Beginning this Fall ... Confirmation Preparation for Youth and Adults
Daily Scriptures for the Week
Sunday, July 25, 2021 Worship with Church of the Cross 9:30 AM at Star Hill Ranch 15000 Hamilton Pool Road, Bee Cave Child-care is available
We are meeting in the Fitzhugh Building on Main Street. Easiest access to the Fitzhugh Building can be found off the driveway that goes behind Main Street. Just park behind Fitzhugh, and come in the side entrance.
Texts in Worship: II Kings 4:42-44; John 6:1-21
We will be streaming the service on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ecclaketravis. The service will load onto Facebook soon after it’s completed for viewing throughout the week.
Dear Friends,
The Austin area is again experiencing an upsurge in COVID-19 cases. We are again in Stage Four, and were last at this stage at the end of February. To keep ourselves well and healthy, this is a good time to exercise caution as we gather for worship.
If you are not vaccinated, it is important that you wear a mask when you are present for worship.
Because children under twelve cannot be vaccinated, we strongly urge children to be masked while they are inside for child-care or worship. Our child-care providers will be masked while inside.
As always, regardless of our vaccination status, we are always welcome to wear a mask should it increase our comfort level.
Lizzie and I will continue to be masked during the administration of communion.
We are grateful that many of us are already vaccinated, and we all hope that this surge is short-lived and that we will again be on a downward trend. Please know that we will keep on eye on developments, and alter our practices as necessary to do what we can to safeguard one another’s health and well-being.
Again, let me offer words of thanks on behalf of the community for how you have cared for and loved your sisters and brothers during this time. It is truly inspiring, and it is a grace to serve alongside you.
Blessings, friends; and I bid you God’s grace and peace.
Paul
Beginning this Fall ...
Confirmation Preparation for Youth and Adults
In the Episcopal Church, we are invited to participate in two sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist, commonly called "Communion" or "The Lord's Supper") and five sacramental rites, including the sacramental rite of Confirmation. Confirmation is the making of a mature and public affirmation of the faith in the presence of the Bishop, and then to receive from the Bishop the laying on of hands.
Making one’s confirmation is the culmination of study, prayerful devotion, and participation in the life of a faith community, and marks the beginning of a mature faith one has chosen for oneself. At Episcopal Church of the Cross, we invite everyone in 8th grade and above to discern if you might be ready to be Confirmed this winter when our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, visits us on December 12th.
For adults, if you have already been Confirmed in another tradition, you can be Received into the Episcopal Church; you might also want some time intentionally to re-devote yourself to God through study and prayer, in which case you could Reaffirm your Baptismal Vows. At ECC, we also have a practice of our younger confirmands meeting with a Confirmation Sponsor at least once - an elder in the faith who is encouraged not only to stand by the Confirmand in the moment of Confirmation, but to walk with them through these early years of mature faith. If you would like to be a Confirmation Sponsor, please email the Clergy!
Confirmation Preparation begins on Sunday, September 19. Sessions will be held after worship from approximately 10:30 to 11:15, and continue through Sunday, November 7th, with a required day-long retreat on Saturday, November 6th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There will also be a rehearsal after worship on Sunday, December 5th in preparation of Bishop Ryan’s visit on December 12th.
We intend to offer these courses in a hybrid manner - meaning, while the preference will be for in-person attendance, your clergy will teach simultaneously in-person and anyone who wishes to join us via Zoom.
The outline of our sessions in the Fall is:
Sunday, September 19: Welcome & get to know each other.
Sunday, September 26: What is Confirmation?
Sunday, October 3: Baptism & the Baptismal Covenant
Sunday, October 10: No gathering; Fall Break
Sunday, October 17: The Eucharist
Sunday, October 24: Episcopal History 101
Sunday, October 31: Faith in Action - Why Christianity is about Contemplation and Action
Saturday, November 6: RETREAT from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (For youth confirmands)
Sunday, November 7: Vocation How God can call us and empower us in all areas of our life to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves
Sunday, December 5: Rehearsal for confirmands, sponsors, and parents
Sunday, December 12: Bishop’s Visit and Confirmation
For more information about confirmation preparation, please be in touch with Paul Johnson at paul@ecclt.org or Lizzie McManus-Dail at lizzie@ecclt.org.
Daily Scriptures for the Week
Sunday, July 25:
Morning Psalms: 24, 29 Evening Psalms: 8, 84
II Samuel 1:17-27; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 25:31-46
Monday, July 26:
Morning Psalms: 56, 57, 58 Evening Psalms: 64, 65
II Samuel 2:1-11; Acts 15:36-16:5; Mark 6:14-29
Tuesday, July 27:
Morning Psalms: 61, 62 Evening Psalm: 68
II Samuel 3:6-21; Acts 16:6-15; Mark 6:30-46
Wednesday, July 28:
Morning Psalm: 72 Evening Psalm: 119:73-96
II Samuel 3:22-29; Acts 16:16-24; Mark 6:47-56
Thursday, July 29:
Morning Psalms: 70, 71 Evening Psalm: 74
II Samuel 4:1-12; Acts 17:1-15; Mark 7:1-23
Friday, July 30:
Morning Psalm: 69 Evening Psalm: 73
II Samuel 5:1-12; Acts 17:1-15; Mark 7:24-37
Saturday, July 31:
Morning Psalms: 75, 76 Evening Psalms: 23, 27
II Samuel 5:22-6:11; Acts 17:16-34; Mark 8:1-10
A Word of Prayer..
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The ministry of Church of the Cross is supported by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and the tithes and offerings of the community and friends. Gifts in support of Church of the Cross can be set up online, through text messaging or checks/cash. Click here for more information and links.
