Volume 80, October 2025

From the Rector

Francis’ poverty was relational: it led him to become neighbor, equal to, or indeed lesser than others. Pope Leo XIV Dilexi Te.

October began with the celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Saturday, October 4th. A goodly number of our churches in the Diocese held a service to bless the pets either on that Saturday or on Sunday. There was a lot of rain that Saturday, and no doubt there were a lot of wet pets. The beloved hymn All Creatures of our God and King (1919) is based on the poem by St. Francis Canticle of the Sun (1225) and in turn, Psalm 148 and expresses the saint’s deep joy in all creatures and in all God’s creation. He loved it all:

‘No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy except yourselves.’

I am sometimes asked to recommend a book about St Francis. One of the latest is Francis of Assisi: His Life, Vision and Companions by the Franciscan friar and author Michael F. Cusato. And there are so many, but you can’t go wrong with that old chestnut St. Francis of Assisi by G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). His book is a spiritual biography of Francis and gives you the highlights of the life of the saint and some brilliant insights into his character:

‘But as St. Francis did not love humanity but men, so he did not love Christianity but Christ.’

In every generation people see in St. Francis not only a wonderful follower or disciple of Christ but someone who mirrors in his own person Christ so intimately that they see in him Christ himself or the closest of any living person to Christ himself.

Chesterton writes at a breathtaking pace, in praise of Francis:

‘But whereas in a court there is one king and a hundred courtiers, in this story [of St. Francis] there was one courtier, moving among a hundred kings. For he treated the whole mob of men as a mob of kings. . . It cannot be done by giving gold or even bread; It cannot even be done by giving time and attention; No plans or proposals or efficient rearrangements will give back to a broken man his self-respect and sense of speaking with an equal. One gesture will do it.’

Pope Leo XIV gave his first apostolic address on October 4th, 2025, the Feast of St. Francis. He called it ‘Dilexi Te’ (‘I HAVE LOVED YOU’ from Rev. 3.9). It is very much a homage to his predecessor Pope Francis and to Francis of Assisi.

The focus of Pope Leo’s exhortation is the Church’s mission to the poor and the intrinsic relation of our love for Jesus and love and care for the poor. He writes:

‘Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor. The same Jesus who tells us, “The poor you will always have with you” (Mt 26:11), also promises the disciples: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20). We likewise think of his saying: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).

This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us.’

Leo’s address is a masterful and deeply persuasive encouragement to us in following Jesus. It is all there: an argument that is so fully Biblical, historical, and soundly theological. It cannot but move our heart and mind (and we pray, our will). Please do read ‘Dilexi Te’. It is available online in English.

Sincerely yours,

Douglas Dupree

St. Francis of Assisi

October 4, 2025

‘Francis, Rebuild My Church’

‘Francis rebuild my church which, as you see

Is falling into ruin.’ From the cross

Your saviour spoke to you and speaks to us

Again through you. Undoing set you free,

Loosened the traps of trappings, cast away

The trammelling of all that costly cloth

We wind our saviour in. At break of day

He set aside his grave-clothes. Your new birth

Came like a daybreak too, naked and true

To poverty and to the gospel call,

You woke to Christ and Christ awoke in you

And set to work through all your love and skill

To make our ruin good, to bless and heal

To wake the Christ in us and make us whole.

Malcolm Guite, priest and poet, The Singing Bowl

Letters from Camp Weed

JUNE 1927

Arthur with his father John Earle Perkins, Sr.

The Episcopal Diocese of Florida sponsored the first summer Camp in June 1924, which was held near St. Augustine Beach with 40 children attending. In 1925 the Camp relocated near Panama City to St. Andrew’s Bay and was named Camp Weed. The Diocese remained in Bay County and in 1929 bought 10 acres of land that included four screened cottages and a former hotel. Attendance had risen to 400 children at Camp Weed by the start of WWII.

In the summer of 1927, Arthur Francis Perkins, aged 14, attended Camp Weed on the St. Andrew’s Bay site and wrote letters home to his family. Arthur was from Tallahassee, and his family home was downtown at 580 East Call Street near St. John’s Episcopal Church. In later years, when the house was taken down, the family sold the property to the church, and the site is now part of the church parking lot. St. John’s was Arthur’s church. He graduated from Leon High School and from Georgia Tech with a degree in electrical engineering. He spent his entire career with International Paper retiring as a Vice President of the company. He died at age 86 in 1999, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Thanks to Virginia Perkins of Tallahassee for sharing these dear letters. She and her husband Earle are members of St. John’s. Arthur Perkins was Earle’s uncle.

Here are three of Arthur’s letters sent to his mother in Tallahassee.

June 21, 1927

Dear Mother;

I am telling you that I am still having the best kind of time and the best eats. I know most everybody at Camp. We are now having a rest period and everybody is quiet.

I have been sleeping good and feeling fine. I have been going in swimming once every day.

We have had quite an exciting time. Two girls have fainted, two or three girls stung by some kind of jellyfish and Eliza Marshall sprained her ankle. Yesterday there were about six girls that were sick.

Sunday night everyone had to sleep under blankets. I am lying on my bed now and haven’t got on a shirt and the sweat is just rolling off me. At night if you walk out of your cabin, the mosquitoes will eat you alive. In our cabin at night, there are no mosquitoes.

I have $1.25.

Sunday when we went to the Gulf we had the best time jumping the waves.

I have got enough clean clothes to last me till the end of camp. Mama, please send me some writing paper and envelopes. I had to borrow this paper. Also send me something to put my dirty clothes in. A laundry bag is almost the best.

Give my love to everybody in the family.

Tell Jenny that the food is cooked almost as good as hers. I will have to stop before I don’t know anymore to tell.

Lots of love and kisses to all.

Tell sister to behave and don’t get too fat. I am throwing a kiss to her.

Your beloved son,

Arthur Perkins

Tell daddy not to work too hard, especially his mouth.

Try to get daddy to bring you all down to the conferences Friday and Saturday.

CLICK HERE to read the other letters.

Meet Dr. Lucinda Mosher

Welcome to Dr. Lucinda Mosher, the new Ecumenical and Interreligious Relation Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.

Dr. Mosher was appointed by the Standing Committee of the Diocese to encourage our efforts towards ecumenism and unity amongst the Christian churches and stronger, collegial relations with those of other religions.

Dr. Mosher is an author and a moral theologian who specializes in multireligious concerns. She lives in Penney Farms with her husband of fifty-six years. She is the organist and choir director at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Green Cove Springs)—a post she has held since August 2016.

As a preface to the interview with Dr. Mosher later in this newsletter, we asked her how she became interested in her work involving ecumenism amongst the Christian churches and in interreligious dialogue.

CLICK HERE to read Dr. Mosher's introduction.

Dr. Mosher anticipates establishing a Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations Committee that can begin its work in Advent. Therefore, she invites nominations of—or formal expressions of interest by—individuals (be they lay or clergy) with charism for and expertise in some aspect of this work. These may be sent to her through November 1st at lucinda@lucindamosher.com.

Please put "Diocese of Florida EIRC" in the subject field.

Rector's October Book List

Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie. Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection Hardcover – February 15, 2022.

You may know Kate Bowler from her memoir Everything Happens for a Reason in which she shares how as a Duke Divinity School professor and as a mother she reckoned with the challenge of a Stage IV cancer diagnosis. In this book of 40 insightful devotional reflections, Bowler and her co-author, Duke divinity graduate Jessica Richie, share how truth and goodness can be reflected in a world of chaos and in a world where we are always striving for a goodness we cannot achieve.

Michael F. Cusado. Francis of Assisi: His Life, Vision and Companions (Medieval Lives) Hardcover – July 13, 2023.

“This is a refreshing contribution to the literature on St. Francis of Assisi. Michael F. Cusato brings Francis and his friends to life. . . This attractive telling of his life brings Francis’s companions into the foreground alongside him, and the use of quotation helps to bring the sources into close-up view. The very readable account is also well illustrated, mainly in color, adding visual sources to the verbal ones.” ― Church Times

Malcolm Guite. The Singing Bowl Paperback, October 25, 2013.

Malcolm Guite’s second poetry collection includes sonnets inspired by Francis of Assisi and other saints.

"The Singing Bowl celebrates the recovering of what was never lost. Over and over, Malcom Guite invites us to rediscover what is most constant. These poems are a mantra, a chorus, a celebration and a lyrical reminder to pay attention to what is most important." ― Pádraig Ó Tuama

Bryan M. Liftin. The Story of the Trinity: Controversy, Crisis, and the Creation of the Nicene Creed Paperback, September 30, 2025.

An introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity from biblical, theological, and historical perspectives by an Evangelical theologian.

"It’s a glorious gift to get to sit at the feet of a brilliant theological scholar who has the tender heart of a pastor." ― Lisa Harper

Donn Mitchell. Eleanor Roosevelt’s Nightly Prayer: The Religious Life of the First Lady of the World Hardcover – November 4, 2025.

"Her faith and beliefs are commonly dismissed as confines of her upbringing that she broke free from; however, her dedication to the Episcopal Church and her reliance on Jesus’s teachings imply otherwise." ― Amazon review

Please join the Bishop’s Institute's November 4th webinar with the author.

Raleigh B. Washington. One Word: The Cure for Hurt, Hatred and Hostility Paperback – June 14, 2023.

"Dr. Raleigh Washington, a living legend in the world of reconciliation, explains eight essential principles for relationship. These are supported by real stories of empathy, intentional and concentrated work in reconciliation, and deep healing of relational discord. From racism and Antisemitism to marriage, these concepts have been proven to break down the walls of division and usher in understanding, healing, and unity." ― Amazon review

Robin T.W. Yuan. Red Bishop Hardcover - November 10, 2021.

A historical novel telling the fascinating story of Robin Chen, the last Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church in China—from the twilight of the Qing dynasty through the Cultural Revolution and its aftermath. The author is a plastic surgeon in California and the grandson of Bishop Chen. I saw this book reviewed recently in The Living Church.

3 Books from the October Bishop's Institute

Mindful Aging Workshop led by Susanna Barton:

Arthur C. Brooks. From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life Hardcover – February 15, 2022.

"Many of us assume that the more successful we are, the less susceptible we become to the sense of professional and social irrelevance that often accompanies aging. But the truth is, the greater our achievements and our attachment to them, the more we notice our decline, and the more painful it is when it occurs." — Amazon review

Joan Chittister. The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully Paperback – September 1, 2010.

"This book is about the enterprise of embracing the blessings of this time and overcoming the burdens of it. That is the spiritual task of later life." — Joan Chittister

Greta Gunnarsson. Swedish Death Cleaning Made Easy for Americans: An Inspiring Guide to Decluttering Your Home, Lightening the Emotional Load, and Finding Joy in Letting Go—One Room, One Memory, One Step at a Time Paperback – April 16, 2025.

The title needs to win an award—for something. Have you accumulated any clutter? Would you enjoy your life and home better with less clutter?

An Interview with Dr. Lucinda Mosher

1. You are a prolific writer. How many books have you published?

I have some 22 books to my credit, with at least five more underway. I am the solo author of seven, one of which is a book on how the Episcopal Church conducts interreligious-relations work. I hope to write at least one more monograph. I very much want to write about the intersection between interreligious studies and the arts. My other books are edited volumes. In that category, my pride and joy is The Georgetown Companion to Interreligious Studies, which was released in May 2022. Its 50 chapters are the work of a multi-religious and international roster of 54 authors.

2. More specifically, you edit a series from Georgetown University Press on ‘Christian and Muslim Perspectives’ with individual books devoted to Naming God, Mercy and Grace, Prayer, and so on. How did this special series of books develop?

The book series on Christian and Muslim Perspectives is actually the proceedings of the Building Bridges Seminar. This is an ongoing dialogue of Christian and Muslim scholar-believers, founded by then Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey in January 2002, as a response to the attacks on the United States in 2001. I was preparing to defend my dissertation, so was paying very close attention to what the Anglican Communion was doing in the arena of Christian Muslim understanding. I took note of that meeting, lectured about it in New York City and beyond, documented the progress of the initiative over the years, and eventually wrote about it. I was, by this point, a consultant in New York City and a member of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations Commission of the Diocese of New York. and so was very definitely working on behalf of the Church for this. I never expected to be a participant in the Building Bridges Seminar. But, in 2011, I was invited to join the dialogue on prayer; and in 2012, I was appointed to the project’s staff.

CLICK HERE to continue reading the interview with Dr. Lucinda Mosher.

Halloween

(All Hallows Eve)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23.4.

Many years ago, someone gave me a print, in the style of a medieval manuscript complete with a corner illustration in bright colors, that had the Scottish poem drawn out in beautiful calligraphy:

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us.

I framed it and kept it until recently, when my great-nephew and namesake Hugh was born and I gave it to his mother to hang in his bedroom.

As October ends and the long, dark nights of winter approach, it is easy to see how our pre-Christian ancestors may have feared not only the darkness but evil spirits as we enter what Celtic tradition is said to have called ‘the dark half of the year’. A remnant of this darkness lingers in our widespread lore and observance of Halloween, which, otherwise, simply means the eve of All Hallows—or All Saints Day (November 1).

Christianity has made such a deep engraving in our imagination and culture we no longer fear the hauntings of ghosts and devils. ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it’ (John 1.5). Most of us, as observant and attempting Christians, can allow without anxiety, our children to ‘trick, or treat’ without fear of other-worldly reprisal. We may do well, all the same, to remind them that the Lord reigns and is both our guardian and our redeemer.

I love Martin Luther’s great hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein feste Burg). There, the grim force of evil is neither denied nor taken for granted. There, the Devil ‘our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe’ and ‘his craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal’. But for all that, take courage:

The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.

The Spirit of God is our sure defender, and the gifts of the Spirit, through the redemption wrought by Christ, are ours. So,

Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.

Before even Martin Luther, the ultimate impotence of devils and the devil is made vivid in medieval art. Fr. Leon Pereira makes this point in a sermon I am glad to have read recently:

In medieval art, the devil is anatomically challenged. He has no knees, because he does not want to kneel and adore God as he ought. And he has no genitals, because evil cannot give life or create— it can only deform a pre-existent thing. As a faithful [Christian]… Tolkien follows this idea in his writings: “The devil can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own”.

This Halloween I’ll be ready with my bowl of candy by the door, for any trick or treaters dressed as ghosts, devils, or super-heroes. And I’ll probably end up sharing the whole bowl with my office next day: one of many limitations living in a ‘gated community’ is not just keeping the devils out but the trick or treating children and their parents out as well.

(Hugh) Douglas Dupree

All Saints