Sunday, March 18

 Worship 10:00 am

In the final two beatitudes Jesus calls us to courageously enter into a dangerous new paradigm where love, justice, and wholeness lead to a flourishing and the expansion of life. This new paradigm calls us to boldly and unapologetically enter into an uncomfortable place: a new world, which is not yet born but which we must create by deconstructing the status quo where greed, exploitation, and violence are instruments that separate us from one another, the natural world, and God. We are called to bring forth this new world with love and grace as children of God.  Kevin J Lowry's sermon is entitled "The Children of God" and scriptures are  Romans 12: 9-21 and Matthew 10: 7-10 & 16-20. Our lay worship leader is Mary Anne Bromelmeier. 

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

Music Notes: Sunday's service will include music by two American composers. The prelude offering will comprise a short piece titled Communion by American romantic Arthur Foote. An influential figure for American organists, Foote served in First Church, Boston for 32 years during which time he helped to found the New England AGO chapter. The music at the offertory reflects the lively, collaborative spirit of American music today. Troy Robertson wrote In Meeting We Are Blessed for the meeting of the Nairobi Chamber Chorus and the Festival Singers of Florida and was first premiered in Nairobi with Robertson singing in the chorus. He provides a lively and jubilant setting of an adaptation of a text by English poet John Donne, which celebrates the blessing represented by God's children joining together in worship. As the anthem, the choir will sing Justorum animae of William Byrd, a contemporary of Donne.

The children will have Sunday School and Youth Sunday Prep this week. The memory verses for March 18 are Jonah 2:7:  "When I felt my life slipping away, then, O Lord, I prayed to you, and in your holy Temple you heard me," and Micah 6:8: "The Lord has told us what is good. What the Lord requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God." 

If you have any information regarding congregation  members please email the  communication  manager, Aisha Newton. She would love to highlight them in the enewsletter or social media.

Soul Shop™ for Leaders is a one-day training to equip faith  communities  to minister to those impacted by  suicidal desperation. This event includes the creation of worship  resources, training congregation members in suicide awareness  and basic conversation skills, and the invitation to those who have  been suicidal in the past to share their stories. This is the core  training which expresses the fundamental tools and key  perspectives that Soul Shop™ is all about. 

Click here to register online.

Meetings of Church Leadership

Next week, the board of trustees and session will both meet, as well as the ministries of faith formation and service. All of these meetings are open and congregational members and participants are welcome to attend. The trustees will have a presentation on church governance by former president of the society (church) Rod Keen. Session will be discussing the church's ongoing response to the issues of gun violence, hear a report on Melanie's experiences at the Trent Symposium for Newly Ordained Pastors, and hear a financial report from current church treasurer Keith Kallay. Details below.

Tuesday, March 20: Trustees, 6 pm, Library; Ministry of Faith Formation, 8 pm, Office

Wednesday, March 21: Ministry of Service, 6 pm, Library; Session, 7 pm, Office

March for Our Lives

Saturday, March 24, 2018,  9:30 AM

So far there have been 2,490 gun related deaths in the United States in 2018. Now is the time to DEMAND Action! Join Covenant Student Ministries as we attend the Cleveland March For Our Lives, a peaceful response to gun violence and the inaction of our civic leaders to enact responsible gun legislation in our state and across the country.

We will meet at 9:30 AM in the parking lot at Church of the Covenant and take the RTA-HealthLine to public square.  The rally begins at 11:00 in public square and the march begins at 12:00! Please join us! 

Join us for Holy Week: