Youth Report

Hello from the Youth Group! We hope that the Church Newsletter finds you well and that your holidays were filled with love and cheer!

The Youth of our great church have been busy bees lately. In December we’ve done quite a few things that need mention. To begin with, on December 2, we all gathered at Build-A-Bear in the Mall of Acadiana to continue our tradition of making bears for the Lafayette Police Department. The police department take these bears and use them for when they go to homes that have called in domestic abuse with children involved. The kids were able to make 12 bears to give them. They made them with love and tinder care and at the very end, they held their bears close and said a prayer for the child that might receive their bear. They also were able to donate seven bears to Toys For Tots. On the way out of the mall they handed them to the marines standing guard over the toys. After that great adventure we went to Target and purchased gifts for Angel Tree and came back to the church and wrapped them. All this in one day!

The next thing we had in December for the youth was a joint Christmas party with Faith Community of Broussard. We got to fellowship with kids from a different church who might have been different from them at first but after playing fun-filled Christmas games we found out that they weren’t different at all.

Just a few days later on a Wednesday night after supper, the youth put on a Christmas play we have been planning and working on since August. Saying that it was a great hit and glad to say that they all did an excellent job—that was quite evident!

After Christmas we came back together and had youth as planned, but the Monday after that which so happened to be the 31st of December, we had a lock in. From 8pm to 8am, 12 straight hours of fun-filled activities that were Monsters Inc. themed. There were movies, games, and candy-shaped sushi. The kids had a blast bonding and playing games by a bonfire.

And that was just December! . In January we are taking it easy and will be learning about God in our studies. We hope that you all have a great first month of the year!

Angelica DeForest

Happy New Year from Children's Ministry

In the month of December, our church was able to give our kids one of the greatest gifts of the season, the gift of prayer. All of our Covenant Kids were covered in prayer by our loving congregation. What a great message for our kids to learn; the power of prayer is amazing. We held our first Parent's Day Out where 32 kids learned about the true meaning of Christmas, decorated their own Chrismon tree, made gingerbread cookies for our Angel Tree families as well as had some holiday fun! A huge thank you goes to all of our dedicated Children's Ministry team members who made the day such a success. Thank you Jennifer Manuel, Leigh Nugent, Donna Fare, Susie Blanchard, Ann Messinger, Melissa & Kody Bowen, Bill Lassiter, Candi Carter, and Tracey Richardson.

Our children presented their version of "The Birth of Jesus." Our kids had worked so hard on this program and it was fantastic. Another huge thank you goes to Leigh Nugent for working so hard with our kids. We could not have done it without you! We also celebrated Jesus' birthday by hosting a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party for all of the Sunday school classes. What a great way for our kids to start Christmas week.
We look forward to the new year with many new adventure for our Covenant Kids.

Happy New Year,
Lindsay

The "C" Word

Yeah, I know people get uncomfortable around the "C" word, but sometimes it's a good thing.

Beginning after the first of the year, we will no longer be sending out our monthly newsletter via the US Postal Service. Our newsletter will be available by download from our website (www.CovenantUM.org) or for pick-up in the church Narthex. When you go to our website, look on the right-hand column of the first page. You'll see a section called "Downloads". Here you can download the most current newsletter, Sunday morning bulletin, and even our Visitor's Brochure.

For those on Brother Chris' email list, you will receive a notice of when the new issue is available. If you are not on this list and want to be, there is a easy sign-up box right below the download links.

Dinner and a Show

Dear Covenant Family,

Chef Verna has been hard at work cooking some old favorites made just for your dining pleasure. But it's not just the food - we also have the joy of having the Youth present a Christmas Program/Play for us: Chris Myth-Busters, directed and produced by our very own youth and young adults. They have been working very hard. Dinner at 5:30, the Program at 6:30. Don't miss either!

Sunday - December 23
We will be doing a little extra singing. Why? Because it's Christmas and when Jesus comes into your heart you need to sing.

Christmas Eve
Candle Light Communion Services at 4:00pm or 6:00pm.

It's Jesus Birthday After All!

HAPPY Birthday to Jesus!

What a great gift our Chancel Choir gave to us yesterday! Many thanks for all those involved in singing, narrating, accompanying, sound and video, and to Ken for directing. We were so blessed!

This Wednesday
5:00pm - Hand Bells
5:30pm - Dinner: Jambalaya
6:15pm - Communion & Prayer
6:15pm - Children's Practice for Sunday's Christmas Pageant
6:30pm - Last Advent Study in Youth Room

Men - don't forget Saturday Breakfast
little clean up work around the church grounds, bring gloves.

Tonight - Zumba Class in fellowship hall 5:30 PM
Come join this group and get fit!

Let's remember Jesus this Christmas season, after all it is His birthday. Worship Him, Serve Him, Obey Him.

We hope to close out our Stewardship Campaign soon, so please return your 2013 Commitment Card soon, either in the offering plate, or drop off in the church office.

Don't Forget Items from Covenant

Don't Forget What is Happening at Covenant This Week!
First of all, don't forget Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Our Savior. It is His Birthday, not ours. Do something special for Him this year. Give an extra gift of time to Him; to study, to serve, to touch the lives of someone else.

Wednesday
Explorer's bible Study this morning
5:00pm - Handbell Choir
5:30pm - Wednesday Night Dinner - Chicken Alfredo
6:15pm - Holy Communion
6:15pm - Children's program
6:30pm - Advent Study continues - Finding Jesus in the Old Testament
6:30pm - Young Married Class

Thursday
8:30am - The Charles Nolan Session of Bull for Men

Sunday
Ken Cheshire leads our phenomenal Chancel Choir in their gift to our congregation: Lead Me Back to Bethlehem! Both services 9:00am and 11:00am, invite your neighbors and family.

Don't forget, our CAN DO financial stewardship campaign. We hope you will prayerfully consider your pledge to our church's operational budget for the coming year and then turn in your card. Even if you decide to maintain your level of giving from the past. There will be two baskets by the church entrance for you to place these cards.

Finally, don't forget, if you have been receiving the printed newsletter each month, we want to begin sending them to you electronically. So please send me an email with your preferred email address to receive the monthly newsletter.

We will continue to print them, and have them available also in the church foyer with the constant revisions in how to handle and the rates for non profit mailing has taken its toll. Send me an email marked newsletter with your email to add to this group.