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August 12, 2014Volume 4, Number 50
In This Issue
Diocesan Office Update
Green Workshops Continue
Christ Church, Cordele
St. Paul's, Albany
Blessing of the Backpacks
Youth programs Newsletter
The Loose Canon
Legacy
Fall Gathering
Make Yourself at Home
Social Media Connections
Web Links
 
 

 


This Sunday's Lections:
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Track 1
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Psalm 105, 1-6, 16-22, 45b

Track 2
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Join Our Mailing List

Visit the Convention 2014 Website

The Convention 2014 website contains everything you need to take part in the 193rd Convention of the Diocese of Georgia. Registration and accommodation information is at the site together with nominations for diocesan elections and information on submitting resolutions. The site is linked here:

Convention 2014 Website

 

 and is also available through a link on the diocesan website (www.gaepiscopal.org). 

 

More about the Convention

Registration for the November 6-8 event is now open. Each parish sends three delegates and one alternate, while each mission sends one delegate and one alternate. All active clergy canonically resident in the Diocese are voting members of the convention. Others may attend convention as guests. 

 

The rate for all in attendance is $85 which offsets the costs of the meeting space, snacks during breaks, printed materials, and the Friday evening meal at Honey Creek. Pictured above is the work taking place today to create a platform for the Eucharist. This will go in front of the Chapel of Our Savior as we worship on the grounds of our Camp and Conference Center, Honey Creek.
Diocesan Office Update    

Libby Thoni and Vicki Schuster are making a site visit today to the Jekyll Island Convention Center as we work to finalize some plans for Convention 2014.

  

Bishop Benhase and Canon Willoughby are meeting today with the Board of the Corporation. The Board of the Corporation is a group of lay persons from across the Diocese elected by diocesan convention who manage the diocesan investments together with funds churches of the Diocese choose to invest in that pool.

 

Canon Logue will assist with the Acolyte Festival this weekend at St. Paul's Albany, where he will also preach on Sunday.


Participants in the RECYCLE workshop at St. Anne's, Tifton, learn about the church's system for composting disposables and food waste from church events. Their composting efforts, and the Green Church Workshop series, were featured in a TV spot on Albany's Fox31 news, which can be viewed here Green Workshop News Video
Green Church Workshops Continue

Two more Green Church workshops are coming up soon: CONSERVE (energy & water conservation) and GROW (community gardening). The workshops, led by lay leaders and clergy across the Diocese, aim to help churches improve their stewardship of God's Creation. Each workshop includes a hands-on activity, presentations, resource sharing, a traveling worm compost bin, an optional local food lunch, and discussion. Workshop registration is free; a $5 donation is suggested for lunch. People of all denominations and faiths are welcome. For more information, contact Dcn. Leeann Culbreath at deacon@stannestifton.com.

 

CONSERVE

Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle - Savannah

Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m. - 12 noon

Learn about energy efficiency, solar energy options, water conservation with rain barrels, and other ways to conserve natural resources at places of worship. Georgia Interfaith Power & Light will present on their PowerWise program, which includes low-cost energy audits for churches.

Click here to register for CONSERVE online

 

GROW

St. Patrick's Episcopal Church - Albany

Saturday, September 27, 9 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Tour the "Food for a Thousand" community garden at St. Patrick's and several new satellite gardens in downtown Albany to learn how gardening improves the health of the Earth and our communities.

Click here to register for GROW online

Christ Church, Cordele
Farewell Luncheon for the Rev. Tom Arledge
In thankfulness for his 13 years of serving the congregation, Christ Church, Cordele, held a farewell luncheon for the Rev. Tom Arledge on Sunday, August 10. During the event, the priest affectionately called "Father Tom" was given a framed photograph of the church, a "Tree of Life" print made with the thumbprints of the members of the congregation along with their signatures, and a brass plaque which will memorialize the Chapel in his honor was unveiled. 
  
Arledge is a retired priest of the Diocese of Atlanta who has been driving down from Perry, Georgia to care for Christ Church. He also held weekly worship services at Pulaski State Prison. Ordained in 1971, he had worked for Lockheed Research Lab prior to seminary. He has been married to Lora since 1963. They have three children and five grandchildren in addition to step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Retired once more, Arledge will continue to serve as a supply priest.
  
Christ Church member Robert Powell said, "Looking back, the congregation can easily share stories of pet blessings, baptisms, weddings and much more, while looking forward with damp eyes, we wish Father Tom love." He added that this is farewell, but not goodbye.
St. Paul's, Albany
Hear the Gospel of Matthew as Never Before
You are invited to a spectacular and dramatic presentation of scripture, light, and movement when Michael Reardon and Patrick Lane bring The Gospel of Matthew to the Diocese of Georgia. This is a profoundly moving and totally captivating work of faith, making the Scripture come alive in a fresh way, with music, lighting, and costuming, proclaimed in the oral tradition of the early church. Michael and Patrick have traveled around the world with this prayerful and powerful ministry of proclamation. This one-time performance will be held Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 6:00 pm at St. Paul's, 212 North Jefferson St, Albany, Georgia. The 2-hour long production is $10 for adults and $5 for those under 16.

Michael Reardon has memorized the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, as well as the Book of Revelation, and performs them dramatically worldwide. Patrick Lane, Director, Musician and Lighting Artist, has designed the special effects and written the original music, all of which is done live for each performance.  They have given over 1000 performances in cities throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Republic of China, Europe, and Israel.
 
The Rev. Lisa Barrowclough engages children and adults alike with a sermon at the blessing of the backpacks at Good Shepherd, Augusta. She is the Episcopal Day School Chaplain.

The Blessing of the Backpacks
With school starting back in session, many of our congregations have blessed students and/or backpacks as a part of the Sunday liturgy. 
 
  
The Rev. Marcia McRae blesses students at St. John's, Bainbridge.

The Rev. Tom Purdy is pictured during the Blessing of the Backpacks at Christ Church, Frederica.

 
The Rev. Richard Nelson blesses students and their packs at St. Thomas Isle of Hope, Savannah.

The Rev. John West is shown during the Blessing of the Backpacks at Our Savior, Martinez.


The Very Rev. Ted Clarkson blesses backpacks at St. Cyprian's (at left) and St. Andrew's (at right). Both congregations are in Darien.
Subscribe to Youth Programs eNewsletter

Youth Programs has its own email newsletter. Usually published monthly (or more frequently when needed), News from the DoG House keeps teens, their parents and youth ministers connected not just to diocesan youth events, but also to convocational event and includes photos of congregation youth groups. To subscribe follow this link: Subscribe to News from the DoG House

 

Want to take a look before hitting "subscribe"? The August issue is online here.

The Loose Canon
Plan Now for a Pet Blessing this October

Each October, many Episcopal Churches carry out a Blessing of the Animals service. These liturgies offer a unique opportunity for someone in your community to make contact with your congregation. A little work this summer will have your congregation ready this fall to maximize the potential for this event to make a difference for your church.

  

Good Practice
Prepare a short, simple, liturgy which is theologically appropriate and will create the biblical framework for the blessings. An example is online here: Pet Blessing Liturgy. Advertise the service in advance through the religion section of the newspaper's announcements and fliers at the offices of local veterinarians and the Humane Society. Invite the newspaper to take pictures and, if they do not come to the service, submit photos of the pet blessing to them afterward. Have pet and human treats on hand to give out.

  

Better Practice
Do all of the above, but ask the Humane Society if the service can be held at their facility. This makes the liturgy more of a community event, lowering the bar for those who would want to attend, but don't yet feel coming to your church for the pet blessing. Bless St. Francis medals purchased through a church supply house and give them to every pet owner as a free take-away from the blessing.

   

Best Practice
Do all of the above, but host the pet blessing together with the Humane Society and hold it at a fall festival in your community. Most of our towns have festivals in the fall. By getting the pet blessing on the official schedule, your church will be extend the festival activities with a meaningful moment for pet owners and the Humane Society will benefit from the exposure. Put your church's worship times, location and website on the bulletins handed out for the pet blessing.

  

Start Planning Now
A key volunteer making a few phone calls can be all it takes to set up a service that will bless not only the pets but also their owners and can offer a side door for someone looking for a church home to discover the joy found in your congregation.
 

The Rev. Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary

Pictured above are pet blessings held last October at Holy Comforter, Martinez, St. George's Savannah, and St. Paul's, Albany.
 

Most people need a will.

 

Please consider remembering your parish in your estate planning!

Youth Programs
Register Now for 
Fall Gathering 
Get ready for an Epic Event at Honey Creek. We will kick off the Youth Programs year with a Divergent themed retreat September 19-21 at Honey Creek. This event for 6-12 graders will explore our unique gifts and the place each of us have in the Body of Christ through the lens of this fiction. The spiritual director will be Canon Frank Logue. Come enjoy The Creek with singing, games, worship, and more. 

Make Yourself at Home


Jack gets comfortable during the Eucharist at Christ Church, Savannah.
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Sincerely,                                       
            
Diocesan Staff                             
The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia