This is The Scoop, a communication sent about 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, at jdela@episcopalswfl.org.

The Scoop for February 11, 2009:

In Memoriam:

The Rev. William Jefferson Bozeman III died Feb. 9. He was the former rector of St. John's Church, Brooksville and a Cursillista. He also co-chaired the diocese’s Anti Racism Committee. The rite of the Burial of the Dead will take place on Friday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. at St. John's, Brooksville. The Rev. Stuart Swann will be the celebrant. Internment will take place at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

The Rev. Dr. Herbert E. Rowe, who had been assisting at St. Peter's Episcopal Cathedral, died Feb. 7. During his active ministry, he was president of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Pennsylvania and rector of St. Ann's Church in Abington, Pa. He moved to St. Petersburg about a year ago. His memorial service will held at the Cathedral at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Coming Up:

Annual Clergy Day: The 2009 clergy day, traditionally held the day following Ash Wednesday, Is set for Feb. 26 beginning with registration at 9 a.m. at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd. in Siesta Key, Sarasota. Bishop Dabney Smith will celebrate a Chrism Mass and a renewal of ordination vows. Clergy will also hear a report on the status of Bishop Gray Inns from the facilities’ executive director. Since lunch is provided, clergy are asked to RSVP to Connie Salyers at csaylers@episcopalswfl.org.

Step out on Valentine’s Day: The Lincoln-Douglass Ball, the annual fund-raising gala for Cornerstone Kids, a ministry of St. James House of Prayer in Tampa, happens Saturday, Feb. 14, starting a 6 p.m. at Higgins Hall, 5225 Himes Ave. in Tampa. The night includes a. reception, formal dinner, live music and dancing, a silent auction, and open bar. Individual tickets are $60. Contact Leila Mizer at ljmizer@yahoo.com or (813) 961-9350.

Midnight Pass Blast: a Christian rock music party on Saturday, Feb. 14, from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Boniface Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Rd, on Siesta Key, Sarasota. Two local bands will play, Invisible Image and Horizons Fall. Great food is promised. For details, check out www.myspace.com/midnightpassblast.

Middle school retreat: The next New Beginnings weekend is set for Feb. 27 to March 1. The event is designed especially to respond to the unique challenges and concerns of youth in grades 6-8. It was created by adults and young people to help participants grow in their love of themselves, others and our Lord Jesus Christ. For more information, visit http://www.episcopalswfl.org/youth_ministry.

Three-day weekend: A reminder that the diocesan office will be closed Monday, Feb. 16, in observance of the President’s Day holiday.

Absalom Jones Celebrations:

Two events honoring the Episcopal Church’s first African-American priest are planned in Tampa Feb. 21-22:

Brunch on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at La Union Marti-Maceo Afro-Cuban Club, 1226 E. 7th Ave. in Ybor City featuring the Rev. Andrea Hayden, rector of St. Augustine’s Church in Asbury Park, N.J. She will speak about the historic Black experience
within the Episcopal Church and their contributions to the community at-large. Call (813) 237-5871 for more information.

Service on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 13312 Cain Rd. in Tampa.

To learn about Absalom Jones, go to http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2755/Jones-Absalom.html.

Other News:

Parochial Reports: We know all congregations are hard at work completing their parochial reports, which are due March 1, because very few churches have filed them yet.

St. Peter's Cathedral Community Prayer Breakfast. April 4, from 8-10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 Fifth Street North, St. Petersburg. Hosted by the cathedral chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. Bishop Dabney Smith will be the keynote speaker. Cost is $5 at the door. Contact Frank Turner at (727) 527-3104 or Vance Wegner at (727) 525-5516 for more information.

Pilgrimage to Israel: St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Bradenton is organizing a pilgrimage to Israel this summer. The goal, Fr. Jim Hedman says, is not just to see the sights, but to grow in faith, to know our Lord and Savior in a deeper manner. For more information about the trip, e-mail Hedman at jhedman@saintmarymagdalene.net or call the church at (941) 751-5048.

Can you spare a prayer book? Harriet Kollin of the Episcopal AsiAmerican Ministries Network is looking for prayer books for St. Benedict's Church in the Philippines. If you have any sources, please e-mail Harriet directly at kollinharriet@yahoo.com.

Spring convocations: Here are the dates and known locations for this spring’s deanery convocations. All meetings begin at 7 p.m. Watch the Scoop and the web site’s Upcoming Events calendar for updates. (http://www.episcopalswfl.org/upcoming_events).

• March 24, Fort Myers Deanery, at St. Hilary’s, Fort Myers
• March 26, Tampa Deanery, at St. Mark’s, Tampa.
• March 31, St. Petersburg/Clearwater deaneries, at St. John’s Clearwater
• April 2, Venice/Manasota deaneries, at St. Boniface, Sarasota
• May 1, Naples Deanery, location to be determined.

Mark your calendars:

Young artists perform: Sunday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m., the Church of the Redeemer in downtown Sarasota will host a Young Artists Concert. Vera Higgs, a senior at Pine View School and three-time winner of the Young Artist Concerto Competition, will play Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with full orchestra. Christoph Stephenson-Moe, also a Pine View senior and percussionist with the Sarasota Youth Philharmonic, will perform as Solo timpanist in the Organ Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Timpani and Strings by Francis Poulenc. Suggested ticket donation is $10.
Contact the Parish Office at (941) 955-4263 for ticket information. Redeemer is located at 222 South Palm Ave. Sarasota.

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 or by e-mail at clcregar@embarqmail.com.

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.

The Altar Guild’s North region will meet on March 7 with details to be announced.

Vocation Information Day: March 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 2635 Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. The purpose of this gathering is to assist anyone interested in the development of their ministry, whether layperson, deacon or priest. Attendance at the gathering does not require the permission of your rector or vicar, nor does such attendance imply the approval of the Commission for admittance to the ordination process. To register go to http://www.episcopalswfl.org/article129072.htm.

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 by e-mail at happyclark@aol.com or (725) 517-4071.

Ultimate Stewardship: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is hosting “Making a Graceful Exit,” a workshop on planning your own funeral, a gift to leave for those who remain at the time of your death on Sunday, March 8 starting at noon. Participants will have the opportunity to receive advice on general legal and financial questions, as well as information about cremation and burial, and will complete a funeral planning form for themselves. Appropriate bible passages will be read and hymns will be played –so that you may choose—for yourself. Call the church office to register at (727) 360-8406.

Fresh Start Continues: The program for congregations in transition meets March 24 for clergy only, with the theme of Family and Friends, reflecting on the boundaries needed to lead a wholesome, integrated life; and our support networks. Facilitators will be the Rev. Canon Michael Durning and Zandy Jordan. The meeting runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Diocesan House, 7313 Merchant Court, Sarasota. Register by visiting http://www.episcopalswfl.org/article164119.htm.

Educational Opportunities:

Health Ministry Course: 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.

Visiting Day at Episcopal Divinity School: Episcopal Divinity School invites students to attend Visiting Day on Thursday, March 5. This day is designed for prospective students to explore the EDS curriculum, meet the faculty and experience the daily life and worship within the EDS Community. Visiting Days are intended to provide individuals who are considering a seminary education with an introduction to EDS’ program and campus in Cambridge, Mass. Admissions interviews can also be scheduled during the visit for those who are considering applying to EDS.
To sign up for a Visiting Day, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@eds.edu, 617.682.1507, or visit the EDS website at www.eds.edu and click on Admissions.

People notes:

The Rev. Hayden Crawford has been named Priest in Charge at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in St. Pete Beach. He began his ministry Feb. 1.

The Rev. Oscar P. Seara has begun a one-year assignment as associate priest/Hispanic missioner at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Largo.

St. Wilfred's Episcopal Church in Sarasota will officially welcome its new rector, the Rev. Doug Zimmerman, with a Celebration of New Ministry Feb. 15 at St. Wilfred's, 3773 Wilkinson Rd., Sarasota.

St. John's Episcopal Church in Brooksville will officially welcome its new rector, the Rev. Stuart Swann, with a Celebration of New Ministry in March 1, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Chinsegut Conference Center, 22495 Chinsegut Hill Rd., in Brooksville.