Are you new to Christ Covenant? Have you been here a long time? Have you gotten to know folks from church, or have you found it hard to get to know people outside of Sunday? Perhaps you should consider joining a small group at Christ Covenant. Many who have gotten involved in small groups can attest to it being worthwhile. Here is a testimony from one of our members about being a part of a small group:

“When we first moved to Charlotte, we didn’t know a soul here. We joined Christ Covenant and made some casual friends in our Sunday School class. It wasn’t until we finally joined a Small Group, though, that we began to build deeper relationships with people. It takes time and a willingness to be open and share your life with other people, but the fruit that comes from it is really wonderful. We are so thankful for our Small Group!” – Matt, member at Christ Covenant since 2008.

If you would like to join a small group at Christ Covenant or learn more, check out our website, christcovenant.org/smallgroups, or contact Tom Buiter at tbuiter@christcovenant.org.

Our Children’s Ministry is excited to offer your family a Christmas Celebration in a Bag! On December 13, stop by the Christmas tree in the north lobby of the worship center to pick up a bag for each of your children. In it you will find lots of fun activities to do together as a family as you anticipate and celebrate the birth of Christ. We would love for you to take some extras and invite a neighbor or two over to join you! What a fun, easy way to share the Good News with other families this holiday season!

We invite you to help beautify the worship center by purchasing a poinsettia. You can purchase a poinsettia in honor or in memory of a loved one or family member. Your name and their name(s) will be in the courier beginning Sunday, December 20. What a special way to honor a loved one! The cost of each poinsettia is $10. You can purchase a poinsettia online at https://ccym.wufoo.com/forms/qc3zrcv126xz9v/. The deadline to order a poinsettia is Tuesday, December 15.

Stop by our Book Nook in the Main Lobby to pick up an Advent book for you, for your family, or as a gift! There are four to chose from:

Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski,

Love Came Down by Sinclair Ferguson,

Hidden Christmas by Tim Keller and

Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul Tripp.

Beginning December 27, 2020, and for the entire month of January, the Session of our church will receive and consider nominations for the offices of elder and deacon. Through these offices Christ rules and shepherds his church. Would you prayerfully consider who you believe could serve our church well as an elder or deacon? All nominees must be male and a member of our church for at least two years by his election (June 2021).

Registration is now open for select winter/spring Women’s Bible Studies. Small Group Bible Studies will meet at a variety of times throughout the week, and the Winter Short Study, taught by Sarah Ivill will meet on Thursday mornings. To learn more about these studies and register, please visit the Women’s Ministry website at https://christcovenant.org/womensbiblestudies/.

We hope you will pick up a copy of the 2020 Annual Report at any of the doors going into the sanctuary. You can also find a downloadable PDF of our annual report by clicking here.

Gifts to the church in December are a significant part of our annual income and help support more than 50 ministries. Generally, gifts to the church in the form of checks or cash that are mailed (and postmarked) by December 31 or delivered in person to the church office by 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, should be deductible for tax purposes. You may also take advantage of our secure online giving (under the Members tab on our website). God blesses Christ Covenant through your gifts, and they are greatly appreciated. Call the Church Finance Office at 704-847-3505 with any questions or for more information, including details on handling stock/fund or IRA transfers.

If you are 70 ½ or older, you may be eligible for a significant tax savings when making gifts to the church. Here’s how that works. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from an IRA account are typically subject to income taxes; however, payments made directly from an IRA to the church (trustee to trustee transfer) will not be subject to income taxes for many qualifying Seniors. If you are interested in making a financial gift to the church, this may be an opportunity for you to give and save taxes at the same time. This is a great idea for 2019 December giving as well as good planning for next year. Be sure to check with your tax advisor to see if this is right for you, and please be mindful of year-end deadlines (see Year-End Giving above). For church-related questions, contact the Church Finance Office at 704-847-3505.