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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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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 |
Transition News
The Diocese is now accepting names for two open clergy positions: Rector of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity in Midland, and Vicar of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Sweetwater and All Saints' Episcopal Church in Colorado City. The Congregational Profile for each position may be accessed on their websites by clicking on the blue links.
Please spread the word! Some of our best recommendations come from diocesan friends. Send all names, with contact information, to the Diocesan Transition Minister, Canon Mike Ehmer, in the Bishop's Office. You may email Canon Ehmer by clicking on the blue, highlighted link, or by phone at (806) 763-1370, ext. 3. Thank you.
Good luck to all three congregations. May God be with you in this important next step of the search process.
Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose an ordained leader for their congregation, that they may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip them for their ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BCP p. 818)
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Donations for Good Shepherd, San Angelo
At our Diocesan Convention held in October, Bishop Scott Mayer made a plea in his annual Convention Address for donations for Good Shepherd in San Angelo.
Bishop Mayer remarked:
...Good Shepherd Church is living in their 8th year of exile from their church home. The long legal battle continues...
During this eight year period, the people of Good Shepherd have shared a joint ministry with Christ Church Lutheran - sharing worship with the Lutherans in their nave, as Celia Ellery has served as priest and pastor to both congregations.
And now, as many of you know, the Church of the Good Shepherd is meeting and worshiping  in a new location. In July the Diocese of Northwest Texas purchased a beautiful church building in San Angelo from a local Christian Scientist congregation. I hope you will take the opportunity to drive by and see it...
Now, on behalf of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, I am asking for your financial support. I want you to know that they are grateful for the support you have given them in the form of legal aid, apportionment relief, congregational contributions, personal contributions, emotional support, and prayer.
They are grateful. They operate out of a sense of gratitude. They give sacrificially as they participate in God's mission. They have talented and experienced lay leadership, and they love the Episcopal Church.
Today marks the beginning of a diocesan wide appeal to raise funds for the people called Good Shepherd as their journey takes them to this new location. As you might imagine, they have renovations to make (many have been made), a nave and sanctuary to appoint, and new expenses - both expected and unexpected. I am asking each rector, vicar, and warden to seek gifts from your respective vestries and bishop's committees. We will give everyone in the diocese an opportunity to support this congregation. I am confident that you want this opportunity. This is it. Let's show our gratitude to the people of Good Shepherd for their endurance, strength, and faith - and to their remarkable rector, Celia Ellery.
Donations may be mailed to:
Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd
720 S. Abe St.
San Angelo, TX 76903
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Youth News
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Exciting plans are in the works for the diocesan youth in 2015!
Mark your calendar and plan for your youth to attend one of the events listed below. Registration forms for our Middle School and Primary events will be sent out after Christmas.
February 20-22, 2015 Middle School Youth Event
For youth currently in grades 6-8
Hosted by the Episcopal Churches in Odessa
April 17-19, 2015 Primary Youth Event
For youth currently in grades 2-5
Place TBD
Summer camp seems so far away, but many are making vacation plans now. So, please mark your calendar for the two camps that will be offered for our youth in June/July.
Camp Quarterman- June 7-14, 2015 at Cathedral Ridge in Colorado
Camp Quarterman Jr-June 28-July 4, 2015 at Ceta Glen near Happy Texas
Please keep the youth of our diocese and the world in your prayers. Many youth struggle as teenagers in today's world. Pray they feel God's loving arms holding them when they struggle, and that they know God is always with them. Please pray also for the youth who have been selected to serve on the leadership team, and the adult sponsors from all over the diocese who work with them. It is fun work, it is hard work, it is rewarding work. Please pray that we will always remember why we are here, and pray that we listen when God speaks through us.
"We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, and the wonderful works he has done." Psalm 78:4
If you have questions, concerns or ideas, please contact Renee Haney at nwtxyouth@suddenlink.net or 806-445-3667. And don't forget to like and follow us on facebook: Camp Quarterman and DNWTX Youth Program
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Parish Spotlight
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Exciting things are happening in Abilene!
In April of this year Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene embarked on a building project to "accommodate their growth in the future and to leave a legacy for their children and grandchildren," as stated on their website. The project is a $3.5 million capital campaign entitled "Building on our Heritage of Faith, Hope and Love." The Heavenly Rest webpage for the project went on to say, "The Building on our Heritage of Faith, Hope and Love effort will be centered on the mission of our Parish, it will honor our past and seek to expand all that we do in the future for the Glory of God." 
The webpage also explained that this plan addresses the future needs of their children and youth, extends their outreach and in-reach ministries, overcomes the physical limitations of the Parish Hall, enhances their music program and provides better parking. The revised plan calls for:
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Constructing a Great Hall, courtyard and education center
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Renovating the Parish House to create a welcome center for children of all ages
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Converting the Parish Hall into a Music Ministry Center
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Adding a major parking lot, more "close-up" parking and a covered-drop-off
To date the campaign has raised $5.6 million in gifts and pledges. They have been visited recently by an architectural firm from Houston that specializes in Gothic-style design, and have been involved in remodeling of Episcopal churches and building additions to Episcopal schools.Mike and Julie Denny have agreed to chair this historic campaign. More information is available on the Heavenly Rest website.
The next few months will be exciting as the plans begin to unfold. Please keep the clergy and people of Heavenly Rest in your prayers as they seek to build on their faith in and through the improvements to their historic church building."May God's power, generosity and graciousness increase in all of us so that we may build upon the great heritage of faith, hope and love, which has been made known to us through the church and in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen."
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A Humorous Thought
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by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham
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Did you Know...
| ...the median Episcopal congregation had 152 active members in 2013, down from 182  in 2003, and of those congregations 60% are women?
The Episcopal Church Office of Research and Statistics examines local trends and demographics, which can help Episcopal congregations grow and better respond to the needs of their communities.
In October, the Episcopal Church published the Episcopal Congregations Overview: Findings from the 2014 Survey of Episcopal Congregations. This report is broken down into the following sections:
- Parishes and Their Settings
- Worship
- Participants and Members
- Conflict
- Finances
- Leadership
- Programs, Practices and Ministries
- Recruitment and Evangelism
The report is full of interesting statistics, especially for those who serve on vestries. You may view the full report by following this link. |
Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Posts
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by Linda Buskirk on December 8, 2014
 "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah." Jeremiah 33: 14 (NIV)
In Advent we are taken back to the days when all in Israel were waiting for the Messiah. Our scripture lessons ring with anticipation from prophets like Jeremiah. As we ponder the expectations of people 2,000 years ago, we may realize we have much in common with our ancient faith ancestors. Some of us are in exile, some are tossed and battered by earthly and evil circumstances, others wander aimlessly. Even those full of hope and joy look forward to new days of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amazingly, on any given Sunday, we're all together at the 10:00 am service! A communion of saints are we, each on his/her own journey but nevertheless together in common faith and destiny. How much we learn from each other may depend on how well we intentionally listen and stay open to those who seem far outside our comfort zone.
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Health Notes
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New Year's Resolution for Healthy Eating
by Nancy Igo
A brand new year is just around the corner. It's a time when some people make resolutions they can't possibly keep, and others make resolutions that are attainable but fade away after a month or so. What would happen if we made a resolution that we could not only keep, but could also better our health? It's as easy as cooking a meal.
First, open your pantry door, and ponder...What 15 things should I keep in my cupboard in order to prepare a healthy meal?
According to Dr. Anne Kulze, a nationally renowned nutriontist , there are 15 stock items she always keeps in her food pantry for preparing healthy meals. Those 15 items are:
- A variety of canned and dried beans
- Canned red sockeye salmon
- Steel cut oats or old fashioned oats
- Multigrain tortilla chips
For a selection of healthy recipes using these various items, visit her recipe webpage.
And GOOD LUCK with preparing healthy meals in 2015!
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Seminary Updates
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Seminary of the Southwest - Austin
Seminary of the Southwest Offers Advent MeditationsEach week the Seminary of the Southwest is offering Advent meditations, available through their website. As stated on their website, "these meditations and prayers were written and read by alumni, students, faculty, staff, and trustees of Seminary of the Southwest. As you listen to each daily devotional, please remember our work and ask God to bless our efforts to prepare outstanding leaders for the Body of Christ. Through this collection, together with the Southwest community, prepare to receive God's greatest gift - Jesus Christ." The links are available by following this link to their website.
 University of the South at Sewanee - School of Theology The Beecken Center has a full calendar of trainings being offered in Sewanee. For a complete details about these sessions, click this link. Jan. 22-24, 2015 - Trinity Institute's 44th National Theological Conference, "Creating Common Good: A Practical Conference on Economic Equality." Feb. 3-6, 2015 - Living Compass: Congregational Wellness Advocate Training Feb. 25-28, 2015 - Mind-in-Heart Spiritual Leadership Workshop March 5-6, 2015 - Disaster Chaplaincy Training March 17-20, 2015 - VocationCARE Immersion April 8-10, 2015 - The Beecken Center Spring 2015 Conference: Reimagining Mission Please click the graphic below to view this month's edition of Theology Monthly:
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Diocesan Events Calendar
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DECEMBER
13 Ordination of Claire Cowden to the Transitional Diaconate, 10:00am,
St Stephen's Episcopal Church, Lubbock14 Visitation, St. James', Dalhart21 Visitation, Emmanuel, San Angelo23 Christmas Holiday - HEC Closed from noon on the 23rd until January 5th, 2015 JANUARY9-11 School of Ministry, HEC, Lubbock 16-18 Youth Exec Gathering, location in Lubbock TBA 18 Visitation, Trinity, Albany
(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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