News, Updates, and Events | |
Stay connected with the mission and ministries of the Diocese with this weekly newsletter. Requests for coverage may be sent to [email protected]. | |
Council 2024 convened in-person February 22 - 24, at the San Marcos Conference Center. Clergy and lay delegates assembled to hear ministry reports, conduct the annual business of the Diocese, worship together, participate in workshops, and share fellowship. | |
The Bishop's Address to the 120th Council of the Diocese
The Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read addressed Council 2024 on Friday, February 23. He shared reflections on his first year as bishop, the need to tap into our missionary roots, and reflect on our theme, Lift High the Cross. Bishop Read said, "I believe that we must tap our historic roots and learn to be a missionary district again; to be a church that lives on the frontier again."
Click here to read and watch the Bishop's Address.
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Completion of Elections
Congratulations to those elected to serve as leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas by its 120th Annual Council.
Click here to read the full list.
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Click here to see an inside look of the Immigration and Refugee Ministries Respite Center, Plaza de Paz. | |
Click here to watch a commemorative video celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the diocese. | |
Click here to watch a video on the healing work being done through St. Philip's, Uvalde and the Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas. | |
Click here to watch the Livestream and Eucharist from Council and Eucharist. | |
Council slide presentations will be available March 4, 2024. | |
Click here to read End of Year Reports and Presentations to Council 2024 from the departments, ministries, committees, commissions, and ministry partners of the diocese. | |
Diocesan, Church, & Ministry Events | |
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Visit the Diocesan Events Calendar to learn about the Spring Arts & Crafts Show at Grace Church, Weslaco and other upcoming diocesan events, camp programs, bishop visitations, and other public gatherings for churches, schools, and ministries of the Diocese of West Texas.
Have a local event you’d like to invite the Diocese to attend? Clergy, lay leaders, and staff members may click here to submit an event for review by the diocesan staff.
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The Good, the True, & the Beautiful Retreat: April 5 - 7
The Good, the True, and the Beautiful Retreat is a storytelling and spirituality retreat hosted by the Rt. Rev. David M. Reed, tenth bishop of West Texas and the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read. Featured keynote speakers include Monte Warden, two-time honoree and member of the Texas Music Hall of Fame, and Claire Miller Colombo, Director of the Center for Writing and the Arts, and Asst. Professor of Writing. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the restorative power of storytelling, songwriting, and creativity through the lens of faith.
You're also invited to extend your stay on Sunday Night. On Monday, April, Camp Capers will be hosting an Eclipse Fest. A Limited number of lodging is available to extend your stay over Sunday night and view the solar eclipse.
Click here to register and learn more.
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EclipseFest at Camp Capers: April 7 - 9
Join us for an EclipseFest at Camp Capers! On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur over Texas—the first to be seen in North America since 2017. We invite you to experience this rare celestial event at Camp Capers in the Texas Hill Country. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — the next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous 48 states won't occur until August 2044! Day passes as well as overnight lodging is available.
Click here to register and learn more.
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Nails & Prayers - Camp Capers Service Retreat: April 12 - 14
All are welcome to come get their hands dirty in work and play at their Hill Country home on the banks of the Guadalupe River. A special service-oriented weekend designed as an opportunity to give back and beautify Camp Capers. This is a great opportunity for high school students to earn service hours. If you are unable to stay the whole weekend, we invite you to come for the day on Saturday.
Click here to register and learn more.
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Episcopal Church Women's Spring Gathering, "Rekindling the Gift of God Within": March 8 - 9
Refresh your spirit and rekindle your God-given gifts at the Spring Gathering for women. Enjoy walking on the beach, uplifting worship, s'mores by the campfire, crafts, and more. Our featured speaker for the weekend is the Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge, Ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. Come join us for fellowship and fun!
Click here to register and learn more.
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College & Young Adult Spring 2024 Retreat: March 8 - 10
Tami and Walt are excited to invite you to the Spring 2024 College & Young Adult Retreat. Join us for a weekend of fun, relaxation, fellowship, and good food with friends - old and new. The Rev. Ben Nelson will be the guest speaker. Take some intentional time to refresh and refuel your body, mind, and spirit with us. We can't wait to see you!
Click here to register and learn more.
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Cursillo #291: March 14 - 17
Sign up for the next Cursillo at Camp Capers and engage in study, reflection, fellowship, and worship. Deb Gardiner from St. George's in San Antonio, will serve as the lay rector and the Rev. Jonathan Wickham will serve as the spiritual director with assistance from the Rev. Gerald Phelps and the Rev. Laurie McKim for Cursillo #291. Cursillo (a Spanish word meaning "little course") gives church members the tools and "rules of life" to enthusiastically share the joys of knowing Christ with others in their everyday environments. Cursillo is patterned on Jesus' own example.
Click here to register.
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Canon Leyla King invites all small-church leaders to fill out the Small Church Listening Survey. The survey will help us gauge where the most pressing needs and challenges of our small churches are right now. Not sure if you are a church leader or your church "counts" as small? Go ahead and fill out the survey anyways. If you think yours might be a small church, you're probably right! Click here to take the Small Church Listening Survey.
Thank you to the volunteers from our host church, St. Luke's, San Antonio for their amazing work to make Council 2024 a success!
Update your church information on the Episcopal Asset Map to ensure your contact information and service times are current and up to date. Click here to submit changes to your church listing.
In light of recent email scams, please remember - if you receive an email that looks like it is from your bishop or diocesan staff member requesting a “favor” and instructing you to reply, do not reply and delete the email. If you are still unsure whether the request is legitimate:
- Call the person being impersonated to confirm whether the request is legitimate.
- Do not reply to the email; mark it as Spam or Junk, and delete it.
Make plans to attend Good Sam Spurs Night at the Frost Bank Center on March 23 at 7:00 p.m. Good Sam will be honored during halftime and every ticket purchased will include a food voucher and provide a $5 donation to Good Sam. Click here for more information and to purchase your tickets for the San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns game.
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From The Episcopal Church | |
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Join 'Festival Thursdays' webinar, 'Creating a Third Space: Evangelism with the "Nones" and "Dones" ' on March 14, 2:00 p.m. CDT on Zoom. The Rev. Portia Hopkins, chaplain of the Belfry Lutheran Episcopal Campus Ministry will discuss ways for churches to co-create sacred "third spaces" as they reach out to those who are "spiritual but not religious," particularly Millennials and members of Generation Z. Third-space creation allows the church to partner with the local community to form an invitational, community space that is neither work nor home. Click here to apply register.
The Episcopal Service Corps invites young leaders ages 21 to 32 interested in a transformative outreach and discernment experience to apply online for the 2024-25 program year through the end of May. Click here to find the online application.
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Episcopal Diocese of West Texas is seeking an Office Manager.
The Episcopal Day School, Brownsville is seeking a Head of School
Camp Capers, Waring is seeking paid 2024 Summer Session Staff, Summer Camp Nurses, and Summer Camp Staff.
Duncan Park, Colorado is seeking 2024 Summer Staff.
Mustang Island Conference Center, Port Aransas is seeking 2024 Summer Staff.
St. John's, New Braunfels is seeking a Director of Children and Family Ministry.
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Congregations and individuals may contact the diocesan Communications Office to submit a church event, job listing, announcement, or local news feature for publication in the Weekly E-News, or submit it online, at dwtx.org/forms. | | | | |
