Changing of the Year - Happenings & Hope

Mind boggling and life changing. Since our last newsletter went to print, we have had several happenings to deal with. We lost two staff persons here at Covenant, as well as say goodbye to another of our young moms (Jan Knight Begnaud) who also died. Gretchen Cheshire, our beloved director of youth and young adults died on October 16th. We still are mystified and will carry the hurt of this loss to us individually and to our congregation, and we need to continue to surround Ken and Gretchen's family with this loss.

The next happening to our staff, was the resignation of Kim Goodman, which I accepted effective Friday November 18. We are so happy that Kim and Don married, but I certainly didn't realize her life change would effect our congregation so much. She and Don feel she needs to be full time married, so I reluctantly accepted her resignation.

Happening number three—hopefully by the time this newsletter is delivered to your house, we will have a completed bid package for our planned multi-purpose building. We are so excited. It has taken way too long, but know that when we get bids, we will have few if any change orders. Mike DeHart and the committee did not know they were signing up for a multi-year commitment. Sometimes in January, we will get the final price and inform the congregation as we get a final approval. But let me tell you, we are so ready. We already have outstanding pledges toward the buildings from several of our key leaders of $285,000 plus have already received some $270,000 towards the building. PRAISE THE LORD! Each of our households shall soon be receiving a brochure that talks about the Master's Plan and it has information along with a commitment sheet for you to return. We hope many of you will be able to return those to the church office, hand them to me or Mike DeHart or to Jeanne Boniol during December. Wouldn't it be great to see how we could fund this building by extra mile giving and funds already in hand, and not have to borrow too much. This is my hope!

Christmas is a season of hope! Unlike the kinds of hope found in only the right circumstances and the “stars all lining up” found in the world, the Bible emphasizes a hope that is eternal. We have hope because of the possibility of our future resurrection along with Jesus, hope in the knowledge of the unconditional love of God as evidenced in Jesus Christ and His Grace. Even when we must face the death of a loved one, we had all hoped they would get better. Our Christian faith says they did get better, and now are forever healed by God's grace. We can hope that things can get better in this world, but even if they do not....we still will live our life in the fullness of God's Kingdom here in our lives and the Kingdom of God to come. Have Hope this Christmas season....

Speaking of Christmas, here is the list of Christmas activities:

• Choir Performance—December 11th, both services 
• Redeemed Performance—December 18th, both services 
• Handbells—December 18th, both services 
• Children's Christmas Musical—Sunday School Hour, December 18th 
• Christmas Eve Services—4 Pm and 5:30 PM, Candlelight Holy Communion 
• Christmas Day—December 25th, one service at 10:00am, no Sunday school that day, “Blessing of the Toys”, and other fun things

See You at your place of worship,