Texas Episcopalian March 2009

Volume 112, No. 3

Houston, Texas

March 2009

Townhall Meetings Will Help Define Future Mission

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Lenten Resource Online, page 15

Bishop Wimberly Hands Operation to Bishop Coadjutor at 160th Council

ishop Coadjutor Andy Doyle announced an extensive schedule of townhall meetings for this spring and early summer “to help discern our mission priorities.” Bishop Doyle plans to spend the time getting to know the members of the diocese, sharing his story and listening to their opinions about the goals and future work of the Church in the diocese.

“We have identified five categories within our vision and I want to hear what those mean to people around the diocese. I don’t believe they will be the same for each area and I want to do some intentional listening,” Bishop Doyle said. “This will help us set some specific goals and will inform our future work,” he added.

Two of the 12 gatherings of clergy and lay people, scheduled in different geographical areas of the diocese, will be conducted in Spanish. An online survey will allow people who are not able to

By Carol E. Barnwell

I

n his address to the 160th Diocesan Council on February 14, Bishop Don Wimberly announced he was handing over operations of the diocesan office and the work of the diocese at large to Bishop Coadjutor Andy Doyle immediately following the diocese’s annual council, held in Houston, February 13-14, 2009. Bishop Wimberly, who will retire June 6, 2009, will continue to chair the diocesan foundations, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, the Seminary and Executive Boards until then.

The transition comes earlier than expected, prompted by Bishop Wimberly’s hospitalization in January, when Bishop Doyle stepped in to cover for him. “This time has proven to me that [Andy] is ready and we, as a diocese, are ready to move forward,” Bishop Wimberly said, adding, “I will work with him as he takes on these new roles; such a partnership is natural for us.”

See Council, page 10

See Townhall Meeting, page 11

texasbishop.blogspot.com

INSIDE Bishops’ Calendars......................... 23 Bishop’s Column.............................. 2 Calendar of events............................ 4

Council Details................ 1, 10-13 Parish News........................ 17-20 Sam Todd’s Column..................22 1

The Economics of Faith pages 5-9 Texas Episcopalian

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Lent Calls Us to Accountability with One Another “A Christian alone is no Christian.’ And, I think the New Testament gives us every reason to believe that a single apostle or disciple is no disciple. We cannot do these things alone, and that is why, again and again in the New Testament, we find the Lord sending out his representatives and ministers in a group of companions.”

The Most Reverend and Right Honorable Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, God’s Mission and a Bishop’s Discipleship, 17-19 July 2008, p18

S

omeone gave me a copy of the remarks made to the global gathering of bishops at the Lambeth Conference last summer

by Archbishop Williams. I began using the text with my daily meditations prior to my ordination as bishop and have continued to do so. These particular words of Archbishop Williams’ came back to me as I reflected on a comment I read: “You don’t need to be a part of a denomination to practice Lent, in order

The Texas Episcopalian (since 1897) is an official publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Mission: In the name of Jesus Christ, the Texas Episcopalian seeks to inform the people in the diocese of events and philosophies which affect the mission and life of the Church.

to prepare spiritually for Easter.” Actually I think this is true, anyone can prepare for Easter by practicing a discipline during Lent. However, I don’t believe this is the intent.

Lent is not meant to be a solo journey.

The first Christians actively participated in selfexamination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and selfdenial; and by reading and meditating on God’s Holy Word.

They did all this to restore themselves, it’s true. But they did these things to restore themselves to the greater community and to restore the fellowship of the Church as well.

I can fast certainly, give up something, or take on another, but this exercise in solitude does not reflect fully the incarnation of Christ in my life. I need others to join with me in this work. I am fasting, but I am fasting with a community of faith that is going through the same discipline at the same day of the week and at the same time of day. I will do the self-examination and repentance alone and then with a confessor, but that is so that I may live more fully with others and see Christ in them. I read and meditate on the Word of God each day in my personal prayer time.

However, it is only when others share their ideas about scripture with me that my limited vision is expanded to the greater kingdom. Each discipline serves to renew my life in Christ, but it also serves to renew the community’s fellowship and life as the body of Christ.

Sometimes it is actually easier to take on our devotions of Lent privately than it is to take them on publicly. We are not as accountable when we live our spirituality in private.

And, the community does not benefit from the observance in quite the same manner. The Benedictine rule offers a sense of daily life ordered by common prayer, discipline and work.

Save

Publisher: The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly Editor: Carol E. Barnwell, cbarnwell@epicenter.org Parish News Editor: Nancy Sallaberry, nsallaberry@epicenter.org Designer: LaShane K. Eaglin, leaglin@epicenter.org The Texas Episcopalian (ISSN# 1074-441X) is published monthly except July and August for $15 a year by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, 1225 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002-3504. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. Deadline is the 10th of the month preceding publication. Articles, editorials and photos should be submitted to the editor at the above e-mail address. Photos will not be returned. Address changes may be e-mailed to: txepis@epicenter.org.

Texas Episcopalian

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Bishop Coadjutor Andy Doyle

I would offer something new to add to your lenten discipline this year.

Take on a discipline. Then tell everyone. Place yourself in a situation where you have to speak about it. Encourage yourself by keeping yourself accountable and encourage others by keeping your discipline and listening to theirs.

Make this year’s observance of Lent a communal discipline that the Church may be enlivened and enriched by your spiritual work.

Most communities share anxiety like a virus. Lenten disciplines though are a tool by which Christians rediscover hope; hope for one’s life and hope for one’s community.

Remember Lent is about preparing for the resurrection on Easter morning. Imagine the hope that could be shared by contributing to the larger community your disciplined journey through Lent and what you learn as you walk your particular pilgrim way.

The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Bishop Coadjutor of Texas

Saturday June 6, 5-8 p.m.

At Camp Allen Celebrate the Ministry and Legacy of the Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly and Wendy Wimberly, upon Bishop Wimberly’s retirement as the eighth Bishop of Texas

the Date

Postmaster: Address changes: THE TEXAS EPISCOPALIAN, 1225 Texas Ave., Houston, TX 77002-3504

It not only benefits but thrives from this manner of sharing.

This year my Lenten discipline was written down and delivered to every home that receives the Houston Chronicle. There will be no anonymity for me this year!

HURRICANE IKE

Ike Alters Expections, Brings Surprises

February 2009, five months after Ike. –Photos: Carol E. Barnwell

By Carol E. Barnwell

“

It was the worst weekend of my life,” said the Rev. Mike Besson, speaking about Hurricane Ike, which hit Texas’ upper Gulf Coast on September 13, 2008. Nearly half the parishioners at St. John’s, La Porte - 41 families - received catastrophic damage from the 14-foot storm surge created by the hurricane. Besson, rector since 2006, evacuated 24 hours ahead of landfall along with the rest of La Porte’s 31,000 population.

“It was like a ghost town,” he said. “We drove off and thought we would never see our home again. We didn’t know what we would come back to.”

Just months after the devastating storm, St. John’s is growing, and although some people never came back after Ike, pledges exceded expectations and Sunday attendance is up. St. John’s has provided a ministry of presence in La Porte that is the heart and soul of the congregation. Members regrouped and, with little or no fanfare, ministered to their neighbors and community.

on the ground, molding in the heat and bright sunshine that followed the devastating storm.

A previous hurricane scare had encouraged the church to update their contact numbers for parishioners and have an emergency plan in place, which proved extremely valuable.

Besson was able to be in regular contact by e-mail and cell phone to provide damage and progress reports for those who had not yet returned.

The church received very little damage and the first Sunday service a week after Ike was “the most emotional ever,” Besson said. “It was spirit filled-knowing everyone was okay.”

After the Storm

Besson and his wife Ellen returned a few days after Ike and began the task of checking on parishioners. “I took the phone list and circled all our people in the worst hit areas.

For three days we drove around checking on each family.”

The town was without electricity, and Besson found some parishioners sitting in their driveways, exhausted from picking through flooded belongings and mucking out wet sheetrock from their homes.

People had “to keep” and “trash” piles in their yards and you couldn’t tell the difference, he remembers. The piles sat

Sherry Burns, Sandi Harris, the Rev. Mike Besson and Virginia Pierson-Turner check names from their parish list.

Church members started a laundry service, hoping to provide for people’s immediate needs but found themselves helping to salvage whole wardrobes of dripping wet clothes

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and heirloom quilts. They opened the church so people could rest in the air conditioning and work on their laptops.

Regular e-mail updates kept the church family informed.

Church members passed out more than 100 sack lunches a day for weeks and didn’t tell people where they were from.

Sandi Harris has been a member of the church for seven years and has worked for Besson for the last two. She and Sherry Burns literally ran the church for the month following Ike to allow Besson time to visit people. The women lament members who suffered deeply and some who they will no longer see - a father whose 53-year old son had recently died, lost his home and his wife who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. She didn’t recover from the evacuation.

“At every house, people were up to their knees in mud, wearing masks and sweating, but they were happy and so glad to see Mike coming to visit,” Burns remembers.

After the storm, Besson decided not to have a stewardship drive. People were too devastated, too raw.

Despite the hurricane, Besson sent only a letter and pledge card to church members marking off the names of those hardest hit. He needn’t have worried, pledges were $100,000 more than Besson expected to receive. “We literally marked off 41 families because we didn’t think they’d be able to give anything yet, everyone of them did, most increased their pledge,” Besson said.

“With the $10,000 hurricane grant from the diocese, offerings from churches and people across the country we had an additional $30,000,” he added.

“Ike could have destroyed us but it hasn’t … and new people are coming each week.”

Virginia Pierson-Turner is the church treasurer and has been a member since 1963. She credits the community’s self reliance for the positive response. Her 16-year old daughter gathered a crew of a dozen teenagers who “went all over to help where they could” while the schools were still closed.

A week after Ike, the breakfast team, “all of whom had lost everything,” showed up to cook for the congregation. “They have been known as the ‘Babes of Destruction’ ever since,” Pierson-Turner said.

Almost no one in Shore Acres or Seabrook escaped major damage. By February, only 10 percent of the area’s families had moved back home. The neighborhood elementary school will be moved to higher ground and that has caused the close knit community’s optimism to wane. Besson just wants to keep people from losing hope.

Sometimes small things matter the most. PiersonTurner’s neighbors’ had no sheetrock or carpet. “I had to ask their names when I first went to check on them. The church helped them to get a carpet remnant so their kids (five months, two-and-a-half and five-years old) weren’t playing on the concrete slab,” she said. “They were thrilled.”

The historic hurricane “defined church for me,” Besson said. “Any past conflict the congregation may have experienced dissolved,” Besson said. “We recognized that we were family. We realized we had to have everyone.”

The spirit continues to shape the future of St. John’s and their community. Now when someone asks how you are, they mean it, Pierson-Turner said.

“Our ministry is to be a real presence in the community.

We want people to know who we are, it’s important to take that out into the community,” Harris added.

“We’ve been given the opportunity to be a light in the community,” Besson said. “We’re going to do our best. This is a place of miracles.”

Texas Episcopalian

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Calendar

Calendar

Outreach Coordinator Training Outreach Coordinator Training for parish outreach coordinators and anyone else interested in outreach. Topics will include effective ways to organize volunteers, funding tips for your outreach programs, overview of diocesan outreach programs and brainstorming innovative outreach efforts. Cost of $10 includes lunch. 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. For more information or to register contact Sally Rutherford, Diocesan Outreach Coordinator at 800.318.4452, 713.520.6444 ext.1007 or sbrutherford@epicenter.org

March 1

Townhall Meeting, St. John the Divine, Houston. See page 11.

2-4 Abundant Living Conference, a spiritual and wellness retreat for seniors, caregivers, recently retired and loved ones sponsored by UTMB Sealy Center on Aging and the John S. Dunn Research Foundation. At Camp Allen, registration is $200-$245. See further information at www.campallen.org.

Austin Area: May 2, 2009, St. Richard’s, Round Rock East Texas:

4, 11, 18, 25 and April 1 St. Paul and Evangelization, sponsored by The Center for Faith and Culture and the Graduate School of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, Houston.

7 – 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Seminary, 9845 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77024. For more information call 713.686.6844, ext. 229 or e-mail cfc@stthom.edu 5-7 Living in Jesus’ Footsteps: A Ministry Weekend for Healing and Renewal with the Rev. Mike Endicott at St. John the Divine, Houston. Endicott is founder of the Order of Jacob’s Well in Wales. The cost is $35 per person. Childcare is available. To register, go to www.sjd. org or call, 713.622.3600.

6-7 Spring Visitors Weekend at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, a vocational discernment event. For more information, call 512.472.4133, ext. 357 7

Wardens & Vestry Conference, St. David’s, Austin. Information at www.epicenter.org or see page 16.

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Quiet Day: Spiritual Journaling from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Timothy’s, 200 Oyster Creek Drive, Lake Jackson. Contact Lela Seay at 979.297.6003 or visit www.stimothy.org for additional information.

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The Journey, concert and dance at St. Stephen’s, Houston. See page 17.

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The Pantheon - one Monday evening lecture with William Niedinger at St. Martin’s, Houston. Registration form can be found at www.tfahr.org/pantheon.html.

18-21 Diocesan Altar Guild Retreat, Camp Allen, $260, plus workshop fees. Call 979.743.4574 or e-mail kdpwall@cvtv.net or kdpwall@cvctx.net for details.

18-21 National Episcopal Communicators’ Conference at Camp Allen. All parish and institution communications directors are welcome to join Episcopal Communicators and attend the conference. See www.episcopalcommunicators.org for details.

21 Wardens & Vestry Conference, St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin. See page 16.

28 A Communion of Tribes: Congregations and their Gifts for Ministry with Young Adults, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Austin Presbyterian Seminary. $75 for two people, $85 for three. To register, contact Kim Hearn at khearn@thefund.org.

26 Walking with Jesus, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by the Rev. Rob Price, St. Dunstan’s, Houston. For questions, please call Sheila Bahr, 281.440.1600.

April 4

Trinkets and Treasures Sale, St. James’, LaGrange, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. 156 N. Monroe, in La Grange, TX 78945. Contact Jkbalch@aol.com for more information or to donate items.

17-19 The Youth Ministry Conference at Camp Allen. Contact Erin McClure, emcclure@ epicenter.org or Ewart Jones, ejones@epicenter.org or call 713.520.6444 for details.

17-19 Women’s Retreat, “In Their Footsteps: Women of Faith,” sponsored by Calvary, Richmond, Heartland Country Inn, Brenham, TX. Contact Ruth Carrell 281.610.0247 or samruthc@sbcglobal.net.

Integrity Houston Eucharist

Houston Area: June 6, 2009, Episcopal High School, Houston 24-26 Happening #127 and YES #95 at Camp Allen weekend renewal retreats for junior high and senior high students. Contact Erin McClure, emcclure@epicenter.org or Ewart Jones, ejones@epicenter.org or call 71.520.6444 for details.

27 Kerygma Program Adult Bible Studies training for adult leaders at St. Christopher, 2800 Trimmier Road, Killeen, 10-3 p.m. Cost is $25 per person, $100 maximum per church which includes lunch and workshop materials. Register online at www.kerygma.com/ Workshops/Registeronline.htm or call 800.537.9462. E-mail explore@kerygma.com for more information.

29-30 Joan Chittister and Richard Rohr, on “Men, Women and War,” sponsored by Brigid’s Place, Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave., Houston. See brigidsplace@brigidsplace. org for more information.

May 1-2 The Diocesan ECVA Art Show - St. Martin’s, Houston. Information at www.epicenter. org.

1-3 Crosspointes leadership training. Crosspointes Charter Weekend is a stand alone or prerequisite opportunity to the six follow up, one-day modules which occur during the year.

The Crosspointes Charter Weekend begins on Friday, at 6:30 p.m. with dinner. The session for clergy will end on Saturday, May 2 at 4:30 p.m. The lay session will continue through Sunday, May 3 and will conclude by 1 p.m. The cost is $175 for clergy for one night and $250 for lay for two nights. Contact Julie Heath at 713.353.2125 for questions.

8-10 Young Adult Pilgrimage to the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, Boston, MA. Contact Erin McClure, emcclure@epicenter.org or Ewart Jones, ejones@epicenter.org or call 71.520.6444 for details.

June 6

Celebration of the Ministry of Bishop Don Wimberly and Wendy Wimberly, Camp Allen, 5-8 p.m. More information to come.

21-27 Christian Leadership Conference at St. Stephen’s School, Austin. Contact Erin McClure, emcclure@epicenter.org or Ewart Jones, ejones@epicenter.org or call 71.520.6444 for details.

Spring Workshops for Christian Formation Those involved in Christian Formation and Education programs in the local church are invited to attend one or both of the Spring Christian Formation Workshops.

Information and registration forms are available at www.epicenter.org under Christian

(followed by dinner)

Formation. Meet others who share in your ministry, exchange ideas, learn how to

Golding Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral

Godly Play sessions alive and interesting. For more information, contact Janie Stevens,

Third Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

1117 Texas Avenue, Houston Free Parking in the Cathedral Garage at Texas and San Jacinto

Texas Episcopalian

May 16, 2009, St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin

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put out a quality program with no funds, manage classrooms, and learn how to keep Missioner for Christian Formation at 713.520.6444 or e-mail jstevens@epicenter.org.

Just a Paycheck Away L

et’s call him Dave.

He’s a piano tuner and salesman who lost his job about six months ago. Then the youngest of his three children got a very bad case of pneumonia and serious bilateral ear infections that ended in a week-long hospitalization. Dave’s wife—let’s call her Stella—missed so many days of work to be at the hospital with her sick child that she was eventually fired.

They have no health insurance.

Within three months the mounting medical bills forced them to move from their modest home. The hospital and doctor’s office remind them of the balance monthly with pages and pages of itemized bills and recorded phone messages.

Within two months of living with Stella’s mother, she and Dave could no longer take the constant criticism and haranguing (“It’s all his fault. I told you not to marry him.

He’s such a loser!”), and so they moved into a hotel. They’ve been there for three weeks.

The hotel manager was tender-hearted and only charged them $80 ($92 with tax) a night for a suite with a king-sized bed, bathroom, two folding cots and a small galley kitchen.

By the grace of God, the forces of good cosmic alignment, and Dave’s obvious skill and talent, he was able to get a job three weeks ago. They’ve been scraping by on unemployment checks, the generosity of a few sympathetic relatives and some Shop Rite gift certificates I’ve given them. Miraculously, Dave saved up enough money for the first and last month’s rent on an apartment, and his brother paid for the deposit.

They were supposed to move in today, but the apartment won’t be ready for two more weeks. They have money enough left only for food. Dave called me in a panic.

“I have nothing left, Rev. Elizabeth,” he practically sobbed into the phone. “I don’t know where to turn. I thought the worst was behind us. And now…this? What am I supposed to do? I feel like I’ve been sucker-punched. I feel sick to my stomach.”

“Sit tight,” I said, “and don’t panic.” I explained that I would come by before going home and see what I could arrange with the hotel manager.

It’s an old Howard Johnson Motel with the HoJo Restaurant attached. It’s not called that anymore, of course.

It’s the Wellesley Inn—owned and operated by the Patel family, from India.

The Wellesley is out on Route 10, hiding modestly, if not with some embarrassment, among towering Hiltons and Hyatt Regencies and pleasantly landscaped Courtyard Marriotts, in and among strip malls packed with computer stores and Rite Aids and Subway Shops and Chili’s and IHOP Restaurants.

Those who zoom by in their SUVs or Lexuses faster than the 55 mile-an-hour speed limit probably never even notice it is there. They probably never wonder who belongs to the cars parked outside. They certainly wouldn’t guess

that this is home for anyone like Dave and Stella and their three kids. I know I didn’t.

Turns out, I was able to provide some financial help with this last bit of the family’s journey on the road back to “normal”—whatever that means. It certainly meant a great

deal to Dave, who thanked me profusely. So did his wife, who held their baby close to her in the cool of the early evening. I heard the congestion in the baby’s cough and noted the worried look on Stella’s face.

Anxiety is a constant companion when you are poor.

It lurks around every corner, just waiting to steal your one moment of happiness. It seems you are always on edge when you live on the brink of impending disaster.

But, here’s the thing, the thing that really got me.

Dave pulled me aside and whispered, “I hate to ask you this.

You’ve been so kind and so helpful. I hate to impose.”

“Sure, Dave,” I said quietly, noting that even my anxiety was rising. I, too, began to fear the worst.

“Oh, it’s not us,” he said, “We’ll be fine. My faith may have been shaken, but I trust in your faith. You’ve been a rock.” He took a deep breath and then he said, “It’s this guy… actually…it’s this family. They are in a worse predicament than we are. He needs so much help. He’s a construction worker, and you know what it’s like in that business.

Especially in this economy.” Dave shifted his weight back and forth before he spoke, “I wonder…I mean…could you talk to him?”

“Talk to him? Well, sure, Dave.” I paused, hating the way this was going to sound, “What do you think he needs?”

Dave didn’t skip a beat, “Hope,” he said. “The guy needs hope. He’s got some resources, but he doesn’t really know how to use them. He’s so lost, he can’t see the forest for the trees. More than anything, the guy needs hope. He’s drowning in this place. In his fear. In his desperation. You can give him hope. It’s what you do. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. You called. You gave me encouragement. You helped me strategize. I think you may be able to help him.”

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“Look, Dave,” I started, I’d love to talk with him, but…”

“Oh, no, I don’t mean right now. I mean, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to come to your church tomorrow. I’d like to bring the wife and kids. And, I’d like to bring this guy and his wife and kids. If that’s okay. I mean, we’re not members of your church, and we certainly owe you more than we’ll ever be able to give, but we’d be good visitors.” He laughed at his own goofy joke. “Is that okay?

I don’t know if I can convince him to come with us, but I’ll try. Could you maybe talk to him after church?”

“Of course, Dave,” I said, suddenly aware that my face felt hot with my own embarrassment. I got halfway to my car before my shame overwhelmed me and I felt my eyes well up with tears. I had been sure I was going to be hustled for more money.

I hadn’t realized it, but the best resource I had provided Dave was exactly what he wanted for his “neighbor.” Not money.

Hope.

We all want it, don’t we? It’s all any of us really want.

Hope.

I had been so consumed with details of Christmas I had missed the “holy family” right in my midst.

You know, if we tell the truth, we are all just a paycheck—or two or three, if we are lucky—from living at the Wellesley Inn on Route 10. We’re all just two or three paychecks away from criticism and haranguing and the shame of believing that if you are an American, living in the land of opportunity, and you are in need, you are a total and complete failure and you deserve your lot.

The best commodity the church has is not money for outreach or mission. It’s hope. It’s the kind of hope that comes out of relationships—relationships that are increasingly difficult to have in a culture which promotes solid cedar fences that reportedly make good neighbors.

It’s a society that still endorses “rugged individualism” and blesses it with cell phones and “blue tooths.”

We are all just two or three paychecks away from losing it all, and the church stands guard there, at the brink of isolation and fear, offering relationships and being an agent of hope.

No line item in the annual budget for that, and yet it’s probably one of the most important things we, as a church and as individuals, will do this or any year.

Because we’re all just a paycheck away from needing hope more than anything else in the whole world.

E. M. Kaeton is a widely published author and the rector of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, Chatham, New Jersey.

Reprinted from Forward Movement with permission. Pamphlets of this article may be ordered from Forward Movement by phone at 1.800.543.1813 or online at www.forwardmovement.org.

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The Economics of Faith

By E.M. Kaeton

The Economics of Faith

Losing a Job By the Rev. Thomas L. Ehrich

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n writing about job loss, I should start by playing the music of Bach, Handel, Mozart or Beethoven, all of whom lost jobs and yet managed to keep on composing.

Pondering the pantheon of notable job losers, however, rarely helps when the ax falls on your own professional neck.

So I’ll just tell the story without drawing any satisfaction from being in good company with the likes of Francis of Assisi, who was fired by his own monastic order.

Over forty years of professional life, I have lost four jobs. Each loss was different, each was traumatic at the time, and yet, in retrospect, each was a liberation.

In the first, I had reached the peak of my interest and therefore my competence in an up-or-out profession, daily newspaper reporting. The day that ax fell was my lowest point since Eleanor had dumped me on New Year’s Eve in eighth grade. I felt ashamed, uprooted, emotionally paralyzed and cut off from friends. My then-girlfriend told me, “I guess this means I can’t count on you, can I?” Those harsh words seemed to sum it up.

It would be six years before I celebrated my escape from that boring career and understood that I was a stronger person for having failed.

The second termination came two decades later, when I lost a leadership battle at a large church and resigned. In walking away, I saved my marriage, saved my health, saved my faith, but lost what had seemed a promising, sky-isthe-limit career. The aftermath was a financial disaster, culminating with a sheriff delivering foreclosure papers.

But two things happened. First, on the Sunday after I left this pulpit, my three-year-old son and I went for a morning walk, and he said to me, “Daddy, let me tell you

about God.” Second, I retooled for another career, moved my family to a smaller house, and soon was “living by my wits,” as I put it, stitching together four jobs, developing skills as a business consultant, regaining my confidence, and discovering life outside the institutional church. My writing became deeper. More than ever, I had something to say.

The third loss came nine years later, when a technology company three of us had grown to twenty-two employees stubbed its toes, missed some deals, lost its star client and needed to shed overhead. I wasn’t the first to go or the last.

In the end, twenty-two shrank to four. It was a great run, I had learned a lot, and I felt confident about testing my own entrepreneurial wings.

Most recently, after moving my enterprise to New York City, landing a new client, and then joining the staff of that church, I joined millions of others as a victim of the 2008-and-beyond recession. Faced with a staggering deficit brought on by a collapse of giving by parishioners, I was shifted from full-time staff to half-time consultant. I am actually glad for the opportunity to resume doing what I came to New York to do, which is to write, publish and help congregations nurture their health.

Job loss is always an inconvenience and often a financial disaster. Friendships based on work turn out to be based mostly on work. Family members suffer from financial uncertainty and the wage earner’s momentary confusion.

Basics like health insurance need to be renegotiated. Bills accumulate. Retirement savings don’t survive intact. Some deterioration, temporary or permanent, of life-style seems inevitable.

In a job market where many prospective employers prefer unblemished resumes, a job loss can feel like a permanent disability. Sleepless nights occur.

But life goes on. Even before the new path is found, the sun rises, smiles return, loved ones are supportive, zest for living becomes strong again. Financial necessity turns out to be clarifying, not merely bleak. This is especially true in recessionary dislocations, when years of manic spending

come under general scrutiny. One learns to appreciate employers who value resumes with blemishes, because, as anyone who has dealt with failure knows, failure is often a much better teacher than success.

It’s true that job loss takes away certain benefits of a sustained career, such as retirement vesting, a competence See Losing a Job, page 7

Houston Church uses Enron Experience to Respond to Current Economic Woes

By the Rev. Linda Shelton

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recent TV commercial reminds us “It is time to get back to the basics; and the basics are good.”

Though economic downturns are not new in even recent history, the effects often cause many otherwise faithful people to lose their bearings, to become fearful and withdraw from their community when they need it most. It is at times such as this that the church is called to remind people of the basic teachings of our faith, of their worth as God’s beloved, and of our calling to reach out to the world and offer hope.

Palmer Memorial’s rector, the Rev. James W. Nutter, remembered the collapse of Enron in 2001 and drew on lessons learned. Back then, he invited people who were affected to come to a luncheon meeting to tell their stories.

A “coffee house” was created, a place where people could come and talk, network, borrow resource materials and use computers to begin new job searches. Parishioners stepped forward, professional development workshops were offered,

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2009

computer literacy classes began, resumes were polished, jobs were posted on a website, and “Palmer Career Care” was launched. But looking back this month, Palmer parishioner Megan McCready said, “It was the lunch and then the ‘propping up’ that was important. When people lose a job, they feel alone … it was so helpful to have a place where suffering could be acknowledged and we could talk about the anger, fear and disappointment … and then move forward.”

And so, this fall, Nutter again stressed the importance of keeping healthy connections between the church and community. Much like “sheepdogs” working to keep a flock together, clergy intentionally reviewed the parish roster and began an intensive process of contacting parishioners with personal phone calls and letters to “check in” and learn of any needs. He then followed with a series of five sermons entitled “For Just Such a Time—Sermons for Everyday Living” drawing on Esther 4:14 and focusing on “Strength, Faith, and Courage,” and “Tapping into our Roots” so

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that the church can share “Radical Hope in the Here and Now.” Acknowledging the demoralizing and fear-filled environment, Nutter stressed self worth is based on who God created us to be, not on careers or what we own, preaching “our worth is seen in the face of God, the one who gave his son for us” and “at times like this, we are given an opportunity to step up and to get our souls in alignment with God.” We have been called to stand together and to offer hope to a world that needs to hear the good news of God’s abundant love. It is for just such a time as this that the church was created and is called today.

CDs of Nutter’s sermons are available at www.palmerchurch. org.

Shelton is a deacon and member of Palmer Memorial, Houston.

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n our part of the world we have experienced two hurricanes recently. Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and the Houston area in September, and the worldwide financial crisis has devastated investments, cost Texans their jobs and frightened many people into thinking we stand on the edge of an abyss.

Fear is a logical response to chaos, whether natural or manmade. But it should not be our final Christian response.

When I was a seminarian serving at Calvary, Bastrop, John Henry Faulk’s daughter entrusted me with a story about her father, a story about fear. She asked me to tell it to folks whenever they needed it, and now seems like a pretty good time: When John Henry Faulk was a small boy in South Austin, his momma deputized him and one of his friends, Boots Cooper, to go to the hen house and root out a chicken snake that was causing some trouble in there.

Greg Garrett

Now just going in to get some eggs is a scary thing when you are a small person. Chickens have beaks, and mean little eyes and those reptilian-clawed feet. Add a snake into that, and it’s no wonder John Henry and his friend were already a little fearful as they entered the hen house, where there were strange smells and dark shadows, and they moved slowly and cautiously toward the nesting hens, where the eggs would be, and where they’d most likely find a chicken snake if one was to be found.

Sure enough, as they drew near to one of the roosts, hearts pounding, they saw a snake coiled there, and they just about jumped out of their skins.

In their panicked flight, they smacked into the side of the hen house, and then they tumbled out through the door and into the chicken yard, and then, finally, battered and covered with dust, they fled back into the house, the screen door banging behind them, to the great bemusement of John Henry’s mother. She took a look at them—winded, panicked, dirty—and she shook her head.

“Boys,” she said, “that there was just a little ol’ chicken snake. It can’t hurt you.”

“Yes’m,” Boots Cooper said. “Maybe so. But there’s some things’ll scare you so bad, you hurt yourself.”

That’s exactly what happens when we’re scared bad enough—we hurt ourselves. We make decisions out of a place of fear instead of a place of faith.

We forget about the things our Baptismal Covenant calls us to do, how we’re suppose to act, what’s supposed to matter.

Throughout the gospels, Jesus and his miraculous works and ethical teaching are set up in opposition to the backdrop of fear. The Greek root translated as “fear” in the Gospels is phobos (think “phobia”) and it is used over and over again in this context: Jesus is constantly telling his listeners—and us—not to be afraid. “Don’t fear those who can only kill the body,” Matthew 10:28 tells us in one such place, and he immediately repeats, “Do not be afraid” in verse 31. In the Gospel of Mark, we hear “Don’t fear—just believe” (5:36).

And in a necessary adjunct to this teaching of fearlessness, in the Gospel of John, we repeatedly find Jesus speaking of peace; the risen Christ enters and says, “Peace be with you” to those frightened disciples hiding behind locked doors after the Crucifixion (John 20:19).

The Greek word for peace used in John and in the other gospels is “eirene,” a word meaning not just a lack of conflict, not just tranquility, but a sense of freedom from anxiety and worry; a lack of fear.

Don’t fear; just believe.

The peace of Christ drives away fear—or should. In John 14, we see Jesus saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (14:27).

These are powerful words of comfort from our redeemer in hard times. They remind us that whatever storms may assail us, we can get on with the work we are given to do together. We should be realistic about what we can accomplish as the storm’s debris surrounds us, of course.

Unrealistic financial practices are part of what got us into this mess, and we should be prudent and frugal where we must.

But the work of the Church goes on—and needs our time and our resources more than ever.

Contact Garrett at: Greg_Garrett@baylor.edu.

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Losing a Job, Continued from page 6 born in thoroughly knowing the enterprise and the confidence to make long-term commitments. But I have found that other forms of competence emerge, such as nimbleness, an ability to learn new skills, a deeper understanding of other people and self-confidence. And long-term commitments aren’t always a blessing.

My children have benefited from seeing me get beaten up and yet survive, indeed thrive. My wife gets tired of the career uncertainty, but she was even more weary of the career stress that came from trying to hold on to a job. In a way, we are like the farming couple who know deep down that crops come and go, weather rarely cooperates and each partner depends on the other in the shared enterprise of surviving a difficult, often unfair world.

Jesus said nothing about careers, except that anyone who followed him would have a short one. He did say a great deal about not getting hooked on wealth or power and instead learning to live in self-sacrificial community. The two immediate fears upon losing a job are loss of wealth and loss of power (status, sway). The eventual learning, however, is that people will be helpful, money isn’t everything, status is a fickle god, and making one’s way, even a lesser way, can be satisfying.

The overarching lesson, I think, is that we would be wise to go about our work and our lives as if getting fired could happen tomorrow. I don’t mean getting obsessive about work, or lackadaisical, but rather putting work in perspective. A job is a job, not a life.

Reprinted from Forward Movement with permission. Pamphlets of this article may be ordered from Forward Movement by phone at 1.800.543.1813 or online at www.forwardmovement.org.

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The Economics of Faith

By Greg Garrett

Fear and Faith

Fighting financial angst: The Economics of Faith

seven ways to take control

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ith the economy in crisis and foreclosures at an all time high, financial anxiety among Americans seems to be soaring to new heights. In a poll distributed by the American Psychological Association (APA) to more than 1,700 U.S. adults, eight out of 10 surveyed said the economy is a significant cause of stress.

“When there is a sense of uncertainty about the future or when folks feel as if their long-term goals such as retirement or children’s college funds are being threatened, a number of emotions may surface,” says Michael Groat, PhD, a psychologist for the Professionals in Crisis program at The Menninger Clinic in Houston. “We may feel as if we are no longer in control or there may be feelings of anger or lack of trust in our government leaders. All these factors together may make it difficult for people to cope, causing not only emotional distress, but stress related physical ailments as well.”

According to the APA poll, this certainly holds true for Americans surveyed. Many people stated feeling fatigued and suffering from headaches and muscular tension as a result of financial stress.

“It’s not uncommon for people to feel worried about their financial situation and, with the economy in crisis, it’s normal and expected for people to feel even more stressed,” said Susan Heffelfinger, PhD, a psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders in the Menninger Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment Program. “But this added stress can trigger or make depressive symptoms worse. For example, people may feel more irritable, down or fatigued. It’s important to watch that these feelings don’t become overwhelming.”

In addition, Groat also warns about temptations of turning to vices such as overeating, smoking or drinking to ease anxiety and to provide a sense of control.

“I’d encourage people to instead engage in activities of wellness. Exercise is a wonderful antidote for all types of stress,” Groat says.

Seven ways to ease financial anxiety Groat and Heffelfinger offer these tips to ease financial anxiety: • Share your concerns with others. Knowing you’re not the only one stressed and talking through ways to make ends meet can help.

• Get the facts on your financial situation. Take the time to speak with a financial counselor. Don’t shut down and avoid finding out information that will help you take action.

• Problem solve and make a plan with your family.

Now’s the time to make some lifestyle changes and try to reduce your spending. You may need to cut back on going out for dinner or stop excessive use of credit cards. Find things you can exert your control over and

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this may ease some of your anxiety.

• Limit your exposure to the news and negative talk about the financial crisis. An over saturation of information will only lead to increased feelings of helplessness and stress.

• Take time out from the situation. Process the problem and try to work through it, but give yourself permission to let it go for awhile. Focus on a leisure activity that you enjoy.

• Take care of yourself. Often times when people are very stressed, their typical coping strategies can fall by the wayside. Self-care is vital even in times of low stress. Eat right, get enough sleep, take a walk or do something else that rejuvenates you.

• Talk to your children. Children can sense and be reactive to parents’ stress and anxiety, so it’s important to talk with them. Parents can help kids cope by first managing their own anxiety and then sharing a few basic facts in a calm and practical way. Explain that the family needs to cut back on spending and let them know in concrete ways like this means we will be eating at home more often or renting movies instead of going to the theater.

Both doctors warn that if stress or anxiety is overwhelming, causing significant distress or impacting one’s daily functions at work or home, professional help may be needed.

“If a situation is too much to bear by yourself, seek a counselor’s help and gain some perspective on it,” Groat says.

Coping with financial failure Individuals who have suffered major financial loss or bankruptcy face a different emotional challenge.

“We often only think of loss in terms of death, but a significant change in financial status is a loss as well,” Groat said. “We need to acknowledge this as a loss before we can move on. The grieving and recovery may take some time.

“This will be a major transition in how you think about yourself. Money takes on a psychological meaning to us. It’s a tool we use. It not only pays for our means of survival, but our social way of life as well,” he says. “It may take months or sometimes even years to adjust to your new financial state.”

Groat encourages those suffering from financial loss to explore ways to continue to have a meaningful life.

“Take stock of your life,” He says. “You may discover you have a new set of priorities now – your health, your personal relationships, the way you see others. When put into a different financial situation, people often discover a new way of life in accordance with a different set of resources.”

Reprinted with permission from The Menninger Clinic

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Top five tips for dealing with the emotional cost of foreclosure Realty experts are saying that more than $200 billion in adjustable rate mortgages were scheduled to reset during the second half of 2008. Many Americans face the harsh reality of foreclosure.

For most people, their homes are not just a place to live. Homes tie people to the community and social activities, to the familiar faces of neighbors, to friends and to a sense of belonging. Foreclosure brings with it, not only the loss of one’s home, but also a myriad of emotions.

“Foreclosure means there has been a breach in financial security and that’s very scary. Losing a home also brings up issues of abandonment, rejection and isolation for the entire family,” says Edythe Harvey, MD, medical director of The Menninger Clinic’s Hope Program. “Even a planned move is considered a huge stressor for most people; so when you are being forced into a move because of foreclosure, it can trigger all sorts of feelings.”

Just as there are ways to deal with the financial ramifications of foreclosure, there are also ways to work through the emotional side of it. Harvey offers the following tips: • Acknowledge your feelings. When we withhold our emotions, negative pileup occurs. Find someone to talk to or use a creative outlet such as writing or drawing to express your feelings.

• Avoid connecting negative thoughts to your feelings. Instead of the notion, “I am a bad person for letting this happen,” try focusing on more productive thinking, “This is a bad experience, but I am going to work hard to remedy the situation.”

• Live in the moment. While we need to learn from the past and plan for the future, regret and anxiety over things we have no control of is wasted energy.

Take each day as it comes. Apply the lessons you have learned to today’s situations.

• Reassure your family. If you have children, help them identify their feelings about moving. Assure them that although you are sad to be leaving your home, you are going to work hard to make sure your new home will be as nice as you can make it.

• Ask for help. If you think you are in over your head, seek out assistance.

“People get caught up in not reaching out for support, especially emotional support. For some reason, it is seen as a sign of weakness. That’s just not so. There are times when we all need a little help,” Harvey said.

Reprinted with permission from The Menninger Clinic.

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

By S. Stringer at first sight with the church. I hadn’t been a churchgoer at

My position also had a specified end date, signaling loss of

a nightmare? And you realize you’ve invested

the time, and to my great surprise I became active in this one.

income, no worthwhile job prospects, and less severance pay

your heart, soul and mind in an enterprise that

My interests grew beyond my career when ministries like

than originally promised.

has lost its heart? And the mega-corporation you work for

choir, vestry, stewardship, Education For Ministry, teaching

disintegrates in disgrace before a worldwide audience? And

and the daily lectionary became essential components of my

your very identity is threatened?

life. My husband and I were received into the Episcopal

These are the questions I started wrestling with beginning in 2001, as I witnessed the unthinkable implosion of two

Church, and through participation in this loving community of faith I began to see the world differently.

world class companies, both of which had been sources of

I also began to see myself differently, which is why a

great pride, meaningful employment and ample income for

new set of questions formed in my mind and heart when my

me and for many of my colleagues.

workplace crisis first began. Instead of acting out of concern

“My faith was not an inoculation against the fear I felt when almost fired, it was the antidote to the humiliation and despair that followed.”

Actually, some of these questions began a year earlier

to save a potentially ruined career, I wondered what God was

when, for the first time in my career, I faced serious

calling me to do next. The notion of “vocation” replaced

Alongside these losses, though, were the grains of wheat

consequences (instead of praise) for attempting to modify

the concept of “career” when I considered my work in the

that died and began to bear surprising fruit. Some were

what I believed were erroneous business practices. Thinking

world.

a little scary at first, but in time they ripened and became

they were merely the result of innocence and ignorance, I

Although my faith was not an inoculation against

was devastated to discover that it was I who was confused.

the fear I felt when almost fired, it was the antidote to the

A skewed set of “rules” were in operation, and my refusal

humiliation and despair that followed. This gift of faith

to abide by them converted me from an asset to a liability.

provided the lens through which I reflected on that painful

Editor’s note: The Rev. Stacy Stringer was ordained to the

Instead of being fired I was removed from my position and

personal event and also the impending destruction of the

priesthood at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston on February

tasked with creating a new division in the company, one in

entire company. Through this Christ-lens I squinted for signs

7, 2009.

which transparency was deemed necessary for its success.

of new life. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and

The result was a highly productive, harmonious, creative,

dies, it remains just

ethical group of individuals who achieved the prescribed

a single grain; but

business goals.

if it dies, it bears

Nevertheless, larger, destructive forces were in motion

delicious. Praise be to Christ, the one in whom we find our true identity and destiny.

much fruit.”

and the company collapsed. Those of us who had spent

I

prayed

years in the oil and gas or “energy” industries had already

for

weathered waves of lay-offs, which came to be known by

wisdom to “seek and

other names, such as “workforce reductions,” “downsizings,”

serve Christ in all

“restructurings” and “rightsizing.” But this was different.

persons, loving my

The causes of this company crisis were insidious and more

neighbor as myself ”

complex than in prior “downturns.” The extent of these

in

losses was unimaginable.

environment.

strength

the

and

difficult My

In the past, my response to hints of upcoming “belt-

baptismal covenant

tightening” activities at the office was to work harder and

gave me a deep sense

quickly update my resume while contacting friends, mentors

of purpose, as did my

and prospective employers. But I was already working too

attempts to improve

many hours and there were no other jobs this time, for

the

the company’s crash created ripples that reached the entire

termination process

industry. Furthermore, something else was different this

in ways that would

time: I was different.

extend

employee

gratitude

A few years earlier I had attended my first Episcopal

and dignity to those

service as a favor for a dear friend and unwittingly fell in love

losing their jobs.

A men carries boxes as he leaves the Enron headquarters in downtown Houston in 2001. -Photo: Reuters

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The Economics of Faith

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hat do you do when your dream job becomes

DIOCESAN NEWS

Council, Continued from page 1 First Hispanic Parish

Foundations and Budgets

The diocese admitted two congregations as parishes, one of which is the first Hispanic congregation in the Episcopal Church to attain the self-sustaining status, San Mateo, Houston. The other is St. Francis, College Station, one of the congregations served by Bishop Doyle earlier in his ministry. Delegates also approved a combined $12.3 million for the Diocesan and Missionary Budgets.

Diocesan treasurer Bob Biehl reported that $205,000 had been received in donations for Hurricane Ike recovery efforts. This, is in addition to grants of $1 million each from the Bishop Quin Foundation and the Episcopal Foundation of Texas, will aid parishes affected by the hurricane. He said that the diocese’s three foundations, although suffering from the financial markets decline, performed better than the market as a whole and “remain in strong financial condition.”

Council approved a $9,309,000 Diocesan Budget (which includes $4,338,000 in health insurance) and a $3,060,000 Missionary Budget. The Missionary budget includes support to missions, college ministries, new church plants and a host of outreach programs. Even though the Missionary Budget reflects a sharp decrease in voluntary giving and falls $2 million short of the requested $5,096,157, Bishop Doyle thanked delegates for their stewardship and sacrificial giving in light of the current economy.

“It is a time of great testing for the church financially, yet the church must rise to the challenge, understanding that it is by grace that we minister to God’s people and that all that is needed will be provided when we are faithful to His calling and mission.”

Bishop Doyle In his remarks to Council, Bishop Doyle announced a series of “town hall” meetings this spring to help prioritize goals for his episcopacy in consultation with members church.

Speaking of the Church’s upcoming General Convention in July, Bishop Doyle reaffirmed his leadership in “harmony with the Windsor Report” and stated his belief in the importance of securing a Covenant as a “’vital element in strengthening the life of the Communion.’” (Primates Communique, 16). He challenged church members to focus on “missionary leadership” and to “seek unity over division.”

Echoing the Windsor Report, Bishop Doyle said, “the church is to be ‘an anticipatory sign of God’s healing and restorative future of the world.’ Like it or not, our diversity is representative of God’s kingdom and the Church’s restorative mission is intimately contingent upon how we walk into the years that are before us as a unified people of God.”

Bishop Coadjutor Andy Doyle and Wendy Wimberly

Legacy Gift Bishop Wimberly and his wife Wendy received Bishops’ Awards for Ministry in honor of their many years of service. Bishop Wimberly was ordained to the priesthood in 1971 and served parishes in New York, Louisiana, Kansas and Florida before becoming Bishop of Lexington. Following his retirement there, he served as assistant bishop in Texas for three years before being elected Bishop of Texas in 2002.

To honor Bishop Wimberly’s focus on raising up Christcentered leaders, Bishop Doyle announced the creation of The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly Fund for Leadership that will ensure educational programs will endure and be available to all. “Creating this legacy in his honor will enrich our diocese for future generations and will communicate our love and gratitude,” Bishop Doyle said.

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Resolutions/Constitution and Canons No resolutions were put forward this year although courtesy resolutions from both of the bishops’ addresses were approved. The more than 714 clergy and elected delegates approved a Constitutional amendment to change remaining references to St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital to St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System and another (on first reading) that would allow lay vicars in charge of a parish a place at Diocesan Council.

Delegates approved a canonical amendment to authorize the bishop to designate the bishop coadjutor, bishop Suffragan or assistant bishop to serve ex officio on the board or as chair of entities that include the Quin Foundation, St. Stephen’s School and St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System Corporation (Canon 4, section 4.9).

Changes to Canon 5 were also approved. These would update names of various ministries (sec. 5.1, 5.2 and 5.5); provides for convocational deans and division chairs to attend Executive Board meetings as requested by the Board instead of serving with voice, but without vote (5.3); and give the Division of Finance authority to request annual reports from various divisions organized by the Executive Board (5.6).

Elections Secretary The Rev. John A. Logan, Jr. Treasurer Bob Biehl Standing Committee Clint Capers, St. Alban’s, Waco The Rev. Sean Cox, St. Andrew’s, Bryan Executive Board Evelyn Allen, St. Luke the Evangelist, Houston Lou Barron, Trinity, The Woodlands Samuel Dodson, St. James’, Houston The Rev. Justin Lindstrom, St. Aidan’s, Cypress The Rev. Al Rodriquez, St. John’s, Austin Church Corporation

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Audra Patterson

Peter Boyd, Christ Church, Tyler Trustee to the University of the South Sandra Wilkens, St. Martin’s, Houston and St. Peter’s, Lago Vis

Youth Presence Audra Patterson (above), a high school senior from Roundtop, told the assembly that diocesan youth events helped strengthen her faith life when there weren’t many teens at her church. She described attending her first junior high retreat, shy and unsure, but found she was “quickly accepted.” Although they didn’t live nearby, these new friends remained close and the events provided a deeper connection with God. It was easy to pick up where you left off from one event to another, Patterson said. As she prepares to attend college, the one thing she is sure of is her continued participation in the Episcopal Church, she added.

Companion Diocese Study Bishop Doyle also asked delegates to approve the study of a companion relationship with the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi. “As we undertake this vision of One Church across continents [we must realize] that we are the ones to be changed by this process,” he said.

New Parishes Two congregations were granted parish status at the 160th Council. St. Francis, College Station and San Mateo, Houston. San Mateo’s rector, the Rev. Alejandro Montes said the parish was grateful to the Anglo congregation who planted the congregation in Southwest Houston in 1951.

More than 100 parishioners paraded with horns and great fanfare up the aisles of the Council floor singing and waving banners in a collective celebration. Members of St. Francis also joined the festivities as Bishop Doyle stood with them.

They carried a cross that was used in procession more than

DIOCESAN NEWS

Council, Continued from page 10

Townhall Meetings,

During this six years, almost all congregations have a designated outreach coordinator as a response to Bishop Wimberly’s vision. The diocese now has permanent deacons and many additional bi-vocational priests allowing each congregation, no matter how small, to have a sacramental presence. The Diocesan Center has new quarters in downtown Houston adjacent to the Cathedral, and a leadership academy has been established San Mateo, Houston to provide trained, 25 years ago when the church was first organized.

Christ-centered leaders throughout the diocese in a number Council voted to close several congregations, which of programs including the Iona School for Ministry, Wardens were no longer viable. These included St. Joseph’s, Houston, and Vestry Conferences and Crosspointes. During Bishop where the Canon for Multicultural Ministry and the bishop Wimberly’s tenure the diocese has built two churches, St. made extensive efforts towards reconciliatioon within Aidan’s, Cypress, and St. Catherine’s of Sienna, Missouri the congregation that proved unsuccessful; a fellowship City, and plans two more in Austin. Nine missions have at St. George’s, Gatesville, where efforts to revive the become parishes. And multicultural ministry has grown on small congregation were not successful; and Holy Trinity, all levels.

Austin, where too few members remained to reconstitute Throughout the continuing division in the Church over a congregation following the departure of the rector and a issues of sexuality, the Diocese of Texas has remained unified majority of members of the congregation in August, 2008. and has provided a model for the Church nationally. “A “Episcopal congregations nearby invited the few remaining bishop does none of these things alone but is the symbol members of Holy Trinity to join them,” explained Bob of the Church’s work,” Bishop Wimberly told delegates Schorr, coordinator of Congregational Development for the and clergy. “This is your work. And, I am thankful for the diocese. “We wanted to focus our energy and resources on stewardship you have given to the glory of God that has the three church development projects underway in Austin, allowed me to work with an excellent staff – along with you including St. Philips, St. Julians of Norich and a new plant – to whom I am eternally grateful for the many efforts that in Manor.” made our labors fruitful to me and they illustrated to me how deep our love between people of the diocese and their Lasting Legacy bishop can run. I am a blessed man.”

Bishop Wimberly began and ended his Council address with words from Paul’s letter to the Romans.

It was the same Scripture reading that framed his first Council address in 2003.

“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; out do one another in showing honor.

Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13.

He gave a brief synopsis of his six years as diocesan including: General Convention 2003, The Windsor Report, embezzlement, and two hurricanes: Rita and Ike. “We have held fast to what is good when it was far easier to let go,” he said. “We have celebrated the hope of our future together, lived through our fair share of tribulation and yet, together, we have persevered in prayer. And, through that prayer our eyes have been Bishop Don Wimberly congraduates San Mateo’s rector, the Rev. opened to possibilities and we have taken them.”

Continued from page 1 attend, or who have further comments, to participate fully.

The five categories identified during an extensive visioning process in 2007/2008 include: Christian formation, leadership development, youth ministry, outreach and multicultural ministry. The diocesan staff, which functions as a resource for congregations, is aligned to respond to these topics, established by the members of the Church.

“We want to make sure we are responsive in our mission and ministry,” said Bishop Doyle. This is a bottom up process, not a top down style of deciding what form our ministry takes. We want to get this right.”

Anyone who is interested in learning more or in sharing their thoughts is welcome to attend any of the meetings.

Meet Bishop Coadjutor Andy Doyle and learn a bit about our next bishop, add your voice to help set the course of our future ministry in the diocese and beyond. Attend any of the following gatherings.

Houston, March 1 2:30 p.m.

John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., 713.622.3600 Round Rock, March 8 3:00 p.m.

St. Richard’s , 1420 E. Palm Valley Blvd. 512.255.5436 Nacogdoches, March 22 4:00 p.m.

Christ Church, 502 E. Starr Ave., 936.564.0421 Sugar Land, March 29 3:00 p.m.

Holy Cross, 5653 W. River Park Dr. 281.633.2000 (In Spanish) Houston, April 5 3:30 p.m.

San Mateo, 6635 Alder Drive, 713.664.7792 Austin, April 15

7:00 p.m.

St. David’s, 304 E. 7th St., 512.472.1196 Waco, May 3 2:30 p.m.

St. Alban’s, 305 N. 30th St., 254.752.1773 (In Spanish) Austin, May 7 7:00 p.m.

El Buen Samaritano, 7000 Woodhue Dr., 512.439.0700 La Marque, May 24 2:30 p.m.

St. Michael’s, 1601 Lake Rd., 409.935.3559 Houston, May 27 7:00 p.m.

Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave., 713.222.2593 Beaumont, May 31 3:00 p.m.

St. Stephen’s, 4090 Delaware St., 409.892.4227 Tyler, June 4 7:00 p.m.

St. Francis, 3232 Jan Ave., 903.593.8459 The Woodlands, June 21 3:00 p.m.

Trinity, 3901 S. Panther Creek Dr., 281.367.8113 Bryan, June 28 4:00 p.m.

St. Andrew’s, 217 W. 26th St., 979.822.5176

Alejandro Montes.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Clockwise: Bishop Don Wimberly and Bishop Nathan Baxter (Diocese of Central Pennsylvania) at the opening service; the Rev. Bill Fowler at the podium; San Mateo celebrates parish status; clergy gather for processional; exhibit area; and Bishop Baxter preaching.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Clockwise: Galveston Relief Coordinator Maggie Immler in the Exhibits area; consecrating wine and host at opening Eucharist; Bishop Don Wimberly and Rebecca Sweitzer; voting delegate; delegates and clergy from more than 150 churches attended Council; the Rev. Desmond Goonesekera, St. Cuthbert, Houston; the Rev. Canon Ann Normand in procession; young members of St. Francis, College Station, celebrating parish status.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

“Starry Nights” Hits Vergers to Hold Austin Seminar Downtown Austin V ergers from throughout the diocese will gather at St. John’s, Austin, on April 25 for their seventh annual gathering.

Speakers include syndicated columnist Austin Bay, a member of All Saints’, Austin; the Rev. Al Rodrigues, rector of St. John’s; and Paul Brinsden, acolyte master at Good Shepherd, Kingwood. Bay is a radio commentator and a developmental aid advocate as well as a member of the diocesan Commission of World Mission. Rodriguez is a former director of the Episcopal social service agency in Austin, El Buen Samaritano

and a member of the Commission on Hispanic Ministries. Topics include living lives in Christ and prayer. Registration is $45, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Students at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest may attend at no cost but a registration form must be received by April 2. Please mail registration forms and payment to Peggy Metcalf, 4609 University Oaks Blvd, Houston, TX 77004 Brochure and registration form are at: www. texasvergers.org.

Altar Guild Retains Disappearing Arts Annual Retreat, Camp Allen, March 18-21 “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands – O prosper the work of our hands! “ Psalm 90 verse 17

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his year, the annual Altar Guild meeting is open to all groups and persons with an interest in liturgical arts. The conference is a valuable tool for all parishes in the diocese.

“Join us as we renew our spirits, enrich our minds and inspire our hands in learning those arts which are quickly being lost in the twenty-first century,” said Katrina Packard, Altar Guild Directress. “Participants may learn a craft they will enjoy for years to come and also have the pleasure of creating beautiful works of art for their parishes!” she said.

Participants will be working, sharing and enjoying the company of others with like interests: altar guild members, vergers, flower committees, Episcopal men and women and spouses.

Four workshops will be led by some of the finest artisans in their fields:

Izzy Kerr and Tommy Holstein at last year’s gala in Austin.

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hine your boots and star your calendar for the April 30th Starry Nights and Campfire Lights gala at Sarrangarude Halle in Austin, next door to that old favorite, Scholz’s Garten. This will be the second annual Austin gathering to benefit programs of Camp Allen and will honor Bishop Don Wimberly and his wife Wendy prior to the bishop’s retirement June 6. Event chairs Ashley and Miles Brandon and Kimberly and Kelly Koonce have planned a spicy Tex-Mex dinner; snappy live auction called by Evan Smith, president and editor of Texas Monthly Texas Episcopalian

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magazine; and toe-tapping bluegrass music

by Austin’s own Onion Creek Crawdaddies.

The Wimberlys have touched legions of people throughout their long and exemplary careers and are especially loved in the Diocese of Texas and at Camp Allen.

So what are you waiting for? Star that date and make plans to kick up your heels for a big time celebration beginning at 6:30 pm. For tickets (which start at $100), or for more information, contact Lauren Day at laurend@campallen.org or 866.334.2267 (toll free). Y’all Come!

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Elaine Martin, from the Diocese of West Texas, is teaching Patricia Crane’s class on stitching and caring for linens. Many years ago, Pat Crane wrote her book, With These Hands, and is a regular presenter at the Liturgical Arts at Kanuga, North Carolina.

The book, along with the beginner kit with everything to make two small linens will be available with this class.

Michelle Robert, master stitcher, has designed canvases for many kneelers, needlepoint and authored numerous books is teaching the needlepoint of a stole insert. She will have the materials and instructions necessary to complete a priest’s stole.

Alice Scarborough, a master at restoring old linens, will guide participants through mending, patching and darning valuable aging pieces.

Mary Virginia Loehman, from the Diocese of West Texas, will teach a workshop on knitting beanies for preemies.

Daily worship is an integral part of the retreat. “We will have an opening service to bless our hands prior to beginning our work,” Packard said. The Rev. Lacy Largent will lead evening spiritual enrichment sessions.

There will also be free time to canoe, hike or horseback ride. Packard will also lead an afternoon workshop in crocheting rope

cinctures for those who are interested.

The workshop fees are separate from the conference fees and spouses are encouraged to attend either as participants or nonparticipants. Bring your old, tired linens and vestments for the bonfire and your old, tired spirit for renewal during this special event.

“It is my sincere hope and prayer that this workshop will grow, bring many groups together and in time, expand to include other liturgical works like weaving, embroidery and canvas work: all those wonderful lost arts which we all enjoy,” Packard said.

Groups may be housed together in a cabin – based on first come – first served For more information, please contact Katrina Packard 979.743.4574 or email: kdpwall@cvtv.net.

DIOCESAN NEWS

Lenten Resource Online Lenten Blog A Lenten Blog is available for all interested persons from the Division of Christian Formation with daily Scriptural reflections and an opportunity to participate with others electronically through personal responses. Each week different Scripture will be posted and participants may choose how often or how many portions they want to do.

Julio Gavancho graduated from Texas State Technical College in Waco in 2006 and is now attending Austin Community College studying engineering technology. Gavancho is the first of his family to ever attend college.

College Scholarships available for Episcopal Hispanic Students

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he Jovenes Episcopales College Scholarship Fund (JECSF) awards scholarships to high school graduates who plan to attend programs in universities, community colleges and technical training schools. The basic requirements include participation in an Episcopal Church, two letters of recommendation (one from applicant’s priest), a statement of educational goals, high school transcript and a letter of admission from the university, college or technical school. For an application from JECSF, contact the Rev. Jaime Case, Center for Hispanic Ministries, P.O. Box 2247, Austin, Texas 78768. Students can request an application by email to dtrevino@epicenter.org. The application deadline is August 1, 2009 for the Fall 2009 semester. Other scholarships are available from JECSF.

These may be done individually, at church or in small groups using the Internet or by printing copies to share. “We hope that this online study will help folks who, for many reasons, may not be able to participate in a Bible study at their church,” said Janie Stevens, diocesan Christian Formation missioner. The site became live on Ash Wednesday, February 25 and new postings will be published each Wednesday during Lent. Go to: http://edotchristianformation. blogspot.com/.

The Days of Lent, A Lenten Curriculum A Lenten Christian Formation curriculum will be posted to the website at www. epicenter.org/christianformation beginning

on Ash Wednesday. The six week curriculum is suitable for all ages and can be downloaded and printed out as needed.

Spring Workshops for Christian Formation Those involved in Christian Formation and Education programs in the local church are invited to attend one or both of the Spring Christian Formation Workshops. Information and registration forms are in the brochure. Meet others who share in your ministry, exchange ideas, learn how to put out a quality program with no funds, manage classrooms, and learn how to keep Godly Play sessions alive and interesting. For more information, contact Janie Stevens, Missioner for Christian Formation at jstevens@epicenter.org.

Christian Educators Gather in San Antonio

Spiritual Direction School Accepting Applications

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ormation in Direction (FIND), a diocesan school that trains people to become spiritual directors, is accepting applications until June 15 for the next class, which will begin in September.

FIND is an ecumenical, three-year course.

Classes meet the third Saturday of each month September-May at St. Andrew’s, 217 W. 26 St., Bryan. Along with an application and letters of support, a discernment process for potential students includes a mandatory retreat at Camp Allen, July 24-26.

Spiritual directors are those who “companion” others on their journey toward a deeper relationship with God. FIND teaches the history of Christian spirituality, the psychology of spirituality,

a variety of prayer techniques and the art and techniques of spiritual direction.

Clergy who take the course are eligible for 12 continuing education credits a year.

In addition to being commissioned as spiritual directors upon completion of the course, graduates also may serve as educational resources for their congregations by supervising group spiritual direction, planning and leading retreats, offering prayer and spirituality presentations and leading prayer groups.

For more information, contact Kathleen Phillips, director, 979.324.4302, finddirectr@yahoo.com or visit the Web site at www.f-in-d.org.

Janie Stevens (pictured standing) , diocesan Christian Formation Missioner, presented a workshop at the recent National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors (NAECED) annual conference in San Antonio in February. Nearly 100 educators from across the country gathered to share resources and discuss resolutions for the Church’s triennial General Convention, set for July 8-17 in Anaheim, CA.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

EDS offers General Convention Course Online Diocese Plans Multiple Sites

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o help new delegates and interested others learn more about the governance of the Episcopal Church, Episcopal Divinity School professors Ed Rodman and Ian Douglas will offer their popular General Convention course as an intensive mini-course June 1-5, 2009, from 2-4 p.m. daily.

The Diocese of Texas has worked with EDS to make the class available locally at no charge and will host several sites around the diocese for groups to gather, including the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin and the Diocesan Center in Houston.

The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church will meet in Anaheim, California in July 2009. This triennial event determines the priorities, the mission, the ministry and sets the direction for the Church over the next three years. “The General Convention of the Episcopal Church: Conflict, Covenant, and Community” introduces students to the history of this institution, the formal and informal processes and politics which inform its operation and the key personalities who provide leadership.

Rodman and Douglas both serve on the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, an elected body representing

the whole Church and responsible for carrying out programs and policies adopted by General Convention as well as overseeing the ministry and mission of the Church. Douglas has also served as a clerical deputy to General Convention representing the Diocese of Massachusetts.

St. Luke’s Opens Community Emergency Center in Pearland

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t. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital announces a new community emergency center at 11713 Shadow Creek Parkway, a fastgrowing area in the Pearland community, just south of Houston.

Kenneth Direkly, MD, assistant medical director of the new facility and a Pearland resident, said, “St. Luke’s Community Emergency Center – Pearland will be able to provide a higher level of care than a clinic or urgent care center, or non-hospital affiliate clinic because the service is supported 24 hours a day by a hospital, ready for emergencies, with emergency physicians on duty 24 hours a day.”

At nearly 14,000 square feet, the community emergency center will provide emergency services including X-ray, CT scan and on-site laboratory. The equipment and facilities are modeled after the main hospital’s emergency department staffed with emergency physicians, nurses and clinical staff. The innovative healthcare service comes at a time when Pearland is experiencing rapid population growth, which continues to create a shortage of emergency services.

There are currently four other freestanding emergency centers affiliated with St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System Hospitals in Houston and The Woodlands. For more information on St. Luke’s and for updates on future Community Emergency Centers, go to www.stlukestexas.com\cec.

Cookbook serves hope in wake of Hurricane Ike

By Lisa B. Hamilton

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hen Hurricane Ike made landfall on September 13, 2008, the 600 fundraising cookbooks that had arrived the week prior at St. Christopher’s, League City survived.

Twenty miles to the southeast, the cookbooks’ beneficiary, Galveston’s St. Vincent’s House, an Episcopal social service agency, was not so fortunate. It sustained “upwards of $500,000” in damage, Executive Director Michael Jackson said in an interview. The facility serves about 70,000 people annually through a daycare and preschool, a medical clinic, a food pantry and a transportation program. Damage included the destruction of the main building’s first floor along with the roof of another building, said Jackson.

The Hope Cookbook, so-called because St. Vincent’s considers itself “an oasis of hope,” was originally created to raise $6,000. The cookbook is now in its third printing and has raised $8,000, with a revised goal of $22,000.

Prior to Hurricane Ike, the cookbook’s profit was to benefit a program that has been put on hold until repairs Texas Episcopalian

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to the facility can be made. “For now, it’s rebuilding,” emailed Kimberly Bryant, project cochair with another young mother, Allyson Hardick. “Now all sales will go towards rebuilding St. Vincent’s preschool, computer lab and kitchen, for the benefit of Galveston’s children and working families.”

St. Vincent’s House was established by St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Texas in 1954 and is supported by individual gifts and the diocese.

The cookbook features recipes ranging from stuffed peppers to pumpkin spice cake as well as pictures of murals painted at St. Vincent’s by youth and mission groups who have come from as far away as Chicago to serve alongside staff and volunteers to serve Galveston’s neediest.

More information is available on the St. Christopher Web site, www.stchrischurch.org.

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2009 Wardens & Vestry Conferences Offer Leadership Skills Wardens & Vestry conferences continue in March at St. David’s, Austin, March 7 and St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin, March 21. All vestry members, bishop’s committee members, heads of congregations, clergy and other interested leadership are encouraged to take advantage of the resources this one-day conference offers. Speakers include Bishop Coadjutor Andy Doyle and the Very Rev. Doug Travis, dean of Seminary of the Southwest. Clergy receive 3 CEUs. A freshman track is especially designed for new vestry members with workshop topics including roles and responsibilities, leadership and financial oversight. Other workshop topics include St. John’s, LaPorte, as featured Best Practices Congregation, Best Practice Stewardship with St. Christopher’s, League City, Mutural Ministry Review, Vestry Essentials, FAQs, Mission Funding and Sr. Wardens.

Cost is $20 which includes breakfast and lunch. Please register online at www.epicenter.org or contact Julie Heath at 713.520.6444, 800.318.4452 or e-mail jheath@ epicenter.org.

A&M Premiers on YouTube Check out the new YouTube video of Texas A&M’s Canterbury group at: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=2ndbCW0IL04. The college mission has set up a coffee house using free trade coffee and offers students a hospitable place to study and visit. And the coffee’s free!

Scotland trip explores Celtic Christendom

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small group will explore the sites of Celtic Christendom in Scotland Sept. 7-18, 2009.

The group will be escorted by Jim Glendinning - born on a farm in the border region of Scotland, educated in Edinburgh and at Oxford. World traveler, former Peace Corps volunteer, Glendinning currently lives in Alpine, Texas. He is well-known for his travel guides of Mexico and the Big Bend of Texas as well as numerous cultural and hiking trips to Mexico. This is his third escorted trip to Scotland in five years. The trip includes many of the sacred sites and holy places of Celtic Christendom as well as a good sampling of culture, history and natural wonders. For an itinerary and more information, e-mail Jim at jimglen2@sbcglobal.net.

PARISH NEWS

New Deacons Ordained

Ministry graduating class of 2009 were also heard by 400 family, friends and members from supporting churches gathered for the graduation and ordination service at Camp Allen.

“Their fullness of ministry would be found not just in liturgical life, but in their life in the world,” said the Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, Bishop of Texas.

“By your energies the contours of the gospel may be more fully seen and known,” Bishop Wimberly added.

The Iona School for Ministry graduated and ordained five new deacons on February 22 at Camp Allen: The addition to Phyllis Colleen Hartman, Tracie G. Middleton, Pat R. Ritchie, JoAnn Tomberlin and Barbara A. Van Black. deacons to the threefold These new deacons will serve in their churches to bring the concerns of the world to the attention of clergy ministry in the the Church and bring the ministry of the Church to the world.

Diocese of Texas has been one of the joys he will take with him forever, said Wimberly,

By Ashley Cook who retires in a few months.

We are all created with a purpose. For deacons, that Deacons are examples of Christ as servant, representing purpose is to take our liturgy into the world, making that liturgically in reading and proclaiming of the it live and breathe so others may be embraced and find gospel, prayers of the people, setting table and dismissing the love God offers.” congregations to serve.

Those words by the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle, bishop “Those symbols have no meaning if they are not reaching coadjutor, Feb. 22 to the five deacons of the Iona School for outward, seeking and serving Christ in all persons, calling

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the multitudes into God’s banquet,” Bishop Doyle said.

The Rev. Sam Todd, dean of Iona, said he was impressed with the quality of students coming through the rigorous program, designed to produce bi-vocational ministers in an intensive study format.

“They are embarking on a humble servant ministry, and for no pay. That is just astounding,” Todd said.

Church canons require all clergy to be proficient in seven areas, something the Iona students receive while many also hold full-time jobs and have families, he said.

Encouraging the ordinands to “serve, serve, serve,” Doyle said being deacons means they are living symbols making activities of liturgy come to life.

He encouraged the class to “lay down the status” the Church would offer, instead going out into the world to “leave the comfort and safety of the sacristy to hold the hand of the dying.”

Doyle asked a blessing for each deacon, that they would feel discomfort with half-truths and easy answers, feel deeply hurt at injustice and oppression of God’s people and shed tears with the suffering.

“Go into the world and meet the hunger of God’s people,” he said.

“By their ordination comes a change to the world and the Church,” Bishop Doyle said. “Our salvation is depending on it.”

The new deacons and their positions include: the Revs.

Phyllis Hartman, St. James the Apostle, coordinating outreach and new missions; Tracie Middleton, St. John’s, Silsbee and chaplain to Vidor Firefighters Assoc.; Pat Ritchie, St. Stephen’s, Beaumont, chaplaincy with Ubi Caritas Medical Clinic; JoAnn “Jody” Tomberlin, St. Augustine’s, Galveston; Barbara Van Black, St. George and St. Patrick’s, Houston.

Cook is a member at St. Cyprian’s and a postulant for deacon.

The Journey Brings Music/Dance to Lenten Program

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t. Stephen’s, Houston, welcomes Grammy award winner Cynthia Clawson and Houston ballet company Bere’sheet for a Lenten program, “The Journey,” also featuring Bruce Greer, music minister at First Baptist Church in Okalahoma City. The special program is set for 7 p.m. on

Sunday, March 8, 1805 W. Alabama, Houston.

Clawson is probably best known for her version of “Softly and Tenderly” which she sang for the Horton Foote movie, “A Trip to Bountiful,” starring Geraldine Page. Clawson copastors The Sanctuary in Austin with her husband, the Rev.

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Ragan Courtney, a playwright and composesr.

The Bere’sheet Ballet, specializing in sacred dance, was named after the first Hebrew word in the Old Testament meaning “Genesis” to represent the new beginnings in the lives of the members of the company, some of whom are breast cancer survivors, and survivors of other forms of abuse. Though it was not the intention of the director, Marie Plauché-Gustin, to form a company of this nature, it began to take on a life of its own. Participants have found healing through the movement and passion of dance, with the intention of giving thanks to a God who has spared, healed and blessed their lives. This will be their fourth major concert with Clawson and Greer.

In 2000, Gustin motivated by the various needs of the women who had come across her path, established the Genesis Scholarship Fund to use for special healthcare needs of women and children, which may include purchasing a breast prothesis, paying a doctor’s bill, utility bills, car payment or month’s rent, gasoline or groceries for those in need. “Though these are relatively small investments, it often prevents the exponential disaster that can occur when someone is out of work, or low on personal funds and income,” Gustin said.

Proceeds from The Journey concert at St. Stephens will benefit this fund. Tickets are $20. For more information call, 281.550.0002.

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PARISH NEWS

Anglicanism: A Gift in Christ April 16-17 at St. Martin’s, Houston

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t. Martin’s, Houston, will host a conference featuring George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury on April 16-17, entitled Anglicanism: A Gift in Christ. The conference is sponsored by the Anglican Communion Institute and Communion Partner primates, individual bishops and rectors and is open to all interested persons. Cost of the conference, which will include worship, prayer and workshops, is $250. To register, make checks payable to The Anglican Communion Institute, Inc., and mail to: The Rev. Frank Fuller, P.O. Box 7544, Beaumont, TX 77726 with your name and contact information. For further details, contact St. Martin’s at 713.985.3821 or e-mail cprectors@stmartinsepiscopal.org.

“Virtually every day, we Episcopalians are ‘hearing’ and ‘reading’ about the greater Anglican Communion and the present divisions and challenges before us. I feel like this conference is a positive reminder about the many good things our Communion offers to the global community,” said the Rev. Russ Levenson, rector of St. Martins. “This The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. George Carey, conference will give us a greater understanding of our 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury (ret) beloved Communion and how important it is for us to be with them to strengthen their voice within the Church. The engaged in strengthening our ties not only to one another group supports the Windsor Report and efforts to reach a within the Episcopal Church, but to our brothers and sisters Covenant agreement within the Anglican Communion as around the globe,” he said. the best means to extend and further the Communion.

Speakers and topics include: The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. George L. Carey, 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury “The Instruments of Anglican Communion”

St. Paul’s, Freeport Gifts go Directly to Community

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Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi of Matana, Anglican Church of Burundi “Reconciliation and Christian Witness” Archbishop Valentino Mokiwa, Anglican Church in Tanzania “Anglican Mission as Ministry” The Rt. Rev. Anthony Burton, former Bishop of Saskatchewan and rector of Incarnation, Dallas “Anglican Worship” The Rev. Ephraim Radner, Professor of Historical Theology, Wycliffe College “Historical Anglican Streams” The Very Rev. Philip Turner, retired dean, Berkeley Divinity School, Yale University “Christian Ethics and Anglicanism” Cheryl H. White, Ph.D., Hubert Humphreys Professor of History, Louisiana State University at Shreveport “Anglican Catholicity” Communion Partners is a group of rectors who share a common commitment to the authority and traditional interpretation of Holy Scripture, the creedal and historic faith, orthodox theology with an evangelical fervor to faithfully live and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. The group is firmly committed to remain in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, respecting and honoring the proper authority of our bishops and working in concert Texas Episcopalian

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t. Paul’s, Freeport, with an average Sunday attendance of 46, donated $8,500 to ministries outside their congregation recently. The church’s annual fish fry and bazaar netted nearly $6,000 of the total, supplemented with a donation from the estate of H. S. Henderson.

“We feel we are a part of the ministry of each of these organizations,” said St. Paul’s bivocational vicar, the Rev. Robert Dohle.

According to Dan Tarver, president of the Brazosport Home Delivered Meals, the group will deliver 15,000 meals in 2009, and has no paid staff. “Your gift will go directly to feeding hungry and needy people in our community,” Taver said.

Lisa Doyle, executive director of Brazosport Cares, told the congregation their gift would purchase food items from local businesses to help provide meals for the poor in seven surrounding communities. Other beneficiaries will use funds to help residents who are behind in rent or utilities, provide education and support to families about mental illness and advocate for services for people with brain disorders.

“Our vision is to eliminate the stigma attached to mental illness and have it viewed by the community with the same compassion as any other illness,” said Jeanette Taylor, executive director of National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Gulf Coast, another grantee. “We appreciate the generous donation made by St. Paul’s,” she added.

Others who received support from St. Paul’s include: Brazosport Medical Center, The Salvation Army, The River of Hope, Boys and Girls Clubs, the county Youth Home, and the Brazoria County Women’s Center.

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After-school Program Fills Free Time

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he Hall at St. Timothy’s has provided a safe afterschool place for middle school students in Lake Jackson since 1996. The program had more than 2900 student visits in 2009, which translates into about 9000 snacks and volunteer time equivalent to more than $10,000. There is no charge for a student to attend and The Hall is open Monday through Thursday, immediately after school until 5:30 p.m.

Recently, Jeanette Booth, an artist with the Center for the Arts & Sciences in Lake Jackson, showed two dozen students how to do mosaics. Together they created two concrete benches (see below), which were blessed by the Revs. Andy and Liz Parker. The benches provide a unique resting place for students waiting for their rides.

The Hall provides an after school snack, help with homework and tutoring for those who need it. Located next to the city’s intermediate school, The Hall fills a need for local teens who would otherwise go home to an empty home after school. Students can study, catch up with friends, read or play games, use the computer or participate in arts and crafts.

“Our on-going goal is to encourage a spirit of cooperation, a feeling of self-worth in each student and the confidence that there is a place for each individual where he or she is accepted and appreciated,” said Sharon McKey, coordinator for The Hall. The Hall offers information and opportunities to help students learn how to make wise choices. Attendance is between 60 and 90 each day. The program is popular with parents, teachers and the community as well as the students.

“There is a contagious spirit of courtesy, cooperation and kindness this year,” McKey said. “This particular group ‘thinks green’ by turning lights off in the church halls and restrooms and limiting themselves with paper products. They have assisted with the Honduras Mission cutting diapers, moving boxes and bringing boxes from home.”

Since 1996, more than 3000 different students have participated. In order to attend, a student must have been in attendance at an area intermediate school (or been home schooled) for the day and they must check in when they enter the church property and are expected to respect others and their surroundings. For more information, call 979.297.6003.

Two of recently created mosaic benches at The Hall.

PARISH NEWS

St. Matthew’s, Henderson

St. Francis, Houston

All Saints’, Austin

Celebrates 75 years

Children’s Ministry Cited

Lenten Discovery Class

year-long celebration for its 75th birthday kicks off with an open house at St. Matthew’s, Henderson, on Saturday, March 7, 2009 and special Eucharist the following day. The festivities will continue with visits from former rectors and special workshops. St. Matthew’s was organized in 1934 in the home of Mr. & Mrs. W. Randolph Harris.

The first recorded service was conducted on March 9 of that year by the Rev. James W. E. Airey. Eighteen rectors have contributed to the spiritual growth of St. Matthew’s parishioners over the past seven-plus decades. The Rev. Patsy G. Barham is currently priest-in charge baptized nine new members so far this year.

All are invited to participate in the celebration.

Upcoming visits include: April 26, the Rev. Everett Fredholm and May 17, the Rev. Peter Getz. For information about future events, contact us at 903.657.3154 or email: stmatthews@suddenlinkmail.com.

Boys and Girls Country recognized St. Francis, Houston, with their Friend of Children award for its outstanding service to children on January 29. The parish has supported the children’s home since 1998 through fundraising events.

St. Francis Church and members have co-hosted the annual Children’s Awards Banquet since 2004; they have been a partner with Boys and Girls Country to recognize children’s annual success and position them for the future. Boys and Girls Country is a Christian home for 88 boys and girls, ages 5 – 18, from families in crisis. The home does not apply for state or federal grants and depends on churches, individuals, foundations and corporations for financial support, volunteers and staff.

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.V. Bennett, Jr., one of the founding trustees of the All Saints’ Endowment Fund, has recently donated in excess of $1,300,000 to the Fund, which is the largest gift by far ever received by the Fund and has the effect of doubling its size.

The rector, vestry and endowment fund trustees voiced their deepest appreciation for Bennett’s generosity as a devoted benefactor of the parish and noted that generations yet to come will continue to benefit from his faithful stewardship.

Playgrounds and Piñatas

Annual Thanksgiving Outreach

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Good Shepherd, Kingwood Labyrinth returns

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replica of the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France returns for a second year to Good Shepherd, Kingwood, on March 8, the second Sunday in Lent. “We thought it would be a wonderful way to mark the Lenten season,” says labyrinth coordinators Lorrie Forgey and Andrea Badot. More than 150 people, including many non-parishioners, attended last year. “We were amazed by how many youth walked the labyrinth and were truly moved by it.” Walking a labyrinth can be used in many ways: as a walking meditation, path of prayer, stress reliever or a healing journey. The 11-circuit canvas labyrinth is unlike a maze in that it has a single path leading into the center and back out again. For information, call 281.358.3154, or visit: www.goodshepherdkingwood. org.

O.V. Bennett, Jr. Donation

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St. Christopher’s, Austin

St. James’, Houston t. James’ will hold a Home Sale on March 21 to benefit St. James’ School, an outreach ministry of the church providing a strong academic program in a nurturing Christian environment since 1971. The school seeks to instill in students a life-long interest in learning and a sense of self-worth and social responsibility.

This is not your ordinary garage sale, planners contend.

It will include lots of furniture and artwork, new and gently used, and be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on the church and school campus at 3129 Southmore Blvd., Houston, Texas.

Donations of furniture or home décor items may be made by contacting Cynthia Wylie at 281.935.3693 or e-mail at cwy7710515@aol.com. For more information, contact the church at 713.526.9571. The church will arrange to pick up any donations.

What does it mean to be an Episcopalian?” with the Rev. Phil Nazro, associate rector, is coming to All Saints’. The Discovery Class series is especially designed for newcomers, the curious and those Episcopalians who would like a “refresher course.” The classes also serve as the required instruction for confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church. See www.epicenter.org/resources to learn more about the program. To attend the one at All Saints, contact Nazro at phil@allsaints-austin.org or Betsi Robins at 512.476.3589 ext. 107 or e-mail betsi@allsaints-austin.org.

St. Michael’s, Austin Ike Recovery Mission Trip

Members spent several days in Matamoros, Mexico, in February installing playground equipment for Casa Hogar de Matamoros, a local orphanage. They partnered with Church of the Advent in Brownsville and Drilling Info Inc., an Austin-based business with offices in Matamoros. The orphanage is run by the municipal government but relies on donations for many of its needs. St. Christopher’s also provided dehumidifiers for three of the children’s rooms, which are continually damp. More than $5,000 was raised for the playground and after the installation there was a celebration for the children complete with tamales and a piñata. The people of St. Christopher’s hope to continue their relationship with the orphanage in the future.

St. Mary’s, Cypress First Annual Family Carnival

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t. Michael’s participated in the ongoing ministry of Hurricane Ike Recovery, February 6-7. St. Michael’s first mission trip (last November), led by Gail Reid and a group of parishioners, helped make Christmas very special for a Galveston family. To plan a mission trip, to volunteer or to donate to the relief work, visit www.epicenter.org. Look for the new slideshow showing some of the ongoing work in Galveston.

Christ Church Cathedral, Houston Join Johnny’s Walkers, March 15 Christ Church Cathedral is once again participating in the annual AIDS Walk Houston on Sunday, March 15. This year, the team will be captained by the Rev. Canon “John” Logan and will be known as “Johnny’s Walkers.” If you are interested in joining the team and/or helping to raise money for this cause, visit www.AIDSwalkhouston.org and choose the appropriate button.

St. Mary’s will host their First Annual Family Carnival on Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday, May 9, from 10-4 p.m. complete with food, music and games for all ages.

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PARISH NEWS

St. Martin’s, Houston

St. James’, La Grange

Love Across Generations

Parish Yard Sale

n February 10, forty Pre-K children from St. Martin’s Episcopal Children’s Center presented a Valentine Serenade to the O.P.U.S. members of St. Martin’s. The O.P.U.S. (Older People Up to Something) meets weekly for Bible Study, fellowship and lunch. Once a month they schedule guest speakers, musical groups or engage in special activities. The students also made Valentine cookies, cards and gifts for the group. Service, respect and love for others are character traits that the Children’s Center strives to instill in their children.

either rain nor wind nor cold will deter shoppers on Antiques Weekend from lining up early to search for bargains at the 4th annual Trinkets & Treasures Sale, Saturday April 4, at St. James’, La Grange. Sponsored by the church’s Episcopal Church Women, the sale presents upscale, gentlyused decorative items, vintage linens, furniture, antiques and collectibles - and always a few delightful surprises. In spite of weather-flattened tents and scattered merchandise in some past years, the ECW always remains undaunted and the sale gets more successful every year. The money earned (last year more than $7,000) helps fund ECW projects and outreach of the church, such as an outdoor nature classroom for the preschool, holiday celebrations for local retirement centers, help for the crisis center and scholarships for high school seniors. This year’s sale opens at 7 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m. on the grounds of the church, 156 N. Monroe, La Grange.

Contributions of gently used items (no clothing) are welcome.

For more information, call the ECW president, Ursula Stephens, at 979.733.8277 or the church, 979.968.3910.

Come to shop and find irresistible treasures.

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Holy Spirit, Houston Plans Service Day Maundy Thursday

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ore than 100 parishioners of Holy Spirit, Houston plan to take a day off from their regular jobs on Thursday April 9 in order to spend that day in service to their West Houston neighbors. By choosing that date, Holy Spirit is also hoping to teach the community a broader lesson.

“Before the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his twelve disciples, teaching them to literally lower themselves before those who they would lead. The church commemorates that day in Holy Week as Maundy Thursday,” explained the Rev. David Puckett, Holy Spirit’s rector. “We have chosen to reinforce the message of servant leadership by holding our community service day on Maundy Thursday. We welcome nonmembers of any faith who want to join us in humbly serving.”

Project directors are already at work lining up jobs for the parishioners and other community volunteers. Teams will be helping to feed hungry people, gathering clothing to restock the shelves at church mission re-sale shops, visiting the elderly and infirmed, delivering water and food to homeless, doing various yard work and home repair projects, among other tasks.

“We will start at 9am with a short prayer service, and then we’ll scatter to our various assigned jobs,” said Paul Lock, a parishioner who is co-chairing the effort. “We know times are hard for a lot of people, but we intend to get out there and remind the neighborhood that God’s love is very real.”

In addition to experiencing a fulfilling day of work helping others, all volunteers will be invited to stay for an end-of-the-workday dinner, followed by the traditional Maundy Thursday church service, at which the clergy wash the feet of the congregation.

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Send Gift Boxes to Troops

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ally the Troops will meet Wednesday, March 25, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Martin’s, 717 Sage Road at Woodway, Houston, to pack boxes for service personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Volunteers also write encouragement and appreciation notes to include in the boxes, provided by the USPS and mailed for less than $10 (regardless of weight).

Participants report that novels, magazines and chocolates are favored treats. Volunteers also include small stuffed animals and school supplies for the service men and women to give away to local children. For more information, call 713.621.3040. Boxes are available from the Postal Service although you must have a name and APO address.

Seeds of Hope Growing in Northwest Houston St. Aidan’s & St. Cuthbert

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n the wake of Hurricane Ike, the need for a consolidated, coordinated and centralized body of people and information for the caring of those in crisis became apparent for the communities in the Northwest/Cypress Fairbanks area of Houston. Though there have always been numerous churches, government agencies and civic organizations doling out care and counseling, there was always a lot of overlap of services in some areas and in others a void.

As people came together to care for the community last fall, several people decided to improve the delivery of that aid. They envisioned a central resource for information and referrals for individuals and organizations.

In November, 2008, the Revs. Justin Lindstrom, vicar of St. Aidan’s and Janet Gilmore, assistant rector of St. Cuthbert’s joined other community leaders to discern how they could work together to meet the needs of the local community in a coordinated way. With support from the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce and the Cy-Fair School District, they helped develop Cy-Fair Serves, a proactive network of care and response serving the community. This small visionary group has grown to include social service organizations, government officials, non-profits and local businesses.

The group is developing a Web site and building an electronic network of members and will provide advocacy with governmental agencies, crisis preparedness and response, marketing, recruiting, research and development for the group.

“There is great excitement in building these new relationships, sharing information and collaborating,” Lindstrom said. “More importantly, Cy-Fair Serves was begun in prayer and discernment for those persons Christ calls us to serve,” he added.

St. David’s, Austin

Senior Advisor Discusses White House Tenure at Luncheon Series

By Kelsey McGonigle

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one-time advisor for the George W. Bush administration, Karen Hughes, was the featured speaker February 19 at the St. David’s monthly Forum lunch in Austin.

Hughes, an Austin resident, was the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs during her time in Washington.

She recounted some of her duties and travels to the 120 in attendance and concluded with a Q&A session. Hughes said she traveled to more than 50 nations and worked to improve U.S. relations with foreign countries during her tenure.

“I believe it is noble and important to serve our country in the area of public policy,” Hughes said. She said our relationship with Muslim countries is still a challenge and suggests that we “dedicate ourselves to America’s diplomacy

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of deeds” and recognize interfaith dialogue as being “a very important part of the solution.”

Hughes closed with words of encouragement, saying that America remains “a beacon of hope and opportunity.”

The Forum at St. Karen Hughes David’s is a monthly speaker series that is open to all in the community. Other speakers this season have included Eileen Flynn, religion reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. Bishop-Coadjutor Andy Doyle is scheduled to speak April 16.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

SUDAN: ERD assists victims of brutal LRA attacks

Good Friday offering to Church in Jerusalem

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ince 1922, The Episcopal Church has sent the Good Friday offering to the Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. Last year saw continuing violence and tragedy throughout the Holy Land and this year the violence has increased.

In 2006, the special offering was more than $368,000 from congregations across the Episcopal Church. The Anglican presence in the Middle East extends far beyond the national borders of Israel/ Palestine, throughout the Gulf States in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Cyprus, the Mediterranean coast of Africa and from Iraq to Ethiopia. The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East strives to be a voice of reconciliation among the religions, and its institutions continue ministries of compassion, healing and education. Episcopalians have worked hard to meet the challenges and to help sustain hope for the future. The Good Friday Offering helps to make the Church’s presence more evident, present and responsive. There is a Good Friday Bulletin Shell (in English and Spanish) and a poster that may be downloaded and printed for use in your congregation at www.episcopalchurch. org/gfo. Please give generously.

Mother cares for daughter in the Sudan.

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piscopal Relief and Development (ERD) is partnering with the Episcopal Church of the Sudan and its development arm, the Sudanese Development and Relief Agency (SUDRA), to provide emergency assistance to five of the dioceses most impacted by the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the brutality of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a rebel organization which has destroyed villages and caused massive displacement in southern Sudan.

The recent LRA attacks have included murder, child abductions and torture. Many survivors of the attacks have been driven from their homes and are now turning to Episcopal churches for shelter. Church leaders have become overwhelmed by the influx of displaced people.

The Diocese of Ibba, a small and isolated community, has recently taken in 69 families that fled their homes after the LRA destroyed the village of Wowo on January 22.

The severity of the violence has caused panic and people are unwilling or unable to return home. Buck Blanchard, missioner for World Mission in the Diocese of Virginia, recently visited Ibba and reported that families are now living behind the church property under trees and makeshift tarps.

“They have nothing ... Recently, they have been sending the men back to Wowo during the day; while some stand guard, others collect what food they can and then walk the 14 miles back to Ibba,” Blanchard said.

These families as well as thousands of others throughout southern Sudan require immediate assistance. SUDRA reports that without emergency supplies more lives will be lost as a result of starvation and lack of medical treatment.

ERD will help to provide shelter, plastic sheets, blankets, food, water and medicine to displaced people in the dioceses of Ibba, Mundri, Yambio, Ezo and Maridi.

“People are simply terrified -- abandoning their crops in the field, their homes and their few possessions,” said Janette O’Neill, ERD’s senior director of Africa Programs. “They trade the prospects of food and shelter for simple survival.”

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has urged Episcopalians worldwide to join in solidarity with the people of central and eastern Africa by learning more about the crisis in Sudan, persuading political leaders to take action and praying for peace. She calls for people to contribute to the vital work of ERD, whose programs in the region help provide humanitarian aid, especially adequate food and shelter, to those being uprooted by the LRA’s atrocities.

ERD will remain in close contact with SUDRA as it responds to victims of the violence and political unrest. To make a donation to help people in Sudan, visit www.er-d. org or call 800.334.7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: ERD, designated for the “Sudan Fund,” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

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Got Talents? Five Talents Launches Fellows Program

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usiness professionals, graduate students, seminarians and clergy can now lend their talents in a unique way to Five Talents International as a Five Talents Fellow.

Dedicated individuals with an interest in serving the poor through Christian microenterprise development can now apply to work as a volunteer fellow with a Five Talents partner in Africa, Asia or Latin America for six months to one year.

Fellowships will start during Summer 2009. To learn more, go to: www.fivetalents.org.

Use your business knowledge to help teach people like Vasanti Uikey, a 45-year old mother of two in the Pandhrabodi slum of Nagpur, India, who owns a milk distribution center and grocery store because of a microloan from a Five Talents partner. Help teach people in the Phillipines like Clara, whose fifth loan of $424 from Five Talents has helped grow her retail shop. She sent one child to college and is helping to lift members of her extended family out of poverty with her growing business.

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2009

GUEST COLUMNIST

ORIGINAL SIN then he debases our humanity.

The Rev. Sam Todd

He is hungry for God but does not know it. All greed and

Are we free not to sin? Good question. No one makes

lust has this character. Unfortunately much of our economy

us commit that first sin. But each sin makes the next more

has been built on greed. Nothing is enough. If you do not

likely. The second theft, murder, act of adultery is easier than

produce more this year than last and more next year than

the first. The voice of conscience, overridden by will, grows

this, you are despised. If an individual, you may get fired, if a

weak. Then the will itself, grown accustomed, habituated,

company, your stock price goes down. Once- sober- minded

addicted to sin, grows weak. An act begets a habit; a habit

bankers take imprudent risks to achieve inordinate gains.

begets a character; a character begets a destiny. The secret

Greed can render one as tone deaf as Wall Street firms

act of self-indulgence, which served us once so well, becomes

handing out $18.4 billion in bonuses while asking for, and

master. The once daring sinner becomes the creature of sin,

receiving, public money to stay afloat (v. NYT 1/30/09 A16).

its plaything, its slave. In misusing our freedom we lose it.

Another consequence is worse. God is the life of the soul;

“I discover this principle then: that when I want to do the

in lusting after things less than God, we feed on junk food

right, only the wrong is within my reach. In my inmost self

and spiritually starve to death. John Calvin was later to say

I delight in the law of God, but I perceive that there is in my

that our nature is “totally depraved.” This view was echoed

bodily members a different law, fighting against the law that

in the old confession’s phrase “there is no health in us” (1928

my reason approves and making me a prisoner of the law that

BCP p. 6). The 1979 Prayer Book dropped the phrase, even

is in my members, the law of sin” (Rms. 7:21-23 NEB).

in Rite I, because it is inaccurate. If there were no health in

If all human beings invariably became alcoholics, we

us, we would be dead. If our natures were totally depraved,

riving around town one notices signs advertising

would strongly suspect we were born that way. The fifth

we would not know there was anything wrong with us. Our

Gentleman’s Clubs. Being a gentleman, I am

Century British monk Pelagius said that we are free not to

sense of guilt and shame is a symptom of health.

tempted. But I remember being there before.

sin; we are born with the same freedom and intact essential

Beneath the pounding music was an enormous sadness.

righteousness with which Adam was created. His adversary,

“Come on baby, light my fire,” but don’t touch me. The

St. Augustine, “argued that if every person were morally

come on is a lie. The promise of delight attracts the lonely

neutral and confronted the same choice that Adam and

and reinforces their loneliness. The ads offer an illusion.

Eve had, it was difficult to account for the regularity with

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Drugs, prostitution, gambling, tobacco promise one

which every person made the same choice that Adam and

thing and deliver another. All vice shares the character of

Eve had made -- unless there were an innate proclivity in

being both attractive and destructive. If it were not attractive,

that direction” (Pelikan, The Melody of Theology, p. 234).

there would be no problem. If it were not destructive, there

Augustine concluded that the original sinner damaged his

would be no problem. It is being both that makes vice

genes, so to speak, so that all his progeny are born with a

vicious. Our adversary, the father of lies, is the sponsor of

defective human nature instead of the nature God created.

“Does the Episcopal Church believe in original sin?”

“Does the Episcopal Church believe in original sin?” a woman once asked Albert Mollegen, a professor at our

The term “original sin” refers to Augustine’s doctrine

seminary in Virginia. “Believe in it?” Molly replied; “why,

that we are corrupt from our origin. We are born with a

madam, we practice it daily.” But our catechism actually

All sin shares with vice the character of being at odds

clouded intellect so that we fail to perceive what is in our

waffles on the question. The universal fact of sin is noted

with reality. Satan purports to offer us a better deal than God.

own best interest; we are born with a defective will so that we

(“From the beginning, human beings have misused their

“Did God say, `You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?”

cannot do the good even when we see it. We are born with

freedom and made wrong choices,” BCP p. 845) but no

(Gen. 3:1) Did God say, “Don’t smoke that joint,” “Don’t

our natural eros for God corrupted into concupiscence, an

explanation for this is advanced. I do not have one either. All

make love to anyone but your wife?” What a skinflint! What

infinite desire directed toward an infinite succession of finite

I know is that it is damn easy to sin. The real challenge, the

a spoilsport God is! “You will not die. For God knows that

objects instead of toward the Infinite himself. All inordinate

great adventure, the defiant, counter-cultural, revolutionary

when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be

desire is misdirected love for God.

endeavor is righteousness.

vice. All his stratagems are varieties of offering the kiddies free samples of heroin.

like God” (Gen. 3:5 RSV). Sounds good to me. Satan is the

Because infinite, concupiscence is insatiable. The

original con man. He offers to make us more than human;

glutton eats and eats and eats, gets fat but is still hungry.

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Email Todd at: stodd2423@att.net

Harrison

High

Doyle

Wimberly

Bishops’ March Calendars 1 10:30 a.m. Christ Church, Tyler 4 10 a.m. Staff meeting 5 10 a.m. Quin Foundation 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital System Board 7 Wardens and Vestry Conference, Austin 8 St. Christopher’s, Houston 9 Friends of Nursing Luncheon 10 Gen. Conv. Deputation Mtg., Camp Allen 10-11 Executive Board, Camp Allen 12 Congregational Development Meeting 13-18 House of Bishops, Kanuga Conf. Center 20-21 Consecration of J. Scott Mayer, NW Texas, Lubbock 22 10:15 a.m. St. James’, Austin 24 8:30 a.m. -12 Congregational Development Mtg. 26 10 a.m. Resource Meeting, Diocesan Center 29 10:30 a.m. Holy Spirit, Waco

1 9:30 a.m.

2:30 p.m.

4 11:30 a.m.

8 10 a.m.

3 p.m.

10 11 a.m.

10-11 12 – 18 19

20 - 21 22 10:30 a.m.

4 p.m.

26 10 a.m.

29 10:30 a.m.

All Saints’, Hitchcock CF Town Hall Meeting, St. John the Divine, Houston San Jacinto Convocation Clericus, Trinity, the Woodlands St. Mary’s, Lampasas CF Town Hall Meeting, St. Richard’s, Round Rock General Convention Deputation Meeting, Camp Allen Executive Board Meeting, Camp Allen HOB Spring Meeting, Kanuga Conference Center, NC Altar Guild Conference, Camp Allen National Episcopal Communicators Conference, Camp Allen Consecration of J. Scott Mayer, NW Texas, Lubbock Christ the King, Atascocita CF Town Hall Meeting, Christ Church, Nacogdoches Resource Meeting, Diocesan Center Holy Spirit, Houston CF

1 9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

4 1:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

5 4 p.m.

8 10:30a.m.

10 11 a.m.

11-12 13-18 20-21 24 11:30 a.m.

26 10 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

29 10 a.m.

11 a.m.

4 p.m.

30 Morning

Longview, Trinity, Adult Sunday School Class Longview, Trinity CF Congregational Development Call-In Meeting Palestine, St. Philip’s, Lenten Service St. Luke’s Hospital Board Meeting Houston, St. Cuthbert’s CF General Convention Deputy Orientation, Camp Allen College for Bishops Peer Coaches Meeting, Kanuga House of Bishops Spring Meeting, Kanuga Consecration of J. Scott Mayer, NW Texas, Lubbock All Saints Episcopal School Board Meeting, Tyler Resource Meeting, Diocesan Center Congregational Development Meeting, Houston Diocesan Office Houston, Epiphany, Adult Sunday School Class Houston, Epiphany CF Little Church Club, Camp Allen Little Church Club, Camp Allen

1-8 10 11 a.m.

5:30 p.m.

11 10:00 a.m.

12 10 a.m.

12-19 20-21 21 10 a.m.

22 6 p.m.

25 10:30 a.m.

26 10 a.m.

28 11 a.m.

Continuation of visit to Diocese of Southern Malawi, Africa General Convention Deputation Meeting, Camp Allen Executive Board Meeting, Camp Allen Executive Board Meeting, Camp Allen Commission on Ministry Meeting, Camp Allen House of Bishops Meeting, Kanuga Conference Center, NC Consecration of J. Scott Mayer, NW Texas, Lubbock Georgetown, Grace, CF El Buen Samaritano Board Meeting, Austin World Mission Commission Meeting, Austin Resource Meeting, Diocesan Center Bryan, St. Andrew’s, CF

Bishop Andy Doyle took part in a continuous reading of the Bible at the University of St. Thomas on February 20-21, 2009.

In the Anglican Communion A global community of 77 million Anglicans in 500 dioceses in 164 countries Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Rev. Rowan Williams Lambeth Palace, London, England, SE1 7JU Anglican Communion Office 16 Tavistock Crescent Westbourne Park London W 11 1AP United Kingdom In the United States A community of 2.5 million members in 120 dioceses in the Americas and abroad Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Episcopal Church Center 815 Second Ave., NY, NY 10017 1.800.321.2231 In the Diocese of Texas One Church of more than 85,000 members in 158 congregations in the eastern quadrant of Texas, established in 1849 Bishop The Rt. Rev. Don A. Wimberly dotbp@epicenter.org 1225 Texas Ave. Houston, TX 77002-3504 1.800.318.4452 1.713.520.6444 FAX 1.713.520.5723 Austin: 1.512.478.0580, 1.800.947.0580 Tyler: 1.903.579.6012 homepage: www.epicenter.org editor: cbarnwell@epicenter.org

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2009

DIOCESAN NEWS

St. Mark’s Consecrates New Home Move to New Area Promises Growth

property and there is a new middle school nearby. The wide porte-cochere will gather brides and parishioners; the commercial kitchen promises to make the new church a destination for many events and draw people to the place where they can deepen their faith and build a community of friends and family.

By Carol E. Barnwell

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embers of St. Mark’s, Rosenberg, celebrated January 25, when their new church building was officially consecrated. The large brick building, situated across from the George Ranch, just 6 miles south of 59 off Crabb River Road, is surrounded by moss covered oaks and extensive grounds. The new church is situated to take advantage of the rapid growth of the surrounding area.

The building and surrounding 4 acres, valued at $1.7 million dollars, was a gift of Dean and Jackie Leaman, founding members and leaders of St. Mark’s. The building is located next to the Leaman construction company offices and was originally built as a community center.

In recent years, members of St. Mark’s noted that growth was moving away from their original location and after some discernment, decided to move the church. This is when the Leaman’s stepped in with their generous offer.

“I’m very proud the congregation chose to move,” said Bishop Don Wimberly. “There are a lot of attachments to ‘place’ and it’s hard to let go of some of that,” he said, adding, “This is a wonderful opportunity and the Leaman’s generous gift gives the congregation so much potential for growth.”

The Leaman’s have been active civic leaders in the Rosenberg-Richmond area for many years. Dean Leaman died in May, 2008 but Jackie Leaman and her grandson Will attended the consecration of the new church on January 25, 2009. The celebration had been postponed from its original September date due to Hurricane Ike. According to Jackie, the couple built the community

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center on acreage next to their Allied Concrete corporate office and offered it for use by the local garden club, churches and schools.

“We saw [giving the property to the church] as an opportunity for the Church to grow,” said Leaman. “It’s not wholly altruistic; it was a good way to make good use of the building, too.” She said the addition of a professional organist will also help the congregation gain members.

The gift made the Leaman’s a bit uncomfortable because they received so much personal attention Jackie said.

“When they asked me to be on the search committee for a new rector,” Jackie said, I told them ‘No,’ It meant a lot to do this for the church, but I don’t want to be in on all the decision making.”

St. Mark’s started in the Leaman’s home 58 years ago.

“We had Sunday school at my house on Sunday morning,” she said. Her paternal grandmother had been Episcopalian and although Jackie was not an active churchgoer growing up, she joined St. Barnabas Episcopal Church as soon as she arrived at Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. Dean joined the church before the couple wed. The Leaman’s commitment to their community and to their church will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

St. Mark’s was able to sell their former building to the Lamar Consolidated School District for $790,000. Future plans will reside with the growing congregation and new leadership as they embrace growth and welcome new families to the area.

New housing developments surround the church

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