Apalachicola, Florida

February 26, 2026

The causeway becomes a road. The road becomes a path. The path becomes a trail. By Palm Sunday, it has narrowed to a single path that leads to a cross. In other words, as we draw closer to the heart of the gospel, the room for illusion, ego, and control vanishes.

You may feel the weekly readings echo this winnowing. This sentiment expressed by John the Baptist (John 3:30) is akin to what we hear in the Scriptures during Lent: the wilderness, of Abraham going, of Israel wandering, or Jesus setting his face before Jerusalem. More intentionality, less superficiality.

On Ash Wednesday we stepped onto the road but found it had narrowed through honesty as we left with ashes borne as a symbol of our mortality. And this past Sunday, we heard about the need to trust; to hold to the center and let go the margins of control. Sometimes that means leaving behind what we have clung to.

For the remainder of Lent, each week reveals another layer of this Lenten pilgrimage. For Lent II, the road cuts through the wilderness but now curves from view. It echoes promise, where we walk towards God who beckons us to continue. For Lent III, we take on thirst as the now overgrown road enters desert, where a well (John 4:5-42) serves as a reminder of God’s provision along the way. And for Lent IV, the road becomes a trail on a sandspit, a narrow strip of sand embraced on both sides by water and bathed in sunlight, exposing to our sight what was once ignored.

In the next newsletter (March 13), I’ll describe what happens as we take the single footpath past cemeteries and walk a bit with Lazarus, who stands with us as a reminder of God’s authority over life (Lent V). This inexorably leads to the foot of the cross on Palm Sunday, the site of surrender. 

Holy Week will challenge us to carry and embody the cross that we carry as seekers. The empty tomb of Easter morning will pull us through the cross and into the garden, ending where we began. Pay attention how the road you are on narrows each week from performance to honesty, from distraction to thirst, from power to surrender. Challenge yourself to take only what you need.

Love Big and Be Well,

Stephen +

Last Sunday we welcomed nine of your fellow brothers and sisters into the Episcopalian family. With The Rev. Stephen Pecot, & The Rt. Rev. Russell Kendrick, they are (l to r) T.J. Wolferseder, Amelia Wolferseder, Mark Dorward, Mollie Hill, Joan Faison, Kim Miller, & David Fowlkes. Not pictured are Teresa and Kaz Kaczmarek. A holy and grace-filled welcome to these fellow pilgrims joining us on the journey! Please congratulate them. More importantly, support them as they take the next few steps towards God.

Trinity's annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper was a triumph by any measure! We served over 180 meals, flipped over 550 pancakes on 7 griddles, cooked 24 pounds of bacon,168 sausage patties, sliced 10 pounds of ham, and used 8 pounds of margarine.

It takes many volunteers to make the event a success for our community. Thanks to everyone who supported the event by cooking, serving, setting up, and selling tickets!

-- Bella Rudo

This Lent, we will walk step by step toward the heart of the Christian story. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through Easter, the sermons will trace a spiritual movement: Return. Trust. Promise. Thirst. Sight. Life. Surrender. 

Each week’s Scripture invites us to examine where we stand in relation to the gospel itself. Where are we resistant? Thirsty? Afraid to trust? Where do we need resurrection? Lent is not a season of spiritual performance but courageous honesty. It is a time to draw closer to Christ so that Christ may reshape our hearts. Join us for this intentional journey toward the cross and the hope that waits beyond it.

The anchoring image meets us about two-thirds of the way through our Lenten journey. By the fifth week of Lent, the broad causeway we started on Ash Wednesday has been whittled down from throughway to byway, from byway to pathway, from pathway to footpath. The causeway has become the cause for The Way, the name given to the original Christian movement in the first century AD (see Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22; but also Psalm 1, Isaiah 40:3, John 14:6). 

The road, once broad enough for general repentance, has become quite specific in its call. The themes become more personal; listening, blindness, and death have stripped away the excess, including things we thought we needed to survive. The dust of the causeway becomes solitary footprints in the sand leading to wood. And there is no elbow room here, only space for obedience. In the distance is the promised resurrection, though we have not seen it.

This Lenten journey includes the weekly sermons (Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, including Holy Week). Each week’s theme anchors the daily reflections by centering upon the imagery and message of the Sunday sermon. It leads us on a narrowing way, to the Cross and to Easter Resurrection. SP †, Eve of Saint Matthias

Lenten Daily Reflections

This document includes daily Lenten reflections, along with sermons from 

the first & second Sundays in Lent. In addition, reflections will be 

posted each morning on Trinity's Facebook page.

Future Lenten sermons will be available following up-coming worship services. 

All Trinity worship services can be viewed on Trinity's YouTube Channel.

In 1992, the women of Trinity Episcopal Church launched what would become one of our community’s most beloved spring traditions. With a vision to celebrate Apalachicola’s rich architectural heritage and raise funds to preserve Trinity’s historic buildings, Vestry member Harrette Kennedy helped bring the first tour of homes and gardens to life in 1992.

Now in its 32nd year, the Tour of Homes ministry invites you to join us on Saturday, May 2, for this much-anticipated event.

This year, Trinity Church takes center stage. In addition to touring beautifully restored homes and visiting the Apalachicola Community Garden, guests are invited to explore Trinity’s 1838 sanctuary and learn more about its history from costumed docents. A special art exhibit featuring Trinity will also be on display at Live Oak Gallery, one of this year’s tour stops.

Tickets are available now at ApalachicolaHomeTour.org. You may also support this important ministry by joining the Trinity Pillar Program or volunteering for the Tour of Homes. 

We look forward to celebrating Trinity’s history—and its future—with you.

On May 2, come learn the history behind the two stained-glass windows flanking the Ascension window, installed in 1921, and other engaging facts from our docents in period dress. (Historic American Buildings Survey photograph, 1933)

An Instructed Eucharist. Mark your calendars for a very special Eucharist on Sunday, April 19. Your Worship Committee is working with Father Stephen to create a Sunday service that teaches as it lifts us all up. Imagine a Sunday service about the same length but with an explanation of everything that we are doing and why! These are quite popular and informative but rarely conducted. We will have more to reveal as the day draws closer, but we wanted to pass on this good news.

Running for Health. Trinity’s health ministry (What the Holy Health) is at it again, this time running for chili! Saturday, March 7 is the St. George Island Regional Charity Cook-Off and Auction. Trinity members will be entering in the Red Pepper Run 5k on that day, and we would love to have others join us. Please contact Travis Pecot if interested.



Third Saturday Activities. If you find yourself without much to do on the third Saturday of every month, stop by Benedict Hall at 10 am for a fun activity. We have made Anglican Prayer Beads and learned how to make paper flowers. On March 21 we will host an eclectic workshop with cupcake decorating using Russian cake tips or a how-to on prayer shawls. Contact Travis Pecot or Mandi Singer if you want to learn more or have a suggestion for an upcoming activity.



We Challenge YOU…Chances are that an early morning drive around town will result in seeing a faithful group of community walkers who meet in front of the rectory each morning at 7:30 am (except Sundays) to walk for health and fellowship. They wish to extend an invitation to anyone who would like to join them. This active group (no name yet, but receiving suggestions) has thrown down the gauntlet with a challenge for everyone: walk at least a marathon in a month OR 100 miles in a month. You choose: can you walk less than one mile a day for a month? Can you walk three miles (that’s about 10,000 steps) each day for a month? It’s all in the spirit of fun and staying active. See Travis Pecot for more information. Walk on!

Cursillo Weekend Coming Up. Cursillo is a three-day retreat offered to persons who wish to deepen their faith and walk with Christ. It is offered through our diocese at Beckwith Conference Center in Fairhope, AL. Cursillo is currently offered two weekends each year, and it is free to attendees. Cursillo weekends in 2026 are March 12-15 and September 17-20. To learn about Cursillo, the diocese has a great website, or ask someone who has been (Susan Keith, Chris Presnell, Bonnie Stewart, The Pecots, Ina Margaret Meyer, Patti McCartney, and many more). Who wouldn’t want to be loved on and pampered for three days? You deserve it! De Colores!

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on March 1, we pray for the Church of the Epiphany, Enterprise and the diocesan men’s conference at Beckwith; on March 8, we pray for the Holy Cross, Pensacola and St. Patrick's, Panama City. For prisons: on March 1, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Calhoun Correctional Institution, Blountstown FL; and on March 8, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Century Correctional Institution, Century, FL.

Greetings -- Well, we are finding more Anglican/Episcopal churches in Japan!

In Kyoto, on a snowy Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, we attended the 8:30 am English service at St. Agnes Anglican International Church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Kyoto. Again, we had the privilege of worshiping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Those in attendance were an interesting mix of English-speaking Japanese and expats from the States, the U.K., and Germany. The group was rather small, so coffee hour gave us the opportunity to visit with many in attendance. 

Still no pimento cheese or deviled eggs, but we felt warmed by the welcome we received. We send our love to everyone at Trinity.  We miss our church family!

-- Martha and Rick

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.

Karen Kessel (kk) was born and raised in Texas. As she likes to say, “You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl.”

After teaching mostly in early elementary grades, she became a school librarian. Believe it or not, her libraries were not the quiet kind. One highlight of Karen’s library career was being appointed to the Caldecott Award Committee for 2011. A Sick Day for Amos McGee was the winner that year, and is still one of her favorite illustrated books for children. 

After 39 years in public education, she moved to Apalachicola and she works part-time for Bring Me A Book Forgotten Coast, a perfect fit for a picture book fanatic like kk. 

Currently, she serves on the Trinity Vestry as the liaison for Parish Life and has been involved with the Tour of Homes. 

Greatest influence on your life (person or experience):  My daddy. 

How would someone else describe you:  Fun to be around most of the time.

One thing people might be surprised to know about you:  I don't enjoy large parties.  

Favorite part of living here:  People in the community and Trinity folks.

Dogs or cats: Cats at the moment.

Bacon or broccoli:  Broccoli salad with bacon  Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo:  I'm not a big fan of coleslaw.

One thing you are good at:  Organizing

One thing you’d rather not do:  Organize

What drew you to Trinity:  People who I first met in Apalach invited me to visit and I've never left.

Readings for March 1, 2026, the Second Sunday in Lent

Readings for March 8, 2026, the Third Sunday in Lent

Tickets: 

$20 adults | $5 students

Port St. Joe: BACS-PSJ.eventbrite.com

Apalachicola: BACS-Trinity.eventbrite.com

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