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THE E-COURIER
NEWS & EVENTS
October 25-31, 2020
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This Week at Christ Covenant |
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Worship for Sunday, October 25 |
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Sunday, October 25, has two morning worship service options at 9:00am and 10:45am in the worship center. Both morning worship services have the option for children's programs for ages 0-5. Morning worship will continue to be livestreamed during the 10:45am worship service, as well as our evening worship service at 6:00pm, on all our digital platforms.
If you plan to attend either morning worship service in-person, we ask for you to continue to sign up for the service you will attend. Signups help us provide the safest environment possible for you and your family with social distancing measures in the worship center. You can sign up for either morning worship service by clicking on a box below.
To learn more about how we are working to regather safely and what you can expect when attending in-person worship, please visit christcovenant.org/regathering.
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Morning Worship | 10:45 AM |
"The Great Race"
Hebrews 12:1-2
Mike Kruger
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Evening Worship | 6:00 PM |
"Lifting Your Eyes Above the Fray"
Colossians 3:1–17
Nathan George
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Download a worship bulletin to follow and sing along!
Each bulletin is printable upon downloading.
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Ministry Highlight: Reformation Sunday |
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This week our congregation is joining in the celebration of the anniversary of Martin Luther’s public post on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany. A devoted monk, Luther had committed himself to the study of Scripture. God used Luther’s scholarly pursuit to draw him to Himself. The Holy Spirit gave Luther an understanding of God’s sovereign rule over all of creation and the enormity of His love for His children. Luther saw that God’s word was unambiguous. The truth about man’s helplessness and God’s grace could not be confused. The Apostle Paul made the case in his letter to the church in Ephesus. Paul put it plainly; sin brings death and dead people have nothing to contribute to their salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).
Luther’s attempts to privately share what he learned with his superiors so they might change their unbiblical views were met with charges of heresy. Luther was warned to be silent. He could not comply. Instead, he dared to break with tradition and trust the future to God alone.
Martin Luther could not have imagined how God would use his act of defiance and courage. We remember Luther as a founder of a revolution that we can join in now. Dr. Robert Godfrey, a Fellow of Ligonier Study Center, renews the call that Luther found in Scripture and answered in the 16th century with this message to us:
“Paul’s call to thoughtful vigilance is needed more than ever. Ministers, elders, and church members today must be renewed in the truth by a full and careful knowledge of doctrine contained for us in the great confessions of the churches. Then we will know where and when to fight, as well as the truth for which we fight. As Paul wrote to Timothy: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:16).
To learn more about our history, watch Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer available free for a limited time by clicking here. A free study guide is also available by clicking here.
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Fall Sunday School Online
Sunday, October 25
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Confessing Christ: The Importance of Creeds and
Confessions for the Church and the Christian
On Sunday, October 18, we began a new Fall Sunday School series online. In this series we will look at why creeds and confessions are necessary for the health of the Church. We will look at their foundation in Scripture, how they developed over time, and what good purpose they serve in the Church today. In addition to the ancient creeds of the Apostles, Nicene, and Chalcedon, we will give special attention to the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Confession of Faith. Join this week’s class taught by Blair Smith as he teaches on “Historical Factors Leading to the Early Creeds of the Church.” This class will be available on all our digital platforms on Friday, October 23, at 12pm.
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This Week's Prayer Resources |
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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. |
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Monthly Day of Prayer
Tuesday, October 27
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While we will not be gathering together in person for prayer, we can take time throughout the day to pray for one another, for our church, for our state, and for our country. You can participate in the Monthly Day of Prayer from your home! The day is divided into 30-minute segments for individuals to sign up and pray for missionaries and for the needs of the congregation. You can select the time that best fits your schedule at ChristCovenant.org/members/prayer to help us cover the day fully in prayer.
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Ministry to Men Fellowship Breakfast
Saturday, October 31
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All men ages 16 and older are invited to attend the Ministry to Men Fellowship Breakfast on Saturday, October 31, at 8am at Christ Covenant Church in the Community Life Center (CLC). Hal Jordan will be speaking on “God Is Sovereign, Even in an Election!” Hal Jordan was a member of Christ Covenant for 30 years, serving as a deacon. He retired from IBM earlier this year. Hal was involved in politics for about 20 years and ran for office 3 times. Come for fellowship and hear about God and government with your brothers in Christ. Bring a guest and wear a mask!
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To attend in-person worship on Sunday, November 1, please use the boxes below. The signup will be available on Sunday, October 25, at noon. |
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Sunday, November 1 is Daylight Savings |
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Daylight Savings is Sunday, November 1. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour sometime in the evening of Saturday, October 31. |
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Faithful Conference
November 7-8, 2020
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In a world that often prizes style over substance and quick fixes over quiet obedience, Jesus calls us to something better, something more important, and something more lasting. He calls us to be faithful.
The Faithful Conference aims to equip and inspire Christians for doctrinal fidelity, personal integrity, and corporate witness in the Charlotte area and beyond.
We are excited to have the Faithful Conference here at Christ Covenant Church on November 7-8. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Ligon Duncan, and he will teach ““Is the Reformed Faith Still Relevant?”
The Faithful Conference is free to everyone. We do ask that you register online if you plan to attend so that we can continue to have social distancing in the worship center.
The schedule for the Faithful Conference is the following:
Session 1: Saturday, November 7, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Session 2: Sunday, November 8, morning worship at 9:00 am
Session 2: Sunday, November 8, morning worship at 10:45 am
Session 3: Sunday, November 8, evening worship at 6:00 pm
Registration for Saturday, November 7 is now open at faithfulconference.org. Registration for Sunday morning and evening services will open on Sunday, November 1, at noon.
We hope you, your family, and your friends are able to attend this special weekend.
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New Member Class
Saturday, November 14
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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. This Fall, we will have a special one day new member class on Saturday, November 14, from 9am-1pm. If you are interested in attending, please contact Kim Westbrook at kwestbrook@christcovenant.org. |
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The Worlds of Lewis and Tolkien |
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For generations, the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien have inspired millions of people to use their imaginations in fresh and exciting ways. Each of these authors was committed to a Christian system of thought and sought to honor God with their writings. This class will explore the writings of these two authors—particularly The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings—and will examine the many ways that Christ and Christianity are represented and illumined.
Dr. Michael Kruger will teach “The Worlds of Lewis and Tolkien: Christian Imagery in Narnia and Middle Earth” on Wednesday nights from 7:15pm-8:30pm in the Community Life Center (CLC) beginning October 7 and every Wednesday night through November 18. To attend, please sign up at christcovenant.org/the-worlds-of-lewis-and-tolkien/.
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Invite Your Neighbors to Christ Covenant |
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We have yard signs available for those who would like to invite their neighbors to Christ Covenant Church for worship either in-person on the livestream. If you are interested, we ask that you take one per family and display the sign in your yard. Stop by the any of the guest areas in any lobby to pick up your yard sign today! We have a limited supply, so pick up your sign this Sunday. |
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Operation Christmas Child |
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Operation Christmas Child looks a little different this year due to Covid precautions, but that doesn’t mean you are not able to participate in making a child’s Christmas special in 2020. Due to Covid-19, you can build an online gift box for $25. The cost covers all the items that go into the box and shipping. You can select each item that goes into the box, the age range, and if you are building the box for a boy or a girl. You’ll even be provided with a tracking number to see where in the world your box goes! Please note we will not be collecting any Operation Christmas Child boxes at our church like we have in years past.
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In-person voting for the 2020 election is Tuesday, November 3. Early voting begins October 13 and goes through October 31. For voting information including a sample ballot and early voting locations, please visit the following websites:
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Current opportunities at Christ Covenant include:
• Assistant Director of Middle School Ministry
• Assistant Director of High School Ministry
• Ministry Administrator for Church Administration
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Thank you for your tithes and gifts to all of the ministries of Christ Covenant.
Please continue to pray for God’s provision throughout 2020.
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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.
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