New COTC Staff, Sabbatical Update, and Online Community Opportunities
Hi Church!
There are three components to this enews, related to The Garden, our sabbatical, and how community life is continuing online. Apologies that it is very long, but there is important information throughout so please read carefully.
A New Director of Children’s Formation
I’m very excited that Sarah Robinson has been hired as our new director. Sarah and her husband Garrett have been attending COTC for the past year or so. Sarah is an experienced elementary school teacher, has worked with children in non-profit setting, and most recently worked for CASA here in central Texas. She has a love for Christ’s church and a passion for children to know of God’s love and Gospel. I have personally been blessed by Sarah’s thoughtful and compassionate presence and I’m looking forward to working alongside her to serve the children and families God has gifted to our community. In addition to working with volunteers, parents, and our hired caregivers, Sarah will also be taking on some of the financial administration pieces that Nick and John Porter (our treasurer) have been carrying these past months. Sarah coming on board will also allow Luci Bates to more fully serve in operations and communication. Her start date will be April 1st.
Obviously, we did not anticipate the current pandemic when we hired Sarah back in February; directing The Garden looks very different in this season. Sarah will continue on with the good work others have begun and we look forward to the day when The Garden returns to its more embodied and physically gathered form! Check out this brief video of introduction from Sarah herself, and please pray for the Robinsons in this time of transition.
Coelho Sabbatical
Thank you to everyone who has inquired about the status of our sabbatical. Shannon and I have been really touched by your concern. As you might have guessed, we will not be going on sabbatical in the timeframe we had planned (our final Sunday was supposed to be April 19th). In this current situation we want to be with you as our church family, serving and worshipping alongside y’all. This is good! With the Parish Council we have discussed the possibility of moving our sabbatical later this year. If we have returned to some of our normal rhythms before too long, it may be possible for us to go later in the summer This would allow us to do much of what we had already planned, simply pushed a few months back. However it is very possible that this will not be the case, and then will postpone the sabbatical to the summer of 2021.
Obviously this is disappointing. We have been looking very much to enjoying the gracious gift of this time! However, it is a gift, and we hold it lightly, entrusting ourselves and our times to God. We feel very confident that God knows precisely what we need and is working all things for our good. Should the sabbatical need to be further delayed we can trust together that God is working for the Coelho’s and COTC’s favor. We'll be sure to keep you posted as things develop. If you have any questions about this please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Coronatide Community
Even with a shelter in place order in effect, we continue to live as a community on the way of the cross together. There are a couple of newer ways to engage in our common life together, check them out!
Beginning Tuesday night, Nicole Schrag will be leading a two-part collect-writing workshop. We’ll learn about the structure of the prayers we regularly pray and then also write and share our own. This is fun way to connect with our Anglican heritage and also a helpful way to process and express to God what you’re feeling in this difficult season. Email Nicole if you’re interested in participating.
If you’re eager for more community, consider joining a Neighborhood Group (NG)! NGs meet together weekly to talk, pray and encourage each other. All of our NGs are continuing to meet over zoom during the shelter-in-place. Contact Nick if you want to join a group!
Simply as a fun way to hangout virtually, we are scheduling some Netflix watch parties for the next few weeks. Contact Nick if you’d like to participate.
Coffee and Catechism will be taking place again this week (slightly earlier at 8:45), the focus will be ch. 4 of the EHS material. Join in using this link or sign up to participate in an ongoing way here.
In addition to community together, we have also established the following ways to make practical and pastoral needs known in our community
Beyond more basic and one-off needs, we’ve set up some “pastoral zones” with our clergy covering specific areas. In addition to fielding pastoral needs we’ll also be reaching out to y’all in these areas periodically. The breakdown is as follows:
Our Good Neighbor Fund remains the primary way we are seeking to help alleviate specific and acute financial needs in this time. Contribute to the fund here, and apply for it here.
Lastly, we are going to keep saying this, if you find yourself in need of care of any kind, please don't be alone in that. Reach out for help, and give us the opportunity to be the church for you!
Whew! That was a lot, thanks for reading. We’ll see you at 10am Sunday for our next live stream! Many of y’all have already taken advantage of this, but this is great time to invite others to participate in church life in an unobtrusive way. We’ve already had people participating in worship from around the country. Feel free to invite others or share the link to our services!
In Christ,
Peter+
Ps. Check out this reflection by our Bishop, Todd Hunter, on what it means to be a person of poise and blessing in this season.