Life Together
Thanks so much to those of you who completed our survey! Your answers are a real help for the church as we plan and pray.
We received approximately 80 individual responses to the survey. That provides a broad cross-section of our community and helps provide an accurate picture. Here a couple of notable things from the survey
More people plan to attend our 9am service.Over two-thirds communicated they were planning to attend the 9am service once we transition to two services on August 27th. This fits with our expectations, and is something to keep in mind as you consider inviting friends, planning your own service attendance, and thinking of when service opportunities are available. A few of you have asked about which service would be more helpful to attend, if the survey results are predictive it might be helpful to come to 11am!
We are a serving community. The survey results also communicated that we are a serving congregation! The vast majority of respondents communicated they already are serving in one or more arenas at COTC or are open to serving more than they currently are. Y’all are amazing! Service to one another in the name of Christ is a hallmark of our life together at COTC and the survey revealed that. If you checked that you were interested in learning about serving more please do email Mother Kimberly for more information.
People are sharing life beyond Sundays. Understandably a number of us made comments regarding concerns about the move to two services and the potential effects on our sense of shared life. Many people highlighted how they are finding meaningful places of deepening connection in gatherings beyond worship including the “The Restful Reads” book group, Neighborhood Groups, and various retreats, among other . These opportunities are important as we live together as one church in the season ahead. This month the singles hang, men’s gathering, and Share the Table are all further opportunities.
The survey also included questions related to “keeping company with God'' and to the scheduling of education and equipping opportunities. Both of these to some degree reflect our core value of “transformation.” As a church we are called to walk with Jesus on the way of the cross, and to grow in His likeness. This is true across age groups and demographics and whether we’ve been a Christian for many years or are just new to the life of faith. In the season ahead, I long for us to be a people who are increasingly rooted in Scripture, guided by the practices of faith that have sustained Christians through the ages, and empowered and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Happily the survey responses revealed that many of us do feel a sense of encountering Jesus in our times of worship through the Word and sacrament. Also, a majority of COTCers have a sense of keeping company with God through daily practices of prayer, reading God’s Word, and contemplative disciplines. That is so encouraging to know. These are the basic ways we grow in intimacy with the Lord, and the foundation of a spiritual healthy and growing community.
A significant group of respondents also expressed a desire to grow in engagement with the Bible, to grow in prayer, to practice silence and solitude, to participate in intentional community, and to grow in celebration and sabbath-keeping. As we think about how Jesus is inviting us to grow with Him in the seasons ahead these desires and longings are helpful to know.
Thank you again for completing the survey! Thank you especially for the notes of encouragement to the staff team, they are a blessing. I also know that the comments in the survey are sometimes an opportunity to express more vulnerable questions or concerns. Because the survey was anonymous, in part to invite that sort of response, we can’t follow up with you specifically. If you shared something that you’d like to touch base regarding please do feel free to reach out to myself, Sarah or Kimberly. Please know that your feedback is a blessing to us and we are praying for you.
In Christ,
Peter+