Visitation: St. Thomas in Dallas
Bishop Rob Price visited St. Thomas in Dallas where he received the parish's hallmark hospitality including a welcoming sign and an elegant reception complete with cake, pastries, beverages and applause.
The service was particularly emotional for many of the 75 who attended. During Eucharist some congregants had tears in their eyes as they took communion from their own bishop. The passing of the peace at St. Thomas was extensive and has been since the AIDS epidemic when many congregants were sick and dying making forever this moment a way to navigate the challenges and joys of the spiritual season.
The parish's DNA was visually on display where nave meets chancel with charity piled into a mountain of toilet paper collected for AIDS patients at Ewing House. For Lent the church is asking people to give, instead of give up, resulting in donations for a different ministry each week such as Ewing House, La Colectiva, NowForward and EDOD Summer Camp to name a few. Historically the church donates to the diocesan summer camp, food banks and is currently focused on ministering to families of those in ICE detention. The parishioners are taking to heart their new mission statement, "Doubters of great faith, bringing you close enough to care." Although mission work has long been a staple in the lives of these believers.
Also, the church has elevated its musical crescendo with new organist and choir director Alan Raines who is a retired director of choral studies at Baylor University and a retired music program director at Highland Park Methodist Church. The parish also invested in Hauptwerk software which digitally provides sample organs from all over the world of each note (every pipe) of every rank in the best organs globally. The church currently has chosen the Acolian Skinner Organ from the Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco, California. This particularly sound is considered "American Classic" a sound of organ installed in many 20th Century Episcopal Churches. Organ consultant, Dr. Stafan Engels, will be dedicating the new instrument in recital at the church on Palm Sunday, March 29 at 1 p.m.