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Apalachicola, Florida
October 25, 2024
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Recovery after a storm involves a short-term focus on the present (such as cleaning the muck) but also looking to the future (rebuilding, recovery, and perhaps adapting to a “new normal”). Put another way, recovery from any event or trauma is a marathon and not a sprint. In-between is the holding on for dear life. Jesus lived in this bifocal world, but he never let the immediacy of the now alter his long-term focus; the evangelist Luke described this as Jesus “setting his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).
Where we are—and where we want to be—are as discussed now as in Jesus’ day. We may not always have the time or the wherewithal to pause long enough to consider these. Certainly, life throws monkey-wrenches into our world that give us no choice but to ask these questions.
Our reviewing of Trinity’s mission and vision statements is a recent example of this work. The prayerful discernment occurring forces us to pause and examine how we are living into the future God wants for us by looking at our present state. But that only gets us part of the way: we also must live into the present by looking to the future.
The good people of the Big Bend region, by no fault of their own, are facing this work wrapped in a recent trauma. They are caught between their eyes set on catastrophe and hearts set on recovery. In times like this, mission and vision can understandably fall apart as people are just trying to survive and not necessarily thrive.
This is where others come in. People like Trinity. This is why I told everyone who has wanted to help with hurricane recovery to hold on. We are developing plans for Trinity to be part of a long-term solution for our friends in the Big Bend region of Florida. We are conducting a needs assessment using our contacts at churches, food banks, and private groups implementing on-the-ground solutions in Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach, and other communities.
For example, Fr. Stephen is in conversation with a local food bank in Steinhatchee to determine their needs beyond pallets of water and tuna fish. These hard-hit, proud communities need a lot, and they have received the time, talent, and treasure of others. But what they also need is hope and support. We may not solve all the world’s problems, but we can make a difference by leveraging who we are as a community of hope.
To that end, I would like to challenge Trinity to think of solutions that aren’t just short-term. Could a group of us travel to Steinhatchee and serve a Thanksgiving dinner for as many as show up? Yes. Could we organize a special Christmas toy drive for children of the hardest hit communities? Yes. Could we “adopt” a neighborhood, a street, a church, and develop a long-term approach that walks with them in recovery over the months and years? Yes.
The needs are many and far more than financial. Donations of hope help people set their faces toward the future, especially when all they see is a
need to clean up the present and the past. Join with me in this work.
Donate your hope to this cause.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
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Trinity's 2025 Stewardship Campaign | |
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It is time once again time to make our annual Stewardship pledge.
Individualized and blank Pledge Packets for 2025 are at the back
of the church and in our office for your convenience. Please pick
one up; take it home with you, read it, and pray about your responses
for the coming year. We understand life's complexities, so if you
decide not to pledge this year, simply write your name and check
that box. Return your completed pledge card, in the envelope,
to the secure collection box in the office, mail it in, or drop
it in the Sunday collection plate by November 24.
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Helping in the Post-Storm World. There are several ways to assist those recovering from hurricanes. As we examine more sources we will include them in this list and on our social media pages. For now these three are more than adequate:
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). This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint.
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.
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!
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.
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Garden Pot Tenders Needed
The large ceramic pots in the Memorial Garden are lovingly cared for by four gracious “Pot Tenders” who make sure the pots always contain something to enhance the garden. Occasionally, the pot tenders need a break. Volunteers are needed to adopt a pot for a period of time; occasionally, two people share the care of a pot.
This service to Trinity’s beautification does not take a lot of effort as the pots are automatically watered. Once planted, just an occasional trim or replacement is needed. With our mild winter in Apalach, now is a great time to volunteer to adopt a pot. If this ministry is something you might enjoy, please contact Patti McCartney (850-653-6504) or tell Jean in the office. As we create a new garden committee, this is a perfect way to “get your hands dirty”.
-- With no green thumb, but love
for the garden, Patti
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The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe will become the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. | |
Presiding Bishop Watch Party. On Saturday, November 2, The Episcopal Church will officially welcome the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe as its 28th presiding bishop with a smaller, simpler investiture service aimed at reducing carbon footprint and increasing churchwide virtual participation. Trinity is one of the sites in our diocese where people can watch as a group. We will be live-streaming the service from Benedict Hall starting at 9:30 am (the service starts at 11:00 am). This is a chance to participate and celebrate in real-time with Episcopalians around the world. (Added benefit: The Trinity Bake Sale will be going on too!) | | |
A Corner of Trinity History | |
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Every now and then we come across little nuggets of history that are just too interesting, funny, or uplifting to let slip into oblivion. Like the last installment in Bay View about the Trinity bell, this one covers a period of great change: the advent of electricity!
Electricity came to Apalachicola on August 27, 1900. But it took a few more years for Trinity to add incandescent lighting to the sanctuary. Around that time, the church was lit with candlelight and kerosene lamps. And don’t even think about central heat and air, for that would take many more decades.
There was once a pot-bellied stove in the back of the church to heat the entire space. The priest would wake around 4 am on Sundays in order to light the stove and have the sanctuary at a comfortable temperature for services. In fact, above the balcony (gallery), you can easily see where the stovepipe would exit through the ceiling and carry the exhaust and smoke away.
On January 2, 1903, a new rector was in town, The Rev. James H. Davet. Ten days after arriving he attended his first vestry meeting, where they took up discussion of installing electric lights in the sanctuary. The rectory was less than three years old, and Benedict Hall (and Penny’s Worth!) were still nothing but trees and open space. The vestry wanted to bring electricity to Trinity, but it was expensive! Estimates at that time were around $105 to install 32 lights with a monthly cost of $10. Considering the overall annual budget was a little over $1,000 and Trinity had $12.29 cash on hand, bringing electricity to Trinity would not be so simple. It was estimated that pledges would have to rise about 20% in order to bring electricity to the church. As an experiment, two large center-draft kerosene lamps were used for several months, to a lackluster response on the part of the congregation. In November 1903, the vestry voted 4 to 3 in favor of requesting vestry member Mr. Mohr to work as a “committee of one” to formulate a solution with the Apalachicola Electric Light Company.
Around that time, a gentleman was visiting Apalachicola from Illinois who was a salesman of the Aurora Acetylene Gas Company.
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A portion of the February 9, 1904 minutes from the " Vestry Minutes and Annual Meetings, 1867-1921” for Trinity Episcopal Church, Apalachicola. | |
He gave a presentation to the vestry that would allow Trinity to have good lighting at a fraction of the price of incandescent bulbs and electricity. Installation would be $175, but the cost would be $3 for the carbide.
One should note here that acetylene gas was, in essence, gas manufactured from the burning of coal. This was not natural gas or propane, and much of the carcinogenic waste was simply thrown aside or buried at the factory.
The vestry unanimously voted in December 1903 to go with these acetylene gas torches. By February 1904, however, things went sour quickly. Mr. Ruge, the Junior Warden, reported three new pieces of information related to the installation of acetylene gas lighting: 1) additional fittings would be needed, raising the installation cost by $6.00; 2) the company would only guarantee “safety and satisfactory working” if their in-house technicians installed the torches, adding an unspecified cost; and 3) to justify the use of carbide, Trinity needed to use the 50-light generator instead of the 32-light model as suggested by the salesman, increasing the installation cost by $42.00. As a result, the vestry voted that “in view of the facts of additional cost and unsatisfactory contract with the Aurora Acetylene Gas Company [that] we abandon the idea of acetylene gas”.
Back to square one; or maybe not. The vestry then immediately took up the discussion of revisiting the former proposal by Apalachicola Electric Light Company and asked vestryman Mohr to determine if the Apalachicola Electric Company’s first bid was still valid and, if so, to “close contract with them, and have lights installed.” As a result, the contract was signed on April 4, 1904, with electricity installed in Trinity Church in mid-1904. The first mention of electricity in the budget is from the April 24, 1905 annual parish meeting, with $250.15 in disbursements and $193.36 received.
Rev. Davet left in December 1904, with Rev. Purdue becoming the Rector of a newly electrified Trinity Episcopal Church on January 1, 1905. Purdue would serve for 11 years, followed by The Rev. George Benedict (1916-1929), for whom Benedict Hall is named.
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(This is an example of the type of history that is waiting to be discovered (and rediscovered) at Trinity. It came from two sources: “Vestry Minutes and Annual Meetings, 1867-1921” which was begun by The Reverend William Saunders, Rector at Trinity from 1851-1870 and “1836-1986 Sesquicentennial History of Trinity Episcopal Church Apalachicola, Florida” by Jimmie J. Nichols. As we enter our 188th year, there are many sources of our church history that need to be properly archived and documented for posterity. If you liked this story, let us know! We would appreciate the help with digitizing and transcribing the many volumes of books and notes as well as photographs.) | |
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New Food Wagon shopping list. Please pick up a new shopping list or shopping bag from the Food Wagon in Trinity’s narthex before your next trip to Tallahassee or Panama City. The Food Pantry of Franklin County continues to need hygiene products for adults and children as well as shelf-stable sources of protein. In addition, the Elder Care Community Council (ECCC) has reached out for urgent donations of Ensure Plus (or Original) for a terminal cancer patient in our community.
Thanks to generous members and regular attenders for your attention and care. Special thanks go to Travis Pecot for coordinating this ministry and Bonnie Stewart for transporting donations to our partners.
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Get Yer Blessing On. On Saturday, October 12, Porchfest Apalach 2024 was held across three stages and 16 porches. After a hiatus, one of the porches this year was Trinity! Our own Randy Mims & Carol Harris played as Shaken and Stirred, followed by an amazing duo, Blues Meets Girl. In conjunction with the event, Fr. Stephen blessed 36 golf carts, a Harley-Davidson Softail, and a car (with a driver). Our new Trinity magnet decals were given out as gifts (and available in the office if you would like one). And remember: ride in peace to love and serve the Lord! | |
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Trinity Outreach Supports Homeless Students. The Outreach Committee presented Danielle Rosson, principal of Franklin County School (FCS) a check for homeless student needs during hospitality hour on October 13. From left to right, front row: Penny Marler (chair) and Danielle Rosson (principal of FCS), back row: our priest, Stephen Pecot, Chris Presnell, Jo Branch, Travis Pecot (Food Wagon project leader), and Jason Carter (treasurer and vestry liaison). | |
Third Thursday Bingo With a Twist!
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On Thursday, October 17 we hosted our Third Thursday Bingo with all proceeds from that night going to Apalachicola Riverkeeper, an environmental nonprofit based locally and doing all kinds of protection and restoration work on the entire length of the Apalachicola River. We thank Susan Anderson, Cameron Baxley, and Greg Krivonak for providing a great night of fun and prizes, all for a good cause. | |
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on October 27, pray for St. Luke's, Mobile; on November 3, pray for All Saints, Mobile, AL. For prisons: on October 27, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Butler County Correctional Facility, Greenville, AL; and on November 3, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Monroe County Jail, Monroeville, AL. | |
CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | |
Trinity Meal Train Ministry Delivers! |
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Nancy and Landy Luther want to extend their most hearty thanks to all of the members who contributed meals after Nancy's return from a local health and wellness center. The meals were delicious and were hand- delivered by the cooks (and/or the cook's assigned delivery driver). The timing could not have been more perfect. Nancy did not feel inspired to do too much cooking at this point in her life. Landy is NOT a cook.
Special thanks to: Kerry Petty, Karen Kessel, Bob & Susan Pruitt, Ralph & Susie Wagoner, Susan Farmer, Gloria Austin, Cliff & Denise Butler, Kirk Hadaway & Penny Marler, Faye & Brooks Jones. If we have neglected to acknowledge other contributors, we sincerly apologize. This is a marvelous and meaningful ministry and we are so grateful.
-- Nancy and Landy
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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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Brant Shawn Banks is from Washington, North Carolina, a little town on the Pamlico River.
He graduated from East Carolina University and Florida State University and was the Managing Partner of Finni’s Grill and Bar on St. George Island for eight years.
Brant taught Middle School Language Arts, Civics, and History for 14 years at the Apalachicola Bay Charter School and is currently managing his wife's - Kristy Branch Banks - Law Practice.
Greatest influence on your life (person or experience):
The greatest influence on my life would most definitely be my parents, Elbert Alfonzo Banks and Pattie-Louise Banks.
How would someone else describe you:
I am not sure how someone else would describe me. That is a tough question.
One thing people might be surprised to know about you:
People might be surprised to know that I am the youngest of eight children. My parents had four boys and four girls.
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I have a very large family in North Carolina, stretching from Ashville to Wilmington.
Favorite part of living here:
I love living in a small town in Florida, on the Gulf Coast, with only one stop light; that is dog friendly!
Dogs or cats:
I am a dog person (Lily-Bear, Moose, & Carolina); but I do have three cats (Richard Parker, Cow Cat & Timmy).
Bacon or broccoli:
Bacon baked in the oven with cracked pepper, onion powder, and sage.
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo:
Carolina style chopped vinegar-based coleslaw.
One thing you are good at:
I am good at interacting and working with people.
One thing you’d rather not do:
I do not like long car rides, being inside too long, or being around negative, grumpy people.
What drew you to Trinity:
Trinity Church is the Church my wife, Kristy, grew up attending. The Reverend Stephen Douglas Pecot, Rector; has kept me coming back.
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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 | |
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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 30)
-- 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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