Saint Cecilia’s Blossoms Through Growth, Exploration

Saint Cecilia’s, Round Top, blossomed through growth and exploration in 2022. A milestone included the ringing of the bell being rung February as it became an official fellowship by the Diocesan Council. Highlights for the year include:

Formation

14 confirmations were celebrated in October 2022 as the congregation celebrated its first year, Bishop Kai Ryan officiated. In addition, several Discovery Days for spiritual growth were offered to new members.

The Arts

The Saint Cecilia's Series supplied concerts, lectures, creative worship experiences, and collaborative presentations. A comedy show featured a variety of artists from locales in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Nevada. Notable presenters and performers included Fletcher Clark, David Pulkingham, Crispin Schroeder, The Axiom String Quartet, and The Elias Haslanger Quartet and Quintet. Las Vegas comedian David Dendy performed, as well as Crispin Schroeder, Academy-Award nominated screenwriter William Broyles, Jr, and many other artists and performers enriched the community.

Other Highlights

• Sunday morning attendance began to exceed capacity toward the end of 2022, resulting in adding a second service in the new year.

• Best attended creative/collaborative services included the Good Friday Meditations on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme”; "Roots and Wings" outdoor mass featuring the music of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Van Morrison, Allison Kraus, Tom Petty, John Prine, and Bob Dylan via musicians from Louisiana and Texas; Ash Wednesday Meditations on Music and Meaning featuring Beethoven's "Heiliger Dankgesang" with the Axiom String Quartet; and a Jazz to the World Christmas Celebration.

• Saint Cecilia’s held its Annual Animal Blessing in Henkel Square and raised $3,000 for the local Janssen Animal Shelter. Over Thanksgiving parishioners donated a truckload of food and over $1,000 to the Amen Food Pantry and the Janssen Center and also participated in Episcopal Relief and Development "Thousand Days of Love" campaign.

• Women's and men's ministries attracted over 100 participants in Bible studies, wellness groups, Benedictine spirituality groups, and socials. They planned their first ever couples dinner with a couples ministry.

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

Psalm 50:14-15

Discerning and Leaning into The Call to Ministry

May 12-14 / sepT 15-17

God has graced us with many gifts. Do you know what they are? How are you using yours? Discernment occurs in community. Join us in Discovery Weekend to help discern your calls.

You are encouraged to contact the office of the Executive for Ministry at 512.478.0580; 800.947.0580 or email discovery@ epicenter.org to ask any questions.

The Diocese of Texas strives to help all our members to discover their gifts for ministry and to identify leaders, lay and ordained, for Christ’s mission. Discerning a call to ministry is not limited to those seeking ordination. The Diocese hopes to raise up lay and ordained leaders who are willing to be the face, hands, and heart of Christ in our communities and in the world. Discovery Weekend is a time to explore ways to consider how your gifts and experiences and the people around you can help you to hear God’s voice for your life, study scripture, sing and pray, have good conversations, and learn about the various roles into which God calls people to serve the church and the world.