Keeping Up with Covenant Presbyterian Church News Wendell, North Carolina

Transcription

1 Keeping Up with Covenant Presbyterian Church News Wendell, North Carolina JUNE 2018 Church office hours: Mon. Thurs. from 9:00 2:00 p.m. (919) Celebrating the Past Building the Future Covenant Presbyterian Church 125 S. Selma Rd. Wendell, NC Summer Picnic June 10 th following worship Hotdogs and all the fixings Kick off the summer in style! Fill up our Food Baskets Don t forget to bring your canned food on June 10th - Communion Sunday! Just as Jesus blessed and sustained us around the Lord s Table, may we be a blessing to those in our community by providing the gift of food. Congregational Meeting Sunday, June 10 th Immediately following worship. The purpose of the meeting is: 1) To elect a Nominating Committee. The Session has elected their representatives - Barbara Sneade and Paula Perry. The Nominating Committee identifies candidates to be elected by the congregation to serve as Elders. 2) Receive as information the approved 2018 Budget. June 3-7:00 p.m. Gospel music at its finest No charge offering will be taken

2 Dear Friends, A Note from the Pastor Two weeks ago we celebrated Pentecost the day that the Holy Spirit descended on the first followers of Jesus Christ. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Jesus followers became leaders, those healed became healers, students became preachers and teachers and the early church set about being the church in the world. What they would do and how they would share the gospel of Jesus Christ would depend on the people they encountered and the culture in which they would serve and preach. The New Testament Book of Acts is the story of how the first followers of Jesus Christ would endeavor to be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will be leading a Bible on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 and on Wednesday nights at 6:00 focusing on the Book of Acts. Beginning the first week in June, we will be using as a resource Intrusive God, Disruptive Gospel: Encountering the Divine in the Book of Acts by Matthew L. Skinner, professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. As we consider how the early disciples navigated through a time of transition and the surrounding culture, we will, hopefully, gain insight into how we are called to be the church of Jesus Christ in our own transition time as a congregation and as individuals. I hope you will come join us! This study of the Book of Acts is timely. The Mission Team has completed their primary work engaging the congregation in re-telling the history of Covenant Presbyterian Church (Heritage Weekend in February) and considering the culture and community in which CPC lives. We have explored the current culture and demographics and will be sending that information to the Session for information. The next step in our Mission is to envision the future of CPC. The Session will be exploring how best to do this and how to engage the congregation in this third envisioning step. So, stay tuned. There is excitement swirling as we discern how the Holy Spirit is moving us into the future just as the Holy Spirit guided those first followers of Jesus Christ. And with God, all things are possible! I continue to be blessed to be among you. This is a congregation with many gifts and much love! Pastor Debbie Church Staff: Transitional Pastor Reverend Debbie Osterhoudt, (mobile) Revdeb2017@gmail.com Pastor Emeritus Reverend Bob Borland Directors of Christian Ed. Linda Berry lberry61@hotmail.com Dorine Newton dorinenewton@nc.rr.com Administrative Assistant Mary DeFino covsecty1@raleigh.twcbc.com Minister of Music Wanda Ramm wjramm1@gmail.com Church Musician Jeff Bottoms Innerkid13@earthlink.net Clerk of Session Fred Lanzi fredlanzi@bellsouth.net Church Treasurer Carol Rich crich319@gmail.com Accounts Payable Joe Bowman josephlbowman@gmail.com Accounts Receivable Judy McCurdy mccurdyj@aol.com Webmaster Lisa Bailey lbailey513@aol.com Prayer Concerns: Prayer Concerns Members Roberta Hole s family, Ron Hall, Judy Raybon, Kimberly Stevens, Kay Page Assisted Living: Faye Kelley (Carillon), Beth Lewter (Zebulon House), Louise McClaid (Sunnybrook, Raleigh), John Chambers (Crescent Green of Carrboro), Peggy Fink (Brookdale, Wake Forest), Louise Weant (Stone Ridge, Cary) Member Friends & Family Harold Forrester (Tammy Strickland s father) Greg Forrester (Tammy Strickland s brother) Stacey Swart (sister-in-law of Susan Smithson, breast cancer) Steve Moody (Joan Davis cousin, cancer) Logan Barnes (Ewing s sarcoma treatment) Melinda & Carl Cassick (Sherman McClaid s daughter & husband) Janice & Bill Readshaw (Carrie Petrosky s parents; Bill fell and broke his hip) Gloria Baker (Judy McCurdy s cousin) Tom Hutchison (Judy McCurdy s brother) Conner Hutchison (Judy McCurdy s cousin) Mike McCurdy (Bill McCurdy s brother, COPD) John Taylor (cancer, friend of Becky Abate) Sue Studt (Judy Raybon s niece, brain tumor) Bob Studt (Judy Raybon s brother, heart) Arta Anderson (Juanita Taylor s mother, lung cancer) John and Mary Jane Roberts (Jennifer Carnes parents) Liz and Justin Smith (friends of the Bowmans; pregnancy complications) Larettie Schmidt (Linda Higgins mother, now living with Linda) Step-sister of Chris Murphy, cancer Natalie Perkins (Vanessa Turner s sister, lung cancer) Gene Hester (Mary Jo Cashion s uncle, health issues) Tony Jones (friend of the Dales, cancer) Linda Ward (Ron Hall s sister-in-law, stomach surgery) Sue Dunlow (Pete Dunlow s sister-in-law, kidney cancer) Rosanne Mailliard (Don Mailliard s sister, cancer) David Swatko (Kimberly Stevens brother) Ronnie Devey (Kimberly Stevens brother-in-law) Rebecca Hall (Carolyn Fleming s granddaughter) Jennifer Carnes 29-year-old niece s husband died suddenly Our sympathy is extended to Tim VanGelder and family upon the death of his brother Jeff VanGelder. Please let us know of folks we need to add/delete from the prayer concerns by either calling the church office, Pastor Debbie or turning in a prayer request card during worship. The Grief Group meets on the first and third Tuesday at 7:00 pm in the Sessions room. If you are grieving a loss, don t try to do it alone. Share your feelings with others as we walk together through the wilderness of grief. At the end of our journey together, may we be able to experience the wonderful memories we have of those we have lost. If you have any questions, contact Judy Shotts at or jshotts65@att.net.

3 June Birthdays June 1 Rachael Stevens, James Stevens June 17 David Meyers June 2 Reuben Hart June 21 Joanne Hall Worship Elders Barbara Sneade & Tim VanGelder June 4 Bonnie Wagstaff, Mary Moak June 23 Derek Turner June 11 Al Cates, Hulon Perry June 13 Erin VanGelder June 14 Angie Sherrill June 16 Allison Bailey Mattox, John Stanton, Erin Bailey Hamrick June 24 Annette Kirk, Dane Oldham June 25 Marlow Sherrill, Henry Paul Thomas, Leeanne Dawn Stanton June 27 Bob Morgan June 29 Tanner Hardee, Susan Agee June 8 June 14 June Anniversaries Marshall & Kay Page, Steve & Allison Buus, Bruce & Linda Berry Don & Susan Agee Choir Chatter The time has come for the big announcement. Where is your choir going on tour this year? We re leading worship at First Presbyterian Church, Washington, NC. This year, we re singing the Down to the River cycle of Appalachian hymn tunes. The tentative date to sing in Washington is August 19 th followed by choir Sunday here on the 26 th. If you want to try choir, now is the time. Wednesday evenings are filled with music, fun, laughter, and occasional strange looks from me. We have fun while learning to share God s message through song. The group truly is a smaller family within the larger church family. If you try us and find we re not for you, that s fine. Still, you might find that you do like being with us. Who knows? See you in church, Wanda June 21 June 23 June 24 June 26 Marc Johnson & Karen Dukes Tom & Stella Martin Hubert & Sally Hines Hugh & Mary Jo Cashion Worship in July We will be exploring the transitional times in the history of this country and how what was happening politically, socially, and economically influenced the church s message and music during those times. Or how the church addressed the issues of particular eras in the life of this country. Pastor Debbie will be using a book by John Meacham, The American Gospel: God, the founding Fathers and the Making of a Nation. Dear Church Family, The last four and a half years have been very difficult for our family. We cannot thank this congregation enough for everything you have done. Thank you all so much for the love, prayers, encouragement, hugs, gift cards, and other support you have given us. This church truly lives Christ s message of loving one another. ~ The Dale Family Gift Cards: Thank you for supporting our church by purchasing gift cards through Covenant! We continue to raise almost $4000 per year and that has really helped the budget. Food Lion, Lowes and Walmart are available in the Narthex before and after service. There are now over 700 retailers who give a percentage to Covenant nothing out of pocket!! Order on Sunday and have your gift card the following Sunday. Please think about paying for your groceries, prescriptions, gas, gifts, household items, restaurants, travel, etc. using gift cards. For more information, please call Susan Darby at or David Meyers at or sddarby@hotmail.com. July 1 July 8 The Founding of a Nation. The Revolutionary War years. Bruce Berry is preaching. July 15 The Second Great Awakening. The turn of the 19th Century. The movement began around 1790, gained momentum by 1800 and continued until about 1830 s. Characterized by revivalism, the Second Great Awakening established reform movements designed to remedy the evils of society. Baptists and Methodist membership rose dramatically. July 22 The church at the turn of the 20th century; This era saw an explosion of movements - fundamentalism, the third Great Awakening in the Holiness Pentecostal Church, liberal ecumenism, evangelicalism, social gospel, etc. July 29 The church of the 1960 s, 70 s and 80 s. A time in our history of tremendous change and conflict: the Vietnam War, desegregation in the South, changing family structures, etc. My hope is that as we explore each of these eras of change in our country s history it will provide insight for the living of these days as we face our own challenges and changes. I will use materials from particular periods of history: sermons, worship, hymns, prayers, etc.

4 Congregational Care Elders Paula Daniels & Jeannie Driver Christian Education Elder Paula Perry First Sunday Lunch - June 10 - Hotdog picnic. Congregational Care Committee Meeting - June 27, 2018 at 12:15 p.m. in Session Room Presbyterian Women of the church meet the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm (June 26) in the Fellowship Hall. Inviting all women to come join us for a great night of fellowship and wonderful lesson from Judy Shotts. We have just begun a new study on Back to the Well Women s Encounters with Jesus in the Gospels by Frances Taylor Gench. Judy Shotts is the Bible leader, she is also using Women of the Gospels Friends and Disciples of Jesus by Stephen J. Binz. We enjoy lively discussions about what the Bible is saying to us and how we can put the message into action in our daily lives. Come and join us as we all journey together to strengthen our faith. Breakfast Fellowship June 4 & 11 The Clayton group meets at Jones Café at 9:30 am on the first Monday of the month, and the Zebulon group meets at McLean s on the second Monday, both at 9:30 am. EVERYONE is welcome - at either or both groups! Prayer Shawl The Knitters meet at 5:00 pm on the third Sunday of the month and create shawls & throws for comfort in time of need. Want to join the group? Experienced knitters are happy to help & share patterns. Some supplies are available. Call Christine Mailliard at for more information or if you know of someone who could use a shawl. Join a special care ministry (Contact Paula Daniels at or Jeannie Driver at for more information) Handy Hands helps with home repairs and chores for those who find it difficult to manage by themselves. They have installed several ramps for those with problems with mobility. Need is more important than ability to pay, so donations are appreciated. Martha s Ministry provides meals in time of need. If you are experiencing difficulties - illness, stress or any other reason and having a meal delivered would give you a lift, please let the church office know ( ). If you are able to help prepare and/or deliver meals, please call Paula, Jeannie or the church office. Presbyterian Men s Breakfasts are on summer break. We will resume in September. Attention of Crafters - We need crafts to sell at the Missionary Discretionary Fund Raiser on November 3, We plan to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays in June, July, and August to work together creating craft items to sell. We are thinking of a day and evening class 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Our first meeting will be June 12th. Please contact Judy Shotts if you are interested at ( ) or jshotts65@att.net Ice Cream Social - July 15 - Old Fashioned Homemade Ice Cream social after church. This will be part of the July worship schedule (more details to come). So get out those ice cream freezers and be ready to cool off on a hot Sunday afternoon! Vacation Bible School - July 8 12th! Children age 5-12 are encouraged to attend and bring a friend. TIMES: 6:00-8:30 p.m. A light dinner will be served at 6:00 to begin each evening. On the last evening of VBS, we will have a cook-out for the children, their parents, and the helpers. The children will take their parents through each of the stations of VBS: science, Bible stories, crafts, and recreation. This year the children will be going on a Rolling Rover Rampage. Please let Linda, Dorine, or Leann know if you would like to help. We want to encourage all children to bring a friend, all grandparents to bring their grandchildren, all neighborhood children to attend. We will be doing a big invitational campaign in Wendell Falls and other new neighborhoods. Please help us get many children to attend. We have great leaders already signed up. Youth Group: After many years of being a youth group leader, Leann Dale is stepping down as one of our leaders. Jennifer Cuthrell has stepped up and is going to assist Mary Selke in leading this important program. Dorine Newton and Linda Berry will also be assisting in the program this fall. There are no sufficient worlds to thank Leann for all the love, dedication, and creativity she has given this ministry over the years. We are looking for another person to join this group leadership team. Please contact Dorine Newton or Linda Berry if you would like to join this invaluable and rewarding ministry. A New Health Form is needed for all children in our nursery, Sunday School program, and youth program. We have been advised to do this to ensure the health of all children. Letters are being distributed to all parents and grandparents and guardians of any children who might attend. We are growing, and we need to know all allergies, food restrictions, etc. of all of the children in our care. Thank you for returning these forms to us. If you did not receive one of these, please see Dorine Newton or Linda Berry. ATTENTION: ALL CHILDREN AND YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES, YOUTH GROUP, COFFEE AND CONVERSATION, AND CHIL- DEREN S CHURCH TAKE A VACTION DURING THE SUMMER. SENIOR DAY: On May 20th, we honored our four high school graduates during the worship service: Megan Dale, Nathan Marsh, Allison Page, and Grace Page. When these young people were baptized, the congregation promised to love and nurture them on their journeys to be disciples of Jesus Christ. We are very proud of them. Please congratulate and wish them well as they continue on their faith journeys. SCHOLARSHIPS: GRACE AND ALLISON PAGE EACH APPLIED FOR A COVENANT PRESBY- TERIAN SCHOLARSHIP AND WERE AWARDED THE SCHOLARHSIP ON MAY 20 th. CONGRATU- LATIONS!! MISSION TRIP: Our youth will leave for their mission trip to Washington, DC on June 24 th. Keep them in your prayers as they prepare for this life changing event. Thank you to all who have supported them in their fund raising and to those who simply donated money for this event. CHILDREN S MINISTRY: We are discussing new approaches to our Children s ministry. Dorine and I would like to meet with the parents of our children (ages 4 10) this month. I will be ing you for a good time schedule. We would like to brainstorm with you on some new ideas for this age group. Read your ; listen to announcements; contact either of us help us strengthen this ministry. CONFIRMATION CLASS: Rev. Debbie will be offering a confirmation class this fall for our youth who have not been confirmed. It will begin in September and continue during the fall; Rev. Debbie is committed to a mission component in the confirmation experience. Please let Linda or Dorine know if you and/or your youth are interested. The Christian Education Committee has changed its monthly meeting to the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.

5 Clerk of Session Report Fred Lanzi Hopefully, you have noticed some new looks on campus. Our driveways and parking areas have ben refurbished and the parking spaces re-stripped. A new handicap access has been installed at the Narthex entrance. All the windows in the Sanctuary building have been cleaned, so you should be able to see God s creations more clearly when looking out. We hope to have all of the Education Building toilet fixtures replace by this time next month. We are finalizing a plan with Duke Energy to replace most of our light bulbs with LED bulbs. This has the potential to save us over $3,000 a year in our electric bills. Mission/Outreach Elders Bud Lawler & Rusty Wagstaff Carver Elementary Backpack Buddy Program - Don t forget our weekend meals for Carver kids. We need hearty soups, vegetables, peanut butter and fruit. There is a designated bin in the Narthex and lists with suggested items on the bulletin boards. The Food Pantry is an on-going project supplying bags of groceries to needy families in our area. Non-perishable foods are welcome. Emphasis for June: Canned fruits, chicken noodle soups, instant potatoes, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toilet tissue. ***** Finance/Stewardship Steve Hicks & Carol Rich ANNOUNCEMENT! Anyone willing to provide a devotional at Oliver House each Sunday in June please contact Bud Lawler by at bossdog67@nc.rr.com Even one Sunday would be helpful! Finance Report for April 2018: Expenses YTD: $23, Income YTD: $28,528 (5 weeks) Heritage Fund YTD: $8, Mortgage Balance as of 4/17/2018: $1,006, Save the Dates!! Vacation Bible School 2018 Sunday, July 8 - Thursday, July 12 Bring your food for the Back Pack Buddies and Food Pantry on Communion Sundays. Oliver House residents enjoy reading magazines. If you have some old magazines that you would like to donate to the Oliver House, place them by the food pantry box in the narthex and someone will deliver them. Member Directory is ready for pick up. Copies will be in the narthex and outside the church office. If your information is incorrect, please contact Mary, Church Office Administrator, at or covsecty1@raleigh.twcbc.com. When we gather to celebrate the Lord s Supper on the second Sunday of each month, we recognize God s amazing gift of Jesus Christ to the world and the incredible sacrificial gift Jesus made for us. The table of the Lord s Supper is a table of incredible love and grace shared for us all. But we are called to be not only receivers of the gift, but givers of the gift. What better way to share than to bring our food to the table for the local food pantry and Back Pack Buddies. Did you know that we provide bags of food to some 30 plus families with children from Carver Elementary School which will enable them to put food on their tables for the weekend? We are inviting you to bring your food - canned vegetables, fruit cups, soups, etc., - Communion Sundays. The children will collect your food during the Conversation with the Children - just like they do with their Pennies for Hunger - and then place the food in the baskets at the communion table, reminding us that we are called to be not only receivers of God s grace, but givers. We will continue to gladly receive your food any time, in the boxes in the narthex. Just remember to bring a can or two on communion Sundays as well! Many thanks!

6 Volunteer Schedule for June 2018 Date Lay Reader Audio Greeters Ushers JUNE 2018 June 3 Leanne Dale Kevin Dale June 10 David Meyers Billy Cuthrell Olive Martin Leanne Stanton Jim Hopkins Margie Hopkins Don Agee, Doug Petrey, Leanne Stanton, Pete Dunlow Tommy Crawford, Gary Hardee, Mike Smithson, Tim VanGelder SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 June 17 Lisa Bailey Tim Harris June 24 Nicole Bills Walker Driver Judy McCurdy Sally Hines John Shotts Judy Shotts Chris & Heather Wolfgang, Ed & Barb Sneade Becky Abate, Jeannie Driver, Al Cates, Steve Buus 3 6:00 pm Property 6:00 pm Outreach 7:00 pm Session 4 9:30 am Breakfast Fellowship -Clayton 5 6:30 pm Girl Scouts 7:00 pm Grief Support Date Children s Sermon Nursery Volunteer Acolyte June 3 Mary Selke Tim VanGelder Emma Cuthrell June 10 Jennifer Carnes Nicole Bills James Newton June 17 Debbie Osterhoudt Dawn & Chris Murphy Megan Buus June 24 Bonnie Wagstaff Kimberly Stevens Mollie Smithson 10 First Sunday Lunch Communion 17 Father s Day 11 9:30 am Breakfast Fellowship - Zebulon 6:30 pm Perennial Club 12 7:00 pm Craft Night - WOC :30 pm CE Committee 7:00 pm Grief Support :00 5:00 pm Jake May Fish Fry F. H. Wendell Historical Society New Bible to begin! Come join us for a study of Acts, led by Pastor Debbie, on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. We are having lively discussions and you don t want to miss it! :00 pm WOC Craft Meeting 27 Washington DC We will begin June 5 th and June 6 th