THE E-COURIER
NEWS & EVENTS
December 24-January 1, 2021
All are invited to join us for our annual Lessons and Carols and Candlelight Christmas Eve Service on Friday, December 24, at 6:00 pm. This is a great time to bring family and friends for a special night of worship as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! If you are unable to attend in-person, we will be livestreaming the worship service online at christcovenant.org/live and on our YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo platforms. Links to each platform can be found at christcovenant.org/live.
Children’s programs are available for ages 4 months - 35 months.
Poinsettias
Thank you to everyone who helped make our sanctuary beautiful this Christmas season with your purchased poinsettia either in honor or in memory of someone. Thank you also to our hard-working Operations Department for making our entire worship center beautiful with all of the Christmas decorations! Poinsettias may be picked up immediately following the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. To see the printed courier for Christmas Eve, click here.
Our Special Christmas Eve Offering
PCA Retirement & Benefits Ministerial Relief
Our Christmas Eve worship service will include a special offering designated for the help of PCA pastors, pastors’ widows, church employees and their families who need assistance with financial, spiritual, and emotional needs. The work of Ministerial Relief is 100% funded through the generosity of individuals and churches.

Established in 1973, the PCA Retirement and Benefits Ministerial Relief fund uses offerings from congregations like ours to assist pastors and their families. These ministry workers often find themselves in seasons of hardship in addition to the emotional and financial constraints of pastoral work. The relief fund can partner with pastors and churches to support ministry employees and their families in need by extending both help and prayer.

Those eligible for assistance from the fund include pastors, widows, retired or disabled pastors, missionaries, pastors’ wives, RUF campus pastors, and church employees. Their need for ministry services grows from year to year. Every month the wife of a PCA pastor becomes a widow who may need ongoing assistance. In addition, the number of PCA pastors retiring without sufficient savings will double in the next five years, and 80% of pastors’ wives would access Christian counseling if offered.

The fund provides financial assistance to PCA church servants and their families to help with basic expenses like food, housing, medical costs, and more. This help can be for a brief period or as needed for the care of widows or the disabled. The fund also provides access to affordable and confidential Christian counseling services to pastors and pastors’ wives through ministry partners. Ministerial Relief is known as a trusted ministry of compassion to PCA church servants. To read the stories of individuals who have been helped or to learn more visit https://pcarbi.org/relief/.

Please place all special communion offering gifts in an envelope (found in pews) and label it ‘Special Offering’ and include the name of the ministry before placing your gift in one of the tithe boxes located inside the sanctuary at our main doors in the north, south and toward the main lobby. You can also give to the special offering online by clicking here. Thank you for your gift!
This Week at Christ Covenant
If you are unable to join us in person, we hope you will join us on the livestream.
Sunday Morning | 10:45 am

"The Dangers of a Different Jesus"
2 Corinthians 11:1-15
Kevin DeYoung
Sunday Evening| 6:00 pm

"Wisdom from the Fool's Speech"
2 Corinthians 11:16-33
Alberto Paredes
To download and/or print the bulletin for worship this Sunday,
click on one of the boxes below or click here.
We have a Christmas playlist on our Spotify channel! You can find it by clicking here.
Spotify is a great way for all of us - young and old - to be able to learn songs we sing together in worship, especially during our Christmas season. You can find this week's playlistby clicking here.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Rom 12:15
Sympathy to:
Marti Peterson on the loss of her father, Haines A. Maxwell, Sr.
Prayer Guides
We hope you will take time to submit your confidential prayer requests either online at ChristCovenant.org/members/prayer or by email at prayer@christcovenant.org. Your pastors and staff are continually praying for you!

We have new prayer guides for your use that can be found at christcovenant.org/prayer. Each prayer guide is printable after downloading and can be found below.
Year-End Giving
Gifts to the church in December are a significant part of our annual income and help support more than 50 ministries. Generally, gifts to the church in the form of checks or cash that are mailed (and postmarked) by December 31 or delivered in person to the church office by 4:30 pm on Friday, December 31, should be deductible for tax purposes. You may also take advantage of our secure online giving (under the Giving tab on our website). God blesses Christ Covenant through your gifts, and they are greatly appreciated. Call the Church Finance Office at 704-847-3505 with any questions or for more information, including details on handling stock/fund or IRA transfers.
A Tax Benefit for Seniors
If you are 70 ½ or older, you may be eligible for a significant tax savings when making gifts to the church. Here’s how that works. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from an IRA account are typically subject to income taxes; however, payments made directly from an IRA to the church (trustee to trustee transfer) will not be subject to income taxes for many qualifying Seniors. If you are interested in making a financial gift to the church, this may be an opportunity for you to give and save taxes at the same time. This is a great idea for 2021 December giving as well as good planning for next year. Be sure to check with your tax advisor to see if this is right for you, and please be mindful of year-end deadlines (see Year-End Giving). For church-related questions, contact the Church Finance Office at 704-847-3505.
Sunday School Begins January 9, 2022
We hope you are looking forward to a new Sunday School semester with new class offerings. All Sunday School classes begin at 9:00 am. We have a variety of classes. Our classes will run on a 13-week, 7-week or 6-week schedule, as noted in each description in the Sunday School booklet that can be found in the worship center. You can also read about the classs offerings on our website by clicking here. We hope you will find a class that will benefit your relationship with Christ and connect you with others.

Our pastors are looking forward to hosting a time of fellowship and prayer each Sunday morning as we begin class. Regular discipleship and fellowship is a vital part of learning to stand on truth and walk in grace together. If you have any questions about Sunday School, please email info@christcovenant.org.
Registration is Open for the New Member Class
Deadline to Register is January 9
The New Member Class is for adults and students 9th grade and above who wish to join Christ Covenant Church. Our Senior Pastor, Kevin DeYoung teaches this class, which covers Church history, Reformed Theology, worship, what it means to be a member of Christ Covenant and practical pointers for being a part of a big church. This class is required for those seeking to join Christ Covenant Church. Our next New Member Class will be held during Sunday School beginning January 16, 2022. The class will meet for 6 weeks from 9:00 am – 10:20 am. If you are interested in attending, please contact Barry Peterson at bfpeterson@christcovenant.org to register by January 9.
Ministry Highlight:
Biblical Counseling Training Opportunity
Tuesday, January 18
The book, How People Change, describes 6 common facts found in many churches:
Fact 1: Each week, there are people in our church with a multitude of problems.
Fact 2: The Bible says we have everything we need to help these people (2 Peter 1:3).
Fact 3: People usually seek help first from a friend, family member, or pastor before going to a professional counselor
Fact 4: These people will get either no help, bad help, or gospel-centered help from that friend, family member, or pastor.
Fact 5: If they don’t get meaningful help, they will look elsewhere.
Fact 6: They will seek to help others with whatever they found helpful.

The Biblical Counseling Ministry at Christ Covenant exists to provide gospel-centered help to those in need—“God’s care through God’s people.” It is rooted in the truth that God’s Word is sufficient, authoritative, and relevant for life and godliness (2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3-4). It is focused on the practical application of the Gospel in the trials and issues of life as we seek to become more like Christ. If you often find yourself drawn to those who are hurting and struggling, yet feel inadequate to help or fear giving the wrong answer then this training may be for you.

Christ Covenant Church is looking to expand our lay-counseling ministry by equipping those who sense God’s call to this important work or are simply looking to be able to provide gospel-centered counsel as you cross paths with those in need. Bob Goudzwaard will be hosting an informational session on Tuesday, January 18, at 7:00 pm in the Community Life Center (CLC) Chapel. Any questions, email Bob Goudzwaard at bgoudzwaard@christcovenant.org.
Women’s Winter/Spring Bible Studies
Registration is open for those who would like to jump into one of our Bible studies this winter or spring! Our Thursday morning study in particular is designed to be entered at any point throughout the year. Childcare is available for select daytime studies! We hope that you will consider joining us as we study God’s Word this year! Visit https://christcovenant.org/womensbiblestudies/ to learn more about each study and to register.
Prayer regarding Elder and Deacon Nomination
Beginning January 2, 2022 and the for the entire month of January, the Session of our church will receive and consider nominations for the offices of elder and deacon. Through these offices Christ rules and shepherds his church. Would you prayerfully consider who you believe could serve our church well as an elder or deacon? All nominees must be male and a member of our church for at least two years by his election (June 2022).
Join a Small Group in the New Year
As we celebrate this Advent season, we remember that Jesus came to dwell with us. Right on the other side of Christmas is a New Year! It may seem tiring to think of now but the start of a new year (and the coldness of winter) is a great time to get connected to the body of Christ and experience the warmth of fellowship. If you would like to connect with others in a small group reach out to Tom Buiter at tbuiter@christcovenant.org.
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
Does passion for God fuel your purpose? Do you want to be a blessing as much as to be blessed? Is your prayer “Your kingdom come, Your will be done?” Join us the evening of January 12 for the first of 15 Perspectives on the World Christian Movement and see what God is up to in your life and in the world. Join us in South Charlotte at Providence Road Church of Christ and register today by clicking here. Have questions? Contact Mike Miller at mmiller@christcovenant.org.
Envision Capital Campaign
We are hoping to have 100% of the congregation participate in the Envision capital campaign. We are currently at 73%. It’s not too late to turn in your pledge card for the Envision capital campaign! Pledge cards and information about the many upgrades and changes we hope to accomplish through Envision can be found in the brochures and booklets in the worship center and online. You can also make a pledge online at christcovenant.org/envision. We currently have 73% of families participating and $1,000,245 pledges toward our goal of $1,500,000.
Ways to Pray for Envision
  1. The Project – That all of those who work on the new facilities might know His ways, His compassion, His Grace (Psalm 103:7-8)
  2. The Church – That we would each see our role in this time to build for generations to come (Psalm 103:14-18)
  3. The Mission – That we would grow more and more to be a people who rightly and contagiously praise God (Psalm 103:1)
Pastors' Blogs
Employment Opportunities
Current opportunities at Christ Covenant include:
• Facilities Maintenance (full-time)
Covenant Day School is hiring for various positions. Details can be found at https://www.covenantday.org/about-us/employment
Watching our Budget
Thank you for your tithes and gifts to all of the ministries of Christ Covenant.
You can give online by clicking here.
Please continue to pray for God’s provision throughout 2021.
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.
All are invited to join us for worship either in-person or on the livestream at 10:45 am each Sunday morning and at 6:00 pm each Sunday evening. The livestream can be found on our homepage ChristCovenant.org, Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo