Memories of the past year

As thoughts and reflections of our past year come in, they will be posted on this page. If you would like to send in your own memories, click on the button to the right. We'd love to hear from you.

March 6, 2010
Joe R. Christopher: A Celebration

"We’re still a diocese, we’re still Episcopalians, and we’re unrepentantly happy about it."                   —Fr. Bruce Coggins

When God had grasped me,  gripped me most straightly,
lifted and moved me,  as his mood decided,
and set me down firmly,  in fancy’s realm,
in a valley of bones,  barren and dry,
"O son of man,"  he said to me then,
Can dry bones live?"  "Yes, lord, if you will it."
He blew on the bones,  his breath like the wind,
and the ossa with a rattle,  like rocks in an earthquake,
with clicking and clattering,  clumped they together,
and shaped selves to skeletons.  I scanned them still lying.
He blew once again,  his breath like the wind.
Sinews grew on them,  nor gruesome it seemed,
and muscles and organs,  in mannered systems,
blood vessels and brains,  brimming the bone cage,
eyeballs and tongues,  and twisted intestines;
then skin covered them,  their scaffold containing.
A third time he blew,  his breath like the wind.
Their lungs received it,  swelled and fell
as breathing began,  beginning life.
The people stood up,  starting their praises
for God who mended them,  the men and the women.
"No longer we’re bones,  no longer scattered,
but brought now together,  brimming with life!
All praise to the Dright,  who drought has ended,
all praise to the Lord,  who life has bestowed,
all praise to our God,  for giving his Spirit!
His people forever,  in faith and in service!"

February 15, 2010
From Elaine and Bruce Culver (Transfiguration, Dallas): Happy First Anniversary, Ft. Worth! You're a breath of fresh air. We thank God for you and wish you all the best.

February 11, 2010
From Frances Cox: On the day of our special convention last February, 2009, after the closing, our newly elected Provisional Bishop, Ted Gulick, greeted people as they left the church. Waiting patiently for their turn, a couple from Trinity, the wife in a wheelchair, were among the last. Bishop Gulick walked toward the couple and knelt down on the floor of the church, in front of the wife in the wheelchair so that his eyes were level with hers. His hands were on the arms of her wheelchair and when I looked down the aisle towards them, the woman, whose name is Sherry, was leaning toward him as Bishop Gulick spoke to her. Her smile was simply brilliant as they talked. I think what amazed me most was the fact that we had a new bishop whose first instinct was to go to his knees to speak to a member of his new flock. I think that is the first time I have ever seen that happen. It made a profound impression on me and I still think about it. We were so blessed to have a true shepherd for a time.

February 11, 2010
From Jean Pilling: I find it strange that the one thing I always felt made the Episcopal Church and its people different from other religions seems to be what has divided us. If we truly believe in what Jesus taught, how can you not accept everyone as they are? I believe we are all God’s children equally. Each of us having our own private walk with God. I feel love, peace and acceptance when I walk into the Women’s Wednesday Club for our services. Even though I love the Good Shepard Church building it is just that, a building. The people inside are what really makes the church and how terrible it would be to know I was being limited in my walk with God because I was seen as being different.

February 11, 2010
From David Guinn: After about half of the members of the Church of the Good Shepherd left the Episcopal Church and took the keys to our building with them, we who remained Episcopal started having re-organizational meetings in a Women's Club. Several of our brothers and sisters who followed Iker attended one of the meetings. I spotted one who had been an almost permanent vestry member of our beloved former church leaving and heading for his car. His head was low and his gait was slow. With my arm around him I expressed my sadness in our split and my Christian love for him. He returned the sentiments in kind. The issues that separated us seemed small compared to the Love in Christ that we share, but separate us they did. I pray that he finds comfort and am thankful for the renewed hope that I have in my church.

February 10, 2010
From Barbi Click: I came home for this special event. There was no way I could have stayed in Saint Louis while the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth united in love and joy to celebrate its unity with the Episcopal Church. My voice was one of the ones raised in joy-filled prayer, song and praise. My tears mixed with the tears of all the others I had not seen in so long who welcomed me home for this joyous occasion. (more...)

February 10, 2010
From David Leedy: We started an Archives History Library for the research and study, by clergy and Lay, of the History of the Episcopal Church in the nation, in Texas, in the dioceses and in the parishes. Through donations and a few minor purchases, there are over 70 publications in our library one year later. (more...)

February 10, 2010
From Nancy Yates: What was the best part of last year? No matter what the question might have been as we reorganized, the answer was never, "Because that’s the way it’s always been done." How liberating.

February 10, 2010
I was delighted to be present last year as you began the continuation of your journey of faith. And I had been honored by the Presiding Bishop to be allowed to work, in a small way, with your leadership to get you to the launching pad.

My experience during 2008 was assurance enough that "all would be well" - not easy, but with faithful, hard working folks such as you are, I could see a bright future for your part of the church. It has been exciting to watch you be the church in a much more free and fruitful way than you had been able to be before.

It has been an absolute joy to watch the continued growth of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ft. Worth. I must admit my envy of your Lenten programs. This year’s sounds even more exciting than last.

Fr. Bob Allen,
Director of Ministry Formation
The Episcopal Church in Arkansas