Central Florida Episcopalian Newspaper, November / December 2015

CENTRALFLORIDAEPISCOPALIAN NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA • WWW.CFDIOCESE.ORG • Volume 117, No. 9 • November/December 2015

Bishop Brewer’s Thanksgiving Letter pg 3

Advent: Preparing for Christ’s Return pg 4

A Voice from the Past Speaks to Evangelism and Mission pg 8 Cathedral Church of Saint Luke

Both Sides of the Coin A Fresh Look at Stewardship pg 12

Episcopal Relief Celebrates 75 Years pg 14

Diocese of Central Florida

Contents

Covering 15 counties and 86 churches in Central Florida

Let’s be a Thanksgiving Blessing...........................................Page 3

Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer IN THE UNITED STATES A community of 2.5 million members in 118 dioceses in the Americas and elsewhere.

Established in 1789.

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ..........................................Page 6

Presiding Bishop: The Most Reverend Michael Bruce Curry IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION A global community of 70 million Anglicans in 500 dioceses. Covers 164 countries in 38 member provinces.

Archbishop of Canterbury: The Most Reverend Justin Welby

Advent: Preparing for Christ’s Return.....................................Page 4 Rev. Canon Pinder Awarded the Donald A Cheney Award........Page 7 A Timeless Focus on Evangelism and Mission........................Page 8 ICS is now online!..............................................................Page 10 Two New Rectors Called......................................................Page 11 Both Sides of the Coin........................................................Page 12 Episcopal Relief & Development Celebrates 75 years..........Page 14 The 47th Annual Diocesan Convention.................................Page 15 Canterbury/ Camp Wingmann Calendar..............................Page 16 Diocese Calendar/ Bishop’s Visitations..............................Page 17 Happening is Here Again.....................................................Page 19

Central Florida Episcopalian Continuing The Palm Branch (1894), diocese (1971)

Church of the Holy Child is our New Home............................Page 21

The Rt. Rev. Gregory Brewer Bishop

Breaking News and Apology................................................Page 22

The Rt. Rev. John W. Howe The Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson The Rt. Rev. Hugo Pina-Lopez The Rt. Rev. John Said Retired Bishops The Rev. Canon Timothy Nunez Canon to the Ordinary The Rev. Canon Justin Holcomb Canon for Vocations The Ven. Kristi Alday Archdeacon Erick Perez Subscription Manager & Social Media Editor

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Live Free............................................................................Page 20

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

Financial News...................................................................Page 22 Come Celebrate.................................................................Page 23 The 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 notices two months before event to:

The Central Florida Episcopalian 1017 E. Robinson Street Orlando, FL 32801-2023 Tel.: (407) 423-3567, ext. 316 Fax: (407) 872-0006 Email: eperez@cfdiocese.org www.cfdiocese.org

BISHOP BREWER

Let’s be a Thanksgiving Blessing to our Brothers and Sisters in Christ in Honduras Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, For over four decades the Diocese of Central Florida’s companion relationship with the Diocese of Honduras has helped Episcopalians in both countries do the work that Jesus summons us to perform.

Historically, each year the churches in the Diocese of Central Florida earmark their Thanksgiving Offering to be used for mission in the Diocese of Honduras.

This year the Honduras Commission has determined that the most pressing need is at Divina Gracia in San Pedro Sula. In addition to roof and ceiling repairs, funding from our diocese will go toward the installation of pews, replacing the dilapidated chairs currently being used.

Episcopal Church in Omoa, Honduras

While Bishop Lloyd Allen acknowledges there are times when aid for projects such as Divina Gracia’s is a necessity, his multi-year plan for self-sufficiency continues to gain momentum through initiatives like establishing a micro-finance program at every one of the congregations in his diocese, reducing expenses, increasing local income, and fostering community stakeholder relationships.

I remain encouraged by Bishop Allen’s ongoing efforts to make the Church in Honduras self-sustaining and am confident that with prayer and persistence, the Diocese of Honduras will enter into a new kind of partnership with the Diocese of Central Florida – one that is based on interdependency rather than dependency.

We will continue to work together toward the future of a self-sufficient Diocese of Honduras, but, for today, in this season of giving thanks for God’s many blessings, let’s put together a “Thanksgiving Basket” for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Honduras.

Grace to you, Bishop

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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ADVENT

Advent

Celebrating Christmas by Preparing for Christ’s Second Coming

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dvent is the season in the Church’s year that turns our attention to the coming of Christ. The word itself comes from the Latin adventus, which is a translation of the Greek parousia. To the surprise of many, Advent has traditionally had as much or more to do with

the second coming of Christ as the first. The birth of Jesus is always considered with a view to what lies beyond. He came into the world to save sinners – to preach and teach, to heal, to die on the cross, and to walk away from the empty tomb. He ascended into heaven and promised to be present with us until he comes again in glory.

Christmas is the pinprick of light in the darkness.

The second coming is life with no shadow. We celebrate the former by preparing for the latter.

The poet and critic T. S. Eliot called the first coming of Jesus the “still point of the turning world.” It is the hinge on which the door of history hangs.

And so our preparation for Christmas each year is partly about sharing the hopes and expectations of Israel in the coming of the Messiah to save the world. Advent demands space for the stillness that is found in the manger in Bethlehem. With that space we have a framework for preparing for the return of the God-man, born to Mary, who now sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven.

We cannot rest long in the first arrival of Jesus.

We are always anticipating his return.

Jesus tells us in Luke’s Gospel on the first Sunday of Advent this year: “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:34-36).

“That day” is the day when Jesus returns to make things right. On that day the dead will be raised, and the eternal reign of Christ the king will be realized in full. No one will escape the experience of it, and Advent poses to each of us a necessary question: What kind of experience will it be for you? Not only sinful paths of decadence but even the humdrum of ordinary existence could result in our being unprepared. Is our gaze fixed down or up?

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

ADVENT “Prepare the way of the Lord,” John the Baptist, harkening back to Isaiah, reminds us on the second Sunday of Advent. Christ’s return is the day of divine justice that Mary prays for when she accepts her call to be the God-bearer. Humble, faithful people like her will be seen for what they are. The mighty ones in this life will be revealed as frauds.

“What then should we do?” the crowds ask Jesus in our Gospel reading for the third Sunday of Advent. We should not simply look busy, but be engaged in the authentic work of the kingdom that is on its way. Advent calls us to act now according to what life will be like then. If Jesus’ return means that the lowly will be exalted, then we humble ourselves now and exalt those in need by parting with a coat, food, or money. Charity, the greatest of the theological virtues, defines our expectations. Jesus promises everything and demands everything.

“My soul magnifies the Lord,” Mary sings to us on the fourth Sunday of Advent. No matter how deep a pit we find ourselves in, no matter how vile the persecution, no matter how desperate our debt, loneliness, or illness, we can be saved by the light which has dawned upon us. The choice is ours. Will we, like Mary, say yes? If so, we shall be restored by the God of hosts whose invasion came not with weapons and armies but a meek and lowly family far from home.

The four themes of death, judgment, heaven, and hell are the traditional subjects of preaching during the season of Advent, and Scripture shows us that we should never separate them from each other. We wait for the time when Christ will be “all in all.” We look for life in a one-dimensional universe, where the divisions between God’s reality and ours, God’s righteousness and our wretchedness, God’s perfection and our brokenness, will cease forever.

An Advent Blessing, adapted from the Book of Occasional Services: May Almighty God, by whose providence our Savior Christ came among us in great humility, sanctify you with the light of his blessing and set you free from all sin. May he whose second coming in power and great glory we await, make you steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in love. May you, who rejoice in the first Advent of our Redeemer, at his second Advent be rewarded with unending life. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

The Reverend Andrew Petiprin, Rector St. Mary of the Angels, Orlando

Father Andrew was a British Marshall Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford from 2001 to 2003. He trained for ordination at Yale and was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in 2010.

Here are Daily Scripture readings for the season of Advent ADVENT WEEK 1 Sunday Luke 21:5-19 Monday Matt. 21:1-11 Tuesday Matt. 21:12-22 Wednesday Matt. 21:23-32 Thursday Matt. 21:33-46 Friday Matt. 22:1-14 Saturday Matt. 22:15-22

ADVENT WEEK 2 Sunday Luke 1:57-67 Monday Matt. 22:23-33 Tuesday Matt. 22:34-46 Wednesday Matt. 23:1-12 Thursday Matt. 23:13-26 Friday Matt. 23:27-39 Saturday Matt. 24:1-14 ADVENT WEEK 3 Sunday John 5:30-47 Monday Matt. 24:15-31 Tuesday Matt. 24:32-44 Wednesday Matt. 24:45-51 Thursday Matt. 25:1-13 Friday Matt. 25:14-30 Saturday Matt. 25:31-46 ADVENT WEEK 4 Sunday John 3:16-21 Monday Luke 1:1-25 Tuesday Luke 1:26-38 Wednesday Luke 1:39-48a(48b-56) Thursday Luke 1:57-66 Friday Luke 1:67-80 or

Matt. 1:1-17 Dec. 24

Matt. 1:18-25

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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DIOCESE NEWS

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ Do we realize what we are saying?

“W

e live in a culture where we are submerged in divisions about race and racism,” says David Platt, a New York Times bestselling author. He claims that we begin our conversations with the wrong premise, one that creates tension and does not give the solution we are seemingly seeking. Instead, our starting point for such discussions should be acknowledging that we are created in the image of God and stand before him as a rainbow – different colors, one entity.

As Christians we sometimes use the phrase, “My brothers and sisters in Christ.” Whether we are fully cognizant of what we are saying or not, what we say is what we should mean and live. The Anti-Racism Commission of the Diocese of Central Florida seeks to make that statement real for both clergy and lay leadership with the abiding hope that together, we will make that statement real to all Christians.

In the beginning when God created the first couple, none of us has any idea what color they were. But we do know that with every other thing he made – animals, birds, landscape, and more – he gave us many examples of the same species or kind, but different colors.

God never intended our identity to be found in physical appearance but in our belonging. John said, “He came to his own, but his own did not receive him but to those that received him, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:11-12). And therein lies our identity.

The way forward for the Anti-Racism Commission is to help our brothers and sisters in Christ embrace who we are with a new vitality for oneness: one approach to the real meaning of diversity, understanding that the only thing that should separate the children of God is sin. Those who live guided by sin are different from those who have decided to be guided by Christ.

As we approach convention and the coming year, let us be proactive by visiting our deanery meetings with the single message of what we mean by “My brothers and sisters in Christ.”

The Rev. Chris Brathwaite, Rector St. Mark’s Haines City chris.brat@outlook.com (863) 422-1416

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

Live Nativity Tableaux

Sunday, December 13 Church of the Good Shepherd 331 Lake Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751

On Sunday, December 13 between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, you are invited to walk our beautiful campus and encounter nine live scenes relating to the nativity of our Lord. Join us for festiverefreshments and music at the end of your journey. www.GoodShepherdMaitland.com

ANNOUNCEMENT

Rev. Canon Nelson W. Pinder Awarded the Donald A. Cheney Award The Historical Society of Central Florida

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n September 16, 2015, Canon Nelson Pinder received the Donald A. Cheney Award. This award honors those who have become staples in our community through not only their service and dedication but their love as well. The award celebrates its namesake, Judge Donald A. Cheney (18891983), founder of the Orange County Historical Society and the Orange County Historical Museum, the predecessors of the current Historical Society and Orange County Regional History Center.

Since coming to Orlando in 1959, Canon Pinder has been a determined advocate for increasing diversity, recognizing the persistence of racism and reaching out to minorities and the needy. His purpose in life became evident when he arrived in the community to serve the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Orlando’s African-American community. He was among the most effective civil rights activists of the 1960s, working with white elected officials to peacefully integrate Orlando and avoid the racial violence that plagued other Florida cities. Pinder was involved in organizing sit-ins and protests of segregated lunch counters in Orlando. He later became a member of the Mayor’s Biracial Commission, which dealt with issues of desegregation and equal employment opportunities for minorities.

Donald A. Cheney Award recipients are chosen annually by the Historical Society and nominated by the community. Among the guests celebrating this great achievement with Canon Pinder were Bishop Greg Brewer, Judge Belvin Perry, and Orange County Public School Superintendent Dr. Barbara M. Jenkins.

By Erick Perez

A Reflection on Fr. Pinder’s Life Father Pinder came to Orlando when he was 27 years old. He became the new rector of Episcopal Church of St John the Baptist. This was 1959.

Trying to summon a taxi at the Orlando airport, Fr. Pinder found himself being instructed to hail the “colored” taxi. He decided to get a cup of coffee in the airport café and they would not serve him.

“That’s when I realized my work was going to be cut out for me,” he recalls.

Part of his work included teaching teens nonviolent tactics, which included sit-ins at downtown lunch counters.

“This was not a war,” Fr. Pinder has said about the civil rights era. “It was a ministry of trying to bring people together to do the right thing at the right time for the community.”

Bringing people together was potentially dangerous work. Anyone who signed on to the ministry in those days had to be prepared to die. One time Fr. Pinder was stepping down from a curb in Orlando and someone tried to run him down. As the car sped past, Fr. Pinder heard someone shout, “KKK.” Fortunately, Orlando avoided much of the violence that occurred in southern towns. Fr. Pinder credits this to the help of both black and white leaders.

Fr. Pinder led the way to a nonviolent civil rights movement in Orlando. He has also been known as the Street Preacher in the mid-twentieth century. The History Center even presented a play called “Pinder’s Kids” to honor Fr. Pinder and the work he did with the teens of Orlando.

The Diocese of Central Florida thanks Fr. Pinder for his service to The Episcopal Church and the community.

Mrs. Laura Lee and Bishop Brewer, Mrs. Marian and Canon Pinder

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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STEWARDSHIP

A Timeless Focus on Evangelism and Mission What we can learn from renowned Archbishop Thomas Cranmer

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ecently Canon Holcomb had the privilege of interviewing Ashley Null, one of the world’s foremost experts on Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury 1533-1556. Null reveals an understanding of Cranmer’s influence and theology, which fuels a more robust focus on evangelism and mission.

What are you currently working on?

I am preparing a critical edition of Archbishop Cranmer’s private theological notebooks for Oxford University Press—a five-volume project. The first volume, The Efficacious Word of God, should be available in print this time next year.

What can you tell us about what you are finding and why this is so important?

As part of this project, I have located Cranmer’s massive research notes on the Eucharist during the time he was preparing the prayer books. They shed much more light on his understanding of the Eucharist, including the importance of Eastern sources in his thought.

These papers should forever close the debate on whether Cranmer was a “mere memorialist.” He clearly believed the Eucharist was fundamentally a fresh, supernatural encounter with Christ that promoted sanctification in the believer.

Who was Thomas Cranmer?

Archbishop of Canterbury 1533-1556 Thomas Cranmer was a remarkable man. He was a theologian, liturgical scholar, writer, and the chief pastor of a national church. His efforts were toward guiding the Church of England from Catholicism to Protestantism.

He was pastoral first, so he wanted to reform corporate worship and make it more meaningful for the layperson.

Sir Thomas Cranmer has also passed on to us a most valuable book, the Book of Common Prayer. This book was commissioned by King Edward VI. The king commissioned a team of bishops and priests, but Cranmer’s format, substance, and style are seen in the Prayer Book.

The first Book of Common Prayer came into use on the Day of Pentecost, June 9, 1549, in the second year of the reign of King Edward VI.

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How is a better understanding of Cranmer, his influence, and his theology, fuel for a more robust focus on evangelism and mission?

First, Cranmer’s commitment to the transforming power of Scripture is the only solid hope any church has for a fruitful mission program.

Unless our efforts are built on God’s Word, we have no truth or hope to offer folks. Remembering that this was the foundational truth of our first Anglican formularies can help guide our contemporary sense of what it means to be Episcopalian.

Second, Cranmer’s understanding of human nature and the importance of the affections can help us have a much better understanding of those we are trying to reach with the gospel.

According to Cranmer, “What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.” As shrewd observers of human nature, the Reformers realized that there were forces that drive people, often without them realizing it. Real change can only happen when those subconscious needs are addressed, and the greatest need is to be

STEWARDSHIP

loved. Only when we know we are loved can we gain the power to love others. Until then, all our efforts, whether we are aware of it or not, are directed at making ourselves feel loved. Until then, the role of reason is simply to justify our efforts at self-love, often in the form of self-gratification. Since many people think they have to be good enough first before God can love them, they avoid church, since they fear going there will make them feel unloved. Therefore, any effective evangelistic strategy must begin with proclaiming the unconditional love of God for sinners.

Third, we live in a culture where we are defined by what we do rather than by whom we are loved. That was the issue Cranmer faced in his day, and his presentation of the gospel was tailored to meet that cultural challenge in the light of human nature. We can learn so much from his notion of divine allurement as summarized in the Comfortable Words. Step by step, Cranmer’s gospel sentences begin with felt human needs and gradually lead people to see the glory of God as revealed in his unconditional love for the unworthy in the cross of Christ.

Fourth, Cranmer was the originator of the Anglican concept of the difference between biblically determined essentials and church-determined nonessentials. In a time when there is so much confusion between these two categories, it is helpful to remember their original meaning in the Anglican context. Cranmer thought Jesus came to proclaim a message that had the power to create a community. How that message was proclaimed would depend on the cultural context of the audience. Just as his gospel of divine allurement was thoroughly biblical but still shaped to address contemporary needs and issues, Cranmer believed that the church in every generation needed to rethink its liturgy and institutional life to make sure it expressed the unchanging gospel in terms understandable to everevolving contemporary culture. The great advantage of this understanding of mission is its sensitivity to the great diversity of human flourishing. The church will not be expected to look the same amongst different people groups, although they believe the same truths. Of course, the great danger

Book of Common Prayer

of this understanding of mission is that cultural accommodation can lead to cultural capitulation, i.e., cultural truths can replace biblical truths in the name of contextualization.

Finally, we can still learn from Cranmer’s understanding of the relationship between good theology and a great society. According to Cranmer, grace leads to gratitude, gratitude births love, love leads to repentance, repentance produces good works, good works make for a better society. What better mission strategy could a church follow?

Ashley Null is one of the world’s foremost experts on Thomas Cranmer. He is canon theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas, visiting fellow at Cambridge, and a visiting research fellow at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin. In addition, Null is an ordained Episcopal priest.

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DIOCESE NEWS

ICS, your Diocesan school for learning, is online!

ICS is for anyone seeking to learn and grow in their faith. Lay persons, ordained persons, those considering a call to the vocational diaconate, all are welcome! Won’t you consider joining the ICS community this year?

ICS offers a wide variety of courses as well as special workshops. All courses offered are designed as Christian education to strengthen and enhance lay and ordained ministry. Courses of study also prepare lay preachers and lay catechists for licensure.

If you have limited time and cannot spend a Saturday at the Institute, ICS is now online. You do not have to leave your home. Most online courses are offered at $25 per course, at least a $20 savings per course.

How can you access the online school?

Go to the website:

institute-of-christian-studies.thinkific.com You will need to create a sign-in the first time you visit. Pick your course, and then the prompts will show you how to pay. It is VERY easy!

Other classes will be added as we film additional workshops and classes.

Enjoy and be blessed!

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

DIOCESE NEWS

Two New Rectors Called. Congratulations!

St. Michael’s Calls New Rector

Emmanuel Episcopal Church Calls New Rector

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n behalf of Bishop Brewer, we are delighted to share the good news that Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Orlando has called the Reverend David Bumsted to be their rector. He began his service on November 9.

Fr. David was sponsored for ordination by Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland.

He has served for the past two years at Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota, Florida. He is a graduate of Florida State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs; he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree from Nashotah House Seminary in 2013.

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t. Michael’s is excited to welcome our new rector, the Reverend Rick Luoni, and his wife, Katrena, to our church family. The Luonis came to us from Summerville, South Carolina, where Fr. Rick had been the rector

of St. George’s Episcopal Church for the past seven and a half years. Prior to that, he served at Church of the Holy Cross on Sullivan’s Island. Originally from West Virginia, Fr. Rick studied journalism/advertising at West Virginia University and received his Bachelor of Science in business administration, business management, and accounting from Concord College.

He made his way to California, where he worked in the business world before accepting and acting on his call to the ordained ministry. In 2005 he received his Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Fr. Rick said of St. Michael’s, “Why can’t we be the neighborhood church? We can be, and I want to be.”

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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STEWARDSHIP

Both Sides of the Coin Embracing the Heart and Promise of Stewardship The Reverend Canon Tim Nunez

esus told the Pharisees to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). He was responding to a challenge about the temple tax and he used a idolatrous Roman coin to make his point. The coin bore the image of Caesar and proclaimed him as divine. “Rendering unto him” meant participating in Caesar’s government, the two sides of that coin being, “We impose the Pax Romana and you pay us, whether you like it or not.”

The transaction Jesus offers is different. Our reconciliation with God through Christ is a free gift, there for us to receive. There is another side of that relationship. Jesus didn’t use a coin to illustrate it, but he calls us to render all of our heart, mind and strength - what is God’s - to God. His love draws us into action.

The heart of stewardship rests in the literal meaning of the word. Owners have full control of their assets. Stewards tend assets for someone else. Christians recognize that we are temporary stewards over the gifts he has given us. All that we are and all that we have comes from The Lord and ultimately returns to him. Money is merely a medium of exchange. Its value represents the fruit of our labors or a gain in our investments and our capacity to acquire the things we need to survive and want to enjoy. We tend to think of it as owners, not the stewards we actually are.

The Lord gives all manner of counsel about

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money in scripture. He says we should work hard, save, invest and spend prudently. He also says we should give a tenth of all we earn back to him. A surprisingly small portion of our members actually tithe. Yet, I’ve never met a person who tithes that regrets it. Not one. We tend to give to support the things we care about, which is quite natural and good as far as it goes. But it doesn’t go far enough. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, your heart will follow” (Matthew 6:21). Money is a common stumbling block to true reliance upon The Lord and receiving the grace he wishes to give. We want to rely on ourselves instead of him. Jesus asks us to stake our claim in His Kingdom as an act of will and trust that will open our hearts and minds to the blessings God offers.

I hope and pray that your church has or will put significant effort into sharing the theology of stewardship, which goes far beyond simply filling out a pledge card. I hope and pray that you have been able to seriously consider your support of your church and its role in accomplishing God’s will in you and your community.

That is one side of stewardship.

The other side is proper management of the gifts we receive. On a personal level, that means keeping track of our money. We keep it secure in banks, credit unions and brokerages and rely on their security to protect it. We use it to provide our basic needs and enjoyment in life. We invest our savings according to our need and risk tolerance. Only fools wantonly squander their

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

money or leave it unprotected.

In the church, those same principles apply.

People need to be confident that when they give to The Lord through his church, we are faithfully using those gifts. Prudence requires planning and budgets. Saving involves consideration of future needs, known and unknown, and the establishment of reserves for maintenance (roofs and air conditioners) and hard times.

Investing means aligning our budgets with a godly mission and vision discerned by the church and its leadership, so that our education programs, ministries and fellowship bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. Clergy, staff and volunteers must be faithful and industrious in their work.

STEWARDSHIP

TENS Conference 2016 Living Generously with Sister Simone Campbell

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The canons of the Church and Diocese of Central Florida require that our churches use proper business methods and a comprehensive basis of accounting to track assets and liabilities, income and expenses. We require our churches to have an annual audit, either by an independent committee or a CPA, as a safeguard against fraud and mismanagement.

None of that on the surface sounds very spiritual or evokes a deep sense of wonder about Jesus’ movement among us, but consider the severe damage that occurs when it is absent and fraud or mismanagement arises in the church. Such crises can paralyze giving, which undermines ministry, stunts personal growth, kills momentum and inhibits our ability to be the outposts of the Kingdom we are called to be. If clergy leadership is directly involved, it sours pastoral relationships often beyond repair. Trust is broken. Families leave and some become soured on “church”.

All of this is a shared responsibility. If you have any questions or concerns about how your church manages its funds, ask questions. Ask to see your church’s audit report. Ask where the needs are most acute in the church and your community and how you can get involved. The Lord is calling you.

Canon Nunez served as rector of St. Mary’s from 2003 until his appointment by Bishop Brewer in 2014. Tim served on the Commission on Ministry from 2004 through 2011. He serves as chaplain at Camp Wingmann each summer since 2004, on the camp’s board since 2008 and vice president since 2010; as an instructor at ICS since 2005; and as chaplain and presenter for New Beginnings and Emerge.

n the church, the word stewardship is too often associated only with the annual event of the fall pledge drive. But stewardship is the care of something that has been entrusted to the steward by another. God hopes and desires that this will be a joyful experience, filled with wonder. In the first Article of the Nicene Creed we say, “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of everything that is, seen and unseen.” So it is through our baptism and deeper journey in Christ that we find responsible stewardship is not really about money but about fulfilling Christ’s mission and ministry in the world through the right use of all God’s blessings entrusted to us. Stewardship is not a choice; it permeates everything we do. The choice is whether or not we will be good stewards or poor stewards of God’s blessings and therefore, of the Gospel. (http://www.TENS.org/resources/member-resources/ member-resources-blog/year-round-stewardship-planning-matrix1) 2016’s TENS Conference is for laypeople and clergy alike. The theme this year is Living Generously. Our keynote speaker is Sister Simone Campbell.

She is the author of A Nun on the Bus, the story of her journey with a group of fellow nuns who toured parts of the country to rally support against Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget, a plan that cut vital social programs for the hurting poor and the struggling middle class.

SISTER SIMONE CAMPBELL is the executive director of NETWORK, a nonprofit Catholic social justice lobby in Washington, D.C. Sister Simone, who in 1978 became an attorney and founded a community law center that served the legal needs of the working poor, is a long-standing member of the Sisters of Social Service and has appeared on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The Colbert Report,” “The O’Reilly Factor,” PBS with Bill Moyers and all of the national radio and TV networks. She also spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Please join us at the conference: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship Annual Conference, June 3 – 4, 2016 All Saints Episcopal Church, Pasadena, California. www.TENS.org/2016-conference CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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DIOCESE NEWS

Episcopal Relief & Development Celebrates 75 Years You Can Be a Part of What We’re Doing For 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been inspired by the faith and compassion of its supporters and partners to continue healing a hurting world. Its mission is to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being.

Originally called the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief (the PB Fund), the organization was established in 1940 by The Episcopal Church. Its initial mission was to assist refugees fleeing Europe during World War II. Soon after the war, the agency’s efforts expanded to include additional humanitarian assistance, focusing mostly on disaster relief.

This year, 2015, Episcopalians, friends, and partner agencies around the globe are celebrating Episcopal Relief & Development’s 75th Anniversary. The celebration invites supporters to learn more about the organization’s programs and get involved in campaigns to raise $7.5 million to sustain its vital work.

In celebration of Episcopal Relief & Development’s 75th anniversary year, Bishop Gregory Brewer encourages all parishes and missions to celebrate this milestone. You and your church can support our diocesan goal of $75,000 and 100 percent participation by selecting one or more Gifts for Life that specifically meet the mission vision of your parish.

Give a Gift with Lasting Impact Give an entire community the opportunity to not only survive, but thrive, with Gifts for Life. Make a lasting impact with symbolic gifts ranging from medicine for children in need to farming tools that will help families earn an income and improve their nutrition.

Gifts for Life Categories

Animals and Agriculture: Help impoverished families alleviate hunger and produce a food supply that is nutritious, easily available, and affordable.

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

Basics for Life: The simplest things are sometimes the most powerful. These gifts provide impoverished families and communities with access to clean drinking water, adequate sanitation facilities, and essential food and health needs.

Economic Opportunities: Vocational training and small-business investment have the power to change the lives of individuals and families. These gifts give fledgling entrepreneurs the boost they need to improve their livelihood and rejuvenate an entire community.

Health and Wellness: Malaria and other preventable diseases claim the lives of thousands of men, women, and children every day. These gifts help promote wellness and fight disease by providing basic health care, education, and simple, affordable necessities – affecting the lives of over 5 million people across the globe.

Green Gifts: Give a greener solution to families who lack access to eco-friendly, efficient resources. These gifts help eliminate harmful pollution and provide cleaner, more affordable energy and an enriched food supply.

Gifts for Life catalogues have been mailed to every church in the diocese or can be viewed at the website of Episcopal Relief and Development. To help us reach our goals:

1. Select gift(s).

2. Complete order form in the catalog.

3. Mail order form with check made payable to: Episcopal Relief and Development.

4. Send a copy of the order to: Krisita A. Jackson, 5457 Gambier Court, Orlando, FL 32839.

OR email: krisjac1@bellsouth.net For more information, go to www.episcopalrelief.org or contact Krisita A. Jackson by email or phone (407-888-2198).

DIOCESE NEWS

The 47th Annual Diocesan Convention 2016 ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION The Forty-seventh Annual Convention of the Diocese of Central Florida will meet Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23, 2016, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, 5625 Holy Trinity Drive, Melbourne, Florida 32940 Pre-Convention Deanery Meeting Schedule – January, 2016 10 a.m.

Episcopal Academy

Displays set up in Gymnasium

9:00 a.m.

First Session of Convention

Saturday, January 9:

Northeast Deanery, St. Barnabas, DeLand

Call to Order

Sunday, January 10:

Northwest Deanery, 4 p.m.

St. Margaret’s, Inverness

Organization of Convention

Thursday, January 14: Central Deanery, 7 p.m.

Good Shepherd, Maitland

Report of Nominations/Elections Committee

First Ballot

Bishop’s Address

10:15 a.m.

Election Report and Second Ballot

Introduction of Visitors, Seminarians, New Clergy

10:30 a.m.

Treasurer’s Report

Presentation & Adoption of the Budget

Election Report and Third Ballot

12:00 p.m.

Noonday Prayer

Lunch – Pick up Box Lunch

Saturday, January 16: Southwest Deanery,

St. Paul’s, Winter Haven

10 a.m.

Sunday, January 17:

4 p.m.

Southeast Deanery, Trinity, Vero Beach

Proposed Tentative Agenda FRIDAY, January 22 3:00 p.m.

Volunteers trained for Registration (Cafeteria)

12:00 p.m.

Spouse Lunch, Library

3:30 - 4:15 p.m.

Convention Registration

1:30 p.m.

Reconvene

4:30 p.m.

Convention Eucharist (Auditorium)

Election Report and Fourth Ballot

6:00 - 6:40 p.m.

Town Hall Meeting – Group discussions & “Straw Vote” re: 78th General Convention Resolution D013 Budget Process for The Episcopal Church

Canonical and Other Resolutions

Appointments and Ratification Invitation to the 48th Annual Diocesan

6:45 p.m.

Adjourn

Convention

7:15 p.m.

Dinner at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1830 S. Babcock Street, Melbourne 32901

Presentation of Awards

Commissioning and Installations

Memorials SATURDAY, January 23

Closing Worship

4:00 p.m.

Adjourn

7:00 a.m.

Optional Eucharist Holy Trinity Episcopal Church 7:00 - 8:45 a.m.

Registration continues at Holy Trinity

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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CANTERBURY/CAMP WINGMANN

Canterbury Events

www.canterburyretreat.org • 407-365-5571 The Wild Game Dinner - December 19 / 6pm Gather with friends and family to celebrate a Canterbury Christmas and support the mission and ministry of Canterbury.

Enjoy the hospitality, take in our peaceful surroundings, and prepare yourself for a fabulous menu of wild game, seasonal favorites, and scrumptious desserts along with great music and a few holiday surprises.

Dangerous Prayer Retreat - December 4-5 Through sharing, reflection, peace and quiet, singing, and conversation, we will explore the life of Christian faith. By looking back at our own lives, we will identify moments of revelation, encounter, and transformation. By active participation, we will position ourselves to dwell in the house of the Lord. By prayerful discernment, we will seek the Lord as to the transformation he wants to bring into our lives and how we are to grow in our knowledge of him until we see him face to face!

The Three Y’s Retreat - January 15-16, 2016 This two-day retreat will inspire and challenge you to deeper faith and devotion and equip you to encourage others in the journey of spiritual formation … until Christ is fully formed in us.

Leadership / Vestry Retreat with Ed Stetzer, Ph.D. - February 12-13, 2016 Join in a weekend to get equipped, inspired, and focused on the call of the church to be salt and light, inviting people into a vibrant faith and way of life.

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

Camp Wingmann Events www.campwingmann.org • 866-526-3380

Winter Camp - January 8-10, 2016 For middle school and high school students - A fun-filled weekend packed with fun summer camp-type activities! Cost: $85.00 per camper. Registration will open November 30, 2015.

Lent and Contemplation: A Centering Prayer Retreat - February 12-14, 2016 Dr. Rickey Cotton, presenter. Dr. Rickey leads the Centering Prayer group at All Saint’s Episcopal in Lakeland, Florida.

DIOCESE

Calendar of Events Celebration of 25th Anniversary at current site – Saturday, December 5, 4 – 8 p.m.

Church of St. Luke & St. Peter, 2745 Canoe Creek Rd., St. Cloud, FL 34772 Holy Eucharist with Bishop John W. Howe Preaching and Dinner

Advent Lessons and Carols – Sunday, December 6, 4 – 5 p.m.

Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, 130 North Magnolia Ave., Orlando, FL 32801 New early time for evening choral services! A stunning candlelight procession wends through the winter twilight of our exquisite new-Gothic Cathedral. Our Cathedral Choir sings anthems and motets for Advent, and everyone joins in carols and hymns of hope as ancient scriptures and prayers assure us of God’s love and presence. Take time out to prepare your heart to celebrate the season.

Christmas Lessons and Carols – Sunday, December 20, 4 – 5 p.m.

Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, 130 North Magnolia Ave., Orlando, FL 32801 One of Orlando’s favorite holiday performances! This joyful service is based on the famous annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, UK. Canon Ben Lane conducts the Orlando Deanery Boychoir, Girls Choir, and men in choral works from around the world. There are traditional Christmas carols for everyone! Arrive early to hear a program of prelude music and please stay afterward to enjoy a festive holiday reception.

Christcarols - Thursday, December 24, 10:30 – 11:30 p.m.

Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, 130 North Magnolia Ave., Orlando, FL 32801 Come and discover the magic of Christmas Eve at the Cathedral with a carol concert presented by our Cathedral Choir, soloists, and the Beautiful Music Chamber Orchestra. Hear Schubert’s timeless “Ave Maria,” choir carols by J.S. Bach, Hector Berlioz, John Rutter, and Sir David Willcocks, plus your favorite holiday solos like “O Holy Night” and “Gesu Bambino.” Followed by our annual midnight mass.

47th Annual Diocesan Convention – Jan 22 – 23, 2016 Photo by by Petr Kratochvil

Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, 5625 Holy Trinity Dr., Melbourne, FL 32940

Bishop Brewer Visitation Schedule 11/22/15 (a.m.) Ascension Orlando 11/22/15 (p.m.) St. Stephen’s Lakeland 11/29/15 Holy Cross Winter Haven 12/6/15 Christ Church Longwood 12/13/15 St. Paul’s Winter Haven 12/20/15 Holy Trinity Melbourne 12/24/15 Cathedral Orlando 1/3/16 Resurrection Longwood 1/10/16 Holy Cross Sanford 1/17/16 St. Agnes Sebring 1/31/16 Incarnation Oviedo 2/7/16 St. Jude’s Orange City 2/21/16 Trinity Vero Beach Bishop Brewer’s visitation dates are subject to change.

Please refer to www.cfdiocese.org for the most current visitation listing.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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DIOCESE NEWS

Women’s Retreat Save the Date

All women in the Diocese of Central Florida are invited to a Women’s Retreat to be held April 1 – 3, 2016 at Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center.

Sponsored by Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Melbourne and Church of Our Savior Palm Bay, the retreat will feature a key speaker as well as fellowship, learning, song, and worship. Registration information will be sent to all churches in the Diocese.

Healing Teachings

All Are Invited This series of teachings are “when the rubber meets the road” topics that apply to relevant issues for our generation’s healing needs.

Each night of teaching is stand-alone – come to one night or come to all!

The Healing Teachings will begin Thursday,

October 15th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm in the Glennon House and will run through Thursday, January 21, 2016. There will be two topics discussed each Thursday and a time for Q & A. Hosted by

The Healing Ministry at All Saints Church at the Glennon House, 377 E Fairbank Ave, Winter Springs, FL 32789

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Happening is Happening Again!

W

e are excited to announce that Happening is returning to the Diocese of Central Florida! This is an exciting weekend for youth of high school age seeking a deeper walk with Christ.

Happening is a Christian experience presented by teenagers for teenagers. It is designed for youth in grades 10-12 and sponsored by The Episcopal Church. Most young people have serious questions about Jesus and the church. Happening is designed to address these questions. During a Happening weekend, participants experience the love of Christ as shown through prayer and worship along with the ministry of peers, clergy and lay adults. The “Happeners” are encouraged to make their renewed faith a part of their everyday lives. Happening shows how Christianity can keep pace with the many changes in our lives and our world.

Winter Camp January 8 – 10, 2016 Middle School – High School students welcome!

This is a chance for campers to get together for a spiritual boost! It’s a great time to catch up with your summer camp buddies. Come out and have a blast playing sports, experiencing the ropes course, line dancing, stargazing, singing and praising God! And did we mention the great food?

It’s all the fun of summer camp but in cooler weather.

Cost is $85.00 per person.

Sign up by going to www.campwingmann.org.

(Registration will open November 30.) If you have any questions, please call toll-free 866-526-3380 or email campwingmannregistrar@gmail.com.

Winter Camp T-Shirts must be pre-ordered and paid for at the time of registration. Cost for shirt will be an additional $15.00.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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STEWARDSHIP AT VERO BEACH

“Live Free!”

By Fr. Michael Goldberg, Rector St. Augustine of Canterbury, Vero Beach

A

s we at St. Augustine of Canterbury begin our stewardship campaign for this fall, we are reminded that we, too, have a scripture that is calling us to view the larger picture of our work, and not to merely look inward to protect what we have, choosing not to lose anything for fear of, well, losing everything!

It sometimes strikes us that the cost of membership in the church is very little. Most of us never really miss the treasure we pledge to Christ’s work which successfully paid for this good work, and most would say, “Let’s just rest on our laurels” in an almost self-congratulatory way. However, this is not the steward’s life. Our theme for this fall’s campaign is “Live free!”

For us to live free, we need to look at our ministry here at Saint Augustine and ask, “How best can we use our new buildings?” The idea of “living free” in Christ is one of not only thinking and praying but also in putting into action how we might “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).

In looking at our surrounding neighborhood, we need to take seriously our sense of evangelization, as we seek to make our church more of a neighborhood community of faith. Our expanded buildings are allowing

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

us to reach out to the community in a substantial and real way; our expanded staff is allowing us to potentially reach out to both young and old, to make this parish truly a people of God. All of this takes time, talent, and treasure, to live free in the freedom of the Messiah who allows His Spirit to come upon us both in season and out of season. This is not a time to pause and look inward; rather, it is the time to acknowledge and celebrate as we seek to do the will of Christ in the world. Allow this time of stewardship to be a time to see, in your favorite scripture text, the anointing Spirit of God for us all.

The Reverend Michael W. Goldberg has been Rector of Saint Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church since 1997, after he served parishes in the Diocese of New Jersey for 23 years. Father Mike graduated from the Philadelphia Divinity School in 1974. He has written for Episcopal publications over the years, specializing in the preaching ministry. His love and passion is pastoral care for the parish family.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

“Church of the Holy Child is Our New Home, and We Are Enjoying Every Minute”

T

he sun, the sand, the surf—Ormond Beach is a destination loved by many, including Rev. Stephen Pessah and his family. Not so long ago, Rev. Pessah, his wife, and their two teenage boys made the long journey from Barrie, Ontario, Canada, to the shores of Ormond Beach so he could become Holy Child’s new rector.

their rector. “If God is in it, it will happen,” Rev. Pessah said. And God was in it.

Rev. Pessah said his family have vacationed in Florida for over a decade. For the past three years, the family started planning their return before they reached the Georgia border on their way home. Rev. Pessah and his family felt drawn to the South, but still needed to seek the Lord about his calling.

A celebration ensued. “The real celebration is that this is fulfilling a definite call,” Rev. Pessah said, “which provides joy through the challenges. God is in us.”

During a raging blizzard, Rev. Pessah prayed about moving south. He had been asked by Holy Child to put his name in as a candidate to become

Rev. and Beth Pessah

The parish asked Rev. Pessah to start the immigration process of moving his family to Ormond Beach. When their clearance came in, ending a nine-month process, Holy Child and the Pessahs rejoiced.

Pessah offered this early observation about Holy Child, “They are a family.

They are not a huge parish, but they are loving and connect with newcomers.

The church is contemporary and eager to do the work that God wants them to do. Holy Child is eager to reach out to the community, to build relationships, to share their faith and to be about the business of Jesus.”

Rev. Pessah and his family are enjoying getting to know Holy Child and the community of Ormond Beach. And Holy Child is enjoying getting to know their new rector and his family.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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DIOCESE NEW

Payroll and Taxes Don’t Have to Bog You Down The Diocese has negotiated a favorable rate for Payroll Services with Paychex

I

magine not having to figure taxes, make out payroll and fill out checks each week.

Paychex will take care of direct deposits, Federal Tax Deposits and Quarterly 941 Filings. Then at the end of the year, you pay just $4 per W-2. No need to spend your valuable time figuring out and filing these payroll needs.

For just $9.15 per payroll and $1.60 per employee, Paychex will take care of everything.

For More Information, Please Contact Aimi Nguyen, Paychex District Sales Manager 407-473-4755 or anguyen@paychex.com

Breaking News and Apology We here at the CFE have recently found out that our article last month announcing a “Record Number

Also, we have come to realize

of Deacons Ordained” was not actually a record.

that one of the deacons from the

On June 15, 1975, 15 deacons were ordained in

October 2015 issue of CFE was

one ceremony in Orlando. They were the first class

misidentified. Peg Davis was

to graduate from the Diocesan Lay Institute, the

ordained, not Meg Davis. Peg is

precursor to today’s Institute for Christian Studies.

serving at Holy Faith Episcopal

Many have gone on to be priests. This is two more

Church in Dunnellon. We are

than reported in the October issue of CFE. But

sorry, Peg, for the misprint.

we are still excited that 13 deacons were recently ordained in one ceremony, as this is a record for the twenty-first century. We are truly sorry if anyone was upset with our mix-up.

Managing Editor - Nikki Jenkins

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CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

God willing and the people consenting The Right Reverend Gregory Orrin Brewer, Bishop, will ordain…

DIOCESE NEW

Mark Alan Lafler

to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at two o’clock p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 414 Pine Street, Titusville, Florida 32796

Tracy Michelle Dugger

Author: zcool.com.cn

to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Sunday, November 29, 2015 at seven o’clock p.m. at the Church of the Messiah, 241 North Main Street, Winter Garden, Florida 34787

Joshua Morris Bales

to the Sacred Order of Priests in Christ’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at six o’clock p.m. at The Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 130 North Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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EPISCOPALIAN

NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WWW. CFDIOCESE.ORG • Volume 117, No. 9 • November/December 2015

Celebrating Christmas could be a way of preparing for Christ’s second coming? Article on page 4.

What does God say about race? Find the answer on page 6.

Read fascinating information about Fr. Pinder’s life and why he won a prestigious award. Page 7.

There are two sides to the stewardship coin.

Article on page 12.

How do you Live Free in 2016?

Page 20 will show you how.

Read page 21.

Do you know about Holy Child in Ormond Beach?

Open these pages and find joy for the season.

Cross by the lake is at Camp Wingmann

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN • November 2015

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