St. James Children’s Center decorated 50 bags for Veterans Day

Picture of Charlotte from the Key Largo VA office

St. James Children’s Center decorated 50 bags to be filled by St. James the Fisherman Church with goodies/toiletry items collected by parishioners for Veterans Day.

St. Gregory’s Parishioner Nominated for Woman Volunteer of the Year Award

Boca Raton, FL, November 3, 2015 — Madonna Turner, a dedicated St. Gregory's parishioner and volunteer with Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, was nominated for Woman Volunteer of the Year, an award given by the Junior League of Boca Raton. She and other nominees will be honored at the Junior League of Boca Raton’s 28th Annual Woman Volunteer of the Year Luncheon on Friday, November 6 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The finalist will be chosen at the luncheon.

About Sue Turner: Originally from Toledo, Ohio, Madonna Suzan Turner has lived in South Florida for the past 25 years. She has a long history of serving others, and is passionate about enabling others to live full, rewarding lives. In Ohio, Madonna was a Sunday School teacher for six years, and worked with Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to senior citizens year round.  In Florida, Madonna has been equally active and involved. She is a realtor and thrives in the role of ensuring that people are getting what they need. It is this ability to connect people and opportunities that has allowed Madonna to make such a significant impact in the lives of others.  Madonna has worked with Family Promise of South Palm Beach County (FPSPBC) as the Volunteer Donation Coordinator for four years. She also oversees the administration of the 260 House, owned by St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. This house is where many of the families that come to Family Promise SPBC stay, and where they are cared for by volunteers from local churches and synagogues. She ensures that the house is cleaned and that the families have everything they need while they are staying there, including linens and non-perishable items.

Through her work with Family Promise SPBC, Madonna set up Past Perfect, which is a consignment furniture store.  Donations are made to the store, which provides Family Promise SPBC a monthly income. She has also established a close relationship with Habitat and those two programs allow the graduating families to acquire items they need for their new homes, such as furniture and dishes. In her role as realtor, Madonna is often able to locate rental homes for graduating families so she is truly able to support them in many different ways, but ultimately with the end goal of ensuring that they have a home and the resources to become financially secure.

As a board member of the Eastburn Advisory Committee, Madonna is involved in the annual grant-making process from the bequest of Jeffrey Eastburn to support the St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church ministries that assist Family Promise of South Palm Beach County and the South Florida Haiti Project.  Madonna is also actively involved in various other volunteer projects, one of which is her son, Nicolas Turner’s ministry “Surfers for Salvation” that helps children and families in Nicaragua. They help children and families by providing them with book bags, school supplies, clothing, shoes and funds.

Madonna is passionate in her volunteer work and a staunch supporter of the families that graduate from the Family Promise SPBC program, as well as the Executive Director and entire team who make the promise of a new life a reality for very deserving families. 

Collection from Bishop Eaton's Ordination

We are delighted to announce that the collection at Bishop Eaton's ordination in May totaled $10,361.17. This represents something of a record for collections on occasions of this kind, and we give thanks for the extraordinary generosity of all who gave.

As Bishop Eaton promised, all this money will go to those ministries in our diocese who give direct services to the poor, and the money will be distributed shortly to these organizations.

Please continue to pray for all those in any kind of need in our society, and please keep in your prayers all those who work so selflessly to fulfill that promise of our Baptismal Covenant that we "respect the dignity of every human being."

Bishop Coadjutor Meets Florida Political Leaders in Washington

While in Washington for the Installation of the new Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, Bishop Eaton met with several leaders in Congress, including those who represent Florida.

Bishop in Congress with Rep. Illiana Ros-Lehtinen 

Bishop Eaton was able to spend time with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Rep. Frederica Wilson, and Senator Bill Nelson.   He also met with Mr. J R Sanchez, Senator Marco Rubio's Senior Policy Advisor, as Senator Rubio was away from Washington.   Bishop Eaton was also able to meet with some others with whom he has had a long relationship, including Rep. Diana DeGette and Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.  Rep. Frederica Wilson introduced Bishop Eaton to the Chaplain of the House of Representatives, Father Pat Conroy SJ.

"It was very good to meet some of our Florida political leaders," the Bishop said, "and I am delighted that there are a couple of Episcopalians among them.   It is important for us to know each other so that we can find ways to work together for the well-being of our communities in the diocese, and I am looking forward to meeting our leaders from other parts of our region.   I am very keen that our political leaders know of our experiences and concerns, and I was pleased to be able to tell them of the good work that so many of our congregations, schools, and other ministries are doing."

Several of the Florida elected officials expressed their hope to be able to attend Bishop Eaton's Seating in January.

View photo gallery here. 

Bishop Coadjutor in a meeting with Rep. Frederica Wilson