Hi Church Family! 

Christmas and the turn in the calendar year are nearly upon us. It’s hard to believe! I know many of you will not be sad to say goodbye to 2020. 

During December I’m often communicating with y’all about year-end giving. This year is no different, even as the circumstances we’re all experiencing are quite different.

Reflecting on the past year, I’m grateful for the ways God’s faithfulness to COTC has been expressed through so many people’s generosity. Back in the spring, a member of our church gave the entirety of their stimulus check. Another household asked that their check be given to another family at COTC. This fall saw unexpected donations from outside our community, one facilitated by connections a church member has with a foundation, another one a total surprise from someone outside who wanted to support what God is doing among us. 

These gifts and others like them have been a tremendous blessing. They’ve allowed us to give over $16,000 through the Good Neighbor Fund. GNF disbursements have supported people in our congregation facing financial insecurity and challenges in this time, and also blessed those beyond the bounds of COTC. They’ve enabled us to give $5,000 to Christians in Indonesia, suffering under the pandemic lockdown without government support, they’ve enabled us to allocate the same amount to families in NE Austin served by Communities in Schools (we’ve disbursed over $2,000 of that amount and are working with CIS to give away the rest). Through your generosity we’ve been able to support families at Harris ES and Hope Clinic, on the southern border and through the after school program Side-by-Side Kids. This is has all been a part of living out our calling to be a church for the sake others, even during the pandemic. Our staff and leadership are actively pursuing continued opportunities to participate through generosity in what God is doing to bless our neighbors and win them to Christ. 

This generosity, of course, has also contributed to the day to day operational costs of staff and space for COTC to worship and share life together even in this remarkable time.

As we approach the end of the year, thank you for loving, serving, and giving to God’s local work of grace among us. In anticipation of the year ahead and the ministry needs related to the continued pandemic, would you please prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to contribute to this work. Your generosity is an integral part of this work.  All gifts to Church of the Cross postmarked by December 31st, 2020 will be noted as giving for this year. Checks can be mailed to 1618 Ashberry Dr. 78723. Click here to access our online giving platform.

With much gratitude to God for you, 

Peter+

P.S. This Sunday is the third in Advent, Gaudete Sunday! Please join us at one of the morning services, or online, and please join us for Lessons and Carols at 4:30 pm (2111 Alexander Ave.). This is also the last Sunday for us Coelhos before our extended break. We’re excited to worship with you, see you, and say good-bye this Sunday before we go!