A Community Centered in Love
A Community Centered in Love
Alice and I view our pledge as a gift to God, an act of gratitude for all our earthly blessings. We feel that all we have has been provided by God and that sharing some of what He has given us with Christ Church Cathedral is the best and most direct way for us to express our gratitude.
Certainly, it is difficult to increase one’s pledge in austere times. However, we feel it is important to be steadfast and to give the first fruits. That is to say, it is the first check we write from the household budget, not the last. We will make do with what is left.
There are many reasons why we have steadfastly attended and supported CCC over the years. We appreciate its history and location in the center of the city and celebrate the diversity of our community. However, the most important and distinguishing feature of our community is its unified focus on Jesus Christ and the love for one another which emanates from that faith.
The love is felt all the time and is illustrated in an experience we encountered in late 2017. Violent murders of innocent people had just taken place in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs south of San Antonio. All around the country, people were somewhat nervous and on edge. During the 9:00 service – which we routinely attend—a disheveled but ultimately harmless man barged in and started shouting in the middle of Dean Thompson’s announcements. Barkley allowed this verbal intrusion to run its course and then descended from the pulpit, in a gentle manner and communicating empathy for this man. He then put his arm around him and escorted him out of the sanctuary. When Barkley returned, he told us that we are a community centered in love. For me, the experience was an epiphany for something I subliminally already knew. It demonstrated that CCC practices what it preaches. And all of us in attendance witnessed that it works. Love really does conquer all things and produces peace and harmony.
Hopefully, you feel that love as we do and that it will inspire you to reciprocate with a generous pledge to the EMC. After all, CCC is our spiritual home and it is OUR responsibility to take care of it.
EMC Co-Chairs Alice and Risher Randall Jr.
The Every Member Canvass is our annual opportunity to pledge financial support to Christ Church Cathedral for the coming calendar year, a true investment in future mission and ministry. As we live in a time unlike any other, the need is great, and we hope that all will make their pledge through trust in God who casts out our fear, and out of the joy we know when we meet God in this place.
Ways to make your pledge:
- Pledging online is easy.
- Return the pledge card you received by mail to 1117 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002.
- Make a pledge over the phone at 713-590-3338 or by email by contacting Karen Kraycirik, minister for stewardship.
Learn more about this year’s EMC at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/emc
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