Parish Profile

from 2021 Christmas Southern Cross

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TRANSFORMING LIVES, TRANSFORMING THE WORLD

Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church, Valrico

by Lindsey Nickel

For more than 60 years, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church has lived their mission of “Transforming Lives, Transforming The World!” The church has grown from 30 parishioners in 1957 to just over 500 in 2021. Beyond a robust service schedule available for both in-person and online worship, Holy Innocents' lives the gospel with a variety of programs that serve the community at large. Each month Holy Innocents’ serves 900 meals to those in need in the surrounding area, including Dover migrant workers and Meals on Wheels through their TLC Feeding Ministry. Close to 50 volunteers support each feeding, and prayers are offered to families at each feeding along with prayer cards. “While some of the meals we pack go to Meals on Wheels, the large majority goes to the TLC Feeding Ministry and San Jose Mission in Dover. TLC is not only a way to provide food to those who are hungry, but to also provide spiritual strength through prayer and ministry,” said Ray Lingrel, volunteer. “Not only are we feeding their bellies, we’re also feeding their spiritual souls through prayer with whomever wishes to receive it.”

The church is also home to a local organization, kidsPACK, that provide meals to students over the weekends for families who live in high poverty areas. Every Tuesday, the organization meets to pack the meals for distribution later in the week. Through the support of Holy Innocents’, kidsPACK delivered 2,481 meals to Dover Elementary

School between September 2020 thru May 2021, taking 389 volunteer man hours to complete this mission. “Holy Innocents’ is a faith community that intentionally chooses to reach out to a hurting world by trusting God and going beyond the comfortable place," said The Rev. Bryan O’Carroll. “Empowered by the Holy Spirit we are picking up our cross and following Jesus.” With a focus to engage parishioners at every age, Holy Innocents’ builds programming with an intergenerational approach, striving to involve "Intergenerational worship brings all of all members in the same God's people to worship together, so rather worship and fellowship than watching our children get escorted to opportunities. Sunday School during church, we get the Children stay in church with their families privilege of witnessing our children become a during service, they receive Christian before our very eyes." a Children’s message during the lectionary, and several adults in the congregation work to support and assist parents throughout the service. They also have what they refer to as “The Sunshine Room,” which is a resource room off the chapel that parents and children can utilize throughout the service. On Wednesday evenings they host a fellowship night, which typically includes music, a potluck meal, and a study that focuses on three age groups – adults, teens, and children - all centered around the same theme or reading. “Intergenerational worship brings all of God's people to worship together, so rather than watching our children get escorted to Sunday School during church, we get the privilege of witnessing our children become a Christian before

Families worship together in intergenerational worship at our very eyes,” said Lauren 14 Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church.

Rosario, Holy Innocents’ parishioner. “As a parent and a member of the church, there is nothing more special than watching this transformation.”

The Youth Group program consists of around 20 teenagers, grades 6th-12th, and meets on Sunday evenings. Within the group, they have formed a Youth Advisory Board, consisting of youth and adults from the congregation. They meet quarterly to discuss the budget of the youth program, plan events and monthly study topics, and arrange fundraisers for mission work. It is strictly youth-led, with the adults being there for support. The youth do monthly outreach projects in our area, winter mission days in the local area, and one traveling mission trip in the summer.

“The youth program at Holy Innocents’ has provided tremendous support for our 14-year-old daughter,” said Jackie Hagman, youth parent. “Holy Innocents’ youth group created an environment where she physically felt safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. H.I. Youth allowed her the opportunity to develop relationships with other youth during a time when COVID-19 restricted so much. This program has brought so much peace and gratitude to my family, even with the busyness of this world, we know that this H.I Youth will help her grow into an adult with a heart for God and others. Ms. Morgan, the H.I. youth leader is a Rockstar! She has created an environment for the children to grow and learn about the love of God and how that looks and translates into the world today.”

Other ways Holy Innocents' engage the surrounding community is through annual events. The church hosts a Vacation Bible School every summer, a Trunk-or-Treat every October, and a craft show every November. In addition, they have several partnerships with other churches and organizations, including Scouts, Church of South India, and Church of the Nazarene.

“I am greatly blessed and humbled to be serving alongside God’s faithful people here at Holy Innocents’. There is no greater joy than being a part of a church that continually strives to be The Church to a world in need of the unconditional love of Jesus,” said The Rev. Bryan O’Carroll.