WELCOME TO CHURCH OF THE COVENANT:
We
are delighted to welcome you to our community of faith! If you are new to our community, we hope you will feel at home and welcomed during Sunday's service. If you would like to get to know us better, please fill out a visitor's card found in your pew. Every third Sunday of the month, following worship, we hold a potluck lunch downstairs in Bates Hall all, a place where visitors can meet some of our leaders and to learn more about this community of faith. Our next potluck is Sunday, December 16 and all are heartily invited to attend!
CHRISTMAS JOY/CHRISTMAS FUND SPECIAL OFFERING:
Please give generously this Sunday by using the enclosed envelopes
to the PCUSA Christmas Joy Offering, which is shared equally by the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, which provides much-needed assistance to PC(USA) church workers and their families, and Presbyterian-affiliated racial ethnic schools and colleges,
which enable students to develop their gifts and find their calling; and to the UCC Christmas Fund Offering, a ministry that cares for the active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ. Any money placed in offering plate not in the envelopes, will go toward the ongoing ministry of COTC.
CARD LOVE:
The Deacons will have two cards at the back of the church on Sunday, one for Jennifer Wegter-Mcnelly and her family and another card for Reine and Elsa Abele. Please come by to add your good wishes to the cards.
ADVENT WREATH MAKING:
Before and after the service in Bates Hall, please come join us in making your own Advent Wreath with candles thanks to our CYCE committee.
FREE ORGANIC FAIR TRADE COFFEE:
Every Sunday! Yes, join us down in Bates Hall, before and after worship, for a free cup of coffee and conversation (or just the coffee if you'd prefer
J
) - there is always something good brewing at COTC...
FROM PARISH PASTOR TO COLLEGE CHAPLAIN, A TRANSITION IN OUR COMMUNITY: This week, we shared the news that Rev. Julie Avis Rogers will be ending her time at Covenant as she has accepted the position of Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and Campus Chaplain at Emerson College. We will recognize her final Sunday with us on Sunday, January 13. In case you did not see the letters that went out this week about this significant change in our community,
please click here for letters from Revs. Julie and Rob that more fully explain this announcement and transition. This Sunday's worship service will also include an opportunity hear some reflections from both Julie and Rob about this news.
CHANGES TO BATES HALL:
Please note, in our ongoing effort to create and maintain Safe and Welcoming Spaces in our church building, beginning today, we will designate our Bates Hall fellowship space fully to our children, youth, parents, caregivers and teachers, during the worshiping hour (
approximately 10:30-11:30am).
We ask congregants and visitors to refrain from descending into Bates Hall (the fellowship hall in our "basement") during this worship time. As always, our two all-gender restrooms on the first floor will remain open and available to all during the service (one located near the elevator, one just outside the "secret door" in the sanctuary, just past the baptismal font). Also, the small bathroom just in front of our Nursery will now only be used for children and youth on Sundays. Please ask Rob or ushers if you have questions - thanks!
FOR A DEVOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY DURING ADVENT, COTC'S GENEROSITY GENERATORS RECOMMEND ADVENT UNWRAPPED:
a collection of blogs and videos that explore four unforeseen gifts hidden within the Nativity story: Encouragement, Perseverance, Readiness and Humility. They will invite you to create some space within the busyness of Christmas, to unwrap the truly generous message of the
Advent
season. You can sign up
here
.
20-30s GROUP AT COVENANT:
We have an active young adult group that meets regularly to share meals, visit sites around New England, and discuss how our faith motivates and guides us to live through this unique life stage. This fall we've already ventured through Cape Cod, apple orchards and a delicious afternoon tea! Our next event together will be Christmas Cookie baking and decorating (to both enjoy and support our Deacons ministry of holiday hospitality) on Saturday December 15, from 2-4pm at Julie's apartment in Watertown. We will coordinate rides. If you'd like to join us, or be added to the email listserv, email Rev. Julie at rev.julieavisrogers@gmail.com.
POINSETTIA MEMORIALS DEADLINE
: If you would like to honor your loved ones with a poinsettia plant in our sanctuary, please fill out the form enclosed in the bulletin this Sunday, place it in offering plate today or next week, or let the church office know by Sunday, December 16.
ANNUAL MEETING - SAVE THE DATE:
Our Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, February 3, 2019 after church. The deadline for submitting annual reports to the church office at info@cotcbos.org is Monday, January 7, 2019.
INSTANT CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AND SPECIAL MUSIC ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16:
One of our Covenant traditions is back next Sunday and ALL are invited to participate in a spontaneous and fun re-telling of the Christmas story for all ages. This is a great Sunday to bring the young and young-at-heart folks in your life to celebrate the season in this community. This Sunday's service will also include special music from our Covenant choir.
HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES:
Please note that the Church Office will be closed from the 12/24 through Jan. 1. The office will reopen on Tues Jan 2.
SUPPORTING OUR BELOVED SIBLING IN CHRIST ELSA ABELE:
Our beloved Elsa LOVES simple "thinking of you"/ Christmas cards - address:
Elsa Abele, Havenwood Heritage Heights, 33 Christian Ave., Room 152, Concord, NH 03301
UPCOMING EVENTS AT COTC:
The New England Conservatory Prep School will hold their concert on Dec. 15th in the
Sanctuary at 7pm. All are welcome.
MISSED GIVING TUESDAY??? NO PROBLEM!!!
Thanks to our COTC Generosity Generators, we can all now give fully online and set up automatic, recurring giving to the life and ministry of our beloved church. Simply click on the "Give" tab on our website to do some generous clicking! THANK YOU!! http://www.cotcbos.org/give.html
