The SouthernA Publication of the Episcopal Diocese of SouthwestCross Florida The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is a community of 34,000 Christians HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE in 11 counties serving 77 congregations, 13 schools, two campus ministries and the DaySpring Conference Center. Established From the Bishop in 1969. 3 Bishop The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith 4 Refocusing our role: Mailing address: Gulf oil spill should get us 7313 Merchant Court to think about our place on the planet Sarasota, FL 34240 Phone: (941) 556-0315 Fax: (941) 556-0321 Parish gets 9 eco-grant: Website: www.episcopalswfl.org Spring Hill congregation In the United States, the Episcopal Church is goes Florida- a community of 2.3 million members in 110 friendly dioceses in the Americas and abroad. Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori 815 Second Avenue First person: New York, NY 10017 On the cover: 11 Mission trip to Honduras makes (212) 867-8400 Elementary school kids put their indelible mark on Sanibel couple all into a tug-of-war match June The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican 15 during the diocese’s annual Moving Communion, a global community of 70 million Summer Camp at DaySpring 12 Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces Conference Center. forward: in more than 160 countries. Photo by Jim DeLa St. Andrew’s, Archbishop of Canterbury Boca Grande The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Rowan Williams sets its Lambeth Palace sights high London WE1 7JU UNITED KINGDOM The Southern Cross is a member of Episcopal News Service and Episcopal Communicators. Disaster The Southern Cross is published six times a year: 16 January, March, May, July, September and No- in the Gulf: vember. Copies are shipped to all congregations Churches, relief for free distribution. agencies respond to need Articles, letters, calendar information and photos are welcome. They will be used on a space-avail- able basis and are subject to editing. Send all ma- terial (preferably in electronic form by e-mail) to: 23 Events Calendar Jim DeLa, editor E-mail: [email protected] Submission deadlines for upcoming issues: The Southern Cross 7313 Merchant Court September/October: August 1 Sarasota, FL 34240 Phone: (941) 556-0315, ext. 268 November/December: October 1 January/February 2011: December 1 2 The Southern Cross July/August 2010 Persistent prayer can break through spiritual barriers ow that is it it to help me strengthen my summertime, baptismal resolve of per- the heat and sonal surrender to God. humidity are rom That self-emptying Nour constant companions. F gesture is easily melted We may long for some the away by the crushing refreshing coolness even weight of sins and dis- though we all thought our Bishop tractions if not strength- most recent winter was ened on a daily basis. The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith too long and cold. Every day is a new op- I thought it may be portunity for our personal helpful to provide some free will to be given to God’s will — or not. cooling refreshment with And each day builds upon all the previous this Southern Cross let- days. God’s will can form such a power in our ter. I have preached in a lives that it can crack the metaphorical granite of couple of our congregations recently and used sin. an illustration from my personal prayer life. This St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians informs us, personal practice is the use of what is called the “If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal Snowflake Prayer — perhaps a good prayer to life from the Spirit. “(Gal. 6:8) learn during the heat of summer. Several people Repeated sowing of the will of God’s Spirit have asked me for it, so here it is. forms holy spiritual strength in the personal free I learned of this prayer in a book titled Pray: will that God gives us. I know I have a long way a Study of Distinctively Christian Praying, by to go in the formation of my own divine spiritual Charles Whiston. Over time I have amended it strength. That’s why I keep praying the Snow- and made it my own. The Snowflake Prayer is flake Prayer. I commend it to you. based on this fundamental reality: One solitary Have a refreshingly cool summer. snowflake is easily melted away with one single breath. Millions of snowflakes, though, collec- tively, have enough strength to form a sheet of ice that has the power to crack granite. My per- sonalized snowflake prayer goes like this: Dear Lord, I surrender my life to you this day to be used by you For what you will For why you will For where you will For whom you will and For when you will. All that I have and all that I am I, this day, surrender to you. And if I am to die this day Let me die loving you and serving you. Amen. This is a prayer I’ve been saying practically every morning for many years now. I understand The Southern Cross July/August 2010 3 Gulf crisis refocuses our role on Earth By The Rev. David Danner thinking of the petition included in the Ash Wednesday Litany of Penitence enerally speaking I am not which begs God’s forgiveness, “For an up-close lover of the R our waste and pollution of your cre- great outdoors. Oh yes, I G ation, and our lack of concern for those enjoy the gorgeous water views, who come after us.” I know questions sunrises and sunsets, night skies and eflections concerning alternative energy sources, tropical sub-foliage available to us R That’s R expansion of drilling and conservation here in paradise. true, acci- policies can easily become politicized. That said, you are not likely to dents do happen, and (Indeed it seems everything is political catch me camping out in the wild. Get in some sense this tragedy is an un- these days!) Don’t worry. I do not plan the picture? Despite my respectful- fortunate accident insofar as it was not to go down that slippery slope. I do distance approach to nature, I am planned or anticipated. Still I feel some think, however, that theology has some deeply saddened (and also appalled and ownership, some guilt and some sense bearing on the matter, and with that angered) by what is happening to our of corporate sinfulness in this matter. said, I can weigh in. beautiful Gulf waters and beaches. I can I am suddenly more conscious that I The opening chapters of the Book barely stand to watch the live video of routinely make little or no effort to of Genesis raise some pertinent issues oil gushing into those pristine waters, or conserve water, energy or electricity. If I for our reflection. When God has fin- see helpless wildlife drenched in oil. do so, it is because I like to save money, ished his creation — humankind being Daily I hear some radio or televi- with no thought that it is good for the the last of his creatures — he gives sion pundit declare, “Why can’t we just environment. I recycle because it is them “dominion over the fish of the sea accept the fact that accidents happen?” expected, not because I think it right. As … and over every living thing.” Later, a worship leader, I have never observed after Adam and Eve have been driven Earth Day or the church’s time-honored — The Rev. David Danner is rector of All from the Garden, we encounter the sad equivalent of Rogation Sunday. Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church on and tragic quest for power and approval Recently I have caught myself Longboat Key. (Continued on page 14) Moments of clarity usually come quietly etters By Sandra Pollock thoughts came to mind. Or perhaps I L could use my neglected degree and life Letters to the editor and Reflections ’ve been waiting for my “aha mo- experience counseling single mothers essays to The Southern Cross are ap- ment,” to quote a recent insurance at a local foundation. But I never got preciated and encouraged. commercial. Unrelated to finances, I around to looking into it. We ask that letters be as concise as my “aha moment” was concerning faith And so, I waited for God to moti- and direction. I thought when I retired possible — with a 300-word suggested vate me and shove me in the right direc- limit — and stay on one topic. Authors months ago that I would receive some tion. But no epiphany, no miraculous should include their full name, parish af- sort of epiphany, clear and concise, tell- signs occurred. Instead, I found myself filiation or city of residence. Anonymous ing me exactly what I should do to give being gently pushed by a higher being letters will not be published. back to God and the community. into volunteer work I had never envi- I have been so blessed in my life All submissions are subject to editing to sioned. God always amazes me and I that I always assumed I would spend improve clarity and to fit in the available shouldn’t be surprised. space for each issue. my golden years helping others as I A wise priest once told our congre- have been helped in the past. I now had Please send correspondence to: gation that God’s mission for us rarely time for the altruistic endeavor, but I shows itself in a blinding light, a majes- Letters to the Editor was uncertain what it should be.