We want to get to know you better!

Join us for our next Newcomer’s Lunch with Dean Eric and members of our staff.

TBA
Immediately following the service

DiscoverCotA

Sundays January 18, 28, & February 1 at 9.45a

For those interested in Covenant Membership at Church of the Apostles, join Dean Eric two consecutive Sunday afternoons from 3-5p to learn more about our mission, visions, and values. You’ll learn about Anglicanism, our roots, and how to get involved in life at the church.

Click below to sign up for our next scheduled class.

Holy Tuesday

March 31 at 6p

The Season of Lent

Begins Ash Wednesday, February 17

Ash Wednesday
February 18 at  7a, noon, & 7p

The quiet, penitential season of Lent begins with one of only two days in the year when Christians (ages 18-59) are called to a day of fasting and a stark reminder that death is the “wage of sin.” The Imposition of Ashes vividly depicts this dire sentence, and causes us to long for the Good News of Easter. Services are in the Nave at 7a, noon, and 7p. 

Lenten Retreat
Saturday, February 21 from 9a ­­- noon

The Great Litany
Sunday, February 22  at 8.30a & 11a

The first Sunday in Lent, our Eucharist begins differently. In place of the opening hymn, The Great Litany is chanted during an extended procession. First appearing in 4th century Antioch, the Great Litany was adapted over a millennium later for inclusion in the Book of Common Prayer. Commended by its timeless value and use throughout the Church, it has been sung or said by Anglicans throughout the ages. Its name comes from the Greek word “litaneia” meaning “a supplication.” In the Litany, we ask for deliverance from sin, Satan, and death. In it, we ask for God’s mercy upon the Church and the world. At the heart of these requests is an abiding awareness that, from birth to death, we depend entirely upon the grace of God.

Men’s Lenten Study “From Duty to Delight”
Beginning Tuesday, February 24 with John Barr

For six Tuesday mornings in Lent the men of the parish (and their friends!) are invited to join together to kneel down beside the great prayers of the Bible—the native language of prayer. It will take us into the region of awe and intimacy, as we lean into deeper honesty and into the rhythms and grace God sends. We want to come into a new vivid sense of reality and intimacy when we pray. Let’s move from duty to delight as we kneel beside these biblical prayers and make them our own. What do we bring? Our failures and our longings for living water. Your Bible and a notebook. Tuesday, February 24, 7.15-8a in the Parlor. Plenty of coffee. No need to sign up. Just come. —John Barr

About Lent

History

Originally, Lent was a time of preparation for those about to be baptized: a time of study and prayer before baptism at the Easter Vigil, the first celebration of the Resurrection. Since these new members were to be received into a community of Faith, the entire community was called to join them in their preparation. Spanning the weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, Lent was also the time when those who had been separated from the Church for grievous sin (excommunicated) would be prepared to rejoin the community. If you or a family member would like baptism at our Easter Vigil service on Saturday, April 16, please contact the office.

Today

Today, Lent is understood as a time for all of us to prepare to celebrate Easter. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent being tempted in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. Christians today use this period of time for introspection, self examination, and repentance. Since Sundays always celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days. That is why they are referred to as the Sundays in Lent.

Practices

Fasting

Join in this season of fasting. Consider abstaining from some kind of food: meat, dairy, or eggs are traditional; or, abstain from all food for certain days, or for certain periods during the day (like from sunrise to sunset on Wednesdays and Fridays, or from lunch each day). But remember, since Sundays are always feast days, even in Lent, you are encouraged to break your fasts on Sundays.

Discipline

Instead of focusing solely on disciplines of abstinence and fasting, you might choose to embrace a particular discipline, like joining our Wednesday midweek Eucharist at 7.30a, or increasing the time you spend in Bible study, other devotional reading, and prayer.

Self-Examination

Growing as a disciple requires several things: education (study of scripture, of theology, of the lives of folks who are further down the road than us), experience (all sorts of events, good and bad, serve as the material from which our growth springs), and, finally, reflection (how do you make sense of, and incorporate, your education and experience into your life so that it becomes a part of you).

All of us have a wealth of experience, we all have some amount of education in the faith; but very few of us have time to reflect on our lives in a way that really allows us to grow from our education and experience. In fact, our busy, noisy culture actually hinders the kind of reflection that is necessary for growth!

Reflection isn’t hard, even if we aren’t that accustomed to it. Just ask three simple questions: What? So what? and, Now what?

When you ask, “What?” you are trying to figure out precisely what it is that you have learned or experienced. This is a chance to delve into the details.

Asking “So What?” gives you a chance to take the details you discover in the first question and try to see your life in relationship to them.

Finally, “Now What?” looks to future asking, “What sort of person do I want to be in light of what I have learned?”

The Triduum

The Easter Triduum invites us to re-live the passion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday are the three holiest days of the year.

Holy tuesday march 31

6p Stations of the Cross

Maundy Thursday Arpil 2

7p Eucharist
This Eucharist ends with the Altar being stripped as we begin our journey through the Great Three days of Christ’s life.

Good Friday April 3

7p Good Friday Liturgy
We ponder the “Goodness” of this Friday with music, scripture, prayers, and the chance to come face-to-face with the hard truth that the Cross was necessary for our redemption.

Holy Saturday April 4

7p The Great Vigil of Easter
The New Fire is kindled, the Paschal Candle is lit, and we walk through the history of God’s salvation; Lent ends and Easter begins!

TODO —> Bring something to jingle, bang, whistle, or drum for The Great Noise. Contact Dean Eric@cotacola.org if you or a family member desire baptism.

8.30p Break the Fast Party
Lent has ended and our Easter Feast begins! Everyone brings a favorite treat to share as we are serenaded by our favorite band, the Flat Out Strangers. Don’t miss it!

TODO —> Last names from A-M, please bring something savory; last names from N-Z, please bring something sweet.

Easter Day April 5

10a Festival Eucharist
One glorious Eucharist for the highest feast of the year! We’re singing, “Hail Thee, Festival Day,” so change your vacation plans to be here!

11.35a Easter Egg Hunt
For tots up to 5th grade in the Parish Playground. Bring your Easter baskets!

Confirmation Class 

March 15 - May 3

Sunday Evenings

4.30-5.30p

CotAStudies Room

The public profession of faith in Jesus Christ by adult believers in the Anglican Church is liturgically expressed through Confirmation or Reception by a Bishop.

“In Confirmation, through the Bishop’s laying on of hands and prayer for daily increase in the Holy Spirit, God strengthens the believer for Christian life in the service of Christ and his kingdom. Grace is God’s gift, and we pray that he will pour out his Holy Spirit on those who have already been made his children by adoption and grace in Baptism.” (pg 174, 2019 BCP)

Course Description

This course prepares both adult and youth candidates to receive Confirmation by giving instruction in the basic foundations of the faith (Scripture, Creeds, Lord’s prayer, 10 Commandments, and Catechism). Catechumens will be formed through weekly meditations, lectures, discussion, and readings as they are prepared to go out as witnesses (Acts 1.8) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Course Schedule

Week 1 (March 15) What is Confirmation?

Week 2 (March 22) The Word of the Lord (Old and New Testament)

Week 3 (March 29) We Believe… (Nicene Creed)

Week 4 (April 12) Lord, Teach Us to Pray (Lord’s Prayer)

Week 5 (April 26) Understanding Law and Grace (10 Commandments)

Morning Retreat (May 2) A Story to Tell the Nations – 9a-12p

Confirmation @ 11am service (May 3)

Course Instructors
Micah McCoy — micah@apostlescolumbia.org

Order by March 19

Donating a lily for Easter is a wonderful way to remember a loved one or to mark a special occasion.

Enter the details for your dedication below, and click the button at the end to submit your donation.

Sample Dedications

"in loving memory of N.N., by (your name)."

“in honor of my mother, NN, by (your name)”
(or “in honor of NN, by her daughter (your name)”

“in celebration of the birth of N.N., by (your name)."

 Groups

The early Church was known for its friendships, referred to as koinonia (Acts 2.42). This word for fellowship is based on the word koine, for “common.” They shared a common life.

As we encourage this Christ-based intimacy at Apostles, we are forming groups that will meet bimonthly for Scripture-based study and prayer; acting as a springboard for other fellowship activities, such as meals among families and friends.

Some groups will meet in homes, others at the church. Each group will have around 6-8 members (a minimum of four; no more than 12) which meet on the “off” weeks of the men’s and women’s Bible studies, with a variety of time and day offerings, all under the guidance of two trained co-leaders, as groups discuss John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way. Women also have the option of participating in a koinonia group through the Tuesday morning and Wednesday night Bible Study (with discussion based on the lesson, rather than the Comer book), or of doing both!

For now, these will be men’s and women’s groups. This simplified approach will help us in launching this program, but we have an eye to offering mixed gender groups in the future.

If you would like to join a women's Koinonia group,
please contact Deacon Lisa Wheeler.

If you would like to join a men's Koinonia group,
please contact Mr Hoyt Burnett.

Christian Education Classes

Sunday Mornings

9.45-10.35a

CotATalks

Parish Hall

A miscellany of short talks by speakers and topics that come by invitation of the clergy. Personal witnesses, biblical teaching, reflections on Christian living, deepening your relationship with the Lord, sharing the hope within you, and loving in difficult times and situations are just a sampling of the types of offerings found in this class.

Anglicanism 201

Admin Wing Office Commons
Dean Eric and Dr Ed Smither

“A Journey Through the Anglican Catechism.” Catechesis is the ancient practice of disciple-making through instruction on theology, ethics, and spirituality as embodied in the Apostles’ Creed, 10 Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer. Join Dean Eric and Dr. Ed Smither as they guide us through the Anglican Catechism, entitled “To Be A Christian.”

CotAStudies

Christian Education Wing Room 105
Various Teachers

A more in-depth, sequential class on a biblical theme, book of the Bible, work of Christian literature, or relevant cultural topic.

Spiritual Formation According to the Church Fathers
Curtis Grenier
January 11 - March 8

Christian spiritual formation is the process of becoming more like Christ. This class will examine how this progression was understood in the eyes of select Church Fathers. We will begin with a broad overview of Scripture then reflect on various visions held by saints who came before us.

Life Together

Christian Education Wing Room 103
Sarah & Will Peden, & Amber & Larry Cook

A class for everyone—couples and singles. Warm and conversational, this class is designed for fellowship and relationship building, melded with exploring biblical essentials.

College Hour

Parlor
Heath Milford and Brayden Hembree

Join our community of college-age students each Sunday morning for fellowship, food, and study! We will be discussing the book of James, led by Heath Milford and Brayden Hembree in the church parlor.

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the Cota Connection

click below for past editions

the 14th Sunday after Pentecost

the 13th Sunday after Pentecost

the 12 Sunday after Pentecost