November 23
 
Sunday, November 26
Worship 10:00 am

Through Jesus we have complete sight. The scripture allows us a way to see a life that is radically different than the one that our culture and society move us towards. Scripture continues to evolve and reveal how God is at work in the world as we live our stories. In the chaos and complexities of these times we have to hear Jesus saying "trust me, I know the way. "

This Sunday Kevin Lowry's sermon is entitled "Complete Sight." Scriptures are 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and  John 14:1-7. Our Lay Worship Leader is Kim Almcrantz.
 
Bulletins are posted at CovenantWeb.org/read/listenwhere you can also read or listen to sermons. Printed  sermons now include the pastoral prayer.  Can you usher, greet, serve communion, provide flowers?  Click here.   
Our service today features two choral anthems from American composers. Alice Parker composed a new setting of Charles Wesley's text Meet and Right It Is to Sing in 1980 for the Mars Hill College Contemporary Music Festival. The offertory features the poignant Pilgrim's Hymn by Stephen Paulus (1949-2014) originally composed as part of his opera The Three Hermits. The prelude to the service features a monument of 17th century German organ music, Johann Adam Reincken's organ fantasia on the chorale An Wasserflüssen Babylon. It is believed that Reincken met Johann Sebastian Bach in 1720 upon the latter's audition for a music director position in Hamburg. Upon hearing Bach play the organ, Reincken supposedly remarked, "I thought this art was dead, but I see that it lives in you."
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Covenant Food Pantry Collection this Sunday, November 26

This Sunday the  children will collect food and financial donations for the Covenant Food Pantry. The Pantry is open the last Wednesday and Friday of the month, on Thursday afternoons for students, and for emergencies during the month.  We can use the following:
Canned soup 
Cereal 
Canned vegetables 
Chili 
Canned stew
Corn muffin mix
Spaghettio's 
Fruit cups 
Pudding cups
Macaroni and cheese 
Peanut butter 
Jelly
Canned meat (SPAM/chicken) 
Tuna fish 
Pasta 
Pasta Sauce

Thank you for your ongoing support! Your gifts make this ministry possible.
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In the Covenant Family
We pray for Randy Bennett, Patrick Monaghan, and  Don Norris (relatives of Tom and Cheri Keys), Judy Bourne, Andrew Bullen (Melanie Marsh Baum's cousin), Akeya Clark (Marie Jones' niece), Rich Day (friend of Bill Braun & Cathy Luck), Tori Eldridge and family, Janet Garrett (Mathew Garrett's mother), Gabe (son of Liz Roccoforte, CWRU), Eliseo Hairston (Shirley Thompson's grandson deployed to the Pacific), Anne Marie Haiss (mother of Fritz Haiss), Greg Madison,
Elizabeth Mierke,
Olitana Rika (physician in Albania), Robert Schneider (First Baptist Church), Tommy Seagraves (Lynda Starr's brother), Tom Skrout (Stephanie Pennza's father), Liam Stewart (Mindy Stewart's nephew), Doug Weiss (Ann Williams' friend), Jeff Williams, and those 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 the family of Dolores Acree who died on November 19 in Cleveland. Her memorial service is Saturday, December 2, at 11:00 am in the Covenant Sanctuary.
  
Amy Starr Redwine
is on vacation through November 27; Willie Howard through November 28; and Melanie Marsh Baum from November 27 through December 5. Jonathan Moyer is performing in Richmond, VA and will be gone November 29 through December 2.
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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Thank you to everyone who who made this year's Community Thanksgiving Dinner special!



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Update: Lower Level Renovation

Exciting things will soon be happening in our Lower Level!  Beginning in late December, the long-awaited renovation of the kitchen, dining room, activities room, handicap-accessible restroom, men's restroom, and Cache shop will be underway.  Nothing major has been done in this area of our church for generations.  Anticipate new floors, fresh paint, improved lighting, audio-visual capabilities, and much more-in other words, a welcoming space where we will be happy and proud to gather for fellowship and outreach. 
 
The potential of this project is truly amazing, and we want everyone in the Covenant community to be invested in it.  As you are aware from the mailing you received, we are in the midst of a Capital Campaign to fund the renovation.  An extremely generous leadership gift of $100,000 has been followed by $150,000 in additional gifts and pledges.  These much-appreciated gifts have enabled us to begin.  We have not yet reached our goal of $380,000. Your pledge will help us get there!
 
You can donate online ( covenantweb.org/donate) or by check (memo: "Lower Level Renovation.")  Pledge cards are available in the church office. Remember, your gift can start now, with the final payment by July 1, 2019.  
 
Watch for regular updates about our progress.  If you have questions about giving, or about the project itself, we would be delighted to talk to you. Thank you for your participation!
 
Lower Level Task Force
Martha  Goble, Keith Kallay, Tom Keys, Chris Langmack, Marilyn Langmack
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Poinsettia
Poinsettia Orders 
Deadline is December 10
Time to order your poinsettias in memory of or honoring a loved one. 
Order forms are in the office or click here to download a form.
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Important Cache Dates
  • Shop the Cache Bazaar from 11:00 - 2:00 on Sunday, December 3
  • Because of the remodeling, no donations can be accepted after December 9
  • The Cache will be closed for Christmas break December 15-January 1 
  • Mark your calendar for a half-price sale on January 2 and 4
  • As part of our lower level renovations the Cache will close on January 5 for several weeks
Opportunities
Holiday CircleFest is Next Sunday, December 3!
Cache Bazaar (11 am - 2 pm)
Carillon concerts and tours (12 pm - 3:00 pm)
Carol Sing, 4:00 with Cookie Reception to follow
 
New: Reserved seats for Church of the Covenant community members at Carol Sing.
Contact Matthew Garrett or call the church office for more information, to secure a ticket, or to volunteer:   mgarrett@covenantweb.org.
 
Calling All Cookie Bakers (and Buyers)!  
Needed - LOTS of cookies for Carol Sing Reception NEXT Sunday
We need lots (and lots) of cookies for our Circlefest Carol Sing Cookie Reception, when more people gather at Covenant than any other time of the year. Please sign up in the office and bring your cookies next Sunday morning.
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Giving Tree Tag Selection
November 26 and December 3 -  Reception Room
This year you may select gift tags for Cleveland School of the Arts students, participants in the Ernest J. Bohn Senior Center, and for 23 second graders at Daniel E. Morgan Elementary School (all tags have been adopted).   Then Sunday, December 10, we will have our Giving Tree Celebration. Please bring your gifts to the Dining Room before our service. 
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A Simple Season
Worship Fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.
Wednesday, December 6,  6-7:30 pm in the Dining Room

We will gather together to consider how we can reclaim hope, peace, joy, and love this Advent and Christmas. All ages are invited to share soup and bread and engage in simple and worshipful activities that remind us how God's incarnation changes our lives and the world.  Click here to register.
11205 Euclid Avenue  Cleveland, OH 44106
Wheelchair accessible

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Something fun to share with the Covenant community?
Email    Covenant@CovenantWeb.org.  

Centered in the Circle - Open to the World