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Photo by Steven Chapman, Lorenzo, TX
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THE NEWSLETTER
The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas |
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WELCOME to the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas --a place where the vast open plains are as wondrous as the big sky above!
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A Changing Landscape
by Tom Clark, Lubbock, TX
As depicted in the pectoral cross of Bishop J. Scott Mayer, the stars, moon, and sun are representative of the beauty one may find in this region of Texas. The landscape, covering 77,000 square miles is as diverse as the cities and people, with the canyons and rangelands of the Staked Plains; agricultural fields abounding; and the rough and ready country of the Rolling Plains and Permian Basin. The people here are known for their warm and friendly smiles, making one feel like an old and trusted friend
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Noteworthy News from Northwest Texas |
NWT Episcopal Church Women News
Save the Date!
Fall NWT Women's Retreat
Hosted by Episcopal Church Women
September 13-15, 2013
Quarterman Ranch Conference Center, Amarillo, TX
"God Bless the Work of our Hands: An introduction to Benedictine Spirituality" by Rev. Debora L. Jennings
Rev. Jennings is currently serving as Devotional Life Chair for Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Oklahoma and is the Vicar of St. Basil's in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She is
an experienced retreat leader, author, musician and photographer and loves to climb mountains, literally. Her ministry as a priest for twenty years has, for the last 15 years, included an extended ministry to local colleges and universities, where she has also been adjunct faculty. She has also served several Hispanic faith communities in her lay and ordained ministry, with several trips to Latin America. We are glad to have her lead our retreat.
Registration forms may be downloaded by following THIS LINK.
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Kindle in Us the Fire of Your Love
August 2-4, 2013
Camp Allen Conference Center
18800 FM 362, Navasota, Texas
Retreat Overview:
Come for a weekend of sharing and worship with Episcopal Church Women from the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Family and friends are welcome.
Scheduled Sessions Include:
An opening business meeting with updates from Province officers
· Daily morning and evening prayer
· Sessions led by the Rev. Catherine Thompson (Diocese of Western Louisiana),the Rev. Jane Patterson (Diocese of Texas), and the Rev. Deborah Jennings (Diocese of Oklahoma)
· Movie Night and discussion of "Babette's Feast"
· Sunday Eucharist with the Rev. Carlye Hughes (Diocese of Fort Worth)
· A wonderful marketplace for shopping
· An opportunity to needlework, play games, or relax with friends
For more information or to download the forms, follow this link.
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(PLEASE NOTE- the phone number above is incorrect. Please call 325-677-2091.)
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Missionaries Around the World
| This fall two incredible young women from our diocese, Carlin Van Schaik and Madison Murray, will venture into the world as Episcopal missionaries.
Carlin Van Schaik has been active in our diocese for some time. She grew  up in Lubbock where she attended St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. She also attended Quarterman Ranch summer camps until she reached an age that enabled her to serve as a counselor at Quarterman. After high school Carlin attended St. John's College in Annapolis, MD. She graduated this past May with a degree in Liberal Arts. Carlin is interested in public policy, a field she hopes to pursue after she serves as a missionary. She hopes to help people in our broken system, and hopes to help fix some of the problems of our system. She's especially interested in working through the Episcopal Church to achieve her goals. As Carlin put it, "I want to find the intersection between government and policy."
Carlin will serve in Seoul, South Korea with the Young Adult Service Corp through the Episcopal Church, where she will work with the organization Toward Peace in Korea, or TOPIK. TOPIK is involved with peace talks and conferences, as well as cultural exchanges in Asia. They also gather and distribute humanitarian aid to North Korea. The organization is run out of the Anglican National Cathedral in Seoul. Carlin will work with English communications during her year with TOPIK, and will live in the Anglican seminary. She will keep a blog during her time in Korea, and will occasionally provide articles for our diocesan newsletter. You may access her blog at http://cmvanschaik.blogspot.com/.
Also headed for missionary work is Madison Murray, an August graduate of Texas Tech  University, where she studied Public Relations. Madison is a native of the Panhandle having lived in Dalhart and Monahans. Her family and her grandparents, Claire and Ray Snead, have attended St. James' Episcopal Church in Dalhart for many years. While studying at Tech Madison attended St. Paul's-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church in Lubbock, where her sister, Cathryn Dail, was an active member prior to relocating to Ft. Worth. Madison's goal after her service in Peru is to eventually study International Law. She feels this time of missionary service will aid her as she pursues her future endeavor.
In October of 2013, Madison will travel to Arequipa, Peru, with the SAMS Bridging Program. SAMS is an acronym for the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders. The Bridging Program is a system of missionary internships designed to bridge cultures through experiential ministry. Madison will work with children and will serve at one of the local churches as she shares her love of Christ with the people. She will live with a host family and is provided with a Cultural Link person who will help Madison acclimate to living in Peru. During her time in Peru Madison will maintain a blog in order to keep everyone updated on her South American adventures. You may visit her blog at http://madimission.blogspot.com/.
Both young women are responsible for earning money to help support them in their missionary endeavors. If you would like to help Carlin and/or Madison, please use the links and information provided below.
Carlin- Mail checks to St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, 2807- 42nd St., Lubbock, TX 79413
(Please make checks payable to St. Christopher's with "Carlin Van Schaik" in the memo
line.)
Madison- Online donations for Madison may be made at
https://secure-q.net/donations/SAMS/956
How fortunate we are to have such dedicated and sincere young people such as Carlin Van Schaik and Madison Murray! Please keep these outstanding diocesan missionaries in your prayers as they take the Word of God and the love of Christ into the world.
" Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servants Carlin and Madison, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of Korea and Peru; Raise up in this and every land heralds and evangelists of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen"
(From Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 1997, pg. 450)
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A Humorous Thought...
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NWT Reading Corner
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A Bishop's Book Review by The Rt. Rev. Sandy Hampton
Sometime ago, "The New Yorker" magazine ran a cartoon which showed an army (Crusaders?) marching off to war. One soldier turns to another and says, "I hear it's because we're right and they're wrong." This cartoon, along with a recent story in "Peace on the Go" on The Daughters of Abraham, reflects, in part, a major theme of theologian Brian D. Mclaren's recent book, "Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road?" (Jerico Books 2012). The subtitle is "Christian Identity in a Multifaith World." It is hard to resist a spiffy title like this and NO, the answer is not "...to get to the other side." I join Mclaren in being fed up with the "Us vs Them" mentality that infects our culture at many levels: international, political and religious... especially religious. Even those of us who claim to be welcoming and tolerant of those who differ may not be as "clean" as we pretend. Mclaren says, "We may be friendly to individuals of other religions, but our friendship always has a pretext: we want them to switch sides and be won over to our better way. We love them (or say that we do) in spite of their religious identity, hoping that they will see the light and abandon who they have been to find shelter under the tent of who we are." (pp. 9-10). Mclaren appeals to Christians to seek and appreciate the religions of others from THEIR point of view. I would suggest this as a template for relationships with other nations as well as those with political views that differ from ours. The author suggests we can embrace these relationships without compromising our own Christian committments and he does this through examining fundamental Doctrines of Creation, Original Sin, The Trinity and a number of others. Mclaren follows up with an examination of "How the Christian Year Can Become more Christian" through our prayers, sermons, hymns and Sunday School classes. I can't recall a book, in years, that contained more "aha" moments than this one, perhaps because it strongly affirms where I am in my own life, thinking and theology at this time. I recommend this book be near the top of every cleric's, seminarian's, EPFer's, indeed, Christian's reading list. To practice what Mclaren preaches has the potential to transform the world, the Church and, at the very least, ourselves. Oh, and "Why Did Jesus, Moses, The Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road?" Because, Brian D. Mclaren suggests, "..they hoped we would follow them." (The Rt. Rev. Sandy Hampton is the retired Bishop Suffragan of Minnesota, Assistant Bishop of Olympia and former Board Member of The Episcopal Peace Fellowship. He and his wife, Mari live in Anacortes, Washington.) from Episcopal Peace Fellowship's "Peace on the Go"
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Especially for our Youth...
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From The Episcopal Church
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Save the dates:
Churchwide Conference April 9-11, 2014
Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: An Episcopal gathering to challenge the epidemic of violence
[June 6, 2013] Bishops, clergy and laity from throughout the Episcopal Church are invited to gather April 9 - 11, 2014 to explore one of the major issues in today's society - violence in all its forms.
Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace: An Episcopal gathering to challenge the epidemic of violence will be held at the Reed Center and Sheraton in Oklahoma City, OK (Diocese of Oklahoma).
For more information go to http://www.episcopalchurch.org/notice/save-date-churchwide-conference-april-9-11-2014.
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Now available: Journal of General Convention 2012,
Spanish translation of Constitution and Canons
[July 1, 2013] The Journal of the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church is now available for download at no cost here.
The print edition is available for pre-order through Church Publishing Inc. (CPI) here.
The Journal of the General Convention reflects the actions of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in July 2012, and includes minutes and votes on the consideration of over 350 resolutions submitted from around the church.
The Spanish-language translation of the Constitution and Canons is available online as a PDF from the General Convention office at no cost, available here.
The Constitution and Canons reflect all changes enacted by the General Convention that became effective January 1, 2013. The translated document is designed to be a reference for Spanish -language speakers, explained Christopher Barajas, General Convention manager for digital systems and publications.
For more information contact Barajas at cbarajas@episcopalchurch.org.
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Seminary Updates
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Seminary of the Southwest- Austin
Hispanic Clergy Conference Slated for August
Seminary of the Southwest invites all clergy who are involved in Latino/Hispanic Ministry to the 2013 Clergy Latino Ministry Conference to be held in Austin on August 12 -14, 2013 at the seminary's campus in Austin, Texas. Southwest has been sponsoring this popular annual conference for the last ten years.
The keynote presenter for this year is the Rt. Rev. Hector Monterroso Gonzalez, Episcopal Bishop of Costa Rica, who will recount how his diocese has used community development as a tool for evangelism and as an entrée for church planting. Bishop Monterrroso will also be the preacher for the opening Eucharistic on Monday afternoon.
The Conference is specifically designed this year to call attention to the vision of an expanded Hispanic/Latino ministry that reaches not only the traditional Hispanic immigrants, but also those Latinos who have been in the U.S. for generations such as we have in the Southwest. Accordingly, the gathering will include presenters who will explore the use of Social Media, market and demographic analysis and the design of specialized worship and music that appeals to the young, bilingual and bilingual Latinos.
To download the registration form, related Conference costs, plus the schedule for this three day event, copy this link to your browser:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z1AJpEDgm0NLKWoVZc_8FuDl5JIl5QKUZRKGmKs-Uzg/viewform
For further information, call the Rev. Al Rodriguez at 512/695-6696 or email him at padrebeto1@gmail.com.
See you in Austin on August 12th!
The Rev. Al Rodriguez, Conference Coordinator
Conference Schedule
El Seminario del Suroeste invita a todo clero a la Conferencia de Ministerios Latinos/Hispanos que se llevará a cabo del 12 al 14 de agosto, 2013. Este evento anual se dedica al clero involucrado o comenzando en el ministerio Latino/Hispano en Estados Unidos. El Suroeste ha estado patrocinando esta conferencia por casi diez años.
Este año el Reverendísimo Hector Monterroso Gonzalez, Obispo Episcopal de Costa Rica, será el conferencista principal tocando en el tema, "Cómo utilizer el método de desarrollo communal como una arremienta de evangelización y para plantar misiones nuevas." El Obispo Monterroso también será el predicador durante la eucaristía de apertura el lunes en la tarde.
La Conferencia es específicamente diseñada este año para dar énfasis a la visión de amplificar el concepto del ministerio Hispano para incluir a los Latinos que son nacidos en Estados Unidos, muchos que son de familias que han permanecido por generaciones en el suroeste del país. De acuerdo las presentaciones incluyirán el uso de la Red Social como comunicación más eficaz, cómo utilizer el análisis demográfico del sector comercial para conectar con esos Latinos accultirizados que son mayormente biculturales y bilingues. Habrá también el diálogo acerca del tipo de culto y música que más le agrade a estos jóvenes Latinos, la mayoría que son partidarios del inglés como su idióma cotidaria.
Para descargar la planilla de inscripción, los costos relacionados y el Horario de la Conferencia, hagan copia del este link y póngalo en su "browser."
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z1AJpEDgm0NLKWoVZc_8FuDl5JIl5QKUZRKGmKs...
Para más información, llame al Rvdo Al Rodriguez, número 512/695-6696, o mande un correo electrónico alpadrebeto1@gmail.com.
¡Nos veremos este agosto en Austin!
El Revdo. Al Rodriguez, Coordinador de Conferencia
For more news and events from SSW, visit their website at http://www.ssw.edu
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University of the South at Sewanee -
School of Theology
Save the Date: 2013 DuBose Lectures and Alumni Gathering
The School of Theology is pleased to host the 2013 DuBose Lectures and Alumni/ae Gathering, Oct. 30-Nov. 1. Highlights of this year's schedule include:
- Continuing education workshops will begin on Wednesday morning, Oct. 30, with "Food, Faith, and Ministry." Afternoon workshop options include one on "Gift Planning" and one on the "New EfM Curriculum."
- Wednesday evening will feature a dinner hosted by Food & Faith.
- Ellen F. Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School, Durham, N.C., will lecture on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
- The Alumni/ae Gathering reception, dinner, and dancing begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31.
- Morning prayer and social time will be held on Friday morning, Nov. 1, beginning at 9 a.m.
Complete details along with an online registration form will be available on the School's website on July 15. A Save-the-Date postcard will be mailed to all alumni/ae around June 15. For more information about our guest lecturer, visit the School's website.
To view the July issue of Theology Monthly from the School of Theology,
please click on the banner below.
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A Special Report
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SPCK/USA Funds Two Vacation Bible Schools in Cuba
The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) has partnered with The Foundation for Hispanic and Latino Ministry to provide funds, through a donation from St James Academy in Monkton, MD, for two Vacation Bible Schools in Cuba. These schools will be directed by Episcopal Seminarians from the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas Cuba. They will focus on the themes such as "Jesus loves family" and "Your family is a gift from God". Campers will enjoy arts and crafts activities, share common meals, and listen to bible centered talks. Programs like this are just one part of the larger effort of the Episcopal Diocese in Cuba to engage youth and teach them about the love that Jesus Christ has for them. SPCK is honored to be able to work with The Foundation for Hispanic and Latino Ministry on this project and looks forward to other projects that are in the works.
ADOPT-A-SEMINARIAN SPCK/USA is excited to be participating in the Adopt-A-Seminarian program through the Foundation for Hispanic and Latino Ministry. Already several of the parishes of our trustees and supporting this program.  The Adopt A Seminarian Program was started to help Episcopal seminarians in Cuba by providing with tuition, room and board, and transportation to the churches where they serve. The cost? For $150 dollars per academic year an Episcopal Seminarian can attend classes at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cuba, a seminary that has been serving the Episcopal Church in Cuba for decades. For $350 dollars an academic year an Episcopal seminarian in Cuba can have and room, board, and transportation. How Does it Work? Donations given the Foundation for Hispanic and Latino Ministry are processed and given directly to the Bishop of the Diocese of Cuba, the Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio, towards a fund exclusively for the education and formation of Episcopal seminarians in Cuba. It will be used for tuition and room and board during the academic year. It will also be used to help transport them to the parishes where they serve as seminarian interns. All those who donate will be given a seminarian's profile and contact information. Sponsors are encouraged to write encouraging emails and letters, to pray for their seminarian, and to share their own experience as a Christian. 
You may make your check out to SPCK/USA and return send it to SPCK/USA, PO Box 879. Sewanee, TN, or go to our website www.spckusa.org and click on the link MAKE A DONATION. You will be directed to PayPal where you may make a credit card donation. REMEMBER SPCK/USA IN YOUR WILL Further the ministries of SPCK/USA by remembering us in your will. You can do this by using the following wording: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge/USA (SPCK/USA), a not-for-profit corporation with the present address of 333 Tennessee Ave, Sewanee, TN, 37383 (mailing address: PO Box 879, Sewanee, TN 37375), and its successors $_________ and or %__________ of my estate, to be used in such manner as determined by its trustees. Contact Information SPCKUSA PO Box 879 Sewanee, TN 37375 (931) 598-1103 Email: spckusa@sewanee.edu Website: www.spckusa.org |
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Episcopal Church Foundation
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When People are Mean 
by Richelle Thompson on July 3, 2013
Sometimes it's hard to be nice.
We're at the tail-end of our first landlord experience, having leased our old house after we moved 18 months ago. Despite our cajoling, forgiving, pleading, and insisting, the payments were never on time and stopped completely a few months ago. We have a court date for the eviction in a week.
As we've shared the story, the responses have been interesting: I guess you learned your lesson. It doesn't pay to be nice. It's good to be Christian, but sometimes in business, you have to set aside your compassion and be tough.
In hindsight, we would do a lot of things differently. But after spending some time beating myself up for giving the tenants some slack when their lives were in turmoil, I've decided I wouldn't change that part.
I don't want to cordon off my faith from the messy aspects of life. That's when I need it the most. Should we have given an extra two weeks when his wife left him? Not according to the lawyer. But it just seemed like the right thing to do, even though in the end, we're the ones left holding the bills.
Stewardship of our personal finances is important, and as a mom and wife, I have an obligation to safeguard and provide for my family. And it's completely fair and just that there are consequences for their lack of accountability and responsibility.
But I refuse to let their bad behavior make me question our good-faith actions.
I see this scenario playing out in other ways too. A vestry invites conversation about a new program, and people spend their time trashing it. And it's easy to imagine the vestry members thinking, "That's what we get for asking everybody's opinion. Next time, we'll just decide and announce it."
A church calls a priest who strings them along, finally saying no but the time lapse means the other viable candidates have moved on. A diocese adopts a voluntary giving model instead of assessments, and some churches opt out.
We must take care not to let bad behavior become contagious. That doesn't mean letting ourselves be pushed around or treated poorly, but we can't let the bad behavior of others dictate our faithful response.
We can, however, make some changes. Like not ever being a landlord again.
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Diocesan Events Calendar
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JULY 2013
14-20 Primary Camp, Quarterman Ranch
21-27 Middle School Camp, Quarterman Ranch
AUGUST 2013
3 Ordination of Susanna Brosseau to the Priesthood, Church of the
Heavenly Rest, Abilene, TX, 10:30am
4 Visitation/Confirmations, Heavenly Rest, Abilene
6 Standing Committee, 11:00, HEC
7 DNWT Trustees, 10:00am, HEC
8 DNWT Budget Committee, HEC
12-13 Gathering of Leaders, Colorado Springs, CO
24 DNWT Executive Council, 10:00am, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lubbock
25 Visitation/Confirmations, Holy Trinity, Midland
30-9/1 School of Ordained Ministry, HEC
(Items in purple indicate Bishop Mayer's presence.)
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Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
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