Holy Covenant United Church of Christ
A progressive Christian church
Weekly News & Announcements through
Week ending August 7 , 2016
breathe
In This Issue
Reflections
Charlotte Pride Events
HC Happenings
Remembering Paul Bomely and Jean Washburn
UCC & SOC News
Prayer Concerns
Participant Reminders
Church Information
(Staff details below)

   Office Hours: 8AM-4PM
Monday through Friday
Phone: 704-599-9810

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Reflections
Nancy Ellett Allison
In this week there has been no major U.S. tragedy or offensive remark dominating the headlines... Which means there's time to breathe and choices to make about the focus of one's energy before the air is sucked out of the room again.

When you have space in your life, how do you fill it? The answers are as varied as our personalities.

Scheduling space in our lives for what nourishes is our constant challenge. Our scripture from 
Luke 12 includes the reminder: "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  When my brain is fried, I am more restored by wandering through my garden than one more round of games on my phone.  

Tending one's heart matters if we are to carry God's love into all of our lives. Sharing God's love matters if we are to positively impact the world in which we live. When we breathe in God's love and grace, we are able to breathe out joy and peace and fill the air in the room with a re-creative energy, nourishing for all.

~ wandering with you, Nancy
Charlotte Pride Events, August 14-21
DEALING WITH CONFRONTATIONAL BEHAVIOR
We are hosting a meeting with a Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Officer on August 14th at 1 pm in the Conference Room to explore ways to effectively de-escalate tense conversations. If you have concerns about dealing with confrontational behavior, please make plans to attend. We are hosting this specifically for those who will be working in the booths at the Pride Festival, but these are skills that each of our ushers and greeters and any of you who deal with the public might value.

INTERFAITH WORSHIP SERVICE
An interfaith worship experience celebrating the dignity, value and worth of all people.  Sunday, August 14, 4 p.m. First United Methodist Church  501 N. Tryon St., Charlotte  Refreshments following the Service
 
2016 PRIDE FESTIVAL AUGUST 19, 20 & 21
Holy Covenant, along with 3 churches, will be present throughout the weekend to be a show of community support from Charlotte Area UCC churches. Thank you to all who have volunteered. 
P articipant s are needed for each of the following times : Saturday, 8/20, 8-9 am for set up of the church booth, and 7-8 pm; Sunday 8/21, 5-6 pm and for assistance with tear down, 6-7 pm.  Contact  Phil Kaveler , or sign up in the gathering room this Sunday. 

Holy Covenant Happenings

NEW MEMBER & INQUIRERS CLASSES
Would you like to learn more about Holy Covenant and the United Church of Christ?  Join us August 7, ollowing worship for lunch with Consistory members and learn about Opportunities for Involvement at HC and beyond.
August 14 - Welcome Sunday
Contact the office for more information or to RSVP. 



Baby boy
BABY SHOWER FOR MATTHEW LANE BURLESON, AUGUST 14
Following worship please join us for a r eception hosted by the Hospitality Committee.  Registry at Target and Babies R Us, Gift cards are welcomed. 
Please join us to celebrate and welcome baby Matthew!


REUSE A SNEAKER - DONATE THOSE OLD STINKY THINGS!
The Earth Care team announces Reuse a Sneaker drive. The project, with collections of any brand sneakers that have reached the end of their useful life, recycles and transforms them into Nike Grind, a material used in creating athletic and playground surfaces, as well as select Nike products. As you prepare for the beginning of school and fall cleaning consider a new life for your old gym shoes. Drop off your old  tenniesAugust 7 to September 11, in the collection bin in the gathering room. (Regular shoes are not included in this project.)

BANK AUTO DRAFT
Simplify your giving and utilize your bank's auto draft process for easy, and most often free, giving options. When signing up, you may use our secure post office address for the check to be mailed to at: Holy Covenant UCC, PO Box 481285, Charlotte NC 28269.  Questions? Please contact Dawn in the office or Diane Neese, Treasurer at  dianeneese@gmail.com .

YOGA WEDNESDAYS 7:30 PM
David Smith is leading yoga classes for all levels. For more information, contact David at  prizmsongs@gmail.com or 704-533-2142.

SOJOURNERS CLASS
The Sojourners continues its discussion of the book, Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help. We hope you can join the Sojourners to continue the journey. Come as you are-no preparation necessary!

BOOK CLUB
We will meet on Monday, August 22, at 1:30 pm at the Sharon campus. Sue Pascucci will lead the discussion of our latest read, Alice Hoffman's "The Marriage of Opposites". 
Remembering Paul Bomely and Jean Washburn

Paul Bomely
The Rev. Paul Bomely  (retired) died unexpectedly this morning, August 5, following illness. Paul and Martha joined Holy Covenant in 2005, and had actively participated in many ministries including worship team.  Paul recently experienced a lengthy hospitalization but had been discharged and was recovering well. Plans are presently being made for a service at Holy Covenant UCC and will be announced in the near future. Please lift Martha, their son Andrew and daughter Gretchen in prayer.
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Jean Washburn
With heavy heart, we share with you the news of the death of Jean Carole Werner Washburn. Jean was an active member of Pilgrim Congregational UCC and was presented as Deacon Emeritus on November 22, 2014. She was an inspirational advocate for Christian Education, youth, women, missions, and the work of the wider church. Jean was an attentive and loving caregiver to her son, husband and daughter in the last years of their lives. She was a faithful servant, dedicated wife and caregiver to others. Please lift in prayer Jean's family during this time of transition.

There will be a graveside service on Saturday, August 6th, at 11 am at the family plot in Boone, NC. Rev. Jim Humphrey will officiate.  Click for Obituary  and information.
UCC & Southern Conference News
Proposed Changes to UCC Constitution and ByLaws
The Governance Committee of the United Church of Christ Board of Directors is proposing a set of Constitution and Bylaws changes to the wider church and wants your feedback/input. Once your feedback is received and considered, the Governance Committee will propose changes to the UCC Board of Directors for prayerful discernment and vote at their October 2016 meeting. The proposed Constitution and Bylaws changes will then be presented at the Thirty-First General Synod in 2017.
 
Links to the survey, both documents with proposed changes to reference as you complete the survey, and FAQ's Guide can be found online at  

It is recommended that you review the documents before beginning the survey.  On average, the survey should take between 20-30 minutes after reviewing the materials. Please provide your feedback no later than August 16, 2016. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey please contact Taylor Billings at  billingt@ucc.org .

EJN Environmental Summit at United Church of Chapel Hill, 
September 23-25
This past June, at the SOC annual meeting, the SOC board of directors formalized the proposal for a conference-wide  Environmental Justice Network (EJN) -- so we are up and running!  As our first initiative as a network, we will be holding an EJN environmental summit at United Church of Chapel Hill beginning Friday, September 23  through Sunday, September 25.  Brooks Berndt, the national UCC's environmental justice minister, will be our keynote speaker and will present about the UCC's new "Creation Justice Churches" initiative.  We will also have a chance to sit down as faith leaders and people of faith to discuss our vision, hopes, and concerns about our stewardship of the earth -- and to discuss the links between the devastating terror and violence in our nation and in our world with the destruction of God's Creation.  Please stay tuned for more information about this important event. As always, thanks to each of you for your love for and care of God's Creation.  May its beauty, peace, and wonder continue to sustain us in these troubled and painful days. For more info contact Rev. Karen Richardson Dunn at krichdunn@gmail.com
Interested in attending? Contact Phil Kaveler  for carpool information from HCUCC.
 
WNCA 49th Annual Meeting, October 1, will be held at Abernethy Laurels, Newton, NC
Prayer Concerns
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER
Members
Gail Bushman, Leanne Bushman,  Ginny & Bob Fisher, Marianne Gannon, Karen Griffin, Laura Hankins,  Chuck Johnson, Joy Johnson, Helen Lambert,  Irene Mikkelson,  Deb & Yvette Ross, Dave Stoimenoff & Jim Germann,  Mamie Stokes, Sheryl Stogner
The family of Jean Washburn. The family of Paul Bomely.
 
Friends & Family Members
McKenzie (Sue Godfrey), Rose Bouchonville (John Maze),  Charlotte Carbone, Matthew Christian, (Beth Sharp),  Bill Funderburk, Jonathan Funderburk (Donna Collins), Frances Helms (Lynn Helms),  Mike Hinson (Kathi Smith), CD & Alice Huskins (Jared Fischer),  John Jacobsen (Holly Middleton), Aaron Johnson (Joy Johnson),  Barbara Lees (Donna Collins), Urban Linn (Julie McLelland),  Pat & JoAnn Murphey (Laura Murphey),  Luz Soto (Aida Marcial), Milton & Jane Thompson (Kevin Decker), Charles Weaver (Susan Rettberg)
Participant Reminders For Sunday
Greeters: Susan Godfrey, Susan Rettberg
Ushers: Kelly Gimlin, Jill Gregg, Barbara Schneller, Moses Taylor
Media: Brian Hankins, Joe Craig
Tabulators: Kelly Gimlin, Julie Klever
ELDER FOR AUGUST: Tina Ettesen, cettesen@carolina.rr.com or 704-458-2511
Holy Covenant United Church of Christ
3501 West W.T. Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28269
 704 599-9810
 
Dawn Simmons, Executive Assistant:  office@holycovenantucc.org
Nancy Ellett Allison, Pastor: Pastor@holycovenantucc.org  704-621-0235
Steven Burleson, Youth Pastor: YouthMin@holycovenantucc.org  704-706-4170
Jared Fischer, Director of Music: music@holycovenantucc.org 423-443-1676

No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,

you are welcome here.

breathe