More than 400 people—nearly 250 of them children and youth—spent Saturday, Apr. 17, at Trinity Cathedral, participating in the annual Diocesan Acolyte Festival.
Keynote speakers Diana Frade, founder and director of Our Little Roses Ministries in Honduras; the Rev. Donna Dambrot, president of Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida; and Deacon Anita Thorstad of St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton, who recently returned from seven weeks in Haiti, challenged the young people to be missionaries, serving others and taking God’s love out into the world.
Workshops throughout the morning offered opportunities to practice using incense; to experience meditation techniques; to pray with icons; to learn about peer ministry; and even to climb up into Trinity’s belltower and discover that the art of ringing bells is not as simple as it might seem.
After lunch the acolytes, vested and carrying their banners, crosses and torches, assembled in the parking lot between the cathedral and the Diocesan Office for the procession--led by a Junkanoo Band--out onto NE 15th street and around the corner into the doors of the cathedral.
At the Eucharist, Bishop Leo Frade commissioned the acolytes for their ministry and urged them to listen for God’s call--perhaps to ordained ministry.
“If God is calling you,” the bishop said, “please listen—and say yes!”
Each congregation had been asked to name one acolyte to be recognized for outstanding service; the bishop presented a certificate and a pin to each of these honored acolytes.
After the service all participants were invited to stay for a concert by the Christian idie rock group “Between the Trees.”
Click here for Acolyte Festival photos.
Keynote speakers Diana Frade, founder and director of Our Little Roses Ministries in Honduras; the Rev. Donna Dambrot, president of Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida; and Deacon Anita Thorstad of St. Gregory’s, Boca Raton, who recently returned from seven weeks in Haiti, challenged the young people to be missionaries, serving others and taking God’s love out into the world.
Workshops throughout the morning offered opportunities to practice using incense; to experience meditation techniques; to pray with icons; to learn about peer ministry; and even to climb up into Trinity’s belltower and discover that the art of ringing bells is not as simple as it might seem.
After lunch the acolytes, vested and carrying their banners, crosses and torches, assembled in the parking lot between the cathedral and the Diocesan Office for the procession--led by a Junkanoo Band--out onto NE 15th street and around the corner into the doors of the cathedral.
At the Eucharist, Bishop Leo Frade commissioned the acolytes for their ministry and urged them to listen for God’s call--perhaps to ordained ministry.
“If God is calling you,” the bishop said, “please listen—and say yes!”
Each congregation had been asked to name one acolyte to be recognized for outstanding service; the bishop presented a certificate and a pin to each of these honored acolytes.
After the service all participants were invited to stay for a concert by the Christian idie rock group “Between the Trees.”
Click here for Acolyte Festival photos.
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