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The Red Door
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE PRIEST-IN-CHARGE
Reflections
Dear Friends in Christ,
We will, in just a short time, begin our annual season of
introspection and preparation for the celebration of resurrection. As
we make our way through the church calendar, we find that we are
walking the path of Jesus, learning who he is, what he says and how
we relate to him. Yes, we have walked this way before. In fact, most
of us have walked this way for many years. So, why do it again, why
in 2020?
The answer is fairly simple. One of the things I have found is
that with each repetition, Holy Spirit reveals new things to me, things
that I have read or studied before, but now find fresh meaning that I
have not recognized in the past. One of the reasons I love teaching
Bible Study is precisely that I am given new insights in my own
preparation, and learn from the insights of students in the class.
There are many traditions of Lent from the past, most
emphasizing some form of sacrifice. It may be refraining from a
favorite food, or avoiding meat on Fridays. Whatever the sacrifice
may be, its purpose is to free us from the routines of this world that
we may focus our attention on the things of God.
But a newer tradition is developing. Rather than focusing on
giving up something, finding spiritual practices to take on. I’ve
already mentioned Bible study such as the one at St. Michael’s on
Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. (In case you missed it, that is a hint.) But
you can also set aside a daily time at home to read Scripture and pray.
At the front of the Book of Common Prayer are a set of devotions
intended for individuals or families. You could set a time of day
spend time in prayer and reflection. Or, if you are ambitious, you
could observe the ancient practice of Morning, Noon, Evening
Prayer, and Compline at bedtime.
There are many practices for observing a holy Lent. I’ve only
mentioned a few, I’m sure you are aware of others. The important
thing is to examine ourselves; to acknowledge our need of the
forgiveness that comes only through Jesus; and to learn our
dependence on Holy Spirit for living holy lives.
My prayer for all of you is that you live a holy Lent, and that
when Easter arrives, you are prepared for the most joyful celebration
ever.
Blessings, Alan+
Vision Transforming lives through Christ
Mission Our Mission is to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ so that all may
come to know God.
Guiding Principles Faith: We value our Christian faith; therefore, we will endeavor to conduct ourselves according to Christ’s teachings. Compassion: We value compassion; therefore, we will care for others in the name of Christ.
Service: We value service; therefore, we will share the gifts God has given us. Inclusivity: We value inclusivity; therefore, we will strive to include everyone.
Integrity: We value integrity; therefore, we will treat each other with respect and honesty.
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2019 Reports for
Annual Meeting Booklet
Don't forget that we need a 2019 report from
the ministry you chair! The Annual Meeting
is February 16th and we'll need your report by
Friday, February 7th to put the booklet
together. If you would like to see the report
from last year, please give Susan a call and
she'll send it.
Ash Wednesday Services
February 26th 9:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
(6:00-7:15p)
February 19th – RonDao's Pizzeria (15320 McGregor Blvd.)
March 18th – La Casita Mexican Bistro (15185 McGregor Blvd.)
April 22nd – Starz Italian Restaurant (8750 Gladiolus Dr.)
Meghan Warner, Youth Leader
Announcement of Annual Meeting of the Parish of
St. Michael and All Angels
On February 16th at 12:00 p.m.
the 61st Annual Meeting of the Parish
will take place in the Parish Hall.
Vestry Nominations The Vestry Nominating Committee, under the
Chairmanship of Jerry McCullough, has
nominated Tom Addison, Betsy Schuman, and
Bob Syversen as candidates for the Vestry 2020.
Voting will be at St. Michael’s Annual Meeting on
Sunday, February 16th. Current Vestry members
Lee Almas, Ellie Harries, and Jerry
McCullough will be retiring on the completion
their three-year term of office. Bios of Nominees
located on page 14.
Taizé – Third Wednesdays Join us for a service of prayer,
candlelight, and music on
February 19th and March 18th at
6:00 p.m. Taizé is a small town in
France where a community of
brothers first opened its doors to
the public to welcome them to pray, sing, and
experience silence – most importantly to
invite them into a place of peace from a hectic
world. (In 2014, there was an average of 7000
people a week who journeyed to Taizé.) This
25-minute service on the third Wednesday of
the month will offer you a holy and calming
rhythm – one you may want to take back into
your busy lives. Mostly, it is a time for all of
us to create a space to hear where God is
speaking. It will be followed by refreshments
and light snacks.
Meeting Jesus in Scripture Every Thursday at 11:00
John’s gospel is the one most often recommended
for new Christians to read. It is as important for
those of us who have been Jesus’s followers for a
long time. In this gospel, we not only learn a lot
about Jesus, but we learn to know Jesus. We all
are busy, but this study is a great way to grow
stronger in our faith and in our spiritual walk.
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5th Annual Celebration of
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal
Church celebrated its 5th Annual
Celebration of The Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. on Monday, January
20th. The keynote speaker this year was The Rev.
Adrienne Hymes, Missioner for Church
Extension for the Diocese of SWFL and Priest-in-
Charge of Wesley Chapel Episcopal Church.
Zaire Saldana returned to recite Dr. King’s
memorable “I Have a Dream” speech, along with
Spiritual Voices of Fort Myers, The Victorious
Dance Ministry, and our own St. Michael’s
Choir. It was an uplifting evening of music,
reflections, and recollections of how this great
American - The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -
continues to impact all our lives in challenging and
powerful ways.
The Rev. Alan Kelmereit and The Rev. Adrienne Hymes
Spiritual Voices of Fort Myers
Thanks to the MLK Planning Team: Wendy
McLaughlin, Chair; Don Adams, retiring Chair;
Mike Baldwin, Terry Baldwin, Bobbi Jo
Bradley, Marvin Bradley, Rookie Bradley,
John Coleman, Sandra Danussi, James Davis,
Hank Glass, Jan Holly, Pat Jones, Marilyn
Lewis, Anne Stewart, Mary Vollmer, Roberta
Winters and Alan Kelmereit.
Stewardship Update
“A generous person will prosper;
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25
The Stewardship Chair Betsey Kane and Priest-in-
Charge thank everyone not only for their
attendance, but also for their positive energy and
support during the Neighborhood Conversations.
We hosted six this year and extend gratitude to the
hosts for opening their homes for these important
evenings: Sylvia & Roger Heider, Ann & Lee
Cooper, Lena & Steve Brown, Susie Wilson,
Neva Poole and Bev Kitch. Due to personal
invitations to participate in our many ministries
and due to many giving hearts, people continue to
be generous with their time, talent and treasure!
We remain deeply grateful for your commitment to
building up the common good of this parish.
Men’s Fellowship
Join together in fellowship, discussion and prayer at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, February 11th & 25th and March 10th & 24th in the Parish Hall. Light breakfast provided (7:15).
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117
139
160
176
185
0 50 100 150 200 250
5-Jan
12-Jan
19-Jan
26-Jan
2-Feb
4-Feb
16-Feb
# Pledges Received
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Madden Education Scholarships If you plan to apply for a
scholarship, this is the time of year
to do so! St. Michael's is blessed to
have this scholarship fund for
adults and teens in the parish who
want to pursue further education. Please contact
Judy Workman, Chair of the Madden Education
Fund Committee [email protected] or stop by the
Church Office for an application.
Noah’s Ark Annual Fashion Show
Sixty Years of Style
Monday, February 10th
1:00 p.m.
The Noah’s Ark Fashion Show is an annual event
sponsored by our ECW. This year the theme will be
“Sixty Years of Style” – accompanied by beautiful
music. Our models will be showing you amazing
clothes – all from the Ark. (Please call Liz Coffey
with any questions 239-472-6131.) Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Show begins at 1:00 p.m. Refreshments served after the show
Walk the Way
of the Cross On Fridays during Lent,
beginning on February 28th, we
invite you to pray/walk the Stations of the Cross.
This is just one more way to reflect upon the life of
Christ, discover again why you are called a
Christian, and deepen your spiritual journey. As
we walk and pray upon the struggles of Christ's last
days, and reflect upon the pain of the world, this
spiritual exercise can bring us closer to the God
who walks the struggle with us.
A Guide to the
Stained Glass Windows We now have guide books for our beautiful
stained-glass windows. If you wish to learn more
about the windows please feel free to use the guide
books to learn the history of each window. The
guide books are located at the back of the church
and in the gallery.
A special thanks to Beth Davis who put the guide
together and to Corky Boyd for his wonderful
pictures of each window. Other committee
members working on the project were Helen
Ketteman and Marilyn Lewis.
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"Your Choir really rocks", was told to me by
Adrienne Hymes, the speaker for our fifth annual
Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Our highly
acclaimed parish choir is growing, and we feel
very good about ourselves. The choir will sing
several special pieces for the visit by our Bishop
on February 2nd. From the famous Isaiah text, we
will sing The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me by the
English composer Philip Stopford. We will also
sing The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune by Ralph
Vaughan Williams. This was first sung at the
coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1962.
February 26th brings Ash Wednesday, and the
choir will process to the familiar hymn Shall We
Gather at the River. Several other Lenten anthems
will be sung for the beginning of the forty days of
this season.
During the first week of March, Jeanie and I will
be attending the Western Division Conference of
the American Choral Director's Association.
Children's choirs, school choirs, college choirs and
professional choirs will be featured for the four-
day conference.
Our choir will sing several Lenten anthems based on
the Ave Verum Corpus text, and we hope to tackle
John Ireland's Greater Love for the Lenten season.
Our glad Hosannas will ring out on Palm Sunday,
April 5th. The immortal music of the Easter Vigil
will be sung for the Saturday evening vigil, April
11th, including the Antiphonal Gloria and the
Exultant. Of course, the joyous music of Easter
will fill the rafters with sound.
Those of you interested in singing just a few weeks
should think about joining us during the six weeks
of Lent and Easter. This commitment is a very
short time for you to join us, but it certainly is a
rewarding time to sing to the Lord.
~ Hank Glass, Minister of Music
Healing Ministry The Healing Ministry of St. Michael's continues to
take place each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. with
Eucharist in the Angel Chapel followed by
anointing and healing prayer for those who wish it.
During the Saturday and Sunday Eucharist healing
prayer is offered in the Memorial Garden.
The Healing Fellowship meets once a month in the
Angel Chapel. A book on healing in the church is
discussed. From time to time we have reflected on
the healing accounts that are found in scripture.
There is an on-going sharing of experiences that
inspire and support this ministry of healing at St.
Michael's.
Any who are interested or inquisitive about this
ministry are most welcome and encouraged to join
us at our regular meetings which are at 11:00 a.m.
on the third Friday of the month. This was and is a
part of Jesus' ministry and we feel blessed to be a
part of it.
~ Paul Goddard - Facilitator
Pastoral Care Ministry:
Prayer Chain Saint Michael's Prayer Chain is composed of a
small group of quiet, dedicated members who
faithfully pray each day for parishioners or their
families going through difficult times. Names
are received from our Priest-in-charge, our
Parish Nurse or other parishioners. The name or
names (first names only) are then sent by email
to the ministry members. This allows the prayers
to begin immediately, especially in emergency
situations and not wait for the Prayers of the
People on the weekend. When the situation of
the person improves, their name is removed
from our list. In addition, each month when the
Pastoral Care Ministry meets, the list is updated
and names are added or removed. It is a very
rewarding experience to be personally involved
speaking to God on behalf of another person.
~ Betsy McCullough
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From Your Parish Nurse,
Wendy Another year has gone by and here we are at Heart
Month again. Heart disease continues to be the
leading cause of deaths in men and women in the
United States. It is actually the leading cause of
death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in
the United States, including African American,
American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and
white men. For women from the Pacific Islands and
Asian American, American Indian, Alaska Native,
and Hispanic women, heart disease is second only to
cancer.1 “About 647,000 Americans die from heart
disease each year – that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.” As
a side note. an estimated 606,880 Americans, men
and women will die of cancer in the United States.
Heart Attack is a common term that we hear people
say. Every year, about 805,000 Americans have a
Heart Attack according to the Center for Disease
Control. Of that number 605,000 are first time
attacks and the other 200,000 are subsequent attacks.
Symptoms of heart attack include: Chest pain or
discomfort (angina), weakness, light-headedness,
nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), or a cold
sweat, pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder and
shortness of breath. Women are more likely than
men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest
pain, such as: Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or
abdominal discomfort, shortness of breath, pain in
one or both arms, nausea or vomiting, sweating,
lightheadedness or dizziness, unusual fatigue and
indigestion.
The leading risk factors for coronary artery disease,
which causes heart attacks are high blood pressure,
high cholesterol levels and smoking. There are
though, several other factors which put a person in a
higher risk category. These risk factors include
diabetes, being overweight, unhealthy diets, lack of
physical activity and excessive alcohol intake. Most
of these risk factors we have the ability to control or
change, but the only one we can’t control is heredity.
So, as we start the New Year again……be mindful
of what we can do to have a better life now and in the
future.
For other topic suggestions or questions, email
Caregiver Support Groups for Dementia/Alzheimer’s
Sanibel
1:30 p.m. - 4th Wednesday of each month
Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ
2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel
Fort Myers
10:00 a.m. - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month
Saint Columbkille Catholic Church
Ministry Center Room 1
12175 Iona Road
10:00 a.m. - 3rd Wednesday of each month
Peace Lutheran Church
15840 McGregor Blvd
Respite available for group attendees,
must RSVP 437-2599
6:15 p.m. - 3rd Thursday of each month
The Alvin Dubin Alzheimer's Resource Center
12468 Brantley Commons Court
Cancer Care-Giver Support Group –
Regional Cancer Center – Suite #302
8931 Colonial Center Drive, Fort Myers, 33905
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - 2nd Thursday of every month
For more information, please contact Monica
Dunkley at 239-343-9500.
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~ Men’s Retreat ~
February 12-13, 2020
“Challenges to Spiritual Growth” How we as men can use our faith, talents and
resources to sustain and build the body of Christ at
St. Michael’s and All Angels. We are fortunate to
have as our 2020 retreat leader Brian McLaren,
an internationally known pastor, author, speaker
and networker among innovative Christian leaders,
thinkers and activists. He is a frequent guest on
television, radio and news media programs and has
appeared on many broadcasts including Larry
King Live, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly and
Nightline. His work was also covered in Time
Magazine where he was listed as one of America’s
25 most influential evangelicals.
The retreat will be held on February 12 & 13 at the
beautiful “old Florida” DaySpring Episcopal
Center in Parrish, FL about two hours north of
Sanibel. The program will include presentations
Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning with
breakout sessions for discussion and sharing.
There will be light refreshments before supper
followed by evening prayer in the charming St.
James Chapel. The retreat ends Thursday noon
with Eucharist in the outdoor chapel overlooking
the Manatee River.
Carpooling is encouraged and will be arranged
closer to the date of the retreat. If you have special
food requests please let me know. If you have
questions I can be reached at (239) 472-4882, cell
(262) 902-7499 or email [email protected].
Cheers and Blessings,
Tom Addison
~ Women’s Retreat ~
March 10-11, 2020
“Time out for God:
A Spiritual Journey” This retreat will offer an opportunity to leave the
busyness of our lives for a time and just “be” in the
Presence of God. There will be short meditations
with times for individual and small group
reflection. Our retreat leader this year will be our
own, The Rev. Anne Kimball - and the retreat
dates are Tuesday, March 10th, starting with lunch
at noon and end Wednesday, March 11th, with
lunch at noon, at DaySpring Episcopal Center in
Parrish, FL.
DaySpring is a beautiful facility with paths to
walk, a lake with water fowl, a labyrinth and a
lovely old chapel for us to use for services or quiet
meditation. The lodge – with many rocking chairs
to sit upon and meditate – serves delicious food.
From the minute one arrives any stress one has
begins to leave and the beauty of the surroundings
fills the senses.
The cost per woman is $110.00 for a shared room
of two and $145.00 for a private room. The rooms
have comfortable beds and complete bathrooms
with a shower. See page 18 for registration form.
Give your name and check, made out to St.
Michael and All Angels with “Women’s Retreat”
in the memo line, to either Susan (in the Church
Office) or Liz Coffey. If you are sharing a room,
include the name of your roommate on a separate
piece of paper. If you would like Liz to match you
up with a roommate, please include that
information as well. Carpooling arrangements will
be provided later.
Blood Pressure Screenings Thursday, February 13th
and
Thursday, February 20th
12:30-2:30 p.m. ~ Church Library
by Parish Nurse Wendy Warner
No appointment needed.
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A Gift for Ellen Sloan: The Prayer Shawl and
Quilt Ministry has just completed the creation of a
special wrap for the Rev. Ellen Sloan. Designed by
Robin Fidler, the wrap was knitted and crocheted
by individual participants in the Ministry, and is
accompanied by a gift card, created by Debbie
MacKelcan and Jamie Smith. The wrap was
blessed by the Rev. Alan Kelmereit at the 10:30
Service on January 19th.
Pictured: (Back row L-R) Debbie MacKelcan, Robin Fidler,
Gretchen Delman, Linda Spire, Linda Korn, Christine
Jackson, Ellie Harries; (Sitting L-R) Jamie Smith, Ellen
Trevor, Janet Bendall
The Prayer Shawl and Quilt Ministry continues to
meet every Tuesday from 12:30-2:30 p.m. in the
Parish Library. There is a warm welcome for all
and is a great way for those new to St. Michael’s
to meet people. This informal gathering begins
and ends with prayer and is filled with
conversation and focus as friends knit, crochet and
work on quilts, lap rugs and shawls. Supplies are
available for use, as well as patterns. Someone is
always willing to help with casual instruction.
Bring lunch if you wish. All the completed work
is blessed by our Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Alan
Kelmereit. Items are gifted to people who might
need a little extra comfort at a difficult time in life
as well as in celebration for Baptisms or marriages.
Seventeen new shawls and quilts were blessed at
services on January 18 and 19.
If you are aware of someone who might benefit
from receipt of a lap rug, shawl or quilt, please
speak to the church Office Manager, Susan, or
contact our Parish Nurse, Wendy Warner
([email protected]) or myself
Special thanks go to those who those who, while
not attending meetings, have continued to work on
and donate their creativity. Please leave your
shawl, lap rug or quilt at the office with Susan and
include your name. We try to keep a photo record
of all the donations. Thank you.
~ Ellie Harries, Facilitator
Notes of Thanks Dear Friends,
The flowers are such a cheerful thought and very much appreciated. I miss being back in church, but know the Lord is still there for me.
May God bless you all! Polly Pinney
Dear Rev. Kelmereit & St. Michael’s,
Thank you very much to you and your
congregation for your generous donation in
support of our Food Pantry program.
Friends like you enable F.I.S.H. to provide
nutritious food to many of our island
residents and workers who would otherwise
be without.
I really appreciate your loyal support.
Sheridan Snell, Board of Directors
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A Quiet Afternoon:
“Learning to Listen to God
through the Journey of Jonah”
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Light lunch included
We’ve all heard of Jonah, the man who ran from
God and wound up in the belly of a whale. But
there’s much more to discover in the four short
chapters of his book. By exploring his life and the
choices he made, we may gain insight into our own
calling from God.
Come experience a quiet afternoon during Lent. A
light lunch will be offered at 11:30 before an
afternoon of listening, reflection, journaling, and
prayerful worship.
John and Debby Topliff, who now live at Shell
Point, are seminary graduates and love to lead
people deeper into faith through contemplative
practices of listening to Scripture, journaling,
prayer, and simple worship.
Please contact the church office at 472-2173 or
email [email protected]
to register and reserve a lunch. There is no cost for
this event but we ask you to bring a donation of
non-perishable food as St. Michael’s continues to
support the many hungry people on the islands and
in Fort Myers.
Invite your friends and neighbors!
Outreach Opportunities
A reminder from your Outreach Team! If you want to help at the Food Pantry at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church, your contact person for that is Cindy
Brown (239-560-5539) and the days we can volunteer are Mondays. To work at the Everyday Cafe, your contact is Phil
Pilibosian (239-410-3175) and we help there on the first Wednesday of the month. Thank you, Cindy and Phil!
Prayer List Please Remember in Your Prayers
If you would like your family member(s), friend(s)
or yourself to be on the list, please send or call names
to Susan in the Church Office at 239-472-2173 or
Parishioners:
Judy Workman Jack Rushworth
Carol Daniels Barbara Maruchi
John Bordieri Polly Pinney
Paula Traxler Wes Rooker
Peg Jensen Jan Holly
Mel Deming Brenda Demaree
George Craig Don Van Alstyne
Jean Chapman-Castle Peggie Dodd
Family of Parishioners:
Jake Pryor Dave Kingsley
Josh Huff Wendy White
James Platt Emily
Shane Hassett Megan Ramsey
Twyala Poole Smith Kenneth
Lucy Brooks Christina Dillon Cohen
Walter Carol Welsh
Chris Therese Stripling
Emma Susan
Amy Sue Lund Kim
Sherrie Michael Wood
Nickie Marilyn
Trevor Bob
Andrew
Friends of Parishioners:
Darlene & Ian Cowling Jackie Rogers
Angie Barouse Doug Boyce
Diane
2020 Parish Directory Please take a moment to double-
check your address(es), phone
number(s) and e-mail address(es)
as we prepare the 2020 edition of
our FACEs & Contacts. Add birth
dates, anniversary dates, if you’d
like to be on our birthday/anniversary lists. A
notebook containing the editing version will be on
the table in the Gallery until Sunday, February 23rd.
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Outreach Ministry Update The Outreach Committee has been busy with a
number of activities. The Angel Tree, as a joint
project with the Youth Group, provided 50
children from Pine Manor, with a “want” and a
“need”. Santa Claus also brought 210 educational
books to the children of Misión Peniel. $4,346 total
raised. We spent $2,740 on the Pine Manor kids
gifts (toys/clothes/shoes/12 bikes) and $1,606 on
educational books for Misión Peniel. Gifts were
assembled and wrapped by the Outreach Team.
Epiphany brings another opportunity to donate
personal hygiene items and rice and beans to the
workers in Immokalee. Two car loads containing
several pounds of rice, beans and other canned
goods, along with soaps, toothpastes and other
personal care products, have already been taken
from the altar area and given to the workers. Many
thanks to Louise & Gerry Fitzgerald, Sue &
Chuck Sterrett and Cindy Brown for making that
happen.
For the first time as a Parish, on February 1st, we
helped prepare food packs for the organization
called Feed My Starving Children. This is a joint
effort with the other Churches on Sanibel; the food
packs will be distributed all over the world. Our
group packed 41 boxes = 1,400 meals.
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Our Committee has been learning from some of
our Parishioners of their efforts in International
Projects, such as in Swaziland, Guatemala,
Honduras and the Bahamas.
The Outreach Committee is open to all
Parishioners. We meet the second Thursday of the
month at 1:30 p.m. in the Thomas Madden Room.
If you would like to join us for one or many
projects, or just be informed of what is going on,
please call Cindy Brown at 239-560-5539, or
[email protected]. The more hands we have, the
more we can reach out to those who need us.
~ Cindy Brown, Chair
A Note of Appreciation Dear St. Michael and All Angels,
On behalf of Pastor Miguel Estrada and the
children we serve through Misión Peniel, I
want to thank you for sharing in our holiday
outreach in December. It was truly a festive
day for all! Thanks to your thoughtful
generosity, “Santa’s Elves” were able to
share all he books with the children who
came to see him. This “extra” give of love
brought great joy with long lasting smiles!
Your holiday giving spirit blessed he lives of
many of God’s precious children!
Thank you for reaching out to us! God is
truly blessing this mission and the people it
serves through the hearts of people like you!
We are thankful for the many ways you
continue to partner with us; through ongoing
financial support and grant opportunities,
the special Epiphany and other donation
collection campaigns you sponsor and the
many prayers lifted up on our behalf. Your
partnership plays a vital role in the
mission’s outreach with the farm-worker
community in Immokalee, FL. We look
forward to another fulfilling year of mission
ministry in the year ahead!
With appreciation and joy,
Ruth De Yoe, Mission Coordinator
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A Prayer for Our Country
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land
for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we
may always prove ourselves a people mindful of
thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land
with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure
manners. Save us from violence, discord, and
confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from
every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion
into one united people the multitudes brought
hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue
with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy
Name we entrust the authority of government, that
there may be justice and peace at home, and that,
through obedience to thy law, we may show forth
thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the
time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness,
and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee
to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, pg. 820)
Christian Yoga Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
in St. Michael’s Parish Hall
Classes: February 4 & 18, March 3 & 17
Christian Yoga – as a gentle
practice and prayer for better
health, will be offered free of
charge. The class will convene in
the St. Michael’s parish hall and will go from 3:30
p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please bring a yoga or sticky mat,
a strap and refrain from eating an hour and a half
prior to class. All participants must be able to get
up and off the floor by themselves.
The first part of the class will be spent on breath
work. We will move to stretches and extensions on
the floor. We will then rise and work on balance
and standing poses. The last part of the class is our
final relaxation pose, meditation and prayer. Please
come join us.
If you have any questions; call Gari Lewis
Certified Yoga instructor: (239) 395-2403.
"...offer your body as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God
- this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
Deepen Your Spiritual
Experience of Lent
Ash Wednesday Services Wednesday, February 26
9:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross Every Friday in Lent at 12:00
(beginning February 28)
World Day of Prayer Friday, March 6
A Lenten Quiet Afternoon Silence, scripture and conversation
weaved together
Led by Debby & John Topliff
Tuesday, March 25, 11:30- 3:00 p.m.
(with light lunch at 11:30 a.m.)
The Reconciliation of a Penitent (This form of private confession is offered in our
Book of Common Prayer, page 447.) Please call
the Priest-in-Charge if you’d like to know more
about this.
Morning Prayer on Tuesday We realize that our Christian identity is renewed each week in the celebration of Holy Eucharist and Baptism; however,
we also live out our faith in the monastic
tradition of daily prayer - whether alone in our homes or in the gathering together at Morning Prayer every Tuesday at 9:00. I’m hoping that more people this year will meet in the
Angel Chapel for these twenty minutes of prayer and scripture. I encourage you to prayerfully consider this important time as we assemble in Christ’s name.
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Shared Scholar a Success An outstanding program was presented by Sanibel
Interfaith 2020 Scholar, Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker
Saint Michael and All Angels was well represented on
Sunday January 26, when Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, the
2020 speaker for the Sanibel Interfaith Lecture Series,
shared Thomas Berry’s vision of the universe to a filled
sanctuary at the Sanibel Congregational Church. The
following day 100 people returned for an in-depth
seminar and discussion.
In essence, she presented a vision of the universe as
one that is revelatory, interconnected, awe inspiring,
filled with wonder and beauty if we have eyes to see it.
This, she said, we must preserve at all costs. Everything
in the universe is alive, not dead, and that is why “matter”
matters. Our ecosystems are interrelated and
dependent on each other as are all living things. There
is an immediate need to raise human consciousness to
view our earth as an interdependent community not a
commodity for our use and disposal. Consciousness
leads to conscience and conscience leads to
institutional change in education, economics,
jurisprudence, and religion.
When asked how retired people can contribute to saving
our environment and planet, she recommended
beginning with an “intergenerational handshake” of
support and encouragement for young people who are
ready and willing to take on the
challenge of change to secure their
future and the future of their children.
While she holds three professorships at
the same time, what the audience
appreciated most was the fact that she
spoke about science from her heart and from a deep
spiritual understanding. As one person summed up her
presentation, “She was genuine.” ~ Betsy Schuman
To All the Women of
St. Michael's
Luncheons, Programs & Retreat
2019-2020
February 10, 2020 1:00 p.m.
Noah’s Ark Fashion Show
March 9, 2020 12:30 p.m.
Your Skin and the Sun
Guest Speaker – Florida Skin Care
March 10-11, 2020
Women’s Retreat
DaySpring Episcopal Center
Retreat Leader: The Rev. Anne Kimball
April 13, 2020 12:30 p.m.
Annual Meeting & Election of Officers
Life and Theology of Francis Perkins
Guest Speaker: Peter Blaze Corcoran
FACES Directory Corky and Julie Boyd will be available to take
your picture for our next edition of FACES -
after the services on February 15/16 and
22/23! If you are happy with your photo from
last year, that’s fine. If you cannot get to church
to meet with Corky on one of these two
weekends, please email or bring a photo into the
office and we will scan it. Photos can be you
alone, with someone you love, with family, and
even you and your pet!
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2020 Christian Education Forum
"Living Lives of Meaning:
Exploring Our Faith Journeys" January 12 - March 15
Forum sessions are Sunday morning in the Parish
Hall between the two morning services from 9:30
- 10:15 a.m.
The speakers will all be members of St. Michael
and All Angels sharing their journeys of faith:
February 2nd ~ John Mason
February 9th ~ Debi Almeida
February 16th ~ Annual Meeting of the Parish
February 23rd ~ David Bath
March 1st ~ TBD
March 8th ~ The Rev. Alan Kelmereit
March 15th ~ John Topliff
New Birthdays and
Anniversaries? With so many new faces among us, we want to make sure we have your birthday (and anniversary if appropriate).
We try to pray for each person individually on these special days and will put your
name in the worship service leaflet at the appropriate time. It will also appear in the Red Door Newsletter! If you feel so inclined,
please fill out the form below and send in to the church office, with your name and birth date - no year required - and thank
you.
Name: ____________________________________
Birthday: __________________________________
Name: ____________________________________
Birthday: __________________________________
Anniversary: _______________________________
Technology Workshop Do you have photos on your phone that you can’t
figure out how to send to others or post online? Do
you wonder how to change your smartphone
settings, again? To Skype or not to Skype – or
should it be FaceTime? How does one connect to
Wi-Fi when traveling? What’s the difference
between downloading and streaming?
To answer the preceding questions and take an
enlightening visual tour of our new Saint
Michael’s website, all congregants are invited to a
Technology Workshop on Tuesday, March 24th
at St. Michael’s Church in the Parish Hall. The
workshop, being sponsored by the Technology &
Website Ministries of St. Michael’s, will be a
great opportunity to learn a few new “techy
things”, enjoy light refreshments and be entered to
win some fun raffle prizes!
We’ll also do our best to answer any questions you
have regarding the use of your:
• PCs
• Macs
• Tablets
• Smartphones
This is an informational session only – you do not
need to bring your laptop, cell phone or tablet. We
hope to see you there!
Hosting an Artist Hosting a Sanibel Music Festival (SMF) Artist is
an exciting opportunity to be “up close and
personal” with a renowned, internationally
known musical artist. This exciting opportunity
will most likely be for two nights during the
month of March (an overnight for night prior and
night of concert and light breakfast in morning).
As part of our thanks to you for your warm
Sanibel hospitality, hosts receive preferred
seating at the concert AND are invited to attend
the "Afterglow" party with artists. Call, text or
email Debbie Larson, SMF Housing
Coordinator: [email protected] or 703-966-
9474.
15
February Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays 1st Luann Fortune 14th Kathy Jones
2nd Sylvia Longaker David Vaules
3rd Peter Blaze Corcoran 15th Dottie Moore
6th Carol Chaveas 16th Elise Allen
7th Anita Moyle Sue Fuller
8th Susan Elam Ellie Harries
9th Maggie Davis Kathy Stobbe
Randy Graham 17th Maryann Bell
Michael O’Brien 18th Ellen Trevor
10th Daphne Hellmuth Jack Winters
Rachel Peach 20th Christine Jackson
11th Susan Lord 21st Charlie Dunham
Paula MacIlwaine John Masters
12th Peggie Dodd 23rd Emilie Kirchner
13th Jim Smith 25th Hannah Fay
Will Smith 28th Dory Rooker
Anniversaries 2nd Roz & Jon Burroughs
3rd Mary & Jim Nelson
10th Paula & John MacIlwaine
22nd Margery & Lee Almas
24th Bobbi Jo & Marvin Bradley, Jr.
Gari & Don Lewis
May They Rest in Peace Carolyn Foster
December 31, 2019
Cathy Suthard January 18, 2020
Martha Ballard January 22, 2020
James Hellmuth January 23, 2020
Christine Steege February 1, 2020
March Birthdays and Anniversaries
Birthdays 4th Carter Sproles 15th Janet Bendall
Janice Van Buskirk Bob Hawley
5th Liddy Johnson Pat Norton
Lana Smith 16th Peg Jensen
6th Debbie MacKelcan Dennis Rathje
Allison Murdoch 17th Claudia Johnson
7th Bob Crossman Chet Sproles
Lya Kjoller 18th Kathleen Pereles
Rob Kjoller 19th Roz Burroughs
8th Bob Berendt Brad Rahn
Daphne Mason 20th Charlie Hohns
Wes Rooker 21st Robin Fidler
Alison Ward 22nd Boyd Johnson
9th Carol Allen 24th Jan Burdick
Gail Pilibosian 25th Linda Cronk
Fran Starkweather 26th Gene Bacon
10th Bill Vollmer Hank Feldman
11th Bruce Pattison 28th Fran Allison
Gene Pierce Betty Grant
Linda Scherer Merrell Rushworth
14th Scott Chrysler 30th Carolyn Clark
Ray Fidler
Anniversaries 18th Norma & Charles Emerson
19th Robyn & Dan Koerselman
25th Dory & Wes Rooker
31st Anita Moyle & Kurt Harjung
You can watch current or past sermons on-
line. Go to our website at
www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org, scroll
down a little on the home page and select
the “Sermons” box, then select the date
you’d like to watch.
16
Easter Lilies: Gifts in: thanksgiving for or in memory of
…loved ones and friends are welcome as we prepare
for the decoration of the Church for Easter.
Please earmark your gift check “Easter Lilies,” attach
to the form below, and place it in the offering plate
or bring or mail it to the Parish Office:
2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
by Tuesday, April 7th
Please print
In memory of:
Given by:
In thanksgiving for:
Given by:
Christmas Caroling
Thank you again to all the parishioners who
brought so much joy to people in nursing
home at Shellpoint on December 17th. This
caroling takes place every Advent and is
arranged by our great Pastoral Care
Ministry Chair, Joanne Syversen.
17
Below are the bios of the three people
standing for election to the three vacancies on
the Vestry. Thank you for taking the time to
review these in preparation for the Annual
Meeting on February 16 (following the 10:30
service.)
~ Jerry McCullough,
Chair of the Nominating Committee
Tom Addison ~ I am honored to be asked to serve on the Vestry of
St. Michael and All Angels Church.
I am a cradle Episcopalian, husband of 55 years to
my wife Judy, father of three daughters and
grandfather to eight grandchildren.
Judy and I are residents of Florida but keep a
summer home in Wisconsin which I guess
qualifies us as “Snow Birds”. I am however, a
Buckeye by birth and inclination having graduated
from Ohio State University with a degree in
History before going on to Law School which I left
after the first year to pursue a career in Business.
My business career with the JI Case Corp took our
family across the country from New Hampshire to
Calgary Alberta with various stops in between.
Our last stop was in Racine, Wisconsin where I left
the comforts of corporate life to fulfill a lifelong
dream of starting and building my own business,
Qualtech, which produced quality control support
products for the manufacturing industry.
During our vagabond years, the Episcopal church
was and continues to be the centering point of the
life of our family and I’m proud to say that our
three daughters continue the tradition of faith first
in their own families. My current activities at St.
Michael’s include Choir member, Eucharistic
Minister, Soup Kitchen Volunteer, and Eucharistic
Visitor.
We have been coming to Sanibel as a couple since
1965. Judy’s roots are deeper, she started coming
when services were held at the restaurant at the
ferry landing before the church was built and her
grandfather, Hugh M. Bone was a member of the
first Vestry at St. Michael’s.
Betsy Schuman I became a member of St. Michael and All Angels
in 2002. Like many other parishioners I am not a
“cradle” Episcopalian. I was raised and confirmed
in the Presbyterian Church and became a Lutheran
shortly after my husband Walter was ordained as
an ELCA Lutheran minister in 1964.
A few years after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in
English from Muhlenberg College, I returned to
school while raising our three children to earn a
B.F.A. Degree in Visual Art and a Master Degree
in Curriculum Development. The next twenty-five
years of my life were spent teaching high school
Advanced Placement Art courses as well as
serving as Chair of the Ashland City Schools Art
Department.
While I enjoyed my career and sharing in the life
of the parish ministry with my husband, I looked
forward to the day when Walter and I would both
retire and attend church together in the town where
we lived. Sanibel became the town and St.
Michael’s was the church that reached out and
welcomed us. We felt at home.
Over the past 18 years I have enjoyed participating
in many parish ministries. As a member of the
Vestry from 2006-2009, I was able to use my
background in education to serve as the first
chairperson of the Christian Education
Commission introducing the Sunday Adult Forum
in the fall of 2006. Working in cooperation with
other congregational leaders on the islands, the
Interfaith Shared Scholar Program was initiated
shortly thereafter. During the same time the Friday
Book Study, which still meets today, was born.
Working with a small group of parishioners, we
developed the Wednesday Evening Lay Led
Worship Services. Since then I’ve served as the
Chair of the Art Committee initiating the idea of a
rotating art display in the hallway gallery. Five
years ago, as a member of the St. Michael and All
Angels Mission Team, I had the opportunity to
travel to Honduras to work with the children at El
Hogar. Presently, I’m a member of the Healing
Prayer Ministry, Pastoral Care Ministry and am
celebrating my 18th year as an Ark volunteer.
It was my privilege to have had the opportunity to
serve as the Vestry’s representative on the last
Search Committee. It was a time of change,
18
transition and anticipation not too different than
the time we find ourselves in now. I feel very
honored to have been asked to serve on the Vestry
again to work with a new Rector as we begin the
next chapter in our spiritual journey together at St.
Michael and All Angels.
Bob Syversen
Most of my career was spent doing technical and
financial planning for several high-tech companies
and I earned an MBA along the way. After I retired
and we moved from Rochester, NY to Cape Coral
(2005) we found our way to St. Michael’s, where
we felt very welcomed.
Shortly after we arrived, we became Eucharistic
Ministers. We were honored to be part of this
ministry and have been doing this ever since. Early
on, I became a member of the Outreach Ministry. I
served as Secretary for 3-4 years, Allocation Chair
(determined how to allocate grants to a number of
charities) for a number of years, and became
Outreach Chair for a period of four years. In 2012,
I proposed that the church sponsor a Habitat for
Humanity home ($50,000 donation). Like many
people that propose an idea, I became Chair of the
Fundraising Drive (with a committee of one). By
the end, our generous parish raised $73,000, which
also helped Habitat purchase a plot of land for
future development. During this time, I organized
several work parties where parishioners did hands-
on rehab projects on our sponsored home. I
continue to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity
several days a week, which I have done since 2006.
When the grant efforts of ECW and the Outreach
Ministry were combined, I served as Co-Chair for
two years (2017 & 2018).
In early 2016, I volunteered to serve as Treasurer
of the Ministries and Facilities Trust, the
organization that manages St. Michael’s
endowments/bequests and investments. As
Treasurer, I served as a de-facto member of the
Finance Committee. I continue to serve as
Treasurer/Vice Chair of the M&F Trust.
During 2012-2015 I served as Clerk of the Vestry,
faithfully recording all discussions and decisions
made at the Vestry meetings. As a prospective
Vestry member, I feel that I bring a love of St.
Michael’s, a desire to serve, and a broad
experience to help the Vestry arrive at informed
decisions. I would be honored to serve as a member
of the Vestry.
2020 Women’s Retreat
Reservation Form
Please fill out the form below and return it no
later than February 14, 2020 to Susan in the
Church office. If you have questions, call Liz
Coffey 472-6131,
Name:
____________________________________
Type of Room (check one)
_______ Private Room ($145)
_______ Shared room ($110)
Name of roommate (if known)
______________________________________
Please indicate whether or not you can drive
or would like to be in an arranged carpool.
_______I can drive
My car accommodates _______ people
including myself
_______ I need a ride
Contact Number:
___________________________________
Checks payable to: St. Michael & All Angels with
“Women’s Retreat” in memo line.
19
Dates to Remember February 2020 & March 2020
Sunday School Every Sunday 10:30 a.m. Fort Myers Food Pantry Every Monday 9:30a or 4:30p Cypress Lk Presby. Ch
Search Committee Meeting Every Monday 11:00 a.m. Thomas Madden Room
Morning Prayer Every Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Angel Chapel
Prayer Shawl/Quilt Ministry Every Tuesday 12:30 p.m. Library
Men’s Fellowship Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday 7:30 a.m. Parish Hall
Holy Eucharist with Healing Prayers Every Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Angel Chapel
Prayer and Potluck (1st Wednesdays) Feb. 5th March 4th 6:00 p.m. Church / Parish Hall
Taizé Service (3rd Wednesdays) Feb. 19th and March 18th 6:00 p.m. Angel Chapel
Bible Study with the Priest-in-Charge Every Thursday 11:00 a.m. Library
Choir Rehearsal Every Friday (Oct.-May) 1:30 p.m. Music Room
Book Study Every Friday 10:00 a.m. Library
Stations of the Cross Every Friday in Lent 12:00 p.m. Church
ECW Board Meeting Mon. February 3 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room
Christian Yoga Tues. February 4 / 18 3:30 p.m. Parish Hall
Christian Education Ministry Wed. February 5 1:00 a.m. Library
ECW Annual Fashion Show Mon. February 10 1:00 p.m. Church
Men’s Fellowship Tues. February 11 / 25 7:30 a.m. Parish Hall
Men’s Retreat Wed-Thurs February 12-13 DaySpring Conference Center, Parrish FL
Pastoral Care Ministry Wed. February 12 10:00 a.m. Thomas Madden Room
Website Ministry Wed. February 12 11:30 a.m. Library
Blood Pressure Screening Thurs. February 13 / 20 1:00 p.m. Library
Outreach Ministry Thurs. February 13 1:30 p.m. Thomas Madden Room
Clergy Gathering Fri. February 14 2:00 p.m. Office
Annual Meeting of the Congregation Sun. February 16 12:00 p.m. Parish Hall
Church Office Closed – President’s Day Mon. February 17
Youth Group Wed. February 19 6:00 p.m. RonDao’s Pizzeria
Vestry Meeting Thur. February 20 1:00 p.m. Thomas Madden Room
Healing Ministry Fri. February 21 11:00 a.m. Angel Chapel
Grasse/Cosgrove Wedding/ Reception Sat. February 22 10:00 a.m. Parish Hall
TENTATIVE: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Tues. February 25
Ash Wednesday Services Wed. February 26 9 a.m. / 6 p.m. Church
Funeral Service for Carolyn Foster Sat. February 29 11:00 a.m. Church
ECW Board Meeting Mon. March 2 1:00 p.m. Thomas Madden Room
Christian Yoga Tues. March 3 / 17 3:30 p.m. Parish Hall
Christian Education Ministry Wed. March 4 1:00 p.m. Library
World Day of Prayer Fri. March 6
Clergy Gathering Fri. March 6 2:00 p.m. Office
Sunday, March 8 ~ Daylight Saving Time Begins ~ “Spring” Ahead 1 Hour
Common Hope’s Guatemala Mission’s Trip Sun-Sun March 8-15
ECW Luncheon Program Mon. March 9 12:30 p.m. Parish Hall
Men’s Fellowship Tues. March 10 / 24 7:30 a.m. Parish Hall
Women’s Retreat Tues-Wed March 10-11 DaySpring Conference Center, Parrish FL
Pastoral Care Ministry Wed. March 11 10:00 a.m. Thomas Madden Room
(Continues on next page)
20
Dates to Remember (continued) February 2020 & March 2020
Website Ministry Wed. March 11 11:30 a.m. Library
Outreach Ministry Thurs. March 12 1:30 p.m. Thomas Madden Room
Youth Group Wed. March 18 6:00 p.m. La Casita Mexican Bistro
Vestry Meeting Thurs. March 19 1:00 p.m. Thomas Madden Room
Technology Workshop Tues. March 24 11:00 a.m. Parish Hall
Lenten Quiet Afternoon Wed. March 25 11:30 a.m. Parish Hall
ECW Board Meeting Mon. March 30 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room
Prayer for New Rector Search
God of patient and gentle strength, who knows our needs before we ask,
may your loving presence guide us as we seek the next rector for St.
Michael and All Angels. Give us an open spirit, discerning hearts and
clear minds, that we may trust your will for us and become ever more
united in your son our Savior, Jesus Christ. Inspire our conversation,
deepen our prayer, and make us a community of humility and grace. Raise
up for us, we pray, a priest and pastor who will boldly proclaim your
Gospel, faithfully administer your sacraments, and serve your people with
love and compassion. Amen.
Worship & Fellowship Saturday at 5:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, followed by Reception
Sunday at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I, followed by Coffee Hour
Sunday at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, followed by Coffee Hour*
(*With Sunday Shuttle pickup at Woodlands and then at Shell Point Island)
Tuesday 9 a.m. Morning Prayer
Wednesday 9 a.m. Eucharist with Healing Prayer
Prayer and Potluck 6:00 p.m. – February 5th and March 4th
Taizé Service at 6:00 p.m. – February 19th and March 18th
------------------------ Noah’s Ark Thrift Shop ------------------------ Monday-Friday and first Saturday of the month • 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Second Tuesday of the month • 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Questions? Call Noah’s Ark at 239-472-3356