E-Courier for Sunday, September 3, 2017

THIS WEEK

(September 3-9) 

New Sunday Bible School Season Begins
Sunday, September 3
Check our Sunday Bible School programming webpage for a list of age-level communities and the topics that they will be covering in the next "semester" of Sunday school. Please note that many of our classes will be moving to different locations. This is noted on the webpage and on the individual communities' pages. For a list of congregational communities with contact information and more information about the age-levels, please go to our Communities webpage.
 
Men's Intensive Discipleship Program
Tuesdays in September | 6:30-8 PM
The Men's Ministry will hold the third in a series of book studies led by Pastor Brian Peterson and will begin this coming Tuesday from 6:30-8 PM. The focus is historical content for this particular study. Our study will be based on the book For a Continuing Church: The Roots of the Presbyterian Church in America by Sean Michael Lucas. (Note that participants do not need to purchase the book.) More information and registration are online at christcovenant.org/mens-min.
 
Trail Life USA Open Houses
September 7 & 14 | 7 PM
Are you looking for a Christian outdoor adventure, character, and leadership program for your son? Our church sponsors Trail Life Troop NC-0413 for boys, grades K-12. The program centers on outdoor experiences that build a young man's skills and allow him to grow on a personal level and as a role model and leader for his peers. The Trail Life motto comes straight from Colossians 1:10, "Walk Worthy," and this motto is supported by the core values of purity, service, stewardship and integrity. Join us for one of our open houses: September 7 and 14 at 7 PM in the Community Life Center. For more information, please visit TrailLifeNC413.com. You can also listen to Dr. James Dobson's two-part interview with Trail Life USA CEO Mark Hancock (TrailLifeUSA.com/blog/35).
 

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.
 
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.

Upcoming Events 

Membership Class
Begins September 10 | 9 AM
If someone you know is interested in joining Christ Covenant Church, please make sure they consider signing up for the next Discovery Class (our membership class for 9th grade to adults). Contact Mary Jo Culver to register ([email protected] or 704-814-1039).

18|22 Pizza Lunch and Slip-n-Slide Kickball
Sunday, September 10 | noon
College age young adults are invited to a fun afternoon following the 10:45 AM worship service on September 10. Meet at the Campus Outreach house (at the corner of Fullwood and Hwy 51) for a pizza lunch and Slip-n-Slide Kickball!! There is no cost. Remember to bring clothes to get wet in! Invite your friends to this fun afternoon!
 
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.
     More information about this program will be available as in insert in Sunday's worship folder.
     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.
     More information about these programs will be available as in insert in Sunday's worship folder.
     To register or ask questions, please contact Mary Jo Culver at 704-814-1039 or [email protected].
 
Women's Ministries Kickoff
Thursday, September 14 | 7 PM
Women are invited to a fall kickoff event on Thursday, September 14 in the Community Life Center. Please pick up an
invitation with details after worship this Sunday. Information is also on our website calendar.

Please visit the Women's Ministries page of our website to read about all of the Bible studies, small groups, and classes available to women beginning in mid-September. Registration is now open online for these small groups and studies. 
 
Coram Deo Community Kick-off
Friday, September 15 | 5 PM
The senior adults community will have a low-country boil to kick-off the fall! There will be good fresh seafood and hamburgers and hotdogs and games. The cost is $10.00 per person. Dot Branson will be collecting money until the absolute deadline of September 10.
 
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.
 
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.
 

Information   

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.

Titus 2 Registration Open
Titus 2 is a group mentoring ministry for women in the form of a book club. These groups gather for 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. See our Titus 2 page for a list of books, groups, and a link to registration.
 
Appreciating the Beauty of Covenantal Truth and Covenant Community
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.

 

GET INVOLVED   

Charlotte Host Family Program
This program exists to connect international college students and scholars with American families for the purpose of friendship. It is NOT a live-in situation; you would just do something with your student every 4-6
weeks. Contact Lanier or Karen Ellis (704-502-3936 or [email protected]) to begin a friendship. For more information, go to hostfamilyprogram.org.
 
Volunteer to Serve Children
in Matthews or Uptown Charlotte

We have partnered with Matthews Elementary, Crestdale Middle School, and First Ward Creative Arts (uptown Charlotte). If you have interest in becoming a reading buddy, mentor, or sidekick for a student, please prayerfully consider this opportunity. Your weekly time commitment could be from 30 minutes to an hour.  We look forward to hearing from you!
 
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 (6 volunteers needed), and Saturday, October 21 (3 volunteers needed). No construction background is necessary, but builders must be at least 17 years old (or 16, accompanied by a parent). On October 21 we need to provide 25 bag lunches for the site volunteers. Children are welcome to help prepare these meals!

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. Our ProjectSHARE page will include a list of items we're collecting.
 

Worship Notes 

Morning Worship - 10:45 AM
The Lord's Supper

"Born of God"
(John 1:6-13)
Pastor Kevin DeYoung

Evening Worship - 6 PM  
"The Mountain of God"
(Exodus 19:7-15)
Pastor Kevin DeYoung
 
Our worship folder is posted on Fridays on the Worship page of our website.
 

Calendar  

THIS WEEK
September 3-9


Sunday, September 3
9 AM | Sunday Bible School
10:45 AM | Morning worship

6 PM | Evening worship   

Monday, September 4
Labor Day - offices closed

Tuesday, September 5
6:30 PM | Men's Intensive
     Discipleship Program

Wednesday, September 6
10 AM | CDS Convocation
6 PM | 9th grade welcome
     dinner
7 PM | CCYM - Link & EPIC
7 PM | Sanctuary Choir 

Thursday, September 7
7 PM | Trail Life open house

Friday, September 8
12 PM | Senior adult ladies
     luncheon

Saturday, September 9
9:30 AM | WBS: Philippians 
   


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


Upcoming Events

Sept 10 * Discovery Class begins
Sept 10 * 18|22 event
Sept 10 * Timothy Project
     (MS small groups) begins
Sept 10 * Children's choirs
     resume
Sept 11 * GriefShare begins
Sept 14 * Women's kick-off
Sept 14 * DivorceCare begins
Sept 14 * American Heritage
     Girls kick-off
Sept 14 * Trail Life open house 
Sept 15 * Senior adults kick-off
Sept 16 * Habitat workday
Sept 17 * Justice Sunday
Sept 19 * The Anchor dinner
Sept 20 * Community Heroes
Sept 26 * The Anchor begins

For times and more details on these events, see our online calendar.

 


 

Missionaries of the Week:
Sunday, September 3


Rohan & Rebecca Crown
(Church planters in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada)

The vision for Amazing Grace Church is to share the transforming Gospel of Jesus so that the city of Lethbridge will become a light of renewed hope.

Pray for maturity for those at Amazing Grace. Pray for growth in leadership in the life and ministry of Amazing Grace. Pray for the continued building program.

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

 


 

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Our Community 

Marriage Equip Workshop 
September 15 & 16
The counseling department at RTS Charlotte invites you to a
workshop. "Vibrant Marriage: How the Gospel Makes Your Marriage Thrive" will be
held September 15, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday, September 16, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at
Reformed Theological Seminary. Register by September 11 at rts.edu/charlotte/equip.

Contact Information :
Phone: 704-366-5066
Email: [email protected]


Our Nation  

MNA Disaster Response:
Hurricane Harvey
MNA Disaster Response continues to consult with leaders in TX and will continue to be until we can get into the area to assess how we might respond with them. Flooded roadways are preventing access at the time with no movement in or out. However, MNA will begin sending mobile bunkhouses, shower trailers and other equipment into the area over the next few days to standup relief operations by pre-positioning this large equipment just outside of the hardest hit areas so that we can move in as soon as safe access is permitted. MNA is working with leaders to determine the best strategic host sites.

For now, please do the following to support your denominational relief efforts:

Pray for relief from the storm and for those being rescued and affected by this storm.

 

Give generously. Click here to support efforts financially. Funds will be used for assessment, mobilization, relief grants for flooded PCA families and churches, to purchase needed supplies and equipment, to construct Sheds of Hope, and to setup and operate flood recovery sites.

 

Send relief supplies & equipment. For a list of needed supplies click here.

 

Prepare to GO. Click here to register your intent to serve.



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.

1/1/17 - 8/27/17 
Actual
Budget
Difference
%
(-) or +
Operating Budget - Inflow  
3,245,751
 
3,259,500
 
(13,749)
 
(0.42%)
Faith Promise Budget - Inflow
210,253
193,500
16,573
8.66%

12/1/14 - 8/27/17
Gifts Received
3-Year Commitment
Fulfillment %
Our Heritage - Inflow  
3,498,002
 
3,500,000
 
99.94%
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Christ Covenant Church |  Matthews, NC |  www.christcovenant.org |  704-847-3505