May 16, 2018
Volume 8, Number 38
Christ Church Valdosta Raises DR Outreach Funds
Senior Warden Duke Guthrie was the auctioneer.

Christ Episcopal Church in Valdosta, Georgia, raised $15,000--the most in its 18-year history of supporting their mission teams and their work in the Dominican Republic--at the DR Dinner and Auction on May 3. More than 100 people attended the event which had a Cinco de Mayo theme featuring decorations of red, yellow, and green tissue paper flowers and pinwheels and Mexican food.

One of last year's missioners, 15-year-old Caroline Hiers (left) from St. Thomas, Thomasville, told the group that she is returning for her second year to share the love of God with her new Dominican friends. The Rev. Dave Johnson, Rector, encouraged the "Home Team" to support the "Go Team." And support they did. The event raised more money than ever, over $15,000. For the past three years, Christ Church has sent money for 70 scholarships at the Episcopal school they helped build in El Pedregal in 2005. They are on track to match that number again.

This year's "Go Team" will be in the Dominican Republic June 23-30 when they will re-paint and repair the wooden playground equipment they built in 2014, paint murals in the daycare center, teach Vacation Bible School, teach sewing classes, hold two rabies clinics for dogs and cats, teach teenagers to make embroidery floss friendship bracelets and other small projects at the Campamento, the Dominican equivalent of Honey Creek, where the team stays. 
In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Acts  2:1-21
or
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Romans 8:22-27
or
Acts 2:1-21
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15
Psalm 104:25-35, 37

Go  here for the full text.
Outreach of the Fun Kind!
St. John and St. Mark's Church held a Block Party for students from Radium Springs Elementary School--what a lot of fun!

Ready Your Church for a Royal Welcome
The best evangelist in the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, is
Washington Post photo
about to preach to an audience of millions. Are you ready for visitors who will be stirred by his message at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, curious about the Episcopal Church, and who will visit your church in the coming weeks? 

1.) Watch it! Organize a watch party at your church and encourage parishioners to attend and invite a guest. Share the hospitality and breakfast casseroles that Episcopalians are known for! Publicize it through a parish-wide e-mail and on Facebook. Expand your reach with a boosted ad where you can target your geographic area. Create the event on Facebook and see if that doesn't attract even more attendees.

2.) Offer an invitation

Share the invitation to the right on your Facebook page starting Friday with a short welcoming message that includes the service times at your church. Again, boost this post with an expanded geographic reach. It's worth the 10-20 dollars the boost will cost!

4.) All Up-to-Date
Make sure that your website is up-to-date with easy-to-find service times and photos that are current.   

5.) Share Your Episcopal Pride
This is a great time to be an Episcopalian and an even better time time to talk about it! It's an easy seque from "Are you watching the wedding?" to "Yes, I can't wait to hear our Presiding Bishop preach!" This is the perfect answer whether you are asked by a groaning cynic or a happy romantic. The follow up question can be just as good: "Want to watch it at my church? We have this amazing breakfast casserole."

If you won't be holding a watch party you'll still find openings for the Invite part of 
Invite, Welcome Connect . The wedding will introduce the world-wide audience to the beauty of our liturgy. It's up to all of us to invite a weary world into the joy of our communion. Take this opportunity and offer the invitation!

Anna Iredale
Director of Communications  
Reserve Time at Saluda Clergy Cottage Today!
Ch eck the Saluda Clergy Cottage website calendar for availability.
To reserve time, please fill out and email/mail the reservation form found here.
Around the Diocese

The Rev. Lonnie Lacy, Rector of St. Anne's Tifton, blesses the farm of Carroll Coulter.

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue with students from Church of the Good Shepherd's Episcopal School in Augusta, affectionately known as Team Deaconess for the role they played in helping Deaconess Alexander receive the Golden Halo in Lent Madness.

The Bishop, clergy and servers gather after the ordination of the Rev. Amy Bradley, Deacon, at St. Augustine's Church. Below, Christ Church Frederica, St. Simons Island, celebrates the Rev. Tom Purdy's 40th birthday.

Information on how to apply can be found 
here
Save the Date for the Acolyte Festival!

This year the Acolyte Festival will be held at St. Anne's Tifton Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12. More details will be coming in future editions of From the Field, but be sure to save the date! (Photo courtesy of St. Peter's Church Savannah)

Hometown Missions 2018 begins June 1! Sign up now! More info can be found at
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 Church Musician
Looking for a musician who can lead both choir and worship team. We're an Episcopal Church who likes blended worship in a liturgical setting. At this point we have one service at 10:30 am on Sundays. There would be two rehearsals, not to exceed an hour; one midweek and another prior to worship. We are very inclusive and an open church.

Previous experience in leading a choral and/or worship group. Ability to sing and read sheet music. Familiarity with both contemporary music and updating old, familiar hymns. Ability to be a team player with the pastor and others. Familiarity with a liturgical setting helpful; am willing to train if necessary.
Contact The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Taylor at pastor@holycomforterchurch.org with resume. No phone calls please.

Part-time Children's Minister
St. Peter's Skidaway Island sees a part-time Children's Minister (pre-K through 5th grade.) Details
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. 

May 13-19
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Hinesville, St. Philip's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Hinesville, especially St. Stephen's Catholic Church . In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for  the congregations in La Romana The Incarnation ( La EncarnaciĆ³n) and All Saints ( Todos los Santos).

May 20-26
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Jesup, St. Paul's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Jesup, especially St. Joseph's Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregation of the Holy Spirit (EspĆ­ritu Santo) in Las Carreras.
Diocesan Office Update and News  
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will officiate at the ordination to the diaconate of Jim Strickland at 10:30 AM Saturday, May 19th. He will make his annual visitation to Our Savior Lutheran, Albany at 9 AM Sunday, May 20th, St. Patrick's Albany at 10:45 AM and Holy Spirit, Dawson at 4 PM the same day. The bishop's full schedule is available  here. 

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue   will be in Atlanta to meet with the Rev. Catherine Meeks at the Absalom Jones Center as we plan how the Dioceses of Georgia and Atlanta can work more closely on racial justice. Canon Logue will preach and preside at Our Savior Martinez on Sunday.

The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner will preach at St. Luke's Hawkinsville this Pentecost Sunday and lead a children's and youth ministry discussion after worship.

The Rev. Frank Logue will preside and preach for the Thursday noon service 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 

Ordination of James Strickland
10:30 AM, Saturday, May 19th
St. Luke's Hawkinsville

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

EfM (Education for Ministry) Mentor Training
June 7-9
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Contact Rita Spalding for more information:  912-270-2725, rspaldinglaw@bellsouth.net

General Convention of the Episcopal Church
July 3-13 in Austin, Texas
News from the Diocese of Georgia Deputation will be reported in From the Field and found online at gc2018.georgiaepiscopal.org

Acolyte Festival--Save the Date
Saturday and Sunday, August 11-12
St. Anne's Tifton
Grades three to 12

Fall Clergy Conference
September 24-26
Honey Creek
Words with Friends

Alice Smith puts the stole on her mother, Amy Smith Bradley at Bradley's ordination to the diaconate on Saturday, May 13th.
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