December is a great time to invite people to church! And this coming Sunday is an especially good day to bring a guest. | |
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The Guatemala Auction is happening, with dozens of items - including vacation rentals, music & theater tickets, homemade food, Guatemalan handcrafts, and more - all benefiting scholarship students in Guatemala. (You must have a friend who supports education and who might be looking for a Xmas gift!) Click on the purple dog (!) for some auction preview pix. More info...
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At the 10:00am Advent Event, you can make ornaments and other crafts, while enjoying music, conversation, and food. Plus, the Deacons are hosting a Hot Chocolate Bar! (You must have a friend who likes hot chocolate!)
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We are collecting clementines for the students of Glenn Stephens Elementary. Please bring in a bag or two. Every month, we provide a healthy snack for the 550+ students. (You must have a friend who cares about kids and schools!)
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Along with all these activities on Sunday, the season of Advent begins. We light one candle this week, a candle for PEACE in the world. We begin again this time of preparing ourselves for the coming of God into our midst with beautiful music, seasonal decorations, and God’s word. Worship is at 9:00 or 11:00, in-person or online. | |
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If not this Sunday, maybe you want to invite someone to one of our special worship services coming up, including Christmas Eve.
Think of someone right now you could possibly invite. Maybe a new neighbor. Maybe a co-worker going through a hard time. Maybe someone who lost a loved one over the past year. Maybe another church member you haven’t seen for a while.
Say a prayer for that person. “Dear God, please bless _______.”
Then call, email, or text them just to say hello. If you get the chance, invite them to church.
I firmly believe that Covenant Presbyterian Church is a place where lives are changed for the good by God’s love, and because of those changed lives, the world becomes a better place.
Your invitation could make all the difference for someone.
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On the journey together,
Charlie
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PS--This week I met Becca Stein, the principal of Van Hise Elementary, located a few hundred yards from Covenant. A couple weeks ago, both Van Hise and Hamilton Middle School evacuated their buildings, due to concerns about the smell of gas. Covenant is the emergency site for both schools, so for a couple hours on a Friday, hundreds of students were here in the building. Some of the students thought it was like a field trip and asked to visit Covenant again!
I'm grateful the gas smell was a false alarm and very glad that it gave me the chance to meet Becca. I asked her about the biggest challenges facing her staff and families, and she mentioned both isolation/anxiety and poverty/homelessness. If you get the chance to thank a teacher or a school staff member, please do!
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Thank You, Donna!
Thursday, November 30 was Donna Monson’s last day on the staff at Covenant. She has been part-time for the past six months, helping with pastoral care and more. This is her second (and final!) retirement. Previously, she worked at Covenant from 1999 through 2021 with children’s ministries and pastoral care. Donna’s ministry has been a blessing to hundreds of people. We thank God for you Donna, and we wish you all the best in retirement!
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In-Person and Livestream worship - 9:00AM & 11:00AM
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First Sunday of Advent | "The Way of Peace" \ Holy Communion
- Lighting of the Advent Candles
- Preaching: Charlie Berthoud | "Peace on Earth?" | Text: Mark 13:24-27
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Music 9:00am: New Day Ensemble; Ben Welch, leading
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Music 11:00: Doug McNeel, organist; Covenant Chancel Choir, Melissa Hinz directing
- Children's Time with Nick Von Bergen
- Nursery Care: 8:45AM-12:15PM
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Bradfield Café/Advent Event: 10:00-10:45AM
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Visit our Worship HQ for everything you need to worship with us online!
| If you missed a service or would like to watch a service again, all livestreamed services are saved to our YouTube channel. Or you can give the sermons another listen on our sermon podcast! | |
Children's & Youth Education | |
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Kaleidoscope Kids
NO Kaleidoscope - on 1st Sundays, we let our kiddos experience communion.
Sunday School & Children's Choir
Join us at the Advent Event at 10:00AM!
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Confirmation (Grades 9-10)
Join us at the Advent Event at 10:00AM!
Youth Connection
6:00-7:30PM
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Join us for our annual Advent Event in Bradfield Hall! There will be snacks, crafts, music, and even ornament-making. We hope to see you there! The Sunday School kiddos will join us for this as it is an all ages event. And please note that there will be no Adult Education this week. | |
Come join us in Bradfield Hall! Place a bid on the many unique and creative auction items, make a cash donation, or just take a look. Bidding is anonymous (visit table at Bradfield entrance to be assigned a number if you plan on placing a bid). You can pay for items via credit card or cash/check today. CLICK HERE for more info, including where to pick up auction items after the auction. The Guatemala Auction provides scholarships to students of the Monte Hebron Presbyterian Church in Santo Domingo, Guatemala. | |
| Week of | Campaign | Amount pledged | # pledges | | 11/30/2023 | 2024 | $848,432.96 | 175 | | 11/30/2022 | 2023 | $855,611 | 177 | | Total | 2023 budget | $970,000 | 213 | | |
Note: if you check the “Please arrange payments for me” box on your commitment card/form, please remember to submit an ECT form as well. | |
Do you have a heart for young children? Want to give them a good start on their faith journey? Join our nursery staff as a Nursery Assistant. We’re looking for 2 or 3 individuals to spend one Sunday morning (8:45am-12:15pm) a month in our nursery, caring for kids ages 0-3. Starting wage is $17/hr. Previous experience working with infants/toddlers is expected; some training in early childhood is desired. Send resume and names of 3 references to Associate Pastor Megan Berry. | |
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New this week: Barb Larsen, Covenant member; Joan Wissing, friend of Art and Fern Kanitz; April Goldman, niece of Frankie Leisering.
Loving God, in your mercy, hear our prayers for each of these your children. We pray for healing, for courage, and for peace, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
(Click on the image header for full prayer list on Worship HQ.)
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If, for whatever reason, the holidays are difficult for you this year, you are encouraged to come to a special worship service, when we acknowledge the pain in our lives and give thanks for the support we have from each other and in Jesus Christ. Light refreshments will follow. All are welcome! | |
All women are invited! Please bring a lunch to eat, then we will discuss "Favorite Christmas Traditions or Objects." Soul Sisters meets on the 2nd Sunday monthly for fellowship, interesting discussions, and Bible study, always in loving support of each other. For more info or to join Soul Sisters, contact Barb Eikenberry. | |
To place an order, contact the church office and let us know: 1) how many you would like, and 2) how to list on the prayer list (in memory/honor/celebration of…). Poinsettias are $15 for 1 and $25 for 2. Checks can be made out to Covenant Presbyterian Church. Please place orders by Monday, December 18. | |
In January, we will begin a new devotional on the book of Exodus. You may now SUBSCRIBE to receive daily email devotions from this devotional, beginning January 1 and through January. There will also be hard copies of this devotional available later in December. | |
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Bradfield Café Volunteer:
Click HERE to sign up!
Greeter & Welcome Center Volunteer:
Click HERE to sign up!
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