Liturgical composer, workshop presenter, performing and recording artist, and author Marty Haugen of Eagan, Minnesota will present a workshop May 5-7, Transformative Worship Through Music, at Christ Church Frederica on St. Simons Island. 

With more than 40 recording and more than 400 printed editions available through GIA Publications, Haugen has served as an editor or consultant to a number of hymnals, including the Anglican Church of Canada, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Canada, and others.

Even before God speaks to our hearts, God knows each of us fully and loves us, so the silence of God is in the words of author John Main, "pregnant with love, pregnant with power." Main, who died in 1982, was a Benedictine monk who called Christians to a practice of meditation, now often referred to as Centering Prayer. He wrote in The Way of Unknowing of the silence in which we are known by God and of the "magisterial silence" of absence and loss in which God is also present, which pulls us to go deeper in faith.

The Rev. Liam Collins is teaming up again with Canon Frank and Victoria Logue to offer a Lenten Retreat at Honey Creek. The 2017 Lenten Retreat will work from the writings of John Main to explore these silences of God and the way of praying that taps into a deeper foundation for our faith. As the teaching is the practice, there will be significant amounts of time given to the practice as well as the teaching about Christian meditation. If you want to experience God more fully in prayer, this retreat will give you the tools and the experience to take that journey. The retreat will meet March 24 at 5 p.m. and conclude by 2 p.m. on the 25th. 

The rates for the conference including three meals are: Lodge 1 Single $144, Lodge 1 Double $99.50, Lodge 2 Single $133, Lodge 2 Double $94, Cottage $90, and Campers and Commuters $64. Click this link to: register for the conference online.

The Loose Canon

	Rachel Held Evans

(Canon Logue was a keynote speaker at the Church Leadership Conference held at Kanuga. Here's his report from the field.)
How are you helping people find their way into your church? This key question gave focus to the Church Leadership Conference hosted this past weekend by the Episcopal Church Foundation and Kanuga Conferences. Speaking from her experience finding her way out of an evangelical upbringing and into the Episcopal Church, author Rachel Held Evans warned the gathering on Friday evening, "If you've found your place, don't get too comfortable. God has this annoying habit of taking you to new places." She read from her book Searching for Sunday and then pushed forward movingly with the sacraments of Communion and Baptism and how they speak to helping people find their place in the church. The many workshops offered tools for encouraging this work of the Holy Spirit in changing lives. 

Leadership that can change a church

How can leaders effect change in their church? As I addressed this in my Saturday morning keynote, I told the gathered leaders, "Be the church you want to see." Then I gave some examples: Want a welcoming church, then let others see you spending time in welcoming others, showing newcomers the ropes with prayer book worship and introducing them to others. Want to raise up new leaders, then ask someone new to run for election, offer to mentor them and let others know you will not stand for election as it is time for new voices. In this way elected leaders on the vestry and others who are leaders within a congregation can move a church by changing their own behavior. This is real leadership which can turn your church into a place of pilgrimage in which newcomers likewise find themselves challenged to grow.

Our diocese was well-represented at the conference: leaders from Holy Comforter, Martinez; Holy Nativity, St. Simons Island; St. Mark's Brunswick; and St. Thomas, Savannah, took part in the three-day meeting. Kanuga will offer the Church Leadership Conference next year March 2-4. 

Peace,
Frank

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary

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 12-18

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Bainbridge, St. John's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Bainbridge, especially St. Joseph's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregation in Bonao, especially Boca de Yuboa and   Pentecostes ( Pentecost).

February 19-25 
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 San José de Arimatea (St. Joseph of Arimathea), San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist), and San Nicodemo (St. Nicodemus). 

Many of us recognize that daily life can easily shift from healthy fullness to overwhelming imbalance. Time and space for the Holy reinvigorate us all. Consider a visit to the convent, a place of peace.

Feeling isolated, exhausted, overwhelmed? Need spiritual companionship, rest, relief (and great food)? The Saint Helena sisters (Episcopal) are here to journey with you. In a recently conducted survey, the number one retreat request was for a silent weekend with spiritual direction but no program. Accordingly, Silent Retreat Weekends have been scheduled for March 3-5; June 2-4; Oct 6-8 and Dec 1-3.

Retreats start on Friday evening at Vespers (5 pm) and end with Sunday lunch (1 pm). Silence begins after Compline on Friday and ends after Eucharist on Sunday. A spiritual direction session is included on Saturday. The cost is $160, all inclusive. Go here to register and for more information. It is also possible to schedule a personal retreat.

The Mission of the Order of Saint Helena is to show forth Christ through a life of monastic prayer, hospitality and service. They are located in North Augusta, South Carolina.

Events

Cursillo #122 , March 2-4

Honey Creek
Go here for more information.

Project Resource Stewardship Training, March 4
St. Anne's, Tifton
Go here to register.

Clergy Spouses Retreat, March 10-12
Honey Creek
Go here for more information.

Trainings for Vestries, Administrators and Communicators, March 12
2-5 PM
St. Patrick's Albany
Register here

Church Development Institute (CDI) March 17-18

Honey Creek

Go   here for more information.

Church Development Institute (CDI) Augusta  March 17-18

Our Savior, Martinez

Go   here for more information.

Lenten Prayer Retreat, March 24-25
Led by the Rev. Liam Collins, the Rev. Canon Frank Logue and Victoria Logue
Honey Creek
Go here for more information

Trainings for Vestries, Administrators and Communicators, March 26
2-5 PM
St. Michael and All Angels, Savannah
Register here

New Beginnings #50, March 24-26
Honey Creek
Go here for more information.

Project Resource Stewardship Training, April 8
St. Peter's Savannah 
Go here for more information. 

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.

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