August 16, 2023 | Volume 13, No. 33

Responding to the Devastating Maui Fire

The images of the fire that engulfed the island of Maui are so difficult to see. But rather than turn away, we can respond in love for our neighbors. Among the places consumer by the fire is Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church on Front Street in Lahaina, where the church, nursery school, and rectory are in ashes.

Delia Chang, the Chaplain to Retired Clergy here in the Diocese of Georgia, knows the church in Lahaina well. She is the widow of Bishop Dick Chang of the Diocese of Hawai'i and was often a guest in the rectory on Maui. Bishop Logue said, "Knowing of her deep love of the people, I contacted D. Chang to find out how best we can aid those of the island and she pointed me to A Cup of Cold Water. This is a non-profit in Walaiku that is an organization of the Diocese of Hawai'i and the place Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick has asked that donations go."

For 20 years, A Cup of Cold Water has operated a van (shown above in pandemic) to care for persons on the island who are homeless. They are active now in providing direct aid to those who have lost everything to the flames. To find out more and make a donation, go to this page at the Diocese of Hawai'i's website: A Cup of Cold Water.

O God, our refuge and strength, our help in times of trouble.

Have mercy on the lands damaged by fires.

Have mercy on the lands where the weather has destroyed livelihoods.

Protect those who evacuate houses, and strengthen those who rebuild hope

so that entire communities may face the future without fear.

Amen.

A prayer from Episcopal Relief and Development

Colette Hammesfahr called to Isle of Hope

Colette Hammesfahr has been called to serve as Associate Priest at St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah. Originally from Dunellen, New Jersey, her family moved to Savannah when she started grade school. Hammesfahr graduated high school from Savannah Christian Preparatory School. In high school and college, she traveled across the U.S. as a competitive cyclist racing on the road and velodrome. She competed in the 1984 Olympic Trials and was a National Champion in 1985.  

Colette has a BA in Management from Georgia Southern University and graduated in May with her Masters in Divinity from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary. Before seminary, Colette worked for 30 years in the food and beverage industry, first as General Manager of Ruby Tuesday Restaurant in Savannah and later as a Financial Analyst for HMSHost. St. Thomas is her first call. She and her husband, Kurt, have four grown children.

Hammesfahr Ordination - August 26 at 10 am

Colette Hammesfahr will be ordained as a Lutheran pastor on August 26 at Messiah Lutheran at 1 Westridge Rd. on Skidaway Island. Bishop Strickland will ordain Hammesfahr with Bishop Logue presiding at the Eucharist Episcopalians are invited and encouraged to attend this ordination. Episcopal clergy are particularly invited to process wearing cassock, surplice, and red stoles.

About a Lutheran serving an Episcopal Church

For more than 20 years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church have been in full communion with one another. This close connection was established between the churches in the ecumenical agreement, Called to Common Mission was the culmination of more than thirty years of ecumenical dialogue leading to agreements on theology, Scripture, sacraments, and church polity. Since then, we have enjoyed a number of close connections here in the Diocese of Georgia including the Lutheran Church of Our Savior (LCOS) first worshipping at St. Patrick's in Albany and later having the priest at St. Patrick's serve as the pastor of LCOS. We are also starting a new congregation together with the Grovetown Episcopal-Lutheran Mission in the Augusta area.

When the search for an associate at St. Thomas Isle of Hope did not find the right candidate, Bishop Logue contacted the ELCA's Bishop Kevin Strickland. "We work closely together," Bishop Logue said, "and so it was natural to ask if he knew anyone we should consider for this position." Strickland let our bishop know that he did have a new seminary graduate who still needed to find a place to serve. Logue added, "I am so grateful for this call in which we see real markers of the Holy Spirit's guidance. This gives us yet another opportunity to work closely with our ecumenical partners, demonstrating how we are united as followers of Jesus."

Canon Varner reflects on upcoming sabbatical

As I think about my time working for the Diocese, there are so many things I am proud of, and so many more things I look forward to! I have a wonderful calling and job, and I’m thrilled to continue to serve. As any clergyperson can tell you, this job also demands a great deal, and one of the ways that clergy balance the nature of church work with everything else, including family life, spiritual health, mental health, physical health, recreation and more, is to take an extended time away for Sabbatical, which comes from the word “Sabbath.” Most letters of agreement for full time clergy, and many lay staff, include a sabbatical provision of two weeks per year served, not to exceed 12 weeks.

My sabbatical will take place in two parts. The first begins this fall, starting just after Labor Day, and finishes six weeks later, in mid-October. I will spend some of this time here in Savannah with my family. I will also be spending some of this time in the mountains, hiking, playing and learning music, and resting. The second part of my sabbatical will take place fall 2024, when I will take the second six-week time away in order to engage in experiences that require planning farther in advance.

If you have questions for me before I leave for sabbatical, I can be reached at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org. While I am away, Communications Manager Liz Williams can be contacted with questions about youth ministry, about Safe Church, and about other Diocesan programs. She can be reached at lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org.

World renowned Concert Organist Richard Elliot performing in Savannah

St. Peter's Episcopal Church on Skidaway Island in Savannah is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Opus 2223 Schantz Pipe Organ, one of the finest pipe organs in the region. Kicking off the celebration, Richard Elliot, Principal Organist for the Mormon Tabernacle, will be the first of four recitals.

The concert will be on Friday, October 20 at 6:30pm at St. Peter's. 3 Westridge Rd. Savannah, GA 31411. For more information, contact the Director of Music Kathleen Turner at kturner@saintpeterssav.org.

Job Openings

Christ Church in Valdosta is searching for a Director of Christian Education. Resumes and applications will be accepted until Friday, August 4th. Please call (229)242-5115 or email office@christchurchvaldosta.org for the application. To read the full job description, click here.

Across the Diocese

The children at Saint Paul's in Augusta journeyed to Ecuador without ever leaving the room! They found Ecuador on Reverend Kimberly’s globe, learned about Ecuadorian culture, sampled Ecuadorian bread baked fresh that morning at a new Ecuadorian coffee shop in Augusta, and best of all, Zoomed with children at Cristo Liberador in Quito, Ecuador. Cristo is an Episcopal church in Quito and one of Saint Paul’s ministry partners.

The Back to School blessing at Christ Church in Savannah.

The Rev. Tommy Townsend at Holy Nativity on St. Simons Island baptizes baby Julianna.

The Back to School Blessing at St. Patrick's in Albany

Members of Trinity in Statesboro work on the new pavilion at the parish.

The Rev. Will Brown baptizes his son, George, at All Saints' in Thomasville.

Above is the ribbon cutting for the "Zen Room" at the Chatham County Juvenile Court. The Rev. Melanie Lemburg looks on with other members of St. Thomas Isle of Hope as their Saint Martha’s Guild helped design and create the space.

Upcoming Events

Daughters of the King

Fall Assembly

When: September 15-16

Where: Honey Creek

Participant Registration

Conflict Transformation Workshop for Clergy

When: September 25-29, 2023

Where: Honey Creek

To register, click here.

For more information contact

the Rev. Becky Rowell at browell221@gmail.com.

New Beginnings #60

When: October 20-22, 2023

Where: Honey Creek

Participant registration here

Happening #108

When: November 17-19, 2023

Where: Honey Creek



Candidate registration here

Clergy Conference

Fall Clergy Conference: October 2-4

The Fall Conference will be a deep dive into the Gospel of Mark with the Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, a New Testament scholar who is Dean and President of the Seminary of the Southwest. This is to prepare us for preaching Year B of the lectionary, with its readings from Mark's Gospel. The conference will be held at Honey Creek.

To register, click here.

Diocesan Convention

When: November 9-11, 2023

Where: Augusta

To register, click here.

If you would like to have your submission considered for From the Field, it needs to be sent to Communications Manager Liz Williams (lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org) by noon on Tuesday.

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 2023 one year prayer cycle is online here: 2023 Prayer Cycle.   

August 20 - 26

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Francis of the Islands and St. John’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially the Lutheran congregations of Redeemer and St. Luke’s. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in San Francisco de Macorís, especially The Good Samartian (El Buen Samaritano), Jesus the Nazarene (Jesús Nazareno), and The Nativity (La Natividad). 

August 27 – September 2

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, St. George’s and St. Michael and All Angels. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic congregations of Blessed Sacrament, Resurrection of our Lord, Sacred Heart, and St. James. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Paul and St. Luke (San Pablo y San Lucas) in San Isidro. 

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised February 28, 2023

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. (Updated 2/28/2023)

Bishop Logue will be with all three of our congregations in Valdosta on Saturday. First he will take part in the dedication of the new mural at Christ the King and then in the afternoon, he will preside and preach at the the Renewal of Ministry and is the welcoming of their new Rector, the Rev. Hal Weidman, at Christ Church. On Sunday he will make his visitation to St. Barnabas in Valdosta.



Photo: Bishop Logue with the congregation of St. John & St. Mark in Albany.

To view Bishop Logue's full visitation calendar, click here. (Updated for 2024 - 6/20/2023)

The office is still in summer office hours of closing at noon on Fridays.

The best way to reach a staff member is via email as we will always get back with you promptly in many cases and in 24-72 hours when working on more pressing matters. Staff e-mails can be found here with a list of responsibilities so you know who to contact for what.

You may also reach diocesan staff by phone at (912) 236-4279.

Big brother Jeronte shows baby brother Richland how to get baptized at St. John & St. Mark's in Albany

on Sunday. 11-year old Jeronte asked to be baptized and wanted his infant brother, Richland (held by their father, Richard at right) to be baptized at the same time.