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.
This past Sunday I concluded my sermon with a quote from nineteenth-century Swiss author Henri Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881).
Amiel was born in Geneva and died there as well having spent many of the years in between traveling and studying in various other places in Europe, especially Germany.
Amiel was a moral philosopher. The central question of the branch of ethics known as moral philosophy is, “What is the right thing to do?”
It’s a good question. I find myself asking it quite often.
Amiel was also a poet. With respect to both moral philosophy and poetry, he was little known in his lifetime but has attained some renown since his death.
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He held that transformative change in humans was possible through relationship with the Divine.
The quote of his I used last Sunday is a favorite of mine.
In our current moment, I thought it worth sharing again here.
“Life is short. And we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk this way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.”
With you on the journey,
Donna+
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This Week's News Highlights
Mask Reminder
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.
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. When receiving the bread, please remain masked, return to your seat and reverently consume the consecrated wafer.
Please join us if you are able.
First Sunday of the Month Reminder
Sunday is the first Sunday of the month. That offers two opportunities to support outreach efforts here at St. Paul's.
Contributions placed specifically in TRUE Fund envelopes or checks with TRUE Fund written on the memo line, or online contributions with TRUE Fund written in the "message to seller" space will be used for the TRUE Fund. The TRUE Fund is a lay led fund used to meet exceptional emergencies for Keys residents. The manager of the Fund (Bruce Hagemann) also works to connect the clients with ongoing support services in the community.
The second way to help those in need and extend the outreach of our parish is to contribute directly to the Rector's Special Needs Fund. This fund allows our rector, Padre Donna, to help those in need she encounters as part of her pastoral work. To contribute to this fund, also note "Rector's Special Needs" (or the former term "discretionary fund") on your contribution.
There are zero administrative costs associated with these two funds, so every penny you contribute goes toward those in need in the lower Keys.
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.
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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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The volunteer group gathered on Saturday and worked on rearranging and cleaning out storage areas.
Saturday is the HazMat day for the city of Key West, so we will be taking all of the old paint and light bulbs to the Waste Management collection center. If you have anything you need taken, give me a call!
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Our ice maker (in the Parish Hall) has been repaired! Patrick Curry and his son did the repairs.
Check Electric will continue on replacing the fluorescent lights with LED lights in the main church. They will also be repairing our "Lighted Boxes" on Duval Street.
Please join us Saturday morning for a little fellowship as we work on silk flower arrangements for the altar. See you between 9AM and noon!
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
September in Key West
We've been so busy with tourists this summer that I wasn't sure we'd actually have a "down" season. But, with the start of school, we finally have a bit of a break. And, even better for those of us who live here year round, the cherished "local specials".
So, while we'll be strolling into top notch restaurants without a reservation (try that in February) and getting things like "buy one entre, get one half price" (or even better), please keep your parish in mind in these slow times. Businesses cater to locals in September because business is slow.
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Slow for everyone.
I want to make a gentle reminder to our seasonal members and friends to keep us in mind in the low season.
In the past we actually engaged in special campaigns in the summer asking those away for the season to make a special contribution to help us through the lean months. That kind of formal campaign probably won't happen this year. In my time as senior warden I have been amazed, humbled and inspired by how our members and friends rally whenever the need is presented.
Thanks to you we are strong this year. Volunteers have allowed us to stay on a fiscally prudent path. But the core of summer members is very small and the need to meet utility, insurance and other commitments undiminished. Your checks that arrive in the mail (or online) are what make the difference. Thank you.
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Padre Donna will be away on September 12th and September 19th. But we will be in very good hands. The Rev. Bryan Hobbs, former archdeacon for the diocese, and a former assistant rector at St. Paul's (and frequent supply priest in the past) will lead us in worship.
We welcome Fr. Hobbs back to the island.
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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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If you missed the monthly organ concert on Thursday, 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 Pe-terson (sister-in-law and brother of Tim), Al (Kitty Roberts’ partner), John Shaver, Joe Wittreich, Sarah, Steve Sika, Leslie Steele, Daniel Hess (friend of Joseph Lyles), Tom Hojnowski (Dave and Irene’s nephew-in-law), Michelle Garcia
We pray for the departed and their loved ones
Elsa Colligan (mother of Kip Colligan), Delia Marlene Sparks (mother of Linda Sparks), Isaac Archer, 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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