December 23, 2019
A Special Christmas Message from Bishop Howard
177th Annual Convention and Pre-Convention Information:
Attention Convention Delegates. Convention registration is now open. Please visit http://convention.diocesefl.org for updated Convention information. Registration has increased to $145 per person.

Pre-Convention Meeting:
• This year our pre-convention meeting will be held in person on Saturday, January 11 at 10am at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center. Registration is required to attend, and lunch will be available for $12 following the meeting. Please visit the convention website to register for the meeting.
• The 2015 General Convention of The Episcopal Church has resolved that all dioceses are now required to pledge 15% of their revenue. The Diocese of Florida has an existing Convention Resolution on giving and has historically pledged 10% or more of our revenue. Since this matter is significant enough to justify consideration and conversation by our full convention, it is necessary to have an in-person pre-convention meeting this year. The meeting will not be live-streamed, and all delegates are expected to attend.

Diocesan Social & Banquet:
• This year we are excited to host a Diocesan Social & Banquet on Friday evening prior to Convention. The banquet will be held on January 24 at 5:30pm in the Varn Dining Hall. This will be a wonderful evening of fellowship, live music and feature a delicious meal. All delegates and a guest are invited to attend. This is a separately ticketed event and not a formal part of our Annual Diocesan Convention.
• Banquet tickets are $30 per person and can be purchased on the convention website.

We look forward to seeing you on January 25 at the 177th Annual Diocesan Convention. If you have any questions regarding the information mentioned in this letter, do not hesitate to contact the Diocesan Office at 904-356-1328.
The Rev. Christopher Dell Ordained into the Priesthood
The Diocese of Florida is proud to announce the ordination of Christopher Dell into the priesthood. The Rev. Christopher Dell, previously a transitional deacon, was ordained to the priesthood at 11:30 a.m. in the Deming Theater in the Munnerlyn Center a t Episcopal School of Jacksonville by The Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Ho ward, Bishop of Florida. First, Chris was presented to Bishop Howard, which ensured he was selected by the Church to be ordained and that he was willing to make certain commitments in his life in Christ. Following a reading and sermon by the Bishop, Chris went through The Examination, during which he made certain vows. Then the Bishop laid his hands on Chris, a sacramental act we can trace back to the first apostles. Through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Chris was made a priest in God’s church. The attendees then celebrated Holy Communion. Father Chris is an Associate Chaplain at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. Please join us in congratulating The Rev. Christopher Dell on his ordination!
Yoga and Christian Contemplative Prayer Retreat
The Bishop's Institute for Ministry and Leadership invites you to attend a Yoga and Christian Contemplative Prayer Retreat: My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord. The retreat will be led by Megan Cochran and our retreat chaplain will be The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead. We hope you will enjoy us for this rejuvenating retreat at Camp Weed in Live Oak, FL.

Imagine being surrounded by over 500 acres of north-central Florida’s most beautiful nature, while listening to sacred Christian music, calming your body in a loving yogic practice, quieting the mind and preparing to share the communal silence of contemplative prayer in the presence of your Creator.

Megan Cochran is an experienced yoga teacher and leads the Church on a Mat service in Cummings Chapel at St John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville. Kate Moorehead is the Dean of St John’s Cathedral and the author of a goodly number of books including most recently Angels of the Bible: Finding Grace, Beauty and Meaning (October, 2019). Allison DeFoor is Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and he will preach and celebrate the Eucharist on Sunday morning of the retreat.

Start the New Year by experiencing the delightful blending of the physical practice of yoga with the enduring traditions of Christian contemplative prayer. Learn how to cultivate inner stillness and receptivity to the Indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit.
No yoga experience needed. This retreat works for those trying yoga for the first time and for those who regularly practice yoga. Chair yoga is an option.

UNF High School Campus Ministry Retreat: An Osprey Experience
Mark it on your calendars now! We are getting geared up for our senior high school retreat at UNF this winter (Feb 28-29, 2020). The BEST thing about this retreat is that youth ministers and pastors don't have to do a thing! Oh, AND it only costs $10 per student! Pr. Sarah and our college student leaders will be facilitating all of the retreat details. For more information and to register your students, check out  the link here

Walking the Mourner's Path Begins January 7 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Mourning the loss of a loved one? Walking the Mourner’s Path begins in January
 
Beginning Jan. 7,
Meets every Tuesday from 5:30 - 7 p.m. for 8 weeks
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Holidays are hard for those who have lost a loved one. Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 7, St. Mark's will host a Christian grief program to support those who are mourning the death of a loved one. Please contact the Rev. Canon Nancy Suellau at 388-2681 or nsuellau@stmarksjacksonville.org for more information.
A Morning at the Office Podcast Launched
 December 1
Fr. Wiley Ammons, of Episcopal Church of The Redeemer, and Mtr. Lisa Meirow, of All Saints Episcopal Church, are excited to announce the launch of " A Morning at the Office ," a daily morning prayer podcast.
 
The podcast, developed by Fr. Wiley and sponsored by Forward Movement, can be found in the Apple store and on Spotify. Search "A Morning at the Office" in the podcast store and subscribe today. You can also visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-morning-at-the-office/id1488383775 or https://open.spotify.com/show/75flZ1IRHoaiQlBOtPJQXj to listen and subscribe.
 
Subscribe today to get your daily download and spend 15 minutes a day in prayer, in community, with God!
Diocesan Happenings
Last week, Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center donated food to feed those in need. Camp Staff joined members of St. James in Lake City and distributed over 100 meals to the hungry. Their generous donation directly helped so many lives in their community.
Helpful Links
  • Diocesan Website Updates: Need something updated on our website? Please email communications@diocesefl.org with any updates and include the URL of the page where the changes are needed.
  • Looking for a job? Visit the employment page on our website for some of the current opportunities. Click here
  • Listing a job? Email communications@diocesefl.org with the job description and position contact information to be posted on the employment page.
Diocese of Florida | 325 N. Market Street | Jacksonville, FL 32202 | 904.356.1328
www.diocesefl.org