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Apalachicola, Florida
April 11, 2025
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Recently, a long-time friend of mine called with an issue they wanted to discuss. Their workplace was becoming difficult. They were facing opposition by supervisors everywhere they turned. Nothing wrong with the work, the supervisors said; but could the messaging be toned down a bit?
Given this person works for a non-profit in the social justice realm, that’s not easy. And given their role as Chief Communications Officer of a non-profit that helps liberate people, that’s really not easy.
I asked my friend to consider all the work they do and the battles they have fought to meet their objectives. At the end of the day, did the messaging in question meet the higher call of the mission? Their answer: yes and no. ‘Yes’ in the sense that this non-profit is a voice crying in the wilderness (see Isaiah 40:3). And ‘No’ in the sense that anything that detracts from the mission is distraction, like taking one’s hand off the plow (see Luke 9:62). In response, I asked my friend, “Is this a hill you are willing to die on?” They weren’t.
But with Easter right around the corner, it occurred to me that the question I posed was more prescient than at first blush. And it led me down a path of discernment and prayer, ultimately leading to a different question: What hill am I willing to die on?
That is the question Jesus asks us all during Holy Week. Because we are all going to die. That is an uncomfortable truth, and I certainly don’t write it flippantly. But instead of debating a hill in front of you, what if you focused on the hill known as Calvary where an innocent man was beaten, stripped, and crucified for having the audacity to say, “Love one another and forgive your enemies”? What would those other hills look like when you keep your focus on the hill Jesus ascended on everyone’s behalf? I’ll bet they would look more like molehills, not mountains.
I pray that Holy Week is a time for you to reflect on your focus and the depth of its alignment with Jesus’s vision laid out in the gospel message. Don’t ask whether an issue before you is important to you, because it likely is; this is called heuristic reasoning, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead, reframe your question by asking how the gospel message fits into the issue. Focus on the gospel and your baptismal covenant first and let your perceptions of the surroundings adapt to that vision. You might find your witness has often been through spiritual cataracts. Fortunately, cataracts can be easily corrected.
Last time I checked, Jesus died for everyone so we wouldn’t have to focus on the hills we think are worthy of sacrifice. They are important, but for a different reason than we think.
Because once you scale the hill of Calvary to take in the view, all
other hills are nothing more than steppingstones leading us
back to each other and to God.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
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Official Schedule of Holy Week
and Easter Services
| | Palm Sunday – Sunday, April 13 -- Rite 1 at 10:30 am. We will receive palm fronds and crosses to wave as we parade around Gorrie Square, before convening for the 10:30 am worship service. As is our tradition on Palm Sunday, we will assemble in front of the church and waltz/traipse/frolic around Gorrie Square for our Procession of the Palms. | | | Who knows, Trinity’s own “Church Cat” Josie may join in the fun! We have ample musical instruments to let everyone in the immediate vicinity know we honor and celebrate our Lord. Hope you can join the Trinity Merry Music Makers who will lead the way with a song everyone will know. | | | | |
Maundy Thursday – April 17 – On Maundy Thursday we celebrate Jesus’ call to serve others, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, and the remembrance of Jesus’ arrest. To that end, our Agape Supper begins at 5 pm (Benedict Hall) followed by the 6 pm service in the church, which includes the traditional foot-washing as well as the Stripping of the Altar.
The consecrated elements will be moved to Benedict Hall where a Gethsemane Watch will take place until the Good Friday service at noon.
| | A sign-up sheet will be available this Sunday for those who wish to sit and pray with the elements in one-hour time slots for the Gethsemane Watch. If you have never attended this service, please consider coming as it is a very powerful liturgy. | | Good Friday – April 18 – We will celebrate the Good Friday services with a liturgy and Solemn Collects at 12 noon followed by Stations of the Cross at 6 pm. Both are in the church. | |
| Holy Saturday – April 19 – A revived tradition, the Holy Saturday service will be held at 12 noon in the Memorial Garden. It is a spartan and very short service. | | |
Easter Sunday – April 20 – The faithful will finally be able to yell out “Alleluia” to their heart’s content starting with the Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30 am in Lafayette Park (169 Avenue B) and the principal service at 10:30 am in the church. Our Flower Guild chair Dee Crusoe kindly requests people bring cut blooms & greenery in order to “Flower the Cross”at the entrance, a long-standing Trinity tradition.
All are welcome at Coffee Hour in Benedict Hall following the 10:30 church service, plus an Easter Egg Hunt for the youngsters in Gorrie Square.
| | Beginning A New Trinity Easter Tradition. For both Easter services, we will have slips of paper available for you to write out your Lenten discipline and offer it to God by bringing it to the altar during Communion. By placing in the designated vessel, you are physically offering before God and leaving it there. | | |
This Lenten discipline is what Fr. Stephen referred to throughout Lent as “the thing you gave up, the thing you took on, or that thing you never could let go of for all this time.” For now, we are calling it the “Lenten Offering of Sacrifice, Commitment, and Forgiveness” (though “Grace Offering” works as well).
These slips of paper, for which only you and God know its contents, will be immediately burned in the Memorial Garden after the 10:30 service and the ashes distributed at sunset around the church.
| | Father Stephen & Paulette Moss proudly point out the new shelving in the Flower Sacristy built by Mike Barber. We are so grateful to Mike for this thoughtful gift that makes the Flower Guild's work so much easier! | | |
The Auction Needs You!
The Auction committee needs more volunteers to help with these tasks:
-- Work under the tents and in Benedict Hall – Tour Day
-- Auction set up – Friday, May 2
-- Jumble Sale set up – Thursday or Friday (May 1 or 2)
Do you prefer a job that doesn’t require much physical activity? We have options for you!
| | Please call Ginger, (404) 561-0919, or Kathy, (207) 745-3990, to find a role that fits you best. | | |
PILLAR: a strong vertical support
The Pillar Program is a vital part of the Tour of Homes. Funds raised allow us to maintain and restore the historic buildings on our campus: the Church, the Rectory, and Benedict Hall.
A portion of 2025 proceeds will also be directed to assist those in need in our community.
The $5,700 TOH contribution to Trinity’s Outreach ministry in 2024 helped:
- Fund three scholarships to Ed Corps high school students, and
- Replenish a much-needed $2,500 emergency fund for seniors through E Triple C.
These two entities represent Trinity’s longest-standing commitments and relationships in the community.
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We are thankful to our many Pillar Program members for their contributions. Please show your support today!
Online at apalachicolahometour.org under Schedule & Tickets, or
Download a Pillar Reply Form and return to Trinity Episcopal Church
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Assembly of the Palm Crosses
This Saturday, April 12 at 10 am, we will be assembling palm crosses in Benedict Hall to be used for the Sunday April 13 service. We need volunteers to join in the fun! It only takes about
an hour or so with enough people.
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Pat Horn, who recently celebrated her birthday, broke her arm in February. While she is still in rehab, and is recovering beautifully, she would love to hear from friends. You can call, text, or write a note to her at:
Pat Horn 850-756-5760=20 (call or text)
Bertrand Health Center Room 127 B
1449 Meandering Way Tallahassee FL 32308
| | Phase 1 Landscaping is Blooming! | | |
Thanks to the generous donations of many members and friends of Trinity, Phase 1 of the Landscaping Plan is completed! Expansion of the Memorial Garden and development of the Meditation Garden will be next. Another group of parishioners is interested in utilizing the space between the office and the alley for a memorial for pets. Stay tuned!
-- Rick Watson
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The Easter Bunny is coming! Bring plastic eggs filled with candy to the office or Benedict Hall by April 13.
-- Dot Hill
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Our Newest Swag for 2025. With many thanks to Trinity’s own and very talented Mandi Singer, the newest iteration of stickers are in, and they look fabulous.
There are two designs to choose from and are between 3 and 4 inches in size. They will absolutely stick on most surfaces, including golf carts (yes, we are aware last year’s Trinity magnets do not stick to fiberglass…oops).
These are available in the office with a donation jar to help offset printing costs, and we will have them for sale at Tour of Homes and all future events. Spread the love!
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Holy Week Donations for Needy Hospice Patients
To date, Trinity has collected 219 bottles of nutritional supplement for Big Bend Hospice. If you haven’t already, please drop off a package of Ensure, Boost or Glucerna to the Food Wagon in the narthex or the church office. Your Holy Week gift will make a difference to dying patients and their families.
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City-wide Easter Play Returns (and looking for help). The return of the Easter play “This is the Night” will be held at the Fort Coombs Armory on Saturday, April 19 at 6 pm. It should be fantastic, and they need help!
Community member Morgan Martin reached out to Trinity to ask if anyone would be interested in helping distribute items during intermission to attendees. If interested or available, contact Fr. Stephen at the parish office.
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Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on April 13, pray for the Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile, AL; and on April 20, pray for Christ Church Parish, Pensacola and the Commission on the Integrity of Creation. For prisons: on April 13, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Northwest Florida Reception Center & Annex, Chipley, FL; and on April 20, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Okaloosa Correctional Institution, Crestview, FL.
Worship in the Woods. On Sunday, April 27, 2:30-5:30 pm, the diocese will host Worship in the Woods in Evergreen, AL at Saloom Properties in Evergreen, AL. If you are interested in learning more, go here. To watch a short video made in 2021 by Dr. Saloom (soon to be The Rev. Dr. Salem Saloom!), go here. Better yet, to RSVP, go here.
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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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Alan Pierce was born in Gainesville, Florida, but spent his high school years in Key West.
He served as Mayor of Apalachicola from 1999 to 2003 and experienced a 30-year career with the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners where he held almost every job (except dog catcher).
Alan has been a member of Trinity for about 30 years, and has participated in numerous activities and programs; currently, he serves on the vestry. What stands out to him is his brief time in the choir, which he recounts as, "despite my best intentions and sincere interest I really did learn that I can't sing. Well, I can sing, I just can't stay on key very long."
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Greatest influence on your life (person or experience): In some ways I was a very rebellious young man, and even though I had many positive influences in my youth I rejected a great many of them. It wasn't until I went to Saudi Arabia on a two year work assignment that I began to reflect on the good guidance other people had provided me, so I would have to say it was my time in Saudi that caused me to grow up and be more appreciative of people.
How would someone else describe you: Likeable
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One thing people might be surprised to know about you: In 2004 I quit my job with the County Commission, and joined my brother-in-law and his brother for a three-month road trip driving to Alaska. My brother-in-law towed an ultra light airplane all the way to Alaska and we stopped and flew at various places in and around Alaska. One time at dusk in Alaska we had to buzz the airstrip to get a moose off the runway so we could land. (If you're wondering, yes, the county did hire me back when I returned.)
Favorite part of living here: I can go fishing, and catch fish, without needing a boat. (I was on a boat enough in Key West!)
Dogs or cats: Cats
Bacon or broccoli:
Broccoli
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo: Definitely mayo
One thing you are good at: Tennis and talking (In case, you didn't know, I can talk over almost anybody at a meeting. I can project really well, which is really unfortunate when I am singing off-key in the choir.)
One thing you’d rather not do: Go to any more meetings than absolutely necessary. I spent my career in meetings. Ask me to do anything but go to meetings.
What drew you to Trinity: The rector at the time, Tom Weller, and the Mosconis/Dolan extended family who always encouraged me to sit with them.
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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 April 23)
-- 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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