EPISCOCHAT a Newsletter for Women in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

Transcription

1 EPISCOCHAT a Newsletter for Women in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida Volume III Issue 3 July, 2015 ECW President Winsome Stern 2015 and blessed the ECW Book of Remembrance of our deceased sisters. Following the service Bishop Brewer provided us with an opportunity for Q & A s, for which there was much participation. Dear Sisters in Christ, How time flies, summer is already here and many of you are busy planning activities for a well-deserved vacation. It has been two months since our informative and enjoyable 45 th Annual Meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, on April 18, The day started at 8:30am.with registration, fellowship and continental breakfast for 83 registrants representing 18 churches in all five deaneries in our diocese. They car-pooled or came by van, what a wonderful response especially as the meeting had been postponed from October I look forward to even greater numbers for our next meeting scheduled for November 7, The meeting was called to order by President LaVerne Collins at 9:00am and our Chaplin, The Rev. Amanda J. Bordenkircher opened with the Invocation and the ECW prayer. Then followed the presentation of Board nominees, voting and approval of new officers and vacant deanery director positions (see Board listed separately). The meeting continued with the presentation/approval of the minutes and treasure s report as well as approval of the Revised By-laws which can be viewed on our website. Our guest speaker was The Rev Amanda Bordenkircher, Vicar of Corpus Christi, Okahumpka. Mother Amanda spoke eloquently and energetically on our theme - Fruits of the Spirit, stirring-up our spirits to a new understanding and application in today s world. Not only were ours spirit and souls refreshed but our physical being was satisfied by a delicious meal catered by Anointed Catering In response to the request for nominees for the diocesan Distinguished Woman award, we had three excellent candidates: Louise Adams - St. Mary s, Belleview; Mary Daniels The Church of the Advent, Dunnellon; and Mickie Solari - Holy Apostles, Satellite Beach. All three ladies were honored but the ultimate prize went to Mickie, who will represent the Diocese of Central Florida at the 48 th Triennial Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah (June 24- Jul 2) as one of three delegates attending. This should be an exciting time as the General Convention (meeting concurrently) will be electing our next Presiding Bishop. We can be proud, that two of the four candidates nominated are from Province IV. Continued on page 4. Contents UTO 2 Parish News 3,4 Province IV ECW Officers 5 Gallery 6 Chaplain s Corner & CPC 7 DOK 8 Gallery 9 Who We Are 10 ECWBoard 11 We were blessed to have The Rt. Rev. Bishop Gregory O. Brewer as the celebrant at Holy Eucharist. Bishop Brewer gave an inspiring sermon, installed the new officers for 2014-

2 United Thank Offering UTO 2 United Thank Offering Awards $1.5 Million in Grants UTO Award for the Diocese of Central Florida at Triennial Conference The United Thank Offering of The Episcopal Church awarded 55 grants for a total of $1,558, for the mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. The announcement was made during the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, meeting June 25- July 3 in Salt Lake City, UT. The United Thank Offering is a ministry to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in The Episcopal Church. The 2015 grants were awarded to projects in 46 dioceses, which included 34 dioceses located in the United States, five non-domestic dioceses, five companion dioceses, and two grants to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society: one each for missionaries serving internationally and Young Adult Service Corps (YASC). The Diocese of Central Florida was awarded a grant of $46, for the Itolwa Water Well Project, Companion Diocese of Kondoa, Itolwa, Tanzania. The proposal was submitted by St. Richard s Episcopal Church, Winter Park in partnership with the Diocese of Kondoa, Tanzania. The purpose is to bore and build wells at two Anglican Church sites in Itolwa. The wells would benefit the entire village, a significant portion of which is Muslim. In addition, the wells would make it easier, more efficient, and safer for women who are the major water bearers - freeing them to grow crops and tend to other responsibilities. Triennial Delegates with Bishop Brewer

3 Episcochat News 3 St. Augustine of Canterbury New Northeast Deanery Director No "Summer Siesta" for St. Augustine's Episcopal Church Women! Please join us for our "Let's Do Lunch" series... July 18th at The Eagle's Nest & on August 15th at C.J. Cannon's. All luncheons start at 12 noon and there will be carpooling from the Church. Please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex for each of these events or call Billie at These gatherings keep us connected for the summer and also offer an opportunity to invite our friends and neighbors to join us for some casual fun and fellowship. A great way to recruit! The new Northeast Deanery Director, is Riek Fitzpatrick. She is a member of St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Orange City., where she also serves as the Treasurer of St. Jude s ECW. With the help of Joan Gardner, who was the previous Director, we will to host the NE Deanery meeting at St. Jude in Orange City. A date will be set for it in the near future. Our monthly meetings will be back in our parish hall starting with a special start to the new season on Saturday, September 19 th at noon. We will begin with a Holy Eucharist service followed by lunch and a tribute to the ECW leaders and friends. Save the date. Invite your friends! We will be sponsoring "An Autumn Bazaar" on Saturday, October 17th from 9 AM - 1 PM. This event is open to everyone. Now is the time to reserve your table(s) and start your handiwork if you are one of our creative participants! Call me at with questions. This is not a Flea Market or Rummage Sale. Watch the weekly bulletin and the Canterbury Tales for details on more exciting plans for the future! Wishing you a blessed and fun filled summer! Carol Paris, ECW President /parisce1228@yahoo.com St. Mary s in Belleview, FL Confirmation Sunday - May 10, 2015What a wonderful day to be at St. Mary s! Bishop Greg Brewer was on hand as Maggie &; Ethan Simon, Rochelle Rodney, Kristiana Gomez, Seth Griffin, and Kenadi Moody were confirmed. Keelin Morris and Rebecca Bennett were baptized and Dan Bennett reaffirmed his faith. Carol Lewis and Leo Bedarian were received as members of St. Mary s Episcopal Church. Welcome Home to Christ s Healing Love The Spaghetti Dinner & Bake Sale was a wonderful night. The event was hosted by the youth of the church as a fundraiser to go to Camp Wingmann. We would like to give everyone who came out to support us and those who helped make the dinner a success a great big thank you!

4 Episcochat News 4 President Winsome Stern continued... Continued from page 1: The Annual ECW Province IV Conference, held at the Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, N.C. June 1-3, Province IV is comprised of nine southeast States with twenty dioceses. Five Board members (four delegates) were privileged to attend. The program was educational informative, spiritual and enjoyable with a variety of Workshops, namely Diocesan Presidents, Church Periodic Club (CPC), United Thank Offering ( UTO), Christianity of Yoga, Spiritual Healing and Spiritual Direction is a Good Thing. There were opportunities to meet our sisters within the Province as well as those from other dioceses in Florida. The Guest Speaker/ Chaplain was the Rev. Susan Gaumer from the Diocese of Louisiana. She had a unique, prayerful approach on her talk on Mary of Magdela: Our kind of Apostle and how scripture speaks to us now. Rev. Susan encourages us to practice the art of meditation and listening in order to allow the Holy Spirit to respond to our prayer requests and guide us. The ability to listen should also be practiced as we interact with each other for better understanding/communication. The Province IV Representative on the National ECW Board (out going), Kathy Gosselin gave an up-date on plans for the Triennial Meeting as well as recommendations for communicating with the National Board. The Province IV Board ( see page 5 ) was installed at the Closing Eucharist service dedicated to the martyrs of Uganda. I take this opportunity to encourage all women s groups, not only ECW, to share your stories articles and pictures with us, for our newsletter the Episcochat so that we can learn from each other. I also invite you to plan to attend our next annual meeting in November Wishing you all a very enjoyable summer and praying we will return in the fall refreshed and energized to spread the Good News as we answer God s call to do His will. God s love & peace, Winsome ECW President Diocese of Central Florida ecwofctrfl@outlook.com

5 Episcochat News 5 PROVINCE IV ECW OFFICERS President: Pat Rutenberg, 3663 Woodland Drive, Knoxville, TN prutenberg@gmail.com Diocese of East Tennessee Province IV Representative to National ECW Board: Mary Beth Welch 86 Huckleberry Road, Ellisville, Mississippi H: , C: mbwelch2012@yahoo.com Diocese of Mississippi Province IV UTO Representative: Joyce Landers 618 Lawson Drive Troy, Alabama sjlanders512@bellsouth.net Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast Province IV CPC Representative: Suzanne Harrow 2508 Sheraton Drive, Augusta, Georgia H , C sisharrow@aol.com Diocese of Georgia Secretary-Treasurer: Alsie Churchman 6360 Station Mill Drive, Peachtree Corners, Georgia 30092, H: C: alsiejane@comcast.net Province IV face book page (like it or post) c/o Andrea Peacock andreapeacock60@gmail.com Diocese of Alabama

6 Episcochat Gallery 6 ECW President 2015 Winsome Stern, right ECW President 2014 LaVerne Collins,, left ECW Central Florida Board Of Directors 2015 St. Mary s, Belleview at ECW Annual Meeting Episcochat Deadlines To facilitate the timely edition of the newsletter, please submit articles and pictures by September 18, 2015 to ecohen4@yahoo.com Mickie Solari, left Distinguished Woman Central Florida 2015 Southeast Deanery Table ECW Annual Meeting Bishop Gregory Brewer

7 Chaplain s Corner 7 As well as serving as Vicar to Corpus Christi Okahumpka, I also serve as chaplain for hospice. Recently I took part in a memorial service. At the end of the service we were handed a small paper butterfly, which when I looked closely had flower seeds imbedded in the paper. We were instructed to soak it in water, put it some soil, either indoors in a small pot or outdoors, to continue to water it and wait. In due time the seeds would germinate, and produce beautiful blue forget me not flowers. I have to confess, I thought it was a beautiful idea but when I looked at the seeds and thought back over several of my seed sewing exploits in the past I was not so confident that the promised blue forget me knots would appear. I also have to confess that this touching gift lay buried at the bottom of my bag for a couple of weeks. In all the business of life I forgot I had even been given this gift. By the time I found it I wondered if it was worth all the effort. Would it even grow anything - but somehow the promise of pretty blooms kept nudging me to do the necessary work. It reminds me of our life as Christians. We are soaked in the waters of baptism and then called to commit those seeds that God has deposited within us to the dark soil, trusting that with the watering of the Holy Spirit, in due time they will bloom. May God bless you in all that is entrusted to your hands. Mother Amanda Church Periodical Club I want to thank each parish that took on the task of collecting for CPC and every parishioner who donated to this worthy cause. We exceeded last years giving! As you all know we help children, missions and seminarians throughout the world. as they spread God's word using resources provided by the Church Periodical Club. I am very appreciative of every person who gave and I am especially appreciative of those of you who took on the responsibility of being your parish coordinator. It could not be done without you, so a great big THANK YOU! Next year will be even better we pray. In His Love, your Diocesan CPC Chairperson, Lois McGlashon

8 The Order of the Daughters of the King News 8 Nearly thirty CFL Daughters arrived at Zermatt Resort near Salt Lake City on June 18th and 19th to attend the Triennial. This meeting is a time of worship, learning at workshops and fellowship for Daughters. Daughters from outside the United States came from 16 countries. The Opening Eucharist was glorious with Jr. DOK Chaplain Deborah Jackson, International Chaplain Rt. Rev. Bill Skilton, Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi, Bishop of Utah, Bishop Slyvestre Romero, DOK Chaplain concelebrating. The CFL Daughters were happy to greet Rev. Connie Sanchez and Rev. Maria Cartagena from companion diocese in Honduras. (See photo: back row - Kathy Worcester, Margaret Roberts, Barbara Spencer, Beth Bellner, Kathy McDaniel, Betty Doan, Krisita A. Jackson. Front Row: Canon Nelson Pinder, Miriam Weston, Rev. Connie Sanchez and Rev. Maria Cartagena During the Province IV dinner on June 19th, Agnes Wichmann was installed as Corresponding Secretary. Picture l to r - Anges Wichmann, President Susan Towson and Chaplain Bill Skilton. Mother and Daughter Mary and Kate Gillette standing in front of the Zermatt Resort.

9 Gallery Annual Meeting 9

10 Episcochat 10 Vice President Mildred Bowman The new Vice President of the Central Florida ECW is Mildred Bowman. She has had a long and diverse calling as an Episcopal woman. Born and raised in New Berlin, NY, she became a choir member and a Sunday School teacher. For several years she was a Diocesan and District ECW member in Central NY. Midge has been a Nominating Chairperson in Provence 11 and a UTO Coordinator. This busy lady had been a Delegate to the Central NY Triennial, and an Anglican Encounter Delegate in Honduras and Brazil.She has been a Central Florida Triennial Delegate and in the past has served as both Central Florida ECW President and as Vice President. Midge is currently a member of Cathedral Contemplative Prayer Group and Concert Committee. Where does this busy lady find the time? We are so pleased and honored that she has agreed to serve as Vice President once again. Who We Are We are Episcopal Church Women of all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds who hold a variety of views. However, the common denominator of our members is love of God and the wish to do His work. Mission &Vision Find us on the Web: and Facebook: ECW Diocese Central Mission Centered in congregations, the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) empowers women to do Christ s ministry in the world. Vision Our vision for all women of the Episcopal Church is that we become a vibrant blend of all ages, coming together as a peacemaking, healing part of the Church. We aspire to be a Godspark-shining and sharing the love of Christ. Episcopal Church Women s Prayer Almighty God, we pray that You will bless our work in mission and ministry in the world. Help us to pray fervently, labor diligently and give liberally to make known the power of your love given through your Son Jesus Christ. Let us not forget the lessons from the past nor fear the challenges of the future. Anoint us with your grace and shine in our hearts as we reflect your light throughout the world. Amen.

11 Episcopal Church Women Diocese of Central Florida Board of Directors OFFICERS President Winsome Stern 2880 SW 162nd Lane Ocala, FL (mobile) St. Mary's, Belleview Vice President Mildred Bowman 300 E Church Street #1518 Orlando, FL (mobile) midgeb44@att.net Cathedral Church of St. Luke Secretary Brenda Perry 1329 Laurel Drive Daytona Beach, FL (mobile) bp0721@aol.com St Timothy s, Daytona Beach Treasurer Gertrude McLeod Mailing Address: Holy Faith Episcopal Church 6990 US Hwy 1 Port St. Lucie, FL Home address: 377 N.E Floresta Drive, Port St. Lucie FL bgmac@bellsouth.net Holy Faith, Port St. Lucie United Thank Offering Coordinator Jackie Stewart 609 Roma Street Daytona Beach, Fla roma609st@bellsouth.net St Timothy s, Daytona Beach Asst. UTO Coordinator Carol Paris 6756 Mar Pacifico Court Fort Pierce, FL (mobile) parisce1228@yahoo.com St Augustine of Canterbury, Vero Beach Church Periodical Club Coordinator Lois McGlashon P.O. Box 3033 Haines City, Fl hughlois@tampabay.rr.com St. Mark's, Haines City Central Deanery Director Jacqueline Bailey 152 Lago Vista Blvd. Casselberry, FL (mobile) rrshop2@earthlink.net Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Orlando Northeast Deanery Director Riek Fitzpatrick 1012 Collins Ave. Orange City, Fl riekfitzpatrick@yahoo.com St. Jude s, Orange City Northwest DeaneryDirector Elizabeth Herrick 8556 SW 61 Ct, Ocala, FL (mobile) tinlizziehr@yahoo.com Advent, Dunnellon Southeast Deanery Director Valerie Lewis Coles 133 Cambridge Ct. Indialantic, FL (home) (cell) vlewiscoles133@cfl.rr.com St Sebastian s by the sea, Melbourne Beach Southwest Deanery Director Helen Laughton 2692 Abell Road Lake Placid, FL pipkinlaughton@aol.com St. Francis of Assisi, Lake Placid Ex-Officio Members...3 1LaVerne Collins Past-Pres Nash Loop The Villages, FL (mobile) Laverne_c_20774@yahoo.com St. George The Villages 2Diocesan DOK President Krisita Jackson 5457 Gambier Court Orlando, FL (mobile) krisjac1@bellsouth.net Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, Orlando 3Altar Guild Direct. TBA Parliamentarian Betty Palmer 1615 Avery Road NE Palm Bay FL palmer100betty@aol.com Church of Our Savior, Palm Bay Chaplain The Rev Amanda J. Bordenkircher Corpus Christi, Okahumpka Webmaster: Sara Castelli Facebook: ECW Diocese Central FL Epicochat Newsletter Editor: Elizabeth Cohen ecohen4@yahoo.com