April 18, 2018
Volume 8, Number 34
Toil 'N Sweat Brings Work, Prayer and Fun 
Annabel West, of Good Shepherd, Augusta, captures the joy of being at Honey Creek in this photo from the Toil and Sweat youth retreat that worked to get our Retreat Center in better shape for Summer Camp.
Last weekend ten youth in grades six-12 gathered with six adults to care for Honey Creek, which is so special to so many of us. Participants came from eight different congregations across the Diocese, and spent much of their time with painting supplies in their hands! They arrived Friday night and spent time playing and singing together. On Saturday they turned to different tasks to help care for the Creek. The largest task was painting the exterior of Lodge One, adjacent to Stuart Hall. They also painted parts of the interior of Griffeth Dorm, washed Chapel windows and walls, and clearied out plant beds. Each day was framed by morning and evening worship and reflection, music, and a chance to relax and play together. The work itself was done in the spirit of worshipping God through the work itself. One participant spoke of how proud he would be to return to Honey Creek and see all of the work that had been done by his group! Toil 'N Sweat made a difference in the life of our Diocesan Parish Hall, and participants, both youth and adults, were challenged to take their experience into their lives beyond the Creek as well!

  

In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 3:12-19
I John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
Psalm 4

Go  here for the full text.


Help Wanted

Receptionist
The Diocese of Georgia seeks volunteers to work part-time as receptionists at Diocesan House. For more information and a position description, contact Katie Willoughby.

Part-time Children's Minister
St. Peter's Skidaway Island sees a part-time Children's Minister (pre-K through 5th grade.) Details  
Register for Summer Camp at Honey Creek

For 90 years the diocese has been hosting summer camp, with the first sessions at Camp Reese on St. Simons Island.  Since 1960, Honey Creek has been a place where campers have come to connect with God, develop lifelong friendships, explore nature, and just be together.  Days are full with activities: swimming and rope course; singing and worshiping; group games, and more. Clergy and lay youth leaders work at each camp sessions to spend time with campers and offer a program time giving a chance to explore faith in the setting of a week-long camp.

Regular camp sessions are $445.00 per camper. Parent & Child camp sessions are $335.00 (one adult & one child). Scholarships are readily available through our congregations and funds raised through Episcopal Youth and Children Services (EYCS) and elsewhere. Cost should not prohibit anyone from taking part in Summer Camp.

Parent & Child Camp
The Parent & Child sessions run during the Camp St. Joseph & Mary sessions (Sunday through Tuesday).  They serve as an introduction to camp culture for both the parent and the child (K-2).  Parent and child are invited to participate fully in all camp activities as much (or as little) as they are comfortable.
High School Camp / Completed grades 9-12
June 10 - 16
Camp St. Peter I / Completed grades 6-8
June 17 -23
Camp Joseph & Mary I /  Completed grades 3-5
June 24 -30
Parent & Child / Session I / Children completed grades K-2
June 24 -26
Camp St. Peter II
July 8 -14
Camp Joseph & Mary II / Completed grades 3-5
July 15 -21
Parent & Child / Session II / Children completed grades K-2
July 15 -17

Go here to register for the best summer of your life: camp at Honey Creek Retreat Center. Make lifelong friendships, have fun, swim, fish and just be yourself at Honey Creek! Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.


Summer Camp 2018 Wish List:
Footballs, beads, games, soccer balls, and a rubber chicken. Camp essentials make up the Wish List for Honey Creek. Want to contribute to the life of the camp? Go
Bishop's Visitation

Bishop Benhase made his annual Visitation to Christ Church, Valdosta this past Sunday including confirmations and the Blessing of Grace Cafe, which serves as home base for the congregation's campus ministry to Valdosta State University. To see the entire album of the Bishop's visit to Christ Church, Valdosta to here: 

Above, Bishop Benhase blesses Grace Cafe, 
which is shown filled with college students below. 

Around the Diocese
On April 5, 2018, a portrait of the late Judge John H. Ruffin, Jr. was among four portraits unveiled by Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia at the Interfaith Assembly of the 33rd Anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Ministers and Laity. Judge Ruffin's portrait will be placed in the International Hall of Honor of the Martin Luther King Jr International Chapel. This honor is bestowed upon those "who have contributed to nonviolence movements worldwide in civil and human rights." Judge Ruffin was the husband of Judith Fennell Ruffin, organist at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Augusta. Shown above, Dwayne Alvin Mitchell, the artist; Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr. Dean of the Chapel, Mrs. Ruffin and her son, S. Brinkley Ruffin.

The Horseshoe Restaurant in Hawkinsville enjoyed a full house for the Blessing of the Crops. The community event, initiated by St. Luke's, continues to be an important way to lift up the lay ministry of the area farmers.

This photo taken after the Baptism this Sunday of Madison Agyemang at St. Matthew's, Savannah shows the Rev. Guillermo Arboleda, the Priest in Charge, with Madison, held by her mother, Sarai Rhett, and surrounded by her father, Ashanti Agyemang (blue shirt, next to Sarai), and the godparents.
MidLife Crisis and Micahlan Boney played a concert at Trinity Statesboro this week. The concert benefitted Habitit for Humanity of Bulloch County's House #54.
St. Peter's Savannah
The Market Tops $1 Million in Charitable Giving
In its 20th year of sustained giving, The Antiques Show and The Market at 3 West Ridge, an outreach effort of St. Peter's, Savannah, has donated over $1 million dollars to the most vulnerable children of Savannah.

This year The Market at 3 West Ridge raised $68,000 for children's charities of Savannah. The two recipients for 2018 are Performance Initiatives and Early Learning College of Parent University of Savannah Early Learning Foundation. Each were presented a check of $34,000 during the service on Sunday, April 15, shown below. 
   
Receiving checks are representatives of Performance Initiatives, at left, and Parent University's new Early Learning College, at right.
Go Down to the River to Pray
Second Retreat to be held in the West on April 28
The Creation Care Commission's second "Down to the River to Pray" event will be held in southwest Georgia on Kinchafoonee Creek near Albany on Saturday, April 28, 9 AM to 1 PM. This morning paddle will wind through several miles of a gentle backwater creek under the shade of cypress canopies and along white sand bars and limestone banks with small waterfalls. Frequent "prayer pauses" make this more than just a beautiful paddle, though; it's a chance to deeply enjoy God's Creation and pray.

The group will gather at a private residence on Creekside Drive to be shuttled to the put-in at the 32 Bridge by Kayak Attack Adventures. Cost is $25/person in kayaks and $50/canoe (can accommodate 2-3 people). A few double kayaks are available. Those bringing their own boat(s) can arrange their own shuttle or pay $10 for Kayak Attack for shuttle service. Payment will be made on the day of the event. An optional potluck picnic and outdoor worship service will follow. For more information, contact creationcarecommission@gmail.com. To register, click
here. 
Register Now for Spring Clergy Conference, May 6-8
This May 6-8, the bishop, deacons, and priests of the Diocese of Georgia will meet at Honey Creek Retreat Center for the Spring Clergy Conference. The presenter will be Dr. Matthew Sleeth, a former ER physician,  is the author of Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action , the introduction to the Green Bible, and 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life . Creation care is his main theological passion, and he is an engaging speaker on keeping the sabbath. His website is  http://matthewsleethmd.com
 
Lodge 1 single - $262;  Lodge 1 double - $171;  Lodge 2 single - $240;  Lodge 2 double - $160;  Cottage - $154;  Camping/Commuting - $98
   
Register for the conference now by going here.  
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 15-21
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.

April 22-28
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Fitzgerald, St. Matthew's, and for our ecumenical partners in Fitzgerald, especially St. William's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Mark's ( San Marcos) in Haina. 
Diocesan Office Update and News  
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase is on retreat through April 20th. This Sunday, Bishop Benhase makes his visitation to King of Peace Kingsland at 10 am. His full schedule is available  here. 

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue and Victoria Steele Logue are returning to Savannah late today after a pilgrimage to Israel. He and Victoria are pictured at left at the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He will be in Austin, Texas, from this Friday through late Monday, April 23 for a meeting of the Episcopal Church's Executive Council. Canon Logue is serving a six-year term on our denomination's Board of Directors.

The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner will be visiting Christ Church, Cordele this weekend to meet with their youth leadership team, families with children and youth, and to celebrate and preach at their Youth Sunday.

Anna Iredale, Diocesan Communications Director, is currently at the Episcopal Communicators' Conference,  which is April 17-20 at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC.

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue,  will be officiating at the Thursday noon service in St. George's Chapel at Diocesan House.
Share your news in From the Field
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.  
Events 

Episcopal Church Women/Daughters of the King Retreat
April 27-28
St. Patrick's Albany
For information on accommodations, go here
To register and pay online, go here.
To download the registration form and pay by mail, go here.
To download the event schedule, go here.

Diocesan Offices Move
April 30th

Spring Clergy Conference

May 6-8
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Register by going here

Diocesan Council Meeting
May 11-12
Honey Creek Retreat Center

Hometown Missions
 June 1-3
Augusta, Georgia
For more information go here.
Ready to Move

Jamison Willoughby, Chief Morale Officer for the Diocese is readying for the diocesan offices to move. The date for the move is April 30th, however the offices will be in transition for several days prior to the move as we transfer essential services such as internet and telephone.
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