March 29, 2017
Volume 7, Number 31
Invite Welcome Connect, the Movie
Have you been wondering how to implement Invite Welcome Connect? Do you want to generate some enthusiasm among the members of your congregation? Here's a compelling video to help you do so:
http://bit.ly/implementingInviteWelcomeConnect 
In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Down to the River to Pray
Little River at Reed Bingham State Park
He leads me beside still waters, He revives my soul. Psalm 23
Celebrate Earth Day with the Creation Care Commission on their second "Down to the River to Pray" half-day river retreat on Saturday, April 22 from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

The float trip explores a peaceful section of the Little River at Reed Bingham State Park, in the southwestern part of the Diocese. This out-and-back trip starts at Red Roberts Landing on the northern edge of the park and travels through tupelo tunnels and cypress coves; it is suitable for beginners and families. The group will enjoy one of South Georgia's beautiful black water rivers, pausing regularly for prayer and reflection and to savor the sounds of Creation.

The trip lasts approximately three hours, but  its length can be adjusted according to the group's needs and changing conditions. Participants can bring their own vessel(s) or rent a canoe or kayak in advance. Cost is $35/vessel, which includes paddles and shuttle; canoes, double kayaks, and single kayaks are available. There is no registration fee for those providing their own vessels. All participants must obtain a $5 parking/vehicle pass from the park's main entrance or display an annual parking pass. The event is co-sponsored by Georgia Interfaith Power & Light ( GIPL). For more information and to register, click here
Call for Holy Week Service Information
We will be promoting Holy Week services held throughout the Diocese on social media this year. Please send the schedule for your church to newsandevents@gaepiscopal.org by March 31st to be included! 
St. Anne's Tifton
Team Home from the Dominican Republic
 
At left, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy, Rector of St. Anne's, uses a pick ax to mix concrete for floors in the village houses. At right, team leader Stacey Beckham (left) working in the outdoor kitchen. Several trips to Las Carreras have upped her DR cooking game. 

The mission team from St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Tifton, arrived home safely on Saturday after a week of working with the Episcopal community in the village of Las Carreras in the Dominican Republic. While they were in Las Carreras, they installed concrete floors in village houses, attended an outdoor religious festival, and renewed friendships established earlier during four previous trips to this location. When their work in Las Carreras was finished, the missioners took a day trip to Saona Island, part of a national park on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, where they relaxed on the white sand beaches before returning to the US. For an album of photos of the team taken by the Dominican Episcopal priest in Las Carreras, click here . For an album of photos taken by team members, click here

This trip by the St. Anne's team is the third mission trip from the Diocese of Georgia to the Diocese of the Dominican Republic in 2017. Earlier trips were made by teams from St. Peter's, Savannah and the Southeastern Convocation. The mission team from Christ Church, Valdosta, will make the fourth trip in June when they return to their work site in El Pedregal to build a house for a village family, teach Vacation Bible School classes for the village children, and conduct a veterinary clinic.For more information about the four Dominican Republic mission teams sponsored by the Diocese of Georgia and our diocesan companion relationship with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic, click here. For more information about all four DR teams, click here.

St. Anne's team in front of the church building they have helped construct over the past few years. This year they took a break from church construction to work on other projects.
New Beginnings #50
Allowing Youth to Experience God's Love

Over 80 youth and adults came together last weekend for the 50th New Beginnings Youth Conference in the Diocese of Georgia. Graham Hummel, from Christ Church, Frederica, was the Lead Teen for the weekend. New Beginnings is a weekend for youth in Grades 7-9, led by older youth and adults. Talks were given on subjects such as identity "Who am I?"; siblings; friends; Who is Jesus?, and more. Participants played games, sang songs, and participated in worship each morning and evening. Saturday night's worship included a service of Repentance and Healing, and the Closing Eucharist on Sunday encouraged participants and staff to carry their experience out from Honey Creek. Participants reported that they had a great time, and the youth on staff did excellent work!
Lead Teen Graham Hummel with Shadow Madi Cook who will be the Lead Teen for New Beginnings #51 in the fall.

New Beginnings #51 will take place this fall, and will be led by Madi Cook, from St. Thomas', Thomasville. The New Beginnings Coordinator is Maggie Bloodworth.

Below are some excerpts from the sermon preached at that Eucharist by Youth Staff Member Sera Davidson, granddaughter of the late Rev. Ron Davidson and Zibi Davidson of Albany:

"There's just something special about being at New Beginnings and at Honey Creek. I have always been told this is a thin place, and I can feel it. Love clings to this place like the Spanish Moss outside.
Like the man born blind in this morning's Gospel, we come face to face with the light. This is what it is to live as children of the light, to take the love we find here and bring it into the [world].
Some of us came here hurting. We see darkness in the world around us.
Saturday evening worship.

But darkness is just the absence of light.
And you - you - can spread that light.
Bring that love of Christ into your life even when you leave New Beginnings.
Be loving in your thoughts.
Be loving in your words.
Be loving in your actions, in your mindset, in your relationships.
Live as children of the light." 
Participant Camerhyn Dorsett-Flemister (left) and team member Diana Pearson (right) with the prayer chain from the weekend. Each link represents an individual prayer.
Bishop's Visitations

Bishop Benhase is pictured during this past weekend's visitation to Calvary, Americus. From left, Daiquiri Tyson, Lane Tyson, Bobi  Orris, Sara Paradise, Deacon Dianne Hall, Bishop Benhase,  Patrick Kay, acolytes Matthew Kuipers, Andy Kuipers and  Emily Farr, Eucharistic Minister Cait McDaniel.

Two images (above and below) from Bishop Benhase' visitation to the Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM) Statesboro. The program is under the direction of the Rev. Charles Todd. 



Education for Ministry Mentor Training
The Diocese of Georgia will be hosting EfM mentor trainings at Honey Creek Retreat Center in Waverly, June 1-3.  Two training tracks are being offered: 

Foundations of Seminar Life (formerly called Basic/In-service)
For persons seeking to become a mentor or to be re-accredited as a mentor. Mentors must return to Basic/In-service after three consecutive non-Basic/In-service trainings. Register here: Foundations

Formation: Transitions
Utilizing the core EfM resources to equip mentors to identify, explore, plan and implement actions as we move through transitions to new life in the midst of change. This training will provide opportunities for mentors to build awareness of change and transition in their lives and to use theological reflection, stories and worship in order to live creatively in the midst of our changing and diverse world. To qualify for a Formation event, a mentor must be re-accredited in a second Basic/In-service and be recommended for Formation by a trainer. Register here: Formation: Transitions

More information about Honey Creek is at http://honeycreek.org/  or c ontact Diocesan EfM Coordinator Misty Graham at 352-281-6805 or  misty.mcintyre.graham@gmail.com .
The Loose Canon 
Your FREE Easter Invitation Animation
I created a video Episcopal churches may use for free to advertise their Easter liturgies. Following the success of my Lenten cartoon, this year's Easter invitation is made in the same style. My friend Adam Trambley wrote the script with a cartoon animation in mind and his daughter Julia provided the voiceover. Alex Montes-Vela translated the script into Spanish and his sister, Sandra Montes, provided the Spanish language voiceover.

The Diocese of Georgia will be using this animation in promotions on social media that will send folks to a page on our website listing Easter services throughout the diocese. (Friendly reminder to send your information to  newsandevents@gaepiscopal.org if you haven't yet done so.)
You may download the video below to post to your own Facebook page, or just link to one of the YouTube videos found here, or to the Facebook videos posted on the Acts 8 Movement Facebook page.

EasterCartoon-English.mp4
 
The English language video file

 

EasterCartoon-Spanish.mp4
 
The Spanish language video file

 

Animated GIF files for those who want to experiment
Because many viewers won't watch a one-minute video, I created an animated GIF file for use in Facebook ads as a test to see if these generate a better response. DO NOT upload the GIF file to Facebook as the image will default to a still frame. Instead, place the file online and point to that file when creating the Facebook ad. This option only works for those advertising on Facebook. Click here for more information: How to Post an Animated GIF on Facebook

EasterCartoon-English.gif
 
The English language animated GIF file

 

EasterCartoon-Spanish.gif
 
The Spanish language animated GIF file


Another Video Option in Nine Different Languages 
Your mileage may vary on the suitability of this cartoon. The 2016 Easter video which I made remains available. That video includes the voice of the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in the opening line and is available in nine of the languages in which our church worships: Your FREE Easter Invitation Video

Peace, Frank
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
Around the Diocese
Ginger Jenkins, above, right, the organist at St. Michael's Waynesboro for 50 years, was honored for her service, dedication and talent on Sunday. Her gifts will be memorialized in one of the transept windows of St. Michael's Church. 








The children's table at the community Seder held at St. Paul's Jesup with an empty chair for Elijah.

Last year the members of St. Paul's Jesup held their first Seder dinner for the congregation on Maundy Thursday with 52 in attendance. This year the congregation opened the dinner to the community, scheduling it in advance of Holy Week and on Wednesday, March 22nd 100 people were in attendance. "Together we sat at our tables and experienced the community-wide fellowship of a Christian/Jewish Seder," said the Rev. Dee Shaffer, Rector at St. Paul's. "It was so much fun! If we keep doubling in size, next year we'll need to find another location to hold the event. Isn't that a wonderful challenge for us to have?" 

St. Paul's offers the Seder booklet, prop and volunteer breakdown and the all-valuable "what we did this year that didn't work list" to the Diocese.  A Word document, it can easily be adapted. Call church office at (912) 427-3900.
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.  
Order of Saint Helena Sisters
Experience Monastic Tradition for Triduum and Easter 

For those wishing for silent retreat time and a monastic experience of Holy Week, call the Episcopal Convent of Saint Helena in North Augusta SC and reserve a guesthouse room for the nights of April 13 - 15. Please see the convent schedule of special Holy Week services at www.osh.org. Make a reservation through the website or contact our Office Manager with questions at guests@osh.org or 803-426-1616 (M-F, 9-5). 
Honey Creek Camp Filling Quickly, Register Today!





Spots for summer camp are filling up more quickly this year than any in recent memory! We want every child to experience the new Challenge Course, growing Christian Ecology program, kayaking with dolphins, top notch spiritual programming, and a general sense of loving life in the sun by the water! However, only a finite number of beds are available for each camper at our sessions, so sign up now to make the best summer of their life--a locked-in guarantee! Follow this link to register your camper: http://honeycreek.org/camps/
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. 

March 26-April 1
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 Espíritu Consolador ( Holy Spirit the Comforter) in Dajabon.

April 2-8
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 San Miguel (St. Michael's) in Doña Ana.

Register for April 8th at St. Peter's, Savannah
Registration is still open for the April 8th Project Resource Training from 9 AM to noon at St. Peter's Savannah. Canons Katie Willoughby and Frank Logue co-lead the training created by the College for Bishops. Project Resource gathers the best wisdom in our church on annual stewardship, major gifts, and planned giving campaigns.
There is no cost for this training.  Register online for Project Resource at St. Peter's, Savannah
Diocesan Office Update and News  
Bishop Benhase and Canon Logue meet this Friday and Saturday with the Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee at Holy Nativity, St. Simons Island.

This Sunday, Bishop Benhase will make his visitation to Holy Nativity, St. Simons Island at 11 AM and Christ Church, St. Marys at 3:30 PM. He will also officiate at the 4 PM Thursday, March 30th gathering at St. Joseph's Community, Savannah. The Bishop's full schedule is available here.

The Rev. Joshua Varner of St. Patrick's Pooler will preside and preach at the noonday Eucharist this Thursday in St. George's Chapel at Diocesan House. 
Changes to the Canons
Have You Shared Feedback on Proposed Changes?
 
When Diocesan Council met in February, they endorsed changes to the Canons of the Diocese following a year of discussion. Now Council seeks the input of the parishioners and clergy of the Diocese of Georgia into these changes.

Background
For more than a decade the Diocese of Georgia has rarely used a provision written in our canons that grants the Bishop authority to move parishes who can no longer meet the obligations of a "parish" to "mission" status. Over time, this has created confusion defining which congregations are "missions" and which are "parishes." The differences are about more than mere terminology: this affects both representation to Diocesan Convention and the amount of oversight provided by the Diocese.

The proposed changes, would if passed:
* reduce unnecessary oversight for more than one third of the congregations,
* acknowledge several of our small congregations as full members of the Diocese,
* result in a representative Diocesan Convention, and
* add an extra level of assurance that endowed funds in all parishes are managed with sound investment practices.
For more information about the proposed changes, please go here for an Executive Summary of the proposed changes, the full canons with the proposed changes shown in color, and a chart showing the current delegates to convention compared to the proposed representation.

Timeline
The proposed changes are out for comment from now through May 11. A brief survey to collect responses to the canonical revisions can be found here. Diocesan Council will consider the feedback at its May 12 meeting and amend the proposed changes as needed.

The proposed changes as revised at that May meeting will then go to the Committee on Constitution and Canons for their review. The proposed changes as approved by that committee will then go out to the diocese via email to clergy and Senior Wardens as well as notice in From the Field.

The proposed changes will be on the agenda for the November diocesan convention. If approved, the canonical changes will be in effect immediately.

If the changes are voted and approved during convention, then two key changes go into effect with the language related to mission to parish status go into immediate effect, but the proportional representation delegations to convention will require a second vote at convention in 2018 and go into effect in 2019.
Events
Project Resource Stewardship Training , April 8
St. Peter's Savannah 
Go here for more information. 

Chrism Mass for Clergy,  Western Convocations, 11 AM, April 10
St. Anne's Tifton

Chrism Mass for Clergy, Eastern Convocations, 11 AM, April 11
Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah


Episcopal Church Women/Daughters of the King Annual Retreat, April 20-22
St. John's Bainbridge
For more information go here.

Missional Voices National Gathering
, April 21-22
Virginia Seminary
Leading thinkers from around The Episcopal Church will discuss innovative ministries, missional communities, and how to participate in the mission of God in our neighborhoods. 
More details are available at
www.missionalvoices.com.

D
own to the River to Pray, April 22
9:30 AM
Reed Bingham State Park
Register  here
 
Trainings for Vestries, Administrators and Communicators, April 23
2-5 PM
Grace Church, Waycross
Register  here  

Trainings for Vestries, Administrators and Communicators,  May 14
2-5 PM
Our Savior, Martinez
Register 
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