New Year's Day 2020
Volume 10, No. 19
IN THIS ISSUE
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Reserve a hotel room now for May
The planned May 30 ordination and consecration of the 11th Bishop of Georgia will take place the same weekend as graduation for the Savannah College of Art and Design. At present, this presents no challenge for those wanting to book hotel accommodations, but you will want to reserve a room soon. To assist, we offer three blocks of rooms and will be able to secure additional blocks when these are full. 

The liturgy will be held in the Johnny Mercer Theater at the Savannah Civic Center. The service starts at 11 AM. On Sunday at 11 AM, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will preach at an outdoor Eucharist in Forsyth Park. The hotels are convenient to both locations. 

Critical information: The block for Friday and Saturday night is cheaper per night, but those rooms are only available at that rate when booking both nights. The hotel will charge the Diocese of Georgia for the additional night for any rooms booked for only one night at that rate.

Rooms for Friday (May 29)
  • Hampton Inn, 603 W. Oglethorpe Ave, Savannah GA 31401Call to reserve: (912) 721-1600 - $219/night
  • Embassy Suites, 605 West Oglethorpe Ave, Savannah GA 31401Call to reserve: (912) 721-6900 - $259/night
     

Rooms for Friday and Saturday (May 29-30)

  • Courtyard by Marriott, Savannah Downtown/Historic District, 415 W. Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401
    Call to reserve: (912) 644-6880 or click here to register online - $169/night
Requiem Mass on Saturday for the Rev. Eddie Adkins, Deacon
Deacon Adkins reading the Gospel
at St. Luke's, Rincon
This Saturday, January 4, at 11 AM, All Saints Episcopal Church on Tybee Island will hold a Requiem Mass for the Rev. Eddie Adkins, Deacon. 
Ordained to the diaconate in 1997, she served at All Saints', Tybee Island, and at St. Luke's, Rincon, until she retired from in 2016. Eddie died at home on Tybee on November 30, surrounded by family and friends. 

Deacons and priests are encouraged to attend the funeral, but due to the seating capacity of the church and the expected congregation, only those in the altar party will vest and process. All Saints is at 804 Jones Avenue, Tybee Island.
Summer Mission Trip
Register now for Episcopal Youth Event 2020
This coming Summer, current high school students are invited to be part of the Diocese of Georgia's delegation to the Episcopal Youth Event (E.Y.E.). This gathering of youth from across The Episcopal Church takes place once every three years. E.Y.E. 2020 will take place at the University of Maryland, in College Park MD, and is hosted by the National Church and the Diocese of Washington. 

Our Diocesan journey will begin the day before E.Y.E. and will last several days afterward, as we take part in mission work with other youth from the Episcopal Dioceses in the Southeast. If you have questions about this event, please contact the Rev. Canon Joshua Varner at [email protected]. To register, visit  http://bit.ly/EYE2020Reg .

Please note that the National Church's website lists January 6 as the date registration opens. This is the earliest day that the Diocese of Georgia can register its delegation together. Diocesan Registration is currently open.
Christmas Around the Diocese

The Christmas Pageant at Calvary, Americus.
 
 
At left, the Christmas Pageant at St. Paul's, Albany. At right, the first reading for Christmas at St. James, Quitman.


The Christmas Pageant at St. Augustine of Canterbury, Augusta.

 
At left, a photo from the A Walk to Bethlehem service at St. Thomas Isle of Hope, Savannah. At right, the Christmas Pageant at St. Mark's, Brunswick.


The Nativity Pageant at San Pablo Apóstol, Savannah.

   
The Christmas Day congregations are shown above with St. Michael and All Angels, Savannah, at left, and Trinity, Statesboro, at right.

The angelic chorus in the Christmas Pageant at St. Anne's, Tifton.

  
The cast of the Christmas Pageant at Christ Church, Savannah, is at left, while at right, the Rev. Ri Lamb, deacon at St. John's and St. Mark's, Albany, gets assistance in dismissing the congregation on Christmas Eve.

The Christmas Pageant at St. John's, Savannah.


The Rev. Lauren Byrd asperges the congregation with holy water on the First Sunday after Christmas at the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah.
Fish fry in Cordele benefits Episcopal relief efforts

Christ Church Cordele held its annual Fish Fry for Episcopal Relief and Development with great success. Led by Gene Stephens, a group of men gathered on the back porch of Holmes Hall (fellowship building) to fry hushpuppies and fish caught in Lake Blackshear and donated for the event. The Parish Life Committee provided decorations fit for a first class restaurant and coleslaw, grits and desserts. The event was attended by members of the congregation and many visitors. The event exceeded its $2,000 goal in raising $2,100. To find out more about the Episcopal Church's relief and development agency, visit episcopalrelief.org.
St. Matthew's invites Episcopalians to join Savannah MLK Parade
The Savannah Convocation, and any other congregations that would like to join in, are invited to participate in the Savannah MLK Parade on January 20. The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia has a walking group and a trolley for those who prefer to ride. The Parade begins promptly at 10 AM, so please come to St. Matthew's between 9-9:30 that morning to park your vehicle, and a shuttle will drop you off at the starting location near East Broad Street Elementary School. After the Parade, St. Matthew's will host a service of Holy Eucharist at approximately 11:30 AM. They are partnering with their neighbors at Greater Gaines AME Church and featuring their Pastor, the Rev. Kimberly McMichael, as guest preacher. The offering during worship will benefit the newly formed Savannah Area Interfaith Justice Ministry. A lunch reception at St. Matthew's will follow the service.

Youth Invited to MLK weekend Lock-in
Savannah Convo is organizing a youth Lock-in for all students in grades 6-12 from 6 PM on January 19 to 1:30 PM on January 20, 2020. This event (shared on Facebook here) is coordinated with the Savannah Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day Parade on January 20. Please register your young people on or before January 12, 2020 online here:  Register for the Lock-in online

The Lock-In will begin at 6 PM on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415. The congregation will provide dinner on Sunday and breakfast and lunch on Monday. Be sure to bring a sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas, toiletries (no showers), a change of clothes, weather-appropriate outerwear, and comfortable walking shoes. Feel free to bring snacks to share and appropriate games to play. The group will have breakfast at St. Matthew's on the morning of January 20th, then head to the parade's starting point at 9 AM. The parade begins at 10 AM. We will follow the parade route back to St. Matthew's Church. All parade participants are invited to take part in a celebration of Holy Eucharist, followed by lunch at St. Matthew's, beginning at approximately 11:30 AM (watch out for closed streets due to the parade!). Please pick up your youth from St. Matthew's no later than 1:30 PM on Monday, January 20, 2020.

The parade and the lock-in is free for all participants, but St. Matthew's Rector, the Rev. Guillermo Arboleda, requests participating parishes help St. Matthew's offset the cost of parade registration and the lunch reception, which is intended to benefit the whole Diocese/Convocation. Please consider sending a donation to St. Matthew's between $100-$150 with "MLK Parade" in the memo line. 
There is still time to register for Winter Youth Event
Registration remains open for Winter Youth Event. For many of us, the holiday season can be filled with busyness and stress, both within and beyond the life of the congregation. There are so many things to do! In this context, the Winter Youth Retreat, for young people in Grades 6-12, offers them a chance to "come away by yourselves and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). While the program, including large group and small group gatherings, is part of the weekend, there are also significant amounts of free time built into the schedule, so that our youth can pause and reflect. 

We will take an honest look at our lives, and how the cracks in them can sometimes let the light shine through. There will be opportunities for healing prayer , music, laugher, and play, all built into our time together.  And of course, our young people will have the chance to gather with one another and seek and serve Christ in each other.  The Rev. David Rose, of St. Luke's, Rincon, and the Rev. Joshua Varner, will co-coordinate this weekend. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020 and concludes at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 12.

January 10-12, 2020
Grades 6-12
Cost: $115 (after January 3, $125)
Register now at  http://bit.ly/WinterYouth2020
Bishop Shipp's Consecration Anniversary
Consecration of Bishop Shipps
Video from WTOC of the Consecration of Bishop Shipps

This coming week will mark the 36th anniversary of Bishop Harry W. Shipps' ordination and consecration as the 8th Bishop of Georgia, on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, 1984. The video linked above shows the whole hour long liturgy held at Christ Church, Savannah, as shown on Savannah TV station WTOC. To read more about Bishop Shipps' episcopacy, click here: Bishop Harry Woolston Shipps.
Diocesan Office Update and News
T he Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase,  10th Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia, will make his visitation to St. Mark's, Woodbine, this Sunday, January 5, at 11 AM. To see the Bishop's complete visitation schedule, go here:  Visitations Calendar

Canon Katie Easterlin is on medical leave with a few limited responsibilities. Please direct any inquiries normally made to her (such as those related to the budget, investments, and benefits) to Canon Logue.

Bishop Benhase will officiate and Canon Frank Logue will preach at the Requiem Eucharist for the Rev. Eddie Adkins, deacon, this Saturday, January 4, at 11 AM at All Saints, Tybee Island.

Canon Joshua Varner is in Valdosta this weekend for a Happening staff retreat. Click here for more information on Happening #103 which will be February 21-23 at Honey Creek.
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 2020 one year prayer cycle is now online here:  2020 Prayer Cycle

December 29 - January 4
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our Bishop, Scott Benhase, our Bishop-elect, Frank Logue, and our retired bishop, Henry Louttit. We pray for our ecumenical partners, especially, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah and their Bishop, Gregory Hartmayer; and for the Evangelical Lutheran Church's Southeast Synod and their Bishop, Kevin Strickland. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for their Bishop, Moisés Quezada, and retired bishops, Julio Holguin, Telésforo Isaac, and William Skilton.

January 5 - 11
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Albany-St. John & St. Mark's , St. Patrick's, and St. Paul's. We also pray for the Lutheran Church of Our Savior and and for our other ecumenical partner in Albany, St. Teresa Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. James the Apostle ( Santiago Apóstol) in Angelina.

Additional Prayer Cycles
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 .
Wishing you a well rested start to the New Year

Christmas Eve proved just long enough at St. Matthew's, Savannah, for at least one parishioner to get a little shut eye.
Events

Winter Youth Retreat
January 10-12, 2020
Honey Creek
For students in grades 6 to 12
Register  here.

Happening #103

Thursday, February 20 (for staff, participants arrive Friday) to Sunday, February 23, 2020
Honey Creek 
For students in grades 10 to 12
Register  here.

EQHR for Clergy Only
April 27 through May 1
Honey Creek

Clergy Spouse Retreat
March 13-15, 2020
Honey Creek

Spring Clergy Conference
5:30 PM, Monday, May 4 to 1 PM, Wednesday, May 6
Honey Creek

Consecration of the XI Bishop, Diocese of Georgia
11 AM Saturday, May 30
Johnny Mercer Theater
Savannah, Georgia

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Presides Over Eucharist in Forsyth Park
11 AM Sunday, May 31
The Bandshell, Forsyth Park
Savannah, Georgia

High School Camp at Honey Creek
June 7-13, 2020
Register  here.

Camp St. Joseph & Mary I at Honey Creek
June 14-20, 2020
For those who have completed grades 3-5
Register here.

Parent & Child session I at Honey Creek
June 14 - June 16, 2020
(Completed Kindergarten thru completed 2nd grade)
Register   here.

Camp St. Peter I 

June 21-27, 2020
For those who have completed grades 6-8
Register here.

Camp St. Joseph & Mary II
July 5-11, 2020
For those who have completed grades 3-5
Register  here.

Parent & Child session II at Honey Creek
July 5-7, 2020
(Completed Kindergarten thru completed 2nd grade)
Register  here.

Camp St. Peter II
July 12-18, 2020
For those who have completed grades 6-8
Register here.


Episcopal Youth Event
July 6-14, 2020
University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
Participants must be in grades 9-12
Register by going here:

Conflict Transformation, Clergy Only
October 19-23
Honey Creek 
Contact:  the Rev. Walter Hobgood

199th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia
November 5-7
Jekyll Island Convention Center
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