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Apalachicola, Florida
March 15, 2024
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Grace and peace be with you this day and always.
Around town, we are greeted with the signs that Winter is letting go its usual lackadaisical grip on the region. The azaleas are in bloom, the shorebirds are riding the thermals, and pollen is everywhere. The Plein Air Festival has arrived. Next to Rick and Martha Watson’s house on St. George Island, an eaglet has fledged. Our beloved Snowbirds are enjoying the break from their northern environs, taking part in Trinity’s Sunday Eucharists, Tai Chi Wednesdays, and multiple Christian Formation classes during the week. The traffic along Hwy 98 has picked up along with the tourism economy that is so important to the region.
And yet, Apalachicola is still, well, Apalachicola. Having grown up in New Orleans, I was far more familiar with a constant influx of visitors year-round to that most interesting city. “The Big Easy”, as it is known, is constantly abuzz with activity. Here, however, we have “shoulder seasons” between the busy tourist season and the off season. But it won’t be long before the Spring Breakers are gone, Tour of Homes is done, and the Snowbirds hug us goodbye and head north before the summer heat settles in the sidewalk cracks.
In spite of the frenetic activity in certain times of the year, I find a beautiful peace here in Apalachicola. I imagine it is a type of peace becoming a rare jewel along the Gulf Coast. Most mornings Jason Carter and I walk several miles around town, just before sunrise. We have been witnesses to some incredible dawn moments. And during the day, you might catch me sitting in the church or in the Memorial Garden. I love being in those sacred spaces as I commune with God, pray for you and our numerous ministries together, and ask God for me to be present in every moment. For every moment is holy. Being your priest at Trinity reminds me of that simple truth.
At night, the very last thing I do before retiring to the rectory is to walk the church grounds. Part of why I do that is to ensure buildings are locked, HVACs are set, and lights are off. Another reason is that it is one of my favorite times of the day. The neighborhood is quiet. The guests at Coombs Inn and Majestic Jewel are bedded down. If the wind is right, I might hear the last set of the band at High Five or Dockside wafting across town. And as the dew sets onto the Spanish moss in Gorrie Square, the crickets cast their staccato serenade, up and away into the night sky.
Despite the trials and tribulations we face in this modern world, there are holy moments existing for—and in—each one of us. Some of my own I have recounted here. You have them too, provided you might pause, listen, and take in these sacred flashes given to us by God. And though the world seems upside-down, and we have people in our lives that press upon our Christian natures, we can remember that Easter is coming. A new day will dawn soon that reminds us of God’s love for us; when we roll away the stone and walk into a new birth of humanity in Christ’s Resurrection. And the best part: while you might feel that the most on Easter, I assure you it is present in every dawn, every cricket chirp, every smile, and every child’s laugh. It is present every day, every moment.
Wake each day and be full of thanks for the God that loves you and
moved Heaven and Earth to show you the breadth of that love.
Grace and peace be with you this day and always.
Stephen +
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Holy Week Services - March 24-31 | |
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A fulsome Holy Week is coming up very soon! After Palm Sunday, we will step into Holy Week with services on Maundy Thursday (6 pm in the church, with Agape meal just before in Benedict Hall at 5 pm), Good Friday (noon Eucharist and 6 pm Stations of the Cross, both in the church), Holy Saturday (noon in the Memorial Garden), and Easter Sunday (7:30 am in Lafayette Park, weather permitting, and 10:30 am in the church).
The Easter Egg Hunt will occur immediately after the Easter 10:30 am service around the church grounds.
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Easter Lily Dedications
Easter is a special time to remember loved ones or special people in our lives, and dedicating Easter lilies for the church is a lovely Trinity tradition. If you would like to participate, please complete and return the Easter Lily Form to the church office by March 18. We suggest a $20 donation per dedication, but any amount will be greatly appreciated.
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Easter Bunny Needs Your Help
The annual Trinity Easter Egg hunt always draws a large group of eager young egg hunters. We need lots of candy-filled plastic eggs to delight our visitors. Please bring plastic eggs filled with small, wrapped candies to the Church office or to Benedict Hall by March 24.
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Auction Time at Trinity
Got stuff? The Tour of Homes can help! Please consider donating
your quality items for the Silent Auction and Jumble Sale that
takes place Saturday, May 4. Auction volunteers are also needed.
Contact Ginger Lawson or Kathy Rushmore to help make
our 30th year the best one yet!
Tickets & Pillars
You can purchase tour tickets and make Pillar contributions
at the Tour of Homes website.
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Wednesday Compline. If you love the Order for Compline from our Book of Common Prayer but want to participate from the comfort of your home, you are in luck! On Wednesdays at 8 pm Eastern, Trinity is pleased to host an online Compline via Facebook Live. Each week, Father Stephen will welcome a different guest as a co-officiant or reader from around our diocese and The Episcopal Church. And if you need in-person worship during the week, don’t forget that we have Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8:15 am.
Formation Groups and Classes. Jason Carter is continuing the chronological study of the Gospels on Sundays at 9:15 am in the Parish Conference Room. All are welcome. Monday School is on a short hiatus but will start up again very soon. Thursday School is occurring every Thursday at 3:30 pm during Lent. We are using the book Will You? A Lenten Study of Baptismal Promises by Amanda Perkins McGriff as our guide.
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Penny's Worth sees Blockbuster
Sales During February
A special Thank You to all the volunteers at Penny's Worth for a job well done! In February, we had the best month since 2019, with sales of $5,330.30. Shop with us on Tuesdays & Saturdays, 10 am - 3 pm.
-- Dot Hill
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Cursillo #170 pilgrims and staff, Beckwith Camp and Conference Center, Fairhope, AL. Trinity parishioner Chris Presnell is third row, second from left. Stephen and Travis Pecot are in the very back. | |
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Trinity Represents at Cursillo #170. Chris Presnell attended Cursillo #170 on March 8-10 at Beckwith Camp and Conference Center in Fairhope, AL. Stephen and Travis Pecot both served on staff, with Stephen as one of the Spiritual Advisors. This was the first time in many years that a Trinity parishioner has attended, and Bishop Russell Kendrick was overjoyed to see attendance up from the eastern side of the diocese (including Panama City, FL and Dothan and Eufala, AL). One long-term Cursillo staff member remarked how great it was to hear the words “Trinity, Apalachicola” spoken in the Beckwith chapel. To learn about Cursillo, the diocese has a great website, or you could talk to someone who has been. A second Cursillo is being offered September 12-15. Who wouldn’t want to be loved on and pampered for three days? You deserve it! De Colores!
Worship in the Woods April 21. Held on Sunday, April 21, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT at Saloom Properties (2835 Bookers Mill Rd, Evergreen, AL), Worship in the Woods is a diocesan-wide gathering hosted by the churches of Convocation IV. We will celebrate God's creation with a special Stations of the Resurrection, followed by Eucharist and fun fellowship. You can see last year’s photos here. Bring your own picnic lunch and lawn chair or blanket. Wear closed-toe shoes and sunscreen. Bring your water bottles; water provided. If you are interested, please contact the church office.
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on March 17, pray for St. James, Fairhope, AL; and on March 24 pray for Chapel of St. Dismas, Atmore, AL and the Commission on Prison Ministry. For prisons: on March 17, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Graceville Correctional Facility Graceville, FL; and on March 24 pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Gulf Correctional Institution, Wewahitchka, FL.
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CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | |
Our own Dot Hill (back row, second from right), the last direct Raney family descendant, cut the ribbon to introduce the completion of the exterior restoration of the Raney House, an extraordinary territorial period house dating back to 1838. Dot joined a cadre of Tallahassee Oven family members (above). direct descendants of Frances Raney who married John Oven.They produced a son, William, and unfortunately left him an orphan when his parents both succumbed to Yellow Fever. William was raised in Apalach, but became a prominent lawyer in Tallahassee. | |
Have You Met Josie? If you see a large, friendly, and furry black cat with a limp in her stride lounging around the rectory, don’t be alarmed. That’s Josie, who is Stephen and Travis’s York Chocolate cat. She was taken in by them several years ago after her owner passed. Josie is quite lovable and enjoys sitting on the rectory porch during the day. Josie’s other favorite pastimes are greeting Ina Margaret Meyer as she arrives for Choir practice on Thursdays, checking out | |
new places in the pine straw to watch nature, and cheerfully chasing lizards in the cutest possible way. Recently, Stephen caught her lounging on her back in the front of the church as he worked on a sermon. | |
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Watch our Sunday sermons online:
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COMMUNITY EVENTS OF INTEREST | |
Pre-Performance Bonus! Carlos Vegas will present an educational session prior to his performance. The session is open to everyone "free" of charge and will be held 3-3:45 pm. | |
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Weems Memorial Healthcare Foundation
Health & Wellness Initiatives for 2024
The Foundation is looking for interested members of the
community to join our small-but-mighty team!
- Our focus for '24 is to support enhancements to the Outpatient Services for the Franklin County community.
- Some key initiatives for this year include: #Catchthewellnesswave Health Fair in the Spring and a 65th Anniversary Gala in the Fall
The Weems Memorial Healthcare Foundation is the fundraising arm for Weems Memorial Hospital. Our goal is to drive philanthropic support of Weems Memorial Hospital thus actively supporting Weems' desire to serve our community and it's visitors with the most up-to-the minute medical technology and services.
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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. (next deadline is March 27)
-- Kay Carson, Editor
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Trinity Episcopal Church
Worship Service at 10:30 am Sunday
Morning Prayer at 8:15 am Wednesday
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
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