July 1, 2021
My Dear Doubters of Great Faith,
One of the greatest joys that I am finding as we unwind from COVID-19 is being together with people, others, the things that I am sure that I took so for granted in all of my “old” ways of being. Sharing space, sharing breath, is really the sharing of life, the gift of the Holy Spirit, in ways that I paid way too little attention in the past. To breathe the breath of life in, to, and through others is relational gift.
And so, of all the things I want to reclaim from my former life, taking that breath for granted is one thing that I simply do not, want to take for granted.
As we move back into the spaces that we occupied so faithfully, it is with renewed, life-giving breath, in the spirit of new relationship, being in relationship, with each other, and those who are not us. This is the perfect time for us to take stock, as we reunite, in all of the ways that we have done things, and consider, what was the best of what “we’ve always done it that way,” and what we might consider doing differently, as we look into new and exciting days ahead.
It is through this relationship-building lens that the freshly-constituted Mission/Outreach Committee has seized upon the opportunity to build and strengthen relationships in two places, our very own Diocese of Dallas, and the Cathedral of Hope (UCC), partners in ministry, as we seek to make ourselves vulnerable to God’s hurting and broken world.
I am very excited about the work that Canon Carrie Headington and the Diocese are doing with the Dallas Champions Academy (DCA), and I believe this is a way to draw us into relationship with our sisters and brothers in South Dallas, as well as more deeply with the Diocese which we are such an integral part. Canon Carrie founded the DCA as a way to help impoverished Dallas children live into their full purpose and potential. It is shocking to realize that Dallas has the highest rate of childhood poverty in the nation! Over 300,000 children go to bed hungry every night. Less than 10% of DISD seniors are adequately prepared for college. 70% of children report feeling unsafe in their homes. DCA is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in these children’s lives.
DCA has a variety of dynamic programs to address and accomplish the work of breaking this cycle of poverty.
- The CHAMP Mentorship Program
- Champions Academy University Day
- Champions Academy Summer Camp (Including Incarcerated Youth Camp)
- 21 Point Hope Curriculum
There are many opportunities for St. Thomas members to be in relationship with these youth, to make a difference in their lives, through mentoring and reading programs. Our current back-to-school supply drive will have an enormous impact on these students’ learning ability.
For St. Thomas the Apostle to be a “sponsoring” congregation, we need to pledge to sponsor a minimum of 10 children at $300/child. That is a year’s commitment, and provides the summer camp activities for a child. You can make a check out to St. Thomas the Apostle, designating in the memo, “Dallas Champions Academy,” and that will make possible our being a sponsor congregation.
I hope you will join me in this new commitment to the Dallas Champions Academy, and to our Diocese, by walking alongside those most in need, children who live in poverty throughout our city. I promise you, we will impact their lives. But more importantly, they will impact ours!
Yours in mission,
Fr. Christopher+
