Weekly News | 2.6.26

Hi COTC,

In May 2020, I received an email from Peter, the former rector of COTC, asking if I’d be interested in guest preaching on Zoom. I was excited and honored by this opportunity. Peter and I had never met, and we lived in Phoenix at the time, so we scheduled a call so I could learn more about COTC. I remember a lot about that call, but one thing in particular that stands out is how he described COTC as a church deeply committed to welcoming the stranger. I love this memory because that value resonated with me—and, while none of us knew it, it marked the beginning of my family’s journey with this community, a place God would call us to a year and a half later.

Today, that commitment remains central to who we are. Several of our mission partners focus on immigrants and refugees, and through Kids Club, we regularly share life with children and families who have immigrated to the U.S. While our immigration system has long been broken, in this pivotal moment, how the Church engages as witnesses of Jesus truly matters.

This past Thursday, we concluded the God of the Stranger J-term, where we covered topics such asThinking Biblically about Immigration and The Most Vulnerable Among Us. On our final night, we explored ways to respond faithfully as Christians. It’s common to care deeply about an issue but also to struggle to take action. This happens for a variety of reasons: we don’t know the next steps, the range of options is overwhelming, packed calendars, etc. I was so encouraged by the ways participants engaged and their desire to discern next steps together. This graphic offers a variety of ways we might respond. While you may not have participated in the J-term, I want to encourage each of us to consider how we might faithfully respond as followers of Jesus.

As we prayed in Advent, may we be a people who listen to the voice of the Lord, as we consider next steps.

The peace of Christ,

Kimberly

PS– Stay tuned for some specific invitations in the coming weeks, and as always, please reach out if you have any questions.