CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL An Episcopal Community in the Heart of Houston, Texas
AUGUST 2017 CHRISTCHURCHCATHEDRAL.ORG
AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCY CARE LINE | 713-826-5332
A light heart August is a heavy month. The hot and humid air is heavy. The responsibilities for beginning a new school or program year are heavy. It is easy during August to feel burdened and weighed down. It is also easy to cling to the summer freedom that is all but gone. August is a heavy month. The ancient Egyptian THE VERY REV. Book of the Dead deBARKLEY scribes a spiritual cerTHOMPSON emony for the recently deceased. In it, the deceased’s spirit enters the presence of Osiris, the god of the underworld. The deceased’s heart is placed on a scale before Osiris, and on the other side of the scale is placed the feather of truth and harmony. Only if the heart is as light as the feather does the spirit of the deceased enter into paradise. Otherwise, the heavy weight of the heart prevents the soul from entering eternal life. In our lives, there are certainly unavoidable things that can render the heart heavy: grief, pain, disappointment. And yet, often our hearts become heavy through our own choices and attachments. Sometimes we lay upon our hearts regret, grudges, or corrosive anger. Sometimes we cling desperately to things past that should be let go, or to people or things that we know are not good for us. In the Book of the Dead, as the heart was weighed against the feather of truth and harmony, the deceased recited his life’s virtues and vices. A hopeful soul would declare, “I have not told lies, I have done no evil …” and then name the good things to which he had dedicated his life. The soul would let go of life’s trivialities and honor things of true substance and importance. And in so doing, his heart
LIGHT HEART, page 8
Fifth grader missioners on their Houston Mission in June, through CUSE, preparing beds at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center, one of many organizations where they volunteered that week.
CUSE celebrates ten years of service to Houston's underserved From exposure comes awareness. From service come empathy and compassion. From experience comes action. These are among the still-rippling results of the Cathedral Urban Service Experience — known as CUSE — as it marks its first decade of supporting the basic needs of Houston’s poor and homeless populations. “CUSE changes how we see community,”
says the Rev. Eileen O’Brien, who served as curate and is now campus missioner at University of Houston. As youth minister at the Cathedral in 2007, she, with the CUSE Steering Committee led by Mike Bullington, designed and launched the CUSE program to equip groups to participate in the work of God's mission in the city.
CUSE, page 6
A new face at the bookstore Beginning August 1, Lucy Chambers will be the Cathedral Bookstore’s new manager. Recently retired as publisher from Houston’s Bright Sky Press, Chambers will carry on the work and vision of Kathy Jackson, who managed the bookstore from 1993 until her retirement this summer. The Very Rev. Barkley Thompson offers these words: "Lucy has been a book publisher and editor. She has worked in bookstores. And she is a teacher. No one knows books better than she does. I am confident Lucy will build upon the legacy of Kathy Jackson and our wonderful bookstore LUCY CHAMBERS
BOOKSTORE, page 2
Our Cathedral Family We celebrate with
EE Travis Dunlap and Tiffany Larsen, who were married in the Cathedral on June 23, 2017. EE Amy and Dieter Ufer, who celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on June 11, 2017. EE new members Ms. Elsa Stiles and Brian and Alison Reynolds.
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar
EE On Sunday, July 9, were given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for the lives of his children and grandchildren Anne Schweppe Ashmun, Laura Randall Schweppe Ashmun, Stuart Whitaker Ashmun Jr., Jane Venable, Mary Stewart Burgher, Mary Meyerson, Ballard Burgher, Elizabeth Whitney Burgher, Eleanor Stewart Burgher, Martha Burgher Plunkett, and Jack Plunkett by Dr. Irving Schweppe Jr. EE On Sunday, July 16, were given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for the ministries of Canon Emeritus John A. Logan. EE On Sunday, August 13, are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Paul Bayless Harrison by Blanche Harrison. EE On Sunday, August 20, are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Kathy’s aunt, Elizabeth Doyle, and John’s mother, Martha Unger, by Kathy Welch and John Unger. EE On Sunday, August 27, are given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for Dorothy Viktorin and in loving memory of Joe Viktorin and Nancy Viktorin.
More hope for more kids BY JENNIFER SICKMAN
The Kids Hope program, a one-on-one mentoring program pairing parishioners with elementary-aged children, is expanding this fall at Christ Church Cathedral, and there are lots of new opportunities for members to get involved. Because the Rusk School is transitioning from elementary to middle school, our Cathedral Kids Hope mentors will begin to meet with Pre-K to 2nd grade students this fall at Bruce Elementary, a school just northeast of the Cathedral at 510 Jensen Drive. We will continue current mentoring relationships with returning Rusk students, but new mentors will be matched with youngsters from Bruce. Bruce expects to identify a dozen or more children who need a mentor in our first year. Cathedral Kids Hope needs new mentor volunteers and prayer partners. Along with a new Kids Hope mentoring program for Bruce Elementary students,
Cathedral Kids Hope is collaborating with the United Way to offer Reading Together training to interested Kids Hope mentors and new Cathedral volunteers. Reading Together offers volunteers an opportunity to become reading buddies to 2nd graders who are reading below grade level, using weekly agendas and activities provided by the United Way. Mentors commit by semester to Reading Together. Incorporation of this program into the Cathedral’s mentoring efforts expands volunteer opportunities in the Cathedral Kids Hope Community. Reading Together is a great fit for volunteers who want a simplified focus, additional structure, and reduced time commitment. In addition to these opportunities to support and nurture a child one-on-one, there is also an opportunity to contribute to the support of the students at Bruce Elementary through the Kids Hope September School Uniform Drive. New and gently
KIDS HOPE, page 7
The floor vases
EE on Sunday, July 9, were given to the glory of God in loving memory of Geraldine and John Naschke by their daughters, Kathy, Gerrie, and Nancy. EE on Sunday, August 27, are given to the glory of God in loving memory of her parents and grandparents by Vicki Cawley.
The flowers on the organ console
EE on Sunday, July 30, were given to the glory of God in loving memory of Dora Risley Harris and Joe Harris Scott by Emily Scott Shepherd. THE BULLETIN
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BOOKSTORE, from cover volunteers to make the Cathedral Bookstore the best in Houston." According to the Rev. John Logan’s book on the Cathedral, Dowered with Gifts, the original bookstore opened in 1983 in what was known as the “red room” across the foyer from the Latham Building stairway. Alberta Jones, former manager of the Episcopal Bookstore, ran it as part-time manager, and Cynthia Pyle was the program director of volunteers. Pyle continues today
as the bookstore’s lead volunteer. A celebration of the Cathedral Bookstore will be held on Friday, September 29, from 4–5 p.m. in the Mel- A CELEBRATION OF THE linger Room CATHEDRAL BOOKSTORE in apprecia- Friday, September 29, 4–5 p.m. tion of Kathy Jackson, the bookstore volunteers, and new manager Lucy Chambers. All booklovers are welcome to attend.
Aligning Cathedral milestones with our own on September 3 BY KAREN KRAYCIRIK
Helping young women find their voice The Treble Choir of Houston, a girls’ choir founded in 2006 and the resident children’s choir at Christ Church Cathedral, will be holding auditions in August by appointment. Founded in 2006, the Treble Choir is under the direction of Ms. Marianna Simpson. Ms. Simpson, a choir teacher at Parker Elementary school in Houston, wanted to create a nurturing musical community for young women grades 6–12. The Treble Choir is the only tuition-free choir of its kind in the Houston area, and provides quality musical education to girls from over a dozen zip codes. The choir has an impact on its singers beyond musical training. Says chorister Julissa Ramirez, “Treble Choir for me is not just a place where I sing. It's a place where I come to make music with my dear friends who are like a family to me. I know they will always love and support me.” The Treble Choir of Houston rehearses Tuesday evenings and sings during occasional Sunday morning services, Evensongs, and special Cathedral events several times each year. The Treble Choir also
TREBLE, page 6
When planning for the future, it is only natural to reflect on the past. Every day we trace the footsteps of where others have been, keeping in step with longtime traditions. Sometimes there is a need to shift course and a new path emerges, things change with the times — advances in technology, growth, societal culture, and abundance. On occasion, it is a response to disaster that forces us to forge onward, turning a new leaf— perhaps a fire, a hurricane, a sale of land. All in all, in the life of a church, “act of God” is not a loose term. Each day is spent living out the words and deeds along the path to follow the teachings of Jesus. As the Cathedral moves into another season, the autumn of its 178th year, parishioners are invited to help construct a physical timeline of the life of the church. On Sunday, September 3, a large scale timeline of Christ Church Cathedral will be available in Reynolds Hall for members to add their own milestones. Inspired by our Rally Day theme: “We are Christ Church!”, this activity is a reflection on how the plot of land that sits at the corner of Texas and Fannin has changed not only the landscape of Houston, but also the lives of countless individuals for almost two centuries. Christ Church Cathedral is not just bricks and mortar, it is breath and life. Join us from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and add your part of history as we chronicle the life of Christ Church Cathedral.
Save the date for the Parish Retreat This year on December 1–3 Rejuvenate your senses with a weekend in the piney woods alongside old friends and new at Christ Church Cathedral’s parish retreat. Escape to the beauty and serenity of Camp Allen on the weekend of December REGISTRATION 1 through December 3. opens early Members can take part in September a variety of fun activities, such as a chili cook-off, horseback riding, walks in the woods, roasting marshmallows, and playing board games. We have adventures, forge friendships, find peace, and feed souls. Registration opens in early September, so make sure to reserve your spot. PAGE 3
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Summer Shade, LOTS, Costa Rica Mission Trip, Noche Familiar, and more
IN PICTURES
Below left: A great group in July to
Below right: Up, up, and away! Summer Shade youth
Left: After a farewell organ concert made all the more moving by Monica Czausz's words on Robert Simpson presented her with a print of the Rood Screen at the reception as a gift in m
Above: The Cathedral Yard Sale volunteers organized and held an extremely successful sale THE BULLETIN
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p of volunteers came together o serve at Lord of the Streets.
h took off to NASA for the day.
Above: The Costa Rica mission trip group inside a beautiful local church. Below: Noche Familiar this summer focused on the importance of living in community and reaffirmed the values of supporting one another.
n each of the pieces, Canon for Music memory of her time here.
e -- and had a lot of fun working on it together. PAGE 5
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CUSE, from cover CUSE develops turnkey mission opportunities and service projects for groups of 14 to 40 people, mostly youths and young adults. It also provides a base camp of modest facilities in the Treetop venue of the McGehee Building. CUSE’s volunteer opportunities support more than a dozen nonprofit partners that are making a difference in the community, such as the Beacon Day Center, New Hope Housing, Emergency Aid Coalition, and Star of Hope. “Our goal is to serve — and to bring dignity to those we serve,” says Program Director Christy Orman. The need is year-round, 24/7, and right here in town, she says. “You don’t need to head out of the country to find it.” CUSE also strives to instill missional living in the participants. Says Orman, “This is not ‘volun-tourism.’ Participants are here to communicate and give dignity to those served. They’re not just making sandwiches, they’re making communities.” CUSE interns, meanwhile, guide and educate mission groups about needs in the urban core and what efforts have been undertaken to address them by various programs and nonprofits. Part of student exposure is “undoing the training of modern life that has rendered the needy invisible,” Orman says. “We want CUSE participants to open their eyes to what’s there, be it food deserts, a lack of transportation, or park benches designed to prevent people sleeping on them.” The program includes time to reflect and share what participants learned, which helps the lessons “sink in and stick,” she says. The opening of the Hines Center, meanwhile, has brought participants further spiritual connection through programming.
A decade of making a difference CUSE, which started as a summer program, quickly became a resource to mission teams from around Texas and a reliable source of volunteer energy for its nonprofit partners, O’Brien says. At the Emergency Aid Coalition, for example, Volunteer Coordinator Marian Bryant says, “It has been a blessing to have so many extra hands and hearts in our midst.” The CUSE interns are also valuable, she says, because they are well-acquainted with EAC operations, serve as role models, and ensure guidelines are followed and tasks completed property. Now a self-sufficient year-round program that’s funded by user fees, CUSE hits its THE BULLETIN
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10-year milestone this summer. Orman and O’Brien cite three standout accomplishments of the program—thus far. First, CUSE participation and volunteer hours have grown substantially over time. In 2016, volunteer hours totaled 7,452 from 399 program participants, up from the 2007 levels of 1,939 hours logged by 108 missioners that first summer. That’s nearly 400% growth in ten years. Second, several CUSE participants have been inspired to start outreach programs in their own communities, or “give where they live,” Orman says. An example is Melissa Peter, who founded Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack. It’s the Houston chapter of a national group that gives supplemental food to school children in the federal free meal program. “CUSE was the seed planted that brought awareness to our family,” Peter says. Her son spoke so passionately about the homeless issues he noticed on a CUSE mission that she
was moved to act. “Once you know of need, you can’t ‘unknow’ it,” she says. Acting upon that knowledge is less overwhelming — or discouraging — than you might think, she adds. “You find a tool and do it.” And third, some CUSE interns have made service to others part of their lives or even joined the clergy. “This is one of the true gifts of the program,” O’Brien says. Zack Lewis, 20, was a CUSE participant who has returned as an intern this summer. “Serving others has become an integral part of how I want to live my life,” he says. In studying political science and economics, he believes he will be able to better understand policy inadequacies and find ways to fix the holes. Later this year, CUSE will mark its 10th anniversary with a celebration for former interns, program directors, nonprofit members, and steering committee members. To learn more, visit urbanserviceexperience.org.
Our new kneeler This summer, member Dolly Bush needlepointed the cover for a new kneeler for Christ Church Cathedral, featuring the shield of Christ Church, and Bidwell Drake transformed it into the kneeler. May the art and pleasure of needlepoint continue not only for those who practice it, but also for those lucky enough to admire it.
TREBLE, from page 3 performs at various venues both in and outside of Houston, alone and with other choirs, including an annual holiday concert at the Villa de Matel convent, at Carnegie Hall, with the Houston Chamber Choir, at the University of Houston, and at Houston Symphony special events. They also hope to perform at the Singing World International Choral Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. The support of Christ Church Cathedral allows the Treble Choir to continue to offer music education and choral performance opportunities tuition-free. If you know of any musical young women who would like to be a part of the choir, or if you’d like to learn more about the Treble Choir and its upcoming performances, please visit treblechoir.com. To schedule an audition, please email treblechoir@gmail.com and download and fill out the audition application on the website. Young women should be prepared to sing a verse of a song of their choice, perform some pitch-matching exercises, and demonstrate sight-reading ability. The audition environment is very friendly.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Visit christchurchcathedral.org or call 713-222-2593 to learn more about these and other events at the Cathedral. Registration recommended
Registration required AUG 20
AUGUST AUGUST 4
FRI
Bridge Night 6–9 p.m., McGehee Conference Room. Bring a dish for the potluck social.
Registration closed SUN
SEPTEMBER 6
Back-to-School Sunday 9 a.m., Cathedral. All students and teachers will be blessed and receive a gift for back-to-school.
Centering Prayer 11:15–11:45 a.m., Hines Center.
AUG 24
Bible “By the Glass” 6:30–8 p.m., OKRA, 924 Congress. Fellowship and Bible study.
Dean's Book Club 6:30–8 p.m., McGehee Conference Room. The group will discuss My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit.
THU
Compline and Potluck Dinner 6–8 p.m., Cathedral. Worship in the Celtic service at the Well, share a common meal, learn the rhythms of prayer, and make memories in your Cathedral home. AUGUST 8
TUE
Kids Hope Mentors Back-to-School Meeting 5 p.m., Jeffers Conference Room. Mentors, mentors-to-be, and want-to-be mentors meet to talk about the coming year.
AUG 9 WED Documentary Night: "Gender Revolution" 6:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall. This new National Geographic documentary takes viewers across the U.S. and to other parts of the world to explore the evolving concept of gender.
THE CATHEDRAL BOOKSTORE will reopen after its summer break on August 27
Healing Service 12:05 p.m., Golding Chapel.
WED
WEDNESDAYS Women’s Morning Bible Study 9:30–11 a.m., Jeffers Conference Room. Bilingual Eucharist 6–6:30 p.m., Golding Chapel.
AUGUST 4 FRI Pop-Up Video: "Because of Winn Dixie" 6:30–8:45 p.m., theater room in Jones Building basement. Celebrate the completion of Summer Reading of the book Because of Winn Dixie with a film screening of the title. SUN
Bring a friend!
MONDAYS
Holy Eating 6:30–8 p.m., Hines Center. Learn about reclaiming the ritual of dining, sacred teachings around food, and the rhythms of eating wholly. ($)
AUG 6
Childcare available (3 mo. to 12 yrs.)
SEPTEMBER 7 THU Best-selling author Louise Penny
AUG 27 SUN Rally Day 10–11 a.m., Reynolds Hall. Fun activities for all ages as we celebrate and explore the Cathedral’s ministries.
WEEKLY SUNDAYS Summer Singers in the Parish Choir 8:20 a.m., 2nd floor of Latham. Parishioners are welcome to sing with the Parish Choir during the summer. Call Canon for Music Robert Simpson for more information at 713-590-3311. Celtic Eucharist, “The Well” 5 p.m., The Cathedral. Drawing inspiration and music from the Celtic tradition, this service focuses on prayer, silence, meditation, and grace. Summer Place 10–11 a.m., Reynolds Hall. Join these councils for fellowship and treats: Children's Ministry (8/6), CUSE/Jerusalem Peacebuilders (8/13), Welcome and Evangelism (8/20), and Rally Day (8/27)!
7–8:30p.m., Cathedral. Murder by the Book Bookstore and the Adult Formation Council are co-sponsoring a visit from New York Times best-selling author Louise Penny, reading from her new book, Glass Houses. ($) SEPTEMBER 10 THURSDAYS Summer Shade for youth Every Thursday this summer, Cathedral youth venture out for outings, movies, and service projects: Urban Farming (8/3), "Emoji Movie" (8/10), Zuma (8/17).
UPCOMING SEPTEMBER 3
SUN
Christ Church Timeline 10 a.m., Reynolds Hall. Parishioners are invited to add their personal milestones to the Cathedral timeline.
SUN
Month of Latin/Hispanic Heritage begins 2:30–4:45 p.m., Reynolds Hall. Join the Latin/Hispanic congregation for a celebration of cultural diversity, occuring on September 10 and 17, and October 8 and 15. Sunday School begins 10 a.m., campus-wide. Sunday school for children, youth, and adults begins. SEPTEMBER 24
SUN
Every Member Canvass 6:30–8:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall. You are invited to a merry evening of dinner, song, and fun with your Cathedral family, to celebrate all that we share here together.
KIDS HOPE, from page 2 used uniform shirts, shorts, skirts, and pants in all children’s sizes will be gathered during the month of September and delivered to the school to be provided to needy students. Communicating the love of Christ to young children can take many forms, and there are many ways your time and talents can make a difference. Join the Kids Hope Community today! Contact Director Jennifer Sickman at KidsHope@ChristChurchCathedral.org for more information; stop by our Rally Day table for a chat with current mentors; or join us at our Back to School Mentors meeting on Tuesday, August 8, at 5 p.m. in the Jeffers Conference Room. PAGE 7
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Did you know you can read The Bulletin on our website? If you’d like to go “online-only,” contact Ramona Sikes at rsikes@christchurchcathedral.org or call her at 713-590-3301.
Rally Day highlights the faces and places of Christ Church Cathedral The Mission and Ministry Committee of the vestry are pleased to invite the entire congregation to a Rally Day celebration of the identities that make up our identity. "We are Christ Church!" celebrates the lives and witness of men and women who came forward
during different periods of cathedral history to make our parish into what it is today. Their names are memorialized in the various plaques and places that RALLY DAY make up the physical space Sunday, August 27 in which we worship. Their stories are each part of what make the Cathedral what it is today. At this year’s Rally Day, each table will be dedicated to the legacy of one or more cathedral members from previous eras. Come to explore and learn about the people and places that make our congregation strong. Then, investigate the various ways you can participate in forging a future of continued strength as a member of the Christ Church family.
In the Cloister Gallery: City ArtWorks’ Colors Our City On view through August 18, 2017 is art by Houston area students via City ArtWorks, an art education non-profit organization celebrating 35 years of service to the Greater Houston area. THE BULLETIN
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LIGHT HEART, from cover was made light. We are, of course, Christians and not ancient Egyptians, but in this heavy month of August, as we prepare for summer’s end and the beginning of a new program year, this myth from a different faith tradition can be instructive for us. If, by grace, we shed whatever trivialities or negativities lay heavy on our hearts, if we weigh anchor to stunting or destructive attachments, then our souls will find balance with harmony and truth. We will then be able to live lives of true substance by the light yoke of the Gospel, with our very hearts made light as a feather. Perhaps August isn’t so heavy after all!