Happy Episcopalians will be very busy on Saturday, September 26

by Katie Sherrod

Saturday September 26 begins for the women of the diocese with Coffee in the Garden, 10:00 a.m. to noon at the home of Katie Sherrod and Gayland Pool, 1870 Ederville Road S., Fort Worth, TX 76103. All women of the diocese are invited to come meet other women from other parishes as the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Fort Worth reorganizes itself.

There will be food, friends, flowers, and flute and guitar music – what better way to start the day?

Then everyone in the diocese is invited to attend Now the Green Blade Rises . . .Stories of being "called back to life and love again" featuring the Faith Communities of the Diocese from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church. Fort Worth Via Media organized and is hosting this event. (Margaret Mieuli is preparing lunch for those who want to come directly from the garden party to St. Christophers in order to be on time for the 1 p.m. start.)

A special guest is the Rev. Lucia K. Lloyd, Priest-in-Charge, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Heathsville, VA. The Rev. Lloyd and her congregation were displaced from their building by people who left the Episcopal Church. Sound familiar?

She and the congregation sent several supportive letters to members of the Steering Committee North Texas Episcopalians prior to the reorganization of the diocese, and upon the announcement of the nomination of Bishop Gulick, sent champagne in celebration. And always, they held us in prayer. She will speak of her experiences in rebuilding a displaced congregation in Virginia.

The goal of the day is for the lay people of the displaced parishes and the clergy who have been helping them to share with the rest of the diocese what they have learned from experiencing the loss not only of their buildings, but in many cases, the loss of friends and even family members. Two priests who have been working with faith communities, Maurine Lewis and Bruce Coggin, will share their observations, and other clergy are invited to attend and participate as well.

People are invited to share the best, worst, and funniest things they have experienced in the last year as well as valuable lessons about outreach, mission and ministry. This is a great opportunity for Episcopalians in intact parishes to connect with their brothers and sisters in the displaced parishes.

Then at 3:30 p.m. the Executive Council meets. It is an open meeting and everyone is welcome to stay and listen to the deliberations of the body that, with the bishop and Standing Committee, runs the diocese between diocesan conventions.

Directions to the Coffee in the Garden:

Take I-30 to the Oakland exit east of downtown Fort Worth. Go south on Oakland to Normandy. Turn left on Normandy. The next street is Ederville Road. The party is at the northwest corner of the intersection of Normandy and Ederville Road. Park in the Meadowbrook Middle School parking lot and walk across the street to enter the gates of the Chapel Garden.

Directions to St. Christopher’s:

• Coming from the West – take I-20 to Southwest Loop 820. Take the Westcreek exit, make a U-turn under the freeway and head back up the access road to St. Christopher’s.
• Coming from the East – Take I-20 West which becomes Southwest Loop 820. Take the Westcreek exit and continue along the access road to St. Christopher’s.
• Coming from the North – Take I-35 south to Southwest Loop 820. Go west on Loop 820. Take the Westcreek exit and continue along the access road to St. Christopher’s.
• Coming from the South – Take I-35 north to Southwest Loop 820. Go west on Loop 820. Take the Westcreek exit and continue along the access road to St. Christopher’s.