Vol. 2, No. 6, July/August 2007

DIRECT LINE AUDIO

In the Bishop's Words: Bishop Suffragan David Reed reflects on his first year: Click here to listen.

HELP FOR CHURCH WEBSITES

Updating your church website falls to one person who is also responsible for doing the Sunday bulletin, writing the weekly newsletter, printing the rector's sermon, and finding a coffee hostess for Sunday morning, Consequently, the service times for Easter are still posted on your website.

Does this sound like your church?

Maybe the solution is a "content manageable" website. With content manageable technology, leaders of various ministries or church staff can be given access to keep their area of the website up to date. The technology makes use of templates, so users don't need to know design techniques or special code. Plus, varying levels of access can be granted, so the Christian Ed director can only update Christian ed pages, but the church secretary can update any part of the site.

Some of these sites include members-only pages or church directories which can be viewed and updated only by church members. Some even have date-sensitive automatic expire pages -- your Christmas service times delete on December 26.

To assist congregations of the diocese, the diocesan IT (Information Technology) Committee is currently investigating several content manageable web products and will select its two or three favorites this summer. In the fall, the committee will host workshops to instruct users in these products. If you want to investigate content manageable websites on your own, click on www.simpleupdates.com for starters. If you have a website product to recommend, e-mail chair of the IT Committee, Emmet Faulk, at efaulkjr@stmarks-sa.org

HOW TO KEEP THEM COMING BACK

What's the best way to incorporate newcomers into the life of the parish?

That question circulated on the clergy e-mail list in our diocese recently. Here are some of the replies we captured (good thoughts as you plan for your Guest Sunday on September 23).

"This may not be too original, but here's what I did when I was in parish ministry: Usually, a parishioner would come up and quietly ask me, 'Who is that?' I would say, 'Why don't you go over and introduce yourself and visit for a while?' I had already done that and knew the person's name and why they were visiting. I often got 'the look' from the inquiring parishioner, but he or she was now put in a place where compliance became a necessity and the visitor was greeted. That almost always started a wonderful chain reaction."

"First, evangelism is one person at a time and modeled by leadership (both clerical and lay). The second part is that everybody should be given meaningful work and receive recognition for it."

"Over the years I've tried many 'gifts/talents/interest inventories' to place newcomers and have had more problems than success. The problems stemming mainly from two directions: 1. The inner fear of the person who receives the inventory (I don't know what to put down, I don't know what my gifts are, what if they ask me to do something and I fail, what am I getting into here) and so those who actually fill out the form often give incomplete or skewed information; and 2. The frustration of unmet expectations (Well, I told them I liked to putter in the yard six months ago and no one has called me yet!) The most successful 'integration plans' are those that have personal contact in order to get to know the people - either from clergy or better still from parishioners."

"Something that has had good success with us are potluck lunches after worship every Sunday. Granted this is more workable in small churches than large but it provides an easy and immediate event to invite visitors to join. By the end of the lunch, we know them and they have met us. The next time they come, they are no longer strangers. A lot of people have come and stayed because of some food. It is sort of biblical, too. We did not start this with an evangelistic motive but it has proved to be a very powerful tool. It is not as logistically hard as it sounds and is a lot of fun to boot."

"In my experience, nothing beats taking your newcomers out to lunch individually (or meeting with them in some way that suits their schedules) and actually getting to know them. At our church we keep talking more and more about really enacting the biblical value of friendship. This is the fruit of much consideration of how to build community, and how to help people find their place in the parish."

The Spiritual Life Division will be gathering information and preparing materials for the September Guest Sundays. Expect to see it soon on the diocesan website.

NEWS

The retired clergy in the San Antonio area have been meeting for lunch and fellowship on the last Monday of the month since 1992.

The get-together includes spouses and widows of clergy as well. The growing group has moved restaurants three times so they can be accommodated and now meets at Jim's Restaurant on Hwy 281 North. Jack and Kate Beebe send e-mails and make phone call reminders. If you would like to be on the notification list, e-mail Jack at jbeebe@satx.rr.com or phone him at (210) 656-5634.

Lynda Griffin, member of St. Peter's, Kerrville, is the local community coordinator for Educational Merit Foundation, based in Garland, Texas. The group needs host families for foreign exchange high school students for the 2007-08 school year. They currently are trying to place 50 students from South Korea, Germany, Thailand, China, and France. The students speak English, have their own medical insurance and spending money, and expect to share their host family's daily life and responsibilities. To learn more, visit www.emfusa.org or e-mail Lynda at lyndag@ktc.com

The June issue of Direct Line carried a story by Joyce Carothers about the work of Recovery Ministry and Alcoholics Anonymous. The article incorrectly stated that Jack Carothers had four years of sobriety when he died four years ago. That should have been 40 years of sobriety. We apologize for the error and can personally attest to the incredible and effective ministry he did for all those years.

If you change your e-mail address, please remember to change it for Direct Line. Go to the diocesan website, www.episcopal-dwtx.org and follow the links to The Direct Line. Please also remember to notify the diocesan office by e-mailing barbara.baugh@dwtx.org.

FROM OUR CHURCHES

The Mary Bells of St Boniface, Comfort, present their fifth Biennial Chocolate and Chimes Concert on Saturday, July 7, at 6 p.m. The concert will be dedicated to Julie Heinen, who was a ringer from the beginning until her death in February. It will also remember Edgar Garcia, the son of Mary Bell Cristina Old. An array of chocolate desserts will be the highlight of the reception immediately following the concert. There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted. St. Boniface is located at 130 Hwy 87, across from Comfort High School.

St. David's School is seeking a head of school for its 150 students aged 16 months through kindergarten. Contact Pamela Atherton, Head of School Search Committee, 1300 Wiltshire Ave, San Antonio TX 78209-6049 or call her at (210) 854-6102 or e-mail her at pweissatherton@satx.rr.com.

Again this year, St. Christopher's by the Sea, Portland, and Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi sent youth and leaders to participate in the Sea City Work Camp program in Corpus Christi. They work with and through the sponsorship of the First United Methodist Church of Portland to provide a program for high school and college students to come together to restore the housing of elderly and poorer families. About the experience, St. Christopher's parishioner Shaun Meglen said, "It's a life changing experience."

The 5th Annual Hill Country Open Golf Tournament is scheduled for Monday, October 1, at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf and Country Club. This tournament has been coordinated by the Men's Fellowship group at St. Helena's, Boerne, for the past four years, and benefits the Hill Country Mission for Health which provides primary care services for low income, and uninsured people in the hill country. For information contact Ty Pruitt at (210) 775-2370, Bruce Calder at (830) 755-4839, or Michael Glick, (830) 249-3928 or (830) 816-9488.

St. Matthew's, Edinburg, is partnering with First Lutheran Church in that city in a new campus ministry effort at University of Texas at Pan American. Plans include a weekly Tuesday Eucharist in the chapel on UTPA campus plus other events. If you know of students at UTPA or want to be involved in this ministry, call the Rev. Earl Mahan, rector of St. Matthew's, at (956) 975-1004.

St. Christopher's, Bandera, has become the first Episcopal Church outside of San Antonio to join the Cafe Beneficio outreach project. The project benefits the Diocese of Southeast Mexico, where the coffee is grown and harvested, as well as the local church and the diocese. Every bag of coffee sold returns $1 to the local church, and 50 cents accrues to a fund for capital projects in Southeast Mexico. If you are interested in this outreach for your church, e-mail Sergio Zacaria at Sergio@cafebeneficio.com

Episcopal Church of Reconciliation, San Antonio, celebrated the groundbreaking for construction of an Outdoor Chapel and Labyrinth on June 24. This outdoor space will be available for the community to use day and night, and they anticipate completion by early October. For information about upcoming events or to assist in the project by donation contact the church office (210) 655-2731.

Saturday, September 29, from 9 am to 4 pm, Church of the Resurrection, San Antonio, will host crafters, entertainment, food, contests, and games. They are actively seeking crafters interested in booth space and entertainers. Anyone interested in more information should call the church office at (210) 655-5484.

St. Peter's, Kerrville, will host a Healing Mission led by the Rev. Jack and Anna Marie Sheffield. The Sheffields have been in the healing ministry for over 30 years and lead healing missions around the globe. In 2004 they established a center for healing prayer in San Antonio known as Christ Healing Center. For information or to register for the conference contact Mary Hart Frost, frost@classicnet.net or Cel Dryden, (830) 257-5617.

The Rev. Canon Mark Pearson, Executive Director of the Institute for Christian Renewal in New Hampshire, will conduct a healing conference at St. Matthew's, Universal City, Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4. The program Saturday morning will be advanced training for Order of St Luke the Physician (OSL) members only; the Saturday afternoon teachings will begin at 12:30 pm and will be directed toward physical healing, and registration and will be open to the public. Sunday events will culminate with a healing service open to all. For specific information on the healing conference contact Joyce Nollen at the church at (210) 658-5956, or by e-mail, ministries@stmattuc.org. Pearson will also be in Del Rio at St. James on November 1 for a 7:30 p.m.healing service. For details, e-mail Diane Pattison at t6airplane@yahoo.com.

St. Barnabas, Fredericksburg, has received a generous gift of $300,000 from Lady Bird Johnson, to complete payment on the church's building. Johnson is a longtime member of St. Barnabas. Some may remember that following the Katrina disaster, St. Barnabas made a decision to offer the money collected from what was to have been a fundraiser to reduce the debt on their buildings to the Katrina evacuee effort. Parish administrator Bob Gates said of the gift, "We have been blessed beyond belief. Now we can move forward at full speed."

On Saturday, May 12, the families of St. Helena's, Boerne, gathered at River Road Park to help raise funds for Youth Mission and to enjoy the antics of the third annual Sink or Swim Home-Made Raft Race. The Raft Race had six entries, and lasted about 15 minutes from the starting line at Main Street bridge to the finish line in front of the Dodging Duck. Awards were given for Best Raft, Best Dressed, Best Built and for the Kayak Races. The Raft Race and other donations raised $7500 for Youth Mission trips. Upcoming mission trips include a senior high trip to Piedras Negras, Mexico, July 1-7 to build a home for a needy family through Constructores Para Cristo, and a junior high trip Aug. 5-9 to work at the Down Home Ranch in Elgin, TX. For more information about Youth Mission, visit www.sthelenas-boerne.org.

Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15, Christ Church, San Antonio, will host the D'Antoni Project, an evangelical multi-media presentation by Rex Hausmann and associates. This project includes painting, music, ballet, abstract contemporary film, mainstream cinema, and architecture; all highlight the lives of the Apostles and St. Luke the Evangelist. The D'Antoni Project may be seen in the parish hall at 5 pm Saturday, with a 6 pm reception, and at 10 am Sunday. Admission is by free-will donation; all proceeds will go to benefit the American Red Cross and Hurricane Katrina victims. For information, call the church office, (210) 736-3132.

Church of the Redeemer, Eagle Pass, will be re-roofing the church in the near future and is looking for contractors to do the job. If you have had good experience with a church roofing contractor, please contact John Sullivan at sullivan2243@sbcglobal.net.

WORLD MISSION NEWS

In the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane on the Coast, are you willing to take evacuating Episcopalians into your home?

If you would, please e-mail Marthe Curry in the diocesan World Mission Department and tell her:

Your name: ____________________________________________

Your address: ____________________________________________

Best way to contact you: ____________________________________________

Can you take a family with children, a couple only, a single person only?: ____________________________________________

Will you take someone with pets?: ____________________________________________

E-mail Marthe at mcurry09@sbcglobal.net.

The Water Well Drilling ministry in Honduras and in Mexico is growing at an incredible rate. Needed are people to work on the drill rig at Don Lee's ranch in Bandera and people to go on drilling mission trips. This includes people to work on the rig, people to teach water hygiene to women in the mission areas, and people to lead children's programs in the mission areas.
For more information or to be a part of this life-changing ministry, e-mail Curt Mowen at CCMowen@satx.rr.com

GOOD NEWS FROM THE MAINLINE CHURCH
A Conference with Diana Butler Bass

Who:
Dr. Diana Butler Bass spent three years studying thriving Protestant congregations and finding common threads among them. Her research has resulted in several books about what is right with the church and how we can continue to improve. Dr. Butler Bass found that certain consistent practices -- such as hospitality, contemplation, justice, discernment and worship emerged as core expressions of congregations seeking to rediscover authentic Christian faith and witness today.

What:
The conference will be an ecumenical event with participation by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas; St. Mark's, San Antonio; Madison Square Presbyterian Church; Travis Park Methodist Church; the Ecumenical Center for Religion and Health; the SOL Center; and the Work+shop. Dr. Butler Bass will share her findings and she will lead participants in conversation about an emerging Christianity that strives for greater spiritual depth and proactively engages the needs of the world. Her topics will be: "Christianity for the Rest of Us," "A New Matrix for Ministry," "Where are We Going?" She will conclude with a time for questions and answers.

Where:
A location in San Antonio (TBA)

When:
Friday, November 30, 2007 - 5:30 to 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 1, 2007 - 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Sunday, December 2, 2007 - Dr. Butler Bass will preach at the 8:45 and 11:00 am services at St. Mark's and will teach the adult Christian formation class at 10:00 am.

Who should come?
Everyone who has a passion for God's church and how it can thrive in the 21st century. Join the conversation about new and vibrant ways of being the people of God in the 21st century. Learn practical ways to be a church that is flourishing.

How to Get Ready
Read Christianity for the Rest of Us by Diana Butler Bass. Form a small group and study it together (there are study questions in the back of the book).

Read articles by Diana Butler Bass on her website www.dianabutlerbass.com

Come to the pre-conference meeting at Viva Book Store led by The Rev. Dr. John Lewis and the Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson. (Time and date TBA).

PEOPLE

Susan Hanson, chaplain of the college ministry program at Texas State University in San Marcos, was honored with the Sam Portaro Award for Creative Expression and Intellectual Enquiry at the Episcopal Campus Ministry Conference in Seattle, Washington, in June. Hanson was selected by the Provincial Coordinators for Ministry in Higher Education of the Episcopal Church.

Chris Mitchell has been called as the chaplain at TMI-The Episcopal School of Texas. He will be the school's first lay chaplain. Mitchell has been serving as youth minister at St. Luke's, San Antonio, since 2003. At TMI, Mitchell will serve as pastor to the community, conducting daily chapel services, coordinating visits by diocesan clergy to celebrate monthly Eucharists and arranging transportation for boarding students to attend Sunday worship at neighboring congregations. He succeeds the Rev. Scott Brown at TMI, who was called as rector of St. Alban's, Harlingen.

Christ Church, San Antonio, will welcome Brian Cannaday in July to the ministry team as the new leader of the youth ministry program. Brian and his wife Crystal grew up in San Antonio; Brian has served as youth minister in congregations in Arlington and San Antonio. Most recently, since August 2002, he has served as Director of Youth Ministries in Dallas at Church of the Incarnation.

The Rev. Dave Newhart will leave his position at St. Helena's, Boerne, on July 15, to accept a call as rector of St. Elizabeth's in Sebastian, Florida. The Rev. Jonathan Melton begins as assistant rector at St. Helena's on July 16. Melton was born in Austin, grew up in Dallas, and attended Wheaton College in Illinois prior to going to seminary at Duke Divinity School in North Carolina. He was ordained to the diaconate in December 2006 and will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Helena's in mid-September.

Kristen Roach, assistant organist and assistant music director at St. Mark's, San Antonio, was recognized as one of San Antonio's outstanding role models in the San Antonio Woman magazine, May/June issue.

The Rev. Ray Cole has been appointed as the Bishop's Deputy for Episcopal Schools in the Diocese of West Texas. Cole will work with the Episcopal Schools Commission with emphasis on networking among schools, the relationships between schools and their sponsoring congregations, and deepening the sense of connection between the schools and the diocese. In this volunteer position, Cole will work closely with Sharon Putegnant, chair of the schools commission.

Retired Canon for Administration at the Bishop Jones Center, Major General Garry Schnelzer, USAF (Ret), and member of Christ Church, San Antonio, was honored on March 19 of this year by the Missile Defense Agency for his work in the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) from June 1985 to May 1988. He currently serves as chair of the Independent Science and Engineering Group (ISEG), a group of scientists and engineering professionals who analyze and critique systems in various phases of an evolving missile defense system.

Former Refugio resident and member of Church of the Ascension, Jan Naylor Cope, was ordained June 9 in Washington D.C. to the Sacred Order of Deacons in the Episcopal Church. She graduated in May from Wesley Theological Seminary where she received her Masters of Divinity Degree and will be assistant rector at St. David's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., effective August 1. Cope's parents, Glen and Jean Naylor of Refugio, are members of Ascension.

GO, SEE, & DO