Joyful News Note. All Saints Good Shepherd St Stephens and Wise County PETER PREACHING FRA ANGELICO. Italian Early Renaissance Painter

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1 Joyful News Note Episcopal Church in Northern Deanery, Diocese of Fort Worth All Saints Good Shepherd St Stephens and Wise County Recognize the JOY you are finding here today ++ Katharine Jefferts Schori, Feb. 9, 2009 April 24, 2016 V8N22 PETER PREACHING FRA ANGELICO Italian Early Renaissance Painter JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 1

2 The Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls All Saints ~ Good Shepherd ~ St Stephens 5013 Lindale at Cypress FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Fr. Vern Raschke A junior high music teacher had just organized a band in her school. The principal was so proud of the music teacher's efforts that, without consulting her, he decided the band should give a concert for the entire school. The music teacher wasn't so sure her young musicians were ready to give a concert, so she tried to talk him out of it to no avail. Just before the concert was ready to begin, as the music teacher leaned forward and whispered to her nervous musicians, "If you're not sure of your part, just pretend to play." And with that, she stepped back, lifted her baton and with a great flourish brought it down. Lo and behold, nothing happened! The band brought forth a resounding silence. Sometimes we in the church are like that junior high band, unsure of our parts, tentative in our roles, reluctant to trumpet forth the music of faith that God desires of us. And that's because we have trouble deciding what's most important to us. The goals of the Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls for 2016 are: 1. To find an energetic, talented priest 2. To explore new ideas for how to grow 3. To become united as a congregation by a. doing more events as a congregation b. getting out into the community and doing more c. reaching out to other faith communities 4. To let the community know that we are here and that we JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 2

3 care. Fifth Sunday of Easter Revised Common Lectionary Year C Rite 2 APRIL 24, 2016 First reading Psalm Second reading Gospel Acts 11:1-18 Psalm 148 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35 Reflection on today s appointed Gospel lesson The way Jesus loved his disciples was to lay down his life. This sacrificial love that was to build up the Christian community is a reflection of the mutual love between Jesus and the Father. Jesus love commandment is new not because the old Testament was lacking in love but because there are now two particularly Christian manifestations: the love is to be empowered and modeled on the way Jesus manifested love, and it is to be extended to others. This love is a gift that comes from the Father through the Son to those who believe in him. The Johannine definition of love is Jesus himself. The odd part of the love commandment is the idea of commandment. How do you command love? The key idea to understanding this love is understanding the motivation. It is not something we have to do, but something we get to do. It is a gift. You don t acquire it by human effort, by wanting it, by being the best you can be through your own efforts. Its source is Jesus: you can have such love only because Jesus loves you, because his love was so all-embracing that he laid down his life, gave his life for you. The love that Jesus commands gives JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 3

4 hope. The Vy. Rev. John D. Payne, dean emeritus, Northern Deanery Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth; rector emeritus, All Saints Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls. The Episcopal Church of Wichita Falls All Saints ~ Good Shepherd ~ St Stephens 5013 Lindale at Cypress Holy Eucharist Rite 2 10:30 A.M. Sunday, April 17, 2016 The Rev. Vern Raschke Preacher and Celebrant Altar Servers & Readers SuzAnne Russell Lay Eucharistic Minister James Howerton Crucifer/Thurifer Brennan & Riley Torch Bearers TBA 1 st Lesson Ann Coleman 2 nd Lesson Marie Libby Prayers of the People Vicki Walker Altar Guild Dale Russell Music JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 4

5 May clergy schedule: Fr. Bruce Coggin May 1, 22, 29 Fr. Vern Raschke May 8, 15 Marsha van Etten DeChant Over a hundred attended a Memorial Celebration of the life of Marsha van Etten DeChant, 66, at ECWF parish hall on Thursday, April 21. Marsha was received at All Saints at the Arc from the Roman Catholic Church on All Saints Day, November 1, 2009, with Bishop Sam Hulsey officiating. She was presented by the Rev. Bruce Coggin. She was a lay reader for six years and an active leader in Northern Deanery offices for the Diocese of Fort Worth. Marsha was such a spirited and lovely person, and she will surely be missed, said the Rev. Janet Waggoner, Canon for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. She was born February 15, 1950 in Adrian, Michigan. As an infant she was stricken with polio which left her lame. However she bravely pursued higher education and was awarded a Master s in counseling from Siena Heights University in Michigan in She was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago. She remained however full of joie de vivre. For example last Christmas she rented a car and drove alone to visit family and friends on the East Coast. She is survived by her son, Don Ward III and his wife Amy along with four granddaughters, all of Wichita Falls and also a brother who lives in Virginia and a sister who lives in Florida and a long time soul sister, Joy Nichols, who lives in Michigan. Oral Arguments Heard Tuesday in Appeals Court On Tuesday, April 19, 2016, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals heard oral argument in Episcopal Church v. Salazar. An audio recording of the argument may be found here. A decision is expected in the coming months. JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 5

6 Provisional Bishop J. Scott Mayer and assisting bishops Rayford High and Sam Hulsey were present in the packed courtroom, along with many other people from the diocese. Bishop Mayer said, I was very impressed with the depth and clarity of the case as presented by our legal team. They did a very good job. As we await the decision, let us be about the job given us to do to love and serve God and to love our neighbors as ourselves as we together carry out the mission of The Episcopal Church, to reconcile the world to God. Our Lending Library is Lending The E.C.W.F. has taken one small step in the world-wide journey of promoting literacy, with a nod of thanks to Andrew Carnegie and Joseph A. Kemp as we join in the effort. You may have noticed the colorful box-on-a-post beside our driveway. It is a recent addition to the thousands of tiny free book exchange stations which have been set up all around the globe, numbering 36,000 at last count earlier this year. Go take a closer look at ours! Take a book, leave a book. The books in our little free library are currently provided by the Friends of the Wichita Falls Public Library. Additional donations of books from you and your friends are encouraged in order that we may keep the box well-supplied with books for all ages, babies to grandparents. We will create a drop-box in the parish hall to receive your gifts. The little free library comes with an obligation for stewardship, a requirement currently assumed by Ann Coleman, who is eager to share with other interested persons. Eventually we will register our exchange station with the parent non-profit organization so that E.C.W.F. and its location can be included on their digital map. Meanwhile you can read more about this outreach opportunity at Ann Coleman Good morning, Friends! We will pack food for the Head Start kids on Tuesday Morning, April 26th at 9:00 in the parish hall. I think this will be our next-to-last packing session for the academic year. Lou Whitmire will bring another of her superior desserts, and we ll hope for fair weather. See you then, Ann Prayers of the People of ECWF JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 6

7 For those sick or in need: Melanie, Luke, John, Victor, Dixie, Brian, Dana, Samuel, Janet, Colleen, Jon, Jerome, Ann, Beverly, Peggy, Cindie. Owanah and Carolyn, For those who have died: Marsha, Virgil, Betty, Gloria, Carrol, Henry, Lane, Blair, Wally, Elmer, Stan, Lillian, Robert, Doug, Harold, Skip, Michael and Louise, Cycle of Prayer: St. Elisabeth & Christ the King Episcopal Church, Fort Worth; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Midland Getting to Know You Getting to know you, Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you. Getting to feel free and easy Getting to like you, When I am with you, Getting to hope you like me. Getting to know what to say. Above are the lyrics from a lilting song in the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical The King and I that opened in 1951 and is currently again a hit on Broadway. It s about people from totally different cultures coming to a better understanding and respect for each other. Episcopal Church in Wichita Falls is made up of communicants from three different local Episcopal churches coming together to worship under one roof. Each church had different histories, customs, characteristics and traditions. JOYFUL seeks to assist communicants to become better acquainted with each other. We begin with publishing profiles of the nine elected members of the Bishop s Committee. Getting to Know Sharon Delaney Greeting fellow Episcopalians: I love being an Episcopalian. We have had many highs and lows through the years. I feel very blessed that we have merged together to become stronger as a church. I look forward to our journey together in Christ. Last Sunday members of the Bishop s Committee agreed to share information about themselves. Well I guess I got the first turn to tell you a little bit about me. I've been married to my husband Lloyd Delaney Jr. JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 7

8 for 39 years. We were blessed with two boys Lloyd and Landon who were raised right here in this church. They both turned out to be awesome men, thanks be to God. I have five grandchildren which are true blessings. I am still working at North Texas Ophthalmology Associates. I have been employed there for 26 years. I also have had a long history of playing sports. I had a great career until I wore my knees out and have had them replaced. I still love sports but enjoy them through watching my grandkids play or from my recliner Peace of the lord be with you all. - Sharon Sharing Prayers for Marsha A Eulogy by the Rev. Bruce Coggin read at Celebration of the life of Marsha van Etten De Chant I am not aware how Marsha found her way to us, but my earliest memory is watching her struggle to get out of her car one morning at the ARC. I had come outside to fetch something from my car, and I spotted some considerable movement over at the end of the little parking lot. I didn t recognize the car, but it was immediately evident that whoever was trying to get out of it was having one heck of a time. I paused to watch, saw the back of a head wrapped in a knit cap, long hair swinging this way then that, jerky movements followed by pauses to readjust and rebrace and then heave again until finally I beheld a small woman, face flushed with effort but smiling. She was about as curious a bit of humanity as I d seen in a long time, leaning on a walker, managing the car door, then upright again and moving by fits and starts toward the door. I know I finally got myself over there to greet her, got another smile and a greeting... and a Thank you, I m doing just fine as she propelled herself up the pavement. That turned out to be Marsha, the lady with the longest last name in the world. She was like a number of people who found us in those days, often not entirely standard, dealing with a number of hindrances, a little roughed up--but game. Game as all get out. Coping and not complaining. After a while we had a handful of such people worshiping with us, so even though I wasn t living in Wichita Falls, we put together a kind of an Inquirer s Class and got the willing ready for confirmation or reception. I don t remember precisely how it all went down, but there were a few face to face gatherings, and I remember that Marsha was right verbal, as they say, not one bit hesitant to ask questions or to comment; and her questions and comments indicated she was taking in, considering, sorting, finally buying or not buying; but even when she was not buying, she wasn t leaving the game. Before too long it was time to choose people to represent out tiny deanery at diocesan meetings and... Wichita Falls is two hours from Fort Worth or just about anywhere else, and volunteers were hard to come by. Well, Marsha stepped up and got elected to the Executive Council. I don t know if J.D. Todd knew he was going to be part of that, but he another one who always volunteered, always accepted responsibility, always delivered ended up chauffeuring Marsha a good bit. At diocesan meetings she always did her homework, read the JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 8

9 stuff, knew what was on the table, commented or questioned in her sort of sideways manner, carried her part of the load. And oh how she struggled physically! Managing all kinds of venues our Executive Council met all over the diocese in places not always easy to deal with and often needing help for this or that, she never complained. She just needed time and maybe a hand. The word for Marsha in my book is doughty. If you look that up you get synonyms: fearless, dauntless, determined, resolute, indomitable, intrepid, plucky, spirited, bold, valiant, brave, stouthearted, courageous. Everyone of those applies to Marsha in my experience of her. Though circumstances dealt with her pretty harshly, she was not going to be left out, was not going to be cast down, was not going to go off and sit in a corner and pout. At least I never saw it. She kept a lot of her health to herself, and I was some little bit surprised when all at once she was very, very sick. I saw her the last time right here in this place, came to the altar for communion. I asked some of you to gather round and we laid hands on her and prayed that the blessing of health be strengthened in her. Well, we have seen that prayer answered. She s sick no longer, and I know as sure as sure can be that she s praying with us and for us right now. Dear little Marsha, enjoy your rest. You dang sure earned it. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thursday, April 21, 2016 Mr. Don Ward 2622 San Simeon Drive Wichita Falls, TX Dear Don and all of Marsha s family and friends On behalf of Bishop Mayer and our diocesan leadership and myself, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the life of Marsha VanEtten de Chant. Marsha s quietly ferocious, persistently cheerful way of living was an inspiration to us all. Marsha s heart was always firmly fixed on doing what she knew to be right. This sense of determination flowed from a deep relationship with God and the gracious way in which she valued and upheld other people. We are grateful for the many roles that Marsha played in the leadership of her congregation, including serving as a deanery representative and a delegate to diocesan convention. Marsha was always so willing to do whatever she could to help that the list of ways she served is more than we can possibly recount with any accuracy! JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 9

10 We were sad for Marsha s suffering these past years, and it was difficult to see her struggle with her health. Yet we never knew her to complain. At times when we intended to be encouraging her, we found her cheerful, caring presence lifting us up. We greatly miss Marsha s good-humored, lively presence among us, yet we are glad that she is in that place where there is no pain or sorrow, only Life everlasting. May Marsha rest in peace and rise in glory. Faithfully in Christ, The Rev. Canon Janet Waggoner Canon to the Ordinary The Episcopal Church Wise County 905 Church Street - Decatur, TX Post Office Box 22, Decatur, TX The small frame building originally Church of the Ascension is identified as Decatur s oldest church building. Holy Eucharist 10:00 A.M. Sunday, April 24, 2016 Fr. Tony Hiatt Little white church on Church Street Lay Ministers Pat McGowan Lay Eucharistic Minister Jill McClendon Reader of the Lessons Ellen Whitley Prayers of the People Angie Whitley - Usher Sarah Walker Music JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 10

11 Ellen & Angie Whitley Altar Guild Clydie Walker Flower Guild Deborah Dery - Sexton Mark your calendars: On Monday, May 16, at 7:00 p.m., The Rev. Anthony Hiatt will be installed as Priest in Charge of the Episcopal Church of Wise County. The Rt. Rev. J. Scott Mayer will celebrate and The Rt. Rev. Rayford High will preach. We look forward to a festive celebration. Prayers of the People For those sick or in need: Phil, Jill, Jeromy, the Finley family (esp. Kim), Susan, Sherry, Linda & family For those who have died: Marsha Cycle of Prayer: St. Elisabeth & Christ the King Episcopal Church, Fort Worth; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Midland. Mission of the month: March: A family from Wise County was displaced from their home and was in dire need of clothing, especially for the children. Funds were raised and items were purchased to donate to this family. April: The Episcopal Church of Wise County s St. Anne s Chapter of the Daughters of the King furnished table favors for the upcoming DOK Assembly hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth. Round coasters were printed with the date of the assembly and will adorn each table setting. COVER Peter Preaching by Fra Angelico The lectionary reading from Acts tells the story of Peter s teaching in Jerusalem. The painting of Peter is part of the Linaiuoli Tabernacle, a large altarpiece that is Fra Angelico s earliest mature works. The work, completed in 1433, is at Museo di San Marco, Florence, Italy. Fra Angelico (born Guido di Pietro; c ; died February 18, 1455) JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 11

12 was an Early Italian Renaissance painter described by Vasari in his Lives of the Artists as having "a rare and perfect talent" JOYFUL NEWS NOTES Weekly publication of EPISCOPAL Churches of Northern Deanery The Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer Bishop, Diocese of Fort Worth The Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High, Jr. and the Rt. Rev. Sam B. Hulsey assisting bishops Owanah Anderson, Editor Keith Williamson, Webmaster FACEBOOK: EpiscopalChurchofWichitaFalls JOYFUL # 438 APRIL 24, 2016 Page 12