We desire to see Christ's Kingdom come.
Where we don't find it, we contend for it.
The season of Lent invites us to stillness, quiet reflection, and focused attention to the Spirit’s work and our participation by way of repentance. We confess, lament, and turn away from the darkness that inhibits our devotion to God and love of neighbor. We turn towards the hope and conviction that God’s light brings renewal.
Below are upcoming events and resources to help us engage with this season and contend for God’s renewing work in our lives and our world.
- Upcoming -
HOLY WEEK
Palm Sunday
Sunday, March 29, 9am & 11am. We will begin in the backyard with the Liturgy of the Palms and then process around the building into the sanctuary for the rest of service. This service will also include our "reader's theater" reading of the Passion Narrative from Matthew's Gospel.
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 2, 7pm at Christ Church. We will be joined by parishioners from Church of the Cross for a special Tenebrae service: an ancient, three-part liturgical service that aims to symbolically demonstrate Jesus' death and resurrection. Nursery childcare is available with registration (coming soon).
Good Friday
Friday, April 3, 12pm and 7pm. You may observe Good Friday by joining us for one or both of our services. The 12pm service will be a traditional Anglican Good Friday service consisting of scripture, songs, a sermon, and prayers. Nursery childcare is available with registration (coming soon).
EASTER
Easter Vigil
Easter Vigil: Saturday, April 4, 7:30pm. This special evening service will be a traditional Anglican vigil and a celebration of Christ's resurrection! Families and children of all ages are invited to attend together. We will begin in the Christ Church courtyard at 7:30pm.
Easter Sunday
Please join us for one of our two Easter morning services:
Easter Sunday Services: Sunday, April 5, 8:30am and 11am. Traditional Easter Sunday services including our flowering cross. Please allow extra time to navigate parking.
Easter Lily Dedication
A Christ Church Easter tradition is the lilies we bring in from Down Home Ranch! Parishioners may purchase lily plants with a dedication featured in the Easter bulletin. The plants are available to take home after the 11:00am service on Easter morning, April 5. Registration coming soon.
Please submit your dedication by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 31.
God's Work in Us
Resources to inspire us, engage us, and slow us down.
On the Incarnation
by Saint Athanasius
By any standard, this is a classic of Christian theology. Composed by St. Athanasius in the fourth century, it expounds with simplicity the theological vision defended at the councils of Nicaea and Constantinople: that the Son of God himself became "fully human, so that we might become god." Its influence on all Christian theology thereafter, East and West, ensures its place as one of the few "must read" books of Christian theology for all time.
Limited copies available at Christ Church with donation.
Matthew 25 Initiative Lenten Devotional
A Light Shines in the Darkness
M25i offers a Lenten Devotion as well as a 40-day email series highlighting the ministries of Anglicans serving the vulnerable and marginalized. These resources inspire us to care for the “least of these” through works of justice, mercy, and reconciliation.
Family Resources
These downloadable resources offer kid-friendly activities and conversation prompts to help families with children understand, experience and engage with the themes of Lent. For more practical family-oriented ideas and activities go to the ACNA Lent Resource webpage.
God's Work in the World
Lenten Almsgiving
During Lent, we hope you will consider giving as a thankful response to Christ's generosity toward us. This year, we invite you to participate in the Lenten practice of almsgiving, available during our noonday prayer services every Wednesday of Lent. Our given “alms” will be donated to More Than Welcome, a nationally award-winning nonprofit located here in Austin that supports refugees and asylees.
More than Welcome is helping churches across Austin walk with God in faithfulness to his commands to love the stranger. At Christ Church, six small groups have been matched to families who have fled from horrific situations and are settling here in Austin. For us, this is a joyful opportunity to embrace faithfulness to God’s word and love of our neighbor.
“Break your bread for those who are hungry;” says Isaiah; do not believe that fasting by itself suffices. Fasting chastens you but it does not refresh others. Your distress will profit you, however, if you afford comfort to others. See, you have denied yourself; to whom will you give that of which you have deprived yourself? How many poor may be filled by the meal we have this day given up?
Would you have your prayer fly upward to God? Make for it those “two wings” of fasting and almsgiving.
During the season of Lent we hope you will consider giving as a thankful response for Christ’s generosity toward us.
Volunteer Opportunities
A few ways we can consider participating locally and globally.
More Than Welcome
More than Welcome is an Austin nonprofit organization that supports refugees and asylum seekers in the Central Texas area. As one of the few Austin organizations currently operating in refugee services we encourage you to explore volunteer opportunities.
Baptist Community Center Mission
There are many volunteer opportunities just down the street. We encourage you to consider volunteering in the Backpack Feeding Program, providing weekend food for Austin children experiencing food insecurity. To explore volunteer opportunities with the BCCM please email the address below.
The Anglican Relief & Development Fund
Strengthening communities by coming alongside local churches through relief, funding, and partnership. Explore ways you can support their mission.
Rebecca Baines Johnson Housing for Seniors (RBJ)
RBJ is an independent living center for seniors over 62 years of age located less than a mile from Christ Church. Currently the facility has 250 apartments of which 130 are designated for low-income residents and a portion is reserved for those with disabilities. An additional 250 apartments will be available in 2025. Many of the residents are dealing with fairly severe social isolation.
A COLLECT FOR LENT
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.