In this week's One Takes, Katherine Kerr sits down with new staff member, Shea Watts, Director of Contemporary Worship and Arts.

Shea, the son of a Pentecostal preacher, realized from an early age that music is the way he communicates with God. In this clip, Shea shares his take on music being more than just the words we sing, but rather an entity that can deeply shape our values, faith journeys and the way we experience worship. Shea believes in a "theology of fun," and looks forward to creating a contemporary worship environment at Covenant that inspires both "goodness and Godness" in the world.

This Sunday, August 1, we will host regular 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services in person in the Sanctuary and live online (Sunday School and childcare will be available). Our new sermon series, "Beginning Again, Beginning Anew: Lasting Lessons from the Pandemic" will also begin this week - more information below:

Now that society has opened to a full array of activities, what will we be intentional about remembering - and bringing forward - from the experience of living through a pandemic? This short series will help us codify our learning and improve our living. Our pastors will share scripture readings and sermons around themes including: unexpected gifts, wisdom prevails and the power of another.

Grab a cup of coffee and join us as Hunter Hoover leads Adult Sunday School this week. Hunter will host a discussion on "Everyday Theologian" Dean Smith, Chapel Hill's legendary basketball coach who walked humbly with his God. Adult Sunday School is held at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall each week. Come, and bring a friend!

Rising college freshmen through rising college seniors are invited to join us for a college send-off celebration this Friday, July 30 at 6:00 p.m. on the Covenant patio. We look forward to wishing you well as you enter this next chapter and journey ahead!

RSVP to Martin Pruitt via email or by texting 864.356.6605.

Joining Day:

Joining a church is becoming part of a community bigger than yourself. Have you always wanted to become a member at Covenant? Meet Lora Borrelli, Membership and Engagement Director, in the parlor at 10:30 a.m. to join Covenant. We hope you'll stay for the 11:00 a.m. service, and then join other fellow young adult friends for lunch at Kid Cashew. Questions? Contact Molly Smerko. 

First Sunday Lunch:

First Sunday lunches are back! Come join your young adult friends at Kid Cashew (1608 East Boulevard) for fun and fellowship. Contact Seth Puckett for more information. 

The final orientation meeting for adults and youth who are serving as VBS leaders will be held immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service this Sunday in EW 212. We plan to hold the meeting from 12:00 - 12:45 p.m. and are grateful for your time!

William Lucas

Director of Operations

We are pleased to announce that William Lucas will join the Covenant staff as the Director of Operations on August 2. William graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology. He brings extensive operations and managerial experience to the role, having served most recently as Director of Distribution for Sock and Accessory Brands Global in Mocksville, NC, and with prior tenure at HanesBrands. Over the course of his career, he has had responsibility for large facilities (200,000 to 400,000 sq. ft) with staffs of 100 to 400 employees. In addition to his professional experience, William serves on the Board of Trustees for his church, First Mayfield Memorial Baptist Church.   

William brings to Covenant a desire to support the mission of the church through facility optimization. He says, “I am excited to be joining the team and am anxious to begin making contributions to Covenant Presbyterian Church.” Please join us in welcoming William to our staff and supporting him in his work among us. 

Freedom School scholars and staff hosted a lovely finale to the Summer Literacy Program last Thursday, 7/22. A special thank you to leader Kim Robertson, was a feature of the program as they presented her with a bouquet of yellow flowers that represented the challenges in our society and the work we do together to overcome them.

This year's work at Freedom School was particularly critical as the learning loss created by the pandemic has presented significant challenges to students and teachers alike. Thank you to all who supported this program over the summer and to Kim for her wonderful leadership!

It’s that time of year where we begin focusing on the changing seasons, including the changing season of our youth!

Rising 6th and 9th Graders: Youth Transition Celebration

On August 15, all rising 6th and 9th graders are invited to a formal celebration of their transition into middle and high school. The middle school celebration will be hosted at 2:00 p.m. (youth and parents) and the high school celebration will be hosted at 4:00 p.m.(youth only).

Save the Date: Youth Fall Kick Off

Come and celebrate the beginning of the school year with us on September 12 at 6:00 p.m. We will share more about the great events and fellowship to come throughout the year. Both youth and parents are welcome!

Questions?

For questions about your youth’s transition or on joining Covenant's middle/high school youth, please email:

• Alyssa Pacheco (middle school)
• Martin Pruitt (high school)

Are you interested in spreading God's word through music? Do you have excellent vocal skills and an ability to lead volunteer singers in ensemble?

Please submit a resume and cover letter to heather.potter@covenantpresby.org by Monday August 2 if interested.

Tryouts will be held next Wednesday, August 4 at 6:00 p.m. in the Peek Music Room.

Click here to learn more about this role.

We still have approximately 15 slots to fill to ensure we can provide enough sandwiches to our neighbors at Roof Above on Monday, August 2.

To participate, we ask volunteers to make 25 sandwiches each and bring them to Covenant on the morning of August 2. We will be in the circle drive in front of the Sanctuary building from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to collect and then deliver directly to Roof Above for lunch that day. You may also sign up to provide water bottles and/or help us deliver the sandwiches to Roof Above.

Click here to sign up and review sandwich-making guidelines.

Questions? Contact Lucy Crain.

After our summer interns move out of The Landing, we will need help cleaning the facility to prepare for fall Sunday School.

If you are able to help pack, clean and prep on Sunday, August 8 at 11:00 a.m., please contact Lynn Morrow.

We are currently seeking an individual to serve as our baptism coordinator. The baptism coordinator works with Covenant families and administrative staff to schedule baptisms. The baptism coordinator prepares baptism certificates, completes templates of letters from ministers to families, and matches families with an elder. Time commitment varies based on number of baptisms on the worship calendar, but is at most 1.5 hours per week. Basic computer and email skills and a desire to work with families during this most joyous occasion is all that's needed! The new baptism coordinator would be welcomed and encouraged to "shadow" the outgoing coordinator through the end of this calendar year before taking over in January.

If interested and able to help, please contact current baptism coordinator, Casey Unger.

Our ongoing partnerships with Highland Renaissance Academy and The Mezzanine provide critical support for students and families in some of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Charlotte.

This year we hope to fill 200 backpacks with supplies and materials for children in both communities.We are collecting supplies from now through August 13 in the Welcome Center. We will bless these backpacks during worship on Sunday, August 22. You can view the Amazon Wishlist and supply needs via the link below.

Learn more about how you can help to fill backpacks here.

We will be serving at Loaves & Fishes on August 10 and 24 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. We are in need of more food sorters on both days to create food boxes to help feed our neighbors.

Please sign up here and contact Lucy Crain with any questions.

Do you have a gift for getting to know folks one-on-one? Our Covenant Visitors program offers a wonderful opportunity to serve our homebound members through one-on-one relationships. We have members who are now ready to see others face-to-face and would love to hear what is going on across our church community.

Interested in being a part of this program? Please contact Laura Capranica.

We are currently seeking volunteers to teach Early Childhood Sunday School (ages 2-K), lead Elementary Small Groups and "Power Up" (the Bible story on steroids!) at 9:30 a.m., September - May.

Teachers and leaders serve in pairs and rotate monthly. Electronic lesson plans, supplies and support are provided. For more information and to express interest, please reach out to Anne Lowrance or Sarah Askins.

Join Covenant friends for a day outing to Linville Falls, featuring fresh air and fellowship. Gather mid-morning to take one of several hiking options around the Linville waterfalls, then meet for barbeque and social time at Bob and Suzanne Henderson’s mountain home.

Sign up today.

August 29 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

The next opportunity to engage in our Summer Racial Justice Series, “See. Grow. Act.” will be a tour of The Brooklyn Collective (229 Brevard Street).

This event will begin with a tour hosted by Executive Director, Monique Douglas. During the tour we will see business, learn about the history of the Brooklyn neighborhood, and visit the newly installed art exhibit. Following the tour, we will enjoy refreshments together at Studio 229. 

Sign up and learn about transportation options to the event here.

Questions? Email Grace Lindvall.