St. Paul's Episcopal Church |
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From the Rector
By the Rev. Donna S. Mote, PhD
Dear People of St Paul’s,
Grace and peace.
It’s bread season. This Sunday upcoming, August 8, will be Sunday number 3 of 5 when our gospel passages come from the gospel according to John, and from some of the 71 verses of John’s sixth chapter.
We started this mini-season in John on July 25. Beginning August 1 and continuing through August 22, our gospel readings center around Jesus’ discourse on bread.
What’s up with this bread season? And why this turn to John in the midst of our year with Mark?
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In the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary, we always read Matthew in Year A, Mark in Year B, and Luke in Year C. All three years we have the gospel of John at Eastertide and at a few other times during the year. This year is Year B with Mark.
Some folks say that because Mark’s gospel is so short compared to Matthew, Luke, and John that in Year B, we need these weeks from John as a kind of gospel extender to stretch Mark out till the end of the season after Pentecost.
I am inclined to agree with Dr Alexander John Shaia who instructs that we turn to John in this season because the tone of fullness and potency that characterizes John’s gospel fits so well with the season in which we find ourselves at this time of year in the northern hemisphere—especially a little farther north in the northern hemisphere.
At this time the summer is thick and ripe, and the crops have been laid by. The produce is coming in; the fruits of the season are abundant. The season’s yields are celebrated and enjoyed.
As Dr Shaia points out, “these five weeks coincide with the Northern Hemisphere cycle of August and the Celtic Feast of Lughnasa/Lammas which marks the beginning of autumn.” The Celtic Autumn season begins after sunset on August 1 and ends at sunset on October 30.
Come August 29, we’ll be back to Mark’s gospel, back to crossing the stormy sea and everything happening in a hurry. Till then, we’re in John, enjoying the season and its fruits, and hanging out in the abundance of the garden.
And we’ll be thinking about bread: about how it represents food and nutrition of all kinds, about what the living bread really is, about what it means to receive the bread of heaven. What is it that truly nourishes you? What gives you life?
You can worship in person at 7:30 AM or 10:00 AM on Sundays at St Paul’s, join the Facebook Livestream at 10:00 AM, or watch the recording of the service on the St Paul’s YouTube channel afterwards.
With you on the journey,
Donna+
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This Week's News Highlights
Organ Still Working, Pending Repairs
Tim continues to work with the organ repair personnel to amend the damage done to the organ by the post Tropical Storm Elsa lightning strike, plus accumulated damage from years in Key West's heat and humidity.
The good news is that much of the organ is still working and Tim can work his magic in using the functioning pipes to good effect. Sunday services still feature the inspiring and magnificent sounds to which we have all come accustomed.
Our Service This Week
Holy Eucharist, Rite II will be at 7:30AM. This is a quiet, intimate spoken service.
Holy Eucharist, Rite II will also be celebrated at 10:00AM with music and incense. This service will also be live streamed on Facebook Live.
Most Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, though those who are not vaccinated, or who feel comfortable doing so, are certainly encouraged to wear masks.
The prior ban on congregational singing will no longer be in effect. Communion has returned to the altar rail (and will be brought to those unable to approach the altar).
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Almost time to set a new section of bricks!
We hope to place the next order for Memorial Garden bricks soon. Shipping costs dictate that bricks only be delivered in bundles and we are nearing the number needed for the next set.
Several bricks were recently purchased, putting us even closer to the goal of having enough to have the pending orders shipped. Please consider joining in so that the next set can be ordered. You can order your brick(s) here.
Proceeds help preserve our iconic church and grounds for future generations.
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Sunday's Service
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 7:30AM and 10:00AM on Sunday. The 10:00AM service will also be streamed on Facebook (if Facebook cooperates with the connection). There is definitely room for all. Please join us if you can.
To join via Facebook (at 10:00AM), go to the church Facebook page at the appropriate time and look for the window showing that "St. Paul's Key West is now live". Click on the window. (You may need to refresh the page a few times if the "live" window does not appear promptly at the appointed time.)
You can open or download the bulletin for the 10:00AM Sunday service here.
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Junior Warden's Report
By Greta Philips-Ford
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The Volunteer group will not meet this Saturday, August 7th. They had a very busy Saturday last week with the cleaning up of the garden and the temporary installation of the new window unit air conditioner in the sacristy.
We also had to replace the motor on one of our large air conditioner units for the main sanctuary this week. Thank you Leo, Total Temperature Control for your speedy response!
The group will resume next week.
We will be working on the removal of the dead Frangipani tree on the Eaton Street side of the church, the front garden plants, and taking all of the storage items that were being temporarily stored in one of the Sunday School Classrooms/meeting rooms in Holy Innocents Hall (including our Christmas garland) back to the attic above the sacristy (and the beautiful new space that Ken stuccoed and painted.)
We look forward to seeing everyone on August 14th at 9:00AM!
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Caroline cleaning and pruning the garden |
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Volunteers clean up after last Saturday |
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Becky, Carine, Debbie Jo at garden project |
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
Simple Time With God
Several years ago, I was part of the altar guild - the group of people who prepare the elements for the Sunday (and Wednesday) services. In addition to putting together the setup of bread and wine (wherein one learns cool names like purificator, burse, paten, corporal, etc.) we would fill the candles with oil. (Our candles, except those in the military chapel, are actually oil filled torches.)
When there are more people here during “the season”, Wendy Niven also organizes days in which all the brass (we have a lot of brass) is polished.
After becoming senior warden, I had to give up regular service on the guild. But this week, our summer stalwarts, Kim Grizzle-Malgrat and Phyllis Pita, were both out of town. So, this morning I again found myself filling candles and stressing over the exact order of items in the weekly setup (chalice, purificator, paten, host, veil, and burse (which itself contains an extra purificator and the corporal).
I think I got it right. If not, I’m fairly sure Padre Donna won’t excommunicate me. But more importantly, I realized how much I missed the simple physical labor of doing an important, but often unnoticed task.
It is stifling hot in the church in summer. And there are ten candles (counting the two on the Mary altar) to be filled. I’m usually drenched by the time I finish. And yet, it is a strangely peaceful experience.
That space. The music Tim selects to play. The memories.
In many ways I miss the days when I’d count collection money, fill candles, and do behind the scenes things like that. I look forward to returning to that life when my “leadership” role ends in January.
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God doesn’t ask us to be famous. God enjoys our company, and whether we have an “public” role (readers, altar servers, etc.) or a behind the scenes one, it is in “doing” that we more fully commune with God.
St. Paul’s needs counters (tellers), altar guild members, office help, newsletter helpers and so much more. Please consider how you might want to help. Not because it’s required. But because it offers the kind of satisfaction money cannot buy.
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Speaking of volunteers, please hold Jeff Minalga in your heart and prayers. Jeff closes the church (which is actually a rather time consuming activity) four days a week. (Bruce Hagemann and David Eyer do the other three.) For Jeff, this has been his “ministry” – a chance to give back. He often banters with tourists and sometime serenades them on the piano before closing the doors. He is an excellent ambassador for the parish.
Jeff has been very ill lately. Ken Bagge and David Eyer have stepped up to cover his “shifts”. But Jeff is really irreplaceable. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers and, by all means, tell him how much we all appreciate him when he returns.
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Contacts:
Church office phone: 305-296-5142
Church mailing address: 401 Duval Street, Key West FL 33040. Pledges and offerings can be mailed here or made electronically at the church giving page.
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Where to Find the Music
By Tim Peterson
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Remember that you can also find prior recordings of many past concerts and musical offerings on St Paul’s Facebook page, or on YouTube.
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We Pray Each Day
Daily Morning and Evening Prayer is being offered on Facebook Live at 7:30AM and 5:00PM on weekdays.
Thanks to Bruce Hagemann, Lisa Laskow, Mary Simmons, Samantha Hall and Tim Peterson for volunteering to officiate at these sacred moments.
To join in the prayers via Facebook, go to the church Facebook page at the appropriate time and look for the window showing that "St. Paul's Key West is now live." Then click on the window.
"Like" us and turn on live notifications to get a reminder whenever we are offering prayers.
Please pray this week for healing for
Brittany (Sherri Hodies’ daughter), Beth and Jon Peterson (sister-in-law and brother of Tim), Al (Kitty Roberts’ partner), Peter Nanos, Joseph Lyles, David Sweeting, Monica (Kitty Roberts’ daughter), Sandy Highsmith, Carla Harper (sister of Joseph Lyles), Judy Denton Ping, Ken Reed, Mickey Malgrat, John Shaver, Joe Wittreich and Zane Wruble (daughter of Kathleen Bratton), Sarah, Steve Sika, Maxon Faraldo, Leslie Steele, Jeff Minalga, Harrison Simmons, Mary and Dexter Simmons, and Elsa Colligan (mother of Kip Colligan)
We pray for the departed and their loved ones
Mark Simcox
"Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant"
(Send your prayer requests to Tim@stpaulskeywest.org for future publication and to be included in the Sunday service. By default requests will be listed for four (4) weeks. But if the need continues, please let us know.)
We celebrate these August Birthdays
MaryCarlin Porter 08/03
Mason Whiteside 08/03
John Carlock 08/04
Robert Burchett 08/06
Judi Carlock 08/06
David Sweeting 08/07
William McBride 08/08
Kyler Palmeno 08/09
Bobby Highsmith 08/10
Rachel Wilcox 08/10
Norman Vincent Alexander 08/11
Warren Chalmers 08/11
Lacy Pischke 08/16
Ben Simmons 08/16
Norman Bruein IV 08/19
Phyllis Pita 08/19
Wynn Steinkamp 08/19
Linda Acevedo 08/21
Isabel Steinkamp 08/22
Aidan Wilcox 08/25
Grayson Thomas Acevedo 08/26
Zachary Albury 08/26
Carolyn Blackwell 08/26
Chris Hall 08/26
Barbara Neagley 08/26
Keith Grahman 08/27
Stephen Gahan 08/29
Juan Mayancela 08/31
(If your name is missing from this month's birthday list please send a note to info@stpaulskeywest.org so we can add it.)
We celebrate August Anniversaries:
Susanne Woods & Anne Shaver 08/01
Tom & Clare Keller 08/04
Alex & Mitch Paternaud Lavoie 08/05
Richard & Julia Pischke 08/09
Mike & Lisa Benfield 08/13
Dave and Kay Holfinger 08/22
Ross & Barbara Neagley 08/26
Nancy & Niles Noblitt 08/28
Tom Bond & Ray Warren 08/29
Michelle & Tom Valvoda 08/30
John & Carolyn Sangston 08/31
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Reminders
Sunday School will resume when possible.
Back issues of The Epistle are available here.
Send questions and comments to the editor of this newsletter here.
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Tel. (305) 296-5142
Pastoral Emergencies (305) 735-1867
The nave of the church, the grounds and gardens are open for prayer and meditation daily.
The church office is located in Holy Innocents Hall
Rector's Drop In Office Hours: Tuesdays, 1 - 5PM
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