If you're having trouble viewing the full newsletter below, please visit our Diocesan Digest newsletter archives on the website to read it in its entirety. | | River Region E.P.I.C. Gathering – April 20 | | | |
Parish administrators, vestry members, and ministry leaders: Join us on April 20 at Trinity Parish, North Campus, for the River Region E.P.I.C. (Episcopal Parish Insights & Community) Regional Meeting! This gathering brings together parish administrators, vestry members, and ministry leaders from across our region for a time of connection, collaboration, and shared learning. Come build relationships, exchange ideas, and be encouraged in the important work you do to support your parish.
We hope every church in the River Region will be represented. Your voice and experience matter. If you haven’t already, please RSVP to dpeck@diocesefl.org.
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"Managing Yourself During Conflict"
A Conference Invitation for Clergy
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The Rev. Deacon Becky Rowell invites clergy from the Diocese of Florida to attend a conference on conflict management from April 19-24 at Camp Honey Creek, Waverly, Georgia.
The weeklong, in-person workshop is framed around the Daily Office and provides safe, prayerful space for participants to notice, contemplate, and strengthen their approaches to conflict. Participants will learn their preferred conflict response styles and explore ways to effectively use other response styles. They will be provided opportunities to practice active listening skills, neutral ways of speaking, and collaborative skills in a variety of learning formats. Models for assessing conflict situations will be presented. The intersection of conflict with cultural issues and with impairment will be discussed.
If you are interested, please email Becky Rowell, and contact her via cell phone at 912-222-6724 if you have questions. If you have any trouble making contact, the Rev. Douglas Dupree in the Diocesan Office is happy to assist: ddupree@diocesefl.org.
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The Good Friday Offering began in 1922 as a way for the church to support Christian communities in the Middle East. Today, it continues to fund essential ministries in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, including education, healthcare, and pastoral care.
On Good Friday, as we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice, this offering gives us an opportunity to respond with compassion and generosity. Through our gifts, we help share God’s love, support those in need, and contribute to peace and understanding in the Holy Land and beyond.
For more information or to make a gift, please visit the link below.
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Joan Wellhouse Stein Newton
With deep love and gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we remember Joan Wellhouse Stein Newton who died on March 7, at the age of 97.
Joannie and her husband, Martin Stein Sr., founded a predecessor company that became Regency Centers in 1963. Together they built Regency Square, the first major regional shopping center in Jacksonville. Martin Stein Sr. died in 1988.
In 2000, Joannie married Russell Newton. They had a wonderful 23-year marriage before his passing in 2023.
Throughout her life, Joannie provided leadership and generosity to many civic and philanthropic projects, including many ministries in the Episcopal Church. She was a long-time communicant of St. Mark’s, Jacksonville and of St. John’s Cathedral.
Joannie was a lover of liturgy and endowed the pulpit at St. John's Cathedral in honor of Bishop Frank Cerveny. Memorials from Joannie’s funeral are being collected at the Cathedral and will be given to St. Mary’s food pantry, and the total will be announced on Easter Sunday.
Joannie's legacy of love, strength, and generosity will continue through the many lives she touched.
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The Reverend Jack Watson
We honor a life of committed service and generosity as we remember The Reverend Jack Watson, who passed on March 18, 2026.
Fr. Jack was ordained as a deacon at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Jacksonville in 1961. The following year, he was ordained as a priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Chattahoochee.
Fr. Jack was a devoted champion for the efforts and partnership with Cuba. He and his wife, Teri, traveled to Cuba many times and held annual Seafood Fest fundraisers for the clergy in Cuba while serving at Christ Church in Cedar Key.
Please join us in prayers for comfort for Teri and Fr. Jack's loved ones.
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Archdeacon Marsha Holmes
We share remembrance and gratitude for Archdeacon Marsha Holmes, who passed on March 28, 2026.
The Ven. Marsha was instrumental in re-designing and renewing deacon training in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and was an advocate for women in ministry. With a passion for justice and healing, Marsha was instrumental in developing ministries for racial healing at Christ Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra Beach and in the diocese.
A memorial service will be held Monday, April 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church.
| | You're Invited to the Gala Cubana Dinner-Dance | | | |
The Cuba Committee is celebrating 41 years of Episcopal Cuban Companionship Ministry and invites you to join the upcoming Gala Cubana on April 17. The event will be held at Holy Trinity, Gainesville at 100 NE 1st St., Gainesville, FL 32601.
Advance tickets are available for purchase by calling Holy Trinity's office at (352) 372-4721 or in-person at the Sunday coffee hour. Tickets may be purchased at the door, as well.
| | Volunteer Day Rescheduled | | Camp Weed's Volunteer Day has been rescheduled for May 8-9. Same location, details, and registration, just different dates. Please register ASAP to let us know you're coming. There are multiple free options to register and participate (or ways to donate if you'd like!), but we can't plan ahead for this if we don't know you're coming, so please register soon! We can't wait to see you. | | |
We have over 500 campers registered for Camp Weed Summer Camp 2026! A waitlist has already begun for girls for Final Session, and Junior Session and Middler Session 1 are filling up fast for girls as well. Our theme for this summer is “Wear Love” based in Colossians 3:14 (12-17): “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” A simple command, and the very thing we are called to do in the world and have the privilege of living by here at camp.
If you'd like to support Summer Camp 2026 financially, please consider purchasing items off our Amazon Wishlist. All items will be shipped directly to Camp Weed to be used this summer. There are items of all price ranges on this list, and any donation of any amount is deeply appreciated! Click here to view our Amazon Wishlist.
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Staff Opportunities
We're still looking for recent/upcoming high school graduates to join us in Cabin Counselor and Kitchen Staff positions this summer. Cabin Counselors will work directly in cabins with campers each day. Kitchen Staff members will still be a part of camp staff, living in staff cabin and participating in camp activities as able, but they will have regularly scheduled shifts in the kitchen helping to prepare meals. For more information and the link to the application, visit our website by clicking here.
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Clergy, Youth Workers, & Nurses
We are also looking for a couple more clergy and/or youth workers (if you actively work or volunteer with youth programs at your church, you are eligible) to fill in our Dean spots for various sessions, as well as a couple of nurses to complete our roster for the summer. Both of these positions are invaluable for each session and offer a rewarding experience for our volunteers as well. If you're interested in any of these positions, please reach out directly to summer camp director, Sam Marxsen at sam@campweed.org or 386-364-5250.
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Happening #156 will be held April 17-19 at Camp Weed. The weekend will be led by high school senior Zatie Venditti (St. Peter's, Fernandina) and the verse she has selected to guide the weekend is Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
While team has already been selected and candidate registration is closed, we ask your prayers for all those that will be in attendance. You can find a link to the Monarch with a list of all those participating here once it is published.
If you'd like to support the Happening movement by donating supplies, you can purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist to be sent directly to camp. Click here to view the list.
| | In Need of a Used Pickup Truck | | Are you looking to get rid of a used vehicle? 🛻 Camp Weed is in need of a used pickup truck for the maintenance team. Please contact Helen Hargreaves at helen@campweed.org if you have an available vehicle! | | |
We had a wonderful Clergy Day at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center earlier this month! It was a blessing to have many of the Diocese of Florida clergy together to worship, pray, study, and reflect.
We are thankful to Bishops Mary Gray-Reeves, Justin Holcomb, Doug Scharf, and Chip Stokes for joining us at Clergy Day, providing training, and holding conversations about the next season of our diocese.
We appreciate the Steering Committee for Healing and Reconciliation, the staff at Camp Weed, and many others who helped make Clergy Day a wonderful event.
| | Recent Bishop Visitations | | | |
Bishop Stokes Visits Trinity, Melrose
Bishop Stokes visited Trinity, Melrose on March 1. After the service, the congregation gathered for a time of fellowship and food as they sent our the newly Confirmed and Reaffirmed into the world to witness to God's love.
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Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Jacksonville Celebrates with The Rev. Wiley Ammons
The congregation at Redeemer, Jacksonville surprised Fr. Wiley and his family with a surprise banquet honoring the 10th anniversary of his becoming a rector. Congratulations to Fr. Wiley for a wonderful past decade of service!
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Episcopal Church Women Gather for the Spring Retreat
The Diocese of Florida Episcopal Church Women held their annual spring retreat at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center. They held their very own "Camp Weed's Got Talent" and shared many laughs throughout the weekend. The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead Carroll guided the group through a reflection on Mary and Martha.
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Sharing Stitches of Love
The Stitchers of Love group at Christ Church, Ponte Vedra Beach created dozens of Easter bunnies to be included in the Blessings in a Backpack bags. These creations were blessed and will be distributed for Easter. It's wonderful to see talents of all kinds being used for the Kingdom!
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St. Thomas, Palm Coast Celebrates a Seder
Rabbi Merrill Shapiro led St. Thomas, Palm Coast in a Seder, the ceremonial meal held during Passover. The congregation enjoyed learning about the traditions of the Seder and preparing their hearts for Holy Week.
| | Lenten Devotional Social Media Series | | | |
Have you been following along with our Lenten Devotional Series? Clergy throughout the Diocese of Florida are sharing brief reflections during the season of Lent.
Follow the Diocese of Florida on Facebook or Instagram to join us for this wonderful series. If you are not active on social media, the devotionals will be linked on our website at www.diocesefl.org/2026-lenten-devotional-series.
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