ST. PETER’S PARISH, FERNANDINA

A Midsummer letter to the people and clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida from their Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard

July 24, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Greetings at midsummer! I hope you are finding time this summer for holidays and family gatherings, for catching up with old friends and for taking at least one good, long break from the frantic pace of “school year” life. One of the things I enjoy most in the summertime is heading to the beach with a good book…usually a mystery novel of some sort. There’s nothing better sometimes than simply escaping into the narrative of a great mystery story and, with the waves lapping in the background, and a cool iced tea by your side, escaping the thoughts, worries and cares of the world around you.
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Images of Kids

MINUTES - June VESTRY MEETING
St. Peter’s Church - June 18, 2007

Fr George Young opened the meeting at 6pm. Present: The Rev. Kimberly Still, Neil Blalock, Ed Grissom, Cheryl Smith, Francis Flood, Trey Warren, Cathy Kaltenbach, Mary Lynn Torchia, Norma Norris, Ben Stephens, and David Lott. Absent: Neil Frink, Early McCall. Treasurer Jim Carpenter was present during the 1st half hour.

NEXT MEETING: August 13, 2007 @ 6 pm; Devotional: David Lott

Giving Campaign Report: Jim Carpenter handed out a Campaign Report dated 6/18, reflecting the most recent pledge which in fact put the total just over its minimum goal of $1,450,000. The report further shows that there is “net cash available” of over $120,000, meaning we can (and should) commence getting bids for the twelve Tier 1 Projects immediately. The various projects, their anticipated cost and position in the tiering, was a part of the report Jim made available at the meeting.

Jim felt it would be appropriate for the Vestry to approve the initial “tiering” of projects, particularly the Tier 1 Projects. Given that the “tiering” was based largely on feedback from the cottage meetings and that nothing would preclude revisions’ being made as circumstances might dictate, a motion to accept the “tiering” and to move ahead with the schedule as submitted was approved unanimously.

The last item mentioned was the need to have “project managers” identified, to assist the Wardens and others who will take the lead in seeking bids and monitoring work. Interested parties (or suggestions of those who might be) are encouraged to contact Jim Carpenter. (more…)

Dear friends,

I’ve just returned from a week as Dean of a camp session at Camp Weed. It was Camp St. Paul, which is for 5th & 6th graders. Back in the dark ages (mid 70’s), when I was in college and a camp counselor at Camp Weed, lots of things were different:
· Camp was at St. Teresa Beach, on the Gulf Coast, south of Tallahassee.
· 5th & 6th grade camps were segregated – there was a 5th/6th grade boys camp and a 5th/6th grade girls camp.
· Fr. Ralph Kelley was a regular as Dean of the boys camp; that was where I first met him (he was Rector of St. Peter’s from 1965-88)
· At “little girls camp” as we called it, the boy counselors used to go to the girls cabins at night for “shampoo parties”. Many of us had long hair then (yes – I did have hair then!), and the little girls would wash our hair and put lots of conditioner on it, and brush it and put it in ponytails, and give us backrubs. Ahh – the good old days!
· We used to swim in the Gulf, as well as sail, and canoe and study the saltwater life. Now they swim in the pool and canoe in the lake, and take trips over to go tubing in the Itchetucknee River.
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