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 Dispatch from the Dominican Republic
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Our youth arrive in Santo Domingo. |
Two mission teams from the Diocese of Georgia are in the Dominican Republic this week: the Diocesan Youth team led by the Rev. Canon Joshua Varner; and the Christ Church (Valdosta) team led by Julia and Julius Ariail -- who also happen to be Varner's parents-in-law. Both teams arrived on Saturday, June 23, and will return on Saturday, June 30. The Diocesan Youth team is based in an Episcopal conference center in Boca Chica on the southern coast about 18 miles east of Santo Domingo.
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| Canon Joshua Varner sharing music at VBS. |
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The Christ Church team is at the Episcopal conference center near the city of Jarabacoa in the central highlands about 96 miles northwest of Santo Domingo. The Youth team has been conducting Vacation Bible School (VBS) classes for two Episcopal congregations nearby, and the Christ Church team is working on a variety of projects, including Vacation Bible School, painting murals in a kindergarten classroom, teaching sewing classes, repairing and repainting a playground structure at the local Episcopal K-8 school, and conducting rabies clinics.
These teams are the third and fourth sponsored by the Diocese of Georgia this year. The other teams were from St. Peter's (Savannah, in January 2018) and St. Anne's (Tifton, in February 2018). For more information about the Diocese's work in the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic, check out the
Companion Diocese webpage.
The team from Christ Church Valdosta: from left: Sally Querin, Caroline Hiers, Mary Marwitz, Fred Richter, Grady Lacy, Phyllis Hiers, Wil Brown, Jeannette Pringle, Casey Wesselman, Paul Stevenson, Steph Johnson, Julius Ariail, Meg Hiers and Julia Ariail
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2 Samuel 1:1, 17-277:
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
or
Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Lamentations 3:21-33
Psalm 30
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Go
here for the full text.
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Robert Magoola to St. Athanasius'
 A third-generation Anglican priest licensed in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, the
Rev. Robert Magoola has been called as Priest-in-Charge to St. Athanasius' Church, Brunswick. Since his ordination 25 years ago, he has served in church ministry, college ministry and hospital chaplaincy.
Prior to his ordination Magoola spent two years as a youth minister in his native Uganda. Along with Clinical Pastoral Education chaplaincy training, he has a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from The University of Birmingham, England; a Master of Theology from Dallas Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Seminary. He has been married to Monica for 20 years and one week, and together they have three teenagers. He currently teaches at Savannah State University. He starts this Sunday, July 1.
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Savannah Young Returns to Honey Creek!
Savannah (Spivey) Young has been named
Director of Operations and Program at Honey Creek.
 Young grew up in Cochran, Georgia where she attended Trinity Episcopal Church. She has been active in the Diocese of Georgia, attending camps and youth events at Honey Creek, eventually serving as a camp counselor.
She continued to serve alongside missioners to the Dominican Republic while attending Valdosta State University. Young earned her doctorate in Human Development and Family Science in 2016 from the University of Georgia.
She is married to Will and they have a five-month-old son, Hanks. Savannah recently left the field of consumer research in California to return to South Georgia and Honey Creek.
She said,"I am so excited to begin my journey here. Honey Creek is home to so many, and it is an honor to serve the people of the diocese that has been so gracious to me and my family.'' Honey Creek Executive Director, Dade Brantley said that "Savannah is strong, kind and welcoming...she's never met a stranger." On her new role, Brantley said, "her experience in research is extremely valuable to her as we begin developing program content." Savannah begins her work next week at Honey Creek.
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The Loose Canon
Church Governance and the Mission of the Church
"Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?" is the question from the Celebrant in the Baptismal Covenant. The answer is, of course, "I will with God's help."
Word and example are the two parts to our proclamation of the Good News of Jesus. Only when our words are in line with our actions (and visa versa) does our proclamation of the Gospel ring true. The question is whether we actually practice what we preach.
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Canon Logue speaking to the
2015 General Convention |
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From July 2-14, I will be in Austin, Texas, chairing our diocese's deputation to the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. This is how our denomination sets its budget and policies for the coming three years. In between conventions, the Executive Council is the Board of Directors that acts as the Convention in recess. I also serve on Council.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother with so many church meetings as the real work of the church happens in local congregations. But I know that at the church-wide level, as in your congregation, getting governance right is critical to the mission of the church. After all, setting the budget is setting our priorities for mission. Making policies in line with the Good News we proclaim is also deeply connected to the mission of the church. It is not, of course, that the mission of the church is governance. Instead, it is vitally important that the governance focus the church on knowing Christ and making Christ known.
Policies and procedures matter at every level of the church. When the church has failed to protect children from predators, people turned their backs on organized religion, if not God. And while meeting in Austin we will consider policies aimed at looking at why the #metoo movement was quickly followed by #churchtoo on social media as our own house is not in order with regards to sexual harassment and assault. The church has covered up abuse and turned a blind eye toward ongoing harassment. It is past time to get our example in line with our words.
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Members of the Georgia Deputation in 2015 |
Likewise, when your priest and vestry align the programs, policies, and budget of the church with the coming Kingdom of God in mind, you get the proclamation right in word and example. So that in setting and carrying out a sexual abuse prevention policy for your church is vitally connected to the Gospel. And in budgeting for Vacation Bible School and youth programs, we also reflect our values.
Getting governance right at every level of the church impacts the mission. There is a lost and hurting world that needs Jesus and so some of the focus needs to be on how the church is run and where we allocate our resources. But I do look forward to getting back home and focusing more on ministry in central and south Georgia.
Peace,
F
rank
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary
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Bishop's Visitation
 Bishop Benhase with Margaret Arnold at the 150th anniversary celebration of St. Thomas' Thomasville. Mrs. Arnold celebrates her 100th birthday on October 24th.
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Prepare for the 197th Convention
The 197th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia, The Way Forward, will be held November 8-10 at Albany State University, Building C (Student Center and Health Center), Darton Lane, Albany, GA 31707.
More details will be shared in the coming weeks. Discounted accommodations can be found at the following hotels listed below:
Hilton Garden Inn
101 Front Street
Albany, GA 31701
229-888-1590
Double = $129.00/night
Single = $129.00/night
Cancellation of any room reservation must be made 72 hours prior to arrival or the one night deposit will be forfeited.
Merry Acres Inn
1500 Dawson Road
Albany, GA 31707
229-435-7721
Single-king = $92.00/night
Double 2 queen = $92.00/night
Apartment suite = $225.00/night
Cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to arrival to avoid being charged for one night stay.
Hampton Inn
2628 Dawson Road
Albany, GA 31707
229-405-2000
Single -king = $109.00/night
Double 2 queen = $119.00/night
King studio suite = $139.00/night
Cancellation of any room reservation must be made 72 hours prior to arrival to avoid being charged for one night stay.
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The Rev. Tommy Townsend, Priest in Charge of Holy Nativity St. Simons Island, baptizes his granddaughter Elita.
St. Peter's Church's Music Academy (Skidaway Island) recently held its
fourth annual Summer Camp with 24 children ages 6 to 12. Students explored the magic of music through activities with Harry Potter themes and took part in activities which challenged them to listen, comprehend, remember, solve problems, react quickly, perform multiple tasks simultaneously and to improvise their own music and dance.
The Music Academy continues throughout the year offering tuition assistance for music instruction.
Will Strong, the newest graduate of Education for Ministry (EfM) from All Saints Tybee, receives his certificate from the Rev. June Johnson.
Golden Girls Luncheon at King of Peace, Kingsland.
 
St. Alban's Augusta celebrated St. Alban's Feast Day in a big way, with breakfast/lunch following the service, some group games and a blessing of the vehicles.
The Rev. Doris Johnson celebrating Eucharist at her last Sunday as Assistant Rector at St. Peter's Savannah. She retires at the end of June.
Making music at Good Shepherd Augusta's Vacation Bible School. More than 150 volunteers and attendees were involved with ensuring the school was a success.
Lunch time at the Art and Music Vacation Bible School held at St. Luke's Rincon.
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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.
June 24-30
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Quitman, St. James. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. Jude Catholic Church in Glennville. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the church of the Divine Grace (
Divina Gracia) in Mozovi.
July 1-7
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Pooler, St. Patrick's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners, especially Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Garden City and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Port Wentworth. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Timothy's Church (
San Timoteo) in Nizao.
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Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase
departs for General Convention on July 3. His full schedule is available
here.
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
will preside and preach at the Church of the Atonement, Augusta, on Sunday. He will be in Austin for the General Convention from July 2-14.
Canon Katie Willoughby is the official translator for the Dominican Republic Youth Mission Trip.
The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner is leading the Dominican Republic Mission Trip.
Canon Logue will officiate at the 12 noon service on Thursday 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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Reserve Time at Saluda Clergy Cottage Today!
To reserve time, please fill out and email/mail the reservation form found
here.
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General Convention of the Episcopal Church
July 3-13 in Austin, Texas
Acolyte Festival
Saturday and Sunday, August 11-12
St. Anne's Tifton
Grades three to 12
To register, go
here.
Open House and Blessing
Diocesan House
4 PM, Thursday, August 23
18 E. 34th Street
Ordination to the Priesthood
The Rev. Bunny Simon Williams
August 25 at 11 AM
Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta
Happening #101
September 14-16
Honey Creek
Grades 10-12
For information, go
here.
Fall Clergy Conference
September 24-26
Honey Creek
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Staying Cool in the DR
Canon for Administration Katie Willoughby, left, and Liz Williams, who celebrates her birthday today, are chaperones for the Youth Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic this week.
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