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Apalachicola, Florida
September 13, 2024
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Living in September 2024 means to be caught up in distraction. Political junkies can get caught up in the election year back and forth. Weather nerds (of which I am a charter member) can read and study the most active month historically for hurricanes. For parents, the new school year begins new schedules for extracurricular activities. For football fans, it’s a new season.
But sometimes we can get caught up in distraction not by choice. Those facing medical, legal, or financial issues know this, for they do not get to choose whether to participate. In those instances, the business of busyness finds them.
Regardless of how you are distracted, if you’re not careful you might find that processing and prioritizing life’s events becomes difficult. The simplest of tasks become overwhelming.
When I feel overtaxed or distracted, I have learned to pause and look around at my environment. And what I often find is that within the noise are interactions I would otherwise miss. I hear the ROMEO group swapping stories on a Wednesday morning outside the church, sharing and building friendships. I meet a family passing through town who want to tour our historic church. In the pausing, I intentionally slow down and ask myself what God might be trying to show me in these moments. And I am often reminded of God’s covenant to bring all things to fruition so that they will serve God’s ends (Isaiah 55). Within that same chapter is a reminder that God is not rushed, nor does God rush things. The work is on a schedule we don’t know but which serves God’s purposes (55:11). It’s God’s time, not ours.
Counterintuitive as it may seem, the distracted moments are exactly
when God might be attempting to bring your purpose to fruition. Next
time you are distracted, stop and ask yourself what God might be
saying to you. God might be telling you to watch the lilies of the
field grow, recalling a memory that you are, and always will be,
a precious and fragrant offering (Matthew 6:25-34).
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
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Season of Creation Events | | |
In addition to some creation-centered prayers and readings throughout our regular September services (Sunday Holy Eucharist 10:30 am, Wednesday Morning Prayer 8:15 am, Wednesday Compline 8 pm), there are several events scheduled outside the church to draw us into this special ecumenical season. | |
We hosted an opening liturgy the afternoon of September 1 and a Lectio Tierra meditative event at the Boardwalk at Scipio Creek on September 7. | | |
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Friday, September 20, 5:30 and 7:00 pm: A group from Trinity will meet at Cape San Blas to go horseback riding on the beach!
A Lectio Tierra will occur simultaneously for those who do not wish to ride
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Saturday, September 28, 5:00-7:00 pm: We will celebrate the much-loved CanoEucharist in Apalachicola Bay. We will meet in the waters off of Seafood Landing Park (near the intersection of US Hwy 98 and Pal Rivers Road) for a Holy Eucharist like you’ve never experienced! Any sea-worthy vessel is invited. There will be a signup sheet in Benedict Hall so we can get a headcount and know how many vessels are needed. If you are willing to bring your boat, let us know how many people you can transport. | | |
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Friday, October 4, 5:30 pm: We will host a Season of Creation Closing Liturgy at the Chapman Botanical Gardens (177 5th St), followed by an optional supper at Half-Shell Dockside (301 Market St). | |
Bingo Night at Trinity! Thursday, September 19 | |
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Monday School Returns. After a hiatus, the much-loved Monday School series returns to Trinity on September 23 10:30-11:30 am in the Conference Room. Over the next year we will mix up the format with offerings like book discussions, Bible study, prayer and faith journeys, and church history.
The first book covered will be Experiencing God: Faith Narratives of Episcopalians (Ian Markham and Kimberly Dunn, editors). It is an opportunity to hear about fellow Episcopalians in their walk with God; perhaps it will begin some good discussions in our parish.
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Please contact the parish office or email info@trinityapalachicola.org if you are interested in attending. Donations to help offset the book cost are gladly accepted. If you would like to go ahead and order the book you can use this link. | |
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Fall Stewardship Campaign. Summer has ended and we are heading into fall. During September, our pace quickly changes with the Stewardship campaign one of many things requiring our attention. Now is a good time to start thinking about making a pledge for Trinity when the Fall Stewardship Campaign starts. The theme for this year's campaign will be “Walk In Love”. We are reminded of that call with the offertory sentence, one of which comes from Ephesians 5:2: “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.” Please take some time now to prayerfully consider what you will share with Trinity next year.
– Barry Lawson, Stewardship and Finance Committee
Wednesday Compline. If you love the Order for Compline from our Book of Common Prayer and want to participate from the comfort of your home, you are in luck! On Wednesdays at 8 pm Eastern, Trinity is pleased to host an online Compline via Facebook Live. And don’t forget that we have Morning Prayer on Wednesdays at 8:15 am.
Looking For A Few Good People. With four vestry members ending their term in December, Trinity is looking for people who want to help guide this church into an exciting future. A desire to be part of shaping the next few years of this church as we move closer to the bicentennial decade (!!!) is required.
Trinity is currently accepting nominations to fill four vestry positions for the year 2025. Vestry members are elected for a three-year term. They are required to be confirmed, active communicants, and current pledgers. These are qualifications not only for election but for continued service on the vestry.
Nomination forms are available in the office and in Benedict Hall, and may be returned to the office or emailed to info@trinityapalachicola.org. Nominations are due by Sunday, November 3, 2024. Short bios of candidates will appear in the Bay View newsletter between November and the Annual Meeting and will be posted in Benedict Hall.
You may have served on the vestry before (thank you!) and wish to be part again. Or you may not even know what the vestry does. In this attached article we want to explain the role of the vestry and how it works closely with the rector to meet the goals of care and ministry. Much of the information is derived from Crossroads, a ministry of the Episcopal Church Foundation.
A future issue of the Bay View will feature an article by Father Stephen discussing how he and the vestry work together to keep Trinity moving forward. Throughout the fall the Bay View will also include writings by vestry members and candidates on their observations regarding Trinity’s strengths and challenges.
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Trivia Night! We hosted a pub trivia night at Benedict Hall September 10th with the help of host extraordinaire Rick Pecot. He is an avid player of trivia tournaments in Birmingham and offered to show Trinity how it’s done. We expect to host these events on a regular basis, and you can form a team, join a team, or (if you’re feeling very confident) be your own individual team. Prizes were awarded for the top scores and best team name. Thank you to those who attended. More to come soon! | |
Penny's Worth Annual Luncheon | |
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Penny's Worth's annual salad luncheon will be held on Thursday, September 26 at 12 noon in Benedict Hall. All Penny's Worth volunteers and anyone who is interested in joining this community ministry are invited. Bring your favorite salad to share.
In addition to information and updates on the thrift shop, this year's luncheon will feature a fashion show with volunteers modeling outfits they selected from the racks at Penny's Worth.
To learn more about the luncheon or volunteer opportunities, contact Dot Hill, 850-653-9297 or Marlene Seaborn, 843-224-7706.
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Heading to Cursillo! Bonnie Stewart, Joy Tracy, & Brant Banks on their way to Cursillo at Beckwith Camp on Thursday afternoon. | |
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on September 15, pray for the St. Simon's on the Sound, Fort Walton Beach and the pilgrims and staff of Cursillo #171 at Beckwith Camp and Conference Center; and on September 22 pray for Holy Spirit, Gulf Shores. For prisons: on September 15, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Coffee County Jail County Complex, New Brockton, AL; and on September 22 pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Choctaw County Jail, Butler, AL. | |
CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | |
Dee & John Crusoe recently celebrated a visit with family from the St. Petersburg/Tampa area. From left: son Bo, granddaughter Emma, (Johnny), daughter Jen, (Dee), granddaughter Marcy and her fiancé Alec, who will be married at Trinity next spring. | |
Bonnie Stewart attended her grandson Luke's President award ceremony at St. Pius High School in Atlanta, along with Luke's parents, Cindi & Jason. | |
To celebrate the completion of a six year restoration project, Kai & Sabrina Fornes embarked on a maiden voyage on their 1957 Chris Craft “B”. Their parents, Mike & Beth Barber and friends Larry and Toni McIntosh accompanied them. | |
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The Bay View is introducing a new feature - TRINITY TEN - so we can get
to know each other a little better. We have developed a ten-point
questionnaire designed to provide a light-hearted, yet sincere, profile
of Trinity parishioners. Your responses, along with a photograph,
will appear regularly in the Bay View.
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A member of Trinity since 2001, Shirley, was born in Deland, Florida and moved to Apalachicola with her family when she was in 4th grade. She worked for 32 years in the law office of Ben Watkins and has been an active volunteer in the community through the Philaco Woman’s Club, the Apalachicola Margaret Key Library, and the Ilse Newell Fund for the Performing Arts. Shirley is also a long-time member of the Penny’s Worth crew where she is currently responsible for sorting and pricing jewelry donations. | |
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Greatest influence on your life (person or experience):
My father, Ralph W. Norman
How would someone else describe you:
A conservative, easy to get along with, loyal. dependable.
One thing people might be surprised to know about you:
I am interested in artifacts, Indian mounds, etc.
Favorite part of living here:
Friends, family, and I grew up here and don't want to live anywhere else.
Dogs or cats:
Cats. I own 3. Hillary (the meanest cat alive), Muffin, the most frightened cat alive and Twiggy, sweetest cat in the house.
Bacon or broccoli:
Broccoli
Coleslaw: vinegar or mayo:
Mayo
One thing you are good at:
Baking
One thing you’d rather not do:
Go out when it’s raining
What drew you to Trinity:
I did not like the politics in the United Methodist Church, and my husband, John Taylor, Jr. was an Episcopalian, so I joined Trinity in 2001.
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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.
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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 September 25)
-- 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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