Annual Thanksgiving Offering to Supply Tech Needs for Honduran Children

People in the United States have a reputation for complaining about unimportant issues. There’s even a social media hashtag that encapsulates this syndrome: Bishop Lloyd Allen, who leads the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras, said in a recent video call that with his country reopening, there is great concern that a second phase of COVID-19 having had that formation. These kids have no access to computers. Some are receiving classes over computer or possibly cell phone. But the majority of those most vulnerable are unable to have or receive their classes,” he said, due Annual Thanksgiving Offering to Supply Tech Needs for Honduran Children BY MARTI PIEPER THANKSGIVING OFFEREING #firstworldproblems. will sweep the nation. “The beaches to the lack of technology. The problems we experience are swarming, no masks, the buses are The Diocese of Central Florida, The as a result of COVID-19 seem crowded to 100% capacity,” he said. Episcopal Church and other dioceses monumental: Isolation. Loneliness. “This will have its toll and effect.” and individuals have given generously Job loss. Decreased income. Food As in the United States, a huge part of throughout this crisis to help support insecurity. Illness. Even death. the overall impact of the coronavirus the Diocese of Honduras. But the None of these counts as a “first pandemic and resultant lockdown “computers for kids” project represents world problem.” But what happens has taken place in the schools. a unique response to a specific need when you take those problems and Schools are back in operation, he that lies close to the heart of Bishop add the distinction of living in an said, but fear of the coronavirus has Allen and to the heart of God. Allen will already-impoverished country? kept registrations at 50% and fewer. use the offering to distribute laptops to That’s what the people of Honduras The Episcopal schools “will continue kids and to help them gain access to the and our sister diocese there face doing school virtually, and the kids education they so desperately need. every day. And that’s what each will not return to the classroom till Kingdom relationship includes gift given to our annual 2021, Lord willing,” Allen said. kingdom responsibility. As you pray Thanksgiving offering will “Honduras is basically a rural over your Thanksgiving offering help alleviate. country,” he added. “Sixty percent of this year, consider its value in a land school-age kids will lose a year or be where even a small gift can have promoted to the next level without significant impact.

Someday when we look back on the year 2020, we will recall its many challenges. But I hope we will also recall how God showed up in faithfulness. It is with that spirit of gratitude that the Diocese of Central Florida has made the Diocese of Honduras, led by my dear friend Bishop Lloyd Allen, the annual recipient of its Thanksgiving offering. And it is with that same spirit that I urge you to give. Recall what Bishop Allen has said about the desperate need for technology for the many children who have no access to education without it. In Honduras, technology can make a world of difference for those little ones about whom Jesus said, “it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs” (Matt. 19:14b). Grace to you, Bishop Gregory O. Brewer

Donate with checks made payable to: "Diocese of Central Florida." Memo: "2020 Thanksgiving Offering" Mail to: Diocese of Central Florida, 1017 E. Robinson St., Orlando, FL 32801

Fr. Jim Sorvillo assists in All Souls' final pre-lockdown service at Bay Lake Elementary, March 15, 2020.

Church Plant Clings to Christ Amidst COVID-19 Challenges

BY MARTI PIEPER

“Everything changed with a press conference on March 16,” The Rev. Matt Ainsley said. Ainsley, missioner of All Souls Mission, a church plant in the Horizon West area of Orlando, was referring to the new world his church and so many others were thrust into after that press conference, when President Trump announced a nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What would Ainsley and his “brand-new old church” do? Changes and Challenges “Everyone has had challenges, and there are challenges that are particular to each congregation,” Ainsley explained. “We had just started, and coming out of Christmas and going into Lent, we really had a lot of momentum. All Souls was growing, and we were getting a steady flow of visitors.” One of the first things that changed was the church’s meeting place: Bay Lake Elementary School in Horizon West. “Of course, schools were closed,” Ainsley said. “There were months that you could not rent them even if you wanted to.” As of March 18, the diocese also suspended all in-person gatherings for public worship. And having no access to the school left Ainsley and his congregation worshipping from home. “No matter how great you make your online streaming service, it’s not the same,” he said. “And especially for families who have children, it’s crazy. I’m the priest, and my kids are running around the living room while we’re trying to watch what Daddy recorded. But you make it work.” Ainsley is thankful, though, that today’s technology has made streaming easier than ever. “We weren’t doing any of that before,” he said. “And we did it on a dime with an iPhone and a little mic. … If this had happened five years ago, it’d be much more expensive to stream services. But now, it’s really plug and play.” For a young church plant like All Souls, the lack of in-person meetings also meant that “all the momentum we had was really stopped in its tracks,” Ainsley said. “But it’s really been amazing, and I think we’ve done about as well as we could possibly do. People have stayed engaged; they’ve continued to support the church, all that.” Still, Ainsley said he and his congregation experienced the grief many have felt in response to this season of change. “As this has gone on, you realize you’re not really going to be able to pick back up where you left off,”

he said. “So the reality is, we can cry this really strong, and, in a way, replant. about it, or we can trust that the Lord At this point, we’re probably looking called us into the wilderness and that at 2021 – in 2021, the Lord providing he’s going to be with us.” a place for us to nest and to be able to put down roots and really relaunching Hope and Help in a way in the eyes of the community,” On Saturday, March 22, since the he said. school was no longer available, All Souls began recording services Weaknesses and Worship for Sundays at the Dean Johnson “I feel like we’re in a really good spot,” Memorial Chapel at Emmanuel Ainsley said. “And the Lord has brought Episcopal, Audubon Park. “They’ve got us through this. … I’ve tried to look on this little chapel; it’s amazing,” Ainsley our weaknesses as strengths. We don’t said. “We did that in March, April and have a lot of overhead to run this right May, three months.” now. … And it makes us flexible. If But when All Souls returned to in- your church has been around 200 years, person worship, Bay Lake Elementary you can’t pick up and go record over still wasn’t an option. Because of the here and go meet over there. We were pandemic, the nomadic in that school chose to limit way, and it really outside guests. And is like the parallels even today, All Souls between church can’t meet there. planting and Israel “I would say about 60% of the wandering in the wilderness.” congregation has When the returned to in- pandemic ends, person, 50 to 60%,” Ainsley does not Ainsley said. “So plan to continue that means when we livestream services, first reopened, it was although he 20%, so the majority will still record were staying online.” sermons. Online Once again, God church was “better provided a meeting than nothing,” he place, this time said. “But it’s not at what Ainsley a replacement for calls the church’s “grandmother,” From May 31 to the present, All Souls has held hybrid services (inthe people of God gathering together Church of the Messiah in Winter person and livestreamed) at the Church of the Messiah in Winter Garden. as at the foot of the cross.” Garden, which “I think doing planted All Souls’ mother church, hybrid small groups for the foreseeable Church of the Ascension in Dr. Phillips. future is a good takeaway,” he said. “We’re doing a dual thing where it’s “You can have people gathered in a in person, but it’s also streamed on home or at the church, and you set up Facebook,” Ainsley said. “And that has an iPhone and share that to the screen, been a wonderful blessing. … So when and people can Zoom in. … And the dust settles, we can come out of again, that’s better than someone not

“God never calls us to do something that he doesn’t also equip us to carry out.”

being able to participate.” All Souls’ tagline “a brand-new old church” means the church has consistently pressed into the ancient faith and the Book of Common Prayer, Ainsley said. “And there’s such a stability to that. And I think I’ve found it comforting to know that the liturgy itself, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, the prayers that we pray – that was being done long before I was born, and it will be done long after I’m gone. And God is constant; Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. “So I think having supremely the person of Jesus Christ, but the historic worship of the church as an anchor, has been extremely comforting to this church plant,” Ainsley said. “And realizing this is new to us; something like this has never happened in the digital age. But the church has seen everything, and the church has been through everything. And the Lord has not abandoned her. “And so if we look at the Lord’s track record, we had better roll up our sleeves,” he said. “We have to pray and work. So we’re going to pray. But we’re also going to faithfully do what God has called us to do. And trust that he’s going to provide, and he’s going to heal. “He’s going to equip us,” Ainsley said. “God never calls us to do something that he doesn’t also equip us to carry out.”