Posts (Page 71)
Episcopal Church Foundation web conferences coming up
The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) has two web conferences coming up that are of value to lay and clergy leaders. Planned Giving on Demand will be presented by Jim Murphy, ECF Managing Program Director, from 7 to 8 pm on Thursday, July 24, 2014. Register here. Basics of a Capital Campaign will be presented by Terri Mathes, ECF Senior Program Director, from 7 to 8 pm Wednesday, August 27, 2014. Register here. There is no cost to participate in these conferences. Lay and…
“Hello Dolly” to benefit anti-trafficking organization
“Hello Dolly,” an all-youth benefit production by CandleWater Players, is being sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church of Fort Worth. All ticket profits go to helping prevent human trafficking through Traffick911, a local anti-trafficking organization. Traffick911 focuses on children under the age of 18, using the three-prong strategy of prevention, rescue, and restoration. Call the box office at 817-523-1995 or go to dolly2014.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for students. Performances are at 7:30 pm on Friday, July 25 and Friday, August 1; 7:30 pm,…
Congregations begin responding to border crisis
Congregations have started to respond to the humanitarian crisis of the unaccompanied children at the border. In Fort Worth, with less than one week notice, parishioners of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church presented 28 Welcome Boxes and additional $300 for Catholic Charities ministry to the human need of youth emigrants. St. Andrew’s is worshiping at the Good Shepherd Chapel of University Christian Church, 2720 S. University Dr., Fort Worth, TX, 76109 In Wichita…
Bishop High visits St. Stephen’s, Hurst
The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr., visited St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Hurst, on Sunday, July 13, 2014. St. Stephen’s worships in the Northeast Wedding Chapel in Hurst. He baptized Gwenn Anne Burud and Gavin Le Burud, confirmed Gwenn Anne Burud and Sandon Wards, received Nicole Maria Silva, Steven Hederer, and Judy Crawford and blessed the reaffirmation of Thomas Crawford. He also blessed a chalice and paten given in memory of Florence McKneely by the McKneely family. He presented graduation…
Are you called to be a lay pastoral caregiver?
Community of Hope is a pastoral care training program for laity. The mission of Community of Hope is to create and sustain Christian communities of volunteer lay pastoral caregivers around the world. Community of Hope communities are united in prayer, shaped by Benedictine spirituality, and equipped for and serving in pastoral care communities. Bishop Rayford High has been part of Community of Hope for many years, and has asked Annette Mayer, pastoral intern St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, and the Rev. Amy…
Episcopal Youth Event 2014 high energy event
Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) 2014 has concluded but with God’s help, the youth that attended will travel back into their daily lives and churches with a renewed faith and energy to living out their baptismal promises. There were more than 1200 people gathered together from more than 80 dioceses including Taiwan and Honduras in Philadelphia at Villanova University for the four day event. The preaching done there by Canon Stephanie Spellers, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Reverend Becca Stevens,…
Bishop High appeals for funds for humanitarian crisis
As I read the stories of the children arriving at our border, I am reminded of a story of another refugee family crossing a border to save their child. Matthew 2 tells us that after the three Magi departed after paying homage to the infant Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt and be you there until I tell you. For Herod will seek the…
Mission and Outreach Committee requests proposals
The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, through its Mission and Outreach Committee, is seeking requests to support programs that assist our communities, encourage personal participation by our congregations, and that will be strengthened by the endorsement of the diocese. This is the fourth consecutive year that our diocese is encouraging requests for funds for outreach programs administered by its congregations. An application may be submitted by an individual member of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, members of a congregation…
Nominations open for positions to be filled at 2014 Diocesan Convention – UPDATED
Nominations are open for positions that will be filled at the 2014 diocesan convention on November 14 and 15. Qualified candidates are invited to read, pray, and discern if they are called to offer themselves in nomination for any of the elected positions described below. Nominations may be by the candidate on their own or by another person with the candidate’s permission. The deadline for online nominations is September 14, 2014.
Jennings: Christians worship a child who fled violence in his home country
A commentary by the Rev. Gay Jennings, president of the House of Deputies, about the unaccompanied children arriving at the borders of the United States as they flee violence in their own countries has been published by the Religious News Service. (RNS) This summer, many Americans are watching in helpless horror as more than 52,000 children fleeing violence stream over our southern border. Many of them are making a dangerous journey by themselves to escape murder rates and gang violence in…
New stained glass windows dedicated
O Lord God, the whole world is filled with the radiance of your glory: accept our offering of these stained glass windows which we now dedicate to you for the adornment of this place and the inspiration of your people. Grant that as the light shines through in its many colors, so our lives may show forth the beauty of your manifold gifts of grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. With this prayer, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Keller, dedicated…
College chaplains seek help contacting recent grads
“Attention rectors and youth ministers! If you have students heading off to college in the fall, help keep them involved in the Church by sharing their names and email addresses with the Episcopal chaplains at the colleges they will be attending.” This is the heartfelt request of the Rev. C. Matthew W. Wise, Campus Missioner, Texas A&M University, of diocesan clergy and youth ministers in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and elsewhere. He talked about what those doing college ministry…
Presiding Bishop addresses crisis of unaccompanied children at the U.S. border
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued a statement on the current crisis of unaccompanied children and families at the United States border. She urges compassion, prayer, consideration of financial contribution; she asks you contact legislators to support appropriate humanitarian response, and to share today’s Office of Government Relations testimony with your elected officials.
Prayer for Social Justice
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. –Book of Common Prayer, p. 823
Prayer for Local Government
Almighty God, send down upon those who hold office in this State (Commonwealth, City, County, Town, ____________) the spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice; that with steadfast purpose they may faithfully serve in their offices to promote the well-being of all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. –based on Book of Common Prayer, p. 822
Immigration Situation from Bishop Lillibridge, Episcopal Diocese of West Texas
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas has published a July 3, 2014 letter and appeal from the Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge on their diocesan website: [Episcopal Diocese of West Texas] As you are likely aware, the border is experiencing record numbers of people, primarily from Central America, seeking to enter the United States. Several cities within our diocese are at the forefront of these record numbers. If you have been following the news reports, you know that detention facilities are overflowing and needs are overwhelming.…