Hi All! 

For the past two years the Parish Retreat has been a highlight of our life together at COTC! It’s a time of learning together, eating together, playing together, and well, just being together! 

Coming up on Saturday, November 16th (a month away!) the retreat will be held at Zilker Lodge in the heart of Zilker Park in downtown Austin. We make this a one-day event to make it as accessible as possible for members of our community. Childcare is provided for large portions of the day, we have great food catered from a couple of fantastic Austin favorites, and we play hard, enjoying so much of what the park has to offer. 

This year I’m delighted to let you know that Joe Ho, who has spoken several times at COTC, will be our teacher. Joe is the vice-president of focus ministries for InterVarsity and a wise and faithful teacher of the Bible. Joe will be speaking on “The Problem of Race and the Promise of the Cross". As someone working in multi-ethnic student ministry, Joe is well placed to speak thoughtfully about this topic.

For some of us racial reconciliation is a strong longing and high value, I’m hopeful for the ways that Joe's teaching will give us vision and guidance on how the Gospel and the word of God speak powerfully about and to reconciliation. For others of us, this topic is one that we’re new to, and perhaps even wary of. My hope is that this time will be an opportunity to see and hear how Scripture speaks powerfully to the hope and need for racial reconciliation in the church, as a Gospel witness and as sign of God’s kingdom in our midst. Whatever your perspective, I encourage you to come ready to listen and learn. In addition to Joe’s teaching there will be time for small group discussion, opportunities to receive prayer, and times of worship together. 

Please plan to come, and sign up as soon as you can! The deadline to sign up is Sunday, November 10th. You can see details and sign up here. Finally, please don’t let cost be an obstacle. We want everyone who wants to attend to be able to, simply let me know. 

Looking forward to being together,

Peter+

Ps. We had a great Lunch and Learn with our own Lyndee McKinley of Austin Foster Closet earlier this month. If you were there and had follow up questions or would like to connect and learn more go ahead and email Lyndee. She’s a knowledgeable and passionate guide on this. Also, Austin Foster Closet compiled these resources related to foster parenting, the fostering crisis, and how to engage in this good and godly work. Lastly, AFC is hosting an anniversary party on November 10th, come celebrate and support the impact of their work. Details and ticket info can be found here.