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October 14, 2020
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Volume 10, No. 58
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The Rev. Robert Fain to Retire
After 37 years serving at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Augusta, the Rev. Robert Fain announced his retirement to the congregation last week. In a letter sent to the parish, Fain said, "You have graced my life beyond anything I deserve for nearly four decades! May God continue to richly bless and prosper you in the next leg of the life long journey into Christ." Senior Warden John McCollum, in his letter to the parish, commended Rev. Fain and the time spent at Good Shepherd, "We are most grateful for all the God has done here while Robert was our Rector and friend. We will continue to thank God for this time and pray for God's guidance as we move forward."
"More than most of us, Robert understood the changes the church needed to make as parishioners were no longer being raised in a culturally Christian environment, where the stories of scripture were widely known," Bishop Frank Logue said. "I have continually been challenged and inspired by the creative ways he has encouraged scripture reading and spiritual practices at Good Shepherd. Robert has never flagged in his zeal, working hard all the way up to retirement and well-deserved rest after doing all things well."
Fain graduated from Sewanee in 1983, ordained to the priesthood in 1984, and has served at Good Shepherd as the Assistant Rector before becoming Rector. His accomplishments outside of Good Shepherd range from serving on the Board of Directors at Kanuga in Hendersonville, NC, including sitting as the board chair in 2009, and serving his alma mater, Sewanee, as a member of the Board of Regents, a Trustee, and on the Alumni Association.
He will conclude his time at Good Shepherd in mid-November when he and his wife, Debbie, will move to Hendersonville, North Carolina and enjoy his retirement back in his hometown in the mountains.
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Brandi Lyde Whitfield Appointed to Finance Committee
A cradle Episcopalian and current Senior Warden at St. Athanasius Episcopal Church in Brunswick, GA, Brand Lyde Whitfield is a Financial Advisor and owner of BLW Financial Services, LLC, a full service financial firm that specializes in helping client build a strong financial legacy for their families. With over a decade of experience in the investment and insurance world. Brandi also has an accounting background, previously working for PwC and Protiviti.
Bishop Frank Logue said, "Brandi is a proven leader in our church whose wisdom and insight I am pleased to have on this vital committee that we depend on to oversee the financial health of the Diocese of Georgia." Canon Easterlin is excited to add her to the Committee,"I've worked with Brandi on a number of Diocesan items. I'm excited for her serve in this capacity and bring her voice and sound advice to the financial administration of the Diocese."
Brandi is honored to serve on the Finance Committee for the Diocese of Georgia and looks forward to bringing her unique perspective and skillset to the work of the Diocese.
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Carole LeFever Utlaut (1934-2020)
 The Diocese of Georgia mourns the death of Carole LeFever Utlaut, a clergy spouse, who died Sunday morning, October 11. She supported her husband, the Rev. Robert Utlaut, as he earned an M.Div. at Sewanee in 1977 and then served at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and St. Bede's Episcopal Church in Manchester, Tennessee. They returned to the University of the South with their son and daughter when Robert was the assistant chaplain at the school from 1982-84. Afterwards, they moved to South Dakota where Robert was rector of Trinity Episcopal in Watertown, South Dakota. Following Robert's death in 1990, Carole moved to Albany, Georgia, where her daughter Dana first moved to serve as a lay youth minister and then married and remained in town.
Carole was a faithful parishioner of St. Patrick's, Albany, a devoted clergy spouse who was active in the convocation, a supporter of Cursillo, and a member of Daughters of the King. The Church was the center of her life, and she lived out the Gospel every day.
Her funeral will be held at St. Patrick's this Saturday morning with attendance limited due to the pandemic. Interment alongside Bob will follow at Sewanee at a date not yet set. |
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Honey Creek Open for Business
 Honey Creek has been closed since the pandemic, but has now opened it's doors for individual and small group retreats. "Our lodge and cabins are perfect for individuals and families to come spend a few days away. Brunswick is right down the road, and folks can pick up the food of their choice. And with Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island so close, they can spread out their time between Honey Creek and the Islands," say Executive Director Dade Brantley.
The Lodge rooms and cottages are the perfect getaway in more ways than one, and meet the guidelines to remain socially distant. Each lodge room has a private bathroom, and the cottages include working kitchens. For more information and to book your stay at Honey Creek, contact the office at (912)265-9218 or email Georganne Younger at georgeanne@honeycreek.org.
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Forward Movement Offers A Season of Prayer
 Forward Movement and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are calling Episcopalians and all others to join in A Season of Prayer: For an Election. Join us October 27-November 4. Sign up for email updates below. We come together, asking God for courage and wisdom, thanking God for love and joy. As we move toward the election of leaders for the United States, may we all join in a season of prayer, committing to offer to God our fears and frustrations, our hopes and dreams. A novena is an ancient tradition of nine days of devotional prayers, often with a specific intention. In this case, we pray for discernment in voting and for the well-being of our nation. Starting October 27 and continuing through the day after the election, we invite you to pray for the election of leaders in the United States. Materials are available below in English and Spanish for use at home or to share with you congregation. These prayers, drawn from The Book of Common Prayer, can be printed out and tucked in a Bible or prayer journal. The prayers will also be posted daily on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, #seasonofprayer. You will soon be able to download the images to share on your own social media accounts. |
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EYCS Awards Scholarships to 54 Students
The Episcopal Youth and Children's Services (EYCS) has awarded $78,700 in scholarships to 54 students from 28 parishes across the Diocese of Georgia for the academic year 2020-2021. For a list of the students who received awards, their schools and their attendant parishes, please click here. In addition, the EYCS made a contribution of $10,000 to Honey Creek to provide scholarship for campers.
The EYCS will begin accepting applications for 2021-22 scholarships after January 1, 2021. The form and more information will be published in the From the Field closer to that date.
EYCS Board members include: Cathy Baxter, St John's Church, Chair; Cort Atkinson, St. John's Church, Vice-Chair; Mary Willoughby, St. Paul's, Treasurer; George Anne Inglis, All Saints Tybee, Recording Secretary; Mary Centgraf & Anne Salley, St. Michael & All Angels, Corresponding Secretary; Kitty Kastick, St. Francis, Publicity Chairman; Pam Smith, St. Thomas, Scholarship Chairman; Mary Ann Gephart, St. Francis; Claudia Griffis, St George's; Sarah Jones, Christ Church; Georgette Kelley, St. Mathews; Sally Minis, St. Thomas; Lisa Priest, St. Peter's; and Victoria Logue, bishop's spouse.
Congratulations to all of the student and many thanks to the Board!
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All Saints' Day Virtual Choir Deadline This Sunday
 All Saints' Day is one of the Principal Feasts of the Church. On this day we remember all the saints, known and unknown, and we are reminded of our own participation in the Communion of Saints. This year, we will be celebrating our connections with all the saints through music. As we did for Bishop Logue's Ordination, we will be creating a Virtual Choir. This time we will sing Hymn 287, "For All the Saints." This hymn has options to sing harmony on some of the verses but all are welcome to sing melody for the entire song if preferred. In order to sing in this choir, all you need is a pair of earbuds, a computer, and a smartphone that can record video. You will download the appropriate guide track and then sing along with the guide track in your earbuds while you video yourself using your phone. We need your submission no later than Sunday night, October 18 in order to incorporate it into the final choir. In order to participate, you need the full instructions, which can be found here: http://bit.ly/ForAllTheSaintsChoir. The instructions include links to guide tracks, rehearsal tracks, an example video, and instructions on how to submit your video once you're done. Many thanks to Kathleen Turner, Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church, Frederica, for creating these tracks. Please read the instructions carefully before you record anything! Contact Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with your questions. Please note that while singers sometimes feel like they are singing a solo during this process, and therefore choose not to participate, your offering will be mixed with others, creating the sound of many voices singing together through the miracle of technology. So go ahead and sing and submit your music. Your song will join with everyone else's offerings to create something glorious!
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Nominations for Diocesan Convention
The following have been nominated and are up for election at Diocesan Convention. Full biographies and photos will be in tomorrow's Thriving in the Vine newsletter.
If you have been nominated, fill out your information here.
Board of Officers of the Corporation (1 lay person)
Becky Cheatham
Church Disciplinary Board (1 clergy & 2 lay persons)
Phillip Davies
Bill Bruce
The Rev. David Lemburg
Diocesan Council ( 1 lay person or clergy)
Peggy Hamlin
Standing Committee (1 layperson & 1 priest)
The Rev. David Rose
The Rev. David Lemburg
The Rev. Leslie Dellenbarger
Dave Cranford
John Michael Rowe
Trustee of the University of the South (1 priest)
The Rev. Tom Purdy
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Diocesan Online Godly Play on Zoom this Sunday
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| | Canon Varner Presents Godly Play:
The Exodus |
Godly Play is a Montessori-based curriculum that focuses on telling stories using physical materials and allowing participants to play and work with the stories at their own level.
This coming Sunday, October 18, Canon Joshua Varner will tell the story of Exodus at 11:00am on Zoom. This story was shared on Sunday on the Diocesan Facebook Page, and can be viewed at any time! These sessions are appropriate for young people of all ages, and many adults find that the Godly Play method allows them to think about stories they have known for a long time in new and different ways.
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Thriving in the Vine Registration Deadline Next Week
Registration deadline for delegates is next Wednesday, October 21.
Registration for the 199th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, Thriving in the Vine, is now open. Due to safety concerns for large public gatherings, the 199th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia will meet online on the evening of November 6th and the morning of the November 7th.
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Disc Golf Fundraiser for Honey Creek
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Albany Churches Come Together for Mental Health Awareness
October 3-10 is the week the National Association for Mental Illness held their annual fundraiser and awareness events. This year all of the events were virtual, including NAMI Walks Your Way, the annual walk. The three parishes in Albany, St. John & St. Mark's, St. Patrick's, and St. Paul's all participated in and ran events to bring awareness and raise funds for mental health services.
The week was kicked off at St. John's & St. Mark's with an outdoor labyrinth, an Anglican Rosary workshop, and a chance for folks to drop off donations for Neighbors in Need, a local charity.
The Rev. Deacon Ri Lamb setting up the labyrinth (left), and Lily, daughter of the Rev. Nick Rooselvelt, walking the labyrinth (right).
Youth and adults from St. Paul's worked on prayer beads and painting "Hope Rocks" that they placed along their socially distanced walk on Saturday, October 10.
Members of St. Patrick's were ready to get walking!
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Worship with the Diocese of Georgia in Valdosta on Sunday
This Sunday, we will stream Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. from Christ Church, Valdosta with Bishop Logue officiating and preaching Morning Prayer.
Find Livestream Worship
There are a lot of options each day for Episcopalians in the Diocese of Georgia to worship online and now they are listed in one place. The Livestream Services calendar tells the time, location, and which liturgy the congregation offers for the whole Diocese. Click the image above or this link: Livestream Services Calendar.
Have you adjusted your livestream schedule? Let us know! We have a running calendar that you can find here. Check to see if your schedule is correct, and if there are any changes, email Administrator Assistant Daniel Garrick at dgarrick@gaepiscopal.org. |
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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.
October 11 - 17
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Thomasville, All Saints, Good Shepherd, and St. Thomas and for their work at the Oak Street Episcopal Mission. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Thomasville, especially St. Augustine's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Luke (San Lucas) in Santiago.
October 18 - 24
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Thomson, Holy Cross, and for our ecumenical partners in Thomson, especially Zion Lutheran Church in Guyton and Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Lakeland. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially the Cathedral of the Epiphany (La Catedral de la Epifanía).
Additional Prayer Cycles
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Sunday, Bishop Logue will officiate and preach Morning Prayer from Christ Church, Valdosta offered online at 10 a.m. To find the service, visit the Christ Church, Valdosta Facebook page or the Diocese of Georgia YouTube page.
Throughout the remainder of 2020 Bishop Logue will continue to record Diocesan worship from different congregations across the Diocese. To see the calendar for the remainder of 2020, click here.
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Diocesan staff are not all in the office at the same time with some working remotely. Email will be the quickest way to get in touch with the staff, although you are still welcome to call us on the phone! If we miss your call, please leave a voicemail with a detailed message. Staff e-mails can be found here.
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Let Us Know!
What are you doing to keep community right now? Are you gathering for virtual coffee hours, delivering groceries to your neighbors - let us know! Send any updates or photos to our Communications Manager Liz Williams at lwilliams@gaepiscopal.org. We want to hear from you!
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Pool Noodles For the Win
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| | We aren't sure what's more impressive at Grace, Waycross - finding pool noodles in the fall or using them to socially distance pass the peace! |
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