The Episcopal Diocese of Texas

Episcopal Night with the Houston Rockets, January 22
 
Make plans now to bring your family and friends to watch James Harden and the Houston Rockets take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, January 22, 2016. To get tickets click here and then hover over "Tickets" and click  "Enter Promo Code" and enter the code "episcopal." For group tickets or questions call Melissa Barousse at 713.758.7231 or email [email protected]. Please share this great diocesan event with your friends and family and wear your church t-shirt! For more event questions, contact Kevin Thompson at [email protected]. 

       

News Headlines 
Please share these stories in your e-news or reprint in your newsletters

Vera Gang Scott Scholarships for Young Women Deadline March 31

Se aceptan solicitudes para las becas de la Ofrenda Unida de Acci�n de Gracias 2016

Jesus Was A Refugee Says Archbishop Welby

Inspiration for the Journey in 2016: Following Jesus Wherever He Calls Us - ERD
Volunteers Needed at Council

Ever wanted to see how Diocesan Council works? An easy way is to volunteer at Council in The Woodlands, TX this February. We need people to usher, host, check-in delegates, work in floor management and exhibits. The volunteer registration site is open here. Come help make the 167th Council of the Diocese of Texas the best Council yet! 
This year, the Council offering and donations will benefit the Seafarers Center of the Port of Houston. Click here for a list of items to donate and a feature story about this diocesan ministry.
MLK Day Eucharist of Reconciliation in Houston, January 16

The Union of Black Episcopalians present the Martin Luther King Day Festival Eucharist of Reconciliation on Saturday January 16, 2015 at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 13125 Indianapolis Street, Houston, Texas 77015. The service starts at 11 am, and the Rev. Freda Marie Brown, executive director of St. Vincent's House, Galveston will deliver the message. A reception and discussion will follow. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, including a downloadable pew sheet and flyer, click here.
Tolerance: Meditation and the New World Order, January 29 

Fr. Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk and director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, will speak at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston from 7:30-9 p.m. on January 29 on the topic of "Tolerance: Meditation and the New World Order." In addition to his work in the contemplative life, Freeman conducts dialogues and global peace initiatives, such as the "Way of Peace" dialogue with the Dalai Lama. From his perspective, local conflicts spreading around the world threaten global peace on an unprecedented scale. Freeman stresses the unique role of meditation as a spiritual discipline among all world religions, and thus as a common ground for interfaith dialogue and the pursuit of peace and social justice. Find more information here.
2016 United Thank Offering Grant Applications 

united thank offering Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 United Thank Offering grants. The application forms are available here. The focus for the 2016 United Thank Offering grants is Mark Five of the Anglican Marks of Mission: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth. 
2016 Trinity Jazz Festival in Houston, January 30-31 

The 2016 Trinity Jazz Festival in Houston features Grammy Award winning vocalist & pianist Diane Schuur, the Dennis Dotson Jazz Quartet and the COTS Jazz Crew, whose members consist of formerly homeless musicians. The Sunday Jazz Masses (10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.) will be held at Trinity Midtown in Houston. Sunday Jazz Masses are free and open to the public. For more information, visit trinityjazzfest.net.
Travel to Southern Malawi with Warm Heart International

Warm Heart International will host an 18-day pilgrimage to Southern Malawi, July 7-24, 2016. Participants will stay in Blantyre with host families who are members of the Diocese of Southern Malawi and will gain a greater understanding of the area through guided activities, worship, ministry and outreach. For more information, contact Nancy Parish at [email protected]. A trip brochure can be found here
Request for AIDS Ministry Information

The National Episcopal AIDS Coalition wants to highlight programs within the Diocese of Texas that work in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the stigma associated with this disease. If you or your parish have ministries that deal with people living with HIV/AIDS, please contact Dianna Deaderick with that information. 
Diocesan Website Changes

We are currently making adjustments to the diocesan website to improve the user experience. You may have to update any bookmarks you have made. Please feel free to contact Kevin Thompson if you have questions at [email protected] or 713.353.2126. All council information is available at epicenter.org/council. We will be adding video presentations on demand for nominations, constitution and canons and the budget by January 15. 
Anglican Communion Communications Director Opening

The Anglican Communion Office seeks a new director of communications, tasked with unearthing and publishing stories of Christians in action, promoting communication between member churches and providing a communications service to the four Instruments of Communion - the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Anglican Consultative Council, the Primates Meetings and Lambeth Conferences. Applications are due January 15, with interviews expected to take place in London on February 4. A full job description can be found here
Council Registration Open

Click here for the online registration form. If your annual meeting is near February, but you already know the number of delegates/alternates that will attend, you can register early as "First Name: Delegate, Last Name: One, Two, Three, or Four and First Name: Alternate, Last Name: One, Two, Three or Four." Seating arrangements are made according to first registered, first seated. You will supply the names of your delegates/alternates when you send in your Official Certification Form, so we will have the names for their badges. 

Electronic Voting
In 2016, voting will be done electronically using smartphones, tablets and laptops. Wi-Fi access will be provided to each delegate, but electricity will not be. Before you register people, you will need to know if delegates are able to bring their own mobile device or will need to borrow one. If your alternates do not plan to share a device with your delegates, you will need to count them also. The online registration form will ask how many devices the Diocese will need to provide for those not able to bring their own.

Council Singers
Join the diocesan-wide choir for Council at the opening service for the 167th Annual Diocesan Council, February 12 at the Waterway Marriott in The Woodlands.  Dr. Linda Patterson, chair of the Music Commission, seeks a broad representation of congregations and invites those with interest in joining to contact her at: [email protected] for further details. You will receive the music before hand and need only arrive a few hours previous to the opening worship service on Friday evening for practice.

Find all Council information at epicenter.org/council
Employment Opportunities
 
Consider publishing these opportunities in your church newsletter or sharing with people who may be interested. A full list of available positions can be found at epicenter.org/employment

St. Catherine of Sienna, Missouri City, seeks a part-time church musician that will play the piano/instruments for church worship services on Sunday and provide the accompaniment for weekly choir practice. For more information contact Music Minister Barbara Vestal at [email protected]. A detailed job description can be found here 

St. Michael's, Austin, seeks a full-time Youth Minister who will be responsible for the oversight of youth programming for 6th - 12th graders plus a bi-weekly program for 3rd - 5th graders. Responsibilities include weekly youth group (The EDGE), Sunday School, summer mission trips and acolytes plus youth confirmation classes. A detailed job description can be found here. For more information, contact The Rev. Robby Vickery at [email protected].

Find full details on these and more employment opportunities here.  
More Upcoming Events

January 15-17 - Discovery Retreat at Camp Allen

February 12-13 - 167th Diocesan Council

  content separator
Diolog E-News Signup

Please encourage your friends and church family to sign up for the Diolog e-news here by adding a link on your website or sharing on your social media platforms.
  content separator