Missional Community News
June 5, 2025
Angleton Community Choir Concert June 13–14 at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church The Angleton Community Choir, a missional community and recent recipient of a Strategic Mission Grant, will present its most ambitious concert to date: Requiem by Michael Trotta, performed live with orchestra on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 1227 S. Chenango St. in Angleton. The event will feature soloists from distinguished institutions. Founded just last year by Eric Brown, the choir includes members ranging from teenagers to singers in their mid-50s. They welcome all who love to sing, regardless of experience. This season finale marks the first time the group performs with a live orchestra—a milestone made possible through the dedication of its members and the support of renowned guest artists. Soloists from distinguished institutions such as the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Opera in the Heights, Texas Southern University, and the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music will open the concert with individual performances before intermission. They will then join the full choir to present Trotta’s Requiem, with different featured soloists each night. “This is about offering something beautiful to the community,” said Brown. “Not just for the people in the audience, but for those of us singing it, too. This is something we build together.” The concert begins at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at: www.zeffy.com/ticketing/requiem. An article about the concert was recently featured in their local newspaper.
SSW 2025 Honorary Degree Recipients
May 29, 2025
Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) The renowned Bryan Stevenson was speaker for the 2025 Commencement Exercises at Seminary of the Southwest. Stevenson, a lawyer, author, and founder/Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) delivered a sermon during the ceremony and was awarded an honorary doctorate. Commencement was held as a service of morning prayer at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Upon announcement of this year’s speaker, SSW dean and president Dr. Scott Bader-Saye said, “Bryan Stevenson’s work with the Equal Justice Initiative has been transformative for challenging racial and economic injustice,” said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. “Last summer I visited the Legacy Sites of EJI in Montgomery with our students on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage. The sites—combining art, history, and powerful storytelling—gave us a profound window onto Black experience in this country. We are fortunate to have someone of such vision, grace, and courage delivering our commencement sermon.” Click here to learn more about Bryan Stevenson. Linnet Delly, Former U.S. Ambassador to the World Trade Organization The Honorable Linnet Deily, former US Ambassador to the World Trade Organization was awarded an honorary doctorate at SSW’s 2025 Commencement Exercises. She is also the former executive board chair of the Episcopal Health Foundation. The very accomplished Deily is a graduate of the University of Texas. She is a generous philanthropist and has served in numerous impressive professional capacities, including having served our country as an ambassador. She has also served on various…
Just Released!
May 28, 2025
UNABASHED FAITH is available at the following booksellers: Church Publishing (Use promo code UNABASHED20)AmazonBookshop.orgBrazos BookstoreBlue Willow Bookshop
Pope Leo XIV to lead Roman Catholic Church, first American elected to papacy
May 8, 2025
[Religion News Service] In a shocking vote that caught the Catholic world by surprise, the College of Cardinals elected Robert Francis Prevost, 69, the 267th pope on May 8. He is the first United States citizen to become the bishop of Rome.
Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday aged 88
April 22, 2025
To the People of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, and our Catholic siblings across Texas Dear Friends in Christ, On this, the second day of the First Week of Easter, as the Church proclaims with joy that life has triumphed over death, we have received the sorrowful news that Pope Francis has died. With the Church throughout the world, we give thanks for the life and witness of this remarkable servant of God. Pope Francis stood as a tireless advocate for the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. He invited all Christians to examine where our lives, our institutions, and our churches fall short of the Gospel’s call to honour the dignity of every human being. With courage and clarity, he embodied the deep moral imagination of Jesus Christ—calling us not only to belief, but to action rooted in love. The Episcopal Church in Europe, under the leadership of Bishop Mark Edington, has reflected on the gracious hospitality and friendship Pope Francis extended to our Communion, especially through the Anglican Centre in Rome and the many times he welcomed Episcopal bishops and clergy. His encouragement of dialogue, his gestures of humility, and his heart for the full inclusion of LGBTQIA persons inspired many within our own Church to persevere in hope and compassion. As we continue our celebration of the Resurrection—the promise that God brings life out of death—we commend Pope Francis to the mercy of God, confident that the Risen Christ receives his servant with open arms. A Requiem…
