E-Courier for Sunday, September 17, 2017

THIS WEEK

(September 17-23) 

2017 Justice Sunday
Sunday, September 17
Join us for our annual Justice Sunday as we focus on Prison Ministries. The morning will include a joint Sunday school, held in the CLC at 9 AM, where we will hear from Mark Casson, a former prisoner and executive director of Metanoia Prison Ministry. Following his talk, a panel of individuals involved in jail and prison ministries will discuss and answer our questions.

Mark Casson is a husband, father, businessman, author and ruling elder who also happens to have spent over 15 years serving a life sentence in California's prison system. He has a combined 27 years of experience in prison ministry from both sides of the razor wire. Mark serves as the Executive Director of Metanoia Prison Ministries and Director of Prison Ministry for the Presbyterian Church in America.
 
The Gathering (HS Worship Team)
Sunday, September 17 | 5 PM
The Gathering - our high school worship team - will resume this Sunday, September 17! This worship team sings in many of our Sunday evening worship services. The team is open to all high school students who are not working with the Timothy Project. We especially encourage those high school students who sing or play an instrument. Meet us this Sunday at 5 PM in the worship center sanctuary (on the platform) for our first rehearsal. Questions? Contact Mrs. Eash at 980-355-2103. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!
 
Appreciating the Beauty of Covenantal Truth and Covenant Community
Begins September 20 | 10 AM-12 PM
Women are invited to participate in this 6-week class in September, January, or June, taught by Sarah Ivill. This a class to better equip women to understand, articulate, and apply covenant theology. Click here for details and registration.
 
Community Heroes Celebration
Wednesday, September 20 | noon
You're invited to join us for our 18th Annual Community Heroes Celebration! Our community heroes will enjoy a nice brunch on campus before joining the Covenant Day community for a celebration service in the Christ Covenant worship center at noon. Over the years, the celebration has grown to include first responders and military personnel from the greater Charlotte metro region and beyond! We hope that you will invite your friends and make plans to join us as we honor our heroes. For additional information about this annual event, click here.
 

NEWS  


Highlights  

The Christ Covenant Church App
Christ Covenant Church now has an app, available in app stores for your mobile device! The app includes quick access to our sermons, Kevin DeYoung's blog, church events, as well as nearly everything that is on our website. Download the app today at http://get.theapp.co/346a.
 
Discovery Class Full
The current Discovery Class, which started last Sunday, is so large that we are unable to accept any more registrations. While this is wonderful news, there are people who will have to wait until our next class (January) to take the class. In the meantime, we encourage our Sunday school classes to welcome our visitors and get to know them as they begin their journey to become members of our church family! 


Upcoming Events 

Women's Bible Study: Elijah
Begins Thursday, October 5 | 7-8:30 PM
Please join us for a four-week women's Bible study on the book of Elijah, which will be held on Thursdays in October from 7-8:30 PM. Click here to find details and registration. 

Reformation Conference and Celebration
Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28
Join us in celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation at "The Gospel of Grace & Glory: The Reformation at 500 and Counting," a conference sponsored by Christ Covenant Church and Reformed Theological Seminary. The conference will feature messages on the five solas (led by Mike Kruger, Kevin DeYoung, Keith Getty, Blair Smith, and James Anderson) and breakout sessions (with speakers Brian Peterson, Bill Barcley, and Don Fortson). The conference ticket price is $25/person ($50/family) with financial assistance available. Details and registration are at christcovenant.org/500.

Reformation Sunday
Sunday, October 29
Our Reformation Sunday events will include a 9 AM joint Sunday school led by Kevin DeYoung speaking on "Ad Fontes: The Reformation Slogan We Never Hear About," our morning service (10:45 AM) with Mike Kruger preaching, and a 7 PM concert with Keith and Kristyn Getty. In lieu of tickets, a love offering will be taken.

Information   

Titus 2 Registration Open
Titus 2 is a group mentoring ministry in the form of a book club. Book review groups gather for the purpose of spiritual training as described in Titus 2:1-5. Such training is accomplished through the study of a strategically chosen book in the area of character, doctrine, or practical living.  This is a place for women to get connected to other women in the church through a small group environment. Titus 2 meets once a month beginning in October. See our Titus 2 webpage for a list of books, groups, and a link to register.
 
GriefShare Support Ministry
Mondays from 7-9 PM (September 11-December 4)
GriefShare is a Bible-based weekly seminar and support group designed to help you rebuild your life after losing a loved one. The group is led by caring people who have experienced grief and want to help you through the difficult days ahead. Cost is $15. More information at griefshare.org.
    To register or ask questions, please contact Mary Jo Culver at 704-814-1039 or [email protected].
 
DivorceCare and DivorceCare for Kids
Thursdays from 7-9 PM (September 14-December 28)
DivorceCare is a weekly Bible-based support group. Through a video seminar, group discussion, and personal workbook, you will learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. Cost is $15. Find out more at divorcecare.org.
     DivorceCare for Kids is a Bible-based group to help children heal from the hurt caused by the separation or divorce of their parents. This program is designed for ages 5-12 and mirrors the parent program. Cost is $10 per child. Find out more at dc4k.org.
     To register or ask questions, please contact Mary Jo Culver at 704-814-1039 or [email protected].
 
CCYM (Youth Ministry)
Wednesdays | 7-9 PM
Link & EPIC Wednesday evening programming has resumed! Link is the small group discipleship for high school students and meets in the Youth Center (lower level of the CLC). EPIC is filled with activities just for middle schoolers and meets in the Aux Gym (A building). For more information on youth programming, go to christcovenant.org/ministries/youth.


GET INVOLVED - OUTREACH    

Get Involved
Please see our Get Involved webpage for more ways to get involved in our Outreach and Missions programs
 
Joni and Friends Annual Walk 'N' Roll Fundraiser
Saturday, September 23 | 9 AM - 2 PM
This event, held at Carmel Baptist Church (1145 Pineville-Matthews Rd. in Matthews) will be fun for the whole family, and all the money raised will bring encouragement and practical help to special needs families in the Charlotte region. For more information on this fundraiser, please go to joniandfriends.org/charlotteOur own His Abilities ministry will also be present with a booth supporting Joni and Friends and representing our church and ministry.
 
Volunteer to Serve Children
in Matthews or Uptown Charlotte

It takes just 30 minutes to 1 hour a week to help a child succeed and to show the love of Jesus! Join us as a lunch encouragement buddy to a child in Matthews Elementary or a reading buddy to a Crestdale Middle student or a First Ward Elementary student uptown. This time makes a huge impact on the lives of these children and their families, as well as gives great support to our schools and community. See our Get Involved webpage for more details. 
 
Please contact Brendan Kelly for Matthews Elementary and Crestdale Middle School, and Karen Troutman for First Ward Creative Arts.
 
Help Build a Habitat House!
Join us as we assist in building a Habitat House for the Kingombe family in the Crestdale community in Matthews!

Christ Covenant Church will help build on Saturday, September 16 and Saturday, October 21. No construction background is necessary, but builders must be at least 17 years old (or 16, accompanied by a parent).

If you are interested in serving or having your group serve on any of these dates, please contact Karen Chambers.

ProjectSHARE September Collection -
Bright Blessings

Bright Blessings serves the greater Charlotte region with programs that bring joy, care, and hope to homeless and impoverished children. Their birthday program brings a message of joy and positive recognition to these children, whose special day may otherwise go unnoticed. Please take items to the Information Desk in the main lobby of the worship center. Please see our ProjectSHARE webpage for a list of items we're collecting.
 

Worship Notes 

Morning Worship - 10:45 AM
"The Invisible God
Made Visible"
(John 1:14-18)
Pastor Kevin DeYoung

Evening Worship - 6 PM  
"The Tale of Two Mountains"
(Hebrews 12:18-29)
Pastor Brian Peterson
 
Our worship folder is posted on Fridays on the Worship page of our website.
 

Calendar  

THIS WEEK
September 17-23


Sunday, September 17
JUSTICE SUNDAY
9 AM | Joint Sunday school
9 AM | Discovery Class
10:45 AM | Morning worship
5 PM | Timothy Project
5 PM | The Gathering
6 PM | Children's Choirs
6 PM | Evening worship   

Monday, September 18
7 AM | HS morning prayer
7 PM | Yarn Lovers
7 PM | GriefShare

Tuesday, September 19
11:50 AM | WBS: Luke
6 PM | Anchor kickoff
6:30 PM | Men's Intensive
     Discipleship Program
7 PM | Tuesday Prayer

Wednesday, September 20
10 AM | Yarn Lovers
10 AM | Women's class (see
     this week at left)
12 PM | Community Heroes
     Celebration & Worship
7 PM | CCYM - Link & EPIC
7 PM | Sanctuary Choir 

Thursday, September 21
9:30 AM | WBS: Genesis
6:45 PM | AH Girls
7 PM | DivorceCare &
     DivorceCare for Kids
7 PM | Trail Life
   


See our
online calendar for more details on all of these events and more!


Upcoming Events

Sept 24 | Reception for
     John Haines (noon)
Sept 25 | Day of Prayer
Sept 26 | The Anchor begins
Oct 6-7 | MS Lock In
Oct 14 | His Abilities cookout
Oct 21 | Habitat workday
Oct 27-28| Reformation
     Conference
Oct 29 | Children's Reformation
     Celebration
Oct 29 | Getty concert
Nov 3-5 | HS Big What retreat
Nov 12 | Thanksgiving Feast
For times and more details on these events, see our online calendar.

 


 

Missionaries
of the Week
Sunday, September 17

Andrew & Lauren Holbrook
(Fairfield, CT church plant)
 
Andrew and Lauren are planting Christ Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Connecticut.
 
Pray for creative impact through their outreach events over the year. Pray for good follow up with all the families who attended their Kids Club this summer.

For more information about our Missionary of the Week, see the News page on our website.

 


 

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Our Community 

Families Managing Media: Brains and Screens Workshop
September 22 | 8:30 AM
Is your child's screen time out of balance? All are welcome to the Families Managing Media monthly Parent Connection meeting. Our next meeting is on Friday, Sept. 22 at Christ Covenant Church, Community Life Center, from 8:30am-10:30am. Join other parents as we discuss the science of brain development, appropriate screen use for all developmental ages (including video gaming and social media), warning signs and symptoms of screen addiction, as well as practical tips and solutions on how to rethink screen use and reconnect your family. Register by clicking here.

Our Nation  

The PCA and
Disaster Relief
The PCA's Mission to North America (MNA) Disaster Relief and Mission to the World (MTW) Global Disaster Response team are worth your consideration because of their biblical approach to assistance that benefits both body and soul.

Working closely with our local congregations in the US and Canada, and our missionaries and church planters around the world, PCA teams support our brothers and sisters who were there before the disaster struck and are committed to remain when others have gone. The goal is to first assess then equip our local leaders so they might minister to their neighbors in both recovery and rebuilding.

MTW will be headed ASAP to the areas affected by Hurricane Irma, the strongest Atlantic storm on record. To learn more about MTW Disaster Response and to support them by giving, and praying for the many who are affected by this catastrophic storm, visit mtw.org/disaster-response.

To find out how you can volunteer through MNA for hurricane relief or give directly to support their work, go to pcamna.org/disaster-response.

To be kept updated about future volunteer opportunities with the Christ Covenant Disaster Response Ministry, contact Karen Chambers or Deacon Patrick Keaton.

Our Tithes and Gifts
Thank you for your tithes and gifts to all of the ministries of Christ Covenant. Don't forget to take advantage of our secure online giving. Please continue to pray for God's provision this calendar year. As a reminder, the Our Heritage pledge fulfillment period goes through December 2017.

1/1/17 - 9/10/17 
Actual
Budget
Difference
%
(-) or +
Operating Budget - Inflow  
3,427,489
 
3,435,000
 
(7,511)
 
(0.22%)
Faith Promise Budget - Inflow
223,879
204,300
19,579
9.58%

12/1/14 - 9/10/17
Gifts Received
3-Year Commitment
Fulfillment %
Our Heritage - Inflow  
3,508,397
 
3,500,000
 
100.24%
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Christ Covenant Church |  Matthews, NC |  www.christcovenant.org |  704-847-3505