With many others around the world, the Episcopal Diocese of Texas mourns the deaths of those six persons killed in the plane crash outside of Kerrville yesterday.
We pray for Jeffrey Weiss, Stuart and Angie Kensinger, Mark Damien Scioneaux, Reagan Miller and Marc Tellepsen.
In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our friends Jeff, Stuart, Angie, Mark, Reagan, and Marc and we commit them to you. The Lord bless them and keep them, and the Lord make his face to shine upon them and be gracious to them, the Lord lift up his countenance upon them and give them peace. Amen.
The Church bears witness to the lives of people at birth and death and everything in between. After completing Easter services where people across our church and diocese celebrated newly baptized Christians, we find ourselves grieving the loss of four dear friends: Jeff Weiss, Marc Tellepsen, Stuart and Angie Kensinger. These families remembered Holy Week and celebrated Easter in our church communities and are known to have had a lovely weekend with close friends. I can imagine it was with joy and hope that they gathered together to make their tragic flight Monday morning. Laughter and joy were so much a part of their mutual friendships just as it was with all those they knew so well.
Jeff Weiss was known by many friends at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. By now, many know how he volunteered his time for charities by providing flights for medical and humanitarian missions and for special needs kids. Angie was known as a beloved mentor and coach, Stuart as a mentor and visionary for peace. Marc was known as a beloved member of his family and talented garden designer. I knew Marc and both Angie and Stuart personally, and they loved and cherished their family and their church communities. I was shocked and truly grieved by the news of their loss. My heart and prayers go out to all of their families. I will miss them, the church will miss them, their wide circle of friends will miss them. The lives of these individuals affect many across our diocese and church who knew them personally. For instance, Stuart’s ministry with Jerusalem Peacebuilders and work with the The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem meant that prayers were sent early this morning from Jerusalem by Archbishop Suheil Dewani as they join us who mourn the loss of a gifted and generous friend.
Even in the midst of our sadness at these sudden and tragic deaths, we hold onto the promise of hope given in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We remember that Easter is upon us and upon them. Taken too early from us all we proclaim their life is not ended. And we go down to the grave with all our sadness and grief remembering our Lord’s resurrection. We grieve, we pray, and we remember that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NRSV)