Important Information About Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Dear Parish Family,

Due to the extraordinary power outages in the Houston area, we must unfortunately cancel this evening's Pancake Supper Virtual Extravaganza. If you are able, we encourage you to mark the occasion at home by enjoying pancakes, vesting in Mardi Gras finery, or burying the "alleluias." We further encourage you to take a picture of your celebration and share it on social media and email it to our Minister for Community Life, Bethany Podgorny at [email protected].

In light of the possibility of more inclement weather and uncertain electricity availability tomorrow, we are also adjusting our plans for Ash Wednesday. The Cathedral will not be open for individual prayer tomorrow as we had planned, and all in-person worship services have been cancelled. However, we will still live stream a 12:05 p.m. Ash Wednesday service and broadcast that service again at 6 p.m.

On a personal note, my family, like many of yours, has been without power for most of the past 48 hours. I am keeping all of our parish families in prayer, and I empathize with our collective discomfort and anxiety. If you have particular need, please email Minister for Pastoral Care Jody Gillit ([email protected]) or me. Also know that The Beacon has played a major role in the creation of the warming shelter for the homeless at the George R. Brown Convention Center. We continue to follow God's Gospel commandment to care for "the least of these," our sisters and brothers in dire need. Blessings to you. Stay safe and warm.

Grace and peace,
The Very Reverend Barkley Thompson,
Dean