September 19, 2018
Volume 9, Number 3
In This Issue
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This Sunday's Lections
18th Sunday
After Pentecost
Proverbs 31:10-31
Psalm 1
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37
OR
Wisdom of Solomon
1:16-2:1, 12-22
or
Jeremiah 11:18-20
Psalm 54
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37

Go   here for the full text.
Convention Checklist
The 197th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia will be held November 8-10 at Albany State University - West Campus in Albany, Georgia.  Have you:

...registered? Go here.

...looked at the workshops? Go here

...nominated someone to serve on the Board of the Corporation, Diocesan Council (at-large), Disciplinary Board, Standing Committee or as a Sewanee Trustee? Go here to see who's been nominated and here to nominate someone.

...made hotel reservations? Go here.

...been nominated but have yet to fill out the nominee's form (go here) or send in a headshot (send it here).

If an exhibitor, have you filled out and mailed in your exhibitor's form? Find one 
here.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Convention!
Loose Canon
More than one type of welcome is needed in church
Visitors to your worship bring their own expectations, and often some emotional baggage to church with them. Training your greeters not to offer the same welcome to all will assist  your church in offering genuine hospitality. You just need to watch for the clues offered by the visitor as to how best to welcome them.
 
The visitor who arrives early and begins by looking around is asking to be engaged in conversation. Early arriving persons not known to the official greeters, or other regular attenders, should be greeted with something like "Hi, My name is Frank. I don't believe we've met." This won't offend the long-time member who usually attends the early service, but popped in for the 11 o'clock this week. It is also the perfect opening for the newcomer with questions.
 
The visitor who makes a beeline for the nave without hardly making eye contact if at all, should not be stopped and asked to talk. Remember always that someone may not quite be sure they want to be in church yet, and so may not be ready for a conversation on their first visit. Folks in this category, will often, though not always, arrive close to time or just after the liturgy has started.
 
A photo from Christ Church Savannah by Mills Fleming. 
After the Eucharist, the greeters should be on the lookout for the visitors they noticed arriving. Perhaps the person who zipped into the service is now going slow and looking around on the way out. This is the time to welcome him or her, to offer to go with them to the coffee and refreshments and connect them to others. 
 
For those who are not greeters, remember the five-minute rule. For church members with a gift for hospitality, the first five minutes after the liturgy are your time to introduce yourself to those you don't know. Take the time to get to know the person and to connect them to others in the church, including the clergy. After that you can talk with friends who will still be there, while the visitor may slip out if not greeted. Then on later weeks, look for the visitor to return so you can greet them again.
 
The goal is to balance a genuine welcome with not wanting to overpower visitors. We do not do this in order to grow a church. We do this because hospitality is part of who we are to BE as Christians. This is the God's House on the Lord's Day and all who come should be welcomed as if we are welcoming Christ.

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
Canon to the Ordinary

Georgia Southern's Episcopal Campus Ministry would like to invite all GSU alumni and their families to a homecoming tailgate on October 6th. Come see Statesboro, the ECM house, and some Georgia Southern football! Tailgate starts at 10 AM and will be at 101 Marvin Avenue, Statesboro, GA. The game begins at 3:30 PM. If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, email Andrew Diamond at 
Around the Diocese
The Rev. David Somerville, fourth from left, kneeling, blessed the dogs of the Tri-State Therapy Dog Association in the historic church yard of St. Paul's Chapel by the Bell of Hope in New York City on September 11. 
The Feed My Sheep crew at St. Paul's Albany.
Diocesan Council meeting at St. Luke's Hawkinsville last Friday.
Bishop's Visitation

Shown with Bishop Scott Anson Benhase following his visitation to St. Luke's Hawkinsville are, front row: Willa Kehayes; second row, from left: Shiloh Kehayes (confirmed), Bishop Benhase, George Blancett (confirmed), Susan Reid, Sandy Burch, Loma Blancett; back row, from left: Deacon Jim Strickland, Davis Badaszewski (confirmed), Steve Blancett, George Blancett (confirmed), and the Rev. Aaron Brewer, Rector of St. Luke's.


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. 

September 16-22
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Peter's. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially Messiah Lutheran Church and St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for Holy Cross ( Santa Cruz) in Santa Fe.

September 23-29
In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Paul the Apostle and St. Bartholomew's Chapel. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic congregations of St. Frances Cabrini and Saints Peter and Paul as well as St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Matthias ( San Matías) in Santana.
Diocesan Office Update and News
Bishop Scott Anson Benhase will lead a Project Resource stewardship training for the Southeast Convocation on Saturday, September 22 at Holy Nativity St. Simons Island and make his annual visitation to  Holy Nativity at 11 AM Sunday, September 23. The Bishop will lead the Fall Clergy Conference September 24-26 at Honey Creek Retreat Center. The bishop's  full schedule is available 
here

The Rev. Canon Frank Logue will preach at St. John's Savannah on Sunday.

The Rev. Joshua Varner, Canon for Children and Youth, will be preaching and leading Godly Play sessions at St. Peter's Savannah on Sunday. 

Canon Logue will also officiate at the noon, Thursday 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.  
Reserve Time at Saluda Clergy Cottage Today!
The cottage closes at the end of October. Ch eck the Saluda Clergy Cottage website calendar for availability.  To reserve time, please fill out and email/mail the reservation form found here.
Get Your Creek On!

Save the date of February 15-17, 2019 to come to The Creek with your family for a great weekend retreat. CreekFEST began with a mission to get all those of us around the Diocese who appreciate and love The Creek together. We will worship, play games, eat yummy food, sing, tell stories, relax, and enjoy time together, all while celebrating the place that brings us joy and peace. Spread the word, we hope this will be the best CreekFEST yet! Please look out for more information, including links to register, in future issues of From the Field.
Events 
Project Resource Training with the Bishop
Southeast Convocation
Holy Nativity, St. Simons Island
September 22
9:30 AM to noon

Fall Clergy Conference
September 24-26
Honey Creek
Creation Care Commission Campout
September 28-30
Reed Bingham State Park
For more information: [email protected]

Conflict Management
October 1-5
Honey Creek

Commission on Ministry and Standing Committee
October 5-6
St. Michael and All Angels', Savannah

Cursillo 125
October 11-14
Honey Creek Retreat Center
Contact Rita Spalding, 912-270-2725, for more information.

Project Resource Training with the Bishop
Albany Convocation
Christ Church, Cordele
Saturday, October 27
9:30 AM to noon
To register, go here:  http://bit.ly/AlbanyProjectResourceWorkshop2018

Project Resource Training with the Bishop
Augusta Convocation
St. Augustine's of Augusta
November 3
9:30 AM to noon
To register, go here: 
197th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia

November 8-10
Albany, Georgia
http://convention.georgiaepiscopal.org/ 

Diocesan Council 
Saturday, January 12, 2019
Annunciation, Vidalia

CreekFest
February 15-17
Honey Creek Retreat Center

Diocesan Council

May 17-18
Augusta

Diocesan Council
September 13-14
Savannah

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