|
Apalachicola, Florida
August 28, 2026
| | |
No, not that season. Hearing Christmas music in August makes me want to throw my radio in the bay, too. Rest easy, there’s no need to untangle the lights just yet.
September 1 begins the Season of Creation, an ecumenical observance continuing through October 4, the Feast of St. Francis. This year’s theme is “Living Water,” drawing on Ezekiel 47:9 and 12 and their vision of hope and healing.
Speaking of Creation, there’s a story about an oyster who lived quietly in Apalachicola Bay, believing she understood the world. The most important thing in Creation,” said the oyster, “is the bay. Without the bay, there would be no oysters.”
The mullet was miffed at what he heard and said so. “No way. The river is more important. Without fresh water coming downstream, this bay would be a very different place.”
Far up a creek sat a wise, old longleaf pine. “You are both wrong,” he chuckled. “It is the forest. Rain falls here, soaks the earth, winds through creeks and swamps, and eventually finds its way to your river.”
Just then, a woodpecker landed on one of the pine’s wind-shaped branches. “You forgot the fire,” she added.
“Fire!” shuddered the oyster. “Fire destroys things.”
“Sometimes,” said the woodpecker. “But sometimes fire keeps this forest alive.”
The oyster shot a stream of water from her siphon in disgust. “Are you kidding?! Nothing good could possibly come from fire!”
Listening to the argument drag along, a fisherman eased his skiff toward the bank. “You've forgotten about us. People manage the forests. We draw water from the river. We harvest oysters and catch fish. We care for the bay.”
The mullet had heard enough. “And sometimes,” he added, “you make a mess of all four.”
Nobody said anything for a while. The wind blew around them and faded. Finally, the river spoke. “Each of you argues about what matters most. But from where I run, I cannot tell where one of you ends and another begins. Rain refreshes the forest, and fire renews it. Creeks feed me, and I feed the bay. The bay feeds the oyster, which cleans the water. The water feeds the people, and…”
“…and what do the people do?” asked the oyster.
“Well,” said the river, “they have been given the strange and wonderful responsibility of caring for all of it. Including you and me.”
The oyster thought about this. “So, which one of us is most important?” In response, the river just kept flowing.
Perhaps we ask the wrong question. We are neither the villains of Creation nor its saviors. We belong to it. Scripture begins with God looking upon all Creation and calling it good. We are creatures among creatures, recipients of gifts we did not make, entrusted with responsibilities we did not invent.
Around here, that shouldn’t be difficult to understand. The oyster, mullet, pine, woodpecker, and fisherman—and the retiree, realtor, recoveree, and rector—we all belong to one another. ’Tis the season to remember that.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
| | Season of Creation details, including dates & times, are on the Trinity website. | |
Unfolding the Liturgy, Part Nine:
Greeters Welcoming Worshippers
| | |
It has been a long-standing tradition for someone to welcome the worshippers as they arrive. In some churches, the Greeters stand outside the church while the Ushers are inside. At Trinity, our Greeters are also Ushers.
Greeters make sure people are welcomed with a smile and a guide for the upcoming service. Greeters also answer any questions that newcomers may have (the most important being, "Where's the bathroom?").
It is nice to address a person by their first name when they arrive. The online church directory has been of great help in learning who my fellow parishioners are. (instantchurchdirectory.com)
At the beginning of the service, a Greeter rings the church bell. One of Trinity's teens, Amelia Wolferseder, has taken on this duty each Sunday and has been a great help.
The Greeters also serve as Ushers. We help seat people who need assistance with wheelchairs or walkers. We make sure that the Rector knows if someone wishes to receive communion at their pew. Ushers help with collection of the offerings, and after the service, we double-check the pews for any forgotten items.
At this time we have ten greeters/ushers but always need more. If anyone would like to be a greeter/usher, please contact Mike Barber or the church office.
-- Mike Barber
| | Get Ready for Formation Class! | | |
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 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. | | | | Office Improvements. A new air conditioner for the office & a mini spilt for the conference room have been installed, replacing units that have been in use since 2003. Also, the refrigerator has been replaced and the old one has found a new home in our community. | | Penny's Worth volunteers LuAnne Judson, Marlene Seaborn, Kathie Leyendecker & Bonnie Lewis sort, price, and display donations each week for bargain-hunting shoppers. | | Penny's Worth Serving our Community | | |
Be on the watch for an expanded Penny's Worth presence on Facebook.
When one-of-a-kind items or popular brands come in, we will feature them on our Facebook page, encouraging shoppers to stop by regularly at Penny's Worth. At Penny's Worth you never know what you will find!
Seasonal Bargain Room bag sales and impromptu special pricing on overstocked items will enable us to keep our merchandise fresh and generate increased revenue that supports Trinity's community services.
Here's how you can help. If you are a Facebook user, you can spread the word! Type "Penny's Worth" in your search bar; when the page appears, click on "follow". That way, you will always see our posts and know what's going on. Then...when you see a post in your feed, take a moment and click the share arrow. Make a quick comment if you'd like, and hit the send arrow. You are now a member of the Penny's Worth Facebook family and your friends will see our posts! This simple action increases our visibility exponentially.
Penny's Worth always needs your donations. Seasonal clothing, decorative items, and uniquely curious items are always appreciated. Stop by to shop and to re-stock Penny's Worth's inventory.
| | The rededication of First Presbyterian Church in Wewahitchka was celebrated August 16 after eight years of post-hurricane renovations. We had wonderful participation by Trinity’s choir and organist who traveled the hour north (and a time zone change) to lift up the joy in song. Originally built as an Episcopal church, it has served multiple congregations in its 125-year history. Learn more at their Facebook page. | | Musicians for the September Cursillo gathered at Trinity last weekend to prepare and practice together. During Sunday's service, the congregation enjoyed a performance of their music. With TJ Wolferseder (seated) are (left to right) Kat and Austin Young of St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope, AL, Muriel deGanahl and David Adams, both of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church in Gulf Shores, AL. | | 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 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!
| | Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on August 30, pray for St. Mary’s and the School for Ministry Lay School, Milton, FL; and on September 6, pray for St. Mary’s by-the-Sea, Coden, Alabama and St. Paul’s Chapel, Magnolia Springs, Alabama. For prisons: on August 30, we pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Crenshaw County Jail, Luverne, Alabama; and on September 6, please pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Covington County Jail, Andalusia, Alabama. | | CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | | Anna Carson & Juan Siliezar were married last month in Providence, Rhode Island. Celebrating with them were Anna's mom, Kay Carson and Juan's parents, Maria and Hector Siliezar. | | |
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.
| | |
As Colleen Zester often says, I’m a “born and raised Jersey girl.” She grew up in Morris County, NJ, raised by Irish Catholic parents with strong family values. Although she left New Jersey for undergrad, she eventually returned to Rockaway—the same town where she met Bill.
Together, Colleen and Bill later moved to Essex County and then to Manalapan in Monmouth County, where they raised two children and called home until December 2021.
Colleen fondly looks back on early jobs—retail, babysitting for younger siblings, family friends, and neighbors, and even a newspaper route—which she credits with teaching her responsibility, independence, and the value of hard work. After college and a brief return to retail management, she began her career in pharmaceutical advertising in New York City. Over 28 years, she led strategic launches for more than two dozen prescription brands, many of which became household names.
She continued her career remotely through COVID and after, when she and Bill relocated to Apalachicola. In 2024, Colleen retired professionally and shifted her focus to helping rejuvenate the Weems Memorial Healthcare Foundation. She reflects that, “the opportunity to work alongside community leaders, partners, volunteers, and the WMH governing board to strengthen healthcare close to home has been more meaningful than any professional recognition or industry award”.
Colleen proudly notes that her most rewarding role, however, remains being a parent to the couple’s two incredible children—their daughter, an empathetic and impactful behavior therapist and aspiring author (married our son-in-love Rob in August of 2021), and their son, a professional chef building an exciting career since graduating from culinary school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
At Trinity she has happily served as a front-door greeter for the Tour of Homes for the past three years, welcoming guests and sharing in the spirit of this special community event. In addition, she has also enjoyed being part of the preparation and orchestration team for the auction, helping bring the event together behind the scenes.
Most recently, Colleen built and began managing the Trinity Goods shop on Etsy, creating another way to support Trinity’s mission. For the past two years, she has also been part of the Cookie Ministry, which gives the joy of sharing one of her favorite love languages—baking—on a monthly basis.
Greatest influence on your life (person or experience):
A deeply rooted work ethic and commitment to doing what’s right were shaped by my maternal grandmother—my Nana. Widowed young, she raised two children under 14 at the time of my grandfather’s passing and she did so with quiet strength and steady resolve. Though she leaned on her siblings for support, she remained fiercely independent and grounded.
| | |
I can recall her relaying her life’s philosophy: preferring not to rely on others for help or money, belief in staying out of debt, and—above all—never letting exhaustion stand in the way of caring for her children and family.
How would someone else describe you:
Reserved at first, but genuinely curious, friendly and engaged once I know someone. Family-first by nature, with a strong drive to help others where I can. I try to live with purpose, integrity, and a steady commitment to showing up for people when it matters.
One thing people might be surprised to know about you:
I was an awkward, shy introvert as a child, which many people wouldn’t guess now. A turning point for me was choosing an undergraduate program 10 hours from home and family, where I had to step out of my comfort zone, build independence, and develop the confidence and social skills I rely on today.
Favorite part of living here:
The pace of life, diverse mix of backgrounds, cultures & experiences of the people we meet, and seeing my husband truly embracing ‘retirement’.
Dogs or cats:
Dogs – friendly ones!
Bacon or broccoli:
Depends on my mood and the menu (or the chef!)
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo:
Mayo
One thing you are good at:
Baking
One thing you’d rather not do:
Cook or put laundry away.
What drew you to Trinity:
At first, it was Trinity’s reputation for a warm and welcoming community that drew us in—and it was our new pastor Stephen who helped make us feel at home. Over time, what made us stay were the sermons and conversations, which have spoken to me in a way I hadn’t previously experienced in many of the Catholic churches we attended in the past.
| | |
Trinity's Online Calendar
Trinity's new, online calendar offers a comprehensive view of all that is
going on each month at Trinity, and beyond. This cloud based event
calendar is maintained in real-time by Trinity's Office staff.
You can view this calendar by Day, Week, Month or List by clicking on the
box in the upper right corner. We recommend the "List" view for the best
display of our active schedule. Click on the box in the upper left corner to navigate forward or backwards by date.
| | |
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.
| | |
|
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 September 9.
-- 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
| | | | |
