COMING EVENTS:

 

Diocesan Acolyte Festival - Mar. 3, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Holy Family, Miami Gardens

Men’s Ministry Workshop - Mar. 3, 9 a.m.-noon, St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale

Joint Lenten Services - Mar. 4, Church of the Ascension, Miami; Mar. 11, Christ Church, Coconut Grove; Mar. 18, Trinity Cathedral, Miami; Mar. 25, Historic St. Agnes, Miami (all services at 5 p.m.)

Ordination of Allison DeFoor to the Priesthood - Mar. 6, 8:30 a.m., Wakulla Correctional Institution

Annual Deacons’ Conference  - Mar. 9-10, Duncan Center

Wardens and Treasurers Conference - Mar. 17, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., St. Mark’s, Ft. Lauderdale

Appreciative Parenting” Retreat - Mar. 16-18, Duncan Center

Clergy Meeting with Bishop Frade - Mar. 23, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Duncan Center

Ordination of George Kinard to the Diaconate - Mar. 24, 4 p.m., Advent, Palm City

Cursillo Prototype Workshop - Mar. 23-24, Duncan Center

Parish Technology Seminar - Mar. 24, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Joseph’s, Boynton Beach

Parish Emergency Preparedness Planning Workshop - Mar. 30, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton; Mar. 31, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Thomas, Coral Gables

Holy Week Clergy Day & Chrism Eucharist  - Apr. 3, Trinity Cathedral

Luncheon for Retired Clergy and Surviving Spouses - Apr. 11, noon, Duncan Center

Clergy/Clergy Spouses Cruise  - Apr. 12-14

Faith Is Caught - Apr. 20-21, St. Thomas, Coral Gables

Safeguarding God’s Children - Apr. 21, 9 a.m.-noon, St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens

Prison Ministry Training - Apr. 25, 7 p.m., St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens

ECW Annual Meeting  - Apr. 27-28, St. Benedict’s, Plantation

Anti-Racism Training - Apr. 28, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., St. Paul’s, Delray Beach

Spring Convocations - Apr. 28, NPB, 9:30 a.m., Holy Spirit, West Palm Beach; May 2, SPB, 5:30-7:30 p.m., St. Joseph’s, Boynton Beach; May 5, ND, 10:30 a.m., Trinity Cathedral, Miami; SD, 9:30 a.m., St. Thomas, Coral Gables; May 9, Bwd, 6:30 p.m., St. Mary Magdalene, Coral Springs; June 2, Keys, 10 a.m., St. James the Fisherman, Islamorada.

Nehemiah Clergy Retreat (open to all clergy) - May 1-3, Lake Placid Retreat Center

Happening Weekend  - May 4-6, St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale (New date)

Ordination of Mary Ellen Cassini to the Priesthood - May 12, 4 p.m., Trinity Cathedral, Miami

Florida Day  - June 18, Washington National Cathedral

Men’s Ministry Workshop—There will be a workshop Mar. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale, for those who are involved in men’s ministries and those who would like to begin men’s ministry in their parish. This will be a time for brainstorming and sharing experiences for strengthening and expanding men’s ministries in our diocese. For more information and to register contact: Deacon Bob Sullivan, Bob@sullivanelectric-pump.com or 561-642-0274 (H), 561-588-5886 (W).

Clergy meeting with Bishop Frade—Bishop Frade has invited diocesan clergy to meet with him at the Duncan Center from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Mar. 23, the day after he returns from the House of Bishops meeting. This gathering will provide an opportunity for the bishop to discuss with clergy the Episcopal bishops’ responses to requests made by the Anglican Primates at their meeting last month. Lunch will be provided. Please contact Bishop Frade’s assistant, Sally James, sally@diosef.org or 800-268-9993 or 305-373-0881, ext. 20, if you plan to attend.

Parish Technology Seminar—The “Parish Technology in Worship & Teaching Seminar”, to be offered Mar. 24, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at St. Joseph's Church, Boynton Beach, is designed as a first gathering of technology users who wish to share their experiences and learn from other users. It will also be an opportunity for those who are not yet using PowerPoint or other visual media in worship and/or education to learn how to begin. For more information or to register contact Linda Schlepp-Gray, linda98@bellsouth.net or 954-450-7247.

Emergency Preparedness Planning Workshops—The diocese is offering two opportunities for congregations to participate in a one-day seminar designed to guide a church through a process of developing its own emergency preparedness plan. There is no cost for these workshops, presented by the Church Insurance Corporation and the Church Restoration Group, Mar. 30 at St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton, and Mar. 31 at St. Thomas, Coral Gables. The workshops are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; lunch will be provided. Space is limited to 20 participants each day, so each church that wants to participate should select one representative--lay or clergy--to attend. It’s important for this person to have some basic computer skills, because the workshop involves using a computer program. For additional information or to register contact Jim Carlton, 305-373-0881 or 800-268-9993, ext. 16, or jim@diosef.org

Parochial Reports and Key Personnel Forms-- Parochial Reports for 2006 not yet submitted are now past due; the deadline according to diocesan canons was Jan. 31, and the deadline for submitting this information to the Episcopal Church Center in New York is Mar. 1. Each congregation has received by mail from the Episcopal Church Center the materials and instructions for filing the parochial report online; these forms and instructions are also available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/research_62344_ENG_HTM.htm. The Key Personnel List is also past due—the deadline was Feb. 15; that form is also filed online and is available at https://www.amerisurf.com/diosef/keypersonnel.html. 

Eco-palms--The Episcopal Church is joining Lutheran World Relief, Catholic Relief Services' (CRS) Fair Trade Program and the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Enough for Everyone Program to promote the use of sustainably harvested eco-palms for Palm Sunday 2007. By purchasing eco-palms for Palm Sunday celebrations, Episcopal congregations can play an important role in protecting forests, local jobs, and sustainable livelihoods in the harvesting communities. Eco-palms can be ordered from http://www.lwr.org/palms/ ; the deadline for orders is Mar.12. For more information contact Martha Gardner, consultant for Environmental Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center, at mgardner@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6056.

Heritage Society Months-- The Executive Board has authorized February and March to be observed in our diocese as Heritage Society Months. Heritage Society chapters in our parishes are made up of those parishioners who have indicated that they are including the church in their estate plans. Bishop Frade has asked that each congregation set aside one Sunday in February or March for emphasis on this important aspect of stewardship. Episcopal Charities (formerly the Southeast Florida Episcopal Foundation) is sending each church a CD with suggestions for observing Heritage Society Sunday and for the formation of a Heritage Society in congregations that do not already have one. If additional CDs are needed or for additional information, contact EC President Charlie Ring, 561-799-6424 or charlie@ecsefl.org.

Clergy Continuing Education Credit report form—A report form for Clergy Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) is now available online at http://www.diosef.org/forms/Report%20of%20CEU%20Credit.pdf .  

“Groundwork”--The 2007 installment of "Groundwork" evangelism resources--offering congregations a Year C Lenten guide for study and action—has been posted online and mailed to congregations churchwide. This material is also available in Spanish at :http://www.episcopalchurch.org/groundwork_56638_ENG_HTM.htm?menu=menu566
36.  Previously published Groundwork resources, including the 2004-2005, are also available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/groundwork.

VBS resources--If you haven’t yet started planning your 2007 Vacation Bible School program, information on many VBS resources is available at http://www.christianitytoday.com/yc/2007/001/1.14.html

BGI Foundation website—The Bishop Gray Inn Foundation, which provides financial assistance to help elderly Episcopalians from the Dioceses of Southeast, Southwest and Central Florida with the cost of retirement and/or long-term care facilities, now has a website. For information on what’s offered by the Foundation and the qualifications for assistance, go to http://www.bgifoundation.com . 

Will clinics and estate planning—Episcopal Charities (formerly the Southeast Florida Episcopal Foundation) is continuing its ministry of providing resources for congregations on wills, estate planning and endowment fund structuring. For more information or to schedule an appointment for a will clinic or a vestry workshop on endowment funds, contact Charlie Ring at Episcopal Charities, 561-799-6424.

“Appreciative Parenting” Retreat—This workshop for clergy and others who work with family relationships will be held Mar. 16-18 at the Duncan Center. It can be taken toward fulfillment of the diocesan requirement for clergy continuing education. The tuition is $200 for early registration (by Jan. 26) or $250 after that date. For additional information, contact Ken Zeno at 561-865-4593 or email: Kzeno@adelphia.net.

Anti-Racism Training--The Diocesan Anti-Racism Commission has scheduled an Anti-Racism Training workshop Apr. 28, 2007, at St. Paul’s, Delray Beach, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This training was mandated by General Convention 2000 for all clergy, staff and lay leaders as a step toward ending institutional and other forms of racism. The cost for the workshop is $10, which includes continental breakfast, lunch and all workshop materials. Registration will be available online at www.diosef.org/register.html for the April workshop.

Start Up! Start Over! The next Start Up! Start Over! Seminar will be held May 7-11 at the Four Points by Sheraton Phoenix Metrocenter in Phoenix, Ariz. Start Up! Start Over! is a national training event for clergy and laity that provides basic congregational development theory and skills. The cost, which includes tuition, 5 nights lodging, and 10 meals is: $775 single, $650 (each) double, $395 commuter. For more information contact Sally O'Brien at 800-334-7626 ext. 6003 or email sobrien@episcopalchurch.org. Registration materials can be downloaded at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/4519_26440_ENG_HTM.htm

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CLERGY CHANGES

Cook, Fr. Jim - Begins Mar. 4 as rector of St. Mark’s, Palm Beach Gardens

Kennedy, Fr. David - Priest-in-charge at Guardian Angels, Lantana & St. Cuthbert’s, Boynton Beach

O’Brien, The Rev. Craig - Resigned as rector of Guardian Angels, Lantana & St. Cuthbert’s, Boynton Beach, effective 2/25, to accept a call to St. John’s, Savannah, Ga.

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Parishes in Transition:

St. Mark the Evangelist, Ft. Lauderdale—Fr. Gary Hamp, interim

Holy Trinity, West Palm Beach—Fr. Perry Fuller, interim

St. Christopher’s, Key Biscayne—Fr. Tom Bruttell, interim

St. Columba, Marathon—The Rev. Debra Andrew-Maconaughey, deacon

St. Andrew’s, Miami—Fr. Gary Verell, interim

Guardian Angels, Lantana & St. Cuthbert’s, Boynton Beach—Rector resigned effective 2/25 to accept a call to the Diocese of Georgia; Fr. David Kennedy, priest-in-charge.

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

The final lecture in the series on “Religion and Science in Contemporary Life” at St. Andrew’s, Lake Worth, will be Mar. 2; the topic is  “Religion, Science and Cosmology”. The lecture will be preceded by Evening Prayer with music and incense at 5:30 p.m. and a Community Pot Luck Supper at 6. The lecture is free and open to the public. For further information, call 561-582-6609. 

St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton, continues its lecture series with “The Faiths of Our Founding Fathers” on Mar. 14 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Harris Hall. There will be informal discussion and refreshments following the lecture. Click here for additional information on the lecture series.

On Saturday, Mar. 10 at 7:30 p.m. St. Thomas, Coral Gables, hosts the choral legend Sir David Willcocks, whose Christmas discs as conductor of King's College, Cambridge are known throughout the world. Sir David will be conducting the Vivaldi Gloria, featuring singers from around Dade County, and accompanied by orchestra. Performers include the the St. Thomas parish choir, as well as the choir of Trinity Cathedral and the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami. The concert is called "A Tapestry of Voices". Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students, and are available in advance or at the door. Credit cards (AMEX, MC, VISA) are accepted. There is ample parking available in the lot east of the church. For further information please call 305-661-3436. 

On Sunday, Mar.11 at 7 p.m., St. Andrew’s, Lake Worth, will present the Lynn String Quartet performing a program of Mozart and Beethoven. Tickets for the concert and reception are priced at $20 for adults, $10 for students under 18. The concert will be followed by a reception in St. Andrew’s Parish Hall featuring wine and hors d’oeuvres. There will be a special culinary tribute to Vienna, where both Mozart and Beethoven spent their careers, including the renowned Sachertorte, the most famous of all Viennese pastries. For tickets and information call 561-582-6609.  

On Mar. 16-17 Bethesda-by-the-Sea, Palm Beach, will offer the webcast of God’s un-Finished Future: Why it matters now, the 37^th Annual National Theological Conference hosted by the Trinity Institute. Diocesan clergy can receive eight hours of continuing education credit for this event. Click here for details, or call the Rev. Andrew “Drew” VanCulin or Lynn Rundberg at 561-655-4555, ext. 15.  To register, call the church office at 561-655-4554 and speak with Christine Silvas.

The Elly Lodder Chapter, Daughters of the King, at St. Nicholas, Pompano Beach, will offer a Lenten Quiet Day, Saturday, Mar. 17, 9 a.m.-12 noon. The Rev. Nancy McCarthy, priest-in-charge at St. Mary’s, Deerfield Beach, will lead meditations on "Jesus Meets the Women". For more information contact Sue D'Amore, 954-943-9453.

MER-C (the Mission & Emergency Relief Committee) of St. Nicholas, Pompano Beach, is sponsoring a Recovery Mission Trip to Pearlington, MS, May 19-25. On Sunday, Mar. 18, from 1 to 3 p.m., there will be a Pearlington Mission Rally at the church for all those interested in volunteering for the mission team or becoming a sponsor. Lunch will be provided. Call Deacon Valerie Vernon, 561-373-2893, for more information.    

St. Matthew’s, Delray Beach, will hold its annual Lenten Tea, to be held Sunday, Mar. 18, at 3:00 p.m. at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Rd., Delray Beach. The parish is accepting donations toward this event; the contact persons are Deborah Delva 561-330-8790 and Carolanne Kellman 561-330-9738. 

On Mar. 21 at 7 p.m. St. James the Fisherman, Islamorada, will present a free screening of former Vice President Al Gore’s Oscar-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, in the church parish hall. The screening will be followed by a presentation on the impact of global warming on Florida fisheries.  Captain Dan Kipnis, known as the “Green Captain,” will speak.  Captain Kipnis is part of a lecturing team trained by Vice President Gore to spread the “gospel” about global warming.  An ardent fisheries conversationalist chosen by the National Wildlife Federation to speak to hunters and anglers about global warming, Captain Kipnis directs billfish tournaments in South Florida and South America.  St. James is offering this program as a public service and as a follow-up to the parish’s ecology presentations last year.  The public is cordially invited.

St. Mark's School, Palm Beach Gardens, will present “Phantom of the Auction”, a silent and live Auction, dinner and dance with live band at Frenchman's Reserve, Saturday, Mar. 31, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Tickets are $175 each. For more information, please call St. Mark's at (561) 622-1504.

The choir of St. Stephen’s, Coconut Grove (Miami), will present a concert by an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists from Switzerland known as The Gospel Family on Friday, Apr. 13 at 8 p.m. at the church, 2750 McFarlane Rd, Coconut Grove. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.  Parking will be available at reasonable rates on the premises or in public lots nearby.  Part of the concert proceeds will go into the choir fund. For more information call 305-448-2601.  

The Jubilee Center of South Broward will hold its third Annual Golf Classic on Saturday, Apr. 21, beginning with registration at 7 a.m., at Hillcrest Golf and Country Club. Click here for complete details and registration form. Call 954-920-0106 or email info@jubileecenter.org for additional information.

The Marafiki Global AIDS Ministry will hold its second annual fund-raising golf tournament May 5, beginning at 1 p.m., at Pompano Municipal Golf Course, 1101 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach. The fee is $100 ($400 for a foursome); checks should be made payable to Marafiki and mailed to: Marafiki Global AIDS Ministry, Inc., P.O. Box 667645, Pompano Beach, FL  33066. Click here for complete details and a downloadable registration form, which must be submitted with your check by Apr. 15.For additional information on the golf tournament call 954-657-1706. For more information on the work of Marafiki Global AIDS Ministry, go to www.marafikiglobalaidsministry.com.

St. Joseph’s, Boyton Beach, is seeking a full-time youth minister.  Salary based on experience, with individual medical and pension benefits. For complete job description go to:  www.stjosephboyntonbeach.org.

St. Andrew's, Palmetto Bay (Miami), has an immediate need for Parish Administrator. The salary is competitive and negotiable. We will be considering any of several options from part-time to fulltime and possibly separating the financial from pastoral support functions. Our financial system uses the ACS software, so some level of knowledge using this system is important. For more information, contact Fr. Gary Verell at 305-238-2161 or Burt O’Donald at 305-253-9977. 

Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida is seeking an experienced part-time development professional to secure increased funding through annual campaign, major gifts solicitation, special events and related activities.  Familiarity with Episcopal Church, bilingual and proven track record in fundraising is important.  Fax resume to:  561-799-0474.

Sewanee Lay Chaplain position-- The University of the South, popularly known as Sewanee, is seeking a lay chaplain to work as a team member with the Chapel staff. Primary responsibilities would include sharing in the design and implementation of Chapel programming such as the Catechumenate, Bible studies, outreach projects, student-led events, and various other special events; and assisting in the preparation of the liturgy. The interview process will begin April 9, 2007 and continue until the position is filled. Interested individuals should submit a cover letter, résumé, and names and contact information for three references to the Reverend Thomas E. Macfie, Chaplain, c/oTeresa Smith, Personnel Services, 735 University Ave., Sewanee TN  37383-1000. 

A Gulbransen Paragon organ in good condition is available for sale. The asking price is $225, but the seller is willing to negotiate. Anyone interested should contact Pam Anderson at pamapama213@aol.com.

More on prison ministry--Bridging the Gap, a documentary film about the work of Vicki Lopez Lukis (a presenter at last month’s diocesan workshop on prison ministry) with women in prison and girls in detention will be shown Monday, Apr. 23, at the University of Miami Cosford Cinema at 6:30 p.m. The evening will begin with a reception from 6:30-7 p.m. and after the 28-minute film there will be a panel discussion about incarcerated women and girls. Click here for details and an order form for tickets.

Invest in the MDGs—Would you be interested in supporting the Millennium Development Goals by providing a small loan to an entrepreneur in a developing country to help start a business? There’s a website that coordinates such loans; take a look at http://www.kiva.org/app.php

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

• Sewanee Anglican Tour
• Duncan Center programs for Winter/Spring 2007
• "American Christianity Reinventing Itself"--Institute of Servant Leadership Conference, Apr. 20-22 at Kanuga
• Learning opportunities for clergy at the Duncan Center-March & April
• Kerygma Program training, April 13, Miami
• English language Hispanic Ministries course June 1-5
• National Network of Episcopal Clergy Associations conference--June 25-27, Williamsburg, Va.
• 57th Annual Sewanee Church Music Conference, July 9-15
• Church for the 21st Century: A Gathering to Envision, Encourage, & Energize Renewing Mainline Congregations--May 10-12, Washington National Cathedral
  

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