A Lively Church Campus

by The Reverend Beth Anne Nelson on April 20, 2023

TLDR: Thank you to all who participated in Holy Smokes.

With the world seemingly at war with itself and conflict everywhere, we sometimes need a break. Saturday, April 15, felt as though it was a break in the chaos of the outside world; we had a Holy Smokes Cook-Off. Last year, I thought that Holy Smokes, our BBQ cook-off event, could not get any better and this year, I was proved wrong. This year, we saw several changes to Holy Smokes, including moving the event earlier and shortening it to two hours. One of the big goals of our event this year was to reach out to more community members. Sarah and Angela organized an egg hunt that took place at specific times throughout the event. This allowed for children to be engaged and playing while their parents were testing food.

I enjoyed seeing all of the different booths and events including our chuck-wagon. This year, people knew to prepare their food early and as a result the day was easier to plan. My favorite were, of course, the vegetables. All of the vegetables! My youngest daughter, Faith liked the JDOK boot the best as their entry was the sweetest.

I am personally grateful to every team. For Mitch’s group, your dedication was incredible. The First Friday Dads amazed again with their display of cooking knowledge. The Petal Pushers added a light, and tasteful fare to the mix. The Smokin’ Caregivers lived up to their name. The Chuck Wagon was a blast from the past that was a huge success. The JDOK team added a unique cooking twist that truly worked.

This day would not have been possible without the help of our planning committee. Thank you to our planning team: Elsie Demming, Laura Gunn, Kayle Landry, Dede Johnson, Rod Johnson, Frances Mallow, Don Riggs, Evelyn Stokes, and Betsy Sullivan. Each of you gave of your time and experience to make the is day a success. Next year, you will have a new person in charge, possibly that will be the next curate. Whoever is the next leader of this event will be blessed to lead such a caring team.

Fr. Roman envisioned Holy Smokes almost two years ago and without this vision our campus would not be as active as it is today. My friends, I hope you continue to support his vision in the years to come. It is a good one. Thank you for this event, and for being a judge Fr. Roldan. You have excellent taste!

For His Sake,

Mtr. Beth Anne +

About the Author

The Reverend Beth Anne Nelson

The Rev. Beth Anne Nelson has been married to her husband, David (also a Priest in our Diocese,) for eleven years; they have two daughters, Grace and Faith. She is a Candidate for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Texas. Beth Anne has a Diploma in Anglican Studies from The Seminary of the Southwest and a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary (2009). She was ordained to the Diaconate on June 26, 2021 and started her curacy at Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church on July 1. She enjoys spending time with family, jogging, cooking, and is an avid reader.

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