Christmas at the Cathedral 2020
One of the highlights of Advent each year is “Christmas at the Cathedral,” which is held in Reynolds Hall on a Saturday in mid-December. It offers a joyous Christmas celebration for young children and their families served by two of the Cathedral’s partners – Kids Hope and Small Steps. A Christmas meal, games, photo booth, snow in Houston, and gift cards have been highlights of the event in years past.
With the Cathedral’s top priority this year being safety in the face of the unrelenting pandemic, the Mission Outreach Council has worked together with Kid’s Hope and Small Steps leadership teams to develop an alternative approach for Christmas at the Cathedral. Of special concern is that these severely disadvantaged families are at heightened risk of contracting Covid-19 and may not have the resources to be properly treated if they do get sick. As a result, an in-person event is simply not possible this year.
Instead of inviting families to the Cathedral in mid-December, we will be delivering Christmas gift packages to fifty families involved with Kid’s Hope and Small Steps. Each package will include a wonderful Christmas Family meal, a gift card, and a blessing from our clergy. The meals will be prepared by Epicurean Group under the guidance of Cathedral parishioner Patti Ramsey. Mission Outreach Council and Youth Council members have volunteered to help wrap the boxes, and volunteers will deliver the packages to the families on December 12 and 13.
Many Cathedral members volunteer and donate to this event, and many of you will be disappointed that there will not be an opportunity to personally serve our neighbors in need this year. The Mission Outreach Council is always truly grateful for this support, and we are looking forward to the return of the event to Reynolds Hall in 2021. In the meantime, please keep these families and our non-profit partners in your prayers as the Christmas season approaches.
If you have any questions or feel compelled to contribute, please feel free to contact Guy Hagstette or Chris McKeown, this year’s event co-chairs.
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