Katherine Cooke Kerr will serve as Covenant's Senior Associate Pastor for Congregational Life and Pastoral Care following a vote by the congregation on Sunday.

Katherine, whose first day is Oct. 21, comes to Covenant from First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, where she has served as associate pastor for 11 years. Katherine is known to many at Covenant, having served as acting director of Mission and Outreach and director of Young Adults ministries in 2001-02. Read more here.

Bring a picnic and join Covenant folks on the patio near the magnolia tree for the finale of Open Picnic Table. Becky Stout, Covenant's new preschool director, will join us to say hello. Trikes, bikes and scooters are welcome. No RSVP needed!

Students of all ages, bring your school bags to worship to receive a prayer for the new school year. We'll pack school supplies in support of mission partners and hear an inspiring message from Erin Barksdale, new principal at Highland, our CMS partner school.

Hear from artists  Ellie Morgan,  Ron Boozer and  Carla Leaf as part of a series exploring professional life in the context of faith. This week's focus is on visual and performing arts. Mary Parrish Coley is facilitator.

With her warmth, patience and unwavering love for children, Anne has been an abiding presence in the journeys of Covenant families - often from the moment they enter the Education Wing. Anne's last day on the staff is Aug. 31.

All are invited to celebrate Anne, who has served the Presbyterian Church faithfully in ministry for 40 years, the last nine being here at Covenant. 

Covenant will hold unified traditional worship at 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary on Sunday, Sept. 1 to coincide with Labor Day Weekend. The Covenant Choir and soloist Ryan Harrison will be with us. No Sunday School. Child care is available.

• Labor Day service opportunity: Consider preparing dinner for families living in emergency shelter through Charlotte Family Housing. Contact Julia Watkins.

• Children's Choir Enrollment Party, Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 5:45 p.m.: Children in grades K-5 are invited to join Mrs. Heather and Mr. Rob to celebrate the start of a new year. Rehearsals begin the following week.
   
• Open Table Kickoff Talent Show, Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m.: Hear musicians, comedians and performers and enjoy a cookout-style meal. Share your talent!
   
• Youth Fall Preview Dinner, Sunday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.: Youth and parents are invited to preview the season ahead, learn about our theme for the year and meet Martin Pruitt, our new high school director.

Covenant welcomes Susan Sparks, a comedian, Baptist minister and
best-selling author whose work has been featured in national outlets.  Dinner is available beginning at 6 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres will be passed throughout the evening. Children's dinner is 5 to 6 p.m.  Make reservations.

Join Covenant friends for one of several hiking options around Linville Falls, then meet for barbecue and social time at Suzanne and Bob Henderson's nearby home. We'll carpool from Covenant at 8 a.m. or you can meet us at the trailhead at 10 a.m. The drive to Linville is about two hours. Details here.

Our general contractor recently installed a tree and planter in the upper parking lot to comply with city ordinances regarding parking surfaces. Two parking spaces were removed to make room for the tree. In other news:

• The Circle driveway now offers greater accessibility to everyone who visits campus.
• The Welcome Center exterior is almost complete and interior work is moving quickly.
• The Education Wing building is on schedule for all four schools this fall and our staff has moved into refurbished offices.
• A couple of issues may delay the new Fellowship Hall elevator until later in the fall, but the building will be ready for use in September.
• Work on the Dilworth Road entrance will soon begin and the impacted areas will be landscaped, including The Point. 

Learn about the mission of Samaritan House, a Covenant partner providing recuperative care for people who are experiencing homelessness following a hospital stay. During the visit, we'll serve dinner to residents. Meet Lucy Crain and the missions team to carpool from the church. RSVP here.