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August 12, 2020
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Volume 10, No. 49
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Diocesan Convention to Go Virtual
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| | Saturday morning worship led by youth always gets the blood pumping! (Convention 2019) |
In consultation with the Southeast Convocation Convention Committee and Diocesan Council, the Diocese has made the decision that this year's Diocesan Convention will be held online. Holding the Convention online enables us to follow the advice of health experts and our own Phase 1 guidance. Diocesan Staff is looking closely at the requirements of the Canons and is finalizing the digital platform that will include registration, the business of the Diocese, and voting capabilities.
The decision to move to an online Convention was not an easy one, as one of the most wonderful parts of Convention is being together in relationship! While nothing can replace gathering in person, our hope is that we will still have meaningful ways to connect through small group gatherings online in the midst of Convention. We realize that an online Convention may present some difficulties for delegates and guests without solid internet access, and Diocesan Staff is already working on ways to make sure that Convention is accessible as it can be. However, caring for the health and safety of the members of the Diocese is most important, and a virtual Convention allows us to conduct business while keeping everyone as safe as possible.
Look for more information in future issues of From the Field, including instructions on how to register, what the platform will look like, and how we will best utilize the platform tools. As previously announced, Diocesan Convention will be held November 5-7, 2020.
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Brandi Underwood Honored By Episcopal Communicators
A Reflection on winning the Polly Bond Award by Brandi Underwood
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|  | | Award of Merit: Brandi Underwood, Saint Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church | Canterbury Tales | |
In 2017, as a new director of communications (and new Episcopalian for that matter) I searched for inspiration, guidance, and information regarding communications in The Episcopal Church. I quickly discovered Episcopal Communicators through The Episcopal Church's website and requested to become a member. Last year, as the organization planned for their annual conference, I received an email about the Polly Bond Awards. The Polly Bond Awards were established in the mid-1970s by the Episcopal Communicators to acknowledge excellence and achievement in the ministry of church communications1. Although I did not plan on attending, I was intrigued that I could submit my work and receive professional feedback. After submitting our social media accounts to be reviewed and receiving invaluable feedback, I decided to choose a different segment of our portfolio to have evaluated each year. This year I chose to submit "Canterbury Tales," St. Augustine's weekly digital newsletter.
As St. Augustine's Director of Communications, I am always seeking feedback on how I can improve; while attending my first Episcopal Communicators Conference the goal was no different. As I listened to the Polly Bond Award recipients being announced at the end of our conference, I quickly jotted down in my notes the names of fellow communication professionals and their websites, periodicals, social media accounts, and other content I could later review to make improvements to the content I produce. When they arrived at the category for General Excellence: Best Periodical (Digital) - Parish/Cathedral, I heard my name announced as the recipient of the Polly Bond Award of Merit. I was not expecting to receive an award and as I texted our rector, I told him that I did not want to share the information until I received an official announcement, on paper, from the Episcopal Communicators because surely I had misunderstood what I heard! Later that evening, I received an email confirming that I had indeed received a Polly Bond Award.
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| | General Excellence: Best Periodical (Digital) - Parish/Cathedral |
When I began assisting with St. Augustine's communications the Canterbury Tales was a Worddocument distributed through the mail. As I developed our communications plan, I continued to improve upon the Canterbury Tales, crafting it into the award-winning digital newsletter it is today. Although my name is on the award, our newsletter is the amalgamation of content contributed by our clergy, staff, lay leaders, vestry, and many parishioners. I am grateful to each of them for their commitment to evangelism through digital technology. My many thanks to you all for supporting my ministry!
Your friend in Christ,
Brandi
1 Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from "An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians," Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.
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Livestream Update
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 [email protected].
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Down to the Park to Pray
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| | CreationCare Commisson: Park & Pray 2020 |
The Creation Care Commission is offering five outdoor worships services this fall at state parks around the diocese. Connect with God, Creation, and other Episcopalians in a natural sanctuary, and experience the spiritual practice of creating earth art/nature mandalas. Dates and locations are:
August 29 - Mistletoe State Park (near Augusta)
September 26 - George L. Smith State Park (near Statesboro/Savannah)
October 24 - Laura S. Walker State Park (near Waycross)
November 21 - Georgia Veterans State Park (near Cordele)
December 12 - Reed Bingham State Park (between Tifton and Valdosta)
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Worship with the Diocese of Georgia in Tybee Island on Sunday
This Sunday, we will stream Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. from All Saints, Tybee Island with music from other Episcopal Churches in the diocese.
These liturgies are stored on both
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. |
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Around the Diocese
Church of the Holy Comforter, Martinez collected 900 pounds of food and $250 in gift cards for a local ministry.
 After a rough storm this weekend, help was needed to clear debris at St. Mark's, Brunswick from Mtn2Sea Ministries.
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| | The Lasch boys enjoying some front porch time at the Diocesan House. |
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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.
August 9-August 15
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Sandersville, Grace Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Sandersville, especially St. William Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Divine Providence (Divina Providencia) in San Antonio de Guerra.
August 16-August 22
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially Christ Church, the Mother Church of Georgia. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and Ascension Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Barthlomew (San BartolomeĢ) in San Cristobal.
Additional Prayer Cycles
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Logue is on vacation until August 23. Contact Canon Loren Lasch at [email protected] for any assistance.
This Sunday, Canon Lasch will officiate and preach Morning Prayer from All Saints, Tybee Island for the livestream on the Diocese of Georgia Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
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 [email protected]. We want to hear from you!
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Streamin' on Sunday Morning
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| | The clergy and staff had a little fun at the end of last Sunday's online service. To see the whole song, skip ahead to the 50 minute mark in the video. |
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