An Invitation to the Weak

By Michael Thompson, Partnered Evangelism Core Captain

Just over six months ago, I met with one of our Clergy for the Reconciliation of Penitents (BCP 2019 p225). I had been struggling with my brokenness and sin and felt weak and unworthy as a Christian man. I confessed the worst of all I've ever done and remember hearing the words, "Your sins are forgiven, brother. You are Reconciled."

I received penance, reestablishing right relationship with God, and from there was led into a program where I've been walking with the Lord and allowing Him to heal my childhood traumas and the wounds of my sin. You're probably asking what this has to do with Missions and Evangelism. The answer is weakness. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the Lord says to Paul"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I can testify that God is faithful to work mightily within us when we accept our weakness and surrender it to Him.

In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians and his letters to the Thessalonians, God's power bursts through as he embraces and accepts his weakness and suffering, entrusting his innermost being to the Lord. I believe this is, in part, a fundamental reason why and how Paul's Church planting, missions, and evangelism spread Christianity like wildfire throughout the world.

To know God, to know ourselves, and to know others, we must get outside ourselves. We do this by surrendering our right to live according to our self-will and accepting our weakness in light of God's grace, as Paul did, and finding a way to help others. We accept our weakness by asking Jesus Christ to bear our fears, temptations, and sin for us. When we do this, His power is made perfect in our weakness, and acts of love, encouragement, and service flow from within us. Paul did that and the Church was established; people received the Gospel, and so here we are today, praise God! What if you are tired and overwhelmed? Becoming a part of the Missions & Evangelism fellowship and service might be the answer.

I want to invite you to plug into our community, prayer, fellowship, and dynamic ministry opportunities. The Partnered Evangelism ministry opportunities below are God’s work. He is calling between 12-16 men and women to come and experience Him in a new and deeper way. Each of these ministries needs you to help proclaim Jesus to others and we do it in partnership with our ministry partners.

• Feed My Lambs | Food distribution ministry providing nutrition to at-risk children kindergarten through high school. Ministry partnership with Crossroads Charter Academy in Quincy, FL.

• Greater Love Church & St. Peter’s Food Distribution and Evangelism Ministry | One Saturday per month we will serve alongside the Greater Love congregation in South Tallahassee to provide food, prayer, and fellowship with the surrounding community as well as establish new friendships with parishioners at Greater Love Church.

• New Destiny Church in Quincy FL | Upcoming Ministry Opportunities:

  • Hallelujah Night (October 2022):  Games, food and fellowship with New Destiny congregation and their surrounding community. Bring your family!

  • Boxes of Love (November 2022): Work together with New Destiny congregation to provide Thanksgiving Dinner and food distribution.

  • Christmas on the Courts (December 2022): Family activities, food, games, and basketball fun with the New Destiny congregation and surrounding community.

For more information, please contact Michael Thompson or visit StPetersFL.com/partnered-evangelism for more details.

A Stephen Ministry Testimony

Submitted anonymously for the benefit and encouragement of those who might benefit from Stephen Ministry or those who may be called to become a Stephen Minister

There is a particular day in the last two years which I will not soon forget. On that day, I elected to resign from my job over some irreconcilable differences and consequently gave up a substantial salary. After a brief few hours of elation over my freedom to pursue other endeavors, I found myself sinking into despair as the uncertainty of future employment opportunities and the ability to provide for my family poured cold water over my confidence.

After a week of résumé revisions and feeling the tumult build in my soul, I was drawn to a recollection of the Stephen Ministry at St. Peter’s that I noted to my spouse when I read the bookmark stocked in the pew in front of us at a Sunday Service. It was at that moment that I felt God’s hand guiding me to seek help before things worsened in my own life and that of my family.

With all my pride in what I had done, now gone, I humbly called the church and shared that I needed someone to talk to about where I was and where I was going. Within a few hours, a member of the Stephen Ministry reached out to me, and we arranged to meet a few days later. The conversation at this meeting and the dozen or so that followed in subsequent time together were instrumental in helping me gain perspective on my situation, recognize the small role I played in controlling the course of my life, and realize how important it was for me to see that God was in charge. Not only did the trusted, confidential counsel of my Stephen Minister help me with my own personal and spiritual growth, but this person also helped me navigate some additional family challenges that developed over the ensuing weeks that were completely independent of the original purpose. I am certain that were it not for His guidance in connecting me with Stephen Ministries, I would have struggled to balance the stress of so many things being out of balance at the same time.

Thank you to the volunteers who help others through St. Peter’s and Stephen Ministries…this service saved me from tribulation and brought me to a stronger, more meaningful relationship with God. And a special thank you to my mentor and trusted listener…I am a better person for your counsel and wisdom. God Bless You!

Do you have a testimony to share of how God has used Stephen Ministry, LEM-Visitors, Parish Visitors, or other ministries to bless and encourage you? Tell us! You can share with someone from that ministry or send an email to info@StPetersFL.com

We'd love to hear more about what God is doing in and through the ministries and people of our cathedral!

Called By Community

By Joseph Reigle, MDiv Candidate ‘24 Duke Divinity School, Charles Simeon Institute Summer Fellow

I grew up in Binghamton, New York, which is a small city on the border of Pennsylvania. My family attended a Baptist church, and I was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. My family, my education, and my faith were all deeply interwoven. I’m extremely thankful for the care my family took to instill their faith in me. But even from a young age it was difficult to disentangle what was my own faith from what was my family’s.

Do I have faith in God? Is my faith my own? Am I saved? These questions followed me from childhood through high school as I left for Cornell University to study city planning.

The first church I visited at Cornell was Bread of Life Anglican Church. Their service seemed strange to me, with repeated words and responses that I had yet to learn. But their reverence for the eucharist was profound. And I desired to be present for it. Slowly I learned the strange words and repeated refrains of the service. I discovered that going through the motions of faith, even when I harbored doubts, allowed me to imagine the world through the eyes of this community.

Through the Anglican church, I discovered that my life and my mind are not purely my own; I share them with the people and places that shape me. Knowledge is inherently communal; what we learn is contingent on our teachers, our access to resources, and the people with whom we live. My academic studies in city planning also prompted me to ponder questions of community and ministry. I learned that the city planner’s and the priest’s work overlap—they are both mediators between parties with divergent desires, advocates for the unheard, interpreters, and communicators.

A significant part of the Charles Simeon Fellowship is a priestly formation seminar led by Fr. Michael Petty. Together we’ve discussed and studied what it means to be servants of the church, and what it means to be a priest. One thing has become clear to me in this study: a priest is never called individually. Just as my faith is not an isolated individual event, my calling is not isolated. It is true that God calls each of his children by name, but he also calls us through the instrument of his church.

I can say with certainty that the Charles Simeon Institute has played an instrumental role in my calling to ministry. Through the opportunities to preach and teach I’ve been able to see the ways that God has prepared me for the practical work of the priesthood. Additionally, I’ve had the gift of lay mentors within St. Peters who have dedicated their time to observing and discerning my spiritual gifts and pointing them out in me. These aspects of the Charles Simeon Institute have affirmed my calling to ministry, and I believe that the investment CSI puts into developing church leaders is also an instrument that God has used to call me.

A Seminarian's Journey

By Ryan Cecil, MDiv Candidate ‘23 TSM, Charles Simeon Institute Summer Fellow

When someone is called into vocational ministry it can lead to a number of fulfilling careers that encompass serving the Lord in mighty ways. For me, after my undergraduate studies, I felt that God desired something quite different for my life than the career path I had chosen in the furniture industry. To be honest, at the time, I was a bit afraid of ministry and felt unworthy of such a call. There was a deep yearning inside of me to serve others and the Lord, but that didn’t fully manifest itself until 17 years later.

My personal calling into ministry began in 2019 after a wilderness experience in my life led me to fully surrender every facet of my life to the Lord. For eight long months, I fought surrendering to my Creator. Things crossed my mind like, where would I have to go? What would I have to do? I was comforted when God gave me complete peace in my surrender and allowed me to rest in him as I was able to fully participate in the leading of the Holy Spirit. Daily, I have learned to fully embrace the words of Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Indeed, as I have done just that, every path that God has laid before me has led to something far greater than I could have ever imagined.

Having always grown up around smaller parishes, coming to St. Peter’s to participate in a summer fellows program seemed daunting. My experience has been anything but that! Rather, it has been warm and welcoming, while the presence of the Lord has been constant. God is truly alive here!

The Charles Simeon Institute has allowed me to gain an in-depth experience of the parish life of a cathedral. The multi-faceted ministry experience has broadened my understanding of what is entailed in serving in a large parish with various ministries. I have greatly appreciated being able to participate in Family Bible School, leading the Daily Office, preaching, teaching, pastoral visits, and wonderful fellowship with you all. It is profoundly evident each and every day that the people of St. Peter’s fully exhibit the fruits of the Spirit,

As I enter my final year at Trinity School for Ministry, I am excited to see what the Lord continues to have in store for my journey into ministry. As we all seek to love and serve the Lord I am reminded of the vivid words of 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

God bless you all!

A Summer Fellow's Reflection

By Dan Omar, MDiv ‘22 TSM, Charles Simeon Institute Summer Fellow

My turning point and a clear understanding of my calling into ministry was at the age of seventeen.  However, even though my calling was undoubtedly clear, I did not know what it exactly meant. I disqualified myself from ordained ministry and sought any other way of fulfilling my calling—a process that took a long time of prayer and discernment. I ultimately yielded to the Spirit’s guidance, assurance, and certainty to accept and seek ordained ministry.

I was already in my second year of seminary when I accepted to seek ordination, and I began to intentionally research into the process and its requirements.  I was overwhelmed by the mere thought of what it means to be ordained and to serve in a parish. I knew that it would only be possible with the help of the Holy Spirit that I would be able to make it in ministry. Thus, my earnest prayer was to find an opportunity to learn skills and knowledge in addition to spiritual growth in a parish setting. 

The Charles Simeon Institute has played a pivotal role in providing me with an opportunity to immerse myself in the life of the local church. I have experienced church leadership from the clergy’s point of view, as well as observing the active level of lay involvement in the ministry of the church. Sermon preparation, discipleship class teaching, and fellowship have provided us with wonderful opportunities to grow as the Body of Christ.

The wealth of experience I am gleaning from St. Peter's will certainly impact my future ministry. I recently accepted a two year curacy in Marion, Arkansas, at a small church planning to plant a church in Memphis, Tennessee. I am excited for this opportunity and ask for your prayers as we venture into the next step of our lives.

As I conclude, I am reminded of Apostle Paul’s resolve as he responds to the Ephesian church elders saying 

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

–Acts 20:24

Chorister Camp Is Back!

By Debbie Garven, Music Associate

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

-Psalm 47:6

Did you know that we have a Chorister Program at St. Peter’s? You may have seen some of our young choristers on Palm Sunday processing in their red robes and cottas. What do they do? They sing! The choristers’ primary purpose is to learn how to skillfully sing for God's glory, an opportunity that allows them to carry out God’s command to sing.  

We are called to sing, scripture supports this, but there are also many “fringe” benefits.

Singing helps us memorize scripture and the great truths of our faith. I admit that I still sing the “thirty days hath September” song when I try to remember the number of days in May! With St. Peter’s using music throughout the liturgy, I’m sure most of you could sing the Sanctus or Gloria with little assistance. 

So singing helps us memorize, but it also helps us emotionally engage with the words we recite. When we sing “O Sacred Head Now Wounded” during Lent, the words and music work together to share the sorrow and great joy of Christ's crucifixion. When we return to singing the “Gloria” after the long weeks of Lent, does it not fill you with great gladness?

Our chorister program is designed to teach the children to sing, (a command), but not only does it allow our children to memorize great truths and emotionally connect to them, but it also allows them an opportunity to serve the church body. One parent says: “Choristers is a way for my children to participate in the liturgy before they are old enough to acolyte. It gives them a chance to start serving at an early age, weaving them into the fabric of the Church.”

The choristers’ primary service is Evensong, with our youth choristers leading about once per month. This service takes place at 5:00 pm and is a sung service of Evening Prayer. It has been a tremendous opportunity for them to learn more music of the church as they help lead in worship.  

Our season has finished for the summer but will resume with our chorister camp the week of July 25th. This is considered our pre-season camp and is open to, and expected, of all who will be participating in the chorister program in the fall. This is a 4-hour camp that involves singing, games, and other creative outlets as we begin learning the music for the fall season and bonding together as a choir. At the conclusion of the camp, the choristers will lead a service of Evensong. In addition, our choristers age 2nd grade and up will be our choir for morning worship on Sunday, July 31st. It’s sure to be a treat and you don't want to miss it!

Rehearsals in the fall resume on Wednesday, Aug. 17th with PreK-5th meeting at 4pm and 6th grade and up meeting at 5pm.  If you are interested in our program, please contact me at DebGarven@gmail.com.  We’d love to include you in our chorister family!

Refugees Among Us

By Michelle Ubben

Like many, I watched news coverage of Afghans desperately trying to board planes to escape the Taliban, and Ukrainians driven from their homes by war and found myself increasingly moved to do something.

But beyond just writing a check to a relief organization, I felt the Holy Spirit calling me to relationship–to encounter the refugees in our midst.

That calling led my husband, Matt, and me to get involved with a small group of volunteers who were helping a local refugee resettlement agency meet families’ critical needs.

It led us to an extended stay hotel room, where we delivered a grocery order and toys to a Syrian couple with seven children, who were in Tallahassee temporarily until they could get transportation to a city where they had a support group of friends and family. The children’s faces lit up as they played with the baby dolls and stuffed animals and bubble wands. Speaking through a translation app on his phone, the dad told me his children had never seen common toys, since they grew up in a refugee camp in Jordan.

It led us to meet another large Syrian family and help them find the bikes they needed for transportation, desks for the children to work at, and a pantry shelf to hold their dry goods.

And it led us to meet an El Salvadoran family at a “pop up shop” staged to help local refugees find needed household items, when their precious little girl pointed to bread we were bagging up and asked if her family could have it. When we later learned that they were sitting on outdoor folding chairs in their living room, we brought them a couch and a recliner that a neighbor was giving away.

 Without a doubt, this has been the most rewarding volunteer work we’ve ever done, because it involves not just philanthropy but fellowship.

Deuteronomy 10:18 tells us to “defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and love the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing,” and Matthew 25 reminds us that when we care for the foreigners among us, we actually do it for Jesus Himself.

We have a tremendous opportunity to fulfill this scriptural directive by engaging with the more than 90 refugee families who live in our midst here in Tallahassee.

St. Peter’s is launching a new outreach ministry to come beside a local refugee family and help them experience the love of Christ through our fellowship and assistance. Our church will be making a financial contribution to help this family build stability as they move toward independence. And a group of cathedral volunteers with a heart for this ministry will form a personal relationship and help however we’re needed, which may include teaching English, locating needed household items, navigating bureaucratic processes and medical appointments, getting ready for the new school year, and more.

 If you feel you may be called to support this ministry, please join us for an informational meeting on June 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall and be in prayer for this effort.

Forming Tomorrow's Leaders

The Rev’d Canon Dr. Michael Petty, Canon for Adult Formation & Director of the Charles Simeon Institute

How should we go about forming future priests and deacons for ordained ministry? This is the “million-dollar question” being asked in the ACNA today and, as you might imagine, various answers are being offered. In thinking through a question like this, some historical perspective is not only helpful but also essential. In his insightful book Theologia: The Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education, Edward Farley shows that the question of how best to form people for ordained ministry has been asked at least since the eighteenth century with no final answer yet appearing.

At the Charles Simeon Institute, we have offered our own answer to this question. We believe that people are best formed for ordained ministry through vocational clarity, emotional and spiritual maturity, and intellectual development. Both our Curacy Program and our Charles Simeon Fellows Program aim at accomplishing these goals.

This summer, our Charles Simeon Fellows (Ryan Cecil, Dan Omar, and Joseph Reigle), will participate in a Formation Seminar over the course of the ten weeks they are with us. This seminar is designed to promote the things I just mentioned. This summer, the Formation Seminar will focus on what I am calling 'Four Conversations.' Each conversation will be conducted with a significant theologian.

Our first conversation will be with the French Jesuit theologian Henri de Lubac. We will read de Lubac’s classic work The Church: Paradox and Mystery for the purpose of developing a deeper understanding of the Church as both a creation of God and a human, historical reality.

Our second conversation will be with the French Dominican theologian Jean-Pierre Torrell and his book A Priestly People: Baptismal Priesthood and Priestly Ministry. The Church possesses two priesthoods which both are rooted in the one Priesthood of Christ: the common priesthood which we all share through our baptism, and the ministerial priesthood received in the sacrament of Holy Orders. During the last thirty years, the tendency has been to emphasize one over the other with disastrous consequences. What does it mean to emphasize both for what they are?

Our third conversation will be with John Henry Newman, perhaps the most important Anglican theologian of the nineteenth century (before his conversion to Roman Catholicism). We will have a conversation on preaching by reading some of Newman’s Parochial and Plain Sermons (preached mostly at the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Oxford before his conversion). Newman’s sermons are an amazing combination of biblical interpretation, spiritual insight, and doctrinal exposition.

Our final conversation will be with the Anglican theologian Hans Boersma and his book Heavenly Participation: The Weaving of a Sacramental Tapestry.  We will talk with Boersma about both the meaning of the sacraments and what it means to think sacramentally.

This kind of undertaking is difficult and time-consuming but, I think, worth the investment of time and effort. As clergy and seminarians grow in vocational clarity, emotional and spiritual maturity, and intellectual development, they become better able to serve God’s people. Hopefully, some seeds will be planted this summer!

Please keep Ryan, Dan, and Joseph in your prayers over the course of the summer!

Family Style Ministry

Amy Stewart, Children’s Ministry Director

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear ‘family style?’ For me, it’s the kind of meal at a restaurant that still serves bowls of meat and potatoes to pass around until it’s too hard to walk to the car. However, in Children’s Ministry it’s the way we are approaching Bible School and Sunday School this summer. For our purposes, family style means that children and parents will participate in the child friendly music, games, crafts, Bible reading, Scripture memorization, and prayer… together! Parents get to walk with their children in many wonderful ways to be reminded of the person of Jesus. As families participate together, they are encouraged to take the skills we are teaching the children home to continue their growth into disciples of Christ. At the same time, parents are also getting the opportunity to connect with other families who are raising children in this secular society we live in. It’s so important to be reminded as parents that none of us are doing this alone and that we were commissioned by God to do this together.

I’ve been asked why we’re doing things this way instead of the drop-them-off vacation Bible School format. Research continues to show that despite being raised in ‘Christian homes’ and attending church services, many young people discontinue their church attendance once they leave the nest. Why do some stay in church and others tend to stray? In 2019, Lifeway Research identified the top 3 reasons why children growing up in church will stay. Young people who continued the basic practice of attending church services reported that while growing up they regularly read the Bible, spent time regularly in prayer, and regularly served in their church. Sounds a lot like the Parish Rule of Life, right?

If that’s the formula, what can we do to help them along the way? The key word in the research findings is ‘regularly.’ With their families, they regularly did the things necessary to keep and grow their faith. We know for certain ‘regularly’ can’t be accomplished in a weekly Sunday School class alone. It takes more than 30 minutes before or after church to learn the life skills needed to be rooted in faith. Parents must join their kids on this journey and practice the ‘regulars’ with them so that when the time comes to choose which path to take, the one that leads to the altar is the obvious choice.

I want my girls to grow up with good habits. Even though it’s a struggle to take the time to brush their teeth properly, the fruit of that labor will come because of the effort early on. Sometimes I wish I could hand them a toothbrush and toothpaste and drop them off at the door of the bathroom. It just doesn’t work that way. The same applies to their spiritual growth. They need me now so that when the time comes to independently read their bible, pray, serve, and make their own spiritual decisions, they’re ready.

My hope is that these words reach all the parents in our church. We crave your participation in this ministry. However, to those who aren’t parents of young children we still need your help now more than ever! Each person takes a vow during the baptismal liturgy to help those being baptized to grow in love as Christ loves them. In our context, that is most often referring to the young children we baptize! Consider taking some time to help in this family style effort so that parents can participate, without distraction, with their children during this critically important time in their lives. Parents need the support of others and children need to see Christianity modeled for them in other relationships beside their parents.  Please reach out to learn what opportunities are available to participate and to serve during Family Bible School next week, Sunday School this summer, and in Children’s and Family Ministry in the future!

Remaining Vigilant

The Safeguarding Committee of St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral

Once a month, a team of parishioners meets to prayerfully discuss the safeguarding procedures of our parish. We seek to be guided by the words of 1 John 1:5–7, which say:

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Each meeting we have is with you, the people of St. Peter's–from the youngest infants to the most senior among us–in mind. Did you know that 93% of sexual abuse perpetrators admit that they view the Church as an easy target? This singular statistic is deeply concerning. The Church should be a place where it is undeniably impossible for a perpetrator to act inappropriately because of our safeguarding measures and training. 

What would you do if you experienced or saw inappropriate behavior by clergy, a church employee or volunteer? Would you know how to report it or who to report it to? Would you even know if what you saw was sexual misconduct? Sexual Misconduct Awareness Training (SMAT) is required by the Gulf Atlantic Diocese (GAD) and St. Peter’s for all clergy, lay employees, and volunteers every two years. It goes without saying that we do all in our power to protect our children and youth, but we must also be aware of the abuse that can occur even among adults.

The SMAT Curriculum outlines what sexual misconduct is, how to avoid interaction that would appear to be questionable, who to report suspected abuse to, and how the diocese (GAD) is working to keep our parishes accountable and in compliance.

Our desire as a church family should be vigilance (being watchful) and diligence (being earnest) in our care and love for one another. This training prepares us for both. If you are a volunteer or seek to be one soon, you will be asked to join one of the training sessions in the next few months.

In light of all this, recall the following sentences prayed at the consecration of this building, that God would be with us in the fullness of his power through the joys and sorrows of life which we have had and will have in this place:

Holy Spirit, open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts, that we may grow closer to you through joy and through suffering. Be with us in the fullness of your power as new members are added to God’s household, as we grow in grace through the years, when we are joined in Holy Matrimony, when we turn to you in sickness or special need, and, at the last, when we are committed into the Father’s hands.

Consider also praying the following prayer of self-dedication from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation

The Rev’d David Marten, Youth & Young Adult Minister

On confirmation Sunday, you may be wondering what the fuss is all about. While it may not seem like a big deal, this is an ancient and Biblical sacrament that welcomes adults of all ages into the church.1 This process is more than just taking some classes, passing an exam, and then receiving a certificate. Rather, it is the bishop praying for the confirmand to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to serve Christ and His church.

In this sense, confirmation introduces a person as an ordained member of the church. A priest in the diocese recently commented that the prayer to receive the Holy Spirit is nearly identical for both a confirmand as well as the ordinations of a deacon, priest, and bishop. It strengthens the individual’s faith and introduces them to their new role as a member of the Church. Questions to ask when considering confirmation are:

1. Are you of mature age?

2. Do you have a knowledge of the Christian faith?

3. Are you willing to be tested by and held accountable to the church?

4. Are you prepared to promise to uphold the doctrines of the Church in word and deed?

5. Is your intention to lead a life of service to the church and the world?

Most of you are already familiar with confirmation, but do you know about reception and reaffirmation? Reception is for people who have already been confirmed in another apostolic tradition, like the Roman Catholic church, but would like to join the Anglican church. Here, the bishop prays for the strength, gifts, and guidance of the Holy Spirit, that they would be able to serve effectively alongside us in our mission.

Reaffirmation is for people who desire to publicly affirm their Christian faith but have already been confirmed in our Anglican tradition. This is particularly useful when entering a new stage in life or ministry and seeking gifts to match and align with those changes. Anyone who is already a confirmed member may request to reaffirm their vows at the next bishop’s visit.

Confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation all prepare people to participate more fully in the life of the Church. It is a rite of passage, during which candidates publicly reaffirm their baptismal vows and make vows to pursue Christ. It creates bonds with the Church and the opportunity to take part in the full life of the Church. People who have been confirmed are encouraged to participate in all aspects of parish life, from helping with worship, teaching Bible studies, serving in ministries within the parish, and leading in our common mission. Let us know if you are interested in confirmation, reaffirmation, or reception!

1 See II Timothy 1:6; Acts 8:14-16; & Acts 19:6

How Is Our Next Bishop Selected?

The Rev'd Canon Dr. Michael W. Petty, Chair of the Standing Committee, Member of Bishop Nominating Committee

On Saturday, May 14th the Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) will elect a successor to our current bishop, the Right Reverend Neil Lebhar who will be retiring. How does our diocese elect a new bishop? The process for electing a bishop is set forth in the canon law of the diocese and involves the following steps:

1. When the diocesan bishop gives notice that he intends to retire, the diocese requests permission from the College of Bishops to begin an election process. Once this permission has been granted, the Standing Committee appoints a Bishop Nominating Committee. This committee may consist of 6-9 people, two of whom must be on the Standing Committee. In addition to these, two members must be active clergy and two members must be active laypeople. The current Bishop Nominating Committee consists of four clergy and four laypeople. (The Standing Committee consists of three clergy and three lay people each of whom is elected by the diocesan Synod.)

2. After appropriate interviews and screening (specified by ACNA canon law), the Bishop Nominating Committee must present the Electing Synod of the diocese with 2 to 5 candidates. The names of the candidates must be made public at least 60 days in advance of the election. At the end of a long process (with 19 nominees), the Bishop Nominating Committee presented a slate of two candidates: Fr. John Wallace (Apostles-by-the-Sea, Rosemary Beach) and Fr. Alex Farmer (Servants of Christ, Gainesville).

3. Once the slate of nominees has been finalized, the Bishop Nominating Committee must provide an opportunity for each of the candidates to visit each deanery in the diocese. Our diocese has four deaneries. Fr. John and Fr. Alex have met with clergy and lay delegates at Christchurch in Montgomery AL, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Grace Anglican Church in Fleming Island, and Christ Church in Vero Beach. The Q and A sessions from each of these four gatherings were recorded and posted on the Bishop Nominating Committee website (GADBishopSearch.org).

4. Bishop Neil’s successor will be chosen by the Electing Synod of the diocese. This body consists of clergy and lay delegates from each parish in the diocese. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive two-thirds of both the clergy and lay votes.

5. Once our next bishop has been elected, this election must receive the consent of the College of Bishops. Once this consent has been given, the new bishop may be consecrated. The consecration of our next bishop is scheduled for Saturday, August 27th here at St. Peter’s.

Bishops have holy and awesome responsibilities. To get a sense of these, consider meditating on The Form and Manner of Ordaining and Consecrating A Bishop, found in The Book of Common Prayer, 2019 beginning on page 497. Additionally, please pray for these two candidates, their wives and families, their current parishes, and for our diocese as we all discern the direction God is leading us in the coming days.

Healing Prayer Ministry at St. Peter's

The Rev’d Andy Miller

In an Anglican Compass article entitled, Why Should an Anglican Church Have a Healing Ministry, author Hannah King testifies that after suffering from chronic back pain for years, she was a regular recipient of prayer during Communion on Sunday mornings. She writes, “One Sunday morning I walked into church particularly discouraged, almost unable to find the words to even ask– again– for healing. But I got in line and tearfully repeated the refrain, ‘Please pray for my back.’ That day, I was healed. Inexplicably and unsensationally, God answered the prayers of these church volunteers and I was delivered from chronic pain. Eight years later, I give thanks to God for the church that walked with me and prayed for me and participated in my healing.”

A casual reading of the gospels makes it clear that much of Christ’s earthly ministry was devoted to healing—whether for physical, mental, or spiritual ailments. In fact, we are told in Matthew’s gospel that “Jesus went about curing every disease and every sickness (Matthew 4:23-24).” We as the church are charged with the command to continue the work that he began—to “do this” until Christ returns: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).” In the gospel of Mark, we are told that one of the signs that will accompany those who believe is “they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:18).” I believe it is safe to say that making disciples and healing prayer were never meant to be mutually exclusive ministries.

King notes that “this ministry belongs to the whole church. Though some individuals may be uniquely gifted to pray for healing, the book of James instructs the elders of the church to anoint and pray for those who are sick: “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5:14). Whether James was referring to elders in a formalized sense of leadership or a more generalized sense of mature Christians within a congregation, just as Christ did in the previous passage, he is clearly referring to a plurality of ministers.”

She continues, “This is why Anglicans have a corporate liturgy for healing where after a time of teaching, confession, and communion, people are invited to come forward with prayer requests, as well as for laying on of hands and anointing with oil when deemed appropriate. There is a very close relationship between the eucharist and healing in the sacramental tradition. If Jesus makes himself present in the breaking of bread, then His healing power is uniquely released when we come to the Table." This is why many Anglican churches, [and why we here at St. Peter’s] have determined to offer healing prayer ministry during Communion on Sunday mornings: we receive Christ’s life and then we pray for its application in the myriad of ways we need it.”

What's Avodah With You?!

The Rev’d Canon Bill Krizner, Canon for Missions & Evangelism

He Has Risen Indeed! We shouted this joyous phrase from the top of our lungs at the Great Easter Vigil only a week ago but what does His glorious resurrection mean in your life this morning?  Paul writes the following introduction within his letter to the Romans: “Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus.” In other words, Easter means living His life–one full of freedom and grace–but also fulfilling the urgent task of sharing the Gospel with others so that they may know our same joy. 

It is Easter and it is the greatest of seasons to be part of the great work that Christ is doing through Missions & Evangelism at St. Peter’s. Each year, we invite the entirety of the Cathedral to take part together in a special event called Avodah Day. And, no, Avodah is not the funny punchline in the Hakuna Matata song from The Lion King! Avodah is an old Hebrew word that means to work, worship, and serve our God in every aspect of our lives. For us at St. Peter’s, Avodah Day is a truly wonderful time each year where we celebrate God’s goodness with our Tallahassee neighbors by sharing in fun, food, and fellowship. At last year’s event, we had more than 250 of our parishioners share Christ’s love at the Good Samaritan Network Village. This year, we will be joining our friends at Maryland Oaks, a supported neighborhood within the Good News Outreach ministry. 

Next weekend, on Saturday, April 30th, we will be serving food, providing a Backyard Bible Study for the children, planting flowers and bushes, doing basic repairs, and beginning new relationships with folks from the more than 100 homes within the neighborhood. The event begins at 11am and concludes at 2pm. It is a great day for children, teens, and adults all to come together to share in this work. We will be assigning teams of parishioners to work the varying stations and have a registration table outside by the coffee stand this morning but also welcome you to sign up electronically StPetersFL.com/Avodah. 

 Avodah Days are indeed only one-day events but have already proven to be incredible starting blocks for building much deeper and sustainable relationships with people that do not know Christ or who need the encouragement of God’s Church. Your participation this year is truly critical in helping St. Peter’s in reaching the City of Tallahassee for Christ. Please prayerfully consider giving of your time next Saturday morning to be part of God’s unveiling Kingdom. In Paul’s words, living a faithful life of Christ means to be brimming over with His generosity and love for the people. This year’s Avodah Day helps all of us live more fully into such a blessed call. Please join us!

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

The Very Rev’d Marcus Kaiser, Sr., Dean & Rector

Welcome to St. Peter’s as we celebrate the most important day in all of human history. I know that sounds grandiose and dramatic, but that must be what it is. Today we join with Christians across the world and throughout time who have looked to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and found their hope and healing. This year, rather than offer you even more of my own reflections, I want to share with you just part of one of the greatest sermons ever written. It came 1600 years ago by St. John Chrysostom, and every year I read it afresh. Every year my heart sings. I pray yours will, too.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

 The Easter sermon of John Chrysostom (circa 400 AD)

Reflecting On Dynamos #30

By The Rev’d David Marten, Youth & Young Adult Minister and Quinn Carrasquilla

Twice a year, the high school students in the diocese get together to host a Dynamos weekend. It is a student lead, discipleship intensive weekend which articulates and demonstrates to peers the love of Christ. For weekend #30 (the 30th Dynamos in the Diocese), St. Peter’s had 4 students on the team, 4 adults, and 1 candidate participate!

How does this work? The weekend is built around the candidates, high school students of various grades who have never attended before. One may only be a candidate once, then they can apply to be on the team. The team consists of high school students who run the entire weekend. The team members make it all happen, share their testimonies, lead the small groups, and make sure the candidates feel welcome. Adults also serve on the team in a behind-the-scenes, supervisory, and support role.

The weekend is nonstop and not for the faint of heart! The candidates spend the weekend worshiping, listening to testimonies, sharing in breakout groups and large groups, doing inductive Bible studies, and enjoying activities that highlight the story of Easter. It is a wonderful time that helps people experience God in a new way and connects them with fellow Anglicans around the Gulf Atlantic Diocese.

Here’s a bit more about Dynamos from our very own student and Dynamos #30 candidate, Quinn Carrasquilla:

Hello! I am Quinn Carrasquilla, a member, acolyte, and youth here at St. Peters. Recently, I took a short retreat called Dynamos. This retreat in many ways, is like any other Christian camp: we slept in cabins, ate camp food, and did generic camp activities in our free time. But really, this retreat was unlike any other camp I’ve been to. It became apparent that the atmosphere itself felt noticeably different than any usual camp. Dynamos is something special. I came in anticipating lots of Jesus nerds, corny games, and camp food, and well sure enough that’s what I got. But there’s more too. There is something that invites the soul to come out, to shed the barriers we’ve all set in and around our hearts. The retreat, for me, showed how, despite the paradox, it is possible that by losing one thing, one might gain so many other things. I not so much lost part of myself as I did give it up, and in its place, I gained a gift that can only come from the Grace of God. That is what Dynamos was all about for me: sacrificing something I held in myself so that I could come closer to God.

Cathedral Acolytes

By Dr. Cal Melton, Cathedral Acolyte Master & Levi Pearson, Cathedral Acolyte

Greetings, Cathedral!

To the acolytes: Allow me to offer a sincere thank you to each of you. Words can’t express my gratitude to you and your families. Your presence is a blessing to the congregation at every service. Thank you!

To the parents of Cathedral acolytes: Thanks be to God, our acolyte program currently stands strong with 48 kids and young adults. I’m hopeful of adding 10-12 more rising 6th graders at our April 2nd training. We have 6 teams that rotate Sunday services with many acolytes volunteering at additional services. I appreciate every one of you and your commitment to this program, our acolytes, and God’s Church. Thank you!

Please read the following message from Levi Pearson on being an acolyte:

My name is Levi Pearson and I have participated in the acolyte program for more than a year. As a 7th grader, being an acolyte has really helped me get involved with my community. St. Peter’s has provided a calm and nurturing environment for me to complete service hours for a variety of projects and clubs. A couple of the main reasons that I acolyte on Sunday mornings is because I love feeling helpful, and I enjoy seeing so many friendly and familiar faces during services. Some of my favorite jobs are bearing a gospel torch or reading as a Youth Lector. Reading in front of the cathedral is a treasured opportunity for me because I enjoy public speaking and I love to merge my passion with the gospel. I highly recommend all 6th graders to participate in the acolyte training, because new acolytes are always appreciated, and being able to work your way up through the ribbon system is a wonderful opportunity that is rewarding in many ways. Whether you are delivering sacraments to the altar or spreading incense throughout the church, acolytes are a very important part of each church service, and they all work together to create a beautiful Sunday morning worship service. To conclude, being an acolyte at St. Peter’s is an amazing opportunity that has benefited me in a multitude of ways, and I highly recommend the program to all 6th graders that are interested. See you in church!

World Missions Sunday

By The Rev’d Canon Bill Krizner, Canon for Missions & Evangelism

“The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”  –Henry Martyn

These words spoken by the great Anglican priest and missionary to the peoples of India and Persia sum up the entire heart of our World Missions Sunday this morning. How wonderful is our Lord and how beautiful is the privilege of telling all people of His amazing grace! As we join with our brothers and sisters across the Province this morning celebrating The Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations, we must take time to look at the unique call that the Lord has provided to each of us here at St. Peter’s Cathedral.

We are so excited to welcome more than thirty of our ministry partners to our campus today to share all of the life-giving work that the Lord is doing throughout our community and beyond. Moreover, we want to take this opportunity to thank each of you who have faithfully given of your time, your talent, and your treasures in this exciting new outward season of missions and evangelism at the Cathedral. Our heart is that every parishioner at St. Peter’s would be regularly and actively involved with one or more of these incredible ministries in proclaiming the Gospel to the world around us. With this in mind, I want to ask that you to do two specific things this morning:

1. Prayerfully Pledge To The Great Commission Campaign. As we have been sharing over the past month, we believe that the Lord is calling St. Peter’s to intentionally give in a far greater abundance to ministry outside of our walls at the Cathedral. We are asking that each of you make a pledge this morning to support The Great Commission Campaign to help plant a new church, share the Gospel to those in crisis in Tallahassee, and share God’s love and support with people throughout the world. Every dollar that is pledged will be directly spent on this important work. Please take time to fill out the pledge card in today’s Keys and prayerfully deposit it within The Great Commission boxes located on either side of the central altar as you come forward to take communion this morning.

2. Boldly Take A Step With God In Using Your Time & Talents. The Lord has greatly expanded the opportunity for St. Peter’s parishioners to take part in God’s work within our community and beyond. We want to challenge each of you to take time today to go and visit with the many partners who have come to bless and encourage us at this morning’s missions fair. After the service ends, grab a coffee, visit with the leaders of these immensely impactful ministries, and take a bold and faithful step by volunteering your time and talents to spread the transforming power of Christ.  These ministries have endless opportunities for you to join in such work.

By drawing nearer to Jesus in giving of both our treasure and in our time, we are reminded that God has truly blessed us with a life of true abundance. We praise God for each of you and for His continued work in and through our faithful families here at St. Peter’s!

You Need A Retreat!

By Adriene B. Wright

I am excited about the upcoming St. Peter's Women's Mini Retreat being held Friday, February 18th, and Saturday, February 19th. Retreats have been a significant part of my spiritual journey and I believe this is an ideal opportunity for the women in our congregation and their friends to participate.

For ages, people have separated themselves from life's daily obligation to seek spiritual renewal. We've sought to replace the busyness with mindfulness and the temporal with the eternal. In choosing to retreat from our normal routines, we seek the presence of our God, and a clearer awareness of our relationship to a Christ-inspired life. 

On my journey of Christian faith, I've been blessed to attend many spiritual retreats in rustic and idyllic places, beach resorts, as well as contemporary cosmopolitan areas. Regardless of the setting, retreats have allowed me to listen, reflect, share, and renew my Christian identity in community with others. At every step of my faith journey, retreats have been a refuge for prayer, meditation, inner peace, and Christian renewal.

The past two years have been unprecedented. The impact of the pandemic on our families and society is unlike anything I have experienced in my lifetime. Within my family alone, we've lost my stepfather and long-time friends. We each have our own "lived experiences." Life is rife with circumstances. It is not uncommon to become consumed by our issues such that they dominate our thoughts and actions. We may also overlook others among us who may be coping with unemployment, loneliness, isolation, or changes in financial stability. The effects of ongoing public debates and disagreements over vaccines and masks, and concerns about the safety and protection of our children, schools, and workplaces can be mentally exhausting.

Even with the greatest of wisdom, careful thought, and the best-laid plans, life challenges are inescapable. Perhaps we’re overdue for a fresh reminder that God is bigger than all our fears, plans, and preoccupations.

Susan Yates of Falls Church, Virginia will contextualize our lived experience to the powerful grace of a generous and loving God. In her talks on Discovering a Generous God, Susan will lead us on a journey of re-energizing our faith. Susan has authored numerous publications on Christian life including Risky Faith, her most recent book, and is considered to be one of the most prolific speakers within the Anglican community. Moreover, the St. Peter's Women's Mini-Retreat will also provide opportunities to meet and connect with women we may not know, building community. It will provide an atmosphere to cast away the weights and cares of life through worship and prayer. You can feel free to be transparent in sharing your thoughts and lived experiences in small group discussions, and I certainly do not want to miss this opportunity to experience fellowship with others!

Come and be rejuvenated! Invite a friend and secure your place by registering today at, StPetersFL.com/retreat2022

Reaching Beyond These Walls

By The Very Rev’d Marcus A. Kaiser, Dean & Rector

“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.”

–Joel 2:28-30 (quoted by St. Peter in Acts 2:17-19 on the Day of Pentecost)

As a middle-aged man, it’s hard to know what I’m supposed to do–dream dreams or see visions. Whatever it is, I wonder if this might be one of them. It started as a “wonder aloud,” a “wouldn’t it be cool” statement. It started maybe a year ago. Over the course of a few weeks, I had several conversations with several folks, and I heard myself saying the same thing. I’ve always been taken by the idea of a church that could operate all its internal ministries on half of what it brought in and could send the other half out to build up the Kingdom of God outside of its walls. I know of one church that did that once. Just one. Somehow, as I made what seemed to me a passing remark, a few others started to talk about this vision – what if half of the financial resources of this parish could be spent on other churches, other ministries, other missions that spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

To be fair, we’re doing okay in that regard. In our current budget, if we include the amazing work done through the Charles Simeon Institute, about 11% will go to work that builds up the Kingdom outside of St. Peter’s. Still, if we think of that as the mouth of a Pac-Man character if we look at a pie chart, we’re a long way off from 50% (I did the math… it’s about 39% off).

Riding a wave that started from my unguarded musing, some of our staff and key leaders developed an initiative we’re starting this Sunday, the GREAT COMMISSION PLEDGE. Don’t get me wrong in this, ours is a generous congregation, and our operating budget is fully funded by our regular pledging. Might you be able to give another $5 a week or $100 a month, or really anything. This isn’t just an ask to increase our missions and outreach budget, it’s a chance for you to tell us how important this is to you. Anything pledged and given through the Great Commission Pledge will go to increasing the external giving of St. Peter’s in the coming year. You can read more information on the pages in this newsletter, but think of this as an opportunity, not an obligation.

Call it a dream, call it a vision, heck – call it a folly… but I have found that whenever the Holy Spirit keeps bringing something to mind, I’m better off going with Him than against Him. Even more, when the Holy Spirit seems to start a wave out of a ripple, riding that wave is way more fun than letting it go past. So, we’re asking, does this seem right to us and to the Holy Spirit, for this congregation to be known as one that puts its money wherever the Word of the Lord might be? Dare we believe the Lord when he promised, “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth...”? I pray our answer is a resounding 'yes!'