Hi Church! 

Our Parish Retreat is coming up soon - Saturday, October 23rd! I wanted to highlight for you a couple of reasons I’m particularly excited about this year’s time together. 

First, the context. In light of all that we’ve experienced the past 20 months or so, the opportunity to gather for this extended time feels especially precious. Our opportunities to be together have obviously been curtailed by the pandemic. Over the last few months, an abundance of new members have joined our community. The retreat is a great chance for us to be together and to grow in relationship. There is something accomplished in our life together on this one day in chatting by the playscape, playing volleyball or basketball, praying and learning together, that is good and deep. 

Even as hospitalizations and cases are dropping here in Austin, the staff has been working on ways to do the retreat as safely as possible. This week we visited Zilker Lodge (the retreat location) and determined that, weather permitting, most our time can be spent outdoors together. As usual, the kids will be able to take advantage of the playground, gaga ball pit, and various outdoor spaces as well, in addition to the extensive classroom space at the Lodge. 

Second, the content. This year we are privileged to have John Onwuchekwa as our speaker. John is the teaching pastor at Cornerstone Church in Atlanta. Originally from Texas, John is a gifted teacher of the Scriptures and deeply loves Jesus and the church. He’ll be teaching to us on the theme of perseverance and prayer. 

Whatever our progress in faith and prayer there is always the opportunity to grow. (James Houston) I’m looking forward to the ways the Holy Spirit will use John’s teaching to grow us as a praying and persevering people. 

Third, and finally, the people. That’s you! I love it when our community gathers together. I especially love it when it does so at the retreat. Playing and laughing, praying and thinking, worshipping and resting (there’s a room of pack n’ plays and napping kids!), all of these are features of our time together and bring out different facets of who God has made us to be corporately. I grow more deeply in love with COTC through the Parish Retreat, and I suspect you will too.

In this time, with this topic, and with this people (y'all included!) the opportunity to retreat together feels like an especially poignant gift. I hope you’re able to join us! Sign up below by October 20th, and feel free to let us know if you have any questions. 

In Christ,

Peter+