December 31, 2013Volume 4, Number 18
In This Issue
Diocesan Office Update
Clergy Save These Dates
Atonement, Augusta
Cursillo Deadline
National Cathedral
Trinity, Statesboro
St. Patrick's, Albany
Knitter's Retreat
Christmas In Photos
St. Anne's, Tifton
Register for 2nd Youth Summit
Happening
Vocare
Christmas Outside Church Walls
Social Media Connections
Web Links
 
 
 


2nd Sunday after Christmas
Readings
Jeremiah 31:7-14  
Psalm 84 or 84:1-8 
Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a  
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23  
or Luke 2:41-52  
or Matthew 2:1-12 
Join Our Mailing List
St. Michael & All Angels, Savannah
Christmas Celebrated with Homeless

On Christmas day dozens of worshipers braved the cold to gather alongside a homeless camp in Savannah for a Eucharist. The liturgy was the idea of our Columba House intern Mary Meeks. She ran across some homeless Savannahans while assisting her home parish of St. Michael and All Angel's in distributing food. She began to 

ask about whether a service closer to one of the city's homeless camps would be welcomed and the idea was greeted enthusiastically by homeless people. She worked with the Community Policing Officer, 

Tom Gentner, who works as a homeless 

liaison and visited camps with him asking if there was interest in the worship service. Then she went with Canon Frank Logue to meet with leaders within the homeless community to make plans for where and when. She worked with teams in her home church planning and creating gift bags, arranging fresh coffee and snacks, a decorated Christmas tree and more.

  

On Christmas Day, members of St. Michael's gathered at the church and were joined by some members of St. Paul the Apostle. The more than two dozen people were greeted by a like number of homeless people gathering at the site under the Truman Parkway Bridge, close to several tent camps, and more homeless continued to arrive. 

  

The parishioners and homeless worshipers mingled together as the altar was set up and set. St. Paul's members Gabriel Michael Lawrence and Kadie Christopher led congregational singing through the liturgy and sang an anthem during communion. Deacon Sue Gahagan assisted Canon Logue who presided and preached. St. Michael's members distributed gift bags to the worshipers from the homeless community at the conclusion of the liturgy. More of Mary Meek's photos are online here .

Diocesan Office Update  

Bishop Benhase will ordain Michael Chaney to the Sacred Order of Priests this Friday at 7 p.m. at St Paul the Apostle, Savannah. 

  

This Sunday, Bishop Benhase will make his visitation to St. Peter's, Savannah (pictured at left), in the morning and to St. Patrick's, Pooler, in the afternoon.

  

Canon Logue will preside and preach at St. Andrew's, Douglas, this Sunday.

 

Diocesan House will be closed December 31-January 1.

Clergy Save These 2014 Dates  

On April 14, 2014 (Tuesday in Holy Week) the annual Chrism Mass will be held at Trinity Statesboro at 11 a.m. with Bishop Benhase presiding and the Rev. Joan Kilian preaching. This liturgy includes the renewal of ordination vows for bishop, priests and deacons as well as the blessing of oil stocks to be used around the diocese in the coming year. Lay people are invited and encouraged to attend as well as clergy.

  

The Spring Clergy Conference will meet at Honey Creek May 4-6, 2014.

Atonement, Hephzibah 

Bishop's Visitation 

On the occasion of Bishop Benhase's Visitation to Church of the Atonement, Hephzibah , GA. He confirmed four people and received one. Pictured are the following: Front: Deacon Roslyn Panton, Cynthia Tafoya, Michaela Wolfe, Teresa Gaskin, Christen Belangia and Jesse Belangia. Rear: Malik Rosette-Jones, Bishop Benhase, Father Kurt Miller, Keon Brinson and Tony Kennelly. Confirmand Marvin Brooks missed the picture.

How Cursillo strengthens your faith
How Cursillo strengthens your faith
Cursillo
Critical Deadline for Registrations in January

For those looking to benefit from the short course in Christianity that has challenged and nourished many Episcopalians in this diocese, the time to register is now. The next Cursillo weekend will be March 19-23, 2014, at Honey Creek, but registrations are needed within the next two weeks. The Cursillo Commission is close to pulling the plug on the next Cursillo weekend if more registrations do not come in soon. The Cursillo planned for fall of 2013 did not get enough registrations to hold the weekend. The Commission originally planned to cancel the next Cursillo if enough registrations were not received by today, but the deadline has been extended.

  

About Cursillo

Cursillo (pronounced 'kur-see-yo') is a Spanish word meaning 'little' or 'short course'. This is the name given to the Short Course in Christianity which first developed after World War II with Roman Catholic men. The short course has now been given to men and women around the world and in the process has assisted generations of Christians to more faithfully follow Jesus in their daily lives. There is no real secret here, just the basics of the faith with an emphasis on how would you like to live it out in your life.

  

Cursillo begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday evening. During those three days the participants engage in listening to talks given by priests and lay people, and small table discussion, while worshiping and playing together.

Format. 

  

The Fourth Day

The 'after' activity of the three-day Cursillo weekend is often called the 'Fourth Day', which is the rest of your life. A Cursillo weekend's main purpose is to provide the tools for that daily Christian living. Most important in this is to create small groups of people willing to meet regularly (usually weekly) to hold one another accountable in an atmosphere of confidentiality where you can bear each others burdens and share each other's joys.

  

Who Can Attend?

Any Episcopalian, twenty-one years of age or older, and whose priest has made or is making a Cursillo. Persons of other denomination may also attend if an Episcopal priest will sign for them.

  

Registering for Cursillo

Each Cursillo is held at the Georgia Episcopal Camp and Conference Center at Waverly, Georgia. You may print, fill out and mail in the paper form or:

 

Register online for Cursillo

Augusta Episcopalian Stitching for National Cathedral

Nancy Hussey of St. Paul's Augusta is stitching a reproduction of the Seal of the Diocese of Georgia in needlepoint for the Washington National Cathedral. This is the tenth piece she has stitched for the Cathedral. In 1955, Dean Sayre of the Washington National Cathedral wrote to all diocesan Bishops requesting consent to replicate the seal of their diocese on needlepoint cushions to be placed in the Washington Cathedral's Great Choir. The initial estimate was that the needlepoint cushions and kneelers would last 200 years, but by 2010 some of the diocesan cushions in the Great Choir were in deplorable condition. Thirty-eight needed immediate attention and the Georgia cushion was one of them.


This is a reproduction of the one that was installed in the Great Choir in 1957. The donor was Mrs. G. M. Humphrey from Washington, DC. The honoree Mrs. Walter F. George and the artists were the Tibbets (the same ladies that designed the High Altar rug). There were two stitchers, Mrs. Morison from Baltimore and Mrs. Allen from Hartford, CT. The seal was reproduced by Nancy Lukoskie of Fancywork Finishing in Easton, Maryland. For many years she has been creating and restoring Ecclesiastical needlepoint for the Washington Cathedral.

While the Diocese of Georgia has, since April 1971, almost exclusively used the Coat of Arms created at the request of then Bishop Coadjutor, the Rt. Rev. Paul Reeves, the seal of the Diocese remains unchanged with the 1840s design selected by our first bishop, the Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, Jr. More information on both of these designs is found in the online archives of the Diocese of Georgia.

Parishioners registered for the census on arrival in Bethlehem. 

 

Trinity, Statesboro

Madrigal Places Congregation in the Story

Trinity Episcopal Church in Statesboro celebrated Christmas Eve with a madrigal. Those arriving for the early service were first directed to register as part of the census taking in Bethlehem. They were then allowed to find a spot in the inn where they were treated to a 3-course meal. During the meal, they were entertained by musicians and watched as Mary and Joseph were turned away from the inn, but directed to stable. Guests also saw the arrival of the three kings (pictured above at right). The feast ended with a dance before the guests were led into the sanctuary where Mary and Joseph welcomed the birth of their child, Jesus. The service ended with the Eucharist.

 The Inn full of guests enjoying a 3-course meal in the parish hall.  

 


The Manger with Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus in the nave of the church.

 
St. Patrick's, Albany
Food for a Thousand Donates Harvested Greens

The Food for a Thousand ministry at St. Patrick's in Albany continues, with production going to community food banks. Pictured above, Marian White (left) and Norris Wootton display bags of fall greens harvested on December 14. Also, that same day 13 young blueberry bushes were planted for future use. The fresh food donations have been gratefully received by both the food banks and their clients.

 
Third Annual Knitter's Retreat January 22-24

Sign up today for the 3rd Annual Knitters' Retreat at Honey Creek Episcopal Conference Center, Wednesday - Friday, January 22 - 24, 2014. Organized by the Purls of Tybee Island, a group of knitters and crocheters who meet regularly at All Saints Episcopal Church on Tybee Island every Thursday from 12 noon until 3 p.m., the retreat promises to be non-stop fun and fellowship.
 
The schedule calls for check-in Wednesday at 1 p.m. and check-out Friday at 1 p.m. Costs for the retreat include a room in the Honey Creek Lodge for two nights and six meals: $161.32 (2 per room) or $230.62 (1 per room). Call the Honey Creek Conference Center at 912-265-9218 by January 11 to reserve your room. Space is limited to 40.

Projects include braided or stranded necklaces, a yarn sack, magic balls, a crocheted pouch, a fix it - finish it class, and a surprise knit kit. There is also time to sit and knit on your on current project. Bring scrap yarn for the magic balls and large needles (Size 10 - 17), 60 yards of Chunky/Bulky or Super Bulky weight yarn in two colors and a clip board for the necklace, fingering or sport weight yarn and size 4 double point needles for the yarn sack, size 7 needles for the surprise knit, a wrapped item pertaining to knitting for the door prize exchange, snacks or beverages for the snack table, and a ball winder or swift if you have them.
  
There will also be an opportunity to practice yoga and morning and evening prayer.
Email Julia Timmons for more information at [email protected]. A flyer on the event is online here Knitter's Retreat Flyer.

Christmas joy at Christ Church, Valdosta. 

Christmas around the Diocese in Photos

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

See more photos of the congregations featured here by clicking this link to: our diocesan photo album

The Nativity Pageant at St. Paul's, Albany

 Christmas Eve at Good Shepherd, Augusta

The Rev. David Rose with children gathered at the altar rail at St. Luke's Rincon on Christmas Eve for a children's sermon. 

The acolytes at St. Paul's Jesup enthusiastically assist the Rev. Dee Shaffer with her Christmas Eve sermon.

 

Two views of Christmas Eve worship at St. Paul's Augusta.

Down to one acolyte this summer after a split in the congregation, St. Andrew's Douglas enjoyed Christmas Eve with five acolytes and a Lay Eucharistic Minister in procession and leading in worship.

The Nativity Pageant at St. Anne's, Tifton.

The Nativity Pageant at St. Thomas, Thomasville

 The Christmas pageant at Christ Church Savannah.

 Christmas Eve at St. James Quitman.

St. Anne's, Tifton

Renowned Organist in Concert January 17

Described by Choir and Organ Magazine as "indominable and immensely gifted," and an "artist of rare sensitivity and passion" by the Macon Telegraph, organist Robert McCormick will appear in concert at St. Anne's Episcopal Church on Friday evening, January 17, at 7:00 p.m. The program continues the Homer Meade Rankin Memorial Organ Series at St. Anne's. Admission is free.

A Macon native, Mr. McCormick is director of music at St. Paul's Parish, K Street, Washington D.C. where he is organist and conductor of numerous choirs. Prior to this position, he was organist and music director at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in New York City, one of the country's most celebrated Anglo-Catholic parishes.

Only 22 years old when he assumed the position, he conducted one of the city's most highly regarded professional choruses, oversaw a weekly organ recital series and played the historic four-manual, 91 rank Aeolian-Skinner organ.

A summa cum laude graduate in organ performance from Westminster Choir College, Pinceton, New Jersey, Mr. McCormick has received numerous awards. He is a frequent concert artist in such prestigious venues as the Great Organists Series at St. John's Cathedral in Albuquerque New Mexico, the New York City Pipe Organ Encounters, and the Atlanta Summer Organ Festival, among others.

Known for his ability in organ improvisation, Mr. McCormick was a semi-finalist in the St. Alban's International Organ Festival Improvisation Competition.  

  

St. Paul's Augusta

Tuesday Music Live Resumes January 7 

Tuesday's Music Live, America's largest luncheon concert series, resumes its season with Duo De Vista, guitarist Marina Alexandra and flautist Teri Forscher-Milter, in a free concert on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 12 noon. 

  

Concerts are held at St. Paul's Church, 6th & Reynolds at the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta. Lunch following the concert is catered by Crum's on Central and is $10 per person. Advance reservations are required and can be made online at www.TuesdaysMusicLive.com or by calling the Box Office, 706-722-3463.

Second Youth Summit Meets in Brunswick

Youth, their parents, youth ministers, clergy and others are invited to the follow up Youth Summit to be held at St. Mark's Brunswick (pictured at right) on January 11. The group will meet from 11:30 a.m to 3 p.m. to discuss the results of the Youth Programs Survey and to push forward on other work related to improving the Youth Programs of the Diocese including leadership, communications and a review of the current programs. Register online now for this free event. 


Take the Youth Programs Survey

You may still take the Youth Programs Survey online at:

http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1580958-fngxNqseIz 

Youth Programs

Mission Experience for Middle Schoolers this Summer

Province IV Youth Ministries Middle School Mission Experience is a chance for our Province IV youth and the adults who accompany them to serve God and get to know other young people within a larger Episcopal Church. The Province IV will be teaming up with St. James Episcopal Church in Wilmington, NC and the Diocese of East Carolina. This event is for young people who are currently in grades 6th-8th and the adults who accompany them on their journey of faith. Please contact Elizabeth Burns at [email protected] if your child or church youth group is interested in attending PYEMS. 

  

Deadline to register is March 15, but please let Elizabeth know as soon as possible so she can help coordinate who all is interested in attending.

  

Cost: Event registration is $295. The cost transportation is not included. Scholarships are available.

 

Click here for the PYEMS 2014 Application

Youth Programs

Pilgrimage and Mission Trip to Sewanee

Following a very successful Youth Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic earlier this year, the Diocese is planning a trip closer to home for 2014. Those who are currently enrolled in 9-12 grade are encouraged to join the Pilgrimage and Mission Trip to Sewanee, Tennessee in late June and early July.

  

The Sewanee, Tennessee Pilgrimage and Mission Trip sponsored by the Diocese of Georgia will be led by Rev. Joshua Varner.  Participants will stay at St. Mary's, Sewanee, a retreat center originally founded by the Episcopal Sisters of St. Mary.  The group will be working in the surrounding rural area, at the convent itself, and taking time to experience the natural beauty of Sewanee itself.  This trip is open to all diocese of Georgia youth who are currently in 9-12 grade.  The trip will take place between June 23-July 3.  Exact dates will be set in mid-January.

  

Cost and Payment Schedule: No more than $1000

Sign-up deadline- Deposit Due: January 31     $300 (this payment is non-refundable)

Second Payment:       March 1          $300

Third Payment:          May 1             $300

Final Payment:           June 1             $???

 

A flyer with more complete information, including contact information on how to follow up, is online here: http://gaepiscopal.org/docs/Sewanee_Trip_Flyer.pdf


Christmas Eve Outside Church Walls
Twenty-seven members of St. Paul's Jesup took part in that congregation's Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist Service held at Golden Living Nursing Home.  The parishioners helped gather the residents to the dining room for worship, then they spread out and sat with residents to assist them with  the liturgy. 
 The Rev. David and Sherry Somerville were at sea on a Windstar cruise this Christmas. David took a portable Mass kit with him just in case. The idea of a Christmas Eve Eucharist spread by word of mouth and with the assistance of a grateful crew. A congregation of 46 gathered for the Christmas Eve liturgy aboard the ship.
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Sincerely,                                      
            

Diocesan Staff                                
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia