DaySpring Hit Hard by Milton – Help

A massive oak tree at the entrance of Curry Hall is now leaning against the building, and downed trees and limbs are scattered everywhere. Power outages are widespread.

After Hurricane Helene, DaySpring’s senior staff discussed the need for post-storm volunteers, and now—just 10 days later—we need your help. We’re looking for volunteers to help clear debris and frequent guests to assist in resetting the furniture in Hall House and Retreat House. We also require help tidying up the youth cabins that sheltered our fleet of canoes and kayaks during the storm. Please remember to bring your own water! Lots of it.

If you can help, come tomorrow or Saturday. We have jobs that fit any age or ability. Experienced chainsaw operators are especially needed, and if you have a gas or battery-powered blower, bring it with you!
Send us a message to sign up! Call Phone Number 941) 776-1018 or email frontdesk@dayspringfla.org
“DaySpring’s hurricane cleanup plan: bring your own water, chainsaw, and…patience. Because if you thought putting together IKEA furniture was hard, wait until you’re untangling tree limbs wrapped with Spanish Moss!” -Brad Thompson, Executive Director

Cursillo #150 Update – Deadline Looms

Beloved,

Make a friend, be a friend, sponsor a Pilgrim for Cursillo #150.

Cursillo #150 is scheduled for September 12-15. Roughly 48 days away. Invitations to Pilgrims wishing to attend Cursillo will be sent out by the Cursillo Registrar, Mary Anders, beginning August 1.

I am sure you are aware that we must have at least 20 Pilgrims for a successful weekend. Unfortunately, we are nowhere near this figure. With the Secretariat’s recent rescheduling of dates, Cursillo 150 and 151 now fall outside of snowbird season, leaving us with a much smaller applicant pool.

God is always in charge of our Cursillo weekends. He is most certainly the boss on weekend #150. However, I fear that with the current decrease in Pilgrims, we may yet again postpone this weekend losing momentum or worse ceasing future Cursillo events.

Please do not permit our Cursillo ministry to fall by the wayside. We have all been impacted by our Cursillo experiences – lives changed, leaders inspired and pouring into a life totally committed to Christ. It is time to share these events with our Brothers and Sisters in our church parishes.

Click on the link for the applications for Cursillo 150 – Team and Pilgrims may be found at the link

 

Decolores!

Annie Hunter,

Rector Cursillo 150

anniemedic813@gmail.com

1811 Ft. Duquesna Drive

Sun City Center, FL 33573

Take A Look Again – Cursillo #150 – Be A Part of It

Banner, Cursillo #150, SW Florida

As we await the arrival of our next Cursillo Weekend September 12-14, let us not loose heart. Team 150 is patiently waiting for God’s weekend to start.  We are roughly 3.5 months away and a lot may change during this time, especially with the arrival of Hurricane season. But we can’t as a community drop the ball for Cursillo. Too much momentum was lost during Covid. We must continue to support Cursillo and all of it’s needs for Team members and Pilgrim applicants.

While reading the Bible APP this morning, God placed these words from Lamentations 3:25-26 MSG in front of me:

 

“GOD PROVES TO BE GOOD TO THE MAN WHO PASSIONATELY WAITS, AND THE WOMAN WHO DILIGENTLY SEEKS. IT’S A GOOD THING TO QUIETLY HOPE, QUIETLY HOPE FOR HELP FROM GOD. IT’S A GOOD THING WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG TO STICK IT OUT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES.”

 

And the accompanying Devotion spoke volumes as well:

Wanting something and then having to wait for it can be frustrating, but God makes that time fruitful as he refines our desires in the waiting. Sometimes we ask for a very different thing once we’ve had time to think about it.

Waiting is a worthwhile time if we seek to wait with him. Even when it seems like nothing is happening on the surface, God is doing good work.

The Team for Cursillo #150 is still missing approximately 6 valuable members and we are waiting for Pilgrim applications as well from the Community. Click Here for Team Application

Please don’t let too much time pass before you make the personal choice to join us or reach out to perspective Pilgrims. Click Here for Pilgrim Application

And while we are waiting, please don’t forget the upcoming Ultreya at St. Mary Magdalene, July 20 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Contact Candy Newman at 941-704-6867. We will be glad to take your team applications during the Ultreya.

DECOLORES

Annie Hunter

Rector Cursillo #150

813-842-0755

Anniemedic813@gmail.com

Cursillo #150 Postponed

Candy Newman

Dear Beloved Members of our Cherished Cursillo Community,

With a heart weighed down by the responsibility we hold for this beloved ministry, I must share with you some difficult news. It is with a sense of regret that we find it necessary to postpone the upcoming June Cursillo weekend. This decision comes as a result of our careful consideration and the acknowledgment of the challenges we currently face.

Regrettably, the number of Pilgrims willing and able to participate in the June weekend falls short of what is needed to ensure a meaningful and enriching experience for all involved. The Secretariat, in their wisdom and commitment to the essence of Cursillo, has deliberated extensively on this matter. We recognize that the timing of this weekend, coming so soon after Cursillo #149 held in January, may have contributed to this shortfall. As stewards of this sacred ministry, it is our duty to ensure that each Cursillo experience is imbued with the depth, breadth, and spirit it deserves.

In light of this decision, the Secretariat will convene in May to explore and discuss the frequency and scheduling of future weekends. Our aim is to discern, in prayerful contemplation, the most optimal approach that aligns with God’s will for this ministry. We fervently believe that these Pilgrims are entrusted to us by the Divine, and that His timing is always perfect, even when it leads us down unexpected paths.

In these moments of reflection and discernment, we humbly ask for your continued prayers and unwavering support. Your steadfast faith and dedication are the cornerstone of our community, and together, we will navigate through this period of transition with grace and resilience.

With deepest gratitude for your understanding and solidarity,

In His Love,
Candy Newman
Lay Director
Cursillo Episcopal Diocese of SWFL
941-704-6867

Message From #150 Rector Annie Hunter

Annie Hunter

Beloved,

It’s hard to believe that we are less than 2 months from Cursillo weekend #150 and we still need our greater community support to make this momentous occasion happen.

We’ve made some headway in filling our Team, but we still need more help in completing God’s needs for his weekend. Currently our Team roster is at 25, but we are still short by eleven.

It would be wonderful if we could see so many of you who have recently attended a Cursillo weekend as a Pilgrim! It is such a joy to watch God’s work in his Pilgrim’s from a different perspective.  If you need assistance with a Team application, please visit see the Team Applications Here and the Pilgrim Application Here, Or ask a member of your Cursillo community at church for assistance or you can speak with your sponsor.

At the moment, we are waiting for more Pilgrim applications. Without these, we will not be able to have Cursillo #150. Please speak with any potential candidates who have expressed an interest in attending a Cursillo weekend even if this is in the future.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free contact me

DeColores

Annie Hunter

Rector Cursillo #150

1811 Ft. Duquesna Drive

Sun City Center, FL 33573

813-842-0755

anniemedic813@gmail.com

Christ is Counting on You, and So Am I

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is counting on you and so am I!

Do you remember your time as Pilgrims attending a Cursillo weekend where so many of our lives were forever changed? We came home to families and friends filled with the Holy Spirit,
and on fire to serve God wherever, and whenever, he called us.

After attending Cursillo #114 in 2008, I had a wonderful conversation with a fellow Cursillista Connie Keister. It’s been a while, and we admitted our recollections about that call may remain
lost forever with one exception – God gave us each of a personal mantra that we live by. “God will lead you where he needs you”! This became the theme for Weekend 150. In the Bible, many people came to Jesus through the actions of God. Leading each of them to a life of service sharing the news of Jesus through kindness, love and healing.

There are so many places in the Bible where people were lead to Christ, for his reasons, not for theirs. This became apparent when after attending a Cursillo weekends so many of us returned home, pouring into a life of service to Christ in ways previously unimaginable.

Won’t you please assist us in providing that Cursillo opportunity for others who have not experienced a Cursillo weekend? We need your help by filling both Team and Pilgrim openings.

Currently, we have accepted 8 applicants for Team and 8 Pilgrims for Cursillo 150. Additionally, there are a number of jobs on the weekend which do not require a great deal of physicality but bring great rewards to our Pilgrims.

Annie Hunter

Please prayerfully consider helping Gods Cursillo150 weekend to be a great success by submitting Team and Pilgrim applications to my address below.

Decolores!
Annie Hunter
Rector Cursillo#150
1811 Ft. Duquesna Drive
Sun City Center, FL 33573
anniemedic813@gmail.com
813-842-075

Download Team Application Here

Download Pilgrim Application Here

Special Announcement in Cursillo Leadership

Greetings from the Secretariat:

 I hope this message finds you well and blessed. The Secretariat would like to share some significant updates regarding recent changes within our leadership.

 As of Saturday, February 17, 2024, Dorothy Lowrie has resigned from her role as Lay Director to prioritize her health and engage in rehabilitation. We are grateful for Dorothy’s unwavering dedication and commendable efforts in rebuilding our ministry post-COVID. Her contributions have been invaluable, and she will be sincerely missed.

 In light of these changes, the Secretariat has elected Candy Newman as the new Lay Director to complete the remaining term, which concludes in September. We extend our gratitude to Candy for accepting this responsibility and are confident in her ability to lead.

 Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me or any member of the Secretariat. We appreciate your understanding and support during this transition.

 DeColores,

Candy Newman

 Secretariat

  • Rev. Mario Castro
  • Rev. Brian O’Carroll
  • Sally Allen
  • Russell Tuff
  • Jan DiUlio
  • Ron Joy
  • Rev. Marcella Drawdy

December 2023 Update

Dorothy Lowrie

Dear Cursillo Community of SW Florida,

I trust this message finds you well and filled with the joy of the Cursillo spirit. As the Lay Director, I am delighted to share some exciting updates regarding our journey together in 2023.

Success in Rebuilding the Cursillo Ministry:
The year 2023 was a resounding success in rebuilding the foundations of the Cursillo Ministry. We have worked tirelessly to restore and strengthen our community, and we are now building on the momentum gained during the past year.

Reunions in the North and South:
We held two reunions, one in the north and one in the south, bringing our community together to celebrate our shared commitment to the Cursillo movement. Bishop Scharf graced both gatherings, sharing his inspiring vision for the future of our ministry.

Three Weekends with 44 Pilgrims:
In the spirit of renewal and transformation, we conducted three weekends with a total of 44 pilgrims. These weekends were filled with spiritual growth, fellowship, and a deepening sense of community.

Excitement within the Secretariat:
The Secretariat is enthusiastic about the journey ahead and is looking forward to collaborative efforts that will continue to strengthen our community. Together, we can achieve great things for the glory of God and the flourishing of the Cursillo Ministry.

Pilgrim and Team Applications:
As we embark on this exciting phase of our journey, we invite you to explore opportunities to participate further. Pilgrim and team applications are now open, and we encourage everyone to visit our website for more information and to submit applications.

Please check our website regularly for updates and announcements. Your active participation and support are vital to the success of the Cursillo Ministry in SW Florida.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the Cursillo movement. Let us continue to walk together on this transformative journey, spreading the love and grace of Christ.

Blessings,

Dorothy Lowrie
Lay Director, Cursillo of SW Florida