March 2018 Bulletin

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CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL An Episcopal Community in the Heart of Houston, Texas

MARCH 2018 CHRISTCHURCHCATHEDRAL.ORG

AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY CARE LINE | 713-826-5332

During Holy Week and all year, the Cathedral Altar Guild's

Prayerful preparations

In readying the church and chapel for services and special occasions throughout the year, the Cathedral’s Altar Guild members say they feel blessed and privileged “to set God’s table.” They work mostly behind-the-scenes, coming early and staying late to handle what needs to be done to support the liturgy and the clergy. Given the number and variety of services, Holy Week (as with the days leading up to Christmas Eve) is the guild’s busiest time of year. During Holy Week, this year March 2531, just about every guild member serves in some capacity. They make 1,000 or so palm

crosses for use on Palm Sunday; change out the purple veils of Lent for the oxblood red ones that accompany Holy Week; and supply fresh water and towels for the foot-washing stations at Maundy Thursday services, after which clergy strip the altar, left empty for Good Friday. On Saturday, volunteers begin the glorious adornment of the sanctuary, its walls, stalls, and windows, for Easter Sunday. (And, later in the week, remove decorations once more.) Throughout the year, guild members also see to more basic logistics, like bagging the communion wafers, cleaning the candles, and

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Film, race, and reconciliation Lee’s Do the Right Thing (1989), to Get Out (2017). Discussion after On April 6 and 7, the Hines CenApril 6–7, Hines Center each will be led by Dr. Greg Garter, in partnership with the Justice rett, professor of English at Baylor and Peace Council at Christ Church University and Writer-in-Residence at the EpisCathedral, the Alliance for Compassion and copal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. Dr. Tolerance, and Interfaith Ministries of Greater Garrett has won multiple teaching awards and Houston, is pleased to present three films about race in American culture, followed by discus- written over 20 fiction and nonfiction books. This event is meant to help commemorate sion on how they challenge viewers to think, the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin believe, and live. Luther King Jr. In 1968, Dr. King commented The films will span fifty years, from Guess FILMS, page 3 Who’s Coming to Dinner (1968) through Spike BY FLO RAY

A FILM SERIES ON RACE

The Lenten question At the culmination of Lent during Holy Week, Jesus will go to Jerusalem, and there he will die. Throughout our Lenten readings in church, we sense that Jesus already knows this, but I don’t believe his knowledge comes from omniscience. Rather, Jesus knows that he will die because Jesus refuses to waver in his message of THE VERY REV. love and grace, even in BARKLEY THOMPSON the face of vicious opposition by those in power. You see, to the things of this world that feed on darkness, anxiety, and fear, love is the ultimate threat. This is as profoundly true as it is simple. To the things of this world that feed on darkness, anxiety, and fear, love is the ultimate threat. Such things are, throughout the Gospels, symbolized by Jerusalem. And there Jesus will go, never quieting his voice as he marches into the maw of danger. Jesus will not run from Herod, as the Pharisees mockingly warn him to do, but will run toward him, revealing in Jesus’ very person the alternative to Herod and the Pharisees and Caesar himself: love instead of fear; light instead of darkness. Throughout Lent, as Jesus makes his way toward Jerusalem, those who stand against him will attempt to obfuscate and trick him into abandoning grace in favor of power, even as he hangs on the cross. They’ll beg the question of Jesus: “As the noose tightens, will you persist with these words of grace? Will you refuse to spew vitriol, to raise a hand in your own defense, to give in to the darkness around you?” It is the Lenten question. It is a variation on the question that was asked repeatedly at the beginning of Lent, when Satan himself tempted Jesus in the wilderness. And, for those of us who claim to be the Body of Christ, it is a question asked of us. Here it

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