Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Volume 11, No. 27
EYCS - College Scholarships for Georgia Episcopalians
Episcopal Campus Ministry at Georgia Southern
Needs-based scholarships are awarded for undergraduate education by the Diocese of Georgia's Episcopal Youth and Children Services. Applicants must apply each year by May 31 st for the following academic year.  All applicants must be Episcopalian, 22 years of age or under, and legal residents of and members in good standing within the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. 

Scholarships are not available for graduate school. A complete application consists of the online application form, your priest's recommendation, a copy of your family's most recent 1040, and a copy of your current year's final grades. Click here for complete information.
IN THIS ISSUE
Join Our Mailing List
 



Book Your Hotel for Convention

The 199th Convention for the Diocese of Georgia will be held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on November 5-7, 2020. As it is the same weekend as the Shrimp & Grits festival, we encourage you to go ahead and book your hotel rooms now. Registration for the Convention will be available soon.

Holiday Inn Resort 
Call  912-635-221 or click  here
Island View Room -  $159
Ocean View Room - $179
Oversize Oceanfront Room - $199
Oceanfront Suite - $229

Hampton Inn & Suites 
Call  912-635-3733 or click  here
Standard Room - $179

Bishop's Visitation to St. Barnabas, Valdosta

Bishop Benhase at his visitation to St. Barnabas, Valdosta, with confirmands
from St. Barnabas and St. Margaret of Scotland, Moultrie.
CoronaVirus, the Common Cup, and Gathering for Worship
As often happens when a new virus captures public attention, news of the spread of the COVID-19 has led to questions about the wisdom of receiving the Holy Eucharist from the common cup. While this is an understandable question, previous scientific consensus finds no basis for this particular concern.

According to the  American Journal of Infection Control (Vol. 26, No. 5, 1998), "no documented transmission of any infectious disease has ever been traced to the use of the common communion cup." This fits with a report in  The Journal of Infection (Vol. 16, No. 1, 1988) which stated, "Currently available data do not provide any support for suggesting that the practice of sharing a common communion cup should be abandoned because it might spread infection."

Appropriate safeguards are already in place including wiping the interior and exterior rim and rotating the cup between communicants. Studies with various methodologies over the years have reached the same result: while there is a theoretical risk, the actual added risk is so small as to be undetectable.  These findings are also before we consider from a faith perspective that every Eucharist is a healing service and there are benefits to receiving the body and blood of Christ in the bread and wine of communion.

Prudent Steps for All
Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or more frequently, especially before and after spending time in public spaces. As always, stay home of you are sick and don't shake hands at the peace if you are recovering from an illness. A fist bump is perfectly fine as is standing in place as is looking those around you in the eye and giving a wave or placing your hand over your heart and saying "peace." 

A Pastoral Response
Gathering in a contained space and sharing the air with an infected person does come with additional risk that is far greater than the common cup. Therefore, offering communion at home for the very elderly and immune suppressed is a helpful pastoral response in communities where Coronavirus, the common flu, and other highly contagious diseases are known to be present.
Above: the staff for New Beginnings #56
Register Now 
for New Beginnings #56
March 27-29, 2020
Grades 7-9 
Honey Creek

Youth in grades 7-9 should register now for New Beginnings #56! This retreat, led by Lead Teen Annabel West of Good Shepherd, Augusta, offers middle school and early high school youth the chance to hear from older teens and from each other on topics that directly impact their lives. The overall message offered to these young people is that they are God's Beloved. Join us for a weekend of worship, music, play, reflection, and joy!
Statesboro Episcopalians plant trees for Grow Healing campaign
On Sunday, February 23, parishioners at Trinity, Statesboro, planted seven trees as part of their ministry of care for God's Creation. Following the planting, the group offered a prayer written by lay leader Noelle Raiford, who also serves on the diocese's Creation Care Commission (CCC). This fall and winter, 35 trees have been planted across the diocese for the CCC's Grow Healing tree planting campaign, which aims to plant 222 trees by 2022.




Prayer

God of creation, you tell us in your word that you created us and all that is upon the earth, and you called it good. Then you gave us the great responsibility of caring for each other and the world that you have given us. And although we have fallen far from grace, you have mercy upon us and forgive us. Grant us the strength and perseverance to care for all your creation, beginning here at home with these trees and taking your love and mercy into all the world. We pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Clergy Spouse Retreat 2020:  Deep Roots and Strong Branches
Join us March 13-15 for our annual retreat at the beautiful Honey Creek! All Clergy Spouses are invited to a time of fun, rest and renewal. Our theme evokes the image of a tree- reflecting the spirit of the clergy spouse community here in the Diocese of Georgia. We are deeply rooted in our families and faith, but we also have strong branches connecting us one to another. 

During our time together we will deepen our connections through fun shared activities, worship and spending time outdoors. And there is always plenty of free time in the schedule! Come strengthen your roots and grow your branches as we enjoy time together (and celebrate Kelly Benhase, too).  Email  [email protected]  to request a scholarship.

Single rooms $288 in Lodge 1 and $266 in Lodge 2.
Double rooms $195 in Lodge 1 and $184 in Lodge 2.
Commuters are $120. 
Around the Diocese


Parishioners at St. Thomas, Savannah oyster roast

St. Augustine's Intergenerational Lent Program making care bags to hand out to the homeless in Augusta, GA. Stop by St. Augustine's to pick up a bag to keep in your car and give to the next person you see in need!

Trinity, Statesboro celebrates Rebecca's Cafe 10 year anniversary, which the congregation started
and then grew with partnerships with 15 local churches and other organizations.

Bishop-Elect Logue preaches at Christ Church, Frederica.

 
Delayed gratification: Water service was out in Albany on Shrove Tuesday,
so St. Paul's delayed their annual pancake dinner until 
this Wednesday. 


Parishioners from the Church of Our Savior, Martinez, delivered and set up 15 new beds for children in Richmond County, GA through the Family YMCA A Place to Dream program this past weekend. Some of the families that were helped came from a state of homelessness to one of hope and opportunity. 
Diocesan Office Update and News
T he Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase,  10th Bishop of the Diocese of Georgia, will make his visitation to  Holy Trinity, Blakely, this Sunday at 10 A.M. To see the Bishop's complete visitation schedule, go here:  Visitations Calendar

Bishop Scott Benhase, Canon Frank Logue, and Maggie Lyons will meet with the Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee this Friday and Saturday at Diocesan House in Savannah.

Canon Frank Logue will preach this Sunday at St. Luke's, Rincon.

Bishop Scott Benhase and Canon Frank Logue will attend the Spring House of Bishops Meeting at Camp Allen in Texas from March 9 to 14.

Gayle Dawson is on short-term disability leave as she recovers from knee surgery. Daniel Garrick is monitoring her e-mail, so please send normal inquiries made to her to [email protected]

The Very Rev. William Willoughby, rector of St. Paul's, Savannah, will officiate the noon service at St. Anna Alexander Chapel at Diocesan House on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
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

March 1 - 7 
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Brunswick, Good Shepherd, St. Athanasius', and St. Mark's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Brunswick, especially St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and St. James Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Church of the Holy Name ( El Santo Nombre) in Catalina. 

March 8 - 14 
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Cochran, Trinity and for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Cairo. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Gabriel ( San Gabriel) in Consuelo.

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 .
Won't you let me be your servant

Elwood is a service dog who regularly attends Christ Church, Savannah.
This past Sunday he expanded his service to include assisting the ushers.
Events

Clergy Spouse Retreat
March 13 to March 15, 2020
Honey Creek
Register here.

New Beginnings #56
March 27 to March 29, 2020
Honey Creek
For students in grades 7 to 9

Chrism Mass in Tifton
Monday, April 6
St. Anne's, Tifton
11 a.m. with lunch following. 

Chrism Mass in Statesboro
Tuesday April 7
Trinity, Statesboro
11 a.m. with lunch following. 

Toil 'N Sweat: Caring for Honey Creek
April 24 to April 26, 2020
Honey Creek
For students in grades 6 to 12
Register here or at  http://bit.ly/ToilNSweat2020 

EQHR for Clergy Only
April 27 to May 1
Honey Creek

Spring Clergy Conference
5:30 PM, Monday, May 4 to 1 PM, Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Honey Creek
11 AM Saturday, May 30
Johnny Mercer Theater
Savannah, Georgia

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry preaches at 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
For those who have completed Kindergarten thru 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
For those who have completed Kindergarten thru 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:

Happening #104
Thursday, July 30 (for staff, participants arrive Friday) to Sunday, August 2, 2020
Honey Creek
For students rising into Grade 10 through Grade 12

Conflict Transformation, Clergy Only
October 19-23
Honey Creek 

199th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia
November 5-7
Jekyll Island Convention Center
Like Us on Facebook


Follow Us on Instagram
The Diocese of Georgia posts photos from our churches as well as diocesan events at 
 
Follow Us on Twitter
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
  View our videos on YouTube 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.