April 10, 2012
From the Field
is a weekly eNewsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia sent out each Tuesday.
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General
Convention 2012
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Our eight elected clergy and lay deputies and their alternates will meet together with Bishop Benhase in six sessions, one in each convocation. These listening sessions will take place in Eastertide from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on the following dates at the following locations:
April 14
St. Augustine's
Augusta
April 21
St. Thomas'
Thomasville
April 28
St. Paul's
Albany
May 5
St. Mark's Brunswick
May 12
St. Matthew's Savannah
May 19
Christ Church Dublin
The Bishop will be joined by as many deputies and alternates as can be present with reports on each meeting conveyed to our entire deputation. All of this information and more is at the Georgia Deputation website
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Our diocesan Lenten Study concluded Easter Sunday.
Whether you have the book or not, you can benefit from stopping by the website and reflecting on the readings there which remain online at:
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1book1diocese website
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Bishop's Easter Sermon
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Alleluia! Christ Is Risen.
"O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory;through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen."
Easter baptism at St. Anne's, Tifton. See below for more photos of Holy Week and Easter around the Diocese.
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Diocesan Office Update
Bishop Benhase's eCrozier from last Friday "'Good Friday Meditation" is online here: eCrozier #130 Canon Hall will be at St. Anne's, Tifton, this weekend for the Acolyte & Youth Leadership Festival - register online here. Convocational Confirmations in Eastertide Augusta | April 14th | St. Augustine's | Augusta | 4 p.m. Southwestern | April 21st | St. Thomas' | Thomasville | 4 p.m. Albany | April 28th | St. Paul's | Albany | 4 p.m. Southeastern | May 5th | St. Mark's | Brunswick | 4 p.m. Savannah | May 12th | St. Matthew's | Savannah | 4 p.m. Central | May 19th | Christ Church | Dublin | 4 p.m.
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Honey Creek Update
Summer Camp dates
High School / June 17-23
Camp St. Joseph & Mary I / June 24-30
Camp St. Peter / July 8-14
Camp St. Joseph & Mary II / July 15-21
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Christ Church, Augusta
Deaconess Byllesby Will be Declared a Saint of Georgia
"You can go to our church and see people who are well off now, whom the Deaconess fed, helped clothe and arranged for operations. She was a saint."
Deaconess Ruth Byllesby will be declared a Saint of Georgia on Sunday April 15 at Christ Church Augusta during the Bishop's annual visitation. The service begins at 4pm.
You can read more about Deaconess Ruth Byllesby and the April 15th service here.
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Legacy Society
1st Annual Legacy Seminar Series
Rich Where It Counts The Legacy Society of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia is pleased to welcome nationally known Charles V. Douglas to lead the 1st annual Legacy Society Seminar series. Charlie believes that 'true wealth' requires more than financial assets but rather the harmonic blend of both financial capital and spiritual capital.
Please come, visit with Charlie, welcome him to our faith community and listen as he shares his thoughts on how to put together a 'principled legacy', a true prescription to prosperity, one that's good for the soul.
The first event will be: * All Saints', Thomasville * Tuesday, April 24th * 5pm to 5:30 pm light refreshments * 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm discussion
PLEASE JOIN US! Charlie Douglas is a Senior Trust and Fiduciary Specialist at Wells Fargo Private Bank. He has over 25 years of experience in financial, estate, corporate, tax and charitable planning, guiding clients in growing, protecting and transferring their wealth. He has published numerous articles on the subject in NAEPC Journal of Estate and Tax Planning, CCH Journal of Practical Estate Planning, Wealth and Retirement Planner, NAEPC Journal of Estate and Tax Planning WealthCounsel, and others. Charlie's book titled Rich Where it Counts addresses the importance of understanding one's real wealth with an eye on abundance, not scarcity and thus empowering 'real wealth' transfer.
For any questions, please contact the diocesan office on 912-236-4279 or via e-mail on[email protected]
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Holy Week and Easter in Photos
The full Holy Week album is online here: Holy Week and Easter Photos.
Footwashing in the Manudy Thursday liturgy at St. Paul's, Savannah left and St. Patrick's Pooler right.
The altar stripped and washed at St. Anne's, Tifton for Manundy Thursday
The veiling of the cross at Christ Church Valdosta.
Above on the left is the veneration of the cross at Grace, Waycross on Good Friday and on the right is Good Friday at St. Paul's, Savannah.
Holy Saturday at Christ Church Valdosta
Easter Vigil at Calvary Americus. See the full album here.
Easter Vigil at Christ Church Valdosta.See their full album here.
The Rev. Dee Shaffer points children towards eggs at Our Savior, Honey Creek
Easter Sunday at Calvary, Americus above and Christ Church Savannah below
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The Digital Intern
Navigating the Waters of Social Media
Social media has become a ubiquitous part of life. Congregations understand the need to enter the waters of social media, but navigating these waters can be tricky. Often the Internet and social media provide a cacophony of information. One of the challenging aspects of looking for guides for social media and the church is the wide range of advice and tips. The Episcopal Church offers a guide to social media in Social Media and the Episcopal Church: A New Way to Tell a 2,000-Year-Old-Story. This guide provides a framework for guiding Episcopal churches in navigating the waters of social media. Of course, like anything related to web strategy you must use wisdom and discernment in adapting and applying these best practices to your own situation. This will be the first part of a two-part guide to the Episcopal Church's guide to social media.
Social Media and the Episcopal Church (SMEC) is an "actionable guide for leveraging social media." It provides six best practices with corresponding how-to for leveraging social media.
Best Practice # 1: Know Thy Self
This is the key to unlocking your digital strategy. Once you know who you are, you are able to express that to others. What makes you distinctive? Is it a certain type of worship or programs? Is it the community? What is your church's vision or mission? In knowing who you are as a community and your goals and visions will guide you in which digital tools you use.
How to: SMEC recommends listing the top five programs that make your congregation unique (youth and children's, men or women's groups, outreach program, etc). Then create a Facebook page/group and twitter account for each and delegate an active member over that account.
It is here that this best practice must be used. While it is important to have your information available through many mediums, it is better to have one strong social media account than to have several half-hearted ones.
Best Practice #2: Make your website the crown jewel of your communications strategy - and keep it fresh with constant updates.
Make everything lead to your website. Let your website be the hub of your communications. If you hand out flyers or hang posters make sure they lead back to your website. Post everything on your website. It is important that you keep everything updated and fresh. Change photos periodically. This allows people to check your website and know that it is reliable and updated. Also keep your communications consistent. If you announce a service time on your Facebook page make sure it is on your website. Inconsistency can discourage engagement.
How to: SMEC recommends including basic info: directions, service times, programs, staff info and information about the community. In addition, SMEC recommends going beyond the basics and including sermons, blogs, news and events.
Best Practice # 3: Make it a two-conversation
Social media is interactive. Let people engage with your material.
How to: SMEC recommends including email addresses of those who post on your church website or Facebook page. This allows people to engage with what you wrote or ask questions about a particular program or event. You can invite feedback through feedback forms or surveys.
Like any of these practices, it requires discernment. Remember that there are various levels of engagement that social media makes possible, do not limit yourself to anyone form.
Rudy Reyes
Administrative Intern
The Digital Intern is a periodical column in From the Field focused on sharing tools and resources for developing a strong and hospitable digital presence for congregations and ministries at thedigitalintern.georgiaepiscopal.org/
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Members of the Youth Commission on retreat, October 2011
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Youth & Young Adults
Upcoming Events
Acolyte & Youth Leadership Festival | April 14 - 15 | St. Anne's, Tifton | Register online.
Hometown Missions | May 4 - 6 | Christ Church, Augusta | Register online.
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Acolyte & Youth Leadership Festival
Age Lowered for Festival Participation
Having received inquiries from some churches regarding a lower age limit for the Acolyte & Youth Leadership Festival (AYLF), registration for this event is now open to 3rd through 5th graders, in addition to students in 6th through 12th grades. Online registration reflects this change. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and look forward to having your 3rd through 12th graders with us at AYLF! This year's festival will be hosted by St. Anne's, Tifton and will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 14 & 15, 2012. This event is open to 3rd through 12th graders and costs $30 to attend. The Rev. David Rose, Assistant Rector of St. Anne's, will serve as Coordinator for this event. Participants should bring their own vestments (marked with a church name or participant's name) and their home church's banner, which will be processed during the Sunday morning Eucharist at St. Anne's. At AYLF, participants can expect to participate in acolyting and church leadership workshops facilitated by experienced practitioners; to meet other young acolytes and church leaders from across the diocese; to learn about other liturgical practices; to share their own church experience; and to have fun! For more information on this event, please see the links below, or check out www.edogyayas.org. You can also email
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Youth & Young AdultsHometown Missions 2012
Hometown Missions 2012 is slated for May 4 - 6 at Christ Church, Augusta, and is open to 6th through 12th graders. The cost to attend is $40, and the registration deadline is May 1, 2012. Participants will be housed at the Episcopal Day School/Church of the Good Shepherd.
Hometown Missions is a weekend event that allows participants to engage in small-scale, mission-focused projects in and around a selected church in the diocese. Participants are divided into work groups according to ability/age, and after a long work day, are treated to a fun event on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, participants worship with the congregation they have served.
This year, participants will arrive at the Church of the Good Shepherd between 7p and 8p Friday evening, May 4. After spending the night there, they will travel by bus to Christ Church, Augusta, for a full work day on Saturday. The Rev. Dr. Robert Polglase, Vicar of Christ Church, and his wife, Amanda, will host a cookout and pool party at their home on Saturday night. Participants return to Christ Church on Sunday morning for worship and depart from Good Shepherd around lunchtime on Sunday.
For more information on Hometown Missions 2012, please email Canon Hall or consult the Youth and Young Adults website: www.edogyayas.org.
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Wardens and Treasurers Workshops
Canons Willoughby and Logue will offer four workshops around the Diocese specifically designed for church wardens and treasurers. Any vestry member, however, is encouraged to attend.
The workshop will cover the nuts and bolts of the work of the vestry. Included will be the basics of Episcopal Church business with time for questions from participants and sharing best practices from church to church. Other vestry members may attend. Each workshop will meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
April 28 - St. Paul's, Savannah
May 26th - Albany
September - Honey Creek
October - Augusta
$10. Lunch will be provided. For any questions on the workshop, please call Diocesan House at (912) 236-4279 to speak with one of the canons.
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Spring Clergy Conference
Meeting to Focus on Peer Coaching
The Spring Clergy Conference will meet at Honey Creek from May 6-8. Sunday evening will offer Bishop's Time following supper as we talk about our mutual concerns. This is particularly important as we approach General Convention. On Monday and Tuesday, the Rev. Chris Holmes and other senior trainers who work with peer coaching and mentoring for clergy will help us learn how to assist one another in ministry. The conference will end Tuesday by 5 p.m.
Conference Rates
$97 Commuter
$147 Cottage
$167 Double
$257 Single
Register online here:
Spring Clergy Conference Registration
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so we can feature them in upcoming issues of From the Field.
Sincerely,
Diocesan Staff The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia |
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