Reaching the Community

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.

John 13:34-35

Reaching the Community

Big Dreams, Big Faith

Members of St. Stephen’s, Liberty, and community partners have found common ground in their shared hope for a healthier city. The fruit of that work is their newly-formed nonprofit, the dWELLing. In addition to a bold vision to “restore hope and vitality to improve community wellness,” the team has put in the hard work to engage the full community and remained faithful to a grand calling to serve all people.

St. Stephen’s has a long history of actively working to serve the people of Liberty. Some might say it’s in the DNA of the faith community. Former rector the Rev. Bob Greene formed the Texas Rural Leadership Program (TRLP) to provide leadership training for rural and underserved communities statewide. In 2016, with support from Episcopal Health Foundation, St. Stephen’s became the launching pad for Episcopal congregations’ involvement with TRLP. Following that effort, St. Stephen’s applied in 2018 to participate in Episcopal Health Foundation’s Holy Currencies Ministry Incubator to develop their big dream of a wellness center into a community-shared reality.

also included plans for indoor and outdoor facilities for physical wellness, yoga, gardening, dining, and classes on everything from healthy cooking to parenting and budgeting, and open green space for gathering and celebrating as one community.

Part of the Holy Currencies framework is to develop relationships and cultivating partnerships. A key partnership that has emerged is with the Liberty Independent School District.

In the middle of town, in an economically and racially diverse neighborhood, sits the vacant 14-acre campus of the old San Jacinto Elementary school. On that fenced site remain classroom buildings, a gymnasium, a garden and lots of open space for gathering.

It's an almost perfect spot that combines relationships, big dreams, and available space. The former school site will need some work to eventually become the dWELLing, but the structures in place are in good shape and more people are ready to get involved.

For the second consecutive year, Low Sunday at St. James’ Houston is no longer. In 2018, the parish had a desire to increase the attendance on what is traditionally referred to as Low Sunday, the Sunday following Easter Sunday. To encourage parishioners to return en masse on Low Sunday, the church invited Rice University Associate Professor Alex Byrd to participate in a panel discussion after the worship service, just before the parish’s first Low Sunday Crawfish Boil. This event proved to be wildly successful! This year, the parish decided to host another all-you-can-eat crawfish boil, with no panelist. The result: 2019 Low Sunday realized attendance that was at least equivalent to the Easter Sunday attendance. Now an annual event, the Low Sunday Crawfish Boil has become the church’s Brotherhood of St. Andrew signature event–giving parishioners and visitors an opportunity to fellowship with each other, while also enjoying a fun meal. For just $10, attendees can enjoy all-you-can eat crawfish with sides of corn, sausage, and potatoes. What a small price to pay for such a priceless experience!

ST. MARK’S, BEAUMONT, CHILI SUPPER & BAZAAR DRAWS THOUSANDS FOR CHARITY

It’s an annual celebration many eagerly anticipate and savor. For over 75 years, St. Mark’s Chili Supper & Bazaaris an event that draws the community of Beaumont and beyond to devour tasty chili, and at the same time give back to the community of Southeast Texas. The flavorful chili is made from an old family recipe, dating further back than the chili supper itself. To meet the high demand, St. Mark’s volunteers start cooking in August—11 weeks ahead of the event. Each week, the team makes an average of 280 pints and 190 quarts of chili. And get this—they ALWAYS sell out! For those who prefer a mellow evening, St. Mark’s also hosts a “Chili Pepper Pub,” where attendees can enjoy their chili with cold beer and live music. In 2019, St. Mark’s managed to raise $35,000 from the Chili Supper and Bazaar. The money raised comes from the chili sale, the silent auction and bazaar—where a variety of vendors sell jewelry, baby items, bath products, fragrances, sweets and more. The resale shop: The Treasure House, contributed an additional $20,000—for a grand total of $55,000. To learn more and to save the date for their 2020 event, visit stmarkschili.com

1960 HOPE CENTER EXPANDS ITS SERVICES, RELOCATES TO A BIGGER FACILITY

The 1960 Hope Center, a ministry for the homeless founded by St. Dunstan’s, Houston, relocated to a new facility in May 2019, a two-story, 14,000-square-foot building at 821 Peakwood Dr. in northwest Houston. The move was made to further expand the Center's services to the growing number of guests who seek assistance, as well as to enable agencies to offer additional onsite services. According to Board President Debbie Johnson, since 2016 the 1960 Hope Center has served more than 2,000 individuals. The center has morphed into providing more than just the basic needs for an individual—now the non-profit offers food stamps, classes such as financial and anger management, a GED program, and resume writing; and a path to getting state identification so that those seeking help are prepared to go into the real world. Allen Aaron White, the on-site chaplain, is also available to answer and provide pastoral care. The center is inclusive to all faiths and aims to start a community of faith, starting with small groups. “We extend our unconditional love and offer it as a gift,” said White. To learn more, volunteer or donate to support the new facility, visit 1960hopecenter.com