Texas Episcopalian April 2010

Show runs through May 14, 2010

Houston, Texas

April 2010

Bobby Satcher Astronaut’s passion is model for youth

Photo: NASA

Volume 113, No. 4

Astronaut Robert Satcher, STS-129 mission specialist, flew to the International Space Station in November. The St. James’ parishioner and osteo-oncologist said that he has never seen science and religion as a conflict.

By Carol E. Barnwell

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n his first 45 years, Dr. Robert “Bobby” Satcher, Jr. has accumulated a lifetime of accomplishments that most recently include walking in space. An orthopedic surgeon, Satcher received a doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT in 1993 and a doctorate of medicine from Harvard in 1994. One of the fellowships he did before going into practice in Chicago was in musculoskeletal oncology and another was at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in the West African nation of Gabon.

On several occasions during his residency, Satcher met astronauts who encouraged him to apply for the program but he had practically forgotten about his application when NASA finally came calling. “I was in Chicago practicing in a very fulfilling position and had just kind of forgotten about NASA and the possibility of being an

INSIDE Bishops’ Calendars......................... 15 Bishop’s Column.............................. 2 Calendar of events............................ 8 Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Diocesan News...................... 9-11 Parish News.......................... 3-79 Sam Todd’s Column..................14 1

astronaut,” Satcher said. His cell phone rang during clinic one day and NASA wanted to know if he was still interested.

After talking with his family, he and his wife decided they would accept the new challenge and moved to Houston.

Satcher was selected by NASA in May 2004 and finished astronaut candidate training in February 2006. He See Satcher, page 16

To receive the Texas Episcopalian electronically, please send a request to Shirley Platt: splatt@epicenter. org with your name and address as it appears on the address label. 2010 Texas Episcopalian • April

Hail Thee Festival Day As I think back to my childhood memories of Easter I hear “Hail Thee Festival Day” played in all its glory.

How wonderful and beautiful and miraculous that hymn seemed to be. The church was transformed and filled with lilies. Ladies were bearing plumed and flowered hats in every color of the rainbow. The procession was resplendent and the sweet smell of incense rose up all around us.

As Episcopalians we have made our way through the journey of Lent trying on disciplines, prayers and testing new habits. We arrive at churches that are adorned in glorious splendor after the austerity of Lent and we say the ageless words that we repeat every week at worship. But on Easter Sunday we say them with renewed anticipation: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! A creedal proclamation that Christ is risen becomes, on this day, the refrain of a renewed life of following Jesus Christ.

A Christians' belief in the resurrection transcends an event that is historically verifiable to scholars and

is built upon the basic structures of faith passed down through the last two centuries from the experience of the first witnesses to Jesus' life, death and resurrection. We join with saints and angels in an unbroken line of celebration to proclaim an eternal and unique truth that Jesus is risen and because of that, our lives are forever changed.

We understand God primarily through the life and work of Jesus Christ. It is a difficult thing to fully articulate the theology of resurrection, however I think most Christians would say that they experience a sense of resurrection in Christian community. In the Episcopal Church, and communities like it, individuals experience true transformation in their own lives through relationships with others, through the community a congregation offers and from service and outreach to other people. Christians testify that they experience, receive and act out of the mystery of resurrection-this feeling of constant renewal.

Resurrection also gives us hope for our future, both in this life and the life to come. We have hope of a future where we will gather with all the saints that have gone before us into the loving embrace of God. While there are many ideas about what lies on the other side of death's door, Christians proclaim that it will be an ingathering--God wishes to gather his people under his wing as a hen gathers her young.

When we celebrate the life of someone who has died our worship is characterized with "joy, in the certainty that 'neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor dept, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to

separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.'"

My prayer for you as we greet this new Easter morn and sing once again, “Hail Thee Festival Day,” is that you may experience with the certainty of our inherited faith the ancient Christian truth that indeed Jesus Christ is risen. As we celebrate Bishop Andy Doyle the resurrection, I pray each one of us knows the presence and power of Christ in our own lives and that through us he lives and reigns.

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

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

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

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 Texas Episcopalian

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As I drove along the heavily wooded terrain from Tyler to Palestine on my way south during January and February, I could not help but notice the starkness of the landscape. I love this time of year because I am able to see deep within the woods. There is no underbrush to clutter my view; and I notice structures, animals and landscape I cannot see in the spring and summer.

Lent is like that for me—a time when we can strip away so much and look deep within ourselves, noticing things, behaviors, longings we may not observe during the rest of our busy year. That season has passed for another year, and we are experiencing all kinds of new life around us. In the Pineywoods of East Texas, with an abundance of rain (and snow!), we are very blessed by such an extraordinary spring.

The Easter season is all about new life: new life for the crucified and dead Jesus, new life for us followers of the crucified and resurrected Christ, the new life of Christ we share with others through our actions, our deeds, our reaching out to those society often neglects. And the message

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we carry with us this season is one of Christ’s love for all humanity.

From Forward Day by Day, “The Message? Love The Messenger? You You’re in good company” So, Lent is our gift to peer deep within our soul as winter allows us to look far into the woods. Easter is the gift of new and eternal life given to all of humanity through God’s gift of the resurrected Jesus, as spring is when new life emerges out of the barren and seemingly dead Bishop Suffragan Rayford B. High, Jr. ground.

The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr. Bishop Suffragan of Texas Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

PARISH NEWS

Music and Mentors Guide Talent

Barbara Vestal Trinity Center, Austin, refers to all those they help as “neighbors.” In this photo, Irit Umani (center) helps a neighbor complete paperwork to obtain a copy of his birth certificate. Trinity Center provides a place for him to get help receiving the proper paperwork and a location to which his documents may be mailed.

Israeli, Women’s Advocate finds Synergy for Work and Faith as Director of Trinity Center

By Jeanie Sablatura

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he moment she begins to speak, you know there is something deeply interesting and unique about her.

The heavy Israeli accent immediately draws you in and has you wondering how she ended up “here” at Trinity Center in Austin, Texas.

Irit Umani became the new executive director of Trinity Center just after the new year. Located in downtown Austin at St. David’s, Trinity Center serves the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The mission is to provide that assistance and guidance with dignity and respect. For Umani, it’s the perfect fit.

“I have spent my professional life serving people in crisis,” Umani says. “I see my work as part of my service toward global peace, as well as an integral part of being on a spiritual journey.”

That journey began when Umani first came to the United States from Israel when she was 29-years-old.

She lived in California and later worked for The Lama Foundation in New Mexico where, for three years, she joined an ecumenical spiritual community where she practiced different religions.

“I believe all traditions are different paths going toward the same place,” Umani explained. “When I literally came down from the mountain, I dedicated my life to social justice.”

Umani returned to Israel after the death of her father and became involved in the women’s movement. Within a

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few years she became the the founding director of the Haifa Women’s Crisis Shelter, the first multi-cultural, Jewish and Arab (Muslim and Christian) shelter in Israel. She eventually returned to the United States to continue her work.

“It’s time for me to serve from a place of harmony,” Umani said. “My work toward creating a world with more social justice and equality was political and social, while outside the work place I had a spiritual life. This is the first time that my many worlds: social, political and spiritual, come together and inform one another. It is the first time I am doing this work with joy for the world rather than with anger at it, and I feel free for it.”

Within less than a month of being on the job, Umani announced Trinity Center would expand its services to include Tuesdays, which means it is now offering programs six days a week.

“The other day I was walking downtown running an errand, and one of the neighbors we serve at Trinity Center greeted me saying: ‘Here comes my Jewish Grandma.’

Surprised and smiling, I stopped to have a conversation with him only to find out that his family originally came from the Gaza Strip in Palestine. In a regular world he would have called this Israeli woman his enemy, not his Jewish Grandma,” Umani said. “The way we serve at Trinity Center is not the regular way, it is an extraordinary way.

Love thy neighbor as thy self. This is true work of peace as any demonstration I ever participated in as a member of the global peace movement.”

Sablatura is the director of communications at St. David’s, Austin.

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By Carol E. Barnwell

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arbara Vestal sang her way through adolescence in Beaumont and brought a love of Broadway show tunes and performance to the children at St. Catherine’s, Missouri City, writing original musicals for them to perform.

In some ways she is carrying on the legacy of Eloise Milam, founder of Melody Maids, a young women’s singing group that began in 1942 in Beaumont. Milam gathered girls to sing in an effort to raise money for World War II and as the group gained fame, they often performed for the armed forces.

After the war, Melody Maids became a kind of finishing school where girls gained self esteem under the tutelage of Milam. Vestal remembers flying on a cargo plane to Asia with the group in 1966 to perform for troops in Japan and Korea.

She credits her love of show music to Milam’s influence.

Vestal, who has a degree in music and creative writing from Sam Houston State College, said she was “unsettled” in school and “wrote a lot of sad music” between classes. She married in 1974 and moved to Houston where she and her husband raised three daughters.

She sang everything from show tunes to pop with a group called Breezy, performed at private functions with Pat Austin’s Classic Jazz and crooned 40s favorites with Al Marks and his Orchestra over the years.

Vestal reached a turning point in 1996 when she was asked to teach music to students at Advent Episcopal School.

“I love teaching children and relate to them because I’m a child myself,” she said with a smile. Having never read the Bible, Vestal said she was frightened to lead chapel for the students. “I put on a school uniform and put my hair in pig tails and sang a song about being afraid,” she said of her first day. The warm welcome she received made her understand that “God listens,” she said. Vestal used music to teach lessons, sometimes dressed in costumes. “God gave me every chapel I ever did.”

She wrote her first script with Broadway music at Advent in 1998. “I finally found what I wanted to do with my life and the school closed,” she said. It was then that the See Music and Mentors, page 6

Texas Episcopalian

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2010

PARISH NEWS

Trinity, Longview, Builds, Dedicates Family’s New Home

Christ the King Acolytes Victorious !

Acoyltes from Christ the King won the Acolyte Olympics in Austin recently, taking home the coveted Lavabo Bowl trophy.

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inety acolytes gathered in February for their sixth annual convocational event at All Saints’, Austin, attending workshops that included Holy Smokes – Plus and Acolyte Jeopardy. Besides the finer points of thurible handling, acolytes also learned the fundamentals of a Eucharist. Acolyte directors also held a roundtable.

A highlight at lunchtime was the do’s and don’ts video demonstrating appropriate (and not) behavior while serving at the altar. Veteran acolytes cited the food and the “Olympic” trophy as reasons for their repeated attendance, while St. James’ Kennedy O’Bilom took the droll award for his reason: “because I’m an acolyte.”

The festival concluded with the ever popular Acolyte Olympics, featuring the “Acolyte Procession Obstacle

Course.” This herculean sport requires dignified maneuvering with straight and level brooms (the cross and torches) and proper swinging of the thurible (tennis balls in a sock).

“Candelabra Lighting Relay” pits acolytes against one another placing ping pong balls into cardboard candelabras in a relay race. In the “Alms Basin Toss” (hula hoops and Frisbees) and the “Cincture Vesting Race,” speed and neatness count.

Christ the King won the coveted Lavabo Bowl in a tight competition.

Next year’s festival will be held on February 26, 2011, and is open to all interested congregations. For further information, contact Patricia Goubil-Gambrell at acolytefestival@allsaints-austin.org.

Students Celebrate Houston Rodeo

Johnny’s Walkers Raise Funds for AIDS

Holy Spirit Episcopal School celebrated the beginning of the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show in February with western gear and a rodeo sing-a-long. Pictured are Joshua and Katherine Chin.

The Rev. Canon John A. Logan, Jr., once again rallied more than 48 people for the annual HIV/AIDS walk in Houston in March. The group raised fore than $11,500 to fight the disease. Logan is pictured far right.

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M

ary Ann Flores stepped next door on Sunday to join a crowd dedicating a Habitat for Humanity home.

“I’ve got a good friend fixing to move in beside me,” Flores said, who has lived about a month in her own Habitat house on Mitchell Street. On Sunday, Flores and two of her three children were among well-wishers welcoming Latasha Webb to the home she will share with her three sons, D’Patrick, Patton and Patrick.

Webb’s voice cracked as she thanked members of Trinity Episcopal Church who built the three-bedroom, 1,070-foot home as a congregational project for Habitat.

“I know (the work) was hard, because it was hard for me,” said Webb, who works at the Longview Child Development Center. “I love y’all. You are always welcome here.”

Habitat for Humanity homeowners help build their own home alongside volunteers who, in Longview, have erected 66 houses since 1985. Longview Habitat Director Ingrid Johnson praised the Sixth Street congregation for gathering the funds and labor for the good work, and coordinated gathering materials.

“I know you’ve done this for Latasha, I know you’ve done this for your community,” Johnson told about 45 builders and project supporters outside Webb’s new home.

“And I know you’ve done this to glorify God. ... My prayer is that we continue this relationship.”

Church member Elaine Campbell said about 50 Trinity volunteers had worked Saturdays on the home since August, 2009. The project began with a 15-member church group calling itself Monday Night Live.

“We decided we were doing a lot of talking of the talk, but were we walking the walk?,” Campbell said of the decision that led Monday Night Live to begin raising money.

At the group’s behest, the church raised $45,000 within three months but still was shy of what it needed when the time came to commit or pass on the job.

“We stepped out in faith to get the last $10,000 to $15,000,” Campbell said. “And (now) we have $4,000 left over. It works, because it started from the bottom up and not the top down. We needed to reach outside ourselves, outside of the walls of our church and into the community and make it a better place. As much as Latasha feels she’s blessed, we’re blessed.”

Reprinted with permission from the Longview News-Journal

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PARISH NEWS

Burmese Refugees Find Care in New Program at ECHOS

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he Physicians Assistance Foundation and Baylor College of Medicine sponsored a health fair for Houston’s Burmese refugee community February 6, at ECHOS (Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services) at Epiphany Church, Houston, to kick off a new health initiative. More than 300 people attended the event, where Baylor PA students provided health screenings for children and adults.

The program seeks to address the unmet health care and social service needs of political refugees granted asylum in the United States. Carl Fasser, Baylor PA program director, said that in the initial weeks, health navigator-PA student teams had made 147 residential visits to deal with a range of problems including: a wheelchair for a nine-year-old child whose parents had been carrying her everywhere; an amputee prosthesis that needed repair; and poor living conditions resulting in respiratory diseases.

Reprinted from PA Professional magazine with permission from AAPA

St. Martin’s Offers Holistic Wellness Series

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t. Martin’s, Houston, is hosting a Wellness Series for four Wednesday’s from April 14-May 5, focusing on the importance of the mind/body/spirit connection to health and well being The series features: the Very Rev. Pittman McGehee, former cathedral dean and educator in psychology and religion; Mark Waldman, a therapist and associate fellow at the Center for Spirituality and the Mind, U of PA; Dr. Harry Haroutunian, an internationally known speaker on addiction topics and Alejandro Chauol, assistant professor at the McGovern Center for Health, Humanities and the Human Spirit at UT Medical School in Houston, where he teaches in the area of spirituality and health.

Dinner is available at 5:15 at a reasonable cost, followed

by Holy Eucharist at 6. The program is from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and child care is provided.

For more information, contact Deb Tisch at 713.985.3817 or dtisch@stmartinsepiscopal.org, or visit the Prevention & Recovery Web page at www. stmartinsepiscopal.org/prevention.php.

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Baptism by Fire W

e can “do church” anywhere, so when you can’t come to a church building for a regularly scheduled service, the church can come to you, whether you’re in a hospital room, at a military base, on a ship or in a fire station. On January 31, Bishop Rayford High baptized three firefighters and the daughter of one of the firemen at Fire Station #1 in Vidor, where Deacon Tracie Middleton serves as chaplain. Middleton is also a deacon at St. John’s, Silsbee.

Jimmy and Sharon Reeves attended the service in support of those in their firefighting family who were being baptized. Sharon’s roots are in the Episcopal Church; her uncle, the late Mel Brindley, built many of the structures at Camp Allen, and her cousin is an Episcopal priest in San Francisco.

“I was so glad to be here and be a part of this,” Reeves said, adding that the flow of the liturgy brought up memories of attending St. George’s, Port Arthur, when she was a child.

Noting the baptism “a first” for the fire station named after him, Jimmy Reeves said there had been preachers before, firefighters as chaplains, but the baptism was unique. Reeves is a past chief of the district and served as a fire commissioner for almost 20 years.

Over the last three years, the chaplaincy work at the fire station has evolved with firefighters’ interest and involvement. Initially, whoever was on duty early Sunday mornings would gather while the chaplain led a prayer. After a while, there was interest in expanding it.

“I like the prayers; it really makes a difference in my day,” one firefighter said. At the time, we only gathered for prayer on Sunday mornings, so to make it possible to pray daily, a prayer text message system was born, and now a prayer goes out every morning to about 30 people in the fire department and to many more through Twitter. “I really appreciate the prayers; I forward them to some of my friends,” one of the firefighters said.

A form for Morning Prayer was adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, and is said each Sunday though the crew sometimes needs to respond to a call. The service in January came about after Bishop High expressed interest in visiting

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the station, which prompted some of the firefighters to express a desire to be baptized. Nearby Episcopal churches donated supplies, flowers and food. Two firemen cut a cross out of six inch steel pipe and one of the dispatchers provided the Pascal candle. Another put together a candle stand.

A week before the baptism, St. John’s rector, John Bedingfield celebrated an instructed Eucharist, blessing the things people had made for the baptism.

About the candidates One of the men baptized is currently Interim Chief and a career firefighter with the department. Though for much of his life, he has not been involved in a church, he’s always had God at the back of his mind and wrestles with theological questions on a deep level. Once he decided to be baptized, he was unequivocal in his commitment, and also wanted his two youngest children to be baptized at the same time. Unfortunately, the youngest was sick that day, so he’ll be baptized later.

Another of the firefighters baptized has been with the department as a volunteer for more than 20 years. Church was never part of his family’s life when he was growing up, but it didn’t mean he never thought about his spiritual life, so when the opportunity became available to engage church at the fire station, he responded very readily. “This has been a long time coming,” he told Bishop High.

The third is a convert to Christianity; he had been attending a local church with his wife and also coming to services at the fire station when he was on duty. He decided to be baptized at the station because of the support of his firefighting community.

“Once I got to visit with each of them, I really got a sense of where their hearts are,” Bishop High said. “These are really fine men and very dedicated to helping others and saving lives.”

“There’s power and real grace in visible signs,” Middleton said. “It’s easier to believe in what you can see and touch. That’s why we have to take the Church, the visible Body of Christ, into all the places we see him going, to make it easier for people to grasp that God is with them – wherever they are!”

Texas Episcopalian

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PARISH NEWS

Singing Campers Scamper to Brenham

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fter fleeing the swine flu at Camp Allen last summer and setting up shop for Choir Camp at St. Peter’s, Brenham, the Music Commission decided to relocate for this summer Courtney Daniell-Knapp as well. So the beautiful music will once again blend with Blinn College, Blue Bell Ice Cream and Brenham, July 17-24 for campers in rising grades 4-8. No previous choral experience is required other than the love of singing.

The 18th Annual Choir Camp will feature Courtney Daniell-Knapp of Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in Houston as conductor. Campers will be housed in doubleoccupancy dormitory rooms and will eat meals on the Blinn Junior College campus. Fun activities such as swims at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center, an evening at Horseshoe Junction Fun Park, sketching at the Brenham Children’s Art Center and a visit to the Blue Bell factory will fill out the week’s full schedule. A special outreach project at Camp for All is also planned. A musical revue will conclude the camp session.

Directors for the week will be the Rev. Canon Ed Stein of Christ Church Cathedral and Linda Patterson of St. Peter’s.

Tuition of $450 includes all meals, activities and music.

To download an application, visit the Music Commission’s webpage at www.epicenter.org/musiccommission. Special scholarships are available. For more information, contact Patterson (choircamp@sbcglobal.net) at 979.836.7248 ext.

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Music andMentors, Continued from page 3

Rev. Vincent Uher came to Advent as interim rector and later asked Vestal to help with children’s ministry at newly planted St. Catherine’s in nearby Missouri City.

She was soon writing musicals for children and adults and has been creating unique experiences for parishioners for more than 10 years. “Benjamin’s Basket” is the story of a little cracked egg who is in fear of being left behind as all the beautiful eggs will be chosen for the Easter basket. Eggbert helps everyone understand the God sees through the flaws.

“Rockin’ and Rollin’ the Seven Miracles of Christ” (2005) is an adult musical using fifties music with new lyrics to tell the seven miracles of Christ. “It would be hard to forget the seven miracles after seeing Jesus and his disciples dance and sing their way through each scene,” Vestal said.

Vestal asked the youth what kinds of music they listen to and crafts lyrics and similar styled music to tell teens how to deal with peer pressure in “Stumblin’ on Faith” (2008).

They learn life can be hard and faith isn’t easy, but coming through it will make them stronger.

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Other musicals have been performed at the University of Houston, The Hobby Center, Houston Community College and the First United Methodist Church of Sugar Land.

Vestal wrote original music and recorded a CD entitled Fireflies for her mother who died in 2003. She’s worked in a collaboration class with Stuart Ostrow, a broadway producer who teaches at the University of Houston.

“I love what I do. Music was my saving grace as a child,” said the prolific artist, adding, “Music is an awesome way for children to express themselves and to see God.” Music and mentors helped to guide Vestal through

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her life and she wants to give that gift back to the children around her. “It’s important for them to know God is really there for them. My passion is to let them know God will make a difference in their lives,” she said.

Vestal works with the adult choir, continues to write musicals for St. Catherine’s and wants to do music for spiritual retreats as well. Her work is available for other churches through www.spiritliftingministries.com. Vestal said she would be happy to have other churches do the musical’s with their own youth.

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PARISH NEWS

St. Christopher’s, Houston Paws for Homeless Pups

St. Luke’s on the Lake, Austin Looking Back, Gathering Memories

annual Dads’ Hoedown Luncheon

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t. Luke’s on the Lake, Austin, will celebrate their 50th Anniversary this year with a number of activities. The History Book Team is in full-on research mode to compile a book that will include the early history of the Rev. Malcolm Riker’s church planting efforts at St. Luke’s, along with reflections from our clergy including the Revs. Mike Wyckoff, Parker Jameson, Roland Timberlake and Philip May. Former parishioners are invited to contribute stories or historically significant photos about St. Luke’s. Please send them to Ann Cole Steichen at asteichen@austin.rr.com or to the church at: 5600 Ranch Road, 620 North, Austin, TX 78732-1823.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Nassau Bay

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o successful was St. Christopher’s pet adoption event in January that another is planned for April 17 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) St. Christopher’s, Houston, and Homeless Animal Partnership Initiative (HAPI) held their first HAPI Family Pet Festival with animals from BARC (the Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care), Furry Pals Rescue, Citizens for Animal Protection and other rescue agencies in January. Face painters, balloon animals, a moon bounce and lemonade stand added to the festive event at which 10 of the 30 available dogs found forever homes. Channel 39 News featured the event on their evening broadcast.

The Great Clothes Out

St. Dunstan’s, Houston

Operation: Coupons for Troops

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St. Stephens’, Beaumont

Ugandan Runners Inspire Outreach

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t. Stephens’ parishioner, Peggy Nash, was inspired by runners from Uganda she met, while attending Lamar University. The four students attended Lamar on track scholarships. One told Nash that the first pair of new running shoes he had ever owned was a pair given to him by the university upon his arrival. She learned that each had come from very humble beginnings, in small, remote villages where electricity and running water are extraordinary luxuries. While at Lamar, the students worked extra hard to maintain their grades, excel at track and hold down jobs.

Through everything their gratitude for the opportunity they had been given was apparent. Nash invited them to St. Stephens’ and since their first visit they have been in regular attendance for more than a year.

As their friendships grew, Nash became aware of the needs of Ugandan children including basic school supplies and how a few things might change the future of their education. She learned that girls miss 25 percent of their school days because they don’t have feminine hygiene products. Seizing the opportunity, Nash began a new ministry collecting pens, pencils, paper, books, running shoes, feminine hygiene products, basic medical supplies, athletic equipment, minor care products such as bandages, aspirin and other items which could make it easier for these Ugandan children to attend school. To help, or for more information contact Peggy Nash at 409.659.7424.

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St. Martin’s Episcopal Preschool, Houston recently hosted an annual Dads’ Hoedown Luncheon in conjunction with the kick-off of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Faculty and students, as well as dads and granddads, dressed in their finest western apparel to dance to music by the Wild River Band and dine on James’ Coney Island chili dogs and cold root beer.

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he Nearly New Resale and Consignment Shop, an outreach ministry St. Thomas the Apostle, Nassau Bay, recently partnered with St. Vincent’s House, Galveston to distribute clothes to their many needy neighbors.

Rather than sending “nearly new” clothing to recyclers, Nearly New partnered with St. Vincent’s, a diocesan social service agency, to distribute the clothing free of charge.

Many Galveston residents are still recovering from Hurricane Ike (nearly two years ago), so receiving clothing for school or work takes a burden off already tight budgets.

Nearly New created a “Great Clothes Out” event, which has served several hundred people in the past months.

“It is a great opportunity to do Christ’s work in this world, and to represent St. Thomas and the Nearly New in the community,” said Stacey Hutchison, a member of St. Thomas.

Youth from St. Thomas sorted and organized clothes for the Great Clothes Out and then went to work weeding the flowerbeds at St. Vincent’s House, cleaned the computer lab and reorganized the entire school library.

For nearly four decades, the Nearly New Shop has provided funding for multiple charities through the sale of consignment and donated goods and continues to be run entirely by volunteers, some of whom have served for 38 years. Beneficiaries include St. James’ House, an Episcopal retirement community in Baytown; Lord of the Streets ministry to homeless men and women in midtown Houston; Medical Bridges, Star of Hope Mission, World Vision, Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, Episcopal Youth Community mission trips, Episcopal Relief and Development and many others. To visit or drop off donations/consignments see hours and location at www.thenearlynew.com.

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iving overseas on military income can be costly for young military families and coupons help them stretch their budgets. Military families do not have access to Sunday’s coupon inserts and because of this they rely on ministries like this one to assist them. Forward your coupons to the troops. Families can use these coupons up to six months after the expiration date. For more information on where to send your collection, contact Tim or Tonja Rose at tkrose@yahoo. com or 832.484.1006.

Trinity, Baytown Praying for Blankets

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he Prayer Blanket ministry at Trinity, Baytown, has made more than 910 blankets since its inception, which give comfort to people who are ill or going through hard times. It has become one of the most active efforts to uplift others. Members come together on Saturdays, and pray quietly while at the same time work on the blankets.

The ministry is not funded through the parish budget and relies solely on donations from members of the parish.

For more information, on this outreach ministry contact 281.421.0090.

St. Martin’s, Houston Rally the Troops

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t. Martin’s parishioners joined to pack more than 67 goody boxes for soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The boxes were packed with Girl Scout cookies, magazines, books, games, variety of non-perishable snacks and other items that troops frequently request. Notes of appreciation and encouragement were written by volunteers and the communion class. St. Martin’s keeps a prayer list of more than 100 names of those serving in the armed forces and updates the list on a continuous basis.

Texas Episcopalian

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Calendar

Calendar

May 1

Annual Luau Celebration at Good Shepherd, Tomball, benefitting 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, deadline for reservations is April 22. Call 281.351.1609 for details.

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

April 2

Choral and instrumental presentation of Requiem by acclaimed English composer John Rutter at 12 Noon. St. Thomas’ (www.stthomashouston.org), 4900 Jackwood at Endicott, Houston, next to the Meyerland Plaza Shopping Center.

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A combined Good Friday pilgrimage & service beginning at 7:30 a.m. at St. Francis’, 1101 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, concluding at St. Andrew’s at 12:15 with a Good Friday service and light soup lunch. For details and directions, visit www. standrewsbcs.org, 979.822.5176.

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Interactive, multigenerational Lenten Retreat at St. Andrew’s, Bryan, 5:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Friday, light supper; Saturday, pastries and coffee. Adventures in Prayer, Preparing for the Trip and Adventures in Prayer: The Trip Begins - visit several destinations within the church to experience different types of prayer. Led by Kathleen Phillips. Children’s activity and nursery for children under 4 will be available Friday night. Contact communications@standrewsbcs.org, 979.822.5176 to RSVP or for questions.

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7 Habits of Highly Effective People at Camp Allen, taught by a Franklin Covey certified facilitator and offered through Continuing and Professional Studies at Texas A&M University. For more information or to register, visit www.campallen.org or contact Toni Christopher at 936.825.7175.

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Day of Hope, a convocational gathering for those interested in understanding addiction and recovery. All Saints’, Austin. The informal gathering will include speakers, breakout sessions, a recovery service and dinner with entertainment. Registration materials from Charlotte Frazier at athomefrazier@aol.com or call Betsi Robbins, 512.476.3589 extension 107.

10-11 Birds & Blooms at Camp Allen, a retreat for nature and bird lovers. Expert led sessions, hike scenic trails with experienced guides, and much more. For more information or to register, visit www.campallen.org or contact Lauren Day at 936.825.7175. See story page 13.

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Diane Meredith Belcher Organ Concert, 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas, 4900 Jackwood at Endicott, Houston (in Meyerland) 77096. www.stthomashouston.org for details.

22-24 Facilitator’s Training for Walking the Mourner’s Path®, a Christ-centered bereavement training and grief support program whose purpose is to transform grief into joyful living.

Individuals with spiritual depth, strong leadership skills and a history of pastoral care are excellent candidates for this training. Emmanuel, 15015 Memorial Drive. To register please contact peggysands@mournerspath.com or for more information call the Rev. Gill Keyworth at 281.493.3161.

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Joe Scruggs Live in Concert at St. Christopher’s, Houston, featuring the wildly popular Nanny Nanny Boo Boo Revue. 5 p.m. General admission seating is $10. Great show for kids of all ages. Contact Jill Center for more information or to purchase tickets. 1656 Blalock, 77080. For more information, call 713.465.6015 or jill@stchrishouston.org

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 P a r k i n 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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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 $25 per person/$40 couple ($30/$50 after April 15). Send check with name, address, phone and e-mail attention 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 1

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.

“Fore!” Residents in Long-term Care St. James’ House is looking for a few good men and women who need the perfect excuse to play golf! St. James’ is a long-term care facility serving the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and will host their annual golf tournament May 14, 2010, at Eagle Pointe Golf Course, Mont Belvieu, TX. The tournament benefits the Financial Assistance Fund that provides assistance to those residents who have outlived their savings or cannot afford the full cost of their care. Prizes include a $20,000 “hole in one” award, Visa gift cards and Par 3 prizes. Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Call Mary Garcia or Marcy Poirier at 281.425.1200 for registration information.

Monday Evening Lectures on the Sistine Chapel William J. Neidinger, PhD, will give two Monday evening lectures on the Sistine Chapel, May 10 and 17, 2010 at St. Martin’s, Houston. Although it is now one of the most trafficked locations on the tourist route through western Europe, the fate and fame of the Sistine Chapel were far from secure throughout most of its history. When it was constructed

by Pope Sixtus IV in 1477, the greatest names of the times were commissioned to fresco the walls of the shaky structure. Michelangelo Buonarroti’s first attempts to fresco the ceiling were disastrous but he managed to complete the project a good four months before Julius died. He returned to paint The Last Judgment in 1535. It has survived mildew, wars, inquisitions and well-intentioned but horrific attempts at preservation until it was restored to its original beauty in the most recent restoration. This two-lecture series will cover the history of the chapel and examine the theological, philosophical and artistic forces that lay behind this Renaissance masterpiece.

Neidinger holds degrees from Fordham University, University of Madrid and Rice University. He is an archaeologist with the Texas Foundation for Archaeological & Historical Research (TFAHR), and has been directing excavations in the Mediterranean area for the past 25 years. The lectures will be held from 7-8:30 p.m., May 10, 17 at 717 Sage Road, Houston. Cost of the lectures is $25. The proceeds of this lecture series will benefit TFAHR’s 2010 excavations at Bylazora. For more information, visit www.tfahr.org.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

DIOCESAN NEWS

Call for Art Call for Artists/Exhibition opportunities for 2010 at the EDOT Gallery at the Diocesan Center, 1225 Texas Ave. Houston, TX. 77002. Original works not done under supervision in all media. Send 10-12 numbered high resolution images in jpg format on a CD with biography/ resume and a brief description of work to be considered.

Please include a hard copy of the numbered images, title, media, dimensions and date. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. All work chosen for exhibit must be hand delivered. Ten percent of sales to be donated to the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Send submissions to: Marilyn Biles, Curator, 29 Wynden Oaks Drive, Houston, Texas 77056; 713.840.1098; www.marilynbiles.com. Write marilynbiles@sbcglobal.net for further details.

People St. George’s and St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Houston changed their name to Grace Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Martha Frances, rector of Hope, Houston, became non-parochial February 28.

The Rev. Murray R. Powell, assistant rector of Trinity, Houston, is retiring from Trinity although he will serve as priest-in-charge of Lord of the Streets, Houston.

The Rev. Janet W. Zimmerman was ordained priest on January 29, 2010 by Bishop Dena Harrison at All Saints’, Austin. She continues to serve at All Saints’, Austin.

Deaths Myra McDaniel, the first African American Secretary of State in Texas, and member of St. James’, Austin, died February 25, 2010, from lung cancer at her Austin home.

She was a founding member of the board of Episcopal Health Charities and served on the boards of the Bishop Quin Foundation and the Seminary of the Southwest.

She is survived by her husband, daughter, son and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The Rev. David Tarbet, 68, died March 4 of a heart attack at home in Houston. He is survived by his brother, the Rev. Bob Tarbet and his wife Beverly and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held at Trinity March 11.

The Rev. Lester A. Thrasher died March 14 at St. James’ House, Baytown. A memorial was held at St. James’ House.

Want Ad St. James the Apostle, Conroe, is searching for a rector to lead the parish in achieving their mission and visions. If you are interested in the position or would like to recommend someone, contact Susan Donnell at suebobdon@aol.com or B. D. Griffin at griffin.bd@gmail.com.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

EDOT Gallery

(at the Diocesan Center) opened a new show of paintings by Houston artist Hazel BartramBirchenough on March 15, entitled Higher Forms of Life.

This is the second show for the new gallery, highlighting Episcopal artists from around the diocese.

Bartram-Birchenough describes her work as bringing classical and renaissance concepts of depth and quality into a contemporary world. This can be seen in the tension and balance between the figurative and abstract modalities she uses.

“This process has become a way of reaching the source, the deepest, numinous parts of the psyche,” BartramBirchenough said. “It has been a journey of testing out new

approaches, taking risks and facing fears,” she said, adding that the process has been “a powerful source of healing.”

Her ideas and materials have characteristics that become an extension of the creative process BartramBirchenough said. Improvisations with watercolor and gold leaf or large-scale, more planned pieces in oil or encaustic provide a window into the artist’s frame of mind.

Born in England, Bartram-Birchenough studied fine art and music before joining the largest community of artists in Europe in the East End of London. She was an active member of the Church of England and is currently a member of St. Martin’s, Houston. Her work has been exhibited throughout the UK, in Florida, Texas, Arizona and Illinois.

Stephen Ministry Training ECW Hosts is Window to Christian Care Spiritual Growth Retreat

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ore than 10,000 churches have trained lay people to provide effective, high-quality, Christian care through the Stephen Ministry. Good Shepherd, Friendswood, will host a workshop to provide a sample of the training Stephen Ministers (lay caregivers) receive.

Participants will take home practical knowledge and skills on “Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief ” and “How to Care in a Distinctively Christian Way.” Those attending will also learn why churches from more than 150 different Christian denominations use the Stephen Series for training and organizing laypeople for one-to-one caring ministry.

The workshop, $15 per person or $50 for a group of four or more from the same congregation, will be held at Good Shepherd, Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To register call Stephen Ministries at 314.428.2600 or register online at www.stephenministry.org/workshop.

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he diocesan Episcopal Church Women’s organization will sponsor a Spiritual Growth Retreat at Camp Allen, April 9-10, 2010. The retreat will be led by Eileen Raffaniello Barbella, PhD., whose theme will be “Living the Now Moment with Joy.” Barbella is a licensed psychologist and trained spiritual director with a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Texas, Austin. She developed a graduate course in family interventions at the University of Cincinnati and began to integrate her study and practice of Ignatian spirituality with her work as a psychologist.

Upcoming ECW Events and Important Dates ECW Outreach Grant Applications Due – April 29, 2010 Fair Share Assessments Due – April 30, 2010 UTO Spring Ingathering – May 16, 2010

Texas Episcopalian

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2010

DIOCESAN NEWS

Bishop and Standing Committee Differ on Glasspool Vote

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ishop Andy Doyle and the Diocese of Texas Standing Committee took differing directions in a recent consent process for the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, elected December 5, 2009 as bishop suffragan in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Glasspool is a partnered lesbian.

“I’ve been clear I would not consent to [Glasspool’s] election,” said Bishop Andy Doyle, March 5, 2010, “although I was challenged by a number of people who encouraged me to simply abstain from voting at all.”

The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Texas met on February 12, 2010, to consider consents to election for several bishop elections, including Glasspool’s as bishop suffragan of Los Angeles. Following prolonged discussion, the Standing Committee voted to consent to her election, highlighting the diversity of opinion within the diocese over consecrating homosexual clergy in committed relationships.

Glasspool has been in a 22-year relationship with her partner, social worker Becki Sander. Glasspool has received the needed consents.

Consent has Dissenting Voice

A statement released by the Standing Committee said they “prayerfully considered multiple facets of this election, including canonical compliance and Canon Glasspool’s suitability for the Diocese of Los Angeles and the larger church. While not uniform in our discernment, we felt led by the Holy Spirit to a strong majority decision to consent.”

“We voted on the side of justice” said Sandra Kelley, a member of the Standing Committee who was elected president following the conclusion of Council on February 13. Kelley said she believed Glasspool was qualified and that the Canons had been followed in her election. “I felt any dissent to her election was based only on her sexuality and we’ve been talking about that in this diocese for 30 years,” she said.

Barbara Williams cast the one dissenting vote. The Committee’s vote testifies to a person’s suitability for office and whether or not there is an impediment to their suitability, Williams explained in an email to the editor. “I do believe there is an impediment in the fact that [Mary Glasspool] is in a lesbian relationship,” she added.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that approving someone in a same-sex relationship would “strain the bonds of affection” between the Episcopal Church and the rest of the Anglican Communion. Williams called the election “poorly timed and a clear breach of the requested period of ‘gracious restraint’ by the Archbishop.

Bishop Doyle said his decision to withhold consent came in response to this “gracious restraint” while the Church considers the proposed Anglican Covenant and participates in a deeper theological discussion around sexuality issues.

“In the end, I had done my discernment and I felt it was disingenuous not to vote,” the bishop said. “I called Mary Glasspool, Bishop Jon Bruno (of Los Angeles) and Bishop Eugene Sutton (Glasspool’s bishop) to talk to them personally and let them know how I was voting,” he said.

“I have been in conversation with both conservative and liberal clergy and laity in our diocese and I am actively pursuing avenues for discussion and study within our

Texas Episcopalian

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2010

Book review

parishes so we can discern together how we will continue to be a united Church through these issues,” said the bishop.

“We have just received the report from the theological committee of the House of Bishops on “Same Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church” and will be discussing it at the upcoming House of Bishops meeting, March 19-24 at Camp Allen.” At print time not report had been received regarding the House of Bishops’ meeting or discussion.

“In the meantime, I believe we have a commitment to the rest of the Communion to do the theological work on the issues before we act against the wishes of the broader Church, and we have not done that,” he said, admitting that there is as broad a spectrum of positions within this diocese as there is within the Episcopal Church’s 109 other dioceses.

Independent body An independent body of the diocese, the Standing Committee statement describes the committee as representing a “diverse spectrum of theological perspectives” and invites continued dialogue “on this issue and others.”

The statement said that despite their difference of opinion with the bishop, they will continue to work with him “collegially and congenially.”

This is not the first time a Standing Committee vote has been in opposition to the diocesan bishop’s vote in an episcopal election. When Jack Iker was elected bishop of Ft. Worth in 1994, Bishop Ben Benitez voted to consent while the Diocese of Texas’ Standing Committee voted unanimously not to consent. Iker left the Episcopal Church to join the Anglican Church in North America in 2008.

President of World Vision to Speak at St. John the Divine Saturday, June 5, 10:00 a.m.

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s president of World Vision, the international Christian humanitarian agency, Rich Stearns is aware that nearly three billion people live on less than $2 per day, often without access to clean water, food and medicine. But why, he Rich Stearns asks, aren’t Christians mobilizing to serve the world’s poor and tackle the problems that fuel the cycle of poverty? His book The Hole in Our Gospel: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World is a call to fulfill God’s commandment to help address poverty and injustice.

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The Contentment You Long For by the Rev. Albert S. Lawrence, Jr. Pleasant Word, 2009, 135 pages.

In this short, but poignant book, the Rev. Al Lawrence examines the meaning of contentment and how we can find it. Is contentment really obtainable in this life time? The answer lies in knowing God. We live in an age when the majority of us are seeking fulfillment through our careers or the satisfaction of our desires.

In reality we search for God with a deep longing in our hearts. There is also another side to contentment and that is what it is like to be discontent.

We can be discontent about injustice or racial inequality. There’s a natural instinct in us to put things right. The state of being discontented can also reveal a hunger for God. There are examples in this work from history that demonstrate a righteous thirst for justice.

William Wilberforce led the campaign to abolish slavery in England. Rosa Parks was not content to be treated as a second class citizen based solely on her race. After the Second World War, Winston Churchill was voted out of office. His wife remarked that this might be a blessing in disguise. He replied, “If it is a blessing in disguise, I must confess that it is very well disguised!”

However, at the age of 77 he was re-elected as Prime Minister, received a knighthood from the Queen and a Nobel Prize for his history and oratorical works (p. 43).

The way to true contentment is found in knowing God. Lawrence outlines the way we can know God personally and enjoy his presence in our lives. We then live lives of glorifying God in all that we do whether it is through our work, our families or friendships. We also seek to align our will with God’s will. Readers will find this book filled with many practical and yet spiritual lessons for their daily lives. Each chapter also includes questions for reflection and discussion.

The book may be ordered through Amazon. Reviewed by the Rev. Mark Crawford.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

DIOCESAN NEWS

Ndife Amodzi:

We are Together

A Partnership Begins

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n the summer of 2009, Seminarians Eric Hungerford and Stephen Kidd launched a unique storytelling project in Central Africa with a grant from the Evangelical Education Society of the Episcopal Church. They interviewed villagers, microloan recipients and students to learn how the Anglican Church in Malawi was tackling endemic problems like HIV/AIDS, malaria, food security and lack of a basic education.

“What we encountered were vibrant, unique and inspiring stories of God’s Church at work in powerful ways,” says their

website at www.anglicanpartnership.org. Hungerford and Kidd found relationships that “span the globe.” One of those growing relationships is with the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.

Delegates to the diocese’s 161st annual council approved a partnership agreement for the next five years and Bishop James Tengatenga (of the Diocese of Southern Malawi) and Bishop Andy Doyle, signed documents celebrating the new partnership. Take a video journey to Malawi, meet some fellow Anglicans/Episcopalians and learn how you can be part of this growing ministry at www.epicenter.org/malawi.

EDOT Takes Road Show to Ft. Worth Offers Day of Leadership Development

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epresentatives of the Diocese of Texas took their best practices on the road in February to help support church leaders in the Diocese of Ft. Worth after their bishop and many members left the Episcopal Church in 2008.

Modeled on the annual leadership development seminars, the Warden’s and Vestry Conferences, several diocesan staff members and clergy planned an agenda that resonated with the more than 130 people who came to All Saints’, Ft. Worth with their provisional bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wallace Ohl, retired bishop of NW Texas. Participants represented six churches that have petitioned to keep their property and 14 other congregations who are seeking new ways to be Church. Some who are left without a church Ft. Worth Episcopalians gather. building are meeting in homes, a wedding chapel and in a theatre. All were eager to hear words of encouragement manager of Good Shepherd, Tomball, shared his experience and learn how to be effective leaders for the church going of restarting the church when the rector and a majority of the forward. congregation left the Episcopal Church.

“Providing moral support and resources for the Diocese “The energy was palpable and upbeat,” MacGregor said. of Ft. Worth is a model for the whole Church, said the “People were very grateful to come to a conference that had Rt. Rev. Dena Harrison, bishop suffragan of Texas. “In an so much to offer and was positive and supportive of their economy where we are watching every penny, the return on ministries.” our mission dollars to provide this opportunity to the clergy In a e-mail to Schorr, Bishop Ohl said: “Thank you again and laity of the Episcopal Church in the Ft. Worth area is for the effort you expended bringing your ‘show’ to Ft Worth. invaluable,” Bishop Harrison added.

It was a wonderful day, and I was thrilled at the turnout …

The Very Rev. Doug Travis, dean and president of We are about to get on our feet, but there is still lots to do Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, gave the keynote and we love having an ‘older sibling’ to rely on when we run address, speaking of his deep commitment to the unity of into a snag or just don’t have the local resources to carry out the Anglican communion. He talked about leadership and part of our mission to become a missional diocese.” what it takes to get through difficult challenges.

Several clergy from the continuing Diocese of Ft. Worth One track of workshops was designed for vestry members attended the 2009 Clergy Conference at Camp Allen last on roles and responsibilities, financial oversight and October and invitations for clergy and lay leaders to attend leadership. Others covered church polity and organization. other conferences in the Diocese of Texas were extended.

Mary MacGregor, director of leadership development for the Host rector, the Rev. Chris Jambor, thanked the team for Diocese of Texas, gave workshops on core values, mission their “generosity and helpful spirit in coming to the assistance and vision and newcomer ministry, while Bob Schorr, of a sister diocese in need … “At our vestry meeting last coordinator for congregational development for the Diocese night, every single person thought the day was excellent. In of Texas, taught the basics of productive meetings and led a fact,” he said, “they want more.” conversation about congregations. Dave Bollinger, business Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

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Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Month Get ready. Texas Episcopal Disaster Relief & Development has declared May Diocesan Emergency Preparedness Month.

Emergencies can occur at any time, as the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Turkey and other locations worldwide have shown. Every parish and every family should take steps to prepare for the emergencies that may affect them, whether fire, flood or break-in (then there was that car that drove through the rear wall of Trinity, Jacksonville!).

Throughout May we will be sharing tips for protecting your family and congregation, resources you may find helpful, and other information through updates to the TEDRD blog, website, newsletter and Twitter feeds, as well as a special section of the May Texas Episcopalian.

In addition, there will be workshops in each region throughout the diocese to present Parish Emergency Preparedness. Be sure to join one of these gatherings for valuable information.

Austin - St. Michael’s, 1500 North Capital of Texas Highway, May 5, 12 p.m., Emergency Planning for Parish Administrators (Brown Bag Lunch) May 8, 1:30 p.m., Parish Emergency Planning Houston - Emmanuel, 15015 Memorial Drive May 13, 12 p.m., Emergency Planning for Parish Administrators (Brown Bag Lunch) May 15, 2010, Time TBA Parish Emergency Planning

East Texas - St. Cyprian’s, Lufkin (919 South John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904) Parish Administrator’s Luncheon (Lunch Provided) 12:00pm, Thursday, March 20 March 22 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Parish Emergency Planning 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/edot/ Disaster_Relief_and_Development.asp.

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2010

SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST NEWS

Seminary Professor Tapped for Anglican Communion Theological Education Group

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he Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Ph.D. has been appointed to represent the United States on the Anglican Communion Theological Education (TEAC) steering committee established by the Anglican Consultative Council in May 2009.

The vision of TEAC is to celebrate and foster theological education throughout the Anglican Communion. The group hopes to facilitate networking, develop resources and funding, and encourage communication and advocacy.

TEAC follows an earlier group whose work was for the reflections on Anglican identity at the 2008 Lambeth Conference. TEAC shares the values of the original group regarding theological education—“that it should be lifelong, multi-faceted and accessible to all, encouraging active learning, attending to context as well as content and valuing the vital ministry of theological educators.”

Among their goals, TEAC intends to sponsor a consultation for theological college principals; build on the work done at a consultation organized for women theological educators in 2008; develop a database of Anglican theological educators and educational institutions; translate key resources into a variety of languages used in the Anglican Communion; and explore development of a web-based course in Anglican studies.

Other members of the current steering group are from

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The Rev. Cynthia B. Kittredge

India, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the UK, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Australia, Philippines, Kenya and Canterbury.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Helps Launch NetsforLife® Inspiration Fund

n January, Episcopal Relief & Development hosted a luncheon in New York City in honor of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams.

A brief film was shown about NetsforLife® highlighting the program’s success in fighting malaria through the distribution of insecticide-treated nets in more than 17 African countries.

The Rt. Rev. Robert O’Neill, chair of ERD’s Board of Directors spoke about the importance of the life-saving work of Episcopal Relief & Development, from responding to the recent crisis in Haiti, to the ongoing mission of promoting health and fighting disease through NetsforLife®.

“This film illustrates what can be achieved when partners from different contexts and different arenas come together, each willing to offer their various gifts and strengths,” Bishop O’Neill said. “They come together and work thoughtfully, intentionally and creatively to bring hope and healing to the poorest among us.”

Bishop O’Neill concluded his remarks by officially launching the NetsforLife® Inspiration Fund of Episcopal Relief & Development and reminded guests of the Episcopal Church’s commitment to achieving the Millennium Texas Episcopalian

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Development Goals, and to raising $5 million through Episcopal Relief & Development for NetsforLife®.

The Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the importance of the vision stating that “NetsforLife® is aptly and crucially about saving lives. It is more crucially a reminder to all of us that vigilance is a part of our responsibility.

“One of the things that impresses me so hugely about NetsforLife® is that it is a very simple program. It is a lowcost, low-intensity, high-delivery response to need and suffering,” Archbishop Williams said.

Bishop Andy Doyle, his wife JoAnne and daughters Caisa and Zoë, were the first donors in the Diocese of Texas to the fund. Please join the bishop in making a contribution to NetsforLife® or for more information, visit www.er-d.org or call 800.334.7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can also be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. Please write “NetsforLife®” in the memo line of all checks.

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Ministry Practitioners Get Intensive Training A class for Forming Youth for Christian Vocation will be offered in May at the Seminary of the Southwest.

Jana Struková, assistant professor of Christian education and formation at Southwest and director of the Diploma Program in Christian Education (DCE), will teach the five-day session May 24-28. Registration deadline is May 16. Room and board on campus are included in the $1,200 registration fee.

DCE is the legacy of an earlier certificate program in youth ministry and Christian education begun in 1998. There is a new curriculum and a distinctive set of learning objectives for the non-credit, one-week sessions in January and May at the seminary. The program gives ministry practitioners the opportunity to enrich their experience in ways that are focused, coherent and solidly grounded in Bible, church history, systematic theology, ethics and practical theology.

Thirteen youth ministers and Christian education leaders from several states gathered at the seminary in January to study with ethics professor, Scott Bader-Saye, whose sessions focused on “Money, Boredom and Fear: Moral Formation and Youth Culture.”

Registration for the May 2010 session can be completed online at ssw.edu or by contacting admissions@ssw.edu

Teaching Scripture is Summer Seminary Course Teaching Scripture in the parish isn’t always an easy task. This summer, Seminary of the Southwest will offer a five-day course for lay and clergy, June 21-25, with the Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Ph.D. entitled “Engaging Scripture, Heart and Mind: Teaching Scripture in the Parish.”

Participants will explore ways to teach the Bible using art, voice and movement to engage with the text.

The approach incorporates the historical and devotional, the faithful and critical. Students will experience different genres of biblical literature through lecture, discussion, reflection and creative encounter. Tuition for the fiveday session is $325. On-campus housing and meals are available for an additional $150. Evenings will be free to allow participants to relax and explore Austin eateries and entertainment.

Kittredge is committed to giving students at Seminary of the Southwest the exegetical and interpretive tools both to appreciate and to critically engage with the Biblical texts for theological reflection. She is a contributor to the new Oxford Annotated Bible, and has authored and edited several books. In addition to her teaching responsibilities at SSW, she is also dean of Community Life and serves as assisting clergy at Good Shepherd, Austin.

Register online or contact the Admission’s office at brobertson@ssw.edu

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

CAMP ALLEN

Camp Allen Continues to Add Summer Camp Activities

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

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reduction, spiritual fitness, guided hikes. Per-person rates of $145/single occupancy and $110/ double occupancy include hotel accommodations, meals and programming. Horseback riding, canoeing, archery and massages are available for an additional fee. Retreat begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday. For more information or to register, visit www.campallen.org or call 936.825.7175.

With more than 500 campers already registered for the summer and a record number of counselor applications, the 2010 summer will be an exciting one at Camp Allen. Archery was recently introduced and has become a popular activity for all ages. These are not your parent’s bows and arrows, but are light weight and have great accuracy. Regardless of a child’s athletic ability, past experience or social skills, they can be successful. Archery is one of the few physical activities that teaches a child success; there are no winners or losers.

Now is a great time to register for camp by going to www.campallen.org. More than 70 percent of the campers are registering online. The camp sessions are normally filled by early May.

House of Bishops Gathers for Spring Retreat at Camp Allen

ore than 115 bishops of The Episcopal Church gathered for the House of Bishops spring retreat meeting March 19 – 24 at Camp Allen, one hour north of Houston.

Bishops considered the Church for the 21st Century and focused specifically on both the nature of episcopacy and on the evangelistic challenges/opportunities presented by the emergent church movement.

Well-known authors and lecturers Diana Butler-Bass and Phyllis Tickle along with others led discussions about the fast-growing Emergent Church movement. Other discussions focused on the groundbreaking “Around One Table” report and the Anglican Covenant.

The Theology Committee presented a study entitled “Same Sex Relationships in the Life of the Church.”

Commissioned in 2008 and authored by a diverse group of Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

eight theologians to present a wide spectrum of views, the representative panel presented the study which includes two major papers, each representing diverse views, along with a response to each paper by the other group. The bishops discussed the entire study during the gathering. The report is available online at www.episcopalchurch.org and will be used as a resource for the Church.

“This is not a position paper, but is an educational piece as part of the Windsor Process,” Bishop Henry Parsley, chair of the Theology Committee, said. “It is a contribution to the discussion happening throughout the Anglican Communion.”

During their retreat, bishops elected the bishop suffragan of Federal Ministries and the bishop of Navajoland as well as a vacancy on the Board of General Theological seminary. Results were not available at time of printing.

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April 10-11, 2010 Camp Allen Calling all nature & bird lovers–this retreat is for you!

Attend expert led sessions, hike scenic trails with experienced guides and much more. The weekend includes a live owl and hawk demonstration, Audubon presentations, landscaping for attracting songbirds, Spring migration habits, birding identification, sunrise bird watching and nature hikes.

Cost of $110 double/$145 single occupancy per person include hotel accommodations, meals and program.

Horseback riding, canoeing, archery and massages are available for an additional fee. Retreat begins at 11 a.m.

Saturday and concludes at 1 p.m. on Sunday. To register or for more information call 936.825.7175 or visit: www. campallen.org.

Texas Episcopalian

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April

2010

GUEST COLUMNIST

Something Must Have Happened

The Rev. Sam Todd

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ome people assume with naïve arrogance that anything they cannot understand must not exist. They believe that until they stand face to face with something they do not comprehend but cannot deny. In the summer of 1987 I stood on the north rim of the Grand Canyon next to a man who, like me, was gazing at the wonder for the first time. He solemnly said, “Something must have happened here.” He knew that the hole had not been dug by an Indian with a stick. Such an effect demanded an adequate cause.

The fact that Jesus of Nazareth is remembered today cries out for explanation. He was of obscure birth and parentage. He was reared in a remote corner of the Roman Empire which even Israelites regarded as contemptible (v.

Jn. 1:46). At age thirty this carpenter’s son became an itinerant preacher. Within three years he had so alienated the leaders of his religion that they convicted him of blasphemy. He had so alienated the government that it condemned him to death. On the day of his execution he was scourged by soldiers, mocked by a crowd, deserted by his friends, crucified between two thieves and his body laid in a borrowed tomb.

As someone has pointed out, “He never wrote a book.

He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never went to college. He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place he was born. He never made a lot of money. He never did one of the things we associate with greatness.

“Twenty centuries have come and gone. Mighty armies have marched and mighty rulers have ruled. Empires have risen and fallen. Yet no one has influenced life on earth so much as he (anon).” Why? Something must have happened.

Texas Episcopalian

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2010

Given the pusillanimous performance of the apostles on Good Friday, the very fact of the Church cries out for explanation. The same Peter who fled the high priest’s courtyard after thrice denying that he knew Christ (Lk. 22:54-62), was, a few weeks later, boldly proclaiming him in the Temple precincts. Hauled before the same high priest who had condemned Christ and told to keep his mouth shut, Peter said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19). He must have seen something. He had seen something incomprehensible yet irrepressible.

The Romans, masters of the Mediterranean world, threw men and women to lions to stifle the glorious gossip about Christ. For three hundred years they tried, but the reports kept coming back the same: “he lives.”

In 1918 the Bolsheviks murdered Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev, to begin a systematic persecution of the religious and clergy. “In 1918 and 1919 alone, about twenty-eight bishops were killed; … by 1926, according to … a bishop living in Russia at the time, some 2,700 priests, 2,000 monks, and 3,400 nuns and other ordained persons had been killed” (Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church pp.

138,156). The Communist authorities could kill at will but they could not bestow life. They commandeered the entire culture of a nation but could not win souls. On Christmas 1990, for the first time in seventy years, worship was held in one of the cathedrals inside the stone walls of the Kremlin itself. Something must have happened.

In China, “Christianity was banned in 1724. The ban was not lifted until 1846 … The period from 1860 to 1900 saw the gradual spread of mission stations into every province” (John Fairbanks, CHINA, A New History, p. 222).

After 1947, the Communists sought to root out Christianity from their land. They jailed and killed Christians. For years and years the outside world could not tell if Christ had indeed been expunged from China. Then a thaw occurred; people were allowed for a time to speak freely, and behold, a Christian Church stood up which had been there all along, underground. In the 1980’s I baptized Beatrice Mao in San Antonio. Her father, a Chinese graduate student at the University of Texas, had been secretly evangelized by his grandmother thirty years previously. “Potentially the most significant fact for the future of Christianity could be its phenomenal growth in China at the present time.

Official figures (1987) record at least a million Christians in Zhejiang province, half a million each in Fujian and Honan” (John Taylor “The Future of Christianity” in The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, p. 653). Something must have happened.

The Church herself has tried to confine Christ to

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abstruse systems of doctrine, to rigid rituals, to a book. I had the bad timing to enter seminary just as the learned surveyors of the secular city announced, “God is dead.”

But, just as before, he refused to stay dead.

Like all institutions the Church has grown stagnant or corrupt at various times in her history. She has periodically been led by lazy, stupid, venal or incompetent men. But just when she ought to die off, she gets reformed, revitalized and renewed. By whom?

The Christian Church has seen the commencement of all the governments that now exist upon the face of the earth. I have no doubt she shall live to see their end. When we consider the fact that the Church was already ancient before Columbus made landfall upon this continent, before the Saxon had set foot in Britain, before the Frank had crossed the Rhine and when Grecian eloquence still flourished in Antioch, and when we consider the fact that she survives today, not as a relic much less a ruin, but as a growing vibrant reality, we must conclude that she lives because he does.

Email Todd at: stodd2423@att.net

Diocesan Vergers Gather for History Lesson

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he Walter Mace Memorial Chapter of the Verger’s Guild of the Episcopal Church will hold its annual training session on April 24, 2010 at Emmanuel Church, 15015 Memorial Drive, Houston, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Rev. Dan Dunlap, rector of Good Shepherd, Tomball, will speak about how the political and cultural history of the Anglican Church has shaped Episcopal Church liturgy and the role of vergers. Dunlap holds a doctorate from Oxford University where his focus was on the liturgy of the Anglican Church from the 16th to the 20th century.

Following lunch, a panel discussion will cover becoming a verger. “Both sessions would be great for those who are contemplating becoming a verger,” said Richard Evans, diocesan chapter president.

A $45 fee covers the program and lunch. Send registration fee to Yvonne Carter-Johnson at: Grace* Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort St., Houston, TX 77025. Make checks to: Walter Mace Memorial Chapter.

The cost of the Session is $45, which includes lunch *Grace has recently been renamed from St. George’s and St. Patrick’s. For further information, contact Evans at 254.666.4147, evans.62@gmail.com or Carter-Johnson at 713.857.4450, vjpiper@swbell.net.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Harrison

High

Doyle

Bishops’ April Calendars 3 4 p.m.

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St. Thomas’, Houston, CF Christ Church Cathedral, Houston Christ Church Cathedral, Houston EDOT Gallery reception, Diocesan Center, Houston Congregational Development Retreat, Camp Allen St. John the Divine, Houston, CF St. John the Divine, Houston St. John the Divine, Houston, CF Camp Allen Board Meeting Little Church Club, Camp Allen Retreat for Retired Clergy, Camp Allen Deans of Convocations, Diocesan Center, Houston Episcopal High School Board Meeting, Houston Retreat for College Students, Camp Allen Conference for Ministers, Camp Allen Palmer Memorial, Houston, CF Palmer Memorial, Houston, CF St. Dunstan’s, Houston, CF Vestry Meeting, St. Martin’s, Houston St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities Leadership Meeting, Houston Standing Committee Meeting, Camp Allen Starry Nights, Austin Curate Camp, Camp Allen 125th Anniversary Celebration, St. John’s, Sealy Santa Maria Virgen, Houston, CF Celebration of New Ministry, Good Shepherd, Kingwood Episcopal High School Bishop’s Council Dinner, Houston

In the Anglican Communion A global community of 77 million Anglicans in 500 dioceses in 164 countries Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Rev. Rowan Williams Lambeth Palace, London, England, SE1 7JU Anglican Communion Office 16 Tavistock Crescent Westbourne Park London W 11 1AP United Kingdom www.lambethpalace.org www.anglicancommunion.org In the United States A community of 2.5 million members in 120 dioceses in the Americas and abroad Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Episcopal Church Center 815 Second Ave., NY, NY 10017 1.800.321.2231 www.episcopalchurch.org In the Diocese of Texas One Church of more than 85,000 members in 158 congregations in the eastern quadrant of Texas, established in 1849

Resurrection, Austin, CF St. Paul’s, Pflugerville, CF Congregational Development Retreat, Camp Allen St. Mary’s, West Columbia, CF Trinity Church, Marble Falls, CF All Saints’, Austin, CF Gathering of Leaders Conference, Philadelphia Commission on Ministry, Camp Allen Camp Allen Starry Nights, Austin Grace Church, Georgetown, CF Nathan Network Meeting, Houston

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org

Carol Barnwell @cebarnwell Disaster Relief @ikerelief

4 8 & 10 a.m. St. Paul’s, Freeport 7-8 Congregational Development Retreat, Camp Allen 11 10:30 a.m. Holy Spirit, Waco, CF

4 p.m. Little Church Club, Camp Allen 12 9a.m.-1 p.m. Little Church Club, Camp Allen

4 p.m. Retreat for Retired Clergy, Spouses and Surviving Spouses, Camp Allen 13-14 Retreat for Retired Clergy, Spouses and Surviving Spouses, Camp Allen 14 6:30 p.m. Sam Houston State University Canterbury Service 16 12 p.m. St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, Houston

6 p.m. 50th Anniversary Celebration, St. Mark’s School, Houston 18 9 a.m. St. Mark’s, Houston, CF 20 4 p.m. All Saints Episcopal School Board Meeting, Tyler 21 7 p.m. Trinity, The Woodlands, CF 23 8 a.m. All Saints Episcopal School Chapel Planning Committee Meeting, Tyler 24-30 Bishop-in-Resident Program, Sewanee 3 8 p.m.

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Andy Doyle @TexasBishop

Us w o l l o F

Bishop The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle dotbp@epicenter.org 1225 Texas Ave. Houston, TX 77002-3504 1.800.318.4452 1.713.520.6444 FAX 1.713.520.5723 Austin: 1.512.478.0580, 1.800.947.0580 Tyler: 1.903.579.6012 www.epicenter.org editor: cbarnwell@epicenter.org

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Texas Episcopalian

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April

2010

DIOCESAN NEWS

Satcher on Education

Bobby Satcher, continued from page 1 completed his first shuttle flight to the International Space Station in November 2009, traveling 4.5 million miles in 171 orbits. During the mission Satcher performed two spacewalks for a total of 12 hours and 19 minutes.

A specialist in child and adult bone cancer, Satcher is the first orthopedic surgeon to orbit earth. In addition to the space walks, he conducted experiments from the shuttle, investigating the effects of outer space on the immune system, changes in sitting height and bone formation in mice.

A livelong Episcopalian, Satcher met his wife, Dr. D’Juanna White-Satcher, in college and they attended medical school together. White-Satcher is a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, and both are members of St. James’, Houston.

“Finding a church is one of the first things we did when we moved,” Satcher said. “We like the church here. There’s lots of outreach, it’s not too big, people are a good mixture of young families as well as older folks,” he said. The couple has a five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.

Satcher describes his childhood as idyllic, playing on the tidewaters near his home in Hampton, Virginia. The son of academics, Satcher was exposed to “people who were educated and accomplished … who traveled the world.” The fertile environment opened his imagination and made him aware of all the possibilities he has since embraced. Satcher said he remembers reading encyclopedia’s and wondering about the first explorers along the Virginia coast.

In an earlier interview with Northwestern colleagues, Satcher said being an astronaut was always in the back of his mind but when he saw pictures of the astronaut corps, there was never anyone who looked like him. “In the 80s, they began to allow African Americans and women to become astronauts. That had a profound effect on me,” he said.

Satcher feels very fortunate to have been selected and trained for the space flight. “I’m one of only 500 people who have had the opportunity to go to space,” he said. Since his selection by NASA, Satcher has been on leave from his positions as assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Texas Episcopalian

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April

2010

Bobby Satcher: lighter than air

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and as a surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Asked about the relationship of science and religion, Satcher said the question is too often presented as a conflict.

“I’ve never seen it as a conflict. Your spiritual self is supposed to be informing you conscious self and vice versa. Certainly everything we do scientifically is part of creation. From the standpoint of being a physician … the body is a very sophisticated machine,” he said. In space, he was awestruck by the same sense of creation.

His view of God and creation didn’t change with space flight, rather he said, the experience “complimented” what he already believed. “It’s one thing to see pictures … [but] when I actually saw it, it reinforced what I already felt and it also made me think about … whether or not we are the only beings out here--which I don’t believe--it’s just so vast!”

“It’s truly a sight looking down on earth against the backdrop of the blackness of space. Words don’t capture the experience in terms of the beauty of it or the feelings it evokes,” he said.

It was an experience he wished he could have shared with his grandfathers. Satcher said “it was evident from what they were interested in and what they taught us that they were scientists without benefit of a formal education.”

Both fed his intellectual curiosity and played a big role in his life growing up.

Satcher likened the space walks he did while on the International Space Station to some of the surgeries he has performed, both in duration and focus. “The space walks are six to seven hours each … the work we are doing on the spacecraft is not as fine as in surgery, but a lot of it is intricate … it’s important to pace yourself and keep your focus the same way you do in an operating room,” he explained.

Space requires adaptation, Satcher said. “When you first get up there, you don’t have the cues you take for granted on earth, such as which way is up and which way is down. What you see with your eyes is uncoupled with what you sense, and that can make you a little nauseous. But … you have a busy schedule and still have to do all the work

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“I wouldn’t be where I am without education. I think it’s something that we as a generation—I would say my generation—undervalue. Fortunately I think that there’s more of a focus being brought on that now. Our current president is really a big proponent of education and my parents and family were always big proponents of education.

My grandparents were sharecroppers in Alabama and they didn’t have the privilege of finishing high school. They had to stop going to school for a variety of reasons. I think my grandmother made it to seventh grade and my grandfather made it to fifth grade. Despite that, they understood how important education was and all of their kids—they had a large family of nine children—all finished college. Several of them went on and got advanced degrees, MDs, PhDs. They always stressed that to us and when we were coming up there was no other alternative. We knew, you’re going to at least go to college, and then you can figure it out after that, but that’s a given.

And I’m grateful that I was indoctrinated that way because it really does open up possibilities for you and literally, the sky’s the limit. You can do anything you want once you have your education. [It] is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. It drives you to continue to try to make yourself better which, of course, opens up more and more possibilities for you.”

you are assigned,” he said.

Objectives of his space flight included maintenance and re-supply of components on the space station, installing an antenna and a gas tank that will provide atmosphere for the space station. Satcher describes this phase in the life of the International Space Station as one of transition, moving from building to maintenance of the facility. “I think we’re going to realize that it was essential that we built the space station and that there’s a body of knowledge and operational experience that we’ve gotten from it that’s indispensable … the spacewalks we’ve done, the ability to do repairs to the orbiter spacecraft [are necessary for] a six-month journey to Mars. So the judgment of history I think is going to be very favorable for that chapter in NASA’s history … It’s going to enable us to do deep space exploration.”

Although he hasn’t had time lately, Satcher has traveled extensively doing medical missions in West Africa, and Central and South America. “Sometimes we were the first physicians to see people with bone infections that had gone untreated or broken bones that healed in an awkward position and needed to be corrected,” he said.

He plans to return to his medical practice at some point. “You are able to help people in a very tangible way, that’s the most rewarding thing and there are not too many jobs that let you do that,” he said. His flight into space “went by in the blink of an eye. You do a lot of training to get ready and the payoff is going on a mission. It’s too short,” Satcher said.

The long-term benefit—whether as an engineer, physician or astronaut—is the example his passion and energy provides for young people. Wherever Satcher does next, he carries that payload with him.

Find us on the web at www.epicenter.org