2014 Pentecost Southern Cross, Diocese of Southwest Florida

Pentecost/Summer 2014

Volume 45, Issue 2

MAGAZINE OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

r us...’ fo s y a r p e s e c w that the Dio o n k to g n ti r omfo ‘It is always c

Letters from seminary 1 Cathedral Evensong X DaySpring Recipes X How to Forgive

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From the Bishop Intend to Grow in Christ Dear friends, The Diocese of Southwest Florida is blessed with so many opportunities for growth in spiritual formation, education, and wisdom. This particular issue of the Southern Cross makes that reality perhaps more realizable with its focus on seminarians and Episcopal Schools.

I hope that you will enjoy your reading time appreciating the quality individuals we have who are giving their lives to the Church by the sacrifice of a seminarian journey towards ordination. I furthermore hope that you will gain some important insight into the pivotal work that our Episcopal School chaplains do in helping to shape young lives for purposeful living.

It is good to be reminded though that the seeking of good Christian formation and wisdom is not restricted to seminarians or Episcopal school students. The Canons of our Church state, “all baptized persons are called to sustain their ministries through commitment to life-long Christian formation (Title III, Sec. 1 b.)

The Baptismal Covenant presumes the same when it asks, “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching…?” Just as clearly, Holy Scripture demands that we continue to grow toward maturity as noted in Ephesians. “The gifts he gave were….to equip the saints for the work of ministry until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”

(Ephesians 4:12-13.)

The Baptismal Covenant presumes the same when it asks, “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching…?”

The Diocese is blessed with so many opportunities for growth in spiritual formation, education, and wisdom because we have so many well educated clergy leading adult forums, Bible study classes, contemporary society programs, marriage classes, and other church related learning forums. We have dedicated lay Christian educators guiding our young people to seasoned adults through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Godly Play, Sunday School, Journey to Adulthood classes, and Youth Group. We have Summer Camp and other youth programs at DaySpring. We have participants in the Education for Ministry program. We have individuals training for the vocational diaconate through the School for Ministry Development. We have students and chaplains involved in three campus ministry programs. The clergy gather

annually for corporate ongoing education at the clergy conferences. Clergy also participate individually in continuing education and sabbaticals for further growth. Your bishops also nourish their ongoing formation via offerings provided by the College for Bishops.

We are about to engage a time of respite and recreation as the summer season emerges. Please know though that the season of rest is intended to regather the energies necessary for the pleasurable work of loving the Lord with all our heart, will, strength, and MIND (emphasis added.)

Look for the opportunities to learn and grow. If your congregation needs to do more in terms of Christian formation, please talk to your clergy…and make yourself available to lead. Learning to be more and more Christ-like takes a lifetime of energy, of enthusiasm, of practice. It takes a lifetime of learning! Bless yourself with one of the many growth in wisdom opportunities! X Bishop Dabney Smith is Fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

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In this Issue

Here, beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, on a quiet path at DaySpring Episcopal Center.

Features 8

Letters from Seminarians

Hear from our priests in training at Sewanee, Nashotah House, Virginia Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary

12 Hearing the Voice

Becky Robbins-Penniman tells of her call to ministry

15 Life of a Berkeley Prep Chaplain

Looking to a new era at Tampa’s Berkeley Prep

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Departments Briefly: DaySpring, Journal and Follow CampDaySpring.org ..…………………………...........……...... 7 Seminary Report: Letters from Seminarians …..................…………………………………………...... 8 Meet the Priest: The Rev. Charles Cannon ………………………...............……..………….. ..............10 Fresh Expressions: Reports from Missioners in the Field………………………………....................... 11 Art: Watercolorist Warren Stevenson, by Nancy Farnham …………………………………............. 20 Garden: DaySpring Natives, by Martha Goodwill ………………………………………………........ 18 Food: Bread, Broccoli Recipes at DaySpring’s Curry Hall …………………………................................. 21 Christian Living: You are the Temple, by the Rev. Jim Hedman …………………………....................... 22 Christian Living: Move to Forgiveness, by the Rev. Charles Cannon …………………………............ 23 Health: Happiness is about Community, by the Rev. James Reho ……..............…..................................... 24 History: A Century at Safety Harbor………............……....................................................… ........................ 25 Mission: Latino Parishes Grow in Diocese ………………………………………….......................... 28 Around the Diocese ………………………………………………...........………………………...... 30 Classified ……………………………………………………………............……………………....... 33 Glancing Back to 2004, 1994, 1984 and 1974 ……………………………………….………. .............. 35

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Year 45 | Issue 2 | Pentecost/Summer 2014 X Founded A.D. 1970 Bishop, Diocese of Southwest Florida: The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith Editor: Garland Pollard Contributing Writers: The Rev. Charles Cannon, Nancy Farnham, Martha Goodwill, Tom Gottschalk, The Rev. Jim Hedman, Alexandra Jordan, The Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman, The Ven. Canon Dennis McManis, The Rev. James Reho, Dwight Thomas Contributing Photographer: Bonnie Jean Durning Editorial Submissions, Letters: The editor welcomes submissions of articles for every section of the magazine including features, news and departments. Email editor@episcopalswfl.org. Manuscripts must be in Microsoft word format. We invite letters to the editor on subjects of interest to the entire Diocese. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity.

Southwest Florida Acolyte Festival

Advertising Inquiries: Garland Pollard, 941-556-0315 or gpollard@episcopalswfl.org.

Subscriptions: The Southern Cross is mailed to parishioners of the Diocese of Southwest Florida from member parish lists. Email your address to southerncross@episcopalswfl.org to subscribe or update delivery preferences.

Identification Statement: The Southern Cross is published by the Diocese of Southwest Florida, Department of Communications. permit No. 946.

Diocese of Southwest Florida DaySpring Episcopal Center 8005 25th St. East Parrish, FL 34219 941-556-0315 www.episcopalswfl.org editor@episcopalswfl.org Twitter: @episcopalswfl ISSN 2372-7861 (print version) ISSN 2372-8159 (online version)

September 27, 2014 at the

Cathedral Church of St. Peter Info? Facebook.com/SWFLACOLYTE

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On the Cover: Seminarians and family at Nashotah House. From left, Elaine Douglas, Bob Douglas, Helen Baker, Kate Wood, M.J. Wood, Michael Wood, Chris Wood, Evelyn Baker, Richard Baker, Robert O. Baker, Jeremiah Baker.

Briefly

Cursillo Goes Spanish For First Time THIS MAY, THE Diocese is host-

Annual Journal Includes Vital Facts of Diocese EACH YEAR, THE Diocese of Southwest Florida publishes an annual compendium. The Journal of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, which runs over 440 pages, includes Diocesan budgets, audited financial reports, parochial report data, convention minutes, Bishop’s address and a directory of priests, deacons, schools and commissions.

As a historical document, the Journal is sent to each parish, as well as Episcopal seminary libraries. The Diocese prints only 200 of the journals; it is available online in a PDF form, as well as on the online services Scribd.com and Issuu.com. The book allows readers to : • Find the name and email address of any deacon and priest in the Diocese • Locate parish leadership, including staff, senior wardens, junior wardens and treasurers • Research attendance and giving figures at any parish • Study the rules of the Diocese in the book’s Constitution and Canons section.

Visit episcopalswfl.org under the Home tab at Diocesan Publications. X

ing its first Spanish-language Cursillo. The word Cursillo is short for Cursillos de Cristiandad, literally a short course of Christianity. The Cursillo movement began in the laity after World War II in Franco’s Spain; it came to the United States and was translated into English.

The Cursillo is funded with the assistance of a Mission Enterprise Zone grant from The Episcopal Church. Enterprise grants engage under-represented groups, including youth and young adults and/or people with little or no church background or involvement. X

firms for DaySpring; the committee selected Kaleidoscope over two other firms because of its expertise in not only the physical aspects of a master plan, but in the programs and operations of religious camps.

In recent years, many needs have been identified for DaySpring, including a pool, larger meeting space and upgrades to cabins and amenities. The master plan process will update the master plan in the next six to eight months.

This plan will include an assessment of possible facility improvements, recommendations for operations and programs, and cost analyses. X

DaySpring Hires Master Plan Firm IN ORDER TO assess future planning needs for DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center, the DaySpring Development Committee has hired Kaleidoscope Planners and Consultants to create a new master plan. Kaleidoscope, based in Westerville, Ohio, specializes in master plans for camps, retreat centers, conference centers and education centers.

This winter, DaySpring Development Committee researched potential master plan

Visit Campdayspring.org Summer programs at DaySpring begin in June, with High School June 15-20, Middle School June 22-27 and Elementary June 29 to July 4. Follow the daily activities of the camp at our special camp website.

Each day, camp counselors post photos of activities.

At the site, there is also online registration information. X 7

Seminary Report

News from New York, Wisconsin and Virginia THIS YEAR, THE Diocese of South-

west Florida has a record number of new seminarians. Below, reports from Chase Ackerman at General Theological Seminary, Dcn. Alexander Andujar at Sewanee University of the South, Robert Baker and Chris Wood at Nashotah House and Daniel Lemley at Virginia Theological Seminary.

General Theological Seminary

From Chase Ackerman, in New York: It is hard to believe that my first year of seminary is coming to an end.

It seems like just yesterday Jeanne, Jonathan, and I were packing up our house in Naples, Italy, moving back to the United States, and preparing to transition from a career in the Navy to the life of a seminarian in New York City.

Needless to say, this past year has been a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement!

Life at General Theological Seminary has been everything I expected it to be and so much more. Not only have my classes been very interesting and enlightening, but also living right in the middle of Manhattan has offered some unique possibilities along the way. For example, a professor taking our class to an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Jewish Museum, or the Museum of Biblical Art to further their lesson has not been uncommon. Likewise, I have had the opportunity to visit many (certainly not all!) of the 400 or so Episcopal churches within commuting distance of the seminary and see first 8

Here, Chase Ackerman, his wife Jeanne and son Jonathan. in New York this spring.

hand the amazing diversity that comprises our church. Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to visit the Episcopal Church Center at 815 Second Ave, and have candid discussions with many of the individuals that manage our church’s programs at the denominational level.

My wife, Jeanne, has been excelling in her own right this past year as well.

After completing some pre-requirement courses at the City University of

New York, she has been accepted into the Masters of Social Work program at Fordham University and will begin her studies this fall. I am very proud of the work she has accomplished, especially while taking care of Jonathan and me!

Our son, Jonathan, is growing like a weed and will turn two years old in August. He has been a constant source of enjoyment and entertainment for both of us.

As much as we would love to come home to Tampa this summer, we will

remain in Manhattan so that I can complete my Clinical Pastoral Education requirement at Beth-Israel Medical Center. However, if you ever find yourself in the Big Apple, please drop us a line and know that you will always be welcome to visit. My family and I appreciate your continued prayers as we travel along our new path together!

University of the South

From The Rev. Alexander Andujar: I have been busily packing and getting ready for ordination to the priesthood. It is tough saying goodbye to Sewanee because of the beauty here and the friends I have made, but we will always be connected.

I look forward to getting to know my new family at Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton and to serving them as Christ would have me do.

Virginia Theological Seminary

From Daniel and Sara Lemley: It’s hard to believe that one year ago I was in the discernment process, not yet a postulant, deeply pondering what God had in store for our future. Now, I’m two and a half weeks away from completing my first year of seminary! I still have moments when I walk across campus and think to myself, “I can’t believe I’m actually here!”

Thus far, seminary has been a great

Connect!

The seminarians welcome your prayers and support.

Visit the seminarian page at episcopalswfl.org for info, including email addresses.

experience for both Sara and me. We are involved with multiple aspects of the VTS community and have been blessed with new friendships that will extend far beyond our time here in Virginia. The two big highlights of this semester were: (1) the Bishop’s visit to VTS in early April with me and Maggie Sullivan, and (2) serving at the Ordination for the Rev. National Cathedral for all the Alexander Andujar Easter services. This summer, I’ll be back in Florida for a few THE DIOCESE IS invited to the weeks, helping out at the diordination to the Sacred Order of ocesan summer camp; as well Priests of the Rev. Alexander Andujar, as chaperoning some of our set for Sunday, June 29 at 4 p.m. at youth at this year’s Episcopal Christ Church, Bradenton.

Youth Event in Philadelphia.

We want to thank everyone in the Diocese for their lief). Baby Richard is still in the hospiprayers and support, especially Holy In- tal, and we visit him daily. He is now 5 nocents in Valrico...our beloved send- lbs 12 oz and we are hopeful that he will ing parish! be home soon. It is always comforting to know that the Diocese prays for us Nashotah House and stands behind us. Grace and Peace, From Robert Baker, just before Easter: The Bakers Beloved Diocesan Family, I would Editor’s Note: Since writing, Baby never wish a Wisconsin Spring on any Richard, born prematurely, is home. of you. We have been tempted with a few warm days (45 degrees), only to be From Chris Wood: knocked down by a winter head fake.

We are all doing well and as the seWe awoke to go to Church this morning mester comes to a close, Bob (Douglas) only to find it 10 degrees and snowing. and I look forward to spending lots of For all of the complaining we hear and time together at our Clinical Pastoral indeed participate in, winter has not Education program at Saint Camillus been that bad and we will certainly have House in Milwaukee. stories to tell when we return to SouthBob and Elaine Douglas and west Florida. It is only two months away Kate and I were also honored to be from graduation and I am working fe- Godparents to Robert and Evelyn Bakverishly to get everything done. er’s newest son, Richard.

The children Jeremiah (4), Henry All three of us have become great (3), and Helen (1) are doing well. It is friends and look forward to seeing how warm enough that they have been able that friendship develops as we serve toto go outside again (parental sigh of re- gether in Southwest Florida. X 9

Meet the Priest

The Rev. Alberry Charles Cannon III Six questions for Cannon, installed rector of St. Hilary, Ft. Myers on March 9, 2014.

Cannon was previously resident in the Diocese of Southeast Florida at St. James the Fishmerman, Islamorada.

Q: What is your biggest surprise about St. Hilary?

Cannon: There is such a variety of people from multiple states and Canada; from differing expressions of Anglicanism; and diverse social strata gathered at St. Hilary’s. It makes ministry, worship and fellowship very interesting and exciting.

Q: How did you know that life as a Deacon was not enough and you would be called into the priesthood?

Cannon: I realized that God wasn’t finished with me while I served as deacon-in-charge of two small churches in western Palm Beach County. God called me to be a priest while I was a deacon, but I tried to ignore that call. God tried to prepare me to accept His call to be a priest, but I avoided responding to it. Finally, God took my objections, my excuses and stubbornness using all that to His Glory – I could not ignore that.

Q: In your Linkedin bio, you enjoy “Pastoral care to the sick, the downtrodden and the broken.” Have you been able to reach out yet?

Cannon: I have been here for three months. So far, I have presided over the funerals of 14 people, four of whom I knew briefly before their deaths. This has given 10

me the privilege of ministering to 14 grieving families and sets of friends.

There are many opportunities, on a weekly basis to visit hospitals and nursing homes.

I try to minister to the staff as much as the parishioners.

Through the emergency requests, I reach out to those who are not parishioners.

Q: Pastoring a flock in the Keys must have been interesting. Can you tell us a favorite part?

Cannon: In the Keys almost anything goes. The population is very freespirited. My favorite part was wandering around, in my clericals, explaining to people who I was and that God loved them. I did this at the grocery store, in restaurants, and at some Tiki bars where locals “hung out.”

I hosted Holy Eucharist on the beach behind a particular bar 14 times over my tenure in the Keys and officiated at 20 weddings on various beaches.

Q: Do you have a favorite hymn?

Cannon: “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” Q: While in our sister Diocese, you

Cannon and daughter Chelsea at his installation. Photo by Bonnie Jean Durning.

led services in Clewiston, on Lake Okeechobee. Are there differences?

Cannon: Clewiston is a farming town.

The people are genuine, real and passionate about the Christian Faith.

They like the faith they received from their families. Yet, there are people on the east coast who like to move forward in their understanding and experience of God. They are experimental and experiential. The values of progressive faith sometimes clash with those who are more traditionally minded. St. Hilary’s offers me a unique opportunity to minister to at least four different manifestations of Episcopal faith in one congregation: traditional, emerging, young people and mainline or broad church Episcopalians. It is a perfect fit because, as a life-long Episcopalian, I can hold and nurture all these expressions, despite the tension. X

Fresh Expressions

Notes from the Emerging Mission Field FRESH EXPRESSIONS IS innovative

community development for people who are not connected to a particular parish.

Notes from Fresh Expressions ministries in the Diocese, including St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Ft. Myers:

St. Petersburg, The Rev. Janet Tunnell: This community began meeting every Thursday in January, a change from every other week. Our normal “pub theology” gatherings (centered around a question of the evening) are at different locations every other week.

The off-weeks are dedicated to getting together in different venues for fellowship. The very first off-week activity was dinner at the St. Thomas rectory (the new Tunnell residence), which proved to be a great place for dinner and more intimate conversation. We attempted to gather for intergenerational shuffleboard, but got rained out twice. The group typically competes in Trivia Night at the Hollander Hotel, placing 1st and 2nd in our last two outings.

We have reached three new young adults through Meetup and two new members by word-of-mouth. One young man was riding his bicycle around St. Thomas neighborhood and got invited to go to a Wednesday night church function by a parishioner who lives close by.

Right now, our biggest challenge is keeping up with the steady flow of members moving away from and into the area; one already moved to California, two others will be moving to

Connect!

Follow the Diocesan Fresh Expressions team at freshexpressions.org Virginia and two to Colorado this fall.

Attendance is still steady, with an average of eight participants and 10 regular members. We continue to be blessed in our ability to share with one another in honesty and friendship.

Weekly meetings have offered a better chance for members to attend, given their busy schedules. By chance, it has also allowed us to interact in smaller groups. One of the comments I got about our last gathering (only six participants) was about how nice it was that not so many people were there that particular day – this coming from one of our regulars who brought her husband who does not normally attend.

Clearwater, Rebecca Massey: Our community is a strong one.

Most of us talk to each other throughout the week. Our group flows; everyone knows that they can just be themselves, as they are, without having to attempt to be something they are not.

This community is providing a space for spiritual formation through conversation.

Joy in ministry? Where don’t I find joy? Personally, I feel the joy pouring out of each member of this

community as each person shares, when members comfort each other and when members share wisdom and life experience. We care for each other as the Holy Spirit moves through each of us. We truly are planting seeds in the hearts of those around us. I’ve been asked about ministry challenges.

There are not that many challenges.

My only thought here is that I would love to be able to pick up the bill at the end of each gathering. I would love to be able to take the financial burden off of my members. I do not have the financial resources to do that.

Fort Myers, David Wyly and Glen Hatfield (update submitted by Glen): We are a safe haven for people to bring thoughts they may not otherwise have an outlet for. The community is a growing presence, generating increasing levels of interest in a peer-to-peer means - i.e. organic or grass-roots member growth, a critical, in my opinion, component for long-term stability.

This is contrasted to gimmicks and other mass-media eventry, which brings short-term interest with no promise of turning it to long-term interest.

Our group inevitably includes a hotbed of debate with contrasting views from attendees ranging from “atheist” to “conservative Christian” and other religions, as well.

It’s a joy to invite people and see them respond with enthusiasm. Even if they don’t make a particular event, it’s a joy to sit down with people and just hear out different ideas. X 11

Hearing the Voice We all seek to hear directly from Heaven.

The Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman talks of her ‘mountaintop’ experience.

THE BIBLE HAS stories of and

about spiritual giants. This is to be expected, because over thousands and thousands of years, a community remembers and collects the best of the best stories. And so we read about Moses and Jesus – two real superstars in anyone’s book, and we hear from Peter and Matthew, whose words have been shared by Christians for 2,000 years. These stories talk about a God who just won’t leave humanity alone.

Far from staying up in heaven just throwing lightning bolts at us, the Bible tells story after story after story about God personally and powerfully encountering folks, messing with people’s lives in a way that changes them forever.

These personal, mystical experiences are the very bedrock of our JudeoChristian heritage. Remember what the letter from Peter said: We did not follow “cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16) Yes, says the letter, Jesus had a mountaintop experience with God; so did the disciples: “We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven.” (II Peter 1: 18) A bunch of ordinary fisherman heard the voice of God. And yet, my 12

The Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman at Church of the Good Shepherd, Dunedin. hunch is that most polite people, sane, rational, intelligent, upstanding citizens like the kind one tends to find in an Episcopal Church, don’t think these stories have much to do with themselves.

Discomfort with the Mystical Mystical experiences are too uncontrollable, too weird, too emotional, too something, to talk about very much.

In fact, polite, sane, rational, intelligent, upstanding folks totally agree with Peter: Build those booths, dude! (Matthew

17:4) Put God in a nice box so we know where He is and we can let Him out when it’s convenient for us, like when we need a miracle or something.

Well, I’m not much of one for dancing in the aisles, being slain in the Spirit, or some of the other more exuberant forms of expressing faith (though I’ll admit to a lot of curiosity about them), but the whole point of these stories is to reassure us that these encounters with the divine are to be expected – and not just by the spiritual giants, but by everyone – in a thousand different ways.

For some, it’s a voice from heaven like the fishermen heard, or a heart strangely warmed, like the Wesley brothers, or crying out to God in utter despair or being overwhelmed by a sense of divine unity with God and all Creation, like Julian of Norwich, or a simple act of surrender, like C.S. Lewis on the bus to the zoo.

One thing all of these people have in common, besides their personal, mystical experiences, is that they were very ordinary folks – just like you and me. Maybe it’s not that polite, sane, rational, intelligent, upstanding folks don’t have mystical experiences; maybe they just don’t recognize them when they see them, or maybe they don’t want to talk about them with people they know for fear of sounding weird.

That’s why the findings of a 2009 Pew poll are fascinating. The poll found that half of Americans say they have had a moment of religious or spiritual awakening. Evangelicals top the polls; 71 percent have had one. 51 percent who say they are religious but don’t go to church told the pollsters they have had a mystical experience.

Among us mainline denominations, though, only 40 percent report one. Overall, about half of the respondents reported a spiritual awakening, which is a sharp increase since 1962, when only 22 percent of Americans said they had had one. At the very same time more and more Americans say they, like the fishermen, are experiencing God in some way, membership in the mainlines has fallen.

Not a Civic Club Although there are lots of people smarter than I am who have opinions about why that is – and it mostly re-

That moment alone in a dark, simple chapel was my encounter with Majestic Glory, and I have staked my entire life since then on that experience. volves around doctrinal skirmishes – I wonder. Could it be because we mainliners have forgotten what church is for?

The purpose of Church is not to acquire knowledge, it is not to enjoy fellowship, it is not even to do good works, though all these excellent things may indeed happen. A thousand civic organizations and clubs offer those.

The very purpose of Church is to have an encounter with the living God. Let me say that again. The very purpose of gathering in the name of the Lord is in expectation that He will indeed keep His promise to be here when we come together to seek Him. It is to meet a God who personally and powerfully encounters folks, who messes with people’s lives in a way that changes them forever. We gather to be transformed – perhaps even transfigured – by the Majestic Glory. Of course these encounters don’t happen ONLY in a church gathering – God can’t be confined to a booth, to any particular place, or time – but unless a community has the expectation that it DOES happen every single time we gather in God’s name, we are the ones just sitting in a booth.

When someone who yearns to encounter God, or who yearns to be with others who have experienced Majestic Glory, comes into a church and finds

polite, sane, rational, intelligent, upstanding people just sitting in a booth, they will continue their search somewhere else.

Of course, there are days when any one person comes to church and nothing particularly notable “happens” for them – no voices, no warm hearts, none of that – and that’s just fine. Those days – and there may be many, many, many – it is not about you, but about us: about us gathering in the name and the presence of the holy. It is about taking very seriously that God keeps the promise to be here when we gather in the name of Jesus – regardless of what we “feel.”

That God is really, truly, fully, actually, genuinely, authentically, manifestly, and palpably here. “Palpable” means “touchable,” “tangible,” and that is one of our major spiritual gifts as a church.

The Voice of Heaven He promised to do that, through His power, and, praise the Lord, it is not dependent in the least with how holy we happen to feel at the moment. How important is this to me? It’s a matter of life and death, and it comes from one of my own mystical experiences. I’ve had a number of them.

I’ve cried out in despair, like Bill W., and known Christ’s presence. I’ve told you that story – the one about my pit of depression when our first baby died.

I’ve told you the story of my simple act of surrender in a bathroom, in my flannel nightgown, after seeing Jesus Christ Superstar. I’ve had my heart strangely warmed and experienced the unity of all Creation in God. But today I’ll tell you my story of the voice from heaven that makes gathering in Church in the name of Jesus, with a God who personally and power13

fully encounters folks, who messes with our lives in a way that changes us forever, a matter of life and death for me.

I told y’all a few weeks ago about the angels who shaped my life with their message that I should be a teacher, specifically, a religious one, so in 1995 I went to seminary. When first I went, I had no thought of being a priest – and how I came to THAT decision is a good story, but not TODAY’S story. Anyway, in the Episcopal Church, becoming a priest involves a remarkable amount of hoop-jumping. The first hoop is getting the approval of your bishop. In March of 1996, I made an appointment to see Bishop Thompson at his office in Cincinnati on a Thursday afternoon.

When someone who yearns to encounter God, or who yearns to be with others who have experienced Majestic Glory, comes into a church and finds polite, sane, rational, intelligent, upstanding people just sitting in a booth, they will continue their search somewhere else.

Night at a Convent The weather was iffy, so I decided to go down on Wednesday. Now, for reasons I’ll never really know – we’ll blame the Holy Spirit – I decided not to spend the night at a hotel, but at a convent in Cincinnati - a convent full of Episcopalian nuns called the Community of the Transfiguration. These wonderful women quickly folded me into their life of prayer and work and invited me to all their monastic services: Lauds and Matins, Morning Prayer, Holy Communion, Evening Prayer and Compline. Most of these were held in a small, plain chapel.

After praying and eating with the sisters for a day, it was time for me to go meet with the bishop. I was very nervous – for good reasons and stupid ones; the stupid one was that while walking to his office, the sole of one of my old shoes developed a hole. Not only was it uncomfortable, I was worried the bishop would see it and judge me.

Well, suffice it to say that after a 14

two-and-a-half hour meeting (yet another story) Bishop Thompson said “yes.” I want to tell you, as soon as he said “yes” – even though it was the answer that I thought I wanted – it was like a trap door opened below me: I felt stunned, blown away, even confused. I knew my life was about to change drastically. Remember that old saying about being careful what you pray for? That’s how I felt, and within moments after I left the bishop’s office I began to question everything about myself and what the heck I thought I was doing.

Me? A priest? Was I nuts? The only thing holy about me was the bottom of my shoe.

I drove back to the convent to spend another night and went into the simple chapel to sit and think and pray and wonder. I was all alone. It was very quiet, very dark. The radiator gurgled.

(Isn’t it funny what we remember?) I sat about halfway back and looked at the large crucifix and prayed the simplest of

prayers: “What do you want from me?”

And then, a voice – I call it a voice from heaven – all I know is that it was a voice as clear as any I’ve ever heard, spoke to me saying: “When you say, ‘this is my body,’ that’s what it will be.

And when you say, ‘this is my blood,’ that is what it is. Go and feed my people with love.”

That moment alone in a dark, simple chapel was my encounter with Majestic Glory, and I have staked my entire life since then on that experience.

In fact, I’ve always considered that moment to be my ordination as a priest, though it took the diocese and me five or six more years to get all the studying and hoop-jumping done. I may be up here with the microphone and the collar and the robes, but I am as ordinary a woman as they come, full of as many warts and holes and worries as everyone here.

I bring those to this place because I need God to fulfill His promise to meet me here and, in His life of glory, transfigure me; in His death of redemption, to make me holy; in His work of healing creation, to keep me marching on.

What will people yearning for God find when they come? People sitting in booths? Or people who are ready, who expect to encounter Majestic Glory, and maybe even cradle it in the palms of their own hands. X The Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman is Rector of Church of the Good Shepherd, Dunedin. She leads the Clearwater Deanery, which includes 14 parishes and missions in Clearwater, Dunedin, Hudson, Indian Rocks Beach, Largo, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Spring Hill and Tarpon Springs.

Chaplaincy at Berkeley: Keeping an ‘Episcopal’ Identity This year, The Rev. Doug Carter retires as Chaplain of Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa.

Garland Pollard reports on a school that went back to its Episcopal roots to move forward.

I

n 1960 local Tampa Episcopalians, including St. Mary’s rector the Rev. Carroll Simcox and physicians Dr. Ralph C. Aye and Dr. Collin Baker, decided to start an Episcopal prep school that would rival Northeastern prep schools in tradition and academic excellence.

To accomplish this, they hired Edgar McCleary, from North Carolina’s Asheville School, to be the first headmaster. Classes were held at St. Andrew’s, Tampa, and the Episcopal tradition was to be central to the new school’s brand and identity. After classes began Sept. 9, 1961, and under McCleary’s leadership, the school quickly grew. Classes spilled over to Tampa’s old Davis Island Hotel. Eventually classes were moved from St. Andrew’s, and a new campus opened up. (continued next page)

15

Through it all, it was an Episcopal School, in both worship and classroom.

For almost two decades, the school had a rigorous component of classes in Old and New Testament, ethics and comparative religion, all taught by local Episcopal clergy. But in 1975, the school hit a hard spot financially. And in 1979, Berkeley lost the budget for a chaplain.

“The school drifted into pure secularism in 15 years,” says the Rev. Douglas Carter, chaplain to the school, and a longtime student of the history of Episcopal secondary schools.

Away from Tradition

In 1987, the school board had actually formally voted to disassociate from The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Southwest Florida. But the vote to depart was deemed invalid, as it did not have a simple majority of Episcopalians, which the charter required. The board also had to contend with a charter that said Berkeley would “stress the importance of religious values” and “promote the moral and spiritual values of the Christian tradition as professed by the doctrines of the Protestant Episcopal Church.”

To re-evaluate, a 1998 Mission Evaluation Committee was called, recalls Carter.

Its recommendation was a return to religious values, and the hiring of a chaplain.

While many were supportive, some were not. While a few scant parents pulled children out, enrollment began to grow as the school became more certain of its mission.

Carter, a Tampa native who arrived in 2000 as the first chaplain since 1979, had been working as a rector at Christ Church in Mexico City. The church was an idyllic assignment, an almost two-century old parish founded by American and British emigres. But chaplain work was his first calling, and there was no chaplain work running a parish in Mexico City. His wife 16

At the school’s daily convocation, Carter says that almost every child says the school prayer, which includes Jesus.

Susan was supportive of the move, as well, asking, “Why don’t you get back to what you love.”

However, local clergy advised him that it would be disastrous, career-wise, to step into such a situation as Berkeley where the church was seemed to be not valued, and the role of the church had not been clearly articulated.

Jump 14 years forward to today, when Berkeley is one of the leading college preparatory schools in the United States, with over 1,300 students in grades Kindergarten to 12. Berkeley is no longer renting rooms at old hotels, and instead occupies a sprawling 80-acre campus west of Tampa International, with two libraries, a university level fine arts center and the Straz Field House, centerpiece of its 72 sports teams.

At the center is an Episcopal school tradition that continues to assert the central role of the Gospel, but also values other students’ religious traditions and makes accommodations for various holidays and cultural needs.

Carter, who retires this year after 14 years, saw the school from a time when the Episcopal Church was nearly completely left out of the identity to today, a time when the Episcopal identity is a critical part of understanding what the school is all about. When he leaves, he will be replaced by another Episcopal chaplain, the Rev. Peter Michael Carey.

Finding a role for the chaplain in a

Carter with Declan Farmer, Berkeley student and Sochi Paralympic top male athlete. Facing page, with 7th grade science teacher Kate Baten in World Religions class. multi-religious society and internationally flavored school comes naturally to Carter, who has been a leader in the National Association of Episcopal Schools, and hosted an NAES conference in Tampa in 2006.

Carter, as part of his work, made Berkeley into a test study on how to keep and promote an Episcopal identity when much of the world not only doesn’t know much about the Episcopal Church, but is increasingly against organized religion. His paper, “Berkeley Preparatory School and the Reclaiming of Episcopal Identity Amidst Religious Pluralism: A Case Study”, details Berkeley’s trip from religion to secularism and back.

One way that the church is able to prevail in such an environment is to serve the students where they are and talk about Christianity in a matter of fact way, but never proselytize. Episcopal traditions then become a de facto part of school life, and not an afterthought.

“We don’t have a hidden agenda to try to convert,” says Carter. “It’s not one bit of indoctrination.”

But the reality is that it does bring people to the church; indeed Carter reminds that Episcopal schools are one of the true growth areas in The Episcopal Church.

In Carter’s view, the stories of the Bible

Carter reminds that Episcopal schools are one of the true growth areas in The Episcopal Church.

Accommodation not Acquiescence

and the life of Christ and the disciples are treated as part of the fabric over everyone’s lives, no matter what religion.

“I am unafraid to talk about Adam, Abraham and Jacob. I’m unafraid to talk about Jesus, Peter and Paul and I’m unafraid to talk about Jesus, Mary and Joseph.” But he does hear criticism, and is happy to have the discussion. “We know that people would like us to be much

more religious. But we are not a parish day school. We are an independent school,” says Carter. “We try to keep that balance.”

Part of the role of being chaplain is being present and part of the school in its dayto-day life. Sports is critical. Carter coaches the 6th grade boy’s basketball team, which includes, he adds, an undefeated season.

As part of that role, he prays in the locker with the football team before games.

Carey Named Chaplain of Berkeley TAMPA - The Rev. Peter Michael Carey was named Berkeley Preparatory School chaplain, beginning July 1, 2014. He is replacing the Rev. Doug Carter, the current Berkeley chaplain. The Rev. Carey will be leaving St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville, Va., where he has served as senior associate rector since 2012. Prior to that appointment, he served as associate rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood, Va., and was also the school chaplain at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond.

Carey earned a bachelor’s in political science from Bates College in 1991, and a master’s from George Washington University in secondary education; he then embarked on an independent school teaching career that took him to Durham Academy and The Episcopal Academy where he taught a variety of history and religion courses.

In 2004, he attended Virginia Theological Seminary,

Accommodation requires a generous spirit, and there are issues that goodwill can fix. Mistakes happen all the time.

For instance, this spring, a music program scheduled far in advance happened to be on Maundy Thursday, and parents called.

But the response to all the religious traditions is not the same. For instance during Passover, some Jewish children are at school, but others take a day off. Through it all, Berkeley accommodates.

There is nothing wrong with other approaches to religious education. Carter (continued page 32)

earning a Master of Divinity degree and Cum Laude honors.

“During the search process, it became clear that he has a deep and abiding passion for students and great schools, and he is thrilled to be returning to a school setting as Chaplain,” said Headmaster Joseph W. Seivold in a letter to the Berkeley Prep community.

Carey’s wife Lisa will join the Berkeley faculty as an Upper Division history teacher. Peter and Lisa have three children, Zach, Sam and Lily. X 17

This striking plant found along a path near DaySpring’s lake is a coral bean or Cherokee bean.

The botanical name is Erythrina herbacea, and has a wide distribution in Southwest Florida. It had a wide variety of uses to native Americans. At far right, DaySpring’s plant collection contains many cultivars including this hybrid hibiscus.

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Garden

DaySpring Natives A look at plants at DaySpring. Martha Goodwill, who strolls the campus at lunchtime, tells of some of the ‘locals’ she carefully observes.

“HERE ARE NO lofty peaks seeking the sky, no mighty glaciers or rushing streams wearing away the uplifted land. Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty…”

President Harry S. Truman said the above quote in his address at the Dedication of Everglades National Park in December 1947. And, we can say the same of DaySpring, “tranquil in its quiet beauty.” We are all very lucky that the succession of directors at DaySpring has sought to preserve the natural and native beauty of this property.

The DaySpring property is made up of two plant communities. Upon entering DaySpring and all the way down to the Manatee River, you see the upland mesic hardwood forest, with a diversity of hardwoods and some evergreens, on rich, sandy loam soil.

The word “mesic” refers to a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture. In this area you will find a dense high canopy of oaks, hickories and magnolias on fertile soils. Fringe tree, dogwood, beautyberry, shield fern, coontie and partridge berry are all part of the understory.

As you head toward the Manatee River, you see the fresh water marsh environment, a basin area with a peat

soil base, occupied by various rushes and other herbaceous plants, including mangroves, leather fern, button bush, and sand cordgrass.

These native plants can be seen as you explore DaySpring’s natural, shaded walking paths. The Entrance Trail leads you from Diocesan House through the woods along the west side of the property. From this trail you can either take the path to New Pavilion and the youth cabins or continue on to Pavilions A and B. The Point Trail leads you from Hall House around The Cove and out into the Manatee River for a beautiful view.

If you are looking for a spiritual practice, DaySpring has an outdoor Stations of the Cross loop which can be walked and prayed. The Stations are located behind Curry Hall, next to the Outdoor Chapel.

For a short-but-meaningful walk, The Labyrinth is located beside St. Thomas Chapel. Walking the Labyrinth can be a source of solace and spiritual inspiration for many. X Martha Goodwill works as the Parish Administration Resource for the Diocese. In this position, she serves as a consultant to the 77 parishes in the diocese on all administrative issues.

Go Native

Join the Florida Native Plant Society. Chapters sponsor programs related to growing native species. Many have plant sales and plant raffles. Go to fnps.org to find a chapter.

Study Your Site. Check the soil survey, dig a hole. If you have a natural soil, you will likely find that the plants that originally thrived in an ecosystem associated with that soil, as listed in the survey, will do well for you. If you live in a subdivision, you may live on fill. Check the pH, check the soil texture, and consider that your site is probably different from what it once was. Remnant trees in your area can give you a clue to the habitat that existed.

Rely on their expertise.

Some of the most easily grown natives are very widely available. Go to plantrealflorida.org.

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Art

Watercolorist Warren Stevenson St. John’s Brooksville uses the gifts of a parishioner’s art for bulletins and holidays, writes Nancy Farnham.

WE ARE BLESSED to have a watercolor artist in our congregation, Warren Stevenson.

Warren has been a member of St. John’s Brooksville since 1996, and has faithfully served our church in many capacities over the years, including men’s group, vestry, junior warden, usher and greeter, grounds maintenance and flag raiser, sexton and our resident artist, creating numerous charts and signs and posters for projects and events.

There is a long-standing tradition in Brooksville at Christmastime where area churches and faith-based organizations are invited to create large, lighted Christmas greeting cards. These Christian greetings are placed around the Hernando County Courthouse for the month of December; Warren constructs and paints a beautiful St. John’s card every year.

On Palm Sunday, Easter and Mother’s Day, bulletin covers feature Warren’s artwork. He is also currently sketching away on an updated rendering of St. John’s Church. X

At left, a sketch of the parish. Above, an Easter watercolor used for Sunday bulletins.

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Food

Bread and Broccoli at DaySpring While DaySpring’s catering and dining room have an ever-changing menu, there are some popular dishes that get the most requests from guests. Below, two from Tom Gottschalk, DaySpring’s chef and dining room manager.

WHILE DAYSPRING’S COOKIES get much of the attention, Day-

Spring has a large selection of favorites, including soups, salads and entrees.

When groups come from across the Diocese, two of our recipes seem to get the most requests, namely a broccoli walnut salad and an Irish Soda Bread.

These recipes are easy to make, using common ingredients, and can be adapted to taste. For instance, our recipe for soda bread includes caraway seeds, but these can easily be eliminated for taste.

Irish Soda Bread

2 ¼ cup flour 2 T. sugar 1 Tsp. baking powder 1 Tsp. salt ¼ cup butter ½ cup raisins 2 tsp. caraway seeds (optional) 1 cup buttermilk melted butter In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients. Cut in ¼ cup butter until mixture is crumbly. Add raisins and caraway seeds. Stir in buttermilk all at once. Turn onto floured surface and knead dough for 5 or 6 times until no longer sticky. Divide dough in half.

Form into two 7 inch round loaves.

Using a sharp knife, cut “X” on top. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes until golden brown. Brush tops of bread

with melted butter. Cut into eight wedges each. Serve warm.

Broccoli Walnut Salad

(proportions for fellowship, entertaining) Dressing: 2 cups sugar 2 cups red wine vinegar 4 cups mayo salt and pepper to taste 5 heads broccoli cut into small florets 1 red onion 1 bunch celery 3 cups chopped bacon

2 cups chopped walnuts Mix salad ingredients in large bowl. X About the Chef: Tom Gottschalk moved to Florida from Michigan in 1982. In the early 1980s, he created all sauces and soups as saucier for the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, and held the position of evening sauté. He was also general manager and chef at Pattlegeorge’s Marina Restaurant, kitchen manager at Patrick’s of Sarasota and Sous Chef at Bird Key Yacht Club. He also owned his own restaurant, Sawgrass Grill, near 17th and Honore in Sarasota.

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Christian Living You Are the Temple

Christianity is not just about getting to Heaven. Instead, Fr. Jim Hedman reminds that we are the temples, and within that temple is an altar, ready for sacrifice.

JESUS DIED FOR our sins, and to make a way for us to heaven. But His work on the cross, and His resurrection also prepared us for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Some may wonder why we focus on the Holy Spirit. Well it is because we are trying to bring back balance. If we are honest — we have been happy with the Father and the Son, and have ignored the Holy Spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit is an equal part of the Trinity, and we proclaim in our creeds to worship the Holy Spirit. So we are not becoming more “charismatic.”

We are becoming more Trinitarian.

Paul points out that we are the temples (or tabernacles) of the Holy Spirit (see above). Within a temple is an altar. The Hebrew word for altar denotes “place of sacrifice.” An altar is a place where offerings are made to God for the people by the priest.

The altar is an intersection between our world and God’s Kingdom. The altar is a place where God meets us, a place where his presence is felt and his power is manifested.

Noah built an altar upon exiting the ark, and offered a sacrifice to God. God smelled the pleasing aroma and made a promise — “never again.” Abraham built an altar when he entered the promised land. Jacob built an altar at El-Bethel, where he 22

saw the ladder from heaven to earth and angels ascending and descending. Moses built an altar for the tabernacle where offerings were made in the “presence” of Almighty God. And God led the people in the wilderness and to the promised land with signs and wonders.

So altars are places where priests offer sacrifices, worship and praise, and intercession for the people. Altars are places where God’s power and grace are manifested. Altars are seen throughout the scriptures. They begin with Noah, and end with the destruction of the Temple a generation after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Why the end of stone altars after Jesus? Because you have become the Temple of the Holy Spirit, ergo the altar is upon your heart. It is a living, breathing, and beating altar. Plus, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2.9).

So not only celebrate that you have a place in heaven, but celebrate that Heaven has a place in you.

In light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, are you willing to make a sacrifice to God? Are you willing to let your faith cost a little something?

So not only celebrate that you have a place in Heaven, but celebrate that Heaven has a place in you.

No, I am not talking about money...I am talking about your life, your time, your talents… Giving money is easy (especially if we only give out of excess). Giving your life to Jesus is more difficult.

Choose to follow Him. Look to Jesus and do what He says to do.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father...And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you “ (John 14. 12-13,17). Remember Heaven dwells in you. You are the house of God, the gate of heaven. X The Rev. Jim Hedman is rector of St. Mary Magdalene, Lakewood Ranch.

Christian Living

Move from Forgiveness

Often, we confuse forgiveness with enabling. The Rev. Charles Cannon, who spent a career as therapist before becoming a priest, tells how to identify true repentance and gives guidelines for reconciliation.

AS A THERAPIST and now as a us (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25).

priest, I encounter people who are trying to forgive someone who has repeatedly hurt them. They believe it’s their Christian duty to forgive, but they feel they’re either being deceived or taken advantage of. They seem to have a disturbing sense that in offering forgiveness they’re enabling the self-destructive behavior of the one they’re trying to forgive.

• What does forgiveness require?

• Is it possible to forgive someone and to simultaneously withhold reconciliation?

• What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

As part of my search to find answers to these questions I have attended many workshops, read books and benefitted from discoveries made while working with others on their paths from forgiveness to reconciliation.

Forgiveness vs. Reconciliation

Forgiveness is always required by God, but it does not always lead to reconciliation.

Jesus teaches us a great deal about forgiveness in the Gospels, primarily that God will not forgive our sins if we do not forgive those who sin against

We do not earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving; instead, God expects forgiven people to forgive other people (Matthew 18:21-35). Yet forgiveness is very different from reconciliation.

Even when God forgives our sins, He does not promise to remove all consequences created by our choices or actions.

I have found that it is possible to forgive someone without offering immediate reconciliation. It is possible for forgiveness to occur in the context of one’s relationship with God apart from contact with your offender. This is because forgiveness is a personal process while reconciliation is focused on restoring broken relationships. And where trust is deeply broken, restoration is a process---sometimes, a lengthy one.

Reconciliation is often conditioned on the attitude and actions of the offender. Its aim is restoration of a broken relationship. Those who commit significant and repeated offenses must be willing to recognize that reconciliation is a process. If they’re genuinely repentant, they will recognize and accept that the harm they’ve caused takes time to heal.

In many cases, even if an offender confessed his wrong to the one he hurt and appealed for forgiveness, the offended person often justifiably says, “I forgive you, but it might take some time for me to regain trust and restore our relationship.”

Even when God forgives our sins, he does not promise to remove all consequences created by our choices or actions. Yes, being forgiven, restored, and trusted is an amazing experience, but it is important for those who hurt others to understand that their attitude and actions will affect the process of rebuilding trust and mending broken relationships.

Words alone are not enough to restore trust. Significant hurt creates hesitance about restoration with the offender, so, it’s both right and wise for us to look for changes in the offender before allowing reconciliation to begin. (continued on next page) 23

Timing of Reconciliation

The process of reconciliation depends on three factors: the attitude of the offender, the depth of the betrayal, and the pattern of offense. When an offended party works toward reconciliation, the first and most important step is the confirmation of genuine repentance on the part of the offender (Luke 17:3).

These examples attempt to explain why it is difficult to genuinely restore a broken relationship when the offender is unclear about his confession and repentance. We should strive to be as certain as we can of our offender’s repentance, especially in cases involving repeated offenses. Even God will not grant forgiveness to one who is insincere about his confession and repentance. The person who is unwilling to stop his sinning will not find forgiveness with God (Proverbs 28:13).

That being said, only God can read hearts; we must evaluate actions. As Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16a). We must not allow superficial appearances of repentance control our responses. There is no substitute for clear changes in attitude and behavior. X

To reconcile Be honest about your motives.

Be humble in your attitude.

Be prayerful about the one who hurt you.

Be willing to admit ways you might have contributed to the problem.

Be clear about the guidelines for restoration.

Be mindful of God’s control.

Be realistic about the process.

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Health

Happiness, the Truth Why is it that many of us are, statistically, no more ‘happy’ than a slum dweller, asks The Rev. James Reho?

SO WHAT DO we know about our happiness? Humans throughout history have sought the seemingly simple yet elusive goal of happiness, and data suggests that American society in the last few decades has done a pretty poor job in providing a context of happiness. In fact, according to one study, the average American is no happier than a Calcutta slum dweller suffering from poverty and malnutrition.

If our affluent society cannot make us happy… what can?

Research indicates that about 50 percent of our happiness quotient is genetic; we carry in our DNA some indication of how happy we will be, expressed through biochemical functioning such as our ability to metabolize serotonin. Interestingly, only about 10 percent of our happiness quotient correlates to the very things our society tells us brings happiness: wealth, body image, health, and popularity. Only 10 percent.

That leaves 40 percent of our happiness quotient unaccounted for. Documented research tells us that this remaining 40 percent of our total happiness quotient is maximized through our inter- personal relationships, service work for others, and our ability to get out of our own heads, to be in the “flow” where we barely notice ourselves and enter into an experience larger than we are.

This is really good news, because it means that almost half of our ability to

be happy is fully within our control. And, looking at what comprises this 40 percent, it occurs to me that church life helps us reach maximum here. Our church community is built of interpersonal relationships, and is a place for us to find community—some might even say family—among our fellow church-goers.

The church also offers us the ability to work for others through our various outreach initiatives and teams that serve the world and church. Finally, if we allow ourselves to fully enter into liturgy, we can move into the “flow” of transitional space where we lose our selfconsciousness and give ourselves to an experience larger than ourselves.

Church = happiness. Research bears this out. Instead of spending so much of our lives chasing what we now know does not lead to happiness (wealth, image, etc.), we have the opportunity right here to encounter the things that will. Thanks be to God! X About the author: The Rev. Dr. James Hughes Reho is the Rector/Senior Pastor of Lamb of God, a joint Lutheran/ Episcopal church in Ft. Myers. His first career was as a chemist, working as a professor and researcher at East Carolina University after earning his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Princeton University and doing post doctoral work at Los Alamos National Labs.

History

100 Years in Safety Harbor Church of the Holy Spirit Safety Harbor holds a centennial celebration the weekend of June 6 to 8. Here, a few highlights from their 100 years of rich history.

ON THE FEAST day of Pentecost, May 15, 1597, Hernando DeSoto found his way to the shores of what is now known as Safety Harbor, where history tells that he discovered five mineral springs and named them Springs of the Holy Spirit (Espiritu Santo Springs). The church is located not a mile from DeSoto’s landing point. In 1911, an unorganized group of faithful worshippers, who had been gathering to pray in each other’s homes since 1855, decided to formally establish a congregation. A few highlights: 1911 – Captain James Felix and Mrs. Virginia Bailey Tucker deeded the land to the Missionary District of Southern Florida. In 1913, the land was consecrated.

1914 – The Holy Spirit Mission was constructed by a volunteer congregation with lumber donated by George Booth.

The first church service was held at the mission by the Rev. A.E. Cornish. The city of Safety Harbor was incorporated in 1917, so the church is older than the city.

1915-19 – The Rev. Lucas G. Fourier of All Saints, Tarpon Springs was appointed Priest in Charge.

1919 – The Rev. Rudolph Nagle, also from All Saints, provided monthly services. In 1935, Fr. Nagle died and the mission went without a priest from 1935-39.

1941 – The Rev. Roger Charnock of the Diocese of Pennsylvania became Vicar.

1942-45 – The Rev. Charles Adams was appointed Vicar, followed by the Rev.

Arnold Charnock, Curator at the Church of the Ascension, Clearwater. For three years, Fr. Charnock was also assigned to churches in New Port Richey, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, as well as, Safety Harbor. He provided services at each location. During that time, Holy Spirit had approximately 30 members and 3 vestry members.

1946 - A retired army building was acquired and was used as the church parish hall. During the same year, Fr. Charnock was transferred to St. Bartholomew in St. Petersburg and provided services for both churches. Fr. Charnock and acolytes were flown between churches each Sunday in a plane owned by a Mr. Briscoe.

1949 – Fr. Charnock left Holy Spirit and the church survived using lay readers.

1954-57 – The Rev. Murray Voth was ordained Christmas Eve 1954 and took charge of the mission. The congregation grew to about 200 congregants and in 1955 a new parish hall was built for $20,000.

1957 - The Rev. A.R. McKinley, a former African Missionary, arrived.

1958-62 - The Rev. Arthur E. Tavener succeeded Fr. McKinley.

1962 – Fr. Tavener was replaced by Fr. Arnold Charnock, who previously served at Holy Spirit in the 1940s. There was a dwindling congregation and the treasury contained only $6.03.

1963-73 – Under Fr. Charnock’s tenure Holy Spirit continued as a small spiri-

tual family. In 1973 when Fr. Charnock retired, the Rev. Herbert Barsale, a theology professor, was appointed Vicar.

1977 – The Rev. Anthony W. Van Ham was appointed Vicar and Safety Harbor started to grow with new housing developments and a fast growing population.

1978-79 – The existing Holy Spirit building was moved to the back of the property and ground breaking for a new church building on Philippe Parkway began in September 1978.

1984 –The Rev. James Olmstead became the Priest in Charge, until the Rev. Arthur Lee III was appointed Vicar in 1985.

1985-2000 – During Fr. Lee’s tenure, the original historical church building was moved to DaySpring, the Diocese of Southwest Florida Episcopal Conference Center in Ellenton, Florida in 1988. The historical Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit was renamed St. Thomas’ Chapel.

2001 – The Rev. Raynald Bonoan, Canon Missioner for Asian Ministries of the Diocese, was called to become the rector of the parish. He currently serves as the chair and diocesan officer for the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Diocese and the director of the Episcopal Church Against Human Trafficking of the Diocese. X On Sunday, June 8, the parish will celebrate with a service with Bishop Smith at 10 a.m. Reception to follow.

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Music

Evensong Appreciation The Evensong service is one of the delights of the Anglican tradition.

Dwight Thomas, Director of Music of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, explains the origins and potential of this Episcopal classic, still relevant today.

EVENSONG, ALSO CALLED sung

Evening Prayer, is a service that is centuries old, originating around the time of the first English Prayer Book in 1549.

Thomas Cranmer, who is credited with being the driving force in developing and organizing this English Booke of Common Prayer, combined the ancient monastic prayer services, called offices, into two basic prayer services. One, the offices of Matins and Lauds, were combined into Morning Prayer (called Matins, when sung), and the other, the offices of Vespers and Compline, were combined into Evening Prayer. These two services, along with the Holy Eucharist, became the core of our Anglican worship.

Music for these prayer services has Here, Dwight Thomas conducts choir practice at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter. The been written since the development of parish has a long choral tradition. Photos courtesy Joe Liotta. the services themselves, and for Evening Prayer, the music centered mainly around have been written, resulting in some of the which include an opening versicle, “O settings of the two canticles: the Magnifi- most extraordinary music of the English Lord, open our lips.” and the response, cat and Nunc dimittis. In nearly 500 years, choral tradition. Evensongs can run the “And our mouth shall show forth thy thousands of settings of these canticles gamut from large Festal Evensongs with praise.” With the 1979 revision of the multiple choirs and instrumentalists, to prayer book, the Phos hilaron was simpler offerings with a lay person as Of- added as an option, intended to be a ficiant and the congregation serving as the mirror image of the Venite in the rite choir in singing the parts of the service. of Morning Prayer. In the hymnal, The Diocese has 14 full-time paid While there are many variations and op- one can find several settings of this in music directors and 58 part-time tions in what to include for Evensong, the the Service Music section of the hymministers. liturgy has four main sections: nal and in the Evening section of the The Preparation - the Preces, hymnal proper.

Music Facts

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The Word of God - in the back of the Book of Common Prayer, one can find the Daily Office lectionary, where prescribed psalmody and lections for the day may be found according to the Liturgical Year. The psalmody may be sung in many fashions, using Anglican Chant (simplified or full chants found in the hymnal or The Anglican Chant Psalter), plainsong (using resources like The Plainsong Psalter), or even metrical psalmody, which are hymn settings of the psalms, using the recent publication A New Metrical Psalter.

Following a reading from scripture, a musical response from one of the Canticles is sung.

Here the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis mentioned earlier, may be used, but a seasonal canticle like the Benedictus for Advent, or the Kyrie Pantokrator for Lent, may also be considered. Musical settings of all canticles may be found in the Service Music section of the hymnal, along with several new canticles in Wonder, love, and praise. The Apostles’ Creed concludes this section of the liturgy.

The Prayers - this includes the Lord’s Prayer, the Suffrages A or B, the Collects, all of which may be sung. Concluding the spoken section of prayers which may include the Intercessions, the General Thanksgiving and the Prayer of St. Chrysostom.

The Conclusion - which includes a blessing and concluding hymn.

While many Evensongs are frequently offered on Sunday Evenings, a great way to introduce Evensong to your parish is to offer it on a weekday evening during a regular gathering of the parish’s ministry groups or before a parish dinner.

Advent or Lent is a particularly

Above, the St. Peter’s choir at 2014 Diocesan Confirmations, an annual service at the Cathedral. Below, a view of the nave from the chancel. The church dates from 1899.

wonderful time to offer this contemplative worship, and gives our parish communities a time to reflect and to pause in our often busy lives.

While exploring the numerous resources available for Evensong goes beyond the scope of this article, this service can and should be customized and designed to make it a true expression of the parish’s wor-

ship tradition, using one’s imagination and the resources available. X About the Author: Thomas is director of music and organist at the Cathedral, where the Cathedral Chamber Choir offers Evensong on the fourth Sunday of the month, September through April, as part of the Cathedral Arts’ Series. Find out more at spcathedral.net.

27

Mission

Latino Anglicans Grow in Diocese In an April presentation to the Cathedral on Latino Ministries in our Diocese, Canon Dennis McManis gave statistics on the fast growing Latino population in our Diocese and the potential impact they could have on our future ministry.

ST. PETERSBURG - Today, the Diocese has five thriving Latino congregations; Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota; St. Edmund’s the Martyr, Arcadia; St. Francis, Tampa; St. Giles Pinellas Park and St. Mary’s, Palmetto.

On any given Sunday, there are 400 Latinos worshipping in our Episcopal churches. The devotion, spirituality, and energy they give us in their worship are contagious and will grow in our churches as we evolve in the future. In five years, the Diocese has identified 10 additional churches with a Latino population of over 30,000 within five miles.

The Census Bureau predicts that by 2050, the Latino population will be 132.8 million, or 30 percent of the US population. The Nielson Agency predicts a 42 percent overall population growth in the U.S. by 2050. Of this number 1 percent of the growth will be in the white population as compared to a 167 percent growth in the Latino population.

Many believe that the Latino population is the result of recent immigration, but in fact, of the Latinos living in the U.S., 62 percent were born here.

Today, there are 4.8 million people living in our diocese and the firm MissionInsite projects our pop28

Here, a family from St. Giles, Pinellas Park at Diocesan Confirmations at the Cathedral this April. Mother Jennifer Castro, baby Alysianni, Angelina and Alexsander.

ulation will be 5.1 million people in 2018. Today there are 784,326 Latinos living within our Diocese, projected to grow to 843,051 by 2018.

Latino families are young.

The median age of the white population is 42, while that of the Latino population is 27. X Contact the Ven. Canon Dennis McManis at dmcmanis@episcopalswfl.org for more information.

Spanish Mass THE FIVE CHURCHES with Latino congregations are Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota; St. Edmund’s the Martyr, Arcadia; St. Francis, Tampa; St. Giles, Pinellas Park and St. Mary’s, Palmetto.

Revitalization

Finding New Leadership When a priest leaves a church, the laity come forward to help the parish in transition. Alexandra ‘Zandy’ Jordan reflects on how a church made opportunity out of change at St. Alfred’s, Palm Harbor.

IT HAS BEEN a year since our parish unexpectedly lost its core leadership team, including our priest.

Reflecting on the past year, I am feeling confident that our congregation with new leadership is moving forward in a healthy, Christ-centered way as we make the transition to a new priest.

Some of the reasons for this confidence apply to any parish that is going through a change, large or small.

Some characteristics: Frequent conversations: Effort has been made to keep lines of communication open at all levels within the parish and the Diocese.

New leaders: Interim clergy encouraged parishioners to step in and fill the gaps…and they did, learning new skills as needed.

Forward focus: Fellowship became stronger as parish rallied to move forward, not panic or whine.

Plans quickly got underway to honor the church’s landmark 50th Anniversary.

Opportunity in change: No issue was dealt with as a crisis, rather as a starting point for personal and parish growth.

New leaders: A new leadership team tackled the challenges head on, which has required additional com-

mitment of their time, both physical and mental. It is a big adjustment to move from Sunday worshipper to leadership role in a parish that is in transition.

Faith: Parishioners’ faith and level of trust were challenged. But they kept attending worship, giving and serving.

This is not to say it has been easy. Parishioners are to be celebrated for their lay leadership in times of change, while keeping their focus on why they are part of a church community. X

‘We are called to share our lives, not to present ourselves in a good light.

Editor’s note: Fr. Ed Henley, retired rector of St. Mark’s, Tampa, is interim rector at St. Alfred’s and has been with the parish since July 1, 2013. Zandy Jordan is a former parish administrator and is a member of St. Alfred’s.

Make a Fresh Start FIND OUT MORE: Zandy Jordan is one of the lay leaders and facilitators of the Fresh Start seminars sponsored by the Diocese.

Fresh Start workshops, offered 4 times a year, are designed to give support to lay leaders during times of change.

The workshops help to show the way forward and introduce participants to others in the Diocese also going through a transition period.

Find out more by going to episcopalswfl.org and find the Leadership tab. In that tab is a link to the Fresh Start page. Programs in Fresh Start are free.

29

Around the Diocese Clearwater Deanery Fights Hunger

PINELLAS COUNTY - What can Episcopal churches do to forge meaningful relations with each other and serve the community? That question led to a collaboration of five Episcopal churches in Pinellas County and an ongoing project that took a bite out of hunger in early April with a highly successful food pack for those in need. In three hours on a Saturday morning, using the finely honed assembly-line system of Naples-based Meals of Hope, 250 volunteers put together more than 81,000 packages of macaroni and cheese.

The event took place at the warehouse of the county’s largest food bank, run by Religious Community Services, where most of the food packed will be distributed.

The volunteers, who were of all ages, came from the five collaborative churches in the Clearwater Deanery – St. John’s, Church of the Ascension, Good Samaritan, Holy Trinity and Church of the Good Shepherd -- as well as other community organizations. Another church in the Deanery, St. Alfred’s, also sent volunteers.

Most of the volunteers worked at 20 stations, donning hair nets to package the high-quality, nutritious meals, which have a long shelf life. Teams of 10 assembled the meals through a series of small tasks, from sorting and weighing the ingredients (soy protein, cheese powder, macaroni) to measuring it into plastic bags to sealing the bags to boxing them up to load on pallets, all done to up-tempo music played by a DJ. About two years ago, members of the five churches in North Pinellas that were meeting periodically with a consultant to seek ways to collaborate decided to orga30

nize a MOH packing event as a vehicle through which to work together and make a tangible impact. With a $10,000 grant from the Diocese, the first pack in the spring of 2013 drew 160 volunteers and yielded 50,000 meals.

This year, the larger event was entirely funded by the five churches, which raised more than $17,000 through sponsorships and donations to pay for the food. A key to the fundraising was a benefit performance in January of the whodunit spoof “Bullshot Crummond” at a community theater that sold out and netted more than $5,700.

In February, the collaboration presented a Hunger Awareness Forum, which featured a panel of experts on the front line of dealing with hunger issues, including representatives of MOH, RCS, the Tampa Bay Network To End Hunger, the Pinellas schools and Peace Café, a soup kitchen in downtown Clearwater.

The collaboration looks forward to its third annual MOH food pack in 2015. –

By John Fleming, St. John’s, Clearwater

Artist P. Buckley Moss and St. John’s

CLEARWATER – In preparation for Holy Week, St. John’s displayed crown of thorns brought from Israel by the noted painter P. Buckley Moss.

The sculpture was a gift from Moss to a parishioner of St. John’s, who in turn donated it to the parish.

“Pat (Buckley Moss) had been in the Holy Land and met the artist who hand-made the Crown of Thorns,” said Charles H. Gaudreau, Jr., Senior Warden St. John’s Clearwater, Florida.

Gaudreau and his wife Joanna

Eastman-Gaudreau are acquaintences of Moss, who lives in St. Petersburg. One evening, Gaudreau had admired many of the works of art, but particularly admired the Crown of Thorns.

“Pat said, ‘Charles if you so enjoy the Crown take it with you as my gift.’

I said I could not. She insisted and I humbly accepted her gift,” said Gaudreau. “I told Pat that I would share the gift with our church, St John’s in Clearwater.”

This year, Moss donated an original painting in a hand turned wooden bowl of a mother with child. It will be auctioned at their fall fund-raiser.

In previous years, the gallery has donated framed and signed art.

Ministry Grows at State College of Florida

BRADENTON - In February 2013 a few of us at St. George’s discussed the idea of a student ministry at State College of Florida.

We started our ministry by being at the SCF Chapel from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, building on the regular hours of Deacon Kathy Gilpin, there at the chapel from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Thursday. We were there to meet with students, to talk and listen, and to share.

On Ash Wednesday we held Ashes-to-go in front of the Chapel for anyone wanting to participate, as well as inside.

The summer session was slow, due to the reduction in students, but we remained faithful to our commitment to Wednesdays. We did a lot of praying for discernment of God’s plan for the ministry. The fall semester of 2013, things really

started to move. We began a Communion Service at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays. and began a monthly meeting with other campus ministries.

While the students were on semester break, SCF donated the furniture from the “Club Hub” in the Student Union to use in the “great room” in the Chapel. At our first Communion Service after break we had three students participate in the Service.

What a blessing.

Other ministry partners on campus include local Southern Baptist Convention churches, Bay Side Community Church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Church of the Redeemer and Woodland Community Church. – By The Rev. Bryan O’Carroll

mentors to work with at risk children, particularly middle school students, to reduce the prison population. National President Annette Buchanan discussed the mission of UBE. She stressed the continued need to fight for racial and social justice, including Voting Rights, Living Wage, Reduction in Gun Violence and Fair Criminal Justice.

An update was presented on new initiatives at National Headquarters, including relocation of offices to Washington D.C., improved communication with membership, fund raising and membership.

The conference concluded with corporate communion at Grace Episcopal Church at a Holy Eucharist celebrated by The Rev. Benjamin Twinamaani.

Black Episcopalians Conference inTampa

St. Mary, Palmetto Hosts Record Confirmations

TAMPA - The Union of Black Episcopalians, Southern Region, held their annual Southern Regional Conference over the weekend of March 14.

The Conference host was the John E. Culmer chapter of UBE. The chapter comprises members from St. James House of Prayer, Tampa; St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, St Chad’s, Tampa, Grace Episcopal, Tampa. Attendees included UBE national President, Annette Buchanan, New Jersey, Regional Director, Kathy Walker, Miami, Jacksonville chapter President, Alma Flowers, Austin Texas chapter President, Ora Houston, Central Florida chapter President, Dr. John Robertson, Tampa chapter President, Georgette Johnson and representatives from the region’s chapters.

An impassioned presentation was made by Associate Attorney Euridicie Barton-Jones of the 13th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office which focused on the links between zero tolerance policies and resulting punishments in schools leading to repeat incarcerations in the prison system. There is a need for a ministry and

PALMETTO - On Easter Sunday at St. Mary’s, 42 children, youth and adult candidates stepped forward to either receive their first Holy Communion, be confirmed or reaffirm their faith.

The service was the third on Easter Sunday for St. Mary’s.

The two English services were led by Fr. Glen Graczyk, Priest in Charge. The candidates were presented by Fr. Dick Lampert, the Spanish-speaking priest at St. Mary’s Palmetto. Bishop Michael Garrison blessed, confirmed and reaffirmed.

Both Garrison and Lampert said that this was the “largest class” of first communicants and confirmations they could recall.

Fr. Glen Graczyk, St. Mary’s PriestIn-Charge and The Ven. Canon Dennis McManis from the Diocesan staff both participated in the service.

“The Church was packed with over 300 people and only standing room left in the rear,” said Lambert. “The pure sense of joy, excitement and the abiding presence of God’s Holy Spirit was overwhelming.” X

Other Parish News Church of the Good Shepherd, Dunedin: The parish has now held four Low Country Shrimp Boil Dinners, the most recent on March 28. It netted $5,793.51. Each dinner is run to benefit a specific area of Episcopal Relief & Development. The entire parish of 207 participates. Some donate items for the silent auction, many make delicious homemade desserts, others bring colored comics to help decorate tables, serve or clean up. Some help sell dinner tickets and raffle tickets. The proceeds from the latest dinner will purchase pigs, chickens and cows from the Gifts for Life Catalog.

St. Alfred’s, Palm Harbor: The Starfish Ministry group meets the first Saturday of each month for a “Rice Bagging Party” to benefit DayStar Life Center in St. Petersburg. They come together each month to bag 200 pounds of rice 1 1/2 cups to a ziplock bag.

St. Andrew’s, Tampa: The Episcopal Church: Our Colonial Foundation was the topic of a spring Sunday School series. The series was for grades 10 through college. The series studied the church’s history from King Henry VIII until the American Civil War. They examine the real issues defining the church then and compare them to now. The series culminates in an early summer trip to Philadelphia.

St. John’s, Tampa: On Sunday, March 23, Organist and Choirmaster Simon Morley played a recital at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York as part of the church’s Sunday afternoon series.

Send in news from your parish to Around the Diocese by email to editor@episcopalswfl.org. The next edition is Fall, 2014.

31

Clergy Notes The Rev. Charles Connelly at St. John’s Tampa

The Rev. Charles Connelly has accepted a call to serve as the priest-incharge at St. John’s, Tampa. The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, Bishop of Southwest Florida, has approved the appointment.

Deaths in the Diocese The Rev. Phyllis Schanbacher Herlihy, a deacon in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, died January 2, 2014.

Deacon Phyllis was born July 30, 1927 in Waverly, NY. She married George Herlihy, who died in 1973. Phyllis and George moved to Florida in 1961. She was ordained deacon in 1991 and was assigned to Christ Church, Bradenton and the Episcopal mission to Manatee Community College, now the Chaplaincy at State College of Florida.

The Rev. Mary Willow, 87, a retired deacon in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, died March 10, 2014 in Clark, N.J. Dcn. Willow had been living in New Jersey in her retirement from the diaconate. She served at St. Andrew’s, Spring Hill, until 2006. She was ordained deacon in the Diocese of Southwest Florida on Oct. 26, 1986.

The Rev. Raymond Ellison Dage, priest in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, died March 31, 2014 in Holiday.

Born Nov. 10, 1942, he was rector of St. 32

Stephen’s, New Port Richey from 1997 to 2007. Dage also served as rector of St. John’s, Brooksville from 1989-1997; vicar of St. Edmund the Divine, Arcadia from 1983-89 and curate at St. Luke’s, Ft. Myers from 1976-81. He is survived by his wife Jacqueline.

The Rev. Herman T. “Woody” Silvius, III died Thursday, April 10, 2014 in Cape Coral. He was ordained to the deaconate and the priesthood in 1952 in the Diocese of Massachusetts, the same year he married Jean Richardson, his surviving spouse. Fr. Woody and Jean had three children. Silvius served parishes in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Diocese of Massachusetts. In Southwest Florida he served at Church of the Epiphany, Cape Coral; St. Luke’s, Fort Myers; St Anselm’s, Lehigh Acres; Church of the Good Shepherd, LaBelle and St. Raphael’s, Fort Myers Beach.

The Rev. Ashmun Norris Brown, 83, a priest in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, died Saturday, April 12, 2014. Before ordination, he served as an attorney with both the Federal Aviation Agency and with National Aeronautics and Space Administration, where he was a counsel to the investigation of the Apollo 1, the disaster that killed all three astronauts in a cabin fire.

In the wake of the fire, NASA convened the Apollo 204 Accident Review Board to determine the causes and report to Congress. The Browns arrived in Southwest Florida in 2007, where Fr. Brown assisted at St. David’s Church, Englewood.X

Feature: Berkeley Continued from page 15

says it is right that if a child, for instance, goes to a Jesuit school, the parent understands that they are going to have a Catholic perspective. Carter says it is difficult to get it right. Some call the school “too religious” and others say it’s “not religious enough.”

There are many concessions, but none over core doctrine. For instance, to make parents who are not Episcopal or Catholic comfortable, he calls himself “chaplain” even though the tradition in the Diocese of Southwest Florida is to call a male priest father. “There are some Protestants that don’t like to use the word Father,” says Carter. At the school’s daily convocation, Carter says that almost every child says the school prayer, which includes Jesus.

The difference is in how some children say it. “Some stop before saying the prayer in Jesus’ name,” Carter says. “Hindus stop earlier.”

Nevertheless, Carter says when you hear 500 some children in the Lykes Performing Arts Center, they are all in unison, and the difference is barely detectable.

“When I listen to all the kids in all the divisions, they all meet every morning and say ‘Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.’ I hardly hear any less of their voices.” X

Calendar Classifieds Visit us at episcopalswfl.org for more information. Events at DaySpring Episcopal Center unless noted otherwise.

Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Bryan O’ Carroll – At St. George’s, Bradenton, Sunday, June 1, 2014 2014 High School Summer Camp Sunday, June 15, 2014 2014 Middle School Summer Camp – Sunday, June 22, 2014 2014 Elementary School Summer Camp - Sunday, June 29, 2014 Ordination to the Priesthood, the Rev. Alexander Andujar - June 29, 2014, Christ Episcopal Church, Bradenton Celebration of New Ministry, the Rev. Jon Roberts - At Calvary Episcopal Church, Indian Rocks Beach, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014 Communications Workshop – DaySpring, Wednesday, Aug. 20 Diocesan Stewardship – Saturday, Aug. 23 Baseball with the Bishop – Friday, August 29, Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox

APARTMENTS

USF Residency, Fall 2014: Resident Applications being accepted for 2014 for the USF Chapel Center. Private rooms are available for Fall Semester 2014. The deadline for applications is March 1. Monthly Cost is only $300 per month!

Includes UNLIMITED use of: the kitchen, washer/dryer (no charge), common living area with TV/Cable, Free WiFi throughout center, and quiet study space. The community shares a “homecooked” community dinner every Tuesday night (no charge). Candidates will be considered, based on the application that shows commitment to the experience of intentional Christian community, the development of a mission project during residency, weekly communal worship in the tradition of ancient Christian practices, and the sharing of the responsibilities of community life. Contact ecooter@episcopalswfl.org.

EMPLOYMENT Camp Counselors: The Diocese of Southwest Florida is looking to hire camp counselors for three weeks of summer camp at DaySpring Episcopal Center located in Parrish. This is a residential program that runs for three consecutive sessions this summer (training June 13-15; high school June 15-20; middle June 22-27; elementary June 29- July 4.) Programs offered include canoeing, high ropes, zip line, Bible study, worship, team leadership training, tennis, basketball and court games. Room, Board and stipend will be provided. Call 941-556-0315 for more information or visit campdayspring.org.

EMPLOYMENT (CON’T) Camp Nurse: A nurse (R.N. or L.P.N) is needed for DaySpring Summer Camp’s 2014 season.

Stipend and includes private housing at DaySpring and all meals. There are also scholarship options for a child of the nurse who wishes to attend camp. The camp nurse’s duties include distributing medicine, checking on injuries and keeping medical forms. The nurse needs to be available for our middle school and elementary school sessions. Email resume to Michelle Mercurio at mmercurio@episocopalswfl.org.

RELIGIOUS & EDUCATIONAL PILGRIMAGES Join us for a pilgrimage to Israel with Fr. Jim Hedman from St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church on Oct. 20-20, 2014. Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem, lived in Nazareth, was baptized in the Jordan, taught, worshipped, died and was resurrected in and outside of Jerusalem. Join us in this pilgrimage in which we will have the opportunity to explore the land and culture that birthed our faith. We will have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Mary, Peter, Paul, Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ. For more information call Patda DeLaTorre at 941-373-1462.

HOW TO ADVERTISE The Southern Cross is sent to Episcopalians in Southwest Florida. Reach this great market with a classified in The Southern Cross. Ads are $25 for 100 words. Email ad to southerncross@episcopalswfl.org or call 941-556-0315. You may also send in the below form. We accept checks, Visa and Mastercard. Next edition is fall, 2014.

QuickBooks & ACS User Days – Sept. 16, 17, 2014 Healthcare Benefits Workshop - Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014, DaySpring Vocation Information Day – Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 Budgeting Workshop – Tuesday, Nov 4 Fall Convocations – Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, Sept. 2, 3, 4 Fall Clergy Conference/Retreat – Monday , Tuesday & Wednesday, September 8, 9 and 10

CLASSIFIEDS FORM

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Diocesan Acolyte Festival – Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, Cathedral Church of St. Peter, St. Petersburg

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Annual Diocesan Convention – Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 and 18, Charlotte Harbor Conference Center, Punta Gorda

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CPG Wellness Summit – Friday, December 12

33

Glancing Back

Launching a World War II Liberty Ship in the Name of Bishop Gray

IN 1944, THE Liberty Ship William students.” The Diocesan Banquet

Crane Gray was launched in Jacksonville by the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company. Part of the World War II effort, Liberty ships were built quickly to haul goods to the war effort in Europe and the Pacific.

Jacksonville produced 82 of the 2,700 Liberty Ships, which were typically named for notable Americans, including Gray, first bishop of the Missionary Jurisdiction of Southern Florida.

Other news from 50, 40 and 30 years ago in the Diocese:

1964

The Diocese of South Florida had their annual convention in Daytona Beach April 21-23 at The Daytona Plaza; The Palm Branch reported that the city had become the center of “where the boys are” during college Spring Holidays because “the community wanted to attract these

and all meetings of the ECW were to be at the Riviera Beach Motel. The 7:30 ECW Banquet was $5. Convention speaker was the Bishop of Panama.

That year, radio stations carrying “The Episcopal Series” in Southwest Florida included St. Petersburg’s WLCY, Tampa’s WHPO, Dade City’s WDCF and Bradenton’s WTRL. Also that year, the Rev. Emmet Smith, vicar of St. Giles, Pinellas Park, was Episcopal Chaplain to the Veteran’s Administration hospital at Bay Pines. Plans were to hold a Holy Communion service at the V.A. each Friday morning.

At St. John the Divine, Ruskin, ECW membership had grown from 16 to 46.

1974

The year Nixon resigned, The Rev. Robert Albert Benton established the Episcopal Counseling Center with branches in Tampa, Sarasota and Clearwater. Benton, who died in June of 1977, was ordained an Episcopal priest at St. Andrew’s Tampa in 1949. A native of Tampa, the Rev. Benton received his doctorate in counseling from the University of Florida.

In 1974, women in leadership posts in the Diocese included Mrs. H.B. Carter, United Thank Offering Custodian; Mrs. Harry M. Reeser Sr., Church Periodical Club; Burl Bolesta, Girls’ Friendly Society; Mrs. Jackson Burgess, Altar Guild Direc34

tress; Mrs. Harry Goldsmith, Daughters of the King. That year, Mrs. B.C. Booth of Sarasota was president of the Episcopal Church Women and Mrs. Benjamin A. Corey was vice president.

Also that year, Annual Convention passed a memorial resolution that would investigate the possibility of the ordination of women, and would “implement a program to study the social, theological and practical aspects of the issue of ordination of women to the Priesthood and the Episcopate providing for open hearings or discussion to be conducted in each Deanery.”

1984

The Rev. Louis H. Hayden, Jr. was chairman of the Committee on Schools.

Of the 10 Episcopal schools in the Diocese, there were a total of 2,905 students.

In Tampa, Fr. Barsale was leading St. Francis in “new and exciting ways”. X Bishop Gray photos from Florida Memory Project.

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Cornerstone Kids, St. James House of Prayer, Photo by Erin Jefferson

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DIOCESE OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 8005 25TH STREET EAST PARRISH, FLORIDA 34219

LIVE THE EPISCOPAL CAMP TRADITION The Diocese of Southwest Florida is proud to offer summer camps at DaySpring Episcopal Center. Campers participate in a Christian program designed to help them grow spiritually and emotionally. Three week-long sessions are held for elementary, middle and high school students.

The $375 fee for one week includes room, all meals and activities fees. Programs for high school and middle schoolers include sailing, canoeing, high ropes and zip line. All campers participate in canoeing, Bible study, worship, tennis, basketball and court games.

DATES Counselor Training June 13-15, 2014 High School Summer Camp Sunday, June 15 to Friday, June 20, 2014 Rising 9th -12th Grade Middle School Summer Camp Sunday, June 22 to Friday, June 27, 2014 Rising 6th - 8th Grade Elementary Summer Camp Sunday, June 29 to Friday, July 4, 2014 Rising 3rd - 5th Grade Register online at www.episcopalswfl.org and find out more on the camp blog, campdayspring.org

CONTACT Michelle Mercurio Registrar 941-556-0315 x977 mmercurio@episcopalswfl.org The Rev. Michelle Ortiz Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator mortiz@episcopalswfl.org