St. Paul's Episcopal Church |
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From the Rector
By the Rev. Donna Mote
Dear People of St Paul’s,
Grace and peace.
This Sunday I predict will feel a bit like Christmas, Easter, and the Fourth of July combined.
Why is that? Well, for one thing, it will be the Fourth of July.
The Christmas and Easter dimensions will be about the sense of jubilation I anticipate.
Why so much joy on the Fourth of July, the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost?
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Because as of July 1, on the recommendation of Diocesan Regathering Team and with the approval of Bishop Eaton, all COVID-19 protocols are lifted except two.
This means on Sunday, July 4, in addition to returning to two services at St Paul’s (at 7:30 AM and 10:00 AM), we will be able to gather without signing in and without masks. Hymnals, prayer books, and pew Bibles are back in their places.
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The two protocols remaining in effect for the time being are these:
1. The cup is still to be reserved to the celebrant only (so we will still distribute communion in only one kind, the bread, to the people);
2. The exchange of peace is still to be made from one’s place in the pew (no handshaking, hugging, or kissing outside of cohabiting family groups).
It is possible that some restrictions may be reinstituted if we experience a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases or other unanticipated pandemic developments, but we hope that such measures will not be indicated.
We have learned much during these last sixteen months. By God’s grace, we will not forget these learnings.
We are not returning to how things were. We are moving forward into how things will be.
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Here are three words that I believe will characterize our life as a congregation moving forward: hybrid, distributed, agile.
Hybrid: Our worship will continue to be both online and in person. We will continue to have various other kinds of gatherings and meetings both in person and online.
Distributed: We will have different kinds of gatherings in places other than the nave and the St Paul’s campus.
Agile: We will experiment with different things to determine the wisest course for us in our context, iterating more often and applying our learnings, speeding up and slowing down as indicated.
I will have more to say about these three words and their implications for our life together. For now, join me in giving thanks to God for this good news of protocols lifted with a great big shout of “Yes!”
With you on the journey,
Donna+
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This Week's News Highlights
Our Service This Week
Independence Day, July 4th
(Note new times and procedures)
The new schedule of two services begins this Sunday.
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.
As most Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, socially distanced seating, checking in with contact information, and a mask requirement will no longer be in effect. (Those who are not vaccinated, or who feel comfortable doing so, are certainly encouraged to wear masks if desired.)
The prior ban on congregational singing will no longer be in effect. Communion will return to the altar rail (and brought to those unable to approach the altar).
The Church is again open every day for prayer
The Nave of the church is now open every day for prayer and reflection.
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The Ropes and Tape are Gone and the Books are back!
Those attending services on Sunday will find the Nave of the church again looks like the St. Paul's we all know and love. One more step back to normalcy.
Shabbat, the church canine, definitely approves.
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Restoring and Preserving St. Paul's One Brick At A Time
A new set of bricks, representing love, remembrances and faith as expressed by parishioners, was recently set in the Memorial Garden. (The latest grouping is pictured.) Please consider joining in this project. 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. 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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Please join the St. Paul's volunteers between 9:00AM and 11:00AM on Saturday to add your physical contribution to our future. If Tropical Storm Elsa is still approaching we'll be securing the campus. |
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Speaking of hurricanes, with the season in full swing, and a possible storm on our doorstep, we were fortunate to complete a long deferred trimming of a tree behind Holy Innocents Hall this past week.
Although the tree was on property behind our own, it hung dangerously over our buildings. Fortunately, the crew could reach it from our parking lot.
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Meanwhile. work continued to prepare the walls for painting in the storage room underneath the newly repaired roof over the sacristy and in the garden.
A HUGE thank you to those whose generous gifts to the "building restoration" fund allow needed repairs, and to the volunteers who provide amazing human capital to preserve St. Paul's.
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Senior Warden's Report
By Ray Warren
“ Sola Deo Gloria” – “Glory to God Alone” is one of the favorite sayings of our music director, Tim Peterson. On Wednesday I walked into the nave to find Donna, Tim and Dean Warden removing the last ropes, tape and other indications of the limitations that were necessary to fight Covid.
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As outlined above, most of those necessary Covid restrictions have been lifted. “Sola Deo Gloria”.
I wasn’t there when they removed most of the barriers and markers, but today I noticed one piece of tape on the floor yet to be removed. It was joyous to pull it up.
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Thursday I attended the monthly organ concert in the nave. Tom Scheck was playing a piece that is also the musical base for hymn 383 in our Hymnal (“Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of All Nature.”). I looked at the pews in front of me and saw the Bible, the Prayer Book and the Hymnal - like the Israelites of old, once exiled, but now returned.
The Bible, the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal. The record of God’s reaching out to us, the liturgy by which we respond to God’s call, and the collection of the hymns of praise we sing. The foundations of our Episcopal faith laid out before me. Home again. The visual, in connection with the musical experience was overwhelming.
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Whatever your connection with St. Paul’s, this is a good time to come home. Home to where generations have worshiped, been baptized, married and buried. Home to a living link with the founding of Key West. Home to a sacred space in the middle of the chaos of Davul. Home.
Your home.
See you Sunday, or as soon as you can get 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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Next Organ Concert is August 4th
By Tim Peterson
Thanks to Tom Scheck and Dean Warden for joining me for the July "From the Organ" concert.
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 500PM 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), Peter Nanos, Joseph Lyles, David Sweeting, Carolyn Sangston, Monica (Kitty Roberts’ daughter), Gina, Sandy Highsmith, Carla Harper (sister of Joseph Lyles), Fran Lepine (friend of Joseph), Judy Denton Ping, Ken Reed, Mickey Malgrat, Mark Simcox, John Shaver and Joe Wittreich
We pray for the departed and their loved ones
Crystal Cates
"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 June Birthdays
Brian Wagstaff 07/01
Jim Kracht 07/03
Pamela McLaughlin 07/03
Dexter Simmons 07/04
Deborah Hindsley 07/05
Tina Johnson 07/05
Susan Byrd 07/07
William E. Malpass 07/08
Wendy Tucker 07/08
Greta Ford 07/09
Josefina Reif 07/09
Kyle Campbell 07/10
Kerstin Griffith 07/10
Gary Hernandez 07/10
Mary Taylor 07/10
Pam McCloud 07/11
Sandra Green 07/12
MichelleValdova 07/12
Darren Horan 07/13
Chelsea Wells 07/13
Ron Barker 07/14
Lynese Mariscal 07/14
Tom Ford 07/15
Anne McKee 07/16Akailah Cyrillien 07/17
Nicole Reeder 07/17
Jeff Carr 07/19
Jack Zimmerman 07/19
Sherri Hodies 07/20
AnthonyMarcussen 07/21
Glynn R. Archer IV 07/24
Michael Kindinger 07/25
Sharon Ward 07/25
Troy Thomas 07/26
Lyle Harris 07/28
(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 June Anniversaries:
Edward & Diane King 07/01
David & Pamela McLaughlin 07/28
Kenneth & Marilyn Helgeson 07/29
Daniel & Lynese Mariscal 07/29
Wally & Joyce Senney 07/29
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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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