St. James Welcomes Father Heying

A new rector has started work at St. James Episcopal Church, the congregation in the 1885 building across Travis Street from the H-E-B groceryin La Grange.Father Chris Heying (pronounced hi-ing) arrived in town the last day of July and began work at the church this week. He is joined by his wife, Cindy Heying, who will be a teacher in La Grange schools, and son Patrick, who will be a freshman in high school. The Heyings have two other children, a boy and agirl, who are in college.Heying comes from Dallas, where he has been a chaplain at a Veterans Administration hospital. Previously, Heying has served at churches in Virginia,New York and Louisiana.He was born and adopted in New Mexico and grew up in North Texas. He met Cindy when they were dorm coun-selors at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Vicksburg, Mississippi. They both worked at the Texas Department of Human Services before Chris entered seminary at Nashotah House in Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1998.

The Rev. Eric Hungerford was St. James’ rector until July, 2021, when he left for a church in Philadelphia. Since then, theRev. Rohani Weger, the church’s interim rector, has kept the St. James congregation busy with special programs, Bible studies and church dinners.

Father Heying says he was attracted to La Grange in part because the community was active and cooperative.

“A very attractive aspect of St. James is your proven willingness to work alongside Christians of various traditions to serve the needs of all God’s people in La Grange, Fayette County, and beyond,” Heying wrote to the St. James congregation. “I have been deeply moved by hearing about your outreach and look forward to working together with you ‘to seek and serve Christ in all persons.’” To meet Father Heying, come to services at St. James, either at 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Or just drop by the church after a trip to the grocery.