The devoted themselves... to fellowship. Covenant Groups Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church
What are Covenant Groups? Covenant Group FAQs Covenant Groups are small groups that come together for one year for Christian fellowship. Fellowship is more than socializing with church friends, it s getting to know one another well so that we can pray with each other and care for each other. Acts 2 tells us that the early church was devoted to fellowship. Fellowship is a mark of every healthy church and it s an important part of our personal walk with Christ. Fellowship, like all spiritual disciplines, is work especially so with our busy schedules. But we believe that this is God s will for Christians, and Covenant Groups provide one way for fellowship to take place. Covenant Groups meet once a week, on Wednesday nights, in the homes of church members. This year we will have a group that meets on Sunday nights for those who are working with Covenant Kids, Youth Group, and the Praise Team. Is the Covenant Group a Bible study? No, Covenant Groups are fellowship groups. We do read and study the Bible, but we mostly want to make a way for people to get to know each other so that they can pray with each other and care for each other. Covenant Groups often eat together and then spend time discussing the Bible passage and sermon from the previous Sunday. The atmosphere is informal and the goal is not to get through the sermon discussion questions but to encourage one another in the faith. We recognize that not everyone in each Covenant Group is able to come to the Wednesday night meeting in the home. But everyone is still a part of the Covenant Group and is contacted with prayer requests and mercy needs throughout the year. Why are people assigned to Covenant Groups? Assigning people helps us get to know Christian brothers and sisters who we would not normally spend time with. After the Sunday worship service people usually spend time talking to their friends. There is certainly nothing wrong with being drawn to people in your church who are like you in age, interests, and life experiences. But the great thing about the church is that it is made up of different kinds of people, each one called personally by Jesus Christ, and each one a member of the family of God. What role do our elders and deacons play in Covenant Groups? Our elders and deacons often lead Covenant Groups, but not always. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every member for the building up of the church. Covenant Groups are a great place for members to use their gifts, whether gifts of encouragement or hospitality, teaching or serving. When members have a gift for leading small groups, we want to use them, whether they are officers or not. Our elders and deacons do have a role in every group through their participation, their spiritual oversight and their merciful service.
Covenant Group Hosts & Leaders Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 Atchison Group Bales Group 211 13 th St. NE 1406 Angie Dr. NW Billy & Hope, hosts Delwin & Cindy, hosts Jay Weatherly, leader Robert Whitlock, leader 737-0299 775-1992 Christenberry Group Johnson Group 2210 Lakeshore Dr. SW 1401 Angie Dr. NW Sam & Camille, hosts Jay & Terri, hosts Ed Bonds, leader Steve Turner & 737-8754 Byron Cornett, leaders 747-2594, 775-1064 Krenkel Group Rakestraw Group 1609 Hartwig Lane 2215 Lakeshore Dr. SW Charlie & Yvonne, hosts Wes & Donnette, hosts Andrew Siegenthaler, leader Wes Rakestraw, leader 737-5443 775-7292 Every other Sunday, 5:00-7:00 Miller Group Locations will be announced. Scott Miller, leader 352-4550
Covenant Group Schedule Sunday, Sep 7 Jan 7 No Groups Covenant Kickoff & Fellowship Supper Jan 14 Groups meet Sep 10 Groups meet Jan 21 Groups meet Sep 17 Groups meet Jan 28 Groups meet Sep 24 Groups meet Feb 4 Groups meet Oct 1 Groups meet Feb 11 Groups meet Oct 8 Groups meet Feb 18 Winter Concert Oct 15 Concert of Praise Feb 25 Groups meet Oct 22 Groups meet Mar 4 Groups meet Oct 29 Groups meet Mar 11 Groups meet Nov 5 Groups meet Mar 18 Groups meet Nov 12 Groups meet Mar 25 Groups meet Nov 19 Groups meet Apr 1 Groups meet Sunday, Nov 23 Thanksgiving Service & Supper Apr 8 No Groups Nov 26 No Groups Thursday, Apr 9 Maundy Thursday Service Dec 3 Groups meet Apr 15 Groups meet Dec 10 Groups meet Apr 22 Groups meet Dec 17 Groups meet Apr 29 Groups meet Dec 24 Christmas Eve Service Sunday, May 3 Dec 31 No Groups Anniversary Supper & Service
Covenant Kids Nursery through 6th Grade Covenant Kids is a ministry to the children of our church and to their friends that seeks to point them to Christ, nurture their faith, and instill in them a love for the church. Covenant Kids meets on Wednesday nights during the school year and provides parents with a fun and safe place for their children while parents attend an adult Covenant Group. Covenant Kids is staffed by a group of committed volunteers and led by Connie Miller. Drop Off Please drop off your children at the entrance under the outside canopy no earlier than 6:15 P.M. on Covenant Group nights. We will begin Covenant Kid activities promptly at 6:30 P.M. You will need to take children 3 and under directly to the nursery. Children 4 years old through 6 th grade will be directed to the Fellowship Hall and asked to sit with their group. Dinner A concession stand is provided for the kids to eat dinner. Each night kids can purchase a main food item (such as a slice of pizza, burger, chicken nuggets, etc.) for 50 cents each. Chips are 25 cents per bag and drinks are 25 cents (Gatorade.50) each. The concession stand works as follows: Nursery children ages 3 and under If you would like for your children in the nursery to eat dinner from the Covenant Kids concession stand, please bring $17 for the year for each of your children to which this applies. Each night, a nursery worker will go get the food from the concession stand and bring it to the nursery. 4 year olds & Kindergarteners Please bring $22 for each child for food for the year. These kids will be brought food and drinks to their room and will not go through the concession stand. Make checks out to the church. 1 st -- 6 th graders Please have each child bring enough money for food for each Wednesday night only. They will go through the concession stand to buy their food. Then they will go to their classroom and eat with their group. Dress 4 year olds through 6 th graders will be participating in various floor activities and occasional physical games. Please dress your child in comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Pick Up Out of consideration for our workers and their children who must also get up early the next morning, please pick up your children under the outside canopy between 8:15 and 8:30 P.M. If you have children in the nursery, you must come inside to pick up. Covenant Group leaders, please support this by dismissing parents with children in Covenant Kids promptly at 8:00 P.M. On Call We have a tremendous group of committed volunteers who love your children, but occasionally illness and other things leave us short-staffed. To provide the best and safest program, we may ask the Covenant Groups to be on call for providing substitute teachers.
Youth Group 7 th through 12 th grade The Youth Group is led by Jonathan and Amanda Knappenberger and a tremendous team of interns and volunteers including Merrill Cook, Derek and Tracie Rakestraw, and Lisa Jones. On Wednesday nights we gather at the Youth House at 6:15. We have a casual meal (please bring $2) and at 6:45 we head into the big room for student-led worship followed by Bible study and prayer. Servant Positions for Fellowship Suppers One of the pleasures of church life is eating together. We have two Fellowship Suppers this year and ask each Covenant Group to serve in the following ways. Sunday, November 23 Sunday, May 3 Thanksgiving Supper Anniversary Supper Each group please bring two turkeys or hams and two pans of dressing in addition to side dishes. Setting up Atchison Decorating Bales Receiving food Christenberry Providing drinks Johnson Cleaning up Krenkel & Rakestraw Covered dish supper Setting up Christenberry Decorating Johnson Receiving food Krenkel Providing drinks--rakestraw Cleaning up Atchison & Bales