Join Us Sunday Mornings for Adult Sunday School

The Trinity Class is open to all ages. Studies the Bible verse by verse, currently in the book of Colossians.
Rev. Bernie Shamp—Preschool Bldg. rm 3

The Believers Class thoroughly studies each verse as the Holy Spirit leads to try and understand the fullness of its meaning for our lives. This class may be just the place to spend an additional God-filled hour each Sunday morning. The class is currently in the book of Isaiah.
Pat Griffith—Holley Bldg, rm 7

Daily Living Class is a mixed class of singles, married, widowed, with a great mix from early 30's to 80+. This group uses the Bible and other topical material, to see how the teachings of the Bible apply to our “daily lives.”
John Hines—Holley Bldg, rm 4

The Fellowship Class, made up of warm, friendly and smiling faces who welcome you to this class (comprised mainly of “card carrying” AARP members). The Cokesbury Adult Bible Studies is used in a lively discussion format. Currently studying the book of Genesis.
Marie Smith—Holley Bldg, rm 5

The Pairs and Spares Class, a mixed group of singles and couples, discusses new and different ways God's teachings relate to our lives. Presently studying the “The Essential Bible Guide” which takes 100 selected reading, so you can see the big picture of the Bible.
Paul Guilbeau & Dale White—Pre-school Bldg. rm 1

The Searchers Women Class, on the 50+ side of life enjoy fellowship with other women. The Bible is studied, book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse using the “Serendipity” resources. The class is currently doing the “Purpose Driven Life”.
Kathy Hoover/Lucille Hendrix—Holley Bldg. rm 2

The Seekers Class, a very diverse class with both couples and singles ranging in age from 40-80. Free flowing discussion and questions and opinions are encouraged as they try to apply God's word to our lives. Studying the book of Revelation.
Strand Martin—Pre-school Bldg.

The Wesleyan Class utilizes the International Lesson Series with the focus on how the Scriptures apply to our personal, interpersonal and religious lives. The lesson series is now in the book of Exodus.
Gene Blevins—Holley Bldg, rm 9

The Young Adults Class is our newest class. We are open to anyone between college age and early thirties. Come give us a try.
Rev. Byron Aucoin—Holley Bldg., Fellowship Hall

You Have the Opportunity to "Visit Those in Prison"

Five Covenant women will be listening and loving at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women April 28th — May 1st at Kairos #32.

The Kairos goal is to teach Christ’s love to the 30 women who attend our weekend short course within the prison facility, so that they will be able to live in Christian community within the prison. This has tremendous personal results for these women and their families, not just while they are still imprisoned, but even after they have been released. The recidivism rate is reduced from 80% to 18% in women who have completed our Kairos weekend short course (ie - without Kairos 80% of women released from prison will return to it, with Kairos, only 18% return). The program does make a difference to society.

Here are the various ways you can support Kairos:
Prayer: Every minute of the weekend is covered in prayer and our prayer support is extremely important. Early in the weekend, the super long prayer chain is brought out to show the residents how many people are praying for them – even through the night. It is a powerful moment, and the women find it hard to believe that folks on the “outside” are praying for them.

Cookies: Each team volunteer is responsible to bring 35 dozen cookies. We have five members from Covenant on this team, so we need 175 dozen cookies! We give cookies to every resident of LCIW on the first night that we are there. Those women attending the Kairos weekend receive a dozen cookies each night, with an extra dozen given on Saturday night. They are instructed to share the extra dozen with someone whose forgiveness they seek or someone who they need to forgive. The cookies have to be home baked, but not necessarily from scratch - any pre-made dough is fine. We ask that you pray over your cookies as they bake – that whoever receives them will feel God's love in a mighty way.

Money: Each of us on the team is asked to raise $225. Total our Covenant participants, need to raise is $1,125. We are asked not to just pay the amount ourselves, but to give others the opportunity to be a part of the Kairos ministry with their gifts. While the cost of putting on a Kairos weekend has increased greatly, the amount to be raised by each team member has not. So, as always, we know you will be generous to meet our expenses. 

Children’s Drawings: If you would like an activity for your kid’s Sunday school class, preschool, girl scout/ boy scout troop, Club 456, Mission Possible, we need children’s drawings. They can be of anything that depicts God’s love and encouraging thoughts: ie - angels, pretty pictures with “God loves you”. Whatever a child thinks would cheer people up and show God’s love. It can be poster sized, or drawn on regular 8 x 11 paper. Markers, pencils, or crayons are great, but no stickers or glitter please.. Many of these women have children and grandchildren that they are estranged from, so it is really powerful for them to receive drawings from children. We ask that the child put only their first name and age on the drawing. Any age and talent level is welcome and appreciated!

Personal Notes to those attending the Kairos weekend:
You may also get involved by writing personal notes to either one or all 30 of the women attending Kairos. These notes would also go in their paper bag with many others to help them realize how much God and the outside world really do care. We will have instructions and a sample note on the Kairos table in the foyer.

We want to thank you so much for all you have done before and for all you will do in the future for Kairos Prison Ministry.

Susie Blanchard, Jennifer Blanchard, Mary Fontenot, Donna Guidry and Lisa White

From the Associate Pastor - March 30, 2011

In the Gospel of John 19:18 it says, There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. (NLT) They nailed Him to the cross. As we continue the Lenten season heading toward Holy Week, I pray we remember the suffering and agony of our Savior on the cross. One way is to take a small nail and place in on your refrigerator, put it your pocket or purse, Upper Room, Bible, tape it to your TV remote, or anywhere you will see it everyday. When you look at the nail, remember that Jesus suffered and died so that you may have eternal life. They nailed Him to the cross.

Byron

Children's Ministries - March 29, 2011

By the time you read this, all the children will know that we are participating in "Change for Miles" to benefit Miles Perret Cancer Services. This is a service project designed to teach children about giving back to their community and helping local families suffering with cancer. The children become "Ambassadors" for Miles Perret as they share information with their family and friends. If you haven't received your change bottle, stop by and see me during the Sunday school hour in Room 7 of the Children's Building. Grown-ups are invited to participate, too, until the bottles run out.

On April 17, our children will have an Easter egg hunt during the Sunday school hour. Many thanks to Lindsey Perry for organizing this event. We are in need of plastic eggs preferably filled with goodies. We'll also take empty ones, goodies to fill them and volunteers to prepare the eggs and hide them. If you'd like to bring supplies, please leave them in the Narthex in the container provided. For more information or to volunteer your time, please call the church office.

Happy Easter!
Kim

What to Do When the 'Rests' Come?

This is one of the busiest times of the year for our music volunteers. All are hard at work preparing music for this wonderful season. But, like Christmas, it's easy to become so focused on the work at hand we can overlook the message we're working on.

Two of the fundamental elements of music are 'notes' and 'rests'. Simply put, 'rests' are beats or sections where there is no music. John Ruskin, one of England's greatest thinkers of the 19th century, once pondered the importance of 'rests' in a musical composition. He began to compare those 'rests' put in by a composer to the 'rests' that come to us in life; the times, for example, when our lives seem to be put on hold for awhile. The times when, for whatever reason, we are compelled to sit and wait until we realize God is now telling us to move on ... out of the wilderness into the promised land God has prepared. Ruskin wrote: 'There is no music in a rest, but there is the making of music in it.'

So as God lets the music of our lives unfold, be pleased with the tune, 'rests' and all.

What Difference Does Easter Make?

We are approaching some of the busiest times in the church calendar. Still in the midst of Lenten reflections and studies and messages, we will soon be at Holy Week and Easter Sunday. To many in our world, Easter is only a day for picnics and family get together. For some, the Easter Bunny and candy and egg hunts have replaced the traditions of the church. To be politically correct, we have replaced the Easter vacation at school with the secular “spring break.” Ask most children, and Easter has more to do with jelly beans and time away from school than what Easter really means.

What difference does Easter make? It makes all the difference to those of us who are in touch with the reality of life and death. It is about the man who was God’s Son, who came to show people not just a way to live, but a way to face the great enemy of death. Jesus came to reveal God’s love for humanity. And what happened, humanity rejected Him. Humanity, not just evil leaders, but humanity murdered him by nailing him to a cross. Humanity buried Jesus in a tomb carved out of the side of a hill. It seemed as if evil had the final word but we know Easter does make a difference.

In an instant, history was forever changed, when the stone was rolled away to allow the women who showed up expecting to anoint a dead body, found the powerful hand of God moved the stone away as Jesus Christ stepped forth brimming with life. Where once the human mortality rate had been 100%, it was now all different. Death is no longer the last word for the followers of Jesus Christ; life is now the last word.

While world religious leaders have come and gone, the fact remains that only One stepped forth from the tomb. Only one has risen from the dead. Only one offers the promise of eternal life and abundant life to the followers. Only one said: I AM the resurrection and the life.” I hope you will join us here at Covenant as we celebrate the presence of the Risen Lord in our worship experiences. We will declare Easter makes the difference as we gather on Palm Sunday, not just to have an Easter Egg Hunt for our children during the Sunday School hour, but to worship the Lord as our Chancel Choir presents Journey to the Cross. Holy Wednesday, we will gather for Holy Communion Service. Good Friday, our sanctuary will be open for self-directed devotion focusing on the way to the Cross. Then on Easter morning, our worship begins at 7:00am for our sunrise service. Our 9:00am and 11:00am am services will be celebrating the difference Easter makes as Redeemed will lead us in original musical composition entitled: Eyewitness. I can’t think of a better way to say: “Yes, Easter makes a difference in my life”, by joining with and inviting others to come celebrate the Resurrection here at Covenant. I can guarantee you, that at each of those special events, you will experience the risen Lord and feel His touch on your life. We can celebrate the victory over death, and declare to the world, Easter means Jesus Christ is Lord indeed!

See you at your place of worship,
Rev. Chris Blanchard

March 27, 2011 Sermon Download Available

This morning's sermon, I AM The Door, is now available for free download from our website. http://tinyurl.com/5j6nl3

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday, April 17th, 10:00m

All children are welcomed, just bring your Easter basket!

Donations gladly accepted.

We need plastic eggs, stuffing for eggs or pre-filled eggs.

We also need volunteers to fill and hide the eggs.

Please contact Lindsay Perry at 412-1930 if you can help.

Lenten Bible Study

“Bread and Broth”

In the Old and New Testament we find many references to breaking bread together as a sign of fellowship. This Lenten season we will come together to share a meal of bread and a cup of soup, as we study the lives of Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Elisha, John the Baptist and Jesus. Our six-part series will continue March 23rd as we look at the Biblical patriarch, Moses. (Following Wednesday Night Meal)

New Men's Study Group

"The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis 

Lead by: Rich Sudduth and Jerry Nugent 

Starting: March 28, 5:30pm Monday Nights 

First session covers the first three letters

March 20, 2011 Sermon Download Available

This morning's sermon, I AM The Good Shepherd, is now available for free download from our website. http://tinyurl.com/5j6nl3

Midweek Reminders from Covenant - March 15, 2011

I don't know about you, but there are waves of emotion that just roll over me, whenever I watch the television news about the events of the earthquake, tsunami, and now impending nuclear disaster in Japan. We can do several things - we can pray. Just last Sunday I spoke about Jesus being the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, let our prayers be that the Christian Community be that light in the darkness and we can give, over the next few weekends, we will receive special offering for the United Methodist Committee on Relief effort geared towards that need.

We are also touching base with the Rayne tornado efforts and will let us know what if anything we can do to help with this local need as well. It has been reported some 90 homes will need complete renovation. I know Covenant will respond to this local need as well.

We are such a generous church. My words of thanks for providing over $500 last weekend for the MPKids bake sale.

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Wednesday Schedule Reminder:
8:00am - Pilates Exercise Group Fellowship Hall
9:30am - Explorers Bible Study
5:00pm - Bell Choir Rehearsal
5:30pm - Wednesday Night Dinner
6:15pm - Children's Music Ministry
6:20pm - Holy Communion and Prayer
6:30pm - Session #1- Bread and Broth Lenten Study - Jacob and Lentil Stew. Lent is the best time of the year to add to your life a discipline of Study. Come out and Let's grow spiritually together.

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Saturday Events -
First, the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure - not too late to enter into Covenant's Race for the Cure Team, go to www.covenantum.org and find the link. Will have our own Covenant Tee Shirts available Wednesday afternoon or at Wednesday Night Dinner.

If you have signed up for the team or are going to sign up this week, please come by and pick up a Covenant Race for the Cure shirt.

Second - our Men will have a working breakfast - 8:00am - devotion by Rev. Bernie Shamp, followed by work around our flower beds and/or some work relamping sanctuary lighting. If you aren't headed out to the Walk for Cure, come to church and help out.

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Sunday Morning join us for a lively worship service. We are looking at the I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD text. Come to pray, come to praise, come to hear God's Word, come to find your way as part of the Body of Christ.

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Someone in our church needs a ride to the doctor in Shreveport on Friday April 8th, please let me know if you can take time off that day to do this needed task.

Chris Blanchard
phone: 337.981.2088
chris@covenantum.org

March 13, 2011 Sermon Download Available

Yesterday morning's sermon, I AM The Light of the World, is now available for free download from our website. http://tinyurl.com/5j6nl3

Covenant News - March 11, 2011

"We ought always to thank God for you, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing." 2 Thessalonians 1:3 

May this note find you full of grace and the peace of God.

MPKids Bakesale Sunday
This Sunday we will have special recognition of awards by several of our Mission Agents And we will have the opportunity to help them raise funds with a Bake Sale. So you can either plan on buying something or even help more by bringing them something to sale.

Day Light Savings Time Starts Sunday
When we go to bed on Saturday night, we need to spring forward. That means we lose an hour sleep, so plan early on going to sleep early and not to sleep late on Sunday morning.

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If you have a late model vehicle that could be sold for a very moderate price, please let the preacher know. Someone in our church would like to provide transportation for someone they know.

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This Sunday we will look at another of the GREAT I AM statements, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. We have 9 great adult classes for you to attend and this week, the Women who went on the Retreat will share a special treat with us. You won't want to miss. It's Lent, it's time to draw near to our Lord in worship and praise.

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Last but not least, one of our members is looking for someone looking for employment. It would require outdoor work and climbing on industrial platforms. If you know someone needing work, have them contact me and I will pass your information on.

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Can't Wait to see you this Sunday...I know Brother Byron did a great job and I thank him for his Loving You as I love you.

Sincerely,
Chris Blanchard
Covenant United Methodist Church

March 6, 2011 Sermon Download Available

This morning's sermon, It's Not Natural, is now available for free download from our website. http://tinyurl.com/5j6nl3

Life Line Screening

Covenant is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive, painless health screenings on Friday, April 15, 2011.

Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries, which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms, which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat, which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis.

Register for the Stroke, Vascular Disease and Heart Rhythm Package for $139. All four ultrasound screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. Your Health is in Your Hands, so call 1-888-653-6441 for more information or to pre-register.

Ash Wednesday - Why and What?

I grew up with only a vague notion of Ash Wednesday. To me, it was some Catholic holy day that I, as a Protestant, didn't have to worry about, thanks be to God. In my view, all of “that religious stuff” detracted from what really mattered, which was having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In my early years as a Methodist it never dawned on me that some of “the religious stuff” might actually enrich my faith in Christ.

But then, in 2004, Ash Wednesday came to the forefront in American Protestant consciousness. Why? Because, on that day Mel Gibson released The Passion of the Christ. For the first time in history, the phrase "Ash Wednesday" was on the lips of millions of evangelical Christians, not just Catholics and other "high church" Protestants, as we anticipated the official release of The Passion of the Christ.

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday that has been honored by Christians for well over ten centuries at the beginning of Lent, a six-week season of preparation for Easter. Around 1000 AD, all believers began to signify their need for repentance by having ashes placed on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. Even this sign of sinfulness hinted at the good news yet to come through its shape as a Cross.

Today, celebrations of Ash Wednesday vary among churches that recognize this holiday. More and more Protestant churches hold some sort of Ash Wednesday services; where ashes are placed on our foreheads as a reminder of our mortality and sinfulness. The person who imposes the ashes quotes something like what God once said to Adam after he had sinned: You are dust, and to dust you shall return (Gen 3:19). This is the bad news of our sinfulness that prepares us to receive the good news of forgiveness in Christ.

Do we have some peculiar fascination with dying? I don’t think so. Rather, it allows us to stare death in the face is the assurance of real life, eternal life. When we know our lives are safe in the hands of God, and that this physical life is just the beginning of eternity, then we’re free to be honest about what lies ahead for us. We can face death without fear or pretending, because we know the One who defeated death. Thus Ash Wednesday’s vivid reminder of our mortality leads us, not to despair, but to hope. It points not to defeat, but to the coming victory of Easter. Make plans now to join us and your church family for an Ash Wednesday service on March 9th at 6:00pm. You do not have to have your forehead marked with ash, but you may choose to do so. Either way, join us as we begin the Lenten Journey towards the Cross.

Chris Blanchard

February 27, 2011 Sermon Download Available

Last Sunday's sermon, I AM the Resurrection and the Life, is now available for free download from our website. http://tinyurl.com/5j6nl3

Mission Possible KIDS - March 1, 2011

Mission Possible Kids agents celebrated Valentine's Day early, Sunday, February 6, by visiting residents of the Cornerstone Nursing Home. Agents created beautiful cards which they delivered along with cookies to approximately 50 residents.

Thank you to Kate Manuel and her friend Claire Dupleix, Ashlyn and Ava LeFevre, Presley Nutter, Cameron Chadick, Morgan Stokes, Joseph Vildibill, Emily and Evan Keller, and Victoria and Mikaila Kinsland who all participated in this special mission project.

Thanks go out also to agent moms: Lesley Nutter, Christy Chadick, Jamie Keller, Kellie Kinsland, Janice Vildibill, and Robin Stokes. Couldn't do it without your help!
MPKids would like to welcome our newest two honorary members: Mrs. Novella Boudreaux and Miss Camille Begnaud. We really enjoyed your help and look forward to having you participate again.

Check your email for upcoming MPKids events. For more information on this program, contact Jennifer Manuel at jenandwally@earthlink.net.

Body News - March 1, 2011

No, this is not your latest physical fitness tips from the pastor! But it is the fitness report of Covenant. We ended 2010 with the best financial year ever! We ended 2010 with increases in membership and in worship attendance and in our Sunday School attendance. We ended 2010 with growing classrooms in our Covenant Preschool and Mother’s Day Out. We ended 2010 looking forward to 2011 and beyond as we look at both our facility needs and our missional needs.

Body Facility News: Mike DeHart has been working diligently leading us from praying and discussing and looking at designs and tweaking them over and over again. I hope by the time the newsletter arrives, we will have our final schematic design that will provide us with a great multipurpose room to be used to eat, to meet, to worship, and to play. We are also tweaking the administrative office spaces we need now and for the future. I believe we are doing this guided by the Holy Spirit, so we can have a beautiful, functional, and economic building. Small financial gifts have been coming in, but we have yet to really begin talking about our capital campaign. Should anyone just really want to bless this effort with a sizable gift, go ahead and make my day!

Body Missional News: Gene Blevins and the Church Council have begun the conversation about where God is leading us as we do the very best we can at making Disciples for Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the world. Yes, we are doing good. Our worship average of 334 per week, places us somewhere around the top 20 United Methodist churches in Louisiana. But God isn’t finished with us yet, as HE has plenty of work for us to do. If you are being lead by God to see Covenant increase our outreach, please share it with me...go ahead and make my day!

Body Spiritual news: Here we are almost in Lent and we are geared up for a great time of preparation as we head towards Resurrection Sunday on Easter. I have already begun a Lenten emphasis with my sermon series: THE GREAT I AM. Each week we will examine one of the I AM statements in John’s gospel, where Jesus reveals a snapshot of the character of His Father and how HE reaches out to humanity. Ash Wednesday is March 9th, and as an inside article mentions, we will officially begin the Lenten time with a special service. Then each Wednesday during lent, March 16th - April 13th, our Study “Bread & Broth” where we look at some of the Old Testament saints and see how food is entwined in our lives. Yes...we will have different broths available during the study. There will be great music during our Lenten and Easter time. (See inside article) We will have a Holy Week Wednesday Communion Service on April 20th at 6:00pm and on Easter Sunday April 24th, we will have an early sunrise service at 7am followed by our two morning worship services at 9:00 or 11:00. Invite your family and friends to join us as we Worship the Risen Lord.

That’s it from the family of Covenant, where all the men are handsome and strong, all the women are kind and good looking, and all the children are above average and have great potential. That’s the way I see it from my place each Sunday.

See you in your place of worship! (And find a Sunday School Class to attend)
Rev. Chris Blanchard