The Episcopal Diocese of Texas

Episcopal Night With 
The Houston Astros, May 19
 
The 2017 Episcopal Night with the Astros is May 19 as they take on the reigning American League Champion Cleveland Indians. For ticket information, contact Astros representative Brent Broussard at 713.259.8316. Christ Church Cathedral will host a free hotdog cookout from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., so make sure to come early. Free parking is available in the garage on San Jacinto St. across from the Cathedral. If your parish plans to attend the cookout, please contact Karen Kraycirik at the Cathedral to help plan for supplies and refreshments. Parking and hot dogs are on a first come basis. 

       

New Event In Houston Invites You To Touch-A-Truck
Touch-A-Truck this Saturday March 4 is a fellowship opportunity that gets you up close and personal with a wide variety of cars and trucks from all over Houston, including fire trucks, police cars, a boat, a motorcycle, a food truck, a trailer that delivers weekend meals in backpacks, and many more. In addition to being a family-friendly, no fuss, no food, no fee event, Touch-A-Truck gives people a chance to meet first responders in a safe, positive environment. From 10-11 a.m., flashing lights and sirens will be put on hold for children with special needs to experience Touch-A-Truck in a calmer way. The event will continue until noon, rain or shine.  The three parishes supporting this event are Christ Church Cathedral, Trinity, and St. Andrew's, Houston. Everyone is welcome to attend.  More information can be found here.
Lenten Concert Series In Houston and Austin
St. Mark's, Houston, will host it's Lenten Concert Series, "Songs of Love & Redemption: Texas Singer Songwriter Concert Series" with performances from Kelly Willis, Sam Baker, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Cameron Dezen Hammon and more. Each artist is paired with a local charity, which will offer attendees information on how to support their work. All concerts are free of charge and open to the public. Doors at 6 p.m., and showtime at 7 p.m. every Thursday during Lent. Contact Cameron Hammon with questions. For more information, click here.

St. David's, Austin, will host a series of Lenten concerts at noon throughout the season, with performances from organist Eric Mellenbruch, choral ensemble Ars Longa and more. Find the full schedule here
Cathedral's Immigration Forum Addresses Concerns
In an effort to educate and assist the immigrant community of Houston, Christ Church Cathedral held an immigration forum with attorneys and community leaders to inform immigrants of their rights and to discuss the administration's new focus on deportations. The forum was hosted by the Rev. Simón Bautista, Canon Missioner for Latino Ministries and Outreach at the Cathedral. Read more here
St. James', Conroe, Embraces Interfaith Conversation
The Rev. Jerald Hyche shares the story of how St. James', Conroe, Sunday morning series, Faithful Neighbors - A Christian-Muslim Conversation brought about a partnership with a local mosque. "We began with several St. James parishioners and I attending an Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston 'dinner dialog' at the mosque in October," said Hyche. "From there, the Faithful Neighbors series was conceived as a way of generally - and gently - introducing the congregation to a conversation across faith traditions over three Sundays in February." Read the full story here
Faith Leaders Join With ADL Against Anti-Semitic Threats
Leaders from a diverse array of faith communities across Houston gathered today at the offices of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to decry the recent wave of anti-Semitic threats and violence. The show of faith solidarity was in direct response to bomb threats received at the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center in Houston on February 20. Read more here.
Lenten Meditations Available
New Video Series For Spanish Speaking Congregations
The Episcopal Diocese of Texas has realeased Juntos en Misión: Invitación, Bienvenida y Conexión, a digital training series for Spanish-speaking congregations. The five-part video series is available for online viewing or download with accompanying checklists and resource lists at no charge. Read more here.

La Diócesis Episcopal de Texas publica Juntos en Misión: Invitación, Bienvenida y Conexión, una serie de capacitación digital para congregaciones de habla hispana.  Juntos en Misión  fue desarrollado para ayudar a los feligreses a invitar, a dar la bienvenida y conectar a los visitantes y los nuevos miembros. La serie de video de cinco partes  y estará disponible para su descarga con listas de verificación y de recursos adjuntas sin cargo alguno. Aprenda más.
New Informational Cards Available
The popular visitor brochures about the Episcopal Church, developed by the Diocese of Texas, have been redeveloped as informational cards and are now available for $10 for a package of 50. Each package contains 10 each of Episcopalians; Creeds; Sacraments; Common Prayer and Scripture, Tradition and Reason. They may be ordered online here in Spanish or English.
Forum on Mental Health at St. James', Houston, March 4
A forum and fair on mental health in the African American community will be held  Saturday, March 4, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at St. James' Episcopal Church, 3129 Southmore Blvd., Houston TX 77004. All are invited and admission is free. Contact Ayesha G. Mutope-Johnson at agmutope@gmail.com or 713.446.5756, with questions or if you would like to host a table. 
Free Webinar on Welcoming Refugees, March 8
Episcopal Migration Ministries is hosting a one-hour free webinar, Love in Action: Episcopal Churches Welcome Refugees, on Wednesday, March 8 at 3 pm Central.  Participants will learn about community efforts born out of Episcopal congregations to create a welcoming community for refugees and immigrants. Three faith communities will share stories about their local community and interfaith initiatives to create a ministry of welcome. Presenters include West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry, Northern Virginia Friends of Refugees, and Refugee Community Center of Allentown, PA. For more information, click here.
Immigration Info and Assistance in Austin Area
Proyecto Santiago, at St. James', Austin, offers pro bono assistance to immigrant parents who wish to prepare a power of attorney for a relative in case the parents are deported. The power of attorney allows a relative to have custody of minor children in such a case so that they are not turned over to a state agency. Proyecto Santiago is even doing this for immigrants with legal status because they sometimes get swept up in immigration raids as well. Proyecto Santiago will also assist families to prepare a written emergency plan for such an event, hoping, of course, it never occurs. The group is looking for attorneys who will help pro bono as well. They have the necessary forms and all it requires is a little bit of time to make an enormous difference in the lives of a family.  Please contact  Jim Harrington  or call him at 512.926.6339 extension 1. For more information in Spanish, click here.
Soul of a Musician Spring Series Starts March 19
Few Spots Remain for Wellness Advocate Training
New Wardens & Vestry Conferences For 2017
The 2017 Fresh Look at Vestry Ministry regional conferences are here. The one-day events are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and packed with practical information for vestries and bishop's committees. This year there will be many new workshops and open forums for congregational leaders, with a number of new presenters. Click each area for individual registration information.   
Austin area -  March 4, St. Richard's, Round Rock
East Texas area - March 11, St. Cyprian's, Lufkin 

Registration is $20 and includes lunch. For more information, contact Dania Lainez at 713.353.2112.
Council Debrief Video From St. John's, La Porte
Take a look at the video debrief of Council that St. John's, LaPorte, did for their members. They covered worship and business and all the ideas the delegates picked up during workshops. Watch the video here.
'The Underground Railroad' Author To Speak In Houston
The Humanities Research Center at Rice University and Brazos Bookstore will present Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad (winner of the 2016 National Book Award) on March 21 at 6:30 pm at St. Paul's Methodist Church, 5501 Main St., Houston, TX. There is no charge for the event, but reservations are required. For details, click here . For details on Whitehead, visit www.prhspeakers.com. And don't forget to view the exhibit of African American artists at the EDOT Gallery through March at the Houston Diocesan Center, 1225 Texas St., Houston, 77002 (9-5, M-F). 
Employment Opportunities
 
Please consider publishing these opportunities in your church newsletter or sharing with people who may be interested. A full list of available positions can be found at epicenter.org/employment

Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston seeks an Interfaith Relations leader. Candidates for the position should have a genuine commitment to the mission of Interfaith Ministries and be intentionally open and thoughtful in working with those from a variety of faith traditions, those who describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious" and those who have no particular religious affiliation. S/he should also have proven success in fostering community relationships/partnerships, achieving strategic plan objectives and working with staff to manage operations and personnel, advance programming, and manage budgets. Click here  for further details. 

The Beacon Day Center in Houston seeks an assistant coordinator responsible for leading and assisting volunteer team members in all areas of The Beacon Day center by assigning, training and coaching volunteers through the shifts they work. The Assistant Coordinator will be cross-trained in the Client Intake and Greeting area and assist there when needed. Commercial kitchen experience and cooking a must. The position is full-time with benefits. Interested parties should send a resume and three references to mpuccio@beaconhomeless.org

The Episcopal Diocese of Texas seeks a Manager of Database Services ("MDS") will provide a multi-site customer information database that contains accurate, current information, is easily accessible to staff and is the primary source for numerous internal and external publications. The MDS is responsible for enterprise database strategy, development, administration, performance, integrity, reporting and distribution, standards and procedures, as well as for related business process and workflow optimization. Proven strategic planning and problem solving skills with exceptional attention to detail required. Ideal candidate will have strong project management capabilities for learning new technology. A full job description can be found here. Please submit resume and cover letter to Shirley Platt at splatt@epicenter.org.

Find full details on these and more employment opportunities here.  
More Upcoming Events

March 26 - MusicFest at St. Martin's, Houston

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