CORNERSTONECOVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | APRIL 2014

Covenant Celebrated

Mary Helen Mitchell’s

18-year tenure as

executive assistant

to the senior pastor.

All speakers at the

reception agreed that

Mary Helen has a gift

for making people of all

ages feel welcomed and

celebrated and loved.

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ABOUT CORNERSTONECornerstone is the bimonthly publication of Covenant Presbyterian Church. Cornerstone provides in-depth articles on the events that take place on and off campus and the people who make them happen.

Content includes the pastor’s letter, Session news, member and staff spotlights, and a calendar of upcoming events. Find more information on the events online and in Covenant Matters.

Download the paper version of Cornerstone online at covenant.org/publications. We will update the Cornerstone blog as we receive content at blog.covenant.org.

We need you!

To make Cornerstone better, we need your help! The content will be more interesting and more fun with more writers. If you have something you want to write about or want us to write, let us know. While we can’t promise that every submitted article will appear in the printed version of Cornerstone, we will publish all appropriate stories on the blog. We also need photos of events. If you have suggestions for Cornerstone, email us at publications@covenant.org or stop by the office in Covenant Hall.

CORNERSTONE CONTRIBUTORS

SENIOR PASTOR

THOMAS DANIEL

CLERK OF SESSION

MELANIE WILLIAMSON

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR

DUANE DUBE

EDITOR

STEPHANIE SCHULTZ

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

HILARY PITTMAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ASHLEY ELLISON, MELISSA GASKILL, THAIS KILDAY

PHOTOGRAPHY

CHERYL BANKS, HILARY PITTMAN, NATHAN

RICHARDS, STEPHANIE SCHULTZ

SPECIAL THANKS TO

PAUL MOWRY, BRIAN SPARKS,

JAN VANDERPOOL

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ABOUT CORNERSTONE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 NEW PASTORFor everything there is a season

3 A JOYFUL TURNGod shows the way in finding new pastor

4 CONTEMPORARY SERVICEBreaking down the walls that keep us from God

6 MAKING A CHURCH HOMECouple’s focus has shifted, but not their hearts

7 SUMMER FUN AHEADYouth leaders look forward to new adventures

8 ONE-OF-A-KIND LOVEVBS needs you to help bless our kids

9 BE THE LIGHTJourney Choir spring tour is all about serving

10 ADOPT A SCHOOLGet involved at Webb Middle School

11 MARVELOUS MARY HELENCovenant give thanks for 18 years of service

12 THE BEAT GOES ONChoirs pick new genre for spring concert

13 FISHING WITH PURPOSEAustin club spreads Jesus’ love

14 THE GIVERWhere does God want you to share the water?

15 CLERK’S CORNERCovenant members look forward to new season

16 FINANCE REPORTFor the period ended February 28, 2014

16 CALENDAR OF EVENTSLots happening at Covenant

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In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes we read:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

Individually, as families and as a congregation, we have known many different seasons of life. Seasons where we have been hurt and have cried. Seasons when we have laughed and shouted with joy. Seasons of feeling lost and alone. We have experienced rest-lessness at wanting “more” out of life as well as seasons of knowing what it is like to be truly content. We have fallen into seasons of anger as well as stepped into sea-sons of deep gratitude. Each of these seasons is woven together to form the story of our lives.

For Covenant Presbyterian Church, this is a season to cel-ebrate. Make no mistake about it,

NEW PASTORGod is “doing a new thing” in our midst and has invited each of us to journey together into a glori-ous new chapter in the Covenant story. I know for my family and me, there is genuine excitement and palpable anticipation at the prospect of joining with you and experiencing everything that The Lord has in store for us.

However, one of the great trag-edies in life is that far too often we choose not to properly cel-ebrate the work of God. John Ortberg writes that one of the most common regrets people have at the end of their lives is that they wish they had laughed more often and celebrated more enthusiastically. We experience the miraculous movement of God and yet immediately worry about the next item on our “to do” list. We become preoccupied with the next issue to be handled or the next controversy to be debated. Without knowing it, we mute our celebrations and the work of God is quickly forgotten.

Let us not make this mistake. Not this time. For we have seen seasons of despair, but this is THOMAS DANIEL

SENIOR PASTOR

IN HIS NAME,

a season of promise. We have known times of doubt, but this is a day when God’s calling has been clear and unmistakable. God has brought us to this point so that we might shine like stars in the midst of Austin, Texas. Come and join us as we celebrate together. Come and join us as we step into a future that is bright and beautiful.

I am thankful to be on the journey with each and every one of you.

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A JOYFUL TURNThe Rev. Dr. Thomas Daniel is Covenant’s new senior pastor and head of staff. Thomas started at the church on April 1. His first Sunday in the pulpit is April 6. Thomas comes to Covenant from Kairos Church in Atlanta, Ga., where he was the organizing co-pastor. The new church development launched in September 2007 with seven people, and quickly grew to more than 300 members.

“I’m excited to come to Austin and work with the staff and members here,” Thomas said when he vis-ited Austin in mid-February.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Thomas graduated from Davidson College. After teaching English in Japan for two years, he attended Columbia Theological Seminary, graduating with a masters of divinity in 2003 and a doctor of ministry in 2011. While in seminary, Thomas worked for three years as the director of college ministry at North Avenue Presbyterian Church. Upon graduation, he served as associate pastor for evangelism at North Avenue Presbyterian before serving as co-pastor and head of staff at First Presbyterian Church of Evanston, Ill.

Thomas is married to Beth, who will finish her Doctor of Ministry from Columbia in May. They have two daughters: Miriam Grace is a third grader and Hannah Joy is in the first grade. The family will join Thomas in Austin this summer.

Finding the pastor

Covenant’s Senior Pastor Nominating Committee (SPNC) became interested in Thomas last summer, when he was one of 12 candidates to make a short

list, and one of four to be called for a second inter-view. He was the sole candidate to have the unani-mous support of the committee. Thomas and his wife, Beth, visited Austin in August and the com-mittee unanimously agreed to call him to Covenant. After several days of prayer and consideration, Thomas declined the offer. He did leave the door open to future discussions and made suggestions about organizational issues facing Covenant that he felt needed to be addressed in order for our church to be attractive to potential pastors.

The SPNC continued seeking our senior pastor, interviewing seven candidates, but not reaching a consensus on any one. Meanwhile, the Session began addressing the issues that concerned Thomas. The SPNC sent him a letter thanking him for considering our call and for his feedback.

Upon receiving the letter, Thomas invited the com-mittee to join him in two weeks of intense prayer. After a video conference in which the committee and Thomas felt the Holy Spirit, he returned to Austin. He observed church services at Covenant,

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Covenant’s Contemporary Service leaders Derek Nafe and Jerry Wise want to break down the walls that keep all of us from fully engaging with God.

“Our ultimate goal for the ser-vice,” said Derek, Contemporary Worship Director, “is for worship-pers to have an encounter with God; for them to experience and understand God. We want to create a space for people to have a transformational moment.”

Those transformational moments may happen Sundays at 11 a.m. in FE 200. The hour-long service is filled with upbeat music, engag-ing video, meaningful messages and a whole lot of friendly people.

Song Leader Jerry Wise said, “The service seems peaceful and

informal, and at the same time, it’s powerful.”

Covenant member Dan Rourke expanded: “The liturgy of music and prayer around the central sermon on the Bible frees me to be open to listening and encoun-tering God, and inspires intro-spection and change. The music is fresh and brings an energy and spirit that is a joy to share with regular attendees and visitors.“

Nuts and Bolts of the Service

It takes many people and much planning to make the Contemporary Service run

CONTEMPORARY SERVICE

toured neighborhoods, and met Covenant Associate Pastors Jill Williams and Munn Hinds. The SPNC unanimously agreed to issue another call to Thomas. This time, Thomas accepted.

SPNC Insights

SPNC members are all excited about Thomas’ decision to come to Covenant, sighting his Christ-inspired confidence and assuredness, his discern-ment, joyfulness and engaging straightforward manner.

Clark Weatherby, Session liaison, said, “It was his pastoral nature that led him from being a candidate to THE candidate.”

Allison Dwyer said, “He can preach!”

Steve Martens summed it up: “He was a fit on paper. He was a fit on the phone, in the pulpit, on podcasts and in person.” Steve added that Thomas’ church met their annual budget goal in nine months. The next week they took the weekly offering plate and gave it to missions.

Julie Stillwell was struck by Thomas’ joyfulness. “He is a joyful Christian!” she said.

And with his coming, the Covenant congregation is a bit more joyful, anticipating the good things to come for our church. And all God’s people said: Amen!

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without a hitch, but according to Derek, “it almost can’t run any better.” He explained: “We have incredible, gifted musicians and artists. Many are working on advanced degrees. We never have to worry about the music. Our technical crew is great and so in sync that we communicate non-verbally.”

“It’s a well-oiled machine,” Jerry said. “So many great people par-ticipate in this service. We have dependable ushers and greeters, and an enthusiastic crowd.

Covenant member Andrew Chapman appreciates the music. “In my experience, no other contemporary worship ser-vice is as musically versatile as Covenant’s. Where else can you hear instruments like steel guitar, saxophone, and upright bass on a Sunday morning?! And no matter the instrument being played, the quality is always excellent, and never an end unto itself. It is always a vessel through which people are led to worship God.”

“We get comments that we are still trying to find our identity,” Derek remarked. “I hope we never find our identity. Having an identity says we are not doing the same thing over and over. We’re not! We are always changing.”

Message to the World

Derek and Jerry would like to see the Contemporary Service con-tinue to grow – both in number of worshippers and in depth. “We want our members to bring their churched and non-churched friends, even the skeptics,” Derek said. “This service is designed with them in mind. Our competi-tion isn’t other churches. We con-sider it to be Zilker Park, Gospel Brunch and NFL Sunday. “

To continue to grow in quality, the duo wants the service to be relevant, inviting and authentic. Jerry and Derek work with other Covenant staff to incorporate the values of the church into their services, and they continue to strive for excellence.

“We want our Sunday message to be applicable to everyday life. We want worshipers to hear that message from the preacher, the videos and the music. All our media are consistent and we hope that worshipers can take the message out and apply it to their week,” Derek said.

That’s exactly what Covenant member Joy Baskin does. “I look forward all week to the time we spend in praise as a community singing songs with messages that

express our desire to draw close to Jesus. These simple, heartfelt songs stick in my head and sus-tain me all week.”

Joy said she feels like the preach-ing, despite sometimes being the same preacher and the same sermon as in our other services, tends to have a more relaxed, candid style. And she loves that her sons are engaged in worship. “The most important reason you can find the Baskin family front row center for the Contemporary Service almost every week is that the more relaxed setting allows us to worship as a family.”

Kali Rourke says Contemporary Service keeps her connected and coming to Covenant. “It is the place each week when I open my voice and my heart and lift them up to God in a way that feels authentic and very personal.”

The Contemporary Service, well-oiled as it is, is always looking for more participation from the people who worship. Email Derek at dnafe@covenant.org to find out how you can help with the technical aspects, the music, ushering and greeting, or tell him what you can do and how you’d like to help.

“We just feel like this is home,” said George and Mary Jim McDonald of their decision to join and to stay at Covenant Presbyterian Church for 50 years.

“We automatically felt like this was where we were supposed to be,” Mary Jim said of their first visit in 1964. At the time, the couple had two young kids who quickly became part of the children’s program, and Mary Jim started teaching Sunday school. “The first time we visited the church, the congregation was small and meeting in a school house. Carl Eaton made us feel like a part of what was going on,” Mary Jim said.

“Carl Eaton wasn’t your normal Presbyterian preacher,” George chimed in. “He’d worked for a few years and been a missionary to China. He had a lot of worldly experience. You’d meet him and think, ‘I’ve known him all my life.’ The congregation had a good mix of people. Covenant was new and being involved in the adventure was fun.” George said he was asked to be an elder within a year of joining.

The couple has served for a combined 22 years on Covenant’s Session though never at the same time. George has been an elder five times; Mary Jim, three. Mary Jim is a lifelong Presbyterian. Both she and George are firm believers in the government of the Presbyterian Church. “We’ve both been dele-gates to Presbytery. We enjoy meeting people from within our Presbytery and hearing reports on mis-sions and other churches, and voting on the issues.” (The couple attended early March Presbytery meet-ings in Austin.)

Today, Covenant’s program for seniors keep the couple busy and active at the church. “We’re very

involved in the VISIONS program and that’s really meaningful for us,” George said. “I like the lunches; we’ve always had interesting speakers.”

Mary Jim and a group of Covenant women used to cook the meals for VISIONS lunches, back when the average turnout was around 40 people. Today, Covenant VISIONS luncheons can draw up to 100 people and are served the third Tuesday of the month in FE 200. George is in charge of the money.

Highlights from Five Decades

Both Mary Jim and George say some of their fond-est memories of Covenant come from small group experiences. “We got involved in small groups from the beginning and were part of them for a long time. We made some really good friends,” George said.

A small group highlight was becoming friends with a birder. “He held a training class for our group and taught us to recognize birds, and then planned a trip to Big Bend. We climbed up a 6,000-foot mountain

MAKING A CHURCH HOME

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SUMMER FUN AHEADNathan Richards and Whitney Bell are not new faces for our students in grades seven through 12, but as of March 1, they took on slightly different roles, now jointly leading Covenant’s Student Ministries program. The duo works well together and each has a key piece of the pro-gram. Nathan serves as associ-ate director for middle school and Whitney is interim associ-ate director for Covenant’s high school program. Each are prepar-ing for a busy spring and summer.

“Nathan and Whitney are hitting the ground running and really are just continuing to do what they

have been doing,” said Interim Associate Pastor Munn Hinds, who serves as their supervisor.

Fun in the Son

Whitney will be taking Covenant high school students to a new summer conference, Fun in the Son. The students will depart Austin on Sunday, July 13, and return on Friday, July 18, meet-ing with about 500 students who attend the weeklong event.

While at the conference, stu-dents will attend morning and evening meetings to worship and hear from amazing speakers. The

to see the Colima Warbler,” Mary Jim said. “It’s the only place you can see it. The bird lives in Mexico and comes to Big Bend to breed.”

A highlight for George was coaching the Covenant basketball team for nearly two decades. George said, “We won more city league championships than any church in Austin. As coach, I organized the guys, made substitutions and recruited players.”

The couple’s volunteer efforts at the church are too numerous to list, but include handling the roses for new babies, making hospital visits, helping with this newsletter, serving as deacons, making meals for various activities, teaching VBS and Sunday school, and more. One of their most rewarding efforts is

working at the food pantry at Manos de Cristo. Mary Jim has been so active that she and Jane Mack were the first two women recognized with an Honorary Life Membership award by Covenant’s Presbyterian Women. The award, with its inaugural year at Covenant in 2003, recognizes faithful ser-vice to God and to Covenant.

Over the years, the reasons that Mary Jim and George are Covenant members have shifted, but the feeling of “home” has not changed. Members touched by their kindness are happy that they still consider Covenant their home and that they make it feel that way for many others as well.

afternoon will be spent on the beach, shopping, relaxing and taking in the beauty of the ocean. And for the competitive nature in all, conference organizers plan church versus church tourna-ments in volleyball, dodgeball and sand castle building – to name a few. Whitney, who has attended the conference said, “It’s so fun and gets pretty competitive. So bring your skills!”

Whitney added that there is also a dance. Conference organiz-ers encourage campers to wear costumes and get ready for pizza and music. “It’s an awesomely fun time for the whole camp. Start

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ONE-OF-A-KIND LOVE

VBS VOLUNTEER TEAM

Team volunteer coordinators: Ashley Ellison and Evangeline HerringMaster of ceremonies: Stacey Grooms Registration: Jenny White and Emily Taylor

Budget: Bridgette StahlmanBible Adventures: Allison DwyerKid Vid Cinema: Shari Gaertner

practicing your amazing dance moves,” Whitney said.

Camp cost is $575 before May 1, and $615 after May 1. Contact Whitney with questions at wbell@covenant.org, or visit covenant.org/student-ministries to find out more.

The Great Escape

What Texan doesn’t like to go to Colorado in the summer-time? Covenant seventh and eighth graders will trek to the Great Escape in Gunnison, Colo., departing June 21 and returning June 27. Nathan Richards and a

host of volunteers will chaperone our students for this week of wor-ship and fun.

“We refer to our planned activi-ties as down time, but that might not be accurate,” Nathan said. “One day, we’ll go to Crested Butte to enjoy the mountain shops and explore the small town. We will go whitewater rafting on the Taylor River. The week ends with a giant shaving cream fight on the Western State campus. It’s a ton of fun!”

Cost for this trip is $575 before April 9 and $615 before May 18. If you have questions about the trip, contact Nathan at nrichards@covenant.org or go online to covenant.org/student-ministries

Weird Animals: Where Jesus’ Love Is One-Of-A-Kind

This year Vacation Bible School (VBS), which will run June 16 – 20, is all about volunteers! We are in the process of breaking down the VBS machine into individual parts that volunteers can easily manage. We hope that each participant is blessed through helping the children of our community and sharing “Jesus’ One-Of-A Kind Love.” Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered:

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Imagination Station: Melissa Mathews and Roxie TsakasCritter Café: Beth FegerUntamed Games: Kelly CoadDecorations: Daphne and Jay CorderPublicity and Camp VBS decorations: Amy Johnson and Monique PennerTechnology: Shannon KniselyYouth volunteer coordinators: Maria and Alana RaperCamp VBS coordinator: Tammy LinnCamp VBS staff coordinator: Jaclyn Black Camp VBS storyteller: Kathryn SedberryPhotography: Jennifer Maham and Megan LittleVBS bags and nametags: Jennifer CarsnerCD Sales: Yokko Gaines and all children’s ministry staffVolunteer snacks: Yokko GainesCheck-in and attendance: Maureen Crawley and Darleen KleinhenzInformation desk: Jennifer PalmPlates: Melissa PlondkeT-Shirt design, ordering and distribution: The Baskin Family

Prayer team: Deb Reiber, Elaine Peterson, Thais Kilday and ALL GOD’S PEOPLE!

Register now and get more information about costs and options for younger kids at covenant.org/VBS. For additional information about VBS or to find out how you can get involved, contact Ashley Ellison at ahellison@yahoo.com or Evangeline Herring at evaherring@gmail.com.

The theme of the Journey Youth Choir spring concert tour was “Be the Light.” Group member felt like they were, in fact, the light several times during the trip, but they especially felt that way when they sang for a group of mental and behavioral health unit patients at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans (CHNOLA).

BE THE LIGHT“We actually got there by mis-take,” Journey Choir Director Stacy Curtis explained. “I thought I had called the hospital’s main number so when Keith Botello, the activities director, told me I was calling the mental health unit and that no one ever asks to sing for them, I knew we had to do it.

“We sang about a 30-minute pro-gram. I had my back to the audi-ence but our choir members told me they could see smiling faces, and kids singing and moving to the music. One member said she could see a visible change in the posture of the people in the audience.”

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Covenant is adopting Webb Middle School through Julie and Allen Weeks, who run Partners in Hope, a ministry the church has long supported. This rela-tionship presents almost unlimited opportunities for individual and small group involvement:

• Donate needed items for students and families, from sports equipment to Walmart and HEB gift cards, bus passes and furniture (accepted through our Movin’ and Groovin’ ministry).

• Help provide sports physicals for students on Aug. 28, 2014, or Jan. 10, 2015. Doctors and

nurses especially needed.• Mentor a middle school student through Austin

Partners in Education. You’ll spend 30 minutes a week during your student’s lunch period visiting with and encouraging them – and will make a life-long difference! Register online at austinpartners.org and select Webb Middle School.

• Participate in Webb’s Career Day, sharing information about jobs, careers and professions. Date to be determined.

• Encourage your group to host a teacher appreciation event, such as a breakfast or

ADOPT A SCHOOL

The CHNOLA visit was day three of the trip, and was preceded by a concert and brunch at Raymond Methodist Church in Jennings, La., and dinner at the home of Covenant Director of Music Ministry Tom Brown’s son and daughter-in-law in New Orleans.

“All three of our planned church concerts had a connection,” Stacy said. “Jennings is the home of Cheryls Banks’ family and Emily Banks, a Journey member, was baptized at that church. At Parkway Presbyterian in New Orleans our contact was a long-time member whose best friend is Ann Brown, Tom Brown’s wife. Our last church concert outside of Galveston was at the church of my grandmother. She and my dad

were at the concert. My husband and kids were there, too.”

Seventeen kids were on the tour as well five chaperones, includ-ing Youth Ministries Associate Director Nathan Richards, who

led devotionals every day. “One of the coolest things about the trip was just seeing the kids’ own-ership of it,” Nathan said. “All of them were committed to making it a good, worthwhile thing. They really served people.”

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encouraging notes in teachers’ boxes, any time during the year.

• Groups can help with service projects at the school, such as landscaping and painting.

• Attend a regularly held service event in the St. John’s Community; help deliver newsletters door to door, help with an Easter egg hunt or summer picnic, unity walk, national night out and more.

This list covers only some of the needs. There are many other opportunities to put your gifts and talents to use at the school! Contact Julie Weeks, director of the Webb Family Resource Center, for more information or to volunteer: (512) 797-4847 or Julie.weeks@austinisd.org.

MARVELOUS MARY HELENCovenant member JJ Baskin emceed Covenant’s March 23 retirement celebration for Mary Helen Mitchell, who has been executive assistant to the senior pastor for 18 years. He started the afternoon by relaying mes-sages from former pastors about what Mary Helen meant to them:

George Claddis: “Mary Helen made me look good.”

Rick Murray: “Mary Helen helped me figure out the hows and whos of the church.”

Paul Parsons: “Under her mild-mannered exterior, Mary Helen

has a red cape with the letter ‘S’ on it. She is a gem of a woman, a true gift from God.”

Jim Singleton: “She was the glue that held Covenant together.”

Several other people who know Mary Helen from different areas commented on what she has meant to them. Covenant col-league and office partner Kay Austin said Mary Helen has taught her so much by example. “She has so freely given to this church and has allowed God to work through her.”

Meredith Weatherby, whose chil-dren have been in piano lessons with Mary Helen for most of the last seven years, said that Mary Helen has been able to make recitals fun, teaching her students “it’s not about perfection; it’s about poise.”

Meredith said, “She has a gift of making her students feel wel-come and celebrated and loved.”

Meredith shared a story about her son Charlie. When he was eight, he and his dad were invited to a Formula 1 race. He was very excited about it, and the next day he told his mom that he couldn’t

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THE BEAT GOES ONCovenant’s Sanctuary Choir and GraceNotes Ensemble will present a spring concert on Thursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary Choir will perform “Sunrise Mass,” written by New York-based Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo. GraceNotes will perform Bach Cantata No. 4. Both works will be accompanied by a 20-member string orchestra with players from the Austin Symphony.

Traditionally a gospel-influenced concert, Director of Music Ministry Tom Brown said that he and the

choir members wanted to change things up this year. “While gospel music is always fun, there’s a universe of other beautiful music the choirs would like to sing,” Tom said.

According to Tom, Sunrise Mass is very spacious and expansive; the composer describes it as “cin-ematic.” A new work only published several months ago, this performance will be among the first in Texas (and beyond).

The first half of the concert will highlight the Bach work, an Easter cantata titled “Christ lag in Todesbanden” (Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death). Tom said both groups have been rehearsing this music since mid-January. “We hope to fill the house,” he said, adding that there is no fee for the event, but donations will be encouraged by way of a special offering.

wait to got to his piano lesson and tell Mary Helen about his trek to the track. “I wondered if Mary Helen had some insider racing information that made Charlie want to tell her about his afternoon. ‘No,’ Charlie said, ‘It’s just fun to tell her stuff.’

“Usually our kids are one of many — in school, in sports teams and ban —but with Mary Helen they learn that they are so loved,” Meredith said.

Tom Brown, or TB as Mary Helen refers to him, said that Mary Helen (or MH as Tom refers to her) is always available to answer any questions, even the ones that really aren’t her job. “So my ques-tion to MH,” he said, “is ‘How have you gotten your work done with your door eternally open?’ ”

Mary Helen’s door is slowly closing. Her duties as executive assistant to the senior pastor will decrease as she trains her replacement, Maureen Crawley. She will continue to work at

Covenant as funeral services coordinator, which means she’ll still be around to be a vessel for God, making people feel loved and celebrated.

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Are you interested in fishing and love the Lord? Then the Austin Christian Bass Club (ACBC) may have a spot for you!

Covenant member Jim Rumbo has been part of ACBC since 1995. “I started because I wanted to learn about bass fishing since it is done in freshwater in Central Texas. I grew up on the coast and knew a lot about coastal fishing, but nothing about bass fishing.”

Jim said that the Austin club, which has been around for 33 years, is unique. “Unlike other bass clubs, we focus more on fellowship and share information regarding what baits are suc-cessful at what depths. We don’t drink, cuss or womanize and we have a draw tournament every month.”

Club members fish on the third Saturday of each month except December, and they meet the preceding Thursday. “Our meet-ings begin at 7 p.m. and end promptly at 9. We start with a devotional and conclude with prayer concerns and praises. In between, we select the lake we are going to fish, draw partners, celebrate the winners of the past tournament and hear fish stories

about how the winners caught fish. We also do the administra-tive work of the club and plan service events.”

Jim said ACBC has the most fun when members are serving in the community. Every year – usually in October – club members take residents of the Texas Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock Children’s fishing. They have a small fishing tournament on Lake Georgetown, trophy awards and pictures for all the kids, and lunch at a fun, kid-friendly restaurant.

ACBC supports Cast for Kids, a ministry that enables disabled and disadvantaged kids to get on the water and try to catch bass. The May 3 event at Lake Bastrop includes awards and lunch.

The group will hold a tourna-ment on April 26 for amputees. “This is one of my favorite events because it helps amputees build confidence,” Jim said. “They see that they can go out on the water and fish — something they likely have never considered. Last year, I was fortunate to fish with my sister who lost a leg due to diabetes. She and her husband, a partner from the club and I had so much fun, we almost didn’t go in for the shore lunch.”

The club, with about 40 members who range in age from 21 to 90, is a catch and release club. It hosts a monthly couples’ tournament and an annual banquet recogniz-ing top fishermen.

“Our club provides an excellent venue for men and their sons to enjoy other Christian men and to see behavior that both honors our Lord and teaches life lessons,” Jim said. “We are always looking for new people. You don’t have to know how to fish or have a boat to join — just an interest in bass fishing and a love of our Lord.”

To find out more about ACBC, visit acbassclub.org or contact Jim at jim.rumbo@gmail.com.

FISHING WITH PURPOSE

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THE GIVER“A pessimist, they say, sees a glass as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.” — G. Donald Gale

I love this quote. I love that it takes a situation we so often use to categorize people and events as one of two things, and completely changes both the ques-tion and the point. Isn’t that what Christ does for us? Isn’t that what the church ought to be doing in our world?

Moving around the circles of Covenant these days, you might hear many things.

The Pessimist

“That debt on the building is scary. They’d better get that under control.”

“Did you hear another staff member just quit? Why can’t we keep anyone?”

“Did you see how many empty pews there were last week?”

The Optimist

“Did you hear about the new pastor? And since we’ve had so much change, he will get to totally recreate a staff team! How exciting!”

“We surpassed our pledge goal for the last year! Even with all that change! What a great congregation!”

“This place is so busy!”

Of course, there is truth in both perspectives. Is Christ’s voice found in either set? What would the generous, even extravagant, giver say?

The Giver

“I just learned that if you personally make more than $1,500 per year, you are richer than 75 percent of the world’s 6-plus billion people. I can do more.”

“I just saw someone sitting all alone in church. I wonder if he has been here before. I may sound stupid, but I’m going over to say hello. I can do more.”

“I read that Upward Basketball and Vacation Bible School are both run completely by volunteers now. My kids are all grown up, but those are good programs and lots of those kids may not have a church. They probably need help. I can do more.”

“I learned Covenant hosted three families with working, single moms last week. They ate and slept in Eaton Hall because they are homeless. Their kids even go to the same school as my kids. I’m signing up to cook a meal when the next set of families comes to Covenant. I can do more.”

With all the financial, material, physical, emotional and spiritual need in the world, where do you see thirst? Who does God want you to share the water with?

BY THAIS KILDAY

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CLERK’S CORNERThe Holy Spirit is moving at Covenant. There is renewed energy and enthusiasm as we eagerly await the arrival of Dr. Thomas Daniel, who has been called by the congregation to be our new senior pastor. The challenging work of pruning that God did through the Session in 2013 will help us be even more fruitful as we move forward into this next season of pastoral leadership. Session truly desires that every Covenant member and friend be deeply engaged in the community of faith, contributing time, talent, and treasure to building up the body of Christ in this time and place and through it, reach-ing out to the world.

Mission Presbytery met Feb. 28 and March 1, and Covenant was well represented by nine commis-sioners. Our own Bud Engstrom was recognized for the 60th anniversary of his ordination; Terry Cole gave a presentation on Street Youth Ministry; and Jack Kern participated in one of the pre-Presbytery workshops on “Introduction to a Cuban Partnership Initiative.” Ruling Elder Don Davis will be a commis-sioner to General Assembly in June.

New elders- and deacons-elect have completed their training and have been examined and approved by the Session. They were ordained and installed on March 30 and will take office on May 1. Session also had the pleasure of meeting with the youth who had participated in the STAND confirmation

program. The youth were received into membership and recognized in worship on March 23.

We said good-bye and Godspeed to Youth Director William Leonhardt, who resigned from Covenant at the end of February to move to a position in California. Mary Helen Mitchell retired in March. She will remain connected to Covenant as the memorial service coordinator, using her many gifts to assist bereaved families in planning memorial services.

During our almost three-year interim period, we witnessed the congregation stepping forward in faith time and again. Rather than taking a wait-and-see attitude, many people continued to be intensely involved in the mission and ministry of the church. With the staff reductions that have occurred, we are grateful for those who have volunteered to lead programs and events like VBS and Trunk-or-Treat, and we are especially thankful for Jill Williams and Munn Hinds who between them have done the job of three pastors since September. We look forward with great anticipation to see what God will do next at Covenant.

BLESSINGS,

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FINANCE REPORT  

Financial  Update  For  Period  Ended  February  28,  2014  

    YTD   YTD      

  Actual   Budget      GENERAL  FUND              Revenues   $  589,652   $  627,317            Expenses   423,989   449,753          Net  Surplus     165,663   177,564        BUILDING  FUND                Total  Loan  Balance     $  7,376,468        Scheduled  Principal  Payments  YTD     17,081        Gifts  Received  YTD     14,209    Covenant  Presbyterian  Foundation  Matching  Program*        Eligible  Member  Gifts  Received     $  31,762        Foundation  Matching  Funds     31,762        Total  Matching  Program     $  63,524    *Covenant  Presbyterian  Foundation  will  match  gifts  made  to  the  Building  Fund  on  a  $1  for  $1  basis,  up  to  $250,000,  on  gifts  received  through  July  31,  2014.    Please  indicate  “matching”  on  your  gift.      *Loan  interest  costs  are  included  in  General  Fund  Expenses.  

SENIOR ACTIVITIES DAYTuesday, April 1, 10 a.m. in FE 200

EXPLORE MEMBERSHIPWednesdays, starting April 2, 6:30 p.m. in CO 208

ARMCHAIR TRAVELERSThursday, April 3, 7 p.m. in FE 200

VISIONS TRIP TO SCHULENBURGFriday, April 4, 8 a.m., meet at the church

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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REV. THOMAS DANIEL PREACHESSunday, April 6, at worship services

VISIONS LUNCHEONTuesday, April 8, 11:45 in FE 200

HIGH SCHOOL GAME NIGHTApril 11 at 7 p.m., FE 400

PALM SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICESSunday, April 13Thomas Daniel’s first Sunday in the pulpit

HOLY WEEK NOON WORSHIP SERVICESApril 14-16 at 10 p.m. in the Sanctuary

MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP SERVICEApril 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRAE SERVICEApril 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICESApril 20 • Sunrise Service on the Patio at 6:30 a.m.• Traditional Services in the Sanctuary at 8, 9:30

and 11 a.m.• Blended Traditional/Contemporary Service in

FE 200 at 9:30 a.m. • Contemporary Service in FE 200 at 11 a.m.

YOUTH SUNDAYSunday, April 279:30 and 11 a.m. Contemporary Worship Services

EXPLORE GOD Sunday, April 27 – June 1, 9:30 a.m. in CO 108.

CAREER TRANSITIONSThursdays May 1 – June 5, 7 p.m. in FE 100

CHILDREN’S MUSICAL: BARBECUE FOR BENSaturday, May 3, at 6:30 p.m.Encore presentation Wednesday, May 7, at 4:30 p.m.

ALL-CHURCH PICNICSunday, May 4, at 4 p.m. at the Skaggs Ranch

VISIONS ACTIVITIES DAYTuesday, May 6, at 10 a.m. in FE 200

GRADUATION SUNDAYSunday, May 11Recognize graduates at 9:30 a.m. and Contemporary

PW SPRING LUNCHThursday, May 15 at 10 a.m. in FE 200

VISIONS LUNCHEONTuesday, May 20, at 11:45 a.m.

SPRING CHOIR CONCERTThursday, May 22, at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary

Easter Lily Order FormDonor: ___________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________In Memory of: ______________________________ or In Honor of: ______________________________________Total Number of Plants: _____ @ $15 each Total Enclosed: ______________________________________Each year, Covenant adorns the Sanctuary with Easter lilies in honor and rememberance of loved ones. If you would like to honor someone this Easter., cut out and return this form to Covenant Hall by Tuesday, March 26. For more information, contact Darleen Kleinhenz at dkleinhenz@covenant.org or (512)-334-3027.

3003 Northland Drive Austin, TX 78757

OFFICERS AND STAFF OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CLASS OF 2015Susan AshtonJill BaumhoverWendell BellSylvia BettsRusty BurnettCarolyn CarmichaelSteve CaskeyAllison CrutchfieldDianne ErlewinePansy FlickJane GamelKeith GingGarrett HallPatti HansenElizabeth HarrellBill HawkinsShannon KniselyJack KriensLoretta KriensLarry LoessinJames MarroquinEmily McGinnisGwen MortonPatrick SchmidtGary VlietBecky WellsSharyn WestmorelandPaul Wynkoop

CLASS OF 2016Mike AustinJennifer CarsnerJane CroweKay DavenportDustin JohnsonMichael KniselyBill McCalebAndrea MoenJulie MooreKen MooreJennifer PalmRyan PalmBob PetersonCherry RaleyJack SkaggsAllison SmallBridgette StahlmanEmily TaylorGwyn TheodoreDonna ThomasSteve ThomasKristen TritleKathy WillisShannon Windham

CLASS OF 2014Breece AdamsMarilyn AdamsMatt BairDonna BarksdaleLynn BellSteve BissellJulie BouAllan CarmichaelLynda ChapmanJay CorderCara CothamJim FosterJacquez “Joc” GainesBretna HackertBonnie HartmannElizabeth HiltonBarbara KniselyBill MangeLacy RuwweCarol SheppardLisa SledgeSharon SmithTom SmithBrent StoverDiane SwansonBeth Voorhees

DEACONS

CLASS OF 2015Don DavisEvangeline HerringChuck RuesinkMelanie WilliamsonCindy Young

CLASS OF 2016Paul AskenasyJennifer MahamDeb RieberJohn RuwweFrank Sheppard

CLASS OF 2014Joy DurrantJeff HornJan SkaggsLaura TumaClark Weatherby

ELDERS

CLASS OF 2015Dave FergusonJack KernMary Teeple

CLASS OF 2016Larry FaulknerJoAnne McIntoshTana Taylor

CLASS OF 2014Dianne Erlewine

FOUNDATION TRUSTEES

PROGRAM STAFF

Thomas R. Daniel, Senior PastorThomas W. Brown, Director of Music MinistryDuane Dube, Director of AdministrationMunn Hines, Interim Associate Pastor for Age and Stage MinistriesChristy Milam, Director of PreschoolJohn Schmidt, OrganistStephanie Schultz, Director of CommunicationsStacey Grooms, Interim Director of Children and Preteen MinistryJill Williams, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care Ministries