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Apalachicola, Florida
February 14, 2025
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Ministry is work. It is heavy and sits in darkness. It answers the plea and comforts the sick. Ministry is, in some cases, recalling when we, too, were lost and bereft or lonesome and hungry. In other cases, ministry rushes in without a need for qualification, regardless of whether the experience is shared or unique.
Because we have all felt heaviness. We have found ourselves behind the sun, on the other side of happiness, been made to go where we did not want to go. The sting of loss left us unsure and insecure. We may have been starved for love and connection, or malnourished by what we thought would sustain us.
For most of us, what I described only happens stochastically in our lives: events appear randomly with unknown intensity. We get sick. Our partner needs surgery. A neighbor is going through a rough time. Someone we know loses their home in a fire. Our spouse gets cancer. A loved one dies.
Though not forever, these events sure feel like it. Minutes feel like hours and days feel like weeks. But whether it is a minor bump or a wall so high you cannot perceive its top, I have a suggestion: you need not go it alone.
Because we have also felt that hand reach out, even if we were not in a place to grasp it. We may have even felt as if we didn’t want it, need it, or deserve it. Asking for help is a topic covering entire sections of a bookstore, scores of therapy sessions, and years of recovery meetings. It is a panoply of what the mind thinks it wants, what the heart knows it needs, and let’s face it, our pride.
This is where the many hands of Trinity come rushing in to make light work. We are implementing a service called Lotsa Helping Hands whereby those in need can connect with those who want to help. In no way does this replace the singular ministries of people at Trinity. Keep doing what works for you! What I hope it does is provide another connection between those finding themselves in a place of need with Trinity members who are able to assist with myriad tasks.
Signing up to be another pair of our Helping Hands is easy and free.
In the next couple of weeks, you will receive an email from helpinghands@trinityapalachicola.org with an invitation to take part. Signup instructions will be included.
We will not fill your inbox with useless stuff; Kerry and I will manage this to focus solely on active requests the Pastoral Care Committee receives. Those requests might include taking out the trash one time for someone with the flu. It could be signing up for a “Meal Train” when a family needs it. It might be visiting the homebound, collecting mail, or any number of things.
I encourage you to prayerfully consider becoming another set of
hands for the work ahead. On behalf of the Pastoral Care
Committee (myself, Kerry Petty, Dee Crusoe, Ralph Wagoner,
Patti McCartney, and Annie Pitts), thank you.
Love Big and Be Well,
Stephen +
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Third Thursday Bingo Continues in the New Year. Set your calendars for a fun evening of Bingo and fellowship every third Thursday of the month at 6:30 pm in Benedict Hall. As always, the first board is free with additional cards $2 each (or three for $5). All proceeds go to Parish Life. Bring a snack to share; tea and lemonade will be provided. The next three Bingo nights are February 20, March 20, and April 17. | |
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Helping Hands. The Pastoral Care Committee has been hard at work planning out 2025. In addition to starting support groups for those navigating bereavement, cancer, and caregiving we are expanding how we provide support to those needing short-term, temporary assistance. There is much more to come about these subjects, so stay tuned.
Our Beloved Prayer List and More. Every Sunday you can write in your prayer requests in the small notebook on the table as you enter the church. These are read during the 10:30 service and included in the parish prayers that week. In addition, you can email prayer requests to prayers@trinityapalachicola.org; please include their name(s) and the need. These will stay on the prayer list for 30 days unless directed otherwise.
Lenten Series beginning in March. We will be offering a Lenten reflection series using the Rachel Held Evans book, Inspired. Churches around our diocese will use the same outline and be facilitated by Father Stephen and others. Inspired is a great book and fits well within the Lenten themes. Classes will be held on Mondays, 10 - 11 am, beginning March 3 and ending April 14. A sign-up Sheed is in the parish office.
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But wait…Echo Valley isn’t finished! We are excited to announce that Echo Valley has agreed to be our musicians for our regular Sunday 10:30 am service on February 23 at the church, in addition to their concert at Holy Family on Saturday (see details below). That’s right…get ready for some toe-tappin’ and foot-stompin’ hymns with a Bluegrass Eucharist. Spread the word! Given that our church is usually on the full side each Sunday, you may want to consider arriving at church early on the 23rd just to grab a seat. | |
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. | |
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper March 4 | |
Trinity's Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is March 4, 5 pm - 6:30 pm, in Benedict Hall. This annual event is popular throughout our community, and it takes many willing hands to make it successful. You can provide ingredients, such as pancake mix and fruit juice; and you can join the kitchen crew to mix and flip pancakes, cook bacon and sausage, set up the room, serve plates, and help with clean-up. Volunteer sign-up sheets are available in Benedict Hall. | |
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George & Bella Rudo, along with Randy Mims, mixing batter at last year's Pancake Supper.
Tickets, $8.00 each, are available; you can purchase them and give them to friends and family, or you can sell them. If you haven't already picked up yours, you can do so after church this Sunday, or stop by the office during the week.
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Diocesan Cycle of Prayer. For churches and ministries: on February 16, pray for Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and Church of the Good Shepherd, Mobile, AL; and on February 23, pray for the Diocesan Men’s Conference and St. Paul's Chapel, Magnolia Springs, AL. For prisons: on February 16, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Bay Correctional Facility & Juvenile Facility, Panama City, FL; and on February 23, pray for the prisoners, families, and staff of the Blackwater River Correctional Facility, Milton, FL. | | |
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Cursillo Weekends Are Back! 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. There are two weekends scheduled for 2025: March 13-16 and September 11-14. To learn about Cursillo, the diocese has a great website or talk to someone who has been (Chris Presnell, Bonnie Stewart, The Pecots, Ina Margaret Meyer, Patti McCartney, and many more). Check it out. Who wouldn’t want to be loved on and pampered for three days? You deserve it! De Colores! | |
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Supporting Southern California Wildfire Response Efforts.
Thank you for the generous donation of $826.75 on February 2 which has been sent to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles to support their efforts in cleanup and rebuilding after the devastating wildfires. You can still make an online gift directly to Episcopal Relief & Development by visiting episcopalrelief.org.
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In the meantime, please pray for those who have experienced loss there from minor damage to everything, including lives. | |
CELEBRATING FAMILY & FRIENDS | |
Karen Brown recently celebrated her official retirement as a pharmacist. The cake says "sort of", because she plans to pitch in at the pharmacy when they need a bit of assistance. | |
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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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Sabrina Fornes, a native of Apalachicola, has lived in a wide variety of locations, including Europe, Central America, Hawaii, and multiple locations on the East Coast.
She is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) and works as an independent contractor, traveling throughout the US, delivering anesthesia. She loves the variety of work environments and experiences, including medical missionary trips.
Currently, Sabrina serves as co-chair of Trinity's annual Home & Garden Tour.
Greatest influence on your life (person or experience): My parents and husband’s dedication to public service.
How would someone else describe you: Independent with a touch of OCD.
One thing people might be surprised to know about you: I don’t like vegetables.
Favorite part of living here: Best friends of my life, lifestyle, and of course all the water activities.
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Dogs or cats: Dogs (we have 3)
Bacon or broccoli: Bacon
Coleslaw - vinegar or mayo: I Don’t like coleslaw.
One thing you are good at: Anesthesia
One thing you’d rather not do: Cook dinner
What drew you to Trinity: Family tradition, but I definitely fell in love with the members.
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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: February 26)
-- 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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