The facelift is complete!

Our gracious historic home is looking younger and fresher than it has in decades. After two months of sawing, pounding, sanding, painting, and cleaning the Hulsey Center exterior renovations are complete! The house has a fresh new look, and the windows... oh my! They're cleaner than they've been in years! All is peaceful and productive once again. 

Sadly, the yard took somewhat of a beating due to the hydraulic lift and crews that were on the grass constantly. Thankfully, our yard crew was out to do a final clean-up and will complete the trimming of the shrubs so we'll be ready when spring arrives.

Many thanks to Leroy Henry Construction of Lubbock, and his friendly, hardworking employees who made the whole process as uncomplicated as possible.

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The Newsletter has enjoyed quite an "Adventure"

Originally, while the diocese was still the Diocese of North Texas, Bishop Edward Temple began the publication called  The North Texas Adventure, which was published by the Rev. E.H.J. Andrews, of Plainview, in approximately 1922.  This early version, in tabloid format, contained local advertisements and wonderfully written stories about the goings-on in the diocese. What a treasure to read!

Eventually, the Rt. Rev. George Quarterman, the first Bishop of Northwest Texas, borrowed the idea to create the official newsletter of the newly formed Diocese of Northwest Texas, and published it from his office in Amarillo. The diocesan newsletter was known thereafter as simply  The Adventure, which celebrates its 59th anniversary this year!

A fascinating email from the Rev. Canon Bill Nix recently mentioned that Bishop Quarterman recruited a layperson of the church, Patsy Masterman, an experienced newspaper person, to take it over for him. For the next several years she complied the monthly publication from her home in Amarillo. Eventually Patsy expanded it into a tabloid format, which she laid out on her kitchen table. After the layout was complete she took it to Morris Higley, the publisher of the Childress Index, and longtime warden of the former St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Childress, who would print it for mailing. This manner of creating the newsletter continued through Bishop Willis Henton's episcopate.

According to Canon Nix, "When Bishop Hulsey became the diocesan bishop, and moved the diocesan offices into the Hulsey Center, Patsy continued her role as the newspaper editor, as well as the additional duties of the bursar," and became a full time staff member. Patsy was also ordained to the vocational diaconate. During her various moves between Amarillo and Ft. Worth, where she served as a deacon with Canon Nix, Deacon Patsy continued to publish the newsletter until the publication duties were passed to other editors.  Some of the editors include Kathleen Davis, a Lubbock parishioner from St. Stephen's;  Doug Tow; the Rev. Canon David Veal; the Rev. Claire Cowden, all of whom published the newsletter for the diocese. (Coincidentally, Deacon Nancy Igo, the current communicator, and Kathleen are childhood friends from Girl Scout days, and remain in contact.)

The tabloid version was discontinued after Deacon Patsy "passed the baton", and changes were made to the format and layout to a smaller more easily produced letter-sized version.  In 2005,  editor duties were assumed by the Bishop's Executive Secretary Emeritus, Carolyn Hearn, and were continued until 2010. In 2008, Deacon Nancy Igo joined the diocesan staff as the Program Manager, and assisted Carolyn with editing. Deacon Nancy suggested the idea of the emailed version as an environmentally-friendly option that would also provide a considerable cost savings to the diocese. In 2010, the newsletter officially moved to the email version currently in publication through the online program, Constant Contact, and Deacon Nancy became the official communicator for the diocese. Deacon Nancy continues to publish the monthly  newsletter.

Now that the newsletter has joined the 21st century, and Episcopalians can read an environmentally-friendly version on smartphones and laptops, the Communications office wondered if it might be time to give it a new, more up-to-date name. 

If you have a suggestion for a new name for the monthly newsletter, please forward your suggestion to Deacon Nancy in the Communication's office. All  submitted   names will be considered, and  one will be selected by a committee to be published with the person's name in the first version of the renamed newsletter. Deadline for submissions is March 10th. Hopefully our next newsletter will have a fresh new, catchy name for the next 59 years!

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DEROS  Brings New Prospects for Ordination to DNWT

Much has been talked about in the news concerning the vetting process for refugees coming into the United States. Everyone agrees that some process is essential to the health and safety of our country, but did you know that the Church has a well-established vetting process for those who seek ordained ministry?

First, after the nominee has met with their parish discernment committee, a number of items must be completed by each person, including a spiritual autobiography, a personal autobiography, a medical exam, a psychological exam, and an extensive background check.

Then, each spring a two-day event is held in Northwest Texas to assess the suitability of individuals seeking ordination in Northwest Texas, and to further examine their readiness for studies. The event is DEROS, an acronym that stands for  Discernment and Evaluation for Readiness for Ordination Studies.  This year the event will be held on the evening of February 23rd, and all day on February 24th.

DEROS begins with an introductory dinner on the first night that includes the nominees, together with their spouses, and the interviewers. This casual evening is a way for those involved in DEROS to meet and get to know one another in a friendly, relaxed setting, which helps alleviate the anxieties of the individuals participating in discernment, and allows evaluators to visit with them in a social setting.

The second day of DEROS is comprised of a series of personal interviews that examine their readiness in each of four primary areas:

1. Vocational Readiness
2. Spiritual preparedness and practice
3. Educational readiness
4. Psychological readiness and family issues (for nominee and their spouse, if married)