Welcome

Welcome to Convention Online

Dear Friends,

Welcome —virtually — to the 52nd Annual Convention of the Diocese L o v e Y o u r N e i g h b o r of Southwest Florida. It’s exciting to be holding an online convention this year. Yes, we will miss meeting and greeting each other at the conference center in Punta Gorda … learning and sharing N e i g h b o r S e e k t h e L o s t r L o v e Y o u S e e k T e L o s t information at our workshops … visiting the tables at the ministry fair … enjoying the now-legendary convention cupcakes at our late-afternoon break …and worshiping and working together at our opening Eucharist and our business meeting.

But we’ve worked hard to create an online convention experience that we think you’ll like: • We’ll be able to accomplish the work we need to do, including online voting that will be smoother and faster than pencil-and-paper voting. • We’re offering online workshops in the weeks leading up to convention. • We’ll still worship together, though at a distance, and we’ll have opportunities to see each other’s smiling faces at the business meeting. • And we’ve got some surprises for you at the business meeting to bring the spirit of a “together convention” to this distanced meeting.

Please see the details in the pages of this convention guIdebook.

I know you won’t miss me ringing my purple cowbell to bring you all together for the next activity or business session. And you’re on your own for cupcakes. I invite you to come to this creatively developed virtual gathering with the same enthusiasm and willingness to try new things that you bring to our gatherings in Punta Gorda. And I look forward to seeing you there next year.

Judy Stark Convention Program Chair Convention Calendar Wednesday, Sept. 2 7 p.m. Online Convocation via Zoom, for registered delegates Friday, Oct. 16 5 p.m. Online Worship with Bishop Dabney Smith Saturday, Oct. 17 9 a.m. Convention Business Session

Workshops Calendar

Wednesday, Sept. 9 7 p.m. Online Workshop: Deacons: Ministering at the Margins Wednesday, Sept. 23 7 p.m. Online Workshop: The Baptismal Covenant: Five Questions Wednesday, Sept. 30 7 p.m. Online Workshop: Healing in the Time of Trial Wednesday, Oct. 7 7 p.m. Online Workshop: Effect of COVID-19