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 next Scoop is scheduled for release on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The Scoop for August 13, 2009:

The Office of Communications wants your opinion: A task force on communications has been charged with helping the diocese review the way it communicates – to foster clearer and faster communication with congregations, clergy and the community.

Two quick online surveys are available to help us see where we are as a diocese and where you’d like us to be in the future. One is geared toward clergy and parish staff; the other is for readers and viewers, the people in the pew.

Please, let us know what you think. Ask your fellow parishioners to complete the surveys too. Go to the diocesan website (www.episcopalswfl.org) and follow the link on the front page (“Are we communicating?”), or go directly to www.episcopalswfl.org/article200086c2485521.htm

Diocesan convention update:

58 days and counting: There’s lots of new information on the website about the 41st annual diocesan convention Oct. 9-10 in Punta Gorda:

• A schedule of events
• Registration forms
• Friday workshop schedule
• Five resolutions submitted for consideration
• An interactive map of Punta Gorda marking the convention venues
• Nominees for election
• Hotel information

The Friday night dinner and social event hosted by Church of the Good Shepherd returns this year as well as the Ministry Fair. Check it all out at www.episcopalswfl.org/diocesan_convention

Any reports coming? If your ministry or committee usually submits a report to convention, or would like to, now is the time to get it in to the diocesan office. E-mail is preferable, to jdela@episcopalswfl.org

Fall Convocations in September: Each deanery is planning a convocation next month, where clergy, delegates and the public can hear from Bishop Dabney Smith, view a presentation on the proposed budget and discuss any other matters before the Oct. 10 convention. Most deaneries will also elect representative to Diocesan Council. The convocation schedule:

• Sept. 8: Manasota/Venice deaneries, 7 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 513 Nassau St. South, in Venice.
• Sept. 10: Clearwater/St. Petersburg deaneries, 7 p.m. at a location to be determined.
• Sept. 17: Naples Deanery, 7 p.m. at a location to be determined.
• Sept. 18: Fort Myers Deanery, 7 p.m. at a location to be determined.
• Sept. 22: Tampa Deanery, 7 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 509 E. Twiggs St., in Tampa.

Coming up:

Alpha begins Sept. 16 at St. John's Church, 1676 S. Belcher Road in Clearwater, and runs through Nov. 18 on Wednesdays, with a 6:30 p.m. brown-bag supper, and 7 p.m. program. For more information, contact St. John's at (727) 531-6020.

Surviving Unemployment: A workshop on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. to noon at Good Samaritan Church, 2165 NE Coachman Road in Clearwater. The workshop is sponsored by Good Samaritan, St. John's and other neighborhood congregations. A free light breakfast and lunch will be served. For more information, contact St. John's at (727) 531-6020.

School for Ministry Development: The diocesan School for Ministry Development is now accepting applications for both religious and scripture study courses. All classes are open to anyone who is interested and can be taken as a single class or series of classes. The course fees are $55 for those taking the class for credit and $45 for those auditing the class; both include the cost of lunch. With the success we experienced in our inaugural year, we are looking forward to our expanded curriculum. Contact either the Ven. Canon Dennis McManis (dmcmanis@episcopalswfl.org or (941) 556-0315, ext. 249) or Administrative Assistant Michelle Mercurio (mmercurio@episcopalswfl.org or (941) 556-0315, ext. 274); or visit the website at www.episcopalswfl.org/ministry_development

Odds and ends:

Good story, good cause: The off-Broadway Palm Theatre in Fort Myers presents “Bill W. and Dr. Bob” playing Aug. 27 through Sept. 26. It is the story of a stockbroker and a surgeon, both alcoholics, whose relationship becomes the genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous. Ticket prices range from $20 to $35 and a portion of the sales for this production will go toward the You Are Not Alone Foundation. For reservations, call (239) 278-4422 or order online at www.BroadwayPalm.com.

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. $1,000 per month plus utilities. Call the Rev. Bob Williams at (727) 733-4125. See photos at www.churchgoodshepherd.org

Don’t sell your old cell: The Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking is looking to raise money and is partnering with a company that refurbishes used cell phones. The Coalition will get money for each phone it can provide. If you have old cell phones at home or finally want to get that iPhone, contact Michelle Mercurio, administrative assistant to the Canon for Mission and Outreach, at mmercurio@episcopalswfl.org or (941) 556-0315, ext. 274.

Food for the Soul:

Aug. 29: Cursillo Music Workshop, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 13312 Cain Rd. in Tampa. Everyone is invited. Come to sing, play, harmonize or just visit. Bring a bag lunch and a few songs that you would like to practice.

Cursillo # 117: Planning for the Sept. 24-27 weekend is under way with preparation and prayer. Applications for team members should go directly to Butch Patterson, the rector for this Cursillo weekend. His email is patterson2@hotmail.com You can obtain applications by visiting http://cursilloswfla.org/

Sept. 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.

Help Wanted:

Youth minister: St. John’s Episcopal Church in Clearwater seeks an experienced, competent and caring person to develop and manage a comprehensive youth development program for middle school and high school age youth. As youth minister, this individual will be responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Christian Formation and youth programs. The youth minister’s role is to empower youth to grow in their relationship with Christ in community, to help them to learn to make wise choices and appropriate decisions. The successful candidate will be a missioner with a holy calling as a God-bearer and pastor in the midst of the youth, a faith companion and spiritual director. Please send resume or response to churchoffice@stjohnsclearwater.org

Mark your Calendars:

Meet Anselm of Canterbury: Saturday, Aug. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 13312 Cain Rd. in Tampa. Hosted by the Daughters of the King, the retreat will be led by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Williams, co-author of Anselm (Oxford Press, 2009). Williams will be exploring the spirituality of Anselm, especially in his prayers and devotional writing, spiritual discipline and meditation. There will be guided meditations. Please call the church office at (813) 962-3089 to register. There will be light refreshments served at 8:30 a.m. Three continuing education credits are available to clergy.

Free concert: Lu Rubino of the group StorySide B will perform at St. Anne of Grace Episcopal Church, 6650 113th Street North in Seminole with the parish’s band His Word on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. Rubino will also participate in St. Anne’s Sunday praise service Aug. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

Rays outing Oct. 2: 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. Left-field tickets are $24, with $4 from each ticket benefitting 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

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

Trinity Institute teleconference, Jan. 27-29, 2010, titled “Building an Ethical Economy: Theology and the Marketplace” with the Archbishop of Canterbury as a keynote presenter. The teleconference will be available at three sites in the diocese (Iona Hope in Fort Myers, St. Boniface in Sarasota, St. Peter’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg). Participants will register in advance with the diocese (details and cost to be announced) and will receive 2 CEUs from Trinity Institute and 20 diocesan continuing education contact hours. To learn more about the conference, visit www.trinitywallstreet.org/faith/institute

Tech Tip:

Getting more from the Internet: The Diocese of Mississippi's Center for Formation and Mission is sponsoring “Does Your Church Twitter? Faith and Facebook -- Websites and Worship,” a conference Sept. 18-19 at the Duncan Gray Camp & Conference Center in Canton, Miss. It's for both newbies and those who are already engaged in the new vehicles of digital ministry. All presenters are from Digital Faith Community, an Atlanta nonprofit company offering website services to dioceses and churches. Register online at www.dios.org/events or contact the Rev. Debo Dykes at debo@dioms.org or (601) 948-5954 for more information.