Apalachicola, Florida
July 23, 2021
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Never Forget the Gifts Women Have
Brought Into the Church
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Dear Friends in Christ,
This week, on July 20, we celebrated the feast of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Tubman.
On July 22 we recognized St. Mary of Magdala.
This is a week of celebrating strong, very strong, women.
The first four women, from two different races and whose work, lives, and ministry affected three different centuries, gave their lives and energies seeking justice, freedom, and rights to all people, especially the women of the United States. These four women, who are American heroes, were not only united in their commitment to justice but were inspired by their faith --- a faith where God invites us into relationship with the Godhead and expects us to … “seek and you shall find, ask and it shall be given, knock and the door shall be opened.”
As I’m sure you all know, Elizabeth Cady Stanton challenged the roles women were allowed to play in the Church and held male clergy responsible for the oppression of women. She and her friend Amelia Bloomer attended the Episcopal Church in Seneca Falls, New York. Stanton was instrumental in calling the first women’s rights convention in 1848 held in Seneca Falls, New York. She and Susan B. Anthony fought for the abolition of slavery and the right of women to vote.
Amelia Bloomer challenged women’s fashion and began wearing “Turkish trousers” in opposition to the norms which required even pregnant women to wear waist-cinching corsets. Her intention was not to change fashion, but when she continued to wear pants after being derided from the pulpits of America, her popularity soared. Later in life she established churches, schools, and libraries in Iowa.
Sojourner Truth, born a slave named Isabella, fled slavery with the help of the Quakers. She joined the AME Church when the Episcopal Church would not allow her to worship with the white parishioners in Philadelphia. She eventually became a traveling preacher and her famous speech, “Ain’t I a woman?” is one of my favorite speeches from throughout the history of this country.
Harriet Tubman is probably the best known of the women we commemorate this week. Born a slave in Maryland, she escaped to Canada around the age of 24. She was a devout lover of the Bible, and her favorite story was that of Moses leading the Israelites to freedom. She eventually returned to the US 19 times and led over 300 enslaved individuals to freedom. She also became friends with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony and worked with them for women’s rights, but also for the rights of African Americans.
Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute, rather a woman from whom seven demons had been cast out. She was the first to discover the resurrected Jesus and is known as the apostle to the apostles, as she exclaimed, “The Lord is risen!” She was the first person to proclaim the Easter message and tradition holds that she proclaimed the resurrection to Tiberius Caesar who scoffed at her. While holding an egg, Caesar said that one could rise from the dead as easy as the white egg she was holding in her hand could turn red. Tradition states that the egg immediately turned red and that is why the Orthodox Christians exchange red eggs at Easter.
I married two very strong women, raised another, and am friends with many strong women. I cannot imagine my life without the presence, wisdom, and humor of these dear, dear friends. This week, thank the women in your lives for the gifts they bring into this world and into your life. Honor their humanity and dignity; treat them as equals. Never forget the gifts women have brought into the Church and let us never return to those days when women were treated as property or oppressed. Thank God for strong women!
Your friend and priest,
Eric+
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Penny's Worth is currently closed for a couple of weeks for cleaning and organizing.The shop will re-open to customers on Tuesday, August 3. There are openings for volunteers on Tuesdays and Saturdays; contact Dot Hill at 850-653-9297 or Marlene Seaborn at 843-224-7706 to learn more. Donations of clean clothing in good condition are welcome; drop your items by on Tuesdays, beginning on August 3, 10 am - 3 pm. |
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Our Discretionary Fund --
What it is and How it Works
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The Canons of the Church Title III:9.6 state the following:
“The Alms and Contributions, not otherwise specifically designated, at the Administration of the Holy Communion on one Sunday in each calendar month, and other offerings for the poor, shall be deposited with the Rector or Priest-in-Charge or with such Church officer as the Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall appoint to be applied to such pious and charitable uses as the Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall determine. When a Parish is without a Rector or Priest-in-Charge, the Vestry shall designate a member of the Parish to fulfill this function.“
This fund has been in existence since the inception of the Church, where people shared everything in common and no one went without -- and that is its purpose today. In many churches you might have found a “Poor Box”; however, the Anglican Church had an “almoner” who would collect and administer alms to the poor. Our current practice is based on that method, with the priest in charge of that fund-- primarily for reasons of confidentiality. Some folks may not like their neighbor, the almoner, to know that they have fallen on hard times and therefore, a priest sworn to secrecy will not violate that confidentiality.
As the pandemic has entered another wave, persons within Franklin County and in Apalachicola are still facing economic hardships. This fund is not just for parishioners, although many have been aided during this time, but also for the community at large. In partnership with Community Action we have helped persons keep their electricity from being turned off and have paid water bills; we have offered rental assistance, thereby keeping folks from falling behind and facing eviction come this September after the eviction moratorium ends. We have provided money for prescriptions and for food that is not always available at the food bank. We have also supported camps for disabled children.
This week, your gifts helped the mother of a disabled adolescent pay her light bill. Your gifts allowed us to give her $200 so that the electricity and, most importantly for her, the air conditioning will stay on.
Many of the folks who come by Trinity seeking aid live in an all-cash economy with neither credit cards nor bank accounts. Sometimes checks are written directly to them so they can buy personal items. Whenever a check is written to a business, I make a copy of the bill so that when the account is audited there is a record. If I write a check to an individual, I note the purpose for the same reason.
You can be proud of your part in this ministry. Without your generous donations, people would be without, and in more pain than they already are. The discretionary account is funded by the “loose offering” given every SECOND Sunday of the month. Of course, you may always make a designated gift to this fund at any time. Please consider helping this fund so that we may continue to serve pious and charitable needs.
And for those of you who do give to this worthy cause I say
thank you and God bless you.
-- Eric+
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Critter Confidential:
No raccoons have been caught this week but four seagulls have. We believe there is only one juvenile raccoon left under the back stairs of the rectory. After catching (and releasing) a cat and the seagulls, the rector (aka Trapper Eric) is reluctant to give up the hunt as the traps do help! Thanks to Martha Watson for lending two Havahart traps.
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Judy Long Scott
1934 - 2021
Judy Long Scott, mother of Penny Long Marler, died on July 17 in Birmingham. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 21.
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Summer is for Making New Friends and
Bell-ringing
at Trinity
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Susan Galloway and Karen Kessel are enjoying summer visits in Apalachicola with their grand-daughters June Galloway (left) and Addyson Brandewie (right). The young ladies gleefully rang Trinity's bell to open last Sunday's worship services.
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The American Religious Landscape |
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Results from a 2020 study show that seven in ten Americans (70%) identify as Christian, including more than four in ten who identify as white Christian and more than one-quarter who identify as Christian of color. Nearly one in four Americans (23%) are religiously unaffiliated, and 5% identify with non-Christian religions.
The study was conducted by PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to conducting independent research at the intersection of religion, culture, and public policy. The extensive report looks at religious affiliation by various factors, including age, education levels, geography, political affiliation, and race/ethnicity. It also compares changes over time.
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How Many Episcopalians Does It Take...? |
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Here's a throwback to the good old days of coffee hour. You just have to ask: How many Episcopalians does it take to stack the chairs in Benedict Hall?
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It's hurricane season. Be sure you stay informed of storm tracks, evacuation notices, and other important safety assistance. Franklin County Emergency Management is your resource for storm alerts and other emergency information. Sign up here.
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July 25
First Lector & Psalm - Rick Watson
Second Lector - Brooks Jones
Prayers of the People - Rick Watson
Lay Eucharistic Minister - Gloria Austin
Altar Guild - Jane Harris
Flower Guild - Martha Harris
August 1
First Lector & Psalm - Susan Galloway
Second Lector - Carolyn Parker
Prayers of the People - Patti McCartney
Lay Eucharistic Minister - Gloria Austin
Altar Guild - Susie Wagoner
Flower Guild - Aglaia Dolan
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Worship Services at 8 & 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
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