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At
Good Shepherd, Tequesta, which suffered severe roof damage
from Hurricane Frances, the steeple now lies on a walkway
between the church and a classroom building. The rector,
Fr. Robert Taylor, speculates that "it just flew",
lifted by the wind and sliding down the roof, miraculously
missing a direct hit on any of the buildings.
Much
of the parish hall roof at Guardian Angels, Lantana,
is strewn across the church grounds. All Saints’, Jensen
Beach, lost a window in the church office. St. Luke’s,
Port Salerno, had flooding in the choir room. Part of
a tree fell against the church building at St. Gregory’s,
Boca Raton, breaking the water lines to the air conditioning
system.
The
North Palm Beach office of the diocese, which also houses
the office of the Southeast Florida Episcopal Foundation,
lost a window and is without electricity. The office
is closed until power is restored.
Because
of storm damage, the Hutchinson Island Marriott, which
was to have been the site of the Diocesan Convention
Oct. 15-16, will not be able to reopen in time. Several
alternate locations are being considered.
A
major worry for most of the affected parishes is financial.
Insurance will cover most losses and needed repairs,
but deductibles are high, and several clergy expressed
concern about the loss of offerings from two Sundays
when services could not be held because of the storms.
Parishioners who face their own repair costs and high
deductibles may not be able to make up the shortfall
later.
Still,
ministry continues. In the dark—and still damp in spots—parish
hall at Holy Redeemer, Lake Worth, the Tuesday distribution
of food packages to neighbors in need went on as usual,
just as it did two weeks ago after Frances. Deacon-in
Charge Christina Encinosa expects the storms will bring
more clients for the parish’s feeding programs.
Reflecting
on the long clean-up ahead at Good Shepherd, Taylor said, "If
you have people who are supportive, it’s actually kind
of energizing…to see people come together to do this."
"Scenes
after Jeanne"
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