ANNOUNCEMENTS

from St. Raphael's

May 17, 2024

Join Us Every Sunday

Holy Eucharist

10:00 am at

5601 Williams Drive

All are invited - All are welcome!

Bishop's Committee Notes

The Bishop's Committee met on Wednesday. Here are the highlights of that meeting.

Financial

We have received a $20,000 check from Good Shepherd. Kathleen Leson will write them a thank you note for all to sign. We have received 40% of the pledges but are still short $20,000.

Building Update

Electric meters have been installed. We needed to set up new FPL accounts for all three buildings. This includes coming up with deposits even though we have had the accounts since 1950. The electric in the rectory should be completed tomorrow. The hall will be done next. The plumbing in the house is done and they are starting on the hall. The drywall will be installed in the house soon.

Most likely, we won’t have the AC in the hall for a while. It is getting warmer, so we may need to add window units and fans to be able to continue services over the summer.

We have turned in more information to FEMA and Ross is hopeful that we will get money to help us with the shortfall. He has sent in volunteer hours up to this month. Gail Franklin will collect volunteer hours for this month and future months. If you have volunteer hours, send them to Gail.

Columbarium

The Columbarium Committee met and came up with guidelines for the Columbarium. The Bishop’s committee passed a motion to set the cost of a niche at $1500 for a church member and $2500 for a non-member. We will charge $200 to have a name placed on the Buried at Sea plaque.

The plaque honoring those lost in the storm has been created. We still need to double check the names to make sure we didn't miss anyone. The committee discussed waiting until the anniversary of Ian to have the dedication.

The committee agreed that we do need a Bible Study on the island for all residents, not just members of the congregation. If we want to start this before the hall is ready, we will need to figure out where to meet: the historic society’s cottage is available or we could meet at different homes.

Otherwise, we will need to wait until the hall is finished to plan this event. We did not want to hold this via Zoom. The committee to work on Bible Study includes Kathleen L, Jackie, Mary Ann, and Gail.

Online Donations Now Accepted

The secure Online Giving Button is now active at the church website for maximum convenience, with great gratitude for single or recurring donations, pledges, contributions to the Hurricane rebuilding funds, the Rector's Discretionary fund, or any generosity.

Please scroll down on the home page that opens from St. Raphael's website.

Thank you!

A Message From Father Rowe

Father Rowe is currently on vacation in France. He said he would try to send in his message each week. However, it has not arrived as of 1:00 on Friday, May 17 so I am going to send this out without his message.

If the message arrives before Sunday, I will send it out in a separate email.

Sermons and Messages Now Available on You Tube

Help Us Increase Our Facebook and You Tube Presence

Our online presence has been increasing recently thanks to our streaming videos and presence on Facebook and You Tube. You can help us out by visiting St. Raphael's Facebook Page and clicking Like/Follow. You can also help by subscribing to Father Michael's YouTube channel. By liking us on FB and subscribing to Father's You Tube channel you will be helping our online presence which has advantages. For example, we need to have a certain number of subscribers to live stream on You Tube. Presently, we need to stream to Facebook, save the file, and then upload to Father's You Tube page. If we could stream live directly to Facebook, we could deliver faster to viewers and increase our audience.

♫ Music Notes ♫

Let everyone who has breath sing praise to the Lord!

Opening Hymn---Opening Hymn---Come Holy Spirit--Page 510

Offertory Hymn--Come Thou Font of Every Blessing--Page 686

Closing Hymn--God of Grace and God of Glory--Page 594

Video recording links with lyrics appear each week on St Raphael's Facebook page St. Raphael's Facebook Page, and on Father Michael's You Tube Channel.

Please visit these pages online, and subscribe, like, or follow.

Greeters Needed

We want to make all of our visitors feel welcomed. We need you to help us by volunteering to serve as a greeter/usher. The ushers would make sure that people have places to sit and what they need for the service, take the collections, and ensure that all is put away after the service. The greeters will welcome the visitors and those who are exploring St. Raphael's, introduce them to others, get them name tag, and ask them for contact information as appropriate. If you are willing to help out, see Phil Babcock or email profbunting@gmail.com.

Pledge Drive is Successful

Although we are a little short of our goal, the Bishop's Committee has decided to move forward with the proposed budget. The response to our pledge drive has been wonderful and we are very thankful for your support. If you have not yet sent in your pledge for this year, it is not too late.

May 19--Welcome Rev. Tara McGraw

The Bishop's Committee has approved a wish list that Ross Miller prepared. This includes items that were lost in the storm and will not be covered by insurance. Here is the list of priority items that we need. If you wish to donate, please email Ross Miller and tell him the item or items that you wish to donate. You do not need to donate the entire amount needed. Feel free to donate a portion if you are interested in a big ticket item. For example, you might want to help with the irrigation system restore or the Memorial Garden restoration. You can give any amount. Don't feel like you have to pay for it all. Just let Ross know how much you can contribute to the item. If you want to donate the entire amount for an item, tell Ross the item and commit to the purchase. We do not have space to store any items at this time. Once you commit to purchase an item, you can donate the money and we can order the item when the time comes or we can contact you to purchase the item when we are ready. We want to make sure the items are consistent. We don't need 50 chairs of different styles and colors. After you sign up for purchasing an item, Ross will give you the details if you wish to purchase it yourself. If more than one person elects the same item, Ross will let you know the item is not available and you can choose another item to donate.

To sign up for a donation, Click Here to Email Ross

Kitchen Utensils	$500
Pots and Pans
Tables and Chairs for Hall

Memorial Garden Restoration	$2,000
Irrigation System	$3,500
Cleaning Supplies	$250

Garden Hose	$50
3 Card Tables	$75
1 Folding Table	$60

Bulletin Board (2)	$50
Tablecloths (40)	$150
Easels (3)	$75

Portable Rolling Bar, Stainless, Custom	$600
Hot Plates (2)	$50
Office Desks (2 double, 1 single)	$800

Office Desk Chairs (3)	$250
Computers (2)	$2,000
Printers (2)	$225

Scanner-neat	$100
Shredder	$40
Locking File Cabinet	$150

Counter Height File Cabinets (4 drawer)	$200
Bookcase	$400
Whiteboards (2)	$100

Praying with St. Raphael's

Keep them in your prayers...

If you have someone to add to the weekly prayer list, email Kathy Leson at Kathleenleson@gmail.com

Gracious God, Through your grace guide us, the people of St. Raphael's, to joyfully carry out our mission of growing faith in your son, Jesus Christ. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may develop a living faith and strengthens our awareness of the needs of others. May we work in peace and harmony with each other in all we undertake, in the days and weeks ahead. And may we be a transforming light within our parish and in the community of Fort Myers Beach. We ask these things in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN

Gospel Book Refinished

Father Rowe showed off our newly refinished Gospel book that was brought back to life by DSC Coating. We owe them a big thank you since they donated their time for the reconstruction of the book.

Service Participants

May 19--Reader and Chalice: Kathy Leson

St. Raphael's Episcopal Church

our mission

Healing, Hope & Hospitality

on Ft. Myers Beach

THANK YOU!

for your continuing financial contributions to St. Raphael's.

Your financial pledges and donations keep our ministries vital

and enable us to rebuild for the future.

You can send your donations to

St. Raphael's Church

5601 Williams Drive

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

or you can donate by visiting St. Raphael's Website