Apalachicola, Florida

December 23, 2022

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Holy Eucharist

 Saturday, December 24 -- 5 pm

Christmas Day Service of Lessons & Carols

 Sunday, December 25 -- 10:30 am

New Year's Day Regular Sunday Service

Sunday, January 1 -- 10:30 am

  Merry Christmas!     

It has been a busy Advent at Trinity, and now that Christmas is upon us, I want to say thank you:

• To all who have faithfully participated in our worship services each Sunday. It is heartening to see the pews filled with the faithful!

• To those who generously participated in the school’s “red tag” project and gave to the special needs class. You helped assure that those children were not forgotten this Christmas.

• To everyone that contributed to the first parish luncheon and annual meeting that we have had since before the pandemic. We all enjoyed good food and good fellowship!

• And finally, to Mickey Harris, vestry member; Denise Butler, vestry clerk; and John Crusoe, search committee member who will be leaving their positions. I am grateful for their service to Trinity. Their leadership positions will be filled by Dee Crusoe, Susan Farmer, and Joy Tracy.

On another note, our discussion of membership at the annual meeting created quite a buzz. Several people have expressed an interest in learning more about the Episcopal Church, its doctrines, beliefs, and organization. Martha Harris has graciously offered to facilitate a series of sessions in the next few weeks that will explore these issues. Hopefully, this will encourage some of you to consider taking steps toward becoming confirmed communicants in good standing. The bishop’s annual visit will be February 26 and candidates for confirmation will be presented at that time. Please let me or Martha know if you are interested in such a program.

I hope that each of you has a happy and holy Christmas with family and friends. Please remember our services at 5 pm on Saturday, December 24 

and 10:30 am on Sunday, December 25.

Then, let us all move together into a promising and prosperous new year!

The peace of the Lord be always with you!

-- Rennie Edwards, Sr. Warden

Parishioners enjoyed a return, post-covid, of Trinity's annual meeting and potluck lunch. Read the 2022 Annual Report here.

T McLain with Penny's Worth co-workers Jane Harris & Mary Ann Siprell.

Thank You, everyone, for participating so thoughtfully in the nine parish forums held during the past two months. The search committee’s appreciation goes to the forum facilitators: Penny Marler, Dee Crusoe, Susie Wagoner, and Jason Carter; and, the forum scribes: Joy Tracy, Karen Brown, Tara Carter, Susan Farmer, Denise Butler, and Kay Carson without whom we could not have compiled the 50+ pages of information and opinions that we received from communicants. All of this will be used in our portfolio which we hope to send to the Diocese and the National Episcopal Church in early January, 2023. 

In review, in July the search committee (SC) had our first meeting and received our charge from the senior warden. In August we had the two- page surveys parishioners completed to update our parish profile. In September, we met with the Bishop’s Cannon, Ashley Freeman, who is the Diocesan Transition Minister. We had several SC meetings to analyze the parish forum questions recommended by the OTM office, create the natural groups; prepare the facilitator training; and participate in the groups that met in November and December. These groups focused on examining our strengths and weaknesses as well as our hopes for the future and life with our new rector.  All of the above was done to complete the first stage of the Search Process, the Prepare stage. 

Very soon we will transition to the Seek stage. This will be the time during which we hope to have a potential rector who sees our portfolio contact us and ask questions. Or, we might receive a name from a parishioner or someone in another church. We will do our best to cast a wide net throughout the diocese and the entire country. This is where faith in the Holy Spirit really becomes a major part of the process -- because, as Rusty so wisely reminded us, “your new rector is out there, you just do not know who it is yet.”  This will also be a “quiet” time as you may not hear much from the committee because much of our work will be confidential. However, we hope all of us will have patience and know that the SC is giving it our full attention. We do ask that the parish continue to pray for the committee and for a pastor for Trinity Church. 

 -- Faithfully, Patti McCartney

Trinity News & Notes:

Sunday morning Bible study group meets every Sunday at 9:15 am in the Trinity Office conference room. Jason Carter is the leader and teacher of the class. NOTE that Sunday school will NOT meet on December 25, 2022.



Monday School is reviewing two books beginning with “God’s Psychiatry” by Dr. Charles L. Allen ($7), followed by “An Altar in the World” by Barbara Brown Taylor ($10). You can purchase both books from our office for $20, while supplies last. All readers are welcome.  NOTE that Monday school will NOT meet on December 26, 2022 or January 2, 2023.

When you take your dedication Poinesttias Home -- POINSETTIA CARE from Tallahassee Nurseries: Can take full sun in winter. Keep evenly moist while flowering; then let dry slightly between watering. Do not fertilize while blooming.  Leaf drop is due to over-watering or sudden temperature change. Keep plants out of drafts. Colors will last longer if kept in cooler sites. Colorful bracts can last three months or longer.

The Church office will be closed December 26, 2022 - January 2, 2023.

Denise & Cliff Butler visited the site of the manger in Bethlehem in Palestine in March of this year. These photos commemorate the site, as well a shrine nearby. The small piece of wood on the red cloth is said to be a piece of the manger. 

Christmas Eve - December 24

Celebrant - The Rev. Martha Harris

Greeters - Ralph & Susie Wagoner, Steve Watkins, Karen Brown

Lectors - Penny Marler, Ralph Wagoner

Prayers of the People - Kristin Anderson

LEM - Patti McCartney, Candace Springer

Acolyte - Steve Watkins

Altar Guild - Susan Galloway

Christmas Day - December 25

Officiant - Ina Margaret Meyer

Greeters - Bill & Patti McCartney

Readers - Beth Embert, Kristin Anderson, Steve Watkins, Karen Brown, Rick Watson, Faye Jones, Patti McCartney, Ina Margaret Meyer

Acolyte - Rick Watson

Altar Guild - Susan Galloway

Your Bay View: Trinity's bi-weekly e-newsletter, the Bay View, reaches members and friends every other Friday, sharing news and inspiration for and about our parish. Please send information and announcements, as well as photographs, to info@trinityapalachicola.org or call the church office at 850-653-9550. The deadline for submission is noon on Wednesday of each publication week. (The next deadline is January 4, 2023)

-- Kay Carson, Editor

Worship Service at 10:30 am Sunday, 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

Email: info@trinityapalachicola.org