Apalachicola, Florida

May 8, 2026

In keeping with the tone and goal of the Instructed Eucharist held this

past month, we are beginning a new column for Bay View. Through

the remainder of 2026, we will peel apart the Sunday service to discuss

a particular theme or a portion of a typical Sunday service. With these

two approaches we will journey between structure and meaning.

It mimics a Latin phrase Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi

(“how we worship reflects what we believe and how we live our lives”).



In the first installment, we learn about the meaning and

importance of liturgical colors and vestments.

Unfolding the Liturgy, Part One:

Colors and Cloths

You might notice now and then that the cloth hangings around the sanctuary and nave (the altar and the pews) vary in color. At Trinity, we align the altar’s frontal, the priest’s stole, and pulpit’s paraments to a particular season of the church year. Right now, the Easter Season features a creamy white silk pattern. Other times the colors are green…or red…or purple…or blue. Does it depend on the priest’s mood as to what color is shown that day?

I’m glad you asked, because there is a reason. It most definitely does not have to do with the emotional state of the clergy (even if said clergy is pretty positive and even-tempered). It has to do with how the Church keeps time. While we measure time in calendars and schedules, the Church measures time by telling the story of Jesus Christ the same way, repeatedly, year after year. It is the Story of Jesus, essentially told from Advent through Pentecost Sunday, and the Story of Us, carrying us through the Season After Pentecost, which ends around the beloved American tradition of Thanksgiving. The colors, alternating among blue, white, purple, red, and green reflect that story in our worship.

Most churches employ purple during Advent and Lent, reflecting preparation. We keep that tradition at Trinity during Lent; however, during Advent we bring out a vibrant blue, reflecting expectation. White or gold signals celebration, and we use those colors most clearly during the Seasons of Christmas and Easter. Red appears on days like Pentecost (coming up in two weeks) which recalls the fire of the Holy Spirit, and on occasions when the Church remembers those who serve or are martyred. Most Sundays, however, are green, marking Ordinary Time (a highly ordered period of the Church calendar). Green is the color of growth, which comes in many forms but, in essence, is the steady, often quiet work of living the Christian life.

Unless coinciding with a feast day in the Church or a special event, the Sunday colors you see match a simple rule: white=celebration and divinity of Christ; red=sacrifice; green=our Christian life; purple/blue=preparation. Days like Christmas and Easter—but also baptisms, weddings, and funerals—are white. Feasts of particular saints, days recalling the Holy Spirit in our lives, and ordinations would be red.

None of this is accidental. It may be subtle, but the colors begin to shape our sense of where we are in the story. They help locate us. They remind us that worship is about being drawn into something much larger. The vestments and hangings aren’t used to show we have fancy things. They are a subtle teaching tool the Church has used over the centuries to reinforce how and where Christ works in our lives.

You don’t have to memorize it all. Just begin by noticing. What color is it today? How do the readings and sermon coincide with what the colors represent? And what might God be saying to me? Over time, those small observations form us. The rhythm becomes second-nature. And we discover that we are not just marking time in the Church; we are being shaped by it.

In the next installment, Father Stephen will discuss the physical actions of our hands and bodies during the service. This includes all the bowing, genuflecting, kneeling, and raising of hands that confuse the newcomer! Stay tuned for part two of our new Unfolding the Liturgy series, entitled “Body at Prayer.”

Dear Trinity Church Family,

Whether you opened your home, volunteered, welcomed guests, shared gardening wisdom, became a Pillar, sang at Evensong, or supported the Silent Auction, we thank you!

Even with concerns about rain (and 2.5 inches of much-needed water!), you showed up in force and helped make the 2026 Historic Apalachicola Home & Garden Tour a wonderful success. For those new to the Forgotten Coast, the warmth, hospitality, and community pride were on full display.

Final totals are still being confirmed, but your efforts helped generate more than $59,000 in revenue. The Tour of Homes is Trinity’s largest ministry fundraiser, and it strengthens both our historic preservation work and our Outreach ministry. Thank you for sharing your time, gifts, and talents in support of our church and our community.

We’re already looking ahead to May 1, 2027, and we can’t wait to do it all again!

Gratefully,

Tour of Homes Leadership Committee

Benedict Hall Updates. Benedict Hall (also known as The Parish House) will begin seeing a series of thoughtful updates over the coming months and years aimed at improving comfort, function, and flexibility for the many ministries, gatherings, and community events that take place there. As plans move forward, great care is being taken to preserve the familiar warmth and character of a space that has long been central to parish life.

Improvements will be introduced gradually and in phases to minimize disruption and allow the parish to grow into the changes naturally. All work is being funded through designated gifts specifically given for Benedict Hall improvements. Those wishing to support the project are invited to contact the church office for more information.

Beckwith Sunday was a joyful celebration of community, faith, and new beginnings. We gathered for Holy Eucharist led by The Rev. Lydia Johnson, giving thanks for all that God continues to do at Beckwith. A brief rain delay followed—but in true Beckwith spirit, the celebration carried on as we enjoyed hamburgers and hot dogs fresh off the grill, expertly prepared by our very own “grill master in residence,” John Dreyfus.

As the skies cleared, we made our way to the brand-new swimming pool, where The Rev. Ashley Freeman completed the blessing. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for—at the joyful cry of “Alleluia, Alleluia,” our youth rushed forward, consecrating the pool with a celebratory splash!

Thank you to all who joined us to help make this a special Beckwith Sunday - and a heartfelt thank you to the music team and Cindy McCrory of Blue Room Photography for capturing the excitement and joy that made the day so memorable.

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on May 10, we pray for St. Michael's Churches in Chickasaw and Ozark, Alabama; and on May 17, we pray for Chaplains to Retired Clergy, Spouses, and Surviving Spouses as well as Christ the King in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. For prisons: on May 10, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Atmore Community Work Center, Atmore, Alabama; and on May 17, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Camden Work Release, Camden, Alabama.

We honored Dot Hill with a 95th birthday celebration on Sunday, April 26 in Benedict Hall. Joining the festivities were family members (seated with Dot) Everly, Wyatt, Madelyn & Whitley; and (standing) Brian, Cheyney, Raney, Susanne, & Meghan.

(Reader Reflections is a series of offerings written by parishioners on

their favorite spiritual books. If you would like to write a short review

of a book you especially love, please contact Stephen.)

FULL DISCLOSURE: I cried!

You typically will not hear a man admit that, but hey, even Jesus wept. My wife and I bought the local bookstore in Apalach last September, and around that time, many of the local book clubs started reading Theo of Golden. I'm a horror, thriller, mystery kind of guy, with a sprinkle of the classics thrown in, but everyone was saying how good the book was. Even the former bookstore owner said I should read it. I took a copy and added it to my growing stack of books to be read in my bookstore office. I was in the midst of reading another book and decided to make Theo my next read after I finished that one. My wife said she would read it after me.

I finally pulled it off the shelf and began reading it, not knowing much about it. I was about ten pages in when I started bawling my eyes out. I got myself composed and went out to the checkout counter of our store, where my wife was, and said to her, "I don't think you want to read that book." She responded, "Why?" That's when I began to tell her what it did to me and why. Her response was, "Nope! I'm not reading it now." I must admit there has been only one other book that has ever made me cry, and that was A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. I cried reading Theo because there were parts that reminded me of my parents and grandparents, who are all deceased—especially thinking about how they would have reacted to the people and situations if they had been in Theo's shoes. This was particularly true for my mother. It took me down memory lane, which stirred up those feelings.

Theo was one of those books I could hardly put down. In a nutshell, it's the story of a mysterious old man who comes to a small southern town, goes into a coffee shop, sees sketches of people from the town on the walls, and begins buying them and gifting them to the people. Along the way, you learn about them, Theo, and how strangers can become friends. And there's an OMG (Oh, my God), I didn’t see that coming twist at the end. That’s just the way I like my books.

This book has left a lasting impression on me. When I finished it, all I could do was say to myself and others: "If we could only have more kindness in our world—like the kindness shown in Theo.” You normally will not hear me rave about a book, even one I like. 

That's kind of funny for someone who owns a bookstore, but if you're looking to get away from the crazy world we live in, even for a brief time, visit Golden and see the world through the eyes of a lovable and kind old man named Theo.

-- Royce Rolstad

Readings for May 10, 2026, the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Readings for May 17, 2026, the Seventh Sunday of Easter

Help Local Students Visit the Museum

“For the past two years, the Franklin Education Foundation has funded an educational field trip to the Tallahassee Museum field trip for our ESOL (English Language for Speakers of Other Languages) students with

funds donated for that purpose. This year the requested financial assistance came late and our foundation has an assured their teacher/sponsor

funds will be raised so the field trip can be made.

Donations/contributions can be by going to the donate now table on our website franklineducationfoundation.org and selecting the other tab.



Your support is greatly appreciated.

Cliff Butler, Executive Director

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 May 20)

-- Kay Carson, Editor

Worship Service at 10:30 am Sunday

Morning Prayer at 8:15 am Wednesday

Compline at 8 pm Wednesday - Facebook Live

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