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.
Very early last Sunday morning, the first Sunday of Advent, I entered the nave of St Paul’s in the dark and experienced the radiance of the stunning Advent decorations all over the nave.
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This Advent radiance is a gift to the visitors from all over the country and the world who visit our worship space, and it’s a gift to those of us who worship there all the time. Can you imagine a more suitable place to practice expectant, active, hopeful waiting and preparing for Christ’s coming in community?
Thank you to everyone who played a role in creating such a blessing of beauty, including all those who helped hang the greens on November 21 and the Eyer family for putting up the great tree.
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Special thanks to gifted and hardworking designer Les Steele, our amazing and indefatigable junior warden Greta Phillips-Ford, and our most excellent and generous volunteer sexton Ken Bagge for all their dedication in this and many other behind-the-scenes labors at and for St Paul’s. Check out the outdoor lights they have rigged up as well.
In other Advent news, Becky and I—and Shabbat—are quite excited to take part in our first Key West Holiday Parade on Saturday. Mike and Sarah Kindinger have beautifully restored the model of the St Paul’s façade, and it will be prominently featured in the midst of our contingent of parade marchers. Lots of candy and lots of incense will also be among our notable parade attributes.
We hope many of you will join us in walking or riding in the parade as part of the St Paul’s posse, and we hope to see many more of you along the route. You are welcome to watch from the courtyard at St Paul’s.
Isn’t it awesome that all of Island City joins in a parade that literally winds up at the corner of Duval and Eaton? Let’s invite everybody in to see the beauty of the nave!
Sending Advent blessings to all as I remain,
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With you on the journey,
Donna+.
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This Week's News Highlights
Key West Holiday Parade
St. Paul's will be in the Key West Holiday Parade! The parade begins at 7:00 PM at Bayview Park. If you need a ride to Bayview Park, meet at the church by 4:45 PM on Saturday. If you live north of the park we will meet at Bayview Park at 5:45 PM. Our spot in the parade is #46 - we will gather a the corner of Jose Marti and Truman, across from the Christmas Tree.
We are using a truck to carry the newly refurbished model of the church. Effie and Padre Donna will be thurifers and Les Steele will be crucifer. Wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothing; Wear festive holiday costumes if you want - hey, it's Key West! We will need a few people to help carry church banners.
Wednesday Healing Service
The weekday Eucharist with Healing service is on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM in the Lady Chapel. Please join us if you are able.
Training and Educational Opportunities!
The "Come Learn How" series continues December 13. If you want to be trained for a particular ministry, please join us in the sanctuary (near the altar) at 5:45 PM (until 7:00 PM). If you are just curious about how to do these things, come join us. If you've always wondered why we do these things, come join us.
This week and forward:
(no class on December 6),
"Come Learn How to Be a Lay Reader" (December 13).
Other topics to follow after Christmas. If you are interested in serving in one of these ministries and can't join the scheduled session, please email Padre Donna (rector@stpaulskeywest.org).
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Join Us After the 10:00 AM Service
Please join us after the 10 AM service in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship.
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Brick Project
Purchase a brick! 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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Weekly Services
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM on Sunday. The 10:00 AM service will also be streamed on Facebook. There is also a weekday Eucharist with Healing service on Wednesdays, at 10:00 AM in the Lady Chapel. Please join us if you can.
To join via Facebook (at 10:00 AM), 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 if the "live" window does not appear promptly at the appointed time.)
Access the bulletin for the service here.
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Junior Warden's Report
By Greta Philips-Ford
Float and Flagpole
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Tis the season! Volunteers have been busy in every corner of the campus this week preparing for Advent and the many projects we have going on!
- The church grounds are aglow with white and blue lights for Advent.
- We have updated the St. Paul's Banner to carry in the Holiday Parade.
- After about 6 months the new flagpole finally arrived. Ken Bagge drilled holes for and set the anchor bolts for the installation of the pole!
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Hope to see you Saturday,
Greta
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
Year End Reminders
As we approach the end of the year, just a couple of reminders about your year end giving. Year end gifts are a major part of what keeps St Paul's strong.
Many people consider giving a gift of appreciated stock. This allows one to benefit the church without having to declare income on the proceeds of the sale of the stock.
We have a brokerage account to receive gifts of stock. If you are considering making such a gift please send an email to info@stpaulskeywest.org. Our parish administrator will respond with the information necessary for your broker to transfer the stock to our account.
Also, people 70 and 1/2 years of age can give a substantial amount directly from an IRA without tax consequences. Since the government requires mandatory withdrawals for people in that age group, it is an excellent way to support the church.
Regardless of how one contributes, please keep in mind that New Year's this year is on a weekend. The last regular deposit of the year will probably be around Tuesday, December 28th. Our internal giving records will indicate receipt of contributions that we actually have in hand, whether deposited or not, on the 31st. But should you ever be in an audit situation, it would probably be helpful to make the final contributions well before the end of the year, so everything can clear the bank.
(Contributions through our giving page are immediately received by the church, so there is no delay. But keep in mind that we incur a significant handling fee with that route is used. Some people choose to add about 3.5% to help cover those fees).
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Speaking of giving, don't forget that this coming Sunday, December 5th, it's the first Sunday of the month. We are making a special appeal for both the TRUE Fund and the Rector's Special Assistance Fund. Both funds aid the needy in our community with no administrative cost or fees. The Rector's Special Assistance Fund is also an important adjunct to, and part of, Padre Donna's ministry to individuals.
To contribute to either or both funds please write a check with True Fund or Rector's Special Assistance Fund in the memo line. If you give via the giving page, be sure to write the proper fund in the line that says "specialist instructions to seller."
I know my family will be "giving back" this season in gratitude for getting through a difficult year largely healthy and prepared for the new year.
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Music at St. Paul's
By Tim Peterson
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Chancel Choir Rehearsals
Rehearsals for Chancel Choir are weekly on Saturday mornings from 10 AM - 11:15 AM in the choir room. We also meet Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM for a short warmup and review of the anthem and hymns for the 10:00 AM service. We are always looking for and needing new members to sing and lead the congregation. Please consider joining us in the choir loft. We have a choir robe that will fit you perfectly!
Special Events and Services during Advent
The annual Eaton Street Christmas Stroll takes place this Sunday, December 5, 2021 beginning at 4 PM at St Paul’s. The stroll will take you to other events at the Studios of Key West, the Key West Theater, the Tropic Cinema, First United Methodist Church, and Williams Hall (Fleming at Margaret streets). Tickets are free, but you must register for tickets at the box office at the Tropic Cinema, or online at tropiccinema.com. Seating is limited for this family-friendly event.
December 12, 2021 at 5 PM will be a service of Advent Lessons and Carols, held in the Nave at St Paul's. This service will be familiar to many. It is truly beautiful with the singing of the choir, the congregation, and readings.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 7 PM, the Keys Choral Arts will present their Seasonal choral concert, that this year they are calling, "A Very NORMAL Christmas Concert". This popular concert has 'sold out' in previous years. We encourage you to purchase tickets in advance on their website at keyschoralarts.org. $30 includes reception following the concert.
Recordings of many past concerts and musical offerings are on St Paul’s Facebook page, or on YouTube.
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Prayers
Morning and Evening Prayer
Bruce Hagemann, Lisa Laskow, Mary Simmons, Samantha Hall, and Tim Peterson are the dedicated lay readers who make this ministry possible.
Join them via the church Facebook page at 7:30 AM and 5:30 PM on weekdays.
Please pray this week for healing for
Brittany (Sherri Hodies’ daughter), Beth and Jon
Peterson (sister-in-law and brother of Tim), Betty Toppino, David Sweeting, Danny Sweeting, Carole Fauth, Joseph Lyles, Bobby Pauley, Barrie Ford, Staci Webb, Carl Clack, Carlos.
We pray for the departed and their loved ones
Joan Neinmen, William
"Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servants."
(Send your prayer requests to Tim@stpaulskeywest.org for future publication and to be included in the Sunday service. Requests will be listed for four (4) weeks. If the need continues, please let us know.)
We Celebrate these December Birthdays:
Victoria Albury 12/02
Linda Sparks 12/03
Chase Langdale 12/04
Brooke Myers 12/05
Phil Schneider 12/08
Jackie Gahan 12/10
Sarah Kindinger 12/12
Christopher Mario 12/12
Keith Hernandez 12/14
James (Kip) Colligan 12/15
John Payne 12/15
Byron Colley 12/18
David McLaughlin 12/18
Zoe Pishcke 12/19
Samantha Hall 12/20
Greta Schneider 12/22
Edward Toppino 12/23
Caimyn Eage 12/25
William Porter 12/25
Harvey Lynch 12/27
Laurence Marius, Sr. 12/29
We celebrate December Anniversaries:
Kevin & Barbara Mitchell 12/06
Nancy & Barry Hitch Campbell 12/17
David & Karen Horan 12/20
Lyle & Nat Harris 12/23
Robert & Jane Burchett 12/26
Jim & Erin Kracht 12/27
Roger & Shirley Sweeting 12/27
Janette & Warren Chalmers 12/28
Kim Grizzle-Malgrat & Mickey Malgrat 12/28
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Contacts:
Director of Music: Tim Peterson
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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Reminders
Back issues of The Epistle are available here.
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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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