May 12, 2021
Volume 11, No. 34
IN THIS ISSUE
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"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,
but only God who gives the growth."
-I Corinthians 3:6-7

The good news in this year of ebbing pandemic is that while there is much we can do in our corner of the vineyard, God is doing the heavy lifting and making a difference. The theme for this coming year, including our 200th diocesan convention emphasizes what God is doing among us. In 1 Corinthians, Paul describes the work that he and Apollos did mattered in planting the church in Corinth, but any fruit it came to bear was because of God's action. By growth, we mean not simply increased attendance, but as importantly this refers to spiritual growth and maturity.  
 
Pulling out of pandemic will be a real challenge, as many people have lost the habit of church attendance. But the answer is not for clergy and lay leaders to work harder. There is no Good News in that, neither is it faithful. Instead, we are to do our part, just as Paul planted and Apollos watered. We do have a role to play. But the coming reign of God does not depend on us and our getting it all right. We are to be faithful and to count on God to give the growth.
 
We are already seeing hopeful signs of this occurring. For example, more people than in memory have come forward in pandemic feeling called to serve as deacons and priests. We have also seen newcomers showing up in many congregations, even as long-term parishioners have yet to come back to in person worship. 

God did not bring us this far to leave us. If we faithfully keep Jesus at the center of what we do, God will give the growth.

Register now for the live Q&A session with the Presiding Bishop!

Bishop Logue will moderate a Zoom session next 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. 

We're asking those who would like to participate in the Zoom session to preregister. Registrants will receive a separate email on Monday with the link to the Zoom session. To register, click here

In the meantime, our 1Book1Diocese read of the book continues. We are currently reading Chapters Ten and Eleven 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 Ten and Eleven this week
Here are the discussions questions for these two chapters:

How do you see the connection between faith in Jesus and the care of God's creation? 

Have you ever read or heard a story that changed your perspective on an issue or the world? Whose story was it?

Where do you see faith informing politics as helpful and when does it become problematic? 

When we disagree on an issue, how might working from shared moral and spiritual values change the way we move towards resolution?

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. 

Open Positions Around the Diocese
 
Part-Time Youth Minister at Church of the Holy Comforter
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.  

Full-Time Parish Administrator at St. Thomas Isle of Hope
St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah is searching for a new full-time Parish Administrator. This person would 
provide services and oversight for the administrative, financial, and communication activities of St Thomas Episcopal Church, a parish of approximately 190 families. The Administrator reports to the Church Rector. For the full job description, click here.

Two Upcoming Retreats for Deacons and Priests

Overnight Clergy Retreat Next Week

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 Revs. Cynthia Taylor, Jim Parker, and Kurt Miller 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

 
At  left, St. Mark's Brunswick celebrated Youth Sunday on Mother's Day where seven high school graduates were recognized, and three spoke from the pulpit of their involvement and growth at St. Mark's.  Pictured (L-R)  Jackson Havens, Elliott Youngner, the Rev. Gary Jackson, Associate Priest, Katie Walsh, Heather McGill and Lily Redanz.

At right, The Rev. Scott Mithen, Deacon, honors the graduating seniors from St. Thomas, Thomasville:
Caroline Hiers, Aubrey Sawyer, and Bella Pozo.

 
Bishop Logue with Eva Purdy after her confirmation at Christ Church, Frederica (left). The clergy of Christ Church, the Revs. Becky Rowell, Katie Knoll Lennon, and Ashton Williston pose with Bishop Logue after the service (right).

    
Members of St. Paul's, Albany volunteer at multiple vaccination sites around Albany with intake and registration.

Worship with the Diocese of Georgia in Woodbine on Sunday

On Sunday we will stream Morning Prayer at 
10 a.m. from St. Mark's in Woodbine with Bishop Logue as officiant and preacher and joined by the Revs. Bob and Jeannette Reese and readers from St. Mark's.


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 this link to find other liturgies offered by congregations of the Diocese: 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 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.

May 23 - 29
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Kingsland, King of Peace. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Folkston. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Jimaní, especially St. Paul the Apostle (San Pablo Apostól), St. Titus (San Tito), and St. Ignatius (San Ignacio). 

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

Bishop Logue and Maggie Lyons will meet with the Commission on Ministry on Zoom this Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday morning, Bishop Logue will officiate and preach Morning Prayer from St. Mark's in Woodbine at 10 a.m. To view the services, visit the Diocese of Georgia Facebook Page or the Diocese of Georgia YouTube page. 

On Sunday afternoon, Bishop Logue will hold a liturgy of confirmation for the congregations of the Central Convocation at the Church of the Annunciation, Vidalia, at 3 pm. 

Canon Lasch is on vacation Wednesday, May 12 through Sunday, May 16. 

Maggie Lyons will be out of the office Monday, May 17 through Wednesday, May 19.

Canon Easterlin, Canon Lasch, and Daniel Garrick are participating in the Church Pension Group Benefits Partnership Conference this week. 

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!

Holy Smokes, Batman!   
There was a special guest at the Church of Epiphany in Savannah on Sunday. Hi Batman!

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