THE E-COURIER
NEWS & EVENTS
January 12 - 18, 2020
Thank you!
Thank you for your prayers and giving to help our church meet the year-end budget needs. Due to your generosity, your giving far exceeded the year-end budget needs. Please join us in praising the Lord for providing so generously.

Thank you also for everyone’s kindness at our Gather & Grow kick off on Sunday, January 5! We are thrilled everyone is excited! We are continuing to work out all the logistics and are grateful for your patience and assistance.
Looking for a Sunday School class? Check here.

Looking for a Community Connect? Check here.

Friendly Reminder: Several Sunday School classes begin at 9:00 am when Sunday School. They are the following: ALL children’s Sunday School, middle & high school Sunday School, the Membership Class, and the King’s Community.
What is Community Connect :
Community Connect is an opportunity for members and visitors to gather together with a pastoral community and to connect with elders and others in a fellowship setting. Here are a few helpful highlights about Community Connect:

  • Community Connect is not life stage communities and will not be run like our previous life stage communities.
  • You are welcome to meet with whichever pastoral community you’d like! The gathering time is just one option to get to know your elder shepherd, community pastor, and to fellowship with others.
  • All visitors and non-members are welcome and encouraged to join any Community Connect time!
  • If you don’t know which community to attend, click here, or stop by the information table in the foyer of the CLC or information desk in the main lobby on Sundays.
Worship Notes for Sunday, January 12
Morning Worship | 10:45AM
"A New Commandment"
John 13:21-38
Kevin DeYoung
Evening Worship | 6:00PM
"When God Laughs"
Psalm 2
Kevin DeYoung
To see the full order of worship, click here.
Items for Prayer This Week:
This group is tasked with working to improve the visitor experience and to guide non-members and members through the connection process to the glory of God. Please join us in praying for this Project Group:
• For unity for the team,
• For wisdom in the formulation of the connections vision document for how our church makes connections,
• For meaningful information to be gathered from the final focus groups in January.
To see additional ways to pray, click here.
Shane & Krista
They serve in a restricted area, as they share the truth. Pray for God to open more doors and to draw more of their coworkers, students, and neighbors to the Lord. Pray that they would depend on the Lord to guide their days – for good time management and rest. Pray that those they serve would feel loved and served through the events and workshops they create.
Persecuted Church in Nigeria
Pray for believers in Nigeria, including Christian workers and Nigerian citizens who have been subject to increasing persecution from ISIS affiliated militants. This group was responsible for the beheading of 11 Christians at the end of December. This was followed by an attack on Tawari, a majority Christian community, and resulted in the death of 15 people and the destruction of a church and school.
Unreached People Group: Buta-Ningi in Nigeria
There are no known Christians among the 56,000 Buta-Ningi people in Nigeria. Recently, the Butawa have begun to accept Islam as their religion. Less than half of all Butawa still follow their traditional ethnic beliefs. They traditionally worship family gods and ancestors at village shrines or in secret hidden places in the forests or in rocks. Pray for evangelistic work to bring the gospel to this tribe.
Local Presbytery:
Pastor Daniel Vinson
Events this Week
Monday, January 13, 7:00 pm

Invite a friend and join your brothers in Christ for dinner and the NCAA Championship Game on Monday, January 13! Dinner will be first at 7:00 pm followed by the game at 8:00 pm. Sign up by January 12 to contribute a main dish, side, drink, or dessert here.
Upcoming Events
Hinged: 2020 PCA Women's Conference | January 31 - February 1, 2020

Christ Covenant Church is hosting Hinged , the 2020 PCA Women's Conference - January 31 - February 1st.

There are Friday and/or Saturday attendance options and reduced registration for High School and College Students! For details and registration,  click here .

If you would be interested in being a table hostess on Friday night, please contact Staci Poston at  sposton@christcovenant.or g .
Summer Missions Informational Meeting | January 19
Are you interested in one of our summer mission opportunities in either Cabo or Atlantic City? Come learn more about these mission opportunities on Sunday, January 19 from 7:30pm-8:15pm in the high school auditorium.
Missions Conference is Coming!
"The Power of Partnering"
February 15 - 21

Christ Covenant’s Missions Conference is February 15-23 with guest speaker Pastor Conrad Mbewe from Zambia, Africa on Sunday, February 16!

We hope you will make plans to participate in various events during the conference.
Faith Promise at Work

Did you know......When you give to Faith Promise, your gift is supporting 60 supported workers (missionaries) living and serving in 24 different countries to share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Cooking for a Cause | February 17 - 21

During Missions Week, the week of February 17th, the Women’s Ministry will be hosting our 3rd Annual Cooking For A Cause! This is a time where groups of women meet in people’s homes (various dates and times) to prepare freezer meals and pray for missionaries. Would you be willing to open your home to a small group (5-6 ladies) and prepare 3 freezer meals (ingredients and recipes provided) and pray for local ministries? Please contact Staci Poston ( sposton@christcovenant.org) to learn more!
Meals with Our Supported Workers

Would you, your family, or small group be willing to host a visiting supported worker (missionary) for a meal during our Missions Conference? We have several supported workers arriving Saturday, February 15, through Tuesday, February 18. This is a great way to get to know a supported worker and what is going on around the world. If you are interested, contact Karen Chambers at kchambers@christcovenant.org.
International Cookie Bakers Needed

We will be serving coffee, tea, and cookies from around the world during our joint Sunday School during the missions conference on Sunday, February 16. We have several simple recipes for cookies. If you would like to serve in this way, sign up using the link, select your cookie, and bring 2 dozen. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4FAA6-bake. Have questions? Contact Karen Chambers at kchambers@christcovenant.org.
Don't Forget. . .
Elder & Deacon Nominations

The Session of our church will receive and consider nominations for the offices of elder and deacon the month of January with the last day to submit nominations on January 31. To be considered, the nominee must be male, a member of our church for at least two years by his election (June 2020), and nominated by two congregation members who are from different families. Nomination forms are available at the Information Desk in the main lobby and the tables outside the worship center doors. Completed forms may be given to a current officer, sent to Pastor Bernie Lawrence, or dropped in the offering. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Bernie Lawrence at blawrence@christcovenant.org or at 704-708-6110.
Women's Small Group Bible Study & Classes

Didn’t register for a women’s Bible study in the fall? No problem! January is a great time to jump in! There are weekly options meeting at various days, times, and durations (several with childcare)! Please visit our Women’s Ministry Bible Study page ( https://christcovenant.org/ministries/women/womens-bible-studies) for weekly study and short study details and registration.
Opportunities to Serve
Children's Ministry

The Children's Ministry is staffing for the new year and would love to have you serving alongside us! Join us as we sow seeds of discipleship in to the youngest members of our church. Contact Lindey Buiter at lbuiter@christcovenant.org or Mindy Thornton at mthornton@christcovenant.org if interested.
King's Community

The King's Community, a Sunday School class that serves those affected by disabilities, is seeking volunteers and helpers to serve during the Sunday School hour. No experience necessary. Expect to receive more then you give. Contact Tiphany Speck, tiphanyspeck@gmail.com, if interested.
Middle & High School
Students & Parents
2020 Youth Spring Retreat | March 27-28
Registration Is Open
Open to all middle and high school students (and friends). Cost is $150. This is a presbytery-wide retreat at Ridge Haven. Lots of activities and great times with friends. More details are on the registration page which opens January 5. CLICK HERE to register.

Due to the deadline requirements with the charter buses and Ridge Haven, registration will close February 24 at midnight.
Seek the City
Registration Opens February 2
Seek the City is our stay-at-home mission trip for students who have completed 6 th grade by June 2020 through 2020 graduates. Registration opens Feb. 2, 2020! Don't miss this great missions opportunity right here in our city!   
Covenant Day School
Coaches Needed at Covenant Day Athletics

Covenant Day Athletics is seeking additional coaches for the 2020 spring season. CDS Coaches must demonstrate strong leadership in player development, sportsmanship, integrity and Christian character development. Qualified candidates should possess strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, and must also demonstrate exceptional knowledge of the skills and strategies of the specified sport. If you are interested in a coaching position, please contact Athletic Director Sherry Kapelar at skapelar@covenantday.org
  
Openings exist at various levels in softball, golf, boys lacrosse, track and field, baseball, and girls soccer.
Interested in your student attending CDS?

Covenant Day School is now accepting applications for new students in grades TK-12 for the 2020-2021 school year. The deadline for application for new-to-CDS students is January 15, 2020, in order to be considered in the first round of decisions. If you would like additional information, please call the Admissions Office at 704-847-2385 to book a private tour or to chat with someone from the admissions team.

Visit  covenantday.org/apply  to complete the online application.
Pastors' Blogs
This email is our e-Courier weekly newsletter, which complements with the printed copy, The Courier , which can be picked up on Sundays at the doors outside the sanctuary. After it goes out by email, it is made available on the  News  page of our website. On that page, you can read past versions of the newsletter as well as specific news items about our events in greater detail.