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Clergy and church workers who have taken “Safeguarding God’s Children,” the program designed to help the church prevent sexual misconduct, at least five years ago will soon be able to take a refresher course on line. Read More
Diocesan Council has given the go-ahead for St. Andrew's, a 100-year-old mission congregation in Boca Grande, to attain parish status in October. Read More
Campers sail through summer

sailboat

Calvary Episcopal Church in Indian Rocks Beach recently finished its 8th season of basic sailing instruction and an introduction to dinghy racing with a class of 56 students in June. 

Many of the boats have been donated by local business and community groups including Moss Feaster Funeral Home (pictured), Indian Rocks Beach Rotary, Guppys Restaurant, and West Marine. Program instructors are all volunteers from Calvary Episcopal Church and Pinellas Suncoast Fire and Rescue. Thanks to the generosity of those volunteers and the participation of parents, sailing camp was once again made available at a cost of only $50.00 per student. A fall program will begin in September for graduates of the 2009 camp.

Bishop Dabney Smith ordained three people to the Sacred Order of Deacons and received two Roman Catholic priests into the Episcopal Church at a special service on Saturday, June 6, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Read More
Ruskin parish to open Second campus

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. The $2.5 million facility will have a sanctuary and nave, one meeting room and no classrooms at the present time, although there are plans to expand at a later date.

According to information from the vestry posted on the church’s website, the church has raised nearly a million dollars for the project and have enough funds pledged to pay the monthly mortgage.

The parish does not plan to increase staff right away. Services at the new campus will be at 8 and 11 a.m. with a 9 a.m. service in Ruskin.

The parish also plans an open house for the Sun City Center community in September.

For more information about the July 26 celebration or to RSVP, call the church office at (813) 645-1521 or by e-mail.

The Southern Cross

July/August 2009 issue

The July/August 2009 issue of The Southern Cross is available in Episcopal churches in Southwest Florida.

If you have news items, feature ideas or photos to share with the diocese, contact Jim DeLa, director of communications, at (941) 556-0315, ext. 268.
 

The Scoop

An e-mail newsletter, geared toward clergy, church administrators and lay leaders, is sent every other week to more than 1,000 people. To view an archive of newsletters, click here.

Deadlines

The Southern Cross:
The Southern Cross is the diocese's bimonthly newsmagazine. Upcoming deadlines are:


September/October: August 1
November/December: October 1
January/February 2010: December 1

The Scoop:
The Scoop is the bi-weekly e-mail newsletter for clergy and lay leaders. Send items of interest anytime to share with the diocesan community. To share an item or to be added to the distribution list, contact Jim DeLa.