Delegates, alternates, clergy, and visitors may now register for the 194th Convention of the Diocese of Georgia. 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 registration for the meeting is the same cost as in recent years, just $85 per person. This fee offsets our cost for the conference center, and covers the cost of coffee and snacks on Friday and Saturday mornings, a lunch on Friday, and all printed conference materials.

The theme of Share the Good News will open up our time to considering how Episcopalians can share the joy of the life of faith with friends and family. Bishop Benhase said, "Our Diocesan Convention will, of course, include our annual responsibilities of reports and elections, but much of our time will be devoted to being a missionary convocation for the people of this Diocese. We have the Good News of Jesus, crucified and risen, to share and we must equip everyone to share it."

Registration information

We are using our ACS database to register delegates. This simplifies the process for most clergy and lay persons as you will already be listed in the database and will not have to type in your contact information, but can change it if needed. For those not yet in the database, you will see a link as you complete registration to add yourself to the database. Please do so as this will help us to better retain your information for future events.

Click Here to Register for diocesan convention

See below for registration information for the Convention Lock-In for Youth.

Diocesan Office Update

This Sunday is also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and Bishop Benhase will make his visitation to St. Francis of the Islands, Savannah.

Canon Logue will preach this Sunday at St. Anne's, Tifton.

Diocesan Community Update

The vestry of St. Paul's, Jesup, is pleased to announce that the Rev. Dee Shaffer has accepted their call to serve as the Rector. She graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina Summa Cum Laude in 1977 with a Business degree. She immediately went to work working on film crews, eventually taking a full-time position with WBT-TV in Charlotte and then later moving to New York City to continue producing, but also to write and direct. There she met Michael Shaffer. Married since 1987, they have two children, Patrick (26) and Katie (22). Later moving to St. Simons Island, the family became active in St. Simons United Methodist Church, including choir, the drama ministry, and a long-range planning committee. Shaffer sought ordination in the Methodist Church and entered Asbury Theological College. During seminary, she served Arco United Methodist Church, where she founded a non-profit ministry Harmony House to aid those in the shadow of the church's steeply with a clothing closet, food pantry, free breakfast, a preschool, and more. During this time, she felt called toward the Episcopal Church. Bishop Louttit received her in 2007. Ordained to the diaconate in September 2008 and the priesthood on June 18, 2008, her ministry in the Episcopal Church has included serving as priest in charge of Our Savior at Honey Creek and as a Hospice Chaplain.

Convention 2015

Register Now for the Convention Lock-In

Christ Church Savannah will host a Lock-In from immediately following the Convention Eucharist on Friday, November 13 through Saturday, November 14 at 7 a.m. This lock-in is open to all 6th-12th youth and will focus on the 194th Convention theme: Spread the Good News.

Participants can expect to participate in fun games, Instagram challenges, and open discussions about how we can all do our part to spread the Word of God. The lock-in registration fee of $50 will cover the cost of dinner on Friday night and breakfast Saturday morning as well as a t-shirt. Be sure to bring: Bedding (sleeping bag, pillows, etc.), Close-toed shoes, and Cell phones (if you have them).

Click here to register for the Lock-In

Bishop Benhase is shown above during his Sunday evening meeting with the gathered priests and deacons of the Diocese.

Clergy Conference

Clergy and Spouses Gather to Learn and Worship

Spouses were encouraged to attend this week's Clergy Conference for the first time in some years as the Church Pension Group hosted the meeting. The presentation heavy meeting focused on both how clergy should secure their financial future through wise use of resources while taking steps toward a healthier lifestyle. The wellness portion affected the meeting itself with the food offered at the conference featuring only healthy choices (picture breakfast with no bacon and lunch with no sweet tea and you get the idea). The financial portion included debt management, planning for retirement, and insurance and pension matters.

As always, worship grounded the meeting with the clergy music group Crumbs Under Thy Table providing a chanted service of Compline on Sunday and Monday evenings, in addition to the Eucharists on both Monday and Tuesday and Evening Prayer on Monday filled out the worship schedule.

An album of event photos is found online here: Fall Clergy Conference Photos and is mirrored by an album at the Diocese of Georgia's Facebook page.

The Sisters of OSH Have Moved Their Convent

The Order of Saint Helena moved its convent from its familiar location in Augusta within the bounds of the Diocese of Georgia to North Augusta, South Carolina. The new convent is located at 414 Savannah Barony Drive, North Augusta SC 29841-6096.

The Mission of the Order of Saint Helena is to show forth Christ through a life of monastic prayer, hospitality and service. We are women living communally under a vow of monastic poverty, celibate chastity and obedience to God. From Benedictine roots, we discern new ways to interpret traditional monasticism, striving to grow in diversity and inclusivity. You may see their video about being an Episcopal nun online here: Video on Why Be an Episcopal Nun?

Attend the Dedication

The Sisters ask that you join them on the 70th anniversary of the Founding of the Order of Saint Helena-Sunday, November 8 at 4 pm for a Holy Eucharist and dedication of the new chapel with a reception following. RSVP to Sr Linda, the Guest Registrar augustaconvent@comcast.net or call their new phone number (803) 522-2196. You may also use the same contact information if you'd like them to inform you once they know the opening date for their new Guest House. You can also find out more in their August Newsletter.

Altar available for purchase

Those of you who are familiar with the Order of Saint Helena chapel in Augusta will recognize the marble altar and pavement candles shown in this PDF file: Altar and Candles offered for purchase. You may also read about the artist who designed and crafted them for the chapel - Janet de Coux. The altar and pavement candles are available for purchase by your church for the amounts listed. The Order will commission the design and creation of a new altar for the new chapel in North Augusta.

Cursillo

Register Now for October 8-11 Weekend

Pronounced 'kur-see-yo', this a short course in Christianity taken from the Spanish word meaning 'little' or 'short course'. Cursillo developed after World War II with Roman Catholic men. The short course has now been given to men and women around the world and in the process has assisted generations of Christians to more faithfully follow Jesus in their daily lives. Cursillo begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday evening. During those three days the participants engage in listening to talks given by priests and lay people, and small table discussion, while worshiping and playing together. The next Cursillo weekend will be October 8-11, 2015, at Honey Creek. You can find out more and register to attend at cursillo.georgiaepiscopal.org

Prayers for Weekly Liturgies

Our one-year prayer cycle combines prayers for every congregation in the Diocese of Georgia with prayers for our ecumenical partners and for our Companion Diocese of The Dominican Republic. The 52 weekly prayers are available in one document: http://gaepiscopal.org/docs/oneyearprayercycle.pdf

Prayers for September 27 - October 3

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregations in Savannah, especially St. Paul the Apostle and St. Bartholomew's Chapel. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Savannah, especially the Catholic congregations of St. Frances Cabrini and Saints Peter and Paul as well as St. Paul's Lutheran Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for St. Matthias (San Mat�as) in Santana.

Prayers for October 4-10

In our diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for our congregation in Swainsboro, Good Shepherd. We also pray for our ecumenical partners in Swainsboro, especially Holy Trinity Catholic Church. In our companion diocese of the Dominican Republic, we pray for the congregations in Santiago, especially Christ the Savior (Cristo Salvador), Emmanuel (Emmanuel).

Morning has broken

Deacon Karulynn Koelliker, Mary Willoughby, and the Very Rev. William Willoughby III look across Honey Creek to the sun rising over Jekyll Island on the final morning of the Fall Clergy Conference.

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Sincerely,

Diocesan Staff

The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia