January 24, 2024 | Volume 14, No. 4

Honey Creek marks 100th year of

Summer Camp in 2024

For 30 years, the Diocese of Georgia enjoyed summer camp sessions on St. Simons Island. These began as a modest offering when the Rev. W.A. Jonnard, an associate at St. John’s in Savannah, took 14 young people for a two-week stay on the island. That summer and in the years until the Diocese built a camp, the group lived in rooms at a beach motel. 

In 1932, the Diocese purchased ten lots of land a few hundred yards from the Atlantic Ocean using a gift of $7,500 from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chapin of Thomasville and $2,300 in diocesan funds (a total of $218,000 in 2020 dollars). The Diocese built Chapin Hall at the Camp Reese named for Bishop Frederick F. Reese, who was the Bishop of Georgia at the time of the purchase. 

Eleven additional lots were added and buildings given in subsequent years. St. John’s Church in Savannah built Jonnard Cottage in 1933. The next year, Christ Church in Savannah built Wright Cottage in honor of their Rector, the Rev. David Cady Wright. St. Paul’s and Good Shepherd in Augusta added the Augusta Cottage in 1936. Funded from various gifts in 1938, Aiken Cottage was named in honor of Frank Aiken of Brunswick. Also in 1938, the Young People’s Service Group built Alexander Cottage in honor of Deaconess Anna Alexander who worked at the camp in the summer to raise money to support the school in Pennick. Alexander Cottage was described as a servants’ house for the camp.

By 1954, the buildings were becoming out-moded and the original privacy of the Camp was being lost as a result of continued residential construction adjoining the Camp. The Convention voted to sell the property. In the years between Camp Reese and Honey Creek, the diocese held youth conferences at Kolomoki State Park in Blakely and at Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton.

A successful fundraising drive provided funds to build a permanent camp and conference center on land provided by Brunswick Pulp and Paper Company on Dover Bluff Road in Camden County bounded on the East by Honey Creek; hence the common name for our retreat center.

In 1955, a young architect Blake Ellis, an Episcopalian fresh out of Georgia Tech, was approached by Bishop Albert Stuart to lay out a master plan and design the buildings for a new camp and conference center in Camden County. Many names of buildings from the former Camp Reese were honored at Honey Creek. Ellis, a long-term communicant at Christ Church in Valdosta, designed the Chapel of Our Savior, three dormitories, a dining hall, and two cottages on the 100-acre maritime forest along the tidal creek. These buildings and a pool were completed in time for springtime retreats for adults and the first summer camp session in 1960.

The Department of Christian Education of the Diocese planned programs that were participated in by 622 men, women, boys, and girls. It was an invaluable experience in Christian living and Christian education. That the first year of use of the new Center proved to be such a smooth operation with such fine results was due to the careful planning and hard work of the teaching staff and permanent staff, and above all to the devotion of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Hammatt, the first resident Custodians. Bishop Stuart also facilitated a widely acclaimed free annual camping program for 400 underprivileged children at Honey Creek. Credit for the success of the program was widely given to the organizer, Commander Robert Clinton of St. John’s in Moultrie.

Summer camp remains a signature ministry of the Diocese of Georgia, with campers that have family members who started out as campers at Camp Reese. As we get closer to the kick off of the 2024 camp season, look for ways that you and your parish can celebrate the years of impactful ministry at your own parish. If you'd like to have Executive Director Dade Brantley come to your church, email him at dade@honeycreek.org.

Continue the tradition of camp!

Summer camp 2024 dates have been set, and registration is now open! Scholarship assistance is available. To see all camp dates and how to register visit honeycreek.org/camps. Applications for camp staff are also live! To apply to be a counselor for the 2024 season, visit bit.ly/HCCampStaffApp. Camp counselors are required to attend a camp staff retreat before camp sessions begin. For any additional questions, email Summer Camp Director Karen Bell at karenmackenziebell@gmail.com.

Top photo: a member of St. Mark's in Brunswick marches in the parade with the St. Mark's banner; top left: members of Glynn Episcopal churches with their banner in the parade.

New Beginnings #61 Staff Gathers to Prepare

for Youth Event

Last weekend, the staff of New Beginnings 61 gathered at Christ Church, Frederica, for an overnight retreat to prepare to welcome participants in grades 7-9 to New Beginnings, which will take place February 9-11 at Honey Creek. The staff are led by Lead Teen Eva Purdy, child of the Very Rev. Tom Purdy, who serves as the Rector of Christ Church. During the event the staff reflected on their past experiences of New Beginnings, decided which youth would offer talks during the upcoming event, and discussed small group activities. Of course, they also took time to play games, hang out together, and worship together! The group was commissioned as the Staff of New Beginnings 61 during the 9:15 worship service at Christ Church on Sunday morning.

New Beginnings Participant Registration is still open! Sign up soon, so that supplies can be ordered (including T-Shirts) staff can be fully prepared and all the arrangements can be made to make this New Beginnings amazing!

The link for participants to register for New Beginnings is https://bit.ly/NBParticipants. Please contact Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with any challenges with the online registration or to discuss scholarship opportunities. For other questions, you may also contact New Beginnings Coordinator, Karen Bell at karenmackenziebell@gmail.com. 

1Book1Diocese Discussion Guide Available

This Lent, the Diocese of Georgia offers a study using a book written by the directors of a more than eight-decade-long study of what makes for a fulfilling life. The Harvard Study of Human Development offers a window into lives of meaning and purpose through the data they have collected. The book also looks at what is gleaned from similar studies around the world. While the book itself does not make connections to our faith in Jesus, the discussion guide does.

As the authors write, "The good life is joyful ... and challenging. Full of love, but also pain." And for those of us who follow Jesus, the good life is one in which loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself is central. We will see how these two greatest commandments connect to the key insights of the study that is the heart of this book. Join Episcopalians around Central and South Georgia for this 1Book1Diocese read this Lent.

The discussion guide is designed for a five-week study beginning in the week after the First Sunday in Lent and ending the week following the Fifth Sunday in Lent.

Click here for the discussion guide for groups



1Book1Diocese for Advent 2024

This Advent, we will explore what it means to say "God is love" through a book meant to be both the starting point of one's spiritual journey or a means of drawing one deeper into relationship with God. The Love that is God: An Invitation to Christian Faith is the work of Frederick Christian Bauerchmidt, a Roman Catholic Deacon who is a Professor of Theology at Loyola University.

The Archbishop of Canterbury honored The Love that is God the 2023 Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing. Archbishop Justin Welby said the book, "embodies the heart of Christian faith," and presents "a timeless message that drives us deeper in God's arms and outwards to love others." A discussion guide for groups will be offered in From the Field closer to Advent.

Updated expense reimbursement form

There is an updated expense reimbursement form for 2024 now available. This includes the updated mileage rate set by the IRS. To download the form, click here. It will also be linked in the 'Resource Library' page on the diocesan website in the 'Various Other Documents' section.

LAST CALL: Leading with Grace Workshop #1 at St. Paul's in Albany on January 27

Workshop #1—Leading with Grace in Church Ministry—January 27 in Albany, GA, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Facilitators: The Revs. Tar Drazdowski and June Johnson; Carey Wooten.

In this workshop, participants will

1. learn and use models for examining and enriching congregational development;
2. discover their different leadership styles and learn the value of sharing ministry leadership;
3. practice using facilitation skills in small groups; and
4. practice leading prayer practices and Bible studies.  

Registration is $35 and limited to 50 participants. Sign up today!!!

The following link includes descriptions of each workshop: Workshop Descriptions.

To register, click here.

For more information about Leadership Ministries, click here.

RJGA last book study meeting for January

January 25 will be the last book discussion with Racial Justice Georgia for January. They will continue hosting a Zoom-based discussion of Anne C. Bailey's book The Weeping Time: Memory and the Largest Slave Auction in American History. 

The book tells the story of a major event in US history, on the Georgia coast, with Episcopalians as key figures. The book is divided into three parts, and we'll discuss one part per session. Please join us, at 7pm, at this link: Zoom link.

Across the Diocese

Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta had a great kick-off with over 40 volunteers going to Golden Harvest Food Bank and preparing over 1500 backpack meals for children in need in the community.

Victoria Logue (center), president of Episcopal Youth and Children's Services, leads the EYCS board in their annual meeting.

The Rev. Becky Rowell fron Christ Church Frederica (left) leads the vestry of St. George's in Savannah in a visioning and planning session.

The Men in Blue at Christ Church in Valdosta braved the chilly temperatures to man the grill for the Annual Meeting and lunch at the parish.

The congregation of St. Luke's in Hawkinsville with Bishop Logue after the service.

Upcoming Events

New Beginnings #61

Who: 7th-9th Graders

When: February 9-11, 2024



Participant Registration

Clergy Conflict Transformation Workshop

Who: All clergy

Where: Honey Creek

When: March 4-8, 2024

Contact the Rev. Becky Rowell (browell221@gmail.com) and the Rev. Melanie Lemburg (revmelanie@stthomasioh.org) to RSVP.

Happening #109

Who: 9th - 12th Graders

Where: Honey Creek

When: April 5-7, 2024

Staff Application

Participant Registration

Cursillo #128

Where: Honey Creek

When: April 25-28, 2024

Team Application

Participant Registration

Spring Clergy Conference

Who: All clergy

Where: Honey Creek

When: April 29 - May 1, 2024

Summer Camp

High School Camp

June 2-8, 2024

Registration

Middle School Camp

June 9-15, 2024

Registration

Elementary School Camp

June 16-22, 2024

Registration

Fall Clergy Conference

Who: All clergy

Where: Honey Creek

When: September 30 - October 2, 2024

Diocesan Convention

Where: UGA Tifton Conference Center

When: November 8-9, 2024

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.

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 2024 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2024 Prayer Cycle. 

January 28 - February 3

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Augusta, especially, Good Shepherd and St. Alban’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Augusta, especially the Catholic Churches of St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Joseph, and St. Mary on the Hill. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Barahona — Jesus the Pilgrim (Jesús Peregrino), Redemption (La Redención), and Lamb of God (Cordero de Dios). 

February 4 - 10

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Augusta, especially, St. Augustine’s, St. Mary’s, and St. Paul’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Adel, and St. Ann Catholic Church in Alapaha. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Boca Chica —Grace (De la Gracia), Mount Zion (Monte de Sión), and St. Joseph (San José)

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised January 1, 2024

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.

Bishop Logue will make his visitation to Our Savior in Martinez on Sunday.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. Updated 1/16/2024

Photo: Bishop Logue with newly confirmed Robert and those who presented him for confirmation at St. Luke's in Hawkinsville.

Executive Director of Honey Creek Dade Brantley will be attending the Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers (ECCC) conference at Camp Beckwith in Alabama next week.

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.

Church at Saint Paul's in Augusta is way more fun with your best friend by your side!