Weekly News: September 24, 2026

TODAY, September 24, 6:30-8:30 pm @ CUMC:

Domestic Violence & How to Help

The Woodland Book Club is reading Strangled, a recently published memoir by retired Fort Wayne police officer Dottie Davis about her experience of domestic violence at the hands of her husband, who was also a Fort Wayne police officer. Their book club also includes a former police emergency phone operator, and someone who helped establish a 5 county Domestic Violence Shelter with the Maryland Council on Women that is still serving today.

Throughout the evening, participants will have the opportunity to hear Dottie speak, to increase their awareness of the realities of domestic violence in our community, and learn strategies for helping people understand how we can respond when domestic violence touches our families, friendships, workplaces, and churches. Room will also be made for persons to speak privately with experienced and knowledgeable persons about domestic violence.

Let us know your interested by clicking on the image and completing the form!

Questions? Contact Pastor Allison at pastorallison@covenantumc.net

📢Announcements📢

New Staff Member & Fall Office Hours

New Staff Member

We welcome Gina Loomis to our church staff as our new Church Secretary. She will be the one answering the phones and welcoming you during the week. Gina is a long-time, active member of Covenant UMC. She and Sam are amazing servants and we know she will be a blessing not only to the office, but to our ministry as a whole. Stop by the office sometime and wish Gina well!

New Fall Office Hours

Fall brings with it not only a change of temperature and color on the trees, but also a new schedule for the church office. Our new office hours are:

Monday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Tuesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Wednesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Other times by appointment

A Quick Fall Events Update!

After looking at our fall calendar, the school calendar, and everything already happening in the life of our church and the lives of our church families, we've decided not to hold Trunk or Treat or another church-wide fall event this year. With Halloween falling on a Saturday and fall already bringing a full calendar, we decided it made more sense to enjoy the things we already have planned rather than add another big event to the mix.

And there are still plenty of opportunities to gather, have fun, and serve together:

Youth/Mentor Fall Food Fest - October 25

Project 216 — November 7

Trivia Night: Friendsgiving Edition — November 21

So, if you've been wondering whether you should save a trunk for Trunk or Treat this year—the answer is no trunk needed! 😉 We'll look forward to seeing you at the other ways we're gathering this fall!

Blood Drive

September 26, 2026: 8 am - 12:30 pm

Covenant UMC: Fellowship Hall

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. That’s why Covenant is on a mission to help save lives by hosting a blood drive on September 26^th from 8 am to 12:30 pm. You are invited to take part in this special event and donate blood for hospital patients in our neighborhoods and across the nation. The need for blood is constant, but only 3 percent of the U.S. population donates. By rolling up a sleeve, donors can play a critical role in the treatment of accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer, or sickle cell disease. Visit https://www.redcrossblood.org/mydrives.html/drive/1-IOUXAT6 or contact Gina Loomis at 260-438-2801 or Sam-Gina@frontier.com to set an appointment time!

A Note from Pastor Allison

From October 1st to 12th, I will be traveling to Ghana in West Africa with the Wabash Pastoral Leadership Program (pastor.wabash.edu) to learn about counter-narrative storytelling, to discover beauty in sometimes unexpected places, to experience a capstone with our cohort of pastors, and to see firsthand where some of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade began.

I’m excited for the opportunities this trip will bring, anxious about the travel, and looking forward to returning with stories, pictures, and learnings from this time away. I’m additionally thankful for the ways in which the Lilly Endowment has made this experience a reality.

Please pray for the 12 Indiana pastors and 2 program leaders who will be attending, for the congregations and families we leave behind (and the navigation they must do in our absence), and for the tour guides and site organizers who will be meeting us along the way. Please pray for my family and support them as you can. Twelve days is a long time to be away on another continent. They are well taken care of, but it’s a lot to navigate when one of us is gone. I will be taking some time off when I return so as to reconnect with them during their Fall Break, and I will be back in worship on Sunday, October 18th.

Sometime after settling back in, I’ll schedule a chance for us to gather so I can share stories, pictures, and learnings from this incredible trip. To pre-emptively answer a few questions: Yes – I've taken all the necessary medications and precautions. Yes – it's safe for us to go. Yes – I created a personalized journal for the trip. Yes – I'll take 8 million pictures while I’m gone. And no – I won’t be widely accessible while I’m away. I’ll be focusing on being present in this foreign land. But I’m hoping to send back some pictures to share while I’m away.

If you’re interested in more information about this trip, I’d love to share with you. My itinerary can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/GhanaItinerary and I will have printed copies available for those who prefer. Thank you for your support, your prayers, and your shared excitement. I can’t wait!

- Pastor Allison

God and Country Movie

October 20, 2026: 6 pm

Covenant UMC: Sanctuary

Join us for a screening of the independent documentary God & Country, presented in partnership with Hoosiers United. The film explores the rise of Christian nationalism and invites us to consider what happens when faith and political power become intertwined. Following the film, we’ll gather for refreshments in the Fellowship Hall for an open conversation about what we’ve seen, what it means for our communities, and how people of faith can engage thoughtfully in the world around us.

UWF Annual Meeting

The Covenant UWFaith will hold their Annual Meeting on October 6th. The speaker for the event is Mary Ann Mims from Forgotten Stones which is one of the mission projects that Covenant supports. The meeting will be held in the sanctuary starting at 1:00 pm and all ladies of the church are invited to attend. They will be collecting unisex crew socks and gloves for this ministry and there will be a box in the narthex for your contributions.

Calling all Pet Lovers!

We'd love to fill our bulletin board with the furry, feathered, scaly, or finned companions who bring joy to your life. Submit a favorite photo of your pet (current or past!) to Anita (printed or emailed), and help us create a bulletin board that celebrates the many creatures who share our lives.

Turn Your Art into Part of a Quilt!

Throughout August and September, paper squares and markers will be available in Fellowship Hall for anyone who would like to participate in creating a paper quilt for our next bulletin board display in October. See Pastor Allison or Anita with any questions!

Trivia Night Fun

We had a great time at Trivia Night on Saturday night. Congratulations to Got a Rock for their win!

Missions

September Mission & Outreach Newsletter

September Food Bank Collection:

“Rub-A-Dub-Dub” Items for personal care -

Soap, Deodorant, Body Wash, Body Lotion, Shampoo, Conditioner, Tooth Brushes & Toothpaste

SOCTOBER

Small Socks ~ Big Socks ~ Even in-between Socks ~ Orange Socks ~ Blue Socks...

As long as they are NEW socks!

Join Lincoln students in collecting NEW socks of all sizes and colors for the FWCS Clothing Bank. Leave donations in the marked box at the Mission Collection Center.

Calling all Golfers

Circles of Allen County (circlesofallencounty.org) is a community-driven solution to poverty working to increase upward mobility for individuals and families in poverty. It is an initiative of Broadway Christian Church and Inasmuch Ministry.

Flyers available at the Mission Center

Circles of Allen County Annual Golf Outing on Sat., October 3 at Chestnut Hills Golf Course. $125 per golfer – breakfast and boxed lunch included. Check-in 9:00-9:45; tee time 10:00. For more information contact Emily at eburns@circlesofallencounty.org
Golfers, sponsors, & friends of Circles of Allen County – there is an event just for you! A golf-themed party & gala at the Popp Residence from 5:30-10:30 pm. Enjoy food & drink, music and a silent auction. No entry fee though donations are appreciated.