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Apalachicola, Florida
October 11, 2024
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The Canning of the Should | |
We have all been at crossroads where we see two paths with a decision to make. Will I take a job that pays better but takes a little more of me in return? Will I stay in a place, a relationship, or a mindset that I know isn’t super for my long-term health, but I don’t see a better option? Will the ending of one ministry lead to a brighter mission?
So often we think the two paths we see are the only choices. They are the can and the should. And what we should do can be quite different from what we can do. As a result, we relegate ourselves to a life built upon the binary, where one cancels the other. If we take that better-paying job that requires more of our time, we automatically think the rest of our life won’t change.
But if there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that life is about change. And it is about facing that change with all the grace that can be mustered. For it is not easy to face the changes and chances of this life. But it is in the facing of those events in our lives that we add a third choice at the crossroads: what we will do.
On this day six years ago, many of you woke to a new reality. Hurricane Michael had rewritten history just as it reconfigured communities and lives as we knew them. And yet, look around: recovery has happened. You shook the should from your shoulders. Giving up was replaced by giving over to a deeper, more abiding strength within you. Where you should have despaired, you asked yourself and God what you can do. You shut out the language of “What should I do?”. And instead of sitting cross-legged in the knot of “nots”, you willed what you can do with the life you have. That is agency.
Give yourself a pat on the back. Most of us never get (or give ourselves) the opportunity to look back and see past events for what they are: perfect moments of God reaching through the cosmos to remind us that we are worthy of love that passes all understanding. To sit in the space where God wills grace upon us—and for us to accept that as agency and spread it across Creation—I’m telling you, that is where the should is squashed by the can. God’s love for us moves us from the inaction of what we should do towards the action of what we can do, ending with the motion of what we will do.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
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Help in a Post-Storm World | |
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In the span of two weeks our region experienced two significant weather events: Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Though the impact of Milton will not be fully known for some time, the clear devastation by Helene is all over the news. Trinity is working with our diocese and with other churches to develop a long-term recovery plan (because recovery is a marathon, not a sprint).
We will continue to announce programs that Trinity can do, but in the
meantime we suggest the following:
At Trinity: give to Hurricane/Disaster Relief at Trinity via our online donation page, by regular giving on Sundays, or sending your check to the office. For any donation please be sure you specify “Hurricane/Disaster Relief” in the memo line.
Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast: Bishop Russell is working with Episcopal Relief and Development's US Disaster Program along with other dioceses in the southeastern US, who all have reports of significant damage. For those of you who want to help, the message for right now is please standby. But if you feel called to donate NOW, please give to the Hurricane/Disaster Relief fund managed by our diocese. You can do that here (be sure to select Hurricane/Disaster Relief from the dropdown menu).
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff Tony “AJ” Smith): Most of us know that the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department often responds quickly to these events by bringing water and other supplies to affected areas. They have a website for their charity relief work for which you can donate here.
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Many of us who know the history of Trinity have heard the story of our church bell that came to us in the late 1860s as a gift by a parishioner and a foundry in the northeastern United States. Mr. H.L. Grady, longtime Senior Warden of our church, wrote that “During the war the Church carpets and cushions were given to the Confederate Army to be made into blankets and the bell was melted for cannon” (source: Christmas newsletter for Trinity, 1946).
But what about this original bell? Mr. Grady, in another historical document held by Trinity, described the bell as being “one of the sweetest tones I ever heard, though it may be a fanciful recollection of my youth.”
A few weeks ago, Father Stephen received a call from Mr. Jeffrey Wright who lives in north Georgia and was conducting genealogical work on his family. His great-great-great uncle, Thomas Gordon, performed a variety of commissary and logistics contract work for the Confederate States of America (CSA). At the outset of the Civil War, General G.P. Beauregard requested citizens donate materials to support the war.
Mr. Wright’s ancestor was given a work order dated April 7, 1862 to remove “9 bells from churches and public buildings at Apalachicola and placing same on wharf” for shipment elsewhere. He was paid $50 for his services, for which he noted as completed on May 1, 1862.
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Many thanks to Mr. Wright for sharing this fascinating piece of family records and giving us another piece of Trinity’s history. | |
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Welcome
John Huft
Over the past few months, we have been blessed to help our brothers and sisters at St. John the Baptist in Wewahitchka with consecrated elements (bread and wine). John Huft is lay leader of their services and has begun discernment with the diocese to determine his future call to serve God’s Church. As part of the discernment process, John will be serving at Trinity through December to gain experience in working in a church of a different size.
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We asked John to provide an introduction to the parish, and he graciously sent the following:
Hello, my name is John Huft, and I am a nominee to the Commission On Ministry. I am currently going through the discernment process to better clarify my call to ministry. Am I called to Lay Ministry, Diaconate Ministry, or the Priesthood? My internship at Trinity Episcopal Church is part of the process. I will be participating, besides singing in the choir, in the worship service and parish life for the next twelve weeks.
I am a life-long Episcopalian, and I have lived in Gulf County on and off since 1983. I have been a member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church and mostly lived in Wewahitchka since 1992. I teach Agriculture Science and UAS Technology (Drones) at Wewahitchka High School.
St. John’s has been without a priest since April 2021, and I have served as a Worship Leader and Lay Preacher during that time. I have brought the Eucharistic Elements down from Wewahitchka to be blessed during the Sunday service for the past year.
After my internship is completed, I will continue to worship with you every other Sunday.
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Wednesday Compline. If you love the Order for Compline from our Book of Common Prayer and 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. And don’t forget that we have Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8:15 am.
Looking For A Few Good People. With four vestry members ending their term in December, Trinity is looking for people who want to help guide this church into an exciting future. A desire to be part of shaping the next few years of this church as we move closer to the bicentennial decade (!!!) is required. Trinity is currently accepting nominations to fill four vestry positions for the year 2025. Vestry members are elected for a three-year term. They are required to be confirmed, active communicants, and current pledgers. These are qualifications not only for election but for continued service on the vestry. Nomination forms are available in the office and in Benedict Hall, and may be returned to the office or emailed to info@trinityapalachicola.org. Nominations are due by Sunday, November 3, 2024. Short bios of candidates will appear in the Bay View newsletter between November and the Annual Meeting and will be posted in Benedict Hall.
Calling All Collects. Do you like to pray? Sure you do! Do you like to write prayers? Well, this is for you! We are looking for some Trinity folks to craft prayers that we can begin to use during the Prayers of the People each week. Given the state of the nation and the world, we have an infinite number of reasons to offer prayers to God. You can write collects (prayers) for our nation in the year of the presidential election, a collect for our congregation, or a collect for yourself or your family in this season of your life. Follow this simple format: 1) an address that names God, 2) a description of God’s being or action that relates to the petition; 3) the petition, and 4) Give God glory, or ask in God’s name. There are rich examples in the Book of Common Prayer; see pages 211-261. Submit to the office, and we will use them!
Monday School Returns. After a hiatus, the much-loved Monday School series has returned to Trinity. We would like to invite you to consider joining us. The time slot of 10:30 am is negotiable, knowing that people have active lives and things to do during the day. Please contact the parish office or email info@trinityapalachicola.org if you are interested in attending and let us know the best time on Mondays that work for you. Over the next year we will mix up the format with offerings like book discussions, Bible study, prayer and faith journeys, and church history. The first book covered will be Experiencing God: Faith Narratives of Episcopalians (Ian Markham and Kimberly Dunn, editors). It is an opportunity to hear about fellow Episcopalians in their walk with God; perhaps it will begin some good discussions in our parish.
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Mission and Vision Sunday Potluck, October 20
What is our mission here at Trinity? Why are we here? What is our dream for our church? What do we hope to represent and offer to the community (and the world)? Please join the Trinity parish family on Sunday, October 20, after the 10:30 service for a potluck lunch. Bring your favorite covered dish (the church will provide fried chicken) AND bring your ideas for defining both our Mission and Vision.
A Mission Statement would clarify the connection our church has with God. An example of a simple Mission Statement adopted by another church: "Our mission is to love God and love people." After that all-important Mission Statement is designed for Trinity, our Vision Statement can embellish our church's mission and give members (and visitors) certain goals. In other words, Trinity's Vision should show how that mission can bring the church into the future and spread God's love. An example of another church's Mission Statement: "A church where all are loved, purpose is found, and lives are changed."
Please stay for a delicious meal after church on October 20th
to help define our purpose and how we accomplish it.
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Recalling Season of Creation. Rescheduled due to Hurricane Helene, we celebrated CanoEucharist on the Apalachicola River on October 5. Many thanks to Chris Presnell for hosting the participants of the liturgy. We ended the Season of Creation with a closing liturgy at the Chapman Botanical Gardens. | |
Trinity Welcomes Hurricane Milton Evacuees with Food, Games, Supplies | |
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We had a great turnout Wednesday night to welcome Hurricane Milton evacuees. About two dozen folks from the Tampa-St. Pete-Sarasota region chose to evacuate to Apalachicola, and we were blessed by their presence at Benedict Hall.
Thanks to the Parish Life and Outreach Committees who helped make this a success. We had gumbo (compliments of Majestic Jewel B&B), pizza, lasagna, salad, desert, snacks, and refreshments. And we managed to fit in seven games of bingo, each with their own prize that evacuees could use (flashlights citronella candles, and portable stoves).
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Finally, we had hurricane cleanup supplies available for the taking, from gas cans to toilet paper, from bleach to work gloves. And we still have plenty! We will be handing out supplies to the area hotels. | |
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Blessing of the Golf Carts This Saturday
In conjunction with Porch Fest Apalach 2024, Trinity will be hosting two bands (Shaken and Stirred from 12 – 1 pm and Blues Meets Girl from 1:30 – 2:30 pm). But just as good, Father Stephen will be blessing the golf carts that many of us use to get around town, whether at Porch Fest or otherwise. Come by Trinity this Saturday between 12 and 2:30 pm to hear some great music and be blessed. (See complete performance schedule & locations below) As an added bonus, the new Trinity car decals are in and look fantastic!
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Trinity Outreach Committee Report | |
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Your Outreach Committee met on September 12, 2024
in Benedict Hall under tornado warnings.
The Treasurer’s report showed a balance of $13,961 at the time of the last committee meeting in May. From June to September, $11,159.95 was paid out of the Outreach Account for both ongoing and emergency community needs of the Food Pantry of Franklin County, the Elder Care Community Council (ECCC), Franklin County School, and the Ed Corps of Franklin’s Promise. Committed funds for the remainder of the calendar and school years total $6,400. Left to distribute is $5,980.
The environmental stewardship subgroup decided to segregate $500 from unspent funds for a Community Cleanup event for our Priest to use to re-form a community clergy group to coordinate efforts for disaster assistance with Franklin County Emergency Management and work toward community cleanup efforts together. A Creation Care Grant that Stephen and Penny wrote was not funded but we are pursuing funds from the diocese, and perhaps, submitting a related grant to the National Church in January 2025.
It was also decided to feature Apalachicola Riverkeeper as the recipient of Bingo proceeds from the October game night. So come to Bingo night October 17, fellowship with others and invite your friends, and help the Apalachicola Riverkeeper continue its vital environmental work!
The education subgroup reported a successful backpack drive for Franklin County School (FCS) this fall. Seventy-five backpacks were delivered to FCS and distributed to children who started school without backpacks and supplies. About $200 in cash was designated for backpacks, but FCS principal, Danielle Rosson, asked that these funds be given instead to the Homeless Students Program at the school; we agreed.
The Volunteer Reader Program continues this year with 11 regular readers and 3 substitutes. We are covering the second grade. FCS also has a credit from Outreach at Penny’s Worth and has already purchased much needed clothing for children and youth for the school’s Clothes Closet. Susan and Bob Pruitt continue to coordinate Trinity’s Angel Tree project for FCS. Stay tuned for more information about our satellite tree.
Outreach is coordinating the construction of a raised garden box at FCS with the Apalachicola Community Garden and FCS’s carpentry and culinary programs. The project is slated for October, if possible.
The food insecurity and material assistance subgroup reported on the Food Pantry’s year end data. From 2023-2024 the Food Pantry served 8,233 people for $25,597.31. Trinity donates $6,000 per year which is almost a quarter of the Food Pantry’s food cost. Through its regular donations, Trinity served the supplementary food needs of 2,000 people this past year. In addition, Lori Switzer Mills (director of the Food Pantry) reported that from February through June 2024, Trinity’s Food Wagon donated 156 pounds of food and 115 pounds of hygiene products.
At this meeting, Outreach committed $650 toward the purchase of four collections of math-related picture books to be rotated between the second-grade classes and read by all. At the end of the rotation, students will each take home a book from the collection! In addition, the committee agreed to contribute $200 to the Accelerated Reading Program at FCS so that students who accumulate points for reading assignments can shop for small rewards. Finally, $500 was set aside for a needy graduate of FCS who is enrolled in Gulf Coast Community College for books, fees, and/or some tuition remission. The remainder of funds were set aside for anticipated hurricane relief.
-- Thank you for entrusting our committee with Outreach responsibility at Trinity. Penny Marler (chair), Jason Carter (treasurer and Vestry
liaison), Kathy Chesser (secretary), Steve Watkins, Jo Branch,
Chris Presnell, Myrtis Wynn (community member at large)
and Harolyn Walker (community member at large).
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Blessing of the Animals A Success! We hosted the annual Blessing of the Animals on October 6 in Gorrie Square. About 20 animals and their owners attended. |
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Third Thursday Bingo. Bingo is back on a regular basis at Trinity. It is a fun way to pass an evening, trying to win prizes and be with others in our community. First Bingo board is always free! Bring snacks to share and your favorite beverage to enjoy as Father Stephen calls the games and offers up fresh "Dad Jokes". The next Third Thursday Bingo is coming up on October 17 at 6:30 pm and will have a twist to it as we invited Apalachicola Riverkeeper to use the event as a fundraiser for their annual RiverTrek. | |
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on October 13, pray for the Commission on Affirmative Aging and Murray House Assisted Living Residence, Mobile, AL; on October 20 pray for St. Peter's, Bon Secour AL and St. Peter’s, Jackson, AL. For prisons: on October 13, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Henry County Jail, Abbeville, AL; and on October 20, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Houston County Jail, Dothan, AL. | |
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The TRINITY TEN, a ten-point questinnaire that provides a light-hearted,
yet sincere, profile of Trinity parishioners, is designed for us to get
to know each other a little better. Your responses, along with a
photograph, will appear regularly in the Bay View.
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Susan Farmer was born in Kansas City, Kansas. Even though her family lived in Kansas City, MIssouri, the closest hospital was just over the line in Kansas. She lived for many years in Birmingham, Alabama, before relocating to Florida a few years ago.
Susan is a retired veterinarian and holds a PhD in pathology. She is a volunteer with the Florida Wild Mammal Association and the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory. At Trinity, she serves as an acolyte and as registrar for the vestry.
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Greatest influence on your life (person or experience):
My maternal grandfather, who took me into the woods and onto the water many times in Ethelsville, Alabama, teaching me to love nature and animals.
How would someone else describe you:
A person who loves nature and animals, likes to read, is kind of quiet, a homebody.
One thing people might be surprised to know about you:
Even though I have worked with many different kinds of animals, I am terrified of spiders.
Favorite part of living here:
Our beautiful natural world and the kind, generous, quirky people who live here.
Dogs or cats:
Dogs
Bacon or broccoli:
Bacon
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo:
Mayo
One thing you are good at:
I am very good at organization and repetitive tasks.
One thing you’d rather not do:
I HATE to iron
What drew you to Trinity:
I had always admired the church when here on vacation but never seemed to be able to find the time to attend. As a cradle Episcopalian, I was very eager to attend once I moved here, and I have truly found my church home at Trinity.
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Watch our Sunday sermons online:
Generosity is a key component of our successful ministry: You can share your generosity easily and safely through our secure Electronic Giving platform.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS OF INTEREST | |
Porch Fest is Coming Up! On Saturday, October 12, Porch Fest Apalachicola will take place from 11 am to 7 pm around town. It is a free event and features local musicians who play at different sites around Apalachicola. We are happy to announce that Bring Me A Book Forgotten Coast is this year’s charity, with all proceeds going to this very worthy organization. One of the many sites selected for music this year are the steps of our beloved Trinity Church. So come out all day to hear some great music but stop by Trinity between 12:00 and 2:30 pm for two bands (and get your golf cart blessed; see other announcement in this issue). | |
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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 October 24)
-- Kay Carson, Editor
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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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