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Ordination of Catherine Montgomery
to the Diaconate
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On Tuesday, January 14, the Ordination of Catherine Montgomery to the Diaconate took place at St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville. Welcome to the newest Deacon in the Church, The Rev. Dn. Catherine Montgomery! | |
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New Ministry Celebration & Institution of
Rev. William Stokes
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On Sunday, January 12 at 2 p.m., the installation of Rev. William Stokes as Rector took place at St. James, Lake City.
Congratulations to Rev. William Stokes on his installation as Rector!
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Support Communities Affected by the Devastating California Wildfires | | |
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Episcopal Relief & Development is offering technical support to partners in California affected by the devastating and fast-growing Palisades, Woodley, Eaton, and Hurst fires.
Emergency responders worked to contain the 100 mph wind-fueled fires that consumed the dry land. Places of worship, businesses, and other buildings have been heavily damaged.
“We are heartbroken by the death and damage caused by the wildfires in Southern California and are praying for all affected,” said Lura Steele, Program Officer, Episcopal Relief & Development. “We are working with our partners to assess evacuee needs and provide support in the coming days.”
Please pray for the people affected by the wildfires. Supporting the Wildfire Response Fund will help communities around the world respond to the impact of fires.
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In case you missed it, we recently shared that Betty Petway passed away on Monday, January 27. Betty, along with her husband Tom and their family, have been dedicated members and supporters of the Diocese of Florida and its ministries, including building Mandi’s Chapel at Camp Weed in memory of their daughter.
Please keep the Petway family in your prayers as we honor Betty’s life of faith and dedication to our diocesan community
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Remembering Father William E. Maddox III | | |
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We are saddened to share that Father William E. Maddox III, former rector of St. Philip's, Jacksonville, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024.
Father Maddox was a devoted spiritual leader, dedicated community leader, and proud U.S. Army Chaplain who served for 21 years. His legacy of faith, service, and compassion will always be remembered.
Read his full obituary by clicking the button below.
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VITAL Retreat at Camp Weed Recap | | |
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The new year in the Diocese of Florida began with a retreat at Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center for all vestries, wardens, and their clergy the weekend of January 10-11, 2025.
The weekend was jointly sponsored by our Conference Center and the Bishop’s Institute. It was organized by Lauri SoJourner, drawing on her experience of many years planning similar retreats, and Douglas Dupree, with guidance from Bishop Scott Benhase.
Some 65 or more vestry members and clergy were in attendance from churches from across the Diocese, most notably from smaller and mid-sized congregations and from the Cathedral.
Some 30 of the total arrived Friday afternoon and enjoyed dinner together and an after-dinner talk and discussion led by Bishop Benhase, in which he shared his first-hand experiences of developing lay leadership and lay commitment in the various and differing churches he served as a priest over his ministry.
To continue reading, please click here.
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Recent Bishop Church Visitations | | |
On January 26, Bishop Benhase visited Advent, Tallahassee. | |
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St. Augustine Dedication Ceremony: February 1
We invite you on February 1 at 4 p.m. to be part of a historic event honoring the legacy of the St. Augustine Episcopal Mission Church/School in Gainesville, Florida.
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church will present a formal dedication ceremony at the original church site, located at 405 Northwest 4th Avenue in Gainesville.
This church holds a rich history, established by the late Bishop Weed as the first Anglican/Episcopal Mission Church in Gainesville for "persons of color."
The keynote speaker will be The Rev. Hayden Crawford, an Afro-American Episcopal priest with over 47 years of experience from the Southwest Diocese of Florida. His family has connections to the St. Augustine School and the church, as they grew up just two blocks away, and his parents migrated from the West Indies.
Additionally, eight-year-old child prodigy Master Wayne, from the Caring and Sharing Learning Center in Gainesville, will read the Historical Marker. The event will also be attended by Gainesville City Commissioners, Alachua County Commissioners, and officials from the State of Florida Historical Archives.
For more information, please contact George Guy george.vern.guy@gmail.com.
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Fresh Expressions Discipleship Training:
February 3-7 at 1 - 2:15 p.m. ET
Many churches in North America are facing a crisis of discipleship, and many churches don’t know where to begin to address discipleship in this ever changing world.
This is a week-long FREE live training experience put on by Fresh Expressions designed to equip the leaders of the average North American church for the opportunities of 2025.
Discipleship Reset is about helping church leaders rediscover and reignite the heart of discipleship for today’s world.
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Author Talk & Book Signing February Events for Spires in the Sun
Spires in the Sun features over 500 pages of stories of the oldest surviving wood-frame Episcopal churches in Florida. Built in the 1800s, when Florida was still the nation’s raw southeastern frontier, these churches breathed the romantic sensibilities of England’s stone parish churches into a new medium: wood.
Together with their Carpenter Gothic counterparts elsewhere on the nation’s frontiers, they elevated the American wooden church to new heights of historicity, imagination, and beauty.
For more information and to purchase the book please click the button below.
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Absalom Jones Service
Join us for an Absalom Jones service and celebration on Thursday, February 13 at 4 p.m. at St. Mary's, Palatka.
For more details and to RSVP, please reach out to The Rev. Jon Davis, PhD, Rector of St. Mark’s, Palatka at fatherjondavisphd@gmail.com.
Clergy are kindly asked to wear white stoles.
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Celebration of Music Ministry
St. John's, Tallahassee is hosting three amazing events as part of their Celebration of Music Ministry, taking place from Friday, February 14 to Sunday, February 16.
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Four Loves Conference at St. Mark's, Jacksonville
Join St. Mark's, Jacksonville on Friday, February 21 - Sunday, February 23 for a transformative event that delves into the beauty and depth of love through the lens of C.S. Lewis’s timeless wisdom.
From friendship to divine grace, this gathering will inspire you to reflect, grow, and strengthen your relationship with God and others. Together, you'll explore how love binds us in peace and reflects God’s presence in our lives.
Prepare to leave with renewed faith, deeper connections, and a clearer path to living a life rooted in love.
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Walking Pilgrimage in Spain:
September 27-October 7, 2025
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Join Holy Trinity, 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.
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Advent, Tallahassee
It was the sixth annual Breakfast with Saint Nicholas at Advent, Tallahassee, and the event brought together appetites, snow, and smiles! Guests enjoyed a delicious hot breakfast, complete with a hot chocolate station. Kids had fun crafting ornaments, making art, and decorating cookies. Playing in the "snow" was a favorite activity, and visiting with St. Nicholas was a highlight for all!
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St. John's, Tallahassee
The St. John's, Tallahassee Cuba Mission team visited brothers and sisters from Zorilla, Cuba, this January!
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Camp Weed Volunteer Day: Saturday, February 22
Bring your friends and family to help make Camp Weed even better.
Stay for the whole weekend to enjoy more community time. There are free overnight options available on Friday, February 21 and 22! They will have indoor and outdoor projects for all skill levels and ages 10 and up.
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Spring Clergy Conference: Thursday, March 6 - Friday, March 7
This is a 24-hour retreat offering the opportunity to come together as fellow clergy in the Diocese of Florida for prayer, continuing education, and fellowship with one another and our bishops assisting.
Bishop Benhase will lead the retreat with talks for reflection and discussion on the theme “Parish Leadership and the Benedictine Promise.”
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Family Fun Day with Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday, April 12
This exciting event is packed with activities for all ages, including a chili cookoff (with a chance to win the coveted wooden spoon trophy), an Easter egg hunt, live music, an archaeological dig with Joe Chamberlain, campfire stories, and classic camp games.
Don’t miss out on hot dogs, chips, and a delicious bake sale, plus the chance to support camp programs by purchasing voting spoons for the chili cookoff.
Mark your calendars, gather your family, and come experience the magic of Camp Weed!
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Mother's Day Lunch: Sunday, May 11
It’s not too early to start planning for Mother’s Day, and you can honor the mom in your life with a delicious lunch at Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center!
The buffet menu will include an assortment of salads, mains, vegetables, and desserts. Each mom in attendance will receive a flower. You can take family photos by White Lake.
Make reservations early for this special day for that special mom!
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Please mark your calendars for other Camp Weed events below. More information coming soon.
Chrism Mass for Clergy: Monday, April 14
Camp Weed Sunday: Sunday, May 4
Camp Weed Day of Giving: Wednesday, May 8
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