COURTESY PHOTO
Father Chris Brathwaite, left, and his wife, Genevieve, organized the popular “A Parade of Hats” event as a way to generate interest in church activities at St. Mark’s Episcopal in Haines City. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, April 15.

When it comes to revitalizing a congregation, Father Chris Brathwaite and his wife, Genevieve, can tip their hats to the Caribbean for helping them make church life fun again.

An Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida tradition continues Saturday, April 15, when St. Mark’s Episcopal Church hosts its seventh annual Easter Afternoon of Elegance with a Parade of Hats celebration in the new Brathwaite Hall at 102 N. 9th St. in Haines City. The event, open to both women and men, will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“When we lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it was a joy to see the ladies with their hats of many styles and designs showing up in church on Easter Sunday,” said Brathwaite, rector at St. Mark’s. “For the most part, here in Florida, that tradition is lost.

“Only a few gracious ladies seem to bother with adorning their heads with hats, but as old-timers, we both thought up the idea of “Hats On to the Ladies With Afternoon Tea” and a few other events as something to boost outreach to the community.”

The Brathwaites eventually named the event, “A Parade of Hats,” which annually attracts parishioners from more than nine congregations along with visitors from the surrounding area of Haines City. Organizers expect 130 people for this year’s event.

“When we arrived at the parish in September 2010, we prayed for ways to revitalize the congregation in Haines City,” Brathwaite said. “Although the liturgy was rich and the parishioners were faithful, not much was happening that said we were more than Sunday-go-to-church Christians.

COURTESY PHOTO
Father Chris Brathwaite of St. Mark’s Episcopal in Haines City got his idea for the “Parade of Hats” event from his time as a resident in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“So, by 2011 we established five fun events we believed would reach out into the community and speak to the people in a more dynamic way,” Brathwaite said. “All the events that year were open to the public and the growing congregation.”

The five events the Brathwaites started were a red and white Valentine Ball, the Easter “Parade of Hats” with Afternoon Tea, a Rector’s Mother’s Day luncheon that honors women from the congregation, the End of Summer BBQ on the last Sunday in August, and a church anniversary celebration.

“Each of these five projects has endured the test of time, but “Hats On to the Ladies” has become our signature outreach event,” Brathwaite said.

Cost for the “Parade of Hats” is $15, which includes light to heavy finger foods. The afternoon will begin and end with prayer and also feature guest speaker and minister, Pamela Dulan, and fashion models. Vocalist Coreen Herry will provide live entertainment.

Prizes will also be awarded for the most original, funniest and prettiest hats, as well as the best display of teacups.

“The church is a safe environment for people to get dressed up every once in a while and be totally relaxed with people they know and people they ought to know,” Brathwaite said.

For more information, call the St. Mark’s office at 863-422-1416.