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.
My time away was much needed and much enjoyed. It was a blessing and a delight to reconnect with family and friends in person.
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And it was a delight to baptize Charlee Starr McConnell on Sunday, September 26. What a joyful day. Thank you to everyone who helped to prepare for and lead the service and to offer refreshments afterward in the cloister.
It is also a delight to tell you that beginning on Sunday, October 3 masks will not be required during services at St Paul’s. Of course, anyone who is more comfortable wearing a mask is welcome to do so.
We will resume congregational singing at the second service, and the family choir will sing as well. To be part of the choir please meet Tim in the choir room at 9 AM before the 10 AM service.
Scenes from the Sunday Baptism
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One shoe off, one shoe on |
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Greeting the newly baptized |
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Thanksgiving over the water |
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"Acolyte" for the asperges |
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Sealed and marked for Christ |
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Also on Sunday, October 3, the day before the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, we will hold an outdoor service of pet blessings (and maybe of some chickens and iguanas as well) in the courtyard at St Paul’s near the labyrinth at 6PM.
Please bring your critters to receive a blessing and please invite your family, friends, and neighbors to come along with their pets as well.
With you on the journey,
Donna+
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This Week's News Highlights
Masks Optional, Singing Returns
The number of new cases of Covid-19 appear to be leveling off and slightly declining in both Monroe County and the nation. As detailed by the rector above, mask wearing will be entirely optional and congregational singing will return on October 3rd.
Communion under only one kind (bread) will still be distributed at the altar. Please remember that the prohibition on embracing and moving into close contact at the peace remains in effect. Please nod and wave to your neighbors instead and maintain household social distance.
Please join us if you are able.
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Join Us After the 10:00AM service
Please join your fellow worshippers after the 10AM service on the side porch (cloister) for soft beverages, cookies and fellowship.
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Brick Project Ongoing
We just placed an order for a new grouping of bricks. They should be installed in the Memorial gardens soon.
Let's start working on a new set! This is an ongoing way to support the restoration and preservation of St. Paul's. 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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This past week's "work party" worked on the preparation for the altar flowers for the baptism and preparing for our upcoming season! Before you know it we will be in Advent!
November 25th will be the first Sunday of Advent, and we have another baptism at the end of October!
We will need help with replacing the "color boards" behind the altar, hanging garland, replacing a couple of old wreaths; polishing brass, filling candles, and greeting our returning members! If anyone would like to donate flowers in memory of family/loved ones--please contact the office.
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If anyone would like to help with snacks/refreshments after church, send me an email. We are keeping it simple with ice tea, lemonade and cookies. Mrs. Harris has brought wonderful bars and homemade pimento sandwiches! What a joy!
We are always in need of individuals to walk to the property on a regular basis (early morning before 10:00) to pick-up trash left on our fence--does not take much time but certainly makes a big difference!
We are taking a three week break from formal volunteer Saturdays. But, please, do let me hear from you on the other projects outlined above.
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
Emerging, Round Two
I'm still traveling, but was delighted to hear from Padre Donna that we'll resume singing this Sunday. Tim and Dean do a wonderful job with organ and voice, but there is something magical about joining in song.
Keep in mind that our building can easily accommodate 300 or more and summer attendance has been running at less than 35. So households can distance and I suspect we're all safer at church than at the grocery store.
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I'm very excited to hear that a young couple with children may be formally joining the parish. Baptisms, children, and growth. It's been a tough two years, but to all who faithfully kept us afloat and together, your work is bearing fruit. St. Paul's will, of course, be here for those of us who chose it a long time ago (some, from childhood). But our goal should be to be a holy and welcoming place for all -- and we are off to a promising start.
Referencing Greta's column above, I inserted links, so you can contact the office or Greta herself by simply clicking on the link. It has been inspiring to watch people step up to help with so many projects around the church. But, if we are to be a living organization, the more people involved the better. And, if you want to contact me, instead of Greta or the office, feel free to use my email (just click on the link) as well.
I return to town on Saturday and will see you Sunday. It will be good to be back in Key West!
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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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Reminder from Tim
By Tim Peterson
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"The From the Organ" will not be having a concert in October.
Join us this Sunday for the "Family Choir"
"This Sunday, October 03, St Paul's parish "family choir" will be singing a short, easy to learn anthem, for the 10am mass. We will meet Sunday morning at 9:00AM in the choir room. Please wear presentable clothing, since we will not be wearing robes.
We hope that the parish choir will be able to lead us in worship weekly, beginning in November. Regular rehearsals will be held on Saturday mornings at 10AM in the choir room, and Sunday morning at 9:15AM for a short rehearsal before the 10am mass. All are welcome. More information to come."
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), Daniel Hess (friend of Joseph Lyles) , Dave, Pat and Pete, John and Martha England (parents of Becky England), Joanne Nanos
We pray for the departed and their loved ones
Wanda Harris, Ruth Andrew (mother of the Very Reverend Debra Maconaughey, dean of the Keys Convocation), Earl Johnson (uncle of parish administrator Lisa McCarthy)
"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 September Birthdays:
Sandy Higgs 09/02
Eddie Webster 09/03
John McDaniel 09/04
Tony Willis 09/04
Sabrina Acevedo 09/05
Hunter Lavoie 09/05
Daniel Marsical 09/05
Thomas Edward Highsmith 9/06
Karen Horan 09/06
George Wallace 09/06
Lorri-Ann Guay 09/07
Edith Losley 09/07
Mitchell Mungall 09/07
Larry Myers 09/07
Amanda Horan 09/09
Terri Seargent 09/09
Tim Peterson 09/10
Margo Alley 09/12
Wendy Niven 09/13
Sherry Webster 09/14
Sarah Hall 09/16
Michael Malgrat 09/18
Tamara Hernandez 09/20
Joan Papy 09/20
Henry Allen 09/23
Caitlin Ford 09/23
William Albury 09/25
James Canterbury 09/25
Theresa Marius 09/25
Joanna Schmida 09/26
Steven Blanco 09/27
Michael Guay 09/29
(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 September Anniversaries:
Eddie & Sherry Webster 09/07
James & Angie Canterbury 09/09
Jim & Pamela McCloud 09/09
Robert & Sharon Ward Wilcox 09/27
Thomas & Nicole Reeder 09/30
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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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