May 25, 2017

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, 
for God is with you wherever you go.  
Joshua 1:9
Sunday May 28 -  Worship 10:00 am

What lessons can the early church teach us about mission, martyrs, and communion with God? Join us as we explore these questions this Sunday. Melanie Marsh Baum will be preaching on 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11, in a sermon entitled "Surrounded by Lions". The second scripture is Acts 1:6-14. Bulletins are posted at CovenantWeb.org/read/listen , where you can also read or listen to sermons.

Music Notes:  Our music this Sunday features multiple American composers. The service begins with a set of variations for organ on the hymn "Wondrous Love" by Massachusetts-born composer Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006). "Wondrous Love" originated as a southern camp-meeting song in the early 19th century.  The choir sings a setting of the Shaker song "Simple Gifts" arranged by Rollo Dilworth (b.1970), composer and professor of choral music education at Temple University. The same tune is featured in a new setting for organ by Jonathan Moyer for the postlude. Covenant choir soloist Nanette Canfield sings Aaron Copland's (1900-1990) setting of the Emily Dickinson Poem "Going to Heaven." Much of Dickinson's poetry reflects on the theme of mortality, pushing the boundaries of both religious and cultural norms. 

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Food Collection This Sunday
This Sunday our children will collect food for the Covenant Food Pantry during the Time of Young Disciples. The Pantry can especially use canned beef stew, pasta/spaghetti and pasta sauce, peanut butter, and corn muffin mix.

Children in worship: Following the Time for Young Disciples, all children age kindergarten through 7th grade are invited to a worship space created just for them. Child-friendly bulletins and creative worship materials will be provided. Parents are welcome to sit with their children in the adjacent pews. Additional adult supervision will also be provided.  While all children are more than welcome to remain in the service, we have a nursery for infants through pre-kindergarten age children. Ask an usher for directions.

Following worship the Dwellers (4th through 8th graders) will meet in The Living Room from 11:30-1:00.

Click here to see the summer schedule for our children and youth.  Contact Mindy Stewart,  Director of Family Ministries, at  MStewart@CovenantWeb.org  for information about these or any programs for youth and families.
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conner

Conversation with Elders following Worship
This Sunday you are invited to talk with Session members Jennifer Conner and Jim Tomaszewski in All Saints Chapel following worship. The Session is particularly interested in hearing your thoughts on making the best use of our members' and participants' time and talents as volunteers.
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Help out in our Crèche Nursery!
We are looking for volunteers eighteen or older to be the second adult in the Crèche on Sunday mornings from 9:30 am-12:30 pm (or until the last child has been picked up). Join Christy Cameron-Hollyfield, our Crèche Coordinator, and get to know our youngest children. Contact Christy at CCHollyfield@CovenantWeb.org , Melanie Marsh Baum at  MBaum@CovenantWeb.org  or call the church office at 216.421.0482. 
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 In The Covenant Family

We keep in our prayers Akeya Clark (Marie Jones' niece), Jennifer Conner, Rich Day (friend of Bill Braun and Cathy Luck), Gretchen Drushel (studying in Seoul, South Korea), Julia Haiss, Stephanie Johnson, Karen and Les Knowlton, Marilyn and Rolf Kronseng, Ann McDaniel (Pat Owne-Keltner's aunt), Timothy Moyer (Jonathan Moyer's brother), and Erika and Norbert Roehl (friends of Arnie and Susan Dahm). We pray for Covenant members and friends who are 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.
 
Our prayers are with Patty and Clint Fowler on the death of Patty's mother, Victoria Ondich, who died May 19 in Michigan.
 
A memorial service for Mary Jean Rice will be on June 10, 2:00 pm, at Kendal at Oberlin in the Heiser Center Auditorium which can be reached through the main entrance. 

Kevin Lowry will be in Israel May 24-June 12 as part of a cross-cultural immersion program, coursework for his Masters of Divinity. Willie Howard is on vacation May 25-May 30.  Amy Starr Redwine is on study leave from May 30-June 1 at Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina.
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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Meet our Newest Members
In March we were blessed with five new members who joined the Covenant community. 

Jessica Lee, Ken Rock, and baby Cora
On Sunday, May 14, Mother's Day, Cora, daughter of two of our new members, Jessica Lee and Ken Rock, was baptized. Jessica and Ken moved to Cleveland from New York City, where they were members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Jessica is a violinist with the Cleveland Orchestra and Ken is an attorney. 

Welcome to the Covenant community!
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Annual Meeting

Last Sunday, May 21, the Covenant community met following worship for the annual meeting.  

Click below to read:
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Daniel E. Morgan Elementary School Tutoring
 
Another year of tutoring second grade students at Cleveland's Daniel E. Morgan Elementary School. Tutors worked with students on reading and math after school on Thursdays. A long-standing tradition is giving each student books on the last day of tutoring. Many thanks to Jim Tomaszewski, tutor and coordinator, Fred Mailey, John Marsh, and Ann Williams .
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Opportunities
God Before Guns Annual March and Rally - Friday, June 2

National Wear Orange for Gun Violence Prevention Day:  Protect Our Kids from Gun Violence

4:00 pm   March across Hope Memorial (Carnegie)Bridge
5:00 pm   Rally at Market Square Park

Go to GodBeforeGuns.org for more information.

God Before Guns is a program of Covenant University and Community Ministries (CUCM) and a Covenant mission partner.
Sunday, June 4: Peace & Global Witness and Bread for the World offerings 

PCUSA Peace & Global Witness Special Offering
The Peace & Global Witness Offering enables the church to promote the Peace of Christ by addressing systems of injustice across the world. Covenant may use up to 25% of this Offering to connect with the global witness of Christ's peace; the Presbytery of the Western Reserve will retain 25% for ministries of peace and reconciliation; and 50% is used by the Presbyterian Mission Agency to advocate for peace and justice in cultures of violence, including our own, through collaborative projects of education and Christian witness.

Bread for the World 2017 Offering of Letters |  Library following worship
Write letters to your legislators urging them to invest in programs that help millions of people escape from hunger. Watch for more information on June 4th or talk with Bob Ault. Go to www.bread.org for more information.
Apostle's Build, Saturday, June 10, 9:00 am-3:00 pm  
Join us  for our final work day this year  to help   rehab houses through the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity Apostles Build. This will be a neighborhood Spruce-Up Day where volunteers from all 16 participating churches/congregations come together to spruce up the neighborhood around the houses being rehabbed. It's a great opportunity to meet and work with  folks  from these  different  groups. The projects for the day will include repairing fences and porches, painting, staining, landscaping and  debris  removal. The spruce-up  will be in the Bellaire Puritas neighborhood on the west side of Cleveland. Please   sign up in the church office if you are interested in working or helping provide  a group  lunch for the Covenant team . Talk with Jim Prince   for more information.   
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Dale Goode Art Exhibit | Covenant's East Gallery
Dale Goode, a Cleveland native, Covenant member, painter, sculptor, and muralist, has shown his work widely. You can enjoy his work in the East Gallery (above Christ Chapel) where it is displayed. 

Front Parking Lot Closed ALL DAY SATURDAY, MAY 27
The front parking lot is being coated on Saturday, May 27. There will be no parking in the front lot until Sunday morning, May 28.

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Music at Covenant
carillon tower Friday Lunchtime Carillon Concerts

  Friday, May 26, 12:15 pm
Music for Memorial Day Weekend 
George Leggiero
America the Beautiful
Chester
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Keller's American Hymn
Over There
Memorial Chimes
America

Friday Lunchtime Carillon Concerts  performed by Covenant and University Circle Carillonneur George Leggiero and guests on the 15,000 lb McGaffin Carillon of 47 bronze bells. Bring a lawn chair; picnic on the church lawn or CWRU campus. Free parking. Go to ucbells.org for details.
TUESDAY NOON ORGAN RECITALS
TUESDAYS THROUGH JUNE 27 | 12:00 NOON
Albert Bellefeuille will be playing this Tuesday, May 30.
Tuesday Noon Organ Recitals featuring organists from throughout greater Cleveland and beyond on both of Covenant's two magnificent pipe organs. Jonathan Moyer will be playing this Tuesday, May 2. Bring a lunch! Bring a friend!   Free and open to the public. Free parking in the Covenant parking lot.
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11205 Euclid Avenue  Cleveland, OH 44106
Wheelchair accessible

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