Welcome

Welcome to Convention

Dear Friends,

How wonderful to be together again!

I know you are as excited as I am at the prospect of seeing each other, greeting old friends, and making new ones as we assemble for our first in-person diocesan convention since 2019.

Zoom has been a godsend these last two years in enabling us to do our work and stay in touch, but there is nothing like face-to-face, personto-person contact. This is where friendship, networking, faith-sharing and relationshipbuilding come together — what we’re all about as a worshiping community.

It will be especially sweet to enjoy a meal or a snack together — yes, the cupcake party returns on Friday afternoon. We’ll raise our voices together in hymns and prayers at our opening worship. I hope you’ll take time to visit the Ministry Fair in the concourse to meet leaders from around the diocese and learn about what they’re doing. And we’ve put together a lineup of workshops with expert presenters to address timely topics and celebrate excellent work being done around our diocese.

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions on Page 17, where we respond to some of the questions you often raise. Your comments and questions in the past have helped us to refine what we do to make convention more responsive to your needs. Please keep asking!

I’ll be back, ringing my purple cowbell to gather you into the next session. (You know you’ve missed that sound the last two years!) I look forward to seeing every one of you.

Judy Stark Convention Program Chair

4 THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE

Schedule Highlights

Thursday, Oct. 13

1-3 p.m. Standing Committee 3-5 p.m. Diocesan Council 1-5 p.m. Setup for ministry fair, worship, speakers

Friday, Oct. 14 Workshops & Holy Eucharist

8 a.m. Registration opens. Continental breakfast. 9 a.m. Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. Morning workshops 12 noon Lunch 1 p.m Plenary Session 2:30 p.m. Afternoon workshops 4 p.m. Break 5 p.m Holy Eucharist

Saturday, Oct. 15 Business Session

8 a.m. Registration opens. Continental breakfast. 9 a.m. Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. Bishop’s Address 10:30 a.m. Convention Business Session

DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Friday Agenda & Details

Schedule Fifty-Fourth Annual Convention Registration Opens with Continental Breakfast .................................................................................................. Quiet Time before Morning Prayer ..................................................................................................................... 8 – 8:50 a.m. 8:50 – 9 a.m. Morning Prayer ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 – 9:30 a.m. Morning Workshop Session ..........................................................................................................................................9:30 – Noon

Lunch on the Riverwalk. Bring tickets to buffet lines. Plenary Session ..................................................................................................................................................1 to 2:30 p.m. Afternoon Workshop Session .............................................................................................................................. 2:45 - 4 p.m.

Cupcake & Tea Break Clergy & Altar-Party Vesting.....................................................................................................................................4:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist................................................................................................................................................................5 p.m. Dinner On Your Own ...................................................................................................................................................7 p.m.

On-Site Registration Pick-Up Process

• Locate the registration tables on the concourse of the conference center. • Registration for Friday is alphabetically organized, by last name, from A – Z. There is no designation for clergy, lay delegate/alternate and guests/visitors • You will be handed your name tag and your ticket for lunch if this has been pre-ordered. Unfortunately, no additional lunch tickets will be available at Convention. • Once you have picked up your materials, you may help yourself to the continental breakfast, visit the Ministry Fair tables, locate your first workshop room and attend Morning Prayer.

Friday Workshops

A full day of workshops dedicated to continuing education on a wide variety of interesting topics is open to anyone - Convention delegate/alternate, clergy and guests/visitors. You must register in advance so that adequate provisions are made for seating and handout material.

This is your opportunity to learn new skills and find resources you can take back to your congregation. Registration forms can be downloaded from the Convention page of the diocesan website. These are also included in the Convention packets that were mailed to all official voting members of Convention.

54th ANNUAL CONVENTION 5

The Ministry Fair

Our Ministry Fair, on the main concourse, shows off the breadth and depth of ministry in our diocese with displays from congregations, ministry groups, national organizations, and businesses that specialize in church products and services.

There are shopping opportunities here as well as ways to contribute to Episcopal charitable causes, and there are always surprises.

Don’t forget to visit our very popular Altar Guild Free Market, where congregations offer vestments and equipment they no longer need at no charge.

Opens Friday at 8:30 a.m. and closes after lunch on Saturday. Fair participants include:

Crafters for Hope (St. Margaret of Scotland) Episcopal Church Women Daughters of the King C.M. Almy The Verdin Co. Episcopal Relief and Development Union of Black Episcopalians St. Augustine University Voorhees University St. Thomas Choir School Hispanic and Latino Ministries of the Diocese Bishop Gray Retirement Foundation Diocesan Youth Ministry School for Ministry Diocese of Southwest Florida Cursillo Diocesan Altar Guild Free Market Church of the Apostles Faithful Access

6 THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA