Above: Youth learning more about Oak Street Episcopal Mission from the Executive Director Keith Jenkins in Thomasville. Below: Youth participants gathered with Bishop Benhase at St. Paul's, Augusta.

This past weekend over 100 youth and adult leaders gathered together in Thomasville and Augusta for service, building community and fun. The youth gathered at St. Thomas, Thomasville and St. Paul's, Augusta for worship, playing, and fellowship. On Saturday, all those participating headed out into the local communities for service work.

In Thomasville youth worked with Oak Street Episcopal Mission, formally known as Episcopal Development Agency of Thomasville (EDAT), in their community garden and prepping for their summer camp program. Youth worked with St.

Thomas, Thomasville's Saturday lunch program and clothing closet. In Augusta youth worked on several projects from Turn Back the Block in the Harrisburg neighborhood of Augusta to planting food. On Sunday the youth were able to worship together.

An online album of youth working in Thomasville can be found on The Episcopal Diocese of Youth Facebook page.

Augusta TV news station WJBF report Hometown Mission's efforts in Augusta. Their coverage can be found online here.

Diocesan Office Update

Tomorrow, Bishop Benhase will ordain The Rev. Dcn. Becky Rowell a priest at 6pm at Christ Church Frederica.

On Friday and Saturday, Bishop Benhase will attend the 2015 ECW Annual Meeting in Savannah,.

On Sunday, Bishop Benhase will make his visit to St. Paul's, Savannah, in the morning, and St. Bartholomew's, Burroughs, in the afternoon.

Canon Logue is in Columbus, Ohio through tonight with work toward this summer's General Convention.

Bishop Benhase and Canon Logue will be at Honey Creek Sunday evening through Tuesday for the Spring Clergy Conference.

Bishop's Visitation

St. Paul's, Augusta

Bishop Benhase with confirmands.

Episcopal Campus Ministry at Georgia Southern

Upcoming Ordinations

Rowell to be Ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests

God willing and the people consenting, The Rev. Deacon Becky Rowell will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests at 6 p.m. on April 23, 2015, at Christ Church, Frederica. Clergy wear cassock, surplice, and red stoles.

Brewer to be Ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons

God willing and the people consenting, Aaron Brewer will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at 6 p.m. on May 1, 2015, at St. Paul's, Jesup. Clergy wear cassock, surplice, and tippet.

Education for Ministry in the Diocese of Georgia

Education for Ministry (EfM) began in the Diocese of Georgia a number of years ago, and has proven to be a true asset not only for those who have participated but for the whole church. EfM provides theological education and personal development where some graduates have continued into ordination paths, but more importantly, many more find their ministry developed for service within their churches and communities.

EfM has been described by those "not-in-the-know" as just another Bible study, but those who have participated in the four-year study - taken one year at a time - know EfM to be much, much more than that. There is Bible study, but much more in-depth than the normal Bible study, as the first two years consist of a rather comprehensive study of the Old and New Testaments. The third and fourth years cover 'Church History' and 'Theological Choices'.

In the group meetings the assigned readings are discussed and in addition, the group engages in a process of theological reflection, which for many participants becomes the most important part of the session.

There are a number of groups meeting around the diocese. These groups are led by mentors and, in some cases, co-mentors, and your diocesan coordinators can assist you in finding a group.

For those who do not have the privilege of having a local group, there are online groups available, and this method of participating is growing because there are people who aren't able to participate in a group owing to the fact that their churches are too small to support a group or there are people who travel and can't attend a local group but can participate online

Should you have any questions about finding or starting an EfM group please feel free to contact one of your diocesan coordinators.

Mrs. Misty Graham, misty.mcintyre.graham@gmail.com, 352-281-6805

The Rev. Curtis Johnson, lcjohnson@knology.net, 706-394-6122

EfM Mentor Training

The next Education for Ministry (EfM) mentor trainings in the Diocese of Georgia are June 4-6 at Honey Creek. Below are the links to registration for both the basic training and the Myers-Briggs formation training. We will begin on Thursday afternoon by 3pm and usually conclude by lunchtime on Saturday.

For basic training: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=9kb8x9dab&oeidk=a07eatvk9rza4ea9b95

For Myers-Briggs formation training: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=9kb8x9dab&oeidk=a07eatw7xuqe1c3d118

Please contact Misty Graham with any questions!

Donations of Acolyte Vestments Requested for DR Mission Trip

The Dominican Republic mission team sponsored by Christ Church (Valdosta) will be grateful for the donation of any surplus acolyte vestments from other churches in the Diocese of Georgia to take to the Episcopal Church of the Mount of the Transfiguration (Iglesia Episcopal Monte de la Transfiguraci�n) in the village of El Pedregal during their annual mission trip from June 15-22, 2015. The priest at this church has an active youth ministry, and has requested more red cassocks and white surplices, particularly in small (children's) sizes. The attached photos show the entire stock of acolyte vestments at his church in use during Christ Church's 2014 mission trip.

For more information, contact Julia Ariail . Vestments may be shipped to Christ Church by June 1 using either of these addresses: 1521 North Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31602-3848 (use this address for USPS packages); 103 East College Street, Valdosta, GA 31602 (use this address for UPS and FedEx packages) or given to Fr. Dave Johnson during the Honey Creek clergy conference April 26-28.

Register Now: Summer Camp Quickly Filling Up

A wait list has been started for the first Parent and Child session. There is still room in the second session. Don't hesitate any longer to sign up. Lot's of people are taking advantage of this opportunity to got to camp with their younger children in K-2nd grades. This new mini session was a huge success last year, and it will blossom even more this year.

Camp is quickly filling up we are at half capacity for three out of the 5 sessions. Camp is filling up faster then we have ever seen it. This is a life change time in our children's lives. Don't wait.

Click here for more information and to register online .

If you have other question about our camping program, please reach out to the Summer Camp Director and Missioner for Youth, Elizabeth Burns at eburns@gaepiscopal.orgor at the office at (912) 236-4279.

Youth Programs

Still Time to Register for Super Spring Rally

Have you ever wanted to be a hero? I mean, have you ever wanted to fly or ever dreamed of being a firefighter? Many of us have. Come explore what it takes to be a hero at Spring Rally. During the weekend, we will talk about what it takes to be a hero, what is our hero's code for following Christ, how to start a movement, and so much more. Because ordinary people can change the world by doing extraordinary things through the love of God as found in Jesus. During this retreat, participants will also get input into next year's youth programs.

Spring Rally will be held May 1-3, 2015 at Honey Creek.

It is open to those in 6th-12th grade.

$117 for Participants

The team for this event are Roger Speer of St. Luke's Rincon, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy of St. Anne's, Tifton, serving as Spiritual Director, and Caroline Johnson of St. Luke's, Hawkinsville, serving as head of music, and Bishop Benhase will also visit with the youth during the weekend. If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Elizabeth Burns.

Click here to register online for Spring Rally

General Convention

Upcoming General Convention Conversations

The General Convention, which meets in Salt Lake City from June 24th - July 3rd, 2015, is the governing body of The Episcopal Church that meets every three years. Deputies and bishops representing each of 109 dioceses carry out the work of the Church at each Convention. If you wish to converse with our Bishop & Deputies about issues facing this Convention, then they will be available on the following dates in these locations:

Meeting Dates and Times

May 2 at 4 p.m. - St. Mark's, Brunswick

May 16 at 4 p.m. - Holy Comforter, Martinez

May 30 at 10 a.m. - Christ Church, Savannah

June 6 at 4 p.m. - St. Paul's, Albany

June 13 at 2 p.m. - Trinity, Cochran

Saluda Clergy Cottage Open for Reservations

The two-storied cottage, nestled in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina has three bedrooms, one and half baths. The downstairs bedroom has one double bed. Upstairs, one bedroom has two double beds and a crib and the other has one double bed and one single bed. A photo album of the house is online here: Clergy Cottage Photo Album

Saluda is a lovely historic town close to Kanuga, Asheville, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Use it as your pied-�-terre for sightseeing or for simply relaxing in a rocking chair on the wrap-around porch...or both!

$150 per week - Available June, August, September and October. Check the Saluda Clergy Cottage website calendar for availability. Contact vschuster@gaepiscopal.org to book.

Hometown

Interviews and photos from youth engagement in service in Thomasville.

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Sincerely,

Diocesan Staff

The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia