The Scoop for February 1, 2009:

New Stuff:

Look for your packets in the mail: Parochial report packets were mailed on Jan. 23 and should be arriving at each congregation this week. Diocesan canons require parishes to file parochial reports by March 1.

Communications task force: Bishop Dabney Smith has called for the formation of a task force to evaluate how well the diocese communicates. The goals of the task force will be:

-- To evaluate current diocesan communications efforts and vehicles.

-- To ascertain the effects of technological and social evolution on the way most people seek and receive information.

-- To evaluate and make recommendations on improvements to current communications efforts.

If you would like to be a part of this group, contact Jim DeLa at (941) 556-0315, ext. 268.

So, how are the new canons working for you? Within the next couple of months, most congregations will have had their annual meetings and committees will have had time to figure out how the newly revised diocesan canons affect their work. The Committee on Constitution and Canons wants to know how the new canons actually work in real life. Based on your experiences, what feedback do you have so far? What needs to be looked at more closely? What is difficult to find? What is confusing? Of course, if there's anything that is working particularly well, we want to know that, too. Send your thoughts and comments to the Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman, chair of the committee, Please put "Constitution and Canons" in the subject line so that she will know to fish your e-mail out of her spam blocker's holding tank.

Spring convocation dates set: Here are the dates for this spring’s deanery convocations. All meetings begin at 7 p.m., although most locations have yet to be determined. Watch the Scoop and the web site’s Upcoming Events calendar for updates. (http://www.episcopalswfl.org/upcoming_events).

-- March 24, Fort Myers Deanery, st St. Hilary's, Fort Myers.

-- March 26, Tampa Deanery, at St. Mark’s, Tampa.

-- March 31, St. Petersburg/Clearwater deaneries

-- April 2, Venice/Manasota deaneries

-- May 1, Naples Deanery

Other news:

What are you doing for Lent? Lenten devotional booklets are available from Episcopal Relief and Development. The devotionals highlight the Millennium Development Goals, offering ways for parishioners to help achieve these life-saving goals, especially through Episcopal Relief & Development's MDG Inspiration Fund. Supplies are limited. Order on-line at www.er-d.org/Lentenresources/ or call Episcopal Books and Resources at (800) 903-5544.

Don’t forget ERD Sunday: Have you scheduled your annual Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday? In 2005, diocesan convention unanimously approved a resolution stating that every parish would hold at least one Sunday a year aside as a time to educate about and support the work of ERD. For more information, contact Maureen Belote.

Free pulpit: St. Hilary's in Fort Myers has renovated its sanctuary and now has various altar furnishings available free to a good home: one pulpit, one lectern, two altar chairs, one altar bench, and various candle holders, in black wrought iron and with maroon cushions, and four oak pews. If any emerging church might like to have these items, St. Hilary’s would be glad to hear from you. Contact the Rev. Bob Hennagin or office manager Donna Bixby at program@sainthilarys.org

Free Concerts:

Key Chorale: the Church of the Redeemer and Key Chorale will present a free concert for the community on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m., under conductor Joseph Caulkins. The Key Chorale is the official chorus of the Sarasota Orchestra. Redeemer’s choirmaster, Ann Stephenson-Moe, was one of the original founders of Key Chorale in 1985. Get there early to get a good seat. The Church of the Redeemer is located at 222 South Palm Ave., in downtown Sarasota. For more information, call the parish office at (941) 955-4263.

Acoustic Eidolon: The 2008-2009 Concert Series at St. Mark's, Venice continues with a performance by Acoustic Eidolon, on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. , featuring Joe Scott on double-neck guitar and Hannah Alkire on cello. They are featured on such nationally-syndicated radio programs as “WoodSong’s Old Time Radio Hour,” “Echoes” and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” St. Mark’s is located on the Island of Venice, 508 Riviera St. For information, call (941) 488-7714.

Mark your calendars:

Party for a cause: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Venice is hosting a Valentine’s Dinner Dance to support the Venice Deanery's mission work in the Dominican Republic. The dance is set for Sunday, Feb. 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Gray Hall on the St. Mark's campus, at 513 Nassau St. South, in Venice. A donation of $50 per couple includes an elegant buffet and beverages. Music provided by the band Lacroix. All proceeds will go toward construction materials and supplies used on the Dominican Republic work sites. For tickets, call (941) 488-7714.

Human trafficking workshop: A training and information workshop on Human Trafficking Awareness and Victim Advocacy is set for Saturday, Feb. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 9801 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. The day is designed to provide an overview of modern-day slavery both at home and abroad. Guest speakers include Maddelena and Maurice Lomonico, representing the Pope John XXIII Association, and Gianpiero Corfano from Ranini, Italy, director of international justice for the Pope John XXIII Association worldwide. The program will also include a film by the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking and a panel discussion on how to work with police, other faith communities and nonprofit agencies. Contact Helen MacCallum at (239) 992-4343 or visit www.stmarysbonita.org.

Altar Guild gathering: The Altar Guild of the Diocese of Southwest Florida (South) will hold its annual meeting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave., in Sarasota. Bishop Smith will preach and install the new diocesan Altar Guild director for the South region, Carol Ann Brumbach of St.Luke’s in Fort Myers. The speaker will be Larry E. Keller, retired from the National Cathedral. This will be Thelma Wallis' last meeting so a big turnout is requested.

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.

Health ministry opportunity: The National Episcopal Health Ministries announces an intensive five-day course at the Duncan Conference Center in Delray Beach, Fla., March 1-6. The course emphasizes Episcopal traditions in the theology of health and healing, liturgy, polity and prayer. Practical aspects of developing health ministry in a local congregation are addressed. Go to www.episcopalhealthministries.org/prep_course.html for more information or call the NEHM office at (317) 253-1277, ext 34. Registration is limited to the first 20 participants. Registered nurses can earn 40 continuing education credit hours.

Shhh: The Cursillo Community of Calvary Episcopal Church in Indian Rocks Beach is hosting a Lenten Quiet Morning on Saturday, March 7, beginning at 9 a.m. with Holy Communion. It will be led by the Very Rev. Richard Doscher, rector of St. Alfred’s, Palm Harbor. For information, contact Marilyn Clark at (725) 517-4071.

People notes:

The Revs. Chuck and Adele Hatfield have accepted a call to be co-rectors of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Mountain Lakes, N.J. Their new ministry begins Feb. 1. Chuck was an associate rector at St. Monica's, Naples, while Adele was associate rector at Iona-Hope in Fort Myers.

Jay Crouse, director of Episcopal Men’s Ministries, has announced his resignation from Diocesan Council. He was a representative from the Manasota Deanery.