In a recent Zoom call with other C4SO churches in Texas, our Dean, Cliff Warner, shared results from a study on the current state of the church. The report had a lot of interesting information, but one thing I couldn't help but notice was what it said about volunteering. The research found that churches should expect that volunteer numbers will continue to decline. I'm SO grateful to say that at COTC we haven't experienced a decline in volunteers! I recently looked back at our volunteer team numbers from last Spring and compared them to where we are today. In the midst of all the normal transition of peoples’ lives, all our various volunteer teams have grown; praise God! We can't thank y'all enough for your willingness to serve! The growth of these teams has been much needed as we've experienced significant growth in our Sunday attendance over the last year and additional volunteers continue to be a need as we look ahead to two services on August 27th.

Liturgy is a word that we use often around COTC. Liturgy itself calls us to action, to full participation, to responsibility, and defined, it actually means “the work of the people.” God doesn't simply invite us to sit passively in our seats waiting for the band, clergy, and others, to lead us through our service. God invites us to actively participate, to be fully engaged in our prayers, responses, and the reading of Scriptures. If liturgy is the work of the people, then we are the workers. We are invited into active participation in the liturgy and in this, there is also an invitation to consider how else we might participate in the work of the people through serving in a variety of ways.

While so many of you are already serving in some capacity, there are still opportunities to serve, especially if you aren't already. Joining a team is a great way to join in all the good that's already happening at COTC. Not only does joining a volunteer team contribute to the life of the church and the work of the people, it's a way to stay connected to the community and it's also a way of using the gifts that God has given you. Like a household relies on each member to help with the work of the household, COTC depends on our volunteers to make our common life happen. We have a wide variety of ways that you can serve. You can explore them here and then take the next step of filling out a volunteer interest form. If you're unsure of where to use your gifts, feel free to reach out to me. I'd be happy to explore this with you.

As we prepare for two services, we encourage you to think through the items below:
1. If you aren't serving on a regular basis, we invite you to spend time in prayer and discernment about where you might serve. When you're ready to begin exploring joining a team, complete this form.
2. If you are serving, but have the bandwidth to join another team, please do! Moving to two services requires many of our volunteer teams to double in size.
3. For this serving, already we encourage you to remember that it's an important part of the life of the church that you get to take part in. Serving is also a form of worship and drawing near to God. As you work with children in The Garden, greet on a Sunday morning, set the altar, etc. take time to pray and experience the presence of the Lord in the work you are doing. 
4. Pray for those serving and our team leads as we prepare for the shift to two services. 

Joyfully,
Kimberly

Ps. This Sunday a representative  from Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s Criminal Justice Ministry will be making an announcement regarding ways to partner with this work. Following worship there will be short, 15 minute meeting, with further information. Come to learn more about ways we can serve those outside our church community!

Pps. Thanks to everyone who has completed the survey regarding the second service. The deadline to complete it is June 25th. If you haven't completed it yet, please do so!