Apalachicola, Florida.......................................................October 18, 2019
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Let's Raise up Leaders and
Empower them For Ministry
Have you ever felt that the institutional church often times threatens to grind up human lives instead of preserving and healing them? I certainly do.
At our vestry meeting last week we were decrying the dearth of those willing to serve on the vestry. We need nine people for a complete vestry, and since three are coming off and we only have two nominees, what on earth are we to do? We have institutional rules and regulations, after all…we are Episcopalians!
Let me tell you my thoughts on the vestry:
After the death of Judas, Peter was worried about institutional cohesiveness and structure; therefore, another apostle had to be called in order that there may be twelve---the same number that Jesus had called. They cast lots and Matthias was called.
Reading the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we come to know more about the one who was not called, “Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus,” than we ever learn about Matthias. St. Matthias is never mentioned again. I guess he was just a placeholder, although tradition says otherwise.
Trinity Episcopal Church is seeking people more like St. Barnabas than St. Matthias. Barnabas was not worried about filling a seat or holding power, but serving Christ. In Acts 4, Barnabas sold a field that belonged to him and laid the money at the apostles’ feet. Later he would go on to travel with St. Paul and would eventually be called an apostle in Acts 14.
Do you know a lover of Christ who is member of this congregation? Is there a Barnabas among us? I’ve only been here three months and, although I see some Barnabas-like members, I want
you
to be the voice of God, like Ananias after hearing the voice of God who came to Saul of Tarsus, healed his blindness and called upon God to fill him with the Holy Spirit. Saul (later St. Paul) would become arguably one of the greatest apostles of all.
Trinity Episcopal Church needs people who feel called by God to serve God’s people in this congregation and town. We need folks like Barnabas and Ananias. We are not looking for fundraisers, administrators, bookkeepers, statisticians, or biblical scholars. We are looking for lovers of the Lord.
If you fit that description or you know someone who does, please speak to one the wardens or to me. Who knows, God may be calling you to serve or calling you to discern someone else’s gifts so that they may serve the world in the name of our Lord.
We seek a transparent and open calling of the vestry. I hate elections and despise a “pre-picked” slate of “candidates”. The church should not be about “winners” and “losers", but making disciples; therefore, although the bylaws call for an election, I prefer that the church raise up leaders and then empower them for ministry. I prefer that members of the congregation who feel called to leadership should offer themselves up to God’s service.
Finally, and when I say or write the following, I mean it. These are not just priestly words…
Please pray about this, let it lay on your heart and mind, and then pray about it again and again.
Eric+
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Trinity Celebrates a New Ministry
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The Right Rev. Russell Kendrick, Bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, led us in a Celebration of a New Ministry on Wednesday evening, October 16. This Celebration represents a covenant of mutual ministry between the members of our Parish and our new Rector, the Rev. Eric N. Zile.
The charge to Parish members states, in part,
“Together with your rector, you have been called to share in the Church's mission to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ”.
In turn, the charge to the Rector includes:
“By your words and actions, and in your life, proclaim the Gospel. Love and serve Christ's people. Nourish them, empower them for ministry, and strengthen them to glorify God in this life and in the life to come”.
(You can read the entire covenant in the liturgy of
Celebration of a New Ministry
.)
In addition to Bishop Kendrick, Clergy members participating in the service were the Rev. Sarah E. Lewis, retired from the Diocese of Maryland, who preached the sermon; The Right Rev. George Young, retired Bishop of East Tennessee; The Rev. Thomas P. Dwyer, Priest in Charge at St. James Episcopal Church in Port St. Joe; The Rev. Kammy Young, Canon Missioner for Development for the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast; The Rev. Tom Weller, former Rector at Trinity; The Rev. Martha Harris, recently retired Rector at Trinity; The Rev. Ed Richards, Deacon; and, The Rev. Brian Brightly of the St. George Island United Methodist Church.
Following the service, attendees enjoyed a reception in Benedict Hall that included a delicious buffet supper, along with musical entertainment by Brooks Jones, Carol Harris, and Randy Mims, plus Randy and the Record-ettes (Candace Springer, Rennie Edwards, and Dodie Alber).
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All Saints Day
Eric invites you to bring photographs of your deceased loved ones to our Trinity services as we observe All Saints Day on Sunday, November 3.
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Share Your Time & Talents with the Trinity Market
If you have baked goods, artwork, or handcrafted items to donate for the Trinity Market, or if you would like to work a shift under the sales tent,
please add your name to the sign-up sheets in Benedict Hall.
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Penny's Worth Celebrates
Marie Fortunas
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At its recent annual meeting & salad luncheon, Penny's Worth honored
Marie Fortunas
(right)
for her many years of volunteer service at the thrift shop. Marie was one of the founding members of Penny's Worth, 28 years ago. The occasion also marked her 93rd birthday. Marie's niece, Jody Wilson, continues the family tradition as a Penny's Worth volunteer.
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Volunteers enjoyed a delicious salad luncheon, followed by a discussion of Penny's Worth's display & sales guidelines, demonstrated by
Dot Hill
(above)
.
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Cultivating a Tangible Wellness
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This week's Stewardship message is by Kathryn Nishibayashi. It first
appeared in the "Episcopal Network for Stewardship" on October 13, 2019.
The readings appointed for last Sunday (2 Timothy 2:8-15 and Luke 17:11-19) are quite fitting as church members are in the midst of discerning the gifts they are able to pledge to their congregation in the upcoming year. I have just passed the one-year mark working for the Kaleidoscope Institute. One program within the Kaleidoscope Institute called Holy Currencies focuses on six “holy currencies” that work together to create sustainable ministry: gracious leadership, time and place, relationship, wellness, truth, and, finally, money. It was these holy currencies that I thought of when I first read these readings.
As the last line of the gospel reading says, “Your faith has made you well.” Your pledge to your congregation is a tangible manifestation of wellness — not only your financial wellness, but the wellness of your congregation. It enhances your congregation’s ability to carry out its ministries, including those involving cultivating gracious leadership and relationship in the church community.
Your pledge shows your truth and will help your congregation live into its truth as they minister to others both within and beyond the parish walls. It will contribute to your church’s ability to provide a time and place for others to gather to do God’s work in, and for, the world. Finally, money is the currency people are most familiar with. Money is the form in which most pledges come.
But think about how else you can pledge this year using one or more of the holy currencies. No gift is too small as long as you do your best to present yourself to God as “one who is approved by him,” as the epistle said.
Stewardship is not a passive activity. So “get up and go on your way.” Listen for where and how God is calling you to give your gifts to your parish and plan to give generously, knowing you are helping cultivate the flowing of holy currencies in your parish community.
-- Kathryn Nishibayashi
(Ms. Nishibayashi is a fourth-generation Episcopalian, seminarian at Bloy House (The Episcopal Theological School at Claremont), and the office coordinator for the Kaleidoscope Institute.)
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Book Sale Welcomes Books & Volunteers
If you have books to donate, you can drop them off at the old library on
Friday mornings, 10 am -12 noon on October 18 & 25.
Also, if you would like to volunteer during the sale,
available shifts are: 11:30-1:00, 1-2:30, 2:30-4:00, 4:00-5:30.
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Presented by the Panhandle Players
Chapman Theatre in Apalachicola, October 25-27
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O
ctober 20
Acolyte: Debbie Flowers
Lectors: Paul McAbee & Susan Galloway
Prayers: Tom Edwards
Greeters: Steve Watkins & Karen Brown
Chalice: Patti McCartney & Candace Springer
Healing: Kristin Anderson
Flowers: Wesley Chesnut
Altar Guild: T. McLain & Gloria Austin
Hospitality: EfM
O
ctober 27
Acolyte: Bill & Fisher Van Der Tulip
Lectors: Dave McLain & Chris Clark
Prayers: C.T. Ponder
Greeters: Charlie & Brenda Galloway
Chalice: Brooks Jones & Susie Wagoner
Healing: Kristin Anderson
Flowers: Evie Bettis
Altar Guild: T. McLain & Gloria Austin
Hospitality: Penny's Worth
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Sunday Services are 8 am & 10:30 am, Eastern time
Church address: 79 6th Street, Apalachicola, Florida 32320
Office address: 76 5th Street, Apalachicola, Florida 32320
Mailing address: PO Box 667, Apalachicola, Florida 32329
Phone number: (850) 653-9550
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