San Antonio, Tx 78209
address
San Antonio, Tx 78209
address
facsimile
e–mail
domain
Vol. 2, No. 7, Sept 2007
Direct Line Audio
In the Bishop's Words: Bishop Lillibridge on Core Values and the upcoming House of Bishops. Click here to listen.
If you invite them . . .
When I was 14 years old I had a friend named Richard Ramos. Richard was gone one Thursday evening. The next day I asked him where he'd been. His reply was, "playing basketball and enjoying homemade ice cream." I said, "Wow." Then Richard asked, "Wanna go next time?" Little did I know that the venue for these games and treats was the youth group gathering of Santa Fe Episcopal Church in San Antonio. I have been in the Episcopal Church ever since that inquiry and invitation.
 |
| A family heads for church at St. John's, Sonora. |
I confess that it was not dioceses, bishops, priests, deacons, sacraments, liturgy, hymnody, history, tradition, councils, commissions, and the like that brought me to the church. It was a friend who played basketball and free ice cream on a hot summer day that brought me closer to God. Over the years there have been clergy, worship, music, and life of the church that have forgiven my past and formed my developing Christian character. What I found at these youth meetings were more friends, study of the Bible, team ministry, conversations, prayer, and the unconditional love of God. What I encountered was the slogan, "the Episcopal Church welcomes you!" I was a guest who became a part of a family in Christ. What I learned is that every day is a "Guest Day" in the life of the church. Every Sunday is a "Guest Sunday."
You and I are called to be faithful in the power of Holy Spirit and invite someone to follow in God's Name. The Lord will help us choose the right words such as, "Wanna come?" We are simply to make a friend, be a friend, and bring a friend to Christ. Richard and I are still friends. He still plays church league basketball and softball. We meet at least twice a year to attend a minor league baseball game or watch the San Antonio Spurs. I thank the Lord for my inquiry and his invitation. Praise God for those who seek Jesus and encounter the Body of Christ.
The Rev. Richard Aguilar,
rector
Church of the Advent, Brownsville
Reprinted from Advent
Epistle, September 2007
Guest Sunday is September 23. For resources and ideas, click here.
Core values October 27
Do you want to be part of discerning the core values that will guide our diocese into
the future? In seven gatherings around the diocese on October 27, clergy and lay
leaders of the diocese will work together to discern those core values. Bishop
Lillibridge urges all clergy, all vestry and bishop's committee members, and
congregational lay leadership to be a part of this important work. Times are 10
a.m. to 3 p.m., locations are Corpus Christi, Dripping Springs, Harlingen,
Kerrville, San Antonio, Uvalde, and Victoria. Pre-registration is very important
as there are materials to be read before the meetings. For more details and to
register, go to www.episcopal-dwtx. or www.council-dwtx.org.
Sit, eat, talk
Calling a new rector is overwhelming. Will we like him? Will she fit in? Will he preach the way we want? Will she say the Eucharistic prayer the right way? We get so caught up in our own emotions -- joy, trepidation, excitement, relief -- that it's easy to forget our new priest is also a person. He or she is feeling all those emotions along with the weight of an entire parish's expectations.
The St. Francis, San Antonio, vestry made one of its 2007 goals "to integrate the new rector into the parish." As time went on, "integrate" became "welcome," and the vestry's Transition Team was charged with seeing the goal through.
 |
| The Rev. Patrick Ormos during his institution as rector of St. Francis. |
The Rev. Patrick Ormos accepted the vestry's call just before Easter and came for a visit in late April. This wasn't like calling a rector to San Antonio from, say, Harlingen or Wimberley. Father Patrick came to St. Francis from Valparaiso, Indiana -- practically another world from the Diocese of West Texas -- and he moved here without his wife, the Rev. Kris Graunke, who should arrive in October. The Transition Team met with him to help organize his move, find him somewhere to live, and decide the best way for him to meet the parish at large. And it was from that meeting that Come to the Table was reborn.
St. Francis first used Come to the Table during the pledge campaign in fall 2005. The original idea was that people hear information better in small, low-pressure, discussion-oriented groups -- especially groups that meet over a meal. So the Stewardship Team gathered a group of hosts, put out sign-up sheets, and got around 90 people to agree to go to dinner and talk about the parish. The people who participated learned a lot, and the Stewardship Team learned a lot from the parishioner feedback.
The Transition Team unabashedly stole the idea and retooled it. Father Patrick wanted to meet people in small groups, in relaxed surroundings, and with a minimal agenda that would allow him to discover parishioners' hopes and dreams for St. Francis. The first hosts were vestry and Search Committee members, largely conscripted, and then the volunteer hosts took over. A poster explaining the program went up in the narthex, along with sign-up sheets and maps for each event. There were barbecues, standard dinner parties, brunch, and tea. Each host received a list of icebreaker questions for guests, such as "Why are you a member of this parish?" "What does this church community do best?" "What was a highlight of parish life over the past two years?" People who may not have known each other before sat and ate and talked. The meals blurred the boundaries that spring up in a parish with several different services. And Patrick learned more over each meal than he could in a year of receiving-line handshakes.
Now, this worked because the new rector of St. Francis is a raving, over-the-top, no-holds-barred extrovert. He was able to have brunch in the morning, meet with the Altar Guild at 1:00, attend a dinner party at 6, and not be hospitalized for exhaustion. Not everyone could manage that kind of pace (on average, he Came to the Table three times a week and popped in on most of the parish's other groups, too), and introverts would require much more recovery time.
What's important is the intention. Calling a new rector is like entering into an arranged marriage -- you trust the people who made the decision, but there's a lot of adjusting to do on both sides. Forming a solid relationship with a new member of your family takes time and nurturing. And you have to break bread together -- beyond just the Sunday communion wafer.
by Holly Zook,
St. Francis vestry
member
From Our Churches
|
Five young men from St. Alban's,
Harlingen's, Boy Scout Troop 206 joined 40,000 other Scouts -- boys and
girls -- to celebrate the 100th anniversary of scouting in Essex,
England in July. Special Jamboree Troops are created to attend the World |
|
St. Philip's, Uvalde, will purchase a building to serve as a permanent site for the Uvalde Food Pantry thanks to a $40,000 grant from the United Thank Offering. The Food Pantry began food distribution in May, and has since received a gift of $18,000 from a Uvalde resident who is not even members of St. Philip's. "It's a statement of trust and affirmation, a recognition of the many ways in which God has blessed us," says the Rev. Mike Marsh, rector of St. Philip's. In addition, former Governor Dolph Briscoe has contacted St. Philip's about giving his mother's former home to the church. One plan is for the home to be used in a new ministry to the elderly of Uvalde. |
 St. Mark's,
San Antonio, announces its 16th season of Music from St. Mark's
beginning with a performance by Dr. Ed Rieke, St. Mark's director of music, on
September 16. The season includes seven offerings, all on Sunday, all free of
charge. For details, visit the St. Mark's website at www.stmarks-sa.org. |
|
The contemporary music group of St. Helena's, Boerne, has taken on an additional ministry of taking their music and expertise to other churches who want to start a contemporary service but have no idea of where to begin. The group, called In Hymn, made their first visit on September 2, to St. Mark's, Corpus Christi. Band members include Randy Dent, Collin Sawyer, Glenn Etter, Jennifer Sawyer, Carole Gish, and David Digby. The idea got its spark after Glenn Etter attended a Cursillo weekend and realized he wanted and needed to put his musical gifts to work for God. |
|
Christ Church, San Antonio, will make a return trip to Piedras Negras October 5-8. After a very successful mission trip this summer, Christ Church parishioners have decided they want to go to Piedras Negras for a weekend once a month to work on various mission projects. |
|
On a recent Sunday morning in early
September, St. Peter's, Kerrville, became not only a worship space, but a
place for authors and book lovers to come together for a day to meet and discuss
how to write, market, and create a book. |
|
Beginning Tuesday, September 11, from 6:30 to 8 am each week, a Men's Life Bible Study will meet at the Alamo Heights United Methodist Church in San Antonio. Presenters include the Rev. Chuck Collins of Christ Episcopal Church, the Rev. Richard Kannwischer of First Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. David Joseph Mcnitzky of Alamo Heights UMC. This class will offer small group discussion following each weekly presentation. Men's Life is open to men of all ages regardless of faith or church experience, and is designed as a place to learn to live and grow in all areas of your. To register online go to the Men's Life website, www.menslifesa.org, or call the church office, 210-226-0215, ext 259, for information or address and directions. |
|
St. Mark's, San Antonio, will offer Remembering 9/11: A Day of Prayer and Meditation. Beginning at 8 am in the church, Morning Prayer, all day in the church, open meditation and prayers, and ending with Evening Prayer at 5:45 pm. Resources for personal prayer will be available, and all are invited. Contact the church office for information, 210-226-2426. Friday, September 21, at 7 pm, St. David's, San Antonio, will host Musica Nova, the choir from Holy Spirit, San Antonio, presenting a concert of sacred pieces featuring several original compositions. Admission is by donation to benefit the Choral Consortium and Woman at the Well House. For information call St. David's, 210-824-2481. Sunday, December 2, at 4 pm, St. David's, San Antonio will host a Choral Consortium concert; admission is by donation. For more information call the church office, 210-824-2481. Sundays at 6 pm, Holy Spirit, San Antonio, is offering a new worship service in the form of Compline with Eucharist, including contemplative music from Chant to Modern Worship music. Following the service will be a time for "carbs, caffeine, and conversation.� Child care is available starting at 5:45 pm. For information call the church office, 210-699-6460 or visit the website, http://www.myspace.com/nusongchs. December 1, St. Thomas, San Antonio, will host a holiday craft show with food and fun. They are actively seeking crafters interested in booth space. Anyone interested in more information should call Pam Currier at 210-481-5772 or email pamcurrier2@msn.com. Saturday, September 29, from 9 am to 4 pm, Resurrection, San Antonio, will host a Fall Festival with crafters, entertainment, food, contests, games, and fun for the young and young at heart. For information on attending or booth space call the church office, 210-655-5484. |
From our schoolsSt. Luke's Episcopal School (www.saintlukes.net) will be hosting two Open Houses this fall for prospective families. The first Open House will be held on Thursday, October 11, 2007 for families interested in PK3, PK4, and Kindergarten. The second Open House will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2007 for families interested in grades 1 - 8. Both programs begin at 9:00 a.m. For additional information call 210.826.0664 or email admission@saintlukes.net.
|
Jamboree; the five from Harlingen were among those chosen from Scouts
who live in the Rio Grande Valley, Austin, San Angelo, and Laredo. The
21st World Jamboree drew Scouts from many nations, and the Harlingen
kids camped with Scouts from China and Angola. "One of my favorite experiences
was the Sunrise Ceremony, which brought all 40,000 scouts together to honor and
commemorate the 100th anniversary of scouting," says Cutter Uhlhorn of St.
Alban's, one of the Scouts who attended. "Every step we took, we encountered
some new culture, so I could literally travel around the world by walking a mile
in any direction," he said. The Scouts also spent four days touring London and
taking in such landmarks as Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, The British
Museum, the Greenwich Royal Observatory, the London Dock lands, and Covent
Gardens.
People
|
The Rev. Jonathan Melton has joined the staff at St. Helena's, Boerne, as assistant to the rector. Melton is a 2007 graduate of Duke Divinity School. He was ordained deacon in December 2000 and will be ordained to the priesthood on September 18 at St. Helena's. Melton comes from the Diocese of Northern Indiana. |
|
The Rev. Kern C. Huff is an assisting clergyperson at Christ Church, San Antonio. Huff was ordained deacon in 2000 and priest in 2001. He served as vicar at St. Augustine of Hippo in Galveston, the oldest Episcopal Church in the state of Texas established by and for African Americans. Prior to entering the priesthood, Huff was a structural engineering consultant. He joined the staff at Christ Church in July. |
|
The Rev. Jay Burkardt has left Church of the Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi, to accept a call as chaplain at Canterbury School in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Rev. Leslie Burkardt, who had been serving at All Saints', Corpus Christi, has also moved to North Carolina to be with her husband. |
|
The Rev. David Stringer has accepted a call to St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, Atlanta, effective September 30. He has been rector of All Saints', Corpus Christi, for the past 17 years. |
|
The Rev. Ned Bowersox, rector of Church of the Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi, has announced his retirement effective January 15, 2008. Bowersox has served the church since 1995. |
|
Carla Pineda has been named Executive Director of Woman at the Well House Ministries in San Antonio, a residential ministry for women recently released from jail. Pineda holds a B.A. degree in psychology and an M. S. degree in counseling from Texas A & M University at Corpus Christi. |
|
Jan Cope, daughter of Glen and Jean Naylor of Refugio, was ordained to the priesthood on June 9 in Washington DC. Cope graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary in May and will be the assistant rector at St. David's Episcopal Church in Washington. The Naylors are long-time members of Church of the Ascension in Refugio. |
Go, see, do
Workshops, classes and seminarsSt. Mark's, San Antonio, will host Godly Play Training, September 7 - 8, Friday evening and all day Saturday. For details contact Lou Taylor at the diocesan office, 888/210-824-5387 or lou.taylor@dwtx.org Beginning Monday, September 10, St Mark's, San Antonio, will host Disciple Bible Study: A Challenge and a Promise, from 6 to 8:30 pm at the Bishop Jones Center. To register call St. Mark's church office, 210-226-2426. Tuesdays, September 11, 25, October 9, 30, November 13, 27, and December 4, 18, St. Mark's, San Antonio will offer Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton at the Work+Shop (Los Patios). Led by the Revs. Mary Earle and Sherridan Harrison. Cost is $6. To register call St. Mark's church office, 210-226-2426. Texas Conference of Churches will offer Disaster Recovery Tools and Training in three locations. Thursday, September 13, at the Parkway Presbyterian Church, Corpus Christi; Friday, September 14, at Grace Presbyterian Church, Victoria; and Saturday, September 15, at 1stinfo@tidr.org, or by phone 512-458-8848. Presbyterian Church, San Antonio. For information or to register contact the TIDR office, October 25 - 28, the 2007 National Eco-Justice conference of Presbyterians for Restoring Creation will be held at Mo-Ranch Presbyterian Center in Hunt, TX. For information or to register, go to the website http://www.txipl.org and select the Not Just for Presbyterians link. The fall HOT (Hands on Training) Stuff Training workshops will begin September 20 at the Bishop Jones Center; second session on October 17 at St Mark's, Corpus Christi. Both will run from 10 am to 2 pm including lunch. For information or to register, contact Barbara Duffield, Barbara.duffield@dwtx.org or 888/210-824-5387 at least 48 hours prior to the event. October 4 - 5, Richard Rohr, O.F.M. will speak at the 6th Annual Sr. Mary Rose McPhee, D.C. Lectures on Leadership and Spirituality. The lecture and/or workshop are available by calling the Seton Cove at 512-451-0272, and are designed for leaders in business, education, and the community as they reflect on spirituality and work. October 4 - 6, at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, the Mysticism, Empowerment, & Resistance Seminar featuring Marcus Borg, Joan Chittister, and John Dominic Crossan. The cost of $35 covers the entire seminar including Saturday lunch. To register on line, www.faithandreason.org or call Tracie at 713-220-9798. Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest will host Visitors Weekend, October 26 - 28, for those considering attending seminary for lay or ordained ministry. For information and a downloadable registration form, go to http://www.etss.edu/VisWeekend07.shtml. November 6 - 7, Reconciliation, San Antonio, will host the Rev. Dr. J. Philip Newell presenting Christ of the Celts: An Ancient Harmony of Peace. Cost is $50; early registration received by October 29, or $55 at the door. For registration information contact Priscilla Coppock at pcoppock@churchofreconciliation.org or call her at the church office, 210-655-2731. November 12 -14, the Oblate Renewal Center, San Antonio, will host a workshop entitled Becoming a Spiritual Congregation: the Art of Spiritual Practice. The workshop is presented by the Alban Institute and facilitated by Jane Vennard. For registration and cost information visit the website, http://www.alban.org/learningdetail.aspx?id=3932. The Bishop Elliott Society presents the Rt. Rev. Dr. N.T. Wright, November 23-24, in San Antonio. Wright is viewed as one of the best New Testament scholars in the world today. For details, email bpelliottsociety@aol.com or log onto www.bishopelliott.org. September 26 - 28, at the Omni Hotel Westside in Houston, Thomas Keating and Richard Rohr will lead the Contemplative Outreach 2007 Annual Conference. For registration information, go to the website, www.contemplativeoutreach.org. September 25 - 26, Diana Butler Bass, author and speaker, will explore the renewal of mainline congregations during the 2007 Blandy Lectures with the theme Christianity for the Rest of Us, at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. For information on registering contact Bob Kinney, bkinney@etss.edu or 512-472-4133 ext 343. November 30 - December 2, Bass will be at St. Mark's, San Antonio, offering Good News from the Mainline Church. Information and registration forms will be available soon at the diocesan website, www.episcopal-dwtx.org and select the Major Events link.
|
RetreatsSeptember 15 - 16, Camp Capers invites everyone who has ever been part of Camp Capers as a camper, counselor, summer staff member, or at a conference to join in celebrating the Camp Capers 60th Reunion. (Must be 18 years or older to attend.) This reunion will be marked by opportunities to worship, break bread, create arts and crafts, swim, dance, and share in Holy Eucharist over the two-day course of events. For information on registration visit the diocesan or Camp Capers websites, www.episcopal-dwtx.org or www.campcapers.org. The 90th Spiritual Retreat for Recovering Alcoholics, Al-Anons, and Adult Children of Alcoholics will be held at Camp Capers, October 5 - 7. Check in from 4 - 6 pm Friday and ending will be mid-morning Sunday. Retreat leaders retired Bishop Bob Hibbs and the Rev. Ram Lopez. Cost is $95, scholarship assistance is available. For information contact Joyce, 210-824-7959 or Barbara Baugh, 888/210-824-5387 or Barbara.baugh@dwtx.org. The Fall Gathering for Women with retreat leader Paula D'Arcy will be held October 19 - 21 at Camp Capers. D'Arcy will offer Thresholds as the topic in discussing life's changes and challenges. Cost of $125 will include room and board for the entire weekend. For information contact Faith Miller, faith.miller@dwtx.org or Charlotte Otto, charlotte.otto@gmail.com. The spring 2008 gathering will be led by the Rev. Mary Earle, April 4 - 6, so mark your calendars now for those dates as well. November 2 - 4, Catherine Lillibridge and Patti Reed will host the annual Clergy Spouse retreat at Mustang Island Conference Center.. Guest speaker will be Jamie George, from St. Andrew's, Seguin. Additional details will be available later. November 8 - 11, the Rt. Rev. David Reed will lead a Silent Retreat at the Moye Center, Castroville; theme will be The Word of God is Very Near You. The cost of $170 covers all expenses; reservation deadline is October 25. For information or a registration form contact Colette Kohler, tailk@aol.com or 210-828-1995 or Rilda Baker, doctorabaker@earthlink.net or 210-828-5189.
|
Just for funSaturday, October 20, from 10 am to 3 pm, at the Bishop Jones Center, the Diocesan World Mission department will sponsor an Arts Festival to benefit world missions. For the cost of $10 per person, there will be artwork from well known Episcopal artists, jewelry, pottery, textiles, and other treasures. For more info contact Betty Chumney at the Bishop Jones Center, chumneyb@aol.com or 888/210-824-5387. Polish your golf clubs and practice your swing, the Bishop's Golf Classic is coming again, November 9, at Canyon Springs Golf Club in San Antonio. The day will begin at 11 am with a snack buffet and check-in, as well as time to practice at the driving range and putting green. Shotgun start will be at 12:30, and the day will end with a 5:30 pm Awards Reception and dinner. Cost of $110 per player; proceeds benefit the winning church's youth programs and camp scholarships for diocesan children. To register: www.council-dwtx.org To look at the Canyon Springs Golf Club, visit their website at www.canyonspringsgc.com; for more detailed information or a brochure contact Mike Horridge at 210-492-3536 or dmhorridge@stic.net. |
Cursillo happeningsFriday, September 28 through Sunday, September 30, the Diocese of West Texas Community will host a weekend training for Cursillo leaders at Camp Capers. This workshop is designed for anyone interested in continuing their growth and leadership in the Cursillo movement. For a cost of $150, all room and board is taken care of. For additional information contact coordinator Esther Bell, pebell@aol.com or 830-672-3853. Cursillo #240 will be held at Mustang Island Conference Center, October 11 - 14. Lay rector Bill Neukam (St. Stephen's, Wimberley), and Spiritual and Assistant Spiritual Directors, the Revs. Scott Penrod (Trinity, Pharr) and Earl Mahan (St. Matthew's, Edinburg). Cursillo #241 will be held at Camp Capers, November 8 - 11. Lay rector John Blumenthal (St. Matthew's, Universal City) and Spiritual and Assistant Spiritual Directors The Rev. Nancy Coon (Holy Spirit, Dripping Springs) and Bruce Wilson (St. Mark's, San Marcos). To register for either Cursillo weekend go to the website, www.episcopal-dwtx.org/images/events/cursillo%20reg%20form.pdf , or for information contact Cursillo registrar Faith Miller, faith.miller@dwtx.org or 888/210-824-5387. |
OnlineFaithvine is a content and community website that provides a variety of media and tools for both churched and unchurched Christians. It's a project of Red McCombs Media located in Austin. Visit it at www.faithvine.com. Spirituality and Practice -- www.spiritualityandpractice.com -- lists the best spiritual books of 2007 so far, and the list includes The Desert Mothers: Spiritual Practices from the Women of the Wilderness by the Rev. Mary Earle. Earle is an assistant at St. Mark's, San Antonio, as well as a writer and retreat leader. Check out the book list at www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/features.php?id=17202 Where do Americans want the nation to focus in the future? One thing is the well-being of America's children. Read the results of The Barna Group's recent survey at http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=277
|
