CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL An Episcopal Community in the Heart of Houston, Texas
JUNE 2022 CHRISTCHURCHCATHEDRAL.ORG
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Vestry Report
The many blessings of welcoming the stranger
When the Guatemalan refugee family sponsored by Christ Church Cathedral first stepped off the plane, Mission Outreach Council Chair Susan Reedy said the family was only expecting to see a caseworker from Interfaith Ministries. “They had no idea that they would have a sponsor team,” Reedy said. “They were overjoyed to see us at the airport, and they were so cute about it. They had smiles from ear to ear. We had a big ‘Welcome to Houston’ banner and balloons and flowers and stuffed animals for the kids. They were just blown away.” Reedy, who as the chair of the Mission
Outreach Council led the Cathedral initiative to sponsor a refugee family, also became the volunteer coordinator by default. “The vetting process for volunteers is long and complicated, and so for the first few months, I was just getting everyone to understand the process and get through the training,” she said. “What has happened since last August is there has been such a flood of refugees coming in, resettlement agencies like Interfaith Ministries have been working to resettle people as quickly as possible. That’s why
WELCOMING, page 6
Summer fellowship at the Cathedral This Summer Christ Church Cathedral is offering a variety of ways to connect with others and grow in faith together. The Rev. Bradley Varnell, Canon Missioner for Community Life and Young Adult Ministry, says fellowship is vital in the life of the church and the Christian community. “Lots of folks, lots of groups gather together for fun. And that’s great. But I think, for a church, it’s important we know why, theologically, we do what we do. I’m a big believer that everything a church busies itself with should, in some way, point back to Christ — the only reason we’re here in the first place!! So what does this mean for fellowship, friendships, and community? Well, throughout Scripture what you see is that God is always dealing with PEOPLE, not isolated individuals.
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As we move into summer, there is so much to be thankful for at the Cathedral. Many friends have shared with me the joy of attending services and events in person and greeting old and new friends, in some cases for the first time in two years. Lent was a special journey this year, with the Robert C. Stuart Lenten Series theme: “For the Splendor of the Whole Creation.” It combined inspiring messages with hands-on experi- GUY HAGSTETTE, SENIOR ences that taught and WARDEN entertained members of all ages. Congratulations to The Rev. Becky Zartman and the Adult Formation Council! We paused to support the people of Ukraine in two vigils, one in March and one in April, which raised $35,707. The funds were sent to support Ukrainian refugees through three entities: Episcopal Relief and Development, Houston’s sister city of Leipzig, Germany, and the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center in Rome, which is led by Dean Thompson’s good friend and fellow priest the Rev. Austin Rios. We then entered Holy Week on Palm Sunday. For me, it was so powerful to experience Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Great Easter Vigil services, which culminated in a full church on Easter. It truly was a resurrection in so many ways. This year, Easter was quickly followed by May Fete on May 1, when the Cathedral community came together to worship and celebrate a tradition dating to the nineteenth century. Youth confirmation was just one week later and 14 young Episcopalians and two adults joined us as confirmed communicants of the Cathedral and future leaders of the Episcopal Church. Finally, we all are keeping Dean Thompson in our prayers as he recovers
VESTRY, page 2