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Welcome to St. Raphael's Anglican Episcopal Church
Greetings!
Thank you for taking a few minutes to read our latest newsletter. We put it together monthly so that all of our friends can stay up to date on what we are doing, as well as important events within the larger Episcopal and Anglican church life.
If you would like to see other sorts of information included, please just drop us a note, send an e-mail, or pick up your phone and call us. We love to hear from you! |
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Welcome Home
Dear Friends,
September is already proving to be a busy time in our church's life. This coming weekend the women of St. Raphael's have been invited to attend an 'Amazing Love Conference' that is happening right here on our beloved island at the Christian Retreat Center. The conference is hosted by Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Osprey, Florida. The rector of Holy Spirit, Pastor Sharon, is a dynamic speaker who is gifted in the healing ministry. It is sure to be an exciting weekend for all who attend. Hope to see many of you there!
Then we say thanks to Bishop Lipscomb and his wife at a Retirement Dinner on Sunday evening, September 9th at Michael's in Sarasota. Please let the Church Office know if you have not yet made your reservation and are planning on attending. We will do what we can to help you get a dinner ticket.
The following weekend, on September 15th, is the installation of Bishop Dabney Smith as our diocesan bishop. This is open to all. Again, please let the Church Office know if you want to attend so we can try and co-ordinate rides for everyone.
At the end of this month, the Archbishop of Canterbury is meeting in New Orleans with The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops concerning the September 30th deadline for the Primates' Communiqué. Please keep the dates of September 20th to 25th in your prayers. The relationship of the Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion is at stake.
In the meantime, we here at St. Raphael's are doing what we can to get things ready for those of you who are seasonal members. Beginning in October, we will change over from monthly to weekly Taize services. Also as choir members return, choir rehearsals will begin. Choir members please let Edward Battaglia, St. Raphael's Music Director, know when you are planning on heading our way. We are all looking forward to hearing your lovely voices once again.
For those of you who are not here and have been praying for Jim, my husband; he is now driving and attending church with me. He has also gone back to work part-time. Thanks again for all of your prayers. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good!
Blessings,
The Rev. Alice Marcrum, Rector
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Dorothy Leach Smith
Dorothy Leach Smith mother of The Rt. Rev. Dabney Tyler Smith passed away Friday August 31, 2007 at the age of 88.
Please keep her family and loved ones in your prayers. | |
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Bishop Smith's Investiture set for September 15.
The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida requests your prayers and presence at the recognition and investiture of the Rt. Rev. Dabney Tyler Smith as fifth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida.
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The Music Man
"Grace Notes"
I hope many of you had the opportunity to watch the memorial service last week for Princess Diana. The music was absolutely magnificent and the singers were glorious to the final note. Our Episcopal liturgy and tradition, so beautifully celebrated on that day, is a testament to the fullness of praise to the Lord. The choral singing in the Anglican tradition is without peer and though we are a gentle, small parish we, too, reach for those special moments when we lift our hearts in song and prayer.
Our singers will begin to return in September. Please consider singing with us each week and if you know any singers, do suggest to them to join our music at St. Raphael's.
Did you know how much of our service is common to so many other services? For example when we sing... the Holy, Holy, Holy it is identical in the Roman Church as Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus and in the Jewish Temple as Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh and in the German tradition as Heilig, Heilig, Heilig.
The universality of prayer and music is so much more common than we realize. The settings may be different, but the oneness is awesome.
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Home at Last
St. Raphael's celebrates one of our own, Anthony Smith, husband of Vivianna, son of Steve and Lisa Smith, and grandson of Roxie Smith has returned from serving in Iraq. He was born and raised here on Fort Myers Beach and we are all thankful he has returned alive and well.
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September Birthdays
September 2- Richard Cotter
September 4- Marguerite Thackston
September 9- Ardeth Westrope
September 9- Morey Nakaya
September 12- Pat McIntosh
September 21- Allyene Palmer
September 23- Alice Leaden
Se[tember 25- Judy Haataja |
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September Anniversaries
September 2- Rob & Bonnie Beaulieu
September 5- Jim & Ardeth Westrope
September 7- David & Sally Saunders
September 11- Richard & Mrs. Cotter
September 22- Mary Alice & Arthur Keillor
September 30- Jim & Betty McMahon |
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Sunday Ministry Schedule for the Month of September. |
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Date Chalice/Acolyte Reader/Prayer Usher
September 2 Susan Strum Pat MacIntosh AJ Bassett
September 9 Pat MacIntosh Dott Bellows Ellie & Bob
Bunting
September 16 Judy Haataja Bob Bunting Ellie & Bob
or Bonnie & Rob
September 23 Pat MacIntosh Susan Strum AJ Bassett
September 30 Susan Strum Ellie Bunting Ellie & Bob
Bunting |
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Digging Deeper
Insight into our brothers and sisters of the Global South.
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September Taize' Schedule
The Taize' service for the month of September is set for September 18th at 7pm, come early for our pot luck dinner at 6pm.
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Joke Of The Month
Where is God?
A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved.
The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.
The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?".
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God!!?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!?"
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?"
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing - and they think WE did it!"
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