New Bishop of Gulf Atlantic Diocese Celebrates First Confirmation
Crystal River , Florida
February 27, 2010
There were no hand bells ringing. There was no praise band in the transept no magnificent swell of organ sound, no be-robed choir raising their voices in four-part harmony, and no congregation of hundreds. Ritually speaking, the contrast between this worship service of confirmation and the service of consecration in Jacksonville two weeks prior couldn’t have been more marked.
Yet despite all that was apparently “missing” on this Saturday afternoon, the 27th of February, there were some amazing, even awe-inspiring similarities. You see, the Holy Spirit was in both places, and in both places He was palpably present.
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| Left to right: Fr. Frank D. Gough II, rector of St Christopher, Bp. Neil Lebhar, Bishop of The Gulf Atlantic Diocese, Frank D. Gough III, 1st confirmand, and Fr. Jim McCaslin, Assistant to the Bishop. |
St. Christopher Anglican Church in Crystal River isn’t much to look at; the sign out front still advertises a long-gone chiropractic clinic. Similarly, there’s not a lot of the normal trappings you might expect of a church so firmly rooted in the Anglican tradition. It is, nonetheless, perhaps the perfect place for the Right Reverend Neil G. Lebhar, the new bishop of The Gulf Atlantic Diocese, to have begun his Episcopal ministry in the form of his first service of confirmation.
The hymns were sung mostly a cappella, with a piano to give the starting notes upon which to sing. These hymns were also neither high Anglican, nor were they contemporary praise music, but rather the same sort of simple hymns that have moved people’s hearts for over a hundred years; hymns as “The Solid Rock”, and “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”, and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” While not fancy, voices were raised in unmistakable praise to God. The joyful swell of voices raised in this manner brought some to tears; just as two weeks ago in Jacksonville .
Lay-planted and lay-led with clergy support for the first two years of its existence, St. Christopher had three confirmands to be presented, including the very first person to be confirmed by Bishop Lebhar, 16 yr. old Frank Gough III (Trey), the son of the new Rector of this growing church plant. Others confirmed from St. Christopher were 16 yr. old Jennifer Yermal, and 14 yr. old Joseph Yermal, children of Sr. Warden, Mr. Alan Yermal. There was also one adult confirmed from Servants of Christ Anglican Church in Gainesville , Florida , Mr. John Becker. And interestingly enough, there was even one confirmand from an Episcopal church, 14 yr. old Nicholas McCormick from Holy Faith Episcopal Church in Dunnellon , Florida.
Following the service of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, all were invited to enjoy a wide variety of foods and refreshments prepared by the members of St. Christopher Anglican Church. St. Christopher is one of four churches in the Gainesville Deanery of The Gulf Atlantic Diocese , which includes Servants of Christ, Gainesville; Immanuel, Keystone Heights; Christ’s Anglican Fellowship, High Springs; and St. Christopher. Information regarding any of these parishes can be obtained by calling the Office of the Gainesville Deanery at 352-271-1188.
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Contact: The Reverend Alex Farmer
Info@servantsanglican.org
PO Box 357867
Gainesville, FL 32635
Phone: 352-271-1188