June 21, 2017
Volume 7, Number 43
High School Camp at Honey Creek Wraps Up!
Nearly 60 high school students attended camp last week at Honey Creek!
Word art created by the Rev. Josh Varner  using words participants use to describe prayer.
Last week, Honey Creek's camp season began with High School camp! Almost 60 youth who had finished grades 9-12 gathered for a week's worth of all sorts of camp activities including everything from archery, arts and crafts, the ropes course, to a new life skills offering in which campers learned how to change a tire and sort laundry!

During program time throughout the week the campers and counselors considered prayer in its many and various forms. They began by offering the words they associated with prayer, and considering how we define prayer. Throughout the week they wrote prayers, spoke prayers, engaged in centering prayer, and made and used Anglican Prayer Beads. On the last day they wrote prayer words on seed paper, which was then buried in the ground at Honey Creek. We hope that these seeds, like our prayers, will take root and grow wildflowers, making Honey Creek even more beautiful.
Spiritual leaders the Revs. Joshua Varner (left) and the Rev. David Rose.
Campers process to plant seeds of prayers on Honey Creek's grounds.
The joy of Honey Creek's pool on a hot summer day.
In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
Third Sunday After
Pentecost

Go   
for the full text.
From left: Fred Richter, Phyllis Hiers, the Rev. Dave Johnson, Bonnie Hanson, Paul Johnson, Erin Twomey, Grady Lacy, Reverendo Samuel Daniel (vicar at Monte de la Transfiguración), the Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath, Paul Stevenson, Caroline Hiers, Meg Hiers, Reverenda Diácona Aurianne Rosier de Samuel, Bill Querin, Julia Ariail, Julius Ariail.

Dominican Republic Missioners Return Home
The 14 Dominican Republic missioners on the team sponsored by Christ Church Valdosta returned home on Monday, June 19. They were based at the Campamento Monte de la Transfiguración in the central highlands, in the village of El Pedregal near the city of Jarabacoa.

While at the Campamento, they laid a concrete floor for a house in the village to be used by their longtime translator, conducted Vacation Bible School for the 120 children enrolled in the local Episcopal school, vaccinated 56 dogs and cats against rabies, put on a "splash party" for those same children to celebrate the end of their school year, and installed two new basketball rims and chain nets on the Campamento's basketball court.

Christ Church has been sending mission teams to this community since 2001, and so another activity was walking through the village greeting longtime friends and showing new missioners the houses and other projects accomplished over the years.

They also hiked to a nearby waterfall (crossing a river on a suspension bridge) in the mountains close to the Campamento and attended an annual flower festival in Jarabacoa. On Sunday, June 18, the Rev. Deacon Culbreath assisted in the worship service and read the Gospel in English while Padre Daniel's wife, the Rev. Deacon Marie Aurianne Rosier de Samuel, read it in Spanish.
 
This trip marks the fourth and final trip of a DR mission team scheduled in 2017. To get an overview of the work of the other three teams in 2017 and the Diocese of Georgia's companion relationship with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic, click here.
Evangelism Training This Weekend! Don't Miss It!

Three of the top Evangelism leaders in the Episcopal Church will be in the Diocese of Georgia this weekend and it's something that's not to be missed! Jeremy Tackett, Digital Evangelist (left); The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, the Presiding Bishop's Canon for Evangelism and Reconciliation (center) and Carrie Boren Headington, Missioner Evangelist, will lead two workshops this weekend! Have you registered yet? 

Register to attend in Savannah
Saturday, June 24 from 1-4 pm
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, GA 31411
 Register to attend in Tifton
Sunday, June 25 from 1-4 pm
St. Anne's Episcopal Church
2411 Central Ave. N., Tifton, GA 31794

Revival: Fearless Faith, Boundless Love, an event on September 17th featuring the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and honoring the life and legacy of Deaconess Anna Alexander, is less than three months away and registration has been open for just a week but already 50 people have registered online. Two churches in the Diocese will be hiring buses, St. Matthew's Savannah, and Good Shepherd Augusta, and the Dioceses of South Carolina and Florida are also sending contingents.

Check out the event website here: EpiscopalRevivalinGeorgia2017 , go online to register here, and we will share more news along the way to the Revival!
Around the Diocese 


Two organists retired this week. At left the Rev. Robert Fain 
presents a print of Good Shepherd Augusta to Jack McCraney on the occasion of  his retirement as organist for the 8 AM service. At right, Rick Carlson retired as organist and choir director at St. Thomas' Thomasville.
At St. Matthew's Savannah this past Sunday, the congregation celebrated Father's Day by honoring fathers in the congregation and with a presentation by local author Trelani Michelle. From left: Conrad Kelley, Dean Williams, Edward Vaughn, Trelani Michelle, Fr. Guillermo Arboleda, General Cope, Grant Pearson, and Anthony Watts.


St. Margaret's of Scotland hosted a luncheon for the Ellenton Clinic (above, and below, left.)

In the photo above at right, the Rev. Alan Akridge, Rector of St. Mark's Brunswick and his son Harrison stand with congregant Charlotte Snyder. Mr. Akridge and his son will be paddleboarding 111 miles from Key Largo to Key West in July as a fund/awareness raiser for Cystic Fibrosis research which affects Charlotte. For more information, go 
 here.
The Administrator's Corner
It's Audit Season and We're in This Together!

Next week auditors will be onsite at Diocesan House to review fiscal year 2016. Many of our congregations are going through the same process this summer. It can be a daunting task for administrators, clergy, and volunteers to get themselves organized each year for a review. Here are some best practices to consider: 

As a reminder, audits of financials are required every year by Diocese of Georgia churches and organizations. If the annual operating budget is greater than $500,000, the canons require a full third party audit. If less than $500,000, the Diocese has a 36-question internal control checklist that was created to assist a review committee in conducting an audit of church finances to ensure that the proper controls are in place. All audits are submitted for final report to the Diocesan office by September 1st. Many congregations partner each year to review and conduct checklists for submission. You can find the checklist 
here.

 
1. Keep detailed records
Each year, a vestry should review the record keeping practices of its parish/organization. Whether on paper or electronic, detailed records of accounts payables, receivables, endowments, assets, and other detailed financial transactions should be kept in a well-organized and effectively researched manner.

2. Maintain security
Many records have sensitive information, so ensure that files are either password protected, on a secure network, or kept in locked file cabinets. 

3. Make a checklist
Many professional audit firms will provide a detailed checklist of items to gather and review. Checklists are a great way to get organized for record pulling and review. Review the internal controls checklist to determine what files and reports help answer audit questions. Your checklist can also help administrators and volunteers divvy up tasks and take ownership for reporting information. 

4. Determine recommendations
Each audit should result in recommendations for the improvement of procedures, policies, and reporting for the coming year--even if it's small improvements--and determining best practices for financial controls.

5. Report and communicate
Once an audit is complete, make sure to provide reports to vestry members and communicate the impact of reports to congregations. This helps to support budgets and annual stewardship campaigns.

Audits are designed to help churches to manage resources. Additionally, they provide a great opportunity for vestries to learn the detailed administration requirements. Many people get nervous around this time-period, but it can also be an incredible learning opportunity for your leadership and community.

Katie Willoughby
Canon for Administration
Bishop Visitations




















Bishop Benhase visited All Saints Thomasville and St. James' Quitman last Sunday. In the photo at left,  he stands with (front row, from left) three confirmands Hendley Bryan, Harris Jackson and Sam Watts and back row, the Rev. Paul Hancock, Rector and the Rev. Deacon Scott Mithen. At St. James Quitman, right, in the front row are from left, confirmands Susannah Borg, Susan Bodine and Susan Yonge; also Johnny Campbell  who was received into the Communion of the Church. Back row, the Rev. Jim Elliott, Vicar at St. James, the Bishop, and the Rev. Deacon Nancy Sartin.

Also at All Saints' Thomasville, the Bishop blessed the new addition to the church building, shown above. The Rev. Deacon Scott Mithen assists the Bishop in the dedication in the photo at right.

Share your news in From the Field
Send your news, events and photos to  so we can feature them in upcoming issues of From the Field. Deadline for submissions each week is Monday at 4:30 PM.  
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 52 weekly prayers are available in one document  found here. 

June 18 - 24
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Moultrie, St. Margaret of Scotland. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Moultrie, especially Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for   Santa María Virgen (St. Mary the Virgin) in Montellano.

June 25 - July 1
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Quitman, St. James. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Jude Catholic Church in Glennville. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the church of  Divina Gracia (Divine Grace) in Mozovi.
Diocesan Office Update and News  
Bishop Benhase will make his annual visitation on Sunday, June 25th to St. Paul's Augusta at 10:00 AM. The Bishop's full schedule is available  here. 

Canon Logue will be on a pilgrimage in Scotland and England from June 24 through July 7 when he and Victoria and other pilgrims hike St. Cuthbert's Way to the Holy Island of Lindisfrane.

The Rev. Guillermo Arboleda , Priest-in-Charge at St. Matthew's Savannah, will officiate at the 12 noon Thursday service in the Chapel of St. George at Diocesan House.
Because We Always Love Another Honey Creek Photo!

Summer Camp at Honey Creek is an essential ministry for youth and young adults. If you feel a call to support, but you're not sure how, contact Dade Brantley at dade@honeycreek.org. Camp ministry is alive because of people like you!
Events
Evangelism Training
Saturday, June 24 from 1-4 pm
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
3 West Ridge Road, Savannah, GA 31411 
Register  here.  

Evangelism Training
Sunday, June 25 from 1-4 pm
St. Anne's Episcopal Church
2411 Central Ave. N., Tifton, GA 31794
Register here.  

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
August 26, 9:30 AM to noon
Annunciation, Vidalia
Register 
here


Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
September 9, 9:30 AM to noon
St. George's, Savannah
Register  here.
 
Revival: Boundless Love Fearless Faith
September 17
10 AM Service at Good Shepherd Pennick
3 PM Revival at Honey Creek with Fellowship beginning at 2 PM
For more information, go here: www.EpiscopalRevivalinGeorgia2017.org
 
Fall Clergy Conference
September 17-19
Honey Creek Retreat Center

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 21, 9:30 AM to noon
Holy Comforter Martinez
Register  here.

Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
October 28, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Paul's, Albany
Register  here.

Commission on Ministry
1:30 PM Friday, November 3 until noon Saturday, November 3
Location TBA 
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