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.
When someone we love dies, we often feel a need to commemorate their passing. Certainly, we do that with the stirring burial liturgies in the Book of Common Prayer. These services say so beautifully and so well the things we need to say and hear in such times of loss.
Beyond the services, we are carried by the prayers and surrounded by the affection of family, friends, and loved ones who comfort us in those times.
Neither the burial liturgies nor the expressions of condolence mark the end of our grief. We work through our grief in a protracted process of mourning.
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Sometimes in that process we come upon an idea for a suitable way to honor the memory of the person who has died, something that they would support or with which they would appreciate having their name and their legacy associated.
When my Dad died in 2010, we helped to support the tiny, struggling Methodist church in the unincorporated community where he grew up as a tribute to him. Lots of people who loved him and others who never met him but who love us joined in this effort.
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When my Mom died in 2018, many, many people donated in her memory to the restoration of the 1911 tabernacle at our beloved Shingleroof Campground, which was built by local carpenters, including one of her grandfathers. Later, my siblings and I had restored an historic piece of furniture, one of the original pulpit chairs, from the Baptist congregation where she and we grew up. On a future occasion that COVID-19 has delayed, we will present it to the congregation in her memory. |
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I have learned since my arrival this summer just past that many, many St Paul’s people are also inclined to support the life of this congregation and its ministries with memorial gifts. And many of you also have also arranged to bless St Paul’s with bequests from your estates.
Recently, Joseph Lyles has made two very generous contributions in memory of his beloved, Chuck Hammond. Each of these was a designated memorial gift for a particular purpose.
Joseph heard of my and Tim’s and Dean’s dream to improve the audiovisual output of our services in the nave. His first donation is making possible the purchase and installation of new cameras and peripherals that will allow those joining services virtually to hear better and see more.
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Joseph also heard of my dream to have a truly portable communion setup to take to off campus locations for the celebration of the Eucharist with groups of differing sizes. His second donation has made possible the purchase of a beautiful and beautifully-sized communion kit and linens that I (and, I hope, others) will use at KOTS and other places in the community in the coming months.
We give thanks to God for Joseph’s memorial gifts and for the contributions and legacy of Chuck in the life of St Paul’s. And we give thanks to and for Joseph as well.
If learning of these memorial gifts is inspiring you to consider making (more) memorial gifts, please know that there are a great many exciting memorial gift opportunities upcoming. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, our work of mourning and memorializing takes other forms. And to that end, I invite you to send the names of all those dear to you who have died since last All Saints Day. Please email them to info@stpaulskeywest.org or give them directly to me or Tim or a vestry member so we can make sure to put them on the commemorations list.
On October 31, the Eve of All Saints Day, we will commemorate those who have died since last All Saints Day by reading their names aloud at the Eucharists at 7:30AM and 10:00AM.
And, on October 31, at the 10AM Eucharist, we will celebrate the baptism of Troy Paul Clawson on his first birthday.
Life, death, new life: intertwined, inseparable, eternal.
With you on the journey,
Donna+.
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This Week's News Highlights
Evening Prayer Has Moved to 5:30PM
Each weekday, volunteers read morning and evening prayer (see below for details). This ministry has a loyal following.
To better accommodate working people, the schedule for Evening Prayer has moved from 5:00PM to 5:30PM.
Reminder: Masks Optional, Singing Returns
At this time, masks are optional. Congregational singing has returned.
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.
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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
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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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. 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 grounds beautification group will not meet this Saturday because of the funeral of James Hamilton. We will resume meeting on October 30. |
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
Good People Everywhere
I found out recently who washes and irons the purificators, corporals and other linens that we use each week in the Eucharistic service. I knew it was getting done, but I didn't know who was doing it. I did know that Wendy Niven has done it some in the winter, but she's away for the season.
Kudos to Phyllis Pita. Washing linens and ironing them isn't flashy work. But it's God's work and it's very important. And kudos to the other members of the Altar Guild, who I'm sure do this as well from time to time.
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By the time you read this my knee replacement surgery should be over. Thanks to all for the loving encouragement and prayers. And special thanks to Becky England for putting together the Epistle this week.
We are a blessed parish full of loving people and that lifts me up daily.
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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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Choir Returns November 1 !
The chancel choir finally will be leading us in worship for our 10 am Sunday services beginning on Sunday, November 7. Rehearsals are held each Saturday morning from 10AM - 11:15AM in the choir room. We welcome new members. The ability to read music is helpful, but not necessary. Our numbers have dwindled over the last several years, so please consider being a part of this important ministry of St Paul's. We hope to see you there!
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
Morning and Evening Prayer is being offered daily on Facebook Live at 7:30AM and 5:30PM 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), Sherry Chesnutt (friend of Joseph Lyles), Tom Ford, Joanne Nanos, James Hamilton, Ray Warren and all those dealing with breakthrough Covid-19 infections and their families
We pray for the departed and their loved ones
June Klausing (mother of Nadia Hall), Bruce Woodard (friend of the Ford family), Donald Whiteside (uncle of Mark Whiteside)
"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 October Birthdays:
Rebecca England 10/01
Danielle Mariscal 10/01
Peter Graniela 10/02
Betty Toppino 10/03
Edward Cabrera 10/04
Richard Pischke 10/08
Aleida Alexander 10/10
Denise Graham 10/11
Tiffany Hendry 10/13
David Horan 10/14
Kim Grizzle-Malgrat 10/15
Katherine Ward 10/17
Tom Bond 10/19
Martin Hindsley 10/20
Julie Wallace 10/20
Ross Neagley 10/21
Frankie Grizzle-Malgrat 10/22
Eric Whiteside 10/23
Terry Garcia 10/25
CloeAnn Garrison 10/25
Shirley Sweeting 10/27
Stanley Kuzmech 10/28
Mary Simmons 10/28
Kathleen Bratton 10/29
Jan Malpass 10/29
Angela Richardson 10/30
(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 October Anniversaries:
Walter & Joanna Schmida 10/17
Tony and Barbara Tirman Marcussen 10/25
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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 editors 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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