Posts from 2018 (Page 6)
Bishop Mayer visits St. Christopher, Fort Worth
Bishop Scott Mayer visited St. Christopher, Fort Worth, on Sunday, March 18. He confirmed Linda Loggins and reaffirmed the baptismal vows of Linda Johnson. Listen to a podcast of the bishop’s sermon or read the sermon. Bishop Mayer challenges us to be the evangelists who proclaim God’s mercy and love to a world desperately in need of both. See more photos at the diocesan Flickr gallery
Parker County church planting effort ends
In the spring of 2017, The Episcopal Church approved a grant of $100,000 for a church plant in Parker County, site of the Walsh development, the largest buildout in the United States at that time. The diocesan leadership “raised their eyes and looked at the fields” and believed it was time to see what God was doing in that part of our diocese. The Rev. Hunter Ruffin was hired to lead the church plant effort and a church planting team…
Labyrinth opens at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Keller/Southlake area
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Southlake, Texas, invites the community to the outdoor blessing of its outdoor labyrinth on Sunday, March 25 at 12 pm. The Rev. Scot McComas, rector of St. Martin’s, will offer prayers and will bless the labyrinth with holy water. Mr. Ronald Hitchcock will cut the ribbon as the church celebrates the creation of this outdoor spiritual space. The blessing concludes the church’s Palm Sunday activities. Sharing the labyrinth with the public is part of the…
Job Seekers program begins new class on March 12
The Job Seekers program at All Saints’ Episcopal Church begins a new 12-week cycle of free classes on Monday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the church parish hall. The program is open to anyone in the market for a new or more suitable job. There is modest fee for program materials. Session One on March 12 is an ideal time for the job hunter to enroll, but the program can be joined any Monday evening. For more information, contact Fr. Noy Sparks, FrSparks@asecfw.org, or…
The Rev. Jesse Smith retires (again)
On Sunday, February 25, the Rev. Jesse Smith, longtime priest of the diocese, celebrated communion in the chapel at Baylor Scott and White All Saints Hospital and entered into retirement. He swears this is the last time he’s retiring, and to prove it he’s soon moving to Austin where he and Jean will be closer to the grandkids. The Chapel was full as friends and colleagues gathered for this last mass in celebration of more than twenty years of service as a chaplain. Following…
Ashes to go at Sundance Square
Bishop Scott Mayer and the Rev. Hunter Ruffin distributed ashes at Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth on Ash Wednesday, which also was Valentine’s Day. They were present from 11 am to 1 pm, during which time nearly 60 people stopped for the imposition of ashes, or a prayer, or simple conversation. Most wanted ashes. A security guard on a bike stopped and asked for prayers. Construction workers doffed hard hats to receive ashes. Business women and men stopped. Workers…
Annette Mayer ordained priest
Bishop Scott Mayer ordained Annette Mayer a priest on Thursday, March 1, 2018, at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller. A reception followed, hosted by St. Martin’s, St. Alban’s, Theater Arlington; and St. Stephen’s, Hurst, all congregations where Mayer has served. The Rev. Maurine Lewis preached. Lewis began her sermon by welcoming everyone “on this most joyous occasion, the ordination of Annette.” And, she said, “. . .it’s time. In theology class in seminary we talk some about time. Greek has two words…
Annette Mayer to be ordained priest March 1, 2018
Annette Mayer will be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests at 7 pm Thursday, March 1, 2018 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Keller. The Rev. Maurine Lewis will preach. A reception will follow. Mayer was ordained a deacon on October 22, 2015, also at St. Martin’s. New Call Mayer has accepted a call to serve as rector of The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Palos Park, IL, in the Diocese of Chicago. Most recently, she has been…
Our children are crying out to us
Bishop Scott Mayer has issued this statement in the wake of the shooting in Florida. ————————- Jesus is very clear in his charge that we are to value, love, and cherish children: He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest…
Bishop Mayer visits All Saints, Fort Worth
Bishop Scott Mayer visited All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, on Sunday, February 11. He celebrated, preached, confirmed eight people, reaffirmed baptismal vows for two, and received one person into The Episcopal Church. Those confirmed are John Michael Chapman, Karen Moreland Farnell, Michael Erwin Farnell, Christopher Ryan Gores, Ronda Ricks Miller, Blake McCarty Macon, Andrew Deney Martin and Cole Cowden Means II. Those reaffirming baptismal vows were R. J. Miller and Michael George Mullins. Katherine Mason Roberts was received. The…
Bishop Mayer invites us into Lent
Bishop Scott Mayer talks about Ash Wednesday being on Valentine’s Day this year, and how that offers a starting place for reflection. This video is close captioned. Watch on YouTube or below:
Help more people find your church – learn about Google ads
Would you like to experiment with Google ads to make your church or organization easier for people to find online? Google offers several tools for non-profits through a program called Google for Nonprofits (enroll through a site called Tech Soup) and one of the tools available is Google Ad Grants. The Rev. Hunter Ruffin described some benefits of using Google advertising in the 2017 Advent/Christmas edition of the Common Purpose newsletter, and an upcoming webinar geared toward non-profit organizations addresses this…
Would you like to help with Harvey relief? Come to an interest meeting
Do you feel called to help with the ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey? Come learn about ways people in our diocese can physically to assist in hurricane recovery in areas hit by Hurricane Harvey at one of the following interest meetings: Monday, February 5 at 6 pm – Trinity Episcopal Church parish hall Thursday, February 15 at 6pm – St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church parish hall Dinner (pizza) will be provided. Who is able to…
8th-11th graders: apply for SUMMA Debate Camp at Sewanee
Do you want to dig deeper in your faith? SUMMA Student Theological Debate Society is inviting high school students who will be entering grades 9–12 next fall to apply for SUMMA Debate Camp, held July 17–25 at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. SUMMA Camp is a unique opportunity for students to explore their faith through intellectual channels, meet lifelong friends, and have fun on one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. At SUMMA Camp,…
Living Room Conversations
Joan Blades, cofounder of Living Room Conversations, and John Gable, founder of AllSides, presented a TED talk recently about ways to get out of your bubble and get to know people who think differently than you do. The Rev. Linda Taylor, who moved to Fort Worth from the Diocese of El Camino Real, has introduced the Living Room Conversations format in this diocese, and it is being well-received. St. Luke’s in the Meadow has been hosting dialogues every third Tuesday…