Dear Cathedral Family,
Last Sunday’s celebration of Black History Month and the gifts of African Americans to the Church was a wonderful time of worship and fellowship with our friends and neighbors. We are especially blessed and thankful for the creativity and hard work of Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster Elizabeth Bemis in coordinating and leading the musical elements of our celebration. The musical gifts of our friends in the Excelsior Band and noted Mobile soprano Joyce Sylvester were uplifting and inspiring. We were honored to welcome members of the Diocesan Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation, as well as members of the Mob Pacers, and, as always, we were pleased and proud to welcome (along with their families) the young men of the Mobile Kappa League. We heard from their mentor, our own Carl Cunningham, Jr., who wore many hats well on Sunday—vestry member, youth mentor, and trombonist.
Lead chef Al Chow and his team in the Cathedral kitchen created a fabulous Jazz Brunch enjoyed afterwards by 250 people! Our faithful team of servant leaders took care of serving and clean up beautifully. I am pleased to report that we raised almost $5000 to support Kappa Leaguers’ preparations for college entrance exams. If you haven’t yet given, please go online (or in the mail or the alms basin) to do so and help us make up the few hundred dollars we are shy of this mark.
What a joy it was to break bread together with others after our time of social distancing! Hospitality is at the heart of Christian life and practice. It is a constant element of Jesus’ ministry and teaching in the gospels, and our baptismal covenant lifts it up among our promises. Christ Church Cathedral continues to be a place where all God’s people are welcomed to the Lord’s Table and to the common table where we form the beloved community together. As we move through this time of emerging from pandemic and social upheaval, our loving practice of welcome and hospitality will continue to be at the core of our mission and ministry together.
Faithfully,
Beverly+