CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL An Episcopal Community in the Heart of Houston, Texas
DECEMBER 2015 CHRISTCHURCHCATHEDRAL.ORG
AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY CARE LINE | 713-826-5332
A recipe for Advent
Beacon Day Center Operations Director Mike Puccio demonstrates new storage racks for dry and canned goods.
Renovations improve building, services at Beacon Day Center Volunteer Don Vold is at the Beacon Day Center twice a week, serving food or expediting its distribution. He particularly enjoys these duties because of the chance to greet homeless clients, look them in the eye, say their name, smile, and make them feel both welcome and worthwhile. “It’s what we’re here for,” he says. Now that recent renovations to the day center are substantially complete and the facility has reopened, service to the city’s homeless has resumed and volunteers like Vold are back at their posts. The $960,000 renovation project focused on the center’s kitchen, the laundry area, and the
shower and restroom facilities. It also added controlled access and exit points around the building, thus creating a safer environment, says operations director Mike Puccio. Funding to improve the facility came from a grant through the City of Houston. Charly Weldon, the Beacon’s executive director, says years of client use influenced several of the changes and improvements: “After eight or nine years, you find the little things you don’t think of in a new building.”
Efficiencies and upgrades The laundry facility, for example, typically handled 125 loads a day. Before the
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Help welcome guests at holiday outreach event Christmas at the Cathedral is one of the changes to the event, most notably shifting to premier annual events sponsored by the Mis- a focus on children and families. We are inviting students from the Rusk sion Outreach Council. Over the years, it has become a trea- CHRISTMAS AT THE CATHEDRAL School and their families to be sured tradition where mem- Saturday, December 12, 3–6 p.m. our guests and we are planning a Winter Wonderland bers of the Cathedral volunteer both time and funds to welcome and feed theme. The event will also begin later in the those in our community who are in need. day and is scheduled this year on Saturday, This year, we are making some exciting WONDERLAND, page 5
On special nights at my grandmother’s house, Boo would heat up the oven and mix together a bowl of mushy white meringue. The entire time she would talk to my siblings and me about how important it is to wait for the best, most blessed things in life. She would add chocoTHE VERY REV. late chips to the concocBARKLEY tion and then spoon out THOMPSON little blobs onto a cookie sheet. Once the oven was hot, she’d turn it off, place the cookie sheet inside, and leave the oven door cracked. “Now we must wait,” she’d say. And we would do so actively and expectantly, never knowing when the treat would be ready. She would tell us stories of faith, teach us in ways of virtue, and tuck us safely into our beds. Only the next morning would my grandmother open the oven and let us see what was inside. Where those mushy blobs had been were now light and airy morsels of such delicate sweetness that they melted in our mouths. Had we bought them at the store, or had she prepared them with us watching television, zombie-like, in the other room, or had she even told us in advance when they’d be ready, the experience would not have been the same. So it is for us this Advent. Christmas will come, and it will be glorious. Christ’s return will surely come, but we know not when. We risk missing the significance and the sweetness altogether if we fail to prepare for his coming. In her kitchen, my grandmother prepared with gusto. She cracked eggs; she whipped; she taught us. In Advent, what would it look like to prepare by waiting actively and expectantly for Christmas? Here are a few options we each might consider. Observe Advent by taking 50
ADVENT, page 3
Our Cathedral Family We celebrate with
EE new members Lindsey Holt, Philip Broderick, and Cameron and Carin Asby and their children Anna Kate, Betsy, and Leo. EE the newly baptized: Alexander Almeida, Thomas Bixente Houghton Autrique, Sebastian Solberg Dinges Baird, Reid Montgomery Cummings, Stellan Rust Frounfelkner, Brooks Kiel Garella, Ethan Lee Graham, Madeline James McLaughlin, Madeline Azumi Ortiz, Julián Jacob Perez, and Jackson Richard Upchurch. EE the newly confirmed, received, and reaffirmed: Charlotte Lorene Carr, Heesun Chung, Rachel Marie Eklund, Misty Dawn Goeddertz, Juanita Clare Hare Jeys, Mark Thomas Johnson, Doris F. Macsherry, Eric Pietsch, Martha Louise Pietsch, Craig Rohden, Lauren Marae Ryland, and David Alan Sweeney. EE Kerin Pelfrey and Reif Hedgcoxe, who were married October 24 in the Golding Chapel. EE Charlotte Baker and Christopher Huffaker, who were married November 7 in the Cathedral.
We extend heartfelt sympathy to
EE The family of Maxwell Alexander Sarofim who died October 3. He was the son of member Fayez Sarofim and brother of Christopher Sarofim. EE The family of Frances Bludau Kallus, who died October 17 in Hallettsville. She was the sister of member Shirley Bludau. EE The family of Mary John Grelling Spence, who died October 21 in Tyler. She was the mother of member Judy Tate. EE The family of George Rast, who died October 21 in Charleston, S.C. He was the father of member David Rast. EE The family of Rick McCord, who died October 22 in Houston. He was the brother of member Michael McCord and uncle of Christopher McCord. EE The family of the Rev. Dr. Rhoda Swanner Montgomery, who died October 25 in College Station. She was a former canon of Christ Church Cathedral and the rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in College Station. EE The family of Margaret Warschak, who died October 26 in Pasadena. She was the grandmother of member Eric Brown.
We express our gratitude for
EE Marion Collier, Sue Green, Pat Inselmann, Jean McDaniel, and Diane Webb, who are retiring from the Altar Guild after years of faithful service.
Dedicate poinsettias to loved ones at Christmas Memorial poinsettias can be given in memory or honor of someone special this Christmas. Mail a check for $10 per plant (payable to Christ Church Cathedral) to the church office to the attention of the Altar Guild. Include the names of those you wish to remember and indicate if it is a memorial. These lovely plants will adorn the Cathedral rood screen at Christmastime and then be given through our flower ministry to the homebound and the sick as a symbol of their inclusion in our thoughts and prayers. Dedications received before December 6 will be included in the Christmas worship leaflets. Others will be listed in an upcoming issue of this newsletter.
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The flowers on the Cathedral Altar
EE On December 6 are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Linda Anne Baldwin and Dorothy Geiselman Baldwin by the family of Robert B. Baldwin III. EE On December 13 are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Virginia and Lester Bille and Katherine Close. EE On December 20 are given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for our altar guild by Bob Richter.
The flowers in the Floor Vases
EE On December 6 are given to the glory of God in loving memory of her mother, Rachel Shanks Smart, by Carolyn Paget. EE On December 13 are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Ellen Otis Cooper and her twin sister Esther Otis in commemoration of their 100th birthday by Majel Cooper and family.
The greens in the Advent Wreath
EE Were given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for the life and work of Jane Brown, Judy Drury, Mary Clarke Mackenzie, and Cindy Dickson.
The candles on the Advent Wreath
EE In the Cathedral were given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for the life and work of Helen Ann Fisher, Norma Jane Hagan, Ella Mae Hayslip, and Norma Jones. EE In the Golding Chapel were given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for the life and work of Tom Cobb and Jennifer Cobb.
The flowers at the World War I Memorial
EE On November 8 were given to the glory of God in loving memory of her grandfather, Arthur Coombes, by Vicki Cawley.
The flowers at the World War II Memorial
EE On November 8 were given to the glory of God in loving memory of her father, William Swaysland, and her uncle, Barry Coombes, by Vicki Cawley.
McGill to retire in January
This professionally-made cake from the Cathedral’s 175th birthday last year will probably look better than your entry.
Contest challenges entrants to build edible Cathedral building If you have ever sat in church admiring the Cathedral’s architecture, here’s a chance for you to construct your very own Cathedral. Test your baking and decorating skills and get creative at our first-ever Gingerbread Cathedral Contest on Sunday, December 27. GINGERBREAD CATHEDRAL CONTEST The challenge is to fashion a replica of Sunday, December 27 our grand cathedral building using noth10 a.m. ing but edible materials. Gingerbread, puffed-rice squares, candy, cookies, icing — you name it — are all allowed. Bring your entry to Reynolds Hall before 10 a.m. on the day of the competition to be evaluated by our esteemed panel of judges. Prizes will be awarded in several categories. If you don’t have the time or the skills to make an edible masterpiece, don’t worry. We will also provide graham crackers, icing, and candy that morning for anyone wishing to try their hand at a same-day project. Prizes will be awarded in this category as well. For more information and a complete set of construction guidelines, visit the Cathedral website.
ADVENT, from cover
percent of the money we’d normally spend at Macy’s and Target this month and instead supporting the ministries of the Cathedral’s Alternative Giving Market. Turn off the television in the evening and instead read to your family from the second chapter of Luke. Begin to live today as if Christ might come tomorrow and look you — or me — straight in the eye and ask, “Did you wait faithfully? Did you make peace? Did you love?” Any or all of these options would set us on the path of active waiting during this holy season. If we wait with such anticipation, then come Christmas morning the nativity will be all the more sweet. We will recognize along with the shepherds in the field that “born this day in the city of David is the Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Culminating 24 years of ordained ministry, including 11 at Christ Church Cathedral, the Rev. Jim McGill has announced that he will retire at the end of January. During his tenure, McGill has served the Cathedral variously as canon missioner for outreach, for Latino ministry, and at the Beacon. Reflecting on his ministry, McGill says, “I am proud of the things we have accomplished in the areas of social justice, outreach, and mission work in the past 24 years. From mission trips to Central THE REV. JIM MCGILL America, in which I began participating in 1991, to the chaplaincy of the Beacon, which I began to do just this past year, my clerical career has been the most thrilling and fulfilling part of my life.” Dean Barkley Thompson adds, “I am incredibly grateful for Jim’s service to the Cathedral. In his former role as canon for Latino ministries, Jim laid the solid foundation upon which Canon Simón Bautista is now building. And I am especially thankful for Jim’s compassion and dedication to those who live on the margins. Through FAREWELL RECEPTIONS Jim’s chaplaincy at the Beacon, the love of God in FOR CANON MCGILL Christ truly and consistently has been made mani- Sunday, January 10 fest to our clients. That’s what the gospel is all about.” 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Vestry member Bill McKenzie, who worked with Canon McGill on Christmas at the Cathedral for several years, reflects, “Jim’s passion for mission was inspirational to all of us at the Cathedral. In the pulpit and on the street he was a continual reminder of God’s call to each of to reach outside of our church community and respond to the needs of
MCGILL, page 5
Seeking the truth of the heart
It took years for me to undo what I perceive as the misuse of the Word. Fear, guilt, and shame were so tangled in the words that they dominated the thoughts I had about Jesus, God, and the Bible. I avoided them at all costs. When I couldn’t find any way to run farther from myself, God caught up with me, or so it seemed. My mom wants to title our family memoir, “Flying by the Seat of our Pants.” What I am discovering is that God never leaves any of us. He has us by the belt loops whether we’re running full speed and not going anywhere or whether we’re flying high and don’t see him carrying us. BROOKE After a series of life changing experiences, I could no SUMMERS-PERRY longer deny God. Because I was surrounded by the kind of love, compassion, forgiveness, and non-judgment only offered by those who put flesh to prayer, I could no longer deny Jesus. I was eventually curious enough about the Word to make myself vulnerable to it. Practicing mind-emptying meditation and mindfulness, I began to seek the good in the word and deed. I was opening my mind and heart to loving, compassionate, and grace-filled Christianity. When I began to seek these in the Word, I began to find them. After grace rushed into my cracked vessel, I began to trust the still small voice I found inside me. During my three years in the Cenacle program, I was introduced to the practice of Imaginative Prayer, an Ignatian exercise that allows scripture to read you. It is very much like a guided meditation, a visualization that puts you into the gospels. As a prayerful exercise, you enter with an open mind (as much as we humans are capable of), and you find yourself in the story. You may be a character, an animal, or even a prop in the scene. Through prayerful reflection, you discover what your encounter teaches you about
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THE BULLETIN
Boo Bash, Pub Trivia, Fall Gatherings, and more
IN PICTURES
Right: Dean Barkley Thompson addresses guests at the Fall Neighborhood Gathering held on October 29 at the home of Jim Murdaugh and Gary Smith. Below: Youth headed to Galveston for fun, relaxation, and spiritual renewal at the Fall Retreat on October 16–18.
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Right: Quiz lovers gathered in Reynolds Hall on November 14 for a night of Pub Trivia sponsored by the 20s & 30s. Below: Bishop Doyle confirmed, received, and reaffirmed members on November 15.
Families partner up to host Las Posadas home celebrations
Left: Cathedral chorister Nancy Ellis sings with others from around the diocese at the Adult Choral Festival on October 25. Below and below left: The Boo Bash on October 30 offered kids and families a spooky fun time.
The Spanish-speaking members of Christ Church Cathedral are ready once again to hit the road for the celebration of Las Posadas. For nine nights in a row beginning Wednesday, December 16, and concluding with the Christmas Eve service on Thursday, December 24, the members of the one o’clock service will gather LAS POSADAS together in different locations to embrace one anDecember 16–24 other, to voice hope, and to honor tradition. Two of these gatherings will be at the Cathedral and the other seven will take place across different neighborhoods at a series of private homes. This is, by far, the most consecutive days within the church year that we will commit to gather together, which says a lot about the contagious enthusiasm that Las Posadas generates among Latinos. This year, 21 families are partnering to host the seven neighborhood Posadas. We believe that bringing families together to prepare these celebrations offers us a unique opportunity to create community, which is what Las Posadas is all about. We will offer the Holy Eucharist at each one of the seven Posadas in the vecindarios (neighborhoods) this year. So whether we are inside a house or out in the backyard, we will make Christ the center of each one of our gatherings, bringing neighbors around the table of the Lord to partake with us. After all, bread and wine still have the power to transform a community and to bind it together, especially when these are offered in the sacramental context. Our theme this year is “Prepare the way of the Lord.” We will be reading Isaiah 40:3 in the context of the ministry of John the Baptist and discussing the challenges of an ancient cry for today’s Christians. Come and join us on any of these nights. We promise you abundant hospitality. Do not let language be a barrier, as we will do our best to draw you into each celebration.
WONDERLAND, from cover December 12, from 3–6 p.m. We are expecting approximately 150 guests. We will have “snow” for the kids and there will be games and prizes, arts and crafts, a photo booth, and other activities. After the children have had a chance to play, everyone will be seated for a family meal. At the conclusion of the event, each family will leave with a grocery gift card. As in years past, we need volunteers to help make this event a success. We are looking for helpers to welcome guests, set up games and tables, lead activities with the children, and prep and serve food. Please visit the Cathedral website to volunteer, or contact the church office. We appreciate your support as we continue the tradition to welcome and engage with those in our community who are in need.
MCGILL, from page 3 the disenfranchised in the world around us.” Vestry member Sonia Velazquez adds, “What I’m going to miss the most is Father Jim’s sense of humor. I thank him for all his support and guidance to the Latino congregation and me.” McGill is looking forward to spending more time with his family and his wife, Beth. He predicts, “Our retirement years will likely be characterized by continued grandparenting and plenty of hours on the bay with wind, waves, sunshine, and a good God.” Receptions in Canon McGill’s honor will be held on Sunday, January 10, after both the 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. worship services. PAGE 5
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Little keys Charles Dickens once wrote, “A very little key will open a very heavy door.” This concept resonates with us at Compass. Our homeless clients face many barriers to a more stable life, and we’ve learned that the simplest help can ultimately have a huge impact. After 34 years, we know which small keys open the heavy door of homelessness. The little keys we use are woven into our intensive case work with nearly 1,400 CYNTHIA BRANNON men and women each year. Handing a pair of reading glasses to a middle-aged man who temporarily calls the streets home will not immediately put a roof over his head. But it will allow him to work on a resume, pore over job leads, and send emails, which can all lead to a long-awaited job interview. Just getting an interview will build up his battered confidence. And the third or fourth one may lead to the job he so desperately seeks. We know that the $7.50 in bus fare we give a diabetic client will not be her ticket out of a homeless shelter. But it does mean she will keep her doctor’s appointment on Tuesday and get back on the insulin she needs, which will make her feel better. Good health is invaluable, homeless or not. Feeling well will foster the enthusiasm she needs to pursue the goals we’ve helped her identify. It improves the chances of the larger successes she’s been hoping for. Having something as simple as a mailing address at Compass does not solve all of a client’s problems. Yet, it is through the mail that he will get his social security card, driver’s license, voter registration card, letters from family, and food stamps or social security benefits. The ability to receive mail is truly a small key that opens a door every time one of our clients comes by to pick up his mail. After all, one thing leads to another. For Compass clients, unemployment, mental illness, a poor education, substance abuse, incarceration, bad health, and isolation from family — the list goes on and on — all compound the weight of an already very heavy door. As you can imagine, the door seems especially heavy during the holidays. What you may not know is that you can help open it. You hold the key. Please consider making a gift to Compass this Christmas. We rely on individual gifts, and the need is great. Cynthia Brannon is the executive director of Compass (www.houstoncompass.org). THE BULLETIN
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Sign up for Christmas play, camp The Christmas Play is a pageant-style children’s performance during the 4 p.m. family service on Christmas Eve. All children are invited to participate, either by signing up for a part and coming to the one rehearsal on December 19, or simply by arriving before the service to don a costume and join in. This short telling of the nativity story is always one of the highlights of our Christmas Eve. CHRISTMAS CAMP There are no scary speaking parts, and the play’s simple cos- Saturday, December 19 tumes will be provided. Children wishing to participate can sign 9 a.m. to noon up on the Jones balcony during the 10 o’clock education hour on December 6 and 13. Roles are assigned with older children getting preference, but there is a part for everyone. To prepare for the play, all children are invited to Christmas Camp on the morning of Saturday, December 19. Parents will have a chance to drop off their little ones and squeeze in some shopping or some rest during the busy holiday season. The children will rehearse the play, sing some songs, and do a service project for the Beacon. If you have any questions about the play or camp, please contact KariAnn Lessner.
FLYING, from page 3
where you are, what you are longing for, and what you might be needing to work through, rejoice in, heal, or simply sit with. Thanks to my immersion in nonviolent communication, the Enneagram, mindfulness, and work with a Jungian analyst, I have been able to work on my triggers with the Word and find myself inside the gospels. My spiritual director and I work together to find “The Story” in daily life. As my Jesuit spiritual teacher, Father Philip Chircop, instructs, I am learning to wrestle with the scripture until it finds my triggers, untangles my attachments, and opens new channels of grace. These encounters with God through imaginative prayer stir the emotions. They provoke feelings of gratitude and evoke courage and humility. Their purpose is to call forth a heartfelt desire to know Jesus and to follow him. In the words of Hugo Rahner, Ignatius “uses pictures and images to present what is otherwise beyond all conceiving.”
Because so much of our suffering comes from our thoughts, this practice allows us to lose ourselves in the story so that we can experience an encounter with Jesus. A Jesuit website on Ignatian Spirituality frames it thus: “This kind of imaginative prayer seeks the truth of the heart rather than the truth of facts.” This is a great tool for navigating what many of us really struggle with — that seemingly insurmountable 18 inches that stretches from our heads to our hearts. By losing ourselves in the gospel, by courageously engaging our imagination, may we allow our encounters with Jesus to give birth to new areas of ourselves and our lives. May the relationship that develops release our tangles and attachments so we can invite in more compassion, love, empathy, nonviolence, forgiveness, and hope. May we bring flesh to prayer in the moments that make up our ordinary lives. Brooke Summers-Perry is the executive director of the Bishop John E. Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Visit www.christchurchcathedral.org or call 713-222-2593 to learn more about these and other events at the Cathedral. Registration recommended
Registration required
Registration closed
DECEMBER 12 (cont.)
DECEMBER DECEMBER 2
WED
Dean’s Book Club 6:30–8 p.m., McGehee Conference Room. “The Road to Character” by David Brooks. DECEMBER 3
SAT
FRI
Game Night: Playing at Faith 6:30–9 p.m., Mellinger Room. DECEMBER 4–6
FRI–SUN
Annual Parish Retreat Camp Allen. ($)
DECEMBER 16 Faith and Society Seminar 6:30–8 p.m., Reynolds Hall.
SUN
Advent Lessons and Carols 5 p.m. in the Cathedral. Sung by the Cathedral Choir. DECEMBER 9
WED
Buscando la Luz 6:30–8 p.m., Bride’s Room. Spanishlanguage discussion group. DECEMBER 11
FRI
Cloister Gallery Opening Reception 6–8 p.m., Reynolds Hall. Featuring icons written by Cathedral workshop students. DECEMBER 12
SAT
20s & 30s Brunch 10:30 a.m. Shade, 250 W. 19th St. ($)
20s & 30s Christmas Party 6:30–8 p.m., home of Jeremy Bradley. DECEMBER 16–24 Las Posadas 7–9 p.m., various locations. Home celebrations with singing, prayers, and traditional refreshments. DECEMBER 18
FRI
Youth Progressive Dinner High-school students visit three different homes for a holiday meal. ($) DECEMBER 19
SAT
Christmas Camp 9 a.m. to noon, Sanders Hall. Rehearsal for the children’s Christmas Play and a service project for the Beacon. DECEMBER 20
SUN
Last Day of Fall Education Spring classes begin Jan. 3. Cathedral Family Posada 7–9 p.m., Reynolds Hall. Cathedral celebration of Las Posadas.
Last Day for 2015 Donations Donations must be received or postmarked to be credited for 2015.
WEEKLY SUNDAYS Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) 4–6 p.m., BYC. Gathering of youth for dinner, games, teaching, movies, and worship. Does not meet Dec. 27. MONDAYS
TUESDAYS
SUN
WED
THU
Bible “By the Glass” 6:30–8 p.m., OKRA, 924 Congress. Fellowship and Bible study for those living and working in the urban context.
DECEMBER 13 SUN Family Yoga 4:30–5:30 p.m., BYC. Yoga class focusing on reconnecting to the Christmas spirit. Offered by the Hines Center.
Confirmation Parent Meeting 11 a.m., BYC. For parents of eighth graders interested in being confirmed.
DECEMBER 6
THU–MON
Christmas Holidays Cathedral offices close at noon on Dec. 24 and re-open Dec. 29.
DECEMBER 13
DECEMBER 5 SAT Houston Early Music Concert 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral. The ensemble Chatham Baroque performs “Cantadas de Navidad.” ($)
DECEMBER 31
DECEMBER 24–28
Bridge Night 6–9 p.m., McGehee Conference Room. Bring a dish for the potluck social.
SUN–TUE
Midwinter Camp Allen. High-school retreat. ($)
DECEMBER 22 TUE The Longest Night 6:30 p.m., Golding Chapel. Service on the winter solstice for those grieving a loss.
20s & 30s Outing 6–9 p.m. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet.
Bring a friend!
DECEMBER 27–29
Christmas at the Cathedral 3–6 p.m., Reynolds Hall. The Cathedral family opens its doors to at-risk children from the Rusk School and their families for a holiday meal and party.
THU
DECEMBER 4
Childcare available (3 mo. to 12 yrs.)
DECEMBER 24 THU Christmas Eve 4 p.m. Family Service, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, and a Christmas Play. 6 p.m. Festival Eucharist, Rite II, in Spanish. 7:30 p.m. Organ prelude. 8 p.m. Choral Eucharist, Rite II, with the Parish Choir. 10:30 p.m. Cathedral Choir prelude. 11 p.m. Festival Eucharist, Rite I, with the Cathedral Choir. DECEMBER 25 Christmas Day 10 a.m. Eucharist and carols. DECEMBER 26
FRI
SAT
Feast of St. Stephen / Boxing Day 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. Bishop Doyle will celebrate Eucharist. Donations aid Lord of the Streets. DECEMBER 27
SUN
Gingerbread Competition 10 a.m., Reynolds Hall. Who can construct the best gingerbread replica of the Cathedral? La Pastorela 2:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall.
Hebrews, James, and John(s) 7–8:15 a.m., Mellinger Room. Co-ed Bible study with Canon Art Callaham. Meets Dec. 1 and 8. Speaking of Faith 6:30–8 p.m., District Bar & Bistro, 610 Main St. Downtown community discussion group on Krista Tippett’s “On Being.” Does not meet Dec. 22 or 29. WEDNESDAYS Women’s Morning Bible Study 9:30–11 a.m., Jeffers Conference Room. Does not meet Dec. 23 or 30. Bilingual Eucharist 6–6:30 p.m., Golding Chapel. Cathedral 20s & 30s 6:30–8 p.m., Mellinger Room. Discussion group and social gathering of young adults. Does not meet Dec. 23 or 30. THURSDAYS Women’s Lunch Bible Study 12–1 p.m., Jeffers Conference Room. Does not meet Dec. 24 or 31. Men’s Lunch Study Group (Biweekly) 12:15–1:15 p.m., Jeffers Conference Room. Meets Dec. 3 and 17. FRIDAYS Men’s Early Morning Study Group (Second and fourth Fridays) 7–8 a.m., Jeffers Conference Room. Does not meet Dec. 25. PAGE 7
THE BULLETIN
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1117 Texas Avenue Houston, Texas 77002-3183
PERMIT No. 6404
Did you know you can read The Bulletin on our website? If you’d like to go “online-only,” contact Anne Shepard at ashepard@christchurchcathedral.org or call her at 713-590-3301.
BEACON, from cover
renovation, an array of high-volume dryers simply could not keep up with the 40-lb. washer loads. Now, stacked sets of slightly smaller dryers are in place. While each has a lower capacity, the total drying volume has increased. It was a simple solution to a daily logjam, Weldon says. Rainy days — and the days after heavy rain storms — could be particularly backed-up as clients arrived to launder their wet clothes and soggy sleeping bags.
In the Bookstore: Advent Preparations You’ll find Advent calendars and items for the season in the Bookstore now, plus member Chase Untermeyer will sign his books in the store on Sunday, December 6.
In the Cloister Gallery: Iconography Exhibit Students of the Cathedral’s icon-writing workshops will present their works, which were made using RussianByzantine techniques from the 15th century. THE BULLETIN
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Over in the kitchen, a revised floor plan reconfigured and repurposed the existing space. Given the higher demand for freezer space versus refrigeration, locations for the two were flipped. Some of the old equipment, meanwhile, has been replaced, and new appliances and fixtures have been added, such as warming tables and another sink. Volunteers have more space to prepare each day’s dishes — from scratch — to offer clients a choice of two meats, three vegetables, and two salads. Even the bread is prepared onsite. The menu has also been updated. Puccio describes the repurposed space as “more specific in use,” providing a bake shop, butchering area, and prep area. “Before, we were doing everything on one work table. We were using the pot sinks for prep sinks and the kitchen became a ‘servery’ after we started serving,” he says. “Now, we can serve today’s meal and prep tomorrow’s food at the same time. We expect all these points to increase the quality of the meals and the volunteer experience.” The only expansion in the center’s square footage lies in a section of hallway adjacent to offices of the Diocese of Texas. The diocese offered to shift the shared wall between the
spaces so that the Beacon could add more room for storage.
Shifting access Outside, renovation work continues. Primary access to the Beacon and to other Dunn Center organizations will shift to a new main entrance on the east side of the building along Caroline St. To add some privacy for clients as they line up for intake, there is a new screen of frosted panels similar to those on the parking garage, and jasmine vines are being planted to mirror those in Nancy’s Garden. Meanwhile, the courtyard on the north side of the building will be enclosed and will be accessed from inside. Weldon says the new process of entry allows the Beacon to control the courtyard’s use to only those individuals receiving services at the Dunn Center. Renovations began at the end of September and required the day center to close for about eight weeks. In the interim, other agencies around Houston provided support and services to the Beacon’s clients. The reopened Beacon Day Center is now better positioned to serve Houston’s homeless and to assist the city in its ongoing initiative to end chronic and veteran homelessness.