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

Because of General Convention, the next Scoop is scheduled for release Monday, Aug. 3.

The Scoop for July 1, 2009:

General Convention update:

The triennial convention of the Episcopal Church begins next week. The diocese has launched two Web venues to bring news and information about what Bishop Dabney Smith and our deputation are doing at the July 8-17 event:

Check the diocesan website: The diocese’s website will once again have a page dedicated to news from convention with a focus on what our deputation is involved in. It also has links to reference materials, such as the Blue Book, resolutions, the proposed budget, schedules and more. Find it at www.episcopalswfl.org/general_convention

Deputies are blogging: For the first time, the deputation will maintain a blog, where they will post their own commentary on convention. Visit www.generalconventionjournal.wordpress.com to view their blog.

Episcopal News Service: A team of writers, photographers and editors have been recruited to form the Episcopal News Service news team to provide full coverage of convention. The web page -- www.episcopalchurch.org/episcopal-life/ -- will be updated constantly during convention.

Twitter: Many journalists, bloggers, bishops and deputies will be tweeting during General Convention. You can follow most tweets by searching for #ecgc.

Diocesan convention update:

100 days and counting: Plans are coming together for the 41st annual diocesan convention Oct. 9-10 in Punta Gorda. There will be an expanded Friday workshop schedule, a ministry fair and a Friday evening dinner/social event hosted by Church of the Good Shepherd. News and information about the convention is on line at www.episcopalswfl.org/diocesan_convention.

Nominations deadline extended to Aug. 10: Eleven seats on various bodies, including Standing Committee and Diocesan Council, will be filled by election at the Oct. 10 diocesan convention. Discerning a call to diocesan leadership? Find out what seats are available and get nominations forms by visiting the diocesan website at www.episcopalswfl.org/diocesan_convention

Coming up:

St. John the Divine expanding: St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Ruskin will be dedicating its second campus in Sun City Center with a special service and luncheon July 26 at 10 a.m. The parish broke ground on the second campus, 5.5 miles east of the main church, on May 25. For more information about the July 26 celebration or to RSVP, call the church office at (813) 645-1521 or e-mail stjohnrus@aol.com

Safeguarding retraining going on line soon: Anyone who has taken “Safeguarding God’s Children,” the program designed to help the church prevent sexual misconduct, will soon be able to take a refresher course on line. The Church Pension Group is hosting an interactive website that can recertify someone in about 40 minutes. All licensed clergy must be trained, as well as church employees, licensed Eucharistic visitors, vestries, and lay people who work with children and youth. Program administrators in each deanery will soon be contacting people in need of retraining with instructions. For more information, contact Bonnie Jean Durning at bdurning@tampabay.rr.com

Financial independence workshop: The diocesan Evangelism Committee is offering a workshop for parishes titled “Declaration of Financial Independence” July 9 and 11 at Church of the Redeemer, 222 South Palm Ave. in Sarasota. This workshop will take a spiritual look at dealing with the financial challenges in today’s economy. Both programs begin at 7 p.m., last one hour and include light refreshments. The workshops will be led by parishioner and financial planner Robert Dale Adcock. Advance registration is recommended by calling (941) 955-4263 or at the door the day of the event beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Odds and ends:

Need some tables? The Church of the Nativity in Sarasota tells us they have 11 parish hall-type tables, 10 6-foot tables and one eight-foot table. Muscles and a pick-up required to qualify for this "gift." Call Elly if you are interested at (941) 355-3262.

Rental house available for retired clergy: Located on the grounds of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Dunedin. The house is an unfurnished three-bedroom, two-bath, with living room, dining room and kitchen. Stroll along the Intracoastal Waterway across the street, easy walk to quaint downtown shops and restaurants. $1,200 per month plus utilities. Call the Rev. Bob Williams at (727) 733-4125. See photos at www.churchgoodshepherd.org

Food for the Soul:

Cursillo # 117: Planning for the Sept. 24-27 weekend is under way with preparation and prayer. Applications for team should go directly to Butch Patterson, the rector for this Cursillo weekend. His email is patteson2@hotmail.com You can obtain applications on the Cursillo web page at http://cursilloswfla.org/

September 11-12: Women's Healing Conference titled “Break In to Break Out,” at the Christian Retreat Center on Fort Myers Beach. This is the fifth annual women's conference put on by the Amazing Love Healing Ministry of Church of the Holy Spirit, Osprey. There will be a Communion service on the beach Sunday morning for those who stay over. For more information or to receive a registration brochure, visit www.chsosprey.com or call (941) 966-1924.

Little buckaroos invited to VBS: St. Wilfred’s Episcopal Church in Sarasota is holding their Vacation Bible School Aug. 3-7 from 9 a.m. to noon each day featuring Avalanche Ranch programs and a final day hoedown and barbecue for children and parents. Contact the church office at (941) 924-7436 for registration details or go to their website at www.stwilfred-sarasota.com

Opportunities elsewhere:

Celebrating the Arts: Kanuga Conferences’ 12th annual Liturgical Arts Conference offers an opportunity to create a beautiful work of art as well as learn a craft you can enjoy for years to come. This Aug. 23-28 event provides hands-on education and inspiration for choirs and directors, potters, needle workers, quilters and weavers. A massage therapist will be available to ease aching shoulders. Group discounts or financial aid are available to those who qualify. For more information, visit http://www.kanuga.org/conferences/2009/larts.shtml or call (828) 692-9136.

MIssion Trifecta: Three important Episcopal Church conferences – “Start Up! Start Over!,” “Plant My Church,” and the Black Clergy Leadership Institute – have been brought together in a new collaborative event called Remix for Mission to be held Sept.21-25 at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, N.C. This conference combines the three key events to provide attendees opportunities to participate in the traditional offerings from the individual events, cross over to explore a workshop from one of the other events, and add several new and timely workshops. The cost for Remix for Mission is $605 for a single room; $445 for a double room; and $137 for commuters. Registration is open, and space is limited. To register, visit http://events.SignUp4.com/RemixforMission

Mark your Calendars:

New Beginnings: Applications are still being accepted for the Nov.13-15 weekend retreat for middle schoolers in grades 6-8. Learn more at www.episcopalswfl.org/youth_ministry

Headcounts needed for Rays game: The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is sponsoring “Baseball with the Bishop” at Tropicana Field on Friday, Oct. 2, when the Tampa Bay Rays take on the New York Yankees. Outfield tickets are $24 and $4 from each ticket will benefit the Episcopal Charities Fund. The Rays ticket rep for this event, Dan Newhart, suggests congregations collect their own headcounts and then place one order to ensure everyone can sit together. Order tickets by contacting Newhart at (727) 825-3293 or by e-mail at dnewhart@raysbaseball.com

People Notes:

Please pray for the repose of the soul of the mother of Deacon Denise Healy, who June 4 in Baltimore. She was 80 years old.

The Rev. Denise Guinta has been appointed priest-in-charge of St. Stephen’s Church in New Port Richey through August, following the retirement of the Rev. Ray Dage.

The Rev. Edward Gleason has accepted a call as associate rector at Trinity by the Cove in Naples. A former lawyer with a Master of Divinity degree from Nashotah House, Gleason was most recently curate and day school chaplain at St. Luke’s Church in Baton Rouge, La. He begins his new ministry July 19.

The Rev. Gary Wilde has accepted a call as associate priest at St. Mary’s Church in Bonita Springs. A former staff editor for Christianity Today with a Master of Divinity degree from Nashotah House, Wilde was most recently rector of St. John’s Church in Moultrie, Ga. He begins his new ministry Aug. 1.