April 19, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 16 | |
Worship at the Blue Goose | |
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Military Veterans in Augusta have the Holy Eucharist in their Nursing Home thanks to the faithfulness of two Episcopal priests. The worship is offered at the Georgia War Veterans home, which is affectionately known as the Blue Goose. The 192-bed residential facility cares for the needs of those who served from WWII to the Persian Gulf wars.
Prior to the pandemic, the Rev. Larry Jesion, Rector of St. Michael's in Waynesboro, had been providing occasional Eucharist services for several years. These fell on Ash Wednesday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas morning, and other holidays for the staff and residents. Thanksgiving Day 2022 was the first Eucharist service since the pandemic; residents and staff were vocal in their excitement to once again have worship services they could attend.
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The residents and staff of the Blue Goose say that they had been starved for worship, especially since being socially isolated during the pandemic. One resident commented, “I receive visits and communion from members of my church, but what I really miss is the worship service with other people.”
Motivated by the longing for worship he found at the Blue Goose, Jesion sought out the Rev. Glenn Palmer, the Interim Rector of Holy Comforter in Martinez. As a former Army chaplain who retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Palmer jumped at the opportunity to assist in providing residents and staff with consistent worship services.
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The two priests now offer a twice a month Holy Eucharist at the Blue Goose are on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 10 AM. Many regular worshippers are not Episcopalians. One of these participants asked their pastor if it was good for him to take part in these services. The veteran was excited to tell Jesion and Palmer that his pastor encouraged him to participate to the fullest.
“Our Eucharist worship has truly ecumenical participation as Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, and Episcopalians all participate in worship together,” Jesion said.
Pictured: Sign outside the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home (top); the Rev. Larry Jesion imposing ashes on Ash Wednesday (middle); the Rev. Glenn Palmer preaching during Eucharist (bottom).
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Songs of Deliverance: Choral Music of Faith, Hope, and Perseverance | |
On Saturday April 22, at 7:00 p.m., come hear the new Savannah-based professional chamber choir Musica Atlantica, under the direction of George Fergus, offer “Songs of Deliverance,” a concert of choral music about faith, hope, and perseverance. Works by Howells, Valverde, Weston, and others, and featuring Hubert Parry’s masterpiece set of six motets, Songs of Farewell. The concert is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow. Musica Atlantica is a new Savannah-based professional choral ensemble in residence at Christ Church. Its mission is to uphold and promote contemporary choral works by composers from the entire breadth of the choral tradition, alongside established landmarks in the repertoire.
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Forum for Faith Leaders on
addiction and recovery
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Join the Revs. Tommy Townsend and Kevin Kelly as they present a forum about dealing with addiction, recovery, and what we can (and can't) do as faith leaders to help. They will present stories from their own experiences both as priests and as people in recovery, stories of success and heartbreak, in the hopes that those who participate will leave that day with tools in their hand to respond when someone reaches out for help.
The forum will talk place at First African Baptist Church at 23 Montgomery Street in Savannah on May 1, 2023 from 11:30am-1:30pm. For more information, including how to RSVP, contact the Rev. Kevin Kelly at padrerkk@gmail.com.
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Hotels Available for Diocesan Convention | |
Three hotels have set aside small blocks of rooms for the 2023 Diocesan Convention in Augusta. As these blocks fill, more rooms will become available. Look for updates on room availability in future editions of From the Field. | |
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Home2Suites
3606 Exchange Lane
Augusta GA 30909
$119 +tax and fees
(706) 733-8787
Ask for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia group rate.
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Springhill Suites
1110 Marks Church Road
Augusta GA 30909
$129 +tax and fees
706-396-6600 x 0 and ask for the Episcopal Diocese group rate.
To book online click here.
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Updated expense reimbursement form | |
Youth from Saint Paul's in Augusta and St. Bartholomew's across the river in South Carolina shared a fun-filled afternoon at the Living History Park in North Augusta. They attended “Under the Crown” and enjoyed contra dancing, colonial life demonstrations, and even had a visit with Benjamin Franklin. | |
Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island enjoyed Holy Humor Sunday with fun costumes. This medieval European tradition was to observe the Sunday after Easter as Risus Paschalis (Easter Laugh) to mark the joy of the supreme joke God played on Satan by raising Jesus from the dead. | |
Members of St. Phillip's in Hinesville volunteered at Manna House for Good Friday. | |
The newest members of the Daughters of the King chapter at Holy Nativity on St. Simons Island. | |
The Rev. Susan Gage celebrates at the outdoor altar the first Sunday of Easter at St. Barnabas in Valdosta. | |
Bishop Logue with the newest confirmands, Shannon (left) and Len (right) at Church of the Annunciation in Vidalia on Sunday. Shannon is a Vidalia Police Detective, who was on duty during the liturgy. | |
The North Transcept windows at Calvary in Americus have been removed to be restored, and the Nave windows will soon follow. | |
Bishop Logue with the students, chaplain, and faculty sponsor after the Tuesday evening Eucharist in the chapel of the Episcopal Campus Ministry house at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. | |
Update your parish information | |
The Diocese is requesting that each parish fill out the form linked below with updated information on those in leadership roles at the church. The staff uses this information to make sure that critical communications are directed to the correct person in each parish.
To fill out the form, click here.
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Episcopal Church Women Retreat
- When: April 21-22, 2023
- Who: ECW & DOK Members
- Where: St. John's, Bainbridge
To register click here.
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Clergy Spouse & Family Retreat
Rediscovering Joy with
Dr. Bertice Berry
Where: Honey Creek
Who: Clergy Spouses & Family
When: May 5-6, 2023
Contact the Rev. Helen White
for more information at helen.white@ccesavannah.org. Scholarship assistance is available.
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Clergy Conferences
Spring Clergy Conference: April 24-26
Fall Clergy Conference: October 2-4
The Spring Conference will include Mental Health First Aid Training. The Fall Conference will be a deep dive into the Gospel of Matthew with the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, a New Testament scholar who is Dean and President of the Seminary of the Southwest. This is to prepare us for preaching Year B of the lectionary, with its readings from Mark's Gospel. Both conferences will be held at Honey Creek.
Register for the Spring Clergy Conference here.
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SWGA Clergy Spouse Gathering
Spouses of clergy in the Southwest Convocation will meet for lunch on Saturday, May 20 at noon at the home of John and Rev Marcia McRae at 2701 Green Meadow Dr Valdosta 31602, spouses from other convocations are more than welcome to join. Lunch will be provided. This is meet and greet for new spouses to the convocation.
Please RSVP to John McRae at jhmcrae@bellsouth.net or 229-220-5619.
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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.
April 23 - 29
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our Grovetown Episcopal-Lutheran Mission, and our ecumenical partners in the Catholic churches in Cuthbert and Donalsonville—St. Luke's and the Church of the Incarnation. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Christ the Liberator (Cristo Libertador) in Hato Mayor.
April 30 - May 6
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Hawkinsville, St. Luke’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Eastman. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Jesus the Messiah (Jesús Mesías) in Imbert.
31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised February 28, 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. (Updated 2/28/2023)
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Diocesan Office Update and News | |
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Bishop Logue will make his visitation to St. Mark's in Brunswick on Sunday and will then be at Honey Creek for the Spring Clergy Conference Monday through Wednesday.
To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2023 - 1/2/2023)
Picture: Bishop Logue during the Eucharist at the Cursillo Ultreya on Saturday.
Canon Lasch is on sabbatical and will return on May 4. Canons Katie Easterlin and Joshua Varner are working with Bishop Logue to cover her areas of responsibility.
Communications Manager Liz Williams will be at the Episcopal Communicators Conference at Camp Allen in Texas next week.
Canon Varner will be at Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island on Sunday for the Celebration of the ECW Tour of Homes. He will then be at Honey Creek for the Spring Clergy Conference Monday through Wednesday.
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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Mickey spotted on the Sabbatical! | |
If you know anything about Canon Loren Lasch, it is her undying love for all things Disney. So of course it makes sense that she spots Mickey on her travels! | | | | |
