November 25, 2020
Volume 11, No. 12
IN THIS ISSUE
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Christmas Joy with a Diocesan Choir!

This is a different Christmas for many of us. It's harder to be together in person, and technology can only go so far. But even when we are distanced, we can celebrate together through music. For Christmas this year we are offering at least one virtual choir piece, Joy to the World, which is familiar to many. Please join us in singing together for Christmas!

In order to sing this hymn, 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 Monday, December 14, in order to incorporate it into the final choir.

In order to participate, you need the full instructions, which can be found here: https://bit.ly/JoytotheWorldChoir. The instructions include links to written music, guide tracks for melody, harmony, and descant (if desired) 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!

Paycheck Protection Forgiveness Update
26 congregations/organizations received Paycheck Protection Program funds. The guidance, application, and forgiveness have been a continuous moving target as the Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) released information.
 
This is a brief highlight on the forgiveness process for those who haven't worked with their banks to apply for forgiveness:
 
  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers may be eligible for loan forgiveness if the funds were used for eligible payroll costs, payments on business mortgage interest payments, rent, or utilities during either the 8- or 24-week period after disbursement.
  • You must submit an application for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period. You can file for an 8-week or 24-week period. If borrowers do not apply for forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the covered period, then PPP loan payments are no longer deferred, and borrowers will begin making loan payments to their PPP lender.
 
To begin the process for forgiveness, please ensure you are working with your lender to determine the appropriate paperwork and appropriate documentation for submission. The SBA has provided three potential forms for submission, the SBA form 3508, SBA Form 3508EZ, SBA Form 3508S, or a Lender equivalent. The EZ and S form are for entities that meet certain requirements. Most of our congregations will fall into the "easy" application form. 
 
Step 1: Determine the Form to Apply - How much did the organization borrow? Select from one of the three options:
  • 3508 - Long-form PPP forgiveness application requiring lengthy documentation and calculation submission. None of our organizations should have to complete the long form. 
  • 3508EZ* - If the borrower didn't do one of the following then they can use this form, 1) reduce salaries more than 25%, 2) reduce number of employees, does not include those positions unable to refill, 3) the borrower was unable to operate due to safety and health concerns. Requires less documentation for submission 
  • 3508S* - loans $50,000 or less and requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers
*The majority of folks will submit the EZ form and a select few the 3508S. 
 
Step 2: Gather documentation - even if the form doesn't require documentation to be submitted for forgiveness, it is still required you keep all documentation on file for 7 years in the event of an audit from the SBA. Keep the files in electronic and paper record if possible 
 
Step 3: Submit the application - the application will be submitted directly to the lender and then filed with the SBA. Your lender may require the documentation even if the form doesn't, make sure to submit in a timely manner once you begin the process 
 
Step: Communicate with your lender - If your loan comes under review by the SBA, your lender will let you know their decision. You have the right to appeal certain SBA loan review decisions. Your Lender is responsible for notifying you of the forgiveness amount paid by SBA and the date on which your first payment will be due, if applicable. 
 
Please find the FAQ document here.
 
I will be developing a quick pre-recorded video to walk through the above in more detail. There are some accounting implications if you submit the forgiveness application this fiscal year vs. next year. I will highlight how that impacts the balance sheet and revenue side of reporting during that recording. Please be on the lookout for that recording in From the From and on social media. For questions, please email me at keasterlin@gaepiscopal.org.

Advent Zoom Compline
Since March our Diocesan Youth have been gathering on Zoom for Compline. Our worship services include music, common prayer, and a chance to offer personal prayers and reflections. Since August we have had individuals, both lay people and clergy, offer brief meditations as well! For those who attended Compline during our recent Diocesan Convention, this service is very similar.

During the season of Advent these Compline services will be held on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. They will be led by youth each time, with music that is commonly sung during our traditional youth events. However, all are welcome to attend!

Our first Advent Compline will take place next Tuesday, December 1 at 8 p.m. The Zoom Meeting ID is 476 108 815. In order to obtain the passcode, please reach out to our Canon Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org. Alternatively, you may sign up for our Remind Text group to receive a reminder text before the service, along with occasional other messages. In order to sign up, please follow this link: https://www.remind.com/join/diogayouth

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Advent!

Only a Few Spots Left!
Spots are almost filled for the Honey Creek Open for December 12, 2020! Honey Creek joined forces with Innova and Camden Disc Golf to provide an excellent event that will also serve as a fundraiser for Honey Creek and Camber Disc Golf's club. To kick off the event, on Friday, December 11, you'll get to enjoy Glow Disc Golf! 

For more information about the event and how to participate, contact Executive Director Dade Brantley at dade@honeycreek.org. If you'd like lodging information, contact Georgeanne Younger at georgeanne@honeycreek.org.

For the event flyer, click here.

Across the Diocese

 
The beautiful Christus Rex at Holy Nativity, St. Simons Island, was carved by Roger Johnson back in 2014. He returned to help with some much needed maintenance (left). The Ladies of Love group at St. Paul's, Albany served over 100 guests with lunch that included individual Thanksgiving pies (right)!
Ben Austin of the Community of St. Joseph, our ministry for and with homeless persons in Savannah, picked up blankets donated by All Saints', Tybee Island.


Church of the Holy Comforter, Martinez collected a trailer's worth of food for 143 Ministries International, an Augusta area non-profit.


St. Peter's, Savannah donated to the I AM Food Pantry at St. Michael's and All Angels, Savannah.

Worship with the Diocese of Georgia in Cochran on Sunday

This first Advent Sunday, we will stream Morning Prayer at 
10 a.m. from Trinity, Cochran with Canon Lasch officiating and Bishop Logue preaching.




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.

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

November 22 - 28
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Waycross, Grace Church. We also 
pray for our ecumenical partners in Waycross, especially St. Joseph's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially St. Ann's (Santa Ana).

November 29 - December 5
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Waynesboro, St. Michael's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Waynesboro, especially Sacred Heart Catholic Church and our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Sylvania. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santo Domingo, especially St. Margaret (Santa Margarita).

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.

Diocesan Office Update and News

The Diocesan House will be closed from Wednesday through Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

This Sunday, Canon Lasch will officiate and Bishop Logue will preach Morning Prayer from Trinity, Cochran offered online at 10 a.m. To find the service, visit the Diocese of Georgia 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.

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!

#AdventWord
Join the Diocese as we participate in Advent Word 2020, a global meditation practice shared on social media during the Advent season. Find out more at adventword.org

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