— Posted by W.G. Hayes on 01/29/08 and filed under Letters from our Bishop
The Bishop’s Address to the 165th Convention of the
Episcopal Diocese of Florida
The Right Reverend Samuel Johnson Howard
Eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Florida
January 26, 2008
Welcome, Reflection and Thanks
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It is a joy to be with you this morning at the 165th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. As you know, our diocese is actually 180 years old, dating from the time when it comprised the entire state of Florida.
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— Posted by W.G. Hayes on 08/31/07 and filed under Letters from our Bishop
A Midsummer letter to the people and clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida from their Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard
July 24, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings at midsummer! I hope you are finding time this summer for holidays and family gatherings, for catching up with old friends and for taking at least one good, long break from the frantic pace of “school year” life. One of the things I enjoy most in the summertime is heading to the beach with a good book…usually a mystery novel of some sort. There’s nothing better sometimes than simply escaping into the narrative of a great mystery story and, with the waves lapping in the background, and a cool iced tea by your side, escaping the thoughts, worries and cares of the world around you.
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— Posted by W.G. Hayes on 03/27/07 and filed under Letters from our Bishop
March 25, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I have recently returned from a week-long House of Bishops meeting at Camp Allen in Texas. This meeting, like others before it, provided a time of fellowship and prayer, a chance for bishops to know one another better and an opportunity for them to discuss the state of our church. Each day featured morning and evening prayer; each day was centered around the Eucharist. I can report to you that, three years into my episcopate, I feel truly and fully a part of the House of Bishops. My fellow bishops are not only colleagues but also friends and partners. My time spent with them surely enriches my mission here in Florida.
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— Posted by W.G. Hayes on 06/26/06 and filed under Letters from our Bishop
A Pastoral Letter from the Bishop of Florida
to be read in all congregations of the diocese
at each worship service on
Sunday, June 25, 2006
My dear friends in Christ:
As I reflect on the past two weeks of our General Convention in Columbus, there are a number of issues important to our life together which I want to share with you. I want to share our success in adopting the Millennium Development Goals as a wider church. Eradication of poverty, illiteracy, and terrible diseases in our lifetime is now closer than two weeks ago thanks to the actions of General Convention. I want you to know of the resolution passed in substantially moving The Episcopal Church toward full communion with The United Methodist Church. Jesus so frequently prayed that we “should all be one.” This week we are a little bit closer to the fullness Jesus yearns for us. I also want you to know we adopted a $150 million budget, most of which is going for outreach and mission to a world sorely in need of the saving Good News of Jesus Christ.
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— Posted by W.G. Hayes on 06/19/06 and filed under Letters from our Bishop
June 19, 2006
The 75th General Convention in Columbus is now more than half-way past and I wanted to take this opportunity to offer a few reflections on our work here.
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