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Dear Diocese of West Texas Family,
Grace to you and Peace. Just a little over a month ago about 650 of us gathered in Corpus Christi for the 122nd Annual Council of the Diocese of West Texas. I am so grateful for our host congregations, workshop leaders, staff members, and guests who brought a richness of faith and practical wisdom to our gathering under the theme, “Let love be genuine.” I am grateful to all those who offered themselves to be nominated for various offices, or allowed themselves to be appointed to serve in various ministries.
While the energy and joy of that gathering is still on our minds, we now turn to the work of ministry. We now turn to learning and striving to let our love be genuine in our congregations and in our neighborhoods. Throughout the pages of this issue of laVentana you will read about people and congregations who are striving in small experiments or large ministries to do just that. If you visit the diocesan website (dwtx.org/council) you will find videos and presentations from Council filled with ideas and best practices that you may adapt and use in your own setting. Remember, if your congregation – or a ministry within your congregation – is stuck, help is just a phone call away.
As I look around the diocese on my travels this spring, I see our summer camping programs gearing up for the summer, congregations organizing for mission trips, flood relief efforts moving forward in Kerr County, preparations for our second Discovery Weekend, and new member classes forming in various places. I see faithful Sunday School teachers, food bank ministries, diaper drives and Episcopal schools undertaking efforts to share genuine love. In these ministries and in every congregation Bishop Cortiñas and I visit, we see our Risen Lord at work making all things new and beckoning us to join him in gracefully engaging a world that needs the genuine, authentic love we have to offer. It gives us great hope and great joy to see so many congregations doing so much ministry that makes a big difference in their communities.
Easter blessings of love, joy and peace to you and to your congregation!
+David Read
Bishop of West Texas
