September 13th
 
Sunday, September 16th
Worship at 10 am
Sanctuary

Worship this Week 
We continue our September sermon series on Loneliness and Belonging by reflecting on the loneliness described by the psalmist in Psalms 102, and Jesus's direction to "pray in secret." What does the experience of loneliness teach us about who we are and who God is? This week's texts are Psalm 102 and Matthew 6:6. Amy Starr Redwine's sermon is entitled "Follow the Loneliness."

Special Congregational Meeting
The session has called a congregational meeting after worship on Sunday, September 16, to vote on the nomination of Jim Prince to fill a vacated term in the trustees class of 2020.

Music Notes
Our anthem this week, by English Baroque composer John Blow, personifies the initial cries of anguish heard in the opening lines of Psalm 102. In contrast, Romantic composer Johannes Brahms sets a text that gently exhorts us to trust in God, without concerning ourselves with daily worries. Interestingly, Brahms's composition is a technically demanding double canon at the ninth, perhaps reminding us that faith in God may not always be an easy task.

Children
K-5th graders will go to Choir and Prep Time this Sunday, immediately following the Time for Young Disciples. Sixth through twelfth graders will remain in worship.
Reminder: If you complete a Worship Reflection and turn it in to Melanie, you'll receive a prize next week! 
Covenant Commons
CONNECT - GROW - SERVE 
Every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. we gather in the Dowd Commons to explore what it means 
to live as Christ's disciples through community, expression, action and reflection. 
All are welcome to this intergenerational exploration of faith, fellowship, and service.

THIS WEEK'S COVENANT COMMONS
FAITH IN ACTION WORKSHOP
We will explore September's theme of Welcome through the lens of undocumented immigrants and their experiences in an ICE detention facility. 
During our workshop time we will view the brief documentary Locked in a Box
 have the opportunity to write letters or make a pledge to contact to our elected representatives; and make a creative piece of public witness.

UPCOMING COVENANT COMMONS
September 23rd - Book Discussion: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
September 30th - New Member Class
October 7th - Community Meal / Covenant Lecture
October 14th - Jody Kerchner, "Then Sings My Soul"
October 21st - Faith In Action: Poverty / Hygiene Kits
October 28th - Book Discussion: Grateful by Diana Butler Bass

Each program will run from 11:30-12:30 in the Dowd Commons. 
Contact Amy, Melanie, or Kevin for more information.
CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY
Keepers - Ignitors - Dwellers - Sowers
RE GISTER  YOUR YOUTH OR CHILD(R EN) FOR 2018-2019 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY  PROGRAMS. 
For all new and returning children, youth, and families we ask that parents complete our online  enrollment form. This form will enable us to gather important information about your child(ren)'s needs and interests.


Keepers (Infant - Pre K) - We invite our littlest kiddos to playtime and snack in our nursery located on the Lower Level of the Connection Center

IGNITORS (Grades K-5) / Dwellers (6-8) - Youth  Choir 

SOWERS (Grades 9-12th) --  Meet at 11:30 am Sunday! Come meet your new Advisers! 

For more information on Children, Youth and Family programs at Chruch of the Covenant, contact Rev. Melanie Marsh Baum or Kevin Lowry.


In Our Church Family
We pray for  Michael Anthony (Orene Anthony's brother-in-law), Judy Bourne, Andrew Bullen, David Brown (Kitty Jarjisian's cousin),Kim Bergman, Kristy Burrus ,Sylvia Clapp (Sandy Ammon's mother), Akeya Clark (Marie Jones' niece), Paul Dirksen, Rob Engle, Marlene & William Finkenthal (David Finkenthal' s parents), Phyllis Hackett, Denise Horstman, Stephanie Howard (Willie Howard's niece), Greg Madison, Barbara McGhee, Liam & Emilee Stewart (Mindy Stewart's nephew and sister), Simmons Family, June Tomko, and Gabriel (Jenny Conner's grand-nephew). We pray for those struggling with illness, convalescing, or homebound; patients, family, and staff in our surrounding hospitals; and those who have left prayer requests in our Carpenter's Box.

We Extend Our Sympathies to Stephanie Johnson and her family on the death of her sister Elaine Sharp, who died on Monday, September 10 in Texas following a brief illness.


Please send prayer requests to Melanie Marsh Baum. Names are generally removed from the bulletin after four weeks unless there is a continuing need. Please let the church know if you or a loved one is 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
Member Spotlight
Thank you to everyone who planed, assisted, volunteered and attended the Dowd Commons Fundraiser, especially members of the Dowd family who came from near and far. 
It was a wonderful evening -- surely the first of many in this beautiful space!


We'd like to extend our deepest appreciation to Jim and Lyn Tomaszewski, who provided the main dishes and ice cream for last Sunday's Dowd Commons Celebration through a generous gift from Lyn's late mother, Martha Cooper, who passed away earlier this summer. 
We are grateful for Martha's generosity and love for this community.
And thank you to all the Ministry of Service members who served a wonderful picnic to the Covenant Community on Sunday  after worship! 

 

Last Saturday, Diane, Bob, Susan, Marina, and Dan volunteered for the Apostle's Build.


Congregation  members, Barb Clint, as a volunteer and Heidi Braun who, with her husband Fred, participated the 60-mile ride at the NEO-Cycle FUNDO fundraiser for Bike Cleveland held on Saturday, 9/8/18.



If you have any information regarding congregation members please email the communication manager,  Aisha Newton
 She would love to highlight them in the enewsletter or social media.
Faith Formation

New Members Class, September 30
Want to learn more about the Church of the Covenant? Join us after worship on  Sunday, September 30  to meet staff, leaders, and other potential new members  and to learn about our vision, mission, and ministries. 





Covenant Lecture 2018, Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio
Sunday, October 7, 10 AM and 2 PM
We welcome our 2018 Covenant Lecturer on October 7. Dr. Bonfiglio will preach at the 10 am worship service and offer a lecture at 2 pm on "Loving Stranger as Neighbor." In this lecture, he will examine biblical laws that emphasize Israel's responsibility to protect and provide for the non-Israelite stranger and how they can inform the way the church today responds to refugees and other marginalized communities. Dr.  Bonfiglio serves as the Stembler Scholar and Director of Biblical & Theological Studies at First Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Prior to FPC, he served as a Lecturer of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary. For more information click here.
Outreach Opportunities 
Join Fairmount Church and the Church of the Covenant in welcoming Burkhard Paetzold, PC(USA) Mission Coworker, and Regional Liaison for Central and Western Europe and Roma. Mr. Paetzold has been a mission partner with both Covenant and Fairmount for several years. He will be presenting on the topic,  "Europe doesn't have a refugee crisis, but a solidarity crisis:  How the USA's positions on refugees and asylum seekers are impacting the affected groups in Europe."  All are welcome to join us on  Tuesday, September 18th  for dinner and presentation at  5pm , at Church of the Covenant in the Dowd Commons Dining Room. Suggested donation for dinner is $10 per person. Childcare will be available. For more information, Contact Melanie Marsh Baum or Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks.

Saturday Tutoring Program
The Saturday Morning Tutoring program will begin September 15. To have another successful year we need your help. 
First, we need tutors. We host students from grades 1-12 so tutoring at all levels, and for all subjects, is needed. For those who have tutored before, arrive by 9:45. First timers should arrive at 9 for a brief orientation. Tutoring runs from 10-12 but we need the tutors and students to arrive early so we can pair them and take full advantage of a 2 hour session. We often have 100 students so everyone is welcome to tutor!
Second, we need Ambassadors. Ambassadors welcome everyone and help direct students, tutors and parents to the appropriate location. Ambassadors also serve juice and doughnuts during the break. They help support the program as needed each Saturday morning. We aim to have at least 2 Ambassadors present every Saturday. Ambassadors arrive by 9:20.
Third, help fulfill the wish list!
The Saturday Tutoring program needs the following items:
  • Tablets
  • Graphing and Scientific calculators
  • Educational games
  • Books for all grade levels
These items can be gently used. If you are not able to shop but want to contribute money to help buy the items mentioned, that is appreciated as well.  There is a box in the church office where items can be dropped.
Tutoring will run September 15 - October 13 and October 27 -November 17. Thank you for helping to make this another great year for the Saturday Tutoring Program. Please contact Mary Anne Bromelmeier for more information. 

Attention Cookie Bakers! 
 We are in need of more cookies for our welcome bags. We are looking for bakers who can volunteer to bake one batch (2 dozen cookies) each for each of the Sundays in September and October. Please contact  Melanie  if your willing and able to help out. Thank you!



Volunteer Videographer: 
Do  you have a gift for capturing video? Our friends at North Presbyterian Church are looking for a volunteer videographer to shoot a concert fund raiser on Sunday September 23rd, from 5:30-7:30 pm. If you are interested and available, contact Music Director Dwight at 216.744.3395
Music
Make Music with Us: The Covenant music ensembles (choir and handbells) are open to all volunteers seeking an opportunity for musical expression. Church membership is not required for participation. Students are welcome. Rehearsals are every Thursday at 6:30 pm for the Beckwith Handbell Choir and 7:30 pm for the Covenant Choir. If you are interested in joining any of these ensembles, please contact  Jonathan Moyer or   Matthew Garrett.

Tuesday Noon Organ Concerts Resume
Tuesday, September 18, 12:05-12:45 pm
Our fall line-up of noontime organ concerts resumes with Jonathan Moyer playing. Feel free to bring a lunch or enjoy one of our delicious cookies at the conclusion of the concert. 

Friday Lunchtime Carillon Concerts
September 21, 12:15-12:45 pm
This week: David Osburn, Guest Carillonneur   
Osburn plays music by Jerome Kern, Leroy Anderson, Richard Rodgers, Anton Rubenstein, B. Smetana, and George Gershwin. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a picnic, and a  friend . Free Parking.  A tour of the tower is available following the concert.

Community Events

The Gathering Place Warehouse September sale
Join us on Saturday, September 15th, 9am-1pm & Sunday, September 16th, 10am-1pm at The Gathering Place Warehouse Home Furnishings Sale. The warehouse is located at  4911 Commerce Parkway, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128. Beautiful  furniture and lovely home accessories; lots of newly donated merchandise that is exquisite!
 
Proceeds from warehouse sales help The Gathering Place provide free programs and services to people currently coping with the impact of cancer. For more information, visit  www.touchedbycancer.org/warehouse



Living Well - Dying Well Tour -  September 20th, 7:00 - 8:30pm . Kimberly will be sharing stories of her life and time working with hospice and her wonder hospice therapy dog Raven will be joining her. Her new book "Bridging the Gap - Life Lessons from the Dying" is full of joy, heartache and wisdom - not to be missed!  You can preview her tour here  http://www.deathbydesign.com/live-well-die-well-tour-stops/

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11205 Euclid Avenue  Cleveland, OH 44106
Wheelchair accessible

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