April 12, 2017
Volume 7, Number 33
Walking in the Way of Christ in Holy Week
Children at Holy Comforter Martinez prepare for a procession.
In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
Easter Day

The Palm Sunday liturgy at Christ Church Valdosta began alongside the church's columbarium.

St. Michael and All Angels Savannah began its Palm Sunday liturgy across the street in Daffin Park and processed to the church.

The Collect for Wednesday in Holy Week
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
Go to www.facebook.com/georgiaepiscopal to see more photos from Palm Sunday. To have your Holy Week photos featured, please send them to newsandevents@gaepiscopal.org by Monday at 4:30.   

The Rev. Charles Todd chants the opening acclamation for the Palm Sunday Mass at St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah.
    
Palm Sunday at St. Anne's Tifton (at left) and St. Peter's Savannah (at right).

King of Peace Kingsland began the journey of Holy Week in the Memorial Garden on the church's grounds.
     
Palm Sunday fanfare at Good Shepherd Augusta (at left) and at Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island (at right).
 Acolytes at St. Athanasius Brunswick are ready for the Palm Sunday procession.

The Rev. David Rose blesses the palms at St. Luke's Rincon.
Diocesan Youth
Sign up Today for Hometown Missions Outreach Weekend
 
Hometown Missions, our usual diocesan outreach weekend is expanding this year! Hometown Missions will take place Sunday, June 4 through Wednesday June 7 in Albany, Georgia. Diocesan Youth will come together with adults from the Albany Congregations to offer a Vacation-Bible-School-themed event for the children in the area around St. John's and St. Mark's, Albany. This area was one of the hardest hit in the tornados of the winter and spring, and there are very few activities for area children this summer since resources have had to be diverted to the clean-up and rebuilding efforts.

Youth who are currently in Grades 8-12 are encouraged to come to Albany to help work with these children, and to make a difference in their lives! Youth will lead children throughout each day's activities, will spend parts of each evening preparing for the next day, and of course will take time to play and sing and spend time together!

Youth are asked to arrive in the afternoon on Sunday, June 4, and will need to be picked up on Wednesday, June 7, also in the afternoon. We will be sleeping at St. John's and St. Mark's, so youth will need to bring sleeping bags, pillows, and sleeping pads (optional) in addition to their usual packing.

The total cost for this four day event is just $90. Scholarships are available upon request. If you will be seeking a scholarship, please register and pay the deposit only and then contact Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org. To register, go  here.
Georgia Interfaith Power and Light
Energy Audits and Grants Save Money for Ministry
The Rev. Lonnie Lacy, Rector of St. Anne's Tifton holds a check received from the Rev. Dcn. Culbreath.
The Rev. Dcn. Culbreath presents a check to the Very Rev. William Willoughby III, Rector of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Savannah.



















A total of four parishes in the diocese received energy efficiency grant funds this year from Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL). Through GIPL's PowerWise program to help faith communities reduce energy consumption, congregations can receive a low-cost, customized energy audit and apply for up to $10,000 in matching grant funds to make recommended improvements. 

Participating congregations have projected an energy savings of 20%. Congregations can apply for grant funds in the year they receive the audit or in subsequent years as budgets allow. 
The Rev. Deacon Culbreath presents a check to Nikki Yarbrough, Senior Warden, and the Rev. Dave Johnson, Rector at Christ Church, Valdosta.

Trinity, Statesboro, received $595 for wireless programmable thermostats, which will produce an estimated annual energy savings of $1,850.

Christ Church, Valdosta, received
 $1000 to provide blown-in insulation above the church's office for an estimated annual savings of $806 per year. The Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Savannah, received $4,400 total for two projects: replacing many incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs and for roof upgrades in conjunction with a solar energy project. In Tifton, St. Anne's received $1500 to install 10 wireless programmable thermostats for an estimated savings of $2,558 per year. 

Since 2003, GIPL has awarded over $800,000 to help Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations across Georgia take faithful action to reduce their carbon footprint and care for God's Creation. GIPL's engineer will be making his annual trip to south Georgia soon to conduct audits, so congregations wishing to enroll in the PowerWise program this year should sign up as soon as possible at  http://www.gipl.org/power-wise/. For more information about the program, contact Rev. Dcn. Leeann Culbreath, GIPL's South Georgia Outreach Coordinator, at  leeann@gipl.org
From the Cursillo Commission 
The Cursillo Commission thanks the team of Cursillo #122 for their perseverance in successfully sharing a wonderfully God filled weekend with the 21 participants who attended Cursillo #122. The team prepared for an October event, was a bit deflated by the interference of Hurricane Matthew, but with God's help and direction re-ignited to pull off a great weekend in March.

Bishop Benhase appointed the following persons to the Cursillo Commission after receiving nominations from current commission members:  
Misty Graham - Savannah Convocation
Brandy Holland - Southeastern Convocation
Carlton Shuford - Augusta Convocation
Kathy Shuford - Augusta Convocation
Rita Spalding - Southeastern Convocation

We look forward to adding these folks to our Commission, and to preparation in the months to come for Cursillo #123 in October. 
Columba House, Savannah
Internships in Community
Applications for internships for those aged 21 to 35 at our Episcopal ministry center in Savannah have a priority deadline of May 1, 2017 and a final deadline of June 1, 2017.

Living in an intentional community, interns pray daily, attend local events, go on retreats, and serve the neighborhood in which they live. We encourage participants to find and test their own gifts, strengths and interests with the support of mentors. Applicants are matched to a local nonprofit that fits their interests and skills. This is the perfect opportunity for young adults seeking a sense of purpose and direction while also strengthening leadership skills.
 For information go to
Bishop's Visitations

Bishop Benhase made his Visitation to Trinity, Blakely. He is pictured here with the Rev. Joe Clift and Deacon Ri Lamb.
 
Candidates for Baptism, Confirmation and Reception at Christ Church St. Marys last Sunday.

At St. Patrick's Albany: front row, from left: Joseph, Teddy and Erin Freeman (sponsors), Lydia Freeman (confirmed), SunnyAnne LaFontaine (reaffirmed), Riley Driggers (confirmed) Davis Jones (granddaughter and sponsor of Mrs. LaFontaine), Bob Baranko (acolyte); b
ack row, from left: Casey Perkins, Verger, Al Voss (confirmed), Bishop Benhase, Interim Rector Galen Mirate, Carolyn Brunson, Verger.
Riley Driggers being confirmed during Bishop Benhase' Palm Sunday Visitation to St. Patrick's, Albany.
Chrism Mass

Clergy gathered on Monday in Holy Week at St. Anne's, Tifton, for the first of two Chrism Masses during which clergy renewed their ordination vows and Bishop Benhase blessed oils for use around the Diocese in the coming year. L-R: the Rev. Galen Mirate, the Rev. Stephen Norris, the Rev. Anne Heinemann, the Rev. Larry Williams, the Rev. Luke Wetzel, the Rev. Gail Long, the Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath, the Rev. Jim Elliott, Bishop Benhase, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy, the Rev. Aaron Brewer, the Rev. Dee Shaffer, the Rev. Dianne Hall, the Rev. Johnny Tuttle, the Rev. Ellen Richardson, the Rev. Steve Larson, and the Rev. Deacon Leigh Hall. To read the sermon that Bishop Benhase preached at Tifton, go  here.
   
Bishop Benhase preaches to the gathered clergy in Savannah (at left) and the clergy pour oil for healing and for chrismation at baptism into containers to take with them. Below is a group photo of the clergy who attended the Chrism Mass at St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah, on Tuesday in Holy Week.  To read the sermon Bishop Benhase preached at St. Paul the Apostle, go   

Episcopal Church Women's Annual Retreat 
Nourishing our minds, bodies, and spirits with food, fellowship, and fun!  All of the women of the Diocese of Georgia are cordially invited to join your Diocesan Board for our Annual Retreat.

This year an expanded meeting of the Episcopal Church Women is being hosted by Saint John's, Bainbridge, April 20-22. This promises to be a time of great inspiration and fun. Don't miss out!
Our keynote speakers are Julius and Julia Ariail from the Companion Diocese Commission. Our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Scott Benhase will be joining us for our Friday night banquet as well as our worship on Saturday. We will be joining with The Order of the Daughters of the King® for this retreat. Each parish is entitled to have three  delegates to the business meeting of the ECW. Daughters will be having their Spring business meeting during this retreat too.
Hotel accommodations are discounted at the Hampton Inn of Bainbridge ($109.00) if you call ahead and ask for a room with the ECW. The deadline for registration is April 17th
More information is available on our web site; www.ecw.georgiaepiscopal.org or www.facebook.com/edogecw and your Convocation Coordinator. 
Want more visitors to your church?
Want more visitors to your church?
The Loose Canon
Two Videos Share How to Invite and Welcome
Easter offers an opportunity to rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and our worship on that day is the pinnacle of the church year. Easter is also the day when many people without a church home will look for a place to worship. To assist congregations in making the most of this opening to invite and welcome visitors, I created two one-minute videos which give easy to follow advice on how to invite someone to church and how to welcome people once they arrive. 

I based the videos on research from the Christian resource provider Lifeway. Their research shows that the single best way to increase visitors is through personal invitation by a trusted friend. That is the main way people find a church. With Easter fast upon us, there is no time like the present to invite a friend to join you.

Then when you get to church this Sunday, remember to welcome new people in worship. Lifeway's research shows the three minutes before and the three minutes after church matter most to visitors. In the minutes before worship, they need to be welcomed by greeters. In the minutes after church, they will find your church unfriendly if no one but the minister greets them. The second video shows how a simple,  "Hi, I don't believe we've met," can matter a lot to a newcomer.

Share these videos as a way of teaching invitation and welcome as we look toward a joyous Easter celebration.

Peace, 
Frank
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary

The 6 Minutes That Matter Most to Visitors
The 6 Minutes That Matter Most to Visitors
Around the Diocese   
Claudia Griffis, Jane Johnston, and Louise Richards, parishioners of St. George's Savannah delivered Easter Baskets made by parishioners, for the Children of SAFE Shelter. The Director, Cheryl Branch,  thanked them and reminded them that St. George's has been assisting the ministry of the Shelter for almost 20 years.

St. Paul's Albany is hosting that city's downtown Holy Week services this year including providing lunch each day to those worshiping together.

King of Peace Kingsland teamed up with Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church to provide lunch for the downtown Holy Week service in St. Marys.

St. Peter's Savannah hosted leaders from 12 congregations for Project Resource Leadership Training taught by Canons Katie Willoughby and Frank Logue. The diocese will offer the training again this fall at three locations around the diocese.

 The Rev. Ted Clarkson, (left in photo to left) Rector of St. Andrew's and Cyprian's Churches, joins other clergy in McIntosh County processing to the Blessing of the Fleet, asking for safety and a bountiful harvest. At right, one of the boats on parade. (Photos by Maggie Toussaint)


Meg Macuch, (left) a member of St. Augustine's Augusta was named the 2017 Student of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Augusta. A student at the Davidson Fine Arts School, Meg raised $22,820 for the Society and will receive a $2,500 scholarship toward the college or university of her choice. 
Share your news in From the Field
Many of the photos that you see in this week's issue of From the Field have been downloaded from church Facebook pages. Be sure to post your news on Facebook or send your news, events and photos to  so we can feature them in upcoming issues of From the Field. Deadline for submissions each week is Monday at 4:30 PM.  
Honey Creek Camp Increases Its Fleet!


Honey Creek has been blessed with a three-fold gift from Tom and Fran O'Connor. Two kayaks and one canoe have been added to the fleet at Honey Creek, and will greatly benefit summer camp! Go to honeycreek.org/camps to register for one or more sessions at Camp Honey Creek. Thank you Tom and Fran! (shown above with Sarah Youngner, Landscape and Maintenance Associate and Honey Creek Executive Director Dade Brantley)
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 52 weekly prayers are available in one document  found here. 

April 9-15
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Douglas, St. Andrew's and for our ecumenical partners in Douglas, especially St. Paul's Catholic Church.  In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Santo Tomás (St. Thomas') in Gautier.

April 16-12 
 
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Dublin, Christ Church, and for our ecumenical partners in Dublin, especially Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the Church of Divine Providence (Divina Providencia) in Guerra.
SUMMA Debate Camp at Sewanee
Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 session of  SUMMA Debate Camp  at the  University of the South , July 18-26. This year, camp will feature keynote speaker Leah Libresco , contributing editor of  America,  and--as an undergraduate--a member of Yale University's  Political Union  (a debating society).

SUMMA is open to high school students of any faith entering grades 9-12 in the fall of 2017. SUMMA offers students a unique opportunity to explore faith through intellectual channels while making lifelong friends and having lots of fun on one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country!

At SUMMA Camp, students learn valuable skills for debate, public speaking, and theological reflection. No previous debate experience or formal theological study is necessary. 
For more information, go
Diocesan Office Update and News  
This Sunday, Bishop Benhase will officiate at the Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. June Johnson at All Saints' Tybee Island, 7 PM Thursday. He will make his visitation to the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah at 10:00 AM on Easter Sunday. The Bishop's full schedule is available   here.   

On Maundy Thursday, Canon Logue will preach at St. Matthew's, Savannah.

There is no service at St. George's Chapel this week. 
Palm Sunday in Style 
 
Christ Church Savannah's ever roving photographer, Mills Fleming, captured this photo he calls "Another Palm Sunday in Paradise" for the church's Facebook page. 
Changes to the Canons
Have You Shared Feedback on Proposed Changes?
 
When Diocesan Council met in February, they endorsed changes to the Canons of the Diocese following a year of discussion. Now Council seeks the input of the parishioners and clergy of the Diocese of Georgia into these changes.

Background
For more than a decade the Diocese of Georgia has rarely used a provision written in our canons that grants the Bishop authority to move parishes who can no longer meet the obligations of a "parish" to "mission" status. Over time, this has created confusion defining which congregations are "missions" and which are "parishes." The differences are about more than mere terminology: this affects both representation to Diocesan Convention and the amount of oversight provided by the Diocese.

The proposed changes, would if passed:
* reduce unnecessary oversight for more than one third of the congregations,
* acknowledge several of our small congregations as full members of the Diocese,
* result in a representative Diocesan Convention, and
* add an extra level of assurance that endowed funds in all parishes are managed with sound investment practices.
For more information about the proposed changes, please go here for an Executive Summary of the proposed changes, the full canons with the proposed changes shown in color, and a chart showing the current delegates to convention compared to the proposed representation.

Timeline
The proposed changes are out for comment from now through May 11. A brief survey to collect responses to the canonical revisions can be found here. Diocesan Council will consider the feedback at its May 12 meeting and amend the proposed changes as needed.

The proposed changes as revised at that May meeting will then go to the Committee on Constitution and Canons for their review. The proposed changes as approved by that committee will then go out to the diocese via email to clergy and Senior Wardens as well as notice in From the Field.

The proposed changes will be on the agenda for the November diocesan convention. If approved, the canonical changes will be in effect immediately.

If the changes are voted and approved during convention, then two key changes go into effect with the language related to mission to parish status go into immediate effect, but the proportional representation delegations to convention will require a second vote at convention in 2018 and go into effect in 2019.
Events
Episcopal Church Women/Daughters of the King Annual Retreat, April 20-22
St. John's Bainbridge
For more information go here.

Missional Voices National Gathering
, April 21-22
Virginia Seminary
Leading thinkers from around The Episcopal Church will discuss innovative ministries, missional communities, and how to participate in the mission of God in our neighborhoods. 
More details are available at
www.missionalvoices.com.

D
own to the River to Pray, April 22
9:30 AM
Reed Bingham State Park
Register  here
 
Trainings for Vestries, Administrators and Communicators, April 23
2-5 PM
Grace Church, Waycross
Register  here  

Trainings for Vestries, Administrators and Communicators,  May 14
2-5 PM
Our Savior, Martinez
Register here

Education for Ministry, 
June 1-3
Honey Creek Conference Center
Contact Diocesan EfM Coordinator Misty Graham at 352-281-6805 or misty.mcintyre.graham@gmail.com for more information here.
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