Hi COTC!

We are finishing up a great week at Creation Care Camp! We’ve had nearly forty kids at the Parish House every morning, learning about God as our creator, and sharing in all kinds of activities. As this week comes to a close we (Sarah and Peter) wanted to thank you for praying for this good work and to share a few things we thought you should know about camp.

First, there are amazing kids in our church and in our neighborhoods. These 40 plus kids have played hard, worshiped hard, and learned a lot. We are privileged to have so many creative, precious, and delightful children in and around our community. Pray for the children in your life too!  

Second, the formation of these kids is a high, holy, and joyful calling on our church! Raising up saints of the Lord is a huge undertaking, but it is good and important work. Sarah’s role is specifically titled Director of Children’s Formation for a reason. As a community we take seriously raising children up to know and serve Jesus, to experience His goodness and grace, and to take their place as kingdom citizens. This “forwarding of the faith” has been and continues to grow as a major component of our shared life. With that in mind, please continue to pray for the children of COTC and our neighborhood! 

Third, a group of remarkable volunteers helped make this week a success. A huge thank you is due to Aubrey, JJ, Shannon, Stephani, Briana, Amy, Cassidy, David, Krista, and Laura. Alongside our whole staff, these volunteers have loved our campers well, bearing the image of God in their play and in their service. Be encouraged to thank them on Sunday! Also, if you’re interested in joining their ranks in our regular formation efforts consider volunteering with The Garden. 

Thanks again for covering this week in prayer! Please continue to pray for both the children of COTC, and or the children from our neighborhood who were able to participate this week. May all these kids grow in the knowledge of God’s love, and increase as ministers of that same love to others. 

Finally, a couple of notes about significant days this week.Tomorrow is Juneteenth. For many Texans, this day only came on the radar in the last few years or even last year with some of the largest civil rights demonstrations in history. I (Peter) will never forget hearing last year from an elderly black pastor here in Austin reflect upon the meaning of Juneteenth and contrast it with his experience of July 4th. Yet Juneteenth was officially recognized in Texas in 1979 and was marked in black churches for far longer. You might consider learning more about Juneteenth, especially from local resources. You might also mark this day of both celebration for justice long-coming and lament for justice long-delayed by praying for God’s kingdom of justice to come more fully, and committing yourself anew to Jesus’ way of shalom. 

Related to shalom, increasing data suggests the importance of engaged father’s in contributing to the flourishing of our communities in so many ways. This Sunday is Father’s Day and we’ll take a moment to celebrate and pray for the many men who serve as fathers among us. We hope you can join us!

In Christ,
Sarah and Peter+