Espíritu Santo (Holy Spirit) Episcopal congregation celebrated the consecration of their completed church. Over 100 people including 15 missioners from the Diocese of Georgia, 5 Dominican priests, and the Rt. Rev. Moisés Quezada, Bishop of the Diocese of the Dominican Republic, took part in the joyous event that started with a parade from the village square to the church.

Twelve parishioners from St. Anne's Tifton and their rector, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy, represented their congregation and all who have supported the work of the teams for the past 7 years. The Rev. Manuel Díaz Estévez, current vicar of Espíritu Santo said, "I want to praise the work of all the previous vicars and lay leaders of this congregation and especially the mission teams from the Diocese of Georgia. It is such a joy to have our brothers and sisters from St. Anne's here today." 

Bishop Quezada dedicated and consecrated the building and blessed the baptismal font,  lectern, pulpit, and altar before celebrating a joyous Eucharist with the congregation. "I express my sincere gratitude to the St. Anne's congregation for continuing to work with us year by year for eight years in supporting the mission of this c

hurch in this community," said Quezada.

At the end of the service addressing the congregation, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy said, "You are our sister congregation, and we love you. The construction of the church is now complete, but our ministry together is only just beginning."

The St. Anne's mission team presented the Bishop with a contribution to continue to support the work in that community. They also gave presents of balls, jump ropes, and other toys to the children who were present. An outdoor reception followed the service.

With the Convention a little over two weeks away, please check this list to be sure that you are up to date:

The article below highlights the resolutions from General Convention that will be discussed at the 197th Convention. Delegates and alternates should familiarize themselves with them.

Are you a vendor or want to have an exhibit at the Convention? Go here to download the form and return it with your check to the diocesan offices.

Have you registered yet? Go here to do so. Once there, choose a workshop to attend.

Did you choose a hotel? Go here . 

Have you reviewed Proposed Canon 12 and the Resolution to Retire Honey Creek's Debt? Go here where you can also review the proposed 2019 budgets for Diocesan Operations and Honey Creek.   

Have you reviewed the Case Statement for Honey Creek's Future Fund? Go here. 

Have you nominated someone to serve on the Board of the Corporation, Diocesan Council, Disciplinary Board, as a Sewanee Trustee or the Standing Committee? Go here to do so.

If you have been nominated, have you filled out the form found here?

If you are a clergy spouse, have you let them know that you will be attending the breakfast on Saturday? Click on the image below to do so!

See you all at Convention!

All Saints Tybee Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

On Thursday, Nov 1st at 6 pm, All Saints will celebrate its 60th Diamond Jubilee with reception to follow.  The Bishop will be the presider.  Clergy are asked to wear clericals.  

Always and Everywhere, Give Thanks to God

Thanksgiving Day is just under a month from now. For many of us, Thanksgiving Day comes with various traditions, some involving foods, others involving family and friends. While Thanksgiving Day is not an official holy day of the Church calendar, it does offer us the opportunity to remember the spiritual discipline of gratefulness, or thanksgiving.

Young children often instinctively demonstrate gratefulness, or its first cousin, wonder. While they, like everyone else, are perfectly capable of taking things for granted, they can often stop long enough to notice things that we take for granted. I remember, years ago, watching a child's fascination with an elevator, and through their fascination, remembering to appreciate the wonder of technology that allows me to travel vertically through large buildings. As adults, we can learn from children's sense of wonder and let it lead us to deeper gratefulness.

Gratefulness is more than a muttered 'thank you,' Deep gratefulness is an awareness that everything and every moment is a gift. Brother David Steindl-Rast, the founder of a Network for Grateful Living (www.gratefulness.org), grew up under Nazi occupation in Austria. He teaches that it is not appropriate to be grateful FOR every situation (an illness, an accident, and so on) there is nonetheless something to be grateful for IN every situation (the presence of trained medical personnel, the support of friends, the good wishes of colleagues).

Brother David describes one way to cultivate this discipline, as a three step process of Stop, Look, Go. The first step is for us to Stop and step aside from our busy lives, even if just for a single moment. Preoccupation and distraction keep us from paying attention to the world around us. This is the step that children are often better at than we adults are. Next we Look at our situation, whether that situation is physical or emotional. We open our awareness to the world around us, to the things we might otherwise be missing, or taking for granted. The final step is to Go deeper with that gratefulness. In other words, we allow our gratefulness in a specific moment to flow through us, infusing our lives, and leading us to gratefulness for the gift of life itself and the presence of God in us and in the world around us.

Our Eucharistic liturgy reminds us of our call to live gratefully. The work eucharist itself mens "thanksgiving" and we begin that portion of our liturgy with a call and response that includes the presider's words "let us give thanks to the Lord our God" and the people's response that it is right to give thanks and praise to God.

Stop. Look. Go. It is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you, God.

The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner

Missioner for Children and Youth

Around the Diocese

The season has opened for Albany Beer and Hymns, Gathered after the concert are, from left: Gabriel Lawrence, Casey Perkins, Leah Anglin, the Rev. Johnny Tuttle, Bert Baranko, Peggy Hamlin, Lindsey Stewart, Brownie Roosevelt and Dr. Larry Perkins.

The Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner, left, the Rt. Rev. Scott Anson Benhase, and the Rev. Amy Smith Bradley at the St. Augustine, Augusta's Fall Retreat entitled Cardigan Sweaters, Magnolia Trees, and Brioche: Overlooked Metaphors for God!

Kevin Hiers and Dr. Mark Blackmore will present the final of two sessions on climate change for St. Thomas' Thomasville's  Informing Your Conscience series tomorrow. 

The Savannah Convocation Meeting held at St. Paul's Savannah.

The Southwest Convocation Meeting held at Christ the King, Valdosta.

The Southeast Convocation Meeting held at St. Athanasius, Brunswick.

Change of Address

Prayers for Weekly Liturgies

Diocesan Office Update and News

Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will hold a Stewardship Workshop at Christ Church, Cordele, Saturday, October 27 from 9 AM to noon. He will make his annual visitation to St. Barnabas' Valdosta 10 AM Sunday, October 28. The bishop's  full schedule is available 

here. 

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue will be at the Albany Convocation Council Meeting at Christ Church, Cordele on Sunday. 

The Rev. Canon Joshua Varner will be at St. Michael's Waynesboro, this Sunday.

The Rev. David Lemburg, Priest in Charge at St. George's Savannah, will officiate at the noon, Thursday service at Diocesan House.

Ringing Honey Creek's Bell

Lydia Jordan Brantley and Ben Jordan ring Honey Creek's bell in its newly constructed tower given in honor of their mother, long-time Honey Creek supporter Jo Jordan.