MINISTRIES

St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church is one of 77 parishes in the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

We a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church in the United States.

The Rt. Rev. Dabney T. Smith is the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida, serving as our spiritual leader.

We are 77 parishes and missions total some 31,000 baptized persons who share an exciting pilgrimage

of ministry. On any given Sunday, about 13,000 people worship in Episcopal churches in Southwest Florida.

We extend along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, with our northernmost congregation in Brooksville and our most southern on Marco Island. We include the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Fort Myers. Our easternmost congregations are in Plant City, Arcadia and LaBelle.

As a diocesan community of faith we seek to live out Jesus' Great Commission which insists that we should be in the world to make disciples of all people ministering God's redemptive gifts of love and grace.

"Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded." Matthew 28:19-20a.

The Episcopal Church in the United States.

We are highly influenced by the American Revolution, as our spiritual forefathers and mothers were English colonists migrating to the New World between the 1670’s and 1770’s.

These days we are home to native born Americans, persons of Caribbean descent, persons from other faith communities, and those who have embraced our faith.

This configuration of members makes the Episcopal Church diverse.

The congregations and congregants

Can be evangelistic, charismatic, conservative, Anglo-Catholic, and liberal. St. Hilary’s Congregation is a broad mixture of all the above.

First and foremost, Episcopalians are Christians.

We believe God has created us, we proclaim and follow Jesus Christ as Lord, we believe that God is active in our day to day lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We embrace the church as the body of which Jesus Christ is the head and all baptized people are the members.

As part of the Anglican Communion, we are a spiritual fellowship which consists of an estimated 85 million Christians who are members of 45 different independent national churches.

All of the national churches are autonomous and all are in communion with the Church of England.

All Anglican churches are drawn together by a common loyalty to:

• Holy Scripture as the revealed Word of God;

• The historical Creeds of the Church as sufficient statements of Christian belief;

• The celebration of the seven sacraments of the Church with special emphasis on Baptism and Eucharist;

• The apostolic ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons in the life of teaching and service in the Church;

• The use of Holy Scripture, Church tradition, and Reason in matters of belief and practice.

In worship, Episcopalians sit, kneel, stand, sing, pray aloud and pray silently.

Some bow and make the sign of the cross; others don't.

During our formal and communal worship we use the Book of Common Prayer, The Hymnal and (in many places) a service bulletin with the liturgy included.

These tools are designed to help us worship and pray together, something very important to Anglican Christians.

Episcopal worship calls for the full participation of all the people.

The Prayer Book (and the service bulletin) will guide you in what to do, what to say or sing.

Our people are friendly and helpful.

We have an open communion; those who are Baptized Christians may take Holy Communion.

If you need help during the service, please contact Father Charles Cannon, priest and rector for guidance.

Welcome to the family

Christian Youth & Children Formation

Worship/Liturgy

Bible Study and Christian Education

Parish Life

Church Operations

Fellowship and Service

Outreach

Everyone at St. Hilary’s is encouraged to participate in the life of the parish and to bring their own unique skills and energy to our community. Here is an ever-expanding list of opportunities for personal growth and service:

Acolytes age 8 - adult serve at the altar each Sunday on a rotating basis. Training required.

Altar Guild prepares the nave and sanctuary for services, baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Choir and Music programs are known locally for their high quality. Sunday Service 10:00 am.

Greeters welcome parishioners and guests to St. Hilary’s prior to each service.

Liturgy Participants are lay Readers, Eucharistic Ministers, Acolytes and Vergers.

Saturday Service Musicians – Piano and occasional vocalist/other instruments accompany the service.

Adult Bible Study sessions meet Spring and Fall, Tuesdays from 9:30-11:00 am in the Education Wing.
Community Groups meet in members’ homes for food, fellowship and study of Holy Scripture.
Cursillo Southwest Florida offers three- and four-day courses in Christian lay leadership and living.
Wednesdays @ 6:00 during Lent include a simple supper and a lesson.

Collection Counters meet weekly to count the offerings and make deposits.

Communications Crew uses various media to share church news with our parish and the community.

Hilary’s Angel Crew (HAC) provides volunteer opportunities to enhance our buildings and grounds.

Office Volunteers help with mailings, printing, or phone and reception while the parish secretary is out.

Stewardship can be defined as the responsibility to care for the institutions we value. At St. Hilary’s, stewardship is a ministry of all our members. There are no outside organizations that underwrite us, so each member pledges their financial support at whatever level they can. We pledge because we value our community and want to preserve it for future generations.

Vestry is the Board of Directors for the Parish. The 12-member board meets monthly to make decisions about church operations and financial expenditures.

Family and Youth

A ministry of families, parents, volunteers and staff who create, support and implement the youth and children’s lessons, programs and events at St. Hilary’s under the We Belong! Vision Statement:

St. Hilary’s vision for young people is to cultivate a

Christ-centered community and inter-generational relationships through a team-centered approach utilizing music, service, education and worship in environments that promote belonging, safety and growth.

Nursery provides a welcoming, safe teaching environment for children from birth through age 5. We welcome parents to come play and learn with us or take time to enjoy the service knowing that their children are in loving and secure care.

Children’s Church ~ ages Pre-K through 7th grade at 9:45am on Sundays. Children hear scripture and liturgy in developmentally appropriate ways and learn the order of service and some of the songs used in the regular service.

YOSH (Youth of St. Hilary’s)grades 6 through 12 meet at 11:15am on Sundays. Youth dive into a deeper understanding of faith and service to others as well as form lasting friendships.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) provides educational programs and does service projects for both the church and the community. Every woman of the parish is welcome to participate.

Men’s Action Guild (MAG) is a men’s fellowship group that meets monthly for lunch, works on service projects, and shares their individual spiritual lives through discussions. The monies raised by MAG go to fund non-budgeted items at the church.

Prayer Shawls and Prayer Squares created for shut-ins and those who are ill. These items are hand-knitted with donated wool and blessed by knitters who share in this fellowship.

St. Hilary’s Action Community (SHAC) is a ministry group comprised of 20-50 year old members who are seeking ways to deepen their spiritual lives, help the local community and influence the younger generation to join in these endeavors.

Back to School Supplies to support the Dunbar neighborhood

Christmas Tree (decorated) fundraiser and donations

Food Box, Sock Box Ministries provide items for the hungry and the homeless

Food for the Poor, Inc., donations

Holiday Angel Tree Collection Center for the Salvation Army

Hygiene Bag Ministry ~ individual totes filled with hygiene items for the area’s homeless population.

St. Gregory’s Abbey annual donation

St. Mary’s Convent annual donation

YOSH Teen Hygiene Bags and Mission Trips

Annual Parish Picnic

Coffee Hour hosts after the Sunday services. Parishioners serve coffee, juice, and snacks.

Ministry Fairs showcase the wide variety of events, volunteer opportunities, and programs.

Potluck Meals are scheduled during the seasons of Advent and Lent as well as New Member events.