Texas Episcopalian May 2010

Volume 113, No. 5

INSIDE

Houston, Texas

Michelle Obama Visits Haitian Diocese’s Quake Survivor Camp

Bishops’ Calendars...........................2 Bishop’s Column..............................2 Calendar of Events.......................... 5 Diocesan News.....................8, 15-17 Parish News.................................3-4 Sam Todd's Column...................... 20 Anglican Covenant...................18-19 Emergency Preparedness...........7-14

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) and Elisabeth Debrosse Préval, wife of Haitian President René Préval, greet children during their visit to a local child welfare project in Port-au-Prince April 13, 2010. Obama also visited a settlement run by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

By Mary Frances Schjonberg

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irst Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the wife of the U.S. vice president, visited a Port-au-Prince earthquake survivor settlement run by the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti during their visit to the island on April 13.

The two women walked to College Ste. Pierre, a wrecked diocesan high school, as part of their oneSee Obama/Biden Visit, page 15

May 2010

Austin Students Tutor Jicarilla Apache

by Alison Green

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uilt in 1915 by Franciscans, St. Francis School in Lumberton, New Mexico, still seeks to instill a love of learning for the areas Native American children. This Spring Break students from St. Stephens, Austin came to support that vision.

Until three years ago, nuns both taught and ran the school. Since then, an all volunteer faculty and staff has carried on, keeping the doors open for nearly 80 students.

Carmen Clements, an art teacher at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, became enchanted with New Mexico during a trip in 2008. She was as moved by the poverty of the pueblos as she was drawn to the high plains and became determined to establish a connection between the students at St. Stephen’s and the students at a pueblo school.

“I first learned about [St. Francis] looking for service opportunities,” she said. “I visited St. Francis School near the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Nation in Dulce, in northern New Mexico. Upon arriving and meeting the faculty, staff and students, I was at once humbled by the loving community, their strength and their hope, regardless of their apparent financial struggles,” Clements said.

“Witnessing their love of family, friendship and faith combined with their See Austin Students Tutor, page 3

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section pages 7-14 Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

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Easter Landscapes Delight and Challenge This year’s Spring has brought us spectacular sights. The countryside and the city are both blooming as though they are illustrations for gardening catalogs. The grass is incredibly green, and every flower and blooming plant is at the height of its beauty.

The timing of abundant rain has given us this rare gift of beauty and joy. The scenes we see picture forth the earth as God might have imagined it at creation, with every bit of vegetation at its peak.

The glory of Easter is being symbolized all around us in the natural world. Christ is risen, and the earth itself seems to rejoice.

As I take in all these sights, I am also recalling another landscape I recently observed. This one was not beautiful, but ugly beyond belief. Instead of color, there was only gray as far as the eye could see.

It is a quarry in Zambia that I am

recalling alongside the beauty of the Texas countryside this year. As part of my work as a board member of Episcopal Relief and Development, Larry and I visited a number of projects being supported in Zambia and South Africa.

When we pulled into the site of this quarry, we all just sat in stunned silence. There were piles of gray rocks everywhere. Someone sat on top of each pile, breaking the rocks by hand into ever-smaller sizes. The smallest rocks were being worked by children, some as young as five or six.

We learned that everyone who works at the quarry suffers daily with this grueling work in the hot sun. In this place, people routinely develop respiratory illnesses, suffer eye injuries and blindness from flying slivers of rock, and lose fingers from a misplaced blow. The life expectancy of the people there is reduced by at least ten years, subtracted from an already-shortened life span.

The most heart-breaking sight of all is the children.

Their parents are so desperately poor that they will not allow the children to go to school because they cannot do without even the few cents per day the child might earn.

Even the tiniest among the children sits miserably, without expression, on their individual pile, mindlessly breaking rocks.

If our Texas countryside is heavenly, the scene at the quarry can only be labeled as hell. Suffering and desperation are the norm, with no end in sight. What are we to make of the contrast in these landscapes?

As we rejoice in the Easter season, we are challenged to remember that the resurrection of Jesus has brought

Publisher: The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Editor: Carol E. Barnwell, cbarnwell@epicenter.org Parish News Editor: Nancy Sallaberry, nsallaberry@epicenter.org Graphic 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 can be made at www.epicenter.org/infochange.

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

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Bishop High is on Sabbatical 2

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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.

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The Rt. Rev. Dena A. Harrision Bishop Suffragan of Texas

Bishops’ May Calendars

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

Texas Episcopalian

us power to serve the world in his name. We can never rest while any of God’s people live in such circumstances.

The Church’s work at the quarry is focused on the children, working with the parents to help them develop other means of supplementing their Bishop Suffragan Dena Harrison income so that the children might go to school. In the last year, three hundred children have been sent to school from this quarry.

We are part of this work, and many other projects around the world. They are truly Easter projects because they proclaim that Jesus is present in the worst circumstances and that his followers will go even into hellish settings to bring the holy hope of new life to all.

Let us rejoice in the beauty we have been given. Let us always seek to share it with others because Christ is Risen for the whole world.!

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St. Christopher’s, Killeen, CF World Mission Board, Austin Grace Church, Houston, CF Episcopal High School, Houston SLEHS Board, Houston St. Alban’s, Austin, CF SSW Graduation, Board Retreat Holy Spirit, Waco St. Stephen’s School Board, Austin St. Timothy’s, Lake Jackson, CF St. John’s, Palacios, CF Bi-Voc Priest Committee, Houston Trinity Episcopal School, Austin SSW Reception, Austin El Buen Samaritano, Austin Emmanuel Church, Houston, CF El Buen Samaritano Board, Austin St. Richard’s, Round Rock Matthew Boulter Ordination SSW Event, Dallas St. Stephen’s School Grad., Austin St. Paul’s Church, Waco, CF

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PARISH NEWS

Strawberry Festival Started as Dessert in 1930

By Zo Curtis

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he 80th annual Strawberry Festival will be held May 1 at Holy Trinity, Dickinson. The famous festival was born on a Sunday afternoon in May 1930 when a group of young people from Trinity, Galveston, was served strawberries and cream at a picnic on the lawn of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Wolston’s home on Dickinson Bayou.

It proved to be such a happy event that they decided to repeat the activity the next year, and the next year and the next year. Each year they invited more and more friends until they overflowed the yard and decided to hold the affair on the grounds of their church across the Bayou.

Many things have changed in eighty years but some things have remained the same. Girls’ skirts are again about the same length—short. Strawberries are about the same taste—delicious. The shortcakes are the same—homemade.

The whipped cream is the same—heavy. And the enthusiasm is the same—high.

The biggest change is the size of the gathering. It has grown from a handful of people who first gathered

on the lawn to several thousand people, but the Strawberry Festival remains a community affair and homecoming for many in the area.

The Festival is held annually on the first Saturday in May, from noon until 5:00 on the church grounds on Highway 3 at Dickinson Bayou. In addition to the famous strawberry shortcake, there are barbeque dinners, a bake sale, a white elephant tent, games, live music and craft vendors. Community groups such as the fire and police departments also have booths. The Festival has truly been blessed -- in its eighty-year history it has never been rained out!

For more information, contact the church at: peace@ holytrinitydickinson.org.

By Sally Alvis

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continued from page 1

strong Jicarilla Apache culture, the lively educational environment lifted my spirits and my vision quest began.”

The St. Francis School community cultivates a desire for higher education in a state where the drop out rate is 70 percent. St. Francis School operates on a budget of only $150,000 per annum.

“The Jicarilla Apache are proud of their traditions and have recovered their culture despite centuries of war, relocations and legal battles with the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs,” Clements explained. At one time, a thriving tribe of more than 10,000 people, the Jicarilla Apache people were reduced to 300 people by the turn of the 20th century. Their membership now numbers more than 5,000.

Clements and science faculty member, Rick Pearson, organized a service trip in March during Spring Break. Clements hopes to inspire St. Stephen’s students to look beyond themselves and into the eyes of those who struggle daily against the adversities of poverty, harsh weather and bitter cultural prejudice.

“Hopefully, our St. Stephen’s students and St. Francis students will form friendships that will inspire us all to create a fellowship endowed with continued love of learning, community service and mutual support,” she said.

Example of Maundy Thursday Inspires East Texas Congregation he Maundy Project, a mission-oriented celebration of Holy Week at St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin, inspired parishioners to get “face-to-face” with their community.

St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin, has a long history of community outreach that includes founding the Christian Information & Service Center, the Adoption Center of East Texas and the Thanksgiving Community-Wide Food Drive.

“The Maundy Thursday liturgical model kept coming into my quiet time,” said the Rev. Art Callaham. “I sought to reconfigure the iconic scene of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples and kept thinking, ‘How can we serve in the context and worship of the church and be intentional about fulfilling Christ’s command to serve.’”

Callaham, who came to St. Cyprian’s in October from Hagerstown, Maryland, recognized the long track record in mission. Former Senior Warden Bill Eckmann estimated 800 hours of service from parishioners but the total was closer to 950 hours throughout Holy Week.

The project was designed to provide services for those entities that are so busy serving others, they don’t take care of themselves. Mosaic Center Executive Director Donna Busler laughs, “We help women re-build their lives and acquire the skills and confidence to go out into the world. We are so ‘inward-focused’ we can’t even see out of our own windows.”

Cleaning windows, weeding flower beds, rehabbing houses were just a few of the chores parishioners carried out.

“We serve all year round and it was an honor to be served by the people of St. Cyprian’s on Good Friday,” said Salvation Army director Captain Luis Menendez. Dozens of parishioners and vestry member Andy Stewart’s high school students tore down the Salvation Army’s dilapidated playground in the heart of downtown Lufkin so it could be prepared for a new playground donated by others. Menendez

Austin Students Tutor,

said the new playground had been on hold because they didn’t have funds to get rid of the old one.

“It gives me great joy to see the body of Christ work as one. St. Cyprian’s provided us great financial relief by taking on this demo project,” he said.

Calvin Toups said he met members of his church he did not know formerly because they attended different services.

“The Maundy Project has the added effect of building community within our church community. I now have a shared experience with my fellow early church-goers.

It gives us a place to start building a relationship,” he Mark Picou and Belinda Brown work to weatherproof a home damaged during a Christmas said. tornado as part of St. Cyprian’s Maundy Project.

Dozens of youth woke members also provided Easter lunch for Godtel, a homeless up early on their day off from school to work as paint scrapers, caulkers and gardeners. shelter in Lufkin and Easter cards and prayer shawls for They rehabbed two homes that were devastated when a church members who aren’t able to physically attend church anymore. tornado ripped through Lufkin just before Christmas.

There seemed to be something that spoke to every gift “A tree went through Miss Barbara’s house and she didn’t have the means or the know-how to fix it. I’m glad we present in the parish, whether the bearer was young or older.

What’s next? “Let’s just say we understand what Christ could,” said high school freshman Adam Logan.

Alys Ray, a member of the church’s outreach committee was after when he washed his disciples’ feet. Not only did He and a dyslexia therapist, oversaw the logistics of more than serve them, he was in relationship with them on every level.

125 volunteers including some who cooked burgers and This is my hope for the people of St. Cyprian’s,” Callaham delivered lunches to work sites on Holy Saturday. Church said.

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PARISH NEWS

St. Francis Day School, Houston Focus on Haiti

St. Michael’s, Austin Opens Day School

Holy Trinity School, Houston Lessons New York Style

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Special needs students at the Episcopal school in Haiti Photo Courtesy of Rev. Canon Bill Squire

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cting upon their commitment to being “people for others,” the Middle School students of St. Francis raised approximately $4,000 for the orphaned children of Haiti through participation in the school’s Rope of Hope Project.

In addition to selling beads used in the rope’s creation, students have participated in the project by selling paper hearts, organizing a candlelight prayer service and sponsoring a talent show, to which admission was gained through the purchase of one bead.

new day school is on the horizon in West Austin. St. Michael’s announced the opening of classes for threeand four-year-olds beginning September 2010. Classes will be held on the St. Michael’s campus, located at 1500 North Capital of Texas Hwy. in the rolling hills of West Austin on Loop 360 just 10 miles from downtown. The setting offers a beautiful and quiet retreat for students to play, laugh and learn.

The Rev. Robby Vickery, rector of St. Michael’s, said, “For years we have felt the need for more preschool care in our part of town, and we’ve talked about it. Over the last year it has been exciting to see God bringing together the people and the financial resources to move this from talk to reality.”

The school will seek “to increase each child’s capacity to reason and actively encourage a spirit of inquiry in a creative learning environment.” Kathy Lapsys will serve as the school’s founding director.

Admissions information, including a registration packet, is available on the school’s web site: www. stmichaelsdayschool.org or call 512.327.1474.

Bryan/College Station

Walkers Make Nine-Mile Pilgrimage

St. Thomas’, Wharton Top Drawer Drive

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he Daughters of the King are collecting newly packaged undergarments of all sizes for the women and children of the Matagorda County Women’s Crisis Center. Please bring your donations to the church parish hall. For more information contact the church at, 713.979.1732.

E Hazel BartramBirchenough Runs through May 14, 2010

Charlie Jean Sartwelle Opens May 17, 2010

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arly on Good Friday morning, the Bryan College Station Episcopal Community put on their best walking shoes and grabbed water bottles and rain gear in preparation for a joint Good Friday Pilgrimage.

The Rev. John Williams, rector of St. Francis, led 60 participants in the Readings of the Cross, at 7:30 a.m. The Rev. Sean Cox, rector of St. Andrew’s and the Rev. Lisa Hines, locum tenens of St. Thomas, College Station, accompanied the walkers first to St. Thomas, where they rehydrated, then to St. Michael’s Episcopal School, Bryan, ending up at St. Andrew’s in downtown Bryan at around 11:45. Others supported the walkers along the way, served refreshments at each location and prepared lunch at the end of the journey.

“It was indeed a good journey, and a time of prayer, preparation and pilgrimage commemorating Good Friday,” said Alison Sawyer, director of communication for St. Andrew’s.

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tudents of Holy Trinity Upper School spent a day feeding the less fortunate at the second largest soup kitchen in the United States located in Holy Apostle Episcopal Church in New York City. They also visited New York crannies, hidden gems and historic monuments over spring break accompanied by head of school, Shirley Ellisor.

Students were among 70 volunteers at the soup kitchen who served 1600 people in two hours. They worked with four college students from Denmark who had been there for three-and-a-half weeks doing research and writing about their experience.

“I learned more than I ever would have expected, not just about history, but about leadership, team building and what kind of things can be accomplished with the help of those who love you and through a determined mind,” said Alex Gulsby, a freshman at Holy Trinity. His classmate, Adam Romero, came home feeling closer to his friends. Others had powerful experiences at the site of the World Trade Center attack, learning more about the impact the tragedy had on friends and families of the victims.

Each year the Upper School travels to a different destination to experience cultural differences, see historic sites and learn more about the world in general. In 2011, students will travel to Australia where the school’s first graduation will take place.

St. Timothy’s, Houston

The Rev. Jim Hamilton leads a donkey foal in the Palm Sunday procession and re-enactment of Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem at St. Timothy’s, Houston.

Photo by David Taylor

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Calendar

Calendar

Bishops’ Conference on

May 1

Annual Luau at Good Shepherd, Tomball, benefiting youth and family ministry. Fun and games for all, food and live and silent auctions begin at 4 p.m. at 715 E. Carrell St., Tomball. Advance tickets are $10/5 for adult/child. Call 281.351.1609 for details.

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St. James’ House Golf Tournament, see www.stjameshouston.org.

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Taizé Retreat - Saturday, 1-6 p.m., St. Andrew’s, Bryan. Explore the music, history, science and spirit which are the foundation and framework of Taizé music and services.

A simple meal will be served before the service. There is no fee; donations are gladly accepted. For information and to reserve a spot for the retreat, contact Alan Strong, music@standrewsbcs.org, or call 713.574.6498.

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Guitar and Cello Concert featuring Richard Smith and Julie Adams at St. Thomas’, 4900 Jackwood, Houston (off 610 and Beechnut) from 3-5 p.m. Smith, a child prodigy, is one of the world’s greatest guitarists. Adams has performed with major orchestras throughout the U.S. and is a Nashville session player. Tickets are $20, $10 for students.

Call 713.666.3111 for information or visit www.stthomashouston.org.

Outreach October 8 - 9, 2010, Camp Allen

SAVE THE DATE

23-25 Developing a Healing Ministry in the Local Church featuring the Rev. Mike Flynn of FreshWind Ministries at St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin. Flynn’s teachings are tailored to physical healing, emotional healing, lay ministry development, discipling, ministry to the poor, prayer, spiritual growth, evangelism and understanding and using biblical faith.

Registration fee is $30/$50. Send check with name, address, phone and e-mail to: Betty Hill, 919 South John Redditt Dr., Lufkin, TX 75904. For more information, e-mail janpete@suddenlink.net or visit www.lufkinosl.webs.com. Contact Pete Peterson at 936.699.3194 for scholarship information.

June 5

Mary Bridgewater on “Pray the Word,” at St. Cuthbert, Houston, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 17020 West Road, Houston, TX 77095. Sponsored by Episcopal Church Women.

Call 281.463.7330 for more information.

9-11 Community of Hope International 13th Annual Conference at Camp Allen, “Listen with the ear of your heart” All new and experienced COH pastoral caregivers invited. For brochure see: www.communityofhope-international.com. Register at www. campallen.org. For further information call the Rev. Helen W. Appelberg, 409.789.1070 or hwappelb@utmb.edu.

23-27 Benedictine Experience Retreat at the Catholic Conference Center in Dallas presented

by The Friends of St. Benedict, Washington, D.C. Participants form a temporary monastic community to experience the balanced way of life of the Rule of St. Benedict.

Please e-mail dallasbenedictine@yahoo.com or call 214.339.8483 for more information.

Ruby Payne to be featured presenter at Bishops’ Outreach Conference.

Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D., founder of aha! Process, is dedicated to positively impacting the education and lives of individuals in poverty. Since the mid-1990s she has been speaking to audiences around the world about the effects of poverty on students, families, and communities and how to better understand and support people from all economic backgrounds.

Payne has been a career educator and has served in many roles, including teacher, principal, and administrator. She has worked with thousands of organizations—schools, businesses, social services, law enforcement, church groups, and more—to get rid of the barriers to success posed by economic

August 6-8 The Addictions Recovery Ministry of the Diocese of Louisiana, 27th annual weekend for women and men who are or who wish to be in recovery at The Solomon Episcopal Conference Center in Robert, LA. Cost is $152. For information, call 985.748.6634 or online at www.solomoncenter.org. Scholarships are available.

class differences among people and groups. Payne works with organizations in countries throughout the globe, including the U.S., Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Slovakia, and many more.

Payne is the author of numerous books, including A Framework for Understanding Poverty (more than 1 million copies sold) and Bridges Out of Poverty.

Integrity Houston Eucharist (followed by dinner)

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

Golding Chapel at Christ Church Cathedral 1117 Texas Avenue, Houston

Free Parkin g i n t h e C a t h e d r a l G a r a g e a t Te x a s a n d S a n J a c i n t o

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Payne received her Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University in Illinois, her M.A. in English literature from Western Michigan University, and her B.A. from Goshen College in Indiana.

Contact Sally Rutherford, Diocesan Outreach Coordinator at sbrutherford@epicenter.org or 800.318.4452, 713.520.6444 ext. 1007 for more information.

This conference is being substantially underwritten by Episcopal Community Outreach Ministries of the Diocese of Texas.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

People

EDOT Office of Communication Honored at Communicators’ National Conference in Salem

Pictured l-r: Marilyn Biles and Hazel Bartram-Birchenough

Dale Chrisman has renounced his priestly orders.

The Rev. Stacey Fussell, vicar of St. Catherine of Sienna, Missouri City has accepted a call as rector of Ascension, Bradford, PA. The Rev. Kurt J. Gerhard, senior chaplain at St. Andrew’s School, Austin has accepted a call as rector of St. Patrick’s Church and School, Washington, D.C. The Rev. Robert L. Gribble, rector of St. Mary’s, Bellville is now non-parochial.

The Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge has been named academic dean at Seminary of the Southwest and replaces Alan P.R. Gregory who has held the three-year appointment for two terms.

The Rev. Robert Leacock is the new chaplain of St. Andrew’s Upper School, Austin. He was formerly associate rector at St. Michael and All Angels, Dallas.

The Rev. Emily “Anne” Matthews, priest-in-charge at St. Thomas’, Rockdale has accepted a call to be priest-in-charge of Redeemer, Brookhaven, MS. The Rev. Katharine F. “Kate” Picot has joined the staff of St. Martin’s, Houston as a curate. She attended Ridley Hall Seminary, Cambridge.

The Rev. Genevieve Razim, associate rector at Palmer Memorial, Houston is now at Trinity, The Woodlands.

The Rev. Kristin Sullivan, associate rector at Palmer Memorial, Houston is now non-parochial.

The Rev. Mary Elizabeth Wilson, rector at St. Richard’s, Round Rock will become senior asst. rector at St. Martin’s, Houston.

The diocesan Office of Communication was honored ministries and diocesan events as well as Twitter accounts at the Episcopal Communicators’ national conference in used regularly by Bishop Doyle and Barnwell. Blogs for Salem, MA, in March with a number of Polly Bond awards parish communicators and congregational development for writing, photography and graphics as well as for numerous video slideshows of mission and ministry.

An annual competition, the awards acknowledge excellence and achievement in the ministry of church communication and are named for one of the founding members of Episcopal Communicators.

Bishop Andy Doyle, who has an art degree, won an award of merit for the “bird flu” cartoon he drew during last summer’s General Convention.

Carol E. Barnwell, editor of the Texas Episcopalian and communication director for the diocese, won first place for a story about Madolyn Reed, the retired teacher who tutors students in her Prairie View home. Barnwell also won an honorable mention for an interview with Austin’s fly fishing priest, the Rev. Bert Baetz, along with an award of merit for photographs of mission work supported Bishop Andy Doyle’s winning cartoon. by the diocese in the Andes Mountains of Bolivia. A graphics layout of Barnwell’s story and photos by LaShane join Bishop Doyle’s blog to provide a comprehensive Eaglin, webmaster and graphics specialist, also won an view of the resources available for congregations as well award of merit. as inspirational messages. More changes are coming in The communications team rounded out their wins the near future including a more interactive and updated with an award of excellence (first place) for an audio website, a redesign of the Texas Episcopalian and more. The slideshow of ministy in Bolivia. LaShane Eaglin won two newspaper is available online and if you choose to receive awards of excellence for the Mission Funding brochure and it electronically rather than delivered in hard copy, simply the the Mission Funding package of materials, including send your request to Shirley Platt at splatt@epicenter.org. the catalog of mission opportunities available in the diocese.

If you would like to receive the weekly e-news, send a These materials are used by vestries to choose where their request to Diolog editor, Nancy Sallaberry at nsallaberry@ collective mission dollars are spent. Audio slideshows depict epicenter.org. stories in the Texas Episcopalian and ministries within and As always, we thank you for reading and encourage beyond the diocese. your responses, story suggestions and ideas. Contact the Many changes have been made in communications editor at cbarnwell@epicenter.org. this past year with the addition of Facebook pages for college

Wide Array of Art Featured at Edot Gallery

Holy Vestments Focus of Fall Altar Guild Trip

Edot Gallery, a space at the Diocesan Center at 1225 Texas Ave. in Houston received great coverage in the Houston Chronicle in March. Curator Marilyn Biles spoke to Menachem Wecker about the new opportunity for Episcopal artists, as well as, about her own paintings. See http:// ow.ly/1pbwQ, for the story.

On April 6, a reception for Hazel Bartram-Birchenough drew more than 100 enthusiastic patrons. Her water colors, drawings and acrylics will hang through May 14, followed by a show for Charlie Jean Sartwelle entitled “Aviary Arias: Bird Songs,” May 17-July 9, 2010. Born in Cameron, Texas, Sartwelle’s work has evolved from her sojourns in China, Spain, Trinidad-Tobago and Mexico. She has exhibited at the National Art Museum of Lima, in New York City and will have a show in Barcelona this year. She is the director of Mother Dog Studios, which has provided hundreds of visual artists with exhibition and working studio spaces for more than 24 years. Sartwelle lives and works in Houston.

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he diocesan Altar Guild has less than a dozen spaces left for their tour of English churches, November 9-18, 2010. The trip includes a tour of two makers of fine vestments and linens: Wippell and Watt. “Participants will also view holy vestments and linens at Salisbury, Winchester and Coventry Cathedrals and Westminster Abbey,” said the diocesan Altar Guild director, Alice Scarbrough.

The cost of the land package is $2,300 and includes hotels, transportation, guides, as well as high tea at the Waldorf Hotel, theatre tickets and tube passes. The cost does not include air travel. Individuals must join the tour at Ramada London Heathrow on November 9.

To reserve a place for the trip contact tour organizer Georgia Raffalovich at altartender@aol.com or telephone 512.864.0211 to request a registration form, which must be returned with a $500.00 deposit by July 1, 2010 (fully refundable until June 30, 2010). The balance of $1,800.00 is due in full by July 20, 2010.

Art

Artists/Exhibition opportunities for 2011 at the EDOT Gallery at the Diocesan Center, 1225 Texas Ave. Houston, TX. 77002. See www.epicenter.org/gallery for details.

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Pictured l-r: Alice Scarborough, Diocese of Texas Altar Guild director; Georgia Raffalovich, tour leader and the Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., reviewing the trip itinerary.

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Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

Above-Average Activity Predicted for 2010 Hurricane Season

T

he Atlantic basin is anticipated to experience above-average activity in the 2010 hurricane season, according to an April report issued by the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University.

The study predicts 15 named tropical storms occurring throughout the season, which begins on June 1 and lasts through November 30. Eight are expected to develop into hurricanes, classified as major storms on the Saffir-Simpson scale of measurement. Major hurricanes have winds upwards of 111 miles per hour, and fall into categories three through five.

The CSU study also indicates a 44 percent probability that one of these major storms will strike the Gulf coast between the Florida panhandle and Brownsville,

Parish Emergency Planning is Essential Resources are Available

I

n an ideal world, emergency plans would not be necessary. Disasters would not happen, and life would be calm, day in and day out.

But we all know that this ideal is not realistic. Disasters occur and sometimes they strike in the heart of our own communities.

In the Diocese of Texas, we are at high risk for floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, chemical spills and explosions, technological emergencies and many other concerns that have the potential to disrupt our lives, our homes, churches and communities.

If, and when these events strike, we need to know how to react and respond.

In addition to individuals having their personal emergency plans, each and every parish should as well. The parish plan should provide the steps necessary to secure your facilities, respond to the community and continue operations.

These are best when created by your Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

parish, for your parish, in order to meet the needs of your specific congregation and community before, during and after an emergency.

Benefits of creating and utilizing a plan help you protect existing assets, support and ensure the safety of your congregation and, in some cases, even grow your parish membership.

Whether you’re clergy, a vestry member or a regular attendee, you can play a critical part in the preparedness process. Start by asking questions – find out if your parish has an emergency plan, and, if not, start planning.

Because this task can be overwhelming, Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development has created “The Parish Emergency Planning Guide” and made it available for download at www. epicenter.org/preparedness.

This easy-to-use guide will assist your parish in working through the topics important to emergency planning

TX, with a 69 percent probability that one will strike somewhere on the United States coastline.

An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 10 named storms, with six hurricanes, two of which turn into major hurricanes.

This year’s above-average predictions, however, are comparable to those of 2008, in which the Texas Gulf Coast was hit by three hurricanes: Dolly, Gustav, and Ike. Ike, the last and most devastating of the three, was a category two windstorm.

However, the storm was so large in diameter that it produced a surge typical of a much stronger hurricane, flooding most of Galveston Island, Bolivar Peninsula and many towns along Galveston Bay.

Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Month We will be hosting workshops in each region throughout the diocese to present Parish Emergency Preparedness. Be sure to join us at one of these gatherings for valuable information.

Austin - St. Michael’s, 1500 North Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, 78746, 512.327.1474 May 5, 12 p.m., Emergency Planning for Parish Administrators (Brown Bag Lunch) May 8, 1:30 p.m., Parish-wide Emergency Planning 2CEUs Houston - Emmanuel, 15015 Memorial Drive, Houston, 77079, 281.493.3161 May 13, 12 p.m., Emergency Planning for Parish Administrators (Brown Bag Lunch) May 15, 10 a.m., Parish-wide Emergency Planning 2CEUs East Texas - St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin, 919 South John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904 May 20, 12 p.m., Parish Administrator’s Luncheon (Lunch Provided) May 22, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Parish-wide Emergency Planning 2CEUs Register for a workshop, or stay updated on this upcoming event and the work of Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief & Development, by visiting online at www.epicenter.org/tedrd.

-- assessing your risks, performing an insurance inventory and contacting parishioners.

In addition, TEDRD will be hosting two workshops in each region of the diocese in May to discuss the topic and provide an opportunity to ask questions.

The first of the workshops will focus on parish administrators and others in similar roles, to equip them with preparedness

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tools specific to their role in the church.

The second workshop is open to all, and will provide an overview of creating a parish emergency plan. Two CEU credits are available for attending clergy.

See the box on this page for the dates and times of these workshops, or to register, visit the Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development website at www. epicenter.org/tedrd.

Texas Episcopalian

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May

2010

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

Storm Victims are Inspiration

By Luke Blount

S

hope to experience it again.”

ince November 2008 Texas Episcopal Disaster

Most of TEDRD’s homeowners are elderly, and all of

Relief and Development has used more than 35,000

them are either poor or on a fixed income. Before Ike, most

hours of volunteer labor to gut or repair close to 150

of them took pride in being able to provide for themselves.

homes, and the work continues on Galveston Island, one of

They always found a way to scrape by or just survive. But

the storm’s hardest-hit areas.

after such devastation, many of them had nowhere to turn.

Immediately following Hurricane Ike, the Episcopal

TEDRD has gladly stepped in to lend a helping hand

Diocese of Texas began offering pastoral care to survivors

to the hopeless: people like 100-year-old Ms. Sallie, who

as well as man-power to begin gutting flood-damaged

lived alone and was certainly not in any shape physically

homes. Relief Coordinator Maggie Immler was brought in

or mentally to repair her home; or Mr. Keyes, an 83-year-

to organize a comprehensive relief effort.

old WWII veteran with a Purple Heart, and his 59-year-old

A volunteer from Monroe, Washington, paints stairs for one of TEDRD's homeowners.

Thanks to generous donations from individuals and

disabled daughter who depends on him for survival; and

parishes as well as grants from groups like Episcopal Relief

Mr. Rodgers, who had to get his leg amputated after the

and Development, TEDRD soon was fielding dozens of

storm in addition to losing his wife to Alzheimer’s, and his

Emergencies: 9-1-1

volunteers a week through the William Temple Episcopal

dog to the flood waters.

Evacuation Assistance and Information: 2-1-1

Important Numbers and Links for Texans

“The initial outpouring of support was overwhelming,”

to worry about whether or not they have a safe place to

Texas Department of Emergency Management Public Information: tiny.cc/txempublicinformation

Immler said. “And it allowed for the program as it exists

sleep at night. And their resilience is an inspiration to every

FloodSmart: www.floodsmart.gov

today to come into being.”

volunteer who comes into their homes.

US Fire Administration: www.usfa.dhs.gov

Those are the kinds of people who will no longer have

Center in Galveston.

By April, 2010, more than 2000 individuals had

TEDRD is committed to working in Galveston

volunteered through TEDRD, and 40 percent of those have

through at least 2010. The goal is to provide displaced

ASPCA (Pets): www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/

visited at least twice. Led by TEDRD’s team of construction

homeowners with a fully repaired home in addition to

Citizen Corps: www.citizencorps.gov

managers and crew chiefs, volunteers spend seven hours a

providing volunteers with a quality mission experience.

Texas Prepares: www.texasprepares.org

Unlike some relief organizations, TEDRD provides

day doing anything from sheet-rocking and mudding to

construction supervisors on all of their sites in addition to

painting and flooring.

TEDRD has fielded volunteers from 30 states and

providing volunteer housing, materials and tools. Volunteers

a few different countries, but Texans have been at the

also get ample free time to explore Galveston or lounge on

forefront of the relief effort.

the beach.

“I was especially touched to see the amount of

“This is the most organized group we have worked

volunteers from Texas,” Immler said. “Even before I got

with, and it was very much appreciated,” said a group leader

here, Texans were coming out of the woodwork to support

from Virginia Tech University. “I liked that we got to do a

the efforts in Galveston.”

lot on the house and could see the changes come along. We

As volunteers learn new skills and work on houses

also got to talk to the homeowner, which was great.”

in Galveston, they often become acquainted with the

With this summer already booked with volunteer

homeowners and their stories. TEDRD’s homeowners are

groups, TEDRD continues to move forward with relief

always incredibly gracious and emotional when they see

efforts on Galveston Island. To donate to TEDRD or

their home begin to look new again.

schedule a volunteer trip, please visit www.epicenter.org/

“I loved being able to help Mr. Rodgers and learn about his story,” said one volunteer from Kenyon College

tedrd or contact Luke Blount, volunteer coordinator, at 713.252.9693 or by email at volunteer@epicenter.org.

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May

2010

Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief and Development Website: www.epicenter.org/tedrd Preparedness & Planning Coordinator (Carolyn Gibbs): cjgibbs@epicenter.org; 734.474.9504 Volunteer Coordinator (Luke Blount): volunteer@epicenter.org; 713.252.9693

Twitter

www.twitter.com/IkeRelief

Blog

ikerelief.blogspot.com

Facebook

www.facebook.com/ikerelief

about a homeowner. “It was an amazing adventure and I

Texas Episcopalian

Ready (Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.): www.ready.gov

8

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

Be ready for a Hurricane Chances are High in 2010

The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1st, and with the above-average activity predictions issued earlier this spring, both coastal and inland families must prepare for the possibility that a storm will strike our coastline.

The Galveston County Office of Emergency management has certainly seen its share of hurricanes, and they offer the following recommendations for weathering a storm:

Before a hurricane

 Secure your home. Install permanent storm shutters or cut 5/8” marine plywood to fit windows.

 Install straps or clips to tightly fasten your roof to the frame of your home, reducing the likelihood of roof damage.

 Trim trees and shrubs around your home, removing dead branches that could come loose in high winds.

 Clean out rain gutters.  If you own a boat, find out how and where to secure it.  Keep your vehicle gas tank filled to at least half a tank at all times.  Identify evacuation routes and destinations.

During a hurricane

 Listen to the radio or TV for up-to-date information. Many cities have an

automated call-out system to share information, and some agencies are even utilizing social networking sites such as Twitter as well.  Secure your home. Close storm shutters or put pre-cut plywood over the windows.

Secure outdoor objects or bring them inside.  Turn off utilities and propane tanks, following local officials’ instructions.  .Avoid using the phone, except for serious emergencies, as emergency management agencies will need the signals and lines.  Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets.

Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.

Evacuating

 Evacuate the area immediately if instructed to do so by local authorities.  If you live in a mobile home or temporary structure, a high-rise building, on the

coast, in a flood plain, or near another water source, you should evacuate as soon as you are able. These factors put you and your home in greater danger.  If you do not have the resources to evacuate, you may register for local evacuation assistance. Simply dial 2-1-1 from any phone to get information and register.  Take all pets, your emergency kit, and food with you. You cannot be sure how long it will take to evacuate, and what will be available along the way.

Floods Floods are one of the most common natural disasters; they occur in all fifty states, can affect small communities or large regions, and could happen over a period of days or in a matter of minutes.

Any number of factors could cause flooding, including heavy rainfall, tidal surges, the failure of manmade structures such as dams, or even new developments that alter the environment, changing natural drainage systems.

Floods are one of the most destructive and dangerous natural events that can occur.

As little as six inches of moving water can carry away homes, cars, and people. In addition, floodwaters often contain myriad unknown toxins collected as they move through buildings and storage facilities. Even as waters recede, waterlogged homes become prone to dangerous mold growth, and carpets, furniture, and other possessions are destroyed.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Texas alone has experienced more than 3,300 floods in the last five years, affecting all but seven of its 254 counties. The damages from these events totaled nearly $5,000,000,000. Every county in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas was affected.

It is essential to both prepare for and to know how to respond to a flood.

First, know your risk. Obtain flood maps from FEMA or your insurance agent, and learn how to read them. Before buying or building a new home, study the maps to find out the flood risk. Avoid building new structures in flood zones, or elevate them to reduce the risk of water entering the building in a flood.

If your current home is located in a flood plain, take precautions to ensure the safety of your home and family. Raise the home to reduce the risk of water coming indoors.

Seal basements with waterproofing compounds, and make sure that insurance policies are adequate and up-to-date.

If flooding is predicted for your area, and you have advance warning, take precautions as recommended by local authorities. These may include sandbagging your home to keep water out, moving essential items and furniture from lower levels, and even evacuating to higher areas. You may be advised to turn off any or all of your utilities. Make sure your emergency kit is accessible and out of the reach of predicted water levels.

Flash floods occur without advance warning, and can rise to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes. If a flash flood happens in your area, move immediately to higher ground or a higher floor in your home.

Do not walk or drive through moving water.

If you do not evacuate

 Stay indoors and away from doors and windows throughout the duration of the storm.

 Close and brace all exterior doors, and keep curtains and blinds closed.  Go into a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level, and lie on the floor under a table or other sturdy object.

Hurricanes are dangerous storms, and can change direction and strength very quickly. If a hurricane is approaching the coast, be on your guard and ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Taking precautions and following instructions can help protect your family and home in a storm.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

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Texas Episcopalian

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May

2010

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

A Church Community Can Help All to be Prepared

T

hough emergency preparedness is a need of every individual and family, not everyone has the resources to achieve it. Some lack finances, others, physical abilities. Some may simply not have family available to support them during a chaotic time, or the knowledge to understand what is necessary for their own situation.

The church is in a unique position to help. As a strong and cohesive community, a church has the opportunity to both identify and address the needs of its parishioners, ensuring that they have taken the precautions necessary to be safe in an emergency.

One of the most important things a church can do is share information. Though a wealth of preparedness guides, checklists and other information sources exist, not all persons may have access to or know where to look for these resources.

Simply raising awareness of the need is a benefit. By talking about how to prepare for emergencies and what assistance is available, parishioners are ensured access to that information. This can be done from the pulpit, through bulletin inserts and newsletters, or by having information readily available to parishioners and visitors to the church.

However, the sole responsibility for the preparedness of the parish should not fall on the clergy. Each member of the church, as a vital part of the community, should talk to friends, neighbors and family members about preparedness.

As part of that conversation, church members can assess the

Texas Episcopalian

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2010

needs of those at risk and make sure they have what they need.

The adage, “many hands make light work,” is just as true in preparedness as it is in other aspects of life. When we come together to prepare our community as a whole, we can work quickly and effectively to see that goal realized.

• A canned food drive may be all it takes to ensure that each church member’s pantry is adequately stocked with emergency stores.

• A phone tree with each church member and regular attendee’s name and phone number listed distributes the task of contacting them before, during and after an event throughout the church community, making sure that nobody is missed and the process goes quickly.

• A group of handy persons who move throughout the community, boarding up windows and securing doors of their own homes and others as a hurricane approaches makes certain no home is left vulnerable to the high winds.

The people of the Diocese of Texas have proven themselves capable of this type of community effort, demonstrating the power of community after Hurricane Ike’s landfall in September 2008. Episcopalians from our own diocese volunteered hundreds of hours providing spiritual care and physical labor for survivors of the storm throughout the coast.

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Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

Proper Sheltering-in-place could Save Your Family in a Chemical Emergency Chemical emergencies can occur suddenly, without advance warning. Because toxins spread quickly through air and water, the best way to protect your family may be to shelter in place. To stay safe in chemical emergencies, the Austin Department of Emergency Management recommends the following precautions:

Before a chemical emergency  Cut plastic sheeting to fit your windows, doors and vent openings and store with your emergency kit.  Stock your emergency kit with duct tape and chemical masks.  Identify a room within your home for sheltering-in-place. It should be above ground and have few windows, if any.  Learn how your community will alert you of a chemical emergency, and how to receive information during the event.

During a chemical emergency  Go indoors to your shelter room with all family members, pets and your emergency kit. Do not leave your house to get your children if they are at school, as going outside may increase your danger of exposure to the toxins. Schools should have their own plans in place to protect students.  Close, lock and seal all windows and doors. Close off storage, laundry, and other non-essential rooms.  Prevent airflow from the outside as much as possible. Turn off fans, heating and cooling systems that draw in air from outside. Close the damper in the fireplace, if you have one.  Close shutters, shades, blinds or curtains, and stay away from windows to minimize your danger in an explosion.  Once you and your family are safe in your shelter room, cover windows, doors, exhaust fans, registers, outlets and vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape. Seal cracks and small openings where pipes come into the room with the duct tape.  Monitor emergency information using a radio or television. Stay off the phone as much as possible, as emergency responders will need the lines and signals. Call 9-1-1 only to report an injury or other immediate emergency, never for information.  Have your evacuation kit ready, but leave only if ordered to do so.

After a chemical emergency  If public safety officials order an evacuation, follow their instructions immediately, taking your evacuation kit with you. Do not return until local officials give the “all clear.”  If the “all clear” message is sounded without an evacuation, open up the house to clear the air of any chemicals that may have seeped in. Remove plastic sheeting and tape, open doors and windows, turn on heating or cooling systems, and go outside.

By following these precautions, you can help to ensure your family’s survival of a chemical emergency without injury or illness. Place instructions for your family, including identification of your shelter room, in your emergency kit and review them often.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Emergency Preparedness

Word Search EmergencyalarmPreparedness T H E U E R K F X E L R E VW I P S U T M C P R O E AGD T N L T I S I E G N GBON S G I O E D R E L R H N AA I DN S N I I L A C I G O L ONHC E TH T P A P UT E N L R I EDRAZ AH C R R I N N A AH T T AO E G O I E I E C W T AC D ANO R I N G N T S Y E E VR I RU I V T E O T YL D AWTURGS CA I T L R R R L A A DH AKO T AM R O A DA T A B ACKU P L T V E E P R E P A R E DN E S S O N E GMR S A M E CNARU S N I O D I SA S T E RETLEHS N B F I R S T A I DATGO E L R A

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Texas Episcopalian

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alarm biological biological church in a box church in a box data backup data backup disaster disaster early earlywarning warning emergency emergency evacuation evacuation first firstaid aid food food geological geological hazard hazard insurance insurance maintenance maintenance mitigation mitigation partner parish partner parish phone tree phone tree preparedness preparedness risk risk security security shelter shelter technological technological TEDRD TEDRD utilities VOAD utilities water VOAD water

May

2010

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

They say everything’s bigger in Texas. Unfortunately, when it comes to the number of emergencies and disasters experienced in the state each year, the adage is true. Even with these unique risks, a little foresight and planning can make living, working, and worshipping in Texas even better than it already is.

Black Swans: When the Unpredictable Happens

Have It Ready To Go Water (one gallon per person per day)

3 day supply of non-perishable food: tuna, jerky, peanut butter, dried milk Dried fruit, canned fruit, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, canned/boxed juice

By Don Parker

N

assim Nicholas Taleb, a Lebanese Christian who, as a youth, saw his world destroyed by civil war, introduced the term “Black Swan” in a 2007 book of the same name. A Black Swan is a rare event, often unpredictable, that has enormous impact.

Though Taleb’s book deals mostly with financial planning (he is a Wall Street analyst), he urges us to take typically unforeseen events into account in planning.

There are a lot of bad things that can happen to us, either individually or collectively: During the Christmas season of 2004, a tsunami in the Indian Ocean swept away 225,000 people; Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August of the following year, an event that killed hundreds and displaced hundreds of thousands. Then, in October, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake devastated mountainous parts of Pakistan and killed an estimated 80,000. In less than one year, we had seen three biblical-scale events.

The 2008 Hurricane Season saw 16 named storms, including three (Dolly, Gustav, and Ike) that struck Texas. Many of us probably have friends or family who were impacted by these storms. The city of Galveston was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike, and if the storm had struck a few miles to the southwest, the entire city might have been destroyed.

More recently, we were shocked when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti on January 12 with a loss of 220,000 people and an even greater earthquake struck Chile on February 27.

Theologians have long debated the

Texas Episcopalian

Disaster Supply Kit

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May

Baby food, diapers, and formula Can opener, eating utensils, mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels Propane tank for gas grill, matches in waterproof container Wet wipes, disinfectants, household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper Battery-operated radio Battery-operated telephone charger Flashlights Extra batteries including batteries for hearing aids First Aid Kit including sunscreen and mosquito repellent nature of evil, and, especially, the question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

St. Thomas Aquinas suggested that what we perceive as evil is either the work of man, or is inherent in nature. While hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis certainly are not the work of man, they are events that man can make better by offering material and spiritual aid to their victims.

Jesus said, “…I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me…” (Matthew 25: 35-36).

Through the ministry of Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief & Development, Bishop Andy Doyle has asked parishes to develop Emergency Preparedness plans and to encourage individuals and families to do likewise. Begin thinking and praying about what might be effective measures that we could take in preparation for whatever events we might have to face in upcoming years.

Don Parker is a member of St. Richard’s, Round Rock, and professor of geology at Baylor University.

2010

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Eyeglasses Documents in water tight containers: back up on separate storage drive, CD's, or stored with

money, traveler’s checks, checks, change, deposit slips, credit cards

Medical history, Insurance-health, life, homeowners, renters, car Birth certificates, green cards, social security cards, wills Titles—deeds, cars Licenses—drivers, marriage, professional papers Video or pictures of rooms & property Extra keys Extra prescription medicine or refill information 3 complete sets of clothing for each family member; rain protection (poncho) & warmth

(blankets), sleeping bag

Waterproof paper & pen/pencil Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or information from www.ready.gov Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items 3 weeks worth of food & medicine Immunization records Recent photo of pet in case of separation Carrying crate Write phone number on pet’s stomach with indelible marker Rabies & license tags

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

Episcopal Relief & Development Continues to Work toward Recovery in Haiti

Fires Kill More Americans than All Natural Disasters Combined

Safety is Key In 2008, 1.5 million fires burned across the nation, killing more Americans than all natural disasters combined, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, a subset of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Fires are caused by a number of factors, including appliance malfunction, faulty wiring and lightning strikes.

They can spread quickly throughout a home and to nearby structures if not caught early. Fires occur without warning, and can devastate a family and a community. Thus, preparing for the possibility of a fire is essential for keeping your family safe. The following are several recommendations of the USFA:

An acolyte at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince brings the cross into the open-air cathedral for veneration during the Holy Friday liturgy April 2. The rubble of the earthquake-destroyed cathedral building is visible in the background.

Photo by Mallory Holding

E

piscopal Relief and Development had an active presence in Haiti, long before the devastating earthquake that struck on January 12. Just days after the event however, representatives from the national relief organization were on the ground in Port-Au-Prince to help provide relief and build a plan for recovery.

One of only a handful of international dioceses within the Episcopal Church USA, the Diocese of Haiti is also the largest by membership, with more than 83,000 Episcopalians throughout a mere 11,000 square miles (roughly the size of Massachusetts).

These numbers lend both strength and difficulty in responding to the Haitian earthquake, explained Katie Mears, the program director for Domestic Disasters at Episcopal Relief and Development. Mears has traveled to Haiti several times in the past few months. The Diocese of Haiti is both invested and affected in nearly every community throughout the nation.

Working closely with Episcopal Relief & Development, the Diocese of the Dominican Republic and other partners, the Diocese of Haiti is providing food, water, shelter and medical care. More than 217 tons of food have been distributed since January, and 450 families were given the supplies and assistance to build temporary housing structures by ERD. After treating thousands of local survivors in a tent camp, a mobile medical unit was established to provide care for survivors in outlying areas. The unit, which holds free clinics across the country, utilizes Haitian medical professionals, many of whom were trained at the Episcopal University of Haiti’s School of Nursing. The doctor who leads the program was studying at the seminary when the earthquake occurred.

“He understands both the medical and church sides,” Mears said. Though transportation between clinic locations is difficult – sometimes requiring hours in the car, foot travel or even a donkey ride – the mobile unit has treated Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

more than 7,000 patients.

As the Diocese of Haiti begins to move from emergency relief into long-term recovery, one of its primary focuses will be “cash-for-work” programs that create jobs for Haitians and help to rebuild the infrastructure of the nation.

Following the destruction of Port-Au-Prince, where as much as 50 percent of the population of Haiti lived before the earthquake, many citizens retreated to the rural areas where they had been born. Once there, they found that the situation is little better in the country than in the city, with little food and not enough jobs.

Cash-for-Work programs will establish projects run by local congregations, with staff and labor provided by local Haitian citizens. In a disaster-ravaged nation, the opportunities for projects are endless, and there is a large unemployed workforce from which to draw laborers, many of whom were victims of the poor economy long before the earthquake shook the country.

Describing this vision, Mears emphasizes the need for cash donations rather than volunteer labor. While funding will be the biggest determiner of the program’s success, the standard daily wage for a worker in Haiti is just $4.00 per day.

“You can hire two Haitians for a lot less than the cost of a plane ticket,” Mears said. The effects of providing job opportunities for citizens will benefit the recovering nation for years to come.

For more information on Episcopal Relief & Development’s role in Haiti’s recovery, please visit the Haiti Crisis page at www.er-d.org/HaitiCrisis. To help, you can donate to the Haiti Earthquake Response fund by calling 800.334.7626, ext. 5129, mailing your gift (with “Haiti Earthquake Response Fund” written in the memo line) to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058, or by submitting your donation online at www.er-d.org.

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Install smoke alarms. Installing smoke alarms is one of the simplest and most effective means of keeping your family safe.

Alarms sound at the slightest hint of smoke, allowing your family to escape danger. Smoke alarms are inexpensive, and should be installed on every floor of the home, especially in or near sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace batteries twice yearly to ensure that they will function properly when needed the most.

Have fire extinguishers available. Store fire extinguishers around the house in easy-to-access locations. Not all extinguishers are the same – learn about the different classifications and the uses for each. What works to put out an electrical fire may feed a grease fire. Teach family members how and when to properly use each extinguisher.

Extinguishers should be used only if the fire is small and within a single container, such as a wastebasket or pan. Keep local fire department numbers with the extinguishers and by the phone; call the fire department before attempting to extinguish a fire on your own. If the fire is too large to handle, vacate the home or building immediately.

Check fire extinguishers regularly, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance. Keep the exterior clean of dirt and grease, and make sure that they are not blocked by furniture, doorways or any other obstruction.

Replace it immediately if it becomes damaged or needs to be recharged. Extinguishers can be purchased at most hardware stores and many department stores.

Make an escape plan. It only takes a few minutes for an entire house to fill with smoke and become engulfed in flames.

Having a good escape plan can make the difference between life and death. Each room in the home should have two escape routes, in case one becomes blocked by fire. Draw out a layout of your home, and identify the exits in each. Install collapsible ladders or find alternate means to get out upper-level windows safely. Make sure security bars have a quick-release device.

Coordinate a meeting point outside the home and practice meeting there. Once you are out, do not go back inside for any reason. If someone is left in the home, allow the fire department to perform a rescue.

For any fire, large or small, do not reenter the building until the fire department rules it safe.

For more information on fire safety, visit the United States Fire Administration website at www.usfa.dhs.gov.

The website includes helpful tips on staying safe in fires, and even includes a website for children to learn about fire safety.

Texas Episcopalian

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2010

DIOCESAN NEWS

Are you ready?

Special Emergency Preparedness Section

Disaster Planning for You and Your Pet(s)

By Abby Harrison

Disaster planning is more than just having a bag of food and an extra gallon of water. Start with:

Identification • Pictures - (front, both sides). Keep the back up with you in case you evacuate.

• Tags – Just your phone numbers and that you offer a reward (why make it easy to keep your pet). Add a second tag with your vet’s address, phone and a comment that the pet can be boarded there.

• Microchip – Cheap back up but contact information must be kept current.

Family Pets Require Special Considerations Any pet owner knows that their furry, feathery or scaled companions are just as much a part of the family as any human relative. It only makes sense, then, to make sure that our pets are prepared for emergencies as well.

Whether evacuating or sheltering-in-place, make sure that you have a plan and supplies ready to keep your pets safe and healthy in a disaster.

Vet information • Vaccination records – Keep the most recent copy in your glove box and or evacuation bag.

The vet may not have access and you will not wish to pay for it again.

• Medications – Have at least a month’s worth on hand as this will not be viewed as necessary as that for humans.

Packing • Lists – Write out everything you will take and where it is.

• Dry run – Try a test packing of the car. Pets in crates can easily overheat so don’t stack belongings so they block air flow. Add a water bottle. The best crate fans have slots for ice cubes to cool.

• Bring – Food and bowls. Also a couple of special treats and a few favorite toys.

Travel Information • Transport – in a crate. Loose pets can become a flying objects in an accident (30 mph crash, 13 pound dummy dog = 390 pounds hitting something). Crates also give your pet a safe place to be in strange places. So teach your pet how to be calm in a crate and keep it up before hurricane season starts. Location – Have a destination to go to. Make sure they know what pets you are bringing and are comfortable with it. You won’t want to be asked to move on after a long trip.

• Location – Know where the nearest emergency clinic will be before leaving. Your pet may be dehydrated or overheated.

Staying Put • Crate - keep your pet safe during the storm in a crate in an inside room (protected from broken glass, etc.).

• Harness and leash - cats as they usually have breakaway collars.

After the Storm • Drop cloths - have old vinyl tablecloths (or similar) to place on the floor for a clean spot to put crates and other objects.

• Check - your perimeters several times a day as animals may move in or limbs drop post-storm.

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Know your risks. Just as you would look at possible emergencies affecting your family, consider how they will also impact your pet. Think about the specific needs your pets will have in each, such as waste disposal for sheltering-in-place or a harness for evacuations. Remember that emergencies impact many pets psychologically as well as physically; think about ways to comfort and reduce the anxiety of your pet.

For more information on pet safety and preparedness and to order a “Pet Alert Sticker” to let emergency personnel know there is a pet in your home, visit http:// www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Michelle Obama Visits Haiti , continued from page 1 day surprise tour of the Haitian capital.

U.S. Embassy personnel told the Rev. Lauren Stanley, Episcopal Church-appointed missionary in Haiti and liaison to Bishop of Haiti Jean Zaché Duracin in the U.S., that Obama and Biden visited the site because they wanted to see an actual survivor camp where Haitians were helping Haitians recover in the quake’s aftermath. Stanley said the embassy personnel told her that they knew such work was being facilitated by the diocese.

Obama and Biden arrived at College Ste. Pierre about 12:30 p.m. and were greeted by head of school, the Rev. Lucas Rigal; Joseph Harry Anglade, College Ste. Pierre academic director; and the Rev. Canon Oge Beauvoir, dean of the diocese’s nearby seminary and executive director of its Bureau of Anglican Education of Haiti. The men, whom Stanley said learned 90 minutes before Obama and Biden arrived that they would be visiting, briefed the two women on the situation at the camp.

According to the media pool report, sounds of saws could be heard in the background where workers are helping to rebuild classrooms.

Obama and Biden talked with some of the people living in the camp and with some of the people building the new classrooms. Stanley said the two later spoke at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince and praised the efforts of schools such as College Ste. Pierre to re-open.

As many as 200 students may have died at the school during the Jan. 12 magnitude-7 earthquake, according to Stanley, who said that university students were taking tests at the high school when the quake hit.

The College Ste. Pierre settlement began the night of the quake and has held as many as 3,000 survivors, including some diocesan personnel. It is one of many such camps the diocese is now managing throughout Haiti.

Abagail Nelson, Episcopal Relief & Development senior vice president for programs, told the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council in February that her agency and the diocese believe that between 25,000 and 30,000 survivors are living in more than 60 settlements connected to the diocese.

Before arriving at College Ste. Pierre, Obama and Biden had first toured the devastated capital in a U.S. Army helicopter, according to press reports. Their helicopter then landed on the lawn of the destroyed presidential palace in downtown Port-au-Prince, where the two met with Haitian President René Préval and his wife, Elisabeth Debrosse Préval.

According to the media pool report, they then went through the Camps de Mars, the city’s central square that now houses a huge survivors’ settlement, on their way to visit a children’s art-therapy center set up behind Le Musee d’Art Haitien.

Children do art therapy in green buses that were donated by the first lady of the Dominican Republic and are decorated with balloons in the red, white and blue colors of the Haitian flag. Dozens of children sang their greetings to

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Biden and Obama, who danced with them. The two women joined some children in one of the buses, where Obama later said she drew a red fish at the request of the children.

Plas Timoun or “The Children’s Place” was developed

by Mrs. Preval Philippe Dodard, an internationally respected Haitian graphic artist and painter, and a group of psychologists, educators and politicians, according to the pool report.

The White House kept the women’s visit secret for security reasons until they arrived in the Haitian capital at about 4:40 a.m. local time. The visit was meant to “underscore to the Haitian people and the Haitian government the enduring U.S. commitment to help recover and rebuild, especially as we enter the rainy and hurricane seasons,” the White House said.

The White House said Obama and Biden also thanked “the women and men across the whole of the U.S. government for their extraordinary efforts in Haiti during the past three months and reach[ed] out to the U.N. and international relief communities in recognition of the truly global effort underway to help Haiti.”

Duracin was not present for the visit because he had left earlier in the day for a previously scheduled trip to south Florida. His wife is recuperating there from injuries she suffered when their home collapsed during the quake.

Schjonberg is national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service and editor of Episcopal News Monthly.

Spiritual Direction School Accepting Applications

By Kathleen Phillips

F

ormation IN Direction (FIND), a diocesan school that trains spiritual directors, is accepting applicants for the next class to begin in September.

FIND, a three-year course, meets the third Saturday of each month September-May at St. Andrew’s, 217 W. 26 St., Bryan. A year-end retreat is held in June.

Along with an application, interviews with faculty and letters of support, the discernment process for potential students includes a retreat at Camp Allen July 9-10. Tuition for the course is $950 a year. Some scholarships are available.

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 and a variety of prayer techniques.

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, giving prayer and spirituality presentations and leading prayer groups.

For more information, contact Kathleen Phillips, FIND director, 979.324.4302 or e-mail finddirectr@yahoo.com.

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Grant Grows Gardens, Gardeners

A

grant from the Diocese of Texas funded a gardening project in rural Bolivia that promises to repay the inhabitants there for years to come. As part of a larger effort, an agronomist has been teaching villagers and their children how to grow and cultivate kitchen gardens to supplement their diets. Malnutrition was a large issue for the people who lived on a potato diet until the gardens and a dam project to provide year-round water has made a wide variety of vegetables available.

Three villages near Aramasi, in the Andean mountains north of Cochabamba, sent children to the gardening workshops this spring. They learned water-efficient irrigation techniques, seed planting and harvesting, crop rotation and other agricultural skills. The children have developed family garden plots that have helped the families become self-sufficient and independent.

They have also learned how to raise guinea pigs and chickens to provide a consistent source of protein.

Children have learned about crop cultivation and raising small animals along with the importance of caring for the environment. The program continues to provide ecological outdoor stoves that reduce smoke and use less wood for cooking.

While these educational programs continue, mothers learn the importance of nutrition in the development of their children and are able to feed their families nutritious, well-balanced meals.

“I toured the gardens in one of the new communities during my recent visit,” said Amy Thompson, executive director of Amistad Mission, a group who oversees the training and an orphanage in Cochabamba. “I was amazed at the great progress they had made in just three months.

The children and parents have been educated on effective gardening techniques and have started growing their own family gardens that are now thriving. The children attend the workshops on the weekends and each session we have conducted has been filled to capacity. The children are clearly eager to learn!” she added.

“This great progress is possible as a result of the support of the Diocese of Texas grant we received in December,” she added.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Ubi Caritas et Amor Deus Ubi Est Where Mercy and Love Dwell, God is There

By Holli Petersen

U

bi Caritas might have an unusualsounding name, but these Latin words hold great meaning.

Translated, Ubi Caritas means “Place of Mercy.” And, more than prescription medications or medical advice, mercy is the number one item dispensed at this nonprofit Beaumont health clinic.

Founded in 1998 by a local congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, Ubi Caritas cared about healthcare for the uninsured before it became a popular, highly debated hook for politicians to hang their hat upon. Without much fanfare, the clinic enlisted the support of local medical professionals, charitable organizations, church congregations and generous sponsors to provide quality healthcare for the one in three Beaumont residents without access to medical insurance.

Initially, the care specifically addressed the needs of Beaumont’s South Park community, a neighborhood of hard workers who typically sought treatment for nonemergency health issues at local hospitals.

Over time, the clinic has expanded to care for all Beaumont residents in need.

“Access to healthcare is so important in any community,” explained Clark Moore, executive director and founding member.

“Most people don’t mind paying a fair amount for healthcare. Unfortunately, they just didn’t have a place to go.”

With more than 30 years of nonprofit experience, Moore recounted memories of poignant patient stories. There was a newlywed college student who ignored serious symptoms because he didn’t have health insurance. After turning to Ubi Caritas, he was diagnosed and provided treatment for testicular cancer. While building Ubi Caritas’s new, on-site clinic, a laborer suffered a back injury. Refusing

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treatment, he confessed to never having seen a doctor in his entire adult life for fear of expensive medical bills. After much hesitation, he finally sought treatment through Ubi Caritas. Weeks later, he returned a new man, anxious to show his gratitude by volunteering his time to the cause.

With 89 percent of their patients belonging to working households, these are far from the stereotype of lazy individuals looking for handouts. Most are grateful for the services and willing to contribute however they can.

Though the easy answer to address this vast need appears to be universal healthcare, Moore confessed that there are many more issues that must be factored into the final decision.

“I would love to go out of business,” Moore explained. “But with all my nonprofit experience, I’ve learned that there will always be people who fall through the cracks.”

While the nation banters about healthcare, Ubi Caritas quietly carries on – seeing an average of 350 patients a week in their six-exam room clinic. Certainly, the depressed economy has increased the community’s need for their services.

Unfortunately, it is a demand which they currently can’t supply.

“We still don’t fully meet the needs of our community,” Moore lamented. “We are desperate for more staff, particularly the resources to sustain another nurse.

Additionally, we could really use the help of a pediatrician willing to volunteer some time.”

In the meantime, the clinic hopes to be able to modify a file room into another exam room, thereby expanding their ability to accept more patients.

Mercifully, this “place of mercy” refuses to give up. Somehow, they attest, they will provide.

Facts for Thought

Episcopal Night at the Baseball Game Astros vs the Dodgers, September 10, 2010 The Cathedral will host a pre-game BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings and invites others from around the diocese to join the fun before attending the big game. Parking will be available at no charge in the parking lot at San Jacinto and Texas, next to the Diocesan Center and the Cathedral, within walking distance of Minutemaid Ball Park. A $10 donation is requested to cover the cost of the meal but the beer is free! Ya’ll come!

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• Communities where residents are

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provided affordable access to medical care have increased workplace productivity, school attendance and an overall high quality of life.

Hospital wait time is significantly decreased when non-emergency

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patients are provided affordable access to medical care at separate facilities like Ubi Caritas.

60 percent of medical problems are preventable with health education Not factored into the universal healthcare debate are the 1,200 charitable clinics, like Ubi Caritas, which exist across the nation. Each year, they provide $5 billion worth of healthcare to five percent of the American population Though it costs Ubi Caritas an average of $57 to treat one patient,

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Medicaid and Medicare will only reimburse approximately $11 per patient 70 percent of Ubi Caritas patients qualify for sliding scale pay, meaning they pay according to their income and are at or below the poverty level For every $1 donated to the clinic, Ubi Caritas can provide $5 of service

Feeling Merciful?

Medical professionals: Your skills are in high demand. Call 409.832.1924 ext. 102 or visit ubicaritas.org for more information.

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DIOCESAN NEWS

Mentor’s Legacy offers Challenge to Others Sarah Brooks Shepherd Levine December 2, 1947-April 4, 2010

By the Rev. Patrick J. Miller

I

n 1994 I moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, to be a for her. These memories and more flood my mind.

Ministry is relational, that is how I feel Jesus did youth minister. Many times the parents at that church would ask me, “Where did you learn to do this? [Youth it. Community built on a new idea of relationship; our ministering]. It was meant as a compliment, because the relationship with each other, with Jesus, and then with youth group was going well. I always replied, “In Waco, God. Establishing and nurturing healthy relationships Texas.” Which always got an odd reaction since the most is fundamental to the success of any group, be it a parish anyone in Greenwich, Connecticut knew about Waco was the tragedy of the Branch Davidians. But, I spoke the truth. I learned how to do youth ministry in Waco, and I learned how to do it from Sarah Brooks Shepherd Levine.

Not only did I learn how to do ministry from her, I learned how to do it well. I am blessed to have a handful of people who took me under their wing and guided me. Sarah was one of those rare people who could put you at ease, encourage you to be creative, ignore the rough edges, and engender an atmosphere of fun that made memories.

Her death on Easter day leaves a hole in the hearts of the many young people she inspired with her humor and faith.

One of the most important and least lucrative ministries in the church is The Rev. Patrick Miller and Sarah Levine (circled) in an earlier photo. the one of the youth minister. Those of us who have worked with good ones know this to be true.

The most tenuous time in anybody’s life is that odd age from vestry, an internet start-up company, a marriage or a youth eleven to eighteen where our bodies and minds change from program. The first thing we need to do is to know each child to adult. As this happens, and our minds become more other, what makes us laugh, what makes us mad, what makes us scared, what makes us tick. From there trust is built, and reflective, something also happens to our souls.

Many of us have our first encounter with God during from there the bonds that are stronger than blood take hold. this time in our life. Many of us come to faith, a lasting faith, These bonds form a new kind of family, a new body, what I by deciding to be Christians at this point of living. Many of would call the body of Christ.

These bonds are most keenly felt when a member of us stumble and understand grace and forgiveness during this life change. It takes people of courage to work with young that body dies. Many of us are feeling that hurt with Sarah’s people. Sarah was such a person, guiding and shaping those death. She leaves a legacy. She gave the world two cool of us fortunate enough to grow up in the Waco EYC with daughters, who have in turn given the world three cool children. What’s more, her youth group has given the church her.

Even now, as a rector, I find myself relying on the lessons youth ministers, priests, teachers, doctors, lawyers, businessI learned from Sarah. She didn’t invent the ski trip, but she women, sales reps, husbands, wives, and parents. She has left perfected it. She didn’t invent youth group committees, a body of Christ that lives into the next several generations.

I did learn so much from her; so many of us did. What but she engendered the idea of transitioning leadership each year, insuring a continuity of ideas and programs through a gift she gave the world. What a gift all those people give, the grades. She didn’t invent youth group fundraisers, but the ones who sacrifice their time to wander the wasteland she always sought a way for all of us to find the money to go of teen angst, who offer kind words, who stay consistent in on the adventures. Retreats, lock-ins, mission trips, weekly an inconsistent culture. They are rare, they are needed, and meeting structures, mail outs, adult sponsors and volunteers, they are not forgotten. I count myself blessed to have had a meals, laughter, schedules, creative worship, all of these were moment with this great lady; may God find us a few more like her now that she is gone. May the church find itself things I learned from Sarah.

And then there is more. I have personal memories blessed with the next Sarah. She reached more than a few prayers for me on a particularly bad night at EYC Council goofy kids in Waco twenty years ago. She reached the world. (now CLC). Or when she drove me to my college interview.

Miller is rector of St. Mark’s, Houston.

Sarah gave me my first job out of college, painting a house

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A New Way to Tell the Story…

In 1999, the new Mission Funding Opportunities Catalog was introduced. Since that time, it has provided a way for vestries and others to become acquainted with the mission, vision and outreach ministries we mutually support as part of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

It has served as an annual report of these ministries, as well as a tool for clergy, vestries, treasurers and outreach committees to make funding decisions for the allocation of Mission Asking dollars.

In an effort to be more environmentally responsive, the diocese will no longer provide printed catalogs, but will continue to provide the information contained in the catalog through the diocesan website and on a CD that will be provided to each congregation. The CD will include information on the ministries and the work they do and also a video that includes the stories of some of these ministries told through the voices of people whose lives have been impacted by the work of the ministries. These will be available in the fall of 2010.

Approved ministries who wish to receive Mission Funding for 2011 should submit all required materials online by May 7, 2010. High resolution photos of at least 1 Meg in size should also be sent to Culmer by May 7. A twominute MP3 or MP4 video may be sent to Culmer by June 30 for inclusion in the materials. For instructions on making submissions, go to www.epicenter.org/missionfunding.

Please direct all questions to Kathy Culmer, the Mission Funding Coordinator at kculmer@epicenter.org.

June 5-6, 2010 Camp Allen Conference & Retreat Center

This retreat is designed to equip men and women with the necessary tools to live healthy, spiritually-fit lifestyles.

Attend sessions led by certified personal trainers, nurses and other fitness experts. Take the time to refresh yourself in the piney woods as you enjoy all that Camp Allen has to offer. Featured sessions include: yoga & tai chi, strength training, personal training, healthy eating, meditation techniques, stress reduction, spiritual fitness, guided hikes.

www.campallen.org

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anglican covenant

Anglican Covenant Now in the Hands of Provinces

By Marjorie George

2004 Windsor Report. Following controversial actions by

our shared patterns of prayer and liturgy and the two

The Episcopal Church and the Church of Canada in 2003,

sacraments ordained by Christ. It asks provinces who sign

The last “t” is crossed, the last “i” is

Archbishop Williams established the Lambeth Commission

on to the Covenant to ensure not only that “biblical texts

dotted, and the long-awaited

on Communion to deal with the divisions among the

are received, read and interpreted faithfully, respectfully

Anglican Covenant in its final

Communion. The Lambeth Commission reported to the

and comprehensively,” but also “to encourage and be open

form has been delivered

Archbishop in October 2004 in The Windsor Report and

to prophetic and faithful leadership.”

to the provinces of the

recommended, among other things, the possibility of a

Anglican Communion for their

covenant.

Section Two calls on provinces, among other things, to “cherish our mission heritage” as well as to “embrace

consideration. The Covenant is an

In May 2006, a Covenant Design Group was

“invitation to deepening of relationships”

commissioned, and that body gave a preliminary draft

among the provinces, said the Rev. Canon Dr. Kenneth

– the St. Andrew’s Draft – of a covenant to the primates

The third section recognizes our interdependent life and

Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion. He

of the Anglican Communion in February 2007. After

our reliance on the Holy Spirit and asks provinces to “have

pointed out that the members of the Communion “have a long

receiving comments from the primates and provinces, a

regard for the common good of the Communion” but also to

history of friendship, affinities and collaboration,” and said

second draft – the Nassau Draft – was produced in 2008.

“respect the constitutional autonomy of all the churches.” It

the Covenant builds on and gives expression to the “bonds

In March 2009, the Covenant Design Group, taking into

calls on provinces to “spend time with openness and patience

of affection which shape our common life.”

consideration further comments received from the provinces

in matters of theological debate and reflection,” to seek a

The Covenant, says its Preamble, is “not intended to

and the bishops of the Communion, crafted a third draft

“shared mind” about matters of common concern, and to

change the character” of the Anglican expression of faith. Its

-the Ridley-Cambridge Draft- which was presented in May

“act with diligence, care and caution in respect of any action

purpose is to “covenant together . . . to be faithful to God’s

2009 to the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting

which may provoke controversy.”

promises through the historic faith we confess, our common

in Jamaica. However, the ACC felt that one section of the

worship, our participation in God’s mission and the way we

draft, the fourth section, required further work and asked

Addressing “other churches”

live together.”

that a small working group be set up to deal with Section

The major changes in Section Four of the final text

Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, in a

Four. That group met in November 2009 and incorporated

center on the questions of which entities would be invited

video message, said that the Covenant is not going to solve

responses received from the provinces. The final document

to enter into the Covenant and what to do when a so-called

all of the Communion’s problems. “It’s not going to be a

is now in the hands of the provinces of the Communion for

“covenanting church” acts in a way that may be contrary to

constitution, and it’s certainly not going to be a penal code

their adoption. (The Anglican Consultative Council includes

the Covenant’s agree-upon framework for the Communion’s

for punishing people who don’t comply,” he said. “But what it

lay and clergy representing each of the Communion provinces

life together.

does represent is this: in recent years in the Anglican family,

who are elected in various ways by their respective bodies.

After the first version of Section Four was released,

we’ve discovered that our relations with each other as local

The ACC meets every two to three years in different parts of

objections were raised almost immediately because its

churches have often been strained, that we haven’t learned to

the world. It has met 14 times since its inception in 1969.)

provision that “other churches” could adopt the Covenant

trust one another as perhaps we should, that we really need

Covenant Seeks Openness

lacked any definition of the term “other churches.” That lack

to build relationships, and we need to have a sense that we

challenges and opportunities for mission at local, regional and international levels.”

was the subject of intense discussions during the ACC’s May

are responsible to one another and responsible for each other.

The first three sections of the Covenant (read the

In other words, what we need is something that will help us

entire Covenant at www.anglicancommunion.org) address

know where we stand together, and help us also intensify our

our inherited faith, our shared life and our unity. Section

Addressing this major concern, the final text makes it

fellowship and our trust.”

One reiterates some of the foundational doctrines of the

clear that only members of the Anglican Communion, as

Anglican Communion, such as the historic episcopate,

listed in the ACC constitution’s “schedule of membership,”

The idea of an Anglican Covenant first surfaced in the

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2009 meeting in Jamaica and was a major reason behind that group’s request for more scrutiny.

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anglican covenant c o m m it m e nt t o t h e

the Communion.” Members of The Standing Committee

Covenant. “If the canons

are elected from the Anglican Consultative Council and the

and constitutions of a

Primates’ Meeting.

Province permit, there is

itself to the Covenant,

Episcopal Church Likely to Address Covenant in 2012

thus strengthening its

The Covenant becomes active for a province when

c o m m it m e nt t o t h e

that province adopts it through the province’s procedures of

interdependent life of the

its own constitution and canons. The Episcopal Church’s

Communion,” said the

Executive Council has said that only General Convention,

group.

which next meets in 2012, can formally endorse the Anglican

no reason why a diocesan synod should not commit

Mark 1:9 Jesus’ baptism, by Salvador Dalí, from the Jerusalem Bible

“Some may f i nd

Covenant. At its most recent meeting in Anaheim, CA, in July

that the af f irmations

2009, The Episcopal Church General Convention reaffirmed

and commitments of the

its ongoing commitment to participate in the development of

Anglican Communion

the Covenant, and resolution 2009-D020 commended the

Covenant contain helpful

proposed Covenant to the dioceses “for study and comment

guides for interdependent

during the coming triennium.”

life at other levels and

The Covenant Design Group that drafted the Covenant

in other contexts than

and the smaller Working Group that dealt with Section

those specific to relations

Four have repeatedly called for comments to the drafts

a mongst the member

as they were produced, giving “serious attention” to the

churches of the Anglican

provincial responses submitted, the working group said in

Communion,” said the

its commentary to the Section Four revisions. Nevertheless,

group, adding, “This

“There remains in some quarters a lingering feeling that

s or t of endor s ement

being in communion requires only positive affirmation and

i s to b e enc ou r a g e d

encouragement,” said the group. It added that “The fact is

as contributing to the

that not all developments aid and nurture deeper communion.

covenantal life of the

From our recent history it is evident that some developments

Communion.”

bring dispute, disruption and tension. The clear majority

On t he question

of responses demonstrated that a section of the Covenant

of what happens if

which seeks to provide an ordered way for the Communion

a covenanting church

to approach disagreement remains a necessary feature of the

undertakes an action that

Covenant.”

is incompatible with the

Reprinted with permission from The Church News, Diocese of

Covenant, Section Four

West Texas, Marjorie George, editor

sets out that the matter will be are currently being invited to enter into the Covenant,

referred to the Anglican Communion Standing Committee.

according to their provincial constitutional procedures. The

That body may, if necessary, recommend “relational

final text allows for “other churches” to be invited to adopt

consequences” that may limit that church’s participation in

the Covenant using the same procedures set out by the ACC

the Anglican Communion structures. What the Covenant

for the amendment of its “schedule of membership.” The

seeks to do, said the Working Group Commentary, “is to

term “churches” does not mean local congregations, but other

find an ecclesial framework by which a common response to

faith organizations at the provincial or national-church level.

tensions can be discerned and articulated. This contrasts with

However, in its commentary, the Covenant Working

the present situation where no agreed mechanisms for action

Group recognized that any ecclesial body may express

exist, and this lack has seriously threatened the integrity of

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Local Discussion Discussion of the Covenant in the Diocese of Texas will be an ongoing process that will include a four-week curriculum to aid dialogue and encourage response.

A committee appointed by Bishop Andy Doyle will design the curriculum, which will include a scriptural understanding of “covenant.” Discussion will discern how we, as a diocese, live in covenant with our brothers and sisters in the Anglican communion and how we further our mission as a Church and as witnesses to the Risen Lord.

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GUEST COLUMNIST

OUR PLACE IN THE GREAT SCHEME OF THINGS earth. Their extinction would occur at 11:40 p.m., at which

life. The third branch contains eukaryotes, which includes

time the mammals would begin to expand. The divergence

animals, fungi, plants and protozoa)” (The New York Times

of branches leading to chimps and humans would occur

12/29/09 p. D3).

with only one minute and seventeen seconds remaining in

the day (11:58:43 P.M.) and anatomically modern humans

the earth, sun and other stars in our Milky Way galaxy.

would appear with just three seconds left (11:59:57 P.M.) ”

“Approximately 100 billion stars, together with gas and

(F. Collins, The Language of God, pp. 148f).

dust, form the enormous rotating celestial systems called

We have learned a great deal in recent decades about

galaxies...The Milky Way galaxy is part of a group of more

the effects of human activity on the environment and even

than 30 galaxies, … the so-called Local Group [which ]has

the climate (though snow-bound folks in many parts of

an estimated diameter of about 10 million light-years” (The

the U.S. must have been thinking that the global-warming

Science Book pp. 24,20). But, as George Will has pointed

warners got it backwards). But no human activity has

out, “there is much more space than there is stuff in space.

begun to have the effect that some lowly prokaryotes had.

If there were only three bees in America, the air would be

Prokaryotes are organisms that lack a cell nucleus. “Imagine

more crowded with bees than space is with stars” (Houston

a world with no plants, trees or animals… a barren blend of

Chronicle, 12/31/09, p. B7).

rock and silt, the seas bereft of fish and the air silent except

for the wind. [The primitive Earth was] a world devoid

“When I consider the infinity of space lying beneath me and

of a vital ingredient on which almost all forms of higher

the infinity of space lying beyond me, when I consider the

life depend: oxygen. … [We] all owe [our] existence to the

infinity of time lying behind me and the infinity of time

ecent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti remind

presence of oxygen in the atmosphere and oceans, supplies

lying before me, I grow afraid and wonder that I should

us of the tenuousness of human life.

The word

of which were originally established by … cyanobacteria –

be here rather than there, now rather than then” (Pensees,

The Rev. Sam Todd

R

We tower over the microbes but are dwarfed by

The 17th century mathematician Blaise Pascal said,

“human” is derived from the Latin humus, earth.

so called because of their blue-green (cyan) color – which

p. 72). Two millennia earlier, the Psalmist was also struck

“Adam” (Heb. adham) means human being, literally

evolved a feeding process now called photosynthesis. They

with wonder:

“from the earth” (Heb. adhamah v. Gen. 2:7). The word

break down carbon dioxide into its chemical constituents,

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

“humility” is cognate to “human” and is also from humus-

carbon and oxygen, using sunlight, and combine the carbon

the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,

-earth, ground. Humility keeps us grounded. It entails

with hydrogen in water to produce sugars, giving off oxygen

What is man that you should be mindful of him?

having an accurate perception of our proper place in the

as a waste gas in the process. Prochlorococcus, a genus of

the son of man that you should seek him out?

great scheme of things. “Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt

cyanobacteria alive today, is thought to be responsible for

You have made him but little lower than the angels;

thou return” (BCP p. 482 cf. Ec. 3:20).

as much as 20 per cent of all global oxygen supplies and is

you adorn him with glory and honor;

The solid earth on which all our cities are situated

reckoned by some experts to be the most populous creature

You give him mastery over the works of your hands;

has the relative thickness of the skin of an apple. This crust,

on Earth with as many as one hundred octillion (10 to the

cf. Heb. 2:5-9).

nowhere thicker than 100 kilometers, sits upon a 2,900 km

29th) individuals alive in the seas” (C. Lloyd, What on Earth

thick mantle, much of it viscous magma, which in turns sits

Evolved?, p. 34).

first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man

on the 3,450 km thick core (v. National Geographic’s The

We are masters of all life we survey but most

is from heaven. As was the man of the dust, so are those

Science Book, p.58).

life lives beneath our purview. “There are about 5,400

who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are

We are late arrivals on earth. “If the 4.5 billion years

species of mammals on the planet, but just a spoonful of

those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of

of the earth’s existence, from initial formation to today,

soil may contain twice as many species of microbes. …

the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of

were compressed into a twenty-four hour day, the earth was

By one rough estimate there may be, all told, 150 million

heaven. … For the trumpet will sound, and the dead shall

formed at 12:01 a.m. Then life would appear at about 3:30

species of microbes. ‘Microbes represent the vast majority

be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (I Cor.

a.m. After a long day of slow progression to multicellular

of organisms on earth’, said Hans-Peter Klenck [of] the

15:47-49, 52 RSV ). I can hardly wait.

organisms, the Cambrian explosion would finally occur at

Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea. (Bacteria

about 9 p.m. Later that evening dinosaurs would roam the

and Archaea are two of the major branches of the tree of

Texas Episcopalian

•

May

2010

20

Speaking of Adam and Christ, St. Paul wrote, “The

Email Todd at: stodd2423@att.net

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org