EightChurchesfromTheEpiscopalDioceseofFloridajointogetherforaSpecialConfirmation,CommitmenttoChristianServiceandHolyCommunionService

Animpressivegroupof150laityandclergyfromeightEpiscopalchurchesinPutnamCountymetunderatentonthegroundsoftheEpiscopalChurchoftheHolyComforter,CrescentCityonSunday,November19,2017at2p.m.foraserviceofHolyEucharistwithconfirmationledbyTheRt.Rev.SamuelJohnsonHoward,BishopofFlorida.

Thisgatheringmightbeseenasthefirstsignificanteventinfulfillingavisionforthefutureofthesechurches.Thisisbecauseduringthisservice,immediatelyfollowingConfirmation,laymembersfromparticipatingchurchescameforwardtoprofessbeforetheBishoptheircommitmenttoserviceascalledandtrainedlayministers.ThisdedicatedgroupoflayleadersagreedtoservetheircongregationsintherespectiverolesofLector,EucharisticMinister,EucharisticVisitor,andProvisionalWorshipLeader.

ThevisionforthePutnamCountyEpiscopalChurches(PCECs)LicensedLayMinistriesisbestarticulatedbyTheRev.Dr.BobMarsh,PriestinChargeofSt,Mark’sandSt.Mary’s(bothinPalatka)who,togetherwithTheRev.RickWestbury,RectorofChristChurch,PonteVedraBeachandTheRev.DianeReeves,VicarofSt.Andrew’s,Interlachen,putinplacethisideadesignedtoprovideeffectiveministryinthePutnamCountyareawherechurchesmightstruggleinthefuturetohavethebenefitofafull-timeclergypersonineachindividualchurch.

Fr.Marshwrites,“SincethefirstcongregationinPutnamCountywasestablishedin1853-StMark’s-theeffectoftheeconomyhasbeenacute.Theeffectsoftherecessionof2008arestillbeingfelt.Wewanttopreservethecongregationswehaveinasustainablefashionsowewillbepositionedforgrowthinthelongrun.Thismustbedonewhileacknowledgingthefactthatthesehistoricchurcheswouldbehard-pressedtoaffordfull-timeclergy.”Fr.Marshconcludes,“ThestrategyisoneoffullyutilizingtheCanonsoftheEpiscopalChurchtodeveloplicensedlayministerstocomplementclergyavailabilityandmaintainEucharistic-centeredworship.”

ThecommitmenttoChristianservicethattheselayleadersprofessedbeforeBishopHowardonSundayafternoonwasessentiallyadevelopmentofthecommitmenteachofusmakesintheBaptismalCovenantatourbaptismwhenwepromisetofollowandservetheLordJesusChrist;to“continueintheapostlesteachingandfellowship,inthebreakingofbread”andto“proclaimbywordandexampletheGoodNewsofGodinChrist.”TheircommitmentservicewastheculminationofmonthsofstudyingtheBible,thePrayerBookandotherappropriatematerialstolearnfortheirrespectiveministries–allundertheguidinghandandexperienceofMtr.DianeReeves.

ThisvisionofhowtoprepareforthefutureofthePCECsisuniquetothePutnamCountychurchesinourDiocesebutperhapsasubstantialsteppingstoneforinitiativesinallofourregionsofourDioceseasweworktobebetterequippedinbearingwitnesstoJesusChristandhisGospel.

Thechurchesthatparticipatedinthishistoricservicewere:

• Emmanuel,Welaka(Clergy,TheRev.SandyTull)• HolyComforter,CrescentCity(Clergy,TheRev.TimThomas)• HolyCommunion,Hawthorne(Clergy,TheRev.LesSingleton)• St.Andrews,Interlachen(Clergy,TheRev.DianeReeves)• St.Mark’s,Palatka(Clergy,TheRev.Dr.BobMarsh)• St.Mary’s,Palatka(Clergy,TheRev.Dr.BobMarsh)• St.Paul’s,FederalPoint(Clergy,TheRev.MikeSnider)• Trinity,Melrose(Clergy,TheRev.TonyPowell)

TheCandidatesforConfirmationwere:NathanCharlesErkman,KendallPatriciaErkman,ThomasLawleyErkman,LewisAlbertBrosky,andShainaRaeArmstrong.ThetentswerefilledwithcandidatesforCommitmenttoChristianService,EucharisticMinisters,EucharisticVisitors,WorshipLeaders,andProvisionalLayPreachers.AftertheConfirmation,Eucharist,manyhymnsofpraiseandablessingfromtheBishop,allinattendanceconvenedintheEpiscopalChurchoftheHolyComforter’sparishhallandenjoyedrefreshments.

ByTheRev.CanonDr.DouglasDupree,Rector,Bishop’sInstituteforMinistry&Leadership

(Scrolldownforasamplingofeventphotos.)

JackandTheRev.SandyTull

TheRev.Dr.BobMarsh

BishopHowardandTheRev.Dr.BobMarshpreparingforthebeginningoftheservice.

BishopHoward

ThetentswerefullofcongregantsfromeightchurchesinthePutnamCountyarea.

Manyyoungcongregantsparticipatedintheservice.