At a service attended by the parishioners she will serve and others with whom she has close relationships, the Rev. Colleen Rutherford was ordained to the vocational diaconate on Aug. 9 at her home parish, St. George, The Villages. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb delivered the charge, and the Rev. Dr. James Taylor,…
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Sacred space – a place in our lives that we set apart as holy – is essential to spiritual growth. This may be particularly so when it comes to children and youth. For many of them in the Diocese of Central Florida, Camp Wingmann is one of those places. A sacred space for many years,…
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“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Almost 90 years ago during the struggles that led to World War II, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was actively sharing his thoughts on living as a Christian. He wrote the book Gemeinsames Leben (“Life Together”) during that…
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A quick (as in 0.54 seconds) Google search for “home cooked meal in college” returns 97 million results. Ranging from quick dorm-friendly microwave recipes to forums where college moms seek tips on shipping home-cooked meals across the states, the results make clear that college students are thinking a lot about food. In a 2021 survey…
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Soul in the City, the summer youth mission/service trip for the Diocese of Central Florida, continues to transform local communities as well as the lives of the 50-plus youth and youth leaders who show up for a weeklong community service experience. The youth groups from All Saints’, Lakeland; the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando;…
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“This is spectacular.” With that simple declaration, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb described the ordination of Brian Stankich to the transitional diaconate. The service took place on Thursday, July 27, at Grace, Ocala, where the Rev. Stankich participates in the residency program, and was Holcomb’s first ordination since his June 10 consecration as…
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Mrs. Carrie Brown, a parishioner at St. John the Baptist, Orlando, led a workshop at “It’s All About Love: A Festival for the Jesus Movement” held in Baltimore, Maryland, from July 9-12. The churchwide festival focused on worship, learning, community and action, organized around three topics: evangelism, racial reconciliation and creation care. Brown’s workshop was…
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As director of communications for the diocese, I thought it was important to commemorate and encapsulate the recent consecration of our new bishop. Until June 10, 2023, I had never experienced an ordination and consecration service. That, coupled with my love for Bishop Holcomb and his family, made for a day that I will cherish…
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The Diocese of Central Florida values beloved community. Since 2022, the diocese has had a task force of clergy and lay individuals who have been reflecting upon the challenges we face in our churches and communities in Central Florida regarding racial diversity; they are prayerfully encouraging us toward transformational practices. All Saints’, Lakeland, began an…
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Civic activism and community service from a faith-based perspective are more than longstanding priorities for the Rev. Charles Myers, rector of St. John the Baptist, Orlando, and new vice president of the Florida Council of Churches. “They’re rooted in and continuing the legacy of this church,” he said of the dual emphases that also characterize…
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