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What a busy semester! As I sat in my counselor's office describing the goings on of this past week, it occurred to me that it has become harder and harder to keep from multi-tasking even when "relaxing". I asked her what she thought it meant that when I force myself to do just one thing long enough, I inevitably fall asleep. It doesn't matter what the task is, where I am, or what time of day it is - there is a good chance I will just power down. The counselor seemed unfazed and replied simply, "Perhaps you're just really tired." Perhaps.
Scripture encourages us time and time again to rest. Psalm 46:11 tells us to, "Be still and know that I am God." Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Psalm 23:1-3 says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul."
My high schooler is a runner. She finished her track season about two weeks ago and has been stressing over her upcoming AP exam. Today was the day. It wasn't until she ran through the house and joyfully declared, "Now that I'm not overwhelmed by the stress of that anymore, I can start running again!" that I really started thinking about the kind of "rest" that God is inviting us to take part in.
God invites us over and over again to let go of the things that the world expects of us - to always do/be more; to always be "productive"; to never say "no"; and, whatever else the world tells us we need to do or be to be good enough. For some of us, the rest we need is actual sleep. We are physically worn out. For many of us though, the rest we really need is in response to mental overwhelm and weariness. The toll that mental exhaustion can take is often unknown until it hits a tipping point. What I hear in the verses above is not just permission to take a nap once in awhile. I hear God offering a new way of living filled with renewal and peace. If we prioritize our lives around the ways of the Lord and not of the world, we are promised restoration of our souls. Sign me up! What does that look like though?
Perhaps the rest and renewal comes in prioritizing the things that keep us from disconnecting from ourselves, from others, and from God. Maybe a spiritual "nap" from time to time. That might look like 15 minutes of meditation - to be still and quiet enough that your mind and body finally relax during the day. It might look like grounding ourselves by going outside and putting our bare feet on the earth, listening to the birds, or feeling the sun on our skin. Maybe it means exercising, so our bodies are occupied and our minds are free to wander. If you work at camp this summer, it might mean being intentional about being quiet and still during rest period instead of visiting with cabin mates. For my daughter, it might mean accepting that sometimes going for a run is just as important as studying.... sometimes. For me, it is small things like starting my morning with a cup of coffee and checking in with my spouse before we wake up the kids.
Whatever it is that helps you to stop, set down your worries, and listen for the Good Shepherd's call, give yourself permission to make time for those things. Make time to rest, be still, be restored, and allow yourself to lie down in the green pastures of God's love for you. Summer is a great time to practice. Happy napping!
~Tami Woods
Director of College + Young Adult Ministries
| | College + Young Adult News and Events | | |
Zoom Bible Studies
Tues. @ 6:00 p.m. (CST)
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Zoom Bible Study has been meeting online every Tuesday at 6:00pm (CST) this semester.
Join us for our last Bible Study of the semester on Tuesday, May 12th before we sign off for the summer!
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College + Young Adult Fall Retreat:
Sept. 25-27 @ Camp Capers
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With the warm glow of summer left behind and the Fall semester upon you, our College + Young Adult Fall Retreat will be the perfect chance to take a breather, play, eat well, and rest. Join old and new friends from churches and campuses across our diocese at one of our favorite holy places, Camp Capers, for a weekend you won't regret. Trust us, you don't want to miss it!
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Discovery Weekend #3: Nov. 13-15
@ St. Matthew's, Universal City
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Did you know that discernment is for everyone? When people hear the word "discernment", they often associate it with the formal process for discerning a call to ordination. Well, discernment is actually something we should all be doing. If you're curious about how we do that in the Diocese of West Texas, then we have a weekend for you!
Discovery Weekend is a weekend for exploration of discernment. We will discuss the concept of vocation and God's call in our lives as Christ followers. We will explore the act of discernment as it applies to both lay and ordained persons in the Episcopal Church and in our diocese. Whether this is a first step toward learning more or the tenth step along your journey with discernment, this weekend is open to you and anyone who is interested in learning and discovering more!
| | Summer Staff members during Summer 2025 staff training. (photos by Noah Shelby) | | |
The Best Job Ever!
Why You Should Spend Your Summer at One of our Camps
~article submitted by John Morales, Peer Minister to the Rio Grande Valley
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As college students and young adults, summer can really be a balancing act. We want to make money, add to our resumes, and enjoy our break before the Fall semester rolls around. If you are opposed to the idea of spending your summer doing boring internship work, our 3 diocesan camps have an invitation for you. Come work at camp!
Whether it is the Cypresses along the Guadalupe River at Camp Capers, the salty coastal air and warm sand of Mustang Island Conference Center, or the rugged, off-the-grid beauty of Duncan Park in the Colorado Rockies, spending your summer on staff is far more than just a job. Honestly, it is a life-changing experience. Here are some reasons to skip the internship and come to camp this summer!
A Thin Veil and God's Creation
At our camps, the veil between Heaven and Earth is remarkably thin. There is an immense sense of the Holy Spirit flowing through these spaces, moving through the rustling trees and chapels filled with campers in worship. It never quite feels like work when you are completely immersed in God’s creation. Imagine starting your mornings watching the sun rise over the Gulf, hiking through the crisp mountain air of Roosevelt National Forest, or participating in compline at St. Francis chapel under a massive blanket of stars in the Texas Hill Country. It is an environment that naturally sustains your own faith while you help cultivate it in those around you.
Unmatched Joy and Lifelong Memories
Let me be the first to say that taking care of campers for a week at a time takes a lot of energy. But the joy that these campers will bring to your days makes every single second worth it. You get to be the person who helps a shy kid come out of their shell, encourages someone to conquer their fear of the zip line or screamer, and answers their deep questions about faith. You will also build genuine, lifelong friendships with your fellow staff members. The shared memories, the collective mission to serve those around us, and the inside jokes create a bond that is impossible to find anywhere else. These things, along with the Holy Spirit, are what sustain you most during those tired times.
Click here to read the full article.
| | Walt and Tami visit DWTX students at Texas A&M Canterbury in College Station. (photo by a TAMU student) | | Campus Visits to DWTX Students Outside the Diocese | | |
What a semester it has been! I don’t know about y’all, but I am excited for the peace and respite that the summer season can offer us after an intense Spring semester. On top of all of our regularly scheduled programming here in our wonderful home diocese of West Texas, Tami and I have seen it fit to put even more miles on our cars in order to visit our friends in all parts of Texas.
In February, we had the opportunity to make a quick trip to Lubbock in order to visit our students who attend Texas Tech University. It was a joy to lay eyes on our Red Raiders and feed them with physical and spiritual bread. (Torchy's Tacos and Compline, anyone?)
In March, Tami and I made the drive to West Campus in Austin to join the University of Texas Canterbury group and invite our students to join. (Shout out to Eric for joining us!) It was a special treat to be in the UT Canterbury chapel as it was Palm Sunday, the Sunday the Church remembers Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and His subsequent betrayal and crucifixion. We were able to take part in the Passion reading led by the UT Canterbury students and celebrate the Eucharist with our siblings at UT. It was a special service followed by a wonderful home cooked meal.
Last month, we took a day trip to College Station, encouraging our Texas A&M students to meet us at the Canterbury student center. We were overwhelmed with joy as ten of our diocesan students attended and celebrated the Eucharist at Canterbury! What followed was a full fledged family reunion over an amazing home cooked dinner by St. Thomas, College Station parishioners.
As this semester winds down, I would like to remind everyone that each and every student and young adult from our diocese is a part of our family. It does not matter if you go to school, where you are working, or how far away from the diocese you are. If you need us or want us to be in community with you, we will find a way to be present in your life. We love to visit and show up for our people. This also applies to everyone who will be home for the summer or somewhere else! We don’t stop caring and we don’t stop praying for you when you are out of school or on vacation. We are here for you for the long haul! Thank each and every one of you for being in our family and allowing us to continue this life-giving work.
~article submitted by Walt Buzzini, Lead Campus Missioner
| | Students gather every Thursday in the campus student center at St. Philip's College. (photo by Walt Buzzini) | Ministry at St. Philip's College Continues to Thrive | | |
In 1898, St. Philip’s College was founded by the Rt. Rev. James “Steptoe” Johnston, second Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of West Texas. In 1902, Artemisia Bownden joined the school as administrator and teacher. Originally founded as an all girl’s school for the economic empowerment of the children of former slaves, St. Philip’s College (SPC) has blossomed into an educational powerhouse on San Antonio’s east side. Click here to read more about the history of St. Philip's, and the association with the Diocese of West Texas.
As Lead Campus Missioner for the diocese, one of my responsibilities is to empower the formation of communities of Christ followers rooted in the Episcopal tradition on college campuses. The first place on my list to do this work was at the historically Episcopal school founded by a woman recognized by the Episcopal Church as a Holy Woman. Ever since my first visit to SPC four years ago, I knew the Holy Spirit was at work on that campus and was nudging me to play a part in the work God was already doing there. What started out as an awkward weekly coffee hour where I offered to buy coffee and pray for students has transformed into a living and breathing community of Christ seekers in and around the St. Philip’s College campus. The students in this community come from different backgrounds, maintain different Christian traditions, and are all on extremely different journeys of life. Despite all of these differences, the members pray for each other and actively seek to live their faiths in common life with one another.
Almost every student that is a part of this mosaic-like community had never heard of the Episcopal Church (or the Book of Common Prayer) before I met them; yet, even holding to their own traditions, they have been able to be a part of Episcopal Church life and the mysteries, beauty, and theology that are so important to our own faith tradition. Many of these St. Philip’s students have joined us for Easter Vigils, Christmas parties at the BJC, and our retreats.
This group of students, whether they realize it or not, are a church by every definition of the word. They worship together, pray for each other, and do their best to live like Jesus in communion with one another. My faith life has been enriched by being able to foster and support the community at St. Philip’s College, and I am excited to see how the Holy Spirit will continue to move all of us.
~article submitted by Walt Buzzini, Lead Campus Missioner
| | Susan Lindstrom, College Minister at Christ Church, SA celebrates entry into Santiago de Compostela. (photo by Susan) | | Thank You Susan - the End of an Era in College + Young Adult Ministry | | |
It is hard to describe what a blessing it is to do ministry ministry with someone who clearly lives into their vocation and has an undeniable desire to serve the community they are a part of. When I think of this kind of leader, I cannot help but imagine the work of Susan Lindstrom.
Susan originally joined our diocese as a clergy spouse when her husband, Rev. Justin Lindstrom, accepted a call to serve as an associate rector at Christ Episcopal Church in San Antonio. Susan's vast experience serving young people in settings like St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, Camp Allen, various parishes, and more made her a valuable additions to the volunteers who supported youth ministry at her new church home. Her charismatic personality, unnaturally high energy levels, love of adventure and courage to try new things, made Susan the perfect choice when Christ Church identified a need for a College Minister to gather and create community for young adults finding their way to their church from nearby universities. Susan was later appointed to the College Missions Council by the Rt. Rev. David M. Reed, 10th Bishop of West Texas, and helped in discerning the future of college ministry in the diocese.
When Walt and I were hired in the summer of 2022, Susan was one of the very first ministry partnerships that we formed. She made it easy. Susan's ability to be collaborative, creative, and adaptable allowed us to begin building relationships with young adults, partner in ministry opportunities, and eventually develop an on-campus ministry at Trinity University that works to provide a community for San Antonio students during the week with Christ Church and other neighboring parishes as their local church homes. Susan has attended retreats, journeyed with us on pilgrimages, and has been one of our biggest cheerleaders and supporters over the years.
After 8 years of professional ministry to and for the students and young adults of San Antonio, Susan will be retiring from the staff at Christ Church at the end of May. She already has plans to travel the world, spend precious time with her family, and go to Disney World as frequently as possible. Susan will continue to volunteer at Camp Allen and other ministry opportunities. Believe me when I say that we will never let her fully retire from ministry in this diocese.
We are so grateful for the opportunities that we have had to serve with Susan (and Justin) over these past four years. We have been blessed by her continued support. We wish Susan and her family many blessings to come and look forward to seeing what new adventures she gets herself into next.
~article submitted by Tami Woods, Director of College + Young Adult Ministries
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We are hiring!
There are amazing job opportunities around the diocese. From internships to Youth Ministry positions, a variety of roles are available. Don't miss out on this chance to launch your professional vocation.
Click here to see job openings around the diocese.
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“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
~Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
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Are you doing ministry to, for, or with college and young adults? Let us know!
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media for announcements for additional Spring gatherings.
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University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley
Contact:
John Morales
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Young Adults
Contact the following people for details about Young Adult Ministry at their church.
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Share your college students' or young adults' updated contact information, so College & Young Adult Ministries staff can support them. Don't worry, we won't spam you!
Click here to update our database with your newest contact information.
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