DECEMBER 2015 
No. 282

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Third Week of Advent

THE NEWSLETTER

The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas

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!

   
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.
 
In This Issue
Quick Links
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Noteworthy News from Northwest Texas
SAVE THE DATES!

April 11-14, 2016 - Presbyter's Conference, Christ the King Catholic Retreat Center, San Angelo
 
November 17-19, 2016 - Annual Diocesan Convention in Lubbock 

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Four Students From the NWT School of Ordained Ministry are Ordained

On Saturday, December 12th, four persons attending the Diocese of Northwest Texas School of Ordained Ministry were ordained to the Transitional Diaconate. Thomas Keith, from Grace Church in Vernon; Doug Thomas, from Heavenly Rest in Abilene; Jim Walker, from St. Luke's in Levelland; and Jill Walters, from St. Andrew's in Amarillo, will spend several months serving their congregations as deacons as they complete their three-year course of study for the priesthood. Following their completion of studies they will be ordained to the priesthood.



Northwest Texas is a sponsoring diocese of the Iona Initiative, which provides curricula for the local formation of those pursuing both the priesthood and the diaconate. Most graduates of the diocesan school will return to their congregations to serve in a ministerial role. Grace Church in Vernon, and St. Luke's, Levelland, have been without a vicar for some time, having had supply priests for the service of Holy Eucharist. They will now have priests serving their congregations - something that not only provides for consistency, but also encourages growth.


Jim Walker will serve at St. Luke's Levelland, where he has attended for many years. Likewise, after his next ordination Thomas Keith will serve at Grace Episcopal Church in Vernon. Jill Walters, wife of the Rev. Robert Pace, also of St. Andrew's in Amarillo, will serve at her husband's side as an assisting priest when he assumes the role of Rector following the retirement of the Rev. Jo Roberts Craig in May. Finally, Doug Thomas will remain at Heavenly Rest where he will eventually serve as an assisting priest.

Photos are available for viewing or downloading online in the diocesan Picasa web album.

Congratulations to all our new transitional deacons!

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The Congregation of San Miguel Goes Home

Good news! Joe Alvarado, a lay leader from San Miguel Arcangel in Odessa, has reported that new carpet and tile have been installed in the church building, and plans are underway to repair and replace flooring in two other areas of the church building, as well as cleaning and replacing the pews in their original positions. The congregation has worked feverishly to restore their beloved church so they may worship at San Miguel this coming Sunday, December 20th. They are thrilled to be "home" for Christmas services in their own church building! Blessings abound!

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The Rev. James Haney IV is Honored

On Sunday, December 13th, the Rev. James Haney IV, knew he was being honored by his many friends at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Lubbock, for his 50 years of ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church. He knew he would serve as celebrant that morning, and no doubt was thrilled to be honored in such a manner. His entire family had been invited to share in the day, several of whom traveled to Lubbock from out of town. Little did he know though, there was more in store for him that day.

Following the service a reception was held in the parish hall, located downstairs under the nave. That room, however, has never had a proper name. On Sunday, one was finally given it. In honor of his 26-year ministry as Rector of St. Christopher's, the hall was lovingly named Haney Hall. Fr. Jim was taken totally by surprise. He never suspected an honor such as this, and was humbled by their outpouring of love and appreciation.


   


More photos are available online on the St.Christopher's Facebook page, or in the diocesan Picasa web album.

Fr. Jim came to St. Christopher's in 1979 with his family, and will endure in their history as the rector with the longest tenure. He retired officially in 2005, although he continues to serve the Episcopal Church in various ways. He serves as a supply priest during the summer months at the Episcopal mission in Cloudcroft, NM, Church of the Ascension, which gives him time for rest and relaxation in the pines of the Sacramento Mountains; he serves as priest-in-charge at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Brownfield; and recently retired from 13 years on Province VII Council as their treasurer. Of course, he serves willingly at St. Christopher's when they need a supply priest, too, as they did on Sunday. He truly has a heart for ministry.

Fr. Jim now has a permanent place in the hearts and the church building at St. Christopher's - a well-deserved honor for a man who has given, and continues to give so much!

Congratulations, Fr. Jim! 
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Heavenly Rest Breaks Ground on Gerhardt Hall

The congregation and leadership of Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, broke ground on November 1st, for a new wing of their historic building - a new parson_gerhartGreat Hall to be named for the Rev. Willis Gerhart, lovingly known as Parson Gerhart, who served as rector of Heavenly Rest from 1920-1957. He was greatly loved then, and is still remembered with affection as a man who served everyone. Parson Gerhart's prei deux (upholstered prayer chair) is currently on display at the Hulsey Episcopal Center in the main hallway.

The capitol campaign entitled "Building on Our Heritage of Faith, Hope & Love" set a goal of $3.5 million to be raised for the project. The campaign had raised more than $5 million toward the project in pledges, cash gifts, and in-kind gifts. As stated on their website, "The campaign will fund building projects that will accommodate our growth in the future and leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren. A Great Hall will serve as both informal and formal meeting space for congregational activities... This new Great Hall will be approximately 50% larger than our current Parish Hall. It will provide a drop-off/pick-up feature as well as disability parking spaces in the area and at the South Sixth Street entrance." A new, expanded parking lot on Meander will provide additional parking for parishioners and visitors. Gerhart Hall will be built in the same style as the Gothic architect of the current buildings.

Currently, protective fencing has been placed around the construction area, and parking will be closed on Meander St. for the duration of the construction project. Watch for more information to come as the project develops and building begins.



From Left to Right: Dr. Wes Gomer, Organist and Choirmaster; The Rev. Eric N. Mancil, Curate; the Rev. Susanna Cates, Associate Rector; the Rev. N. Luke Back, Rector; the Rev. Amanda Watson, Deacon; April Powers, Finance Director; Jaime Burchfield, Director of Children and Youth Formation; and Josh Black, Parish Administrator.

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Upcoming Events
The students of Canterbury Campus Campus Ministry at Texas Tech have been diligently raising money over the past year to fund their pilgrimage to England to worship in Canterbury Cathedral this Spring. Much of the money required has been raised, but they're not quite there.

The Oyster Fellas, a group of Lubbock clergy comprised of the Rev. Canon David Veal, the Rev. Edson Way, and the Rev. David Perdue, who meet every Thursday for oysters, have decided to help out by sponsoring High Tea not once, but twice, in Lubbock. Details may be found below in the invitation. To view it in a larger format, or to download the invitation, click on the invitation to be redirected.

You won't want to miss this one! Be sure to wear a hat! 

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Story Time                                                                 by Deacon Nancy Igo
poinsettia by MWC

It's said that Christmas is for children. As a former elementary school teacher and mother I can attest to the fact that, indeed, the presence of children in one's life seems to make the holidays so much more magical. As my children have grown and left home, and after moving into ministry from teaching, I've found a void in my holidays created by the absence of their delightful, child-like laughter and utter joy from Christmas events and stories.

One such story I traditionally read to my classes and have come to embrace as a
personal Christmas favorite is legend_poinsettia written by the popular children's author, Tomie dePaola. His stories and illustrations are both colorful and engaging, not only for children but for adults alike. The Legend of the Poinsettia explains beautifully the true meaning of Christmas giving, as well as explaining why we display poinsettias at this magical time of year.

As Google Books explains, "Called la flor de la Nochebuena -- the flower of the Holy Night -- in Mexico, the poinsettia blooms at Christmastime, the symbol of a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child. With glorious paintings that capture not only the brilliant colors of Mexico but also the magic and excitement of the season, Tomie dePaola imbues the tale with his own special feeling for Christmas."

In the story, the main character, Lucida, lived in the mountains of Mexico with her family. When her mother becames ill unexpectedly, Lucida became obligated to finish sewing baby Jesus' blanket that she and her mother were creating for the Christmas procession. Lucida accidentally ruined the blanket, which caused her family to be without the gift they planned to give at the procession. After talking to an old woman from the village, Lucida realized it didn't matter how elaborate the gift, just as long as the gift was given with love. For lack of anything else of value to give, Lucida decided to pick weeds nearby to give to the baby Jesus as a token of her love. The weeds miraculously turned into the beautiful flower we know today as the poinsettia.

The book is generally available in most book stores or online. To be redirected to Amazon.com, click on the graphic of the book above. If you enjoy listening to stories, you may view and listen to the book on You Tube by clicking the link below:

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola

The best part of the book is the moral to the story - it doesn't matter what gift is given at Christmas, as long as it comes from the heart, with love. May your Christmas be filled with love, joy, and magic!
Missionary Opportunity
Young Adult Service Corps now accepting applications
 
The Diocese of Northwest Texas has been fortunate to have a presence in missionary service through recent years due to several young people who have served with Young Adult Service Corps (YASC).

Carlin Van Schaik, our most recent representative and a member of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Lubbock, served first in Korea in an Anglican Church, and later in Tabuk, Kalinga, in the Northern Philippines, with the E-Care Foundation. The ECARE Foundation is the newly-incorporated development foundation of the Episcopal Church that strives to work with communities to enable them to mobilize their assets and resources and leverage external partnerships so they can advance from a state of economic survival and/or subsistence into self-reliance and sustainability while strengthening values of sharing, caring and witnessing as well as gender sensitivity and environmental stewardship. Carlin has since returned and is enjoying a time of travel and discovery in the United States.

katie_japan Katie Young, a member of Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, served in Nagoya, Japan, for a year working with tsunami relief before moving to Sendai to assist with the Let's Walk Together Program, a coordinating body that oversees earthquake/tsunami recovery efforts being carried out by various dioceses in Japan. After her service with YASC Katie returned to Abilene where she worked at Heavenly Rest as the Youth Director, working primarily with the Swahili and Congolese refugee children who are part of a congregation of Africans who meet at Heavenly Rest. Katie is currently enjoying a "walkabout" year of travel, but is in Austin now nannying for two families until she ventures to Europe.

Both Katie and Carlin attended Quarterman as campers, as well as working as counselors at Quarterman Ranch, our former camp and conference center, which undoubtedly helped form them in their spiritual journey. Additionally, Katie's older brother, Michael, also served with YASC on a farm in Japan.

Serving with YASC brings young adults into the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion and into the daily work of a local community. At the same time it brings the gifts and resources of the church into the lives of young adults as they explore their own faith. Missionaries serve in areas such as administration, agriculture, chaplaincies, development, education, parish-based and refuge ministries. They serve in Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, England, France, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Panama, the Philippines, South Africa, and Tanzania.

The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society announced that applications are now available for 2016-2017 placements in YASC. Applicants must have a high degree of maturity and possess a faith commitment, the willingness to be a humble guest, and the ability to be an authentic companion. Applications are due by Friday, January, 8, 2016. For additional information and to submit an application visit http://bit.ly/12odLOY
Interfaith Event
SAVE THE DATE!
 
REGIONAL INTERFAITH CONFERENCE  
   An Opportunity for Interreligious Experiences
 
Opening Keynote
Sister Simone Campbell
Executive Director of NETWORK, Washington, D.C.
 
Saturday, April 16, 2016 

Clarion Inn Grand Park  
3201 S. Loop 289 
Lubbock, TX
 
Pre-registration fee $25; lunch provided
For more information contact Lubbock Interfaith Association at 806.792.9060 
A Humorous Thought
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By the Rev. Jay Sidebotham 
Health Notes
What Color Will Your Christmas Be? christmas_blues

Many in the United States wish
longingly for a white Christmas, and even watch the old favorite movie, White Christmas, on television. Others, however, can hardly imagine anything other than a "blue" Christmas. As Elvis sang in his famous tune, "I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You," the holiday season, especially Christmas, can be a trigger for "the blues," brought about by a variety of issues.  Psychology Today online stated, "According to the National Institute of Health, Christmas is the time of year when many people experience sustained "blues" and even depression. Hospitals and police forces report the high incidences of suicide and attempted suicide. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals report a significant increase in patients complaining about depression. One North American survey reported that 45% of respondents dreaded the festive season."

Why are some people so adversely affected by the Christmas "blues?" Some psychologists attribute this depression to Seasonal Affective Disorder, and still others feel it may have more to do with unrealistic expectations and excessive self-reflection for many people. Some people become depressed or angry due to the excessive commercialism of Christmas and the focus on giving lots of gifts rather than something meaningful. Still others become anxious and depressed due to the financial pressure of buying of gifts and the expectation of spending lots of money. Some may simply mourn a loved one whose presence is greatly missed.

What can we do to avoid depression at Christmas? The article had numerous suggestions from lowering expectations, being grateful, doing fun things, setting boundaries, and focusing on the true "reason for the season." Physicians may suggest increasing one's daily does of Vitamin D, the vitamin we get from exposure to sunlight, as a deficiency of sunlight in the winter months may lead to depression. Simply sitting in the sunlight for a time every day may also help one feel better, even if it takes place in a sunny window rather than outdoors. Exercise has also been attributed to an increase in positive mood.

These suggestions and more may be found online by following the link below. Above all, if you find you're depressed this month or during the winter months, please seek help from a licensed professional, and try to have a pleasant Christmas holiday.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wired-success/201412/how-deal-christmas-blues-and-depression 
Seminary Updates
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The Society for the Increase of the Ministry supports future ordained leaders of the church financially and with prayer.

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Southwest's SIM scholarship recipients (L-R) Cristi Chapman, Mike Woods, James Clarkson, Nick Earl, Caleb Roberts, John Tober, Andrew Ellison, J�an Pierre Arrossa, Katherine Harper with Fred Clement, executive vice president at the seminary.

 

   
Sewanee Banner


Lilly Endowment Grant Supports SUMMA

The University of the South's School of Theology has received a grant of $600,000 to support the Beecken Center's SUMMA Theological Debate Camp, established to train high-school students in theological debate. It is part of Lilly Endowment Inc.'s High School Youth Theology Institutes initiative, which seeks to encourage young people to explore theological traditions, ask questions about the moral dimensions of contemporary issues, and examine how their faith calls them to lives of service.

For more news and information from Sewanee visit the Seminary website.

Please click the graphic below to view this month's edition of Theology Monthly:

Sewanee Theol Monthly  
Diocesan Events Calendar
DECEMBER 

23             HEC closed at noon
24-Jan 4    HEC Closed for holidays

JANUARY

6               Confirmations, Heavenly Rest, Abilene at 5:30 pm 
11-13         Sewanee Easter Semester Convocation 
15-17         School of Ordained Ministry, St. Paul's, Lubbock 
 
23              Ordinations to the Diaconate - Mildred Rugger and Dave Blakley
                 St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Amarillo, 10:30am
24              Visitations, St. Mark's, Plainview and Texas Tech Canterbury 
22-24         Primary Youth Retreat, Location to be announced
27             Celebration of New Ministry, St. Stephen's, Sweetwater, 7:00pm
31             Visitation, Good Shepherd, San Angelo

(Items in purple indicate Bishop Mayer's presence.)
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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Newsletter Editor

Deacon Nancy Igo
Director of Communications and Human Resources

Diocese of Northwest Texas  

[email protected] 

(806) 763-1370  x. 5