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Aug 06, 2015

Urban Mission Experience Gathers 4th-6th Graders for Service, Fellowship

 

Fourth to Sixth graders gathered in Houston from across the Diocese to do service projects, worship and make new friends at the Intermediate ministry experience in July. They are pictured packing meals for a backpack ministry for underserved children in the Houston area. 

 

 

Twenty-seven rising fourth through sixth graders from across the Diocese of Texas gathered for an urban ministry experience in July at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Houston. The annual event worked with the Cathedral Urban Service Experience (CUSE).

 

Missioners served at the Houston Food Bank where they made 8,928 meals, working so quickly that they had to be restocked with containers and boxes constantly. They also worked to prepare 500 Meals Ready to Eat for Bayou City Blessings in a Backpack, which are given to kids who often run short of food when schools are not in session providing breakfast and lunch.

 

A ride on the light rail brought missioners to the Open Door Mission, a Christian facility providing shelter, rehabilitation, support and counseling for homeless men in Houston. They created cards for the residents, helped prepare and served dinner and took time to speak with and get to know some of the people who are struggling to find permanent housing and develop their job skills.

 

“They shared stories about school, their summer experience, and one boy even struck up a conversation about algebra!” said KariAnn Lessner, one of the Cathedral sponsors. She was assisted by Susan Goodman, a member of St. Matthew’s, Austin.

 

The group stayed in “The Tree House” at the Cathedral for their weekend mission experience and received a warm welcome and sustained applause during Sunday morning worship. They represented churches in Austin, Copperas Cove, Cypress, Houston, Killeen, Lake Jackson, La Porte, Pasadena and Stafford. Before they were released to their parents or guardians, missioners were asked to repeat their “take away” for the weekend: “Be you. Be Kind. Love Jesus.”