This is The Scoop, a communication sent every two weeks from the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. Feel free to share this information. Send items to share to Jim DeLa, director of communications.

The Scoop for November 15, 2008:

Women Reaching Women: The 38th Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women will be held Nov. 18 at DaySpring Conference Center near Ellenton. Keynote speaker will be The Rt. Rev. Charles F. Duvall, retired bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Special guests include national ECW President Kay Meyer, and Margie Williams, the Province IV ECW president. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with gathering music at 9 a.m., and Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. with Bishop Dabney Smith celebrating and the Rev. Sharon Lewis as homilist. A new board of directors also will be elected, including a new president, as Joan Kline ends her three-year term. Cost is $25, which includes lunch. For reservations, contact Florence Holden at (727) 992-4521.

Labyrinth Experts Needed: DaySpring Conference Center is looking for qualified labyrinth facilitators to offer a program on history and use of the labyrinth to groups visiting the center. Trained facilitators are invited to join a roster of volunteers who will be available to lead introductory programs upon request. There will be an honorarium to cover travel expenses, meals and possible overnight accommodation. For more information, please contact the Rev. Sandy Jamieson at (727) 441-4686; Debra McMaster at (727) 799-0082; or Esther Miseroy at (727)781-5761 or emiseroy@verizon.net.

Children's Safety Fair. Dec. 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 9801 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. Admission is free. Fingerprinting services will be available; local K-9, fire and EMS units will be on hand for demonstrations about children’s health as well as beach, bike and water safety. Information on parenting and local services will be provided for at-risk youth. For more information, call (239) 992-4343.

Meaningful Gift Ideas: Order the Gifts for Life catalog from Episcopal Relief & Development, so your congregation can have before Advent begins. The catalog is filled with opportunities to help people in underdeveloped nations. There is no charge for the catalogs, you just pay shipping costs. Oder catalogs at http://www.er-d.org/GiftsForLife/. To learn more about how to promote the Gifts for Life in your parish, contact Maureen Belote at (727) 736-6466.

Upcoming events:

Is God a delusion? The Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota will host screenings and discussion of two thought-provoking videos in coming days. On Nov. 30, watch The God Delusion Debate, a videotaped debate between renowned atheist Richard Dawkins and Dr. John Lennox, a popular Christian apologist and scientist.

On Dec. 7, participants will see Science and the God Question, featuring interviews with Lennox and Anglican theologian and molecular biophysicist Alister McGrath.

Both programs run from 6:30-8:45 p.m. in Gillespie Hall. Call the church office for details at (941) 955-4263.

Mark your calendars:

Celebrations Scheduled: Several congregations will be celebrating the installation of new rectors in the next few months. The diocesan community is encouraged to attend the following events:

• Nov. 16, 2008, at 3 p.m., The Very Rev. John Hartnett at St. Vincent's Episcopal Church, Tampa ;
• Dec. 7, 2008, at 4 p.m., the Rev. Joseph F. Maiocco at St. John's Episcopal Church, Naples;
• Feb. 15, 2009, at 4 p.m., the Rev. Douglas Zimmerman at St. Wilfred's Episcopal Church, Sarasota; and
• March 1, 2009, at 4 p.m., the Rev. Stuart Swann at St. John's Episcopal Church, Brooksville.

Healing Conference: A healing conference led by The Rev. Nigel Mumford, director of the healing ministries at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich N.Y., is set for Saturday, Feb. 21 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs. The day will begin with a 9:30 a.m. morning session including music and prayer, followed by lunch, an afternoon session, laying on of hands and a 5 p.m. Eucharist. A donation of $20 is requested, which includes lunch. For more information, contact Cherrill Cregar at (239) 498-1925.

Odds and ends:

UTO and the MDGs: United Thank Offering grant applications are still available from the bishop’s office. The annual grant program is narrowing its focus for 2009 to favor projects supporting the Millennium Development Goals. To get an application, contact Jan Nothum via e-mail only. All completed applications must be returned to Jan Nothum at the diocesan office and be postmarked no later than Jan. 2, 2009, to be considered by the committee. Please check the UTO web site at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/uto.htm for additional information.

Wheels needed: The diocese’s Hispanic Ministry is looking for a panel truck to use for an outreach project. Contact the Ven. Dennis McManis at (941) 556-0315 if you have a van to donate.

People notes:

Please pray for the family of the Rev. Alan and Debbie Kelmereit. Debbie’s mother, Frances Spaeth, died Nov. 13 after a heart attack. She was 96. Burial will be at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in Cherry Hill, N.J., on Saturday, Nov. 22.