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The Palm Sunday Procession at Holy Comforter Martinez.
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.
We walk this week in the way of the cross, journeying with Jesus through Holy Week. Bishop Benhase and the diocesan staff hope you have a most blessed holy week leading to the most joyous of Easters. Be sure to share photos of your congregation's Holy Week and Easter with us at [email protected]
pointing us to an online album or emailing us photos that are not otherwise online.
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This Sunday's Lections
Easter Sunday
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Acts 10:34-43
or
Isaiah 25:6-9
I Corinthians 15:1-11
or
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18
or
Mark 16:1-8
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Go
here for the full text.
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Lent Madness
Deaconess Up for Golden Halo
Today is the final day of the fun lenten devotion, Lent Madness and our own Deaconess Anna Alexander has made it to the final round. The winner of the Golden Halo will be announced tomorrow morning at 8 AM and votes will be accepted until then.
From relative obscurity she has risen through the ranks, surpassing 30 other saints including apostles Peter and John, the biblical Queen Esther, and another Saint of Georgia, John Wesley. Today she faces the Russian Orthodox Nun Maria Skobtsova killed by Nazis for protecting Jews from the Holocaust.
You can add your support for her Golden Halo win.
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Walking in the Deaconess' Footsteps
Sixth grade students from Episcopal Day School Augusta went to Pennick yesterday to tour the school and church, Good Shepherd, which Deaconess Anna Alexander had built.
Good Shepherd parishioners Walter Holmes, Karen Alexander, Zora Nobles, and Dwala Nobles provided tours, history, and lunch for the students and their chaperones. The students had learned about the Deaconess' history during Women's History Month.
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A School Chaplain Reflects on Deaconess Anna Alexander
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| The Rev. Dr. Lisa Barrowclough with students from Episcopal Day School Augusta. |
Anyone who has ever been a student can easily and thoughtfully complete statements that begin, "Everyone had that teacher who ..." or "I'll never forget my teacher ..." or "I'm a different/better person because of my teacher ..." Just give it a try, and I challenge you not to smile at the remembrance or perhaps even shed a tear of gratitude.
In my own case I am definitely a better person because of my "Sensei," my onetime junior choir director, now mentor and friend, Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff, who took (and still takes) the time to truly know me and my deepest passions, and has given of herself (for me and for countless others) to tap into and celebrate our unique gifts, leaving none of us behind. Which teachers have you named?
Deaconess Anna Alexander was a teacher who, if these questions were asked of her students, would no doubt be named over and over again. The odds were against the Deaconess, her students, and their families (as they had been for far too long) but this didn't slow or deter the determination of a woman who wanted nothing but the very best for the children of Pennick. Willing to sacrifice and face whatever challenges were presented, Deaconess Alexander was a teacher who believed that nothing was impossible with God, and that each of her students had the potential to be discovered, nurtured, and brought to their fullest.
She used what she knew and loved best - the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer - to frame learning in a way that not only provided them needed skills but also deepened their lives of faith. Every student knew s/he was loved by the Deaconess, so ultimately the ABC's she loved were worth working towards. Trusted by children, the community and the Church, Deaconess Alexander answered God's call on her life to be certain that each and every child would be equipped with the tools they needed to succeed in a world that was not yet convinced they should. There must have been times when the students of Pennick doubted what they could accomplish, but Deaconess Alexander wouldn't give up on them - she believed in each uniquely gifted beloved child of God when s/he couldn't, teaching them to persevere and to persist. She left no one behind!
Deaconess Anna Alexander is still teaching me. As a school chaplain I look to her as a model of the kind of disciple and teacher God continues to call me to be. My obstacles aren't at all as profound as hers, but my work and that of my colleagues is not without challenges and frustrations. There is strength and inspiration in the Deaconess' story and legacy, and a reminder of the depth of my high calling to serve all the children of God with love, and passion, and persistence. It can now be said that I'm a better person because of my teacher, Anna Alexander; that I'll never forget her example of faithful care for the formation of students' minds and souls; and that everyone should have THAT teacher who believes in them and helps them to believe in all that God has in store for them. Please vote for Deaconess Anna Alexander!
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Barrowclough (Pastor Lisa) is Chaplain and Chair of Religious Life, Episcopal Day School, Augusta, Georgia--and a proud member of Team Deaconess.
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Down to the River to Pray
Down to the River to Pray
Saturday, April 21
St. Simons Island
Enjoy a peaceful, prayerful half-day "creek retreat" on Saturday, April 21, exploring the tidal creeks in the marsh behind Saint Simons Island. This is a relaxed paddle with several stops for prayer and readings along the way as we celebrate the beauty of God's Creation on Earth Day weekend.
The trip will leave from the Village Creek landing for SouthEast Adventure Outfitters and will finish with Eucharist and optional potluck supper at Christ Church, Frederica. Participants will meet at 1 PM and the paddle should last around 2.5 hours. Cost is $49 per person (with boat rental) or $20 per person for those providing their own boat(s).
This is the first of several planned "Down to the River to Pray" events across the diocese this spring, sponsored by the Creation Care Commission in partnership with GIPL (Georgia Interfaith Power & Light). Registration details are forthcoming. If you are interested and would like to receive an email with registration details, please email [email protected].
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Bishop's Visitations
On Sunday, Bishop Benhase made his visitation to Grace Waycross and confirmed:
front row, from left: Roger Joiner, Pam Paolantonio, Andrea ReisenWeber, Tina Caron, Stephen Inman; back row, from left: Kim Harmon, Don Brown.
Also pictured are the Rector, the Rev. Kit Brinson and Bishop Benhase.
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Holy Week Around the Diocese
The Very Rev. Billy Alford wondered if he overdid it this past Sunday at St. Alban's Augusta where everyone who entered the church knew at once this was Palm Sunday.
The Palm Gospel at All Saints Tybee Island and St. Margaret of Scotland Moultrie. 
The Palm Gospel on the lawn at Christ Church Frederica.
The Rev. Tommy Townsend blesses the palms at Holy Nativity St. Simons Island (at left) and children hold their palm branches at St. John's Savannah.  The Rev. Charles Todd, our Campus Missioner for Georgia Southern University, washes the feet of students during their one liturgy in the chapel this Holy Week.
Acolytes rehearse for Holy Week and Easter at St. Anne's Tifton.
  Parishioners wear palm crosses in the procession at St. Luke's Hawkinsville (at left) and Deacon Yvette Owens offers communion on Palm Sunday at Christ the King Valdosta.
The Palm Sunday procession at St. Luke's Rincon.
On Monday, King of Peace parishioners provided the food (at left in the kitchen) and their Rector, the Rev. Al Crumpton preached (at right in the pulpit) for the Ecumenical Holy Week service at St. Marys United Methodist Church.
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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.
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Dawson, the Church of the Holy Spirit. We pray for our ecumenical partners, especially St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Camilla, and St. Christopher Catholic Church in Claxton. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Holy Spirit the Comforter (Espíritu Consolador) in Dajabon.
April 1-7
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Darien, St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Darien, especially Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Michael's (San Miguel) in Doña Ana.
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Diocesan Office Update and News
The Diocesan offices will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will make his annual visitation to St. Anne's Tifton and will officiate at both the Great Vigil at 7 AM and the Holy Eucharist at 10 AM. His full schedule is available
here.
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue is serving at St. George's Savannah this Holy Week with liturgies tonight, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday at 7 PM, and on Easter Sunday at 9:30 AM.
There will not be a 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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Toil 'N Sweat Work Weekend for youth in grades 6-12
April 13-15
Honey Creek Retreat Center
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.
Spring Clergy Conference
May 6-8
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Register by going
here
Diocesan Council Meeting
May 11
Hometown Missions
June 1-3
Augusta, Georgia
For more information go
here.
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The Joy of the Procession of Palms
Bertice Berry distributes palms at Christ Church Savannah with style, capturing the joy that is part if the Palm Sunday procession, which quickly leads to the way of the cross during the liturgy itself. We continue that journey through this week.
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