It began in 1885 as a small group Bible study led by Maggie Franklin, a young wife and mother living in New York, who believed that the women in her church could come together for more than potlucks or sewing circles or charity bazaars. She thought women could encourage each other to grow closer to…

As coordinator for New Beginnings weekend, the Rev. Kevin Bartle, rector of St. Mary of the Angels, Orlando, and one of three diocesan youth ministry coordinators, never wants the youth in attendance to concern themselves with keeping a schedule. That’s his job. Instead, he wants them to focus on only one thing: getting to know…

Quiet pathways. Serene waters, broken by the splash of an occasional fish or water bird. Lush wooded areas. Precious fellowship with other followers of Christ, often accompanied by delicious meals. Times of reflection, worship and praise. Such are some of the many moments and memories of what for many in the Episcopal Diocese of Central…

The year 2024 is an exciting time in the history of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando. The church is celebrating its establishment as the first worshipping Episcopal parish in Orlando and welcoming others to celebrate as well. This is the 150th year since Frances W. Eppes, grandson of Thomas Jefferson, established the first…

The month of August saw five ordinations to the Sacred Order of Priests in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, each one holding a unique significance for the newly ordained priests. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb had previously ordained four of the five to the diaconate in a Jan. 11 service at the…

Each summer, youth from around the Diocese of Central Florida gather to encounter the truth of the gospel and live out their faith. The five-day event called Soul in the City is hosted each year at a different parish, where the youth work on service projects in that community. (For a look at the 2023…

The Hon. Todd Pittenger, appointed by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb as chancellor of the Diocese of Central Florida in January 2024, has received a recent award that speaks not only to his legal expertise but to the quality of his voluntary service as chancellor, which he has already demonstrated is a priority….

St. Mark’s, Cocoa, has called the Rev. Stephen Pessah as its new rector. He began his new ministry on Aug. 1. The parish has been without a rector since March 2022. “Our previous rector left in March 2022,” explained the Rev. Nancy Oliver, who serves the church as deacon. “We had an interim priest, Mother…

There’s a lot of darkness in our world today. Unfortunately, the children and youth in the Diocese of Central Florida aren’t exempt from experiencing that darkness. This summer at Camp Wingmann, the theme of “The Darkness and the Light” helped them see and understand how the light of the gospel changes things in their lives….

The Central Florida deputation to the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church, held June 23-28 in Louisville, Kentucky, helped make history by electing and confirming the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe as the church’s 28th presiding bishop. However, this significant decision was far from the only way the diocesan bishops and deputies contributed to…