Thank you for your patience during the time we were working from outside the office two weeks ago; everyone was able to stay in touch--and it was good practice for what we might have to do some summer in case of a hurricane.

Please note that the office will be truly closed for Christmas holidays Dec. 25-Jan. 2, and will reopen on Jan. 5. We’ll be sending you emergency contact numbers to use during that time. We hope all of you will be taking some time off, too, to enjoy the Christmas season with families and friends!

COMING EVENTS:

Short-Term Mission Leader Training — Dec. 6 & Jan. 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., places TBA

Ordination of Darrell Laremore to the Diaconate — Dec. 16, 7 p.m., St. Joseph's, Boynton Beach

Ordination of Thomas Dwyer to the Diaconate — Dec. 18, 7 p.m., Advent, Palm City

Training Mission to Dominican Republic — Jan.31-Feb. 7, 2004

Seminars on the Bible and Sexual Morality —
- Dec. 9, St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens—clergy, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m; clergy & laity, 7-9 p.m.
- Dec. 10, St. Mark’s, Ft. Lauderdale--clergy & laity, 7-9 p.m.
- Dec. 11, Trinity Cathedral, Miami--clergy, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.;
  St. Andrew’s, Miami—clergy & laity, 7-9 p.m.

Deacons’ Annual Retreat — Dec. 19-20, Duncan Center

Ordination of Gail Abbott to the Priesthood — Dec. 20, 4 p.m., St. Margaret’s, Miami Lakes

Ordination of Terrence Taylor to the Priesthood — Dec. 20, 6:30 p.m., Trinity Cathedral

Ordination of Thomas Brutell to the Priesthood — Dec. 21, 4 p.m., Holy Trinity, West Palm Beach

Diocesan Office closed for Christmas — Dec. 25-Jan. 4

Junior DoK Holy Innocents Day Service & Party — Dec. 28, noon-4 p.m., Holy Family, Miami Gardens

Youth Leadership Retreat (Grades 9-12) — Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Chapel of the Venerable Bede, Coral Gables

Celebration of the 20^th Anniversary of the Consecrations of Bishops Frade and Ottley  — Jan. 24, 11 a.m., Trinity Cathedral

Institution of Fr. Tony Martin as Rector — Jan. 25, 3 p.m., St. Kevin’s, Opa-locka

Youth Ministers’ Retreat  — Feb. 6-7, Hampton Inn, Ft. Lauderdale

Generational Ministry seminar  — Feb. 9-11, Duncan Center

Clergy Retreat  — Feb. 9-12, Our Lady of Florida

Absalom Jones Service — Feb. 21, Trinity Cathedral

Youth Carnavale (Grades 9-12) — Feb. 21, St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton

Women’s Cursillo — Feb. 27-29, Duncan Center

Diocesan Men’s Retreat — Feb. 27-29, Lake Placid

Hispanic “Start Up! Start Over!”  — Mar. 1-6, Duncan Center

Wardens’ & Treasurers’ Conference  — Mar. 13, St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale

Benedictine Experience — Mar. 18-21, Duncan Center

The ‘E’ Church  — Mar. 26-27, St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale

The Bible and Sexual Morality Seminars—There will be five opportunities Dec. 9-11 in different parts of the diocese to participate in the seminars on “The Bible and Sexual Morality”, led by Bishop Robert Ihloff of the Diocese of Maryland; times and locations are listed above. The morning sessions are for clergy only, and include lunch; the evening sessions are for laity and clergy. Clergy who plan to attend the morning sessions are asked to make a reservation for lunch; if you are attending the Dec. 9 seminar at St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens, call 561-622-0956, or email Kristin@stmarkspbg.org, and if you are attending the Dec. 11 seminar at Trinity Cathedral, call 305-374-3372, or email miamitrinity@aol.com.

The ‘E’ Church is coming! Save the dates—Mar. 26-27, 2004—for the Bishop’s Spring Conference, which will feature Exciting, Energizing, Educational--and undoubtedly Electronic--presentations by author and consultant Tex Sample and the Rev. Charles Fulton, director of Congregational Development for the Episcopal Church and president of the Church Building Fund. Watch for details on the website and in your email—and “snail-mail” in January.

Diocesan Ad—The new diocesan ad, “What in the world are those Episcopalians doing now?”, which appeared Nov. 3 in the Miami Herald, the Sun-Sentinel and the Palm Beach Post, is available to download from the diocesan website. We encourage you to download the ad, add contact information and service times for your own congregation, and place it in local papers or use it as a mailer to newcomers in your community. Please let us know of responses to the ad, and the creative ways you find to use it.

Database—Many of you have registered online, received your password and are beginning to use our diocesan database. If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s how:On the Home Page of the diocesan website, click on the word: “LOGIN”, located on the left hand side of the page beneath the words: “DIOCESAN CALENDAR”. A page will pop up to enter the password and username to the Diocesan web site secure area. (If you don’t remember that, please call the diocesan office.) Enter the user name and password and click “OK”.  A new page will appear with the words “Click here to access the Database”. Click on those words, and the diocesan database log in web page will appear. Click on “tutorial” for instructions on how to register and to use the database. Persons listed in the database will be able to correct their own information online and have the changes made automatically when the database is updated, usually once a week. Try it out for a while—and then let us know (there’s a link for “suggestions”) how the database is working for you, and how we might make it an even more useful tool for keeping us all in touch with one another.

Youth Events—The Diocesan Youth Commission has announced several events for early in 2004: Youth Leadership Retreat, for grades 9-12, Jan. 10, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Trinity Cathedral, Miami--the cost is $5, which includes lunch; Youth Ministers’ Retreat, including training for the Journey to Adulthood program, Feb. 6-7 at the Hampton Inn, Ft. Lauderdale; and Carnavale with the Bishop, for grades 9-12, Feb. 21 at St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton—Mardi Gras costumes or semiformal dress--$12 pre-registered or $15 at the event. For more information on youth events, contact Diocesan Youth Missioner Deacon Terrence Taylor, 800-268-9993 or 305-373-0881, ext. 28, or ttaylor@diosef.org, or Mary Cobiella, ext. 29, or mary@diosef.org.

Deacon Taylor also has information on the Winterlight event Dec. 27- Jan. 1 at Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina.

Start Up/Start Over—A Start Up/Start Over seminar in Spanish will be held Mar. 1-6, 2004, at the Duncan Center, and the next Start Up/Start Over seminar in English will be held April 26-30, 2004, at DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center in Ellenton, FL (near Sarasota). For registration and additional information, go to http://www.episcopalchurch.org/congdev/Development/StartUp/future.html

Benedictine Experience—In conjunction with the Friends of St. Benedict, the diocese will offer a Benedictine Experience at the Duncan Center, March 18-21, 2004, with the Rev. Lynn Ramshaw, formerly of this diocese, as the presenter. The cost for the weekend is $325, or $150 for commuters. For more information, call Patricia Wald, 954-752-4066.

Christmas Gifts for BGI residents—Looking for a pre-Christmas project for a Sunday School class or other parish organization? Bishop Gray Inn, Lake Worth, needs small gifts to add to gift packages for each of the Inn’s 120 elderly residents. Toiletries, books, stationery, clothing, personal articles would all be suitable; all should be new and unwrapped. Mail these to Bishop Gray Inn, 4445 Pine Forest Dr., Lake Worth, FL  33463, attn: Elaine, by Dec. 15.

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CLICK HERE TO VIEW UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS

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CLERGY CHANGES

Abbott, The Rev. Gail — Accepted a call to be priest in charge at St. Paul’s, Beloit, Wis., effective 1/1/04.

Perrino, The Rev. Robert — Ordained to the diaconate 11/15/03 at St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens.

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Parishes in Transition:

Holy Redeemer, Lake Worth—Fr. David Sutcliffe, interim; Fr. Robert Carlson, Spanish service

All Souls’, Miami Beach—Fr. Richard Maholm, supply

St. Mary Magdalene, Coral Springs—Fr. Mark Sims, interim

St. Peter’s, Key West—supply

St. Christopher’s, West Palm Beach—Deacon Charles Cannon, interim

Holy Sacrament, Pembroke Pines—Canon Kenneth MacDonald, supply

St. Paul’s, Key West—Fr. Thomas Shepherd, interim

Trinity Cathedral—dean retired 9/14; Fr. Bob Libby, interim dean

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F.Y.I.—Information from our Parishes and Around the Church

Trinity Cathedral Bookstore is in need of additional volunteer sales help, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come to the bookstore during those hours, browse and meet the new manager, Miguel Baguer, and the current team of volunteers, and see if you’d like to join this ministry. For more information, call Miguel at 305-789-0074 or 800-597-9557.

Beginning Dec. 5, St. Stephen's, Coconut Grove (Miami), will be selling Christmas trees—Fraser Firs, mostly 5’-10’, with or without stands. Home delivery is available (within a reasonable distance)! St. Stephen’s is also selling its parish cookbook, with over 300 pages of recipes representing the many cultures in the parish—such exotic fare as Elephant Stew from the Safari Cook, Joan Crawford's Crab Casserole, Imperial Cheese from Russia, Rum Punch from Trinidad, Nutty Irishman Cake, and Creme Brulee from Buenos Aires. The price is $20. Call the parish office at  305-448 2601 for more information on the Christmas trees or the cookbooks.

St. Laurence Chapel--Caring Center for People Who Are Homeless will hold its Annual White Sock Open House on Dec. 7, 4-6 p.m.  Bring white socks or underwear to put under the Christmas tree, then take a tour of the new facility at 1698 Blount Rd., Pompano Beach.  For more information, call the Chapel at 954-972-2958.

St. Gregory's, Boca Raton will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a luncheon at the Marriott Hotel Crocker Center after the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 7. The congregation is inviting all clergy who have been associated with the parish as well as any former parishioners and friends. Reservations are necessary and can be obtained by contacting the parish office at 561-395-8285.

St. Simon's, Miami, will offer a Spanish Christmas concert Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at Teatro Tower, 1508 SW 8th St.

The Miami Oratorio Society, with conductor Gary E. Keating, presents Messiah by G.F. Handel, Saturday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m., at St. Stephen's 2750 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove. Tickets are $12 ($10 for seniors and students). Call the parish office at 305-448 2601 for information.
 

The Haitian congregation at St. Joseph’s, Boynton Beach, is planning a trip to Disney World for members and friends on Dec. 21. The purpose, in addition to fun and fellowship, is to raise money for the congregation’s ministries. The cost is $100 for adults and $70 for children ages 3-9, payable by check to St. Joseph Haitian Congregation by Nov. 30. The bus will leave the church at 5:30 a.m. and return at 6 p.m. For more information, call 561-676-3108 or 561-276-1790.

All Saints’, Ft. Lauderdale, will present an Epiphany opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Friday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 10, 2:30 p.m. General admission is $5. For tickets call 954-467-6496.

Jan. 11 will be Recovery Sunday at Holy Sacrament, Pembroke Pines. The guest speaker for the 10 a.m. service, which will include worship built around a Twelve Step Eucharist, will be the Rev. Gary Maier of St Pete Beach, who will preach on God’s grace as offered and seen in the recreated lives of recovering people.

The Chapel of St. Andrew, Boca Raton is offering “The Marriage Course”, an opportunity for couples to “build a strong and intimate marriage that will last a lifetime”. The course is from 5-7 p.m. on Sundays, beginning Jan. 11.The cost is $70 per couple. For information or to sign up, contact Will or Cheryl Harman, 561-330-3388 or willjharman@bellsouth.net.

St. Patrick’s, West Palm Beach will end its yearlong 90^th anniversary celebration with a banquet, dance and silent auction on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, from 6 to 10 p.m. (the silent auction is from 6-7:30) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1601 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, Fl. 33401. Music will be provided by The Rhythm Kings. Donation: $100.00. Call the church office at 561-833-1903 for additional information.

FOR SALE - 60 cathedral chairs with kneelers, light wood, beige fabric, good condition.  Call St. Luke's, Port Salerno at (772) 286-5455.

Through the Nevada Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, MGM Grand Hotel in
conjunction with the University of Nevada Las Vegas is offering full scholarships for a four-year, bachelor’s degree program in Hotel Administration. Interested students should fax or email a letter of interest and a brief summary of qualifications to erv.crawford@ccmail.nevada.edu or fax # (702) 895-4871.

The University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn, has announced the Lilly Scholarship, which pays half tuition and room and board at Sewanee. The scholarship will be awarded to two first-year students entering the university's Class of 2008, who have outstanding records of service during their high school years and an interest in theological, service-oriented or values-based careers. Interested individuals must complete and submit an application form, admissions materials and a 1,000-word essay by January 10, 2004 (postmark date). For a copy of the application packet or more information about the Lilly Scholarship, contact the Lilly Office at (931) 598-1869 or jgoodman@sewanee.edu. Further details about scholarship benefits and requirements are available at www.sewanee.edu/lillyproj/scholars. Applicants also are encouraged to apply for Merit Scholarships through the University of the South.

Nashotah House, an Episcopal seminary, is offering a two week pilgrimage May 28-June 10, 2004, to holy sites of Celtic, Viking and Anglo-Saxon Britain. The cost is $2799, including airfare from Chicago. For further information contact Fr. Arnold Klukas at Nashotah House, 262-646-8941 or arnold@klukas.net.

 

Additional Events and Opportunities
(click on links below for more information!)

• John Hines Preaching Award
• Nominees requested for Lettie Pate Evans Award
• Summer Discernment Institute at Sewanee

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Prayers are requested for--

Our country; for wisdom and guidance for our leaders and the leaders of all nations; for our armed forces, especially those now in places of danger; for our enemies; for peace, justice and reconciliation in all places where there is conflict;

Logan McCormack, father of Ann Said, wife of Bishop John Said, stroke;

Angela Palmer, daughter of Martha Richards, secretary at All Souls', Miami Beach, injured at work and will need knee surgery;

Diocesan transition consultant Susy Miller, healing;

For safety for Deacon Gigi Brewer’s son, Spc. Tim Reed, recently deployed to Iraq;

Mildred Ingraham, mother-in-law of Deacon Doris Ingraham, healing;

LaDonna Neds, wife of Fr. Walter Neds, lung cancer;

Erika Frade, daughter of Bishop Leo Frade, healing;

Eason Evans, son of Fr. Ralph Evans, pray for successful treatment for severe back pain;

Fr. Tom Ryan, healing;

Lillian Ottley, wife of Bishop James Ottley, continued healing;

Fr. Sam Frock, recovering from spinal surgery;

Fr. Leonel Ortez, continued healing;

Annabel Hobbs, wife of Archdeacon Bryan Hobbs, continued healing;

Ben Brown, cousin of Deacon Holly Ostlund, facing long recovery from serious shark bite injuries;

Leah Rosato, secretary at Holy Spirit, West Palm Beach, healing;

Deborah Deshaies, wife of Fr. Bob Deshaies, recovering from spinal surgery; pray for relief from pain;

Chuck Nickerson, brother of diocesan accounting clerk Sally James, colon cancer;

Aspirant Peter Wallace, continued healing;

Chancellor Emeritus Fred Stanton, healing;

Dorothy Wilbur, widow of Fr. Newton Wilbur, cancer:

Fr. Gammon Jarrell, continued healing;

Fr. Miguel Restrepo, healing;

Florence Gray, mother of Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves continued healing;

Jim Gibson, husband of Mother Kate Gibson, continued healing;

Doris Dillenberger, sister of Diana Frade, healing;

Christie Hudspeth, daughter of Mother Denise Hudspeth, pray for complete healing;

Bridget Seward, sister of Deacon Jane Calderin, multiple myeloma;

Mthr. "Punkie" Dennis, healing;

Canon SuzeAnne Silla's family: Daughter Stephanie, still in pain, will need additional jaw surgery; mother Iola Steeves, abdominal aortic aneurysm and many other health problems;

Cn. Max Salvador, continued healing;

for the repose of the souls of those who have died, and for comfort for the family of Fr. Bill Kirkpatrick, who died Oct. 30; for Fr. Horace Ward, whose mother, Myrtle Ward, died Nov. 7; for Fr. Norbert Cooper’s wife, Beryl Cooper, in the death of her brother, Alphaeus Pinder; for Deacon

Terrence Taylor, whose cousin, Benjamin Cooper, died Nov. 20;

for Deacon Ornoldo Surgeon, whose grandson, Chekhan Hasani Mills, was hit by a car and killed on Nov. 20;

for Dean Robert Libby’s wife, Lynne Libby, whose mother, Katharine Ball, died Nov. 25; for all those who have lost loved ones in the continued conflict in Iraq;

Give thanks for successful eye surgery for Canon SuzeAnne Silla, and for Diocesan Coordinator Gail McShane's niece, Lisa Commette, who is well and has regained substantial use of her reattached left arm. (An article by Lisa about her injury and her recovery has been published in the December issue of SELF magazine.)

for the repose of the souls of those who have died, and for comfort for the family of Fr. Bill Kirkpatrick, who died Oct. 30; for Fr. Horace Ward, whose mother, Myrtle Ward, died Nov. 7; for Fr. Norbert Cooper's wife, Beryl Cooper, in the death of her brother, Alphaeus Pinder; for Deacon Terrence Taylor, whose cousin, Benjamin Cooper, died Nov. 20; for Deacon Ornoldo Surgeon, whose grandson, Chekhan Hasani Mills, was hit by a car and killed on Nov. 20; for Dean Robert Libby's wife, Lynne Libby, whose mother, Katharine Ball, died Nov. 25; for Deacon Bruce Woodcock, whose mother, Editeh Woodcock, died Dec. 8; for Fr. Bob Deshaies' wife, Deborah Deshaies, whose mother, Barbara Becker, died Dec. 9; for all those who have lost loved ones in the continued conflict in Iraq.

 

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Anglican Cycle of Prayer

December 14--III Advent

The Church of the Province of Southern Africa
Eleuthera
St.Joseph, Upper Bogue
St. Paul, The Bluff
Non-Canonically Resident Clergy

December 21--IV Advent

The Church of God throughout the world
Seminarians
Candidates for Holy Orders

December 28—I Christmas

The Church of Ceylon
Grand Bahama Island
St. Nicholas, East End
St. Michael & All Angels, East End
St. Mary, Stuart
St. Monica, Stuart

January 3-II Christmas

Grand Bahama Island
Good Shepherd, Pinder's Point
St. Jude, Smith's Point
St. Andrew, Lake Worth
Holy Redeemer, Lake Worth

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Last updated 12/18/03