New Year Events

"O God, Our help in ages past, our hope for years to come." I can't say it any better than Isaac Watts, but here we stand ready to jump into a Brand New Year with Brand New Opportunities, knowing that the Lord has seen us through, and will walk with us through the future.

Get Fit for 2012
While this week between Christmas and New Years is kind of slow, still be thinking ahead.

This Thursday Evening our Zumba class will be meeting and once again on Monday January 2. What a way to end the year and start a new one, but being committed to getting active.

Weight Wise and Pilates will resume next week as well.

Start 2012 with the Lord in His Worship
This Coming Sunday,  January 1, 2012, we are back on our regular schedule with the First Worship Services of the year. We will participate in a time of Renewing Our Covenant with the LORD and with His Church. In my message we will look back at the history of Covenant, as we prepare to look forward to our building program. There is so much good news to report over the next few weeks.

Start 2012 with Study
Wednesday January 4th, our Wednesday Night Dinners will resume along with our Academy.
Class #1 - Financial Peace University, a 13 week class helping set priorities in your stewardship of God's resources, if you have not yet registered online, call the church office and Rev. Byron to get the information needed.
Class #2 - Dr. Ardith Sudduth and I will teach during January sessions on death, dying, aging issues, etc. Each week stands alone, but come hear about our spiritual understanding of the circle of life.

Starting 2012 by Serving  
Finally, but certainly not least, beginning in the New Year, Melissa Bowen will be helping me with our Children's Ministry. The Lord has convicted her of our need for serving as the Director of Children's Ministries for our church. She brings to this position, a love of the Lord, a love of the church, and her many gifts for planning, organizing, and serving. She has agreed to do this for a while, giving us the opportunity to take our time in seeking someone else.

The Children's Ministry is looking for a few good men, and women!  If you feel a calling to work with the future of Church of the Covenant, please contact Melissa Bowen to discover the ways you can make a Christian difference.  Melis811@aol.com or 254.1505.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

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"O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home."  
O Lord, we know this has been a year that challenged many of us in many ways, with pain, doubt, anguish, and loss, but we have held on just because at times, that is the only thing we could do. So Lord, we pray for new life, new beginnings, healing for our pains, strength to go forward, as we pray in this new year, we may move from fear into hope as we eagerly await to discover the many blessings, both great and small that lie ahead of us. Amen!

Covenant Family Update or You Don't Want to Miss...

I hope you had a great Labor Day break - but now we are back in the normal routine for Fall.

Wednesday begins with exercise with Annette and Pilates class at 8:00am in our Fellowship Hall followed by a morning mid-week Bible Study - long term with the explorers Bible Study just now getting started. Come on out and see if this is for you.

Wednesday Night Schedule 
Come On Ring Those Bells - our Handbell Choir is beginning rehearsals on Wednesday evening at 5:00pm, time enough to eat afterwards, anyway, no experience is necessary. Why not come out and see if this is one way You can serve Your Lord and Our Church by helping lead in Handbell music.

Great home cooked meal by the Timm's and Verna. We'll begin eating around 5:30pm. Always room for you.

Our Wednesday Night Academy begin
6:20pm - we have a short prayer and Holy Communion Service
6:30pm - Married Happily Ever After? - Enrollment is closed, but if you signed up this will be the first meeting.
6:30pm - Intro to Revelation - Brother Chris will begin a short six week study looking at this Book of the Bible that is often ignored.

We did have another option available, but our Get Fit Class lead by Joe Tidwell can not begin until the next wednesday. We will have several options available about exercise, cooking, physical therapy. etc for you to come and drop in and learn more about getting fit. This Wednesday schedule will supplement our new FUEL Class that will begin the next Tuesday evening at 5:30pm.

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Don't Forget this Sunday 9/11, we will have a special service of Remembrance. I will be speaking about What Is It We Build Our Lives on - Sand or The Rock.

Sunday morning at our 9:00am service we will be dedicating our Music Ministry Teams. Be present to pray for those volunteers who help lead us in music during our Worship Services.

Sincerely,

Friday Reminders

Dear Covenant Family - I missed you, even if you didn't miss me. Susie and I thoroughly enjoyed our days apart and our trip to Branson, Missouri. Felt so young being there with all those other older adults who frequent the place. We shopped enough to count as a stimulus program, and we saw great entertainment, and we sat in the back of worship at Branson United Methodist Church, thinking all along I wish I was back at Covenant.

We are now home and can't wait to see you this Sunday at worship, yes, even if it is raining, our roof doesn't leak and we need to be here.

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Weekend reminders
We are sad to announce one of our newer members, Mr. Travis Shipp died, and we will have a funeral service at Delhommes Funeral home on Bertrand Drive. Saturday, visitation from 10:00am - 1:00pm, and the service at 1:00pm. If at all possible, come pay your last respects to this kind humble man who was only with us for a couple of years.

Sunday Morning
First Sunday of the Month. We will gather at the Lord's Table for Holy Communion. Don't forget to bring our UCO ICAN food offering. Our Youth group will be informing us of a month long food drive to help UCO with friendly competition between the Sunday school Classes, but bring what you can this Sunday. Parable of the Week - Matthew 25:1-12 - the Ten Maidens with Lamps

Future Opportunities
Next Wednesday, September 7th - we will begin our regular Wednesday Night Dinner and Academy Classes - covering marriage relationships, Introduction to Revelations, and Get Fit.

Handbells are beginning also on Sepember 7th - Lisa White, the leader has informed me that we need to recruit some ringers. No experience or musical ability needed. Why not come try it out and see if you could offer this gift back to God during worship.

Finally, but not least of all, Wednesday Morning the Explorers Bible Study is beginning. If you are looking for a long term interdenominational Bible study, come join this group of women on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am.