Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020
Diocese of Southwest Florida Bi-weekly Newsletter
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PARRISH - The first online Convocation for the 52nd Annual Convention was held last Wednesday. Almost 300 successfully tested our online voting system, in preparation for our convention in October. To view it, click HERE.
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Convention Preparation Online
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PARRISH - In preparation for our 52nd Annual Convention, the Diocese of Southwest Florida held its Wednesday, Sept. 2 Convocation live from DaySpring's Program Center.
Registered delegates of the 52nd Annual Convention will also attend the convention, set for the weekend of Oct. 17, via Zoom. Guests who are not delegates may watch them on our website and via social media.
- The video stream HERE.
- Our main 52nd Annual Convention page is HERE. This page includes information for delegates, including logistics.
If you have any questions or concerns at any point, please respond by emailing our dedicated email inbox: convention@episcopalswfl.org. Our Convention team will respond to you promptly and with just the right amount of encouragement.
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Wednesday Convention Workshops Start with Deacons
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 PARRISH - The Diocese of Southwest Florida is offering four online workshops as part of the 52nd Annual Convention. All workshops will be available on our diocesan Facebook page, as well as on our diocesan website episcopalswfl.org.
The first workshop is this Wednesday, Sept 9 at 7 p.m. It is entitled Deacons: Ministering at the Margins to Bridge the Church and the World.
The seminars will be offered on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.; they will be archived for later viewing, as well. MORE
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Mask Mandate, Coronavirus Update
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PARRISH - Bishop Dabney Smith wrote clergy in August to update them on mask protocols, after Manatee County passed an ordinance exempting churches from mask mandates.
- The letter is HERE
- All Coronavirus related news is HERE.
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TAMPA - Due to the active pandemic, St. Anselm's is unable to rely on USF's traditional in-person welcoming events to connect with incoming students seeking a faith community.
It is especially important for our Episcopal students to know that their church is on campus. The university chaplain, the Rev. Adrienne Hymes, is committed to attending to the spiritual needs of all of our students, particularly for incoming students, in order to nurture wholeness at a critical time of compound life changes.
Mother Adrienne is available to meet on campus to welcome new students, and will be available by appointment (mask and safe distancing required). MORE
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Clergy Spouse Association Virtual Gathering
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PARRISH - The Clergy Spouse Association of the Diocese of Southwest Florida will hold an October virtual evening gathering in lieu of their annual Diocesan Convention luncheon. It will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. MORE
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Stewardship Help, Training from Workshop
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PARRISH - Each year, the Diocese of Southwest Florida assists parishes in their stewardship efforts through our annual Stewardship Workshop. For those that could not attend the 2020 Stewardship Workshop, held Aug. 22, resources and presentations, including video and handouts, are available, through the presenter, Horizons Stewardship. Horizons offers a resource bank called Giving 365 that includes all Southwest Florida materials, and other reports. MORE
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Good Shepherd Dunedin Celebrates Outgoing Rector
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DUNEDIN - To celebrate a decade of service to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, the parish's vestry on Aug. 25, 2020 passed a Resolution and Tribute in honor of the Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman. The Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman served Good Shepherd for 10 years, beginning Sept. 1, 2010. It includes a tribute to her work at the parish, where she arrived from Lamb of God, a blended Lutheran/Episcopal congregation in Ft. Myers. MORE
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New Priests-In-Charge in Venice, Dunedin
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DUNEDIN - The Rev. Canon Michael P. Durning is the new priest-in-Charge at Church of the Good Shepherd, effective Sept. 1, 2020, following the retirement from active ministry of the Rev. Becky Robbins-Penniman. The Rev. Durning will serve in the part-time position at least through the end of the year; after which he will remain on a monthly basis until a new rector is called. MORE
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Upcoming Events at the Diocese
Our Event page has the latest on what's happening, including online events:
- Oct. 16-17: 52nd Annual Convention (online)
- Sept. 12: Salt & Light Conference, this year a virtual event featuring Mass at St. Vincent, St. Petersburg (online)
- Nov. 16-17: Grace at the Time of Trial, How do we view the events of 2020 through the lens of faith, and from the broader perspective of how God is calling to us in this time? (online)
- Dec. 5: Race & Reconciliation Conference w/ the Rev. Dr. Michael Battle. Peace is more than the absence of violence--indeed, we look for peace with the substance of flourishing.
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News from your parish? We value your submissions.
Submit by easy, fast form HERE.
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Beloved Community Town Halls
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ST. PETERSBURG - Upcoming events for our racial reconciliation teams in the diocese include a Beloved Community Town Hall. On Tuesday, September 8th at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Lay and clergy are invited to learn about the work underway in the church to fulfill our baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons as we strive for justice and peace in love. Visit our Reconciliation page HERE for all events. MORE
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St. John Thrift Shop Reopens
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CLEARWATER - Mark your calendars for Oct. 3; that’s the date the St. John’s Episcopal Church Thrift Shop will reopen in Clearwater. Closed since March due to COVID-19 concerns and a planned relocation of the Thrift Shop to the Church’s Ministry Building, renovations for the store have now been completed. The Thrift Shop will occupy newer and more attractive space to better serve its customers. MORE
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TLC Ministry Assists in Valrico, Riverview
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VALRICO - The TLC Feeding Ministry of Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church provided 596 meals to those in need in the Valrico, Brandon, Dover and Riverview areas last July.
With their partners, they have continued to serve neighbors hot meals at the San Jose Mission and Bread of Refuge in collaboration with our Meals on Wheels team in delivering hot meals on two Saturdays a month. MORE
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Congregations in the news this week. Email links to editor@episcopalswfl.org
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Love is ageless: Florida Couple Marry at 77, 82
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NAPLES - For their wedding at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, they opted for a small number of attendees – six – and a Floridian dress code, replete with floral button downs. Lely Palms hosted their reception, according to marketing director Renee Smith-Gonzalez. “It’s wonderful,” Smith-Gonzalez said. “Love is ageless. It is something that we all can aspire to have in our life if we don’t already.” MORE from Naples Daily News
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A roundup of useful links from the diocese, wider church, government:
Diocesan Updates
- Thrift Shops: Our network of Thrift Stores is slowly reopening. Help us make sure that your retail store is listed properly HERE.
- Streaming: Update the diocese on your web streams HERE. And email Garland Pollard if you need our information sheet on upgrading your systems.
- Staff openings: Post them HERE.
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Get in Touch with Diocesan House
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Transitions Page, Clergy Openings
- Church of the Ascension, nestled in the heart of downtown Clearwater in the beautiful historic neighborhood of Harbor Oaks, is searching for their next rector. In Ascension’s 135 years, generations have passed along a rich legacy of faith, fellowship and generosity that defines who they are today. MORE
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Sept 13: St. Mary Magdalene, Bradenton; St. Mary's, Bonita Springs; St. Mary's, Dade City; St. Mary's, Palmetto; St. Mary's, Tampa; St. Matthew's, St. Petersburg MORE
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Links, Publications and Resources
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Parishes By Deanery
Other Resources
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Useful Links
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