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CUCM Website
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Phone: 216.421.0482 | Fax: 216.791.2228 | Open Wi-Fi: COTC-guest
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Worship this Week:
Sunday, December 9, 10 am in the Sanctuary
Join us as we continue our Advent journey, considering what it means to spend less during this season of preparation. How can we make room for God in the midst of a season that often encourages us to do, give, and spend more? What would it look like to spend less energy and money and offer God and our loved ones more of ourselves? Scriptures are
Isaiah 40:3-11 and
Luke 3:1-3, 7-20.
Music Notes
Ceremony of Carols
(1942) was conceived by British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) for a Christmas vespers mass. Chancel Choir opens and closes our Advent service with bookend settings of the chant, Hodie Christus natus est. The anthem is a musical paradox in which the typically pastoral harp plays in a martial style. Likewise, the choir sings a "carol" that foretells how the Christ Child will one day defeat Satan and hell, giving us everlasting life. Perhaps with this paradox, we might consider how we can give more of ourselves to others this Advent season and, in turn, spend less. Chancel Choir soloist Anna O'Connell shares her instrumental talents as our harpist this Sunday.
Children, Youth, and Families
During Worship: K-5th graders will go to prepare for the pageant after the time for young disciples.
Dwellers and Sowers (Middle and High School Youth)
may stay in worship. Complete the worship reflection and turn it into Kevin for a prize. Families pick up your Advent @ Home Exploration Boxes in living room following the service.
Covenant Commons: Fair Trade Sale, 11:30-12:30
Fair Trade items from around the world, as well as ethically sourced coffee and chocolate.
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Also, if you are looking for a daily activity during the Advent season, download and print our
Occupying Advent Handout. (Printed copies are also available at the church.)
Advent Devotionals
There are two devotionals available to help you encounter the season of Advent in the midst of your daily lives.
Advent for Everyone by N.T. Wright and
Mandalas, Candles, and
Prayers
by Sharon Syfarth Garner are available for $7 each in the Church Office.
Children, Youth and Family Ministries
Advent @ Home Exploration Boxes
This Advent
, w
e invite
you
to enter into the season of
getting ready for the birth of Jesus
.
As a gift for our families we have created an "
Advent@Home
" activity box to help guide you through this season of peace, hope, joy, and love. These boxes include a DIY Advent
w
reath,
w
eekly Advent
a
ctivities that reflect our worship themes (Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All),
s
cripture, wondering questions, and prayers for your family for the next four weeks.
These boxes will be available in worship this Sunday, December 2nd
. If you are not able to get your box during worship on
Sunday
we will
mail it to you
.
If you did not get a box and would like one please contact Kevin at [email protected].
Calling All Cookie Bakers
Please sign up in the church office.
Deacons are asking for cookie donations for their Christmas luncheon at Ernest J. Bohn Senior Center on Tuesday, December 18. Please bring cookies labeled for marked for Ernest Bohn to the church office.
Giving Tree Gifts
Giving Tree Tag Selection: December 2 & 9 in the Reception Room.
The Deacons invite you to provide Christmas gifts for three of Covenant's mission partners: Cleveland School of the Arts, Ernest J. Bohn Center, and Daniel E. Morgan School.
Please bring gifts to Dowd Commons before worship on Sunday, December 16.
Dece
mber Book Discussion - Before I had the Words by Skyler Kergil
Sunday, Dece
mber 23rd 11:30 am in the Dowd Commons
In Befo
re I had The Words
,
You Tube Personality, Author, and Transgender Advocate, Skyler
Kergil
reflects on coming of age while struggling to understand his gender. This is
a grou
ndbreaking chronicle of change, loss, discovery, pain, and relief, Kergil brings an openness to his t
ransition from female to male and new meaning to the phrase "formative years." Copies of Before I
Had The Words
are available for purchase in the Church Office.
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We pray for
Judy Bourne, Sylvia Clapp (Sandy Ammon's mother), Akeya Clark (Marie Jones's niece),
Marlene &
Paul Dirksen, Rob Engel and Lynne Hoffman-Engel, Marlene & William Finkenthal (David Finkenthal's parents), Rolf (Crunch) and Marilyn Krotseng, Greg Madison, Barbara McGhee,
Bette Posch, Carol Roe,
Noelene Joy Rout,
Danita Wells, Anne Wombwell deConingh, 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.
 Pray for those affected by gun violence
Since a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, killing 26 people, 20 of them children; 1,068 people in Cuyahoga County have been killed by guns. Since last month, 16 more individuals have died by gun violence in Cuyahoga County. The names of those at least 18 years of age are: Devonte Orr, Danny Gonzalez Quelas, DeShawn Jordan, Maurice Edward Hodge, Roger Joseph Ashley, Keziah Lafayette Julianno Sims, Samuel Chiappetta, Dennis Joel Lucak, Helen Louise Lucak, James Harold Frank, Dylon Vincent Chmura, Sharon L. Bohland, Kevin Christopher Lewis, DiJohn D. Thomas, Gregory Black Sr, and Brandon Robert Lee. Six of those who died were by suicide.
Believing God calls us to be peacemakers, by Session action, we include in the Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession and Petition each month specific concern for people affected by gun violence and addressing the evil of gun violence in our nation, marked by the tolling of the tower bell. Join us, in this time of increased concern over deadly gun violence in our county, our country, and the world, in remembering and praying that God will show us the way to a new commitment to Peace on Earth. The Church of the Covenant partners with God Before Guns, a multi-faith coalition of individuals and faith communities created in the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary
Out of the Office:
Melanie Marsh Baum is on maternity leave through December 8th.
Jonathan Moyer is on recital leave from December 6th through December 9th, playing Handel's Messiah with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra.
Email Change:
Congregation member Martha Goble's email has been hacked. Please use her new email address
:
[email protected].
Please send prayer requests to
Amy Starr Redwine. 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
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Student News: Maddy Yankell will be preforming her Senior recital today at 12:00 pm in Harkness Chapel. All are invited to attend. Maddy has been an active member of Covenant Student Ministries and the Covenant Choir during her time at CWRU.
We Extend Our Gratitude to all the members of the congregation who participated in our Circle Fest events on Sunday! Your support made it possible for Covenant to be a safe place for families and our neighbors to come together and have fun.
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.
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Homeless Stand Down:
While you are doing your Christmas shopping, remember to buy items to support the Homeless Stand Down. They need the following items: new/gently used coats (XL only), boots (winter/waterproof), new men's and women's underwear, new men's and women's socks, and new/gently used scarves, hats and gloves. The deadline for items is Sunday, December 30.
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Tuesday Noon Organ Concerts
for Advent
December 4, 11, and 18
12:05-12:45 pm
Music and Readings for the season
December McGaffin Carillon Concerts
Monday-Friday, December 17-31
(except December 18, 25) 12:15 pm
Hear the McGaffin Carillon in informal 30-minute programs of winter, holiday-inspired music. A gift to the community from the Friends of the McGaffin Carillon! Go to ucbells.org for more information.
 Giving Tree Orchestra
& Chorus Sunday, December 16
Calling all instruments and voices! Dust off that French horn in your attic and join the Giving Tree Orchestra and Chorus. Open to those who can read music - all ages and experience levels. Sign up in the church office.
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New items priced to sell! Clearance on previous items. Quality furniture, lovely home accessories and costume jewelry. Shop on Saturday, December 8, 9am-1pm and Sunday, December 9, 10am-1pm. The warehouse is located at 4911 Commerce Parkway, Warrensville Heights, 44128.
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 and to see more items for sale, visit
www.touchedbycancer.org/warehouse
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11205 Euclid Avenue
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Cleveland, OH 44106
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