Inviting all to grow in Christ and serve together in God s love. A letter from Pastor Kelly May 2015

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1 Covenant Courier Inviting all to grow in Christ and serve together in God s love. A letter from Pastor Kelly May Covenant Church 802 Winter Wakefield, NE Rev. Kelly Johnston Pastor Dawn Reimers Office Manager Phone church@wakecov.org pastorkelly@wakecov.org prayer@wakecov.org Website Facebook facebook.com/wakecov Office hours: Mon., Wed., Thur. 8:30 AM 12:30 PM Sunday Sunday School 9:30 AM Worship 10:45 AM Starting May 24 Sunday Worship 10:00 AM Last Day of Sunday School May 10 In our ever-growing collection of children's books, we seem to have a lot that claim to be the "first": My First Farm, My First Book of Colors, My Very First Book of Numbers, and probably at least three that all claim to be Baby s First Bible. Life with little ones is filled with firsts; however, for some reason I find it funny that book publishers feel the need to claim that their book will certainly be my child s first! How do we determine what s really first in our life, anyway? Sometimes it s obvious. First you put on your socks, and then your shoes. First you open the garage door, and then you back your car out of the garage. First you drink your coffee, and then you face the day. There are certain priorities that come naturally for most of us. But when it comes to life as a whole, what really comes first? Okay, coffee definitely needs to be pretty high on the list. But what about your job? Your family? Your hobbies? Your kids hobbies? What comes first? Just like those books on my kids shelf, there are many things in your life that claim to be first. Your boss wants you to think your job is number one. Your spouse needs you to prioritize your marriage. Your kids or grandkids are counting on you to put them towards the top of your list. Your sanity requires that there be some time for yourself every now and then. How do you sort out what really comes first? The message of God s word to us is that God must come first. After all, God did come first. Before there was any ground to work, animals to raise, or people to love, God was there, calling all of creation into existence. The choice to put God first in our lives should be as obvious as socks before shoes, and yet the world around us often tells us otherwise. We have some great things to celebrate in the life of our church this month. Confirmation Sunday, Mothers Day, Graduation, Memorial Day. Even very well-intentioned people can sometimes confuse what comes first on special days like these. Let s remember to put God first. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33, NKJV Jesus said: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38 Put God first by talking to him through prayer - it doesn t matter if you re at work, in the car, or drifting off to sleep - he will hear you. Put God first by taking a break from your crazy life to rest in his goodness and receive his grace. Put God first by coming to church and gathering with God s people. Put God first by consistently setting aside a portion of your income to support God-honoring causes like our church and other ministries. These are just a few ideas of what putting God first might look like. There is no area of our lives that God does not care about. I pray that we might honor him with all that we are and all that we do.

2 Conversation Café - Sunday Morning May 31 2 In recent months we ve affirmed a mission statement and a vision statement (see below!). These words represent what we believe is God s desire for us as a fellowship of believers. They give focus to our shared ministry. We have a special opportunity at the end of this month to put our hearts and heads together and think together about what some of this vision means for us. On May 31, we will have a shortened worship service in our sanctuary and then our whole service will move into our fellowship hall for a conversation café. Sitting around tables with some good drinks and munchies, we will be guided by a conversation-based format to get us thinking about our own experiences of hospitality and inclusion. Please plan on coming for our shortened worship service (approximately 30 minutes) and the conversation café (an additional 60 minutes). Our desire is to have a fun time where all voices are honored - and to be done well before noon! Quarterly Congregational Meeting Highlights On Sunday April 19 our Quarterly Congregational Meeting was held in the fellowship hall. Here is some of the points presented and discussed: Pastor Kelly reported that our church leadership is exploring the possibility of changing our leadership structure, and shared this video that was developed and used at another church that has been through this change: 7 new members were voted in to membership. Welcome! Our vision statement was affirmed. The vision statement builds on our mission statement. OUR MISSION: Inviting all to grow in Christ and serve together in God's love OUR VISION: In cooperation with God's Spirit, we hope to see: An environment centered on God s redeeming love where people of all ages, races, and walks of life feel they belong and can grow in their faith. A culture of continual growth in our dependence on God where we are honest about our imperfections and support one another through life s ups and downs Disciples engaging with God s Word and living it daily A church that encourages people to get involved and equips them to serve with the abilities God has given them Mission-minded servants sent out to make a difference in our community and our world with the compassion and generosity of Jesus Christ The worship time change was approved. On May 24 (Memorial Day weekend) we will begin worshiping at 10:00 AM. We will stay with this time through the summer and will continue worshiping at 10:00 AM year-round. Giving Report Year to date Giving: $ Percent of Budget: 26.5% April Giving: $11, April Expenses: $11, Average Attendance (April) Morning Worship: 107 Prayer To be added to the prayer list, subscribe at wakecovprayer

3 3 Midwest Conference Annual Ministry Celebration On April 24-25, Pastor Kelly and Dawn Reimers attended the Annual Ministry Celebration for our regional conference, which was held at First Covenant Church in Salina, Kansas with Heart Shift as the theme. The annual ministry celebration includes a business meeting with updates and votes on what s going on in our region as well as times of worship, connecting, and learning outside of the business meeting. The meeting reports centered on the shared mission of the conference, which is: churches working together to transform lives and communities by starting new churches, strengthening existing churches, and developing missional leaders. Reports were given by Brian Johnson, Director of Church Planting, Brent Thompson, Director of Church Health, Dan Pietrzyk, Director of Missional Leadership Development, and Allan Serrano, Director of Hispanic Church Ministry. Official business included votes on three church closings: Ecclesia (Denver, CO); Heartland Covenant Church (Springfield, MO); First Covenant Church (Sioux City, IA). Jon and Lynne Springer, two leaders from First Covenant in Sioux City, were recognized for their heartfelt devotion to the ministry there, even during challenging times. The sale of First Covenant s property totaled over $300,000 and will go into the Living Legacy Fund, which will help plant new churches in our conference. One church was voted on to officially join the ECC - Iglesia Evangelica Siloe Covenant Church (Kansas City, MO). Siloe Covenant is led by Pastor Jose Sanchez and his wife Lupita. They began their ministry in 2010 and their fellowship has grown to 75 people. Pastor Jose shared about how parents have come to him thanking him for how the church has helped their kids. This is the first Spanish-speaking Covenant church in Kansas City and God is doing good things there! The meeting also included a 2014 financial report and the approval of a revised 2015 budget and a proposed 2016 budget. There was some discussion about the significant reserves the conference holds; the executive board has recommended a budget that exceeds projected income but use some of the reserves. There were five ordinands recognized and affirmed by the meeting, and new board members were voted on and installed. Full information from the meeting is available at the church if you are interested! If you would like to learn more about Covenant church planting in Nebraska, there is a group regularly meeting, led by three pastors in the Omaha/Lincoln area. The next meeting is May 7 at 7:00 PM at Celebration Covenant Church (16868 Giles Rd, Omaha). This group is open to any who are interested; you do not need to be a pastor or church planter! You are invited to a Spring Brunch hosted by Women Ministries of Salem Covenant Church 290 County Road I, Oakland, NE Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. Come meet Isabelle Kanda visiting us from Congo Nebraska Church Planting Leaders: Pastor Dan Olson (Waverly) - pastordanolsonbcc@gmail.com Pastor Andrew Burnett (Omaha) - aburnett@celebrationcovenant.org Principal of Lycée Vanette School for Girls, Wife, Mother, Pastor & Educator Please RSVP call: Pastor Evan Westburg (Lincoln) - aewestburg@gmail.com

4 Camp Fundraiser Meal & Silent auction $ Raised for Camp Fund Thank you to Diaconate board for donating the extra food left from Lenten Breakfast! We were able to raise $ from the brunch! All really enjoyed it!! Also thank you to Jean Hansen and Elizabeth Carlson for helping prepare food for luncheon! We could not have done it without their help! Also thank you for the great turn out for our silent auction! We raised $ Great day for our campers!! PTL!! Thank you everyone for all you hard work, generosity and smiles as you served. Pioneer Club is funded for another year! VBS Offering May 19 A special offering will be taken to support the ministry of Vacation Bible School. For more information on VBS this year see page 4. The Camp Committee Worship Time Change Centennial Scholarship Fund This year s recipients are: Hannah Borg: $600 Josh Dolph: $600 Jenna Henderson: $600 Morning Worship at 10:00 AM starting Sunday May 24 Congratulations! Thank you to each of you for your support of the CHIC youth. You have helped to raise money to send 12 youth and 3 sponsors to the CHIC youth conference being held this year in Tennessee. Attending CHIC: Hannah Borg Heidi Borg Megan Borg Noah Lamprecht Payton Rusk Julio Sanchez Joyce Sherer Please pray the Holy Spirit prepares the hearts and minds of these students to meet God in a profound and life changing way. And may God also prepare our sponsors to help guide, support, and love these youth during this event. July Megan Muller Levi Nelson Savannah Nelson Zach Pommer Emily Puls Sponsors: Mark & Dawn Reimers Hilda Pearson

5 YOUTH NEWS Summer Camp Dates Pathfinder (June 20-21) Sr. High (June 21-26) Jr. High (June 28 - July 3) Trailblazer (July 5-8) Explorer (July 12-17) Niobrara Journey (July 19-22) Last Chance (August 5-7) Camp Committee: Bree Brown, Anita Muller & Sue Vander Veen Sunday May 10 6:00 to 8:00 Covenant Church Check us out on Facebook: Salem/Covenant Youth Jr. Mob Lock-in On April 10th, the Jr. MOB (Movers Of the Bible) had a Lock-in at Salem. 38 youth (3rd- 6th grade) came for a night of games, snacks, and Bible study. Throughout the evening, the youth enjoyed games, participated in challenges and races with balloons, and played Apples to Apples, Bible Version. They also took part in a Bible study focusing on Jeremiah 29:11 - for I know the plans I have for you. A scavenger hunt with Bible heroes was an activity that started some great conversations about stories from the Bible. It was an amazing evening! Registration forms on the bulletin board. Sign Up Today!

6 6 Matthew 17:20 You don t have enough faith, Jesus told them. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. It reminds me faith is enough WAY TO GO Confirmands on completing 2 years of Biblical study. What is your Confirmation scripture and why? Jamie Dolph Devaney Brown Isaiah 40: 231 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. This passage reminds me that no matter what happens God will be there Katelyn Pommer Psalms 94:1 Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. This makes me feel I can be strong and God has my back in every situation. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. This verse shows me that God will protect me. Jessica was confirmed at St. Mary s Catholic Church on March 16. Jessica Borg 1 Peter 1:6-7 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials Breanna Chase will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

7 7 Mission : Pursuing Christ s Priorities in the World Give to Nepal earthquake response at: projects/disasters/nepalrelief/ Your gifts to CWR Nepal relief are providing life-saving assistance including shelter, water and sanitation, non-food items like pots and pans for cooking, soap and hygiene items, and blankets. Join Covenant World Relief and our partners as we respond to the devastation in Nepal following the earthquake. Special Disaster Relief Fund for Nepal Established Apr 27, 2015By Stan Friedman CHICAGO, IL (April 27, 2015) Local partners in Nepal already are using funds from Covenant World Relief to provide assistance to survivors of the earthquake that has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 people so far. Congo Clinic Initiative A special CWR disaster relief fund for Nepal has been set up. Executive director Dave Husby said this morning that he already has had churches contact him about how to give. In these first two days after the earthquake in Nepal, I have been amazed at the response of Covenant churches and individuals who want to contribute to the relief work, he said. I m very grateful to be a part of a church denomination that cares so deeply for the suffering. That suffering increases by the day as the area is hit by aftershocks, and the death toll continues to climb past 3,700 people. Thousands of people are sleeping in the streets, news agencies reported. This is one of those major disasters where I wince every time I check for an update because the numbers of those who have died and been injured continues to grow as more remote communities are reached, Husby said. The relief efforts in the first few days are crucial to reach those who are without food, water, and shelter, and those who need medical care, he said. Amount Raised: $ At this rate we will soon exceed our goal. Are we willing to test God to throw open the floodgates? As always, CWR will be working with local partners. We expect to continue supporting relief and recovery efforts in Nepal for months and perhaps years to come, Husby said. (copied from covenantcompanion.com)

8 8 Trustee Board: Executive Board: C.E. Board: Deacons: USHERS Denny Carlson Ellen Carlson Denny Fredrickson Bob Vander Veen Treasurers Mark Muller Lyle Borg May Meetings May 3 at 5:00 PM May 3 at 5:45 PM May 3 at 7:00 PM May 4 at 6:00 PM Strategic Ministry Planning Team: TBA Confirmation Sunday May 3 Mothers Day Sunday May 10 Graduation Sunday May 17 Conversation Café May 31 EVERY SUNDAY Morning Worship 10:45 am May 3,10,17 10:00 am May 24,31 Sunday School 9:30 am May 3 & 10 SUNDAYS Adult Bible Study at 7:00 pm Teacher Appreciation Breakfast 9:30 am May 17 M.O.B. Youth Group Sunday May 10 6:00 pm At Covenant 1 Becky Gothier 2 - Noah Lamprecht 11 Mike Muller 14 Katie VanderVeen 15 Elmer Carlson 18 Jean Fischer 19 Hilda Pearson 20 Pam Vander Veen 21 Ella Reimers 23 Kristyna Muller 24 Annie Bierbower 27 Megan Barge 28 Sue VanderVeen 28 Connie Kirkpatrick Anniversaries 18 Cody & Madison McAfee FELLOWSHIP GREETERS May 3 - Meet & Eat May 10 - Rex & Jean Hansen May 17 - Graduation Day - No fellowship May 24 - Lamprechts May 31 - Volunteers needed May 3 - Kami Murphy & Christy Roberts May 10 - Rex & Jean Hansen May 17 - Graduates May 24 - Barb & Hadley May 31 - Volunteers needed Pastor Kelly will be on vacation May Meet & Eat May Sidelines After Worship

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