An Open And Affirming Community Of Faith -
We Welcome All Beliefs!
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Sage meets every Friday at 1 pm. Check here for the church calendar for the link
- Christmas Eve services, Dec. 24th, 7 pm
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Christmas Day services will be at 10 am and will pre-recorded. You will be able to view on our YouTube page here.
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YOUR GENEROSITY IS NEEDED!
Your generosity is needed, now more than ever! You may give via:
PayPal — access it through our website or send your donation on PayPal which takes out a fee, to donations@holycovenantmcc.org
Zelle - You can send your donation directly to the church using Zelle via the email address donations@holycovenantmcc.org. It will go directly into the general account and there will be no fees attached to the giving.
Electronic Check
Send an electronic check from your financial institution, or by sending a personal check. Our address is 9145 Grant Ave, Brookfield, IL, 60513.
Please remember that when giving through PayPal they do charge a percentage fee to the church unless it shows an option to help out the church and for you to pay that fee.
See the weekly giving below. Holy Covenant needs at least $4,672 a month to meet its obligations for bills and salary. We are now showing what the percentage of giving is and how we are doing on a monthly basis.
DECEMBER 2022 GIVING
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Giving Needed Weekly
(4 WEEKS) $1,168
The Difference is $532
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Our bills are listed for the month of December 2022.
Your generosity helps us pay the bills.
Any amount helps us meet our obligations.
If you would like to pay one of the bills,
please designate that in your donation.
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WE GOT HALFWAY THERE!
GIVING TUESDAY WAS NOVEMBER 29TH!
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Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity.
We set a goal of $4,000 and beyond for this year's Giving Tuesday. In 2021 we raised over $8K for HC. As of this writing, we estimate that our total is: $1,930.
One person has stepped up and will be an anonymous donor who will do a match up to $500 which we have met. We appreciate that person who became our matching donor and thank them for their big heart.
We will still be accepting donations for Giving Tuesday. If you do send in a donation, then please mark your donation for Giving Tuesday. Your giving can help pay for something below:
- $25 donation can buy some building supplies.
- $50 donation can help pay for our ATT internet.
- $100 donation can pay for one of our utilities.
- $250 donation can pay for snow removal for the winter.
- $500 donation can go towards Rev. Martha' salary.
Remember you can donate through Zelle, PayPal, and personal checks. To send us a donation via Zelle, please send to donations@holycovenantmcc.org and mark for Giving Tuesday!
Thank you Jesus, for everyone who gave or will give to our ministries!
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PASTOR'S PICK CORNER -
Rev. Daniels Reading/Listening/Watching Suggestions
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An eclectic collection of books, movies, TV shows, magazines, etc. that I have come across, which I found good or interesting and you might too!
Recently Reading:
Daily Feast
I have not one but three books to suggest this month--they are a set.
The Daily Feast is a daily devotional drawn from Feasting on the Word, a daily meditation on the assigned lectionary readings for the week. The lectionary runs through the Christian year--Advent to Christmas to Epiphany to Ordinary Time to Lent to Easter to Pentecost to Ordinary Time to Reign of Christ and back to Advent--in a three year cycle (each each focuses on either Matthew, Mark or Luke, and all three years use John for Holy Week and Easter). The Daily Fest has one volume for each year--A, B, and C. We are just beginning Year A. Reading these daily reflections offers the thoughts and prayers of some of our greatest theologians, such as Barbara Brown Tayor, Fredrick Beuchner, James Cone, and many, many others.
If you can, purchase it, so that you can read it through day by day. It's available used, on Kindle, on amazon, and at many Christian bookstores, or your favorite store can special order it for you.
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SNOW REMOVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED OR
DONATIONS TO HELP PAY FOR SNOW REMOVAL
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We recently received a quote for snow blowing from another company. The cost for each snowfall is as follows:
- $50 to shovel
- $40 for return to shovel
- $20 for salting
We are looking for donations to the snow removal. If you can, we would be so grateful for any donations to help us pay for snow removal for 2022-2023. Please mark your donation for snow plowing. You can donation via Zelle, PayPal or regular check. The email for PayPal and Zelle is donations@holycovenantmcc.org.
If you cannot donate, can you volunteer for snow clearing? We do have a snow blower! If you are able and willing to assist with either of these, please contact any Board member or email socialmedia@holycovenantmcc.org.
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UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST |
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Our Christmas Eve service will be on Saturday, December 24, at 7:00 pm. It will be hybrid (online and in person), with a fellowship time afterwards.
Please join us as we celebrate Jesus being born.
Christmas Day service will be pre-recorded and available on our YouTube channel.
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HALLMARK'S 1ST GAY ROM COM ON DEC 11TH
"The Holiday Sitter"
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After years of pressure from LGBTQ activists and viewers alike, the Hallmark Channel – best known for its massive catalog of feel-good family and holiday movies – is finally putting out a Christmas-themed romantic comedy focusing on a gay couple.
‘The Holiday Sitter’, starring Mean Girls actor Jonathan Bennett, appears to be otherwise basically identical to the dozens of cozy holiday films Hallmark plans to release this year.
Bennett plays “a workaholic bachelor who babysits his niece and nephew before the holidays” who then meets "handsome neighbor Jason, and finds himself in an unexpected romance."
In other words, it sounds like any other Hallmark flick… just with gay characters. But the fallout from this film has been massive. Internal turmoil at Hallmark over the decision to feature a same-sex romance has led to a major talent exodus, with Hallmark actors fleeing to a competitor channel that promises to stay focused on "traditional family values" and Christian-focused content.
It’s worth noting that ‘The Holiday Sitter’ is just one of 40(!) holiday films debuting on Hallmark this holiday season. To put it another way, 2.5% of their films this year feature same-sex romance. That really isn’t that much, yet on the surface Hallmark appears as jolly as Santa to be championing increased representation.
Check your area for what time the movie will be played on December 11th.
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SUNDAY HYBRID WORSHIP
IN-PERSON & LIVE ON YOUTUBE
REV. MARTHA DANIELS PRESIDING
10:00 AM CST
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Our worship celebration is every Sunday at 10 am CST. If you would like to join us you may join us in person or go to our Facebook page at Holy Covenant Facebook Page and click on the LINK to YouTube to watch the service.
Sunday Reading:
Wisdom of Isaiah 35: 1-10
"The Carpenter" Jay Hulme
Sermon Title "Healing and Hope"
Have a candle ready to light, a cookie or bread, and a glass of your favorite libation for communion if you are watching online.
You can also find previous services on our YouTube Channel here.
Rev. Martha is available by email, phone, Facebook Messenger, and text for any pastoral needs you may have revmarthadaniels@gmail.com
- Masks are now optional. If you want to sing you have to wear a mask.
- No temperature check required
- Social distancing required
DO YOU WANT TO HELP WITH WORSHIP?
Do you feel a call to help with worship? To read a prayer, or a reading, or to usher or serve communion? Whether you are here in person or virtually, we need and want your gifts! Contact Rev. Martha or Roxann at roxann.victory@outlook.com.
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MEDITATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
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For more information about meditation please contact Mary Ann Latsaras at only1amar@yahoo.com. |
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AGING WELL DECEMBER PROGRAMS |
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Join us all month long for informative seminars, health programs, fitness, entertainment, and more!
Hello Neighbors! Below is our October schedule. Join us all month long for informative seminars, brain health programs, fitness, history, entertainment, and more online and in person! Just click here for the list of classes.
We encourage you to share our class schedule with friends, family, and neighbors, near & far, of any age – everyone is welcome to join us! All of our classes are free & no advance registration is required. We hope to see you soon on Zoom!
Thank you all for being a part of the Aging Well Neighborhood!
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HOLY COVENANT BOARD MEETING - DECEMBER 15TH |
The next Board meeting will be on December 15th.
You can find all the Board agenda, minutes and financials on our website. They are also posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.
You can find a PDF of the past Board Meetings Agenda, Minutes and church financials here
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SHARE FOOD, SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP! |
Some families will have a hard time providing healthy, nourishing food. Rising food costs caused by inflation, when combined with the ongoing pandemic, means that many family budgets that were already stretched thin, are no longer adequate to provide for their needs. Sometimes it is even necessary for families to do without essential items like medicine or professional health care, so that everyone has enough to eat.
You can make a real difference. Donating now is so important please take a minute to give so we can feed the hungry in our area.
Thank you!
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Join us at Pub 78 in beautiful downtown Brookfield for no-host dinner and/or drinks. conversation and good times from 6 pm - 8 pm.
Time: 6 pm, Thursday, December 8th.
Pub 78
3733 Grand Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
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SAGE CALENDAR, EVENTS & MENU |
SAGE, a social support group for LGBTQ seniors, meets both via ZOOM and in person on Fridays at 1 pm. We hope to resume our lunches in July. Please contact Eric Eugenio Vironet (evironet@cmsschicago.org) if you plan to attend in person as space is limited. Click here to join the meeting
West Suburban Senior Services calendar click here
SAGE CAFE MENU click here
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BOOK STUDY - JANUARY 2023 |
The book is available in libraries and in a variety of formats via amazon, Bookshop.com, B&N, Powells, etc.
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WE ARE AN AMAZON CHARITY WITH A SHOPPING LIST! |
As of June 2022, we have received over the years a total of $727.75 from Amazon Smile because of your purchases and designates us as your charity.
We now have a list of items that we need at the church. This list is available to see here Charity Lists. You can order and pay for anything off this list and have it shipped directly to the church. We appreciate anything you can order for us!
You can make an impact while you shop on Amazon. Simply shop here at Holy Covenant Amazon Smile Link and Amazon Smile will donate to Holy Covenant Church - M C C, at no cost to you.
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NEED POWER OF ATTORNEY OR WILL? |
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We mourn and pray for all the families who have suffered personal losses from gun violence at our schools, churches, and hospitals. public venues and other places.
Prayers of healing for Steve M.3
Prayers of healing for Martha's brother-in-law Jim & her sister Sandra who have Covid.3
Prayers for Joyce to get well and begin eating again.1
Prayers for travel mercies for Jim U. brother Mike and his wife.1
Prayers for travel mercies for Jim and Tony and prayers for Jim's Mom.1
Prayers for Christine to have strength and for her mom Sharon C. as she heals from her massive stroke she had last week.1
Prayers for Patti's friend Bonnie in the loss of her mom.1
Prayers and strength for Ukraine, for those who are relocating, and to end the war and unnecessary death
That God will provide for those who are hungry, unemployed, and homeless,
or in financial difficulties.
All those affected by HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, COVID-19, and other life-threatening illnesses.
All communities of faith.
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LINKS AND OTHER INFORMATION |
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Missed a sermon?
Click here to catch up and watch on the Holy Covenant YouTube channel!
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If you or someone you know is in an emergency call 911 for help.
Need someone to talk to? Call the suicide lifeline by dialing 988.
NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Health
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Every day brings something new—
and God is with us always!
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9145 Grant Ave
Brookfield, IL 60513
Phone: 708.387.1611
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