December 31, 2020
St. Paul's Episcopal Church

This Week's News Highlights

Our Service This Week

Holy Eucharist on Facebook and for those in person will be at 8:30 AM on Sunday. See below for how to attend by either mode of participation. Please consider the current state of the pandemic in making your decision about attending this service, or any other, in person. Facebook Live continues to be a safe and meaningful way to join in worship each Sunday.
Annual Meeting Set for January 31

The Vestry has designated Sunday, January 31, as the date for the annual meeting.

The annual meeting this year will be in person, within the church (not the parish hall). The nave windows will be opened for safety. (Dress accordingly if it is hot or cold - late January in Key West can go either way.)
Provisions will also be made for attendance via Zoom.

Details will follow, but please mark your calendars for Sunday, January 31 after the 8:30 service (approximately 9:50) for the annual meeting. 

Vestry Candidates Nominated

Each year 1/3 of the Vestry retires when their three year term ends. This year, the Vestry, with the advice and consent of the outgoing Vestry class, has nominated Perry Hodies, Holle Campbell and Dean Warden to serve as the "class of 2023." If elected, Perry will serve a full three year term. He is currently on the Vestry as a replacement for a member who moved. Holle (the current Vestry clerk) and Dean will also serve three year terms.
Please Buy A Brick and Build a Legacy

Please consider buying a personalized brick for the brick paver portion of the Memorial Garden.

This campaign will support maintenance of the memorial garden and needed repair and restoration projects involving the Historic Rectory, main Church and other buildings on our campus.

The cost of a 4 x 8 brick is $100. Each brick will accommodate up to 3 lines and up to 18 characters per line, including spaces. You may order a Donor Brick with an additional donation of $35; this is a duplicate of the brick being placed in the garden. A certificate can also be ordered to send to an honoree describing the brick to be installed.

(Please note that bricks will be installed over time as orders accumulate to reduce shipping costs. Please order now, but allow some time for the actual installation of the brick.)

You can order your brick(s) here.
Sunday's Service

Join us Sunday for Holy Eucharist at 8:30 AM. Sign up in advance to attend in person (see above) or join us on Facebook.

To join 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". 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.)

Did you know you DO NOT need to have a Facebook account to view the service or visit our Facebook page? Simply use the Facebook page link to go directly to our Facebook page (even if you don't have your own Facebook account). Follow the directions above.

You can open or download the bulletin for the Sunday service here.

Junior Warden's Report
By Greta Philips-Ford
Greta is taking a well deserved break for the holiday. Her column and report will return.
Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren

Readers will, no doubt, be happy to learn the I have little write about this week. It is actually possible for a lawyer to rest his or her case and be quiet. (Rare, but possible.)

I do want to thank all of your who came forward with end of the year contributions. We are ending the year on a strong note. True, much of that financial strength is based on having the faithful services of our supply priest, Fr. Haughton, instead of full time minister. But most of our expenses (utilities, maintenance, repairs, the music director, etc.) go on regardless. Our members and friends have saved us from what could have been an existential disaster.

When we call a new minister we can only hope that the revenue streams we have lost - plate contributions, the boxes at the back of the church, the votive candles, the fees for usage for weddings, the contributions or our music partners (Southernmost Chamber Music, Impromptu Classical Concerts, Keys Choral Arts, etc.) - will resume. I trust that they will.

It is a new year and full of hope. Thanks to all of you, St. Paul's will be ready.

Please do read the interview of my colleague, Clover the Cat, below. It was hard get him pinned down for chat, but he has a lot of interesting things to say and I am glad to yield space in the newsletter to hear from him.
Contacts:

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.

From The Organ Live Concert Series Returns!

"From the Organ” Our next monthly installment of our ongoing organ recitals will be this Thursday, January 7, 2021 at noon on Facebook. Tom Scheck, Tom Bond, John Penkoske, and Tim Peterson will be playing at this one hour concert. They hope to see you all on line.

To view the concert live, 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.

Remember, you can find prior recordings of 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 730 AM and 5 PM on weekdays.

Thanks to Bruce Hagemann, Lisa Laskow, Mary Simmons, Samantha Hall, Sarah 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), Peter Nanos, Al (Kitty Robert’s partner), Mark Simcox, Susanne Woods, Christian Swanson, Craig Cates, Crystal Cates.

We pray for the departed and their loved ones:

Mark Sandground

"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. By default requests will be listed for four (4) weeks. But if the need continues, please let us know.)

We celebrate these January birthdays

Lonnie Gordon 1/01
Faye Graniela 1/01
Mark Whiteside 1/03
PK Lynch 1/09
Phyllis Sweeting 1/09
Nancy Campbell 1/11
Perry Hodies 1/11
Brittany Mariscal 1/14
Virginia Butler 1/15
Bob Hicks 1/16
Sue Decker 1/17
Lew Ann Cahill 1/18
Barbara Poole 1/19
Elizabeth Curry 1/22
Ruth Lamere 1/22
Juliette Hamilton 1/24
Samantha Langdale 1/24
Jeffrey Burnham 1/27
Richard Curry 1/27
Jeff Minalga 1/28
Julie Waters 1/28
Joshua McCloud 1/29
Carolyn Sangston 1/30
Lorraine Zimmerman 1/31

(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 January Anniversaries

Dave and Irene Eyer 1/02
Wendy Niven and Anthony Sperling 1/05
Jerry and Barbara Poole 1/10
Jeff and Janet Carr 1/12
George and Julie Wallace 1/14
Percy and Betty Curry 1/20
Mary and Dexter Simmons 1/25
Denise and Keith Graham 1/30
Susanne and Dean Schott 1/31
2020 Recap: An Interview with Clover the Cat

[Editor’s Note. In the final week of 2020, we’re featuring an interview with Clover the Cat, St. Paul’s full time resident, about the past year, where we’ve been, and where we are going in the coming year.]

Editor: So, Clover, what is your official title in St. Paul’s parish?
Clover: Well, the reality is, like most cats, I basically run the place. But I think my official title is something like “Mouser, Strategic Planner and Celebrity Spokesperson”.

Editor: OK. Well, I understand that you live on the property full time, right?
Clover: Of course. What you guys pay me in cat food wouldn’t get me anywhere, but a couple of nice living spaces in the heart of old town…. now that’s some compensation.

Editor: A couple of places?
Clover: Well, yes, my official residence is that little urban two story apartment next to Holy Innocents Hall. But all the cool cats in town know about my man cave under that place you guys call the Historic Rectory.

Editor: Wow, who knew? So, you’ve made that space your own?
Clover: Yeah, but keep it quiet. Our little secret, OK?

Editor: Sure, Clover
Clover: I have to tell you, though, that part under the kitchen needs some work. When they did the main house a few years ago it was incredible. You guys will be holding onto that house for another hundred years after that work. I remember the day they pulled out the old stump holding up part of the joists. Nothing against stumps, but you guys could do better than that. Unfortunately, they stopped at the kitchen. I’m not one to complain, but it’s hard to have a proper man cave when the weight of history might take you out at any moment….if you get my drift.

Editor: Definitely, we’re working on raising money for that now.
Clover: Good thing. It’s not like I still have all nine lives in reserve anymore.

Editor: So, it’s been a year of change at St. Paul’s. How has this affected you?
Clover: Well, I’ve really enjoyed the way Dean and Tim come out on the side porch to serenade me on Sundays. Not sure why nobody thought of that before.

Editor: Clover, I’m not sure that is about you.
Clover: Well, of course it is.

Editor: OK,
Clover: Of course, there was the period when the priest came also came out to preach. But I’m OK with that going back inside. Not much use in preaching to a cat, you know. Although it was nice to hear my name mentioned once in a while.

Editor: True enough. What other changes have you noted?
Clover: Well, the physical changes are amazing. Not that I don’t deserve it, but I’m impressed. Between Ken Bagge and Greta [Junior Warden Greta Phillips-Ford], the Memorial Garden is looking amazing, the rails out front were painted, walkways are being repaired, baseboards are being replaced and people are out here almost every Saturday morning cleaning, scraping and fixing. It’s sort of hard on me after my usual Friday nights, but I have to say their dedication to fixing up my space is inspiring.

Editor: Umm. Your space. Yes, of course.
Clover: Yes, of course. I just hope you guys are at least offering all those volunteers their own cat house.

Editor: Alas, no. Budgetary constraints.
Clover: Bummer.

Editor: But glad you are seeing a lot of progress on campus.
Clover: Sure, dude. It’s a lot of hard work. But you know, you can’t keep up a 100 year old property without a lot of commitment. Like those plaster pieces falling off the south tower. You know, nine lives is useful in a town like this. But I don’t want to waste one of them because of a falling bit of masonry.

Editor: Makes sense. We’re working on it. People have been very generous, and if others step up I think we’ll be able to tackle the tower, the leaks in the sacristy and nave and even the Historic Rectory kitchen foundation…. I mean the rear part of your bachelor pad…. In the coming year.
Clover: Good thing. I’ve been waiting…..

Editor: So, what would you like to see change in 2021?
Clover: Well, to tell you the truth, I miss the people. I mean, let’s face it, felines don’t really like to let on about it, but sometimes we do miss the human factor. Don’t print that! But it’s a fact. I appreciate seeing the small group that comes on Sunday and I understand why more don’t come. I mean, it’s not like you guys also have nine opportunities at life. But when you sort out this Covid mess, I will enjoy seeing you hanging out with each other. You’re a good group and I can tell that you thrive on each other’s company.
Editor: We’ll that’s true. God made us sort of social.
Clover: Yeah, I get it. At least Bruce and Tim come around every morning to open things up and Dave, Jeff and Tim are here to close up. So it’s not like I don’t have some contact….[stares off In the distance.]

Editor: Sounds like you have a soft hearted side,
Clover: I told you, don’t print that. I was just musing…. [pause] …And, when things are back to normal, I hope to heck that the choir has enough sense to come out on the porch to sing to me like Dean does.

Editor: I’ll put in a word with Tim about that.
Clover: Do that, because, they are GOOD.

Editor: They’ll appreciate knowing you think so.
Clover: You humans are strange. I don’t understand why people don’t get the point about vaccinations. I mean I got mine when I was just a kitten and look at me. [Preens a bit.] It’s no big deal, and the sooner everyone gets one the sooner my world will get back to normal and you can do that whole social thing your species really likes.

Editor: Good point. So, Clover, what brought you to St. Paul’s in the first place?
Clover: Dude, don’t make me get all misty eyed again. You’re going to ruin my rep in town. Let’s just say this. Look at me. I’m a black cat. We’re not exactly loved in pop culture. Sure, I’m a tough guy, but I need a little love too. I knew this was the kind of place where I’d be accepted.

Editor: Understood.
Clover: I told you, don’t print that.

Editor: Of course not.
Clover: I really have to go now. [Saunters off to his private space under the Historic Rectory kitchen.]
Reminders
Sunday school is canceled during the virus emergency.
Back issues of The Epistle are available here.

Send questions and comments to the editor of this newsletter here.