Apalachicola, Florida...........................................................August 23, 2019
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Dear Friends in Christ,
Last Wednesday, sandwiched between Jeremy Taylor and the Virgin Mary in its calendar, the Episcopal Church commemorated the white Civil Rights activist Jonathan Myrick Daniels, a young seminarian that our own Patti McCartney knew before he was gunned down in Alabama in 1965.
In Selma, Daniels and three others were arrested and served six days in jail for picketing. The release of the group of white and black protesters was unexpected and upon their release, the compatriots went to enter a small shop where they’d never run into trouble before.
As legendary civil rights activist Ruby Sales got to the top stair at the entrance to the store, the unpaid armed special deputy, Tom Coleman, cursed her. Jonathan pushed Ruby down and stepped in front of her and received a shotgun blast to the chest at point blank range. Another person was shot in the back as they fled. Tom Coleman was tried for Jonathan’s murder but an all-white jury acquitted him, stating it was self-defense.
I know and have ministered to people like Tom Coleman. I have even been able to love some like Tom. What happened in August of 1965 is still happening today: Tom Coleman’s fear of the other, his fear that to grant someone else (especially a brown or black someone else) would take away something from
him
. Coleman feared the other, and that fear turned into hate.
At the top of those steps Tom Coleman saw two black girls with a Catholic priest and a 26-year old Episcopal seminarian. At the top of those steps Tom Coleman’s fear met faith, his hatred met love, and his selfishness was greeted by sacrificial love.
Sometimes, the tone our nation’s dialogues make me believe we may be once again afraid to talk about things like race, slavery, and immigration. Jonathan Myrick Daniels knew that the Church stands with, and for, the oppressed. He also knew, as does our Presiding Bishop that it is the Church’s job to invite and facilitate these difficult discussions within our congregations, within homes, and especially within our very own hearts, so that “the other” becomes known as “my brother”. We need these conversations so that from them fear becomes faith, hatred becomes love, and selfishness becomes Christ-like love.
Lastly, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has asked every congregation to ring their bells at 3 pm on Sunday, August 25
to commemorate 400 years of African American History in the New World. It is my hope that Trinity will join congregations all over the nation as we remind our friends and neighbors of America’s original sin… and our struggle and duty to overcome it.
Eric+
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September Brings Many Activities at Trinity
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Monday School
will begin meeting on Monday, September 9 at 10:30 am in the conference room. The book for the next few weeks is
Grace Will Lead Us Home,
by Jennifer Berry Hawes, a Pulitzer prize-winning writer for the Charleston NC-based
Post & Courier
.
"Written like a novel, observed like a sage, and narrated with scholarly rigor, Hawes’ stirring account of a dark night in Charleston shows how it seared the American conscience while forcing lionized politicians to find courage, and tin man religious leaders to find a heart, for the people they both claimed to serve" --
us.macmillan.com/books/9781250117762
Last year, we installed an
Automatic External Defibrillator
(AED) on the rear wall of the Church. Weems Memorial Hospital has graciously agreed to offer a training session for Trinity members on performing CPR and using our AED. We would like to keep the group small to give everyone a chance to practice techniques. Our plan is to hold the training in September, but we need to get an idea of how many people are interested. If you would like to participate, contact the Church office at 850-653-9550 or
info@trinityapalachicola.org
.
Education for Ministry
(EfM) classes will resume in September. If you are interested in joining, or have questions about the course, contact Carol Wood at
woodrink@gmail.com
.
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Foyer Group Enjoys Fish & Fellowship
Kristin Anderson
(second from right) prepared this whole red snapper for her Foyer Group last week. Everyone enjoyed a cold supper on a hot August evening.
(If your Foyer Group has gathered recently, or plans to meet in September, please send photos to
info@trinityepiscopal.org
).
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Pastoral Care at Trinity
If you have a pastoral care need, please call the office at 850-653-9550
Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm and let us know.
For pastoral emergencies after hours please call
the Rev. Eric N. Zile at 443-604-5940.
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Finance Monthly Update: Trinity Blessed With Strong
Investment Portfolio & Congregational Support
Our fiscal year is about three-fourths completed. To this date, we have been blessed with solid income and investment numbers. In fact, with the exception of taking a draw to cover the recruitment and subsequent relocation of our new Priest, we have yet to touch the Young Fund. Our investments held by the Episcopal Foundation are doing well. Having said that, we all hear of impending recession predictions and other doom and gloom machinations at the national level. Regardless, Trinity continues to be blessed with a strong investment portfolio and even stronger congregational support on a weekly and monthly basis.
As I have stated in previous reports, we struggle at times to keep the expenditures in line with the approved budget. The Finance Committee, along with Vestry leadership, continues to address these issues especially as we begin planning for the 2020 fiscal year. Clean-up from the hurricane and continued facilities renovation and improvements have been accomplished and Gary is examining the facilities improvement and maintenance schedule. This will serve as a guideline for the foreseeable future and will insure prudent fiscal responsibility and foresight.
--Blessings and to God be the Glory,
Ralph
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Dot Hill
(above) teaches her great
grandsons, Wallace, Camden, Wyatt & Brantley, the coastal skill of crabbing at Indian Pass this summer.
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Sam Ogilvie
(below)
, with his mother, Evelyn. Sam is recuperating in Apalachicola following surgery to donate half of his liver to a friend.
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Juliana Mary Hooper
(above)
, born on August 5 to Rachael & David Hooper. Proud grandparents are Debbie & Jon Hooper.
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Shannon Ponder
(right)
, recently performed as Cassandra, the hairless cat, in the Quincy Music Theatre's production of
CATS
in Quincy FL. Shannon, the granddaughter of Myra & CT Ponder, is a homeschooled high senior. When Glen Totman, Trinity Parishioner and retired Priest, was serving the Episcopal Church in Quincy, his wife, Nancy, was instrumental in reviving the New Leaf Theatre, the precursor to
Quincy Music Theatre
.
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Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean we’ll miss you…
Until we meet again.
Dear friends…You all will be missed!
Mount Dora (45 minutes northwest of Orlando) is not that far away and let us know if you are in the area, so we can share some time together. It works both ways and we’ll be back to Apalachicola from time to time, as we travel north often to see family.
We will be in our new home as of August 23.
With love,
Carole & Mike Seibert
Mobile phone: 850.333.8114
New address: 1910 Pineway Court, Mount Dora, FL 32757
New home phone: 352.720.3830
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Trinity Sponsors Franklin County Youth at 4-H Camp
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At Camp Timpoochee in Niceville, 34 Franklin County kids, ages 8-13, attended 4-H Summer camp, along with 10 youth counselors, ages 13-18, who served as mentors to the younger campers. They were part of over 300 campers this year. The activities included arts & crafts, outdoor skills with archery and air rifles, swimming & kayaking, along with camp fires and s'mores to end the nights. Thanks goes to Trinity Church for sponsoring the camp experience for these Franklin County youths. It is a life experience for these youth that will pay valuable dividends in our future leaders.
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Volunteer Opportunity in Franklin County
The mission and philosophy of Big Bend Hospice (BBH) is to provide compassionate care to individuals with a life-limiting illness, comfort to their families, and emotional support to anyone who has lost a loved one. In addition to the professional staff, BBH depends on volunteers for a myriad of services. At this time, BBH has only a few volunteers in Franklin County and needs many more.
If you are interested in helping with this invaluable organization and serving as a patient/family volunteer, the next orientation will be Saturday, September 7 in Tallahassee. To register, please call the volunteer department at 850-878-5310. If you are interested in serving on the Franklin County BBH Advisory Council alongside other Trinity members, please contact Cara Brown at
cdbrown@bigbendhospice.org
to apply. To learn more about Bid Bend Hospice, go to:
https://www.bigbendhospice.org/.
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September 2019
If you have a conflict, please get someone to cover for you and call the office with the changes.
September 1
Acolyte: Cathy Buell
Lectors: C. Clark & K. Anderson
Prayers: C.T. Ponder
Greeters: R. Wagoner & T. Edwards
Chalice: C. Springer & G. Austin
Healing: Kristin Anderson
Flowers: Aglaia Dolan
Altar Guild: N. Morgan
Hospitality: Monday School
September 8
Acolytes: Debbie Flowers
Lectors: R. Wagoner & R. Mims
Prayers: Tom Edwards
Greeters: S. Watkins & K. Brown
Chalice: John & Dee Crusoe
Healing: Kristin Anderson
Flowers: Dee Crusoe
Altar Guild: N. Morgan
Hospitality: Choir
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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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