The Fall Clergy Conference is wrapping up today at Honey Creek. Our bishop, priests and deacons have been learning how to engage parishioners in discovering more about both new (to them) spiritual practices and disciplines as well as gaining greater understanding of the Eucharist and other familiar forms of Anglican spirituality. The goal is renewal of a church's life through assisting a critical mass of the congregation to ground their daily lives in practices of the faith. The emphasis being less on the institution of the church and its needs and more on the spiritual lives of the people who worship together.

  

Bob Gallagher and Michelle Heyne offered resources so the parish church may more fully live what it is - an expression of the Body of Christ, the People of God. Gallagher brings 40 years of experience in leadership training and parish development. Heyne has extensive experience with financial management, interpersonal communications and team dynamics, and developing and implementing organizational change initiatives.

 

 You can see more photos from Spring Clergy Conference on the Diocesan Facebook page. 

 

 

 

 The large group above is those baptized, confirmed and received at King of Peace, Kingsland, this past Sunday during the Bishop's annual visitation to the parish. Below left, Jim Harrison is baptized by Bishop Benhase and at right Ansley Proctor is confirmed.

 

  

Sunday morning, Sept. 28, after the ringing of the church bell by the Rev. Deacon Terri Degenhardt, St. Michael's Episcopal Church celebrated its 125th anniversary. Recalling the rich history that started with Lucy Blunt and a handful of other faithful followers, the Rev. Gene H. Paradise (pictured right) reminded members the church is more than just the history and building, it's the people. Father Paradise, who served St. Michael's for sixteen years, recounted briefly the proud beginnings of the church, meeting in Mrs. Blount's home, then borrowing priests from Augusta, before the bountiful times of getting a full-time rector in 1980 and purchasing Wimberly House in 1993, for the benefit of the entire community.

 

As a surprise for Father Paradise, St. Michael's current priest, the Rev. Dr. James Shumard (pictured below), presented Father Paradise with a plaque and the new title "Priest Emeritus" of St. Michael's, in thanks and appreciation for all his continued gifts and hard work for the church and its congregation.

 

Finally, St. Michael's also celebrated the fifth anniversary of Deacon Degenhardt's ordination.

 

Church of the Annunciation is being guided through a time of transition by the Rev. Dr. Reed Freeman as its Transitional Minister. He comes to Vidalia from his ministry in Jacksonville, Florida and is accompanied by his wife, Nancy Bruce Freeman. Both are natives of Boston. Prior to becoming an Episcopal priest, Freeman graduated with degrees in chemical engineering from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then spent 32 years in the engineering and management areas of the chemicals and plastics industry.

In preparation for the ministry, Freeman earned theology degrees from The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, and from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Mishawaka, Indiana.  During this time, Nancy, earned a degree from Fisher College in Boston. Freeman's ministry as an Episcopal priest has covered 18 years, and includes service to ten congregations which included the dioceses of North Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Atlanta and Georgia. He previously served as an interim in this Diocese at St. Andrew's, Douglas.

As a Transitional Minister, Freeman and his wife serve together with congregations that are awaiting a permanent minister. They believe strongly that their mission is not simply to "keep the wheels on" but to energize spiritual growth and the discernment of ministries within the parish which they serve. Freeman is serving a 12-month call to prepare Annunciation for it next rector. 

New Beginnings will take place during the weekend of October 17-19, 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.

Click here to register to participate in New Beginnings #45   

These photos are from the Youth Presence Ministries training held this past weekend at St. Paul the Apostle, Savannah. Participants worked from the vision established in Youth Presence meetings earlier this year adding work on how to build teams of adults working together in this effort. This second round of Youth Presence Ministry Workshops concludes with an October 24-25 meeting at the Flowing Wells Property in Augusta.  At the workshop we will recapture the vision teams set in the spring time.  We will also discuss getting the team on board, relational ministry, model of ministry, and faith development and spirituality of our youth.  The workshop will take place on Friday evening from 6-9 pm and Saturday from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.  The cost for the workshop is $30, which includes dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, and all workshop material Contact Elizabeth Burns at the Diocesan Office for more information.

  

All the information you need on the 193rd Convention of the Diocese of Georgia meeting on Jekyll Island and at Honey Creek from November 6-8 is found in the convention website: http://convention.georgiaepiscopal.org

There you will find accommodations, election information, a resolution under consideration and more.