March 23, 2022 | Volume 12, No. 12

The 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church meets in Baltimore this July. This governance meeting for our denomination has been a triennial one since its founding, but the pandemic caused the 2021 convention to be postponed a year. Committee hearings on legislation have always been open to any Episcopalian. With those meetings starting on Zoom there is an opportunity to have your voice heard without traveling to the convention site.

“Most Episcopalians hear from afar of the work of the General Convention and have no way to speak directly to this meeting which provides direction for our church,” Bishop Logue said. “This convention provides a chance for voices from across our church to be heard and Episcopalians in Georgia should be among those speaking up.”

How to find proposed legislation

The initial legislation, created by the standing commissions, task forces and other interim bodies are together in PDF files online here 2021 Blue Book. Additional resolutions will be submitted by dioceses, deputies, clergy, and bishops. For now, you can look at the Blue Book for issues about which you are passionate. You can listen to the testimony of others and if you wish, you may speak to the committee about the resolution.

How to Register

These online hearings will continue now through May 21 online. In order to join a committee meeting or hearing, attendees need to fill out an online registration form, specifying the committee name, date and time. Registration must be received at least two business days before the meeting. Look up the committee’s meetings online here and the relevant resolutions they’re considering 2021 Virtual Binder 

Why Get Involved?

This is the first opportunity for the whole (technologically accessible) church to give input on legislation. This is how we shape the future and direction of our denomination. If you see legislation you wish to change, you should take this opportunity to shape the actions the General Convention might take. 

Two hotel options for the 2022 diocesan convention have been secured, one in downtown Savannah and one in midtown Savannah.

Both hotel blocks will expire on October 11, 2022.

DOWNTOWN

Courtyard by Marriott - $199+tax + $20 valet

415 West Liberty St. Savannah, Georgia 31401

912.644.6880

Click here to reserve your room at the Courtyard by Marriott

MIDTOWN

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott - $159+tax + $5 per day parking

5801 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31405

912-298-0800  

Click here to reserve your room at the Fairfield Inn & Suites

This is the second week of 1Book1Diocese for Lent as we read Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again by Rachel Held Evans.

Questions for every week of the study

Each week, the group may use the following prompts as an icebreaker:

• How have you seen or experienced God’s love in the previous week?
• Put another away, what has been Godly or what was your moment closest to Christ?

After working through the questions for the week, close with the following questions as time permits:

• What stood out to you in the section you read?
• What reinforced your existing opinions of the Bible and what challenged them?

Week 4 - Discuss The Debate, and Wisdom Stories

Rachel says, “In many ways, the Bible of my youth was set up to fail.” Have your expectations of the Bible ever disappointed you?

How have you observed wisdom as circumstantial? What are some examples of advice being helpful and true in one scenario, but false in another (like “you reap what you sow”)?

Were you aware of the Bible’s “angry psalms”? Why might there be a need for them in scripture?

What do you make of the claim that the Bible includes tensions and even contradictions?

The full reading guide can be found here.

Staff applications for Happening #106 are now live!

Youth must have attended one previous Happening as a candidate in order to apply for staff.

There is a required staff lock in for all those who will serve on the weekend.

To apply for staff, click here.

• When: May 6-8, 2022
• Who: Youth in Grades 7-9
• Where: Honey Creek!
• Cost: $125 per person

New Beginnings #57, a retreat for youth currently in Grades 7-9, is open for registration. This event is led by older youth, with adult support. In a time of increased anxiety and uncertainty, New Beginnings offers young people a chance to gather at Honey Creek offers young people a chance to step back from their daily lives and reflect on some of the big issues of life, such as Family, Peer Pressure, Friends, and how the Love God has for all of us is unconditional and everlasting. Participant Registration is available here: https://bit.ly/NB57Participants. 

The Lead Teen for New Beginnings #57 is Jake Diamond, of Christ Church, Valdosta.

As you make plans for a holy Lent, consider a Creation-focused retreat for adults at Honey Creek, led by the Creation Care Commission. The retreat will begin on the evening of Friday, March 25, and end late Saturday afternoon with Eucharist. 

The theme for the retreat is “All Things New,” inspired by Rev. 21:5 (“See, I am making all things new”). Christ’s redemptive work began as an angel announces to Mary that she would give birth to the Savior, and it will be completed in the New Creation when Christ makes all things new. God has graciously invited us who live between these two events to participate by planting seeds that Christ will bring to fruition. Join us as we explore these themes through worship, contemplative prayer and conversation, hands-on activities, and earth art. The retreat will also include fellowship with others in the Diocese of Georgia who are interested in the care of God's Creation, and conversation with Bishop Logue. 

The retreat will be led by Creation Care Commission members Rev. Leeann Culbreath (St. John & St. Mark's, Albany), Rev. Nathan Wilson (St. Paul's, Jesup) and Laura Walker (St. Paul's, Savannah). 

There is no registration fee. Meals (Dinner on Friday, Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday) cost $45. Lodging options include Hunt Cottage (women), Lodge rooms, and camping (with dorm access). Commuter rate is $10 + meals. Weather and gnats permitting, the bulk of the retreat will be centered out of the Ecology Center, near the dock.  Please fill out this form first https://forms.gle/2UHSvEwuZLLUFGFb7 which includes information on completing your registration with Honey Creek. 

Labyrinth Coordinator Camille Woodruff leads a group at St. Michael's in Waynesboro

for their labyrinth day.

Our acolytes are an essential part of worship. Above are a torchbearer at St. Thomas in Thomasville, and the Gospel Bearer and Crucifer at Christ Church in Savannah.

The Rev. Lonnie Lacy from St. Anne's in Tifton blessed the Patrick Farms in Omega.

Christ Church in Dublin opened their James Crabb Episcopal Center as a baby changing station during Dublin's annual St. Patrick's Day festival.

From March 10-13, the Episcopal Cursillo Ministries Committee, (the national committee for The Cursillo movement) met at Honey Creek. This committee comprised of members from Oregon to Florida and most points in between met to discuss strengthening Cursillo and its mission. Ms.Rose Wilson from St. Mark's, Brunswick and the Rev. Hallock Martin from St. Matthew's, Fitzgerald both serve on the committee. The committee is pictured worshiping and celebrating the Holy Eucharist in the Chapel of Our Savior and celebrating their final evening together at Zachry's Seafood and Steakhouse.

As each day gets a little bit longer, our thoughts turn toward summer, even while it’s still cold. And this coming summer we are planning to return to our traditional Summer Camp Season! Registration is now open! Visit honeycreek.org/camps to register for the appropriate camp sessions!

• High School Camp (Completed Grades 9-12, & graduated seniors): June 12-18
• Camp St. Peter I (Completed Grades 6-8): June 19-25
• Camp St. Joseph & Mary I (Completed Grades 3-5): June 26-July 2
• Camp St. Joseph & Mary II (Completed Grades 3-5): July 10-16
• Camp St. Peter II (Completed Grades 6-8): July 17-23

We are actively recruiting college students and others who have completed high school to serve as Summer Camp Counselors. If you are or someone you know are interested in a summer experience that can be life-changing both for yourself and for the campers, apply now! The Staff Application is available online here: https://bit.ly/HoneyCreekSummerStaffApp

Have questions about camp? About serving as a counselor? Contact Summer Camp Director Karen Bell at karenmackenziebell@gmail.com or Canon Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org.

Christ Church in Savannah is seeking an Administrative Assistant. This will be 12-16 hours per week, and includes the following:

• helping to develop and coordinate docents and the docent program
• Coordinate, train, and supervise the bulletin assembly team
• Meet parishioners or workers in the church as needed
• Assist with other administrative tasks as needed

This position will report to the Director of Administration. For more information, contact Catherine Gussler at cmgussler@gmail.com.

St. Peter's in Savannah is seeking Nursery Attendants. St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is a group of Christians enthusiastic about making a difference for others on Skidaway Island, in Savannah and abroad, which you can read about at www.saintpeterssav.org. If you are interested, please submit a resume and cover letter to The Rev. Kelly Steele, Priest-In-Charge at St. Peter’s at ksteele@saintpeterssav.org or 912-598-7242.

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 2022 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2022 Prayer Cycle.

March 20 - 26

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Dawson, the Church of the Holy Spirit. We pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Camilla, and St. Christopher Catholic Church in Claxton. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Michael’s (San Miguel) in Doña Ana and The Grand Commission (La Gran Comisión) in Doña Lila. 

March 27 - April 2

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. 

Newly Revised 31-Day 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. (Updated 3/1/2022)

Bishop Logue returned Tuesday from Texas for the House of Bishops meeting. This weekend he will participate in the Creation Care retreat at Honey Creek. On Sunday, he will make his visitation to Grace Episcopal Church in Waycross.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated 3/22/2022)



Pictured here: The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church met for the first time in person since 2019 at Camp Allen in Texas last week.

Canon Lasch is attending the Diocesan Transition Ministers conference at Camp Allen in Texas this week. She will have limited availability during the conference.

Cannon Easterlin will be at Grace Episcopal Church in Sandersville on Thursday.

Daniel Garrick will be on vacation Thursday through Monday.

Today is Maggie Brantley Lyons's birthday.

Canon Varner will celebrate and preach at St. George's in Savannah on Sunday.



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.

A picture perfect moment at St. Anne's in Tifton during their Wednesday night programs.