For Everything a Season

2010.March.14

Dear Canterbury Community,

My sisters and brothers in the Lord, the book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… a time to plant and a time to harvest… a time to weep and a time to laugh." Over the last 3 1/2 years I have shared many tears, and even more laughter, with you all. You have planted love and joy in my heart that is impossible to put into words, and I hope I have planted Christ in your lives as well. And now the Lord has harvested what you have sown into my life, and has prepared another field for me to work in as the chaplain at The Episcopal School of Texas / Texas Military Institute in San Antonio [EST/TMI website: www.tmitexas.org]. My ministry at Canterbury will end on May 31, 2010, and I will begin at EST/TMI on June 1, 2010.

This move was not something I initially sought out. But, as many of you know, because of the economic downturn, even though Saint Michael and All Angels did a heroic stewardship campaign, our budget was down substantially, and we were not able to keep all of our staff positions. As a result, my employment at Saint Michael will end on May 31st, leaving Canterbury SMU as only a part-time position.

After interviewing several places and looking at all of the options, including not only EST/TMI, but also the possibility of other part time positions in addition to Canterbury, as well as other full time positions in the Dallas area, it became obvious that God's hand seems to be at work in bringing us to San Antonio. The position combines several skill sets that I am passionate about, including working with families and teens, teaching Theology and Scripture, Preaching, Pastoral Care, Liturgy design, and even Residential Social Work (as I work with the boarding school students at EST/TMI). It is the right time and the right place for our family to move.

We will be living on site at EST/TMI, on an 80 acre campus at the foot of the Texas Hill Country, northwest of San Antonio, right off of Interstate 10. I will be providing religious instruction, pastoral care, and sacramental ministry for the 450 students and staff of EST/TMI, as part of their faculty and administration. The campus is an exciting place, with a broad mixture of genders, ethnicities, and socio-economic levels among the students from grades 6 to 12. Approximately a third of the students are in the "Corps of Cadets", and 50 students are also resident on site. It looks to be both a challenging and fulfilling role to fill.

I thank you all so much for keeping Kim, myself, Elise, and Taggart in your thoughts and prayers over the last couple of months as we prayed and searched for the next phase of our ministry. Now, we will keep you in our prayers as we begin the process of transition to the next phase of Canterbury's ministry. As we go forward, please be assured of the following:

- Ministry at Canterbury will continue as scheduled for the remainder of this school year.

- Ministry news and events will continue to be posted at www.canterburydallas.org.

- We are currently working with our bishops to provide pastoral support for Canterbury for next year.

- We will keep you updated on how the process is going.

- After May 31st, Nate will still be available via email at natebostian@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact The Rev. Nate Bostian, our current chaplain [214.505.9859 / natebostian@gmail.com] or Tracy Pounders, esq. our chairperson of the Canterbury Board of Trustees [canterbury@pounders.us]. Thank you.

May Christ fill your life,

The Rev. Nate Bostian