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Religion

Church's offering: Sit back, enjoy life

St. John's Episcopal invites everyone to a six-part series focusing on letting go and figuring out what really matters.

By STEFANIE GREEN
Published February 4, 2005

Busy? Stressed? Find it hard to schedule the important things?

Then attend St. John's Episcopal Church's life enrichment series, "Give It a Rest: Finding the Sacred in a Busy World," today through Feb. 13.

Terry Hershey, an ordained minister from Seattle, will be the keynote speaker during the six-part series. He will talk about letting go of the 24/7 mentality and focusing on what really matters.

More than 70 churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, as well as several area churches and temples, have been invited, publicity coordinator Susan Lang said.

Anyone is welcome to attend.

"We really wanted the event to be more than just a St. John's event," Lang said. "We wanted to provide the Tampa community with an event that has meaning."

Hershey, who also is a practicing horticulturist, landscape designer and author of Soul Gardening, said the series is designed to help people better manage their lives.

"We live in a fast-paced world and miss opportunities to be grateful in life," he said. "Everyone can relate to being too busy or too stressed in the last week, and what I do is I give them permission to slow down and to laugh."

The first part of the series, which starts at 7:30 tonight, focuses on "Things That Matter." Hershey will discuss what is important in people's lives, in an easygoing, fun way, Lang said.

Other lectures include "The Sacred Necessities of Life," "Seven Habits of People Who Love Life" and "Letting Our Souls Catch Up with Our Bodies." It concludes Feb. 13 with "Keeping the Sabbath Holy."

Guests may attend one or more events.

"The topics we are going to talk about anyone can relate to," Hershey said.

While in Tampa, Hershey plans to interview locals for his television show, New Mornings, which airs on the Hallmark channel. He wants to capture "real people who are really living life."

He hopes people will be able to relax, have fun and learn ways to make their lives more fulfilling.

Stefanie Green can be reached at 226-3434 or smgreen@sptimes.com

St. John's Episcopal Church, 906 S Orleans Ave., hosts "Give It a Rest: Finding the Sacred in a Busy World" through Feb. 13. The series starts today with "Things That Matter" from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, and child care is available. For a schedule of events or to register, call 259-1570 or visit www.stjohnstampa.org

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 10:01:08]