News (Page 4)
Diocesan Administrative Assistant Michele King to retire
Michele L. King, administrative assistant of the diocese, has announced her retirement, effective Friday, March 25, 2022. She joined the diocesan staff on March 3, 2014, working with Bishop Rayford High. When Bishop Scott Mayer was elected, she worked with him as well as with Assisting Bishops Sam Hulsey and High. Cards/letters can be sent to her in care of the diocese at P.O. Box 8695, Fort Worth, TX, 76124. Bishop Rayford High said, “Michele was one of my first…
Help Episcopal Relief & Development help Ukraine
In a March 15, 2022 update, Episcopal Relief and Development reported on their efforts to help the people of Ukraine as they flee the violence of the Russian invasion. Here’s how you can help. —— As violence escalates in Ukraine, over one million people have already fled the country — and the borders are flooded with many more people desperate to leave. Almost all of them are women and children who have had to seek safety on their own, leaving…
Litigation update
There was a hearing on Friday, March 11, before Judge John Chupp in the 141st. District Court, Tarrant County, regarding still-pending issues of personal property, interest on bank funds, and congregational names and intellectual property. The hearing was held via ZOOM. The attorneys representing the diocese associated with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) told the court they have no further issues with St. Stephen’s, Wichita Falls, also known as the Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls; nor do they…
Invitation to apply for Mission & Outreach grants
The Episcopal Church in North Texas, through its Mission and Outreach Committee, will be awarding grants to programs that assist those who are underserved in our communities, that will be strengthened by the endorsement of the diocese, that create a loving connection with community, and that involve personal participation by our congregations. Grants should be considered seed money, not yearly funding. Who is eligible to apply? Individual members of the diocese A group of members of the diocese A group…
St. Martin’s, DOK hosting Quiet Day
St. Martin-in-the-Fields and its Daughters of the King chapter are pleased to invite women and female-identifying folk of the Diocese to a Lenten Quiet Day, led by Katie Sherrod. The event will be on Saturday, March 19, 2022, in St. Martin’s large parish hall at 223 S. Pearson Lane, Keller 76248. Women of the Passion is a Lenten Quiet Day led by Katie Sherrod. We will create a community to experience the Passion through the eyes of some of the women…
Bishop Mayer issues statement on transgender children
This is the statement Bishop Scott Mayer issued in response to recent actions taken by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. —————— I am writing to express how deeply disturbed I am by the actions of Attorney General Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott in their attempts to define medical care for transgender and non-gender conforming children as child abuse, an action aimed at parents, medical teams, teachers, and all who care for these children. These…
St. Mary’s, Hillsboro, prevails in bequest dispute with ACNA
[Episcopal News Service] A county court has affirmed that a North Texas Episcopal congregation is entitled to a large bequest from a former parishioner, rejecting the claim to the money made by a breakaway congregation that is aligned with the Anglican Church in North America, or ACNA. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Hillsboro received more than $1.3 million from the estate of Hendley McDonald after he died in 2017. ACNA officials laid claim to the bequest, arguing the money rightfully belonged to…
Ash Wednesday services
The Christian Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days (not counting Sundays) before culminating in Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday 2022 is on March 2 this year. Easter Sunday is April 17. On Ash Wednesday, Episcopalians, along with many other Christians in different traditions, wear a smudgy cross of ash on our foreheads to remind us of our mortality. This ancient ritual links us to countless generations who have turned humbly to God…
The Rev. Maurine (Mo) Lewis 1942-2022
UPDATE: The funeral has been postponed until 1 pm Friday, February 25. It will be live streamed. See details below. Masks are strongly recommended for people attending in person. Download the worship leaflet here. The Rev. Maurine Ann (Mo) Lewis died February 13, 2022, after a short illness. The memorial service will be at 1 pm Thursday, February 24, 2022, 1 pm Friday, February 25, 2022, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 3401 Bellaire Drive So., Fort Worth, TX 76109. Clergy: cassock,…
Are you ready for Mardi Gras fun?
Are you ready to kick back and have some fun? The East Fort Worth Community Jazz Band and St. Luke’s in the Meadow Episcopal Church will be celebrating Mardi Gras with a FUNraiser from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Tuesday, March 1, at the Lions Club, 6013 Craig St, Fort Worth, TX, 76112. Masks and social distancing will be required to keep everyone safe amidst the fun. Tickets are $20 each, which includes gumbo, dessert, a drink, jazz, and dancing.…
Canon Janet Waggoner on Utah slate for bishop
The Rev. Dr. Janet Waggoner, canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Church in North Texas, has been named to the three-person slate of candidates for bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. The other two candidates are the Rev. Canon Dr. Rob Droste, canon for Congregational Development and Mission, Diocese of New Jersey; and the Rev. Phyllis Spiegel, rector, St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, West Chester, PA. According to the Utah diocesan website, “Our 12th Episcopal bishop will be elected…
Bishop Mayer issues a call for prayers
Bishop Scott Mayer has issued a call for prayers for our Jewish neighbors in Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, for the man holding the hostages, and for the first responders trying to bring about a peaceful end to the situation. ———– On Saturday morning, as members of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville gathered for Sabbath worship, a man reportedly carrying a gun interrupted the service and took at least four people, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, hostage. The Colleyville Police Department,…
Prayer Cycle January 2022 through January 2023
The churches and people of the Episcopal Church in North Texas pray continuously for each other, for our brothers and sisters throughout the Anglican Communion, and for those who have separated from us. Download Prayer Cycles The diocesan prayer cycle offers two PDF documents for the entire calendar year. ECNTX Sunday Prayer Cycle – January 2022 through January 2023 ECNTX Daily Prayer Cycle – January 2022 through January 2023 Throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion, daily prayer for provinces, dioceses, and…
Tested positive for Covid? Here’s what you need to know.
You’ve been exposed to COVID-19, or you’ve tested positive. Now what? by Alexis Allison, Fort Worth Report January 6, 2022 As one in three molecular tests in Texas returns positive for COVID-19 — the highest positivity rate in the state since the pandemic began — it’s likely you know someone who’s sick or exposed. And with news of treatment shortages and shifting federal guidelines, navigating a loved one’s or your own illness can feel overwhelming. So, we’ve put together a local…
Bible study in Jerusalem with Dr. Wil Gafney
The Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney, the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School, will lead a 15-day study July 11-26 at the Notre Dame de Sion Centre for Biblical Formation in Jerusalem. The cost is $3,300 plus airfare. “The fee includes, tuition, accommodation, full board, excursions, domestic travel, entrance fees and gratuities. Registered participants are given access to a program webpage with readings, itinerary, schedule and planning information,” according to the Centre’s website. “The…
Year-end contributions
As you pray over your year-end donations for 2021, please consider making a donation to the Episcopal Church in North Texas. This will help support diocesan ministries and support to congregations, including mission and outreach grants. There are several options for your gift: A gift to a specific ministry, organization, or group, such as the United Thank Offering (UTO), Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), the diocesan disaster relief/recovery fund, Christian education, support to seminarians, or scholarships to Education for Ministry…