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. 15.

The Scoop for September 1, 2009:

Diocesan convention update:

Remember to pay when you register: Office manager LeAnna Hood reports some congregations have sent in convention registration forms, both online and by mail, without paying for meals. Without payment, neither Friday nor Saturday registrations will be processed.

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

• You can register and pay online for everything.
• There are now 11 workshops to choose from on Friday.
• There will be seven resolutions to be considered on Saturday.
• The proposed 2010 budget is available to download.

Hotels filling up: The reserved room blocks at the two main hotels, the Sheraton and Best Western, have sold out. Check out our convention page for other options at www.episcopalswfl.org/diocesan_convention

Reports anyone? 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: Each deanery has a convocation coming up. Hear from Bishop Dabney Smith, view a presentation on the proposed 2010 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 St. Vincent’s Episcopal Church, 5441 9th Ave. North, in St. Petersburg.
• Sept. 17: Naples Deanery, 7 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 3901 Davis Blvd., in Naples.
• Sept. 18: Fort Myers Deanery, 7 p.m. at St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church, 5011 McGregor Blvd., in Naples.
• Sept. 22: Tampa Deanery, 7 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 509 E. Twiggs St., in Tampa.

Other news:

Free Money: The Diocesan Council’s Grants and Loans Committee will be giving away $25,000 in the next two months. “We intend to allocate the funds in small grants to a number of applicants, so the money goes as far as possible,” said committee chair Judy Stark. The application deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 6. Those getting grants will be notified after Council give its approval at its Nov. 21 meeting. The application form is available here, The grants are intended to provide supplemental funding for enrichments and enhancements. They are not intended to pay operational expenses; to finance major capital projects; or to provide for disaster repairs. For more information, contact Stark at (727) 894-8206, or at judithastark@gmail.com.

Important survey: A task force on communications has been charged with helping the diocese review the way it communicates. 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 by completing the surveys. 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

Coming up:

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.

Honoring the finest and bravest: St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in St. Pete Beach welcomes the community as it honors the St. Pete Beach “First Responders,” on Sunday, Sept. 13 at the 10:30 a.m. service followed by a potluck luncheon in the Parish Hall. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the week of Sept.11-17 has become the unofficial Fire and Police Appreciation Week. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church is located between 84th and 85th Avenues on Blind Pass Road in St. Pete Beach. Call the Church office at (727) 360-8406 for more information.

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.

Youth ministers workshop: Taylor Consulting Group, along with St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church in Sarasota, will present a workshop for youth ministers titled “Intentional Games for a Meaningful Youth Group” on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants will learn activities to deepen the bonds of your youth, strategies to transfer youth group to everyday life, new trends and exciting initiatives, and skills and strategies for building a youth group safe for returning and new youth. The cost is $25 per person. To register, call (727) 415-1036 or e-mail donald@teachingtheroad.org

Surfing safely: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Clearwater, along with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department, will present “Internet Safety -- Your Child, the Internet, and Online Predators” Sept 22 at 7 p.m. at the church, at 3200 McMullen Booth Road. This presentation will cover a wide range of topics, including social networking sites, cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Handouts will be given to the parents including a parent/child Internet contract. A children’s presentation will also be provided and will cover a lot of the same things the parents learn but in a kid-friendly manner. Register by Sept. 18 by calling Barbara Kunath at (727) 686-3769 or email to BKSings@gmail.com

Calvary Church offers computer courses: Calvary Episcopal Church’s popular Tuesday evening computer classes will resume this fall beginning Oct. 13 and will run for four weeks. The Basic Computer and Internet courses are designed to be affordable at $15 per course. For details and registration, call the parish office at (727) 595-2374.

Evensong in Sarasota: The Church of the Redeemer’s monthly Evensong series begins after a summer hiatus on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 5:15 p.m., when the anthem will be “Te Lucis Ante Terminum (Evening Hymn),” by Balfour Gardiner; and Service in G Major by Herbert Howells. A wine and cheese reception will follow in Gillespie Hall. The Church of the Redeemer is located at 222 South Palm Ave. For more information call (941) 955-4263.

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.

Food for the Soul:

Romanian iconographer: Renowned iconographer and Romanian Orthodox nun, Sister Eliseea Papaciòc, will be at the Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota on Sunday, Sept. 27, to share and discuss the work of her lifetime: religious icons. Papaciòc will discuss and exhibit her work at 3 p.m. An abbreviated presentation will take place the same day during Redeemer’s morning Adult Forum, which starts at approximately 10:15 a.m. Both presentations will be held in Redeemer’s Gillespie Hall located at 222 South Palm Ave., in downtown Sarasota. Some of Papaciòc’s icons will available for purchase before and after both presentations.
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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.

Mark your Calendars:

Canterbury Faire: The Church of the Good Shepherd, 401 W. Henry St. in Punta Gorda is having its second annual Canterbury Faire Nov. 7-8. Venders and crafters are wanted. The faire has a medieval theme with many events, games and rides for the entire family. Admission and parking is free. Food and beverages will be available as well as medieval entertainment. For more details, call Loretta Dunn at (941) 505-5592.

New date for New Beginnings: The weekend retreat for middle schoolers in grades 6-8 has been moved to Oct. 23-25. Learn more at www.episcopalswfl.org/youth_ministry

People Notes:

Please pray for the repose of the soul of The Rev. Marshall Ellis, who died Aug. 26. Ellis assisted at St. Alfred’s in Palm Harbor and at Church of the Holy Spirit in Safety Harbor. His widow, Mary, is doing well, but needs the assistance of family in order to plan services. No other information is available.

The Rev. Alan Kelmereit, vicar of Good Shepherd, LaBelle, has been named the new dean of the Fort Myers Deanery, filling the unexpired term of The Rev. Ann McLemore, until 2010.

The Very Rev. Richard Doscher, rector of St. Alfred’s in Palm Harbor, is retiring as dean of the Clearwater Deanery effective Sept.1. A replacement will be named soon.

The Rev. Christopher Gray of St. Mark’s, Venice, has been appointed chair of the Stewardship Committee, effective immediately.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Brian Eby, the former guest services director at DaySpring Conference Center, who died Aug. 26. A memorial service will be held Thursday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m. at the Palmetto Church of God, 608 3rd Ave W, in Palmetto.