July 22, 2020
Volume 10, No. 46
IN THIS ISSUE
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An Update from Bishop Logue
An update from Bishop Logue

Diocesan online worship through 2020
Bishop Logue will continue to visit churches across the diocese to record the diocesan Sunday service at least through the end of the year. Bishop Logue and his Executive Assistant, Maggie Lyons, are currently working on the schedule. 

In a revised Bishop's Customary, Bishop Logue states, "Though some of our churches offer worship under the Phase 1 guidance, many and perhaps most parishioners will not opt for in-person worship for months to come as they remain at risk in the pandemic." 

In most cases, this will continue to mean recording in a church with a few people present at most. For churches that offer a livestream it could mean taking part in their Sunday worship and having that liturgy stream through the Diocesan Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. In all cases, pre-recorded or Livestream, appropriate distancing and masking will take place. These worship services will not be a visitation for the purposes of the Canons of the Episcopal Church. The typical visitation schedule will resume at a later time. 

Bishop Logue said, "In making this schedule, I will seek to balance worshipping with congregations of every size and area of the diocese. I will also take into consideration how long it has been since a congregation had the Bishop leading worship in their church." 

The Diocese will publish the Bishop's schedule on the diocesan website and share it each week in From the FieldFor the bishop's revised customary, click here .
Staying Connected: Real Talk in the Time of COVID-19
Beginning on tomorrow, Thursday, June 23, teens will be able to gather for Staying Connected: A Digital Youth Event. The three night event, by teens for teens, will cover topics that may not seem new, but look different in the time of COVID-19. Youth will have the opportunity to hear from their peers about home, technology, relationships, justice, prayer, and transition, all through the lens of living in the time of a global pandemic. 

Just like our typical youth events, the participants will split into small groups and have the chance to reflect on each talk and build relationships with each other. When asked what the team members were excited about, Callie Cranford said, "I'm excited for the participants who haven't experienced Honey Creek and youth events before, to experience them in a different way." Lachlan Davison spoke about the connections youth will make over the three evenings, "I'm excited to see the group take ownership of the event in a new way and how they take on the new environment." The most common sentiment, and voiced by Brooke Steinhauser was, "I'm excited to show my friends Honey Creek."

Registration is still open for those who will be entering 6-12 grade in the fall of 2020. Each session will begin via Zoom at 8:00pm and conclude at 10:00pm. To register, go to http://bitl.ly/GAYouthEvent.
 
We encourage youth to register in advance for this event. Early registration allows the staff to prepare in advance based on an estimate of numbers, and to communicate directly with people who have signed up.
 
Registration is live now at  http://bit.ly/GAYouthEvent

Questions? Please contact Canon Joshua Varner at  [email protected].
Darien Food Pantry Receives $25,000 Grant
St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's of Darien have recently received a grant from the Church of Jesus Chr ist of Latter Day Saints of $25,000 to support their food pantry and weekly lunch ministries.  The local LDS congregation has chosen to work with the Episcopal Church as they expand their outreach to the wider community.  

These ministries of St. Cyprian's and St. Andrew's have also been supported by the local Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic congregations.  They have found that Christians working together can accomplish so much more than working separately.
Social Media Engagement
Social Media is a powerful tool that enables us to disseminate information and thoughts quickly, but not always effectively. The Diocese of Georgia has a social media policy defined for clergy as they seek to engage in a public forum.  M any of us have seen the positive impacts of evangelism, activism, and community building that can occur on our personal and congregation al  social media outlets. However,  as we  scroll   through Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter,  we  can also see the negative impacts of divisive, hurtful, and dangerous rhetoric.   
 
A recent article through  Govloop , defined some good practices for consideration when posting or responding to content viewed on social media as the average person and employee.   
 
W hen speaking in person or online * :  
  • Be self aware . When emotions run high, it's easy to lose perspective about the impression we make and the impact of what we say. Before speaking, draw a calming breath, take a break, or get feedback from a trusted friend.  
  • Lead with empathy . Make an effort to understand other people's experiences, perspectives and context. This doesn't mean you have to agree with their views, but it can help you respond appropriately and effectively.  
  • Criticize the idea, not the person . Sometimes people deserve criticism, but don't make it personal if it's not relevant. Personal attacks can put people on the defensive, stifle discussion, and make others less receptive to listening to what you have to say.  
 
* Lauren Girardin , June 12, 2020.     
 
Some additional questions to consider prior to a post or comment are:   
 
1. Just because you can say it, should you say it?  

2. What is the desired effect of the post/comment? Education? Advocacy? Protesting?  Opinion ? Support?   

3. How does this post impact my immediate network, extended network, and public network?   

4. Will my post cause trauma? Will i t  break relationships?  
 
This is intended to serve as a consideration and not a deterrent to online engagement. As mentioned, social media is a power tool that can be leveraged to bring about monumental change.   
 
*Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended as legal advice or policy advice voted and approved by the Diocese.  


Spalding Ordination Postponed 
The ordination of Rita Spalding to the diaconate has been postponed to a later date. Once a new date has been chosen, there will be an announcement in From the Field.
Worship with the Diocese of Georgia in Moultrie on Sunday
This Sunday, we will stream Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. from St. Margaret's, Moultrie 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.
Around the Diocese - Masks Are on Their Way!
A couple of weeks ago, an "all call" was put out for those with mask making skills to share those with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic and create masks for the 8,000 schoolchildren who will be attending Episcopal schools in the fall. We asked, and you answered! Masks have already started to arrive at the Dominican Development Group office, with more on the way. For more information, contact Jim Toedman at [email protected].



The assembly line at Claudia Griffis' home.


It's  beginning  to look at lot like masks at Roberta Lindau's house!
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

July 19-25
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in St. Marys, Christ Church. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in St. Marys, especially Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Timothy ( San Timoteo ) in Nizao.

July 26-August 1
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation on St. Simons Island, Christ Church and Holy Nativity. We also pray for our ecumenical partners on the island, especially Lord of Life
Lutheran Church and St. William's Catholic Church. In our c ompanion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Barnabas ( San BernabeĢ ) in Pizarrete.

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

This Sunday, Bishop Logue will officiate and preach Morning Prayer from St. Margaret's, Moultrie for the livestream on the Diocese of Georgia Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

Canon Varner is working with youth and youth leaders on Staying Connected: A Digital Youth Event that begins tomorrow.

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 [email protected]. We want to hear from you!
Diocesan Staff Shows Their Honey Creek Pride

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