Posts (Page 63)
Take advantage of free leadership training webinars
The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) regularly offers free leadership training webinars to support lay and clergy leaders in our ministries. Look over the topics below, and take advantage of those that would be most helpful to you. This information is reprinted from the ECF website, except that start times have been adjusted to reflect Central Standard Time here in Fort Worth. Spiritual Resources Online (January 13, 2015 6:00 PM) Motivated by busy schedules, declining participation in institutional life, and changing patterns of individual religious practice, congregations have…
Amy Haynie instituted as priest in charge in Wichita Falls
The Rev. Amy Haynie was instituted as priest in charge of the Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls during a Celebration of a New Ministry on Wednesday, December 10, 2014. The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., celebrated and preached. She was called by the congregation in September 2014. The liturgy began with recognition and presentation of gifts to the several circuit riding priests who came out of retirement to serve congregations in Wichita Falls following the reorganization of the diocese…
Bishop High visits Episcopal Church of Hamilton County
Bishop Rayford B. HIgh, Jr., visited the Episcopal Church of Hamilton County on Sunday, December 7, 2014. He baptized Braden Avery Keay and reaffirmed the baptismal vows of Braden’s grandfather, Jim Keay. There was a pot luck lunch afterward. See more photos at the diocesan Flickr gallery. Watch a video of the bishop’s sermon.
Christmas Choral Offering presented by St. Elisabeth’s and Christ the King
St. Elisabeth’s and Christ the King presents their annual Christmas Choral Offering on Sunday, December 21 at 7:30pm. The event features a concert by the choir, joined by the congregation for some caroling, and a reception afterwards. “We have a wonderful choir,” said the Rev. Sandi Michels. “Christ the King has been doing this for a long time, and it’s our second year to do it together.” The two congregations joined at the beginning of Advent in 2013. More information is…
Christmas Concert December 14 at All Saints’, Fort Worth
All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, will present a Concert of Christmas Music at 5 pm Sunday, December 14, 2014. The program will feature harpist Yumiko Endo Schlaffer, Dallas Symphony violinist Andrew Schast, and All Saints’ organist and choirmaster Frederick Grimes playing with the All Saints’ Choir and a chamber orchestra. Admission is free with no tickets or reservations required, and a reception for everyone will follow the concert. For more information, call 817-732-1424 or visit www.asecfw.org.
Christmas shopping supports St. Alban’s outreach
St. Alban’s, Arlington, is conducting a “Schwan’s Cares” fundraiser to support the congregation’s outreach ministries that might just solve Christmas shopping problems from the comfort of one’s home. Here’s how it works: Log into https://www.schwans-cares.com/ and in the search field enter either the church’s campaign number, 15609, or the name “St. Alban’s Outreach.” Shoppers can purchase a $25 e-certificate (as gift or for yourself) or simply shop. Be aware that shoppers will be asked for the St. Alban’s information at the…
Let’s Play Godball!
Let’s Play Godball! Unorthodox Sermons by a Circuit Rider Episcopal Priest from Middle Texas by the Rev. Bruce Coggin, retired priest of the diocese, is now available from Amazon.com. The sermons were all preached between 2009 and 2014 as Coggin rode a circuit among congregations who were forced to worship in alternate spaces after former Bishop Jack Iker and other diocesan leaders left The Episcopal Church in 2008 but claimed Episcopal Church property.These congregations are All Saints, Wichita Falls; St.…
Lost and found at 2014 Diocesan Convention
There were a few items left behind after the 2014 Diocesan Convention. Two scarves — one seemed to have been newly purchased — and a pair of gloves were left at the Jack Daniels Club. All these items are now at the diocesan offices, 4301 Meadowbrook Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76103. Call 817-534-1900 if you know the owners of these items.
St. Stephen’s, Hurst, calls interim priest in charge
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Hurst, has called the Rev. Robert Gross to be their interim priest in charge. Gross was ordained a priest on December 6, 2008, in the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande. In the fall of 2014, he moved to the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth from the Rio Grande diocese, where he served most recently as priest in charge at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Fort Stockton. Prior to that, he was rector of Holy Spirit Episcopal…
St. Martin’s, Keller, announces new rector
St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Keller, announced on Tuesday, December 2, that their new, and third, rector is the Rev. Scot McComas. He will start on February 9, 2015. McComas has spent ten years in ordained ministry, with experience in parishes and schools in Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, and most recently, two parishes and the Parish Episcopal School in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Harvard Divinity School, and General Theological Seminary, as…
Episcopal Parties File Motion for Partial Summary Judgment Under Neutral Principles
On December 1, 2014, Plaintiffs The Episcopal Church, Local Episcopal Parties, and Local Episcopal Congregations filed a joint motion for partial summary judgment in the 141st District Court, the Honorable John P. Chupp presiding. As the motion states: “Defendants are former Episcopalians who served as officers of The Episcopal Church’s Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. They gained access to more than $100 million of property in that capacity. They committed to use that property only for the benefit of the Church…
Bishop High on immigration, Ferguson
As your bishop, I want to share my thoughts on our president’s recent announcement concerning immigration and on events in Ferguson, Missouri. It is my sincere hope the president’s action will result in true and comprehensive immigration reform through our legislative processes. I hope and pray our elected leaders will step away from their political posturing which has gotten this country where we are today. I hope and pray this behavior will end and some measure of sensible dialogue, discussion,…
Applications open for Official Youth Presence at General Convention
Applications and nominations are now accepted for high school teens to participate in the General Convention Official Youth Presence (GCOYP) at the Episcopal Church 78th General Convention to be held June 25 – July 3, 2015 in Salt Lake City, UT. In collaboration with the General Convention Office and the president of the House of Deputies, the Office for Youth Ministries is coordinating the application and discernment process for high-school teens to become a part of the GCOYP. Applications and nominations are available here. Now Closed…
Letter gives thanks for grant
Among the ten grants the Mission and Outreach Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth awarded in early October, 2014, was a matching grant of $3,000 to Christian Community Assistance/St. Christopher, Fort Worth, for a new telephone system. Recently Bishop Rayford B. High, Jr., received a letter of thanks from Chestene Weeks, the director of Christian Community Assistance. “Christian Community Assistance has once again been blessed with a diocesan grant. The grant we received in 2013 so energized our organization…
Fun, foolishness raises big funds at 2014 Diocesan Convention
There was fun and foolishness at diocesan convention, all for two very good causes. The organized silliness raised thousands of dollars for the Native American Youth Ministries and the Emergency Propane Fund of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota. At the Friday night Home Run Challenge between the bishop of Fort Worth and the bishop of Texas, the bishops were properly outfitted in handcrafted personalized purple mitered baseball hats. Each had a purple Nerf bat. Pitchers used plastic baseballs that…
Trinity, Fort Worth, outreach featured in Star-Telegram
The outreach efforts of Trinity, Fort Worth, as “part of the South Central Alliance of Churches’ mission to get turkeys and trimmings into the hands of some of Fort Worth’s most disadvantaged residents” was featured with a large photo and short story on the front page of the Tarrant & Texas section of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram with a longer story in the Faith & Spirit section in the print and online editions on Saturday, November 22, 2014. The story…