CFE Digital Digest Roundup

Here’s a quick summary of the top stories featured in our monthly CFE Digital Digest. Visit cfdiocese.org/ cfedigitaldigest to read the stories in full and subscribe FREE.

The Central Florida Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians recognized the outstanding service of The Rev. Canon Nelson W. Pinder with a May 15 virtual name dedication ceremony featuring testimonials and tributes by honored guests, including The Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church. Pinder became a leader in the civil rights movements in Orlando after his arrival to the area in 1959. “Our renaming commits us to carry on with the fervor and intent that Father Pinder had in his work,” said Dr. John Robertson, president of the chapter now renamed as The Canon Nelson Pinder UBE Chapter of Central Florida.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, churches and leaders from diverse backgrounds are fulfilling Christ’s call to unity while offering the gift of life beyond the virus. “This has God’s hand all over it,” said Ericka Gómez-Tejeda, a community organizer with Hablamos Español who helped spearhead efforts for church-sponsored vaccinations. In six weeks’ time, she and fellow Episcopalian Carmen Torres brought together 100 volunteers who served and more than 3,050 people who received vaccinations. Participating diocesan churches included St. John’s, St. John the Baptist, Jesús de Nazaret and Blessed Redeemer plus other area congregations. “The faith community has really stepped up in a big way,” Gómez-Tejeda said. Two longtime best friends, Grace Peters, 17, and Kate Crawley, 18, of Holy Trinity, Melbourne, have now been appointed as the two youngest vergers in the Diocese of Central Florida on June 20 and Aug. 8, respectively. The Holy Trinity clergy, along with Head Verger Vern Lester, chose Peters and Crawley for their new positions, giving them separate installation dates because of scheduling conflicts. Both young women have sensed the call of God on their lives. “I felt the call when I became an acolyte,” Peters said. “The first time I felt a calling was when Vern asked me to be a verger,” Crawley said.

When Hope Blume realized how many women in St. Matthias, Clermont, had spouses suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, she saw a need for a support group. She shared the need with Care Ministry team members Jessie Gustafson and Pat Meeker. “Together, we decided it would be very beneficial for these women and any future women and men to have a safe place to meet and share their feelings, challenges and experiences,” Blume explained. After an introductory luncheon and finding leaders from among the members, REFRESH Support began meeting every other Monday at noon in the parish library on March 29. The 90-minute meetings are open to all parishioners, and currently, five caregivers attend.