Against Such Things There is No Law
Hi COTC Family!
There has been an outpouring of gratitude this past week for the life and work of Tim Keller. I have been inspired, encouraged, and challenged by various reflections and eulogies. He was a remarkable person and servant of Christ and the church.
Beyond his extraordinary influence and output, what has stood out to me has been what has been shared regarding quieter and more private moments in Keller’s life and work. The ways he encouraged and guided others, the manner in which we responded to criticism. His life, it seems, was marked both publicly and privately by the fruit of the Spirit.
This Sunday is Pentecost (Be sure to wear red!). As a church we will celebrate the gift of God’s presence and power with and in us. In light of that gift, we live with an expectation of the Spirit’s life-giving movement in power among us. I long for you to have an experiential awareness of the Spirit’s presence in your life. May our life together be increasingly marked by a sense of renewal that only the Holy Spirit can bring.
However, in addition to experiences of power and renewal, and perhaps even more so, our lives are to be marked by the fruit of the Spirit. Alongside healings and words of knowledge, may the virtues and characteristics that Jesus so fully embodied, the peace, patience, gentleness, self-control and so on, be abundantly present among us. Even more than the work of miracles, the presence of such fruit is the true indication of the Spirit’s presence. May there be a full and abundant harvest of such fruit among us as we keep in step with the Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit.
In Christ and His Spirit,
Peter+
Ps. For Pentecost we’ll be celebrating new life in Christ through several baptisms, praying over and welcoming new COTC members, and partying and feasting afterward with our annual Pentecost potluck. The main dish and drinks will be provided. Bring a side dish or dessert that represents your roots (define that however you like!). Include a note with your dish with your name and a brief description of how it connects to your roots. This a small way we try to celebrate that the Spirit was poured out on all flesh. Also, if you just need to bring something easy and unrelated that is also totally welcome!
Title 42 and Asylum Seekers
Many of y'all are likely aware that Title 42 was recently lifted. In addition, the lifting of Title 42, sadly, Refugee Services of Central Texas recently closed. This combined with an influx of asylum seekers has left many families in a state of crisis. A new ministry called More Than Welcome is getting off the ground here in the Austin area and as I've been in touch with them this week, they've shared current needs. They are also continually assessing needs and will let me know as new needs arise.
With the lifting of Title 42, we've received questions from COTC parishioners about how they might respond, and the missions team has been discussing and praying about this as well. This week COTC was able to make a one-time gift to More Than Welcome and we encourage you to consider doing the same. You can give to them here. Of course, we invite y'all to be praying for those seeking asylum at our borders, but if you are looking for more tangible next steps, we also wanted to share some ideas.
On Monday, two folks from More Than Welcome interviewed about 10 families to collect information about their needs. Below is a brief summary of the most urgent needs:
1. Rent and utility payments. Many families still owe rent for the month of May. The average cost is $1500/mo for rent and $250/m for additional fees/utilities. Some have higher rent costs or have 2 apartments due to their family size.
2. Enrollment in benefits. Many families have not been enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP food benefits. This is causing food insecurity and inability to receive medical care.
3. Employment needs. As you may have guessed, their situation will not improve unless someone from their family can find employment. Finding employers willing to work with the refugee community, filling out applications, bringing them to interviews and advocating for them is essential.
4. Community mobility. Many refugees have asked for assistance learning how to use the CapMetro system. Having someone show them how to use the bus, how to find the bus station near them, figure out a route, use a bus pass, etc. They also would love donated bus passes as they do not have cash for such things.
If you have an interest in engaging more deeply or meeting any of the needs above, please let me know and I'll connect you with my contact at More Than Welcome.
Peace,
Kimberly
PS-- Jonathan K wrote this piece about the lifting of Title 42 for our diocese.