Dear Friends in Christ,
Once again, I write to you with some general information and up-dates.
ANNUAL MEETING AND DIOCESAN CONVENTION
The next two-three months are going to be busy. Over the next few weeks and months, I’m asking all who worship here at the place of prayer-soaked walls to discern your part in the Body of Christ at Trinity and how to live it out in leadership and service. Our call to follow, serve, and worship our Lord never ends. Valuable ministries abound within the church wherein we can choose to serve the local congregation, the diocese, or national Church. We have people with many gifts and talents which Trinity may use so that we may better spread the Gospel in Franklin County and reconcile the world to God through Christ. When I return from vacation, we will hold our annual meeting on the very next day – Sunday, December 12. This will be a time to acknowledge our accomplishments, celebrate our joys, and honor our sorrows. This will be the day when we also commission new vestry members and delegates to diocesan convention. The final details are yet to be worked out, so stay tuned.
At this time, I’m requesting that all those who usually send in annual reports to email them to Donna prior to Tuesday, November 30, so they may be compiled and distributed prior to the meeting. At that meeting we will elect new servant leaders to the vestry and approve an amendment to the by-laws stating an exact number of members. Our current by-laws state that we may have anywhere between three and thirty vestry persons. The proposed amendment will allow for seven. The vestry approved this amendment at its October meeting. It now moves to the general congregation for ratification. Since Charlie Galloway retired, we will be searching for a new Junior Warden as well.
Also, at the meeting we are to elect three delegates to our Diocesan Convention to be held February 17-19 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center and hosted by St. Simon’s on the Sound. If there are persons willing to serve on either the vestry (for three years) or as a convention delegate (one year) please see any vestry member or the rector. Your vestry needs effective, thoughtful, and spiritually strong leadership and perhaps you are being called to serve.
PENNY’S WORTH
Penny’s Worth reopened on Tuesday, November 9. I could not get in that morning as I was number eight in line. It appeared very busy, with excited customers.
VESTRY NEWS
The budget committee is drafting the budget for 2022 and it appears we will have a deficit at the end of this year if we do not have an increase in participation and giving and/or withdraw funds from The Young Fund (one of our endowments). Also please remember to return you pledge cards this Sunday, November 14.
We moved worship outdoors and then the weather cooled off. Now, we will meet outdoors at 10:30 am unless the temperature is below 65 degrees; and, if the temperature does not cooperate, we will worship together indoors.
The Tour of Homes Committee met on All Saints’ Day and decided to strive to have the tour on May 7, 2022. The vestry is thrilled and excited to see this return and to partner with the committee to see that it is a tremendous success. Of course, the pandemic will play a large part in determining that, as we will have to abide by CDC guidelines, and we never know if or when another peak in infections might happen. I was impressed with the organization of the first meeting and of the group itself. Their next meeting is in January.
According to Tuesday’s New York Times, only 45% of Franklin County’s eligible population has been vaccinated; therefore, I encourage you, if you are unvaccinated, to please get vaccinated; if not for yourself, then for the community. This act of self-love will also demonstrate how Episcopalians love their neighbors as themselves. If you are vaccinated fully and it has been six months since your second dose, please get your booster shot when it’s your turn; and, finally, if you have relatives between the ages of five and eleven, encourage their parents to have the children vaccinated.
OTHER BITS OF NEWS & INFORMATION
And now for some housekeeping .... literally: mildew has appeared on the interior walls of Benedict Hall, and I want to thank the folks who unselfishly scrubbed the walls before the Pop-Up Market which was held there during the Seafood Festival. From the photographs, baked goods, and items put out for sale, I believe we netted about $2,000.
I’m always being asked how my health is progressing. Here’s is an update, liver, gallbladder, bladder, and kidneys are fine. The inflammation in my lungs is dissipating and pancreas is healing slowly. My gastroenterologist told me that this may take a few more months. On a better note, since my lungs have improved, I am now able to walk at least two miles per day. I’m enjoying my walks through Apalachicola, although my hips and knees don’t!
Lastly, as it was in 2019, so it will be this year, “Come Ye Thankful People Come” to a Celebration of The Holy Eucharist to be celebrated on Thanksgiving Eve, November 24 at 7 pm – indoors.
As always, hope to see you in church
and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Eric+
