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Optical Team Returns from Dominican Republic
The missioners on the optical team sponsored by St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Skidaway Island) returned to the US on Saturday, January 27, after a week of conducting an optical clinic in the Episcopal health center in the city of San Pedro de Macorís. During the week, the team admitted 934 patients and dispensed 304 pairs of prescription glasses, 529 pairs of reading glasses, and 315 pairs of sunglasses. An additional 61 pairs of prescription eyeglasses will be made in the United States and shipped back to patients. The doctors on the team referred 95 patients for surgical follow-up for conditions as cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retina disorders.
Alan Peaslee, the team's medical director, wrote this about two especially meaningful moments during the clinic:
On the bus from Los Llonas, a nearby village, was a deaf-mute man. One of the small disappointments that we sometimes have is that the doctors often don't get the see the unbridled joy of our patients when they get their glasses. This man had never been to an eye doctor and needed glasses for both distance (astigmatism) and reading. When they found glasses and placed them on him, this silent mute man, who had not uttered a sound in over three hours in the clinic, smiled from ear to ear and let out a string of vocalizations for joy.
 The second moment came when Kristin was playing and singing "How Great Thou Art" in Spanish at one end of the building and in triage, we could hear it and my patient and I started singing along, me in English and her in Spanish. My eyes fill with tears just recalling those moments.
Dr. Sally Freeman, another optometrist on the team, sent back this poignant description of the reaction of one patient, "
My patient dug an orange out of her purse and gifted it to me when I finished her exam. It's the little things."
 A follow-up team of surgeons and staff members from the Georgia Eye Institute in Savannah is currently in the Dominican Republic to perform cataract procedures on patients referred by this optical clinic team. This surgical team returns home on February 3.
More information about the DR mission teams in the Diocese of Georgia and our companion relationship with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic is available here. The next team from St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Tifton) leaves for the Dominican Republic on February 25.
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This Sunday's Lections
Fifth Sunday
After the Epiphany
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Isaiah 40:21-31
I Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
Go
here
for the full text.
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CreekFEST is coming!
It will be here February 23rd-25th! The Honey Creek Commission has been hard at work planning the Diocesan-wide "Parish Retreat." We are excited to share with you some of the activities that you can participate in this February at Honey Creek.
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The Water Balloon Catapult requires strength, concentration and follow-through.
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As you may already know, one of the many activities that CreekFest has to offer is 'Olympic-style' events. The HCC has composed a list of six different events for all ages. The events are as follows:
Archery Contest
Cornhole Competition
Team Trivia
Water Balloon Catapult
Obstacle Course Relay
Minute to Win It Pentathlon
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| Members of the ECW were there to win last year! |
Who will dominate the cornhole competition? How accurate can you shoot an arrow? Will the obstacle course relay be your best victory ever? Only one way to find out!
The fun doesn't stop there! Grab your partners, put on those leather boots and tighten your belt buckles for our Square Dance under the stars.
Of course, it's fun to get together and play games but let's not forget our time of fellowship and what better way to embrace the beauty of Honey Creek than worshiping together in our beloved Chapel by the water.
Register at honeycreek.org today and mark your calendars for CreekFest, February 23rd-25th! This is a weekend you don't want to miss!
Interested in volunteering? Contact Jay Lacy for more information at [email protected]
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The Loose Canon
The Revival Has Come and Gone, Now What?
 The Holy Spirit showed up in ways beyond our ability to prepare or arrange for the recent Revival. In the morning, the Presiding Bishop made a pilgrimage to Good Shepherd in the Pennick Community west of Brunswick to offer the gratitude of our church for the fearless faith of Deaconess Anna Alexander. Just after lunch, the Presiding Bishop gave a rousing sermon about the boundless love of God as experienced in relationship with Jesus Christ. But with the tent meeting ended, the work of revival continues.
Reviving Our Presiding Bishop
To revive means to bring back life. That is beyond the ability of any preacher, even one as gifted as Bishop Michael Curry. Reviving a person and a church is the work of the Holy Spirit. I have seen how the day in Georgia revived our Presiding Bishop. The next week, I was meeting with the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church as he preached the Eucharist and told our denomination's Board of Directors of the life and legacy of Deaconess Alexander.
 Pointing at me, he said he knew of one Christian who really lived out the love of God like Paul and the Apostles. I realized that I reminded him of the revival in Georgia when Bishop Curry said, "I am pointing at Frank, but I don't mean Frank...of course, I don't mean Frank." He went on to say that he was pointing at me as we were both in a packed Good Shepherd Church where older parishioners, including a few former students of Deaconess Alexander filled the pews and youth packed the aisle all the way to the altar rail sitting on the floor. Then this past Friday, Bishop Curry preached at length again about Deaconess Alexander at Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston, for Forma, a gathering of Christian educators (link to that sermon
here). As several people who sent me texts and Facebook messages told me, Bishop Curry was clearly changed by his visit to Georgia.
Reviving Our Churches
Real revival is the work of the Holy Spirit and the time has not passed on God using the two liturgies from January 20 to change lives. Videos of the full liturgies at Good Shepherd and Honey Creek are online. You can also watch just the two sermons. I recommend that churches of the Diocese use these resources. Gather a group of adults to watch each and discuss. You can do the same with teens or an intergenerational group. The benefit of watching via video is that this offers an opportunity to discuss the sermons after watching them. Make notes as you watch and share what jumped out for you. What is the Good News of Jesus you heard anew? How might you need to change because of the Good News you heard?
Having decided what stands out for you, share the video on Facebook letting people know what you heard to encourage them to watch. Something like, "I really hear the love of God in this sermon, but when Bishop Curry spoke of what the opposite of love is, it really got my attention. I have been thinking about this sermon a lot in the past week or so." That is much more likely to catch attention and gives you something you can discuss with those who watch it thanks to your sharing the sermon on Facebook.
Making Room for the Holy Spirit
Asking a given hour and a half service of Evening Prayer to move our church may be too much to ask. But if we use the Revival as a starting point, then we can really make room for the Holy Spirit. For if we really hear the call that the opposite of love is self-centeredness, than there is much each of us can and should do to re-orient our lives outward. The Agape love of God Jesus demonstrated in caring more for others than himself is life changing. Living into that re-oriented life is the ongoing work of a lifetime. Let us know how your congregation is using the videos from the revival to share the Good News in your community.
peace,
Frank
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary
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 To see more photos of the Revival, including the Presiding Bishop's time with clergy and youth as well as the service at Pennick, go
here.
The upload of the livestream of both the service at Good Shepherd Pennick and the Revival as well as videos of both of the Presiding Bishop's sermons can be found here.
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Representing Georgia at
Génesis Training
 The Diocese of Georgia is well represented this week in training that has brought together people from across the church who are planting churches and starting other new ministries. The Génesis Training held in San Antonio, Texas, is offered by the Episcopal Church's Advisory Group on Church Planting. The Rev. David Perkins, Priest in Charge of Our Savior Martinez, and Canon Frank Logue are both members of this group and are part of the team putting on the training.
 The Revs. Kelly Steele and Guillermo Arboleda from Epiphany, Savannah, and the Rev. Thomas Barron, from the Grovetown Episcopal-Lutheran Mission are attending the meeting. Funded by the budget of the Episcopal Church, twice annual training for new ministry developers shares best practices, provides a place to bring questions and concerns, and connects those doing similar work, often as the only person in a diocese.
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Episcopalians Unite for
Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday 
Episcopalians, friends and supporters are invited to observe Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday on the first Sunday in Lent, February 18.
Congregations also may observe a special service on any Sunday in Lent or at a more convenient time during the year.
"In this time of spiritual renewal, Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday is an opportunity for Episcopalians to pray for and act on behalf of the most vulnerable among us," said Rob Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief & Development. "We are grateful to our friends and donors for helping us make a positive and tangible impact in our partnerships with families and communities around the world."
This church-wide tradition is marked with special prayers, materials and a dedicated offering to support the organization's worldwide programs. Special resources and a planning guide for Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday are available at
episcopalrelief.org/Sunday.
Churches can order Episcopal Relief & Development's
2018 Lenten Meditations booklets in English and Spanish from
Episcopal Marketplaceor download copies by visiting
episcopalrelief.org/Lent. To have printed copies of the Lenten Meditations by Ash Wednesday, February 14, orders must be received by Friday, February 2 (the deadline has been extended).
Supporters are invited to
sign up
for daily email meditations in English and Spanish.
"The 2009 General Convention called the Church to remember and support the life-saving work of Episcopal Relief & Development during Lent through prayer and a special offering," said The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church. "I have seen firsthand the ways in which Episcopal Relief & Development helps heal a hurting world, and especially this Lent, I hope Episcopalians will pray for and support this work that strengthens our ties with God's people around the world."
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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.
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) and Redemption (La Redención).
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 congregation in Boca Chica Grace (De la Gracia), Mount Zion (Monte Sión), and St. Joseph (San José).
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will lead a Stewardship Workshop at St. James Quitman on Saturday, February 3 starting at 9:30 AM. On Sunday, February 4, he will make his annual visitation to at 10:30 AM and at 4 PM. The Bishop's full schedule is available
here.
Canon Frank Logue is in Texas as part of a team putting on training for New Ministry Developers in the Episcopal Church. On Sunday, he will preside and preach at Epiphany, Savannah.
The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner will be meeting with the planning committee for the Youth Mission Trip on Saturday and preaching at St. Barnabas' Valdosta on Sunday. He will also preach at the noon Thursday service in St. George's Chapel at Diocesan House on Thursday.
Bishop Benhase, Canon Willoughby, the Rev. Canon Joshua Varner and
Communications Director Anna Iredale will attend the Diocesan Council meeting on Friday, February 2 at St. Barnabas' Valdosta.
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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.
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Celebration of New Ministry
The Rev. Nick Roosevelt
St. Patrick's and Our Savior, Albany
February 1, 6 PM
Diocesan Council Meeting
Friday, February 2
Stewardship Training with Bishop Benhase
February 3, 9:30 AM to noon
St. James' Quitman
Clergy Spouse Retreat
February 9-11
Honey Creek
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
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Full Moon at Honey Creek
"I would like to walk his southern world, thanking God for oysters and porpoises, praising God for birdsongs and sheet lightning, and seeing God reflected in pools of creekwater" - Pat Conroy, The Prince of Tides (Thanks to Dade Brantley for photo and caption.)
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