March 1
 
 
Sunday, March 4
 Worship 10:00 am

This Sunday we consider Jesus's promise that God blesses those who are meek and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. How do we  balance  
God's call to gentleness and humility with the call to persist in the fight against injustice? How do we know  when  our  efforts  are bearing fruit, and how do we keep fighting when it doesn't seem to make any difference at all? Amy Starr Redwine's sermon is entitled "Don't Tell Your Story Too Soon"  and scriptures are  Micah 6:1-8  and Luke 18:1-8 . Our lay worship leader is Orene Anthony. 

Bulletins are posted at CovenantWeb.org/read/listenwhere you can also read or listen to sermons. Printed sermons now include the pastoral prayer.

Music NotesContinuing the theme of longing as reflected in the Beatitudes, the choir presents two settings of Psalm 42. The first is a simple hymn setting of the text for the introit, and the second is the iconic setting by the twentieth century English composer Herbert Howells, Like as the Hart ("hart" being an early English form of the word "deer"). James Gerber describes Howell's compositions as "music that engages our human emotions, our questions, our doubts and allows us to experience the feelings of ambiguity, longing distress, and anguish that convey the meaning of the text." Our service begins with the first of Howell's three Rhapsodies, dedicated to his friend and colleague Harold Darke.

Children remain in worship this week as we celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper , either sitting with their families or in the children's worship space adjacent to Christ Chapel.

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Lent Adult Education Series: "Going Out"
THIS SATURDAY!

Every two weeks during Lent, we will engage with a
different Covenant mission partner. This week, join us on Saturday, March 3rd at 9:30 am as we 'Go Out' to Garden Valley Neighborhood House to help with their weekend food distribution. Volunteers will pack
produce and canned goods and assist clients with loading bags into vehicles.  Please RSVP via phone or email to Melanie (mbaum@covenantweb.org) by noon on Friday if you plan to attend.  Garden Valley is located at  7100 Kinsman Road, Cleveland 44104 . Car pool will meet in the church parking lot for departure at  9:45 am . Please dress warmly for outdoor work. 

Upcoming Forum Schedule (Sundays at 11:30 am):
March 11 & 18: Transplant House
March 25: Family Promise
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In the Covenant Family

We pray for Judy Bourne, Andrew Bullen (Melanie Marsh Baum's cousin), Akeya Clark (Marie Jones' niece), Marlene Finkenthal (David Finkenthal's mother),Greg Madison, Mollie Hoar (family friend of Gene and Diane Papp), Chick Holtkamp, Elizabeth Mierke, Ward Porch, Sue Salvator, Norman Smith and family (family member of Portia Miles Smith), Liam Stewart and Emilee Stewart (Mindy Stewart's nephew and sister) and Louise Wolfcale. We pray for those struggling with illness, convalescing, or are homebound; the patients, family, and staff in our surrounding hospitals; and those who have placed prayer requests in our Carpenter's Box. 

Please send prayer requests to Melanie Marsh Baum. Names are generally moved from the bulletin after four weeks unless there is a continuing need. Please let the church know if you or a loved one are in the hospital; HIPAA privacy regulations prevent hospitals from sharing this information.

Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ~Galatians 6:2
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Upcoming Events
                                    
Apostles Build, Thursday, April 5 and Saturday, April 7, 9:00am-3:00pm
Join us again this year (our fourth!) to help rehab houses through the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build. Our first two workdays of the year are fast approaching on April 5 and 7. This year we will be working to rehab a house in the West Park neighborhood on the west side of Cleveland. As the first group to work on the house, we plan to get it off to a great start. Please sign up in the church office if you are interested in working on the house or providing a group lunch, for either or both of these days. Talk with Jim Prince for more information.  
 

New Member Class, This Sunday, March 4
If you are interested in learning more about making the Church of the Covenant your family of faith, join us on Sunday, March 4 at 11:30 am after worship in the Sonia Golden Room. Meet members of the staff; learn more about our mission, vision, programs, and governance; and get to know others who are considering joining the church. To register or find our more, contact Amy Starr Redwine or Melanie Marsh Baum.
Take Action to Reduce Gun Violence.
At the Ministry of Service meeting on Feb. 21st, the members felt that in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL that thoughts and prayers were insufficient and that we should be called to action. Please come to the library after worship this Sunday (March 4th) and write letters to Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown expressing your thoughts concerning actions that you feel Congress should take to reduce gun violence in this country. Sample letters will be available.
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Member Spotlight
 
A coalition of 66 people from different faiths on Wednesday held a silent protest at the Federal Building in support of the Dreamers, the hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children whose legal status hinges on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Former chaplain for students  Rev. Eileen Vizcaino and current participants Revs. Ken Jones and Susanne Carter were in attendance. Please check out the article.



Last Sunday the congregation ladies surprised  Helen Kunsman for her 90th birthday with her favorite dessert: pie!


If you have any information regarding congregation  members please email the  communication  manager, Aisha Newton. She would love to highlight them in the bulletin or social media.
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11205 Euclid Avenue  Cleveland, OH 44106
Wheelchair accessible

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