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March 25, 2020
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Volume 11, No. 30
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In-Person Worship suspended through Easter
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The Baker Family watches at home in Valdosta as Victoria Logue reads the lessons for last Sunday's diocesan live-streamed worship from St. Michael and All Angels, Savannah.
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This past Monday Bishop Benhase wrote to the deacons and priests of the Diocese to offer new guidance based on information coming from the CDC and from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. He wrote, "as much as it grieves me to decide this, we need to cancel in-person worship for Holy Week and Easter," and added, "We still are on the upside of the curve and until we are on the downside, we must do this."
Bishop Benhase said that he will work with the Diocesan Staff to livestream liturgies each Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. with additional liturgies online in Holy Week. These are not to replace the livestream worship many congregations are offering, but to make sure every congregation in the Diocese has online worship they can offer, by pointing their parishioners to these diocesan liturgies. Tonight, the Diocese will offer Evening Prayer at 6 p.m. via Facebook Live and the Diocesan Youtube Channel. This coming Sunday Bishop-Elect Logue will officiate a service of Morning Prayer and preach. In addition, Compline via Zoom video call will be offered each Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. through the Diocese of Georgia Youth Ministries.
Bishop Benhase closed the letter writing, "Pray for one another. Pray for your neighbors. Pray for those who have contracted the virus and for those who have died. Pray for those whose fear makes them feel under judgment. Pray for those who judge those who are fearful."
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Join Us for Prayer Online Tonight at 6 p.m.
This evening at 6 p.m., have a candle and matches or a lighter close at hand as we light a candle as a reminder of the light of Christ that shines in the darkness. The Revs. Larry Jesion and Tar Drazdowski will officiate the brief service of Evening Prayer. The Rev. Dr. Dave Johnson will offer a brief reflection on this Feast of the Annunciation.
 Gabriel and Casey Perkins Lawrence will offer a setting of the Song of Mary. And a Virtual Choir will sing Be Thou My Vision. Canon Joshua Varner created a guide track and
Ethan and Jay White, Emmy Burch, and Sarah Bianco recorded themselves at home with the voices coming together in editing as an outward sign of the inward grace of Christian community. Even as we shelter in place, we remain connected to one another in a very meaningful way.
This liturgy will stream on both
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Liz Williams to Join Diocesan Staff
Bishop-Elect Frank Logue announces that Liz Williams has accepted a call to serve as the Communications Manager for the Diocese of Georgia. She will begin working on the Diocesan staff on April 1, 2020.
Williams comes
with a
wealth
of experience, having served as a children and youth minister at several Episcopal churches around the Diocese, as well as marketing and communications professional in the non-profit sector. She was previously the Youth Coordinator at All Saints' Thomasville and the Development Associate at the Vashti Center, a local nonprofit that serves the mental and behavioral health needs of children and families in southwest Georgia.
In 2018, Bishop Scott Benhase honored Williams with the Bishop's Award at the diocesan convention saying, "Liz is a person we count on as a Diocese for her service and commitment." Williams has served many years as the Nominations Chair for Diocesan convention and on staff for many youth events. She says, "I am excited to be joining the team and am looking forward to serving the Diocese in new ways. "
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Around the Diocese
At left, Maggie and Andrew Lyons enjoy dinner to go in a park while watching the diocese's evening prayer on a smart phone secured to the car dashboard. In the center, the Rev. Aaron Brewer prays Compline on Facebook live, and at right, the Rev. Helen White gets assistance from her son Ethan as they present Children's Chapel online for Christ Church, Savannah. There are so many pictures we could share of the many creative ways our congregations are staying connected during this unusual time.
At left, Christ Church, St. Simon's, prepares lunches for Backpack Buddies while complying with social distancing standards of 6ft between each other and lots of hand washing.
At right, St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's, Darien, moved their food pantry outdoors as they continue to care for persons in need in McIntosh County.
Flowers are in full bloom for the first day of spring at St. Paul's, Augusta.
Parishioners at Holy Nativity, St. Simon's, show off their new car decals.
The image of the Nativity offers a year-round reminder of God with us in Jesus.
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Diocesan Office Update and News
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19,
Diocesan staff will be working remotely until further notice. Email will be the quickest way to get in touch with the staff, although you are still welcome to call us on the phone! Staff e-mails can be found here.
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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.
March 22 - 28
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Dawson, the Church of the Holy Spirit. We pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Camilla, and St. Christopher Catholic Church in Claxton. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Michael's (
San Miguel) in Doña Ana and The Grand Commission (
La Gran Comisión) in Doña Lila.
March 29 - April 4
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Darien, St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Darien, especially Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Anthony of Padua (
San Antonio de Padua) in El Carreton.
Additional Prayer Cycles
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Holy Comfort
Finn Halterman leans in close to watch Morning Prayer live from the Church of the Holy Comforter, Martinez. Then his sister Lily celebrates with a Cheetoh their parents Mallory and
Reed Halterman made sure to have on hand. As parishioners of Holy Comforter know, Cheetohs are the official snack food of the congregation. They were even recognized by Frito-Lay for this some years ago with a supply of stickers and coupons.
Enjoying the snack at home connects online worship to the in-person experience. What might you do this Sunday to connect your online worship to showing up in person?
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Events
11 AM Saturday, May 30
Savannah, Georgia. Live-stream details to come
High School Camp at Honey Creek
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
For those who have completed Kindergarten thru 2nd grade
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
For those who have completed Kindergarten thru 2nd grade
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
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
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