|
Apalachicola, Florida
March 27, 2926
| | |
I’m excited to announce our upcoming Instructed Eucharist on Sunday, April 19. On that day, our regular Sunday service will have a teaching component.
No, you haven’t been doing church wrong, nor is this some required work on my part to remain a priest. It is simply an opportunity to open up the Sunday experience for everyone.
Too often we receive the bulletin, sit and follow along, and leave feeling refreshed and forgiven. While that is just fine, you are hungry to know why we do what we do every Sunday. See if these comments sound familiar:
Why gather? Can’t I just be religious throughout the week and be left alone?
Why give out bread and wine? And you want me to drink from a common cup?
You say the same prayers each week. Don’t you get bored?
Your songs are dated. How about some new material?
The Episcopal Church has formal liturgies (services) for all occasions. Moreover, they are the same prayers which Episcopal churches and organizations around the world use. With your Book of Common Prayer, you can participate in a service whether at the National Cathedral in Washington DC, a shelter ministry in Rockford IL, or a parish church in Apalachicola.
I can appreciate how people used to non-Episcopal houses of worship feel when they attend Trinity, especially those with more evangelical traditions (or no tradition at all). Holy Eucharist here is far more formalized than the worship experiences of many people. Each week, we follow an ordo (Latin for order or sequence) with subtle variations depending on the day of the church year. To put it bluntly, some say Episcopal church services feel rehearsed.
But that is exactly what makes our church special! Instead of a weekly, flexible pattern, ours is fixed, with the liturgical center of gravity focused squarely upon the Eucharist and coming together. Our participation is scripted by design, praying and confessing communally. Our building was created as a sacred space to help connect the dots between your exterior and interior life, the temporal and the eternal. Our formation occurs slowly, over time, with repetition in our worship.
That unique means of worship shapes what we believe and how we live. In Latin, it’s called “lex credendi, lex orandi, lex vivendi”. Following a set pattern of worship greatly aids our Christian formation. It’s a similar principle to meditation or yoga, where repetition spawns deeper focus on the reservoir made present through the practice.
On April 19, the Instructed Eucharist will be our regular Sunday service with slight modifications. First, there will be no sermon. Second, the songs and readings will be shorter in duration. Third, a narrator will unobtrusively add helpful commentary as to the what, why, when, where, and how of our prayers and actions throughout. Hearing narration may feel strange at first, but it won’t be overboard and only added to augment the narrative text.
I am crafting the Instructed Eucharist bulletin to be something you keep at home and refer to from time to time. May the service crack open the prayers you know by heart and reveal God’s Easter message to you. Please plan to attend, and it is a great day to invite someone to church! If you would like to help with the service that day, contact me.
May Holy Week and Easter make you hungry to learn
how God gives voice to those seeking worship.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
| | |
Holy Week services invite all to walk with Jesus through His final days—from the solemn remembrance of His passion on Palm Sunday to the joy of His resurrection on Easter—through prayer, scripture, and worship.
Palm Sunday
Palm frond processional around Gorrie Square
leading into worship service – 10:30 am
Bring a held-held musical instrument to “make a joyful noise”
Maundy Thursday
Agape Supper – 5 pm
A simple, shared meal of soup and bread in the spirit of Christian fellowship,
we gather in community before the solemn liturgy of Maundy Thursday.
Worship Service – 6 pm
Good Friday
Worship Service – 12 noon Stations of the Cross – 6 pm
Saturday
Service in Memorial Garden – 12 noon
Easter Sunday
Sunrise Service at Lafayette Park (169 Avenue B) – 7:30 am
Easter Worship Service – 10:30 am
Bring cut blooms & greenery to “Flower the Cross”
Easter Reception & Egg Hunt following the service
| | |
Easter Sunday at Trinity
Please join us after the service for a festive Easter coffee hour!
We invite parishioners to bring finger foods to share—sweet or savory, all are welcome. Your offerings will help make this a joyful
time of fellowship for everyone.
The Easter Bunny is coming! We need medium size plastic eggs filled with candy delivered to Benedict Hall by Palm Sunday, March 29.
Bring cut blooms and greenery to "Flower the Cross" on Easter Sunday.
| | Home and Garden Tour -- May 2 | | |
Sneak Peek: A First Look at Our Curated Auction
Mark your calendar for May 2 and get ready to bid! During Trinity’s Historic Apalachicola Home and Garden Tour, our Silent Auction and Raffle will feature a thoughtfully curated collection of experiences and one-of-a-kind items you won’t want to miss.
Highlights include a Spanish Paella Party, prepared on-site for an unforgettable “feast in a pan,” and a private dolphin-filled boat tour through the Apalachicola River, Bay, and gulf aboard a smooth-riding 20' Twin Vee. You’ll also find a beautiful Spode Woodland dinnerware collection, plus plants and flowers in repurposed vessels and quirky decorative containers—perfect for Mother’s Day gifting or keeping.
Don’t forget to take a chance on our Raffle, featuring a custom-built steel S&S Firepit, ideal for gathering, relaxing, and even cooking. Bid, raffle, and support Trinity’s preservation and its Outreach ministry while being part of this special spring tradition!
--Jennifer Keel and Suzanne Bettis, Tour of Homes Auction co-chairs
Greeters Needed. A few two-hour shifts are still available for Trinity's Historic Apalachicola Home and Garden Tour on May 2. To volunteer contact Bella Rudo, sign up online, or pick up a sign-up form in Benedict Hall.
-- Bella Rudo, Tour of Homes Greeters chair
| |
Big Bend Hospice Needs your Help
Trinity Outreach has been a partner of Big Bend Hospice for many years in
a Lenten Drive for nutritional supplements (Ensure, Boost, Glucerna, and nutritional shakes). Last year, we received over 400 bottles for needy patients. We hope to equal or exceed that number this year.
Supplements are expensive, and not all patients can afford them. They can make a real difference in the quality of patients’ lives in their dying.
Please consider purchasing a pack or case of nutritional supplements or shakes now through Easter. You may leave your gifts in Benedict Hall on Sundays or drop them off at the church office Monday through Thursday, 9 am to noon. Thank you in advance for your care and generosity.
| | A Great Weekend for Trinity. This month six Trinity parishioners (Susan Farmer, Warren Middlemas, TJ Wolferseder, Mark Dorward, Ellen Loyd, Randy Loyd) attended Cursillo #174 held at Beckwith Camp & Conference Center in Fairhope, AL. Trinity members Brant Banks and Travis Pecot served on a diverse staff along with Father Stephen. The next Cursillo weekend will be held September 10-13. Contact Father Stephen if interested. | | |
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on March 29, we pray for St. Mary's, Andalusia AL; on April 5, we pray for The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and The Episcopal Church. For prisons: on March 29, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Holmes Correctional Institution, Bonifay, FL; and on April 5, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Jackson Correctional Institution, Malone, FL and the Jackson Juvenile Offender Correctional Center, Marianna, FL.
Support Holy Land ministries through Good Friday Offering. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe describes these ministries in a letter and extends an invitation to make a generous gift at iam.ec/goodfridayoffering.
| | CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | | Joan Faison is visiting her hometown, Charlotte, NC, enjoying time with her former neighbors who drew her into their Indian community. During her visit she had the pleasure of attending a housewarming celebration with them which included blessing rituals with about 100 guests. | | |
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.
| | |
Born and raised on a farm in Camilla, Georgia, Cliff Butler is the oldest of three boys. He worked as a Legislative Auditor for the State of Florida for four years, earning his CPA license. In 1977, Cliff moved to Franklin County to join his father in the family banking business.
Always active in community life, he has served as President of Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce, is a Founding member and treasurer of Franklin County Habitat for Humanity, and Treasurer of the Franklin County Public Library, leading the fundraising effort to build the first public library in Carrabelle and later, in Eastpoint, bringing $7 Million of funding into the county.
Cliff has been an active Rotarian for over 45 years, serving as Treasurer and later as President for many years. He is Treasurer of the Franklin County Community Land Trust, Treasurer of Franklin County Education Foundation, and several other boards.
After his retirement as President of Gulf State Community Bank he continued as Business Manager of the Butler Agency until 2020. He served in the US Army Reserve and the FL National Guard for 13 years.
At Trinity, Cliff is an active participant in church programs including the Tour of Homes and the finance committee.
Greatest influence on your life (person or experience): My father instilled a strong work ethic and a sense of responsibility to care for the less fortunate. My grandfather, a 1923 West Point graduate, gifted me his cuff links at an early age engraved with Duty, Honor, Country.
How would someone else describe you: Introverted, dependable, honest.
| | |
One thing people might be surprised to know about you: I rode a horse to visit friends when growing up.
Favorite part of living here: Waking up to our bay view, enjoying sunsets, and seeing the moon over the water at night.
Dogs or cats: Both cats and dogs
Bacon or broccoli: Bacon
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo: Mayo
One thing you are good at: Good at helping others and staying married 55 years!
One thing you’d rather not do: I’d rather not deal with technology!
What drew you to Trinity: Our daughter, Erin, drew us to the Episcopal Church after attending Camp Weed, as well as Father Weller and church members at the time who shared my vision of service.
| | |
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.
| | | COMMUNITY EVENTS OF INTEREST | | |
Easter in Apalachicola. The community-wide production of the
Easter Story will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Living Waters Assembly of God Church (1580 Bluff Road, Apalachicola). What a great way to step into Easter Sunday than watching a dramatic retelling of the Passion Narrative and the Resurrection. All are welcome at the event.
| |
Words & Music with Gill Autrey | | |
Please join us at Live Oak Gallery on Wednesday, April 8, 4-6 pm when accomplished classical guitarist, Gill Autrey, will play a selection of his favorite Spanish guitar compositions.
He'll tell us a little bit about each one, and you can be sure he will add a few surprises along the way to make us smile.
Come hear Gill's musical artistry in a cozy informal setting that will feature a treat you won't want to miss: photographs by locally-inspired photographer, Lane Autrey.
| | "Guitar Man" oil on canvas by Susan Richardson (2013). | | |
It will be an afternoon of music, art and friends. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited; so if you plan to attend, please contact the gallery to reserve your seat.
Phone/text: 305-393-4306 or email: liveoakgallery@gmail.com
The gallery is located at 156 Market Street (corner of Ave G) Apalachicola
| |
|
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 April 8.
-- 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
| | | | |
