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, Dec. 15.
The Scoop for December 1, 2009:
This just in…
Show them the money: The diocesan Grants and Loans Committee has announced the nine recipients of a total of $25,000 in grants, as approved by Diocesan Council at its meeting Nov. 21. Recipients’ ministries run the gamut from youth programs, to jail ministries to feeding the hungry. Follow this link to see the complete grant list: www.episcopalswfl.org/news
Diocesan web site now equipped for online donations: Giving to the Episcopal Charities Fund or the DaySpring Endowment Fund has never been easier. Simply go to www.episcopalswfl.org/donate_now and select which worthy cause you’d like to support this holiday season.
Get your new canons here: The latest version of the diocesan constitution and canons, with changes made at October’s convention, are now online and available to download at www.episcopalswfl.org/constitution_and_canons
Interested in videoconferencing? The diocese will soon be able to offer Internet videoconferencing to diocesan groups that have trouble getting all its members in one place for meetings. If your ministry or organization would be interested in using this service and would like to be trained in its use, please contact the Rev. Glad McCurtain at gmccurtain@stjohnsclearwater.org
Good Press:
We’ve gotten some attention in the local secular media recently. Have a look:
The Rev. Ernestein Flemister, the newly-installed rector at St. James House of Prayer, was interviewed for a segment on "Studio Ten" on WTSP-TV 10 in Tampa. View the video clip by following this link: www.studio10.tv/day/monday/segment.aspx/118076/Meet_Rev_Ernestein
The Rev. Chuck Mann of Church of the Nativity got a nice write-up in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Community page: www.heraldtribune.com/article/20091128/ARTICLE/911281013
Other News:
Youth director sought: St. Mark’s in Venice is looking for a full-time director for Youth and Family Ministries. Please contact and/or send a resume to the Rev. Jim Puryear or the Rev. Chris Gray at info@stmarksvenice.com or mail to St. Mark's, 513 Nassau St. South, Venice, FL 34285-2816.
ACS users can get year-end training: Parish administrators and bookkeepers who use ACS software can get some training on closing out the 2009 books on Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 509 East Twiggs St. in Tampa. The cost is $125 per person for “preferred clients” with a 20 percent multiperson discount. To register or learn more about courses being offered, please visit www.acstechnologies.com/training
Singers wanted: St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg will be performing “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on March 12 and 13. Rehearsals will start Jan. 9 at 10 a.m. at the church. All singers are invited but men are especially needed. Please contact Barbara Counts at (727) 864-6796.
Bilingual Altar Guild training: The diocesan Altar Guild is looking at the possibility of an English/Spanish workshop in January or February of 2010 in the Tampa area. Please contact Sarah Hill by Dec. 31 at sarah_hill@hotmail.com if you are interested in attending or assisting with training, particularly if you are fluent in Spanish.
UTO grant deadlines near: The 2010 UTO grant application forms are now available. Projects must focus particularly on implementing significant change toward alleviating profound human suffering that the Millennium Development Goals address, particularly those that directly affect women and children. Grants are for projects that will occur June 2010 through June 2011. Complete the application found at www.episcopalchurch.org/uto and send the original to: The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, Attn: Jan / UTO, 7313 Merchant Court, Sarasota, FL 34240. The deadline for receipt of applications is Dec. 31. For additional information contact Jan Nothum in the bishop’s office via e-mail at jnothum@episcopalswfl.org
Coming up:
Weekend event on the East Coast: An Advent spiritual weekend featuring Marcus J. Borg is scheduled Dec. 4-5 at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, 141 South County Rd. in Palm Beach. On Friday from 7-9 p.m. a lecture will be offered on different visions of Christianity in North America, including ways of seeing the Bible, the Christian tradition, the Christian life, and what it means to be Christian. Tickets are $30. On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Borg will discuss “Jesus: Then and Now,” telling the story of Jesus today, a historical-metaphorical approach to the study of Jesus. Tickets are $50, which include continental breakfast and lunch. For information and tickets, call the Rev. Lynne Jones at (561) 655-4555, ext. 19.
Craft Fair time: Holy Innocents Church in Valrico will be sponsoring the Whistle Stop Craft Show on Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 604 North Valrico Road. All proceeds will go toward outreach programs. A raffle for a Rachel's Guild handmade quilt will be held, tickets for other raffles will be available, and homemade baked goods and other food and drink may be purchased. For more information, phone Pat at (727) 365-2300 or the church office at (727) 689-3130, or check the website at www.hiepiscopal.org
Organ Virtuoso Returns to St. Catherine’s: On Dec. 6 at 4 p.m., the Concert Series at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church welcomes back Nathan Laube, a recent Curtis Institute of Music graduate and rising star among young organists. In 2005 he was the accompanist for the Philadelphia Choral Arts Society, and in 2006 became the assistant organist at the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church is located at 502 Druid Hills Rd. in Temple Terrace. The concert is free, however, a free-will offering will be taken to defray expenses.
Food for the Soul:
Advent events: Here are just a few of the special events planned this month:
The Church of the Redeemer, 222 S. Palm Ave., in downtown Sarasota, will offer its traditional midday Advent Organ Recitals each Wednesday, from 12:10 to 12:40 p.m. The recitals are traditionally performed by guest organists, and this year will feature local organists Linda Peterson on Dec. 2, Neil Page on Dec. 9, Barbara Roth Donaldson on Dec. 16, and Richard Benedum and Julane Rodgers playing together on Dec. 23. Visit www.redeemersarasota.org or call (941) 955-4263 for more information.
St. Mary’s in Bonita Springs hosts the 9th Annual Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 6, beginning at 4 p.m. The parish campus is at 9801 Bonita Beach Rd., midway between U.S. 41 and Interstate 75. For further information, please call (239) 992-4343 or visit www.stmarysbonita.org
St. Mark's, Marco Island presents the 6th Annual Service of Lessons and Carols with Choir and Chamber Orchestra on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. A wine and cheese reception sponsored by the ECW follows in the parish hall.
Can you spare a tabernacle? The Church of the Good Shepherd in LaBelle is in need of an ambry/tabernacle, if someone has one not in use. They could also use a thurible and boat. They will happily pay shipping or pick up the items. Contact the Very Rev Alan Kelmereit at goodshepherdlabelle@embarqmail.com, or call (863) 517-1110.
Mark your Calendars:
Dec. 12 – Fresh Start Meeting (Lay and Clergy): A program for congregations in transition. Theme: Conflict II: Conflict Management. Deepen your understanding of conflict and provide ideas and tools you can use in managing conflict effectively. Facilitated by the Fresh Start Facilitation Team. Begins at 9 a.m. at DaySpring Conference Center. Register on line by following this link http://www.episcopalswfl.org/article211837.htm or contact the Rev. Canon Michael Durning at (941) 556-0315, ext. 271.
Dec. 19 – 50th anniversary of ordination: The Rev. Donald Lillpopp will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a Eucharist and reception at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Spring Hill, beginning at 4 p.m.
Dec. 20 – Ordination to the diaconate: Eric Shane Cooter will be ordained as a transitional deacon at Lamb of God Church in Fort Myers. The service begins at 7 p.m.
Jan. 3, 2010 – Celebration of new ministry: The Rev. Dewey Brown Jr., will be installed at St. Mary's Church, Dade City. The service begins at 4 p.m.
Jan. 15 – Ordination to the priesthood: Deacon Sarah Kerr will be ordained at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg. The service begins at 7 p.m. A reception in the parish hall will follow.
Jan. 30 – Celebration of new ministry: The Rev. Dr. Ellen Sloan will be installed as rector of St. Michael and All Angels Church in Sanibel. The service begins at 10 a.m. Please RSVP to the church office (239-472-2173) if you plan to attend. Clergy should vest in red stoles.
Feb. 6 – Lincoln-Douglass Ball: The annual gala event, sponsored by St. James House of Prayer, will celebrate its 20th year on Feb. 6. Tickets for the fundraiser to help the church’s after-school program are $60. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m., and the promenade and dance beginning at 8 p.m. For tickets, contact Anna Valdes at (813) 876-0409; or Leila Mizer at (813) 961-9350.
Feb. 20 and 27 – Believe in a Miracle: An inspirational program of music, body prayer, healing, fun and fellowship for women of the diocese and their friends. Guest speaker at both events will be the Rev. Canon Michael Durning, the diocesan canon to the ordinary. Cost for the day is $15 and includes continental breakfast and a box lunch. Download a registration form by following this link: http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/371/2010BIAMRegistration.pdf The Registration deadline is Jan. 15. On both dates, breakfast begins at 8 a.m.; the program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Feb. 20, the program is hosted by Holy Trinity Church, 3200 McMullen Booth Rd., in Clearwater. On Feb. 27, the program is hosted by Church of the Good Shepherd, 401 W. Henry St. in Punta Gorda.
More calendar items can be found at www.episcopalswfl.org/upcoming_events
Tech Tip:
A collection of Advent resources, including readings, poems, reflections and music, from the Diocese of West Texas: http://www.dwtx.org/index.php/broader_church/Advent_Resources
An online Advent calendar from Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/news/features/2009-advent-calendar
An online Advent calendar from the Diocese of Washington: www.edow.org/advent
An online Advent calendar from the Diocese of Maryland: http://www.ang-md.org/
Brief video meditations delivered by Episcopal Divinity School president and dean Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, posted weekdays on the Episcopal Divinity School website, www.eds.edu To watch and listen, click on Advent Resources and Events.
People Notes:
The Rev. Canon Richard C. Doscher, Sr., rector of St. Alfred's, Palm Harbor, has been named Command Chaplain of the Florida Highway Patrol, Tampa District, which encompasses seven counties in the Tampa area.
The Rev. Ryan R. Whitley, assistant rector of St. Mark’s in Tampa, has accepted a call as rector of St. George's Episcopal Church in Ardmore, Pa. His first service in Pennsylvania will be Jan. 24.
