The Cornerstone February 2018 Our Vision We envision a church that proclaims the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ by identifying itself as a church of and for our community. We envision a church that, following the example of Jesus, prays, welcomes people of every race, class or human condition, and encourages everyone to fulfill his or her ministry. Inside this issue: Souper Bowl Lent Begins Black History Month Church Financials Food Pantry Kirk News 3 Health & Wellness 4 Calendar 5 Church Events 6 Scout Sunday Church History Session Snippets Deacon s Details Community Focus Group 8 1 2 7 Souper Bowl The teams are set for the 2018 Souper Bowl, we have chicken noodle and tomato competing for the world title, ok the two teams for the Super Bowl are Philadelphia and New England playing in Minneapolis on February 4. However, more importantly for our neighbors we again are participating the Souper Bowl, where we are collecting cans of soup or any other food that you would like to donate. Last year we collected 2,552 cans and $1,030 in cash. When we serve over 400 families a month, we need to have food to feed our neighbors so the Souper Bowl of Caring is Lent Begins Black History Month (Continued on page 4) Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 14. We will have an Ash Wednesday service with the distribution of ashes. As you know Lent is the season of forty days symbolizing Jesus forty days in the wilderness preparing for his ministry. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." We are looking forward to spring and the Lenten season. In the 1920 s Carter Woodson realized African American contributions were excluded from the way history was taught. History largely excluded any mention or recognition of African American individuals, their inventions or historical impact. Carter Woodson was the Father of Black History Month. He was born in1875 near New Canton, VA, the son of former slaves. He received his BA degree from the University of Chicago in 1907. In 1912, he received his PhD from Harvard University. The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was established by Woodson and his friends in 1915. Soon they began the Journal of Negro (Continued on page 4)
Page 2 The Cornerstone Church Financial Report - December 2017 Operating Income Actual/Month Budget/Month Year to Date (Pledges, Non-pledged, Visitors, Fund-raising) $ 11,722 $ 8,405 $114,155 Restricted Funds $ 6,034 $ 4,067 $ 26,339 Total Income $ 17,756 $ 12,471 $140,495 Expenses Church Worship & Growth (Christian Ed, Worship, Spiritual Life, Evangelism) $ 532 $ 215 $ 3,528 Staff & Administration $ 11,113 $ 8,444 $103,844 Stewardship & Mission (Scout Cabin, Stewardship & Mission) $ 1,811 $ 915 $ 11,360 Building $ 11,489 $ 3,963 $ 44,544 Deacons $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Total Expenses $ 24,944 $ 13,537 $163,277 Net Income ($10,260) ($ 721) ($7,476) Food Pantry Food pantry usage in January has been crazy strong. We served 245 households; 436 adults, 290 children, and 28 seniors. Our needs are increasing; drop off food and toiletries anytime! Special thanks to Village Presbyterian Church volunteers who deliver food to us we couldn't do what we do without you! Bless them.
February 2018 Kirk News Page 3 As I m writing this today I m working with Laura Hyland on the budget for a Healthy Communities grant. She is deep into the operating expenses and proposed funding source for the grant. The work of the Covenant Community is like an iceberg, we see what is above the water, seeing neighbors about their health needs, nutrition classes, tai chi classes taught by Greg Richter, diabetes classes, chronic condition management classes and walking club. What we don t see are the grants, the budget and meetings. Also in the church, today we have Donna working with neighbors needing food, Orlandra is working on email and text lists for evangelism, Debbie and Maxine are helping neighbors with their health concerns. In addition, we are grateful for the youth group activities. As this is written, we are grateful that our youth group is/was going bowling. We want to have an event every month alternating between an educational event and a fun activity. As we enter into Black History Month the importance of this month is highlighted with so many Persons of Color being excluded in many segments of our society. Dr. King stated that the arc of history is long, but bends toward justice. We are in a time when the move toward justice is being challenges with the state of Missouri making it harder to prove discrimination in court; the rollback of national protection for LGBTQ individuals and an administration that where older white males are very heavily represented. We invite you to be present every Sunday in February during Black History Month when we are focused on the contributions of African Americans throughout our society. This year Glenn Smith, Margaret Gunther, Clara Maddox and Pam Hider Johnson will share their experiences during worship. I believe you will want to hear our church members share their stories. They are important and relevant for today. I am truly grateful for all that is happening in our church and the difference each of you make. God bless you! In Christ s Service, Kirk P. Perucca, Pastor
Page 4 The Cornerstone Souper Bowl (Continued from page 1) part of the way we feed our neighbors. So we have a challenge set by the Session of 2,000 cans, which is 552 less cans than last year. But we may be able to rise to the challenge, but you know that is 22 cans per person. Do you think that s possible? Oh, and by the way, if you want to give cash, every dollar equals two cans. So you don t have to bring in cans physically, you can get credit for two cans for every dollar donated. We need to continue feeding neighbors. Last year 10,523 individuals were provided food, that includes 5,489 adults, 3,975 children and 642 children plus 417 at the musician s food pantry. We are grateful that we can feed so many neighbors. Thank you members of Covenant, and Village, and Second and customers and employees of Great Western Bank. We will keep you updated each month. Thank you for supporting the Souper Bowl, a fun way to approach an extremely serious concern, making sure our neighbors and their children have enough to eat. God bless you. Community Health & Wellness (Continued from page 1) February is Heart Health Month. Do you know your risk factors? Are you physically active? Are you eating a heart healthy diet? Are you smoking? Cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Covenant Community Health and Wellness provides the tools and resources for our neighbors and church members to impact their own heart health. The staff at CCHW can start a heart health conversation with you by completing a simple health screen and helping you get an appointment with a doctor. We offer classes and group activities that can help you increase heart health knowledge, create a wellness plan, and start changing behaviors. The community support helps us stick to our goals as we get healthy together. members have seen a drop in blood pressures and weight. We are currently walking indoors using the Walk at Home program in the fellowship hall on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9:30 A.M. Other programs include Silver Sneakers, Tai Chi, Diabetes Class, Cooking and Nutrition Class, Eating From The Garden, Chronic Pain Workshop, Chronic Disease Workshop. Staff from CCHW will be participating at Swope Ridge Gardens Senior Living, Church Women United, and the Plain Talk on Diabetes Community Conversation during February for Heart Health Month. Black History Month History, a quarterly publication. Dr. Carter Woodson launched the annual February observance of "Negro History Week," in 1926. In 1976 it became "Black History Month. The month of February was chosen because President Lincoln s birthday was February 12 and Frederick Douglass s accepted birthday was February 14. At Covenant we celebrate Black History with a special remembrance every Sunday and the children will have a reading. We culminate the month with the Multicultural Dinner on Sunday, February 25 immediately following worship. You are invited to bring your favorite dish to share. If your dish is an ethnic favorite all the better. At the dinner, Kirk will share about his Madagascar experience.
February 2018 4 FEBRUARY 2018 Page 5 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY Adult Sunday School 10:30am Worship 12:00pm Christian Ed 5:00pm 11 FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY PARTY Adult Sunday School 10:30am Worship 5:00pm 18 SCOUT SUNDAY Adult Sunday School 10:30am Worship 12:00pm Deacons 5:00pm 25 Adult Sunday School 10:30am Worship 12:00 pm Multicultural Dinner 5:00pm 5 12 19 CLOSED 26 6 10:00am Musicians Pantry Delivery 10:00am Eating Smart 6:00pm Cub Scouts 7:00pm Boy Scouts 13 Dietician 10:00am Eating Smart 6:00pm Cub Scouts 7:00pm Boy Scouts 20 Giving Basics pick-up 10:00am Musicians Pantry Delivery 10:00am Eating Smart 6:00pm Cub Scouts 7:00pm Boy Scouts 27 10:00am Eating Smart 6:00pm Boy Scouts Blue & Gold Banquet 7 Musicians Pantry Evangelism New Fellowship Al-Anon 14 ASH WEDNESDAY New Fellowship Al-Anon 21 Musicians Pantry New Fellowship Al-Anon 28 New Fellowship Al-Anon 1 9:15am Fit for You 10:30am Diabetes Class 8 9:15am Fit for You 10:30am Diabetes Class 15 9:15am Fit for You 10:30am Diabetes Class 22 9:15am Fit for You 10:30am Diabetes Class 2 3 Building & Grounds 9 7:30am Harvesters Delivery Music Lessons & Rehearsals 10:00am Stewardship 10 Music Lessons & Rehearsals Spiritual Life 11:00 am Deacons & Elders Joint Meeting 12:00pm Session 16 17 Music Lessons & Rehearsals 23 24 Music Lessons & Rehearsals Annual Meeting Sunday, March 4th
February Birthdays! Page 6 The Cornerstone Church Calendar - February 2018 Permanent Schedule Adult Sunday School Children s Sunday School Worship and Nursery Sunday, Tuesday, Cub Scout Pack 27 Tuesday, Boy Scout Troop 27 Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. During worship 10:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, New Fellowship Al-Anon 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Scheduled Meetings: 8:00 p.m. Building & Grounds, Saturday, Feb. 3 9:00 a.m. Stewardship, Saturday, Feb. 3 Christian Ed, Sunday, Feb. 4 Evangelism, Wednesday, Feb. 7 Spiritual Life, Saturday, Feb. 10 Joint Meeting, Saturday, Feb. 10 Session, Saturday, Feb. 10 Deacons, Sunday, Feb. 18 Contact Us! (816) 444-3693 5931 Swope Parkway Kansas City, MO 64130 office@covenantpreskc.com www.covenantpreskc.com 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Secretary: Orlandra Brown Community Nurse: Laura Hyland, R.N. Custodians: Bobby & Floretta Houston Organist: Osric K. Reavis, III Drummer: Richard Tucker Bass: Joseph Straws Jr. Regional Liaison: Doug Tilton Rev. Kirk P. Perucca, Pastor Direct (cell): (913) 486-7010 pastor@covenantpreskc.com February 4 February 11 February 18 February 25 Worship Leaders Florence Reavis Linda Scott Paul Backer Burley Durant Fellowship Schedule Deacons Indigo Franklin 01 Rhyan Andrews 03 Kia Fitzpatrick 03 Gabrielle Wilson 04 Joseph Straws 08 Mike Dunmore 16 Darryn Smith 18 Denaja Riggins 19 Noah Alvarenga 20 Karen Gentry-Strickland 23 Janice King 23 Jasmin McDonald 28
February 2018 Scout Sunday Sunday, February 18 will be Scout Sunday. Our Scout Troop and Cub Pack members will help lead worship and families will be present in worship. Let s make an effort to be present to support our scouters. Church History Page 7 Beginning March 6th at 10 A.M. we will work with Meg Duggan on writing our history. She has a unique process that will help us remember and write our story. Please contact the church office if you would like to participate. Deacon s Details Paul Backer was nominated and elected Moderator, Sylvia Payne was elected Secretary New members Donna Lenhart and Carole Thomas were welcomed. Sylvia was welcomed back. We will connect by text first and call those who do not text. That includes the calling tree. The Deacons are in charge of four dinners: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Multicultural Dinner, Vacation Bible School Picnic and the Stewardship Dinner. The Deacons will be in charge of preparing the four evening meals for Vacation Bible School. A survey will be sent about the congregation s desire for fellowship. Scout Sunday is February 18 and the Fellowship Time food will be increased. Respectfully submitted, Paul Backer, Moderator Session Snippets Caitlyn and Levi Hull were welcomed into membership, and the baptisms of Caitlyn, Vyper, Dysel and Harley were approved for baptism. They were baptized and received into membership on January 21. A congregational meeting was approved for January 21 to elect Letha Chadiha and then officers were installed. The Annual Congregational Meeting was scheduled for March 4. The following Committee Moderators were elected: Stewardship- Candi Moss Christian Education- Corey Price Buildings & Grounds- Osric Reavis Nominating- Cindy Worthy Spiritual Life- Letha Chadiha and Linda Scott co-facilitate Worship Committee- Franklin Banks, Paul Maddox will serve on committee Evangelism Committee- Osric Reavis, Candi Moss volunteered to be on committee Personnel Committee- Paul Maddox Jim Albers agreed to continue as the Church Treasurer. Cindy Worthy agreed to continue as Clerk of Session. They were elected. Pledges were down from 2017. (If you have not turned in your pledge card you are invited to please do so.) Respectfully Submitted, Cindy Worthy-Perucca, Clerk of Session
Covenant Presbyterian Church 5931 Swope Parkway Kansas City, MO 64130-4242 www.covenantpreskc.com Community Focus Group Led by the University of Missouri-Extension Wednesday, January 31, 2018 9:30 A.M. 11:30 A.M. Covenant Presbyterian Church 5931 Swope Parkway Kansas City, MO 64130 (816) 872-9301 How can we become a healthier community?