The Sewanee Mission Trip, consisting of 8 teenagers and 3 adults got off to a great start yesterday with a long drive through Georgia to pick up teenagers who come from Tifton, Brunswick, Savannah, Statesboro, Swainsboro, and Augusta. The group arrived at Sewanee yesterday afternoon and begins work today. We are being hosted by the Community Action Committee of Sewanee, based out of Otey Parish, the local Episcopal congregation. Our work will be led by Deacon Betty Carpenter. We will be doing yard work for clients of the CAC, working in the food pantry, and much more.

Please keep the travelers in your prayers this week, and know that the support of the Diocese of Georgia makes this journey possible!

In the midst of summer, our congregations remain active. Here are photos culled this week from the Facebook pages of our congregations.

 The Rev. Sam Buice talks to the group from St. Peter's Savannah currently on a Pilgrimage to Spain.

Christ Church Frederica takes part in a Juneteenth Parade. Dating back to 1865, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. 

 All Saints Tybee Island bid a very fond farewell to their Vicar, the Rev. Helen White, this past Sunday. Junior Warden, Allen Lewis, gives White a memento of her ministry at Tybee.

 St. Luke's Rincon held its second Chamber Music Concert on June 21.

Following the lead of the Rev. Tom Purdy and the congregation of Christ Church Frederica, Canon Logue encouraged the congregation of King of Peace Kingsland to photograph themselves at church and share the pictures on Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites. If you don't, your friends may assume church is not a significant part of your life. Above is the "selfie" shared by Holly Proctor taken with her husband, Camden County Sheriff, Jim Proctor.

The Vocare Alumni or Vocati got together for their official Annual Reunion this past weekend at All Saints', Tybee Island. This was the first overnight reunion and the first held in the Diocese of Georgia. On Saturday, Vocati enjoyed Tybee's beaches and held its annual meeting followed by Eucharist on the beach. On Sunday, Vocati attended All Saints' for The Rev. Helen White's last Sunday. They along with the congregation celebrated her ministry. White served as a Spiritual Director for Vocare. 

At the Annual Reunion Vocati elected members of the Vocare Steering Committee (VSC). The VSC works to promote Vocare across the state of Georgia, represents the ministry at diocesan events, and helping to spread the word about the Vocare weekend. 

Vocare in Georgia has grown and will have two weekends a year starting in 2015. The next Vocare weekend is scheduled for February 27th - March 1st at Honey Creek. For more information on Vocare, please visit the Vocare in Georgia website at http://vocareingeorgia.org/ 

It's Saturday evening and the phone rings. 

I answer and the caller says; "Hi.  I'm the wild-game processor and I have been given the meat from two deer to be presented to you for your after school program.  How do you want this meat prepared?"  This, out of the blue, takes me a moment to take in.  I struggle out of my confusion and recognize what is happening.   I said, "Could you please grind and cube the Venison and have it done up in 2 and 3 pound packages?"  He had it ready in two days, securely wrapped and frozen.  He would accept no payment for his time and effort, protesting his inability to contribute financially, but anxious to offer his time and skills.  Needless to say, Venison was a staple in our meal planning for a while.  Offers of this kind are not unusual. 

I organized and still direct C3, Community Cares Caf�.  The object is to interact with 4th and 5th graders, who need guidance and help and attention that they don't get at home and that their teachers don't have the time to give.  I work with a team of Volunteers from St. Andrews and St. Cyprians and we are joined by many in the surrounding area.  We provide nourishment for mind, body and spirit, with significant focus on feeding and assisting with school related projects.  We constantly search for ways to creatively use the resources that we consistently find at our doorstep, such as the Venison.       

We offer these children chances to make choices.  These choices are in situations where the results do not matter---"do you want to do X or Y first?"   They tell us that they never have a voice and/or that their desires don't ever matter.  We try to provide a program where it does matter, which in turn helps them to make smarter choices.  Transportation was added this year, and it makes our program even more special for these children-just to be especially picked up and taken back home seems to mean the world to them.

Of all the efforts of enrichment, tutoring and nourishment, love has been the bonding agent.  These kids soak up love from everyone and return it in their own unique ways.   It is hard to know who benefits more, the children or the Volunteers.  Evident for all of us to see, is the increased desire to do better with their school work  and with their attitudes.  The flexibility and passion of the Volunteers keeps the ball rolling and the resulting eagerness to learn and participate individually and as teams from the children, is the payoff.  Everyone is a winner.  

On the final session of this year, we ended with fire and ice!  We had local Firemen come and bring a Big Red Fire Truck.  These wonderful guys shared the way the Fire Department works.  The children were allowed to explore every nook and cranny of the Fire Truck, much to their delight.  We finished off with ice cream sundaes.  They and we had a blast, all enjoying the time together, including the Firemen!

Working with these children and with the Volunteers, is my ministry as a Deacon in the Diocese of Georgia.  I do not have a degree in teaching, psychology or any other related field that would provide training for directing such a program.  I do have a Father who provides for us as we are providing for the lost and left out.  It is His program and we are His agents.  I thank Him daily for this opportunity to serve in this way.  It has proved to be a great blessing, not only to me, but to the many Volunteers who give so freely of their time and talents.

Karulynn Koelliker has been ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of Georgia for 18 months and serves with the parishes of St. Andrew's and St. Cyprian's in Darien, Georgia.  She is married to David (47 years), has two sons who are married and has four grandchildren. She is an assisting chaplain in Ethics with the Deacon School for Ministry and serves as chaplain for the Honey Creek Commission.

The curriculum, which is new this year, was developed by scholars of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. The group meets one evening a week for two hours to discuss and reflect on the weekly readings, and to apply what we have learned in our lives and future decisions and experiences.

EfM is designed to be small, consisting of 6-12 persons of diverse backgrounds, from various Episcopal Churches, other denominations, or none. The group reminds one of a "one room schoolhouse" in that the members represent each of the four years. The setting is casual, but structured, guided by qualified mentors. The members of the group bond throughout the year each member contributes. The experience is intense, interactive and enriching as well as personally revealing.

If you are interested in an opportunity of spiritual growth,  location of current EfM groups or  should your parish not  have an Education for Ministry program and want to start one, please contact Al Jackson, Diocesan Education for Ministry Coordinator at

[email protected].

Calvary Episcopal Church in Americus, GA is looking for an organist.  This position will be available in August.  The job consists of choir practice on Sunday morning at 9:00 AM followed by Holy Eucharist at 10:30 AM  along with extra Easter and Christmas services.  Salary is $175 per week.  Please contact Donna Becton at 229-924-3908 if you are interested  

We want to share your Vacation Bible School with the Diocese in photo album collecting pictures of our kid-friendly catechesis taking place around the Diocese this summer. Send your congregation's photo to [email protected].

The photos will be added to a VBS album and used at the diocesan website. You can visit this summer's VBS album online. Some of the photos will be shared here in From the Field. If you create a Facebook or other online album, you may also just send a link to that album to the address above we will copy a selection of photos to the diocesan album. 

The two photos above and one below are from the VBS held last week at St. Patrick's, Pooler.