St. Pete church hands out 'church-to-go' bags for members to hold church at home

From Florida-

We’ve seen the online and drive-in church services, but one local church wanted something a little more personable for each of its members.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in St. Petersburg has been putting bags together that include their weekly sermons, then handing them out to members so they can hold their own church services at home. They call it "church-to-go!"

“Just drive through, hold down the window side and hand them the bag, and the plus side of that is we have a nanosecond to say ‘hey, you’re still alive, it’s great to see ya,’” said Gigi Conner, priest in charge at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

St. Alban’s is a church with a congregation of anywhere from 40 to 80 people.

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/st-pete-church-hands-out-church-to-go-bags-for-members-to-hold-church-at-home

Houses of worship classified as essential, many taking action to assure safety comes first

From South West Florida-

“Some have gone virtual, some have had people, but they’ve been spread out far enough. I mean you guys are spread out here in this press conference, there’s no reason why you couldn’t do a church service with people 10 feet apart. So, we definitely ask they to absolutely abide by the social distancing guidelines,” said Governor DeSantis during a press conference Thursday afternoon.

Foundation Church in Englewood announced on their Facebook they'll be meeting in person for worship this Sunday because “they’re no longer slaves of fear.” 

ABC 7 reached out to the Foundation Church leaders to inquire about how they’ll practice social distancing come Sunday at their service, but we haven’t heard back yet. 

Others, like a priest in the Diocese of the Episcopal Church says he decided to make the shift to digital beginning this week because his parish is largely senior citizens. 

"I think we all enjoy our first amendment liberties but with rights come responsibility. I think we need to do our part in making sure we don't overload our medical system and the doctors and nurses who are working very hard,” said Episcopal Diocese of southwest Florida, Rev. Matthew Grunfeld. 

More here-

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2020/04/04/houses-worship-classified-essential-many-taking-action-assure-safety-comes-first/

Houses of worship taking precautionary methods because of COVID-19 Subtitle Settings Font Font Size Font Edge Font Color Background

From Florida-

Whether it’s hand sanitizer stations or implementing new greeting guidelines, houses of worship like First Sarasota Baptist Church are doing their part to prevent people from spreading germs. 

“We’re just not making any physical contact like a handshake or a hug. We’re doing some fun things and we kind of believe here that if life throws you lemons we’re not just going to make lemonade, we’re going to make sweet lemonade," said Pastor William Hild. 

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is also taking a proactive approach. They’re asking people to not have physical contact at services, especially during the passing of the Peace. They are asking people to slightly bow, elbow pump or fist bump. 

The same holds true for the Catholic church. The Venice Diocese says they issued recommendations to Priests and local Parishes to empty Holy Water fonts and frequently clean commonly touched surfaces. 

More here-

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2020/03/06/houses-worship-taking-precautionary-methods-because-covid-/

Rogers Harris, first Episcopal bishop to allow female priests in Southwest Florida, dies

From Tampa-

Bishop Rogers Sanders Harris, the first Episcopal bishop to allow female Episcopal priests in Southwest Florida, died Wednesday in South Carolina. He was 87.

He became bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida on Sept. 9, 1989, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in downtown St. Petersburg.

It was during his tenure that the diocese, which now includes 76 congregations along the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida, from Brooksville to Marco Island, began to ordain female priests. At the time, the diocese was one of seven in the Episcopal Church that did not do so.

The first woman he ordained was the Rev. Carol Schwenke, who now is at the Church of the Ascension in Clearwater.

More here-

http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/Rogers-Harris-first-Episcopal-bishop-to-allow-female-priests-in-Southwest-Florida-dies_162685329

Grace Episcopal Church readies expansion in Tampa Palms

From Tampa-

Grace Episcopal Church will soon expand its Tampa Palms location to include a Gothic sanctuary building and an event venue.

The church recently presented its plan, titled the Amazing Grace Project, which aims to create a property more beneficial to the community.

Grace Episcopal opened in 1996 to serve the developing area of Tampa Palms.

The church began services in its worship hall with plans to build a sanctuary, but financial strains delayed the construction.

Today, after selling a corner of its property for $4 million as part of a Bruce B. Downs Boulevard expansion, the church is debt free.

More here-

http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/grace-episcopal-church-readies-expansion-in-tampa-palms/2296531

Episcopal Diocese Announces Ground Breaking of New $3 Million Program Center

From Southwest FL-

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, March 1, at 2 pm., for a new, $3 million Program Center at DaySpring Episcopal Center, the diocese's 97-acre religious and conference center.

Designed by Fawley Bryant Architects and constructed by Willis Smith Construction, the 12,500-square-foot center will serve as DaySpring's primary facility for youth and adult programs, art and music recreation activities, retreats, teaching and worship.

The Rt. Rev. Dabney Tyler Smith, Bishop of the diocese, will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony, which will include representatives from the architectural and construction project team. Over 100 Episcopal priests from around the diocese will be in attendance, as well as Episcopalians from all corners of the diocese.

More here-

http://www.azobuild.com/news.aspx?newsID=21121

Diocese of Southwest Florida uses caution on whether to perform same-sex marriages

From Southwest Florida-

Just days after the U.S. Episcopal Church approved a canonical change allowing clergy to perform same-sex weddings in their churches, Bradenton's Episcopal bishop is pondering whether to approve it for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.

At its recent General Convention in Salt Lake City, a group comprised of bishops, clergy and lay people approved a resolution to their Constitution and Canons, changing the definition of marriage between a man and a woman to one of gender neutrality.

The resolution further states that Episcopal clergy can refuse to officiate at a same-sex wedding, if it violates their conscience.

Now, Bishop Dabney Smith, who presides over 77 churches, from Brooksville down to Marco Island and east to Arcadia, with almost 31,000 active baptized members, must decide whether to allow his clergy to perform them. He has until the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 29, when the supplemental liturgy takes effect.

Read more here:

http://www.bradenton.com/2015/07/13/5893654/bishop-dabney-smith-of-the-diocese.html#storylink=cpy