This Sunday, Dec. 15
3rd Sunday of Advent
8:30 & 11:00am Worship Services
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Transformational Waiting
Our scripture reading for this Sunday begins with a familiar text:
1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.’”
Matthew 3:1-3 [NRSV]
John the Baptist appears in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (vv. 1-2). The kingdom might sound like a fantasy to some, but John says it’s very close, and he prepares people to enter it by baptizing them in the river Jordan (v. 6).
Repentance calls us to turn away from our sin, confess, and strive to sin no more. Repent, confess and fall into the water. Or keep sinning and be cut down and thrown into the fire. That’s the stark contrast John presents to the people, the life-changing choice he forces them to make.
Life is a spiritual adventure, and it begins when we “fall into water” and then climb out transformed. Moving forward in faith, we serve the mission of Jesus and bear good fruit for the kingdom of heaven.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Jeri-Lynne
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Mission Study Face-to-Face Feedback
50 min. after all services, Sun., Dec. 15 & Jan. 5
We are looking forward to hearing from you in person at the Mission Study Open
All members are invited to come THIS Sun., Dec. 15, to one of three
Mission Study Open Forums
for 50 minutes after each of the three services:
After 8:30 Service: From 9:40 to 10:30 in the Lounge
After 10:00 Service: From 11:10 to 12:00 in the Lounge
After 11:00 Serve: From 12:10 to 1:00 in the Fellowship Hall
Please come even if you responded to the survey in November; we were so grateful for this feedback, but we need your input in these
Open Forums
to delve further into issues in a rich discussion format. Any question related to the Mission Study will be fair game, but our facilitators will help us narrow in, with the benefit of our loving community of believers, on
1) WHERE IS COVENANT NOW, and 2) WHERE IS GOD CALLING US TO GO.
If you can’t make it this Sunday, add to your calendar an identical opportunity on Sun., Jan. 5.
Also, check out the display in the church’s hallway where we share initial results from the survey. Responding to the question, “
What programs do you love best at Covenant?
, WORSHIP clearly won the prize as our most-beloved program. The bar-chart display shows that the other 5 program options fared well, too. Additionally, in answering the open question of “
Please describe the qualities you are looking for in our new pastor,
” many respondents mentioned the importance of finding a good
preacher/ sermon-izer/ public speaker/ orator
. For example, one respondent said, “
challenging, thought-provoking sermons
”. Another said, “
exceptionally strong preacher - dynamic, engaging, creative; excellent public speaker with the ability to take the lectionary and transform it into a relevant message...I want to leave church on Sundays with a guide to living in a more Christ-like way.
” Indeed, worship, sermons, and all our efforts here at Covenant help us to live in a more Christ-like way.
Remember: “
You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes... Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe…. So...for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline…. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it..."
Colossians 3:9-17, selected phrases,
THE MESSAGE
.
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Hallelujah: The Bible and Handel’s Messiah
Thursdays, Dec. 12, 19, 6pm, Chapel
Sundays, Dec. 15, 22, 9:45-10:45am, Pastor’s Office
You may love the music, but do you know the scripture? This is a study for both the music lover and the biblical seeker, it explores the scriptural texts of Handel's Messiah. We’ll listen to clips of this masterpiece and study its biblical lyrics. Pastor Jeri-Lynne facilitating.
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In Search of Belief
(and Sandwiches)
Sundays thru Dec. 15, 12:15 dine; 12:30 learn
Sun., Dec. 15 -
The Meaning & Legacy of the Virgin Birth
Katie
leads. Are we to take this literally as a sign of God’s power? Is the metaphoric meaning perhaps even more important were we to explore that? Why is this assertion part of our historic creeds? What impact has this part of the story had on the real lives of women?
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Spiritual Cinema -
Songcatcher
Mon., Dec. 16, 6:30-9pm, Lounge
This film is about a musicologist researching and collecting Appalachian folk music in the mountains of western North Carolina.
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The Longest Night Service
Wed., Dec. 18, 7pm, Sanctuary
Christmas is full of joy, but our hearts may have heaviness. This service offers a holy space in which we honor that pain and seek tender comfort. Need a ride or have questions, contact
Katie Kinnison or Charlotte Sharpe.
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Order Your Christmas Poinsettias
Only $8 each. Mon., Dec. 16 Deadline
Commemorate a special life event, loved one, or the holiday season by purchasing a poinsettia. Sign up and pay with PayPal on our
website. Or use a signup sheet on the welcome table in the hall, then pay by sending a check made out to
Covenant with
flowers in the memo line to Ingrid Smith in the church office.
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Covenant’s Advent Devotional
Pick up your printed copy of Covenant’s 2019 Advent Devotional in the hall or access it on our
website.
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Sunday nursery caregiver needed beginning in January. 8:15am-12:15pm. Paid position. Contact
Erin Wise.
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Covenant's Children’s Center Seeks Teacher...
After-School Teacher (K-5th grade)
For details, contact Caroline McGeoch, Director of the Children’s Center
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Our Mission
Covenant Presbyterian Church is an open, accepting community awakening to God's life-giving love together.
Our Vision
Covenant Presbyterian Church glorifies God and builds relationships with Christ and each other through: worship that inspires, nurture that embraces, education that challenges,
fellowship that energizes, ministry that responds.
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