Hi Church Family!

It's back to school for many students in these weeks. In many ways the Fall season is already cranking up. At the same time the realities of the pandemic continue to disrupt. These are strange days (not just an old Kathryn Bigelow movie about Y2K) that we are continuing to navigate with God's grace. Let us be faithful in prayer, persistent in the love of God and our neighbors, and of good courage in Jesus Christ.

Below is some information about various aspects of our common life over these next weeks.

With Austin in Stage Five of public health protocols we will continue to be wearing masks in worship. If you can wear a mask in worship please do so. We'll also be postponing the fall kickoff, originally scheduled for August 29th. My hope is that we'll able to do this a little later in September, with more of us are able to joyfully participate. On the 29th we'll still find a way to mark the season transition, complete the book drive, pray for teachers and students returning to school.

Neighborhood Groups, one of the primary ways we share life together as a community, will be starting up in the coming weeks. We'll have more information later in August on different options. Groups will be kicking off a little bit later than usual. I'm excited for the opportunities that we'll have to gather together in prayer and around God's word.

This transition to Fall is unfolding differently than we had all hoped. Even so, the glory of the Lord is being made known. Jesus is Lord. We as the church continue to bless His holy name. As we pray each week, it is good and right to do so. One specific opportunity to engage in worship is Evening Prayer this Sunday. This will be a great time of being together outdoors and lifting our hearts and one another to the Lord. Check out below for the details and sign up here.

These next Sundays as our worship continues we'll be blessed to host two guest preachers. This week I'm grateful that Jonathan Warren Pagán will be opening up Romans 8:14-17 for us. Jonathan is an Anglican priest and assisting clergy at Church of the Resurrection in South Austin. Some of you will know the Warrens well. Jonathan is a gifted teacher, with a keen mind, and a deep love for Jesus and the church. The following week Joe Ho, a dear friend of COTC's, will be preaching from Roman 8:18-30. Joe last preached at COTC quite a while ago and it will be wonderful to hear his insightful teaching again. We'll be wrapping up Romans on August 29th and doing an "instructed Eucharist" (where the various aspects of the church's worship will be explained) on Sunday, September 5th, when the Smiths join us!

Grace and peace,

Peter+