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James Harris Purks III (August 21, 1936-February 19, 2018)
 Deacon Jim Purks died Monday following years of cardiovascular issues. Purks enjoyed a noteworthy career in journalism, politics, and working with businesses and non-profits, but he always had the heart of a servant looking out for those who would have otherwise been lost and left out. He was ordained a deacon on December 7, 1999 with Bishop Henry Louttit officiating.
A native of Atlanta, Purks earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina and a master's in political science from Stanford. He started his career in the early 1960s at the Associated Press on the Civil Rights beat. His best known story during that time came as he wrote about walking through 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham just after the bodies of young Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, were removed from the bomb blast site. He said that his servant ministry is dedicated to the four girls to whose deaths he bore witness to for us all.
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| Deacon Jim Purks as a young reporter. |
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After a move to AP's Tallahassee Bureau, he worked on a US Senate campaign and then Jimmy Carter's successful campaign for President in 1976. Purks then served as Carter's Deputy Press Secretary. He was honored to be alongside the President at the history making Camp David Peace Accords. After his stint in the White House, he served as a speech writer for a number of Fortune 500 Companies before moving back to Georgia to work in marketing at Habitat for Humanity. While there, he collaborated on two books with Habitat founder Millard Fuller. During that time, he and the Rev. Reginald Gunn became a "dynamic duo" as Jim was ordained to the diaconate in 1999. Purks was a mentor in the Education for Ministry (EfM), and was very active in HIV/AIDS ministry. He later served in Albany, where he became deacon emeritus for Albany's three Episcopal churches following his retirement. He continued to serve, working with Barney's Run for Warriors, serving food at St. Clare's Soup Kitchen, visiting the sick at Phoebe Putney Hospital as part of his service within the Order of St. Luke. He was a beloved deacon who will be sorely missed.
His Requiem Mass will be this Sunday, February 25 at 4 PM at St Paul's Albany with a reception following in their parish hall. His Committal Liturgy will be in the Columbarium of St. Patrick's Albany on Monday, February 26 at 10 AM Clergy should dress in Cassock, Surplice, & Tippet unless they are involved in the liturgy and then it would be alb and white stole.
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This Sunday's Lections
Second Sunday
in Lent
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Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
Psalm 22:22-30
Go
here
for the full text.
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Thank You Maggie Bloodworth!
 Maggie Bloodworth has recently announced that she will be stepping down from her role as Coordinator of the New Beginnings program for the Diocese of Georgia after this coming conference, which takes place March 9-11, 2018.
"We are deeply grateful for the countless hours Maggie dedicated to this important youth program," said Canon Missioner for Children and Youth, the Rev. Joshua Varner. "Maggie grew up in the Diocese of Georgia. She has been a participant and leader for youth ministries and both the congregational and diocesan level for many years."
She grew up in Valdosta and was actively involved with the New Beginnings Program, along with other Diocesan activities, while at Valdosta State University. Maggie worked as the Youth Minister at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Hawkinsville from 2003 to 2016, and has served as a Spiritual Director for Summer Camp at Honey Creek many times. She took on the role of Diocesan Coordinator for New Beginnings in 2014.
"Maggie has been a huge asset to the program in bringing back some of the old content as well as introducing new and fresh ideas," said Jason Peaslee, who served with Maggie as a co-coordinator prior to 2014. During her tenure, the New Beginnings program, which is for youth in Grades 7-9 and led mostly by older youth, has flourished. "Maggie is leaving the New Beginnings program in a place of strength," said Varner, "and we are deeply grateful for her years of ministry with this and all the Diocesan Youth Programs."
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CreekFEST This Weekend
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ECW President Beth Mithen swings splits some wood during one of the competitions at last year's CreekFEST. To join the fun this year, go here to register.
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Chrism Masses for the Clergy
 Two Chrism Masses are scheduled for Holy Week with one in the west on Holy Monday, March 26, at 11 AM at Christ Church Valdosta with a light lunch to follow in their parish hall and one in the east on Holy Tuesday, March 27, at Trinity Statesboro, again at 11 AM with a light lunch to follow.
"This gathering is more than just a chance to refill our oils and grab lunch," said Bishop Benhase. "It is a time for us to renew our ordination vows together and to reflect deeply on our shared vocations and commitments." The event is at no charge, but we need you to RSVP using the following links so that we will hve the right number of lunches, including the correct count on those who need a vegetarian option.
Register for Christ Church Valdosta on March 26
Register for Trinity Statesboro on March 27
here.
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Two Weeks to New Beginnings #52!
 There is still space to sign up for New Beginnings #52 on March 9-11, a youth event for young people in grades seven to nine! Register online here. The Lead Teen for New Beginnings #52 is Garrett Shoemake from St. Paul's, Savannah. Join us for a youth-led weekend with reflection, music, worship, games, and more!
The weekend begins Friday evening at 7 PM (after supper) and ends with a Closing Eucharist to which families and friends are invited on Sunday in the early afternoon.
The cost for the weekend is $115, and scholarships are available. Contact Diocesan Coordinator Maggie Bloodworth at
[email protected]
with questions about the New Beginnings program. Contact Canon Joshua Varner about scholarships at
[email protected]
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Update on Bishop Henry Louttit
 Bishop Henry Louttit is continuing his recovery with Jan by his side. They are currently staying in Tallahassee with their daughter Amy and plan on permanently relocating there sometime this year. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
The Louttits are shown in a file photo.
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Bishop's Visitations
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| Bishop Benhase at his annual visitation to Christ Church Dublin on February 4. |
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| Bishop Benhase at his yearly visitation to Christ Church Augusta where he received Tara and Brett Montroy, members of St. Paul's Augusta, into the Episcopal Church. Standing left to right are: Tara Montroy, Archdeacon Sandy Turner, Bishop Benhase, Aimee Swearingen, and Brett Montroy. |
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Fearless Faith and Boundless Love Continues
 Congregations across the diocese have been watching the videos of the Revival together and discussing the sermons. Everything your congregation needs to bring the Revival home remains online. You can even download the videos so showing the sermons will not require an internet connection.
Links to the videos
You may also watch or download the complete services
here.
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Lent Madness
Deaconess Alexander Moves to Second Round
On Monday, Deaconess Anna Alexander faced Peter Claver in Lent Madness, the tournament-style single elimination bracket of 32 saints. Created as a playful way to learn about Christians who exhibited heroic faith through the ages, the Lent devotional features two saints with ties to the Diocese of Georgia in the Round of 32 - Deaconess Anna Alexander and John Wesley. As the Lent Madness blog put it on Monday,
"I
t's not really about which saints win or lose (they've all received their Golden Halos) - it's about encountering Jesus through the inspiring lives of those who have come before us in the faith."
John Wesley faces Edith Cavell this Friday and while Wesley's fame is greater, don't count out Cavell. The British nurse worked tirelessly during World War I to save the lives of both German and Allied soldiers before being arrested and executed for treason. There is more to her story, you can learn by going to LentMadness.org on Friday. The winner of Friday's match up will go up against Deaconess Alexander on March 13.
How does this work?
 Go to
LentMadness.org and sign up for the daily email, or visit the website daily in Lent. You may vote once a day for the saint you want to win the match up. Do note, that while it may seem that you can vote more than once, please do not. Not only does their software find and eliminate double votes, stacking the deck in favor of a saint is not, well, saintly. Want to spread the word in your congregation? Download and print the
free bulletin inserts.
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Around the Dioces
e
The Rev. June Johnson dedicates a labyrinth on the grounds of All Saints Tybee Island on the First Sunday in Lent.
The altar on the First Sunday in Lent at St. Paul's Augusta.
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General Convention 2018
Two Options for Prayer Book Revision Proposed
In response to a mandate from the 2015 General Convention, a Sub-Committee of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) on Revision of the Book of Common Prayer drafted to proposals for the upcoming convention to consider. Drew Keane, the First Alternate Deputy from the Diocese of Georgia, served on the nine-member Sub-Committee. Keane, a member of St. John's Savannah, reflected on the experience saying, "Serving on the SCLM and this sub-committee in particular was an enriching experience. I know some suspect that the SCLM has an agenda and tries to steer the Church towards predetermined outcomes. This was certainly not my experience. Far from it! The members of this sub-committee were deeply committed to listening to different voices within the Church, learning from the experience of others, and open to exploring different ways of proceeding."
The group looked into four alternative ways to approach the revision process and now the SCLM offers a report with two options for moving forward.
The
first option would call for a decision by the 2018 General Convention to begin the revision process at once, by gathering "data, resources, and ideas, and then set up the structure to begin drafting immediately after 2021 General Convention."
The second option calls for a much slower schedule. This option, "invites the whole church to broaden its familiarity with the 1979 Prayer Book and the history that underlies it, and provides for time to reflect as a body on the significance of common prayer in our tradition." During this time, significant work would happen in offering the current Book of Common Prayer in other languages in which the Episcopal Church now worships. The report states that, "It is generally recognized that the present Spanish and French versions of the Prayer Book are inadequate, and that there is an urgent need for the Prayer Book to be translated into Haitian Creole and many other languages, particularly among First Nations....Comprehensive translation of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, using the criteria passed by the 78th General Convention and executed from "the ground up" is included in Option Two as one of the most significant and meaningful ways the church can deepen its engagement with the 1979 Book of Common Prayer."
Keane added, "To me, what is perhaps the most significant resolution we're putting forward centers on translation -- or, more precisely -- ensuring that the Church facilitates prayer for all in their mother-tongue, a central value and commitment of Anglicanism's Common Prayer tradition."
As in recent conventions, we created a website to keep you updated from the perspective of the Diocese of Georgia from now through the convention:
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Openings at the Diocese of Georgia's Saluda Cottage
 We now taking reservations for summer stays at Saluda Cottage. The two-story 1920's era cottage is nestled in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina in Saluda, a lovely historic town close to Kanuga, Asheville, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Use it as your pied-à-terre for sightseeing or for simply relaxing in a rocking chair on the wrap-around porch...or both! Bought and maintain for use by clergy, the cabin is also open to lay persons on a space available basis. The cost for the week is $250 for clergy of the Diocese of Georgia and $350 per week for others.
More information is available here
and a photo album of the cottage is online
here.
For registration and availability please contact MJ Harris at the Diocese. 912-236-4279 or via email [email protected].
  One of the many waterfalls seen on hiking trails near the cottage (left), and the Main Street of Saluda, NC.
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Prayer Retreat at Honey Creek March 9-10
 This prayer retreat will introduce participants to contemplative spirituality through the practices of silent centering prayer, chanting and singing, praying with icons, Anglican prayer beads, Lectio Divina and the Daily Office. Led by Lynne Kemp (St. Peter's), and the Revs. Kelly Steele (Church of the Epiphany), Guillermo Arbeledo (St. Matthew) and Hunt Priest (St. Peter's). Additional information and signup can be found
here.
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Bishop Benhase' Stewardship Workshop Here
The Stewardship Training Workshops that Bishop Benhase has led with a team of people trained in Project Resource has concluded for now. Workshops were held in each convocation of the diocese throughout the year. The Power Point document is available as a PDF
here.
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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. The 52 weekly prayers are available in one document
found here.
February 18-24
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Baxley, St. Thomas Aquinas and for our ecumenical partners in Baxley at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Bonao, especially St. Joseph of Arimathea (San José de Arimatea), St. John the Baptist (San Juan Bautista), and St. Nicodemus (San Nicodemo).
February 25-March 3
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Blakely, Holy Trinity, and for our ecumenical partners in Blakely, especially Holy Family Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Cornelius (San Cornelio) in Cabarette.
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Lenten Quiet Day at St. Paul's Savannah
St. Paul's Daughters of the King will hold a Lenten Quiet Day on Saturday, March 3rd from 8:30 to 1:30 at the church on Abercorm St. Everyone--men and women--are invited to participate. There is no charge for the Quiet Day.
The leader of the Quiet Day, the Rev. Johnny Tuttle said, "Each reflection will consider different ways in which we experience our limit, the ways in which we are compelled by our culture to transcend or ignore that limit, and the ways in which those limits might be received as gift and grace from a loving Creator."
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will meet with the Commission on Ministry on Saturday at Honey Creek. He will make his annual visitation to Trinity Cochran at 11 AM on Sunday, February 25. The Bi
shop's full schedule is available
here.
The Rev. Hunt Priest, Rector of St. Peter's Savannah, will officiate at the noon Thursday service in St. George's Chapel at Diocesan House.
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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.
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Creekfest
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Register
here.
Cursillo #124
March 1-4
Honey Creek Retreat Center
For Team Registration, go
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Friendly Lenten Competition Benefits those in Need
The Rev. Melanie Lemburg, Rector of St. Thomas Isle of Hope, and the Rev. Hunt Priest, rector of St. Peter's Skidaway Island are challenging their congregations in a Canned Food Drive to benefit a third Savannah Episcopal Church, the I Am Food Pantry at St. Michael and All Angels. The food drive designed specifically to collect non-perishable protein items (canned meats, peanut butter, beef stew, etc.) ends on Palm Sunday.
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