Dear friends in Christ,
This, That & the Other … Our annual Women's ACTS Retreat takes place this weekend. Please join me in praying for the 50 women on retreat, in addition to a roughly equal number of team members who are leading them. They will join us on Sunday at the 11 a .m. Mass to conclude their retreat. This is the 10th anniversary of ACTS retreats at CtR and I couldn't be more pleased at how this ministry has grown to be become such a strong witness of the faith in the community. We host a Men's retreat in May and a Women's retreat in October every year. If you have never attended one, give some prayerful thought to doing so in 2019.
… Speaking of 10 year anniversaries, we're just about a month away from the 10th anniversary of our beautiful church. It was on Nov. 16, 2008 we dedicated the "new" sanctuary at CtR and we want to celebrate this important occasion. We've got several events lined up that weekend beginning with solemn Evening Prayer on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. There's no better way to honor our God than in prayer together in our sacred space.
…The center of our anniversary weekend is our Fall Family Service Day on Saturday, Nov. 17. We're offering a variety of projects both on campus and in the community to show how we are a parish who goes beyond our borders to help others in need. This is a direct outgrowth of our Community Clean-Up Response last year following Hurricane Harvey. So many people said they enjoyed helping others in need that we're offering a day of service where individuals and families can volunteer to work on projects here at CtR, or in the Cypress area at the homes of those in need of help, or at Our Mother of Mercy Church, our twinned parish in Houston's 5th Ward. We need you to sign-up in advance (as we did during the hurricane recovery project) so that we can allocate the proper number of people for each job. Click the link below and it will take you to the registration page. Most projects can be done in a few hours, and you'll see the different options available. It's a great way to put our faith in action and there is room for young and old alike to come together to serve others.
…The last portion of our anniversary weekend will be a birthday celebration after all Masses on Sunday, Nov. 18 (you can't have a birthday without cake, after all!) and then a Heritage Concert from our Choir at 2 p.m. as we celebrate our faith under our beautiful dome in the church. Mark you calendars and join us for this great occasion.
…We'll have a special 2nd collection this weekend for those who are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Michael that tore through Florida and the southeast. A portion will also go to those in the Carolinas who are still dealing with the most recent flooding there from a few weeks ago. Last year dioceses in Texas were the recipients of a special collection when we were in need after Hurricane Harvey so this is our chance to "pay it forward" and come to the aid of others. Please be generous and remember them in your prayers as well.
…Please allow extra time to get to Mass this weekend as work on the Highway 290 & FM 1960 overpass will force closure of several lanes. Check your traffic apps and plan accordingly if you take 290 East or West. Looks like it will be a major headache, but don't let that keep you from coming to church. God is worth the effort! Think of those who don't have access to Sunday Mass on a regular basis like we do. Let's offer up any minor delays for the good of all. Use that time to pray the rosary and dream about the day (maybe soon?) when this too shall pass and all will be right in the world (and on 290). ... Lastly and mostly importantly, God loves you! … See ya’ at Mass!
This, That & the Other … Our annual Women's ACTS Retreat takes place this weekend. Please join me in praying for the 50 women on retreat, in addition to a roughly equal number of team members who are leading them. They will join us on Sunday at the 11 a .m. Mass to conclude their retreat. This is the 10th anniversary of ACTS retreats at CtR and I couldn't be more pleased at how this ministry has grown to be become such a strong witness of the faith in the community. We host a Men's retreat in May and a Women's retreat in October every year. If you have never attended one, give some prayerful thought to doing so in 2019.
… Speaking of 10 year anniversaries, we're just about a month away from the 10th anniversary of our beautiful church. It was on Nov. 16, 2008 we dedicated the "new" sanctuary at CtR and we want to celebrate this important occasion. We've got several events lined up that weekend beginning with solemn Evening Prayer on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. There's no better way to honor our God than in prayer together in our sacred space.
…The center of our anniversary weekend is our Fall Family Service Day on Saturday, Nov. 17. We're offering a variety of projects both on campus and in the community to show how we are a parish who goes beyond our borders to help others in need. This is a direct outgrowth of our Community Clean-Up Response last year following Hurricane Harvey. So many people said they enjoyed helping others in need that we're offering a day of service where individuals and families can volunteer to work on projects here at CtR, or in the Cypress area at the homes of those in need of help, or at Our Mother of Mercy Church, our twinned parish in Houston's 5th Ward. We need you to sign-up in advance (as we did during the hurricane recovery project) so that we can allocate the proper number of people for each job. Click the link below and it will take you to the registration page. Most projects can be done in a few hours, and you'll see the different options available. It's a great way to put our faith in action and there is room for young and old alike to come together to serve others.
…The last portion of our anniversary weekend will be a birthday celebration after all Masses on Sunday, Nov. 18 (you can't have a birthday without cake, after all!) and then a Heritage Concert from our Choir at 2 p.m. as we celebrate our faith under our beautiful dome in the church. Mark you calendars and join us for this great occasion.
…We'll have a special 2nd collection this weekend for those who are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Michael that tore through Florida and the southeast. A portion will also go to those in the Carolinas who are still dealing with the most recent flooding there from a few weeks ago. Last year dioceses in Texas were the recipients of a special collection when we were in need after Hurricane Harvey so this is our chance to "pay it forward" and come to the aid of others. Please be generous and remember them in your prayers as well.
…Please allow extra time to get to Mass this weekend as work on the Highway 290 & FM 1960 overpass will force closure of several lanes. Check your traffic apps and plan accordingly if you take 290 East or West. Looks like it will be a major headache, but don't let that keep you from coming to church. God is worth the effort! Think of those who don't have access to Sunday Mass on a regular basis like we do. Let's offer up any minor delays for the good of all. Use that time to pray the rosary and dream about the day (maybe soon?) when this too shall pass and all will be right in the world (and on 290). ... Lastly and mostly importantly, God loves you! … See ya’ at Mass!
