Connecting people to Christ through love in action!
Hello! I'm Stephanie Thomas, Engagement Coordinator here at COTHA. We are excited to share our 2023 Spring Discipleship and Formation programs designed to illuminate God’s word for His people and help raise the next generation of believers. Below you'll find offerings for all ages, stages of life, and levels of commitment.
I look forward to walking along with you during this season!
Stephanie
In This Issue:
Sunday Mornings
Other Opportunities
Sunday Mornings
Adult Formation Groups
Being a disciple is simply being a follower. For a Christian, this means we are a disciple when we follow Jesus Christ. He has a heart for the lost, last, least and lonely. When we follow Jesus, our heart begins to change to have the same concern.
The process of growing into this lifestyle is called discipleship. It is simply a matter of being willing to continue following him through worship, prayer, the reading of God’s Word, fellowship, and other spiritual practices.
Our Adult Formation Groups allow our adults to gather on Sunday mornings from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. to read God’s Word and explore spiritual practices. Childcare is available for children six weeks old through 5th grade.
Classes resume Jan 8, 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Men: Book of Luke
Luke was a Gentile, a doctor, and fluent in Koine Greek. Combined with Acts, he wrote more New Testament than even Apostle Paul.
While Mark might be the shortest book of the gospels, Luke has proven to be the longest book of the synoptic gospels. Primarily, this book was inscribed to serve as a pillar of faith for the believers and to unmask the lies about Jesus Christ. This is still relevant in today’s society. It is a thorough narrative of the stages of Jesus' life, systematically provided sequentially. These events take place in some of the areas that the pilgrimage group (COTHA Holy Land) visited recently.
This book was meant to serve as a map of the savior's life while he was on his mission. Therefore, it aimed to provide a framework through which individuals can learn about Jesus Christ’s life (Luke 1:1-4). He is the author and finisher of our faith. In today’s society, we need to go back to the scriptures instead of looking to society to answer the question, “Who do you say that I am (Luke 9:20) ?”
Our Men's Formation group is led by Derek Agomate in Room 103.
Co-ed: Apostles' Creed
The Apostle’s creed takes one minute to recite but will take us ten weeks to realize all the biblical connections and their application to everyone’s life.
Handouts will be available for the first session. For the entire series, please acquire the following:
I Believe, The Apostles’ Creed, by Tim Chester.
eBook: $5.94; Paper: $6.29
Our Co-Ed Formation group is led by Steve Hamburg in Room 102.
Students
COTHA Student Ministry (CSM) is our student ministry (6th-12th grade). We offer many programs and opportunities for students to learn about the love of Jesus and how to apply Christian principles in their lives.
Students 6th-12th grade are invited to join us at 11:30 a.m. every other Sunday in the Student Center for lunch and Teen Alpha.
Spring dates: 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, 4/16, 4/30
Kids
At COTHA, it is our mission that every child knows and loves Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We work to achieve this mission by loving and praying for every child, targeted programs, an engaging curriculum, and special events.
9:15 a.m. - Kids Hangout
Our Game Room (Room 113) is open and supervised for kids from kindergarten to 5G with parents in our Adult Formation Classes.
10:30 a.m. - Kids Formation
During our 10:30 a.m. service, our kindergarteners through 5th-grade kids begin in the Great Room and experience God through their grade-specific Kids Formation Groups. This includes a Bible story, activities, and prayer time. Children return to the main service during the announcements and before communion.
Preparation for Communion
Our next Preparation for Communion classes will be held Feb 5 – Mar 5 in the Kids Corner from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a retreat on Sat, Mar 4 from 9-12.
During this class, children from 2nd grade and up will learn about the sacrament of communion while they're having fun! Parents will meet with Father Alex during the first and last classes. Register here.
Nursery
Our nursery is open on Sundays from 7:45 a.m. to noon for children six weeks old through pre-kindergarten and is professionally staffed by a group of warm and dedicated adults.
Through age-appropriate activities, we are building our preschooler's spiritual foundation with games, crafts, and Bible experiences. Our entire curriculum is constructed to meet your preschooler(s) where they are cognitively, spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially.
When you arrive at our nursery area, your child will check in to their age-based room (babies, toddlers, preschoolers) for the day’s lectionary-based lesson and plenty of time to play and socialize with friends.
We also have a nursing room off the nursery foyer available during all services.
Other Opportunities
New Member Classes
This 2-week class, held after the 10:30 a.m. service in Room 103, provides interested guests with the opportunity to learn more about who we are, what we believe, ministry opportunities, and how they can join our congregation. Lunch and childcare are provided.
Register for our Jan 22 & Jan 29 Class
Register for our Apr 23 & Apr 30 Class
Students
Wednesday Nights return on Jan 11! Students in 6th grade - 12th grade are invited to join us in the Student Center every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for dinner, a lesson, small group time, and games. Students are encouraged to invite their friends for fun and fellowship!
Graduating Seniors 2023
Starting in February, our seniors will meet at Becca Rivas, Director of Family Ministry, home to study “The Jesus I Wish I Knew in High School." This is an excellent opportunity to prepare our graduating students for their next stage of life.
Spring dates: 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, 4/16, and 4/30 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
We will celebrate our seniors during our services on Sunday, May 21.
College Students
Our college students meet twice a month for Bible Study and Game Nights.
Our spring Bible Study on Galatians is hosted at Becca Rivas’s home on 1/15, 2/12, 3/12, and 4/23 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Our Game Nights are hosted at Deborah Graeflin’s home on 1/29, 2/26, 3/26, and 5/7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Bible Studies
We have Bible studies available for all stages of life! These groups connect adults and students while studying Scripture and praying together.
Young Moms Bible Study: our Young Moms Bible Study, led by Emily Large, is for moms of young children and meets in the nursery meeting room beginning on Tuesday, Jan 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Childcare is available, or moms are welcome to keep their babies with them.
Young Dads Bible Study: our Young Dads Bible Study, led by Alex Large, is for dads of young children and meets in Room 102 beginning on Tuesday, Jan 10, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Women’s Bible Study: This hybrid Women's Bible Study, led by Donna Bell, meets in Room 102, resuming on Thursday, Jan 5, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The class is currently on a 20-week study by Dr. David Jeremiah on the book of Revelations.
Men’s Bible Study: This hybrid Men's Bible Study, led by Owen Barker, meets in Room 102 on Saturday mornings from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The group is studying Isaiah.
Co-ed Bible Study: This zoom Co-ed Bible Study, led by Owen Barker, meets on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The group follows Discovering the Bible by Gordon L. Addington, studying two to three passages per day.
Home Groups
We have a variety of home groups geared toward life stages that meet throughout the week. These groups include high school students, Class of 23 Seniors, college age, 20s-30s, families, empty nesters, and everything in between.
If you would like to join a home group or even start a new home group, please contact Stephanie Thomas, our Engagement Coordinator, at Stephanie@cotha.org.
Daughters of the King
Members of The Order of the Daughters of the King® are women and girls between the ages of twenty-one and one hundred and seven who desire a closer walk with the Lord. We are Christian women, both lay and ordained, who are strengthened through the discipline of a Rule of Life and supported through the companionship of our sisters. We are all at different stages of our Christian journey – some have just begun, and some have been on this path for a long time. But no matter where we are on our sacred journeys, our primary goal is the same – to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known to others.
We meet on the third Sunday of the month after the 10:30 a.m. service in Room 102. If you are interested in joining our chapter, please contact the president, Donna Bell.
Junior Daughters of the King
Junior Daughters of the King (JDOK) provides girls or young women the opportunity to grow in their love and knowledge of Jesus Christ while serving their church and community. They are an integral part of the Daughters of the King Order, and the hope is that they continue the mission of The Order by transitioning to senior Daughters.
JDOK is open to all girls and young women ages 7-21. COTHA's Queen Esther Chapter meets monthly from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Kids Corner. If you are interested in joining our chapter, please contact Adelle McKinstry.
COTHA Craft and Wine Night
Do you have a craft you never seem to have time to do, or maybe you’d be interested in learning a new hobby? Our COTHA Craft and Wine Night offers both options!
Each month, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Great Room is available to open crafting and a group craft. Not crafty?? Come anyway! It's a BYOB, super chill, a just come hang out, fun evening.
Please use the below links to register so we know how many to expect. To participate in the group craft, a $20 supply fee is required.
Jan 19 - Crochet Headbands Register
Feb 16 - Acrylic Painting Register
Mar 23 - Cross Stitching Register
Apr 20 - Terra Cotta Planter Register
May 18 - Hand Lettering Register
If you are interested in hosting a month, have questions, or need additional information, please contact Deborah Graeflin.