CENTRALFLORIDAEPISCOPALIANNEWS FOR THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WWW.CFDIOCESE.ORG VOLUME 116, No. 9 NOVEMBER, 2014

MORE NEWS INSIDE: fROM bIShOp bREWER, p.3 CaNON tO hONDuRaS, p.12

HONDURAS Mission BlessesHearts & Minds

SEE p. 8

Today you can Google “Short-term Mission Trips” and find oppor-tunities for a church youth group, an adult group or even a family to experience four days to two weeks in or outside the U.S. serving the “least of these.” In fact short-term mission has become a travel industry and can even be booked through a travel agency! Howev-

er, who is genuinely helped by these experiences? That is a question asked by the Diocese of Central Florida Honduras Commission.

A book entitled When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett, an excellent resource that has helped answer this question, was introduced to the commission by Bishop Lloyd Allen. After reading the book and using the vid-eo-based study that accompanies it, the commission members’ understanding of what our diocesan role is as we partner with our companion diocese of Honduras has been transformed.

Short-Term MissionIf you don’t train – don’t go!

&

StORY ON p. 16 StORY ON p. 20

Diversity, multiculturalism and the decades-old relationship be-tween the Central Florida Diocese and Honduras were all clearly reflected Oct. 12 in Port St. Lucie, during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Holy Faith Episcopal Church, and exem-plified by the presence of the Bishop of Honduras, the Rt. Rev.

Lloyd E. Allen, who delivered the sermon.The church began to fill up about an hour before the Rite II service began,

and with all pews in the nave and both transepts full, folding chairs had to be brought out to accommodate some of the more than 250 worshipers in atten-dance.

Following a welcome message and announcements delivered in Spanish and English, a procession of children presented replicas of the flags of more than 40 nations, representing countries of origin for members of the congregation. There were flags for all of the Caribbean nations, but a number of European nations also were represented, including Germany, Ireland and Romania.

The international ambience continued with lessons read in English and Span-ish; the Prayers of the People spoken in six languages, including German, French and Patois; a performance by the Haitian Choir; and hymns sung simultaneously in at least two languages.

In his bilingual sermon, Bishop Allen recalled that, as a child in Honduras, he was encouraged by his aunt to speak English instead of Spanish.

Bishop Allen Brings Honduras to Port St. Lucie

By Donna Dupuy

2

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14The Episcopal Church

IN CENTRAL FLORIDABased in the 15-county heart of our booming, diverse Sunshine State.

Companion to the Diocese of Honduras.

IN THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION

A global community of 70 million Anglicans in 500 dioceses. Covers 164

countries in 38 member provinces.

Archbishob of Canterbury:

IN THE UNITED STATESA community of 2.5 million

members in 118 dioceses in the Americas & elsewhere. Established in

1789.

Presiding Bishop:

Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer

The Most Rev. Justin Welby

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

Continuing The Palm Branch (1894), diocese (1971)

The Rt. Rev. Gregory BrewerBishop

The Rt. Rev. John W. HoweThe Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson

The Rt. Rev. Hugo Pina-LopezThe Rt. Rev. John Said

Retired Bishops

The Rev. Canon Timothy NunezCanon to the Ordinary

The Ven. Kristi AldayArchdeacon

Joe ThomaEditor & Communications Officer

Fina FlorezDesign Editor

Erick PerezSubscription Manager

Central Florida Episcopalian

The Central Florida Episcopalian is published monthly by the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. Submissions are welcome, but are subject to editing and use at the discretion of

the Central Florida Episcopalian.

Please submit notices two months before event to:

The Central Florida Episcopalian1017 E. Robinson StreetOrlando, FL 32801-2023

Tel.: (407) 423-3567, ext. 316Fax: (407) 872-0006

Email: jthoma@cfdiocese.org

www.cfdiocese.org

ContentsFRONT COVER:

Short-Term Mission - Story on page 16Bishop Allen Brings Allen to Port St. Lucie - Story on page 20

3 Bishop’s Column

4 It’s All About Relationships

7 Thanksgiving Offering, Guaimaca, Honduras

8 Honduras Mission Blesses Hearts & Mind

12 Deacon Kathy Pennybacker

13 Pillow-Cases Dresses

14 Mission Focus Brings Farm Expertise from Polk County

17 The Joy of Relationship

20 Filming the Christian Life Trilogy

22 St. John The Baptist’s 118 Anniversary

24 Holy Faith’s 50th Anniversary

26 EYE 2014

30 A Visit to ORMC

31 Bishop Greg’s Report from Taiwan

3W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

THE RT. REV. GREGORY BREWER

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At 40 years, the companion relationship between the Diocese of Central Florida and the Diocese of Honduras is the longest of its kind in The Episcopal Church. As Compañeros en Cristo, Episcopalians in both countries are blessed to share the work that Jesus leads us to.

When Laura Lee and I visited and studied in Honduras last year at the gracious invitation of Honduras Bishop Lloyd Allen, we sensed real discipleship at work. We saw a Church that ministers to its community through many deeply dedicated servant leaders.

Our diocese and its churches traditionally earmark their Thanksgiving Offering for a designated building or outreach project in the Diocese of Honduras.

This year, our Honduras Commission says the most urgent need is at a church in Guaimaca. Through the faith, determination and hard-earned resources of the people of Guaimaca, construction has been ongoing. But the site has been vandalized and is in much need of repair.

Now we have the privilege of demonstrating our thankfulness to God for all He has provided, by sharing His blessing and provision with our dear friends in our companion diocese.

In this time of Thanksgiving, let’s put together a “Thanksgiving Basket” for our Honduran brothers and sisters in Christ.

In Christ’s love,

Gregory O. Brewer Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

4

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14HONDURAS

The Church of the Holy Child, Ormond Beach mission team returned recently to visit Santa Maria to renew old friendships. On this visit Father Comforted and his wife, Judy, stopped by the local school to get hugs from the school principal, Profes-sora Marta, while team member Lourdes Pagan, got hugs from

two favorite students.

Pictured above is Father Comforted in Las Crucitas blessing Revda. Lourdes Herrara and her husband Eriberto on their wedding anniversary.

To the left he blesses their daughter and first grand-baby. Father Comforted Keen, Retired Assistant at St. Barnabas, Deland, has

enjoyed mission ministry in Honduras since 2003. As the Co-Chair of the Diocese of Central Florida Honduras Commission, he has been instrumental in teaching and training others about the vital, life-giving mission and ministry in Honduras. He encourages all parishes in Central Florida to develop Par-ish-to-Parish Relationships in Honduras, and counts it a privilege to have the opportunity to visit churches to tell them how to do this.

While rector of Church of the Holy Child, he led their parish in the de-velopment of Parish to Parish Relationships first in Rancho del Obispo for five years and then at Las Crucitas for five years.

The children in Rancho del Obispo line up to receive their final blessing from Father Comforted as Church of the Holy Child’s 5-year commitment to Santa Maria came to a close. While their formal Parish to Parish Relationship ended, their friendships and relationships will be eternal.

Santa Maria Virgen, in Rancho del Obispo, is a church established by The Rt. Rev. Hugo Pina-Lopez when he served as the first Bishop of Hon-duras. It was here that from 2005 - 2010 Church of the Holy Child, Ormond Beach had a Parish–to-Parish Relationship following the pattern set forth be-tween the Diocese of Central Florida and the Diocese of Honduras.

Father Comforted, now in charge of mission development at St. Barna-bas, led a group in March this year to begin the process of establishing a Parish to Parish Relationship. A second team made a trip in October to formally begin that relationship with San Miguel in Ojo de Agua.■

pictured below (left to right) are Maureen Kilian, George Kilian, barbara Rutherford, brendan Nolan, Mike Nolan, Claudio (the student translator), Deacon Kathy pennybacker, Canon to honduras. back row: father Comforted Keen, Judy Keen, father brian Garrison,

Rector of St. barnabas, and Miriam Rivkind.

missionIt’s All About Relationships

5W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

I was born and lived in Spain until I was eleven years old. Travel is not new to me, but I can tell you that my visit to HONDURAS in March 2014 was an eye opener.

When Father Comforted Keen invited me to join his group travelling to Honduras as a youth translator, I was happy, excited and even proud to go. I was only thirteen years old.

When we stepped off the plane, my first SIGHT was that there were armed guards everywhere carrying ma-chine guns. My first THOUGHT was, “Uh Oh! Bad Idea!”

Further along, as our trip continued, I found a new kind of experience. Compared to the way I live, I guess you could say the people were very poor. And yet, I found them all very kind and happy with their lives because of their close relationship with God. I found them so much richer than I in so many other ways. They are happy with what they have. They don’t seem to want money. What they did show was that they want to share ideas, grow and learn.

Seeing this, I think, has changed me and my own way of thinking. I knew that I wanted to be nearer to God as well. I felt like St. Barnabas Episcopal School and my Church were on the path I wanted to follow. I realized that St. Barnabas Episcopal Church was now my new “family” and where I could learn to grow.

Visiting Honduras was an experience I know will be with me for my entire life as the most profound awakening I will ever know -- for which I will be forever grateful.■

An Awakening - My Trip to HondurasBy George Rivero-Kilian

6

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14

7W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

Historically, the churches in the Diocese of Central Florida des-ignate their Thanksgiving Offering to be used for mission in the Diocese of Honduras. This year Bishop Lloyd Allen, Bishop of Honduras since 2001, has asked our diocese to focus on a church with great potential, but in great need.

Before burglars and vandalism left their mark on the Church of the Trans-figuration in the city of Guaimaca, Honduras, it was one of the church jewels of the Diocese of Honduras.

Not only were the Eucharistic vessels stolen, not only was the organ and guitar stolen, not only were two vital sewing machines stolen, but every wall plug, the florescent tubes and the wiring panel were stolen from this lovely church building. With the theft also came vandalism of the sanctuary itself with many windows broken.

Church of the Transfiguration, which sits on unusually spacious and attrac-tive grounds, is one of the best built and most useful sanctuaries of the Diocese. It also has a well-constructed building that at one time was used as a medical clinic.

Bishop Allen is seeking to renovate this Diocesan asset and revitalize its congregation with the goal of not only reestablishing its place in community life, but also to deepen and develop Church of the Transfiguration’s impact on the community of Guaimaca, a city of some 20,000+ in North Central Honduras.

Father Comforted Keen, Father Gary Jackson, Erick Perez and Deacon Kathy Pennybacker, members of the Diocese of Central Florida, saw firsthand the damage done to Church of the Transfiguration on their visit in October. They could see the great potential of this congregation, whose membership has dropped to 17. The local lay pastor, who covers two congregations on a regular basis, said that repairing the damage done by burglars and vandals will draw the community back to this lovely worship space.

Following next month’s ordination of fifteen new deacons, Bishop Allen will be assigning a deacon to live full-time in Guaimaca and be in charge of Church of the Transfiguration. Part of the resurrection of the Church of the Transfiguration will include turning the building that was once used as a medical clinic into a home for the new pastor. Having someone living on the property and living full-time in the community are both essential to the re-development and the sustainability of the church.■

HONDURAS

Thanksgiving Offering

Church of the Transfiguration

Guaimaca, Honduras

8

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14

Photos from the

Honduras Mission

All Siants, Lakeland

9W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

HONDURAS - ALL SAINTS, LAKELAND

Youth on a Mission - As I look back over the course of 2012, perhaps the most outstanding event in my year was my trip to Honduras. On November 16, at 4:30 a.m, six of my

most beloved friends and I left All Saints Episcopal Church and began our journey to Moroceli. We loaded and unloaded three cars, navigated airport security, and then quietly sipped our coffee before boarding the first of three planes that would take us to Central America. This would be my first trip outside of the continental United States, and my first long-distance trip without my parents.

I was expecting the unexpected, knowing that Honduras was one of the poorest nations in the world. Armed with four years of Spanish class and a Cuban lineage, I thought I was prepared for my long weekend in Honduras. But what I experi-enced was much more than a short trip in a poor, Spanish-speaking country – it was an eye-opening journey.

The first word that comes to mind is “wel-coming.” But it was so much more than that. The people of Todos Los Santos Moroceli greeted us with open arms and open hearts. Everyone we met wanted to know us, wanted to understand us, and wanted us to understand them.

Especially the children. When we arrived at the church, they ran to us, grabbed our hands, and showed us around, excitedly talking as we went. I loved walking with them, playing with them, talking with them, dancing with them, and painting with them. They are the sweetest children – with such big and open eyes and personalities.

And the adults were no less welcoming. Though it was slightly harder for me to understand their words, their message and their joy were crystal clear. It amazed me how much these people love God, trust Him, lean on Him in everything, and

how happy they were. I am striving to be more like them in this respect.

Father Carlos and his wife Mayra were over-joyed to have us. Mayra told us “by the end of your trip, I hope you tell me that you don’t want to leave.” How true these words proved to be. Our last night in Moroceli was celebrated with a fiesta. However, after all the music, food, and socializing, there were very few dry eyes in the room. After Father Car-los and Mayra shared their goodbye speeches, they asked for our thoughts. I told them, “No quiero salir” – I don’t want to leave. It was absolutely true. I was lacking the “creature comforts” we take for granted in the United States, but I was not lacking any happiness. Honduras felt like home.

Now back in Florida, I think about my trip of-ten. It can be a polar comparison to the life we live,

one that helps put things into perspective. God has blessed us beyond our realization, but it is healthy to step back from those blessings and contemplate how little we need the extras. The true blessing is his Love, and sometimes it takes a useless phone, limit-ed running water, and dirt roads to remember that.

I certainly plan on returning to Honduras. I felt a certain peace in the isolation and minimalism of the Honduran lifestyle – a peace to which I be-lieve is God calling me back.■

Mission Blesses Hearts and Minds

HondurasBy Sophia C. Morrell, All Saints, Lakeland

Sophia C Morrell is a student at the university of Central florida, pursuing a degree in Mathematics with a minor in Music. She has been a member of all Saints’ Episcopal Church in Lakeland for 11 years where she served as an acolyte and Youth Choir member. She currently attends the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke where she sings in the Cathedral Choir.

10

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14HONDURAS - ALL SAINTS, LAKELAND

11W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

Photos from the

Honduras Mission

All Siants, Lakeland

12

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14

By Deacon Kathy Pennybacker

Honduras - in 2000 I only had a vague idea that it was somewhere in Central America, just East of Mexico. Being a missionary and eventually Canon to Honduras definitely was not my plan. My plan was to take early retirement and then return to the YWAM

Mercy Ship as a medical missionary to Africa.After my retirement, I made an appointment with Bp. Howe to express

my desire to be a missionary. As an ordained deacon in the Diocese of Central Florida, I wanted his direction. I had a list of things I thought I could do on the mission field. I asked him to choose one and I would do whatever he chose - certain he would choose to send me back to Africa. Instead he chose to send me to Honduras with Bp. Hugo.

I made several trip to Honduras as Bp. Hugo’s Deacon until 2003 when the Bishop of Honduras, Lloyd Allen, asked me to consider making a more permanent decision to serve in Honduras. The main problem for me and Bp. Allen was that I spoke NO Spanish. He suggested I attend language immer-sion school in Copan. After 5 weeks at Ixbalanque I traveled with Bp. Allen as he made pastoral visits. Following this, I visited all the deaneries - getting to know the clergy, people and the problems they face. In 2005, surprisingly to me, Bp. Howe appointed me as Canon to Honduras.

For the next 3 years I traveled back and forth between Honduras and my home in Inverness. While in the States I visited with and spoke to various churches to speak about Honduras and how mutually beneficial a partner-ship between their church and a mission could be. In Honduras, I organized “Come and See, Go and Tell” pilgrimages to Honduras to help develop part-nerships and I visited missions that were in partnerships.

In 2010 Schyler (my Standard Poodle and Partner in Ministry) moved to Yuscaran, Honduras. We now live there 9 months of the year. Schyler is an “EpiscoDog”. He goes to the villages with me, where the village children are amazed and thrilled that they can hug on him and they even try to ride him. At first they thought he was a sheep not a dog! The adults are amazed at his obe-dience and tranquility. He is welcomed in the churches as part of the ministry team. Even though he is a lover of children, he is my guardian and protector when we are in the car.

Living in Honduras is a joy and a challenge. We don’t always have water or electricity. My housekeeper and I often joke that, when we have water and electricity at the same time - it is time to wash clothes and bathe.

We are also often internet compromised, so communication with the out-side world can be a problem. What I DO have is a wonderful group of friends and family who are always ready to help this “gringa”. Neighbors and even strangers help when there is a need - like when my house was flooded during my first monsoon rain and the drains were clogged. Five people showed up to clear the drain and help sweep away the water.

Living here is much like it was 40-50 years ago in the States. The children are free to play in the streets -but it can be rather noisy when they choose my street as the soccer field and my garage door as the goal posts.

We have many festivals and celebrations: Corn Festival, Mango Festival. Day of the Children, Patron Saints’ feast day, etc. All of which require a mul-titude of cherry bombs and fire crackers and bands marching through the village. When I was new to Yuscaran I awoke in the wee hours of the night thinking we were under attack - as it turned out it was a birthday celebration of one of my neighbors.

I am awed by the generosity and joyful devotion to God that the Hondu-rans have.

Years ago, when I returned after one of my first visits to Honduras, I said that I longed to return because I had seen God at work in His Kingdom and I wanted to be a part of what He is doing here. He is still at work here and I still want to be a part of that work.■

Canon to Honduras refleCts on deCade-plus serviCe

Deacon Kathy pennybacker

13W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

HONDURAS

A group of talented women from Holy Trinity Church in Mel-bourne began making dresses for little girls out of pillow cases and by the time they were ready to be

taken to Honduras they had made close to 300 of them! This idea began with Gail Pearson, who shared it with Dolores Faughnan, who solicited Geri Riley’s help and in a short time they had about thirty women sewing dresses. Ella French, Betsy Ashcroft, Pat Thomas, Bonnie Register, Bridget Morton, Eleanor Doherty, Dinah Bev-erly, Nancy Kellerman, Jo Ellen Johnson, Helen Chandler and Kim, Sandy Blankenship, Dorothy Guinn, Gail Pearson, Pat Snodgrass, Kathy Van-Pelt, Helen Alexander, Suzy Stack, Margo An-gleton, Trica Schneider, Gina Tideman, Monica Armstrong were among the seamstresses. They also had about ten women knitting little dolls to put in the pockets of the dresses! Many were knit-ted by women living in the Trinity Towers Assist-ed Living facility.

They received their supplies from members of Holy Trinity, the Holy Trinity Thrift Store, The Children’s Home in Tampa and Percepta.

The ladies enjoyed the fellowship they shared when they gathered on occasions at the church to sew and felt the joy that comes from giving as they worked on this special project.

In March the dresses were taken to Hondu-ras by a team from St. Barnabas when they went down on a Honduras Experience trip. At each stop (8 or more) they presented dresses to the churches for the girls in the village. The girls and women of all ages were excited to receive these gifts. Even some of the moms discovered they too could wear the dresses that had been made from the King-size pillow cases.

This little girl saw the bus bring the group to her church and she walked down all by herself to see what was going on. Team member, Mir-iam Rivkind, who teaches Spanish at St. Barna-bas School, was able to talk with her and help her pick out a dress and a pair of pants.■

Pillow-Case Dresses“The ladies enjoyed the fellowship they shared when they

gathered on occasions at the church to sew and felt the joy that comes from giving as they worked on this

special project.”

14

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14HONDURAS

In 2006, after Bishop Howe encouraged each congregation in the diocese to engage in mission by crossing boundaries of lan-guage, ethnicity, geography, culture and so-cio-economic status, Rusty Ingley, the youth

minister at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Wales, Florida, asked the vestry to fund his participation on an exploratory tour of Honduras organized by Canon Kathy Pennybacker.

Upon his return, Rusty encouraged the con-gregation to explore a partnership with a congre-gation in Honduras. Canon Pennybacker visited the parish later that year to explain to the congre-gation that a partnership would require a three-year commitment with specific goals and objec-tives to be agreed upon by both congregations.

A mission team, including Tom Seitz, the rector of the parish, and four other parishioners, visited Honduras the following year under Canon Pennybacker’s leadership, visiting a variety of con-gregations and communities to find, if possible, a good fit for a partnership. Because many Polk County parishioners are involved in the citrus and cattle industries, the team agreed that the rather remote agricultural town of Santa Maria, roughly the size of Lake Wales, was the best fit. This de-cision was reinforced by the team’s response to a young girl, Isis, who had a serious heart murmur from her birth. The rector and another member of the team were active Rotarians, whose Founda-tion sponsors a “Gift of Life” program, offering life-saving heart surgery for children like Isis.

During the next year, local medical tests were arranged for Isis to verify her eligibility for sur-gery at Tampa General Hospital. When a mis-sion team visited in the spring of 2008, much of their time was spent with the local Rotarians in the larger city of Danli, arranging for the necessary travel documents for Isis and her mother Olga. The team also inspected several parcels of land in Santa Maria so that the congregation, which

had outgrown its place of worship in the home of Senior Warden Alexander and his wife, Mabel, might eventually be able to build a home for a res-ident pastor and a combination church and com-munity center, along with a community garden as a potential source of income, not knowing that a year later an anonymous gift of $6000 would be donated by a parishioner for just that purpose.

Isis and Olga arrived at the small Lake Wales airport in January 2009 in a six-seat medical char-ity airplane flight from Miami, greeting members of the congregation and the Rotary Club along with their hosts, Steve and Lisa Carter. Steve is the church treasurer, an American educated in Spain, and therefore equipped to bridge the lan-guage barrier for his special guests; Lisa serves as the church administrator. As it turned out, Isis required not one but two surgeries to repair her heart, doubling the length of her stay to six weeks and giving her the opportunity to worship with the congregation and thank the local Rotary club for their support.

Sadly, Isis’ home had been washed away in a flood prior to her surgery, so the congregation pitched in to help her family select a piece of land and build a ram-earth dwelling, a much more sub-stantial option than the typical adobe homes in Honduras, capable of weathering heavy rains and hurricanes.

With so much attention directed to Isis and her family, who, as the mission teams later dis-covered, were not active members of the Hondu-ran congregation but had taken advantage of the opportunity that had presented itself to seek help from the American missionaries, the congregation in Santa Maria understandably became jealous and even resentful of the Americans’ loss of focus on the broader goals of the partnership. Delays in finding a suitable piece of property with a clear title also strained the fledgling partnership, espe-cially because the donor, with a heart condition of

his own, was eager to see the purchase completed while he was still living. Two factors made buy-ing a piece of land even more challenging. Canon Pennybacker was in Honduras for less than half a year, residing in Yuscaran, over an hour’s drive from Santa Maria. The Rev. Alejandro Chirinos, the local Honduran priest and agent for the part-nership, was a full time public school teacher and a single-parent father with several children with a full time parish of his own in Danli, facing an all-day round trip bus ride to and from Santa Maria.

Bishop Allen helped resolve the crisis by as-signing Jeannie Loving, a SAMS missionary and retired Spanish teacher from Texas, now living year-round in Danli with a vehicle of her own, to relieve Canon Pennybacker in order to become our local American contact, along with Victor Velasquez, administrator of the local deanery, a postulant for holy orders in charge of another congregation in Danli, with more time and ac-cess to a motorcycle, to serve instead of Alejan-dro Chirinos as the Honduran contact person for the partnership. Bishop Allen also authorized his chancellor, Connie Suarez, to expedite the legal details of purchasing a fine piece of property at the entrance of the town.

The Good Shepherd mission team of 2010, therefore, was concerned primarily with mending

Focus Brings Farm ExpErtisE From polk county

MissionBy Good Shepherd, Lake Wales

“The highlight of the 2013 mission trip

was the opportunity to celebrate and

witness several infant baptisms.”

15W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

fences, clarifying misunderstandings, and putting a partnership together in writing that included providing ten scholarships for middle and high school students, valued at $250 each; funds and equipment to start a sewing co-op so the wom-en of the congregation could earn money making school uniforms; and seeds, plants and equipment for a fruit and vegetable garden as another source of operating revenue and nutritional food. The congregation in Santa Maria, for its part, agreed to send regular reports on the students’ grades along with the results of their two micro-enterpris-es through regular emails and photographs.

Later that year, Jeannie Loving visited Good Shepherd on her way back from her American residence in Texas to thank parishioners for their faithful support and to encourage them to per-severe in their partnership, ending her remarks with the announcement that the mission in Santa Maria had decided to name themselves El Buen Pastor, the Church of the Good Shepherd, in honor of their American partners. Parishioners Fleet Ryland, Tommy Phillips and Rusty Ingley decided, accordingly, to dedicate the proceeds of an annual golf outing that the parish had held as a simple fellowship event for several years to the mission effort. Three annual golf outings since have netted over $25,000.

The 2011 mission team from Good Shep-herd traveled over Super Bowl weekend and an even more raucous Honduran national celebra-tion in Danli. They dug post holes and strung barbed wire for the perimeter of the church prop-erty in order to secure the vegetable garden from cattle and to protect the bathrooms and pila, a cement open water-storage tank, from vandalism. Those who did not want to dig post holes in the rock-hard earth assisted in making eco-stoves, at a cost of $25/piece, that use much less of Hondu-ras’ precious wood stock and are vented through the roof, thus reducing the resulting multiple eye ailments of countless Hondurans. Others, as was the case on every mission trip, led a Bible school for four dozen children, both within the congre-gation and from the larger community, who were eager to learn and play with their American guests.

Later that year, a Christian missionary orga-nization from Texas contacted Jeannie Loving with an offer to drill a water well on the church property, thereby providing the congregation and the town a vital, reliable, backup source of drink-able water when the river ran dry or the municipal pump failed to deliver water to the cement storage containers every fifth day to the homes of Santa Maria’s residents.

Mission teams in 2012, 2013 and 2014 each included, for the first time since the partnership began, a pair of students from St. Mary’s Epis-copal School in Tegucigalpa to assist the team in communicating with the children in Bible school and the adults with sewing, gardening, preaching and building. Since students attend St. Mary’s pri-marily to learn English for the doors that English skills will open to them after graduation, their presence not only gave the teenagers on the mis-sion team from Good Shepherd new friendships, but they were able to put their language skills to a rigorous test.

The 2012 team brought more sewing equip-ment and supplies along with a serging machine for hems and other specialized applications. When asked what sort of church/community center the mission might want, the leaders showed the Amer-icans a new church building down the street as a basic model from which to begin. Mark Parlier, a member of Good Shepherd, donated his time as an architect to develop and modify the plans which were finally authorized and bid recently with the assistance of another SAMS missionary, Jack Melvin, a retired architect from Massachu-setts now living year-round in an apartment on the grounds of the cathedral and the campus of St. Mary’s Episcopal School in Tegucigalpa, the capi-tal of Honduras, designing and coordinating dioc-esan construction projects throughout the country.

The highlight of the 2013 mission trip was the opportunity to celebrate and witness several infant baptisms. A parishioner, on learning the need for altar appointments, donated a pewter paten, chalice, and cruets. Good Shepherd’s me-morial fund was used to supply necessary linens. One morning was set aside for a trip to a cigar factory in Danli. Scholarship students and their parents shared their educational achievements and expressed thanks for the opportunity to ad-vance beyond the unskilled manual labor of their parents.

Between 2013 and 2014 a wall topped with razor wire was constructed so that when the church is finally built, the construction materials will be secure on the property, since there are no police or burglar alarm systems in Santa Maria. Tragically, Isis, the recipient of the heart surger-ies, contracted hemorrhagic dengue fever from a mosquito bite and subsequently died. Mabel, the wife of Alexander, the senior warden, gave birth prematurely to a son who consequently died after a two-week struggle.

When the 2014 mission team arrived, the Honduran children completed a first commu-

nion course and the adults attended four stew-ardship education classes led by Father Seitz, since Bishop Allen is intent on all congregations being self-sufficient by 2019. The sewing co-op received linen fabric in the four liturgical colors and enough cross stitch floss and waste fabric to design their own superfrontals. A seed bed was prepared, several avocado trees were planted, and the existing citrus trees were pruned with new gar-den tools.

One of the ways the Church of the Good Shepherd has celebrated its partnership with El Buen Pastor is to hang a carved wooden cross in the parish hall that Rusty Ingley had brought back from his exploratory trip in 2006. Every Wednesday evening during the school year, when the parish gathers for worship, dinner and educa-tion classes, a Spanish blessing is offered by Steve Carter, who hosted Isis for six weeks in his home. Any profits from the meals help defray the cost of joining a mission team. Teenagers typically travel at no cost, thanks to various fundraisers. Adults are asked to pay for their plane ticket. Food, lodging and ground transportation expenses are covered by fundraisers. The outreach budget of the parish finances several of the annual student scholarships. Those scholarships, more than any other factor, are the reason El Buen Pastor is the fastest growing congregation in the deanery, if not in the entire diocese.

In addition to the retired couple who donat-ed $6,000 to purchase the land, another family has given $5,000 for the future construction of an adobe house for the lay pastor and another cou-ple has given $50,000 for the church and com-munity building. These are donations over and above the golf fund raisers and the many other smaller scholarship and miscellaneous donations, whether from the annual Christmas Pageant of-fering, the Women’s Tea, or from individual pa-rishioners. Ground should be broken before the end of this year for the church.

Unlike many church-building ventures by other American missionaries who bring in an entire team of builders, completing the project themselves and presenting it as a finished product, Good Shepherd believes it has been best to allow those in Honduras to have as much influence in the design and construction of the building as pos-sible as our partnership has strengthened over the years.

A mission team will travel in the summer of 2015 to lend a hand in the construction. All of this has happened because a youth minister caught the vision of Bishop Howe eight years ago.■

16

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14HONDURAS

CONtINuED fROM thE fRONt COVERThe following was taken from the Chalmers Center website www.chalm-

ers.org. It references a study done in Haiti, which could have as easily been done in Honduras, a country second only to Haiti in its poverty.

“We Are Not a Poor Country”—Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions

“The numbers are incredible,” explains Brian Fikkert, coauthor of When Helping Hurts. “Literally millions of people participate in short-term mission trips each year to the tune of billions of dollars. We have a hard time even conceptually understanding what a billion is.”

The sheer scale of short-term missions (STMs) has left church and minis-try leaders asking hard questions about the effectiveness of these trips. What is the long-term impact of STMs on receiving communities and participants? How can visits bless the existing work God is doing in a community?

On May 1, 2014, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert submitted the manu-script for Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions, a project creat-ed to assist church leaders in designing effective short-term trips—and then to guide participants in lasting learning and engagement with poverty alleviation.

As part of this upcoming project, Chalmers is creating video teaching units for short-term teams to use in pre- and post-trip learning sessions.

In May, Chalmers’ Katie Casselberry traveled with a videography team to Haiti to film the work of The 410 Bridge. The 410 Bridge is an organization that encourages Christ-centered, community-initiated development work in rural Majority World communities. The 410 Bridge then mobilizes short-term teams to support and learn about that work.

“We spent five days in a rural Haitian community, interviewing 410’s staff, local community leaders, and short-term team participants,” Casselberry ex-plains. “It was a remarkable opportunity to capture different angles on what makes a short-term trip effective.”

One Haitian staff member shared, “I hope teams see that we have God [beside] us, and we have knowledge, we have people, we have resources…we are not a poor country.”

Reflecting on how teams can bless his community, a local leader shared, “We are one in Christ and will be together in heaven. When teams come to live and be with us, we get to see and glimpse a bit of that now.”

“What we didn’t hear from community leaders was a desire for teams to come give things away, solve problems, or execute programs,” shares Cassel-berry. “Yes, these communities experience acute material poverty. But they are mobilizing many of their own resources and gifts to meet those challenges, and US churches have an opportunity to come alongside them in that pro-cess.”

The scale of the STM movement provides an incredible opportunity to influence how churches think about poverty, missions, and the materially poor.

One community leader in Haiti shared his vision for the purpose of short-term trips, explaining, “We would like for [teams] to learn along with us, be-cause we are doing the same mission and the same work.”

Helping Without Hurting in Short-Term Missions aims to equip teams to see, respect, and celebrate that mission and work, leading them to recognize Christ’s reconciling power in new ways.

In addition to Helping Without Hurting, the Honduras Commission also suggests Serve Smart, a course and training tool found online at www.serve-smart.com.

Managing volunteers in Guatemala from 2006 to 2008, Serve Smart founder Ryan Richards wit-nessed the profound mutual transformation that happens when volunteers partner effectively with the communities they serve.

But he also saw what can happen when volunteers arrive thinking that they have all of the answers: imposed agendas, poor results, and sometimes outright harm.

Everyone can engage in ethical and effective service – it just takes training and support. Serve Smart designs tools that make it easy for service programs to equip their participants for success.

The Honduras Commission also recommends SAMS, the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, which has effectively served the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in Central

and South America for well over 100 years. Find out more about SAMS at www.samsusa.org.■

El Hogar de Amor Esperanza (The Home of Love and Hope) started in 1979 with five hungry, scared, abandoned boys sleeping under cardboard in a doorway on the streets of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. By God’s grace and the support of many donors, El Hogar is now

an orphanage which serves 256 children through through elementary school, technical institute for high school boys, agricultural school, farm for high school boys, and residence for high school girls.

The mission of El Hogar is to transform and empower abandoned and hopelessly poor children in Honduras by providing a loving home and edu-cation. Our goal is for them to fulfill their ultimate potential as productive,

caring and independent Honduran citizens. At El Hogar, we find the most desperate children - the ones on the streets, the ones without enough to eat, the ones at most risk - and show them what a better future can be. We give them love, the support and the tools to help make this vision a reality.

El Hogar thrives on the personal relationship built with supporters. As part of that personal relationship, All Saints, Winter Park, has sent mission teams to El Hogar for many years. As an experienced leader of several missions to Central America, David Mead will lead a team to El Hogar, April 11 - 18, 2015. Individuals from the other parishes are invited to join the team. Contact David at Davidmead17@gmail.com (407-579-5899).■

EL HOGAR by Ann Croft, All Saints Episcopal Church, Winter Park

17W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

In 2004 Church of the Holy Child, Ormond Beach, entered a Parish to Parish Relation-ship with Santa Maria, Rancho del Obispo, Honduras.

On that first visit the team from Holy Child met Laijani, age 8, and her little brother, Byron.

When Kathleen Carroll, began attending Church of the Holy Child, Ormond Beach, one of her first questions was, “What do I have to do

to join this mission in Honduras?” The response she was given was, “You simply have to have a will-ing heart.” It turned out she not only had a heart that was willing, but also a heart filled with love and compassion that was amplified over her years of mission work through the church.

When Kathleen joined the team she met Lai-jani and their special relationship began.

Nine years later, Kathleen and the mission team from Church of the Holy Child visited their new companion parish, which was in a different commu-nity from where Lehani lived. Nonetheless, Kath-leen hoped she would be able to see Laijani, even knowing that may not be possible. What joy she felt when the team stopped at a local store to pick up supplies and she discovered that Laijani, who would forever hold a special place in Kathleen’s heart, was in the store! What a reunion that was!!

Judy Keen, member of those mission trips with Church of the Holy Child can also speak to

the joy of relationship found through their Parish to Parish relationship. In 2009, while on a mission trip to visit their companion parish in Rancho del Obispo, Judy received word that her mother had passed away. The evening she heard this news she was sitting in the front of the van between her hus-band, Comforted, and Fema, the wife of the pastor of Santa Maria’s. When Fema was told the reason Judy was quietly crying, she simply took her hand and communicated deep love and comfort. Judy will forever remember her compassion and caring, which she also experienced the following day from the women of the parish. Love was communicat-ed without words and she knew first-hand that lan-guage is no barrier when it comes to sharing the love of Christ.

Judy was reminded of this special love when she visited Fema in March, 2014, to bring her pillow-case dresses made by the women of Holy Trinity in Melbourne.■

The Joy of RelationshipBy Maureen Kilian

Laijani & byron Judy & fema

Kathleen & Laijani Kathleen & Laijani nine years later

The Central Florida Honduras Commission was established by the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida to support, encourage and enable the mutual ministry between the Diocese of Central Florida and the Diocese of Honduras.

The Commission is actively involved in:• Teaching, training, equipping those interested in serving• Promoting seminars, workshops, and pilgrimages

• Facilitating the networking of ministries in Honduras• Serving as a conduit for Honduras communication

The Commission members meet every third Thursday of the

month. Their meetings are held at noon at the Diocesan Office or by phone at 7:00 pm using Go to Meeting.

Wesney Dubic and Father Comforted Keen Commission Co-chairs on behalf of the entire Commission invite everyone to con-tact them through the Diocesan Office if you would like more infor-mation on the Commission or if you would like to become involved in the work of the Commission. They also invite and encourage you to check out the website at www.hondurascommission.com.■

18

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14

I was raised and brought up in church and in the spring of 2010 was begin-ning to have God confirm the call to ministry He had placed on my life. During this time, God gave me the opportunity to visit Our Little Roses in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and He used the mission trip as one of the

defining moments to confirm my call into ministry. In visiting Honduras, it is hard not to recognize both the immense physical and spiritual needs of the people. God allowed me to hear testimonies from people which included sto-ries of great brokenness and hurt but ended with proclaiming their is a great Savior in Jesus Christ who cares for them and makes them whole. Although I knew God’s grace to be true in my own life, being able to witness this in a con-text where ultimately it could be easy to find no hope, confirmed that God was calling me to spend my life preaching the gospel. The mission trip confirmed for me that it is the gospel alone which brings the only sustaining and satisfying hope to a lost and dying world. After returning home from Honduras with yet another confirmation of God’s call, I finished my undergraduate program at Florida State University and began pursuing a Master’s of Divinity at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. My wife and I are serving with a local church in New Orleans, but continue to pray and discern if God intends to send us abroad for long term mission work. Regardless of where God’s call places me, I will always have a special attachment and love for Honduras and its people. It is evident that God is mightily at work in the country and reveal-ing to them the hope that can only be found Jesus.■

ANDREw STuCkERBy Andrew Stucker

19W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

HONDURAS

Revda. Dagoberto ChaconAffectionately Called Padre Dago

father Dago teaches team members, father brian Garrison and Mike Nolan how to strip a sugar cane to find the sweet parts to chew on.

fathers Comforted, Dagoberto, and bryan, assisted by Deacon Kathy prepare for Eucharist at the church in Zarzal, one of father Dago’s churches.

Rev. Dagoberto Chacon, Dean of the El paraiso Deanery, an area the Diocese of Central florida has been asked to focus on, is pictured above with daughter, angie, as

he prepares to lead music and worship with the team on Deacon Kathy pennybacker’s patio.

20

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14

More than 30 people participated in the filming of the Chris-tian Life Trilogy curriculum. This summer. The videos were shot in the beautiful Cathedral Church of St. Luke located in downtown Orlando. Over two days, the video material for 20 small group sessions were captured.

Fr. Charlie Holt, rector of St. Peter’s, Lake Mary, provides the main body of the teachings. Each week will focus on a particular theme. In The Crucified Life study, Fr. Charlie teaches about the seven last words of Jesus spoken by him from the Cross.

Each small group session will contain a leadership lifter to help the facil-itator of the small group with “on-the-job” training. There is also a practical encouragement from the host of the session to the group participants at the beginning of each session. Clergy from around the Orlando area will be offer-ing these instructions which are unique to each session.

Many people shared their personal testimonies as a way to bring the theme of the session home to the heart of the viewer. These real life stories will en-

courage you to allow the teaching to impact and transform your life.The first of the series, The Crucified Life, will be available

in October 2014 and is now available for pre-order!( http://christianlifetrilogy.com)

As soon as the DVD component is completed, Fr. Holt will send every rector and vicar in the diocese a free copy. I am hoping and praying that will be by the end of October.

“My other hope and prayer is that a significant group of our congregations within the Diocese of Central Florida will take this program on as a Lenten Study in order to live together deeper into our call of the Christian Life.,” Fr. Holt said.

Already, I know at least three vestries around the diocese have voted to participate in the study for Lent. I have received verbal commitments from several other rectors and vicars!

“I would like to offer you a more extended time to discuss how you might use these materials in the life of the congregation,” he said.■

Filming the Christian

Life Trilogy

But he noted that the growth of the Diocese of Honduras actually began when the vernacular of the service was changed from English to Spanish, and he credited Southeast Florida Bishop Leo Frade, who was Bishop of Honduras at that time, with leading that change.

With the wedding story told in the day’s gospel reading (Matthew 22: 1-14) in mind, he compared being invited to preach at Holy Faith on its 50th Anni-versary to receiving an invitation to visit Buckingham Palace or attend a major movie premiere, adding that, “The Church and the Kingdom of God are joy-ful places for celebration, and the invitation is always open.”

Bishop Allen closed his sermon by leading the congregation in a rousing a capella version of “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.”

In a brief interview during the luncheon that followed the service, he talk-ed about his friendship with Holy Faith’s Vicar, Fr. Orlando Addison, and what lies ahead for the Diocese of Honduras.

The Bishop and Fr. Orlando came from the same church, which was Holy Spirit (Mision Espiritu Santo) in the town of Tela, on the northern Ca-ribbean coast of Honduras. They were about six years apart in age, but they knew each other and played soccer.

After a tour with the Honduran Merchant Marine, Bishop Allen attended the Pedagogical School, and was ordained Deacon and priest in San Pedro.

Both Bishop Allen and Fr. Orlando moved several times between the Carib-bean and the United States in their ministerial careers, but they stayed in touch and their ties to Honduras remain strong.

Bishop Allen is fully committed to Honduras and its future and encourag-es Hondurans to come home, especially where the church is concerned. The Diocese has a goal of self-sufficiency by 2019, because like the rest of Province 9, which also includes Colombia, Venezuela, Central Ecuador, Litoral Ecua-dor Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the Diocese of Honduras will cease to receive support from the larger church at that point.

“Honduras needs Hondurans to make it succeed,” he said.He believes that success can be achieved by organizing the deaneries in

his care as functional co-ops (cooperatives), first by identifying the strength in each one and then building on that. In that way, the Diocese could support the communities as well as itself, and all would benefit.

As an example, he describes a 300-acre agricultural school in one town that could become a co-op pig farm, which would create jobs, provide locally grown food and help the local economy.

With 2019 literally around the corner, Bishop Allen is moving forward with-out delay – and he’s bringing others along with him to join the quest for Diocesan self-sufficiency: in November, 15 new deacons were ordained in Honduras.■

CONtINuED fROM thE fRONt COVER

21W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

22

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14AROUND THE DIOCESE

The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist celebrated its 118th Anniversa-ry on Sunday, June 29, 2014. The day was filled with honoring the choir min-

istry and the music of church service. The reason for this celebration began 118 years ago, April 18, 1896 in a four room house on the corner of Ter-ry Street and Pine Street in Orlando. From that day forward, The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist has had a rich history of a blend of not only Anglican and contemporary family-friendly worship services, but also a rich history of Chris-tian community outreach.

The first parochial school for people of color here in Orlando was St. John Episcopal Academy that eventually became the building that housed the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist and

its Rectory. It was at this location on Terry and Pine Street that the first tennis courts and the Booker T. Washington Branch library were cre-ated for people of color. With these bold com-munity missions for that time in history, St. John the Baptist Church was destined for even greater community ministries as after moving to our pres-ent location, members fought for and obtained the first HeadStart School in Washington Shores and continued with library services for children.

Our present-day outreach programs range from support of the Honduras Mission in conjunc-tion with the Diocese, to our weekly donations of food for persons in need in the surrounding com-munity; our outreach to children and adolescents through the King’s Kids Bible Study program; our annual school supply drive to ensure every

child has books to read through Daughters of the King’s partnership with our neighborhood school; our satellite Episcopal Counseling Center; most recently our Hospitality Institute job training and hiring program; and other outreach ministries.

June 29, 2014 was, indeed, a day of grand cel-ebration that began with the 10 a.m. Eucharistic Service. At this service, all former and present choir members participated in a “Rededication and Blessing” ceremony. The remaining service liturgy centered on our love for the Lord ex-pressed fervently through the Readings, Sermon, Prayers of the People, and through the singing of the church choir. The morning service culminated with choir members being presented with a neck-lace, emblematic of a singing bird on a cross, to be worn throughout their ministry.

REJOICING IN SONG INDEED!THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

CELEBRATES ITS 118TH ANNIVERSARYBy Faye O. Henderson and Dr. Lorraine Harris

participating soloists and choirs represented true Vine baptist Church; the Chosen, a praise team from Zion hill baptist Church; Washington Shores presbyterian Church Gospel Choir; and the Chancel Choir from St. Mark’s in haines City.

23W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

The celebration continued with an afternoon of “Rejoicing in Song,” as nine churches joined the choir of St. John the Baptist in celebrating with songs and praise dancers in “A Service of Praise & Thanksgiving.” The service began with St. John the Baptist Chancel Choir, directed by Mr. Ernest Boyd, providing a spirited rendition of “Every Praise” as they and church leaders processed into the Sanctuary. Afterwards, Mr. Morris Hudson of St. Richard’s Episcopal Church, accompanied by Dr. Carl MaultsBy on piano, provided the audience with a moving spiritual solo selection followed by The Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Praise Team, Music Director Bonnie Williams; Mt. Ol-ive African Methodist Episcopal Church Men’s Choir, Music Director, Ms. Paschal Weaver; and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Young Adult Choir, Music Director Chris Smith. A special fea-ture of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church musi-cal tribute was also a soul-stirring, dynamic solo by thirteen-year-old Khamyrn Hammonds singing, “Break Every Chain.” Her performance received a standing ovation.

After acknowledging the work of the 118th Anniversary Committee and everyone who made contributions to this celebration, Dr. Lorraine Harris presented a special award to Mr. Ernest Boyd and Mrs. Shirley Bradley for devoting over 50 years to the music ministry of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and honored Dr.Carl MaultsBy for his invaluable contributions to reli-gious music composition and choir direction.

“Rejoicing in Song” service continued with se-lected Episcopal hymn favorites from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Chancel Choir (Haines City, Florida), Mr. Merrill Davis, Choir Master; and a rousing a cappella solo from Melvin Robinson, True Vine Baptist Church Men’s Choir. The audience was provided a special treat by the per-formance of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church “Jewels of Judah” Liturgical Praise Dancers. This talented youth group wowed those in attendance with their spiritually-emotive interpretative dance. Washington shores Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, Ms. Cicely Youngblood, Director provided a musical sermon with their selection of worship-ping God each day of the week and The Episco-pal Church of St. John the Baptist concluded the singing and rejoicing with the selection, “Let the Church Say Amen.”

Father Jabriel Ballentine closed out this joy-ous occasion with inspirational words of celebra-tion in church and through outreach, and with Benediction.

We enjoyed sharing our history and celebrat-ing our 118th Anniversary with our brothers and sisters of all faith bonded by the love of God. We experienced a cornucopia of voices and interpre-tive dance performance – all giving praises to the Lord.

The Psalmist declared, “I will sing of the love of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make your faithfulness known through all generations.” (Psalms 89:1).■

“Our present-day outreach programs

range from support of the Honduras Mission

in conjunction with the Diocese, to our

weekly donations of food for persons in need

in the surrounding community.”

24

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14AROUND THE DIOCESE

The Holy Faith Episcopal Church, Dunnellon, 50th Anniversary celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, was an amazing event. It began with a much publicized, free Country Fair that drew over 300 people on Saturday. For the children there was a petting zoo, pony rides, games with prizes, and won-

derful face painting. Little ones with puppy or cat or butterfly or green Ninja Turtle faces were everywhere. For the enjoyment of the adults, a church mem-ber brought his antique car club to display their “golden oldies”. Tours of the church and grounds were conducted. Some visitors told us they hadn’t known a church was located in Blue Cove. Now they know!

Food was sold at 1960’s prices. 320 Nathan’s hot dogs disappeared at 25 cents each emptying the two local Winn Dixie stores of their inventory. More than 100 vanilla ice cream Dixie cups with those little wooden spoons were a hit at 10 cents.

By 3pm the remainder of the 40 plus blue T-shirt clad Holy Faith volun-teers sank into chairs in Faith Hall exhausted and delighted at the results of a year and a half of planning and work.

But it wasn’t over. On Sunday morning at 10 a.m., the Rev. J. James Ger-hart, our priest, led a capacity crowd in a “retro” service from the 1927 Book of Common Prayer and by an original bulletin from the 1964 service. One of the original acolytes, Paul Cowan, Jr. assisted Fr. Jim. 60’s style hats, dresses and suits added to the nostalgia. The coffee hour that followed in the Hall gave everyone a chance to chat and check out the Holy Faith Family “clothes-line” of member photos.

But it still wasn’t over. At 4 pm, 79 members and guests gathered at a local restaurant for dinner. Honored guests included Rachel Alexander Carpenter, a Holy Faith charter member, the Rev. Dick Casto, former Holy Faith priest, the Rev. Gene Reuman, former Holy Faith deacon, now priest at St. Marga-ret’s, Inverness, the Rev. Al Morris, retired priest and Holy Faith member. Traveling the farthest to attend was Vi Bell, long time member, now living in northern Vermont. Blessing the event was Holy Faith’s dear friend and sup-porter, the Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder.

Now that our 50th really is over, we are overwhelmed with gratitude to God for blessing our days of work and joy. For “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (1952 RSV)

Holy FaitH HistoryThe following is a condensed and edited version of the original Holy

Faith History as compiled by long-time member Jeani Cowan with contribu-tions from the late Marianthe Coppedge and Gee Steiber, Paul Jr and Kennett Cowan, Millie Bostwick, Adela Anderson and Suzie Kuka.

In 1964, a group of approximately 30 people from the rapidly grow-ing southwestern part of Marion County came together in faith and purpose to organize an Episcopal Church in Dunnellon. The church was originally named the Church of the Holy Faith, Dunnellon because “We are creating this church purely on faith.” Grace Church, Ocala, graciously sponsored this new mission church and over the following years supported Holy Faith with funds, prayer books, hymnals and other needed items. Fr. Maurice Benitez of Grace Church conducted the first formal worship service for the mission on Sept. 9, 1964 at Dunnellon High School with 32 adults and 5 children attending.

Over the next year and a half, a site was chosen and purchased. A 100 seat sanctuary, 4 Sunday school rooms, a sacristy and kitchen were planned. During this time every conceivable effort was made to raise funds and increase the membership.

The new building was dedicated on May 1, 1966 by the Rt Reverend Henry T Louttit, Bishop of the Diocese of South Florida with 109 in atten-dance. Retired Fr C. A. Copp from Eustis served as interim priest until Aug. 1966 when the Rev. Roger L. Henshaw became the first full time Vicar at Holy Faith.

Some highlights of the growing church during the following years in-cluded:

1. An Acolyte Festival for 350 young people from around the state was held.

2. The donation of a beautiful carved wooden corpus which remains today over the altar was carried home from Europe to Dunnellon by members Regina and Cecil Hogg on their laps as the airline would not allow the 5’ sculptured piece of art to be shipped in the hold.

3. In 1968, the city of Ocala presented Holy Faith with the 1889 bell which had hung in the tower of the original Ocala Fire House. Note: The bell was returned to the city in 2013 to be hung again in a newly completed fire station. The city replaced it with another bell.

HOLY FAITH, DUNNELLON, CELEBRATES

50TH ANNIVERSARYBy Tippy Corliss

25W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

4. The Blessing of Animals begun on local ranches in the 60’s was revived and celebrated in 1972 at the church and continues to this day at our Pet Memory Garden. (At the request of Fr Gerhart, NO SNAKES, PLEASE...)

5. Faith Hall was built in 19826. The Food Pantry at Holy Faith was expanded and continues today

assisting local needy families. “Food-4 Kids”, a backpack program, is also headquartered at Holy Faith.

7. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops were formed, producing eight Eagle Scouts.

8. The Deborah Chapter of the Daughters of the King has been reinstituted. In 2007, after the retirement of the full-time priest and with member-

ship declining, the Vestry and remaining members with an ever deepening

commitment prayed for the revival of our dear church. Blessed support and encouragement came from visits of the Rev. Canon Pinder of the Northwest Diocese and from the Rev. Al Morris, retired priest and church member. Active members reached deeply into their hearts and wallets to renew Holy Faith and to aid the Dunnellon community.

In 2010, supply priest Fr. J. James Gerhart agreed to become priest-in-charge. His leadership, energy, sense of humor and weekly messages of Christ’s love brought back the feeling of family that had faded away. Mem-bership began increasing with new members joining old in all the activities of the church. Renovation and remodeling of the sanctuary and hall are in progress.

Warmth, fellowship, hope and life are present again at Holy Faith. We look at a bright future with enormous gratitude to our Savior, Jesus Christ for His never ending, ever-present love and support.■

holy faith, Dunnellon

26

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14EPISCOPAL YOUTH EVENT 2014

What happens when you put 1200 or so Episcopal teens (with their adult chaperones) gathered from 88 dioceses all over the country in a gym on the campus of Villanova University? Mystery – holiness – excitement – changed hearts – dynamic worship – a clear vision of a church

that is alive and well!This summer the Episcopal Youth Event (which happens every 3 years)

had as its theme “Marked for Mission.” The event is planned by a team of 14 youth (with adult support) from across the country over a period of 18 months. At EYE, we spent 4 days listening, discussing, exploring, praying, and discern-ing how the Holy Spirit has marked us for mission and how we might engage in the work of the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission. A shortcut of the Five Marks is: Tell, Teach, Tend, Transform, Treasure.

Over and over again we were challenged to love! From the opening Eu-charist with Canon Stephanie Spellers we were challenged to “answer the call…share the story of God as you have met God in this church, find your voice, feel that love, and then spread it around.” We heard from the Rev. Becca Stevens, Episcopal Chaplain at Vanderbilt, founder of Magdalene and Thistle Farms (residential and social enterprises run by women who have survived lives of prostitution, trafficking, addiction and life on the streets). She showed a painting of the Last Supper, and said, “If we’re not a movement … the church becomes a still life.” She continued, “If they had stayed there – as beautiful as it was, as meaningful as it was, as important as it was to the life of the world – if they had not turned around and gone back out, we would never know that story.” She went on to remind us that it is love that heals and it is we who are commissioned to share that love. Bp. Michael Curry (North Carolina) exhort-ed, God is the “very essence” and source of love, and “our mission is to love this world and ourselves into the very dream of God and when you do that, you’ll have the strength you need to bear any hardship and carry any cross because you’ll find power.” Bp. Curry exhorted us to “Go!”

Youth were leaders in the worship services and ours participated by carry-ing banners, reading, and leading dance. We attended workshops that ranged from Centering Prayer to Ending Poverty to Native Dance to Sex Traffick-ing to Leading Worship to Service Oriented Life. Besides worship, plenary, and workshop sessions time was spent meeting people so totally different than ourselves and yet, we discovered, so much like ourselves. One of our teens reflected, “Exploring the larger church which I knew very little about, meeting new friends, coming to understand God as creator of all the differences among us which make the world a richer place was an eye-opening and life-changing experience.”

One of the many highlights of the experience was a pilgrimage through Philadelphia – exploring different churches, styles of worship, outreach pro-grams, and ways to share the Gospel. That day culminated with a run up the

“Rocky” steps and a huge dinner party in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

After EYE, we spent three more days living the Marks of Mission with others from Province IV working out of the Church of the Advocate in down-town Philadelphia. This is a church which has been at the forefront of civil rights movements throughout its history. Here we helped with Vacation Bible School, we repaired and painted a fence essential to the campus, we worked in a soup kitchen, we completely cleared an auditorium so it could be used for community activities and we created interactive prayer stations for those who wander into the church. We spent time simply talking to people on the streets which turned out to be so much more than just talking-it was clearly shar-ing God’s love in a transformative way. We experienced art as never before through a collection of very large vivid wall murals hanging in the church which were commissioned in the early 1970s, comparing the oppression experienced by the Jews of the Old Testament to the experiences of enslavement of the African-Americans.

When asked what they would take home from this experience our teens said: “seeing Jesus’ love in the faces around us”, “I made a difference in Miss Shirley’s life because I showed her love and I received the love she showed me. She said people aren’t always nice to her because she lives on the street.” “In giving hope to the hopeless, I found hope.” “I met God, really met God! Now I get it.” “I never knew 1200 people could be so quiet, or could say the Lord’s Prayer actually together, or could sound like we sounded singing. I ex-perienced One God holding us all together. I am still astounded!” “I’ve never cried listening to sermons, but I did every time we heard one. Those preachers were talking just to me. That is cool!”■

Marked for Mission – EYE 2014By The Rev. Sonia Sullivan Clifton, Rector, St. Matthew’s, Orlando.

Participating from Central Florida: The Rev. Sonia Sullivan Clifton, Sarah Lane, Dejah Williams, Peyton Jackson, Summer Tyndall, and Alexis DiBlanda

27W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

28

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14EPISCOPAL YOUTH EVENT 2014

29W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

30

CENT

RAL F

LORI

DA E

PISC

OPAL

IAN

- NOV

EMBE

R 20

14

On September 28, a combined group of youth from St. Matthew’s and Christ the King, both in Orlando, put together Goody Box-es of fresh baked goods, fruits, and nuts along with handwritten thank you notes to deliver to several nurses stations at Orlan-

do Regional Medical Center and UF Health Cancer Center in Orlando.The Chaplain’s office at Orlando Health identified particular departments that had had a more than difficult week and then escorted small groups of stu-dents to bring some cheer and some yummy treats to the medical teams in the Emergency Department, Trauma One, Trauma Step-down, and several floors in the Cancer Center.

The teens learned about the backside of patient care and came to a deep-er understanding of the true commitment to patient care of the entire medical

team. It became clear that everyone’s one is critically important, from doctor to custodian. Every piece is essential to healing.

Walking the Labyrinth on the 4th floor of the Cancer Center was an amazing experience. The teens learned about this ancient art of meditation/prayer and then experienced it for themselves. One of them remarked, “It didn’t make sense why a hospital would go to the trouble of having a labyrinth, but now I get it. The people who work here and the patients and their families live in chaos. Walking the labyrinth allows them to settle their minds and souls as the path is laid before you, the path guides you, the path itself brings you peace.” Another remarked, “I thought this was the silliest thing Pastor Sonia had conjured up since kickball slip n’ slide, but by the time I was half way through it I realized I was walking slower, I was calmer, I actually prayed.”■

St. Matthew’s & Christ the King Youth Visit ORMCBy St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church

31W

WW

.CFD

IOCE

SE.O

RG -

NOVE

MBER

2014

THE RT. REV. GREGORY BREWER

As I prepare to leave this House of Bish-op’s meeting, I must say that I marvel at what God allowed me to both see and enjoy. Two significant conversations

stand out. One was with the Rector and his youth worker at Trinity Church in the poverty stricken port town of Keelung. The other was with set in the sleek downtown Taipei apartment of a promi-nent Christian art dealer. The economic contrast could not have been sharper, but the content of the conversation was the same: a passionate expe-rience of the love of God the Father. In contrast to the picture of the reserved and stoic Asian, these Christians (as well as almost all of the other Tai-wanese Christians I met) were deeply and overtly in love with God. The radiant face of an 80 year old Taiwanese Christian woman was typical. She told of her conversion and baptism at the age of 40 and exclaimed to us bishops with a huge smile on her face, “I want everyone to know Jesus!”

The official theme of the House of Bishops’s meeting was “Expanding our Apostolic Imagina-tion,” and, at least in my experience, that is exactly what happened. The witness of the Taiwanese Christians was consistent: there is little room for anything but an unreserved commitment to Christ. The cost is too high. We heard reports of bishops from Taiwan, the Philippines, Pakistan, Korea and Hong Kong. Themes of sacrifice, per-secution, and remarkable generosity abounded. As Bishop Edward Malecdan of the Philippines reported, “As we began to work on clean water for one of our villages, people who come up to us and say, “We want to know about the God that you serve. You are not only concerned about the afterlife, you are concerned about this life;” and people became Christians.

One young clergyman, Fr. Richard Lee, be-came the Vicar of a small mission church in an economically depressed area with only 10 mem-bers. Now, 10 years later, they have started two new church plants and have a raft of ministries. He said, “I did not know what I was doing, so I had to ask Jesus for vision of what He wanted me to do and He gave it to me.”

Their witness to us was contagious and we discovered, especially during our daily Eucharists, a fresh sense of the presence of God and a call to participate God’s missionary purpose. Fr. Sim-one Bautista, one of our chaplains put it pointed-ly, “Where is your home? Mission is our home.” We sang in English, Spanish and Mandarin (that was a trick!), and there were times when the Holy Spirit was manifestly present, calling us deeper into God’s purposes.

While there is much talk about the Episco-pal Church setting up its own communion (a faux communion in contrast to the Anglican Commu-nion), the fact is that we are not merely a “national” church. Missionary endeavors over the years have made us an international church; and it was clear to me that the witness of our non-American brothers and sisters has been salt and light in our midst. I am deeply grateful that we share ministry together.

Many of you have read some of the reports coming out of this meeting: Bp Katherine Jef-ferts Schori will not seek reelection as Presiding Bishop. The report of the Marriage Task Group to the House of Bishop keeps the marriage can-on intact and does not change the Prayer Book service. Same sex blessings are not equated with Christian marriage.

The contrast between our “in house” conver-sations and the missionary witness of our Asian

sisters and brothers was stark. In truth, the wit-ness of the vibrant witness of these Christians be-came an invitation: would we take this message home and be a part of God’s missionary vision where we live? Will the international character of our Church be reflected in the future by a new international character of our churches in Cen-tral Florida? Will we reach out to the neighbors God is sending us from around the country and around the world? Only time will tell. But I am leaving Taipei inspired.■

Inspired by Their Witness: Bishop Greg’s Report from TaiwanThe Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops met Sept. 17-23 in Taiwan, with the theme of “Expanding the Apostolic

Imagination.” The Diocese of Taiwan is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The bishops agreed to meet here at Taiwan Bishop David Jung-Hsin Lai’s invitation. The bishops explored the mission and ministry of the

Diocese of Taiwan. In addition, bishops and others from the Anglican Church in Hong Kong, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Korea discussed with the house the theological context and mission challenges their provinces face.

CENTRAL FLORIDA EPISCOPALIAN1017 E. Robinson Street, Orlando, fL 32801-2023

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE PAID

pERMIt NO. 4111ORLaNDO, fLORIDa CENTRALFLORIDA

EPISCOPALIANNEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 2014 VOLUME 116, No. 9WWW.CFDIOCESE.ORG