The new Bon Samaritan Episcopal Church
in Bondeau, Haiti, is finally large enough for the town.
Photo provided
By Janis Fontaine
The South Florida Haiti Project, a nonprofit outreach ministry based in South Florida, joined in the dedication of a newly built Episcopal church in Bondeau, Haiti, on July 12. The new Bon Samaritan Episcopal Church is now the largest Episcopal church in Haiti.
The Rev. Andrew Sherman, president of South Florida Haiti Project and rector of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton, said the need for a church was clear. Services had been held in a classroom large enough for about 75 people. The problem? More than 350 people wanted to attend. Many would stand or sit outside.
At the dedication, the children of Bondeau played music on refurbished instruments they received from SFHP through a United Thanks Offering Grant. The grant money purchased 55 instruments and will pay the salary of a music teacher at the church school for one year.
SFHP was formed in 2010 to advance St. Gregory’s work in Haiti. Its partners include St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, the Chapel of St. Andrew in Boca Raton, St. Andrew’s Schools in Boca Raton, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Tequesta, the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Palm City, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Palmetto Bay and many others. For more information, call 212-8104 or 445-5440.
Avenue Church anniversary The Avenue Church, which meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at the Delray Beach Community Center, 50 NW First Ave., Delray Beach, will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Sept. 27 with a special sermon of gratitude followed by a good old-fashioned potluck feast.
Pastor Casey Cleveland said when the church started, it had a core of about nine people. That jumped quickly to 25 within a few weeks, and now the church has more than 115 core members and lots of other congregants who haven’t made a commitment yet.
“Our church has a real family feel,” Cleveland said by phone. “We’re a neighborhood church and we’re proud to be part of Delray Beach. The city has been very welcoming to us.”
The church has a varied demographic, Cleveland said. “You can find a CEO, a doctor, a homeless person and teenager sitting together. We meet in a gymnasium and I think that helps people get in the right frame of mind.” Cleveland says. People dress casually, in jeans or shorts. “We’re an unpolished church for unpolished people,” Cleveland said.
The anniversary service and potluck begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 27, at Delray Beach Community Center. If your last name begins with A-H, bring a dessert. I-P bring drinks. Q-Z bring a side dish. The main dish is provided.
For more information, call 927-4000 or email info@theavechurch.com.
Rector search continues
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Delray Beach continues its search for a rector.
The website offered an update: “Although many members of the rector search committee are out of town for the season and others are frequently traveling, the committee has continued to move forward without delay.”
It had been conducting interviews via Skype, but Bishop Coadjutor Peter Eaton cautioned the committee not to “settle for a good enough candidate. St. Paul’s is in the enviable position of being able to carry on as long as necessary to find a great rector.”
The Rev. David Knight has been serving as the interim rector since Sept. 1, 2013, and he’ll continue to serve until a permanent rector is found.
Michael Armstrong and Kristen Murtaugh, who spoke for the rector search committee, also said, “Please be assured that although we are in the ‘quiet phase’ of the search process, the search is very active and is proceeding well.”
Have questions? Email: rectorsearchstpauls@gmail.com.
Interfaith Café: Atonement
The Interfaith Café will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 17 at the South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach. The Interfaith Cafe promotes interfaith dialogue, awareness, and understanding by uniting people of different faiths in conversation. September’s topic is Atonement in Our Faith Traditions.
Coffee, tea and light desserts are served. A donation of $5 is requested to defray expenses. For information, call Pablo at 901-3467.
Welcome, Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams joined First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton in June as the new associate director of music. Williams’ responsibilities will be directing the music ministry on the west campus and working with the pastor in worship planning, directing the choir and playing the organ and piano for the services.
Williams plans to start a children’s choir in September with children from both campuses. First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton has campuses at 625 NE Mizner Blvd., and 9087 Glades Road. For information, call 395-1244; www.fumcbocaraton.org ;
New synagogue
Congregation Beit Kulam will be holding High Holy Days services at The Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway in Boca Raton.
Rabbi Joan Cubell, formerly at Temple Beth Shira, will lead. She’s the first female to be ordained as Rabbi with s’micha (rabbinical ordination) from Tifereth Israel Rabbinical Yeshiva in its 60-year history. She is also the first woman to be accepted as a member of the American Council of Rabbis.
As she looked for a venue, Cubell knew she didn’t want a high school.
“I didn’t want the venue to be too big,” she said. “Or too impersonal.” Beit Kulam means The House of Everyone and the rabbi wants people to feel comfortable. The Wick Theatre proved a great compromise. “It’s gorgeous and intimate. And I believe in supporting local businesses.”
Community support and outreach are part of the congregation’s core message. “There are a lot of unaffiliated Jewish families in our area and I want to reach out to them.”
At the services, you can expect a lot of music. Cubell’s team, Cantor Geniene Miller and music and choir director Cantor Jennifer Werby, holds services that “are very participatory, very warm, highly spiritual and very welcoming. Everyone feels like they are part of the family.”
Rosh Hashanah services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13, and 10 a.m. Sept. 14. Yom Kippur services will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 (Kol Nidre) and 10 a.m. Sept. 23 (with Yizkor).
A Break the Fast meal will be served at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23. Free children’s Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services are also offered.
Tickets are $125 for members, $140 for nonmembers, and $50 for students and children.
Break the Fast meal tickets are $40-$50. For tickets and information, call 995-2333.
Janis Fontaine writes about people of faith, their congregations, causes and community events. Contact her at janisfontaine@outlook.com.
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