Come to a special Open Table at CTR, with a guest from Israel - Lori Lowenhar. Lori will be sharing about her experiences during the war, including maintaining relationships with Arab Christians. She and her sister will also play some special music. Don’t miss it!

Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive more details about this event.

On March 16, CTR and Hope Chapel are collaborating to host a special event called:

The SHORE: Death, Eternity, and the Throne of God

Invite your friends and family - especially young people! - to come! One of the activities will be to watch part of the new movie, “After Death” (about near death experiences). Caroline will also give a teaching on the Throne of God which will be powerful.

Here are the details:

• Date:  Saturday, March 16, 2024

• Time:  9:45 am - 2:45 pm

• Location:  Hope Chapel, 6701 Arroyo Seco, Austin, TX 78757

• Cost:  Free

  (but if you want help offset the expenses of food & childcare, that would be appreciated, click here to donate)

• Register:  https://form.jotform.com/Thomas_Cogdell/the-shore

• Food:  Lunch will be provided

  • Childcare:  Will be provided if you register and reserve a spot by March 8 (or until childcare is full)

Here is the digital invitation, please don’t hesitate to post / email / text it around:

The February worship night has been cancelled, due to illness at CTR.

Friday night worship @ CTR.

Worship starts at 6:30 pm, so come hungry for God (but full of dinner - we won’t be having dinner together at CTR beforehand).

Friday night worship @ CTR.

Worship starts at 6:30 pm, so come hungry for God (but full of dinner - we won’t be having dinner together at CTR beforehand).

CTR Retreat for the 4th quarter of 2023.

Friday night worship @ CTR.

Worship starts at 6:30 pm, so come hungry for God (but full of dinner - we won’t be having dinner together at CTR beforehand).

CTR is joining many churches and ministries around the city to mark the 60-year anniversary of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech. A city-wide proclamation (which we helped to craft) will be read on the steps of the State Capitol. Then a worship event at nearby Waterloo Greenway, with short speeches - including by DeKarlos Blackmon of the Catholic Diocese!

Website: https://www.dreamtogether2030.com/

Register to attend: http://www.eventcreate.com/august28

MOVED from August 18 to August 11

Friday night worship @ CTR.

Worship starts at 6:30 pm, so come hungry for God (but full of dinner - we won’t be having dinner together at CTR beforehand).

Friday night worship @ CTR for July has been cancelled, due to the proximity to the retreat.

Come on August 18!

Amy's teaching will be light on the teaching, with more focus on actually contemplating the Trinity - both individually, and together. We expect the Holy Spirit to help us learn from Scripture. Don't miss it!

The introduction to the Community Commitment will then happen in the morning, before lunch. You'll be able to take home a paper copy of the document, if you wish to, to more carefully read and pray through it. We are also working on a study guide, like the one we have for the Statement of Personal Devotion - but it won't be finished by the retreat.

In the afternoon, we’ll pray together and hear a report. Afterwards, we'll have lots of time for kids to play (supervised by their parents), and for the adults to spend time with each other and with the kids.

Here are the details:

• Date: Saturday, July 15, 2023

• Time: 9:45 am - 3:00 pm

• Location: Christ the Reconciler, 2142 FM 1704, Elgin TX 78621

• Food: The entree will be provided by CTR (various types of sandwiches), please bring a side / salad / drink / dessert to match

• Cost: $25/person, $35/couple, $5/child

• Note: Or, free if this is your first time coming to a CTR retreat!

• Children’s Program: Will be conducted during the teachings / presentations, children will be with their parents during lunchtime, bridge prayer, Noah & Kara's report, and free time

• Register: https://form.jotform.com/210904131654043

We hope you can make it!

Friday night worship @ CTR.

Worship starts at 6:30 pm, so come hungry for God (but full of dinner - we won’t be having dinner together at CTR beforehand).

Friday night worship @ CTR.

Worship starts at 6:30 pm, so come hungry for God (but full of dinner - we won’t be having dinner together at CTR beforehand).

CTR Retreat for the 2nd quarter of 2023.

John Michael's memorial service is today. Here are the details:

• Date: Saturday, April 1

• Time: 2:00 pm

• Location: Hope Chapel, 6701 Arroyo Seco Austin TX 78757

• Food: Light refreshments will be served afterwards

• Dress: Casual

• Gifts: In lieu of flowers the family asks simply that people come, reflect, and rejoice together over John Michael's well-lived life

There will be a time in the service where you can bring a brief testimony to honor God’s work in John Michael’s life, if you would like to.

Hope to see you there!

CTR Retreat for the 1st quarter of 2023.

On Friday, December 16, Thomas will give a slide show & report on his trip to Europe earlier this fall.  It was a significant trip in so many ways - reconnection with European friends; service to Hanna Miley's film team; and preparing the way for the German translation of Unity Through Repentance. 

Thomas also personally experienced two "marker moments" from God, one at Lüdenscheid and one in the UK, which he will speak about, and there will be time for prayer as well.

You can attend in person (it will be an Open Table) or via Zoom.  The Zoom session will also be recorded, so you can watch later if you can't make it that evening.

• Date: Friday, December 16

• Time:  Open Table @ 5:30 pm, Zoom @ 7:00 pm

• Location:  CTR, 2142 FM 1704 Elgin TX 78621

• Zoom: Contact us for the Zoom link

• Open Table details:  Dinner will be a soup (bring simple side / bread / salad / drink / dessert), no child care provided

CTR is honored to have been asked to co-host Chaim Malespin.

Chaim is from the Galilee region of Israel. He has been brought to Texas by Sid & Deb Davila of YeshivaRetreat ministry. He will be at CTR on Friday, November 18 - 2 weeks from today. Mark your calendar!

Here's a description from Sid & Deb about the evening.

A lover of truth and people, Chaim will share about his experience of living in Israel, and what the Scriptures say in regard to this unique land.

We'll have basically an Open Table format, with a light Shabbat dinner at 6 pm (bring a side / salad / drink / dessert) and then hearing from Chaim at 7 pm. Arrive by 5:45 pm if possible. There will be no childcare available. The event is free, and a love offering will be taken up for Chaim's ministry.

Please RSVP by contacting Amy to let her know you are coming. Thanks!

Our 4th quarter retreat for 2022.

Stay tuned for more details regarding topic & logistics.

Amy has been invited to preach at Hope Chapel on Sunday, October 16.

Woohoo!

Amy has been invited to preach at Micah’s home church, the Bastrop Church of Christ.

287 FM 20, Bastrop TX 78602

Service starts at 10:30 am, but we recommend going early (~9:20 am) to experience “The Gathering” - which is three churches sharing a building in unity! With food! Then Sunday School at 9:30 am, followed by the main service where Amy will preach on Psalm 133.

Here is the church website.

The Grassroots Ecumenism Summit: Coming Together to Celebrate and Work for Christian Unity

Do you want to be renewed in your commitment to Christian unity? Are you looking for new strategies to build Christian unity in your local community? Join us online for this inspirational and educational gathering. At this unique two-hour meeting you will hear powerful stories of individuals whose lives have been changed by the call to Christian unity and you will learn models for building Christian unity from a variety of leaders at the grassroots.

Confirmed speakers:
John Armstrong, author of Costly Love
Scott Brill, The Initiative
*** Amy Cogdell, Christ the Reconciler ***
Rev. Kelly Fassett, UniteBoston
Karen Petersen Finch, author of Grassroots Ecumenism: The Way of Local Christian Reunion
Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Founder of Grace and Race Ministries--Ambassadors of Reconciliation
Rev. Steven Harmon, author of Baptists, Catholics, and the Whole Church
Ryan Nunez, John 17 Movement
Fr. Tom Ryan, Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
Callan Slipper, Focolare Movement
Fr. Alexei Smith, Southern California Christian Forum
Nathan Smith, Glenmary Home Missioners
Joseph Tosini, John 17 Movement
Elizabeth Woodard, author of Cruciform Ecumenism
John Yoon, Hyde Park Church (University Bible Fellowship) in Chicago, Illinois

Click here to register - it’s free!

We’ll have our first “long-form” retreat on Saturday, September 10! Register here:

• https://form.jotform.com/210904131654043

There will be 2 teachings on the topic “Boundaries of Reconciliation,” and the day will end with the presentation of the Community Commitment.

Here are more details:

• Date: Saturday, September 10, 2022

• Time: 9:45 am - 4:15 pm

• Location: Christ the Reconciler, 2142 FM 1704, Elgin TX 78621

• Program: Morning prayer, Teaching #1, lunch + free time, Teaching #2, Reading of Community Commitment, Small Groups (optional)

• Food: The entree will be provided by CTR (brisket cooked by Ed Tschoepe), please bring a side / salad / drink / dessert to match

• Cost: $25/person, $35/couple, $5/child
  Note: Or, free if this is your first time coming to a CTR retreat.

• Children’s Program: Will be conducted during the teachings, children will be with their parents during lunchtime and free time (and, we’ll have a bouncy house / water slide!)

• Register: https://form.jotform.com/210904131654043

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Thanks! … and see you on Sept 10!

John, Susan & Felicia are visiting from Germany! Let’s eat with them, catch up on their life in Deutschland, and pray with them for the various ministries they are involved in.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 11!

Messianic Jewish worship leader Carolyn Hyde will be visiting us. We’ll have dinner together and enjoy worshiping with her and hearing from her about her life and ministry in Galilee.

On Friday, July 8, we’ll be celebrating the publishing of:

Here are the details:

• Date:  Friday, July 8, 2022

• Time:  7pm - 8pm (with Phillip leading special "pre-worship" starting at 6:45 pm), with reception following

• Location:  Hope Chapel, 6701 Arroyo Seco, Austin

• Program:  Will be kid-friendly ... reading a fun chapter from the book, testimonials, special guests Dan Davis & Hanna Miley via Zoom as well as Richard Harvey & the Langs via video

• Book:  Will be for sale for suggested donation of $10 each (author's cost); and you can get them signed by one or both of the authors!

We'll also be calling on the CTR community to help clean up afterwards, many hands will make light work.  Thank you!

Back on February 12, many of us adopted the Statement of Personal Devotion to live out John 17 for 2022. But others couldn't make it in person.

So we have scheduled two opportunities to adopt the Statement of Personal Devotion, via Zoom:

• Friday, May 6 @ 9 am Texas Standard Time

• Tuesday, May 10 @ 9 am TST

Please contact us if you are interested in the Zoom link to either time, to join in.

The March retreat has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 7.

Here are the details:

• Date: Saturday, May 7

• Time: 9:45 am - 2:30 pm

• Location: Christ the Reconciler, 2142 F.M. 1704 Elgin TX 78621

• Zoom option: Yes, a link will be sent out prior to the retreat

• Cost: $25 / individual, $35 / couple, $5 / child

• Lunch: CTR will provide the main course (hot dogs & beans), bring a side / salad / dessert / drink to share with everyone. There will be gluten-free hot dogs and corn tortillas, but we won't have gluten-free buns so if you want them, bring them!

• Registration: https://form.jotform.com/210904131654043

This retreat will focus on the last two actions of community:

• Hospitality (featuring John Michael & Diane Wall sharing their hearts)

• Work (with a teaching by CTR’s #1 work-er, Phillip Owens)

God is speaking to John Michael & Diane, revealing his heart for Hospitality. And Phillip is making significant sacrifices to come and speak to us about Work. These two activities are "last but not least" in our list of the practices that God has called us to, in living out John 17. We are a community bent towards the contemplative, so these types of practical hands-on activities can seem daunting. All the more reason to be encouraged by learning how God practices hospitality and work, and how they are related to reconciliation and unity.

And ... the kids will have a combination bouncy-house / water-slide to play on!

Back on February 12, many of us adopted the Statement of Personal Devotion to live out John 17 for 2022. But others couldn't make it in person.

So we have scheduled two opportunities to adopt the Statement of Personal Devotion, via Zoom:

• Friday, May 6 @ 9 am Texas Standard Time

• Tuesday, May 10 @ 9 am TST

Please contact us if you are interested in the Zoom link to either time, to join in.

MOVED FROM MARCH 19

The March retreat will continue our series on the Actions of Community, in preparation for considering the community commitment.