Vol. 6, No. 4, June 2011

In this issue: (Scroll down to read all the news) God Does Love the World Energizing with the Good Earth Solar at Home Sidebar Info Special Events & Registration Douglass Foundation Scholarships Mother's Day Offering Father's Day Offering TMI Headmaster Retires

God Does Love the World

Good Friday and Earth Day coincided this year. A local foundation and business hosted kayak races on the Rio Grande to promote our river and the gift of water it represents to us.

Somewhere along the way, Eric Ellman, a business leader, decided to invite local clergy to come and say a prayer and participate in the festivities. When I noted to him that in a mostly Christian community, and mostly Roman Catholic Christian, observance of Good Friday was most likely to take precedence over Earth Day, he was a bit surprised.

It occurred to me that, in some ways, the real Earth Day has always been Good Friday.

"God so loved the cosmos, the world, that he gave his only begotten son so that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

A few years ago a young five-year-old boy in our congregation came up to me after church and handed me two drawings he had done during the sermon. In one, a man in a robe is walking holding the hand of a globe that has arms and legs and a big smile. Very seriously he told me, "God is very best friends with the world." And in the next drawing, a similar looking man is holding a world. "In this one, God takes care of the world," he told me.

God does love the world. And kayaking early on Good Friday morning, after praying for our river and for peace in the midst of the violence in Mexico, is one way of showing how much we want to love and care for the world God has made. On the water, it was hard to imagine all the conflict and violence nearby. Watching the turtles, herons, and kingfishers, and the water slowly gliding by made me realize that God's goodness and beauty surround us. We just need to slow down and watch.

We are good at reverencing symbols of the holy in our places of worship: crosses, altars, etc. Hopefully we are even better at finding reverence for the world God made and for others who are created in his image.  

The little boy was right. God does love and care for the world. Intimately and deeply.

- The Rev. Paul Frey, Christ Church, Laredo

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation,
that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others
and to your honor and glory. (Prayers of the People Form IV, Book of Common Prayer)

Energizing with the Good Earth

We pray for a reverence for the earth, for God’s creation, and we explore ways to honor this prayer through environmental awareness. Utilizing solar power allows us to draw energy from the sun and acknowledge the resources God has given us. Logistically, solar power saves money and energy and provides a recap to the initial investment. “We want to be part of what the big picture is,” said the Rev. Robert Woody, rector of the Episcopal Church of Reconciliation, San Antonio. “The younger generation today sees the church as irrelevant in their lives. But solar panels are one way to confront that perception; they are relevant.” Reconciliation became the first church in San Antonio to install solar panels. Carl Strating, who served as the parish’s point person for the project, added, “We are concerned with the Good Earth we’re living on, not just getting ourselves to Heaven.”

An Environmental Stewardship Committee at Reconciliation, headed by parishioner Hall Hammond, completed a full church energy audit seven or eight years ago. Everything was inspected, and each room was investigated. Leaks were found and fixed. New low-flush toilets were installed. Ceramic and biodegradable coffee cups replaced the Styrofoam ones. Soon after the audit, the committee decided to dig deeper and consider other opportunities to enhance the church’s environmental awareness. With Hammond’s encouragement, the committee began to consider solar power.

Seventy-four solar panels were installed atop the administration building in February 2010. As of May 2011, the panels have produced 25,000 kilowatt-hours since Valentine’s Day in 2010. A kilowatt-hour is equal to the burning of 1,000 watts for one hour (or ten 100-watt light bulbs for one hour). Hammond acknowledged the parish’s electricity bill has decreased in all but two months since the installation. Woody said, “The production is more than predicted. Our estimated 10.5 years to recover the investment has already decreased to eight years.” The church’s total investment was approximately $50,000 after a $36,000 rebate from CPS (City Public Service). The money was raised by individual contributions and an allowance from a capital fund to upgrade the campus.

“With solar panels on the roof above my office, sometimes in my quiet time, when I’m still, I imagine myself as a solar panel, finding the right angle to maximize the receiving of God’s message, God’s energy,” said Woody. This project is sustainable, concrete, and long-term, and it helps address the church’s relevance and their good works in the community. As the first church in San Antonio to utilize solar energy, Reconciliation received an Air Quality Stewardship Award by the Alamo Area Council of Governments in April 2011. “We received the award with the ‘big guys’, such as USAA,” said Strating. Hall added, “Yes, we’re in good company.”

Solar at Home

When Carl Strating agreed to be the point person with the contractor of Meridian Solar for the Episcopal Church of Reconciliation, San Antonio, he decided to install solar panels on his own home. "I am a real advocate of solar energy, making the most and using the most," said Strating.

 

The estimated cost of the installation on Strating's home was $42,000. He paid half up front and received a 30 percent tax reduction and a $7,000 tax rebate in 2010. CPS (City Public Service) in San Antonio funded half of the installation. The actual out-of-pocket expense for Strating totaled $13,000. The system was installed and efficiently running by September 19, 2010, and Strating has not paid an electricity bill since.

 

CPS in San Antonio credits the solar energy you produce but do not use, functioning as a non-profit utility service. Usually solar energy is used about 10 feet from where it is made, so there is no presence of power lines or long cords. Strating said, "Sun you can utilize anywhere, whereas wind only where it's efficient. And we know how summer goes in Texas - hot and sunny."

 

Interested in solar power? Contact Hall Hammond with Reconciliation, San Antonio, or Carl Strating for more information.

Sidebar Info in Direct Line Email

The spring/summer issue of Reflections magazine is now published. If you did not receive a copy in your mailbox, or if you would like extra copies, please send an email to Barbara Duffield.

The topic of this issue is Sacred Spaces - of the mind, body, and in our natural surroundings, where we meet God and God meets us. Each article is posted and will be discussed further on ReflectionsOnline. Please visit our spiritual formation site and follow the discussions.To read the full issue online, click here.

Eat at OrderUp and Donate to World Mission: Now - September 1 ORDERUP in San Antonio (Stone Ridge, Lincoln Heights, Colonnade) will donate 15 percent of the pre-tax total from all receipts to our diocesan world missions department. All you have to do is mark the back of your receipt with "DWTX World Missions" and place it in the "Speak Up" box in the restaurant. It is located near the "Listen Up" sign. Remember to invite your friends and co-workers, and go eat at ORDERUP. Visit their website for more information and to view their menu: http://www.orderup-sa.com.

Sowing Seeds
To: Dr. Marthe Curry, Director of Development for World Mission
From: A school in Beaumont where the Rev. Betty Fuller is chaplain. She encouraged these students to share their story with the Diocese of West Texas.

We have traveled to two schools so far to collect school supplies for children in Uganda. The kids have been great--very receptive and interested in our message. At All Saints, we have spoken with the school's National Junior Honor Society, and they are going to carry out our project.  

We advertised a "school supplies packet" of paper, a ruler, crayons, and pencils that would cost about $3. We hope all the students in the school will get involved, about 400 students in all.  Also, we are presenting to another feeder school today, and East Texas Catholic newspaper is meeting us to take pictures and possibly do an article about our project. This will be a great way to increase awareness about this important issue. We had another bake sale last week, and with the two combined we have raised about $230 dollars so far. We have a jam concert approaching to raise funds as well. 

So far, we feel we've been very successful, and it has been great reaching out to the youth in our community and educating them about this important global issue.

TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas Panther Scramble
The 14th annual Panther Scramble Golf Tournament, held April 4 at Fair Oaks Ranch Golf and Country Club netted $41,000+ to fund student scholarships, programs, and services at TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas. New this year were the Taste of TMI after-party, featuring signature dishes from area restaurants, and a helicopter ball drop for a $1,000 Visa gift card. Next year's Scramble is set for April 16, 2012, at the same venue. For information about sponsorship, contact TMI Special Events Director Kendra Rogers at k.rogers@tmi-sa.org.

Special Events & Registration

Family Camp on Mustang Island: Get away this summer with your family, embracing time to worship, relax, and enjoy those so precious to you. At Family Camp on Mustang Island, each family stays in a beautifully furnished room with a private deck and view of the Gulf of Mexico. The program begins on a Thursday afternoon/evening and continues through Sunday lunch. Enjoy swimming, singing, surfing instruction, arts & crafts, delicious meals, a buried treasure hunt, beach games, worship, building sand chapels and sand castles, fishing, resting under a beach umbrella, bonfires and more.

• There are still spots available in sessions 1-6 and in the Labor Day camp session. Click here to view the session schedule. 
• Scholarships are available, so please contact us if you are interested. Click here for more information.   

Be sure to follow the Camp Capers summer blog at http://campcapers2011.blogspot.com.
Camp Capers' official blogger and photographer, Grace Elliott, is posting updates four to five times a week about the happenings at camp.

The 2011 Stewardship Conference, "Inspiring Generations in Generosity," will be held June 3-4 at Camp Allen, sponsored by The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS). The Diocese of West Texas is a sponsoring diocese. This conference is for clergy, parish, and lay leaders; diocesan stewardship staff; and seminary students. For more information, contact Nancy Stinson at 888/210-824-5387 or nancy.stinson@dwtx.org.

The diocesan communicators will gather for their monthly brown bag lunch on Wednesday, June 8, at noon and will discuss church branding and consistency throughout the ministries with logo use, etc. We will meet at the Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio, 111 Torcido, 78209.

Episcopal Night at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio is scheduled for Thursday, June 16; the San Antonio Missions vs. the Midland Rockhounds. A picnic supper of hotdogs, burgers, chips, and an ice cream cup will be available from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m; the game begins at 7:05 p.m. Ticket prices are: adult picnic/game tickets, $17.50; kids ages 3-12, $15.00; or game only $7.00. Tickets are available through Leigh Saunders at the Bishop Jones Center. Get your registration form online by clicking here, then mail payment to DWTX, PO Box 6885, San Antonio, TX, 78209, Attn: Leigh Saunders. Deadline for registration is June 2. For more information contact Leigh at leigh.saunders@dwtx.org or 888/210-824-5387.

Episcopal Night at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi will be held Monday, June 20, at 7:05 p.m. The Corpus Christi Hooks will play the San Antonio Missions. Tickets will be available through the local churches or by calling Wayne Sykora at 361-877-6983. Purchase of a ticket will include a reserved seat and a t-shirt; price information will be available soon. Just mark your calendar now for the game.

 

The Episcopal Youth Event 2011 (EYE) will be held at Bethel University, in St. Paul, Minnesota, this year, June 22 to 26. High school youth or adults interested in attending may go to the Youth and Young Adult page on the diocesan website, www.dwtx.org, or just click here for information or to register. Although the deadline has passed, registrations are still being accepted; for information or questions contact Stacy Dowdy at stacy.dowdy@dwtx.org.

Happening #119 will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi on August 5-7. Happening is a spiritual renewal weekend for high school students. Online registration is available on our Special Events page. For more information, visit the Happening page.   

 

The diocesan communicators will gather for their monthly brown bag lunch on Wednesday, August 10, at noon and will hold a CASE study (copy and steal, ahem share, everything). Bring copies of your bulletins and other publications and view others to gather and discuss ideas. We will meet at the Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio, 111 Torcido, 78209. 
 
The World Mission Symposium will be held on August 20 at the Bishop Jones Center at 111 Torcido Dr. San Antonio, 78209. The theme will be "A Missions Potpourri" and will include topics about: expectations, fundraising, empowerment, evangelism, and cross-cultural issues. Questions? Contact Marthe Curry at 210/888-824-5387 or mcurry09@sbcglobal.net.

Douglass Foundation Scholarships

Each year through the generosity of the Douglass Foundation, scholarships are awarded to graduate and post-graduate students seeking a master or doctorate degree in theology, business, or psychology. Last year six students were awarded Douglass Foundation scholarships, including seminarians Tim True and Andy Lobban. Qualified graduate and post-graduate students may apply for a Douglass Foundation scholarship by downloading an application form for the 2011-2012 academic year by clicking here. The deadline for submitting the application and all required support is Friday, June 17, 2011.

Mother's Day Offering

The first contributor to the 2011 Mother's Day Offering for the World Mission Department was Roberta Walters, in honor of her mother Roberta Hundley, who is 98 years old. Both mom and daughter are past members of Christ Church in San Antonio. They attended while Sam Capers was rector. They are now members of St. Matthias in Devine and have been since the 1970s. Roberta Hundley was one of the founding members of St. Matthias. Roberta was married 57 years, and she has 6 children, 17 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She is an avid outdoors woman, lives independently, is still wise, and has a zest for life. 

Thank you, Roberta Jr., for your donation in honor of your mother, an amazing one at that. The full list of those honored and remembered through the annual Mother's Day Offering will appear in the July/August issue of the Church News.

Father's Day Offering

The Diocesan Task Force on Habitat for Humanity wants to thank everyone who has participated in the Father's Day fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity in the past. This is a valuable ministry that insists that recipients of a house help themselves and others in the building of houses. This campaign is a great opportunity to honor the special men in our lives by giving a special offering to Habitat for Humanity in their names.

In 2010, the money that was raised through this campaign allowed the Diocese of West Texas to give three $10,000 grants to churches around the diocese, plus a $1,000 tithe to the International Habitat for Humanity per grant. These grants helped churches who wanted to build a Habitat house in their area, but did not have quite enough money.

Once again, the Father's Day Offering will raise money to assist in building Habitat homes. If your church would like to participate, and you need honoree cards, please contact Janet Drane at janet.drane@sbcglobal.net or 210-288-9495. Please click here to view the 2010 Father's Day Offering honorees. 

TMI Headmaster Retires

James A. Freeman, Ph.D, headmaster of TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas, will retire at the end of the present school year. During his six years as headmaster, the school completed a successful capital campaign, built All Saints Chapel and three new dormitories, and increased enrollment by about 100 students.

He and his wife Judy will be moving to the Big Bend area, where Dr. Freeman will continue his work on the board of trustees at Alpine Christian School.

"With the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees, I am deeply grateful for the tenure of Dr. Freeman during his time as Headmaster of TMI," said the Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge, bishop of the Diocese of West Texas. "From his personal contributions to the expansion of the school during his years, TMI is a better institution as a result of his leadership. We are poised to continue to move onward and upward, and we wish Jim and Judy the very best in their retirement and in the years ahead."

The board has appointed Middle School Division Head Walter Spencer as interim headmaster for the 2011-2012 school year and will conduct a national search for the next headmaster. TMI is the only school in the diocese serving boys and girls in grades six through 12.

- Paula Allen, Director of News and Information, TMI