The  Holy VVVrinity ÿ Herald                                                                                     December 2007

                                                                                                              P.O. Box 81 * Bonham, TX 75418                                                                                                          www.holytrinitybonham.org

December Schedule

Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26 – Each Wednesday 4-6pm, dog and cat food collection

19th   Wed. evening service then guest speaker

23rd    Regular Sunday Service - Hanging of the Greens following the 10:30 Eucharist

24th    Midnight Mass     9:30pm Christmas Music    10:00pm Solemn Eucharist

25th    No Christmas Day Eucharist

26th    Wednesday 7:00pm (St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr) – View movie: The Nativity Story

30th    Regular Sunday Services    (The First Sunday after Christmas Day)

2008 January 2nd    The Most Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ  (transferred) 7:00pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vicar’s Voice:  

 

http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/bcp.htm is a website containing the entire Book of Common Prayer. As a matter of fact, every Book of Common Prayer ever written is on this website, all the way back to 1786 when a Book of Common Prayer for the Episcopal Church USA was only a “good idea”. Downloadable and search-able, it can be a valuable study and worship tool for those of us with internet access.

 

Father Gene Baker - A NOT VERY BRIEF SPIRITUAL BIOGRAPHY

(I’VE HAD A LONG LIFE)

 

I was born in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in 1934.  While this was at the worst of the Great Depression, we always had the essentials- a house, a telephone, running water, and a car.  This was because my father was the principal of the country school on the grounds of which was the teacherage where I grew up.

 

My family was conventional Methodists.  About the time I was 13 we started going to the big church in the nearest town, Harlingen.  I became pretty active in MYF and other church activities, even getting elected as a youth delegate to Conference in San Antonio.

 

We moved to another country school and teacherage near Corpus Christi and I attended high school at Robstown by riding the bus.  I loved school and learning and really flourished in those years being active in everything, especially music.  I should add that I never felt rebellious and had a good relationship with my parents.  Sounds strange!

               

I decided to attend Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.  It is a Methodist university and it had the exact program that I wanted: a double major in church music and religious education.

               

While I was at Southwestern I became acquainted with the vicar at the Episcopal Church right across the street from the college.  He was a seminarian from ETSSW in Austin.  We had long late night conversations and debates in the dorm and I gradually became interested in the Prayer Book and in attending services at Grace Church.  As soon as I hit the front door and saw the beauty of that little church (now a museum for the town) I was sold.  Almost before I knew it I was made the choir director and had become well trained in Anglican chant.

               

Around that time (this was my senior year) Bishop Hines of the Diocese of Texas was invited to speak at chapel one Thursday.  He was the most powerful preacher I had ever heard and I had heard some of the best.  It was an intense spiritual awakening to hear him and this sold me on Anglicanism.

               

During the last semester at Southwestern my seminary friend, Chuck, started talking to me about whether I might be called to the priesthood.  This was taken up by the senior warden in my home church who out of the blue said he thought I was destined to become a priest.  I was stunned by all this, and the rapidity of events that seemed to be pushing me in that direction.  I had always shunned the pre-theological students, thought them to be prigs, and super-righteous.  And I wondered if God was requiring me to be one of them?

               

I was very ambivalent about this possibility, but at the urging of my new friends I wrote to the bishop of my home diocese (West Texas) and set up an appointment.  It turned out that he knew who I was already because other people had been writing to him about me.  This was 1956 and there was a shortage of priests. I really liked the bishop, Everett Jones, and came to love the man over the years I spent under him because of his deep spirituality and the pastoral care he gave his seminarians and his clergy.  He was one of my many excellent role models.

               

There was really no period of discernment.  He wanted me to become a postulant and said that he would pay my way through the Austin seminary if I were to enter the next semester.  And I went with it.  It was like floating on a very rapid river.

               

But this was not an easy transition.  My family opposed my going to seminary and I had to deal with my mother who exploded over it.  She and the Methodist minister back home wrote to the Dean of Students at Southwestern to complain and this led to my being called in to his office. Some of my old friends abandoned me and I had to endure a few taunts.  I know this sounds exaggerated and it’s certainly not characteristic of Southwestern today.  But it was true then and I began to have serious doubts as to whether I had done the right thing.

 

But I went on to the Seminary of the Southwest, anyway, and lived in the dorm for single men on that beautiful campus. My theological training was the toughest academic experience I had ever endured.  I tended to isolate myself with my studies to such an extent that the seminary sent me off to see a psychiatrist to see if I was all right. (I was.).

               

I would say that apart from seminary I was in a perpetual struggle with God.   Sometimes God won; sometimes I did. I graduated.  I passed the GREs.  I was ordained deacon.  From where I sit today I wonder how I managed all these challenges.

               

My first posting was in southwest Texas, back in familiar territory.  I actually started, at the bishop’s request, driving to two yoked missions on weekends (Friday-Monday) during my senior year.  They were in Cotulla and Carrizo Springs.

               

I had a “trial by fire” right out of the chute.  One of our members in Cotulla was a young woman who had broken away from a Baptist family, a very difficult and unusual thing that I instantly related to.  I hadn’t known her too long, when she and the rest of her siblings, six altogether, were killed in an automobile accident on the highway to San Antonio.  This was a tragedy beyond most tragedies that I became involved in and which affected me the rest of my life as a minister. 

               

In any case, I was hooked on what I had apparently been called to do. I was ordained at Cotulla in 1960.  Both bishops came to my ordination which was a wonderful show of support.  I never forgot it. I also married in 1960.  I thought it would never happen that I would have a successful relationship. After the birth of my daughter my wife suffered from post-partum depression and she never recovered in spite of our best efforts. We ultimately agreed that she should return to her home in Canada to see if she could recover there.  She never returned.  I essentially lost my parenting role with my daughter at a crucial age.  She was eight years old.  This was to my everlasting regret and sorrow.  Fortunately I’ve been able to maintain a positive relationship with them throughout the years.

               

In 1962, we had an opportunity to spend three years in the near Arctic on a contract with the Anglican Church of Canada.  I was assigned to a mining town near Hudson Bay called Thompson along with responsibility for some work with the Cree Indian missions in the area. For the first time I came up against opposition and hostility, nearly all from the Americans who were members of the church in Thompson.  The people who were in managerial positions in the company that owned the town were also the ones who were in the positions of importance in the church there.  They were the ones who disliked me and who made life miserable for me. It was a remote place, in a part of North America where there was snow on the ground for ten months of the year.  Alcohol abuse and families under stress were rampant.  I wanted very much to help but I felt inexperienced and without sufficient training.

               

I had begun a correspondence with the American Institute of Relations in Los Angeles and in 1965 was invited to become a summer student there and at a lower expense.  So the summer of that year we packed up and moved to Hollywood where the Institute was located.  The sexual revolution had hit and the emphasis was on sexual and intimate fulfillment.  Interesting to say the least! There were also the Watts riots.  Life continued to express itself in suffering as well as pleasure.

               

I received an invitation to come to Dallas and become an assistant rector at Christ Church.  I accepted and I began my ministry there in September 1965.  I was responsible for most of the pastoral care in the parish.  It was mostly a good experience but I continued to long for more training in regards to helping people in the worst of times.

               

I entered the U.T.A. School of Social Work in 1968 and selected the clinical track.  I graduated in 1973.  Since 1973 I’ve been a clinical social worker during the week and the officiate at the altar on Sundays.  I don’t think there has been any kind of social or psychiatric problem that I haven’t addressed since then.  Ten of those years were spent as the chief social worker at Terrell State Hospital on the Dallas unit.

               

Being a social worker in secular institutions didn’t leave much time for spiritual development.  Yet, since I retired in 1996 I have been able to rekindle my deep love for Anglican spirituality.  It had been there all the time waiting for the right moment in my life to open the door to study and finally to teaching.

               

I have been sometimes keenly and sometimes dully aware of the Ariadne* thread that was present throughout my life, which was the Divine Presence.  I have been saved from many a precipice by it and strangely fed by it at other times.  It has brought me to my present state in which my experiences, during these past seventy-three years, both good and bad, have been given meaning. I couldn’t ask for anything more than to share my training and experience with others who are also on a spiritual journey.

*the Adriadne thread – an over-simplified explanation of the Adriadne thread is the solving of a problem or issue by methodically tracing (the “thread”) several possibilities as a solution with the option of retracing previous options for further consideration taking into account a different set of values (economical, ethical, spiritual, physical, etc.).  

Sharon Kincaide, Kim Jenkins, and Pat Ward are newly licensed by Bishop Stanton as Lay Readers. Carol Morris and Tom Long whose commission as Lay Ministers expires this year were re-confirmed for another 3-year term.  

 

Holy Trinity Projects and Programs 2008

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt 5:16).

 

Peggy Kershaw and her husband, George, served Holy Trinity for several years. According to some, Fr. Kershaw was instrumental in preserving Holy Trinity at a time when the diocese had determined to close it. Peggy, a native Australian, has virtually no family except those of us at Holy Trinity. A special collection will be called by Fr. Dalton to give each us an opportunity to contribute (at least $5, please)) to Peggy’s personal care needs account at Clyde Cosper Nursing Home. Please be generous to our former ‘first lady’ of Holy Trinity.

 

Secret Pals is a voluntary fun project for us to exchange small gifts and remembrances throughout the year anonymously.  Secret Pal cards are in the Parish House. Fill it out, put it in the envelope provided, and come to church next Sunday to draw a card and find out who will be the beneficiary of your kind thoughts and special prayers in 2008. Men, women, children and grandchildren are welcome to participate. See Sharon Kincaide for more information.

 

Dec. 19th, Alzheimer’s guest speaker, the social worker and Chaplain at Texoma Care is scheduled at Holy Trinity after evening services. This disease is subtle and insidious, the symptoms often masked by the ingenuity of the victim, exacerbated by the denial of both the victim and their family and co-workers.

 

Book Signing and Presentation to the community for Narda Goodson, new wife of Mayor Bill Goodson of Whitewright. Narda has just published her first book, the story of her life of pain and tribulation as a young Latino and how her unfailing faith empowered her to emerge from her experiences as a healthy, independent young woman. She was formally presented in November by Women of Vision of Sherman where she presents her book and her life story in song and music. When she has a supply of her book from her publisher, we propose to host a book signing and presentation for her in Bonham. This could be the first of a series of Holy Trinity honoring women and men who have achieved through the grace of God and presenting motivational speakers with inspiring life stories. See Pat Ward for more information.

 

Bonham Animal Shelter, is a blight on the stewardship of Bonham and Fannin County. Holy Trinity has proposed to serve as a depository for donated dog and cat food (and possibly a periodic adoption event) for the community from 4:00 - 6:00 every Wednesday. We will ask local vets, businesses, churches and civic organizations to participate in our effort to provide for abandoned, abused and misfortunate animals picked up (and frequently executed without the benefit of a trial) by Bonham Animal Control. See Charlene Dalton to volunteer to help.

 

Come Pray With Us business card size cards will be provided to each of us to hand to friends, family, acquaintances and others to invite them to come to services at Holy Trinity or to request special prayers for special needs. See Kim Jenkins for further details.

 

Youth Program, long a need for our children and grandchildren, will be initiated in 2008.  An initial gathering will be scheduled to encourage our youth to tell us what their interests are regarding activities, discussions, field trips, camp-outs, movie viewing and analysis sessions, sharing concerns, joys and issues, and social activities. See Sharon and Larry Kincaide for more information and to assist in executing this most important program.

 

Antique Jewelry Road Show - under consideration as a fund raiser by a professional jewelry appraiser who has appeared on the televised Antiques Road Show and who stages these events for churches.

Pat Ward is making inquiries about the feasibility of staging one of these events in Bonham.

 

Holy Trinity History book update -  The only history ever written about our historic church was the one by Tom Scott in 1972. Tom has agreed to work with us to bring our history up to date. Input, photographs, personal experiences are being collected with Pat Ward as Editor. Contact Pat to volunteer to work on this worthwhile project.

 

Episcopalians Enjoying Each Other (E3O) - We obviously enjoy visiting with each other following Mass and services on Sundays. There is a proposal to schedule “sack lunch” at the Parish House following services for moderated discussion of a variety of subjects of your choice..... a book review, problem solving, social issues, pooling our resources, movie viewing, bingo or card games, whatever your interests and pleasure.  Contact Pat Ward with your “wish list” of activities and ideas for these informative and fun events. All “good ideas” to enhance our spiritual experience and commitment as members of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church are welcome from men, women and youth in our church.  Almost nothing is “off limits”.

Daughters of the King--The Daughters of the King is an Order for women with chapters in the Episcopal Church, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.  The vision of the daughters is to know Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others and to become reflections of God's love throughout the world.  It is a Lay Order for women who undertake to make prayer and service to the church an integral part of their lives.  The Daughters pledge themselves to a life long program of prayer, service and evangelism. The Daughters of the King of Holy Trinity solicit requests for special prayers and intercessions.

 

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
An organization committed to one another and called to be witnesses of Christ. They provide a safe place where every woman is free to become the person Christ created her to be. ECW is made up of women of all ages, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds in the Episcopal Church, who choose to participate.  Special programs, projects and events designed to provide enhanced community outreach exposure for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church as stated above are being initiated by some of the Holy Trinity church women.  These are enrichment programs in which all communicants, our friends and families are encouraged to participate. 

 

Wed. Dec 19th  -  after evening services:  guest speaker

Wed., Dec. 26th –  movie after evening services: “The Nativity Story”

December  2007

 

January Newsletter deadline: January 20, 2008 to HolyTrntyEditor@aol.com

 Vicar: Father Bill Dalton * FatherBill@Verizon.net * 903-583-8184