Stanton Center Graduation Day

We are proud to announce the graduation of three of our outstanding students at the Stanton Center: (left to right in photo) D. R. Marshall, Ron Holmes, and Jan Benitz. Each of these students received a Diploma in Ministry after successfully completing all of the required courses at the Center. On hand to congratulate the students and hand out diplomas were the Stanton Center Dean, The Very Rev. Kevin Martin, The Right Rev. James Stanton, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas, and Stanton Center Director, the Rev. Canon Nancy Powers. We will miss D. R., Ron, and Jan and hope they will join us for Holy Eucharist and lunch one Saturday next fall!

Diaconal Ordination

I am pleased to announce that Rosemary Trei, our Stanton Center registrar, will be among a group of five individuals ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, June 6th, at 10 a.m. at St. Matthew's Cathedral. Rosemary graduated from the Stanton Center in 2008. She was "raised up" for the diaconate by St. Paul's in Duncanville and will be serving as a deacon at St. Luke's in Dallas after her ordination. Watch here for pictures after the ordination!

The Seven Capital Sins of Modern Man

I was intrigued by reading a list of the 7 Capital Sins of Modern Man in a book called 503 Sermon Illustrations by Jose Martinez. The 7 Capital Sins (an update, I would assume, of the 7 Deadly Sins) are attributed to Mahatma Ghandi. Here's the list:

• Politics without principles
• Wealth without work
• Pleasure without conscience
• Knowledge without character
• Business without morality
• Worship without sacrifice
• Science without humanity

What do you think? Are these the sins that separate us from God?

Graduation Day

Saturday, May 16th is graduation day for three Stanton Center students who will be earning a diploma in ministry: Ron Holmes, D. R. Marshall, and Jan Benitz. Please join us for the celebration of Holy Eucharist and graduation ceremony in the Cathedral at 11:15 on Saturday. Congratulations graduates!

Spring Events

Archdeacon Diana Luck and I are attending a conference of the North American Association for the Diaconate (www.diakonoi.org) this weekend in Jackson, Mississippi. The focus of the conference is Deacon Formation That Works. We're excited about sharing ideas with other Archdeacons and Directors of Deacon Formation across the country - there are people here from as far away as Hawaii!

Meanwhile, the Stanton Center is holding class this weekend in the capable hands of Rosemary Trei. Check in with Rosemary if you want to find out more about our Stanton Center Quiet Day on April 4th or the Evangelism in a Post-Modern Society conference on March 28th.

Registration for next year is beginning soon, so contact the center (npowers@episcopalcathrdral.org) if you are interested in finding out about the classes that begin in August of '09!

May the grace of Christ be with you as you seek his will for this day and for your life!

Happy New Year!

Stanton Center students and faculty are enjoying the Christmas holidays, recovering from mid-term exams and papers that were due in December, and gearing up for the January class weekend!

Plans for the spring include receiving entries from Episcopal seminarians for the Bishop Donis Patterson Award for Excellence in Evangelistic Preaching. The winner of this award will preach at the Stanton Center Eucharist in April. And on March 7th, the Stanton Center will be co-hosting the 2nd Annual Seminar for New Vestry Members. Last year over 100 vestry and clergy from across the Diocese attended this informative seminar.

Plans are already underway for classes that will begin in August of 2009, and 2009 catalogs will be available in March. Meanwhile, current students had such a great time at our fall retreat that they are asking to have another retreat sometime this spring. Anyone interested in helping plan the next retreat should contact Deacon Nancy or Rosemary Trei.

Dr. Wells to speak on Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas is considered to be one of the greatest (if not the greatest) theologian in the history of Western Christianity. Dr. Christopher Wells has just completed his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized in the history of Christian theology, and Thomas Aquinas in particular. Dr. Wells will speak at St. Matthew's Cathedral on Tuesday, December 9th at 6 p.m. on the intriguing topic Sacraments of the Incarnate Word: Thomas Aquinas on the Passion of Theology. The cost is $20 and a light supper will be served. To register email npowers@episcopalcathedral.org