Austin Girls' Choir Christmas Concert

‘Tis the season for carols, and the Austin Girls’ Choir invites you to their 27^th annual Concert of Christmas Classics!  A candlelight procession, Victorian costumes and beloved carols ranging from high classical to jazz get holiday festivities off to a beautiful start!  The concert is at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 17, at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, 2200 Justin Lane.  Donations gratefully accepted at the door, plenty of free parking.  Visit www.girlschoir.com for details!

Photos, We Have Photos!

Those Lovable Witches of ECR! ;-)

Our former and very nearly perpetual senior warden Brian McElligott in Italy, last summer.

Last Sunday's obviously enrapturing banjo children's sermon. 

The ECW Retreat at Camp Allen -- 

Looks like a good time was had by all!

The Blessing of Baptism 

On Sunday, October 9th, we welcomed Charlotte Lynn Ryan into the Household of God! Her mother Ashley and aunt Katy were raised here at ECR, and Charlotte's family brought her all the way back from Tennessee to be Baptized here. 

Our sweet acolytes are always front and center to lead the way to and from the Baptismal font, knowing that their own Baptisms were just such a joyous day as this,

The Blessing of the Animals 

With many thanks to Katie Petersen for her lovely art work on our new banners for the St. Francis Blessing Service, and to all the people who helped to set up and make the service such a success.

Sometimes, a beloved stuffed toy can be a great stand-in for a pet.

 This chicken took it all in and maintained it's composure.

 Giddy is a very good dog, and well known around ECR.

Redd feels right at home here. He should, since he's the Tweedie family dog.

 Getting ready for Holy Communion. It's special to have it out under the live oaks.

Little dogs getting blessed.  (They are pretty sure that they own the whole thing, and the big dogs are just ornamental.)

 Blessing the small creatures.

 And the larger creatures.

 Giddy gets his blessing.

 We can have a blessing while looking at a picture of a beloved pet.

Hi there, have we met before? No, I don't think so. What's your name?

Speaking Episcopalian With Jo Wicker

Fire plays an important part in the spiritual practice of humans. We've been lighting fires to invoke our gods since we figured out how to strike a spark. It's a common thread in humanity's effort to connect with the Transcendent, whatever name and face we give it.

As Episcopalians, many of us have lived out lives in churches with candles burning. Newer Episcopalians find this practice a beautiful addition to their worship experience.

The Christian use of votive candles as an act of private devotion is centuries old and as new as the most recent tragedy. The grassroots expression of feelings too deep for words are commonly expressed by flowers, notes, photographs, stuffed animals and candles left at the scene.

Visit the Canadian Chapel, on the south side of the Narthex for our own votive station, pictured here. If you have never used votives in your personal devotions, there is no right or wrong way. You can light candles for people, pets, world peace, healing, gratitude, etc. God doesn't need the reminder, but often we do. It can be a comforting gesture in the midst of a difficult or grateful time, especially remembering that our small flame is part of a gentle global blaze of faith.

Jo Wicker

Information Regarding the ECW Retreat

Subject: Jesus Is A Girl's Best Friend-115th ECW Annual Retreat I am excited to extend a special invitation for ALL the women of your church to attend the 115th Annual Retreat for Women at Camp Allen this fall, October 15-16, a full two-days and two nights. St. James’, Houston, is hosting this year, with the theme “Jesus Is A Girl’s Best Friend.” Bishop Jeff Fisher will celebrate our opening Eucharist on Saturday morning, and The Rev. Victor Thomas will conclude worship with our Sunday morning Eucharist. Jan Bethancourt, author of “Be Empowered! Eat Chocolate with Breakfast,” is the keynote speaker, urging attendees to recognize and embrace their strengths and to believe in themselves. An artist, author and motivational speaker, Bethancourt discovered that creative passions can combine to create a mission with passion for encouragement.  We will offer a variety of inspirational workshops, fellowship with other Christian women, and time to relax at Camp Allen. Fran Lantz from St. Christopher’s, League City, will share information on Days for Girls, the ECW diocesan outreach project to provide sustainable hygiene kits and health education to school-aged girls in developing countries. On Saturday night we will share time with our girlfriends. Participants are being encouraged to come in their PJ’s to play games and share in laughter with their besties.  We will also honor special women from our diocese. If you would like to nominate someone from your church for the Honored Women’s program, please download the information at http://www.epicenter.org/ecw-funds/. All Honored Women will receive recognition during the retreat.   Attached is a registration brochure in PDF format (select print on both sides of paper when printing it out) for the retreat. Remember: share with the women of your church. Please pay close attention to the registration deadline which is October 7, 2016.  Online registration and more information can be found at http://www.epicenter.org/ecw-annual-retreat/. (Note: the registration brochure can be found in the Narthex on the information table. Our outreach project for the Annual Retreat is Lord of the Streets, located in Houston. The mission of Lord of the Streets Episcopal Church is to offer spiritual, physical, emotional and social ministry to Houston’s homeless and disadvantaged. Retreat participants are encouraged to bring plastic bags (grocery bags, take out bags, dry cleaner bags, etc.) to the retreat where they will learn to turn these plastic bags into Plarn (plastic yarn). The Plarn is then used to create sleep mats to benefit the homeless. Toiletries, Walmart and Target gift cards and monetary donations will also be collected to benefit the Lord of the Streets. Please encourage ALL women in your congregation to attend this retreat by sharing this information in your newsletters, meetings and email lists. I promise it will be a worthwhile and spiritually enriching experience for everyone attending! Come, join us as we gather, celebrate and give thanks for the 115 years of ministry and mission of the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Texas.  Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you there! Faithfully,    Lisa M. Martin Diocese of Texas Episcopal Church Women President 512-431-7716 Commitment Sunday With the Atrium Kids

Father Billy explains to the Atrium kids that they can commit to do good things as their very own ministries. The Atria now has thirty children registered.  Thanks be to God!

Beautiful work from the Atria

Back to Church & School Celebration --

     

Helping with the Realm Sign-up in the Narthex

The Catechesis Rooms Get Newly Finished Floors

Art from the Atrium 
See what the children in the Atrium expressed through art as the processed their Atrium work.

Please let the children know that you have seen their important work, and that you know how beautiful it is.

How to Speak Episcopalian

Compline

Compline (BCP 127) is the last office of the day. Part of its beauty is that it is available to anyone and can be said anywhere. It includes a Confession (probably a good idea for everyone at the end of the day,) a Psalm or two, collects, and several prayers. It has a very peaceful feeling in preparation for bedtime, and can easily be adjusted for family use with children. 

Compline comes from the monastic tradition and was the last of the seven monastic offices sung at the very end of the day. At one point, it had been combined with Evening Prayer, but in the 1979 Prayer Book, it was restored to its proper place at the end of the day. Although it is a relatively brief office, it is peaceful and moving, ending with the beautiful nunc dimittis:(BCP 135)

Lord you now have set your servant free:

to go in peace as you have promised:

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,

whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel.

Next week: What is Chant?