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Join the Churchwide Virtual Celebration

The Investiture of Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe will be invested as the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

We encourage churches and other small groups to gather together to watch the livestream. Several churches are hosting watch parties and you may find more information below.

Watch Party at St. John's Cathedral:

256 E Church Street

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Doors Open: 9 a.m.

Child care, as well as coffee and a continental breakfast, are available. Also, free parking is available in the Diocese of Florida lot (on Market Street) and the grass lot on the corner of Church and Ashley Street UNTIL 10:30 a.m. Please arrive as early as possible, and register using the button below!

Other churches hosting a watch party:



• Church of Redeemer: 7500 Southside Blvd. Jacksonville, 32256 (10 a.m.)

• St. Mary's Episcopal Church: 400 St. John's Ave - Green Cove Springs, 32043 (10 a.m.)

• Holy Comforter Episcopal Church: 2015 Fleishmann Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308 (10 a.m.)

We are incredibly proud of our 12 youth delegates, who attended and took part in the 181st Diocesan Convention! They are listed below. Thank you for sharing your voice as the young people of the Church!

Felix Booth (St. Francis In-The-Field, Ponte Vedra)

Julia Cline (St John's, Tallahassee)

Kaelyn Crews (St. Philips, Jacksonville)

Ben DeVino (St. Mark's, Jacksonville)

Mackenzie Donnelly (St Andrew’s, Interlachen)

William Jackson (Church of Redeemer, Jacksonville)

Andrew Lasserre (St. Peter's, Fernandina)

Lee Miniea (St. Peter’s, Fernandina)

Joey Ortiz (St. Thomas, Palm Coast)

River Phillips (St. Peter’s, Fernandina)

Lynseigh Santarone (St. Patrick’s, St. John’s)

Evan Van Brunt (Christ Church, Ponte Vedra Beach)

Pictured below is Evan Van Brunt with The Rev. Sarah Minton then and now.

The St. Elizabeth Chapter of the Daughters of the King hosted an Ecumenical Quiet Day on October 12th.

The day's theme was "Healing Prayer." Quiet prayer and contemplation were offered at Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Jacksonville. A love offering was gathered to benefit Her Song, a foundation that works to end the cycle of human trafficking. Thank you to all who participated.

Alina Martinez, our Director of People Services and Operations on the Diocesan Staff, was featured in the Church Pension Group newsletter!

Alina explains her unique ministry serving the Episcopal Church and how it affects the lives and well-being of our lay and clergy communities. We are so appreciative of her work and thrilled to see her featured in a CPG Spotlight!

Farewell and New Beginnings to Fr. Bret Hays, Advent, Tallahassee

Fr. Bret Hays is excited to begin his ministry with the congregation at Trinity Parish in Folsom, CA. While he looks forward to this new chapter, he will deeply miss Advent and the community in Tallahassee. His final Sunday at Advent was October 6, and he is set to begin at Trinity on November 25.

Fr. Bret writes, “My deepest thanks and appreciation to everyone who has supported my ministry in this special place. I wasn't here as long as we thought I would be, but we accomplished a lot in a short time, and we can be proud of that, and excited about the future."

We wish him the best in his future endeavors!

Spring Clergy Conference: Thursday, March 6 - Friday, March 7

The 2025 Spring Clergy Conference will take place March 6-7 at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center. More information to come, but for now please save the date.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Chrism Mass: Monday Morning of Holy Week, April 14

Clergy are invited to Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center on April 14th for a Chrism Service to begin Holy Week. We hope you will join us for this holy consecration.

Fall Clergy Conference Recap

A note from Mtr. Sarah Minton:

Thank you to all the clergy who came to the Fall Clergy Conference. We had a wonderful time together as Dr. Chuck Degroat spoke about the weariness clergy face all the while weaving in the kindness and love of God. Dr. DeGroat gave the clergy wonderful tools and self-reflection tips to help us in our ministries.

We had delicious food, wonderful fellowship and great worship. Mark your calendars for the Spring Clergy Conference, March 6-7 and a Chrism Mass and renewal of ordination vows on Monday, April 14th.

Quotes from the Clergy Conference Survey

“I was grateful that the conference addressed real, important issues that we face as clergy. That made it extremely pastoral and helpful.”

“I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the conference. The time afforded for us to spend alone in contemplation and restoration was as valuable as the time spent in group.”

“The speaker was focused on real circumstances. I could personally relate to what he said and my ministries.”

“The opportunity to connect with clergy friends and the self-care tools Chuck gave us to keep ourselves healthy and attuned to our personal dashboards [was what I found the most valuable].”

Christmas in the South at Camp Weed

Christmas in the South was a wonderful and inspiring event, with all of the proceeds going to support racial reconciliation programs in Suwannee County.

Pat Hines, an accomplished historian, genealogist, community activist, and author, shared the remarkable journey of her great-great grandfather, Christmas Hemming. A newly freed slave, Christmas purchased 640 acres in Florida and his legacy has shaped his family’s heritage for over a century. We are so grateful to Pat and all who attended!

P.O.S.T. Retreat

Thursday, November 14th

Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center

Join Us for POST at Camp Weed!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Camp Weed, for an exciting and enriching day! P.O.S.T. (Professional Office Staff Together) is more than just an event—it’s a fantastic opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow together. Whether you're looking to deepen your faith, build relationships, or simply take a break from your routine, this is the place to be.

We invite all church staff, including parish administrators, treasurers, communications teams, office volunteers, and ministry leaders, to join us for this special gathering. For just $30, you’ll enjoy a day filled with prayer and reflection, creating a peaceful space to recharge your spirit. It’s also a wonderful chance to socialize and mingle with colleagues and friends from across the diocese.

A delicious lunch is included, so come hungry and ready to connect! Plus, there will be valuable opportunities to learn together, including a morning workshop on "Boundaries" led by Lauri SoJourner and a Q&A session with diocesan office staff.

And don’t miss the Cathedral Bookstore! They’ll be there with a selection of Christmas gifts and church supplies, offering a convenient way to pick up something meaningful for the holiday season.

Don’t miss out on this unique day of community and fellowship. Register now to secure your spot—we look forward to seeing you there!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Hannia Reyes at hreyes@diocesefl.org or call the diocesan office at 904-356-1328.

Here is the link for registration: https://onrealm.org/EpiscopalDioces62113/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ODJlYTJjMWEtMTE2ZC00YzlhLWI1MGYtYjIwZDAwZmY1NGJm

Upcoming ECW Installations

Bishop Stokes will visit Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center for the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) installations of Melinda Moses as Outreach Coordinator, Debi Smith as Treasurer, and Sarah White as Secretary. This installation has been moved to Saturday, November 16th.

All are welcome to attend. If you'd like to join them for lunch afterward, please register with Gina Hoover at Camp Weed by emailing: regina@campweed.org.

First Friday Art Walk - Trinity Parish,

St. Augustine

Every church’s location has unique missional strengths and challenges. Trinity Parish in St. Augustine may have significant parking and traffic challenges on Sunday mornings, but on First Fridays their staff saw a unique and fun opportunity: opening their patio gate onto the historic plaza for the monthly First Friday Art Walk.

In cooler weather they now host artists, musicians, karaoke, and sell “Church Nuts” - like you get at Bucc’ees only sold by "church nuts." On the first Friday of October, hundreds of people came on campus and sang, danced, browsed local artists wares and threw pots on a local potter's wheel. It also circles people in for tours of Florida’s first Protestant church led by docents in period dress. 244 people toured on Friday evening alone. Some of those touring come back on Sunday morning and become members. One college student on the Art Walk was heard to say to her friends, “Wow. What a cool church!”

The next Art Walk will take place on Friday, December 6 at 5 p.m. There will be carolers and hot chocolate.

2024 OneJax Interfaith Thanksgiving Gratitude Service - Clergy Processional

As we prepare for the 107th year of the OneJax Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Gratitude Service, we invite you to join us for the Clergy Processional that is such an important part of our service. 

This year, the service will be held on Thursday, November 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, at Congregation Ahavath Chesed – The Temple, 8727 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32217. Your willingness to participate with us as we gather in the spirit of interfaith collaboration is a very generous gift and we would be delighted for you to be a part of this inspiring yearly tradition. 

If you are interested in participating in the processional, we ask that you please wear the traditional clerical attire for your faith tradition. Clergy and lay leaders will process into the service and sit together as leaders representing our many faith communities.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be a participant in the Clergy processional for this year’s Gratitude Service. We will send out additional details as we finalize logistics.

When & Where

• The service is Thursday, November 21, at 6:30 PM, at Congregation Ahavath Chesed – The Temple, 8727 San Jose Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32217.

• Please plan to arrive no later than 5:45 PM to allow time to have photos taken and line up for processing into the sanctuary.

On September 29, Bishop Benhase visited St. Michael & All Angels, Tallahassee.

On October 6, Bishop Benhase visited Bethany Episcopal Church, Hilliard.

Pictured above: Linda Hargraves, Gloria Chambers and Beth Korey, who were reaffirmed by Bishop Benhase on October 6th.

On October 13, Bishop Stokes visited Trinity, Melrose.

On October 20, Bishop Benhase visited Church of Redeemer, Jacksonville.

On October 20, Bishop Stokes visited St. Mary’s, Madison for the installation of the Rev. Joanie Cruce as Vicar.

Pictured above: Bishop Stokes, The Rev. Joanie Cruce, The Rev. Joe Boyles, and Deacon Lydia Bush

The Episcopal Migration Caucus, which was formed at the 81st General Convention and includes Diocese of Florida representation, recently issued a 'Dignity Not Hate' statement. If you'd like to read it, you may view it here or by clicking the button below.

The Episcopal Church of the Advent

The church had a grand spooky time on Sunday, October 20th at their Trunk or Treat Fall Festival.

They had a parking lot full of trunks of candy, games, and crafts in the courtyard, along with some yummy treats. OneBlood Big Red Bus was also present, which took donations of blood (fitting!)

They had a huge turnout - their most successful Trunk or Treat ever! Then, on Thursday, they unwound with monthly Fellowship Luncheon, but still dressed up! Happy Halloween!

St. John's Episcopal Church, Tallahassee

St. John's Cuba Outreach Ministry had a fantastic fundraiser evening at Cafe de Martin last Thursday! The church thanks all of its donors for their support and a HUGE thank you to Cafe de Martin for hosting.

Their Cuba Mission Team is getting ready for their 2025 trip to see our brothers and sisters in Cuba. They cannot wait!

St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Fernandina Beach

The St. Peter's Youth sent off the 93 teddy bears and stuffed animals that were collected for Wolfson Children’s Hospital! The church thanks to all who supported this effort.

Each stuffed animal will end up in the arms of a child at just the moment they need a bit of comfort. This is the community of St. Peter’s living into its Call to Serve.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Palm Coast

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Palm Coast, partnered with Good Times Dog Bar in Flagler Beach for their first annual dog blessing! Thank you to all who attended!

Holiday Wild Game Dinner at Camp Weed

Join Camp Weed on December 14th for a Holiday Wild Game Dinner at Camp Weed! This unique and festive holiday celebration is part of Camp Weed's 100 More Years Celebration.

Family, friends, coworkers and dates are all welcome! Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, please click on the button below!

We can't wait to celebrate with you!

VITAL Retreat for Vestires - 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.

Happening #152 Registration Open!

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

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

2025 Summer Camp Regristration Open!

As a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, Camp Weed provides a co-ed, residential, faith-based summer camp for campers in 3rd through 12th grades. Programming includes a variety of activities to engage campers and help promote their spiritual, physical, and mental growth. Activities include kayaking, archery, ropes course, swimming, arts and crafts, worship, and so much more.

Camp Weed believes camp should be available to all children, regardless of ability to pay, and has implemented tiered pricing. Realizing that campers come from different financial backgrounds, Camp Weed allows you to choose the tier that is the most suitable and affordable for your family. It is important for parents to understand that every participant receives the same experience no matter what tier is chosen. In addition, scholarships are available for those who are unable to pay any tier.

2025 Summer Camp Dates:

Senior Session (rising 10th-12th grades) - June 8-13

Junior Session (rising 8th-9th grades) - June 15-20

Middler Session 1 (rising 6th-7th grades) - June 22-27

Mini Camp (ages 7-9) - June 29-July 2

Middler Session 2 (rising 6th-7th grades) - July 6-11

Kid Camp 1 (rising 3rd-5th grades) - July 13-18

Kid Camp 2 (rising 3rd-5th grades) - July 20-25

Final Session (rising 6th-9th grades) - July 27 – August 1

Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center is in need of a reliable work truck! If you own one, or know of someone who does, please contact lsojourner@campweed.org!

Coming Up:

November 3: Bishop Benhase to visit St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, St. John's

November 3 @ 9:30 a.m.: Bishop Stokes to visit Christ Church Episcopal, Cedar Key

November 10 @ 10 a.m.: Bishop Stokes to visit St. Cyprian's, St. Augustine

November 14 @ 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.: P.O.S.T. 2024

November 16: Bishop Stokes to visit Camp Weed for an ECW Installation

November 17 @ 11:15 a.m.: Bishop Benhase to visit Trinity Parish, St. Augustine

November 24 @ 9:30 a.m.: Bishop Benhase to visit St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palatka