Amy's Formation Teaching - Now Online!
Amy's teaching from the last retreat (with Thomas' lengthy introductory comments) is now online. If you missed the retreat, you can now catch up on the teaching. Or, if you attended, you can revisit this deep and important teaching for our community.
You can listen to the audio of the teaching via the website or app.
Or, if you prefer YouTube to see the points and scriptures referenced throughout, here you go:
This is the 8th in our Foundation of Community series. If you want to catch up and listen to the whole series before the next retreat, here are the links:
Reflection - "In Training"
John Patrick, one of the awesome young men in our community, wrote this reflection after Amy's teaching on Formation. Enjoy!
My dog in serious training! He’s got three collars now: a flat collar, a pronged collar, and an electric collar.
Each has a unique purpose, each is edifying, and all are forming him into a fully mature companion. Each collar, and, in turn, each discipline he learns, is a step towards obedience, and obedience leads to liberty. With more discipline, more trust is built, and in turn, more fun gopher hunting!
This is a beautiful example of how we are in constant need of discipline and obedience.
While the teachings of Jesus and his apostles can be painful and hard to follow, when we follow them in obedience and submission to God’s will, we are entrusted with more gifts and authority in our churches. But far more than this, we learn how to live in the liberty of Jesus’ life and redemption. Although we may not understand what the new collar that our Master puts around our neck does or it’s implications, when we trust Him, and allow these yokes to guide our lives in submission and obedience, we find we have a better and freer existence.
We are all in need of spiritual formation just as my dog is in need for obedience training.
Amplify Austin
Under Jim MacDonald's excellent leadership, CTR is again participating in Amplify Austin. One of the primary benefits of giving through Amplify Austin, rather than directly to CTR, is that many major corporations in Austin provide some degree of matching funds. So check with your employer to determine if they are one of the matching ones ... if so, give a gift!
You can also help us by spreading the word. Here is a direct link to our page:
https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/christ-the-reconciler
Click the Fundraise button on that page, which will help you spread the word.
Amplify Austin Day officially kicks off at 6 pm on March 2 and ends at 6 pm on March 3, but early giving is already underway on AmplifyATX.org! Gifts made now through March 2 at 6 pm count toward Amplify Austin Day totals, early giving incentives and grand prizes. Please pray about if, when, and how much to give during this campaign.
March 26 - Save the Date!
Just a quick reminder that our March retreat will be on the 26th, not the 19th.
We will close out our Foundations of Community series by looking at the two remaining actions of our community:
Hospitality
Work
Mark your calendars, and look for more details as we get closer to the retreat.