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Clergy Updates

We are excited to welcome The Rev. Victor Hailey who will join St. Paul's By the Sea Episcopal Church, Jacksonville Beach as their new rector in January 2025.

The Rev. Victor Hailey is a Virginia native and cradle Episcopalian, having been baptized, confirmed, and ordained to the diaconate all at St. Barnabas in Lynchburg. He’s married to Abby, an ordained American Baptist pastor who served a church in Annapolis, Maryland for the past 15 years. Together they are raising an amazing 9-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter.

Fr. Hailey attended St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College (now St. Andrew’s University) in Laurinburg, North Carolina, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history. He is a 2009 graduate of The School of Theology at The University of the South: Sewanee. After his ordination to the priesthood, he served as curate and then as Assistant Rector at St. James, Monkton in the Diocese of Maryland for seven years, then as Rector of St. Stephen’s-Severn Parish in Crownsville, Maryland, for the past eight years.

He is passionate about travel, and University of Virginia athletics, and is a long-suffering fan of the Southampton Football Club. He is excited to get to know the wider Diocese of Florida as he and his family become part of the Jacksonville community!

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Fr. Hailey and his family!

The Rev. William Stokes

New Ministry Celebration

The wardens, vestry, and parish family of St. James Episcopal Church, Lake City, invite the Diocese of Florida community to its Celebration of a New Ministry and the Institution of The Rev. William Stokes on Sunday, January 12 at 2 p.m.

More information is available at the button below. No RSVP is required.

Invite

Sacred Ground Begins at

Riverside Presbyterian Church

Clergy Sacred Ground Circle, last year offered at Christ Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, included fourteen clergy members - 10 Episcopal Priests, 4 Episcopal Deacons, 1 Lutheran Pastor, and 1 Presbyterian Pastor. Upon completion of Sacred Ground, the Rev. Dana Riley of Riverside Presbyterian Church immediately knew that members of her church would benefit from participating in Sacred Ground. She and her friend Deacon Marsha Holmes began to explore how to make that happen.

The National Church opened Sacred Ground to other denominations several years ago. Several Sacred Ground Circles across the Diocese have included one or two people from other denominations, but this was the first time in Northeast Florida that Sacred Ground would be offered by another denomination. As the final plans were made, this circle emerged into a cross-denominational circle. Hosted by Riverside Presbyterian Church, invitations to the discussion circle also went out to several churches in the Riverside area, including The Church of the Good Shepherd. The final circle is comprised of members of Riverside Presbyterian and Good Shepherd Episcopal churches and is being led by Reverend Dana Riley from Riverside and Paul Arrington from Good Shepherd with Deacon Marsha Holmes serving as an advisor.

"Sharing the Sacred Ground experience with members of The Church of the Good Shepherd has been an enriching way for us at Riverside Presbyterian Church to bond as neighbors and to grow together as people of faith," said the Rev. Dana Riley of Riverside Presbyterian Church. "The racist history we learn about in the Sacred Ground materials is not easy to accept. However, we do not wrestle alone; we struggle in and with community. I’m especially grateful for the leadership of Marsha Evans Holmes and Paul Arrington who have helped to prepare the way and who have held gracious space for us as we journey."

Riverside Presbyterian Church and Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Jacksonville Sacred Ground Circle

Upcoming Events

Eucharistic Visitor Training: January 18

Join St. John's, Tallahassee for EV Training on Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.! Eucharistic Visitor Training will take place in Killeen Hall at 211 N. Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 32301.

EV Training Registration

Youth Confirmation Retreat at Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra Beach: January 24-26

This retreat is for all students from 8th-12th grade who attend an Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Florida and have not already been confirmed. Students will meet from across the Diocese to explore topics such as The Bible, Creeds, Sacraments, the Book of Common Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines, Worship, Church History, and what it means to be Episcopalian. This retreat is an excellent opportunity to supplement an individual parish confirmation program, or it can serve as the primary confirmation preparation for students.

Click the button below to learn more or to register a student today!

Youth Confirmation Retreat

Reminder to Vestries:

Please Consider Practicing Lectio Divina

The Standing Committee kindly reminds and invites all vestries to practice Lectio Divina together from January - December 2025. Our prayer is for diocesan leaders to connect on a spiritual level, grounding our decisions in faith and shared values. Hopefully, this practice will foster unity as we work to listen deeply to God, exercise thoughtful, prayer-driven decision-making, and strengthen trust and mutual respect.

January - Acts 1:1-11

February - Acts 2:1-24

March - Acts 4:13-22

April - Acts 8:1-22

May - Acts 9:1-22

June Acts 10:34-48

July Acts 12:20-13:1-4

August Acts 15:1-29

September Acts 15: 36-41

October Acts 18:1-23

December Acts 28:11-31

Recent Bishop Church Visitations

On December 15, Bishop Benhase visited Grace Mission, Tallahassee.

Walking Pilgrimage in Spain:

September 27-October 7, 2025

Join Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville in September 2025 for a walking pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The 11-day pilgrimage is through beautiful, historic, and culturally rich regions of northwestern Spain. It concludes at the Apostle James’ tomb at the Cathedral of St. James in Santiago, Spain. The pilgrimage is suitable for walkers and non-walkers alike. Trip fees include four- and five-star overnight accommodations with breakfast and dinners. Luggage transfer, guide and support vehicles, wine tastings, and visits to several significant historic sites are included.

For information and a detailed itinerary go to: 2025 Walk the Camino de Santiago with Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Sept 27 – Oct 7 – Insider's Camino.

If you are interested in this trip please register on the website. If you have questions contact Insiders Travel or email c.leodugger@gmail.com.

#DioFLFeast

Grace Mission Thanksgiving

Grace Mission celebrated Thanksgiving surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones! The church gives a special thanks to those who cooked turkeys, provided sides and desserts, donated clothing and came to serve.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church's Donations to Local Organizations

Prior to their November game night, several members of the St. Paul's congregation in Quincy arrived early to present Gadsden Community Cares and The Pregnancy Center of Gadsden County with a financial gift that was raised in part during their various community fundraisers over the course of this year.

The church thanks these groups for all that they do for our community and they hope this gift will help them end 2024 and start 2025 on the right foot!

St. John’s Episcopal Church's Advent Wreath Making Workshop

St. John's, Tallahassee's Advent Wreath Making Workshop was a hive of activity! Wreaths were made, candles were affixed, and hot chocolate was at the ready!

The church thanks all volunteers for gathering all the greenery for these beautiful wreaths. They hope you will find time for peace and reflection in this time of holy preparation during which Christians set their hearts on the themes of hope, faith, and possibility.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Romans 15:13)

Camp Weed Happenings

VITAL Retreat for Vestries - January 10-12

Dates: Friday, January 10, 2025 - Sunday, January 12, 2025

Location: Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center

Time: Begins Friday at 5 p.m.

Cost: $35 to $285

Join us for the Episcopal Diocese of Florida’s VITAL Retreat (Vestry Inspiration, Training, and Leadership Retreat), taking place January 10-12, 2025, at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center.

This retreat offers workshops on leadership, communication, church canons and bylaws, financial management, and essential church resources, with plenty of inspiration and opportunities for worship.

Participants will engage in large group workshops, focused breakout sessions, and dedicated time for church-specific discussions for Vestry groups attending together.

Whether attending the full weekend or participating as a Friday/Saturday or Saturday-only guest, this retreat is an opportunity for Vestry members to deepen their faith, enhance their leadership skills, and connect with others from across the diocese.

The Rt. Rev. Scott Benhase will be a featured speaker for this program. The Rev.

Becky Rowell from Christ Church, Frederica will also lead us. Called to a ministry of reconciliation, she is a skilled and experienced trainer of clergy and vestries in conflict transformation skills and strategic planning.

We encourage full Vestries and clergy to participate together. However, individual Vestry members and smaller cohorts are encouraged to attend as well.

This is a joint program coordinated by the Bishop's Institute for Ministry and Leadership and Camp Weed's 100 More Committee.

For more information and registration, please click the button below.

Information and Registration

Happening #152

Happening #152 will be led by Rector Nick Spicer (St. Francis in the Field, Ponte Vedra). Happening is a weekend renewal retreat led by youth for youth. 10-12th graders are invited to attend any of our three annual Happenings, and we invite 9th graders to join us for our Spring Happening (typically held in April). High school students put together an incredibly moving weekend filled with learning, sharing, and building relationships.

Through videos, skits, talks, and more, candidates see how God and their faith fit in with the ups and downs of high school life. Happening is designed to help youth feel the love of God and their Christian community. We hope that by the end of the weekend everyone can return home knowing how to continue growing a relationship with God and having a group of fellow believers to rely on. It's a weekend full of fun, games, sharing, surprises, and most of all, spiritual renewal and empowerment.

If you need financial assistance or help finding a sponsor, please contact Sam Marxsen.

Candidate Registration Deadline: January 13, 2025

Team Application Deadline: December 22, 2024

Team Meeting: January 10-11, 2025 at St. Francis in the Field, Ponte Vedra

Candidate Registration (10-12th Graders)

Team Applications