Vandalism @ St. Andrews Amarillo

May 4, 2023
For immediate release
 
Sometime around 2 am, on Thursday May 4, 2023, a person or persons entered the front door of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1601 S. Georgia Street, Amarillo, TX 79102, and desecrated the sacred space.
 
They deliberately targeted sacramental items for desecration, including the altar, the baptismal font, and the processional cross. The font is the most damaged, with the carvings of saints being targeted. The tabernacle was opened and consecrated hosts scattered on the floor. Water used for the baptismal font was poured onto the floor.
 
The desecration was discovered by Parish Life Coordinator Marlone Givens Thursday morning. He called the police and then contacted the Rev. Jared Houze, rector. The police are investigating.

The Rev. Houze notified the Rt. Rev. Scott Mayer, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwest Texas, who remains in close communication with Houze. Bishop Mayer will be at St. Andrew’s on Sunday.

The Rev. Houze said, “This attack is shocking to us all. But God’s love abides. “Yes, we are heartbroken. Not just about the damage and desecration to our sacred space, but also saddened that there is such anger and sickness in our community. At the same time, the people of St. Andrew's are not strangers to hard times. This is a church that knows how to lean into each other, support one another, and choose love over everything else.”

Bishop Mayer noted that the intruders specifically targeted sacramental items.

“These physical objects such as the font, the consecrated hosts, and the altar are outward and visible signs of God’s presence among us and as such carry within themselves the holy. Matter matters. Things that we can touch, and handle can be sacred. Our very bodies are sacred. It’s related to finding the sacred in the ordinary. It is part of the incarnational nature of our theology,” he said.  “That’s why even as we deal with our own sorrow and understandable anger, we remember the importance of praying for the perpetrators, who also are beloved children of God.”

Senior Warden Bill Aikman said, “Our church was attacked by people who desperately need our prayers. St. Andrew’s is rooted and grounded in the love of Christ and we will not be intimidated by these vandals.”

On Sunday, there will be a liturgy for restoring to sacred use consecrated objects that have been profaned. Each profaned object will be symbolically cleansed by use of signs of purification such as water or incense. Each object will be touched or otherwise indicated and declared “restored to the use for which it has been dedicated and consecrated.”

The Sunday worship schedule remains unchanged. As always, all are welcome:

8:00am Holy Eucharist Rite I; 10:20am Children's Chapel; 10:30am Holy Eucharist Rite II
 
While this attack was less destructive than the 1996 fire in which St. Andrew’s sanctuary, offices, and parish hall burned, it is perhaps more shocking in the intentionality of harm and manifestation of hatred.

In his letter to the congregation informing them of the desecration, the Rev. Houze asked parishioners to be aware that this desecration may trigger hard memories and awaken old griefs.

“Be gentle with yourselves as we walk together through this tender time, strengthened by the knowledge of God’s love for each of us,” Houze wrote.

St. Andrew’s staff is available for pastoral care. Parishioners can contact the St. Andrew’s Church Office at 806-376-6316 and a priest will return their call.

For more information, contact:
The Rev. Jared Houze
jhouze@standrewsamarillo.org
325-518-6410 [mobile]
806-376-6316 [office]
http://www.standrewsamarillo.org/