A Migratory God: Advent 2021

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Sancocho Supper / Grand Posada, December 19 at 6 p.m. in Reynolds hall
Looking for connection and celebration this Advent season? To finish off the series in a special – and traditional – way, join us for The Good Stranger’s Sancocho Supper. We’ll break bread and enjoy sancocho, a traditional Dominican soup, as John McLaughlin, author of The Good Stranger’s Sancocho Surprise and founder of Education Across Borders, discusses his bilingual folktale with a message just right for the season. Mendeliz will provide the music, we’ll have pinatas and seasonal treats for all ages. Following supper and festivities, join us for the traditional Grand Posada, as we travel through the Cathedral in a processional liturgy that enacts the journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter for the upcoming birth of the Christ Child.

Register in advance for the Sacocho Supper.

We want to remember Advent as a time where we prepare to welcome the stranger as well as the guest in our lives. It is a time to look out for those who have special needs. As we also consider that Jesus was a refugee, and lean into practicing the welcoming love of God and hospitality as a virtue, we offer a slate of programming highlighting these themes:

Charles C. Foster Presentation, December 5 at 10 a.m., Reynolds
A presentation by Charles C. Foster, chair of Foster LLP and a Houston-based immigration attorney, at the Dean’s Hour on December 5 at 10 a.m. He will speak on the immigration challenges facing the United States and Houston specifically, and discuss compassionate solutions that embody and strengthen the United States. Foster was a Senior Policy Advisor for the George W. Bush presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2004, and an immigration policy advisor in Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Foster is the rare expert sought after from both sides of the political aisle for his thoughtfulness and wisdom. Watch live at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/deanshour

Phuc Luu, December 12 at 6:15 p.m., Latham
During this Advent season, how will we invite the Holy Family into our homes? Will we allow the baby Jesus to open our eyes and hearts? Over the years, the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ has been viewed through rose-tinted glasses. What displays of the nativity scene fail to depict is the plight of a refugee family and the reality of a household forced to flee for their lives to find sanctuary and safety. This same story is all-too-real for millions of families around the world today. Jesus was not born to inspire us to give gifts or drink eggnog, but to open our hearts and minds, so we can see God in those around us, no matter their circumstance. Join Houston theologian and author Phuc Luu for a time of reflection and discussion around his book, Jesus of the East: Reclaiming the Gospel for the Wounded.

Mitch Albom, December 15 at 7 p.m. Online via Zoom
Internationally acclaimed author Mitch Albom will discuss his latest book, The Stranger in the Lifeboat, a novel of hope and faith, in which a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord” and says he can only save them if they all believe in him. Mitch Albom has decided to cancel his in-person event scheduled for December 15. They will be offering a virtual event to take its place. Sign up online through our partner: Brazos Bookstore.

If you already have the book, or if the cost is a burden, please contact the Cathedral Bookstore at [email protected] for a Zoom-only link.