To download and/or print the bulletin for worship this Sunday,

click on one of the boxes below or click here.

We will be using Spotify to make a playlist of some of the songs we will be singing during Sunday worship. This is a great way for all of us - young and old - to be able to learn songs we sing together in worship. You can find this week's playlist by clicking here. You'll need a Spotify account to log in if you do not have one. Spotify is a resource to play and share music on various digital devices, and we hope you'll enjoy this added feature.

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.

This morning our deacons are asking us to prayerfully consider a gift to the Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) Partnership. Today’s special offering is designated for seminary scholarships to assist new and current students with the cost of their education at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS).

These scholarships make it possible for gifted believers to become seminary students and develop as future leaders who are trained and mentored by professors who honor God’s Word. These funds are vital in removing obstacles for current students, and they are critical for the health and growth of the next generation of Christian leaders.

We need more pastors and professors, writers and speakers, teachers and counselors who believe that the Bible is true and know how to share that truth with anyone. We need young leaders who have been equipped to minister in a world that is hostile to Christianity. We need dedicated students and seminary graduates who are called to careers in Christian service. We need committed believers who will surround seminarians with prayer and loving support.

Your gift today will help RTS fulfill its mission of preparing students to fill all the roles the church will need in the days to come. Your gift will be used by God first to encourage each scholarship recipient, then to touch thousands of people who will be affected by the work of these students over a lifetime of ministry.

To learn more about RTS and opportunities for partnership please visit www.rts.edu.

We invite you to pick up an Envision bookmark found in the pews on Sunday. We are hoping to have 100% of the congregation participate in the Envision capital campaign and are aiming for 70% participation by September. We are currently at 54% right now and the bookmarks are colored in to 50%. We invite you to pick up a bookmark and each time we increase in participation, you can color in your bookmark.

Join us in praying for Envision! We are envisioning having one person praying every day at 5:30 pm through the end of the campaign to pray specifically for the Envision capital campaign. You can sign up by clicking here or by visiting christcovenant.org. We have also included specific ways you can pray for Envision. Would you join us by signing up for one or more days to pray for the Envision capital campaign?

It’s not too late to turn in your pledge card for the Envision Capital Campaign! You can pick up either a booklet or a brochure and a pledge card to learn more about the many upgrades and changes we hope to accomplish through Envision! Both the booklet and the brochure have pledge cards that can be filled out and submitted. Pledge cards can be turned in at the offering boxes located inside the sanctuary at the main, south, north and main balcony exits. You can also make a pledge online at christcovenant.org/envision. We currently have 54% of families participating and $773,237 pledges toward our goal of $1,500,000.

Men, are you looking for a great way to serve our church? We invite men ages 16 and older who are members of our church to join the worship coordinator ministry to serve as an usher just one Sunday a month. Ushers are a vital part of our Sunday worship. Our usher teams arrive to Sunday worship just a little early to hand out bulletins, greet guests and members as they enter the sanctuary, and assist individuals and families looking for a seat. They also assist in the offering portion of our worship when our offering bags were passed during worship. We would like to begin passing the offering bags and have ushers at our doors leading into the sanctuary once again, but we need willing men to serve as ushers. As Bernie Kuiper once said “If someone asks you to serve, don’t say “I’ll pray about it.” What’s to pray about? There’s a need. You can fill it. Step up.” Don’t miss out on the blessing that comes from serving your church body. If you would like more information, have questions, or would like to sign up to serve, ushers are at tables in each of the three lobbies after the morning worship. Look for the small sign on the table “Worship Coordinator Information Here.” Have questions or want to serve? Contact Douglas Graham at graham_of_montrose@yahoo.com or (704) 361-1911.

All women’s Bible studies registration opens on August 1. We invite you to visit christcovenant.org/womens-ministry to see the various Bible study options. We have studies with various levels of time commitment, and studies that meet in the mornings and the evenings. If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Caldwell at tcaldwell@christcovenant.org.

All are invited to join the Outreach and Missions department on August 8, after the evening worship service in the Community Life Center rooms 1 & 2 (CLC) to hear from our missionaries Tim and Barbie who have served for many years in a restricted location. We will enjoy refreshments as we hear what God is doing in their country of service. Bring your whole family!

It has been so long since our elementary school kids have been together! There are two Sundays left this summer when we are going to do an in-person “Sunday Evening School” during evening worship on August 8 and August 22 for our rising 1st through 5th graders. Kids will go to evening worship with their families and then will join the children’s ministry team in the Community Life Center (CLC) halfway through the service. Parents, you will need to check your child in at the welcome center in the north lobby to get your child a nametag before walking over to the CLC. We encourage you to sign up by clicking here. Have questions? Email Amy Wallace, the Director of Children’s Ministry at awallace@christcovenant.org.

This short, Saturday morning class is for those new to the Christian faith and desire to connect at Christ Covenant Church. We will discuss questions like…What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? What do we believe about God and the Bible? Why are prayer and worship important for the Christian? In addition to engaging teaching on these topics, there will be time for fellowship and meeting people from our connections team. Childcare is available.

This class will meet on Saturday, August 21, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Community Life Center rooms 1 & 2 (CLC). If you are interested in attending, please contact Michelle Gustavson at mgustavson@christcovenant.org to register by August 16. If childcare is needed, please email Michelle to register your child.

We are looking for men and women to be trained in the use of our kitchen facilities located in the Community Life Center (CLC). Kitchen host/ hostesses are utilized when there is an event that uses our main kitchen. Being a host/hostess does not require you to be a great cook or to love washing dishes, just a willingness to serve.  If you have been previously trained and would like a refresher course, you are also welcome. We will hold two training times: Wednesday, August 25 at 7:00 pm or Thursday, August 26 at 9:45 am. Please contact Allison Moseley to register amoseley@christcovenant.org.

The New Member Class is for adults and students 9th grade and above who wish to join Christ Covenant Church. Our pastors teach this class, which reviews Christ Covenant’s philosophy of ministry, the reformed faith, the Presbyterian form of government, the vows of church membership, and other topics pertinent to church membership. This class is required for those seeking to join Christ Covenant Church. Our next New Member Class will be held during Sunday School beginning August 29. The class will meet for 6 weeks from 9:00 am – 10:20 am. If you are interested in attending, please contact Michelle Gustavson at mgustavson@christcovenant.org to register by August 22.

The map above with the colored sections shows where the mask-required section is currently located during our morning worship service. This section also has social distancing. The majority of the sanctuary is mask-optional with no social distancing in the pews.

We are excited to be planning a Fall Sunday School Kick-off for all ages on August 29 with a return to in-person Sunday School. Since we have not had Sunday School in-person for some time, we are asking all families to register their children for Fall Sunday School. This will greatly help our children’s ministry know how to plan and how to staff all children’s programs. We also ask that you register each child entering fifth grade and younger online by clicking here. We are looking forward to having your child back in children’s Sunday School!

Registration is open for the Senior Adults Fall Retreat on October 5-8, 2021 at the Bonclarken Conference Center with guest speaker Dr. Paul Engle. Come and meet new friends and get re-acquainted with old friends as we enjoy time in the mountains with each other and the Lord. Single rooms cost $299, and double rooms cost $185 per person. Cost for couples is $370. Cost includes room, 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and retreat incidental costs. Full payment is due by August 31. Make checks payable to Christ Covenant Church with ‘Senior Adult Retreat’ written in the memo line, and either mail (to Lucille Ruths c/o Christ Covenant) or give to Lucille. If you have any questions, please contact Lucille Ruths at either 704-846-4074 or lmruths@gmail.com.

Dear Christ Covenant Family,

Please forgive our delay in thanking you for such a wonderful retirement farewell on June 27. My family and I were so very encouraged and honored by the service as well as the outpouring of your kind and encouraging words. Life in a fallen world has taught me over the years to temper my expectations of times and occasions I’m anticipating. But I must say, and Pat surely agrees, June 27 greatly exceeded our hopes and expectations! And so, we want to acknowledge our gratitude and love for each of you for the privilege of allowing me to serve as one of your pastors for so long as well as for the fond farewell.

I want to offer particular thanks to Pastor DeYoung who patiently waited for and emceed the occasion with such pastoral care and concern and to Pastor George who managed to arrange a beautiful liturgy for the service that included so many of my preferences. Thanks also to the wonderful staff, colleagues of Christ Covenant, who helped make my years of service a delight. Finally, I would thank the elders and deacons for the generous gifts as well as many years of loving and faithful service together for Christ’s Gospel.

May our Lord grant you His continual favor in your union with Him.

Most gratefully in Christ,

Bernie and Pat Lawrence

The Broadaway family has been serving in South Africa with Campus Outreach. They are looking for a home that is near Matthews and ideally would have space for homeschooling while they are on sabbatical from September 13 - November 19. The home would need to be furnished as this is a temporary arrangement for them. They are able to pay rent but the more affordable the better as they have increased expenses while in USA. If you have a home that is available, please contact James Broadaway at either jbroadaway@gmail.com or 1-863-280-1235.

Current opportunities at Christ Covenant include:

Pastor/Director of Youth Ministry

Details: christcovenant.org/aboutus/employment

Covenant Day School is currently accepting applications for several new roles in both academic and administrative departments. To learn more or to apply online, click here.

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.