Christ Church Cathedral An Episcopal Community in the Heart of Houston, Texas
October 2013 christchurchcathedral.org
EMC sanctifies our daily lives
Victoria Ridgway and Benjamin Barr enjoy fajitas and fellowship at a 20s & 30s event on September 4.
20s & 30s gain faith, friendships Generation X and Generation Y (also known as Millenials) have received much attention over the past two decades as sometimes cynical young people focused on individuality, authenticity and perhaps a bit of narcissism. It’s no wonder, then, that folks in the Cathedral 20s & 30s group pride themselves most strongly as welcoming people to be themselves and ask tough questions. Doreen Gallevo and her husband Michael have been a part of the group since 2005. “We do a lot of educational things, but also do a lot of fellowship,” she said. “It is a very safe and open place to talk about ideas and share
thoughts. It is a time for everyone to be themselves and be accepted.” The 20s & 30s group meets every Wednesday in the Mellinger Room, with monthly outings around Houston. Each semester has a central focus on discussing a novel or biblical passage in addition to regular events at restaurants, bars and group members’ homes. According to Gallevo, the group has always been a place to build friendships, and in the past couple years under the leadership of Youth and Young Adult Minister Jeremy Bradley, the group has really grown stronger in their relationships.
20s & 30s, page 8
Popcorn Theology a treat for all ages On Saturday evening, October 12, join the Cathedral family for an evening of fright, fun and formation at Popcorn Theology. Cathedral parishioners of all ages will gather in Reynolds Hall at 6 p.m. for supper. After we’ve eaten, children will move to a classroom to watch the animated Pixar film “Monsters, Inc.,” youth will head to the Treehouse to watch the classic film “The Goonies,”
Popcorn, page 2
This past May, we attended the end-ofthe-year awards ceremony at our daughters’ school. It being a Baptist school, we were somewhat surprised to see the director of admissions from Rick’s Catholic high school listed as a speaker. There to honor a graduating eighth-grader identified as one of Rick and the most promising stuWhitney Ogle dents admitted to their school’s class of 2017, the admissions officer also devoted a fair amount of time to promoting his school. In doing so, he emphasized the school’s mission of educating boys to become “Men for Others.” Hearing the expression “Men for Others” struck a chord. It was a phrase Rick had heard countless times during his high-school years and hearing it again after all this time triggered a bout of introspection. Had we made good choices and established the right priorities over the years? As we took stock, we found many of the answers involved Christ Church Cathedral. Since we first came to the Cathedral in 1996, the parish has given us numerous opportunities to contribute. We have both taught Sunday school since our girls were toddlers, and have both served on ministry councils. Rick has served on the Vestry, and Whitney serves on the Altar Guild. And, when the Every Member Canvass (EMC) comes around each fall, we welcome the opportunity to contribute to the financial well-being of the parish. In our experience, participating in the EMC sanctifies our daily lives. By pledging, we feel we are devoting a portion of every workday to the mission and ministry of the Cathedral. While we have long considered the Cathedral’s mission
EMC, page 3