| | Canon Leyla preached a Children’s Homily at
St. Philip’s San Antonio on Good Shepherd Sunday | | |
Dear Small Church friends,
One of the many things I love about small churches is their intergenerationality! We know that there is much to be gained from sharing space and life with folks of all ages. With that in mind, I encourage you to read this message about the importance of rest from Tami Woods, our Director of College and Young Adult Ministries. With so much to do in our churches – and fewer hands to do it – we are often at risk of burning out, striving too hard to keep going a program that has reached the end of its season, or trying to pull others in a direction no one is certain we are still meant to go. It can be easy to get caught up in these efforts and forget that we are also called to rest, to recalibrate and to wonder, fearlessly and openly, about what new things God may be up to in our midst. I pray that the resources here help you and your small church to make space for that kind of respite and curiosity.
As you take some time for that wonder and discernment, please let me know if there’s anything that you or your congregation are finding particularly interesting. The Steering Committee is gearing up to plan for our fall Small Church Gathering on September 19 at Epiphany, Kingsville. We’d love to hear what topics interest you and what ideas would be useful for you to hear more about.
And, though I’ll be taking some vacation over the summer, I’d like to get some small church visits on my calendar for August, September and beyond. So, if I have not yet been to your small church for worship, please be in touch!
As always, if there’s any way I can support your ministry, I’m just an email, phone call or text away.
Many blessings,
| | From the Small Church Steering Committee | | |
“We Are the Church"
by: Jim Sartwelle, St. Matthew's, Kenedy
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Jim Sartwelle (Small Church Steering Committee, Convocation: Eastern) is a Bishop’s Warden at St. Matthew’s, Kenedy, part of the Eastern Partners in Ministry. In this article, Jim writes about the benefits and beauty of the Partnership. Jim can be contacted at sartwellej@gmail.com
Some people are born to small churches; others have small churches thrust upon them. I fall into the first group. Born and raised in Sealy, my family worshipped at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Founded as a mission of the Diocese of Texas in 1885, it retained its mission status for more than 100 years. Growing up, I though it was holy writ that vicars cycled through your church every couple of years, as the bishop needed to deploy folks. Many were great, others were different, but that small church in a small town endured. My rock-ribbed, cradle Episcopalian grandmother said more than once, “I was here before they got here, and I will be here when they’re gone.”
I think she loosely paraphrased a great truism: WE are the church. After moving around the nation, transferring our letters from one large, well-supported (in all ways) Episcopal parish to another, we moved to South Texas in 2016. Church-shopping began in earnest, starting and stopping at St. Matthew’s, Kenedy. After two decades of my family worshipping in larger communities, we were back in the country. We found a tight-knit, fun-loving group of folks who welcomed my family with open arms (literally, you ought to see this church at the Peace). A couple of months into attendance, we were instructed to attend “fifth Sunday” at Goliad, 35 miles from Kenedy. That was our introduction to Partners in Ministry. Our lives haven’t been the same since.
| | St. Christopher’s “Cowboy Communion” | | St. Christopher’s, Bandera, in partnership with their next-door neighbors, Grace Lutheran, holds a quarterly celebration of “Cowboy Communion.” The Cowboy Communion is a way for the two churches to celebrate the character of The Cowboy Capital of the world and to reach out to the community. Each celebration includes either the Episcopal or Lutheran liturgy, lots of fun cowboy and bluegrass music, and always a wonderful feast made by some of the best cooks in Bandera. The Cowboy Communion on April 25 was the first one to take place in the churches’ new shared worship pavilion. | |
All Saints’ New Women’s Group
All Saints', San Benito officially launched its new women’s group - “Women of All Saints” – with a wonderful gathering on April 25 filled with a time of prayer, reflection, fellowship and good food!
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Baptism Day at Emmanuel
After focusing over the last few years on nurturing and including children in the worship and life of the church family, Emmanuel, Lockhart welcomed two children (and one adult) into the Body of Christ through the sacrament of baptism on April 19th.
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Small Church Sermon, Big Impact
When Love Disturbs Peace
The Rev. Christopher Roque - 4th Sunday after Pentecost
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The Rev. Chris Roque is the Rector of Calvary, Menard and St. James', Fort McKavett and our small-church sermon-writer for this edition of our newsletter. Fr. Roque shares this sermon on the lectionary texts of the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost for other churches in the diocese to use. If you don’t have regular clergy to preach on June 21, or you are the regular preacher at your church and could use a little break please consider reading Fr. Roque's sermon out loud to the congregation as the sermon on the day, with proper attribution, of course.
The scriptural texts for the day can be found here.
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
June 21, 2026
The Rev. Christopher Roque
Rector, Calvary, Menard and St. James', Fort McKavett
“When Love Disturbs Peace”
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Summer VBS and Other Options
Hosting a VBS at your small church is absolutely possible and can make a huge impact on your community. But VBS is not the only – and sometimes not at all the best – way to engage folks in the summer months.
Check out this resource put together by our Christian Formation Director, Suzanna Green, to help you discern whether a VBS is right for you and discover other ideas for your small church this summer.
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Looking Ahead: Backpack Blessings!
Many churches do a backpack blessing on a Sunday in August nearest to most of your community's school start dates. You can invite children, youth, and college students to bring school bags, and even adults to bring their work, diaper bag or purse for a blessing and to receive a tag to put on their bag as a reminder of God's love. This year's diocesan backpack tags will be ready by July 1 and you can find a link to them in the July Christian Formation newsletter or on the Christian Formation webpage. Click here for some options of prayers to use for backpack blessings and a prayer to pray over your church's school or the schools in your community.
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Iona Continuing Education for Clergy and Lay Leaders
The Iona Collaborative offers ongoing continuing education options for any clergy or lay leader in our diocese. You do not have to have attended the DWTX Iona School to register for Iona continuing education courses. Registration for fall online courses will open in early August. Click here to find a full listing of the upcoming cohorts, including at least two led by DWTX instructors!
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An Essay for Facing an Uncertain Future
If your congregation continues to face numerical decline and you’re feeling a bit anxious, check out this article from our friends at the Good Friday Collaborative to help remind you who you are and whose you are and to consider the options that every church of every size has to take the next faithful step.
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Diocese of West Texas (DWTX)
Iona School of Ministry
Lay Preaching Track
Our own DWTX Iona School will be starting up again this fall and will feature a Lay Preacher track for lay people to be certified to preach in congregations in the diocese. To be eligible for the program, you must be a confirmed communicant in good standing with your local congregation and have a letter of support from your rector, vicar, or priest-in-charge (speak to Canon King if your church does not have a consistent clergy presence). More information about the program and links to the application and financial commitment forms can be found here.
The deadline to apply is Sunday,
June 21.
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Additional Iona Resources
As you and your congregation are thinking through Christian formation plans, congregational discernment or opportunities for prayer and reflection, the Iona Collaborative offers a whole host of resources free of charge to clergy and lay leaders of small churches. Check out their current offerings here and be sure to sign up for their excellent newsletter here.
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Free Christian Formation Resource on the Sacraments
A new three-session, video-based course about baptism, Eucharist, and the church’s sacramental rites is available for download or streaming with accompanying study guides. “Signs and Grace: An Introduction to the Sacraments” marks the first video collaboration between The Episcopal Church and Forward Movement to provide free formation resources for dioceses and congregations. This course includes three 20-minute-long videos in English with Spanish subtitles, as well as study guides and is suitable for individuals or groups.
| | Mark your calendars for these events and opportunities in the next few months. This section of the newsletter also includes information about Canon Leyla King’s schedule of visits to congregations of the diocese when available. | |
Featured Events
September 19 : Small Church Gathering at Church of the Epiphany, Kingsville. Have an idea for a topic for our Gathering? Email Canon Leyla. Registration will be available in August.
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DWTX Small Church Chat
Aug 4, Sept 1, Oct 6
Zoom
10:00-11:00 a.m
Diocese of West Texas (DWTX) Small Church Chat. Join other small church leaders in the diocese for colleagueship, resource-sharing and mutual learning.
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Province VII Small Church Chat
Aug 6, Sept 3, Oct 8 Zoom
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Province VII Small Church Chat. Join other small church leaders from throughout our province for colleagueship, resource-sharing and mutual learning.
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Canon Leyla Visits
June 7
St. James
Ft. McKavett
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Giving Opportunity
Support the ministry work of the Diocese of West Texas small churches through a gift.
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