Apalachicola, Florida

April 14, 2023

I am delighted to announce that your vestry has unanimously accepted the recommendation of the search committee to call The Rev. Stephen D. Pecot as the next Rector of Trinity Church, and he has graciously accepted the call.

This is a second career for Stephen who worked for 20+ years in forestry as a senior forest analyst and environmental specialist. In that capacity, he has spent considerable time in Franklin and Gulf Counties over the years and knows the area well. He and his wife Travis are excited about moving to Apalachicola.

Stephen has been a seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA for the past three years. On March, 25, 2023, in Mobile, AL he was ordained to the diaconate, and he will join us in June as our Clergy-in-Charge. His ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for early October and will be held here at Trinity. At that time, his official title will be Priest-in-Charge. At the end of his first year with us, and subject to the approval of the vestry, he will become our Rector. 

Please do not be concerned with the seemingly endless process of becoming a fully licensed and certified Priest. Over the Summer and until Stephen’s ordination, we will use the service for the Distribution of Communion under Special Circumstances or Morning Prayer. In all other respects, he will serve as our spiritual and administrative leader. 

In the brief time that I have known Stephen, I have found him to be warm and welcoming. He is deeply spiritual and displays a mature approach to life and ministry. We are blessed to have him join our parish family.

Thanks be to God,

-- Rennie Edwards, Sr. Warden

My friends in Christ: It is an honor to have accepted your call to be Clergy-In-Charge of Trinity Episcopal Church. I come to you with humility and hope: humility to be amongst a most faithful community and hope that, together, we will continue to spread the Good News of Christ in the Apalachicola region and beyond.

I am originally from New Orleans and have lived across the Deep South all my life. I’ve lived in Fairhope since 2009 and attended St. Paul’s (Daphne) and St. James (Fairhope). My wife, Travis, is originally from Selma and is an avid equestrian when she is not working. 

We have four grown children (Douglas, Miranda, Ruth, and James), two of whom are married. Last November we welcomed our first grandchild, Lucy, who is the light of our lives. I anticipate you will meet them as they come to visit. 

We have one dog (Piper, a sweet and gentle Great Pyrenees), a cat (Josie), and two horses (Happy and Broch). Obviously, the horses will not be living at the rectory! My hobbies include playing music, woodworking and inlay, and learning how to ride my horse. Being part Cajun, I love getting out on the water and catching seafood. Travis and I love cooking, so you can anticipate fun evenings at the rectory and Benedict Hall in the future.

I have attended services at Trinity on several occasions in the past decade and have always received a warm welcome. We are overjoyed to be coming to Trinity and the Apalachicola area as I have felt called to the community for some time.

I thank the diligent and thoughtful work of your Search Committee who navigated these times of change with grace and professionalism.

Trinity’s Vestry, too, deserves a lot of credit for providing the confident lay leadership during this period of transition.

I consider myself the lucky one, to be coming into a community that has weathered pandemics, storms, and change by remaining focused on Jesus’ Great Commission to us all: to make disciples, to teach, and to live into the knowledge that Christ is always with us (Matt 28:19-20).

Yes, we have work to do together at Trinity. But we also have play in our future. Very soon I will be with you, and I look forward to getting to know each person whether you are at Trinity every week, seasonally, or virtually. I will continue lifting up my prayers for Trinity; please do the same for my family and me.

Stephen & Travis Pecot

Readings for April 16, 2023, the Second Sunday of Easter

Readings for April 23, 2023, the Third Sunday of Easter

2023 Featured Home -- Richardson-Harris-Counts House

This Gulf Coast Style cottage that overlooks Lafayette Park was likely

built around 1893. The wide veranda which sweeps down from a hipped

roof borrows from French Caribbean Creole architecture. Come learn

how birds brought the owners of our Feature Home together, and

how chickens and roosters may have helped them get it.

Enjoy a sneak preview of this year's homes at www.apalachicolahometour.org, where you can also purchase tickets and make your Pillar donation.

Contact Ginger Lawson at ginger.lawson48@gmail.com or Kathy Rushmore at kathyrushmore@aol.com and send pictures and descriptions of your items.

Meanwhile...volunteer scrubbers and polishers are at work in

Benedict Hall, preparing auction items for display on Tour Day.

When Ray’s Thrift Store in Crawfordville closed recently, owner Ray Smith found himself with a lot of inventory that needed a new home. Through the grapevine (via Charlie Galloway), he heard about Penny’s Worth and donated all of the clothes left in his shop.

Last Thursday, Charlie, Tom Edwards, and Barry Lawson loaded a 24-foot U-Haul truck with the clothes, along with some nice racks and merchandise displays, and delivered them to Penny’s Worth.

With many hearty and faithful helpers, the clothes were unloaded into Penny's Worth's attic to be organized into a HUGE sale!

Thanks, Ray!

And a special nod of gratitude goes to all who responded to a last-minute call for assistance: Charlie Galloway, Dalyn Siprell, Mary Ann Siprell, Dot Hill, Tom and Rennie Edwards, Lane Autrey, George and Bella Rudo, Kirk Hadaway, Penny Marler, Alan Pierce, Randy Mims, Butch Fell, Kathy Rushmore, and

Gordon and Brook Hunter.

From the majestic opening hymn to the delightful discovery of the

golden eggs, more than 150 members and visitors of all ages

enjoyed a joyous Easter celebration at Trinity.

April 16, 2023

Celebrant - The Rev. Martha Harris

Greeters - Allen Embert, Ralph Wagoner

Lectors - Kristin Anderson, Ralph Wagoner

Prayers of the People - Patti McCartney

Acolyte - Susan Farmer

Lay Eucharistic Minister - Patti McCartney

Altar Guild - Rennie Edwards

Flower Guild - Penny Marler

April 23, 2023

Celebrant - The Rev. Martha Harris

Greeters - Bill and Patti McCartney

Lectors - Dee Crusoe, Tom Edwards

Prayers of the People - Tom Edwards

Acolyte - Steve Watkins

Lay Eucharistic Minister - Brooks Jones

Altar Guild - Rennie Edwards

Flower Guild -

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 April 26, 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