By Amee M. Longbottom
In true deacon fashion, Deacon Sam Gilkey of the Church of St. Luke and St. Peter in St. Cloud made sure his retirement celebration on June 27 was about the needs of his community and not about him.
Instead of gathering a purse for his own retirement, he used the opportunity to raise more than $10,000 for three local charities closest to his heart: A Place for Grace, The Community Hope Center of Osceola County and St. Cloud Cares.
“(Deacon Sam) is truly an example of what it is to be a deacon,” Arch Deacon Kristi Alday said at the event. “I believe it is the greatest calling in the world. We bring the face of Jesus to the hurting world.”
Deacon Sam served in ordained ministry for 36 years with his wife, Jean, by his side. Their ministry took them from St. John’s, Kissimmee to the foreign ministry field to Virginia and North Carolina and back to Central Florida where he served the past 11 years at the Church of St. Luke and St. Peter in St. Cloud.
Although there are many things Gilkey has accomplished in his ordained years, he will be best known in the St. Cloud community for starting St. Cloud Cares, a non-profit organization that puts together sacks of food for elementary school children to take home over the weekend. Osceola County has one of the highest homeless rates in Florida and the country. When Gilkey discovered in 2012 that many school aged children were going home to motel rooms and often going hungry over the weekend because they depended on free breakfast and lunch from school, he decided to do something about it.
Evangelism and collegiality grace the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church.
By Elaine M. Heitman
Grace Episcopal Church in Ocala moved up the street a few years ago – actually 110 years ago – and they’ve been there ever since! To celebrate the anniversary, the church held a special service on Sunday, June 14, reflecting the traditions of the 1905 time period.
Grace Church, circa 1905
Many parishioners dressed in period clothing, with more ladies’ hats present than have been seen in the church since the 1950s. Feet and ankles were covered, as well. Hand fans were distributed in recognition of the lack of air conditioning at the turn of the century.
In the nave, some parishioners sat within the confines of the original church, marked off by tape. Others sat outside the tape within the additional space added over the years.
The service followed the 1892 Prayer Book, and the Gospel was read from the Bible in use at the church in 1905. No women participated in the service, as this exclusion was standard in those days.
Father Jonathan French’s sermon recognized the history of Grace. He reminded the parishioners that through two World Wars, economic collapse, dictators rising and falling, hurricanes, crop failures . . . and now terrorism and global warming, it is easy to get lost. But, because of the mustard seed of faith planted here in 1905, Grace continues to serve God, the Rock of our Salvation. He concluded by saying if those 110 years have taught us anything, it is the solidity of God’s love for us.
After the service, like all good Episcopalians, the congregation refreshed themselves. Reflective of the era, lemonade, cookies, and cucumber sandwiches were served in the Parish House.
The event was initiated by parishioner Eleanor Simons, the church’s communications director and historian. She was aided by Father Jonathan doing historical research on vestments and services; and Josh Head, worship coordinator, researching period music.
Concurrent with the historical Sunday, the church introduced to the congregation new photo walls and display cases that house original documents and the original Bible. These will be permanent displays and will be updated in coming years.
Note: Grace church was founded in 1853 and first built a church building in the 1880s near the square in Ocala. It took five months to disassemble the old church and move it to the present site.
- Communion Partners dissent from majority on marriage canons
- House of Bishops issues “Mind of the House” resolution in support of Communion Partners bishops
Editor’s Note: The 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Salt Lake City in late June, approved canonical and liturgical changes to the Church’s position on marriage. The canonical changes eliminate language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Resolution A036) and authorize two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples (Resolution A054). A group of dissenting bishops, including the Rt. Rev. Gregory Brewer, Central Florida, have issued the following statement in response:
Communion Partners Salt Lake City Statement
The 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, in passing Resolutions A036 and A054, has made a significant change in the Church’s understanding of Christian marriage. As bishops of the Church, we must dissent from these actions.
We affirm Minority Report #1, which was appended to the text of Resolution A036: The nature, purpose, and meaning of marriage, as traditionally understood by Christians, are summed up in the words of the Book of Common Prayer: Continue reading
CENTRAL FLORIDA’S PRESENCE at GENERAL CONVENTION 2015
The Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer
Leader of Central Florida’s Presence at General Convention
Central Florida Deputies to General Convention
Our DCF Deputation at General Convention — with Jim Sorvillo Sr., Sonya Shannon, Butch Wooten, Krisita Jackson, Phyllis Preston Bartle, Anneke Bertsch and Jon Davis.
Lay Order: Sonya Shannon, Council “Butch” Wooten, Krisita Jackson, Anneke Bertsch; Clerical Order: The Revs. Phyllis Bartle, James Sorvillo, Jon Davis, Brian Garrison
Central Florida Alternates to General Convention
Lay Order: Sid Glynn, Tom Bates, Kate Goodridge, David Onsted: Clerical Order: The Revs. Danielle Morris, Eric Turner, Robert Lord, Dawn McDonald.
Wednesday, July 1, report from General Convention 78
By the Rt. Rev. Gregory O. Brewer
July 1, 2015
Early in Israel’s history, the people prayed for a King. They said that they did not want to be ruled merely by judges, but they wanted a king like other nations. Through the prophet Samuel, God warned the people that to have a king would only bring about additional difficulties and sorrows, but they pleaded with God and eventually God relented and gave them a king.
The prophet Samuel anointed Saul with great affection, praying for him and calling him “the desire of Israel” (1 Sam. 9:20). He anointed him king over Israel, all the while warning Israel that they had rejected the will of God. Continue reading