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Vol. 6, No. 7, November 2011
(scroll down to read all the news)
- Empowering Church Leadership Along the Border
- Reflections the magazine
- Cursillo News
- Special Events
- Church and Other Events
- News for You
Empowering Church Leadership Along the Border
Brownsville to host a Global Leadership Summit presented fully in Spanish
By Laura Shaver
Photo courtesy of Willow Creek Association
In 1996 and just after his ordination to the priesthood, the
Rev. Charles Sharrow, vicar of St. Paul’s, Brownsville, attended his first
Global Leadership Summit in Chicago. He took notice of the diversity of
speakers and topics and that those leading the summit didn’t take each other
too seriously. “They were genuinely interested in helping church leaders grow;
they weren’t hiding their own mistakes,” said Sharrow. Largely due to Sharrow's efforts, a Global Leadership
Summit, presented fully in Spanish, will take place in Brownsville on November
11 and 12 at Central Christian Church. Sharrow has played an instrumental role
in bringing the summit to the Valley.
The Global Leadership Summit is held in over 70 countries around the world to inspire, stretch, and equip Christian leaders. The events are sponsored and implemented by the Willow Creek Association (WCA), a not-for-profit Christian organization whose vision is to see every local church reach its full redemptive potential – becoming an unbridled conduit for the transforming power of Jesus. The summits feature reputable speakers from around the globe that inspire leadership in the church from each sector, including business, education, government, and social.
Since 1996, Sharrow has attended 13 summits in seven cities, including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville, Pittsburgh, and Guatemala City. Over this time he recognized the need for a Global Leadership Summit presented in Spanish. In 2008, he invited parishioners from St. Paul’s to San Antonio, where Spanish interpretation was provided. However, the following year, simultaneous interpretation was not offered because of low demand and high costs for equipment. Eliminating the opportunity for Spanish speakers to attend created the opportunity to consider moving the summit to the Valley and offering it entirely in Spanish. “I think the fact that the summit in San Antonio offered Spanish interpretation only that one year is what opened the door to look toward Brownsville as our location,” said Sharrow.
In 2009 Wesley King with WCA contacted Sharrow to begin a conversation about offering the summit in Spanish. What transpired was a format consisting of six videos of well-known leadership speakers interpreted to high-quality Spanish, capturing gestures and emotion and delivering an accurate rendition of the original speech. Worship songs, skits, and other elements to the summit would be in Spanish as well. Brownsville was picked as the city in which to hold the summit because it is a place that needs empowered leadership, in the midst of language barriers and border crimes. Sharrow said he knew God was placing his hand on this and guiding him to be a better leader and raise up better leadership in the church.
Central Christian Church in Brownsville was contacted to host the summit because their facility provided the best space. “God is using this leadership conference to bring multi denominational representatives to worship together and learn,” said Sharrow. Once the location was determined, Sharrow contacted several parish leaders, and it was a go. “I’ve been blessed with the gift of persistence, or of being obnoxious depending on who you ask, and I knew this would all come together in God’s timing and in God’s economy,” said Sharrow.
Sharrow believes there is a real need for coaching in personal and spiritual lives, especially for clergy. “Leadership training and coaching are inseparable, and God gives us both to equip ourselves and to help identify dark areas, as in our attitudes and choices,” said Sharrow. He continued, “It is easy to go to one of the conferences and be deceived, believing you have to lead a 5,000-member church to be a good leader. But you don’t have to. You go to learn and not to impress and to apply what you learn to honor God’s glory. It’s about learning to lead in humility.
The Global Leadership Summit will be presented fully in
Spanish on November 11 and 12 in Brownsville at Central Christian Church. For
information about the upcoming conference in Brownsville, contact the Rev.
Chuck Sharrow at vicpablomission@gmail.com or 956-542-3869. For information about the Global
Leadership Summit, visit the WCA’s website at http://www.willowcreekglobalsummit.com/.
Reflections the magazine
The fall/winter issue of Reflections magazine is now available online.
The theme of the issue is "breaking away" and features articles on retreating, sabbath, and other ways of connecting with God. To view this issue, click here. Also visit ReflectionsOnline, the diocesan spiritual formation blog for other topics and conversation.
Cursillo News
There have been 254 Cursillos in the Diocese of West Texas since it
began in this diocese in January of 1972.The Cursillo movement is one
that is designed to increase and strengthen faith and grow leadership
within the Church.
The weekend consists of learning, laughter, fun, and food. Small groups are formed, and members become close; lifelong friendships can be made.
Thursday through Sunday, November 10-13, Camp Capers will host the next Cursillo, #255. Stephanie Schuette from Good Shepherd, George West, will serve as the lay rector, and the Rev. Patrick Soule, St. Andrew's, Corpus Christi, and the Rev. Clayton Elder, St. Philip's, Beeville, will serve as spiritual directors.
If you have been thinking of going to Cursillo, wait no longer. Click here for information and application and sponsorship forms. Contact Leigh Saunders, Cursillo registrar, for information at leigh.saunders@dwtx.org or 888/210-824-5387.
Special Events
Cursillo #255
Bishop Elliott Society Lecture
The next lecture will be held at St. Luke's, San Antonio, November 11-12. The speaker will be author and professor Philip Jenkins. To view the flyer, please click here. To register online, visit www.bishopelliott.org, or mail in the registration form attached to the flyer.
Daughters of the King Fall AssemblyAll women are invited to the Diocese of West Texas Order of the Daughters of the King Fall Assembly on November 11 and 12 at St. Christopher's by the Sea in Portland. Guest speaker will be the Rev. David Floyd-Archibald, rector of St. Andrew's, San Antonio. The focus will be on prayer as a major component in the life of a DOK. Cost for senior daughters is $30 and $20 for junior daughters. Scholarships are available. Please contact Karen at 210-509-9737 or Kim at 210-325-4991. To register online by November 4, click here.
Happening #120 at St. Philips, Uvalde
Happening #120, a spiritual renewal weekend for teenagers, will be held at St. Philip's, Uvalde, November 18-20. High school students 10th - 12th grades are encouraged to register. To register online, click here. For more information on Happening, click here.
Cathedral House Gallery"Take Nothing for the Journey" is the theme for the opening exhibit of Cathedral House Gallery, located on the grounds of the Bishop Jones Center in San Antonio (111 Torcido Drive). This first exhibit, featuring Episcopal artists from around the 60-county diocese, will open with a wine and cheese reception on Friday, November 18, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and will remain open Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through December 30. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. The theme, "Take Nothing for the Journey," addresses simplicity during Advent.
Thanksgiving on the Island
Escape to the Mustang Island Conference Center with your loved ones for a Thanksgiving to remember. Arrive Wednesday evening and depart Saturday afternoon. A beautiful feast follows the Holy Eucharist on Thanksgiving Day. Relax, visit, stroll along the shore, and visit area points of interest. DWTX member family cost is $625; others $725; DWTX member couple $350; others $450. To register online, please click here.
Advent GatheringAll women are invited on Saturday, December 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., to an Advent Gathering sponsored by the Diocese of West Texas Daughters of the King in the mission room at the Bishop Jones Center. Guest speakers Carla Pineda and Patricia Brooke will lead a teaching on "The Gift of Giving." In keeping with that theme, there will be an ornament exchange, so bring an ornament to share. The Daughters will also collect new or gently used cold weather items, such as sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, and blankets for the homeless community in San Antonio. Cost is $8 and includes all materials, breakfast items, and a soup and sandwich lunch with Christmas cookies. To register online, click here. For information, contact Karen Duerr, president DWTX Daughters of the King, at 210-355-8281 or Kim Najera, secretary, at 210-690-7477.
James Avery Distinguished Speaker Series
Kyle Rote, Jr. will inspire and educate participants through this speaker series devoted to excellence and leadership development, at Mustang Island Conference Center on December 9-11. Servanthood leadership will be the focus of Mr. Rote's discussions as he shares about his year-long experience with Mother Teresa. Cost is $248 per person double occupancy and $295 per person single occupancy. For more information, registration and scholarships, please call Lynn at 361-749-1800 or click here to register online.
Church and Other Events
St. George Episcopal School's "Par 3" Golf ClassicSt. George Episcopal School's 2011 "Par 3" Golf Classic will take place Monday, November 7, at the Fair Oaks Ranch Golf and Country Club (7900 Fair Oaks Parkway). This event will help support the school's enrichment programs and the fine arts, technology, and athletics departments. Entry fee is $125 per player or $450 for a four-player team. Included for each person is lunch, range balls and a putting green warm-up, and the awards reception. Lunch and check-in is at 11:00 a.m. with the shotgun start at 1:00 p.m. Sponsorships are available. Please click here for more information and the registration/sponsorship form.
Seminary of the Southwest Open House for Prospective Students
Explore
Seminary of the Southwest's Master of Divinity and Diploma of Anglican
Studies programs during visitors' weekend, a "retreat" offered each
spring and fall. Friday afternoon through Sunday morning is structured
to give prospective students a feel for seminary life - worship, study,
community - and to provide time to ask questions of faculty, staff,
and especially current students. Attendees are both local to Austin and
from across the United States. The event begins Friday, November 11,
at 4:00 p.m. and includes a dinner with the professors, classroom
experience, Q&A with current students, community Eucharist, and
Saturday evening reception. There is a $45.00 registration fee, which
inlcudes complimentary room and board and airport shuttle. Click here to register online, or call 512-472-4133 ext. 357.
Community of Hope Quiet Day at Christ Church
Christ
Church, San Antonio, will host a Community of Hope Quiet Day on
Saturday, November 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Bishop Jones
Center. Breakfast snacks will be provided; there will be no lunch, and
there is no charge to attend. Retreat leader will be Sylvia Maddox. For
information or to reserve a space, contact Carol Miller at carolm@cecsa.org or 210-736-3132.
Workshop on Protestant Mysticism
Protestant Mysticism, sponsored by the Oblate School of Theology,
will be offered at St. Paul's, San Antonio, on Saturday, November 12
from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Rev. Jane Vennard, presenter, is a
senior adjunct faculty member in prayer and spirituality at the Iliff
School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. The workshop will be guided by
the definition of mysticism and will explore the writings and teachings
of a number of Protestant mystics with an eye to what they can teach us
today, including Martin Luther and John Wesley, founders of the
Protestant movement. The workshop cost is $45, which includes lunch. For
more information and for mail-in registration, click here, or contact Mario at 210-341-1366, ext. 226.
Concert to Honor Veterans at St. Thomas
The
youth at St. Thomas, San Antonio, will present A Night to Honor Our
Veterans on Saturday, November 12. This free concert event will feature
the bands Soundwave, The Reliques, and Lainey Wright. Doors open at
5:00 p.m., and the music will begin at 6:00. This event is sponsored by
Greg Carnes Productions, 91.3 K-Love, and it will benefit the Military Warriors Support Foundation. For free concert tickets and more information, email stthomaschurch@tom1604.org or call 210-494-3507. Click here to view and/or print the flyer.
Organ Recital at St. Mark's
St.
Mark's, San Antonio, presents an organ recital by Alan Morrison as
part of their twentieth anniversary concert series season. Morrison is
recognized as one of America's premier concert organists. He is Head of
the Organ Department at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music. The
recital begins at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, in the sanctuary.
The event is free and open to the public. Childcare will be available
with a reservation seven days in advance.
Taize Service at Good Samaritan Community Services
Good
Samaritan Community Services will host a candle-light Taize service
with labyrinth walk at their main campus, 1600 Saltillo, San Antonio,
at 5:30 p.m., December 1. The service will be a chance to worship
silently to the rhythm of Taize chant, either walking or still, with a
focus on the Incarnation and God's love for the poor. Neighbors from the
community will participate in the service. For more information,
contact the Rev. Andy Lobban, chaplain at the center, at Lobban_a@goodsamcenter.com.
News for You
Mustang Island on Facebook: The Mustang Island Conference Center, a ministry of Christian hospitality in the Diocese of West Texas, is now on Facebook. Click here to follow all the happenings of the year-round retreats and Family Camps at your island home.
NAMI Walks: On Saturday, October 8, a team from the Diocese of West Texas
participated in the NAMI Walks for the Mind of America at Brackenridge
Park in San Antonio. NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness
sponsors this 3K (1.8-mile) walk once a year in San Antonio and other
locations as well. Jerry Fulenwider, leader of the Mental Health
Ministry within the diocesan department of Christian Faith in Action,
was the top fundraiser for the walk. Fulenwider's team, Faith in Mental
Health, contributed over $1,200. Pictured: The Bishop's Blisters (team from the DWTX)
Episcopal Relief and Development Matching Gift Challenge: Through November 30 donors have the opportunity to make their dollars go
even further toward healing a hurting world. Any donation made to Episcopal Relief and Development
(ERD) will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000. The matched
gift amount will be donated to the Global Needs fund, which supports the
organization's work worldwide.
Please click here to make your donation.
Making a gift to the Global Needs fund will ensure that your
contribution will be used in the area of greatest need, although
donations to any fund will be matched through Nov. 30.
ERD is the international relief and development agency of The Episcopal Church and an independent 501(c)(3) organization.