Central Florida Episcopalian Newspaper Nov-Dec, 2019

Central Florida

CFE EPISCOPALIAN

DENTRO: ¡El boletín de noticias español está de vuelta! Por favor, consulte las páginas 22-25.

Volume 121, No. 6 / Nov / Dec 2019

Episcopal Schools: Diverse Offerings for a Diverse Diocese

CONTENTS

BISHOP BREWER

Proclaim It From the Roofs............................................................................................................... 3

CANON HOLCOMBE

Whose Church Is It, Anyway?............................................................................................................ 4

BEST PRACTICES

Be Our Guest.................................................................................................................................... 5

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MINISTRIES

In Dorian’s Aftermath, Central Floridians Serve Bahamians

Camp Wingmann Celebrates Over 90 Years of Ministry................................................................... 6 Annual Canterbury Fundraiser Emphasizes Prayer, Opportunity...................................................... 6 Cursillo Extends Diocesan Impact.................................................................................................... 7 Diocesan Order of the Daughters of the King is Steadfast in Hope.................................................. 7 Clergy Traditions.............................................................................................................................. 7

PEOPLE & EVENTS

In Dorian’s Aftermath, Central Floridians Serve Bahamians............................................................. 8 Saving Starfish Island....................................................................................................................... 9 Investing a Legacy.......................................................................................................................... 10

PREPARING FOR CONVENTION 2020

The Rev. Canon Chris Russell Has ‘Great Expectations’................................................................... 11 Salt of the Earth, Light of the World..........................................................................................12-13

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CENTRAL FLORIDA’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOLS

Archbishop of Canterbury’s Adviser for Evangelism to Preach at Diocesan Convention

Remembering for the Sake of Our Future...................................................................................... 14 All Saints Academy Announces New Head of School...................................................................... 15 UCF Students Come to Faith Through St. Gabriel’s Choir................................................................ 16 God Moves Quickly to Start Preschool at Trinity, Vero Beach........................................................... 16 St. Edward’s School’s New Chaplain Lives Out His Calling.............................................................. 17 St. Mark’s New PE Teacher Has High Hopes.................................................................................... 18 The Rev. Jared Jones Ordained at Holy Trinity Episcopal Assembly, Melbourne............................. 18 Trinity Prep’s Head Elected to National Board................................................................................ 19 Christ Church Provides Space for Special Children......................................................................... 19 Nightingale Nursing School Changes Lives in Honduras............................................................... 20 Episcopal Schools in the Diocese of Central Florida....................................................................... 21

CFE EN ESPAÑOL

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UCF Students Come to Faith through St. Gabriel’s Choir

Obispo Brewer: Proclamarlo Desde la Azotea................................................................................. 22 Salvar la isla estrella de mar (Saving Starfish Island)...................................................................... 23 Invertir un Legado.......................................................................................................................... 24 ¿A Quien le Pertenece la Iglesia de Todos Modos?......................................................................... 25

DIOCESAN CALENDAR/BISHOP BREWER’S VISITATIONS ..................... 27

Want to know what this Sunday’s Scripture readings are all about?

Well, check out Lectionary Living, the weekly online feature on CFE Online in which you can be inspired by a short devotion written by one of our local spiritual leaders and coordinated with the upcoming Sunday’s Lectionary Scripture reading.

Go to Lectionary Living on the home page of cfdiocese.org

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The Diocese of Central Florida The Right Reverend Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop Serving 15 counties through 81 churches and 30,000 members

The Episcopal Church The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate An international community of 2.5 million Christians in North and South America, Europe and Taiwan

The Anglican Communion The Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury A global community of more than 85 million Christians in more than 165 countries worldwide

Central Florida EPISCOPALIAN The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe Retired The Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell Retired The Rev. Canon Scott Holcombe Canon to the Ordinary The Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb Canon for Vocations The Ven. Kristi Alday, Archdeacon Mr. Earl Pickett, Diocesan Administrator Mr. Erick Perez, Subscription Manager Central Florida EPISCOPALIAN is published by the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. Submissions are welcome, but are subject to editing and use at the discretion of the Central Florida Episcopalian.

Please submit event notices three months prior to the event to: Central Florida Episcopalian 1017 E. Robinson St. Orlando, FL 32801-2023 Wendy Leech, Communications Coordinator wleech@cfdiocese.org / 407-423-3567 Erick Perez, Subscription Manager eperez@cfdiocese.org / 407-423-3567 www.cfdiocese.org

BISHOP BREWER

Proclaim It From the Roofs : Annual Thanksgiving Offering

By Bishop Gregory O. Brewer

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Matt. 10:27, NIV).

In this verse, Jesus refers to both physical and metaphorical roofs. He is urging his disciples to share the treasure of the gospel by announcing it far and wide.

Making a Difference

If we want to get a message out today, we post it on social media. The social media of New Testament times was the roof, from which a herald’s proclamations could reach a large number of townspeople as quickly as possible.

Roofs don’t play as prominent a role today. Or do they?

We may not need roofs for proclamation, but we certainly need them for protection from the elements. Here in Central Florida, driving rains, hailstorms and hurricanes can lead to the need for roof repairs or replacement, often at a high cost. These conditions and costs exist at an even greater level in Honduras, the focus of our annual Thanksgiving offering.

But just as our children sometimes need assistance on the way to self-sufficiency, our Honduran partners do as well. My friend Wesny Dubic, chair of the Central Florida Honduras Commission, made a return trip to Honduras this summer and visited a number of sites where the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras is making a difference.

One of those was the Catedral El Buen Pastor (Cathedral of the Good Shepherd), which stands in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, surrounded by miles of poverty. The Cathedral’s new dean, The Rev. Hector Amilcar Ortega, is doing his best with very limited resources to make Catedral El Buen Pastor an example for all the churches there.

Bishop Greg Brewer

Meeting a Need

Ortega has already accomplished much, but he and his congregation now face a huge need. The cathedral’s roof is in a state of disrepair and will cost $6,000 to replace. To our Florida ears, this may sound like a bargain. But in a country where the average per capita annual income, as reported in 2016, was less than $4,300, it seems insurmountable.

Bishop Allen has requested that all monies raised in our Thanksgiving offering this year go toward replacement of I have often shared the profound impact that my relationship with The Right Rev. Lloyd Allen, bishop of the the cathedral’s roof. I’m including a few photos so you can see the deep need, much as I saw other needs on my own Diocese of Honduras, has had on my life. He has become visits there. I urge you to remember that our joint work both a dear friend as well as a partner in ministry, and I serves to extend the name of Jesus throughout Honduras have had the privilege of visiting his country and seeing and that Bishop Allen, with his strong emphasis on both the glory of God’s work along with the profound needs. education and outreach, is succeeding in this goal.

Developing Self-Sufficiency

Bishop Allen has made his emphasis clear: He wants his diocese to work toward self-sufficiency, of which education is a major part. In fact, you’ll read an article in this issue about how the Nightingale nursing school in Siguatepeque, Honduras, is working to change the lives of both its students and those they serve through their learned medical skills.

I agree with Bishop Allen that education is a vital key to developing self-sufficiency throughout his diocese. By training future Christian leaders and moving young adults out of poverty via training and skills, education brings light out of darkness and offers hope amidst despair. www.cfdiocese.org

I ask you to prayerfully consider what God would want to do through you to support this project. As we co-labor with our Honduran brothers and sisters, we are quite literally making a way for them to shout the good news from the roofs and continue proclaiming his name in the Diocese of Honduras.

Grace to You,

Thanksgiving offerings will help repair the rooftop of Catedral El Buen Pastor (Cathedral of the Good Shepherd).

Bishop Gregory O. Brewer

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CA N O N H O L C O M B E

Whose Church Is It, Anyway?

Be Our Guest my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18, emphasis added). The church – the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), God’s people (1 Pet. 2:10) – belongs to Jesus; it is His church.

It is this covenanted group of people, bought by the precious blood of the Lamb, for whom Christ died. The church is the household of God, and as such, its ownership, cost and value have nothing to do with the current (or previous) rector. It was not, is not, nor ever shall be “his,” “her” or “my” church.

By The Rev. Canon Scott Holcombe

Taking up the ministry of canon to the ordinary has been an eye-opening experience. As I travel around the diocese visiting congregations, working with vestries, launching congregational development strategies and meeting clergy and church Though this may leaders, I have seem a minor noticed an intersemantic issue, esting phenomeclergy and other non: the overuse mature believers of the word “my” understand the in everyday value of accurate conversation. I language. This often hear “my type of miscomchurch,” “my Wife La Nora and Canon Scott Holcombe at his munication can congregation,” installation as the canon to the ordinary Oct. 13 lead to turf wars, “my vestry” or control issues, “my parish.” I power struggles and unnecessary even hear references to “Rev. Sodebates. and-so’s church” years after Rev. So-and-So has moved on.

Yes, it takes a few more words to say,

“the church I serve” or “the church to which I belong,” but this language also reflects that the church never belongs to us. When it comes right down to it, the Diocese of Central Florida is not “my” diocese either. I’m grateful to be a part of his church, in his diocese, serving his people. And I trust you are too!

I feel confident the use of “my,” “his” or “her” represents unintentional expressions to facilitate simpler dialogue. However, their repeated use has moved me to explore why this causes me discomfort.

At Caesarea Philippi just after the confession of Peter, Jesus says, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build

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Nov / Dec 2019

Luke 7:36-50

Congregational growth lessons from a dinner invitation

By The Rev. Jim Sorvillo Imagine you’ve been invited to dinner.

Your host, a pillar of the city, owns a home in the most upscale gated community.

other guests notice?

Did Simon skip these intentionally, or was he just a rude dude?

To add to the social awkwardness, a woman Sorvillo noted for her sinful life You and your spouse barges in, weeping. Her tears get ready, find your way, clear wash over Jesus’ feet, but she the gate and locate the house. dries them with her hair and The driveway seems to go on pours perfume over them. forever, but you finally reach This expression of intimacy the front door, only to find a amid the social faux pas, her Post-it note that reads, “Come love for Jesus overruling on in.” any need to follow cultural You walk inside, calling out protocol, reveals the power of a tentative, “Helloo?” Your redemption. greeting echoes up the grand staircase when you hear, “We’ll be right down!”

As you stand there, you see piles of unfolded clothes on the couch, the vacuum left out with its cord stretched

across the floor, food cooking unattended in the kitchen and not so much as a bowl of Publix mixed nuts standing ready.

“Is this the right day? Are we supposed to be here?” you ask each other.

That same feeling of discomfort must have permeated the atmosphere when Jesus accepted an invitation to Simon the Pharisee’s home. Jesus noted that he received none of the basic courtesies: No foot washing, no oil on the head, no kiss of welcome. Did the

Churches often underestimate the impact of hospitality.

According to an Aug. 27, 2017 article on ChurchLeaders.com, visitors make up their mind whether they like your church within 10 minutes of leaving their car.

Think about that. They haven’t heard a sermon or taken Communion. They’ve come in, met a few people and sat down. Did anyone meet them in the parking lot? Did clear signs help them find their way? Was the church entrance clean, or is it cluttered, smelly and confusing? Did smiling greeters welcome them and help them get oriented to this alien environment called the church, or did the lifelong grumpy usher meet them (you know, the one who’s upset about the kids running around www.cfdiocese.org

B E ST P R A CT I C E S

and the one typo he found in the bulletin)? As the saying goes, we don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.

Leaders often forget that they set the tone for the church’s spiritual growth.

Simon the Pharisee certainly fell short in his duties as host.

Do clergy and lay leaders think about intentionally creating an environment in the church that builds trust in new members? All members need to develop that trust so they will allow themselves to be transparent about their issues, preparing the way for spiritual healing and redemption.

Do church leaders lead by example?

Are members appropriately transparent in a way that says, “It’s OK to be authentic here, to be real because we’re all broken and in need of a Savior!”

If leaders fail to express transparency and give their members permission to be open about their needs, the likelihood of members doing the same will be limited at best.

Walk through your church as if you were new. What works? What confuses you? Does it look messy?

How is the hospitality?

How will we be able to invite people into a life with Christ if we can’t get them in the door and keep them longer than 10 minutes? Isn’t that why we invited them anyway? www.cfdiocese.org

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

Annual Canterbury Fundraiser Emphasizes Prayer, Opportunity Fundraisers have a reputation for beating the money drum, but at October’s “An Evening for Canterbury: Celebrating the Past and Looking to the Future,” the overwhelming emphases were prayer and opportunity.

Some of those opportunities include corporate gatherings, personal retreats, family reunions and workshops, above and beyond the use of the 48 acres of Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center in Oviedo for church retreats, meetings and activities.

“Canterbury has the potential to be a spiritual sanctuary for the business community,” said The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer.

“As the level of hospitality increases, this place could become a real place to go for all kinds of various groups.”

Mother Michelle Roach and Debra Morse enjoyed visiting on the back patio during the reception.

Under the direction of Executive Director Chalmers Morse, Canterbury’s “tired facilities” have already undergone major changes.

New parking areas, landscaping and a new water system in the twostory building are just a few of the improvements.

Palate Coffee, which donates all proceeds to help fight human trafficking, has been added to the lounge. Work has also started on the guest rooms, and a major renovation

is planned for the main building.

All this is a far cry from when the diocese purchased the land nearly 40 years ago. At that time, the property was littered with car parts and batteries, refrigerators, weeds and out-of-control underbrush.

The site’s one primary attraction was the lake, still a focal point of the grounds.

Turn Our Eyes Upon Jesus Camp Wingmann celebrates over 90 years of ministry

Brewer encouraged the packed house to pray about what Canterbury can become, noting that a group of intercessors prays for every person who attends every function at the facility. “This could be a spiritually alive place that has an impact on businesses,” he said.

Currently, Canterbury has 45 guest rooms, each intentionally free of televisions or telephones.

The facility also has five conference rooms complete with Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment.

To make a donation, call the Canterbury office at 407-365-5571 or visit its website, www. canterburyretreat.org.

C

amp Wingmann is hosting an Alumni Weekend – and you are invited! We want to give camp alumni of all generations and roles the opportunity to return to Camp Wingmann and give back to the place that has had a profound impact on so many over the years. This is a weekend for anyone who has ever been a camper, a staff member, a sponsor, a volunteer, a prayer warrior or has supported the mission of Camp Wingmann in any way. Join us as we gather to “Turn Our Eyes Upon Jesus” through fun and games, fellowship and worship.

WHO: Anyone who has been a camper, staff member, volunteer or supporter in any way WHEN: Feb. 21-23, 2020

WHERE: Camp Wingmann, 3404 Camp Wingmann Rd., Avon Park, FL 33825 More details and the link to register are located on the event website: www.campwingmann.org/alumni, or you can email admin@campwingmann.org with any questions.

The upgraded rooms and charmingly hospitable staff created a comfortable elegance.

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www.cfdiocese.org

PEOPLE & EVENTS

Steadfast in Hope Diocesan Order of the Daughters of the King holds annual Fall Assembly

By Karen Adderly Clark, diocesan president, The Order of the Daughters of the King The Diocese of Central Florida held its annual Fall Assembly for The Order of the Daughters of the King on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Orlando. The Order consists of women and girls ages 7 to 100 who desire a closer walk with the Lord. The assembly theme, “Steadfast in Hope,” will be used throughout the triennium.

Following a call to order by Karen Adderly Clark, diocesan president, attendees were welcomed with a video message from Bishop Gregory O. Brewer, who also serves as national chaplain of The Order. “I am convinced that prayer is the engine that fuels everything else,” said the bishop. He went on to define hope and explain what it means to be steadfast in hope. Brewer also thanked The Order for its commitment to intercessory prayer for the bishop, congregations and the diocese.

DOK’s annual outreach was the Malawi Bible Project.

The Rev. Canon Dr. Justin Holcomb served as preacher and celebrant at the Holy Eucharist. Both Brewer and Holcomb reminded attendees that hope is the anchor of our souls. “God calls us to be steadfast in our works,” Holcomb said.

“I was thrilled and excited with the attendance number and the record number of outreach proposals submitted for the 2019-2020 fiscal year,” Clark said. “With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must intentionally and continually practice hope through our prayers, service, evangelism

and reminding ourselves of who we are in Christ.”

Bibles for Malawi: Special Outreach Project At each annual Fall Assembly, The Order of the Daughters of the King selects a special outreach project. Last fall, the Malawi Bible Project was selected. Its goal, according to Anne Bolter, The Order’s diocesan outreach chair, was to provide sister Daughters with much-needed Bibles in their national language, Chichewa.

As a result of the sacrificial giving of Daughters, congregations and other supporters, this year’s ingathering, which concluded Aug. 31, totaled $26,879.82. This will provide approximately 26,880 Bibles to Daughters throughout the dioceses of Malawi.

Esther Miller was a Daughter when she went to Malawi from Central Florida as a missionary in the 1990s. In the late 1990s, with clergy consent, she introduced The Order of the Daughters of the King. She took 140 crosses to Malawi in 1999 for the installation of new Daughters there. Today, The Order of the Daughters of the King in Malawi has over 4,000 members covering four dioceses.

For more information to start or reactivate a Central Florida chapter of The Order of the Daughters of the King, contact Karen Adderly Clark, diocesan president, at kac. dok12@gmail.com or 407719-2482.

The much-needed Bibles were published in the Malawi Daughters’ national language, Chichewa.

www.cfdiocese.org

Getting ready for the weekend and the tailgate party in the parking lot before the serenade.

Cursillo Extends Diocesan Impact

By Karen Stout

Twenty-four new Cursillistas from nine different parishes completed their minicourse in Christianity on a Cursillo co-ed weekend at Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center Oct. 4-6. Cindi Shaffer, Church of the Holy Spirit, Apopka, served as lay rectora.

“I didn’t know what to expect or what it was,” said Jacki Hayes of St. Paul’s Episcopal in New Smyrna Beach. “I thought, ‘I already know Jesus; why am I going?’ But Cursillo gave me a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ. For the first time, I experienced unconditional love.”

The 2020 Cursillo weekends will all be two-day events, beginning with dinner on Friday night and ending on Sunday night. The dates will be:

• Men’s weekend: April 17-19 • Women’s weekend: April 24-26 • Co-ed weekend: October 9-11

The Cursillo Commission has also planned an allDiocesan Cursillo Christmas ball for Dec. 7, 2019, at St. Paul’s Episcopal in New Smyrna Beach. Enjoy music, dancing, food and cocktails for only a $5 donation per person.

For more information or to receive our emails, contact: Phil Phillips, strumminguy55@yahoo.com; Karen Stout, 4karenjs@gmail.com; Kim McMaster, kmcmaster1@cfl.rr.com or access the diocesan Cursillo website at www.cfepiscopalcursillo.org.

Connect to the Central Florida Facebook page

@ CentralFloridaCursilloGroup

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

Diocese Reaches Out to Neighbors in Need

LEFT: Axle and Mikayla Day, students at St. Andrew’s, sported blue shirts on Sept. 6. Blue is one of the colors of the Bahamian flag.

PHOTO: Courtesy of St. Andrew’s Academy

In Dorian’s aftermath, Central Floridians serve Bahamians

By Nina Keck When the slow-moving Hurricane Dorian devastated the Bahamas in early September, Central Florida Episcopalians moved into action.

The following stories represent just a few of the inspiring outreach efforts of our diocese. “Central Florida Episcopalian” updates the diocese each week with new stories that continue to pour in highlighting parishioners who have put feet to their faith. Watch for CFE Online updates posted to our Facebook and Instagram pages.

In addition to offerings to the diocese for hurricane relief, parishioners at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Clermont will send stuffed animals with notes.

Five-year-old parishioner Daniella Williams was watching the earliest reports from the Bahamas with her

grandmother Gina Storr when she got the idea to send stuffed animals to the children.

“She saw the reports with crying Bahamian children being relocated and scared,” explained Storr. “She said to me, ‘Granma, they must be so scared without their animals.’”

Later that night, while Storr was tucking her granddaughter into bed, Daniella told her

ABOVE: St. Andrew’s students Ari and Aden Jones donned yellow shirts on Sept. 6 during the money drive at the school. Yellow is one of the colors of the Bahamian flag.

PHOTO: Courtesy of St. Andrew’s Academy

she wished she could give them one of her animals. “I said to her, ‘Maybe you can,’” Storr said. ​ hen Daniella went back to school, W she asked her class to help. “I thought maybe 10 kids would bring in something,” said Storr. “Everyone brought in an animal!”

The next Sunday, Daniella spoke in front of the congregation of St. Matthias and asked for donations, requesting similar assistance Daniella Williams handed out this flyer to promote her efforts to help the children of the Bahamas.

PHOTO: Gina Storr

Daniella Williams puts donated animals in plastic bags before packing them into boxes. The Bahamas Girl Guides will ensure that the children receive their new friends. PHOTO: Gina Storr

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during her dance class and taekwondo lessons.

“It’s amazing what the response has been,” said Storr.

“But Daniella wasn’t done. She said to me, ‘I want to send all of the kids a note.’” ​ aniella’s note to the Bahamian D children is being professionally printed, and a copy will be pinned to every animal that goes to the Bahamas. The Bahamas Girl Guides will distribute the stuffed animals.

“They know where the children are,” explained Storr.​ ​ or Daniella, helping the Bahamas is F a very personal mission. She and her family immigrated from the islands.

Fort Pierce, home to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Academy, was forecast as the site of Hurricane Dorian’s original landfall. God spared the area, and the school’s plan to assist its Bahamian neighbors came together. On Friday, Sept. 6, students, teachers and staff wore the colors of the country’s flag as they spearheaded a one-day, communitywide donation drive.

In one day, the school, along with the parishioners of St. Andrew’s, raised $6,000.

BELOW: All Saints Academy students Rio Knowles and Killian Wright in front of one of several truckloads of donations. ​PHOTO: Courtesy of All Saints Academy​

I​ n addition to the funds raised, the school is also collecting supplies for the victims, and those served include not only people, but pets as well. Dog beds, sheets and towels have since been donated to a Bahamian no-kill animal shelter that rescued 80 dogs.

All Saints Academy, Winter Haven, spent the week of Sept. 9 collecting supplies for the hardesthit areas of the Bahamas. Upper School student Rio Knowles coordinated the school’s efforts.​ Knowles felt her compassion swell during Dorian’s aftermath. “I was watching the hurricane coverage on the news and saw how most people in the Bahamas lost everything, especially on the smaller islands,” she explained. “I saw videos of people begging for help, and destroyed houses.

“I wanted to do my part to help, so I reached out to my headmaster to see if I could ask for donations from the families of All Saints Academy.”

She received permission, and with assistance from the Student Council and Key Club, the school was able to collect several truckloads of supplies.

All donations are now on a barge, on their way to the Bahamas. www.cfdiocese.org

PEOPLE & EVENTS

Saving Starfish Island By Erik Guzman The hurricane had passed. It was early

morning. An old man walked the beach surveying the damage. Debris littered the shore.

Among the beached boats, branches, seaweed and wind-strewn pieces of people’s homes were starfish—lots of them—and a young boy.

Grand Cay’s serenity was devastated by Hurricane Dorian.

The old man watched the boy bend down, pick up one of the starfish and gently throw it into the sea.

As the old man drew closer, he called out, “Good morning! May I ask what you’re doing?”

speakers have been telling versions of the modern parable for decades, often accompanied by a quote from Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”

The boy picked up another starfish and answered, “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The storm washed them up, and they can’t get home by themselves. When the sun rises, they’ll die if I don’t put them back in the water.” With that, he tossed the starfish into the outgoing tide.

Today, the starfish story is being told again, on the Dorian-devastated shores of a small island in the Bahamas called Grand Cay. But instead of a fictional tale of an old man, a young boy, and thousands of starfish, the story features the reallife actions of “the boat guy,” “the food guy,” “the clothes guy,” “the water guy,” and a small fishing community of 383 people.

“Son,” the man replied, “there are thousands of starfish and miles of beach. I’m afraid you won’t be able to make much of a difference.”

The boy bent down, picked up a starfish and threw it into the surf. He smiled and said to the old man, “I made a difference to that one.”

It’s an old story adapted from The Star Thrower

by Loren Eiseley. Preachers and motivational

TRANSITIONS “... neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things

present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39).

Canon Benjamin Lane

deceased, Sept. 4

Cathedral musician at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando

The Rev. Tex Norman

deceased, Sept. 5

Retired deacon, non-parochial

The Rev. Alan Edmiston

deceased, Sept. 17

Retired associate at Trinity Episcopal Church, Vero Beach

Mr. Charles Armstrong Southeast Deanery president

www.cfdiocese.org

deceased, Sept. 29

Bahamas.” Clark had collected clothing, so he arranged to send the clothes along with the food to the Bahamas.

“We shipped over 25 bags of clothing that we managed to cram into five large shipping boxes,” Flood explained. “It was awesome to hear of all the people from our diocese that have responded to help the people in the Bahamas. This is truly God at work.” he added.

The deacons and Oyler have also teamed up with Joe Hurston, “the water guy,” from Air Mobile Ministries to deliver Air Mobile Rescuer batterypowered, portable water purification systems.

Two of the $2,500 units have landed in Grand Cay. While Hurston has placed 20 water machines throughout the Bahamas, Clark explained that his relief effort is now focused on working with Oyler to help make a big impact in the small community of Grand Cay. “Tom is getting together building supplies to take over on a barge. We’ll keep working on food and clothing,” Clark said.

Tom Oyler is “the boat guy.” He’s the owner of The Old Fish House on the coast of Grant. Tom has been fishing the waters surrounding Grand Cay since the late ’70s.

“It’s an island that nobody is going to pay attention to,” Oyler explained, “because it’s only got 380 people and it’s not a wealthy island, there’s no tourism.” But Oyler is paying attention to this mile-long “dot on a map.” He’s hand-delivering donated supplies to Grand Cay by boat.

That’s where “the food guy” and “the clothes guy” enter the story: Deacon John Clark of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Titusville and Deacon Jim Flood from St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Orange City.

Just days after Dorian left the Bahamas in ruins, Flood’s ministry, No One Hungry, had prepared over 16,000 emergency meals to be sent to the islands.

Clark stated that, to the best of his knowledge, government agencies or the Red Cross have yet to make it to Grand Cay. For now, the island is their starfish.

Donations can be directed to No One Hungry, Air Mobile Ministries, and Tom Oyler at The Old Fish House (gift cards from Lowe’s and Home Depot are welcome).

Anyone wanting to make a financial contribution through the Diocese of Central Florida may donate in any of these three ways:

1 Text “DCF Bahamas” to 73256 2 Online via credit card,

https://secure.accessacs.com/access/oglogin.aspx

Flood recalled how he got involved, “I follow Bishop Brewer on Instagram, and I saw a post soon after the hurricane that featured Deacon John Clark with food boxes he was sending to the

3 Check made payable to “Diocese of Central Florida,” Memo Line: “Hurricane Relief,” Mail to: Diocese of Central Florida, 1017 E. Robinson St., Orlando, FL 32801

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PEOPLE & EVENTS

By Erik Guzman

T

Pinder

he Rev. Canon Nelson W. Pinder was 27 years old when he arrived in Orlando. It was 1959, and God had called him to be the new rector of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in the Washington Shores neighborhood.

“I really didn’t want to come here,” Pinder said. “I wanted to go back to the Lower East Side of New York. They were doing all kinds of good things. And the bishop said, ‘No, you’re going to Orlando.’

So really, I was a reluctant candidate.”

This “reluctant candidate” would become a key leader in the civil rights movement in Orlando and warmly regarded as the city’s “street

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priest.” However, on the day he stepped onto the streets of “The City Beautiful,” he didn’t receive a warm welcome.

“I had to send for the ‘colored’ taxi,” Pinder recalled.

“They wouldn’t serve me at the counter. And so I said to myself, ‘My God, I’m back in the Stone Age.’” That was when he knew his mission and ministry were desperately needed.

As the new priest at St. John’s, Pinder set out to proclaim God’s love – and to be a minister of reconciliation by calling people to extend that divine love to each other.

Pinder looks back on those days with a twinkle in his eye. “We began to bear fruit,

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Black teens, “Pinder’s Kids,” responded to Pinder’s call to the ministry of reconciliation, and he organized peaceful sit-ins at lunch counters downtown. He also worked closely with Orlando’s then-chief of police, Carlisle “Stoney” Johnstone. “He was a good man,” Pinder said. “We cooperated together. We had an outline for what he would do and what I would have my kids to do (or whoever was with me). And I think we kept our boundaries, and we came out beautifully … it became a mutual ministry.”

celebratory service at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in downtown Orlando.

The Most Reverend Michael Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, will preach.

streets. There is still work to be done. As Myers of St. John’s challenges us, “After the celebration is over and we commemorate, what are we doing to invest Canon Pinder’s legacy?”

Over the years, Pinder has given the diocese great cause for celebration. From his work with the Christian Service Center, Head Start and community leaders to his efforts to secure equal pay for city and school employees, that “reluctant candidate” from 1959 is now a civil rights giant in Orlando’s history and in the history of the church at large.

Pinder says the key to meaningful change is to simply ask people to get together. “The world is out there. Open your eyes and see. There are a lot of people who want to help … if you ask them. That’s what I found out in Orlando. There are a lot of people out there who want to help, and we had to ask them. And they came, and they saw, and they went, and they told what a good time they had helping God’s creation.”

On the shoulders of this gentle giant, future generations may be able to see beyond even Pinder. We can hope, pray and hit the

Consider yourself asked.

Because of this mutual ministry, Orlando was spared the violence that broke out in many other cities during racial integration.

“The brilliance of Father Pinder is how he challenged the system on one hand and worked it on the other,” said the current rector of St. John the Baptist, The Rev. Charles Myers. “He kept on persevering because he knew the greater good.”

On Jan. 4, 2020, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida will observe Canon Pinder’s 60th year of ordained ministry with a

PHOTO: Orlando Sentinel file photo

Investing a Legacy

and the fruit wasn’t only for St. John’s, it was for the whole community. And in this crusade, we gathered whites, blacks, rich, poor, pink, stink, gay, straight … we began to gather people (we didn’t separate) who wanted to go on this missionary journey with us.”

When Pinder arrived in Orlando in 1959, he worked with city officials to create a beautiful “mutual ministry”.

www.cfdiocese.org

CONVENTION 2020

SAVE THE DATE

Celebration of 60 Years of Service

The Rev. Canon Chris Russell Has ‘Great Expectations’

Archbishop of Canterbury’s adviser for evangelism to preach at Diocesan Convention

By Marti Pieper

The Rev. Canon Nelson Wardell Pinder Sacred Order of Priests The Episcopal Church

Saturday, January 4, 2020 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke 130 North Magnolia Avenue Orlando, Florida 32801 The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church, will preach for this momentous occasion.

Tickets are FREE but required for entrance to the service. Use this url to register.

www.eventbrite.com/e/60thordination-anniversary-i-saidyes-to-jesus-tickets-64640110310 Donations are welcomed and can be mailed to: Sylvia Warren, P.O. Box 3825, Orlando, FL 32802.

Checks are payable to: Nelson Pinder/Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist.

www.cfdiocese.org

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hen The Rev. Canon Chris Russell travels from England to serve as guest preacher for the Diocese of Central Florida’s Annual Convention Jan. 24-25, 2020, he won’t come alone. With him will be his wife, Belinda, “a love for Jesus and the Word of God, and a passion to see us all joyful in responding to his call, to enjoy fellowship and to learn from you,” he said.

What might sound like great expectations seem to be the norm for this multitasking cleric, who serves as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s adviser for evangelism and witness and as vicar of St. Laurence Church, Reading.

The Russells have three teenage daughters: Hope, Jessie and Dora.

Firm Foundation The son of a vicar for a local Church of England congregation, Russell experienced the pressure often put on clergy families but, thanks in part to wise parents, he “never saw it necessary to rebel against God,” he said. “I was part of a vibrant youth group where I was discipled and inspired in the faith. It was here that I learned a love for scripture, a commitment to the poor and justice and a love for the presence of God.”

His clerical training included a lay assistantship in a deprived area of England, studying theology at Durham University and earning a master of philosophy in dogmatic theology from Cambridge University.

Ordained in Southwark Diocese, England, Russell next did an apprenticeship at a small church in Deptford.

“I then left to join the staff of Soul Survivor Watford [a youth-focused ministry that held mass evangelistic festivals] for 14 months and was then appointed

Russell

to St. Laurence, Reading, in 2001,” he said, adding, “St. Laurence is a medieval church – built in 1196 – but we have a particular mandate to see non-churched young people come to faith and build new forms of church with them.”

Evangelistic Emphasis For the past six years, Russell has served on Archbishop Justin Welby’s inner team. His responsibilities, per Welby’s website, include “advising the archbishop on evangelism and witness and ensuring it remains central to his ministry” and “overseeing the evangelism and witness staff and projects, including Thy Kingdom Come.”

Thy Kingdom Come, Russell explained, is “a prayer initiative that encourages churches, households and families to commit for the days between Ascension and Pentecost to ‘wait for the power from on high.’” Part of this focused prayer, he said, includes encouraging all to “pray for five friends who haven’t responded to the love of Jesus that they might become followers of Jesus.”

This emphasis on evangelism coincides with one of The Rt. Rev. Gregory Brewer’s emphases for the Diocese of Central Florida as well. “Evangelism is the setting forth of the good news of Jesus Christ,” Russell said. “It requires using words. Evangelism is one of the primary vocations of the people of God. It is enabled by the Spirit and engaged in because of the compelling and beautiful love of Christ.”

As Russell anticipates his time in Central Florida, an invitation he considers “a privilege and honor,” he reminds us that “evangelism is about Jesus Christ – he is the means and the message – and the best evangelism is that which is done to lift him up in ways that are absolutely authentic to those who are listening.”

And those expectations, Jesus said, are the greatest of all.

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Highlights from the proposed agenda:

FRIDAY, JAN. 24 4 P.M. • Registration of delegates 5 P.M. • Celebration of Holy Eucharist at Pou Chapel The Rev. Canon Chris Russell, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Advisor for Evangelism & Witness will be the preacher, and Bishop Gregory Brewer will be the celebrant.

The First Plenary Session of Convention follows the service of Holy Eucharist

INFORMATION FOR NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS – 2020

6:30 P.M. •

•

•

•

• 7:45 P.M. •

STANDING COMMITTEE

SATURDAY, JAN. 25

51st Diocesan Convention will be held Jan. 24-25, 2020, at All Saints Academy and Nora Mayo Hall, Winter Haven.

Positions to be filled by election at the 2019 Convention: The Standing Committee is a council of advice to the bishop. When there is no bishop, the Standing Committee is the ecclesiastical authority for all proper purposes. The Standing Committee consists of four clerical members (who shall be elected for four-year terms) and three lay members (who shall be elected for three-year terms). The Standing Committee generally meets monthly or at the special call of the president of the Standing Committee or the bishop. The Standing Committee serves as the resolutions committee for all regular and special meetings of the convention.

DIOCESAN BOARD

The Diocesan Board is the board of directors of the corporation known as the Diocese of Central Florida, Incorporated. The affairs of the diocese not falling within the exclusive province of the bishop shall be managed by the diocesan board. Members of the board shall be elected for three-year terms. The diocesan board generally meets monthly or at the call of the ecclesiastical authority.

To be elected:

To be elected: • One clergy person to be elected to a four-year term • One lay person to be elected to a three-year term The terms of The Rev. Jim Sorvillo and Mrs. Patty Tew will expire at the conclusion of this Convention. They are not eligible for re-election at this convention.

NOTE: The President of the Standing committee serves ex officio as a member of the Diocesan Board. No other person may serve on the Standing Committee and the Diocesan Board at the same time (Canon VI.2).

Details related to the 51st Annual Diocesan Convention are posted at: www.cfdiocese.org/diocesan-convention-2020

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• One clergy person to be elected to a three-year term • One clergy person to be elected to a one-year term • Two lay persons to be elected to a three-year term Deans (clergy) and presidents (lay) are elected by their respective deaneries at a Deanery Convocation and serve a three-year term on the diocesan board.

The terms of the following members expire at the conclusion of this convention, and they are not eligible for re-election at this convention or at Deanery Convocation: The Very Rev. Rick Burhans (dean, Northeast Deanery); The Very Rev. David Peoples (dean, Southwest Deanery); Mr. Randy Wiseman (president, Northwest Deanery); Mr. Sid Glynn (lay member at-large); Mr. Jim Waters (lay member at-large); The Rev. Lisa Wimmer (clergy member at-large); and The Rev. Rodney Roehner (clergy member appointed to fill the unexpired term of

Call to Order Organization of Convention Credentials Committee - Preliminary Report Dispatch of Business Report of Nominations/Elections Committee & First Ballot Fellowship Dinner at Nora May Hall

7-8:45 A.M. • Registration with coffee/displays open 9 A.M. • Opening worship/morning prayer

• Second Plenary Session of Convention

• Reconvene

• Credentials Committee – Final Report

• Welcome to the Southwest Deanery

• Report of Nominations/Elections Committee &

Second Ballot 9:45 A.M. • Bishop Gregory Brewer’s Address 10:45 A.M. • Election Report and Third Ballot 11:00 A.M. • Introductions (visitors, new clergy, new positions) 11:15 A.M. • Treasurer’s Report/Presentation & Adoption of the

Budget 11:30 A.M. • Election Report/possible Third Ballot

• Election Report and Fourth Ballot 12:00 P.M. Noonday worship

• Lunch break

• Clergy spouse lunch 1:30 P.M. • Third Plenary Session of Convention

• Reconvene

• Election Report and Fifth Ballot

• Canonical and Other Resolutions

• Appointments and Ratification

• Invitation to the 52nd Annual Diocesan Convention

• Presentation of Awards, Commissioning and

Installations

• Memorials to Deceased Clergy Resolution

• Closing Worship 4 P.M. • Adjourn

www.cfdiocese.org

2020 DIOCESAN CONVENTION

Pre-Convention Deanery Meetings

The Rev. Canon Scott Holcombe), whose one-year term expires at the conclusion of the convention; he is eligible for re-election at this convention.

TRUSTEE, UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH (Sewanee, Tennessee)

Trustees of the University of the South elect and appoint the board of regents, a chancellor, the vice chancellor and a chaplain. Trustees hold the land in trust for the university, promote church support and student enrollment, and approve or reject plans for growth and development. They meet annually and ratify the work of the board of regents.

To be elected: • One clergy person to be elected (three-year term) The term of The Rev. Jim Dorn expires at the conclusion of this convention. He is eligible for re-election at this convention.

DEPUTY, GENERAL CONVENTION 2021

The Diocese of Central Florida shall be entitled to representation in the House of Deputies at the General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which is to convene in Baltimore, June 30-July 8, 2021 by not more than four ordained persons, presbyters or deacons, canonically resident in the diocese and not more than four lay persons, confirmed adult communicants of this Church, in good standing in the diocese but not necessarily domiciled in the diocese.

To be elected:

January 2020

FROM THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS (The Standing Committee) • All resolutions must be submitted to the Diocesan Office in electronic format. Send to the attention of Sarah Caprani at scaprani@cfdiocese.org on or before Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. This will allow their review by the Resolutions Committee and their distribution to all clergy and lay delegates prior to the pre-convention deanery meetings and is in accordance with Canon IV, Section 5(b).

• Resolutions may be submitted after Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, only if the bishop is satisfied that the delay in submission was for good cause. Deviation from these requirements may be waived only by a majority vote of the delegates to the convention.

• Rules of the convention normally call for at least two written copies of any resolution presented on the floor of the convention, one for the chair and one for the secretary and in an electronic format.

If it is desirable that delegates have copies of the printed resolution, it is the responsibility of the presenter to provide those copies. Five hundred copies are needed.

—— Compiled by Marilyn Lang

• Four clergy persons to be elected deputies • Four lay persons to be elected deputies • Four clergy persons to be elected alternates • Four lay persons to be elected alternates NOTE: Deputies shall hold office for two years and thereafter until their successors have been regularly elected.

www.cfdiocese.org

Details related to the 51st Annual Diocesan Convention are posted at: www.cfdiocese.org/diocesan-convention-2020

Southeast Deanery

SUNDAY, JAN. 5, 4 P.M. Hosted at St. Mark’s Church 4 Church St. Cocoa, FL 32922

Election: PRESIDENT

(lay order) to serve three-year term on diocesan board

Central Deanery

THURSDAY, JAN. 9, 7 P.M. Hosted at All Saints Church 338 E. Lyman Ave Winter Park, FL 32789

Northeast Deanery

SATURDAY, JAN. 11, 10 A.M. Hosted at Grace Episcopal Church 4110 S. Ridgewood Ave Port Orange, FL 32127

Election: DEAN (clerical order) to serve three-year term on diocesan board

Southwest Deanery

SUNDAY, JAN. 12, 4 P.M. Hosted at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 1820 East CR 540A Lakeland, FL 33813

Election: DEAN

(clerical order) to serve three-year term on diocesan board

Northwest Deanery

SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 10 A.M. Hosted at St. George Episcopal Church 1250 Paige Place The Villages, FL 32159

Election: PRESIDENT

(lay order) to serve three-year term on diocesan board

NOTE: Materials for discussion at the Pre-Convention Deanery meeting, including a Proposed 2020 Diocesan Budget, will be distributed to delegates electronically and posted on the convention website. No printed materials will be provided for the meeting. Any delegate unable to attend the meeting in his or her deanery is welcome to attend another deanery meeting.

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C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S

CENTRAL FLOR IDA E P I S C O PA L SCHOOLS The Episcopal Church’s long history of excellence in education is recognized even by those outside our tradition. Episcopal schools have nurtured future presidents and served as academic springboards for Pulitzer Prize winners. But most of all, these schools have laid down a firm foundation of faith that has supplied and sustained the moral core of past and presentday leaders in the arts, business, education, family, media, government and religion. Episcopal schools make a difference locally, nationally and globally, not only for the present but also for the years to come.

Enjoy this section focused on Episcopal education: diverse offerings for a diverse diocese.

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Remembering for the Sake of Our Future

C

hildren are the church’s future, and although offering them a Christian education may be challenging, it is important. That is why The Episcopal Church of Central Florida has stepped up to meet that challenge with highquality curricula and Christian formation.

Historically, when society discriminated, Central Florida’s Episcopal churches prioritized education for all races and creeds. At the beginning of the 20th century, segregation prevented African Americans from receiving basic education, but the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Orlando, paved the way for change.

“Our church had the first parochial school for people of color in Orange County,” said Dr. Lorraine Harris, former senior warden, St. John the Baptist. “Some of the members attended that school in the early years.”

However, St. John the Baptist provided more than educational outreach to the community. When the church was “a mission, our church housed the first library for people of color,” said Harris. “When I was a girl … the library was in the vicarage. When the priests came, they lived on the second floor. The public library was on the first floor.”

“Education is one of the keys towards understanding,” said The Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder, rector emeritus of the St. John the Baptist.

“If we can cite where we came from, then we’ll know where we’re going.

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If every child has a chance to learn the history of each other, Americans learned about Germans, Germans learned about West Indians, South Americans ... we’d go back to creation and see that God created everyone in his image.”

The National Association of Episcopal Schools’ website distinguishes Episcopal schools as “populated by a rich variety of human beings, from increasingly diverse religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds. ... They invite all who attend and work in them—Episcopalians and nonEpiscopalians, Christians and non-Christians, people of no faith tradition—to seek clarity about their own beliefs and religions and to honor those traditions more fully and faithfully in their lives.”

Clergy recognize the opportunity schools have to meet unique community needs. “When I came to St. Andrew’s, they were very clear that the school was our major outreach and a real center of what my job would be,” said The Rev. John Liebler, former rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Ft. Pierce, current priest-in-charge of St. Simon the Cyrenian Church, Ft. Pierce.

In Vero Beach, Trinity Episcopal Church, through relationship, strengthened Christian formation in the students of St. Edward’s School.

“It really represents an outreach program for us because there are 500 kids a week in that school, and they are getting time with a clergyman

Two girls learning to cook.

and hearing the gospel preached,” said The Rev. Jason Murbarger, former rector of Trinity, current rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Daytona Beach.

It is evident that education is a priority to Episcopal priests. “I think it does start with the leadership,” said Laurie Mealor, former director of St. Peter’s Preschool and Kindergarten, Lake Mary. “Each of the rectors’ interest in the school, either their own personal interest or their own children attending, creates a very strong bond.”

Catherine Ford, retired head of school, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne, sums up the heart behind Episcopal schools: “When you’re dealing with young people, you have to wait, sometimes for years, to see how they mature and grow. … One of my greatest blessings is seeing children come back as adults and be baptized and embrace the faith. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Editor’s Note: Portions of this article were edited and adapted with permission from the video “Remembering for the Sake of Our Future,” by The Rev. Rob and Kate Goodridge, 2016. To view full video go to https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=gmuHZ-4kBU4 www.cfdiocese.org

C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S

All Saints Academy Announces New Head of School Elizabeth Hardage will succeed Carolyn Baldwin effective July 1, 2020

By Rebecca Knowles, Director of Communications and Community Partnerships

W

ith great excitement, the All Saints Academy board of trustees introduces Elizabeth Hardage, unanimously selected by the search committee and unanimously approved by the board for appointment as All Saints’ next head of school, effective July 1. Hardage will succeed Carolyn Baldwin, who announced her June 30, 2020, retirement after serving the school for 17 years, including serving as head of school since 2011.

professional career has been spent in education, and she has served as a teacher, assistant principal, consultant and administrator both domestically and in China. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations with a concentration in China/Chinese language from Florida State University. She also holds a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Hardage’s educational philosophy and practice focus on providing students a supportive environment through which they can take risks and express their creativity while developing their character and desire to serve their community.

She believes strong connections among students, parents, teachers, school leadership, alumni, the board of trustees and community partners are vital to effective K-12 education.

Having recently relocated to Jacksonville from Beijing, Hardage and her husband, Charlie, along with their daughter, Olivia, are excited to join the All Saints community. Hardage enjoyed her visits here during the search process and looks forward to working with this vibrant community to continue and extend the excellent work accomplished over the past 25 years.

Following Baldwin’s January 2019 announcement, the board of trustees identified a search committee and engaged the services of Ted Lingenheld Upon learning of the search and Chris Dorrance of School committee’s recommendation, Strategies and Solutions LLC, “Elizabeth is the right person for a consulting firm specializing All Saints Academy at the right Hardage in head of school searches, to time,” said Baldwin. “She brings conduct a thorough search for her an infectious enthusiasm and successor. An exceptional pool of candidates was commitment to Episcopal education. Elizabeth evaluated, and seven semifinalists were invited for will bring a vibrancy and energy to the All Saints interviews in July. Out of the seven, three finalists community that will excite everyone.” were selected and visited All Saints Academy in The board of trustees is planning ways to August and September to meet with key parties introduce Elizabeth, Charlie and Olivia into our prior to Hardage’s unanimous recommendation community over the course of the school year. and appointment.

For more information about the search Hardage currently serves as an educational process, including additional information consultant based in Jacksonville. She was most regarding Baldwin’s retirement, please visit recently head of school at Daystar Academy in the Head of School Search page of the All Beijing, a two-campus K-12 dual Chinese-English Saints website. immersion school with over 870 students. Her www.cfdiocese.org

UCF Students Come to Faith through St. Gabriel’s Choir

By Larry J. Leech II

A

joyful noise unto the Lord now echoes from St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Titusville—the sounds of music and of University of Central Florida students committing their lives to Christ.

“I have been connected to music in different ways most of my life,” said The Rev. Rob Goodridge, church rector and a veteran saxophone player, “but to bring young adults into church through music has been the most rewarding.”

Three years ago, a member’s $5,000 tithe into the program provided the necessary funding to incorporate the students into the choir, which suffered from attrition. Goodridge urged choir director David Herzog, then studying for his master’s degree in music at UCF, to invite singers from the college to help out with the choir in exchange for a small stipend for their gas and time. Since then, three to five singers, male and female, supplement the choir each week except during the summer.

Leah Hernandez now leads the Children’s Choir at St. Mark’s in Cocoa.

“The payoff for the singers is they get the opportunity to sight-read music and perform in a short turnaround time, unlike what is typical for their music curriculum,” said Goodridge.

Continued Page 17

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C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S

God Moves Quickly to Start Preschool at Trinity, Vero Beach

By Larry J. Leech II

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hen the Lord moves, He often does it so fast people can’t keep up. In less than a year, Trinity Episcopal Preschool went from a mere idea to hosting 28 children.

As soon as The Rev. Chris Rodriguez arrived at Trinity in Vero Beach in 2012, he wanted to put in a Christian school.

The church had the facility, but not the funds. When a longtime advocate of education passed away last fall, her daughter wanted to honor her (name kept confidential at Rodriguez’s request).

Donations poured in early this year, and within two months, nearly three-quarters of a million dollars had been raised. Then the church received a $200,000 donation for scholarships.

Renovations started right away, a director,

Reeny Sempsrott and assistant, Lisa Milton, as well as seven teachers and assistants were hired. Enrollment began in July.

“It has been exhausting, but fun,” said Rodriguez. “This has been exciting for me. The Lord put this on my heart years ago, and it’s finally coming to fruition.”

The preschool serves children ages 2-4 with a detailed program for each age. All programs include music and chapel.

“Families have been desperate for good, Christian-based quality education,” said Rodriguez.

“The facilities (which can host 85 children) are beautiful and the care excellent. It has been fun putting this together and

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seeing the Lord make it go.”

Though the tuition is reasonable (details are available at the church website: trinityvero.org), numerous scholarships have been given, and the children of first responders receive a 50% discount. For more information or a tour, call 772-567-1146.

The new blast of energy at Trinity has been fueled by significant congregational support.

“Having a Christian school talking about Jesus in our culture – people want to get behind that,” said Rodriguez.

And Trinity Episcopal Preschool went from suggestion to fully operational in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

“It keeps me busy,” Rodriguez said, chuckling.

www.cfdiocese.org

C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S SPOTLIGHT

School’s New Chaplain Lives Out His Calling The Rev. John H. Barrett serves St. Edward’s, Vero Beach

Barrett attended Sewanee, the University of the South, graduating with a bachelor of arts in English literature in 1982. He earned two master’s degrees at Fordham University, in English (1990) and education (1996), and obtained a master of divinity at Trinity School for Ministry in 2002. He is currently pursuing a doctorate of ministry at Trinity.

By Nina Keck The Rev. John H. Barrett has been appointed as chaplain at St. Edward’s School, Vero Beach. He will serve as pastor on campus, teacher in the classroom and worship leader in chapel.

Barrett first sensed a call to the priesthood while teaching at an Episcopal school in Dallas and attending a church in that diocese. “The chapel at the school was an important part of the spiritual formation of the students,” he said. “The preaching of my rector was something that deeply affected me to impart the gospel in my own work context at the school. This became a yearning to do likewise. I have always seen teaching as a calling, too. To teach about words and then to teach about the Word was a wonderful and easy transition for me.”

Initially, Barrett thought his calling was to be a parish priest, but when he tried to see himself in that role, something didn’t seem right. “One evening, it dawned upon me that I was actually being called to become a school chaplain,” he explained. “This awareness or epiphany happened at an Advent service one night in Dallas. It was a big moment!”

www.cfdiocese.org

preacher, teacher and pastor,” Barrett added. “I have evolved in leadership and administrative skills.

This development has affected my ministry through involvement of students in servant leadership.”

Hardage

The ordination charge given to him as a priest helps him keep balance in his life. It “reminds me of the wholeness involved in being a priest. Although I have certain gifts, teaching being one of them, I am reminded of a much fuller dimension of being a priest,” Barrett said. “I am mindful of the rigors of the charge, too, and that there needs to be balance and care extended into how I am also a husband and father.

“That said, I deeply feel committed to honoring that first call as a school chaplain – as a worship leader,

Barrett’s personal interests and family life add to his unique qualifications as chaplain. “I have been attracted to learning communities that awaken the spirit of students in a relational way. I have been married to Barbara for nearly 25 years. We have four boys ages 12-22. I feel that our family life has been a healthy model for my chaplaincy ministry.”

UCF Students...

Continued From Page 15 “They don’t do it for the money; they do it for the experience.”

The success of the program extends into the professional as well as the spiritual realm. After being baptized at St. Gabriel’s, Leah Hernandez was asked to lead a choir at an Episcopal church. Jenna Toler has moved on to sing soprano for the prestigious Roman Catholic Cathedral Choir in Orlando.

“Hernandez was not practicing any faith when she started singing with us,” said Goodridge. “She learned about God through the music. The hymnal, our prayer book and Bible are the three texts we use for the foundation of our theology. She got her theology through the hymnal.”

Goodridge believes “many have found a benefit of being in church, hearing a sermon, praying and receiving Holy Communion and making a confession before God. [Being in the choir] has given them a stimulation for a new direction that most of them didn’t expect to find.”

The two greatest goals Barrett hopes to reach at St. Edward’s include his students and himself.

“To know God’s love for them and to teach them the two greatest commandments are my main goals for these students. At St. Edward’s, there is an emphasis on educating the whole child; coming to know the 600 students in a personal way is a part of that mission. “

Jenna Toler

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C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S SPOTLIGHT

The Rev. Jared Jones Ordained at Holy Trinity Episcopal Assembly, Melbourne

By Nina Keck On Thursday, Sept. 26, The Rev. Jared Jones, Upper School chaplain for Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Greg Brewer. The ordination took place at an assembly in the Scott Center for Worship and the Performing Arts on the grounds of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (HTEA).

Coach Juli Wright takes a break with students in first and second grade at St. Mark’s Academy, Cocoa.

St. Mark’s New PE Teacher Has High Hopes

By Nina Keck Juli Wright joins St. Mark’s Academy, Cocoa, this year as the school’s physical education teacher.

The enrollment at Wright’s previous school was 1,056 students, and there were 65 people on staff. “I am most excited to join a genuine, inviting She comes to St. Mark’s from community of staff and students.

Central Middle School in Annapolis, At the large middle school where Maryland, where she served as I taught, it was hard to health educator and “I hope to meet people outside Dance Club sponsor. your department,” she create a positive Wright holds a master’s said. “This small school degree in health science environment where is a nice break from all all students can from Towson University the hustle and bustle.” ​ and a bachelor’s degree embrace a healthy, “My students can expect in exercise science and active lifestyle.” to have fun each and health education from every time they come to Radford University. She my class,” Wright added. “Whether had fun completing her degrees it’s their favorite activity or least and learned a lot, she said. “I’ve favorite activity, I hope they feel been teaching health, PE and valued and a part of a team. I hope to dance for six years to students of all create a positive environment where ages, kindergarten to community all students can embrace a healthy, college!” active lifestyle.”

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Jones is only the second priest in the Diocese of Central Florida to be ordained at an Episcopal school assembly. The first was The Rev. Rob Goodridge, a former HTEA chaplain.

The Rev. Jared Jones offers the peace as his first duty as an ordained priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Photos by Michelle Salyer

In his sermon, Bishop Brewer urged Jones never to forget the charge given him as a priest. “The charge Bishop Brewer gave me is constantly on my mind,” said Jones. “It is a weighty calling to serve as a pastor and minister to the people of God. I am in constant prayer that God would give me the grace to serve his flock faithfully!”

Jones said the ordination service moved him to gratitude. “I was thankful for my wife and kids and all the support they’ve shown me throughout the last few years as I’ve pursued ordination. I was thankful to the bishop and the diocesan staff, as they had taken me in when they didn’t have to,” he said.

“I was thankful to Holy Trinity for giving me the opportunity to serve as a chaplain and now priest. And most importantly, I was thankful to God for calling me into ministry and remaining so faithful to my family and me in our pursuit of that calling.”

Bishop Gregory Brewer ordains The Rev. Jared Jones as a priest.

Jones holds a Bachelor of Science in biblical studies from Liberty University and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. He has pursued ordination with the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida over the past year. But he doesn’t believe his new ecclesiastical status will affect his ministry at HTEA.

“As a priest, I have a more specific role with the students now, but a lot of my role hasn’t changed,” Jones said. “When I got to Holy Trinity, my goal was to proclaim to the students the gospel of God’s grace and mercy to sinners. That’s still my goal and will always remain my goal because it’s the only hope for sinners like me!”

www.cfdiocese.org

C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S

leaders, clergy, and friends from throughout the community of Episcopal schools” according to the NAES website. Lawson joined three other leaders from Florida on the board.

“Florida is a very important area for us [and] has the secondlargest number of [Episcopal] schools of any state,” according to Heischman. Therefore, Florida was targeted to fill one of the 19 elected positions.

Lawson

Trinity Prep’s Head Elected to National Board

By Wendy Leech Byron Lawson, Head of School for Trinity Preparatory School in Winter Park, was voted to the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) Governing Board in Spetember, beginning his three-year term.

Lawson’s extensive independent school administrative background, coupled with his commitment to teaching and nurturing the Episcopal identity, equips him to be a great asset for the NAES. According to NAES Executive Director The Rev. Daniel R. Heischman, Lawson “knows and loves the mission of Episcopal schools.”

The “self-electing Governing Board [is] comprised of school

www.cfdiocese.org

The Right Rev. Gregory O. Brewer echoes Heischman’s sentiments, describing Lawson as having “a passion for student care, academic excellence and strengthening schools’ Episcopal identity.” Trinity Prep’s website supports Lawson’s passionate drive in a quote from a search committee reference, “No one cares more about kids and works harder for an institution than Byron.”

For almost 25 years, Lawson has applied his passions at independent schools, including the Texas-based Kinkaid School (PK-12), St. Mark’s School of Texas (boys grades 1–12) and his current Head of School position at Trinity Prep.

Lawson hopes his willingness to learn from others, flexibility and “serve where requested and needed” approach will provide significant contributions to the NAES board. One of his main goals during his term is to apply his driving passion of supporting “the continued discussion of student wellness and the positive impact spirituality has on a wellled life.”

Christ Church Provides Space for Special Children By Wendy Leech Sometimes what is needed can be right around the corner. Behavior Blossoms, an applied behavior analysis clinic in Longwood, needed more space for its growing operation. Nearby, a school building at Christ Church sat empty for a year.

“I had just taken it upon myself to email different churches in the area,” Behavior Blossoms Executive Director Vanessa Kindy recalled, “because I know sometimes they have Sunday school classrooms and playgrounds that may not be used in the middle of the week. I literally just Googled a few different places.”

After several emailed responses indicated a lack of space, Kindy heard from Mother Michelle Roach, priestin-charge, that Christ Church had space.

“We immediately invited her to come to our quaint property,” said Roach.

“And she fell in love with it.”

Who wouldn’t? Christ Church is located in downtown historic Longwood, nestled among mature camphor trees on a brick street with a security-inspiring police station as a next-door neighbor.

Behavior Blossoms clinic serves children ages 2 to 21 with special needs such as autism, Down syndrome and ADHD. On Christ Church’s property the clinic was able to pursue their status as a school, adding Blossoms Academy to their services. In November, the school was approved to accept Florida scholarship programs, which will add financial support through McKay and Gardiner scholarships.

“A lot of our clients … were getting kicked out of schools; it wasn’t a good fit. They were falling behind … so we thought … we would shoot for becoming a school,” said Kindy.

“Our goal is to help the little ones get ready to go to a [traditional] school.

We do early intervention, so we try to get their behaviors and their academics and their social skills up to par to go … back into the public school system.” Keeping their two classrooms small, each having only ten students, the Academy offers individual attention.

Blossoms Academy also focuses on having fun. “We’re doing sidewalk chalk out in the courtyard, and we take the kids down the street all the time to (Reiter) park.”

Roach and Kindy are equally pleased and grateful for the connection. “It was an interesting coincidence … this just must have been meant to be,” said Kindy.

“We are so happy to have them here,” Roach said.

“We see children and not their special needs.

We are all created in the image of God.”

Blossoms Academy kids have fun while they learn.

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C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S

Nightingale Nursing School Changes Lives in Honduras

St. Peter the Fisherman

EPISCOPAL CHURCH

H

By Marti Pieper e couldn’t help but notice the teenage mother and her baby, said Wesny Dubic, chair of the Central Florida Honduras Commission. On his 2012 trip to Honduras, this young mother, then in her late teens, followed him and The Rev. Vaike Madisson de Molina everywhere they went.

The teen mother was Josselin Flores Foppoli, Dubic learned.

Poverty-stricken, she came to Molina’s church, Iglesia San Bartolome (Church of St. Bartholomew) in Siguatepeque every day for food or other necessities.

But the story God had in mind was much different than what Dubic saw back then. Eventually, Foppoli asked Molina for a job cleaning the church and its associated Nightingale nursing school in exchange for a small stipend.

Molina founded the school in 2011 to train young men and women as certified nurse’s assistants (CNAs), a vital need in this country where the health care system has

Nightingale Nursing School, Honduras

collapsed. “I’ll give you the job, but I expect you to attend my classes also,” Molina told Foppoli.

Years of poverty had left the teen doubting herself and her abilities.

But Molina, who had exercised remarkable perseverance in establishing the school, refused to hear Foppoli’s excuses.

After graduating in 2015, Foppoli now serves as sole care provider in a rural health center in Santa Cruz, Honduras, where the people call her “the little doctor.” Her story, like the Nightingale nursing school, matches the goal of The Rt. Rev. Lloyd Allen, bishop of the

LEFT, The Rev Vaike Madisson Molina, executive director; RIGHT, Josselin Flores Foppoli, nursing graduate

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Diocese of Honduras, to help his diocese become self-sustainable by changing the mindset of dependency.

Molina has conducted her nursing classes on church property, but her vision for a dedicated school building is becoming reality through partnerships with C & M Lifeline and the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando.

To finish the building, the school needs $27,000 along with various medical and school supplies (a list is available at www. hondurascommission.com).

—11th — Annual Flower Seminar

FRIDAY, February 21, 2020 9:00 a.m. - Brunch 9:30 to 12:00 - Demonstrations Cost: $40.00 Please send checks payable to: St. Peter the Fisherman 4220 Saxon Dr., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 For more information & reservations, please call:

386-428-7383

or visit: www.stpetersnet.net All profits benefit St. Peter’s Flower Guild & Outreach Programs

But the most important need, Dubic said, is prayer: “prayer that the school may succeed and that the people of Siguatepeque may witness the immense love and kingdom of God.”

www.cfdiocese.org

C E N T R A L F L O R I D A’ S E P I S C O PA L S C H O O L S

Episcopal Schools in the Diocese of Central Florida COCOA – St. Mark’s Episcopal

FRUITLAND PARK

Academy (K3-Grade 6)

Holy Trinity Episcopal School (Grades 6-12)

Known for its close-knit learning community that feels like family, students are challenged and encouraged to exercise skills they have learned and apply them to real-world experiences.

Joi M. Robertson, head of school 321-639-5771 www.stmarksacademy.org

DELAND St. Barnabas Episcopal School (Preschool-Grade 8)

Empowering each student to achieve academic and moral excellence in a faith-filled environment prepares them to be successful members of their communities in the future.

Paul Garcia, head of school 386-734-3005 www.sbesyes.org

FORT PIERCE St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (Preschool-Grade 12)

Providing an education that includes the vital competencies of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics alongside the soft skills of teamwork, collaboration and community involvement.

Suzanne D. Barry, head of school 772-461-7689 www.staacademy.org

www.cfdiocese.org

An inclusive school community for students with learning difficulties in grades 6 through 12. Curriculum is aligned to the identified needs of the students.

Justin McCallister, head of school 352-787-8855 www.htepiscopalschool.org

MELBOURNE Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (Preschool-Grade 12)

Offers an academically challenging college prep curriculum in an environment that reflects the joy and peace of Christian values, providing a seamless system of education in preschool through 12th grade.

Dr. Katherine Cobb, president of school 321-723-8323 www.htacademy.org

MOUNT DORA St. Edward’s Episcopal Preschool (Ages 2-Pre-K)

LAKE MARY – St. Peter’s

Offers a stimulating, hands-on and nurturing learning environment, allowing young children to feel safe and comfortable and encouraging the development of a positive selfconcept.

Heather Fortson, director 352-383-0290 www.stedpreschool.com

Preschool and Kindergarten (Ages 18 months-Kindergarten)

NEW SMYRNA

Students are guided to construct knowledge through exploration, observation and reflection in both planned lessons and teachable moments that occur throughout the day, helping the children develop at their own pace.

Wendy Berghane, director 407-333-1707 www.stpeterslakemaryschool.org

LONGWOOD Sweetwater Episcopal Academy (K4-Grade 8)

Unique alliances with Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, provide opportunities to enhance learning by bringing it outside the classroom.

Cynthia Lane, head of school 407-862-1882 www.sweetwaterepiscopal.org

St. Paul’s School (Ages 2-5)

Teachers strive to make every day full of wonder and build upon the natural curiosity of our students.

Suesi Borum, director 386-427-6977 www.stpaulsnsb.org/preschool. html

ORLANDO – St. Mary’s Preschool (Ages 2-Pre-K)

Striving to instill a love of learning as well as integrating important life lessons into the daily curriculum.

Brandi Crawford-Lavoie, director 407-851-4723 www.stmaryspreschool.org

ORLANDO St. Michael’s Preschool (Ages 18 months-Pre-K)

Children participate in free exploration of play centers and materials as well as planned group and individual activities.

Melanie Olivier, director 407-843-8448 www.stmichaelschurch.com/preschool

ST. CLOUD – St. Luke & St. Peter’s Preschool (Ages 2-4)

“Playing with a purpose” helps with independent thinking, problemsolving and conflict resolution.

Victoria Reich, director 407-892-4967 www.lukeandpeterpreschool.org

VERO BEACH – St. Edward’s School (Preschool-Grade 12)

Developing critical thinking, collaboration, and thorough preparation for college. Founded upon the Episcopal tradition, the focus is on the whole child.

Michael J. Mersky, head of school www.steds.org Lower School (Pre-K-Grade 5) 772-231-5357 Middle School (Grades 6-8) 772-231-1677 Upper School (Grades 9-12) 772-231-4136

VERO BEACH – Trinity Episcopal Pre-School (Ages 2-4) We seek to provide a biblically-based, Christ centered education to children in their most formative years. Each child is seen as unique and made in the image of God. Reeny Sempsrott, director 772-567-1146

WINTER GARDEN – Children of the Messiah Preschool (Ages 10 months-Pre-K)

Provides a Christ-centered environment and a child-centered curriculum, incorporating activities that stimulate multiple learning styles and talents.

Barbara Ellerbe, director 407-654-8415 www.churchofthemessiah.com/ school/preschool

WINTER HAVEN All Saints Academy (Preschool-Grade 12)

College preparatory learning environment committed to transforming the world one student at a time so he or she can reshape the future.

Carolyn Baldwin, head of school 863-293-5980 www.allsaintsacademy.com

WINTER PARK All Saints School (Ages 6 weeks-Kindergarten)

Learning Through Play: Children learn best through playful exploration facilitated by passionate, caring teachers.

Ms. Emory Messeroff, director 407-644-3413 www.allsaintsschoolwp.com

WINTER PARK Trinity Preparatory School (Grades 6-12)

Encouraging students to explore what excites them and examine their intellectual, artistic, physical and spiritual lives to become doers, thinkers and creators.

Byron M. Lawson Jr., head of school 407-671-4140 www.trinityprep.org

Editor’s note: Descriptions were excerpted from schools’ websites.

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Central Florida en español

CFE EPISCOPALIAN Proclamarlo desde la azotea “Lo que les digo en la oscuridad, díganlo ustedes a plena luz; lo que se les susurra al oído, proclámenlo desde las azoteas” (Mateo 10:27).

En este versículo, Jesús se refiere tanto a las azoteas físicas como metafóricas. Anima a sus discípulos a compartir los tesoros del evangelio al anunciarlo por todas partes.

Hacer la diferencia

Si deseamos dar a conocer un mensaje hoy día, lo publicamos en los medios sociales. El medio social de los tiempos del Nuevo Testamento era la azotea, de donde el heraldo podía llegar al pueblo lo más pronto posible.

Las azoteas no juegan un papel prominente en nuestros tiempos, ¿o sí? Quizás no necesitamos los techos para hacer proclamaciones, pero ciertamente los necesitamos para protegernos del clima. Aquí en la Florida Central las lluvias torrenciales, las granizadas y los huracanes pueden provocar la necesidad de reparaciones o reemplazo de azoteas, a menudo a un alto costo. Estas condiciones y costos existen a un nivel aún mayor en Honduras, lo cual es el enfoque de nuestra ofrenda durante nuestra cena anual de Acción de Gracias.

He compartido en varias ocasiones sobre el profundo impacto que ha tenido en mi vida mi relación con el Rev. Lloyd Allen, obispo de la Diócesis de Honduras. Se ha convertido tanto en un amigo muy querido así como en un compañero del ministerio, y he tenido el privilegio de visitar su país y ver la gloria de la obra de Dios junto con las profundas necesidades.

Desarrollar autosuficiencia

El obispo Allen ha dejado claro su énfasis: Desea que su diócesis se torne autosuficiente, para lo cual la educación es una parte importante. De hecho, leerán un artículo en esta edición sobre cómo la escuela Nightingale en Siguatepeque, Honduras está trabajando para cambiar las vidas tanto de sus estudiantes y como de los que le sirven a través de las destrezas médicas que aprenden.

Estoy de acuerdo con el obispo Allen que la educación es vital para desarrollar la autosuficiencia a través de su diócesis. Al educar a los futuros líderes cristianos y sacar de la pobreza a los jóvenes adultos, la educación trae luz a las tinieblas y

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Por Obispo Gregory O. Brewer

ofrece esperanza en medio de la desesperación.

Al igual que nuestros hijos en ocasiones necesitan ayuda cuando van de camino a la autosuficiencia, nuestros hermanos hondureños también. Mi amigo Wesny Dubic, presidente de la Comisión Hondureña de la Florida Central, visitó nuevamente Honduras durante el verano pasado y estuvo en varios lugares donde la Diócesis Episcopal de Honduras está haciendo la diferencia. Uno de ellos fue la Catedral El Buen Pastor en San Pedro Sula, Honduras, que está rodeado por millas de pobreza. El nuevo decano de La Catedral, el Rev. Héctor Amílcar Ortega, está haciendo lo mejor que puede con recursos bien limitados para hacer de El Buen Pastor un ejemplo para todas las iglesias de allí.

Obispo Greg Brewer

Satisfacer la necesidad

Ortega ya ha logrado mucho, pero él y su congregación ahora enfrentan una enorme necesidad. El techo de La Catedral necesita reparación y costará $6,000. Para nosotros los floridanos quizás esto suene como tremenda oferta. No obstante, en un país donde el ingreso anual per cápita, según los informes del 2016, era de menos de $4,300, esto puede lucir inalcanzable.

El obispo Allen ha solicitado que todo el dinero que se recaude durante nuestra ofrenda de Acción de Gracias este año se designe para arreglar el techo de La Catedral. Aquí incluyo una foto para que puedan ver la gran necesidad, así como de otras necesidades que he visto durante mis visitas allá. Lo animo a recordar que nuestros esfuerzos unidos sirven para extender el nombre de Jesús en Honduras y que el obispo Allen, con su énfasis en la educación y los alcances, están logrando esa meta.

Le pido que ore y tome en cuenta lo que Dios desea que usted haga para apoyar este proyecto. Mientras colaboramos con nuestros hermanos y hermanas hondureños, estamos logrando que literalmente proclamen desde las azoteas las Buenas Nuevas y continúen dando a conocer su nombre en la Diócesis de Honduras.

Su gracia sobre usted,

Obispo Gregory O. Brewer

Las ofrendas de Acción de Gracias ayudarán a reparar el techo de la Catedral El Buen Pastor.

www.cfdiocese.org

GENTE Y EVENTOS

Salvar la isla estrella de mar Por Erik Guzman El huracán había pasado. Era temprano en la mañana. Un hombre mayor caminaba por la playa observando los daños. Los escombros cubrían la orilla.

Entre barcos varados, ramas, algas, y pedazos de materiales de las casas había estrellas de mar, muchas de ellas y un chico.

El señor mayor observó al chico que se dobló a recoger una estrella de mar y gentilmente la lanzó al agua. El hombre se le acercó y le dijo: “¡Buenos días! ¿Puedo preguntarte qué haces?”.

El chico recogió otra estrella y le respondió: “Echando al mar las estrellas. La tormenta las trajo a la orilla y no pueden regresar a su casa por sí mismas. Cuando el sol se ponga morirán si no las regresamos al mar”. Así lanzó otra estrella en el oleaje.

“Joven”, contestó el hombre, “hay miles de estrellas de mar en la playa. Temo que no vas a poder hacer mucha diferencia”.

Esta es una vieja historia adaptada de The Star Thower por Loren Eiseley. Predicadores y oradores motivacionales han estado compartiendo versiones de esta parábola moderna por años, muchas veces acompañada de una cita de la Madre Teresa: “No todos podemos hacer grandes cosas, pero podemos hacer pequeñas cosas con gran amor”.

Hoy en día la historia de la estrella de mar se repite en las orillas de la devastada isla Grand Cay de Bahamas, tras el paso del huracán Dorian.

Pero en vez de una historia ficticia de un hombre mayor, un chico y miles de estrellas de mar, la historia presenta las acciones verídicas del “hombre del bote”, “el hombre de la comida”, “el hombre de la ropa”, “el hombre del agua” y una pequeña comunidad pesquera de 383 personas.

Tom Oyler es “el hombre del bote”. Es el dueño de The Old Fish House (La vieja casa de pescado) www.cfdiocese.org

Grand Cay’s serenity was devastated by Hurricane Dorian.

en la costa de Grant. Tom ha estado pescando por las aguas que rodean Grand Cay desde el final de años setenta.

“Es una isla a la que nadie le va a prestar atención”, explicó Oyler, “porque solo cuenta con 380 residentes y no es pudiente, no tiene turismo”. Pero Oyler le está prestando atención a la isla de una milla de larga, el “punto en el mapa”. Está entregando donaciones y suministros a Grand Cay en bote.

Ahí es que “el hombre de la comida” y “el hombre de la ropa” entran a la historia: El decano John Clark de la Iglesia episcopal St. Gabriel en Titusville y el decano Jim Flood de la Iglesia episcopal St. Jude en Orange City.

A los pocos días después que el paso del huracán Dorian dejó en ruinas a Bahamas, el ministerio de Flood, No One Hungry (Nadie hambriento), preparó más de 16,000 comidas de emergencia para ser enviadas a las islas.

Flood recuerda cómo se envolvió: “Sigo al obispo Brewer en Instagram y vi una publicación poco después del huracán que hablaba del decano John Clark con cajas de

Los decanos y Oyler también se unieron a Joe Hurston, “el hombre del agua” del ministerio Air Mobile para repartir sistemas de purificación de agua que se energizan con baterías potentes.

Llevaron 2,500 unidades a la isla Grand Cay.

Mientras Huston instaló 20 máquinas de agua a través de las Bahamas, Clark explicó que su esfuerzo de socorro está ahora enfocado en trabajar con Oyler para ayudar a hacer un gran impacto en la pequeña comunidad de Grand Cay, “Tom está reuniendo materiales de construcción para llevar en una barcaza y vamos a seguir trabajando para llevar ropa y alimentos”.

Clark manifestó que que él sepa las agencias de gobierno y la Cruz Roja aún no han llegado a Grand Cay.

Por ahora, la isla es su estrella de mar.

Puede dirigir sus donaciones a los ministerios No One Hungry, Air Mobile y Tom Oyler de The Old Fish House (se reciben y aprecian tarjetas de regalo de Lowe’s y Home Depot).

Cualquiera que esté interesado en hacer una donación monetaria puede hacerrlo a través de la Diócesis de la Florida Central y donar de tres diferentes maneras:

1 Envíe un texto a “DCF Bahamas” al 73256

comida que iba a enviar a Bahamas”. Clark había recaudado ropa y había hecho los arreglos para enviarla junto a alimentos las Bahamas.

“Enviamos más de 25 fundas de ropa que logramos meter en cinco cajas grandes”, explicó Flood. “Fue maravilloso enterarme de toda la gente de nuestra diócesis que respondió para ayudaral pueblo de Bahamas. Esto fue verdaderamente Dios en acción”, añadió.

2 En línea a través de tarjeta de crédito , oprima aquí para esta página segura

3 Envíe un cheque a nombre la “Diocese of

Central Florida”, que en la línea del memo diga: “Hurricane Relief”, envíelo a la dirección: Diocese of Central Florida , 1017 E. Robinson St. Orlando, FL 32801

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GENTE Y EVENTOS

Por Erik Guzman

E

Pinder

l Rev. Canon Nelson W. Pinder tenía 27 años cuando llegó a Orlando. Era el año 1959 y Dios lo había llamado a ser el nuevo rector de la Iglesia Episcopal St. John The Baptist en el vecindario Washington Shores.

“En realidad yo no quería venir aquí”, dijo Pinder.

“Quería regresar al Lower East Side de New York.

Estaban haciendo todo tipo de buenas obras. Y el obispo dijo: ‘No, vas para Orlando’. De veras que fui un candidato bien reacio”.

Este “candidato reacio” se convirtió en un líder clave en el movimiento de los derechos civiles en Orlando y calurosamente se le denominaba el “párroco

24

de la calle”. Sin embargo, el día que salió a las calles de la “Ciudad hermosa”, no fue recibido calurosamente.

“Tuve que pedir un taxi para ‘gente de color’”, recordó Pinder. “No me atendían en los mostradores. Entonces me dije: ‘Dios mío, estoy de regreso a la Edad de Piedra’”.

Ahí supo que su misión y ministerio se necesitaban desesperadamente.

Como el nuevo párroco de la Iglesia St. John, Pinder se propuso proclamar el amor de Dios y ser un ministro de reconciliación al hacer un llamado a las personas a extender ese amor divino entre sí.

Pinder recuerda esos tiempos con un brillo en

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Los adolescentes negros, “Pinder’s Kids” (Los chicos de Pinder), respondieron al llamado de Pinder al ministerio de la reconciliación y él organizó conversaciones pacíficas durante almuerzos en el centro de la ciudad. También laboró con el jefe de la policía de aquel entonces, Carlisle “Stoney” Johnstone. “Él fue un buen hombre”, dijo Pinder. “Cooperamos juntos. Teníamos un bosquejo de lo que íbamos a hacer y de lo que iba a pedirles a mis chicos que hicieran (o quien estuviera conmigo).

Y pienso que respetamos nuestros límites y salió todo hermoso…se convirtió en un ministerio común”.

Debido a este ministerio común, Orlando se liberó de la violencia que se desató en la mayoría de las ciudades durante la integración racial.

“Lo brillante del padre Pinder es cómo él retó el sistema con una mano y trabajó con la otra”, señaló el párroco actual de la Iglesia St. John the Baptist, el Rev. Charles Myers. “Él siguió

perseverando porque sabía cuál era el bien mayor”.

El 4 de enero de 2020, la Diócesis de la Florida Central celebrará el 60 aniversario de la ordenación de Canon Pinder al ministerio con un servicio en la Catedral Church of St. Luke en el centro de la ciudad de Orlando. El Reverendisimo Michael Curry, obispo presidente de la Iglesia episcopal estará predicando.

A través de los años Pinder le ha otorgado a la diócesis causa y motivo de celebración. Ya sea por su servicio con Christian Service Center (Centro de Servicio Cristiano), Head Start y líderes comunitarios, o por sus esfuerzos para

PHOTO: Orlando Sentinel file photo

Invertir un legado

sus ojos. “Comenzamos a dar frutos y el fruto no fue solo para la St. John, fue para toda la comunidad.

Y en esta cruzada reunimos blancos, negros, ricos, pobres, pestilentes, homosexuales, heterosexuales… comenzamos a juntar personas (no las separamos) que quisieran adentrarse en esta jornada misionera con nosotros”.

asegurar que haya pago equitativo para empleados escolares y de la ciudad, ese “candidato reacio” desde 1959 es ahora un gigante de los derechos civiles en la historia de Orlando y de la Iglesia en general.

En los hombros de este gentil gigante generaciones futuras podrán ver más allá hasta de Pinder.

Podemos tener esperanza, orar y salir a las calles.

Todavía hay trabajo por hacer. Como nos reta Myers de la Iglesia St. John: “Después que termine la celebración y conmemoremos, ¿qué estamos haciendo para invertir en el legado de Canon Pinder?”

Pinder comparte que la clave para un cambio

When Pinder arrived in Orlando 1959, he worked with city officials to create a beautiful “mutual ministry”.

www.cfdiocese.org

CA N O N H O L C O M B E significativo es simplemente pedirle a la gente que se una. “El mundo está allá afuera. Abra sus ojos y mire. Hay mucha gente que quiere ayudar. Lo que tenemos que hacer es preguntarles y pedirles que se unan. Vinieron, vieron, fueron y compartieron sobre lo bien que la pasaron ayudando a la creación de Dios”.

¿A Quien le pertenece la Iglesia de Todos Modos? Por Rev. Canon Scott Holcombe

Considérese como que se le ha preguntado y pedido.

¡Llevar el ministerio de Canon a lo ordinario ha sido una experiencia reveladora! A medida que viajo visitando las congregaciones de la diócesis, trabajando con sacristías, lanzando estrategias de desarrollo congregacional y reuniéndome con líderes y clérigos, he notado un fenómeno interesante. Se trata del uso de la palabra “mi”, lo cual noto en las conversaciones eclesiales diarias. A veces en las conversaciones con clérigos escucho “mi iglesia”, “mi congregación”, “mi sacristía” o “mi parroquia”. Espero que el uso del adjetivo posesivo “mi” sea una expresión inocente y accidental usada para facilitar el diálogo simple. Sin embargo, en repetidas ocasiones escuchar “mi” ha causado que explore mi propia incomodidad.

—11vo — Seminario Anual de las Flores IGLESIA EPISCOPAL

St. Peter

the

Fisherman

Viernes, 21 de febrero de 2020 9:00 a. m. - Desayuno almuerzo 9:30-12:00 - Demostraciones Costo: $40.00

Puede hacer un cheque a nombre de: St. Peter the Fisherman 4220 Saxon Dr., New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 Para más información y reservaciones, llame por favor al (386) 428-7383 ovisítenos en www.stpetersnet.net Todos los fondos recaudados serán usados para beneficiar los programas de divulgación y alcance

www.cfdiocese.org

En Cesarea de Filipo después de la confesión de Pedro, Jesús dijo: “Yo te digo que tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta piedra edificaré mi iglesia, y las puertas del reino de la muerte no prevalecerán contra ella” (Mateo 16:18). La Iglesia, el cuerpo de Cristo (1 Corintios 12:27), el pueblo de Dios (1 Pedro 2:10) pertenece a Jesús, es Su Iglesia. Es por este grupo con quien hizo un pacto que Cristo murió. Fue comprado con la preciosa sangre del Cordero. La Iglesia

Esposa La Nora y Canon Scott Holcombe

es el pueblo de Dios y por tanto su propiedad, precio y valor no tienen nada que ver con el actual (o pasado) párroco. No lo fue, no lo es, ni nunca será su iglesia. Aunque quizás este sea un simple asunto de semántica para algunos, el clero como comunicador profesional conoce el valor de la precisión en el lenguaje, y debe ser así ya que la mala comunicación lleva a disputas, problemas de control o debates sobre autoridad sacerdotal.

Se requieren más palabras para decir “la parroquia en la que sirvo”, o “la parroquia a la que fui llamado”, pero sí refleja que hasta para los párrocos, pastores o sacerdotes a cargo, ¡no se trata de “mi” parroquia!

Fielmente, Scott Holcombe

Central Florida EPISCOPALIAN

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Nov / Dec 2019

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O U R A N G L I CA N H E R I TA G E

Episcopal churches celebrate ‘Lessons and Carols’

middle of that long-ago field with the shepherds and remind you of what it means to be “sore afraid” before trumpeting the amazing news that you need “fear not” because the message is one that brings “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:9-10, KJV).

By Linda Axelson

E

ach December, Anglican Episcopal churches embrace a unique seasonal service. According to The Episcopal Church, “The Anglican tradition of performing the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols during Advent dates back to 1880, when Edward White Benson (later to become archbishop of Canterbury) designed the service for use on Christmas Eve in Cornwall, England.

“In 1918, King’s College in Cambridge, England, began performing the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols each year on Christmas Eve, and in the United States, the Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts, has been performing the festival annually since 1928.

Performances of the Nine Lessons and Carols have become an Advent tradition throughout much of the Anglican Communion.

“The nine traditional readings begin with Genesis and end with the Gospel of Luke, following the story of the fall of man, the promise

King’s College, Cambridge

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Central Florida EPISCOPALIAN

of a new covenant and the coming of a Messiah, and ending with the birth of Jesus Christ.

Interspersed with the readings are traditional Christmas carols, hymns and choir music.”

5. You will remember what

Christmas is about: At this time of year, there is no shortage of “Christmas.” It’s everywhere, but the world’s Christmas is not the church’s Christmas. Most of the “Christmas” songs you hear on the radio aren’t Christmas songs at all, but celebrations of winter, family, love, giving and peace on earth.

All of those are certainly good things, but they aren’t Christmas.

Christmas is “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing,” and Lessons and Carols makes that abundantly clear.

Cheryl Magness, frequent writer on faith, family and culture, offers five good reasons to attend a Lessons and Carols service (taken from www.thefederalist.com):

1. You will hear God’s Word:

Lessons and Carols is not a musical concert or play, but rather the story of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind as revealed in his Word. That story begins with the Genesis account of the fall of Adam and Eve and concludes with the Word made flesh in the first chapter of John. Each reading is followed by one or more carols, allowing for further meditation on the text.

2. You will sing, and singing

is good: Why do we get chills those rare times when we are at a sporting event and everyone joins in the national anthem? It’s not just the song, but the corporate nature of the singing. There are very few places these days where that sort of group singing happens.

A Lessons and Carols service is a unique opportunity to hear and sing songs that the larger culture mostly ignores.

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Nov / Dec 2019

3. You will unite with Christians across time and space: You will join not just with those standing at your left and right, but with Christians around the world both today and in the past who have listened to the same readings and sung the same texts.

4. You will be transported to

another world: At this time of year, instead of allowing Christians more time for religious observance, the culture ramps up a couple of notches, mercilessly piling on the activities and special events. But the Incarnation is the most mindblowing, awe-inspiring event in the history of the universe, and the other-worldliness of Lessons and Carols will set you down in the

Time is in short supply during the month of December. But the return on a Lessons and Carols service will far exceed the small amount of time you put into it. In Cambridge, some people line up days in advance in the hope of gaining admittance to the Festival of Lessons and Carols that started them all. Set aside an hour this Christmas season, and give yourself and your family a gift that will cost absolutely nothing but will immeasurably enrich your spirit throughout the year ahead.

Editor’s Note: Portions of this article were edited and adapted with permission from the online article 5 Reasons You Need To Attend A Lessons And Carols Service This Christmas, by Cheryl Magness, which originally appeared on www. thefederalist.com.

www.cfdiocese.org

D I O C E S A N CA L E N D A R

L E S S O N S

&

C A R O L S

Please see individual churches’ websites or Facebook pages for more information on Advent services.

SUNDAY, DEC. 1 BISHOP BREWER’S VISITATION SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, DEC. 15

ORLANDO - EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4 P.M. Advent Evensong www.emmanuelepiscopal.net

COCOA - ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4 P.M. www.stmarkscocoa.org Facebook: St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Cocoa, Florida

Sun, Nov 24

Lake Placid, St. Francis of Assisi

Sun, Dec 8 a.m.

Cocoa, St. Mark’s

Sun, Dec 8 p.m.

Orlando, Cathedral (Advent Evensong)

Sun, Dec 15

Daytona Beach, St. Mary’s

Tue, Dec 24

Orlando, Cathedral (Christmas Eve)

WINTER PARK - ALL SAINTS CHURCH 5:30 P.M. www.allsaintswinterpark.org Facebook: allsaintschurchwinterpark

Sun, Jan 5

Sebring, St. Agnes

MONDAY, DEC. 2

Sun, Jan 12

New Smyrna Beach, St. Peter the Fisherman

Sun, Jan 26

Orlando, Cathedral (Annual Meeting)

CRYSTAL RIVER - ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 6 P.M. www.stanneschurchcr.org Facebook: stanneschurchcr

​ ERRITT ISLAND - ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH M 6 P.M. www.stlukesmi.org Ormond Beach - St. James Episcopal Church 10 a.m. www.stjamesobfl.org

Sun, Feb 2

Bartow, Holy Trinity

SUNDAY, DEC. 8

THURSDAY, DEC. 19

Sun, Feb 9

Orlando, St. John-the-Baptist

Sat, Feb 15

DeLand, St. Barnabas (Diocesan Altar Guild Annual Meeting)

Sun, Feb 16

Orange City, St. Jude’s

Sun, Feb 23

Winter Haven, St. Paul’s

Sun, Mar 1

DeLand, St. Barnabas

Sun, Mar 8

Lakeland, All Saints’

2020

DEACON ORDINATIONS

Mon, Jan 27, p.m. Orlando, Cathedral

VERO BEACH - ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4 P.M. Facebook: staugustinevero

BELLEVIEW - ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4 P.M. www.stmarysbelleview.org DELAND - ST. BARNABAS CHURCH 4 P.M. www.stbarnabaschurchdeland.org LAKELAND - ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4 P.M. www.allsaintsweb.org

Sat, Jan 4

Orlando, Cathedral

ORLANDO - CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 5:30 P.M. www.ascension-orlando.org

The Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder, 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood

ORLANDO - CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. LUKE 6 P.M. Advent Evensong www.ccslorlando.org Facebook: CCSLOrlando

www.cfdiocese.org

LONGWOOD - EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION 5:30 P.M. www.resurrectionlongwood.org

APOPKA - CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH AND FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, Apopka 5 P.M. www.holyspiritapopka.com Facebook: holyspiritapopka

ANNIVERSARY

Bishop Brewer’s visitation dates are subject to change. Please refer to www.cfdiocese.org for the most current visitation listing.

EUSTIS - ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 10:30 A.M. www.stthomaseustis.com Facebook: St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Eustis Florida

SATURDAY, DEC. 14

TITUSVILLE - ST. GABRIEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 5:30 P.M. www.stgabriels.church Facebook: StGabrielTitusville

OCALA - GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 7 P.M. www.graceocala.org Facebook: Grace Episcopal Church Ocala, Fl

SUNDAY, DEC. 22

LECANTO - SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 10:30 A.M. Facebook: Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church Lecanto ORLANDO - CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. LUKE 6 P.M. www.ccslorlando.org Facebook: CCSLOrlando/

SUNDAY, DEC. 29

LAKELAND - CHRIST THE KING EPISCOPAL CHURCH 10 A.M. www.christthekinglakeland.com MELBOURNE - ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 10 A.M. www.stjohnsmlb.org WINTER HAVEN - ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 5 P.M. www.spwhfl.com Facebook: stpaulswinterhaven

Events and dates subject to change. Please check website of event location, or contact person, for the most current listings.

Central Florida EPISCOPALIAN

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Nov / Dec 2019

27

Central Florida EPISCOPALIAN 1017 E. Robinson Street Orlando, FL 32801-2023

Non-Profit Organization

U. S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 4111 ORLANDO, FLORIDA

SAVE THE DATES 51st Annual Diocesan Convention

—MATTHEW 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. …

You are the light of the world. ...

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Friday, January 24, and Saturday, January 25, 2020

Friday, January 24

Convention Eucharist Organization of Convention All Saints Academy, Pou Chapel 5001 FL-540, Winter Haven, FL 33880

Fellowship Dinner Nora Mayo Hall 500 3rd St NW Winter Haven, FL 33881

Saturday, January 25

51st Annual Diocesan Convention Nora Mayo Hall

Central CFE Florida

EPISCOPALIAN Volume 122, No. 6 / Nov - Dec 2019

4 New Canon to the Ordinary Asks, Whose Church Is It, Anyway?

6 Camp Wingmann Invites Alumni to Return 9 Saving Starfish Island 10 Investing Canon Pinder’s Legacy 20 Nightingale Nursing School Changes Lives in Honduras