Weekly News | 9.4.26
On September 20th at 10:15AM, plan to be at the Annual Parish Meeting.
If you attend the 9AM, plan to stick around, and if you attend the 11AM pretend the service starts at 10:15. If you have gone through the membership process and become a member of Church of the Cross, we need you there to vote on our new Parish Council Nominees!
But let’s back up…
“What happens at Parish Meeting?”
If the 10th Anniversary dinner looks back, the Parish Meeting functions as a snapshot of the present and looks ahead to the future. Where are we seeing the fruit of God’s presence, and what do we long to see Him do? As we look toward the horizon of our calling, what is the financial health of our community, and how might we get where we’re going?
During the Parish Meeting we will also vote on our Parish Council nominees.
“What is the Parish Council?”
The Parish Council is a board made up of COTC members who work in conjunction with the rector to oversee the “temporalities” (budgets and building) of the church, ensuring they are operating healthily and in line with our vision.
While you may read all about it in our COTC Constitution, it is helpful to know that these are men and women in whose faith, integrity, and commitment to the life of COTC we have trust. Membership at an Anglican church does not vote to approve many things, like the annual budget or the hiring of the rector. But members do vote on Parish Council members who in turn discern and vote on those significant matters. Our Treasurer Jason Rottinger and myself are non-voting members of the Parish Council.
Serving on Parish Council is a 3 year commitment, and this year we are sending out our beloved Lindsey Sandefur and Senior Warden Mark Lopez. They have served faith-fully and with tenacity during years of significant transition. Our church would not be where we are and who we are without their labors and prayers. Thank you Mark and Lindsey, for leading and loving us into greater stability at a critical time.
Rachel Hayes will continue to serve and will take up the mantle of Senior Warden, helping me to lead the Parish Council. Brian Smith will continue to serve, and has taken on the role of Junior Warden, giving special attention to our building and grounds.
“Who are the nominees?”
I’m so glad you asked! Our nominees for 2026 are Joe Ho, Emily Yeager, and Jay Schmidt. Each of them has served COTC in meaningful ways, and their faith in action has ministered to many of us. I encourage you to read more about Joe, Emily, and Jay.
Any questions or concerns about nominees should be raised before our gathering on September 20th, so please connect with me ASAP if you’d like to speak further!
Peace,
Sarah+
P.S. Did you know Fr. David has a new book? In To Set the World Aflame: How Artists Bear Witness to the Fullness of God's Creation, Fr David offers a comprehensive vision for the vocation of artists. Drawing on 30 years of pastoral and theological work and pulling together insights from Scripture, history, theology, aesthetics, missiology, and spiritual formation, he suggests artists are caretakers of the imagination, custodians of the emotions, and stewards of the senses who help the rest of us come more-fully alive and make sense of our often-troubled world in deeply meaningful ways. You can get a 40%-off copy of the book here, and I’m sure Fr David would appreciate any help you might offer in getting the word out!