Welcome to Windows on Covenant, your weekly guide to the life of the church.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

As this time of sabbatical begins to wind down, my gratitude deepens for the rare privilege of sustained renewal and refreshment. I’m deeply aware that few are afforded such opportunity, and Suzanne and I have certainly sought to make the most of it. Let me share a few thoughts before we spend the final week or two visiting family and returning home.

Read Bob's full letter. 

This Week at Covenant

This Sunday, July 24, we continue our sermon series "I'd like to hear a sermon about..." with a message from Katherine, who will be delivering a sermon about fear. Participate in the Sanctuary or online at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Be sure to join us for Summer Fellowship Hour from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Welcome Center for snacks and small talk.

Plus, at 9:30 a.m. the worship team will be doing a fun "Glee" mashup with some Gloria Gaynor and Destiny's Child flavor. Don't miss it!

The summer series has been a time of mutual learning and transformation as we've been in conversation with our neighbors of different faith backgrounds. We are now transitioning to the second part of the summer series, where we'll explore how Christianity is expressed in different ways. We'll hear from panelists of the Latter-Day Saints tradition, from a Catholic deacon and a lay leader, how Christianity is expressed in Indigenous communities, and more! This Sunday you are invited to participate in our panel on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where we'll hear from Darin Cheney and Diane Sheppard on what makes their faith practices distinct and how their faith influences their daily living. 

Join us in person from 9:30-10:30 a.m. or via Zoom with your questions and be transformed by the sharing of stories.

Be sure to join us next Sunday for a panel on World Christianity as we hear from Covenant members who have found learning and growth in their faith by experiencing Christianity in an international context.

Covenant is offering a support group led by Katherine Kerr for anyone who is grieving. The next session is this Thursday, July 21 at 11:30 a.m. in the Parlor. 

Come to Covenant for good food with good friends of different faiths! From 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. this Thursday, July 21, Covenant is hosting our quarterly Living Room Conversations dinner with our friends from the Bahai, Sikh, and Baptist faith traditions to discuss what it means to listen courageously across differences.

We hope you’ll join us as we come together to build relationships on our shared humanity that go beyond the divides of tribalism.

Please bring a vegetarian dish to the event to accommodate diverse religious requirements and personal preferences.

Sign up here. 

News & Announcements

Covenant is pleased to announce that Andrea Nelson joins the food service team as a Chef/Kitchen Assistant. Andrea has an extensive background in the food service industry which includes operating her own catering business. She is a graduate of the Culinary Arts program at the Art Institute of Michigan. 

We also welcome Laurel Falby to the food service team. Laurel was the Executive Chef at First United Methodist for 9 years where she was responsible for the CDC meals. 

Please join us in welcoming these new faces to Covenant!

With the recent changes in Mecklenburg County's positivity testing rate moving from “low” to “medium,” it is the recommendation of the Re-Opening Task Group to encourage Covenant members attending indoor activities, including worship, to wear a mask.

Click here to read the full update.

Join Summer Choir on any Sunday through August 28. Meet in the Choir Room under the Sanctuary at 10 a.m. on Sunday for rehearsal and preparation for that day’s service. No experience or long-term commitment is required.

Plus, July 31 is Alumni Day in Summer Choir. Former Covenant Choir singers are specifically invited on July 31 for a gathering with old friends to sing and lead worship together. Meet in the choir room at 10 a.m.

Contact Heather Potter for details.

The Covenant recreation wing is excited to offer a summer yoga series in our newly renovated, dedicated yoga space on the 3rd floor. Member and preschool mom, Melissa Fiorenza, will lead classes on the mornings of July 26 and August 2 for $18 and childcare will be provided by staff members. Melissa has been teaching in Charlotte for 12 years and is excited to serve her community at covenant and beyond. All are welcome!

The class will be 60 minutes for all experience levels in a nonheated space. Please bring your mat and water and be ready to release tension in your body and mind and energize for your day ahead.

You may secure your spot and save by signing up for the six-pack of classes. All costs include child care. Please sign up, pay and provide child care requirements here.

Opportunities to Serve

Loaves and Fishes has asked for Covenant's immediate help in meeting an urgent need: procuring food throughout the month of July. The food bank needs canned meats, fruits, peanut butter, and pasta. For safety, no glass containers! Drop off anytime during the month in the Welcome Center and contact JD DuPuy with any questions or concerns.

Vacation Bible School at Covenant is almost here! Can you spare a morning to help make this important ministry a success for our youngest disciples? 

Sign up to volunteer here.

Did you know that Roof Above needs 800 sandwiches a day to feed hungry neighbors? We are asking families/individuals to make 25 sandwiches each and bring them to the church on August 1. You're also invited to provide water bottles and/or help us deliver the sandwiches to Roof Above. 

Sign up here.

Coming Soon

Covenant will host a COVID-19 vaccine and booster clinic on Saturday, July 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can schedule an appointment ahead of time here.  

We will also host a COVID Vaccination and Booster Clinic for children on Friday, August 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Welcome Center Hall.

Throughout the month of August, spend time growing in our understanding of how we can work toward a more equitable community by addressing challenges of racism. These leaders have attended the White Privilege Conference and are excited to guide our congregation in small group discussions about books that address how we can move forward in our education and work to end racism. Small groups are welcome to anyone and everyone and conversation will be based off two books “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” (a more introductory level read) or “To All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep” (a more advanced read). Please sign up for a time that best suits your schedule and feel encouraged to invite a friend.

Sign up here. 

Everyone in their "third quarter" of life -- 50 to 75 years old -- is invited to join friends for fun and fellowship. We'll hold our second social gathering on August 15 at 6 p.m. at Brewers at 4001 Yancey. 

Spend the day playing with Covenant friends at our fall retreat at Anne Springs Close Greenway on September 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us for hiking, crafts, games, food, and worship.

Join a team of 22 folks as we journey to Reynosa, Mexico! We will work alongside our friends at Faith Ministry to build two homes for families living near the Texas border. We will also enjoy rich fellowship with the congregation there, visit the medical clinic, work in the community garden, and spend time with the many children supported by the ministry.  The cost is $850. Confidential partial scholarships are available. The trip leaders are LeAnne Stipp and Tim Kendrick. 

For more information about our trips, please call Lucy Crain (704.804.7574) or email lucy.crain@covenantpresby.org. Sign up here.

Join us for a Civil Rights Tour to Alabama and Mississippi as we visit key sites in the Civil Rights Movement from October 13 to 16.

Sign up here.