the
Church
News
may / June 2013 The newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
A group of ladies walks the labyrinth at Camp Capers during the Spring Women’s Gathering in April. See story on page 10.
Inside this issue
The fifth annual Abide in Me Conference will take place Saturday, June 8. Read about the workshops on pages 6-7.
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The Uvalde Food Pantry Breaks Ground on New Building
5 8 9
Altar Guild: A Humble Act of Service
Key to the Kingdom: “Yes, Lord!”
Discerning a Call is Risky Business
in
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News and Features 2 On the Bishop’s Mind: Nones, Numbers,
& Numbness
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Uvalde Food Pantry: New Building, Better Service
5 6 8 9
A Humble Act of Service Abide in Me Conference Key to the Kingdom: “Yes, Lord!” Discerning a Call is Risky Business
In Every
Issue
3 From the Editor 11 Around the Circuit 12 Calendar Cover photo by Kat Gambs.
the Church News is published six times a year by the Dept. of Communication Episcopal Diocese of West Texas P. O. Box 6885 San Antonio, Texas 78209 Editor: Laura Shaver Laura.Shaver@dwtx.org Deadline for news and advertising is the 15th of the month preceding publication. Periodicals Postage paid at San Antonio, TX and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Church News P.O. Box 6885 San Antonio, TX 78209
Volume 70 Number 3 May/June 2013 USPS 661-790 The Diocese of West TX is a family of 26,000+ members in 90 congregations across 60 counties and 69,000 square miles in South Central Texas. Bishop of West Texas: The Rt. Rev. Gary R. Lillibridge Bishop Suffragan: The Rt. Rev. David M. Reed The Bishop Jones Center 111 Torcido Dr. San Antonio, Texas 78209 Telephone: 210/888-8245387. FAX: 210-824-2164 general.mail@dwtx.org www.dwtx.org
Communication Department Staff: Marjorie George: editor, Reflections Magazine and ReflectionsOnline Laura Shaver: communications officer
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On the Bishop’s Mind The Rt. Rev. david reed Bishop suffragan of the Diocese
Nones, Numbers, & Numbness
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’ve been in on a lot of meetings since Diocesan Council in February. Lots of different kinds and sizes of meetings—happy, difficult, big, small, intense, boring, challenging, inspiring—with different groups of people—vestries and bishop’s committees, clergy gatherings, bishops’ meetings, confirmation classes, diocesan committees and boards, ecumenical ministries, and more. In many of these meetings, a number has been rattling around in my head: 18. That’s the number Bishop Lillibridge gave us in his address to Council when he reported that average Sunday attendance in the Diocese of West Texas has fallen by 18 percent since 2003. Eighteen percent is a lot of people, a lot of souls, a lot of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are gone, or have dropped out, or faded out, or are showing up once in awhile. I was amazed and doubtful when I first heard that number. I see so many signs of life and health across the diocese. Bishop Lillibridge and I witness almost weekly strong attendance and lively worship in your congregations (though we are mindful that baptisms, confirmations, and a good post-worship luncheon can cause a nice spike in attendance). We are busy bishops in a busy diocese filled with busy clergy and laity serving in busy congregations. How can Sunday attendance be slip-sliding away so dramatically? Maybe your church hasn’t experienced this. But an 18 percent decline in attendance in the last ten years is what’s happening in our diocesan family, and what St. Paul told the Corinthians is still true: what affects one part of the body affects the entire body. (I Cor. 12:12-26) So I’ve been sitting in meetings the last few months, thinking about 18, and wondering, “Does this meeting have anything to do with reversing that trend? Are we talking about things that will strengthen the local congregation in its desire and commitment to grow the Church? Are we stewarding our creativity, money, and spiritual vitality in ways that might increase our numbers? Will the time we’re spending in this meeting help us to more effectively share Good News and make disciples who can make more disciples?” Increasingly, I find myself in meetings with good church people, discussing and planning and debating about things that are important—but won’t be important by the time our children get old, unless we believe Jesus Christ matters enough to share his life with others, so that the number of disciples increases. (See Acts 2) And yes, I know that being a Christian means more than “just going to church.” But it has never meant less than that. Saying that regular worship doesn’t matter, or redefining what’s asked of Christians, doesn’t do individuals or the Church any favors. As one of our parish priests told me recently, “At some point, we have to be honest with people and say, ‘You must be present to win.’” You may not be big on numbers. I’m not either. But to say numbers don’t matter is true only if people don’t matter. The statistics are
important because each number represents a human being, and human beings are the ones for whom our Lord died and was raised, the ones to whom he now sends his Church—you and me—to partner with him in reconciling all people to God. The statistics don’t tell the whole story, but we still need to read the signs. We need to understand our mission and never forget that the numbers matter, for they represent people to whom Jesus calls us to go. Statistics can help us understand and measure, but they can also be dangerous. An 18 percent decline in ten years, and the possibility of that trend continuing, could leave us numb and despairing: it’s too much, what can anyone do? We end up studying and refining “the problem,” but we don’t actually do those things that would increase the number of people who gather to worship the living God. The “nones” are big right now. They are that category pollsters and researchers use to describe people who, when asked about their religious affiliation, reply “none of the above.” The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life recently released a report, “’Nones’ on the Rise” (which would be a good name for a zombie movie, by the way). According to this study, 20 percent of Americans say they have no religious affiliation. The percentage of under-30 Americans who are “nones” is 32 percent. Compare that to just nine percent of Americans over 65. (You can read the whole thing at pewforum. org.) “Nones” is a slightly different way of describing the “SBNR”— spiritual but not religious—and this category is growing. Or maybe it’s not. Statistics are slippery. That’s part of the danger—getting so caught up in the numbers that you forget why you’re supposed to care about them. I don’t know 32 percent of under-30 Americans. But I know some persons who are under 30: John, Mary, Austin, Emma, Roberto, Tally, Matt, Sarah, Juan, Mark, Amanda, Marcos, Jorge, Brian, Greg, Allie, and Kayla. These are not young “nones” but people well into the church’s worship and ministry. They know lots of “nones,” and they hang out with them and understand them. They love them and have credibility with them. I can’t do anything about 32 percent. But I can do something for the persons I know. I can notice and welcome them and listen to and take them seriously. And I can rejoice in the presence of young disciples in the Church and “do all in (my) power to uphold them in their life in Christ” (that’s the promise congregations make at baptism and confirmation). I can help (and so can you) raise up and train leaders and servants, of all ages, in the Church who are excited about the adventure of following Jesus outside the church walls, working and playing in the mission field where the “nones” and the “SBNR” are—and where many of our 18 percent—our brothers and sisters—are waiting.
From the editor Laura Shaver
Grace-ful Witnesses
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hough many images from the bombings at the Boston Marathon on April 15 will resonate for a while, one pushes to the front of my mind, well, two. The first was in the aftermath of the bombings, I do not recall when specifically. A small group of people held up a sign for the city of Boston. It read, in a sense, “You have our condolences, Boston. We live with bombings daily in Syria. Our sympathies to you.” The second image was from the night the last of the two suspects was apprehended. Citizens of Boston and the surrounding area in Watertown lined the streets, a few rows thick, and applauded each and every police and emergency vehicle as it drove away. Camera and video-recording phones lit up the night, and cheers and hollers were carried from the pavement through the multiple television cameras. Many of the officers and emergency personnel offered a solemn wave as they drove from the community of Watertown, at the end of an exhausting, emotional, and traumatic manhunt. The media reporters to whom I was listening let the cameras roll, and they maintained their silence, so all could witness a celebration of sorts after a devastating week. Witnesses. Not only to the bombings, but to love. I kept hearing the verses from Hebrews that week that read: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that the Church News
is set before us.” (12:1) I used to think this Scripture referred only to our heavenly witnesses, those that have left this earth before us and await our coming into the Kingdom. But, of course, we are surrounded by witnesses on this earth, so that we can persevere. This race we are running, literally, figuratively, physically, emotionally, is full of circumstances, seen and unforeseen. But by the grace of God, we rise, put our burdens at the foot of the cross, and run. Along the way, we are supported and cheered by those who love us. Along the way, we are supported by others who endure similar or varying hardships. Those who love their community and their country supported the people of Boston and the countless first responders. As I watched the tears flow, the hands clap, and the signs rise with words of encouragement, I knew I was witnessing the embodiment of Christ’s love. Love for one, love for all, love for our neighbor. In thanksgiving for what had endured, and on behalf of those lost and injured, people responded in love. Looking to Jesus “as the pioneer and perfector of our faith,” who acted in love in every doing, may we continue to run our race, and embody love in all our actions. (Hebrews 12:2)
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Featured News
Uvalde Food Pantry: New Building, Better Service
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lthough it has been serving the community of Uvalde for six years, the Uvalde Food Pantry is notching up its service with a new building. This new building, set to open in June, will provide more storage and freezer space for the food pantry, radically changing the quality of products the clients receive. “We may not serve more people than we do now, but we will serve them differently,” said Kelley Kimble, parishioner of St. Philip’s, Uvalde, and a member of the Food Pantry Board of Directors. “We used to distribute lots of beans, rice, canned goods, and donuts. Diabetics cannot eat these items, and we felt guilty about our offerings.” The Uvalde Food Pantry began six years ago following an idea and prayers offered by an ecumenical group of parishioners from local churches, including quite a few from St. Philip’s. In 2007 the group was awarded a United Thank Offering (UTO) grant, and with the help of an anonymous donor, they purchased a building and began to feed 200 families once a month. The need in the town was evident, as the pantry went from distributing food once a month to twice a month to weekly in only three years. Currently over 500 families come every Saturday to receive food items.
Photos submitted by Kelley Kimble.
As the number of those in need grew, the original storage space and building became
inadequate. “Being a rural food bank, we only get a food delivery from the San Antonio Food Bank once a month,” said Kimble. “We needed better storage facilities to be able to distribute fresh and healthy produce.” This past October an anonymous donor agreed to match donations up to $5,000 to fund a new building for the food pantry. That was all the motivation the board needed to get busy. “We needed $25,000 to double our space, so it became the ‘double our space, double our impact’ campaign,” said Kimble.
Clients of the Uvalde Food Pantry joined board members at the ground breaking ceremony for the new building in March.
The board initiated three challenges to the entire community of Uvalde to raise funds. “We asked them to give of their time, give of their talent, and to fill a sack,” said Tru Hiatt, volunteer coordinator for the pantry. The sacks were similar to the Christmas bags the Episcopal churches in San Antonio often fill for the Good Samaritan Community Services – with the items needed to make a Christmas dinner for a family. The information went out in various church and non-profit organization newsletters and the local newspaper. “The community met all three challenges really well. We gained many volunteers and raised more than $5,000,” said Hiatt. More than 600 bags were donated for the families that frequent the pantry. “We had great support from HEB and Wal-Mart, who each set up item-specific tables for our cause,” said Kimble.
The client pictured above has been with the Uvalde Food Pantry since it first opened. She serves others every Saturday before receiving her bag of groceries and walking home.
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| By Laura Shaver
In a few short months, $43,000 was raised, exceeding the board’s expectations and goal, and the food pantry broke ground for their new building in March of this year. With the extra funds, walk-in coolers and freezers
will be part of the new building, enabling the pantry to store and distribute a much healthier stock of food. “When ordering from the San Antonio Food Bank, fruits and vegetables are free. Now I can order to my heart’s content and store in the freezers for a month,” said Hiatt.
“Our volunteers keep the pantry going and keep the effort communitywide,” said Kimble. The Uvalde Food Pantry serves as a community outreach center for many local organizations and churches. Volunteers come from the Boy Scouts, and the pantry is approved for community service hours for those in a detention center and for those needing hours for school projects or for students in the National Honor Society. A group of high school special education students join their coach once a week and come to help stock and organize groceries. Cont. on page 9.
A Humble Act of Service | By Laura Shaver
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he Book of Common Prayer gives one instruction for the setting of the Holy Table for the celebration of Eucharist: the table is spread with a “clean white cloth.” (page 406) This is the extent of the direction given to members of the Altar Guild, who set the table for Sunday worship and other church services. But as Fran Schrader, member of St. Andrew’s, San Antonio, once heard, “The Altar Guild is more than just bussing tables for Jesus.” “For the setting of the Holy Table, each church Altar Guild is dependant on the priest and what the priest wants,” said Schrader. “But all you need is a white cloth, a chalice, and a paten, and the Lord’s Supper can be served.”
Schrader is a member of the National Altar Guild Association, and she attends the annual Altar Guild Workshop presented by the Diocese of Texas. Initiatives created by the national association and passed on at the annual conference extend the ministry beyond the Holy Table. At this year’s conference, held in March at Camp Allen, attendees created camouflagecolored stoles for chaplains in the military that serve on the ground overseas. The color of the front of the stole is specified by the Department of Defense to match other soldiers’ uniforms. On the backside of the stoles, members of the National Altar Guild Association embroidered simple embellishments, such as the Jerusalem cross, Mary’s rose, or other Christian symbols in diminished colors. “You have to think what might make them a target, so no red crosses or anything shiny,” said Schrader. “We want each chaplain to have something special right next to his heart, but something that won’t attract too much attention if his stole twists around while on foot with the other soldiers.”
Altar Guild members from the Dioceses of West Texas and Texas traveled to Europe last November to view the sacristies of modern and old cathedrals.
Emergency Eucharist kits, another initiative recently begun nationwide, include a large plastic wine glass to serve as the chalice; a plastic bowl to hold oyster crackers, and paper linens stamped with a cross. These kits provide a means to serve Christians after a national emergency or natural disaster. For example, four kits were sent to New Jersey immediately following the landfall of Hurricane Sandy last October. “The kits can be carried in a tote bag, and they are meant to keep churches and/ or religious communities going until their buildings are fully functional again,” said Schrader. She brought back a few emergency Eucharist kits from the March conference for use in the Diocese of West Texas. As a member of the Altar Guild, Schrader has also had the privilege of joining other members in this diocese and members in the Diocese of Texas on a couple trips to Europe to visit churches and cathedrals to see their sacristies and materials. She traveled with a group last November, when they flew into Manchester and journeyed north. “We saw robes 400 to 600 years old, some of which were embellished with exquisite jewels,” said Schrader.
Schrader was interested to see very old cathedrals with modern drapings and childsize vestments for acolytes. In addition to serving on the guild at St. Andrew’s, Schrader serves as the Altar Guild Directress for the diocese. The diocesan Altar Guild is made up of 42 members of various church Altar Guilds, mostly in San Antonio. Divided in teams, they set up for each Wednesday Eucharist service at the Bishop Jones Center, the headquarters of the diocese. At the beginning of each year, the Rt. Rev. David Reed, bishop suffragan, leads an installation service of new members. From St. Andrew’s to the diocesan Altar Guild, Schrader has found a blessed camaraderie in her ministry. “I have made so many friends, and we all want to serve,” she said. “We get excited when we are able to get lipstick out of the linens, but it’s so much more than that.” To learn more about serving on the diocesan Altar Guild, contact Fran Schrader at 210692-1851 or ggfran186@aol.com. Schrader encourages ladies (and gentlemen) interested in serving at their church to contact their priest.
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Photo submitted by Fran Schrader.
“I joined the Altar Guild as a way to serve God. I knew I could serve God by serving my church and my priest,” said Schrader. “And like any other volunteer act, the payback is so much bigger than what is put in – I have made so many new friends.”
Abide in Me Conference June 8, 2013
www.dwtx.org/abideinme
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he 2013 Abide in Me conference will be held on Saturday, June 8, on the campus of TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio (20955 West Tejas Trail, 78257).
The focus for Abide in Me this year is on formation and transformation. The day will begin with a morning worship service and a plenary session with the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina; after box lunches on the lawn, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two workshops. All workshops will focus on empowerment of the laity. Cost is $25/person. A children’s program will be available for kids entering kindergarten through the fifth grade this fall; and nursery will be available for those younger. Children must be pre-registered.
Register now at: www.dwtx.org/abideinme
Events & Workshops
Pre-Conference Events Nuts & Bolts of Running a Church Office Friday, June 7, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Bishop Jones Center. Workshop participants will meet with colleagues from around the diocese, as well as diocesan staff, to learn about resources for church-office ministry. Register for this event through the Abide in Me registration at www.dwtx.org/abideinme Wardens’ Time with the Bishops Friday, June 7, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bishop Jones Center. This is a time for church wardens - senior, junior, and bishop’s, to spend time with Bishops Lillibridge and Reed. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be provided. No registration is required. Welcoming Women Friday, June 7, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Viva! Bookstore in San Antonio. Women registered to attend the workshop “In Every Generation, Wisdom” are invited for a casual gathering with presentations by representatives from the Commission for Women’s Ministry. No registration is required.
Session A Workshops 12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Lay Leadership (Part 1): Leading through Relationships All leadership among God’s people is a calling... a call to relationships. Come listen and learn the foremost reason why church leaders fail, and the foremost reason why church leaders succeed. Presenter: Blake Coffee is the founder and Executive Director of Christian Unity Ministries, a ministry that travels worldwide to teach Communication, Conflict Resolution and Leadership skills to churches and church leaders. A Dynamic Moral and Spiritual Formation for our Children and Youth (Episcopal Schools Commission) An interactive panel discussion on the nature of moral and spiritual formation in young people, preschool through 12th grade. Panelists: the Rev. James Murguia, chaplain of St. George Episcopal School, and three leaders from TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas, the Rev. Nate Bostian, Chaplain; Tracy Carter, Community Service Coordinator; and Dr John Cooper, Headmaster. Commitment Programs that Work: Annual Giving you can Take to the Lord’s Bank Compare the most popular annual commitment programs in terms of structure, time, and leadership requirements; educational components; and probable outcomes. Presenter: Nancy Stinson is the diocesan Stewardship and Development Officer.
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Reconciling One to Another In the midst of our brokenness, we are blessed to have many “tools” available to help us reconcile and heal relationships within our families, faith communities, the wider Church, workplace, diverse neighborhoods, etc. The Reconciliation Commission will provide a brief description and resources. Presenters are members of the diocesan Reconciliation Commission. Sharing the Faith among the Neighbors Sharing Faith Dinners lets us practice telling others how faith has impacted our lives. How do we use Sharing Faith and other events to include others in our faith communities? We have lots of tools, and social media makes it even easier to reach out. Presenter: Carol Barnwell is the Communications Officer for the Diocese of Texas. Skills, Gifts, Talents, and Other God-given Abilities What makes your heart sing? What are you good at and not so good at? Identifying those is crucial to growing into the person God has made you to be and serving Him both within and outside of the Church. Participants will discover their gifts through inventory and probing questions. Presenter: Marjorie George is the former communications officer for the diocese and is a candidate for a degree in Spiritual Formation from the Seminary of the Southwest. Your Congregation: Who Are You Now? Like individuals, congregations are blessed with certain skills, talents, and abilities in the people God has placed there at this particular time. What if your congregational ministry started with assessing those gifts and then matching those to the needs of your community? Presenter: Curt Mowen is retired marketing manager for a large corporation; he teaches marketing at the university level and is involved in lay leadership at the parish (St. Luke’s, San Antonio) and diocesan level. Vestry Workshop The call to leadership, specifically to serve on the vestry or bishop’s committee, is different from other components of your call to a spiritual journey. Come and discuss those differences as well as how leading as a vestry member or member of a Bishop’s Committee is different from leading in any other organization. Presenters: Kelley Kimble is a
member of St. Philip’s, Uvalde, where she has served in several leadership positions, and Kirk Mason is the diocesan Canon to the Ordinary.
Session B Workshops 1:45 - 3:00 p.m.
Lay Leadership (Part 2): The Secret to Building Consensus in the Church Even if you didn’t attend Part 1, join Blake Coffee as he shares more of the tools of church relationships and leadership. Presenter: Blake Coffee has 20 years of experience as founder and Executive Director of Christian Unity Ministries. Internet Safety and the Reality of the World in Which We Live (Episcopal Schools Commission) Officer George Segura, of the San Antonio Police Department and FBI and whose area of expertise is cyber safety, will present and offer a Q&A session on the reality of Internet misuse, as well as the proactive measures that can be taken. Stewardship - What does age have to do with it anyway? Generational Giving As annual giving declines or stagnates, we keep doing the same thing and hoping for the same results we had in past decades. Each generation grows up in different times, with different technologies, life experiences, values, and ways of looking at the world. This workshop will highlight the differences in the current generations. Presenter: Nancy Stinson is the diocesan Stewardship and Development Officer. A Call to Christian Vocation What is the difference between my job and my vocation? Are they the same? Can I have more than one vocation over my life, or even at the same time? This workshop on Christian vocation will explore God’s call to us and how we respond. Participants are encouraged to complete a couple of quick online inventories: a Life Values Inventory: http://www.lifevaluesinventory.org/; and a quick vocational instrument: http://www. princetonreview.com/. Presenters: The Rev. Paul Frey and Patricia Brooke, both members of the Diocesan Discernment Committee.
workshop, we will explore stories – ours, our own families, and those from Old and New Testament times. Presenters: the Rev. Mary Earle is a spiritual director, writer, and retreat leader, and the Rev. Patricia Riggins is a licensed priest of the diocese. Meeting a Community in Need What started as a food ministry to the poor in Berclair, a small community near Beeville, has been the catalyst for several new relationships and a multi-level ministry, including worship, by St. Philip’s. This workshop will address how the ministry was started, the obstacles it has overcome, and the involvement of the entire congregation. Presenters: the Rev. Clayton Elder is rector of St. Philip’s; parishioner Susan Fields has been influential in getting the ministry started at the church. Ministry to Overburdened Parents For young parents, the demands of today’s family and work life seem overwhelming. How can congregations help parents find grace and balance in their busy lives, which may include seeing parenthood as a ministry in itself? Presenters: Abby Richards is minister to youth and children at Church of Reconciliation in San Antonio. Sarah Kates is director of family ministries and the Rev. Lisa Mason is rector at St. David’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio. The Unseen Victims of Human Servitude Human Trafficking Around the world, millions of people are living in bondage, victims of human trafficking. After drug dealing, trafficking of humans is tied with arms dealing as the second largest criminal industry in the world and is the fastest growing, and Texas is considered a major hub for trafficking into the United States. This workshop will look at types of human trafficking, who is at risk, and what solutions are available. Presenter: Patty Villarreal.
In Every Generation, Wisdom Women are the keepers of wisdom handed down through the generations, as was the wisdom passed on by biblical women. In this the Church News
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Featured News
Key to the Kingdom: “Yes, Lord!” | By Laura Shaver with Mary Owens
A few years ago, Mary Owens, a graphic designer and artist, began to wonder what God’s plan for her life truly was. As a workfrom-home mom, with a son with Down Syndrome, Mary did not feel she would ever be able to work in the fields, helping in the harvest of God’s Kingdom while sitting in front of a computer all day. But God quieted her anxious heart and revealed a special purpose while Mary was working on a design project, setting in motion the steps to her newly formed Christian jewelry company, Key to the Kingdom®, LLC. While working with the image of an antique key in Adobe Photoshop, a photo editing software, a duplicate image was made, and the two keys crossed. “Intrigued, I turned the key again in the opposite direction. The three keys made the cross of Christ! At that moment I heard in my spirit, ‘I am the Key of the Kingdom of Heaven,’” said Mary. She immediately opened her Bible and was led to Matthew 16:19, which reads, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” And Mary heard God speak to her, saying, “I am for all.”
Photo submitted by Mary Owens.
Filled with the Spirit and aware of her new purpose, Mary’s journey began. “I knew nothing about jewelry making, not a single thing; I had to learn the industry,” she said. Learning meant finding someone who could take the image from her computer and create a tangible piece of art, someone to cut and solder the shape. Phone calls were made, and the lessons were self-taught. “I prayed with each step I took because I didn’t know who to call next, but God kept opening doors, and I walked through obediently,” said Mary. She eventually formed a relationship with a fine jewelry foundry in New Mexico and became familiar with the casting system to make the key crosses. Using actual antique skeleton keys proved too expensive, and Mary needed a profit margin to be able to donate her earnings to selected ministries as a way to work in the harvest. “I am a spiritual being, and I love symbolism,” said Mary. She kept seeing symbols that pointed to Christ as she 8
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learned the process by which the key crosses were made. A “lost wax” form is made. The “lost wax” key crosses are then hung on a “tree” in a large cylinder that is then put through extreme fire. Then “precious” metal is poured in, and it fills the empty shape where the lost wax has melted away. The tree is pulled up out of the cylinder and held under a stream of water. The new metal cross is then polished to reveal its “eternal” beauty.
“I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 16:19 “It was all so symbolic of what Jesus went through for us,” said Mary. “He had to be tortured for our old sinful nature to melt away. He hung on a tree and died. Emerging from a tomb, He is risen into eternal life. The King of the Kingdom gave us the living water He promised and showed us the way. Once, I was lost but now I’m found! There will be no more pain, and our new bodies will forever shine like His!” Mary’s company, Key to the Kingdom, LLC is now in place and is accepting orders. Each purchase helps support a growing list of missions and ministries, including I Choose You Ministries, which provides children in the village of Namatala in Mbale,
INTRODUCING THE KEY TO THE KINGDOM Wear your faith. Open hearts. Help the hurting.
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Matthew 16:19 “... I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven...”
Mary Owens with her son, Matt, age 12.
Uganda, with essential necessities, and also has a sponsorship program; and The Disciple Makers, serving in East Africa, working with the believing African church to plant new churches. Recently, a missionary friend from her church, heading to Macedonia, shared with Mary of her struggle about how she might open up conversions and share the Good News of the Kingdom of God to a Macedonian. So Mary had 300 pewter crosses made, which the missionary bought for cost to give away to Macedonians as a greeting gift upon meeting them. In April, the missionary team traveled to Macedonia with the Key to the Kingdom® crosses in hand to unlock conversations and open hearts. As her company grows and word of the jewelry travels, Mary reflects on what she has learned throughout this journey. “It does not matter how young or old you are, what your disability is, or what you must overcome. God has given each of us a talent, and His desire is for us to use it to share in the great commission,” she said. “Whatever your call is, just say ‘Yes, Lord,’ in prayer and then step out in faith and go for it!” Mary lives in Wimberley with her husband, Carl, and son, Matthew, who “is a total gift and blessing and rocks my world every day,” said Mary. She also has two grown children, a daughter and son. Key to the Kingdom® designs can be found online at www.key2thekingdom. com. Retail stores are also beginning to carry the “K2K” crosses, including two Wimberley stores - Pretty-Is Boutique and Old Mill Store, both on the Square, and Generation with a Name, in Boerne.
Discerning a Call is Risky Business | By Scott Parnell Director of Youth Ministries, Church of the Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi
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iscerning a call from God is risky business. As rational beings we naturally weigh the risks and rewards of any business or personal venture. The risk usually considers security; the reward hopes for joy. Over the past year, the youth of Church of the Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi, discerned and acted upon a call to build a water well in Honduras. In February 2012, during Diocesan Council in McAllen, I was approached by a representative of Texas Water Mission (TWM), who asked if I would like to donate to help support the construction of a water well in Honduras. After visiting with Maria Valdez, the executive director for TWM, I told her we could do one better. I had a group of students looking for a cause, and she had a cause looking for supporters. Over spring break of this year six young people, two parents, one priest, and I traveled down to Zamorano, Honduras, and had an incredible experience. We watched the joy on faces as a village received potable water for the first time in seven years. We participated in dramas, teaching about personal hygiene and health that will drastically diminish the infant mortality rate and improve the quality of life for whole villages. But not everyone on our team was able to hop on the plane and skip down to Honduras for a week. In fact, fewer than
Happy children gather around the new well to let the clean water run over their fingers and hands.
ten percent of the students involved in this project had the opportunity to see the fruits of their labors. And it is the story of that 90 percent that stayed behind that needs to be told. My motives for this endeavor were two fold. First, the statistic that 800 million people do not have access to potable water in this world is incomprehensible. Secondly, my role in the church is one of empowerment. The students in my youth group are crying out to make a difference in this world and simply need an identifiable and tangible cause. They need the moment of transition when an inherited faith becomes a living faith. Discerning a call from God is risky business. We had to raise $9,000 simply to cover the cost of the well and materials in order for some of us to travel to Honduras. For five months our youth group worked hard to
raise the capital investment. They sold snow cones during Rally Day at the church and concessions at school events, facilitated a carwash hosted by Ed Hicks Imports, along with a slew of other fundraisers. Some students began a Christmas decoration business around the holidays, while others donated directly out of their paychecks. On Shrove Tuesday, four weeks out from our departure date, we were poised to raise the remaining amount. Three of the high school youth gave the sermon the Sunday before. Using the text of the Transfiguration, they demonstrated the change we, too, could have by taking the risk and making a capital investment in building a well. They shared how although they were not able to physically go to Honduras, they saw themselves as members of the mission team. They had invested by their time and watched a lot of money pass through their hands to a Cont. on page 10.
“Our volunteers keep the pantry going and keep the effort community-wide,” said Kimble. The local workforce center of the Texas Department of Mental Health has a group of mentally disabled adults who come once a week to shelve, sack, and sort items. “It is an amazing thing for their clients and wonderful help for us,” said Hiatt.
Some Saturdays the volunteer base dwindles, so Hiatt gets on her smart phone and sends out a request for volunteers on the pantry’s Facebook page. In just a half hour, five or six more people will show up to assist. “It’s a tight knit community, and you can get anywhere in Uvalde in five minutes,” said Kimble.
of the contract services were donated, and the board, which represents five Christian denominations, is so thankful for the outpouring of support from the entire community. “It was a phenomenal response, and we will nourish our clientele so much better,“ said Hiatt. “Now we are radically changing the way we serve,” said Kimble.
The pantry plans to start utilizing the new facility as early as June of this year. Many the Church News
may/June 2013
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Photo submitted by Scott Parnell.
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Around the circuit
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community they would never meet. And as it came time to cook the beignets and flip the pancakes, God provided, and the money was raised. We studied in our youth group how everyone is given a manifestation of the Spirit to serve the common good. Just because not everyone could go, did not mean that everyone did not have a role to play.
Honduras photo submitted by Scott Parnell. Women’s Gathering photo by Kat Gambs.
On our last day in Honduras, we took time to reflect on what we had learned. Stevens Herbst, a junior, said, “You know, they could have built the well without us coming down here. They didn’t need us; they had the skills and training to do it all themselves. But we couldn’t have done it without everyone else back home. Without everyone working together to raise the money, there would have been no well or health and hygiene class. There wouldn’t have been a change.” During the graduation ceremony for the health and hygiene class, the six young people were presented before the entire community. The emcee then shared that these six students were merely a sampling of all of the students back in that states who gave of their time to raise the money for the well and the class. Half of the room was moved to tears, and the other half gave a thunderous applause. It was that 90 percent that made the difference. By viewing our lives as a mission, we are able to do incredible things with God’s grace. Many students were actively involved in fundraising just to provide the well, because
they understood the water to be their risk’s reward. But I assure you, providing a Honduran community with water was virtually a guaranteed return on this investment. The only real risk was how far we let Christ transform us in the process, because discerning a call from God is risky business. Reagan Tompkins, a junior, said, “In my week in Honduras, I met the most hospitable and kindest strangers. We were able to share The youth group from Good Shepherd stand in front of the completed God’s love, even well with members of the Texas Water Mission team. though I had no idea what they were saying. Although they able to go and see, but it was the work of had hardly any material objects, they had the whole body that made it possible. more spirit and love than any group of people I’ve ever met. But God shouldn’t be most What if we viewed our day-to-day lives as important only when He’s all you have. As I fulfilling our function as part of Christ’s go home, I hope to continue to realize that body? What if we saw our jobs not as He is actually all I have.” something that allows us to have fun on the weekends, but the opportunity to change The lesson I hope all of our students have lives? What if we treated every person we learned is that we are all missionaries. We are met as an opportunity to share the same ambassadors of the Gospel, caring the hope radical hospitality that we received while of salvation to the whole world, whether in Honduras? It’s definitely a risky venture, we are in Honduras or walking the halls at but with Christ, the kingdom of God is our school. In this instance a small group was guaranteed reward.
Spring Women’s Gathering
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group of 70 women gathered at Camp Capers April 5-7 for fellowship and worship at the Spring Women’s Gathering, sponsored by the Commission for Women’s Ministries. “Catherine Lillibridge blessed each of us with her beautiful presentation ‘Give Us This Day.’ Her sessions, Breathe, Aware, Accept, Action, were so filled with both practical and spiritual information to take home, apply to our daily lives, and share with others, and we can each be confident in our ability to more fully live each day as it is given,” said Jane Ahuero, vice-president of communications for the commission. The ladies learned to use breathing as prayer, to increase their awareness through the use of centering prayer, to accept “old” life as a contribution to what we can be, and last, but not least, to put it all into action through practice. The Rev. Dr. Jane Patterson served as chaplain, demonstrating through her prayers, devotionals, and services, how to integrate these practices into daily life. Throughout the weekend of renewal, the theme of “Today is Enough” resonated. 10
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Women from around the diocese gathered at Camp Capers for the Spring Women’s Gathering, April 5-7.
Around the circuit
Cathedral House Gallery presents an art exhibit on “Sacred Ground”and the launch of the Cathedral Park Meditation Walk Wine and cheese opening reception: May 19 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. The gallery is located at the Bishop Jones Center, 111 Torcido, San Antonio, 78209. For more information: www.dwtx.org/current-news
The Reed Outreach Center
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Diocesan summary of apportionments through April 30, 2013. Photo of “Sacred Ground” artwork compiled by Patsy Sasek.
t. Alban’s Episcopal Church and Day School in Harlingen is proud to announce plans to build a multi-purpose space, a recreation and outreach center, that will be a blessing to the church and school community, as well as to the Harlingen community. This building will be named after Bishop David Reed, whose vision for St. Alban’s was always to use it to glorify God in whatever way “the community” needed. Reed served as rector of St. Alban’s from 1994-2006 and as assistant rector from 1983-1987. This building will be named “The Reed Outreach Center” or the ROC, for short. Not only will it serve the school community, it will also be used as an outreach space for community and diocesan ministries, such as YoungLife, the Neighborhood Food Pantry, Happening weekends, and other diocesan mission initiatives. If you would like to make a gift to the ROC, or would like more information, please contact the Rev. Scott Brown (sbrown@staec.org) or Mary Katherine Duffy (mkduffy@stalbansharlingen.org). Visit the church’s website to learn more about the upcoming project at www.staec.org.
Douglass Foundation Scholarship
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hrough the generosity of the Douglass Foundation, scholarships are offered to qualified seminarians and graduate-level or post graduate-level students. The purpose of the Douglass Foundation Scholarship Program is to encourage qualified college graduates to seek advanced degrees in the fields of theology, business, and psychology. Scholarships will be awarded to individuals for a single year, with the privilege of reapplication in subsequent years. You must be an active member of an Episcopal church in the Diocese of West Texas, be accepted in a program of graduate study, show evidence of potential for excellence, and be under the age of 45. For full details on the scholarship, please contact Nancy Stinson or Leslie Mixson at 888/210824-5387. • Find the applications at: www.dwtx.org/financial-services/scholarship • Deadline to apply: June 14, 2013 the Church News
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Episcopal Diocese of West Texas P. O. Box 6885 San Antonio, TX 78209 www.dwtx.org Send address changes to The Church News, P.O. Box 6885, San Antonio, TX 78209
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calendar of events
Diocesan events
july
may
Night at the Ballpark - San Antonio The annual Episcopal Night at Nelson Wolff Stadium in San Antonio will be held on Wednesday, July 10, when the San Antonio Missions play the Midland Rockhounds. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Picnic time is from 6:007:00 and will include all-you-can-eat hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, chips, and ice cream. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for children ages 3-12, or $7 for the game only. Kids ages two and under are free. To reserve your seat, please fill out the registration form found at www.dwtx.org/events by June 26 and mail to Leigh Saunders at the Bishop Jones Center (P.O. Box 6885, San Antonio, 78209).
Sharing Faith Members of our churches across the diocese will gather in local small group dinners to reflect on questions designed to elicit stories about how they see God at work in their lives. These Sharing Faith dinners will be held on May 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. To read all the information on Sharing Faith, visit www.dwtx.org/sharing-faith.
june
Abide in Me The 2013 Abide in Me conference will be held on Saturday, June 8, on the campus of TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio. The day will begin with a morning worship service and a plenary session with the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina; after box lunches on the lawn, attendees will have the opportunity to attend two workshops. Cost is $25/person. A children’s program will be available for kids entering kindergarten through the fifth grade this fall; and nursery will be available for those younger. Register at www.dwtx.org/abideinme. Fishin’ for Mission The annual Fishin’ for Mission fishing tournament, sponsored by St. Peter’s, Rockport, will be held Friday and Saturday, June 21-22, in Rockport, Texas. Cost per angler is $125 for adults and $75 for youth under 17. Proceeds benefit the World Mission Fund of the Diocese of West Texas. Registration deadline is June 1; contact Michael Glick at 210-382-3206.
Night at the Ballpark - Corpus Christi The annual Episcopal Night at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi will be held on Thursday, July 18, when the Corpus Christi Hooks play the Frisco RoughRiders. Game time is 7:05 p.m. A picnic before the game will be available. For ticket prices and reservations, contact Wayne Sykora at 361-877-6983. Portal 13 Portal 13 is a retreat weekend for recent high school graduates and rising high school seniors. Led by College Missions, the retreat weekend will be held July 19-21 at Camp Capers and will serve as a time to help students transition from high school to college with information on campus ministries. Cost is $100 and includes lodging and all meals. If a rising senior is attending the Senior High B camp session, the cost for Portal 13 is $75. For more information, contact Greg Richards at agoragreg@gmail.com
August
Happening #125 will be held at TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio on Friday-Sunday, August 2-4. HIS Love #125 will be held at St. Francis, San Antonio, SaturdaySunday, August 3-4. To register, visit www.dwtx.org/happening.
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The diocesan spiritual formation blogsite, ReflectionsOnline offers weekly reflections and resources for your spiritual journey. www.reflections-dwtx.org “Episcopal Diocese of West Texas Bishop Jones Center” @DioceseWestTX