On Sunday, September 14, Bishop Rayford B. High, Jr., dedicated and blessed the new building of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Hurst.
The liturgy began with the altar party, made up of the bishop, the Rev. Janet Waggoner, Canon to the Ordinary; the Rev. Vernon Gotcher, priest in charge; the Rev. Slaven Manning, assisting priest; the Rev. Tracie Middleton, deacon; Ms. Lynne Waltman, seminarian; and Ms. Marilyn Jones, crucifer and lector, standing outside with the congregation.
“Through the ages, Almighty God has moved his people to build houses of prayer and praise, and to set apart places for the ministry of his holy Word and Sacraments. With gratitude for the building of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, we are now gathered to dedicated and consecrate it in God’s name,” said Bishop High.
He continued, “Let the door be opened. Peace be to this house, and to all who enter here: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Then everyone processed inside to continue the consecration and Eucharist.
The people of St. Stephen’s did nearly all the work of converting their rented space into a multi-use facility in which they can worship, hold meetings, have Bible study, choir practice, do outreach, and many other things because it is their’s, 24/7. St. Stephen’s had their first worship service in the new building on August 24. The large room can be set up with the altar and chairs for worship, and then quickly transformed into a space for a reception, as it was on Sunday.
“We have a flexible space and we have flexible people,” said parishioner Floyd McKneely.
See more photos from Sunday on the diocesan Flickr gallery.
Watch a short video of the day.
Watch a video of the bishop’s sermon.