May 13, 2026| Volume 16, No. 19

This coming fall the Diocese will host our second Lay Worship Leaders’ Conference, intended for any lay person who has a role in leading worship. Examples of such leadership include officiating for Morning Prayer, setting up details for a visiting supply priest in order to have the Holy Eucharist, serving as an acolyte, an usher, a lector, or other routine worship leading. Approximately 40 people from across the Diocese participated in last year’s conference. They appreciated both the training and the opportunity to gather together. Some reported that their favorite parts were “hearing others’ stories” and “coming to the realization that we are not alone.”

The 2026 conference will take place August 28-29, 2026, beginning on Friday afternoon and ending on Saturday afternoon. During the conference participants will be offered information on the history of Episcopal worship, as well as practical training on how to prepare for and lead worship services effectively. They will also have time to share their challenges and successes with other participants, and the opportunity to make ongoing connections.

In addition, this conference will offer training on how to prepare for and lead Communion by Extension, which is envisioned as a way for congregations without routine clergy presence to receive Communion from the Reserved Sacrament. Congregations that desire to use this Rite must send potential leaders to this conference in order to receive the appropriate training, and must engage in additional discernment involving both the congregation and the Diocesan Office.

Registration for the Lay Worship Leaders’ conference is open! Register at https://bit.ly/LayWorshipLead. Contact Canon Joshua Varner with your questions at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org.

Test message to be sent out tomorrow

The diocesan office will conduct a test run of the new system tomorrow, Thursday, May 14. The message will go out via text and email to clergy and wardens and will be the same type of response as our previous AlertMedia system.

Daughters of the King Gathering this Saturday

The Georgia Diocesan Assembly of the Daughters of the King will meet Saturday, May 16 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Darien from 10 am to 1 pm. Lunch will be provided. All Daughters are invited to attend. For further information or questions, please contact Suzanne Harrow at 706 495-0773. 

Still time to sign up for Toil & Sweat at

Honey Creek!

We are having an old school Toil and Sweat Week May 18-24 to give us time to accomplish much and make a big dent in our wish list of repairs. We need many hands to help and invite you to join us. If you want to help but can’t travel to the creek for a few days then you can donate and help fund the paint, bath fixtures, doors, and the many other supplies we’ll need in our efforts. You can stay for the whole week or a few days!

Youth Compline Zoom, Wednesdays at 9:00pm

Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to join other youth across the diocese for a weekly Compline service over Zoom. Held each Wednesday evening, beginning on Wednesday, December 3, youth will be able to gather together to pray the service of Compline. Scan the QR code or click the link below for the Zoom link.

SoulTalk by St. Augustine of Canterbury, Augusta

Thursday, May 21 starting at 6:30pm

Savannah River Brewing Company

Join others at the Savannah River Brewing Company in Augusta for a time to gather in intentional community. It's a space to slow down, have real conversations, and connect-- students, young adults, and whoever needs it. No pressure, just come as you are. 

Music on Madison Square – The North Carolina Baroque Orchestra: Les Élémens: Celebrating Spring

Sunday, May 24, 2026, starting at 5 p.m.

St. John’s Church, 325 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401

Enjoy music by Georg Telemann, Wolfgang Mozart, and others! This ensemble makes a return to perform for the second time as a part of the Music on Madison Square series with a larger group of performers and more period instruments for you to enjoy.

Ample parking is available in the church’s parking lot behind St. John’s.

To purchase tickets, visit stjohnssav.org/mms.

St. Patricks’ in Albany is looking to hire a part-time (average ~7-10 hours/week) Choirmaster/Director of Music and Organist to develop and lead worship music in consultation with the Rector and other team members, in a manner that is consistent with the mission, values, and theology of the congregation. Duties include playing the organ/piano in order to accompany the congregation/choir during all services and rehearsals; leading and directing effective and productive rehearsals of choirs, musicians, and visiting artists; participate in the creative planning of the Sunday and special services with the Rector and other team members; equip, motivate, supervise and shepherd singers and musicians; be responsible for the care, maintenance and growth of the churches’ music collections; and participate in the life and ministry of the church. If you are interested or know of someone who would be a good fit for St. Patricks’, contact the parish office at office@stpatricksalbany.org.

St. Thomas Isle of Hope in Savannah is seeking a detail-oriented Parish Administrator to support the daily life and ministry of the parish through managing correspondence and social media, preparing bulletins, updating the website, and creating graphics and communications. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Word is required. This is a part-time position (16 hours/week), Monday–Thursday. To apply, please email your resume to revcolette@stthomasioh.org.

27 students from Berry College (Berry Bonners) are staying at Honey Creek all week to perform some of their 120 hours of community service for school. The students worked on multiple projects, including revitalizing the garden. The rest of the week they will be working at a variety locations in the Golden Isles.

Seniors at St. Paul's in Albany gathered together for an evening of celebration and honors.

Graduating seniors at Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island were honored.

Seniors at Saint Paul's receive a blessing from the Rev. Kimberly Dunn.

Seniors at Christ Church in Savannah receiving a blessing from the Rev. Samantha McKean.

Seniors at St. Thomas in Thomasville with the Revs. Wallace Marsh and Scott Mithen.

Members of RJGA and friends held a prayer vigil on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Folkston ICE Detention Center, one of about 200 detention centers housing approximately 78,000 detainees across the United States.

Weekly Youth Compline

Where: Zoom

When: Every Wednesday evening

@ 9:00pm

Who: 6th-12th grade youth

Zoom Link

Toil & Sweat

Where: Honey Creek

When: May 18-24, 2026

Register Here

Summer Camp @ Honey Creek



What: High School Camp 
Who: Completed grades 9-12

When: June 7-13

High School Camp registration

What: St. Peter Camp

Who: Completed grades 6-8

When: June 14-20

St. Peter registration

What: Sts. Joseph & Mary

Who: Completed grades 3-5

When: June 21-27

Sts. Joseph & Mary registration

Youth Rafting Trip

Where: Chattooga River

When: July 24-26, 2026

Email Mary Grace

Lay Worship Leaders' Conference

Where: Honey Creek

When: August 28-29, 2026

Register Here

Cursillo #133

Where: Honey Creek

When: October 15-18, 2026

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 2026 one-year prayer cycle is online here: 2026 Prayer Cycle.    

May 17 - 23 In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Jesup, St. Paul’s. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Jesup, especially St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Mount of the Transfiguration (Monte de la Transfiguración) in Jarabacoa. 

May 24 - May 30 In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Kingsland, King of Peace. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Folkston. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Jimaní, especially St. Paul the Apostle (San Pablo Apostól), St. Titus (San Tito), and St. Ignatius (San Ignacio). 

31-Day Prayer Cycles - Revised March 31, 2026

Our monthly prayer cycle and clergy spouse prayer cycle are now out in a revised edition: Diocesan Prayer Cycle and Clergy Spouses Prayer Cycle.

The St. Cecilia Choir at Christ Church in Savannah sang The Tree Song during the Sunday morning service: "I’m becoming what the Lord of Trees has meant me to be: A strong young tree."