Clarion Oct 2019 - Covenant Presbyterian...
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Greetings, When I think of World Communion Sunday, I think of relationships because Covenant Presbyterian Church is all about the relationships we maintain with the people of God around the world. Through our Missions Budget we support our PCUSA Mission Co-Workers in Bangladesh, Les and Cindy Morgan, as well as ministries in Nicaragua led by Martina Wilson, with whom we have had a long-time relationship. Additionally, we support Presbyterian World Mission through our denominational giving. But this only scratches the surface, because more than all that, we are engaged in mission. In February, I will be leading my fifth CPC trip to Palestine as part of the Keep Hope Alive Olive Program of the Palestine YMCA and YWCA. I recently counted up how many people from Covenant have traveled on these trips since 2014, and we have had upwards of 20 from our congregation, along with other Presbyterians from around the nation. This trip will be the third time we are planting olive trees, and we have also harvested olives on two other occasions. These are meaningful experiences because we have the opportunity to engage with Palestinians who are citizens of Israel (with limited rights) as well as those living in the West Bank (who have no civil, or even human rights). It is also interesting to be engaged with Christian and Muslim Palestinians, who live and cooperate with each other very well, as well as with Israeli Jews who share in the work of achieving justice for all in their nation. There is always a disconnect between our experience in Palestine and what the narratives about that are in U.S. culture. But the spirit of World Communion is alive and well in all our encounters with our Israeli/Palestinian partners. This past Sunday we had a wonderful crowd of folks in the fellowship hall following worship to hear from our youth (and adult leaders) about their meaningful time spent in Cardenas, Cuba this summer with our partner congregation, El Fuerte Presbyterian Church. This relationship is part of a bigger relationship between our Peace River Presbytery and the Matanzas Presbytery in Cuba, which is part of an even bigger relationship in our denomination through the Cuba Partnership Network of the PC(USA). I remember going to Cuba on one of our first Presbytery trips a couple of years ago and found it to be a powerful experience among our Cuban Presbyterian brothers and sisters. This is an ongoing partnership that will continue to grow between our two presbyteries and congregations for years to come. I should also mention that even our support of Misiòn Peniel is, in important ways, an international relationship, albeit right in our own backyard! When we work at our Presbytery mission for farmworkers in Immokalee, we are in relationship with people from Central America and Haiti who have wonderful cultural gifts to share with us. There are many social/political issues attached to all of that in our society these days, but the mission itself is about relationship and understanding how we are all children of God who care about God’s justice in the world. The Clarion The Newsletter of Covenant Presbyterian Church October 2019
Transcript of Clarion Oct 2019 - Covenant Presbyterian...
Greetings,
WhenIthinkofWorldCommunionSunday,IthinkofrelationshipsbecauseCovenantPresbyterianChurchisallabouttherelationshipswemaintainwiththepeopleofGodaroundtheworld.ThroughourMissionsBudgetwesupportourPCUSAMissionCo-WorkersinBangladesh,LesandCindyMorgan,aswell asministries in Nicaragua led byMartinaWilson,withwhomwe have had a long-time relationship.Additionally,wesupportPresbyterianWorldMissionthroughourdenominationalgiving.Butthisonlyscratchesthesurface,becausemorethanallthat,weareengagedinmission.InFebruary,IwillbeleadingmyfifthCPCtriptoPalestineaspartoftheKeepHopeAliveOliveProgramofthePalestineYMCAandYWCA.IrecentlycounteduphowmanypeoplefromCovenanthavetraveledonthesetripssince2014,andwehavehadupwardsof20fromourcongregation,alongwithotherPresbyteriansfromaroundthenation.Thistripwillbethethirdtimeweareplantingolivetrees,andwehavealsoharvestedolivesontwootheroccasions.ThesearemeaningfulexperiencesbecausewehavetheopportunitytoengagewithPalestinianswhoarecitizensofIsrael(withlimitedrights)aswellasthoselivingintheWestBank(whohavenocivil,orevenhumanrights).ItisalsointerestingtobeengagedwithChristianandMuslimPalestinians,wholiveandcooperatewitheachotherverywell,aswellaswithIsraeliJewswhoshareintheworkofachievingjusticeforallintheirnation.ThereisalwaysadisconnectbetweenourexperienceinPalestineandwhatthenarrativesaboutthatarein U.S. culture. But the spirit of World Communion is alive and well in all our encounters with ourIsraeli/Palestinianpartners.ThispastSundaywehadawonderfulcrowdoffolksinthefellowshiphallfollowingworshiptohearfromouryouth(andadult leaders)about theirmeaningful timespent inCardenas,Cubathissummerwithourpartnercongregation,ElFuertePresbyterianChurch.ThisrelationshipispartofabiggerrelationshipbetweenourPeaceRiver Presbytery and the Matanzas Presbytery in Cuba, which is part of an even bigger relationship in ourdenominationthroughtheCubaPartnershipNetworkofthePC(USA).IremembergoingtoCubaononeofourfirstPresbyterytripsacoupleofyearsagoandfoundittobeapowerfulexperienceamongourCubanPresbyterianbrothersandsisters.Thisisanongoingpartnershipthatwillcontinuetogrowbetweenourtwopresbyteriesandcongregationsforyearstocome.IshouldalsomentionthatevenoursupportofMisiònPenielis, in important ways, an international relationship, albeitrightinourownbackyard!WhenweworkatourPresbyterymission for farmworkers in Immokalee, we are inrelationshipwithpeoplefromCentralAmericaandHaitiwhohave wonderful cultural gifts to share with us. There aremany social/political issues attached to all of that in oursocietythesedays,butthemissionitselfisaboutrelationshipandunderstandinghowweareallchildrenofGodwhocareaboutGod’sjusticeintheworld.
The Clarion
The Newsletter of Covenant Presbyterian Church October 2019
2 OurcelebrationoftheLord’sSupperonOctober6thisallaboutwhatitmeanstobeGod’schildreninaKingdomthattranscendsthestrugglesofthisworld(inthecontextofourspecificcultural/national/ethnicloyalties)evenwhileweseektoberelevantinitasservantsofGod.Thismeansthatwetrulymaketheefforttobebothphysicallyandspirituallypresentwitheachothereverywaywecan.Soevenasweuseourhandsandresourcestohelp,wealsoremembertoprayforourbrothersandsisterswherevertheyreside.
To help represent these truths about God’s Kingdom,many in our church family once again gathered for anintergenerational Sunday School experience to make breads from around the world to celebrate WorldCommunion.HerearethebreadswewilluseforthiscelebrationonthefirstSundayinOctober:GreekChoreki,IrishBrown,JewishChallah(glutenfree),ScottishButtermilk,CubanWhite,andPalestinianFlatbread.ThesearesymbolicproclamationsabouthowallthepeopleofGodareconnectedtoeachotherinmanywaysthroughthepresenceoftheHolySpiritamongus.IinviteyoutolookatthepicturesofourWorldCommunionBread-makingexperience,andmostimportantly,tocomeandcelebrateonOctober6whoweallareintheKingdomofGod!
PeaceandGrace,Jeff
HurricaneDorianmadelandfallintheBahamasasaCategory5hurricaneonSeptember1standstalledovertheislandsfor24hours,causingmassivedamage.PresbyteriesintheU.S.areassessingtheneedandPDAstandsreadytoassistasneeded.
AsUSAID indicates, “Cashdonationsare themostefficient formofassistance.Unlikematerialdonations,cashinvolvesnotransportationcosts,shippingdelays,orcustomsfees.Italsoenablesrelieforganizationstospendmoretimeprovidingaidbyspendinglesstimemanaginggoods.Cashdonationsalsoallowreliefsuppliestobepurchasedinmarketsclosetothedisastersite,whichstimulatesthelocaleconomy,therebyboostingemploymentandgeneratingcashflow.”
IfyouwanttosupportPDA’sresponse,pleasedesignategiftstoDR000194onlineorbycheckwith“DR000194-Dorian”onthememolineto:PresbyterianChurch(USA),P.O.Box643700,Pittsburgh,PA15264-3700
PeacemakingCommitment
Weareheretoheal,notharm.
Weareheretolove,nothate.
Weareheretocreate,notdestroy.
PublicationsTheSessionishappytoannouncethatAlanaNanzwillbeournewPublicationsDirector!AlanawilloverseepublicationoftheClarion,aswellasotherimportantpublicationsforourchurchcommunity.ArticlesfortheClarionareduebythe20thofeverymonthandshouldbe sent to [email protected]. If complete information isnotsubmittedbythe20th,itwillhavetowaituntilthenextclarion.
3 CovenantPresbyterianChurchhostsafullcalendarofeventsforallyouth in 6ththrough 12thgrade! Youth Bible Study is held everySundaymorningat9:00a.mbeforeworship.Youthfellowshipstakeplaceeverymonthandincludemeals,games,activities,musicanddiscussions. A variety of trips, retreats, mission andoutreachopportunitiesareavailableaswell.YouthdonotneedtobemembersofCovenanttoparticipateandarealwayswelcometoinvitefriends!ForspecificinformationregardingdatesandtimesofyouthactivitiespleasecontactEricNanzatnanzet@gmail.com.YouthEventsinOctober10/6 SundaySchool&AfternoonYouthGroup(9:00am–1:15pm)10/13 FallBreak(NoYG/Sundayschool)10/20 SundaySchool&OperationChristmasChildEvent(6:00pm-8:00pm)10/23 WednesdayYouthBandRehearsal(7:00pm–8:00pm)10/27 SundaySchool,YouthBandplaysandFall-Festival(9:00am–1:30pm)
CovenantReturnstoMisiónPenielonFridayAfternoon,October4th!Onceagain,Covenant isbuildinga teamofat least,butnot limitedto14peopleofanyagetoservethefarmworkercommunity in ImmokaleeonFriday,October4th.Covenantsendsateamofvolunteersabouteverysixweekstohelpwiththemission.Thismonth,volunteerswillhelporganizeanddistributenonperishablefooditems,acarryoutmealandclothingtothefarmworkercommunityinImmokalee.Volunteerswhosignupatthe
ConnectionStationboardinthecourtyard(orbycallingtheoffice)areaskedtoclarifywhethertheywilldrivethemselvesorjoinacarpool.Volunteersareaskedtoarriveatthemission,locatedat208BostonAvenue,at2p.m.andplantostayuntil6:30pm.Pleasebringyourownwaterbottle(water coolerrefillsavailable)andaheartysnacktoeat.Wearcomfortableshoes.ThosewishingtocarpoolfromthechurchwilldepartfromCovenantat1p.m.andreturnbyaround7:15p.m.Pleasevisitthemission'swebsiteandifonFacebook,checkforthelatestphotos of service teams! website: www.misionpeniel.comand Facebook page: "Mision Peniel". Additionalinformationaboutdonationsandservingguidelinesareonthewebsiteunder“CurrentNews”.Questions?ContactRuthDeYoeat:[email protected]
Joinusforthisfun,familyweekendoffellowship,canoeing, swimming, line dancing and more. A$30per-person,non-refundablefeeisrequiredtoregister.Thecostofthecampis$115(ages13toadult)and$101(ages5to12).Childrenunder5are free. The registration fee includes lodging,activitiesandallmeals.Themaximumperfamilyunitis$345.Registrationislimitedandyourspotisonlyreservedwiththerequireddeposit.ContactBarbSheetstoseewhatCedarkirkhastoofferyourfamily!
Youth Events
4 LeasureTimeBookClub Covenant's Book Club, Leasure Time Book Club, meets on the third Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. in room F205. Bring your lunch or cup of tea and join us! Book selections are available for lending in CPC Library. For more information, stop by our CPC library or email Beverly Campbell at [email protected]
Herearetheupcomingselections:
• SnowflowerandtheSecretFanbyLisaSeeforOctober17,2019• TheLibraryBookbySusanOrleanforNovember21,2019• ThereTherebyTommyOrangeforDecember19,2019• AnAmericanMarriagebyTayariJonesforJanuary16,2020
Covenant's Presbyterian Women invite all our congregation to their FallGathering Luncheon onSunday, October 13(immediately followingservice).OurspeakerwillbeYvonneConte,amotivationalhumorist,stressreductionexpertandauthor.Ms.Conte'stopicwillbe"LaughteristheLord'sMedicine!" The luncheon will be catered by our very own Chef SueCoffman.SignupforthiseventinthecourtyardonSunday,September29orSunday,October6.Luncheoncostis$10perperson.
PresbyterianWomen(PW)havemadesomechangesinourCirclesfor2019-2020.WenowhavethreeCirclesthatmeetatthechurchonceamonthatdifferentdaysandtimes.Whichtimewillworkbestforyou?(IfyouareinterestedinaThursdayeveningCircleMeeting,pleasecontactMarionValeat239-689-4681.)
ForOctober,ourcircleswillbelookingatthesecondlessonofthestudyentitled,LoveCarvedinStone:AFreshLook at the Ten Commandmentsby Eugenia Anne Gamble. (Bible Study booklets available for $10 at CircleMeetings.)
Octobermeetingtimesare:
• Tuesday,October8.DeborahCirclemeetsonthe2ndTuesdayofeachmonthat10a.m.inRoom205,ledbyEllenMoore401-474-6593.
• Thursday,October10.LydiaCircle(unitedtheElizabethCircleandtheRuthCircle)meetsonthe2ndThursdayofeachmonthat9:45a.m.inRoom205,ledbyBarbSheets239-850-9697.
• Monday,October14.NaomiCirclemeetsonthe2ndMondayofeachmonthat12:30p.m.inRoom201,ledbyJaneKaserman239-939-4845andMaryMcKenzie239-246-4754.
CallingallBakersandCraftPersons!"Circle"yourNovembercalendars!PW'sAnnualBakeandCraftsSalewillbeheldtheSundaybeforeThanksgiving,November24!
August 2019 Financial Report Income for August $34,105 Income Year-to-date $417,368 Expenses for August $56,642 Expenses Year-to-date $423,963 Year-to-date overage $6,595 Current Balance on Loan $327,031 Principal & Interest Paid in August $4,094 A complete finance report is available in the church office.
Pleaseprayforourfriendswhoareinneed:
NancyAlbright,LloydBalsley,StephanieBarclift,PeteBercaw,DonFjellin,JoanHalpern,
NoraHarmon,SueLoman,JeanMiller,
CharlesTebbetts,SoniaWagner,MelWert,andAnneWills.
GodBlessYou!
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CovenantChurchPictorialDirectoryInformationThe2019ChurchPictorialDirectoriesareavailableforpickup.Watchforinformationin the Sunday bulletin for when the directories will be available for pickup afterchurch.Anyonewhohashadtheirpicturetakeniseligibleforanew2019directory.The2019directoryhassomemissinginformation,whichislistedbelow.Pleasereview
yourdirectoryassoonaspossibleandnotifyKentSheetsorBarbHeflinofanymissinginformation.TheCovenantChurchPictorialisavailabletobedownloaded.ContactEricatthechurchofficeorvisitthechurchwebsite.
Inthedirectory,onthelefttopcornerofyourpicture,istheyearyourpicturewastaken.Youmusthaveyourpictureupdatedafterfouryears.Thosepeoplewhohadtheirpicturetakenin2016needtoupdatetheirpicturetobeincludedinthe2020directory.November8&9Lifetouchphotographerswillbeheretohaveyourpicturetaken.Afterallthephototimesarefilled,moretimeswillbemadeavailableinFebruary2020.Anyonewhowantstobe included in the2020directorycansignupontheCovenantwebsite,starting inOctober. Lifetouchhaschangedtherequirementstoupdateachurchdirectory.Achurchmusthaveaminimumoftwenty-fivemembersorchurchfriendssignuptohavetheirpicturetaken.Thename,addressandphonenumberinthebackoftheDirectoryaretakenfromthechurchdatabase.Ifyouarenotachurchmemberthatinformationmustbeprovidedtothechurchoffice,soitcanbeincludedinthedatabase.AnyquestionscontactKentSheets(Phone239565-7790orE-mail:[email protected]).
AdditionsandCorrectionstotheCovenant2019ChurchDirectory:HeatherOrtegaBlakely&ElizabethShane BuchenShane PhyllisHackettandLynneHolden DaveandLindaNelson735HomesteadRoadSouth 16900S.TamiamiTrail,#16 5534NewPineLakeDrive LehighAcres,FL33974 FortMyers,FL33908 FortMyers,FL33907321-354-8038 239-437-2926 Nophonenumber
DonandJoanCady DarciHillyerandLisaOlson NanetteSmith2104W.FirstStreet,#703 2735VereoCourt 32BarkleyCircle,#253FortMyers,FL33901 CapeCoral,FL33991 FortMyers,FL33907239-672-8978 636-248-5275 239-770-4852
PamelaCoyne TeddyHogle MarleneandDaveSuter 2107SunriseBoulevard 8661WesleyDrive,Apt.8-07 3234FullMoonDriveFortMyers,FL33907 FortMyers,FL33919 NorthFortMyers,FL33903239-834-3230 239-898-9712 Nophonenumber
DoreenFraser EliseMissall JamesandLeilaniUlrich12563CoconutDrive 13163TallPineCircle 5800NorthSd.,Route80,#231FortMyers,FL33908 FortMyers,FL33907 LaBelle,FL33953708-609-9707 239-851-2497 315-369-8431
L.I.F.E.AnnualAssembly-October29L.I.F.E.isanacronymforLeeInterfaithforEmpowerment,acoalitionof12LeeCountychurchcongregations,includingCovenant,workingforlocalsocialjusticeonmanyissuesintheCounty-health,safety,education,lawenforcement, employment and housing. The next LIFE "big event" will be the LIFE Annual Assembly onTuesday, October 29@ 7 PM at Fort Myers Congregational UCC Church (8210 College Parkway betweenWinklerRoadandSummerlinRoad.)Atthisevent,wewilldiscussandvoteonwheretodirectourattentionandfocusforthe2020NehemiahAction.WewillalsoreceiveupdatesonpreviousNehemiahAction"asks".AllCovenantmembersandfriendsarewelcometoattendthisevent.
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Fromchildrentoseniors,peoplepackshoeboxgiftseachyeartoblesschildreninneedaroundtheworld.Parentsoftenuse theproject to teach their kids about giving.Year-roundvolunteers support these efforts across thecountry.Churchesandgroupsofallsizescollectboxesfromtheircommunities.Somechurchesalsoserveasdrop-off locations for shoeboxes the thirdweek of November every year. Thousands of volunteers serve annuallyinspectingandpreparingshoeboxesforinternationalshipping.Everyhourworkstopsforafewminutestoprayforthechildrenwhowillreceivetheboxes.Longbeforeshoeboxesarriveinmorethan100countries,volunteerNationalLeadershipTeamstrainpastorsandcommunityleaderswhowanttosharethemessageoftheGospelandblesschildren.Theleaderslearnhowtohostchild-friendlyoutreachevents,andhowtoimplementTheGreatestJourneyfollow-updiscipleshipprogram.
Youcanparticipateinseveralways.Youcandonatemoneyforshippingorpurchaseitemsfortheboxes.Youcanpackaboxyourself.Youcandonateitemswhichwillbeusedtopackboxeshere.YoucanjoinusonSunday,October20topackboxeswithouryouth.Itemswhicharemostneededrightnowarecrayons(24pack),barsoap,pens,pencilsharpeners,plasticcupsandcombsandbrushes.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecallBarbSheets850-9697.
Covenant’s Concert Series continues the tradition of glorifying Godthrough music. Our concerts are designed to enrich listeners and toaffectagreaterawarenessofGod’spowersothatHemaybeglorifiedaswecreativelyusethegiftsHehasgivenus.Pleaseinviteyourfriendsandneighborstoanyorallofthesewonderfulconcerts.
2019/2020CovenantConcertSeriesNovember1,2019 March1,2020AngelaMassey—Flute WashingtonSaxophoneQuartet
December6,2019 March13,2020CovenantChristmasConcert U.S.CoastGuardAcademyCadetChorale
January10,2020 March27,2020FredMoyer—JazzTrio CovenantSpringConcert
February21,2020 DavidBurgess—Guitarist
TheAmazingJourneyofaSimpleShoeboxGift
OperationChristmasChild
PalestineOliveOilSales–WorldCommunionSunday,October6ThenextspecialsaleseventforPalestineOliveOilandThymeSpiceMixwillbeonWorldCommunionSunday,October6, intheChurchCourtyardbeforeandafterWorshipbymembersoftheCovenantmissionteamsthatwenttoPalestine.Proceedsfromthesaleof olive oil and spice mix benefit planting of olive trees; production, bottling, andpackaging of oil and spice; art based emotional therapy for Palestinian childrentraumatized by war and occupation; and start-up of other businesses in Palestine.Participatinginthiseventisanon-violentstatementofsupportforPalestinianjustice.
7 Covenantoffers twochoiceseverySundaymorning,9 -9:45am,upstairs(viatheelevatororstairs). Youareinvitedtocomeandsee/comeandshareinwhatGodisdoingthroughthosewhogatherforenrichmentonSundaymornings:“FaithConnections”meetsinroomF207AnewandengagingseriesbeginsonOctober6th:CHURCH:ACOMMUNITYCALLEDFORTHEFUTURE
Thisclassstudyismorethanjustawaytogaininsightbutaimstohelpdeepenfaithandpromoteconversation.AsthebodyofChrist,thechurchlivesandbreathesnotthroughself-survivalandprotection,butthroughself-givingandconnectiontotheweboflifethatexistsintheworld.ThisishowChristcontinuestobeincarnateintheworld,throughtheassemblyofChrist’sfollowerswhoarecalledtoliveouttheirlivesingenerosityandgrace.ItisanexcitingtimeforChrist’scommunity!Comeandshareintheseweeklydiscussions:1. THECHURCHOFPOSSIBILITIES//TheChurchthatweSee,PastandFuture2. FLOURISHINGINBABYLON//HowWeWillShowUpintheCrowd3. THEIAMOFTHECHURCH//HowWeWill"Do"Evangelism4. EUCHARISTICCOMMUNITY//HowWeWillConnect5. ORGANICCHURCH//HowWeWillGrow6. THESELF-FORMINGCHURCH//HowWeWillClaimOurChristianJourney
PleasejoinusforoneormoreSundays…andinvitethepersonsittingnexttoyouinthepeworinthecourtyardonSundaymornings!
MeetinginRoom201:“GuidelinesforDiscipleship”byGeraldJacksonThis new study for October focuses on I and II Timothy and Titus and will engage the class in meaningfuldiscussionaboutthetopicofdiscipleshipfromabiblicalperspectiveanditssignificanceforourlivestoday.Classleaders include:MaryellenFrost,BarbaraShafer,RichardShaferandJohnnySheppard. Booksareavailable inclassforall.
Adult Sunday School Classes
SessionHighlightsforSeptemberTheSessionmetonTuesday,September17,2019withRev.JeffDeYoe,moderatingthemeeting,andeleveneldersinattendance.Otherspresent:GaryBrothers,FacilitiesManager,BarbaraHeflin,ClerkofSession,andRosemaryWallace,Deacon.
• Approved hiring Alana Nanz as a contract employee for church publications. Theworkwill be doneremotely with printing on church site. The approval was by email vote. Date of employment beganSeptember9,2019.
• PresbyterianWomen’sGatheringwillbeheldOctober13,11:30a.m.followingtheworshipservice.ThespeakerwillbeYvonneConte,amotivationalhumorist,stressreductionexpertandauthor.Hertopicwillbe“LaughteristheLord’sMedicine!”SueCoffmanwillcaterthemealandcostis$10perperson.
• AlternativeChristmasMarketwillbeheldonSunday,December8,inthecourtyard.• TheTogetherWeGrowGarden isbeginningtoproducefood. Fivehundredpoundshasbeenharvested
recently.• GaryBrothershasfinalizedthepurchaseofanewchurchbus.Itisveryattractiveandhasaseatingcapacity
of15.Italsohasmanysafetyfeaturesandastoragespaceforluggage.Theoldbuswillbesold.• GaryhasnegotiatedwithFloridaPainterstopressurewashandrepaintthesteepleonthesanctuary.Also,
theyhavebeenretainedtorepairroofleaksinthevicinityofthesteeple.
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CovenantPresbyterianChurch2439McGregorBlvd.Ft.Myers,FL33901
Phone:239-334-8937Website:www.covpcfm.comEmail:[email protected]
