Dear Christ Church,
My new favorite place in the world is Taizé, France, where a new monastic movement started in 1940. The brothers worship and pray three times a day and teach the Bible one hour a day, all open to guests who want to join them. Every week, hundreds and often thousands of mostly young people come from all over Europe and the world as seekers, skeptics, and followers of Jesus. They sing in more than a dozen different languages. And always at the center is Jesus, the beginning and end of the Taizé community’sexistence. Taizé is the closest I’ve ever come to experiencing Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Next weekend, you can get a taste of God’s global mission right here in Austin. Christ Church and our diocese (C4SO) will be hosting a variety of opportunities to understand and engage God’s global and multicultural mission, both locally and around the world. The weekend (July 28-30) includes (1) a Mission Roundtable on “Mutuality in Mission,” for immigrant and mission leaders (lay leaders and/or those vocationally involved in the work); (2) an “All Nations” worship service open to everyone; and (3) a Diaspora Network Conference for everyone who wants to support the growth of diaspora churches. You can find out more here about each of these events, and how to participate in any or all of them!
Kids Quest is back! This Sunday our children ministry resumes during worship for kids K-5th grade. We believe that on the one hand, children can and should be formed in the context of intergenerational worship, with everyone else, each Sunday. On the other hand, sermon’s are more geared toward youth and adults. So, our approach is to keep all ages together during our services, except during the sermon. At that time the children follow the cross to Kids Quest, where they engage the Living Word and Written Word in age-appropriate ways. Many thanks to all our Kids Quest volunteers who help us disciple our children! If you would like to know more about how to serve in Kids Quest, please email oliviabruner@msn.com.
Peace,
Cliff+