Trinity Church Makes Changes

From Florida-

When Father Chris Rodriguez brought his family here from New Jersey last September becoming Trinity Episcopal Church’s new rector, he discovered a congregation that was hurting and needed help.

A little over two years ago, a doctrinal split within the congregation prompted approximately three-fourths of its members to leave. Most followed the former Reverend Loren Coyle, the church’s rector at the time, creating the breakaway, Christ Church at K-Mart Plaza. Soon after, Coyle left the ministry.

“When I came, Trinity hadn’t had any leadership in a long time,” says Rodriguez. “My job is to steer the ship. People have been receptive, maybe struggling a little, but they’re learning to trust me. I invite them to vent and remind them this is a fresh start.”

More here-

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/jul/31/were-not-the-frozen-chosen-trinity-episcopal/

Welcoming the Elephants to Tampa

From South West Florida-

It's not very often that you see a church newsletter issued with the image of a GOP elephant holding a pirate flag, but that's what one of Tampa's Episcopal churches, St. Andrew's, published last week to indicate its welcome of the Republican National Convention to Tampa, Fla.

Perhaps it's not that odd. The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida does have some experience with elephants; for decades we were chaplains to the wintering Ringling Brothers circus community, each year blessing a menagerie worthy of Noah's Ark and serving as blesser, counselor and prayer partner to clowns, sword swallowers, acrobats, lion tamers and elephant riders. As a church, we took that role seriously; the circus was in town, and we supported and welcomed that community when it came home each season.

St. Andrew's, since 1871 a fixture in downtown Tampa, will literally ring in the G.O.P. convention Aug. 27 as its bells, along with other Tampa churches, will toll for 15 minutes to welcome visitors from across the U.S. and world.

More here-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bishop-dabney-t-smith/welcoming-the-elephants-to-tampa_b_1792520.html

Episcopal bishop's wife Smith dies at 56

From Southwest Florida-

Mary Ellen Smith knew the end was near. Characteristically, she worried more about her family than herself, and she didn't want them to worry about her after she was gone.

"I am peaceful because I get to go on a great adventure," she told her daughter, Ashton Williston.

Tuesday, after a long illness, the 56-year-old wife of the Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, died at their home in Ellenton.

In a statement issued by the diocese, which spans from Brooksville to Marco Island with 76 congregations, the bishop shared some of his memories of his partner of 36 years and mother of their three grown children.

She embraced her role as the spouse of a seminarian, then a priest and finally a bishop, always willing to relocate and resettle their family without resentment. From childhood, she took care of her mother, Dorothy, who suffered from brittle diabetes, until the elderly woman's death at age 86. And when Smith's mother could no longer live alone, Mary Ellen took care of both women in their home for a year.

More here-

http://www2.tbo.com/news/faith/2012/mar/22/memeto2-episcopal-bishops-wife-smith-dies-at-56-ar-383693/

Rain garden reflections: Episcopal parish enjoys plants

From Southwest FL-

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Naples is blossoming with the addition of a new ecological rain garden with all kinds of good motivation behind it.

The garden will serve as a model, the city of Naples hopes, for similar gardens to capture rainwater and reduce chemical-laden runoff into Naples Bay. It will also give the church a newly landscaped area that offers a good spot for outdoor meditation and perhaps even a setting for a few Sunday classes.

Finally, the rain garden may gather the tears of those who mourn for loved ones and heroes lost in 9/11. The first major public gathering will be for a service of reflection and renewal at 10 a.m. on Sept. 11, dedicated to first responders.

The garden, a planted depression that filters rainwater runoff, is also part of a million-dollar interior and exterior renovation project that began for the church, at 500 Park Shore Drive, last year. It may be the largest rain garden in Collier County.

More here-

http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/sep/04/rain-garden-reflections-episcopal-parish-enjoys-pl/

Church Lady: Camp Able – An emotional experience

From South West Florida-

On July 21 the Church Lady went on a road trip with some folks from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Our destination was Camp Able, a camp designed for persons with special needs. The camp is the creation of St. Mark’s Rector the Rev. Dr. Kyle Bennett whose doctorial thesis was on the theological and social implications of people with disabilities. The camp is all about what you can do, and not what you can’t do. The camp has been a six-day event since 2007. Six days for the staff and counselors and five fun-packed days for people with special needs.

Camp Able is held at the 92-acre Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida’s DaySpring Conference Center in Manatee County. DaySpring is on the north bank of the Manatee River just east of Ellenton. The setting is serene with its acres filled with oak trees covered in Spanish moss, lush greenery and winding paths.

The group from St. Mark’s went to cheer on the talent show, support their fellow parishioners who man the camp and to lend a hand where needed.

More here-

http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jul/29/church-lady-camp-able-emotional-experience/

‘Saint M&M’ fulfilling its mission in a sweet way

From Southwest FLA-

Fifty enthusiastic St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church members renewed a tradition this month when they marched into the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida‘s Fall convention in Punta Gorda carrying banners and ringing bells.

This group from a Lakewood Ranch church was not protesting anything.
Far from it.

It’s a joyous time whenever the annual convention confers the title of “parish church,” on one of its own, helping that church shed its former status as a mission church, said The Rev. Jim Hedman of St. Mary Magdalene. which is at 11315 Palmbrush Trail, near the intersection of State Road 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

Episcopal mission church status is what a church gets when it has minimal membership, is still growing financial roots and continues to rely on its sponsors, Hedman said.
Mission churches operate under the auspices of the bishop of the diocese and, rather than a rector, they have a vicar.

After a church gains at least 50 families and establishes a sound financial base, it can gain its own autonomy within the diocese.

Read more:

http://www.bradenton.com/2010/10/23/2677448/saint-mm-fulfilling-its-mission.html#ixzz13BTozB2T

Camp of love — Children with special needs find safe haven at summer camp

From Southwest Florida-

Camp Able abounded with love and joy the week of July 19. The camp is described as Christmas morning, summer vacation and a family reunion all rolled into five fun packed days for people with special needs. It is a place where disabilities are worked around and gifts are celebrated. It’s a community of unconditional love, compassion and acceptance.

The camp is the brainchild of Fr. Kyle Bennett, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, who has worked extensively with children with disabilities and whose doctoral thesis was on the theological and social implications of people with disabilities.

The camp is held at the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida’s DaySpring Conference Center in Manatee County. The setting is serene with its acres of oak trees covered with Spanish moss, bromeliads, winding paths on a lakefront. The first Camp Able was held there in 2007.

Each day began with prayer. Campers were given their choice of activities for the day — canoeing, swimming, playing on a water slide, horseback riding, arts and crafts, ropes course challenge, zip-line, drum circle and working therapeutic dogs. For many the highlight of their experience was the exhilaration of the zip-line and the affirmation of abilities at the talent show.

More here-

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul/29/camp-love-children-special-needs-find-safe-haven-s/

Churchgoer has important message for drivers

From Florida-

The sign may make you chuckle, honk and Ron Herman hopes, put down your cell phone.

Herman is the sign keeper at The Episcopal Church of the Nativity on Del Rio Boulevard.

He put up a message Monday that's getting a lot of attention from church members and drivers.

It reads, "Honk if you love Jesus. Text while driving if you want to meet him."

Herman got so many compliments from churchgoers, he emailed pictures of the sign to Oprah Winfrey.

He says producers are interested in featuring the sign as part of Oprah's No Phone Zone campaign.

Herman doesn't text but he knows the 25 members of his church youth group do.

"We have a lot of children that will be graduating this year from high school and college and I know they do it," he says. "I see it one the road myself and it's a scary thing."

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/stlucie/story/Churchgoer-has-important-message-for-drivers/emQ2eGULpUWPl3zXSZTS5A.cspx

Cutie joins the Episcopal Church

'Father Oprah' Joins Episcopal Church

Video is here-


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFDBoAv9268

Miami priest joins Episcopal church after scandal

A popular Miami priest and media personality says he is leaving the Catholic Church and joining the Episcopal church after he was photographed cavorting on the beach with his girlfriend.

The Rev. Alberto Cutié (KOO'-tee-ay) was removed from his Miami Beach church after photos of him kissing and embracing a woman appeared in the pages of a Spanish-language magazine earlier this month.

A ceremony will take place at Trinity Cathedral on Thursday afternoon. He is also expected to announce that he will marry his girlfriend, which is allowed in the Episcopal church.

Cutie earned the nickname "Father Oprah" for his relationship advice and previously hosted shows on Telemundo. He is also a syndicated Spanish-language columnist and author.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3781727046490408959

Popular Priest Missed At Mass

More on the Cuite scandal. (Could you make up a better name given the issue?) Video with "scandalous" pictures at the link

Father Alberto Cutié Was Caught On Camera Kissing And Hugging A Woman.

There were no problems this Sunday -- just hurt for so many as they said they sensed the void at mass.

"We pray to God that he has peace in his heart and that he's happy and God has a hand in everything. Sometimes we don't know why things happen," one parishioner said.

Despite his absence at Sunday's mass, Cutié has remained in the spotlight. On Friday, Univision aired excerpts from a sit-down interview with Teresa Rodriguez.

Cutié has said he's in love with Canellis and he regrets having hurt people, but doesn't regret the relationship. He will also share his story with CBS' The Early Show Co-Anchor Maggie Rodriguez on Monday beginning at 7 a.m.

Meanwhile, Cutié has not made a formal announcement about his future, but a bishop with the Espiscopal church in South Florida told CBS4 that he believes Cutié will make a decision to become an Episcopal priest.

More here-

http://cbs4.com/local/Father.Alberto.Cutie.2.1006312.html

Presiding Episcopal bishop speaks of joy, diverse opinions

She does get around - from the St. Petersburg Times an interview with the Presiding Bishop.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, head of the Episcopal Church, visits the Diocese of Southwest Florida this week. Jefferts Schori, who leads more than 2.4-million Episcopalians worldwide and 34,000 in the bay area, is coming to Tampa for the biannual meeting of the National Association of Episcopal Schools. It's her first visit as presiding bishop. We talked with her Friday as she prepared for her trip.

Q. What's the state of the Episcopal Church?

A. Most every place I visit, congregations and dioceses are energetically engaged in serving their neighbors both nearby and far away. What gets reported in the media is a matter of a relatively few people who are exceedingly unhappy and very noisy.

Q. You've been in office for almost two years. Describe the landscape of the church.

In some sense, I think we're past the worst of the current controversies. I think most people are realizing that there are a variety of opinions in this church about the current hot-button issues as there have always been a variety of opinions about matters of great interest in the church. I'm fond of reminding people that in the late 1800s people were arguing vehemently about whether or not you could put candles on the altar.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/article886908.ece

Good Stuff in TEC: Southwest Florida

Diocese joining fight against human trafficking

The scope and breadth of the problem in Florida is opening eyes within the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. “I’m just beginning to learn about this problem,” said the Ven. Denis McManis, the diocese’s canon for mission and outreach. “It’s everywhere.”

McManis sees opportunities for the church to help victims of labor recruiting scams and commercial sex exploitation, particularly with temporary housing, transportation, securing social services and counseling. The diocese is forming a committee to assess opportunities for such outreach. The diocese has recently been working with the Coalition and The Salvation Army in a case involving 50 foreign workers rescued from near slave-labor conditions on the other side of the state.

http://www.episcopalswfl.org/news/article140697c1284286.htm

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