August 19, 2021
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
From the Rector
By the Rev. Donna S. Mote, PhD

Dear People of St Paul’s,

Grace and peace.

Remember on July 1 when I wrote that I expected the Fourth of July to feel a bit like Christmas and Easter as well as the Fourth of July because all but two of our diocesan COVID-19 protocols had been lifted?

And remember that in that installment of The Epistle I also wrote the following?

“It is possible that some restrictions may be reinstituted if we experience a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases or other unanticipated pandemic developments, but we hope that such measures will not be indicated.”

We have come to a point where some other restrictions need to be observed again for a season.

We have been asked by the Very Reverend Debra Maconaughey, the dean of our convocation and the chair of the diocesan regathering committee, to consider making some modifications in light of the dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases in our diocese.

As I write, the Lower Keys Medical Center is at 85% capacity. The Middle Keys and Upper Keys have numbers far worse than ours, and two large Miami hospitals are at capacity.

Given all this, here are the modifications we will make in our corporate worship for the time being:
1.    We ask that everyone, both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons, please wear a mask inside the nave, including before, during, and after the in-person services.

I will also be masked except at the pulpit.

This measure applies to both the 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM services.

2.    At the 10:00 AM service, we will forego congregational singing, and I will not chant the eucharistic prayer or any other part of the mass. Dean Warden, our wonderful cantor, may still sing as a solo voice inside and may do so unmasked.

We will also continue to observe the two remaining COVID-19 protocols that remained in effect after the others were relaxed on July 1, namely, 1) staying in place for the exchange of peace and 2) only receiving communion in one kind.

I look forward to the day when there will no longer remain any need for any COVID-19 protocols. Until that time, we live in hope; we give thanks to God for our many blessings; and we demonstrate our love for our neighbors as well as ourselves by exercising these modes of care.

With you on the journey,

Donna+

This Week's News Highlights

Masks Are Back

As indicated by Padre Donna in her message above, all persons, vaccinated or not, are expected to wear masks while in the church nave now, including during the Sunday services. Please be masked if you attend services in person until further notice.

Also note that the congregation will not sing, although cantor Dean Warden will still sing a solo.

Other than the changes noted, the services will proceed as usual. There is ample space for self regulated social distancing. Communion under one kind (bread) will still be distributed at the altar. Please join us if you are able.

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.
Very Close To Ordering 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.
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.
Junior Warden's Report
By Greta Philips-Ford
The Saturday volunteer group will resume this week to complete the storage transfer project from the Holy Innocents Hall Sunday School classroom/meeting room to the attic above the sacristy.  Please join us!

Florida Keys Irrigation completed the repairs on the irrigation system throughout our campus. They replaced 97 sprinkler heads and one control box. The system is working beautifully! They did a wonderful job! 

Thank you to the donors who made this project possible.

Check Electric will start work on replacing the fluorescent lights with LED lights behind the Stained Glass windows in the Towers and the High Altar this week. (This is another project made possible by generous donors. Thank you.)
Upcoming projects include removing the stump of the dead tree cut down.

Plus, I am looking for someone who can repair an icemaker! The icemaker in the Parish Hall is non-functioning. If anyone knows of a restaurant equipment repair person, PLEASE let me know!
Debbie Jo and Caroline went plant shopping at Mama's Rock and Sand and added a few more flowering plants in pots in the garden area to the south of the Historic Rectory. 

So far the iguanas do not seem to be bothering/eating them! Caroline is earning volunteer hours for her work on campus. If you know of a high school student who needs volunteer hours please have them join us. 

See you Saturday between 9AM and noon!

Thank you, Debbie Jo and Caroline!
Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren

Changes

We've absorbed some serious blows in the past sixteen months. But one of the most difficult for me is the looming departure of our amazing parish administrator, Lisa McCarthy.

Lisa came to us in May of 2020. Things were more than bleak. We'd been without an administrator since September of 2019. Paperwork was piling up. The interim rector and I were dealing with the complete shutdown of operations as directed by the diocese due to the pandemic.

Lisa was the answer to a prayer. Although the position was only part time, she jumped in and provided nearly full time assistance. Paperwork and systems were organized. A sense of order returned, and we were even able to modernize, systematize and organize in ways not done in years.
Lisa is returning to her ancestral home in Ohio. She will be incredibly missed. Her last day in the office is August 31. I will have to tell you that I am heartbroken. She was more than employee. She has been a colleague and teammate in confronting challenges and moving forward.

If you'd like to send a card or letter to Lisa, feel free to do so in care of the office. (401 Duval Street, Key West, FL 33040) She alone will open it. If it arrives after she leaves us, we'll forward it to her. We should all wish her Godspeed in her retirement and many years of happiness. She was there at a crucial point in our life as a parish and leaves a very positive legacy.

- - -

Also one more thank you to parishioner Tammi Hoback for the amazing job she did in the past months making sense out of some incredibly difficult and chaotic records in the office. It took hours of commitment and huge organizational skills, but thanks to her, we have a way forward on what had been an incredibly muddled puzzle.

Tammi and her husband are heading off the island for a few weeks for some well deserved travel time. Who will be our next volunteer hero? I don't know. But I suspect she or he is reading this email right now.
Contacts:

Parish Rector: The Rev Donna S. Mote, PhD: rector@stpaulskeywest.org

Sr. Warden: Ray Warrenseniorwarden@stpaulskeywest.org

Jr. Warden: Greta Philips-Fordjuniorwarden@stpaulskeywest.org

Epistle Editoreditor@stpaulskeywest.org

Church office (and administrator Lisa McCarthy): info@stpaulskeywest.org

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.
Where to Find the Music

By Tim Peterson
Our pipe organ is fixed! Douglas Cable, the organ technician that has serviced the organ at St Paul's since the 1970's (while being stationed here in Key West with the Navy) changed more than a handful of computer cards that were affected because of the lightning strike that happened the day after Tropical Storm Elsa came through town.

This was his 3rd visit since mid July to troubleshoot and make some temporary fixes (to allow the organ to be somewhat playable) until replacement parts arrived. Many of the integrated circuits (IC) on the numerous cards had been 'fried' because of the lightning strike. What we have also learned is that some additional cards had been damaged but still playable. That is what occurred last Sunday. One of the compromised cards, after playing for several weeks, completely failed. It is unfortunate that you cannot see the damage on the cards. We will find out in the future, if any more were affected.

We are so fortunate to have Guzowski and Steppes Pipe Organ Builders, who have serviced our organ here for so many years, be able to get us up and running again.

Many of you have asked what the cost for repair has been. We have bills totaling nearly $8000 for all of the hardware, labor, travel, and associated costs. (We hope that no more issues will arise, only time will tell). We have been informed that there are lightning abatement products that would be perfect to completely safeguard our organ and other electronics on our church property. We will look into these products ASAP.

Our organ contains 50 ranks (or sets) of pipes. Each set contains between 32-73 pipes (we have roughly 3000 pipes). And the present replacement value? Depending on the builder, between $1.5 million - $2 million. $8000 for a repair sounds like a bargain, doesn't it?

Thank you so much for your support and interest in keeping the Southernmost Pipe Organ ALIVE!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Remember that you can also find prior recordings of many past concerts and musical offerings on St Paul’s Facebook page, or on YouTube.
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, Sandy Highsmith, Carla Harper (sister of Joseph Lyles), Judy Denton Ping, Ken Reed, Mickey Malgrat, John Shaver, Joe Wittreich, Sarah, Steve Sika, Maxon Faraldo, Leslie Steele, Jeff Minalga, Daniel Hess (friend of Joseph Lyles), Tom Hojinowski (Dave and Irene Eyer's nephew-in-law), Harrison Simmons

We pray for the departed and their loved ones

Mark Simcox (cellist with Southernmost Chamber Music Society, artists-in-residence at St Paul’s), Elsa Colligan (mother of Kip Colligan), Delia Marlene Sparks (mother of Linda Sparks), Isaac Archer, Jennifer Proulex (cousin of Brian Wagstaff)

"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
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.