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Apalachicola, Florida
July 17, 2026
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We love to ask questions. Will this work out? Did I make the right decision? Am I doing enough?
Those questions matter, for they all point to another question we rarely speak aloud: Am I loved?
We carry that question throughout life. Children and teenagers wonder about it as they mature. Adults ask it through their work and relationships. It hums in the background of our lives, like air conditioning. The need to have that question answered is grafted into our very being, and we express the need for an answer in everything we do.
Why does that question matter so much? Because we associate being loved with being worthy. We start to believe that love must be earned, proved, or deserved. And we have a deep longing to be loved and a hunger to know we are accepted. Not because of our accomplishments or what we believe. It is much more elemental than that. We long to be loved because of who we are.
The Christian faith arrives with an answer, surprisingly simple and wonderfully profound: before we ever reached for God, God had already reached for us. Before we ever wondered whether we were loved, God had already declared us beloved.
That is one of the gifts of Holy Baptism, which we will celebrate this Sunday. Baptism is not simply a family tradition or a ceremony welcoming someone into The Episcopal Church. Baptism is God's visible promise that our lives begin not with what we have to do to earn God's love, but with God's decision to love us first.
Of course, baptism does not mean we’re moving to Easy Street. Life still brings heartbreak. Relationships still change. And those same questions that haunt our memories may still remain.
Yet Christians return again and again to the waters of baptism because they remind us that there is one thing we never have to question: God’s love for us. God's love does not depend on our best days or disappear on our worst ones. It is not earned by success or erased by failure. It is the grace that meets us in baptism, accompanies us through life, and welcomes us home. It rests on promise, not performance.
Perhaps this week, set aside the constant pressure to prove yourself. Instead of measuring your worth by productivity, accomplishments, or even the strength of your faith, simply rest for a moment in what God has already spoken.
The world will always give us new questions to answer. The Gospel
answers the deepest one. You, friend, are loved. You, friend,
are accepted. Believe what God has already said about you.
Then live like it.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
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Unfolding the Liturgy, Part Six:
The Acolytes
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The word acolyte comes from the Greek word akolouthos, which means companion, attendant, or helper. In the Episcopal Church, the acolyte assists the priest in several ways during the worship service. An acolyte lights the altar candles before the service and extinguishes them at the end of the service. An acolyte carries the cross to lead the Processional into the church, to lead the priest and the lay eucharistic minister in the Gospel Processional, and to lead the Recessional from the church at the end of the service.
An acolyte also helps the priest at the altar. Ushers bring the bread and wine to the altar rail where the acolyte transfers them to the priest. The acolyte also gives the offertory basins to the ushers and receives them upon return for presentation to the priest. The priest may also ask the acolyte to help prepare the Communion table and clear it after Communion.
Historically, acolytes were always young men. Only in the late 1970s were girls and women first allowed to serve as acolytes. Today, this ministry is open to all ages and sexes. It is an honor to help the priest and to serve at God’s table. We welcome all who wish to serve to join this group.
Please contact Susan Farmer (scfarmer55@gmail.com) if you
are interested in becoming a part of this special ministry.
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Formation Class is, Well, Forming... Between now and the bishop’s visit in 2027, Fr. Stephen will host another series of informative classes related to the doctrine and faith of The Episcopal Church.
These are suitable for anyone who wants to become an Episcopalian or to just learn some church history.
There is no obligation other than to learn! We will have a signup sheet in Benedict Hall beginning this Sunday to gauge interest, or you can call the office or let Stephen know.
| | Classes will likely start in September and run through the end of the year. | |
Benedict Hall - Room 101
Construction has begun, to transform Room 101 in Benedict Hall into
a comfortable meeting room for small groups, as well as other
activities that are best-suited to a cosy, tranquil space.
Please exercise caution near the construction area, and refrain
from entering or storing anything in the room while the
contractor proceeds with his work.
While it may be noisy at times, the construction work is
a priority in order to stay on schedule. Estimated completion date
is November 1. Please direct any questions to Kerry Petty,
our Jr Warden, who is in charge of project.
| | | Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on July 19, pray for St. Cyprian’s, Pensacola and St. Luke’s, Marianna Florida; and on July 26, we will pray for Wilmer Hall in Mobile, Alabama. For prisons: on July 19, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the REAP Re-entry Program, Pensacola, Florida; and on July 26, please pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Barbour County Jail, Clayton, Alabama. | | |
Cursillo Weekend Coming Up September 17-20. 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. The next Cursillo weekend is September 17-20.
To learn about Cursillo, the diocese has a great website, or ask someone who has been (Susan Keith, TJ
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Wolferseder, Chris Presnell, Bonnie Stewart, The Pecots, Ina Margaret Meyer, Patti McCartney, and many more). As an added bonus, our own pianist TJ will be serving on staff as a musician.
Who wouldn’t want to be loved on and pampered for three days? You deserve it! De Colores!
| | CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | | Update from our Voyager - Randy Mims | |
Six days ago I tried my best to send an update to everyone that is on my update list. Unfortunately, for reasons of computer and not fathomable by me, it never sent.
I am now in Beaufort, North Carolina having had a 500 mile sail from Cape Canaveral. I had a fantastic sail with the following wind and calm seas and only had to dodge two container ships. The only thing I’ve found harder to do now than back when I used to voyage is coping with only an hour of sleep at a time. I would’ve sent this sooner but I just spent 12 hours sleeping without waking. I feel way better now.
Here is the update: I checked in my logbook, it was 10 years ago when I was sitting in some library, desperately trying to type out a story of how my voyage was going before my hour was up. Well, the times have changed and now I’m trying to do it on my iPhone, but I’ve got plenty of time for all my old friends and for the friends that are new.
I’m on voyage to Maine from Apalachicola, at the present time I’m anchored behind the lock that’s the entrance to Port Canaveral. On Monday, I’m planning on sailing to Beaufort. The voyage so far started with some fantastic sailing from Apalachicola down to Saint Petersburg and then unfortunately the wind quit and from then on I have been motoring my way to where I’m presently sitting. It’s been very hot but a fun trip except for the 45 seconds coming through the Roosevelt Bridge when some guy in a fishing boat decided he was just gonna turn right in front of me without looking back. But I managed to make it around him without scraping the boat on the side of the bridge. People definitely do dumb things in boats. I know I certainly have.
Hope everybody has a nice Fourth of July. My decision for Fourth of July is to stay anchored and watch all the other guys go by. I watched a wonderful fireworks display from Melbourne about four miles away. I love all you guys. I will let you know when something fun or interesting happens.
-- Sincerely, Sailorrandy
PS: The video is from about 85 miles offshore on a typical day during the voyage. Be sure and unmute it. There is narration. Enjoy. Warning: if you get severely seasick have a bag handy - ha ha ha ha ha.
| | Bonnie Stewart with her family, Luke, Cindi & Jason, visiting from Atlanta. | | |
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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A true and loyal native of Charleston, South Carolina, Marlene Seaborn was born, and grew up, in that historic city.
As the Charleston County School District Special Education Coordinator for Low Incidence Disabilities, I was the only Local Education Agency Representative invited to participate in the National conference of presidents of state schools for the deaf.
The National Conference was sponsored by Gallaudet University for the Deaf, the world’s only four-year liberal arts university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The National Conference serves as a premier organization for leaders in deaf education.
She currently devotes her time as a volunteer and board member at “Your Penny’s Worth”, Trinity’s community thrift shop.
Greatest influence on your life (person or experience):
While my husband Bob was the greatest influence in my adult life, I was fortunate to be raised by loving and supportive parents who taught me “everything I needed to know before kindergarten.” I treasured my sister and brother.
Mary Ann gave me two wonderful nephews and a niece. Although the kids and I now live in three different states, we are still close.
My brother Len was an Episcopal parish priest, and, later, the Seafarer’s Chaplin for the Charleston harbor. Len greatly influenced my decision to become confirmed in the Episcopal church.
How would someone else describe you:
Loyal and hardworking
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One thing people might be surprised to know about you:
I can be pretty shy.
Favorite part of living here:
The small-town atmosphere.
Dogs or cats:
DOGS
Bacon or broccoli:
Both
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo:
Both. It’s one of my favorite foods
One thing you are good at:
Organization
One thing you’d rather not do:
Cook
What drew you to Trinity:
The welcoming congregation & Martha Harris
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Watch our Sunday sermons online:
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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 July 29.
-- Kay Carson, Editor
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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
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