Guest Preacher: This Sunday, February 19, is the last Sunday after Epiphany, and our guest preacher is The Rev. Don West. Don is a retired Lutheran pastor, and he and his wife Helene have spent winter months here for many years. He has preached often at Trinity, and we are delighted to have him back with us!

Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, February 22, marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter (excluding Sundays). We will have two services at Trinity on Ash Wednesday, at 12 noon and 6 pm. This special liturgy can be found on page 264 of The Book of Common Prayer. In the service the priest invites the people “to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.” The service includes the imposition of ashes, with the eucharist to follow. I encourage you all to come if you are able - this is a most somber and reflective way to begin this period of preparation for the joys of Easter!

Rite One During Lent: We will also be using a different eucharistic form for our services during Lent, Holy Eucharist Rite One (thee and thou language) instead of Rite Two (more contemporary language). We will make this change solely for the season of Lent. Also, the church hangings - the cloth frontal on the altar, the hanging on the pulpit, and the priest’s stole - will be a rich, dark purple, symbolizing penitence and preparation. And traditionally the altar is bare of flowers during Lent.

Bishop's Visit: However, our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Russell Kendrick, is coming on February 26, the first Sunday of the Lenten season. He will be receiving several of our parishioners into the Episcopal Church, and will be both preacher and celebrant. And the church hangings for that day will be red, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. Please come to witness and celebrate with those being received. The bishop will also hold a forum in Benedict Hall at 9:30 am preceding the service; he will be available to answer your questions - all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

-- The Rev. Martha Harris, Trinity supply priest

Readings for February 19, 2023, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany

Readings for February 26, 2023, the First Sunday in Lent

Shrove Tuesday

Pancake Supper

February 21, 5 - 6:30 pm Benedict Hall

Tickets are $8.00 - available at the church office or at the door.

Ash Wednesday

Services at Trinity

February, 22

12 noon & 6 pm

Are you a fan of Mrs. Patmore or Mr. Carson? The Tour of Homes Auction Committee has opportunities for you to live the Downton Abbey life! Volunteers are needed to assist with auction tasks prior to the May 6 tour day and after. 

• Scullery Maids – wash donated items of china and glass to make more saleable
• Under Butler – clean glass and spruce up picture frames for artwork
• First Footman/ Foot Woman – polish silver and brass (1 month ahead) Lady’s Maid – seamstress for minor sewing repairs
• Clip Board Meter Maids – organize clip boards by number and add bidder sheets (2 months ahead)
• Furniture Stewards, Dirty Work Specialists – clean, polish, and touch up furniture (2 weeks before)
• Plant Superintendents – wash plant containers, insert plastic pots, and add moss or stone (3 weeks before)
• Plants Superintendents “Second String” – plant purchased flowers in pots (3 days ahead)
• Laundress – wash and fold tablecloths in preparation for next year (after the auction)

Last year 330 auction items, 48 plants, and 52 collections were offered.

Help the auction committee get ready for another successful year by contacting:

Ginger Lawson

[email protected]

404-561-0919

or 

Kathy Rushmore

 [email protected]

207-745-3990

to sign up for these needed activities (white aprons and tailcoats not required).

Dear Members of Trinity,

I pray this message finds you doing well as you continue to seek and serve Christ in Apalachicola. I am writing today to give you a quick update concerning the search for your next rector. I will begin by simply saying your search committee has done and is doing a great job! You really should be proud of their work and their dedication to the life of the parish. At this time they have moved into the phase of the process where they are beginning to receive names and make initial contact with potential candidates. This can be one of the most stressful parts of the search process.

Given the confidential nature of this work, it may seem and often does, that the search committee is not sharing “enough” information with the parish. If you find yourself feeling this way, I would like to offer you two insights. First, these feelings are perfectly normal, and you are not alone. Second, your search committee has done an excellent job thus far, which means they will continue to do so and the best thing you can do is trust the search committee and trust the process.

If you would like to help the search committee, I encourage you to pray. Pray the Holy Spirit will move in the life of your next rector and in minds of your search committee members, empowering them to discern God’s call for the future of Trinity. 

-- The Rev. Canon Ashley Freeman, Canon to the Ordinary

Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast

Trinity Table Talks - Bringing Old & New Friends Together

A Sunday fried chicken lunch! What a great way to gather and enjoy friends. This Table Talks group enjoyed traditional food along with Valentine's Bingo at the home of Karen Kessel. Group members, along with Karen, include Bonnie Lewis, Tom & Rennie Edwards, and Beth & Mike Barber.

Your Outreach Committee met on January 26, 2023 and received updates on community clean-up projects (coordinated in Apalachicola by Lynn Wilder and spearheaded at Trinity by Jason Carter); applications for the 2023 Trinity Outreach Award of a new laptop to graduating senior(s) at FCS and the Ed Corps computer award (this year, eight new headphones for Ed Corps students); Backpack Buddies of Franklin County (headed by Natasha Creamer of Franklin County Schools and coordinated at Trinity by Martha Harris); Trinity sponsorship of the annual Hillside Coalition of Laborers for Apalachicola’s African-American History Festival, February 17-19 (assigned to Outreach by the Vestry; Steve Watkins, Vestry liaison); as well as the ECCC New Year’s Basket Drive and the Big Bend Hospice-partnered Ensure Drive.  These activities are in addition to ongoing commitment to the Food Pantry of Franklin’s Promise ($300 monthly) and the ECCC for senior meals ($100 monthly).  

Undesignated Outreach funds to date totaled approximately $3,000.  The committee agreed on expenditures of $500 for a Silver Sponsorship for Trinity for the African-American History Festival and $200 monthly for Backpack Buddies through June, 2023 when needs and available funds will be re-evaluated.  

The Committee also agreed to promote volunteer opportunities with Backpack Buddies:  we are hoping to recruit a team of eight volunteer pairs to pack weekend food for children at Franklin County School (Tuesday afternoons for an hour, once every two months).  We need your good help!  

For more information on Outreach activities, and to share your interests

and ideas, see Penny Marler (Chair), Jason Carter, Martha Harris,

Susie Wagoner, Steve Watkins, and Myrtis Wynn.

The Franklin Education Foundation, Inc., is assisting the ESOL program (English for Speakers of Other Languages) at the Franklin County School in raising funds for their Hispanic students to take a field trip to the Tallahassee Museum. They need a minimum of $830.

In November, 2021 through the generosity of Trinity, we were able to fully fund a GED program for Hispanic Students. I hope we can do it again. Any contributions received in excess of the amount we need will be saved and used for similar foundation programs.

To learn more about the foundation, please contact Cliff Butler by phone or text at 850-653-5848 or email at [email protected]. Contributions can be made out to the Franklin Education Foundation, Inc. and mailed to P.O. Box 801, Eastpoint Fl 32328.

-- Cliff Butler, Executive Director

The Franklin Education Foundation, Inc.

February 19, 2023

Celebrant - The Rev. Martha Harris

Greeters - Allen Embert, Ralph Wagoner

Lectors - Karen Brown, Kristin Anderson

Prayers of the People - Penny Marler

Acolyte - Steve Watkins

Lay Eucharistic Minister - Kirk Hadaway

Altar Guild - Jane Harris

Flower Guild - Penny Marler, Alice Leavins

February 26, 2023

Celebrant - The Rev. Martha Harris

Greeters - Bill and Patti McCartney

Lectors - Ralph Wagoner, Dee Crusoe

Prayers of the People - Patti McCartney

Acolyte - Mandi Singer

Lay Eucharistic Minister - Penny Marler

Altar Guild - Jane Harris

Flower Guild -No flowers during Lent

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 [email protected] or call the church office at 850-653-9550. The deadline for submission is noon on Wednesday of each publication week. (The next deadline is March 1, 2023)

-- Kay Carson, Editor

Worship Service at 10:30 am Sunday, Eastern time

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: [email protected]