Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Romans 12:9-11

Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over!  I pray that you have had time to relax, enjoy time with family and friends, and are renewed in spirit for what seems to be the unofficial new year in the life of the church.

I recently took the opportunity to spend time in silence and prayer on a directed retreat at the Cenacle Retreat House in Houston.  It is a beautiful facility that is adjacent to the Buffalo Bayou hike and bike trail.  For me it was the perfect place to rest and renew my relationship with God.

I didn’t know a thing about Cenacle Retreat House or the ministry of the Cenacle Sisters until recently.  Cenacle is a word for the Upper Room where Jesus shared his last supper with his disciples and where they returned to pray and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Cenacle’s charism, or divinely appointed gift, is that of making Jesus known and loved.  The Cenacle offers a variety of retreats other than those of silence and spiritual direction that are offered for women and men, lay and clergy, Catholic and other denominations.  If you are looking for a place for spiritual renewal or unique opportunities for faith formation, check them out on the web at
http://www.cenaclesisters.org/houston/ 

Refreshed and renewed, we turn to August and the beginning of back to school events.  You will want to mark your calendars for Aug. 17th, our annual back-to-school hamburger dinner and school supply drive and August 28th, our quarterly dinner and pool party.  Come make a splash!  Hope to see y’all there.

       Grace and peace,

        Pastor Chris