|
|
|
|
|
We invite you to the observance of a Holy Lent
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever.
Amen.
|
|
|
|
| |
This Sunday's Lections
Last Sunday
After the Epiphany
|
2 Kings 2: 1-12
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
Psalm 50:1-6
Go
here
for the full text.
|
|
|
|
|
Beth Robinson Named Treasurer
Mary Beth Robinson of Savannah has been named the new
Treasurer for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. As treasurer, she will support the Diocese in its fiduciary oversight. Known as Beth, she succeeds Judy Draffin who served as treasurer since 2015.
An experienced human resources professional, she currently provides oversight of all human resources, facilities, IT and administrative operations at the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah. Robinson managed the Human Resources Department for the City of Savannah for 23 years and for the Housing Authority of Savannah for five.
She received both her bachelor's degree and master's degree in public administration from the College of Charleston. Known as Beth, she is a member of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Savannah.
"I am so pleased to be working with Beth," said Canon for Administration Katie Willoughby, "her wise counsel, leadership in the diocese, and strong background in human resources ensures that the culture of stewardship within the Diocese will continue."
|
|
Clergy Spouse Retreat
Love, Joy, Forgiveness and Peace:
This is Us
In front, from left: Victoria Logue, Christine Kelly, Jay Lacy, Amy Rose, Helen White, Mary Bullion, Dave Ronn, Elizabeth Varner. Back row, from left: Donna Purdy, Allison Clarkson, Julie Van Ham, Cissy Bowden, Stephany Norris, Virginia Maxwell,Roselle Castro, Gail Hobgood, Elizabeth Varas. In back, Jim Drazdowski
Reflecting on love, joy and forgiveness, 18 of the Diocese of Georgia's clergy spouses reconnected at Honey Creek this past weekend to cement their special bond. The retreat, which was planned and prepared by our chaplain, the Rev. Helen White, and convener, Jay Lacy, offered a variety of activities as well as down time. Thirty-minute massages by a local massage therapist were a special treat offered during the weekend.
 Beginning Friday evening with a reception and dinner, the gr
oup then headed to Bishop's Hall. There, we watched some movie clips before d
iscussing our personal love stories. The evening ended in the Chapel with Compline. Dave Ronn, Jim Drazdowski, and Mary Bullion provided our music for the weekend.
Saturday continued with Morning Prayer followed by a reflection and small group discussions on joy and ways to maintain joy in our lives. After lunch, participants were offered more free time or the chance to work on a couple of projects-painting signs for the upcoming
 CreekFEST or working on helping clear some of the limbs downed by Hurricane Irma and the recent ice storm. A reflection on forgiveness was the topic for the afternoon and as Helen read to us, we meditated on her words while coloring. The day ended with a rousing game of "Ready, Set, Draw" and Evening Prayer in the chapel.
Following Eucharist Sunday morning, we met for one last reflection on what we'd discussed during the weekend, and possibilities for future retreats, particularly the next Clergy Spouse Retreat in 2019.
-Victoria Steele Logue
|
 |
|
|
The Trophy for "Most Intense."
|
My First CreekFEST
I really didn't know what I was getting in to when I signed up for CreekFEST last year. New in my job, new to the diocese, it would be my first trip to Honey Creek which I already knew to be sacred ground. There would be archery, team competition, good food, maybe a camp fire and fellow Episcopalians. Sounds all right, right?
It. Was. So. Much. Fun!
Our team, Katie Willoughby, Alison Clarkson, Kelly Benhase and Mary Grace Benhase only did well on the Bible trivia because of Mary Grace who can also really swing an ax. There is nothing like seeing a balloon that you have catapulted soar above those tall Georgia pines, or the sun rise at Honey Creek. Our team turned out to be highly competitive and although we did not come close to taking home the biggest hardware, the trophy for "Most Intense" now has pride of place on Katie's filing cabinet, beating out other objects such as stacks of files and an empty box.
There were other, subtler moments during the weekend. The closing Eucharist felt especially meaningful because by then I knew all those who were strangers just a few days before. We had all seen the cotton balls fall from each other's noses during Minute to Win It. Waking up before the birds to go on a walk with Phyllis Hiers and Leeann Culbreath; pushing a child on that great swing that hangs from a high tree, and square dancing at night under the trees are all things I'll remember.
Now that I've experienced Honey Creek's magic I'm ready for more at the second CreekFEST February 23-25. I hope to see you there.
-Anna Iredale
To register for CreekFESTgo
here:
|
|
Lent Madness Starts on "Ash Thursday"
The fun Lenten Devotional starts tomorrow with this year's the voting in the tournament-style single elimination bracket of 32 saints. This year the Diocese of Georgia has two saints in the Round of 32 - Deaconess Anna Alexander and John Wesley. Vote as the Spirit leads you, but as for your bishop and your diocesan house, we are on Team Deaconess. We hope the life and legacy of Deaconess Anna Alexander will inspire the church through Lent Madness.
How does this work?
 Go to
LentMadness.org and sign up for the daily email, or visit the website daily in Lent. You may vote once a day for the saint you want to win the match up. Do note, that while it may seem that you can vote more than once, please do not. Not only does their software find and eliminate double votes, stacking the deck in favor of a saint is not, well, saintly. Want to spread the word in your congregation? Download and print the
free bulletin inserts.
The first vote for Deaconess Alexander is on February 19. You can make sure you never miss a vote with the
Match Up Calendar (shown at left). But don't miss the day by day fun. Check the LentMadness.org website each day, to read and learn about the saints, then vote, and enjoy the process.
Hear the Deaconess' voice from 1926 recordings
To inspire the faithful, we offer a short video in which you can hear Deaconess Anna Alexander singing. In May of 1926, a member of the staff of the Library of Congress made field recordings of Deaconess Anna Alexander singing 25 hymns. The original cylinder recordings degraded in quality so that her voice is only clear in some fragments. Hear she sings in the two clearest portions of audio which we offer courtesy of the American Folklife Collection of the Library of Congress who sent us digital files of the cylinder recordings. To find out more about Deaconess Alexander, go to
deaconessalexander.georgiaepiscopal.org
|
Administrator's Corner
New Federal Reporting Requirements Published
Each year the Church Pension Group (CPG) publishes the 2018 Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches. This document is very helpful for administrators and clergy as they navigate parish administration.
The key categories for reporting that can be found in the guide include:
* New Employee Forms (W4s, I9)
* Payroll Tax Reporting (941s, W2s, 1099s)
* Clergy Tax Overview
If you've had questions about housing rules, payroll reporting, or required IRS forms, this is a great resource to answer those questions. Please keep in mind, if you use a third-party payroll service, many of these reports are submitted on your behalf. However, it is still important to be familiar with the requirements and forms submitted.
The 2018 Clergy Tax Guide will be coming out soon! Please be on the lookout for a future Administrator's Corner on highlights from the guide.
Katie Willoughby
Canon for Administration
|
Around the Dioces
e
Creating an Alleluia Banner at St. Thomas Isle of Hope Savannah and making pancakes at Trinity Statesboro.
The parish hall at St. Luke's Rincon is decorated for a Mardi Gras meal.
Serving pancakes a Shrove Tuesday feast at St. Paul's Albany and the Chili Cook Off contestants at Good Shepherd Augusta.
A group at the Mardi Gras Party at All Saints Tybee Island.
An acolyte processes out an alleluia banner at St. Patrick's Albany and children watch as palms burn to make ashes for Ash Wednesday at Good Shepherd Augusta in preparation for Lent.
|
Website Links Diocese to General Convention
This summer the General Convention of the Episcopal Church meets in Austin, Texas, July 5-13, 2018. The Diocese of Georgia is represented by Bishop Benhase and the four clergy deputies and four lay deputies elected in 2016 together with alternates available to serve in a vacancy. A
website linking the Diocese of Georgia and its elected Deputies went live this week at:
As in recent conventions, the website will keep the Diocese updated from the perspective of the Diocese of Georgia.
 The General Convention is the governing body of The Episcopal Church (TEC) that meets every three years. The Convention is a bicameral legislature that includes the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops. The work at Convention is carried out by deputies and bishops representing each diocese. During its triennial meeting deputies and bishops will consider a wide range of important matters facing the Church, including setting the budget, which is now open to comment from any Episcopalian through links at the website listed above.
The Diocese of Georgia Deputation
Clergy Deputies
Frank Logue (Chair)
Ted Clarkson
Kelly Steele
Cynthia Taylor
Clergy alternates: Sandy Turner, Tom Purdy, William Willoughby, and Joe Bowden
|
Lay Deputies
Jody Grant
Molly Stevenson
Clemontine Washington
Mary Willoughby
Lay alternates: Drew Keane, Paul Stevenson, Beth Mithen, and Rebecca Woods
|
|
|
Lent-Easter Book Study Now Underway
On Sunday, the Episcopal Church began a journey through the story of Jesus, but there is time for you to catch up and join the movement. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry announced last fall that the Good Book Club to begin February 11 with Episcopalians encouraged to daily readings in the Gospel of Luke and then the Acts of the Apostles. The study is now in the second chapter of Luke's Gospel. Join us in the daily readings and reflections.
How does this work?
 The Good Book Club divided Luke and Acts into 50 daily readings (found here)
of a few verses a day. Forward Day by Day will follow this same pattern for Lent and Easter 2018, with short daily reflections on those readings.
Free Resources Available
Everything your congregation needs is available for free at the Resource page of GoodBookClub.org. Onthat same page of the website, individuals may sign up for a daily email in Lent and Easter or download the smartphone app. Two weekly podcasts, a weekly video series and more are also linked from the resources page.
|
|
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.
February 11-17
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Bainbridge, St. John's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Bainbridge, especially St. Joseph Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregation in Bonao, especially Boca de Yuboa (Boca de Yuboa) and Pentecost (Pentecostes).
February 18-24
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Baxley, St. Thomas Aquinas and for our ecumenical partners in Baxley at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Bonao, especially St. Joseph of Arimathea (San José de Arimatea), St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista), and St. Nicodemus (San Nicodemo).
|
Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will lead the
Southeast Convocation Stewardship Workshop, St. Mark's, Brunswick at 9:30 AM Saturday, February 17. He will make his annual visitation to Christ Church Augusta at 10 AM Sunday, February 18 and his annual visitation to St. Mary's Augusta later that day at 4 PM. The Bishop's full schedule is available
here.
Canon Frank Logue is serving at St. George's, Savannah this Lent and Holy Week following the Rev. Jim Parker's retirement.
The Rev. Jamie Maury, Priest in Charge for the Community of St. Joseph in Savannah, will officiate at the noon Thursday service in St. George's Chapel at Diocesan House.
|
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.
|
Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
February 17, 9:30 AM to noon
St. Mark's, Brunswick
Creekfest
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Register
here.
Cursillo #124
March 1-4
Honey Creek Retreat Center
For Team Registration, go
|
The Sweetest Valentines 
Children in Christ Church Savannah's Sunday School made Valentine's Day gifts for people at Emmaus House in Savannah.
|
|
Like Us on Facebook
 Follow Us on Instagram
Follow Us on Twitter
The Diocese of Georgia also shares news 140 characters at a time through Twitter
@GA_Episcopal
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
The Diocese of Georgia also has a
YouTube Channel
where you can watch past videos and subscribe to get updates when new videos are posted.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
