WELCOME to the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Northwest Texas--a place where the vast open plains are as wondrous as
the big sky above!
To view a video presentation about this unique area, created
by Weiman Meinzer, renowned photographer in the State of Texas, and the late Doug Smith, local pianist, click on the graphic above.
The landscape, covering 77,000 square miles is as diverse as the cities and people, with the canyons and rangelands of the Staked Plains; agricultural fields abounding; and the rough and ready country of the Rolling Plains and Permian Basin.
The people here are known for their warm and friendly smiles, making one feel like an old and trusted friend.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas Welcomes Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, will visit the Diocese of Northwest Texas on
April 9th & 10th, 2017.
His trip begins in the Diocese of Ft. Worth, and continues to our diocese.
On Sunday, April 9, he will be at Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene. He will then visit St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Amarillo on Monday, April 10.
Both events are open to the public. In order to help those planning the meals,
please RSVP by email or by telephone to the church hosting the event you plan to attend. Email links are below.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Church of the Heavenly Rest, Abilene, Texas (325-677-2091)
3:30 pm Open House / Docents lead tours of Nave and Gerhart Hall
4:00 pm Diocesan clergy gather with Bishop Curry
(Lower Level Parish Hall)
5:00 pm The Presiding Bishop Speaks (Nave)
6:00 pm Catered supper (Parish Hall)
Monday, April 10, 2017
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Amarillo, Texas (806-376-6316)
4:30 pm Diocesan clergy gather with Bishop Curry
(St. Catherine's Room)
5:30 pm Catered supper (St. Andrew's School)
7:00 pm The Presiding Bishop Speaks (Nave)
Come meet our dynamic and inspiring
Presiding Bishop!
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(For more information about the events, click on the blue underlined links.)
A
pril 9-10 Bishop Curry in Northwest Texas
April 13 Maundy Thursday
April 14 Good Friday - HEC closed
April 16 EASTER
April 17 Easter Monday - HEC closed
May 22-23 HEC CLOSED for offsite staff meeting with Ft. Worth staff
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Noteworthy News
What a month for news we've had in Northwest Texas!
Two of our outstanding diocesan priests, a parishioner, as well as our Bishop, have recently made the news.
In Perryton, TX, the Rev. Claude Betty, also known in Perryton as Dr. Betty, the local physician, was recently honored as the 2017 Citizen of the Year. He was presented an award at the Ochiltree County Expo Center on Thursday, Feb 23rd, by the Perryton Chamber of Commerce. Rev. Betty moved to Perryton in 1967, where he and his wife, Mary, raised four children and provided services to the area as a community physician, and as they defined him, the "prototype country doctor." Between seeing patients and serving the community, he also found time to become a bi-vocational priest for All Saints' Mission. Congratulations to a very hard-working, and deserving recipient!
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The second priest,
the Rev. J. Edson Way, currently serves as the priest-in-charge at St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church in Big Spring. Fr. Edson was featured in the March 2017 edition of Living magazine in Big Spring, in an extensive article entitled
From the Mind to the Heart, explaining his progression from the academic world to the world of the church. It also highlighted his duties at the church, and how he serves the parishioners in his role there. The entire article may be found by following
this link to Google Drive.
The article includes a stunning photo of Deacon Connie Fowler and Deacon John Marshall, (one page 3) who also serve St. Mary's, as their deacons. All photos are by Lyndel Moody, of Big Spring, for Living magazine.
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Also, in the March 2017 edition of The Episcopal Journal, our fearless leader,
t
he Rt.
Rev. J. Scott Mayer, was quoted in an article describing the work being done to resurrect the Diocese of Ft. Worth. The Journal interviewed and quoted Bishop Mayer, who also serves as the Provisional Bishop of Ft. Worth, as saying, "We're not trying to rebuild an old church... We're trying to participate in resurrection to become a new body."
New ministries and unconventional worship spaces have sprung forth from the work, which will be furthered by an award of a $20,000 Mission Enterprise Zone grant from The Episcopal Church, to help establish the new 4 Saints Food Pantry in east Ft. Worth. Project organizers hope to "respond to the needs of and build relationships with hungry people in a food desert on the east side of Ft. Worth." The ministry will use the funds to begin buying equipment required for a licensed food pantry. Six local parishes are partnering in this desperately needed ministry. The article is available on the
Episcopal News Service website.
To view the video of his interview, follow the underlined link to
You Tube.
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An article was published recently on Episcopal Cafe, an Episcopal online blogsite, by a Northwest Texas parishioner,
Rachel Petty, from St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Plainview. Being new to the church, Rachel attended one Sunday to find few cars in the parking lot, but a loving and welcoming group inside. She was invited to stay and worship with them using Morning Prayer, unsure of what things would be like.
Her observations, and her method of writing, will bring a chuckle and smile as you read about her delightful experiences. The article may be found at the link below. Way to go, Rachel!
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More Great News for NWT Congregations...
Bishop Scott Mayer issued a letter to parishes and missions in the diocese indicating a
decrease in apportionment for this calendar year, retroactive to January 2017. The decision was recently approved by both Executive Council and the Standing Committee, to reduce the rate for 2017, from 15% to 14%, making an overall reduction over the past several years of one-third of the original apportionment from 21% to 14%.
Bishop Mayer also voiced his gratitude for the assistance of the diocesan Treasurer, Carrol Holley, for his diligent work over the years to reduce apportionments, thereby leaving more money for ministry at the local level. To read the letter in its entirety,
follow this link. The chart indicating the apportionment for each congregation may be
found HERE.
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With Sympathy
The Diocese of Northwest Texas mourns with the family of the Rev. Bob Bonnington,
a retired priest from
Northwest Texas, who died on February 28th, 2017, in Austin, TX, where he was living at the time. A funeral service will be held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Austin, TX, on Friday, March 17th, at 10:00am. Fr. Bob served at St. Michael's when he participated in Field Education while attending seminary.
Prior to his life as an ordained priest, Fr. Bob was a professor of Economics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, and studied with the Rev. Kenneth Clark, in anticipation of one day becoming a non-stipendary priest. As his studies continued it became clear to him that he was better suited for full-time ministry in a church. When the time came, Fr. Bob was raised to ordained ministry by his home parish, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Lubbock, and attended Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest (now Seminary of the Southwest) in Austin, in the 1980's. He was
ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 6th, 1982. Following his education at Seminary of the Southwest, he was called to St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church in Big Spring. He was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on January 6th, 1983. Fr. Bob served St. Mary's until 1992, at which time he was called to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sikeston, Missouri.
Fr. Bob returned to the diocese from Missouri in 1995, transferred his canonical residency back to Northwest Texas, and retired to Midland, TX, where he assisted at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. He and his wife, JoAnne, had two children, as well as his three children from a previous marriage. Fr. Bob and JoAnne relocated to Austin for health reasons, where he resided in a care facility, and was lovingly visited
by his wife
twice daily until his death.
Rest eternal grant to Bob, O Lord;
And let light perpetual shine upon him.
May his soul, and the souls of all the departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
(BCP. p.502)
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
JoAnne Bonnington and family
9409 East Meadow Vale
Austin, TX 78758
Cell # - 432/889-3207
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Daughters of the King
The St. Paul's-on-the-Plains' chapter, St. Brigid of Kildare, will host the
A
nnual Diocesan Assembly of the Order of the Daughters of the King on Saturday, March 25. Registration will begin at 9:30am.
The first session will begin at 10:00am.
The afternoon session will include consideration of grant requests
s
ubmitted by chapters for funding from the NWT Diocese DOK. In addition, a grant request proposal for funding from the Province Assembly will be decided upon.
For more information and to make reservations for lunch, contact Anna Marie Wanasek, by phone at
806-470-0517, or by email at
amwanasek@sbcglobal.net.
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LENTEN QUIET DAY - Lubbock
Saturday, April 1st, 2017
Sponsored by the St. Christopher's, Lubbock, Chapter of DOK.
The event will held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 49th & Salem in Lubbock, and will be led by the Rev. Jennifer Holder, of St. Christopher's, Lubbock, and Canterbury Campus Ministry. Meals and snacks will be provided for a charge of $8.00.
The flier for the event may be viewed or downloaded by following the blue link. For more information contact Nancy McReynolds at (806) 928-7734.
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Information on the Province VII Annual Spring Assembly, to be held in Dallas, TX, may be found below in Province VII News.
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DNWT Youth
Camp Quarterman
will be June
4-10 in Colorado
Camp Quarterman Jr.
will be June 25-July 1 at Ceta Glen
(for youth in
grades 3-5.)
EYE (Episcopal Youth Event) will be held in Oklahoma July 10-14. This is an event held every three years for youth in grades 9-12. We have a bumper crop of youth attending this year with Bishop Scott Mayer and the diocesan Youth Coordinator, Renee Haney, with adult sponsors D'Ann Asquith from St. Paul's in Lubbock, and Chase Monson from Emmanuel in San Angelo.
This year the following students will attend EYE from DNWT:
Caroline Asquith, Reagan Bredemeyer, Rachel Christie, Parker Edington, Kenda Fawell, Micha Huff, Ashton Millsaps, Nicholas Neighbors, John Plummer, Savannah Reese, Olivia Rowe, Michael Scarborough, and Julia White.
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And finally...
What about the new name for the mobile newsletter?
Truth to be told... only two brave persons submitted a new name for our newsletter.
Suggestions have been "The Bishop's Beacon", and "Adventure On the Go."
While waiting for all the new names to pour in, Deacon Nancy redesigned the newsletter so it would have a new mobile-friendly look, too. But now it needs a name! So we'll try again.
PLEASE SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO
SOON!!
Thanks y'all!
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The Good Friday Offering
In a letter written to the Church, the Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episco
pal
Church, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, has designated
the Good Friday offering this year "to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers throughout t
he the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East."
In the letter, Bishop Curry
stated, "...we walk the walk of Christ when we walk in solidarity with Christians of the Mi
ddle East, who keep the faith in the very land Jesus called home. We walk the walk of Christ when we advocate for the voices of those who work fearlessly for peace in the midst of unremitting v
iolence. We walk the walk of Christ when we support ministries of healing, education, pastoral care, and interfaith cooperation rooted in a deep desire for a future
full
of reconciliation and hope."
Please give generously on Good Friday.
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Province VII News
Are you or your parish involved with or interested in the
Stewardship of Creation?
If so, the Province VII Council needs YOU! Stewardship of Creation (SoC) is one of the three areas identified by Canon Stephanie Spellers, from The Episcopal Church, as a means of discipleship to further the Jesus Movement. The Council is looking for congregations or individuals in your diocese who are involved in this area of ministry who may wish to take their ministry one step further.
The committee, or network being developed, will serve the Province as volunteers to further engage ministry in this area, bring speakers to interested parishes, provide educational resources, and reach out to congregations in your diocese. Deacon Nancy Igo, Province VII Council Treasurer, will serve as the Council liaison to help organize and assist this network in any way possible.
If any parish, or individual, is interested in serving on the provincial SoC network, please contact Deacon Nancy Igo, at
nigo@nwtdiocese.org ,
or by telephone at 806.763.1370.
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Province VII Daughters of the King
Annual Spring Assembly
April 21-23, 2017
Church of the Incarnation
3966 McKinney Ave | Dallas, TX
"...
Love Mercy
..."
(Micah 6:8)
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The Bookshelf
Following the Way through Lent is an excellent resource for anyone looking to deepen their prayer life during Lent (the season before Easter) or any time of the year. Using the Examen prayer method, we will reflect on the events of each day to look for signs of God's presence, to become more in-tune with what God is communicating to us, and to consider ways to grow to love God more deeply with all our Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength. Using Jesus' Great Commandment as our guide, we will become more aware of our actions, our relationships, our worldview and our physical presence. God uses each of these four pathways to draw us closer to God and guide us into a more joyful and fulfilling life. Following the Way® is a series of discipleship adventures created by Rev. Rich Nelson, a writer, retreat leader, Episcopal priest, advocate for church reformation, and a fellow pilgrim on life's road.
The book is available at Amazon.com, in paperback and for Kindle.
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Conference Opportunity
Register for the 2017 Missional Voices National Gathering
When: Friday-Saturday, April 21-22, 2017
Where: Virginia Theological Seminary (Alexandria, Va.)
Cost: $99 (includes meals); free to current seminarians
The 2017 Missional Voices National Gathering brings together church leaders, seminarians, church planters, entrepreneurs, artists, and everyday innovators to discuss innovative ministries and missional communities both within and outside of the traditional church context.
Bishop Andy Doyle, from the Diocese of Texas, and Becca Stevens keynote the 2017 gathering, with additional talks by Nancy Frausto, Tim & Kirsten Baer, and Tamara Plummer. The weekend also includes panel discussions featuring theologians, diocesan missioners, and parish clergy.
Missional Voices is a weekend of thinking, planning, and dreaming about the future ministry in The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. It is a place where dynamic incubation of new ideas is the norm - not the exception - and where people doing uncommon ministry find support and encouragement.
Register today and join the conversation!
For those who cannot attend the Gathering, the event will be live streamed HERE.
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Seminary Updates
The 2017 Harvey Lecture will be presented by the Rev. Kim Jackson, Associate Rector for Adult Formation and Christian Social Action Ministries at All Saints Church in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a public theologian and a fierce community
activist. Kim works to end the death penalty, advocates for women and children's issues, and is passionate about sharing the liberating Gospel of Christ.
A frequent member of the faculty of the Episcopal Preaching Foundation's Preaching Excellence Program, Rev. Jackson will present a reflection on her work as a priest and social activist entitled, "From Protests to Pulpits: Priesting in a Black Lives Matter Era."
Professor Jack Weatherford (Macalester College, Emeritus) will deliver the keynote address
"
Genghis Khan, Thomas Jefferson, and God: A Sense of Place"
at the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary Conference: "A Sense of Space and Place: Global and Local Perspectives", co-organized by the Mellon Globalization Forum, International and Global studies, and Office of Global Citizenship at the University of the South. The keynote address will be followed by approximately 30 presentations by Sewanee faculty and students on
April 7-8
.
(Theology Monthly was not available at the time of publication.
Check back next month!)
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Upcoming Events
March
17 NWT Commission on Ministry, HEC, 10:00am
19 Safeguarding Class, St. Matthew's, Pampa
19 Visitation, Good Shepherd, Brownfield
20-22 Fresh Start Retreat, Christ the King Retreat Center, San Angelo
22 Visitation, Trinity School, Midland
26 Visitation, St. Michael and All Angels, Shamrock
31-4/2 School of Ordained Ministry, St. Paul's, Lubbock
April
1
DOK
Lenten Quiet Day
- Covenant Presbyterian Church, Lubbock
2 Safeguarding Class, St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Lubbock,
12:30pm-2:30pm
7 Standing Committee, 10:30am, HEC
9
Palm Sunday
14 Good Friday -
HEC closed
16 Easter Sunday - Allelujah!!
17 Easter Monday - HEC closed
23 Visitation, Grace Church, Vernon
24-27 NWT Presbyter's Conference, Christ the King Retreat Center, San Angelo
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The Office of Communications | EDNWT | 806.763.1370 | nigo@nwtdiocese.org
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