There is an Anglo-Catholic parish in Sarasota, Florida, that has a solid history of holding to the "Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints." The parish is Church of the Redeemer, and the Rector is The Rev. Fr. Fredrick A. Robinson, who is now into his 16th year at the parish.Father Robinson and his lovely wife, Linda, were on holiday in Sedona last week, and on the 6th Sunday after Trinity he was the Celebrant at the ten o'clock Solemn Mass at our parish, and is shown in the picture which accompanies this article, standing with Bishop McMannes after the liturgy had ended.
Also in attendance at the mass was the retired Rev. Canon Ronald and Mrs. Brokaw, from Orlando, Florida.
As all who were in attendance can attest, the day was a lovely celebration of the Sacred Mysteries, and a grand time during the fellowship hour was also had by all.
Hosting the coffee and fellowship hour was Pat Campbell, who brought a veritable feast of culinary delights for consumption by the parishioners and visitors alike - an extravaganza which included pineapples, cantalopes, apples, egg salad and deviled ham sandwiches, ice tea, chocolate cookies, and the Bishop's notoriously "thick" coffee!
Father and Linda Robinson are still on holiday and will return to Sarasota on the weekend of August 7-9. Please keep them in your prayers for safe travel (yes, it's a "road trip" that they're on!). Pray also for the ministry of their parish, with which we share much in the Faith: you see they, too, are a kind of "Fort Defiance" outpost of catholicity in the midst of a wild and untamed territory we know as the fallen world in which we live!
Pray for the Church!
Almighty God, whose compassions fail not, and whose loving-kindness reacheth unto the world's end; We give thee humble thanks for opening heathen lands to the light of thy truth; for making paths in the deep waters and highways in the desert; and for planting thy Church in Sarasota, Sedona, and in all the earth. Grant, we beseech thee, unto us thy servants, that with lively faith we may labour abundantly to make known to all men thy blessed gift of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
- 1928 Book of Common Prayer, page 38
