Dear Friends,
This month has been so busy, I can't believe it's halfway gone already! Special thanks to all who helped to make the Paul Todd Concert a success in spite of the rumors that we were sold out two weeks before the concert. The Lord was good to us and blessed us with thirty walk-ins, which gave us a total of 114 tickets sold. Special thanks to Bob Gray for his sign waving ministry on the side of the road. We also did well on the bake sell that day. Our Ash Wednesday Service had a good turn out. We are thankful to Kel Egony for burning blessed palms for us so that we could have ashes for our service. I think we have enough now for a few years. Thanks Sue and all the other ladies for collecting the blessed palms for us. This Thursday, St. Raphael's by the Sea will be participating in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fort Myers Beach. We have three golf carts available for those who want to ride. Others will be walking and carrying signs. Gerry will be on her motorcyle and the senior warden, Roxie Smith, and I will be riding in the back of Leeanna's convertable. Cris Zack and her crew are busy today making decorations for the parade. If you don't want to be in it then please come and watch it and cheer for St. Raphael's by the Sea as we go by. This Sunday, is the Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. The Rt. Rev. Neil Lebhar will be joining us for our Sunday morning worship service and to bless the Shrimp Fleet. We will be having a special reception following the morning worship service for everyone to meet and greet the bishop. Please come and make our bishop feel welcome. Since some of our folks will have to be at the shrimp docks setting up for the Blessing, we need all of you to come to church that morning that can. Our bishop will also be preaching at both the morning worship service and for the Blessing. As you can see things have been kind of busy around here, which is a good thing. With all of these wonderful things happening, we cannot forget to give the Good Lord thanks for without His Presence we wouldn't even be a church. Just to nick a rumor in the bud before it gets going, I want you all to know that I have been defrocked from serving in the Episcopal Church. I shared this with our congregation the Sunday I returned from vacation and found a letter from the Episcopal bishop I use to serve. Since I have been under the authority of the Anglican Church of North America since August 1st of 2010, I am elated to know that the Episcopal Church will not be calling me up to do any supply work for them. Although this letter was meant to hurt me, I actually laughed when I read it. I see it as my Emancipation Letter, freeing me from the leadership of those who have left the faith which has been passed down to us through the ages. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I am free at last!" Have a Blessed Lent! Pastor Alice+ |
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Donate On-Line to St. Raphael's by the Sea Church
To make it readily accessable and easy for our season members and friends to help support the missions of St. Raphael's by the Sea, we have set-up a means to receive donations via credit cards, debit cards, and direct from your bank accounts! Just click on the link below, enter you information and desired donation, and voila!, the transaction is completed for you direct into St. Raphael's by the Sea checking account. You can even specify how you want the funds used; from paying operating expenses, to flowers, music, Christmas, Easter, etc.
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Let Us Pray and Support Relief for Japan!
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Dear Members and Friends of the Anglican Church in North America,
A powerful 8.9 earthquake shook Japan at 2:46 pm on Friday, March 11, 2011, triggering a massive tsunami. The quake was the fifth-largest in the world since 1900 and nearly 8,000 times strong er than the one which devastated Christchurch, New Zealand last month.
News reports are saying that the death toll could possibly reach more than a thousand, as hundreds of people remain missing.
Striking off of Honshu, Japan's most heavily populated island and approximately 200 miles from Tokyo, the quake is already responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people and many more deaths are expected. A tsunami triggered by the quake reached six miles inland in places carrying houses, buildings, boats and cars with it. The tsunami is expected to reach areas in North and South America. In the city of Sendai, Japan, the police found up to 300 bodies in a single ward. Fires also blazed across the area.
If you are able, please consider donating to the Anglican Relief and Development Fund (ARDF) for Japan Relief.
To assist your fellow Christians in Japan and our suffering brothers and sisters affected by this tragedy, click here to donate.
*Archbishop Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America also encourages all to pray for the families of those who were killed, for those who are missing and injured, for aid workers, military personnel, government officials, and other volunteers who are part of the rescue and relief efforts. We know that the Lord can work in powerful ways, especially in the midst of crisis.
Prayer: Gracious Father, creator and Savior of this mortal world, we ask your comforting and strengthening help for the people of Japan and surrounding areas. Comfort those whose loved ones have died, bring swift rescue for those who are missing, and strengthen those who are injured. In this crisis, empower your people with your Holy Spirit as they bring Gospel love and courage to their fellow countrymen. Keep us steadfast in prayer until this season of trial has passed for our brothers and sisters. All these things we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Blessings,
Canon Nancy Norton
Executive Director
Anglican Relief and Development Fund | |
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Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet
An historic turn of events has happened. The owner of the Shrimp Fleet, Dennis Henderson, contacted Betty Goodacre and invited St. Raphael's by the Sea Anglican Church to host the Shrimp Fleet Blessing for 2011. The Blessing ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 20th at 3:00 pm on the shrimp docks. The Rt. Reverend Neil Lebhar, Bishop of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese in the Anglican Church of North America, has kindly accepted the shrimpers' invitation to bless the Shrimp Fleet. While the Blessing of the Fleet is the centerpiece of the event, activities for family fun are enjoyed by all, especially the shrimp eating contest at 1:30 pm. Vendors will be at the docks and open from noon until 5:00 pm.
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Our Mission is to Know Christ and to make Christ known to others. To accomplish that mission, it takes commitment and resources. Please read the next few paragraphs and do what you can to support and further the mission.
Needs of our Church
- Financial contributions and donations to cover:
- Operating expenses; such as, rent for our worship space, supplies, secretarial assistance and office supplies, outreach, etc.
- Our very minimal tithe to the Gulf Atlantic Diocese
- Salary and modest expenses for our pastor
- Prayers and support from our seasonal members to sustain our full time members in their efforts until you all return and physically "pitch in"
- New members to expand our outreach and service in doing the Lord's work in our communities
Our Prayer List
PARISHIONERS:
Roxie Smith Betty Goodacre AJ Bassett Sandy Smith
Sue Egony Alfred Paprocki Pat McIntosh Jane Upsal
FAMILY OF PARISHIONERS:
Chris Parsons Frandy Bassett Courtney Looney
Harry Marcrum Gary Looney Jackie Parsons
Pam Tasha Looney Stephanie Joy
Melanie Coleman Betsy Chalut Harold Futch
Siera Coleman Ann White Monica & Baby Matthew
Sister Teresa David
FRIENDS Carol Hartman Tammy Joy
Lily Langster Amy Elaine Hastings
Bill Van Duzer Jean Matthew Stan Hastings
Carolyn Shirly Durbin Arthur & Mary Alice Keillor
Chad Matthew Margaret Patterson Meghan
Allison Watkins Toby
Remember to pray for those who are in the military service and our nation's leaders.
Active military: Rockford Guy, John Bell, Adam Stock, Louis Feaman, David Bellows, David
Webb, Caroline, Nick Looney
Celebrate Birthdays and Anniversaries
March Birthdays March Anniversaries
3rd Geri Paprocki 18th Kel &Sue Egony
7th Peni Parsons
21st Walter Testrake
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Joke for the Month
'O'Toole and his wife are in bed one night and they hear the neighbour's dog is barking its head off in the garden. Somewhat disturbed by the noise, O'Toole explodes, 'Botheration and that!' and storms off downstairs.
He comes back upstairs five minutes later and his wife asks, 'What did you do, O'Toole?'
O'Toole replies with a wide grin, 'I've put the dog in our garden so I did, now let's see how they like it.'
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Irish Bread
There are many traditional baked goods in Ireland that have evolved over the centuries. From the earliest times, bread-making was an integral part of daily life in almost every home. Families lived in isolated farmhouses where most kitchens had only open hearths, not ovens, so the breads that developed were baked on griddles or in large three-legged black iron pots over fragrant turf fires. The aroma and taste of traditional soda bread is unique to Ireland, and it's become the established favourite with tourists and locals alike.
Irresistible Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
- Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter.
- Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.
Prep Time: 15 Min Cook Time: 1 Hr 10 Min Ready In: 1 Hr 25 Min |
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Saint Raphael's by the Sea Church