Below is a brief summary of information recently shared by the Standing Committee regarding the Special Electing Convention on Nov. 19.

We encourage you to check the convention webpage on our website regularly for more information and detail.

• Registration is now open for those eligible to vote, as well as approved volunteers. Please register here.

• The Diocese is organizing free transportation to the Special Electing Convention from Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Gainesville. More information can be found in the recent announcement here. The Standing Committee kindly asks those who are eligible to vote and attend the election to register for the free transportation by Nov. 4.

• The candidate meet-and-greet will be held at Camp Weed Saturday, Nov. 12. Anyone may attend and the event will be livestreamed. More information, including times, format and more, will be shared imminently. 

• The Standing Committee has prepared two videos answering key questions and sharing important information about the Special Electing Convention. You may watch them here. As they prepare a third and final video, you may submit questions to standingcommittee@diocesefl.org. They will address them directly, via the video, or both.

As you know, many of our sisters and brothers in Southwest Florida and Puerto Rico are struggling to recover and rebuild their lives after Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. 

As a result, Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) is in contact with Episcopal and Anglican partners in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos in response to Hurricane Fiona.

ERD is also partnering with the Episcopal Dioceses of Southwest Florida and Florida to provide supplies and direct financial assistance to people affected by Hurricane Ian.

The Diocese of Florida, in partnership with ERD, is distributing blankets, sleeping bags and providing direct financial assistance to unhoused people and storm survivors. They will also work to replenish local food pantries and damaged community garden spaces that provide fresh food to communities affected by poverty.

You are welcome to join in on our efforts of supporting the Dioceses of Puerto Rico and Southwest Florida if you feel called to do so. Below are the most effective ways to send financial support.

The Diocese of Puerto Rico

Please send donations directly to the Diocesan account and designate it for hurricane relief.

By mail:

Diocesan Relief Fund Account

The Episcopal Church of Puerto Rico

1409 Ave. Ponce de Leon 4to piso

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907-4025

By bank transfer:

Diocesan Relief Fund

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Account/Cuenta #014-463075

Routing Number/Numero de ruta y transito #021502011

The Diocese of Southwest Florida

Please send donations directly to the Hurricane Relief tab on the website of the Diocese and mark it for hurricane relief.

The Diocese of Southwest Florida

Donate to Hurricane Relief

Click here to make a donation

Episcopal Relief & Development

You may also send donations to Episcopal Relief & Development's Hurricane Relief Fund, which will support the affected areas most in need.

Episcopal Relief and Development

Click here to make a donation

We thank you for your support and welcome your prayers as we work to help both dioceses and their communities recover.

The Diocese of Cuba and Friends of the Episcopal Church in Cuba (FECC) have organized an effort to help provide Christmas dinners to parishioners across their country as they continue to recover from COVID-19 and Hurricane Ian.

In partnership with our Diocese, FECC is asking our churches to donate $300 each to make this happen. The money will be used to provide a meal of meat, rice, beans, salad and other dishes. There are two opportunities to support:

If your parish has a companion church in Cuba:

Make a check out and mail the check to your companion church in Cuba, with a memo line of "Christmas Dinner at Companion Church in Cuba".

If your parish does not have a companion church in Cuba:

Make a check out to 'Friends of the Episcopal Church' and mail the check to the following. Write 'Cuba Christmas Dinner General Fund' in the memo line.

Mark Pendleton, Treasurer

218 Post Road

Greenland, NH 03840

Please coordinate with your parish leaders before making a donation on behalf of your church. You are welcome to contribute more than the suggested amount if you or your church feel led to do so.

The Episcopal Diocese of Florida is saddened to share that the Rev. Reed Freeman, most recently the Interim Rector at St. James Episcopal Church, Lake City, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 26. Fr. Reed has served as Interim Rector in many of the churches in our Diocese since 2012.

Fr. Reed and his wife Nancy are New Englanders, but have spent their 25 years of ministry to congregations in the south. After graduating from MIT, Fr. Reed had a career in the chemicals industry both in the United States and in Europe. He graduated from the School of Theology at the University of the South in 1996, and he and Nancy went on to serve numerous parishes in five different Dioceses of The Episcopal Church.

Fr. Reed and Nancy made their permanent home in Jacksonville. Their three children are Debbie in Virginia, Reed in Mississippi and William in Georgia. Their seven grandchildren and one great grandchild are scattered among Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and Georgia.

More details will be shared regarding the funeral service. In the meantime, please join us in praying for the Freeman family.

On Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. there will be a memorial service held at St. Paul's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Jacksonville for the Rev. Marty Pfab.

On Aug. 24, Fr. Pfab passed away at the age of 86 in Jacksonville. He was a longtime priest in the Diocese of Florida, having served at St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church (Jacksonville), St. George Episcopal Church (Jacksonville), St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (Green Cove Springs), St. Patrick's Episcopal Church (Jacksonville) and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church (Gainesville).

All are invited to attend the memorial service. The address is: 465 11th Avenue North, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250.

On Oct. 2, an Animal Blessing Service and Sunday Worship took place at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Quincy. The day consisted of an animal blessing, fellowship and donations for pet food. There was more than $1,400 raised in cash and material donations in support of Rest Your Paws Pet Refuge. 

Women's Cursillo: Nov. 3-6

Women's Cursillo #144 is returning Nov. 3-6 for a three-day learning, sharing and inspirational experiences of living in a Christian community! The objective of the Cursillo movement is to make Christian community possible in neighborhoods, parishes, work situations and other places.

For more information: Contact Lay Director, Guy Bond or Spiritual Director, The Rev. Sandy Tull.

Save the Date: Camp Weed Diocesan Youth Event

Dec. 3 at 4-8 p.m.

Youth leaders from the Diocese are coming together to plan a Diocesan youth event to be held at St. Francis in-the-Field Episcopal Church, Ponte Vedra Beach on Dec. 3. The night will be full of fun, fellowship, games and more! There will be more information to come, but for now please save the date.

If you are a youth leader in the Diocese (paid or volunteer) and are not involved with the planning of this event yet and are interested, please contact Director of Summer Camp and Youth Programs at Camp Weed, Samantha Marxsen at sam@campweed.org.

Florida State University and University of Florida 2022 Episcopal Fall Retreat Recap

The Florida State University and University of Florida 2022 Episcopal Fall Retreat was a success at Camp Weed & Cerveny Center! The retreat involved engagement in fellowship, exploring God's word and lessons on how to be a reconciler everyday.

Diocesan Youth News: Camp Weed & Cerveny Conference Center

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and information about youth events going on throughout the Diocese through the Camp Weed Diocesan Youth Newsletter. You may view the newsletter by clicking the button below.

If you have an event that you'd like to include in the youth newsletter, please reach out to Sam Marxsen: sam@campweed.org or call 386-364-5250.

The Bishop's Institute 'In the Steps of St. Francis' pilgrimage to Italy took place on Oct. 9-17. The excursion was led by Canon Douglas Dupree and Dr. Charles Howard of Episcopal School of Jacksonville and there were 19 members from the Episcopal Diocese of Florida who joined.

The group enjoyed nine days of exploring the wonderful churches, the art and architecture of Assisi and Rome and the surrounding cities and landscape. Check out a few photos!

Interested in pursuing a license in lay ministry?

Get started today by registering for the Bishop's Institute Foundations course!  The Bishop's Institute for Ministry and Leadership Foundations Course is an introductory curriculum that puts participants on a path to lay ministry licensure.

The next in-person session will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4. Watch-ahead video lessons, reading materials, and writing assignments for each session are available ahead of each session. You may sign up for the course on the Thinkific website here.

Choral Evensong for All Souls Day at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Jacksonville

Sunday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, Oct. 30, The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is holding a choral evensong for All Souls Day. All are invited to join on this day of remembering departed loved ones.

As we remember and celebrate the lives of our departed loved ones, please bring a small photo or memento to place on the Altar of Remembrance during the service (items may be retrieved after the service).

Featured musical offerings include “Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis” in D by Herbert Brewer, “Versicles and Responses” by William Smith, "O Gladsome Light” by Raymond Weidner and more.

Annual Breast Cancer Program Held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Jacksonville

The Annual Breast Cancer Program was held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church on Saturday, Oct. 8 and was sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW).

The guest speaker was Petra Van der Linden, Assistant Manager of the American Cancer Society, Richard M. Shulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge in Jacksonville. Check out a few photos!

The Jacksonville Symphony Civic Orchestra at St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville

On Sunday, Oct. 23 the Jacksonville Symphony Civic Orchestra began its 7th season with a family-friendly concert for all ages at the St. John's Cathedral Episcopal Church, Jacksonville.

The concert was conducted by Marguerite Richardson. Check out a few photos!

Coming Up:

Nov. 3-6: Women’s Cursillo #144

Nov. 6: Bishop Howard to visit Holy Trinity, St. Augustine

Nov. 11-13: New Beginnings at Camp Weed

Nov. 12: Meet & Greet at Camp Weed

Nov. 19: Special Electing Convention

Nov. 20: Bishop Howard to visit St. Philips, Jacksonville