652.

Two Upcoming Retreats for Deacons and Priests

Overnight Clergy Retreat in May

Deacons and priests of the Diocese of Georgia are invited to an overnight retreat May 17-18 at Honey Creek. There will be no speaker or program, but the clergy will worship together with the Daily Offices and Eucharist. Registration is now open at the Honey Creek website: Spring Clergy Conference registration.

At right, the Rev. Lauren Flowers Byrd leads a session on preaching at a previous clergy conference.

Deacon's Retreat in June
"Being Changed by the Face of Christ"

The 2021 Deacon's Retreat, scheduled June 4-6 at Honey Creek, welcomes the Rev. Becky Rowell and the Rev. Terri Degenhardt to lead us through a weekend of Icon Writing, Meditations and Music. 

Bishop Frank Logue will be spending some time with us during the weekend to answer any questions, concerns, or thanksgivings we may wish to offer. 

Reservations must be made by contacting our Retreat Coordinator, Deacon Geri Nelson at GLNelson609@Gmail.com  Please RSVP as soon as possible so that we may arrange all the details for your visit. 

If financial assistance is needed please contact Archdeacon Yvette Owens: yvetteowens63@gmail.com.

Livestream Calendar Update

  We are collecting updates for our newly organized Live Stream calendar. Please list your updated live stream services including any services throughout Lent and Holy Week. For any future updates to the Live Stream calendar, you can send them to DioGAEvents@gmail.com

To update your service schedule, click here.


Across the Diocese

  Bishop Logue with the group of those confirmed and received at St. Thomas Isle of Hope, Savannah, on Saturday evening.

 
Christian Oelsching (left) and Blake Huennekens (right) both preached this past Sunday at Christ Church, Savannah.


Members of Garden Club at St. Paul's, Augusta, spent the afternoon cleaning up the garden beds and sprucing up the grounds.

Worship with the Diocese of Georgia in Thomson on Sunday

On Sunday we will stream Morning Prayer at 
10 a.m. from Holy Cross in Thomson with Bishop Logue as officiant and preacher and joined by the Rev. Ray Whiting and readers from Holy Cross.


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


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 2021 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2021 Prayer Cycle

May 9 - 15 
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Hinesville, St. Philip's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Hinesville, especially St. Stephen's Catholic Church . In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Matthew (San Mateo) in Jalonga. 

May 16 - 22
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Jesup, St. Paul's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Jesup, especially St. Joseph's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Mount of the Transfiguration (Monte de la Transfiguración) in Jarabacoa.

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.

Diocesan Office Update and News

On Sunday Bishop Logue will officiate and preach Morning Prayer from Holy Cross in Thomson at 10 a.m. To view the services, visit the Diocese of Georgia Facebook Page or the Diocese of Georgia YouTube page. 

Bishop Logue will visit Christ Church Frederica in St. Simons Island on Sunday for a confirmation service.

Canon Katie Easterlin and Bishop Logue meet with the Finance Committee online this Friday to review the first quarter financials and to discuss our plans for paying off the Honey Creek Bonds this year.

You may reach diocesan staff by phone at (912) 236-4279.
Staff e-mails can be found here.

Let Us Know!

What are you doing to keep community right now? Are you gathering for virtual coffee hours, delivering groceries to your neighbors - let us know! Send any updates or photos to our Communications Manager Liz Williams at lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org. We want to hear from you!

Dabbing through Communion  
Bishop Logue joins Bennett from St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah, in a dab, mirroring the 
design on the My First Communion T-shirt that Bennett received as a gift.

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