Launching Youth Presence in Georgia

The Diocese of Georgia is going to the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in Philadelphia, PA! EYE is the single largest gathering of young people in our church and it happens every three years, don't miss out. Those attending from the Diocese of Georgia will take part in both the national event and a regional one on the same trip.

After careful consideration of high schooler busy schedules and financial situation.  The Diocesan trip to EYE has been scaled back.  The trip will take place on July 8-13, 2014.   The Diocese will cover the cost of registration.  The group will fly up to PA.  Participants will be responsible for their cost of transportation.   (No more than $450.)

Click Here to Register 

Elizabeth Burns needs to have all registrations into the larger Episcopal Church  by March 15.  Therefore you must register by March 14 at NOON, no exception.

Preparing for Lent around the Diocese

Hello clergy spouses.  My name is David Ronn.  I am a clergy spouse, husband of the Very Reverend Denise Ronn, who is Vicar of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Valdosta, Georgia.  I would like to share my experiences with the Clergy Spouse Conferences held in our diocese.  As a male spouse, I have attended all of these conferences in the past 4 years.  Each has been a wonderful time in my life.  Some of the highlights are as follows:

1. Getting to know the other clergy spouses in our diocese.  This is the best part.  We all have an opportunity to share what is going on in our lives...both the blessings and the challenges.  All information shared is confidential.  We are all facing different situations.  By ministering to each other, we may be helped by the wisdom of the other spouses.
2. Opportunities for spiritual growth and learning.  We pray together, worship together, and receive excellent teaching.  This year we will discuss ideas from the book Does this church make me look fat? by Rhoda Janzen.  Hey guys, even we can learn something from this book.
3. Opportunities for service.  We participate in work projects to help Honey Creek, such as planting shrubs, painting signs, and refurbishing chairs.
4. Opportunities for fun social events.  We play games, do crafts, sing, dance, and do yoga.  A couple of examples are singing and eating s'mores around a bonfire, and line dancing. 
5. Sharing great food and drinks.  The selection and taste of all the meals is top-notch.  Plus we provide a variety of delicious snacks and drinks.

     As you can see, there is a lot to do and much fun to be had.  But if you would like more quiet time, you are free to get off by yourself whenever you desire.  The planned schedule is very flexible.  This year's conference will be more spiritual and reflective in nature, since it is during the Lenten season.  As a male spouse, I have been outnumbered by the female spouses in the past.  The ladies have made me and the other male spouses feel right at home.  Clergy spouse issues discussed are relevant to both men and women.  Last year 5 men and about 20 women attended the conference.  I strongly encourage all of you male or female clergy spouses to attend this year's conference at Honey Creek on April 4 - 6.  We look forward to getting to know you better. Come, expecting God to move in each of our lives during our time together.  May God bless you.

Honey Creek prices for the retreat are as follows:

Lodge Rooms   $220.00 single rate with 6 meals

Lodge Rooms  $148.00 double rate with 6 meals

Dormitory  $118.00  includes 6 meals

Commuter Rate:  $100.00 with 6 meals

Click here to register for Clergy Spouse Retreat

Bishop Benhase is again offering scholarships to any clergy spouse who needs financial assistance to attend. Please contact the Bishop directly to inquire about the scholarship.  

If you have any questions about our retreat for this year please let get in touch with any of our Clergy Spouses' Planning Committee members:

Jay Lacy                wjaygirl@yahoo.com

Cissy Bowden       cbowden@comcast.net

Geri Nelson           gerileenelson@aol.com

Kelly Benhase       keljb26@yahoo.com

Leslie Parker         parkerld@comcast.net

Teaching Children To Worship Deeply:
A Lenten Learning Day

At baptism, we promise to raise children in the Christian faith and life, yet every church struggles with how to engage children in worship. How can the church compete with television, movies, video games, and sports? How can we teach them when they hardly sit still? During this year's Lenten Learning Day, we will find that the best tools for deepening our own practice of worship lie in two obvious places: our children and our liturgy. Join us as we hear from one priest and congregation who are engaging children in worship, that we might consider how our congregations may continue to raise faithful children.

The Rev. Jeff Jackson, rector of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Hamilton, Georgia, will speak on engaging children worship, including Sunday worship and family devotions. Father Jeff is the father of four children, and has done children and youth ministry for almost 20 years. The day will include workshops led by dynamic church leaders in our convocation. Child care will be offered. Click on the picture above for a printable PDF flyer about this event.

Register for the Lenten Learning Day

Food for Thought this Lent

If you would like to take a thoughtful break on Wednesdays during Lent, from March 12 until April 9 you can find it at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 212 N. Jefferson. Members from St. Paul's, St. John's and St. Mark's, and St. Patrick's Episcopal churches and their clergy will provide a light lunch and some "Food for Thought." Beginning at 12:10 a light lunch will be served, donations will be gratefully accepted and all donations will go to benefit local needs, some sponsored by the Episcopal Church and some by other local charities. At 12:30 there will be a 15 minute meditation. Our hope is that local people can come for lunch, give to a good cause, have some time for reflection and be back at work by 1 p.m.

On March 12th, The Rev. Bill Stewart of St. John's and St. Mark's give a meditation about "Grace." March 19th The Rev. Ri Lamb will speak on "Faith." March 26th The Rev. Lee Lowery will address the "Sacraments." On April 2nd, The Rev. Jay Weldon will consider "Obstacles to Grace." And April 9th The Rev. Mollie Roberts will speak on "The Christian Life."

Call St. Paul's Parish Administrator Mrs Debbie Godwin for more information. 229 436-0196

New Beginnings will take place during the weekend of March 28-30, 2014 at Honey Creek. New Beginnings is a weekend retreat for teenagers in grades 7-9 led by a team of mostly teenagers, with a few adults, and two clergy spiritual directors. The weekend takes participants through a discovery about ourselves, our friends, our families, our faith, and how to live out our faith in our daily lives.

How might this discovery happen? Through making new friends and sharing with old ones, through singing, skits, talks given by teens, videos, games, worship, and conversation with each other! You are encouraged to bring friends from your church and an adult who will stay through the weekend. Everyone will take an active part in the program. You can go to New Beginnings as many times as you'd like...as long as you're in grades 7-9. We know once you go, you will want to go back. There is even an opportunity to serve on the team...you'll hear more about that at the weekend.

New Beginnings Staff Application

New Beginnings Participant Application