THIS NEW LIFE

THIS NEW

Life BY THE REV. CANON DR. THOMAS WILLIAMS

Some time in the early morning, when no one is around, when everything is quiet, the Lord of Life returns from death. No one is expecting this—they should have been, because he told them, again and again, but they weren’t—so no one is there. No one sees the first moment of that new life. Scripture doesn’t describe the moment; doesn’t tell us exactly how or when the Prince of Life began his immortal reign. unobserved. The new life begins quietly, secretly, 28

The new life is secret; the shame and humiliation were all too public. Everyone knew. Everyone had heard. The arrest and trial, worst of all the crucifixion—just outside the city, where thousands of people, locals, pilgrims in town for the festival, saw, and wondered, and looked at that man—that man in particular, though there were three in all, because Pilate’s ridiculous inscription guaranteed that all eyes were on the one in the middle, that they all jeered at him, mocked him, knew beyond all doubt that he was abandoned by God and accursed under the law.

Why, when the shame is so public, does the new life begin in secret?

It does not stay secret for long. The women go to the tomb and find it empty, and though they do not yet see Jesus, they do receive the news, which they promptly take back to the apostles, who don’t believe them. The words seemed to them an idle tale. We’ve all seen the horrors, and now you tell us that something entirely new has happened? New life doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t work that way. But it does. The shame and humiliation are there for everyone to see, but the new life begins in secret.

Everyone—or at least so it seems—everyone knows that horrible thing you did. Everyone knows the wreck you made of that relationship. The embarrassment, the humiliation, the shame, of whatever it was we have done, of whatever it was that was done to us, is public knowledge. The illness is witnessed by doctors and nurses and techs and visitors and heaven knows who else. The brutality of life is all too well known.

But the new life begins in secret. Somewhere in the halflight, when no one else sees it, you awake to the assurance that you are forgiven. One day it dawns on you that you are reconciled, the old enmity is crushed, the old barriers are torn down, the stone has been rolled away and you are walking out of the tomb. Quietly you turn the corner, and the illness that seemed a harbinger of death is revealed— though no one sees it yet but you—it is revealed as the beginning of a new life.

The new life begins in secret. But it doesn’t stay a secret for long. They will see Jesus. And he will be strangely transformed, still himself—more himself than he had ever been before—yet not even recognizable at first, not until he calls Mary’s name, not until he shows Thomas that the shame and humiliation have left their marks even on the new life, though now they are all for glory.

I know these words can seem like an idle tale. When the shame and humiliation are so public, how can there be new life? And even if there was, just that once, new life, what does that have to do with us?

Paul tells us that if we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. This story is not just a hopeful metaphor; it is the efficacious promise of new life. All the resurrections, all the quiet, unheralded departures from the empty tombs of death and sin and pain and humiliation are made possible, are made gloriously real, by what God in Christ did in the quiet half-light of that Easter morning.

it—to come down into the mess and mud and shame and humiliation of our lives, to take it all upon himself, and let us do our worst to him—do it where everyone could see it and know it and jeer at him. “Evil,” as one theologian said, “cannot be annihilated by the waving of a magic wand; it has to be met, suffered, and redeemed.” It is in our own nature—our nature, so ruined, but so loved by God—that evil is met, suffered, and redeemed, publicly, for all to see. And it is in our own nature that the new life, too, comes to be, quietly, secretly.

But it won’t stay a secret for long. People who have come back from the dead have a way of attracting attention.

EVERYONE—or at least so it seems—everyone knows that horrible thing you did. Everyone knows the wreck you made of that relationship. The embarrassment, the humiliation, the shame, of whatever it was we have done, of whatever it was that was done to us, is public knowledge. The illness is witnessed by doctors and nurses and techs and visitors and heaven knows who else. The brutality of life is all too well known. But the new life begins in secret. Somewhere in the half-light, when no one else sees it, you awake to the assurance that you are forgiven.

The Rev. Canon Dr. Thomas Williams is a professor of philosophy at the University of South Florida. He is Canon Theologian and Precentor at the Cathedral Church of St Peter in St Petersburg. From December 2008 through August 2014, he served as an assisting priest at St Mark's Episcopal Church in Tampa. He preached a version of this at the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral. ABOUT THE AUTHOR 30 A Memphis native, his academic specialty is medieval Christian thought, particularly St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) and John Duns Scotus (1265/66- 1308). He is also a musician, and sings in the Chamber Choir at the Cathedral in St Petersburg. He received his BA in philosophy from Vanderbilt and his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. While at the University of Iowa, he was ordained at Trinity, Iowa City, in 2008. He joined the faculty at USF in 2005, spending my first year as Alvin Plantinga Fellow at the Center for Philosophy of Religion at Notre Dame and then moving to Tampa in 2006. addition to serving at St Mark's, Tampa, and the Cathedral, among other churches, he has served as clergy fellow at St Paul's, K Street, Washington, D.C.

In Memoriam

"For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." -Psalm 48:14

The Rev. Canon Millard F. Neal, 1929-2019

CLEARWATER - The Rev. Canon Millard Fillmore Neal Jr., who served as priest at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and other diocese parishes, died Monday, Oct. 21, 2019. Canon Neal was raised up for ordination by St. Peter’s: although he served at a number of other parishes, he was ultimately called to St. Peter’s in May 1999 “to help out for three months, and I just never left,” he said in December 2005, when he was making one of several attempts to retire. He served twice as priestin-charge and once as vicar of the Cathedral when they were between settled deans.

Born July 26, 1929 in Philadelphia, he held a 1950 bachelor’s degree in education from Bethune-Cookman University and a 1973 masters of divinity from Colorado’s Illiff School of Theology. At the time of his ordination in 1988, he had retired from the Department of Energy, and was employed by Honeywell. He began his career with the Department of Commerce in 1951, and served four years in the U.S. Air Force in Japan and Korea, later serving as an instructor of guided missiles at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver and as a microwave multiplex instructor at Fort Monmouth, N.J. Beginning in 1958, he worked for the Defense Department, and wrote over eight books for Navy use. In the 1970s, he was an EEO specialist with the Department of the Interior in Denver. One of his proudest days was August 28, 1963 – the triumphant “March on Washington” where he was the coordinator for the Episcopal priests that came from across the country. Millard was also involved with the Poor Peoples’ March in D.C. in May of 1968. He was ordained to the diaconate Saturday, June 11, 1988 and priesthood on Feb. 17, 1989. He married his second wife, Dr. Gladys Jamieson Neal, on Oct. 31, 1990. He served other churches in the diocese including as an interim priest at St. John’s Clearwater; associate at St. Giles, Pinellas Park; and associate pastor at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Tampa from 1990-95.

Neal is survived and will be dearly missed by his loving companion of 12 years, Carol Nelson of St. Petersburg; his daughter, D’Andrea B. Neal of Aurora, CO; daughter-in-law, Susan Neal; seven grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Dr. Gladys ( Jamieson) Neal; his son, Randall; his daughter, Nadine; and his 6 siblings, James, Mary, Eloise, Vernell, Bernice, and Calyvia.

The Rev. Edwin Montague Walker, 1933-2019

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Rev. Edwin Montague Walker, 86, a retired Diocese of Southwest Florida priest who served at St. David, Englewood, died peacefully on Monday, November 11, 2019. The Rev. Walker was born in Yonkers, New York on April 24, 1933, the son of Gladys May Vail and Harold Mitchell Walker.

He was ordained a priest in the Protestant Episcopal Church after receiving a Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. He served at St. David's Episcopal Church in Roland Park, MD, before becoming a missionary to Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia.

After six years in South America, he returned to the United States and earned his Master of Arts degree in sociology and taught at Vanderbilt University. Additionally, he taught sociology at the College of Charleston and served at Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant; St. Michael's, Charleston; St. Mark's, Charleston and on the National Episcopal Cursillo Committee, before being called to St. David's, Englewood, where he served from 1991-99. He kept up with work of St. David's in his retirement in South Carolina, and in recent months eagerly followed new evangelism programs at the parish.

Church Cookbook Love

BRUNCH CRUNCH! Go green this Easter with some fresh sides for your holiday breakfast, brunch or luncheon. by Shannon Weber, Managing Editor

Spring is upon is, and with it comes an onslaught of freshness just in time for what I think of as brunch season. Winter is mostly behind us, but we're not yet in the heat and humidity of summer, which means we may want to linger around a table a little longer - in sun-filled dining rooms or al fresco around the pool - and enjoy each other's company.

I like the spring holidays becuase menus aren't as boxed in by tradition as other holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving tend to be. You can do what you want (except for maybe the main course), and you have the world at your feet in terms of seasonal fruits and vegetables. If you're looking for some brunch inspiration, look no further than your church cookbooks: most of them are filled with salad and side dish offerings; some classic, some you haven't tried before. For this issue, I pulled some of my own favorites guaranteed to sit happliy alongside any holiday ham, lamb, or salmon, from cookbooks around the diocese. Whether it's an Easter feast or a simple weekend at home, I hope you enjoy your time with family and friends this spring.

SALADE A LA GREQUE by Gail Pilibosian from Angelic Fare | St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel Serves | 4 |

I love anchovies, but not everyone is a fan of eating them whole. If you're serving a crowd, try mashing your anchovies in with your vinegar and olive oil to make a vinaigrette; you'll get all of the flavor and none of the squeamishness.

1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed 1 head Boston or Romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces 12 black Kalamata olives 8 radishes, cut into roses (or sliced thinly in rounds) 8 tomato wedges 8 anchovy fillets ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled few grindings of pepper ½ tsp Leaf oregano, crumbled 1 Tbsp parsley, chopped 2 Tbsp lemon juice or wine vinegar 8 Tbsp olive oil

RAMEN NOODLE SALAD By Audrey Terry from Let Us Keep the Feast, Alleluia! | St. Hilary's Episcopal Church Women, Ft. Myers

Serves | 4 to 6 |

If you're looking to save a little in the calories department (or you're not fond of frying), you can dry-fry your ingredients: simply toast sunflower seeds, ramen noodles, and almonds in a pan until fragrant and golden, then transfer to a plate to cool. or the salad: 1 large spear of broccoli, cut up 1 head Romaine lettuce, cut up 5 T. green onion, chopped up ¾ c. olive oil (or less) ½ c. sunflower seeds 3 pkgs. ramen noodles ¾ c. slivered almonds for the dressing: 1 c. salad oil 1 c. sugar (or less) ½ c. vinegar 3 tsp soy sauce ½ tsp salt

| Preparation | In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients together until combined; set aside.

Toss broccoli, lettuce, and onions together in large bowl. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat; add oil and saute sunflower seeds, noodles and almonds in olive oil until goldenbrown, stirring frequently. Remove from oil and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to remove excess oil (or dry fry; see note above.) Once noodle mixture is cool, add to broccoli, lettuce, and green onions. Shake dressing well and pour over salad just before serving.

Serves | 6 to 8 |

It's hard to not like a macaroni salad: it's fresh, light, and goes with everything; give it a little color and flavor boost by using both red and green peppers. I like this better when it sits in the dressing for a few hours to get the flavors incorporated; if you pre-mix, remember to re-toss again just before serving to coat everything with dressing.

¾ cup mayonnaise 1 Tbsp mustard 1 tsp salt 8 oz elbow macaroni, cooked and drained 1 cup red or green pepper (or both), diced 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp granulated sugar ¼ tsp pepper 1 cup sliced celery ¼ red onion, chopped

| Preparation | In a large bowl combine mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper. Add macaroni, celery, green pepper and onion; toss to coat well. Cover; chill until ready to serve.

HERB SCRAMBLE from Cooking for a Healthy Church Members of the Episcopal Church Medical Trust

Serves | 2 |

Scrambles are my go-to for breakfast when company is in town, and I love adding this effortlessly glamorous version to my brunch offerings; herbs and eggs are a perfect spring pairing. Scale the recipe up to match the number at your table and serve in a large, shallow bowl.

4 large eggs 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 2 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped 1 teaspoon chives, finely chopped 1 teaspoon parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon avocado, diced

| Preparation | Break eggs into a bowl; whisk with a fork until combined. Heat oil in a mediumsized pan over medium heat. Add eggs, and stir frequently with a spatula until done. Transfer to a serving plate and top with basil, chives, and parsley, and avocado; season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Easter Event

For the 46th consecutive year this Good Friday, youth of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter will lead the Way of the Cross through the streets of downtown St. Petersburg.

The 7:30 a.m. April 10 walk re-enacts the last few hours of Jesus’ life as told in the New Testament, his arrest, his trial, his crucifixion. The Passion Play always includes a full cast, including Roman soldiers, two thieves, and Jesus, who carries and must stand against the cross.

The tradition dates back to the 1960’s, with a Passion Play in Lake Wales. Longtime Cathedral members Virginia Rowell and Eric Lang Peterson recall that sometime in the late 1960s, Cathedral youth traveled to Lake Wales to see the Black Hills Passion Play, which was brought from South Dakota, under the direction of Josef Meier, during the winter months beginning in 1953. That play was the inspiration for the Way of the Cross.

The original Black Hills play was a fixture for tourists visiting Mount Rushmore. The Lake Wales play ended its run in 1998, with the South Dakota version coming to an end a decade later: the Cathedral play, however, survives with the help of volunteers and clergy.

The Cathedral dean the Very Rev. Leroy D. Lawson, those young people, their Sunday School teachers, and the clergy created this current version of Way of the Cross beginning in 1974. Peterson remembers that the original cross carried on the walk was made from two trees that teens brought back from a retreat cabin in Inverness owned by parishioners John and Carol Ellis.

The route is the same each year. The group stand at the foot of the steps of the county courthouse as Jesus is tried. They walk through dirty alleys, as Jesus struggles to carry his cross. They stop on street corners, where an exhausted Jesus falls. They then witness the crucifixion in the Cathedral Memorial Garden. The walk finishes in the Cathedral, where a stricken Mary cradles the broken body of her son.

The Way of the Cross begins at 7:30 a.m., when the community gathers on the sidewalk on Second Avenue North. The re-enactment draws adults who participated in the walk as children and youth at the Cathedral; members of other churches for whom this is part of their Holy Week discipline; and downtown workers who watch or wait or walk with us as they make their way through the streets. A DOWNTOWN EASTER TRADITION Photos from Way of Cross in downtown St. Petersburg. Top, passing Snell Arcade, and on courthouse steps in 2003. Left, gathered in 2018 across the street from the Cathedral. from Crosstown Cathedral Newsletter

Books SPRING IS IN FULL BLOOM WITH NEW TITLES

HID FROM OUR EYES BY JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING

The noble parish priest who solves crimes, often in a small town, is an enduring sub-genre of literature and television. Perhaps the best-known and pioneering is G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown. Father Brown marries Chesterton’s world-view to a popular medium, and became even more famous when the character was adapted for television. Since then there have been a handful, including television's Father Dowling (a priest played by Happy Days’ Tom Bosley, and a nun) and Cadfael, the monk sleuth (played by Derek Jacobi, he of I Claudius and The Crown) and the main character in a historical mystery series written by Edith Pargeter. And then there is James Runcie’s Grantchester mysteries, set in a Cambridge, England village, and a staple of PBS’ Masterpiece Theater.

What is the appeal about a person who works for the Lord, as a member of the clergy, and solves crimes, establishing order in the earthly world? Perhaps the priest has a greater understanding of human nature, and a willingness to engage the parishioners around them? Happily for us Episcopalians, many of these crime-solvers come from the Anglican tradition, including Grantchester. And in the United States, the priests are female. There are author Michelle Blake’s the Rev. Lily Connor mysteries, about an Episcopal priest in Boston, and author Cristina Summers’ mysteries, with crimesolver The Rev. Dr. Kathryn Koerney of St Margaret's Episcopal Church in Harton, New Jersey.

A new book in the genre this spring is Hid From Our Eyes, by Julia Spencer-Fleming. The new book includes the solving of a 1972 crime by Police Chief Russ van Alstyne, of the town Millers Kill, New York. He enlists the help of the Rev. Clare Fergusson, who is herself juggling the stress of being a new mother, and parish priest. At stake is not only St. Alban’s Church, where Fergusson leads, but the local police budget, and Fergusson’s sobriety. Minotaur, $27.99

SECULOSITY: MERCILESS AMERICAN CULTURE BY DAVID ZAHL

The anxiety Americans face in the family is tackled by David Zahl’s book Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It. Zahl is founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, and editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird online journal. He lives in Charlottesville, Va., where serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church. Fortress Press, $26.99

BECOMING REAL AND THRIVING IN MINISTRY BY SANDRA T. MONTES

If congregations were to look outside their doors, they may find that the people who need the Gospel don't look like them. The only way to engage them, then, is by having ministries that are real. Sandra T. Montes, who has worked in Episcopal churches for the last three decades, believes that churches grow in changing neighborhoods with this approach. Each chapter contains a study guide with Bible verses and reflections. The author also offers anecdotes and examples so other Episcopalians can try to emulate Jesus and bring them the Good News. Church Publishing, $16.95

The first great novelist of the United States, James Fennimore Cooper, was not just a literary figure. His daughter, Susan Fenimore Cooper was an environmental writer and historian. She eventually took up the cause of the Oneida Indians, one of the five nations of Iroquois that the English first encountered. The tale of this collaboration, which included Episcopal clergy, is detailed in The Wisconsin Oneidas and The Episcopal Church, which is edited by L. Gordon McLester, Laurence M. Hauptman, Ludy Cornelius-Hawk and Kenneth Hoyan House. The book is a unique collaboration by academic historians, Oneida elders, and Episcopal clergy, and tells the fascinating story of how the oldest Protestant mission and house of worship in the upper Midwest took root in the Oneida community. Indiana University Press, $35

A SPRING IN THE DESERT THE REV. FRANK LOGUE, VICTORIA LOGUE

In A Spring in the Desert: Rediscovering the Water of Life, the Rev. Frank and Victoria Logue lead a Lenten journey inspired by God in the desert. The Rev. Frank Logue, Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Georgia and bishop-elect, shares the ways that faith speaks to the barren places in our lives, and how those times of drought can be a source of strength. Forward Movement, $7

EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS FOR PARISHES NEW FOR 2020 School for Ministry releases video collection for congregational use

For the first time, the Diocese of Southwest Florida is offering our congregations an exciting opportunity to enhance their parish-based programs of adult Christian formation as part of our diocesan School for Ministry.

The School for Ministry, which meets at DaySpring and prepares ordinands for ministry, recently became a member of the Iona Collaborative, a cooperative project directed by the Seminary of the Southwest and currently including 29 Episcopal dioceses throughout the country. The Iona Collaborative allows us to provide high-quality theological education for the formation of priests and deacons in our local diocesan setting.

The Iona Collaborative has a new video collection available to parishes at no cost across the diocese. This collection is a teaching tool that can be used for Christian formation in congregational settings. Designed for small groups, these videos are ideal for a Sunday morning education hour or a Wednesday night study. Most videos include corresponding questions which can be downloaded and used to guide reflection and conversation.

The videos cover a variety of topics, ranging from Biblical Studies, Spirituality and Prayer to Anglicanism, Worship, and Church Leadership. New videos and supplementary materials are being added all the time.

We encourage you to view the video collection at iona.ssw.edu/about-videocollection, using our diocesan password, Southwest Florida. You are free to use the videos in whatever way supports your program of adult Christian formation. All we ask is that you let us know how you have used them and how helpful they are.

INTERESTED?

TOPICS INCLUDE:

BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY AND HISTORY HOW THE GOSPELS CAME TO BE INTERESTING CHARACTERS FROM HEBREW SCRIPTURE ABUNDANT LIFE: MEDIEVAL CHURCH: JULIAN OF NORWICH ABUNDANT LIFE: 20TH CENTURY: C.S. LEWIS THE MASCULINE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THE FEMININE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY WHAT DOES LITURGY DO? ANGLICAN IDENTITY

If you have questions about the congregational videos or want to provide feedback, contact Archdeacon Kathleen Moore, the Dean of the School for Ministry, at kmoore@episcopalswfl.org or 813-785-9400.

Episcopal Relief VOLUNTEER CLOSE TO HOME Looking to devote some time in service to others? Look no further than your own parish.

Ellen Lightner of All Saints Episcopal Church in Tarpon Springs has answered God’s call nationally to become the diocesan representative to Episcopal Relief and Development while continuing to serve her home congregation, following in the footsteps of Maureen Belote of Good Shepherd Dunedin and the late Jody Tiffany of Trinity-by-the-Cove, Naples. Lightner began serving in her position last summer, where she has already helped congregations facilitate successful fundraisers, inspired priests at the Diocesan Convention to appoint ministry partners in their own congregations, and built a database and mentoring system to help support individual parish representatives, officially called congregational ministry partners. Q: What made you decide to become a ministry partner? Lightner: The truth is it was a God thing. I was at Diocesan Convention and had walked away from my responsibilities to catch my breath after lunch when I met Maureen Belote, the diocesan ministry partner who was manning the Episcopal Relief & Development booth. I asked her what it was all about and asked how I could help. We had a good conversation, and I shared my experiences and background with her. I later realized that she was talking me into the position so that she could retire! But I am happy she did. My heart is and always has been in evangelism and outreach. What better way to get both of these passions involved than to be working with Episcopal Relief and Development? keep a log of every parish and the date and details of my last contact with them. Q: Do you have any tips on organization, communication and mentoring Congregational ministry partners that work well for you? Lightner: My plan with the Bishop is to try to recruit a congregational ministry partner in every church, school, and mission in the diocese and then to give them the tools, training, and personal support to help them serve well in their ministries. I encourage team partners if that is something that would work best. For example, in an Episcopal high school I suggested that the clergy or student council appoint a junior and senior to serve as congregational ministry COLLECTING CONTACT INFORMATION

IS ESSENTIAL. IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO JUST “KNOW” IT IN YOUR HEAD. MENTOR PEOPLE WHO MAY SOMEDAY

WANT TO SERVE WHERE YOU SERVE. PREPARE THE WAY FOR THEM SO THAT THEIR JOURNEY IS A CONTINUATION OF YOUR INVESTMENT.

Q: What are some of the aspects to your position?

Lightner: At convention, I handed out a brochure I created with information on the Million Dollar Match giving program. With the ministry partner job description on the back and information about how to get involved, I handed them out to every clergy person that I talked to. Then, I asked them to pray about appointing someone. I was able to recruit about six new congregational ministry partners using this method. This year, I plan to start holding monthly virtual meetings or conference calls with my congregational ministry partners. These calls will be open to any partner, clergy, or community person who wants to know more about Episcopal Relief & Development. I also

Faith Peterson (left) helped organize a fund-raiser for the Abacos for Episcopal Relief at Lakewood Ranch with Ellen Lightner (center), and Shellie Szeezil (right.)The event, held at Tara Golf & Country Club, raised over $15,000 for Episcopal Relief, which was matched by a donor in a nationwide challenge. In 2019, the Diocese of Southwest Florida has raised $76,804 for Episcopal Relief.

partners for one year. The next year, the junior will be a senior and a new junior will be appointed and mentored by the senior. This makes the process sustainable and, hopefully, we will always have two to team together. I also think we need to be communicating as often as we can with the congregation representative to keep them excited and motivated. This is why I believe the virtual meetings or conference calls will be beneficial.

Collecting contact information is essential. It is not enough for you to just “know” it in your head. Mentor people who may someday want to serve where you serve. Prepare the way for them so that their journey is a continuation of your investment. Communicate all of the information to your regional/national level as well as your diocesan level.

Q: What makes a good volunteer for Episcopal Relief?

Lightner: I believe God calls us to a ministry. I ask people to pray about how God is calling them to serve and where they feel passion in their hearts. Ministry without passion, ministry without dedicated workers, does not thrive. It is so important to have passionate partners in place. They are the voice of those who so desperately need the programs and resources that this organization provides.

Q: What advice would you give to a new ministry partner?

Lightner: It can be very easy to be overwhelmed in the beginning. There are so many facets of the organization, so many needs in the world, so much to be done. We must not focus on the enormity of the job that needs to be done, but on how our small contributions can help fill the bigger void if we all work together. We cannot think our $500 won’t make that much difference – added together with other donations, it begins to fill big needs. It is so important to communicate with your fellow representatives as often as you can to find support and encouragement: sharing your successes will encourage others who may be faltering in their attempts to get started. So, make friends with other ministry partners and share every success.

INTERESTED?

Ellen Lightner began offering open Zoom conference calls in February 2020 to help educate and encourage those who have answered the call to assist Episcopal Relief & Development in the Diocese of Southwest Florida. These calls are open to any lay person, clergy, or community person interested in getting the latest information about what Episcopal Relief & Development is doing in your communities and the world. She will share resources and allow time for others to share how they are raising awareness and funds within their own congregations. To join, contact Ellen Lightner at elightneri1@gmail.com

Briefly ISLAND DESIGNS INSPIRE WINDOWS

SANIBEL – St. Michael and All Angels celebrated the multi-decade completion of a set of stained glass windows with the publication of a guidebook. Many of the stained glass windows were designed by parishioner Freda Iurka and executed by Daniel Kimple, who lives on the island, through Kelleher’s Stained Glass & Mirror Company.

Unique windows included a dragon, killed by St. George; St. Michael the archangel; and images of local fish and fowl, including an egret, seagull, and pelican and a trio of red legged stilts. The booklet also included the photo of a window dedicated to the Rev. Ellen Sloan, who led the parish from 2009-19.

Briefly A NEW BELL IN FT. MYERS BEACH, MINISTRY CENTER

FT. MYERS BEACH - St. Raphael’s has a new addition. A 50-pound cast iron bell, over 100 years old, now sits at the entrance to the Williams Street chapel. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, such bells were used for communication between farms, to call in field hands for dinner, and to sound alarms. They became obsolete by 1910 once tractors came into use.

Donated to St. Raphael’s by members Peter and Delores Heyd (pictured above), the bell was originally purchased in the 1960’s by Delore’s father, Woody

AROUND THE DIOCESE

VIGIL REMEMBERS HOMELESS IN LEE COUNTY

FT. MYERS – Locals stood in front of the steps of the old Lee County Courthouse on Main Street holding candles and umbrellas to pray and bring awareness to the 23 people in Lee County who died homeless in 2019. The Rev. Christian Maxfield of All Souls led the vigil, along with Maxfield's wife Kate Hahn. Mounted in front of their western North Carolina family home for almost 60 years and rung mostly on special occasions, it is near and dear to Delores, as was her father, a wonderfully generous man.

Having journeyed 800 miles to Fort Myers Beach, the bell is rung five minutes before and directly after the 10 am service each Sunday.

The St. Raphaels' community thanks Peter and Delores Heyd for donating such a blessed and extraordinary gift.

and children Colin and Hannah. "We have a connection to some of these names from the church," Mrs. Maxfield said.

150 YEARS AHEAD

TAMPA - St. Andrew’s Church meets this February to plan their 150-year celebration, and are looking for volunteers to serve on a variety of committees including history, music, communications and the planning of the anniversary banquet in 2021.

SARASOTA - On Sunday, Dec. 8, the Church of the Redeemer celebrated the opening of their new Robinson Ministry Center, which was blessed and dedicated to the glory of God by Bishop Dabney Smith. The $7 million project included new classrooms, offices and a rooftop parish lecture and exhibition room, Goewy Hall.

Top: Bishop Smith with Christina Brush, and Andrew Agren. Bottom: Caroline Devitt waves, along with the Rev. Fred Robinson and Bishop Smith.

MOVES AROUND THE DIOCESE Transitions

PLANT CITY - The Rev. Alissa Goudswaard Anderson has been called as the next rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City. Alissa and her family—husband Josh Anderson and son August (“Gus”)—moved at the end of February from Larchmont, New York, where she has served as curate and associate rector at St. John’s Church for nearly three years. Her first Sunday at St. Peter’s is March 8, 2020. THE REV. ALISSA GOUDSWAARD

ANDERSON AT ST. PETER’S PLANT CITY

A native of West Michigan, Alissa earned her BA in English at Calvin College (now University), then her MA in Rhetoric and Composition at Purdue University. While living in Indiana, she joined St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette, which became her church home and subsequently sponsored her for ordination.

In 2014, Alissa married Josh Anderson, and they moved to New York for Alissa to attend the General Theological Seminary. While living in New York, Josh began working at the Episcopal Church Foundation—work that has taken him to the Diocese of Southwest Florida on several occasions. After moving to Larchmont, N.Y., Josh and Alissa welcomed Gus into their family. Now a funny, sweet, and energetic 1.5-year-old, Gus continues to delight. Alissa and her family are excited to make the move to Plant City and begin this chapter of their lives and Alissa’s ministry.

St. Peter’s dates from 1902, when the Rev. J.H. Weddell founded St Peter’s as a mission of Trinity Church, Thonotosassa.

THE REV. DANIEL LEMLEY AT HOLY TRINITY COUNTRYSIDE

CLEARWATER - The Rev. Daniel Lemley, pictured below, joined Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Countryside on February 9 as their rector elect. Before his call to ordained ministry, he was the youth director at Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church, Valrico. He has served at Church of the Ascension, Clearwater, where he was assistant to the rector, the Rev. John Hiers. He was ordained as a priest in 2016, following his graduation from Virginia Theological Seminary.

He and his wife Sara have one daughter, Caroline.

The energy was palpable as the people of Holy Trinity welcomed their new rector with great anticipation and open arms. There is a renewed Spirit and fire at Holy Trinity—one that Fr. Daniel is looking forward to stepping into with joy and optimism. Daniel’s past work with youth and his skill in technology will bring added gifts to the parish. In his first sermon he made it known that “We’re in this together and let’s see where the Lord is calling us as a community to reach out beyond these walls.”

GREG RANDALL, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH PROGRAMMING,

DEPARTS FOR VIRGINIA

PARRISH - Greg Randall, Director of Youth Ministry and Programming, will move to Virginia after the completion of DaySpring Summer Camp 2020. After much discernment, Greg has decided to pursue a long-standing desire to study science, medicine and healthcare. “He is passionate about serving God and the church as a healthcare professional and catalyst for social justice and healing,” said Bishop Dabney Smith, in a letter to the diocese. “I am grateful for Greg’s insight and passion for youth ministry, and his contribution toward growing our diocesan youth programs and DaySpring's presence in the community. The number of camp participants has grown 25 percent over the last three years under Greg’s leadership. With Catalina, Charlie and Ollie, the entire Randall family has held a special place in the heart of our diocesan community, especially when we gather at DaySpring.”

L G N I O O K

Photos, top to bottom: Early footings being laid at the site; a rendering of the current St. John’s as it was designed. Unlike so many sketches, the as-built church actually resembles the architects’ rendering; a news clipping of parish organizers from The Naples News.

This spring, St. John’s Episcopal Church marks their 50th Anniversary with a celebration and service with Bishop Smith on March 22nd. The parish, a church plant from Trinity-by-the-Cove, is located in the Park Shore neighborhood, north of downtown. The first worship service was held on Sunday, April 26, 1970 in a local bank, with the completed building dedicated in November 1972.

BACK We rejoice with St. John's Episcopal Church in Naples this month as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. The building’s architect is the late Walter Keller (1931-2001), one of the most renowned and influential architects in Naples. He helped bring to life much of the design of Naples itself, from offices on Third Street to dozens of other residential and commercial designs, including The Village on Venetian Bay. The design married aspects of New Formalism, a modern style that was symmetrical and included arches, with traditional Mediterranean materials, such as a Spanish tile roof.

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The Rev. Lisa Parker was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Dec. 7 at St. Margaret of Scotland, Sarasota. She has been a parishioner of St. Margaret of Scotland in Sarasota for the last nine years, serving on the vestry, altar guild and stewardship team. In her lay profession, she owns an insurance agency specializing in group benefits for small employers.