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.
Bread season in Year B continues this Sunday upcoming, August 15 and concludes on August 22.
Here’s another bread story.
In 2019 I spent Holy Week in the Diocese of Cuba for the first time. I have visited in the diocese nearest to us many times over many years and in many liturgical seasons, but two years ago I spent Holy Week among six different parishes and missions in the province of Matanzas.
Throughout the week, as in the several previous weeks, there was no bread. The bakeries had no flour, and so there was no bread being baked.
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If you are familiar with Cuban bread, the white, crusty baguettes that are the preferred pan cubano, you may have a sense of how important bread, daily bread, is in the Cuban diet.
There was no bread. There were crackers that people were eating as a substitute. But there was no bread.
Given the absence of bread and the scarcity of other foodstuffs, the Good Friday fast was, in a certain way, imposed upon nearly everyone, including not only all kinds of Christians but also all those who don’t identify as Christian.
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Late on Good Friday afternoon, after a day of fasting that included a climb up a steep hillside for the stations of the cross that morning as well as the 3:00 PM Good Friday liturgy at St John the Evangelist (San Juan Evangelista) parish in Coliseo, my dear friend Gilberto, rector in Coliseo, his spouse Mari, Mari’s sister, and I began our drive back to Matanzas City.
Just a few blocks from the church after we had turned onto the main road, we saw a line at a bakery on the left side of the road. We pulled over, and Gilberto went to the service window. Yes, they were just about to pull some loaves out of the ovens. He purchased as many as they would sell him.
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Gilberto returned to the car with baguettes in a bag, still warm and wonderful-smelling right out of the ovens. He took one of the loaves and broke off four big hunks, one for each of us, and distributed them to us.
And as he did so, the words of administration were these: Today is all we have. And today we have bread. We delighted in that warm bread. We ate and were satisfied.
Most of us have more than enough bread and other foods. Yet the wisdom of Padre Gilberto’s words rings true: Today is all we have. And today we have bread.
For what work in partnership with God and each other are we nourished? Living as we do in the present of God’s unfolding future, the eternal now, and embedded as we are in our particular context, how should we allocate our resources of all kinds?
May God guide our ongoing explorations and give us wisdom in each and every decision.
With you on the journey,
Donna+
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This Week's News Highlights
Church Nave Closed Saturday
Sunday services Expected To Proceed.
At this point we expect Sunday services to proceed. (As always, those plans are subject to change if the weather or civil authorities require different thinking.) The church, however, is likely to be closed on Saturday. While the nave is usually open during the day, a tropical storm is not a good time for visitors or open windows.
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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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.
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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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Due to Tropical Depression Fred it is unclear if the volunteer group will meet on Saturday. It will depend on the weather and if the tropical depression turns into a hurricane, or even a strong tropical storm like Elsa. If the storm does turn into a hurricane or strong tropical storm we will further secure the campus on Friday afternoon. If you are available and would like to help, please give me a call on my cell phone 305-797-0284.
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If Fred is only a tropical depression, without a lot of rain on Saturday morning, we will meet at the church. The task will be to transfer the items temporarily stored in Holy Innocents (while Ken and the volunteers restored and refurbished the attic above the sacristy) back to the sacristy attic. |
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
Thankful to God
We have been blessed in the office these past weeks by the wonderful gift of volunteer time (and talent, and patience) from Tammi Hoback. Tammi and her husband Robert are seasonal attendees. Due to the pandemic they were not able to get down much in the winter but have (fortunately for us) been spending time on the island this summer.
We've had some longstanding issues with some of our records. Untangling the issues involves many hours of patience and organizational skill, but there is now light at the end of that tunnel.
I hope we'll have more such offers of help as the season begins and our seasonal worshippers return. It really does make a difference.
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And a tip of the hat also to Greta Philips-Ford, Ken Bagge and everyone who sent special checks in the past year for "building restoration." Thanks to those donors, and with Greta's leadership and Ken's amazing talent, the church grounds have never looked better or been more structurally sound.
We have a tropical system on our doorstep and another possibly approaching next week. But the sacristy side of the church will be mostly dry and we'll soon be tackling the choir room side as well. Again, thanks to our donors and volunteers.
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I know that the spread of the Delta variant has all of us re-thinking our approach to safety.
At the moment the church continues to offer both in person and Facebook opportunities to worship. (At least when Facebook cooperates.)
For those who do attend, please know that while masks are not required (at this point) for those who are fully vaccinated, the wearing of a mask while inside is always appropriate when a person chooses to do so.
Fortunately, we have high ceilings and more than ample space for households to self distance from one another. This will not change for the foreseeable future as we are in the middle of our summer lull when many locals vacation off the island and most seasonal people are away. So, feel confident that you won't be crowded and can wave to your friends from a very safe distance.
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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, Zane Wruble (daughter of Kathleen Bratton), Sarah, Steve Sika, Maxon Faraldo, Leslie Steele, Jeff Minalga, Harrison Simmons, Mary and Dexter 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
"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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