Other highlights included the ordination of two deacons, a teaching on the Holy Spirit offered to diocesan leadership and a presentation by Canon Lumanog on the ministry of the Anglican Church in North America to the parish. Both Bishop Atwood and Canon Lumanog were also on hand for the two worship services on Sunday.
The dedication marked a milestone in the life of the congregation. Christ Our King was planted in October 2008 under the leadership of the Rev. Chuck Thebeau, Fr. Chuck had ministered in New Braunfels for seven years before the Lord led members to “establish a new community committed to radically living out their faith.”
“We worshipped two years at a former Lutheran Church that is currently a counseling center and two years at a private Christian secondary school,” Fr. Chuck says. “We felt at the time and still do, that the Lord used that time to grow our commitment to ‘keeping the main thing the main thing.’ And the main thing is honoring Jesus Christ our King!”
The church had acquired a 22-acre site just outside the New Braunfels City limits and has been developing the property. According to Fr. Chuck, their new Ministry Center is intended “to serve many purposes including worship, ministry within and beyond the parish, discipleship opportunities of various sorts and fellowship.” He also expressed gratitude to Bishop Atwood and Canon Lumanog for participating in the events.
“Their presence was a tangible reminder of the fellowship in our King’s service we share with the wider church,” he said. “It is heartwarming to know we serve Jesus with fellow Anglicans who have shared in the same commitments and sacrifices for Him! Our prayer is that what the Lord is doing with us will bring encouragement to our brethren in the Anglican Church in North America.”
The leadership of Christ Our King is committed to using the resources with which God has blessed them to bless the wider church.
“I’m really proud of Fr. Chuck Thebeau and the team at Christ Our King,” Bishop Atwood says. “Their Gospel priorities made it very clear that they needed to re-align and join in forming the Anglican Church in North America. They took that step despite the fact it cost them property that many parishioners families had occupied for generations. The new worship and ministry center is set on twenty acres on a hill overlooking New Braunfels and the surrounding countryside. It is not only a beautiful and inspirational facility.”
Captions:
PHOTO 1:Oct 13, 2012—The Rev. Dr. Chuck Thebeau (Rector, Christ Our King), Bishop Bill Atwood, Deacon Isaac Rehberg and Canon Jack Lumanog following Isaac’s ordination.
PHOTO 2: Oct 13, 2012—Bishop Bill Atwood (International Diocese) and Canon Jack Lumanog (Canon to the Archbishop, ACNA) dedicate the new worship facility.
PHOTO 3: Bishop Bill Atwood prays for candidates ordained to the diaconate: Isaac Rehberg (International Diocese) and Rodney Wood (Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast(DIF)) with Canon Jack Lumanog assisting.
