FIRST COVENANTLAMPLIGHTER

Volume XLIII - Number 9September 2019

PASTOR’S PEN

Come Join a Cluster

As I write this article, fall is in the air. The highs for today will only be in the mid-60’s, and I see a few leaves turning color out my window. Schools are training for the new year while some schools are al-ready in session. Labor Day is this coming weekend, which is the marker between summer and fall. There is a sense of anticipation as different ministries begin again in the northland, including what is being planned at First Covenant.

As we consider what lies ahead for First Covenant this fall (and we will be hear-ing more about it on September 8th), I want to write to you about a new ministry in which I hope you will become involved. We are calling it “Covenant Clusters,” our new small group ministries. Its main purpose is to help one an-other grow toward maturity in Christ and with each other, which is mandated by the Word of God.

First Covenant Church Virginia, Minnesota 741-7117 www.firstcovenantvirginia.org

Celebrating 116 years of ministry23

In the opening pages of the Bible, we read in Genesis 2:18: “It is not good for man to be alone.” We usu-ally hear this verse at a wedding or regarding a mar-riage. But God, who created the human being, creat-ed him and her to live life in community. When per-ons seek to do life on their own, it is not good. This is especially true for the Christian journey toward being like Christ. It is a journey done together which we call community. Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian  points out:

Community is deeply grounded in the nature of God. It flows from who God is. Because he is community, he creates community. It is his gift of himself to humans. Therefore, the mak-ing of community may not be regarded as an optional decision for Christians. It is a com-pelling and irrevocable necessity, a binding divine mandate for all believers at all times.

For all of the three years of Jesus’ ministry he formed a small group and chose of love, teach, and pour himself into the relationships of twelve disci-ples. After Jesus returned to the Father, the disciples continued this same model.

Carolyn Taketa, a small group director in a local church in California, gives insight as to how that happened in the early church:

These believers engaged in life together through teaching, fellowship, communion, prayer, miracles, radical generosity, and cor-porate worship. They spent time together eat-ing, learning, celebrating, proclaiming the Good News, and supporting each other. In addition, the 50-plus "one another" verses in the New Testament flesh out other aspects of this community. For example, it was a place where people loved, forgave, served, bore burdens, encouraged, exhorted, prayed, equipped, spoke truth in love, confessed sins, and treated each other as precious members of one body.

From our own history, the Evangelical Covenant Church began by meeting in homes to read the Scrip-tures, pray, and simply to support each other in the faith. Out of this movement came a revival of heart, a transformation, in both Sweden and the USA that formed a new work of God called the Covenant.

This fall, Covenant Clusters will be formed to begin again the small group ministry of First Covenant. It will be all about “sharing together a journey of being transformed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Christ, experiencing and expressing love for God and others.” (ECC) This is what we desire to be-come as we seek to live out the ministry of being a “Harvest Community.” We will gradually move into it using the Sunday morning 11:00 hour as we learn together how to do small group ministry. Eventually, we will divide up into small groups and some of those groups may move beyond the church building into homes.

My prayer for this church, at this time, is that we all will capture the vision of “meeting together to spur one another on toward love and good deeds” as well as to see the need to personally participate in a Covenant Cluste

FIRST COVENANT CHURCH PURPOSE STATEMENT

The mission of  First Covenant Church isto worship God,

equip people to live in faith,share God’s love,

and serve the community around us.

SERVING CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH

Ushers:Sept. 1—Ken & Linda PogorelecSept. 8—Roger & Gail JohnstonSept. 15—Shirley Koski & Darlene ReindahlSept. 22—Roger & Judy LindenSept. 29—Steve & Linda Skogman

Sound Technicians:Sept. 1—Mike HannaySept. 8—Roger JohnstonSept. 15—Mike HannaySept. 22—Roger JohnstonSept. 29—Mike Hannay

Caretakers for the week of . . .Sept. 2—Wayne & Bernie Christiansen

& Audrey BranstromSept. 9—Russ & Stephanie CarlsonSept. 16—Mike & Kathy HannaySept. 23—Roger & Judy LindenSept. 30—Pastor Dennis & Mary Anders

Lawn-mowing for the week of . . .Sept. 2—Wayne ChristiansenSept. 9—Roger LindenSept. 16—Steve SkogmanSept. 23—Mike HannaySept. 30—Hill Family

Treats for Fire Department in September:Darlene Reindahl

Treat for Bill’s House in September: Jean Pajunen

MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT7/1/19-7/31/19

Checking account balance as July 1st: $30,236.91

General Fund income for July: $5606.00

Mission Account transfers: $1500.00

Other income: $49.00

Total expenses for the quarter: $9037.90

Checking account balance as of July 31st : $28,425.01

COVENANT WOMEN MINISTRIES

Project Day will begin on Tuesday, September 10. We encourage you to come and help us complete lap robes and dresses.

COVENANT PARK BIBLE CAMP

Leah Fleetwood will be attending the Jr/Sr High Re-treat September 20-22.

The Annual Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auc-tion will be held on Saturday, October 12, at Salem Covenant Church in Duluth. Proceeds will go towards the Lakeside Lodge. Dona-tions can be made by going to covenant park.org/give.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Operation Christmas Child is celebrating over 25 years of blessing children around the world. Over 157 million boys and girls have received shoebox

gifts. Since 1993 shoeboxes have delivered hope, love, and joy to over 160 countries. Many children after receiving their shoebox enroll in a discipleship program. More than 14.9 million children have par-ticipated in the 12-lesson program since 2009. Learning about Jesus and growing in Him, the chil-dren are taught and encouraged to put their faith in Christ with their family and friends.

You may bring donations for the shoeboxes to Bernie’s classroom anytime. We need tooth brushes, calculators, school supplies, toys, gum etc..  . We are no longer permitted to send hard candy or toothpaste. The cost for shipping each box is $9.00.

MISSIONARY PRAYER CALENDARS

The 2019-2020 Covenant Missionary Prayer Calen-dar is available on the table in the narthex. Different missionaries are featured each day in the calendar as well as information about countries where the Covenant is serving. This is an excellent way to get acquainted with our missionaries and our mission fields and to remember them in your prayers. Be sure to pick up a copy and use it during your daily devo-tions.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

For the past five years, our church has had a con-tainer garden on our lot on 4th Street. Each fall we have distributed potatoes and carrots to neighbors of the church. We appreciate Barb Knapper’s heading up this project. The combined church board has de-termined that this outreach effort has now run its course. Three large containers and three small ones are available for a donation. If you are interested in one or more of the containers, speak to Barb.

ALZHEIMER’S WALK

The Stanaway family will be participating in the Alzheimer’s Walk-on behalf of their mother, Muriel, on September 21st in Chisholm.Their goal is to raise $2000. If you wish to help them reach their goal, you may give a check to Linda or Gail or go to the Alzheimer’s Walk website and click on Team Stan-away.

TOUCH OF CLASS CONCERT

The Touch of Class adult jazz ensemble, under the direction of Greg Barnes, will present a concert at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13th, at our church. Pastor Dennis is a member of this group. We are hosting this event as an outreach to the community and are hoping to fill the church. There will be no admission charge, but we will receive a freewill of-fering to assist the ensemble with their expenses. Refreshments will be served following the concert.-Plan to attend and to invite your friends and family members.

A WORD OF THANKS

Just like we don't say "thank you" enough to our families, I have not said "thank you" to you, my church family. My sister Joyce, my Mom, and Dar-rell and I were very blessed to spend some time to-gether in March. I honestly did not expect that I would see Joyce again this side of heaven. Then with no other treatment options she was put on immune therapy drugs.   She responded so well that in July she booked a trip to Minnesota to see some of the friends she left and her family. 

We were able to spend a week together at my  Mom's, for the first time since my dad passed away. All of us girls were together.  

Joyce has been so touched by the prayers that have been offered on her behalf, and for your part in that I say, "thank you.”

There are so many occasions that I have felt the love of God through your actions, and this is one of those times.  Joyce texted me the end of last week that her cancer numbers are again increased. They are con-tinuing the immune therapy and hoping that her im-mune system will again attack the cancer. However, she is prepared to accept whatever God has in store for her.  We are all thankful for the time we have had together, the time she has had with her family, and the opportunity to make lasting memories.

I am thankful for my church family, who have blessed me so many times throughout the 42 years I have been a part of First Covenant Church. Thank you all,   Barb Knapper

COVENANT KIDS CONGO

At 35, when La Vie became a member of the BOMOKO savings group in Gemena, she and her family—her hus-band and six children—began to experience a renewed hope.

“The savings group completely changed me and my fami-ly ... I benefited from the training on financial manage-ment and weekly savings...this knowledge allowed me to position myself well.”

With the savings group approach, she found she eventual-ly could expand her income generating activities and in-crease her earnings. “I bought a plot. I paid the school fees for my husband that allowed him to get his state diploma.”

La Vie goes on to say, “Thanks to the savings group, I have just opened a restaurant that will help me provide for my children. I also initiated the project to build a new sheet metal house, which is now at foundation level. Since I was part of the savings group, my children are healthy and they go to school. I do not worry about their education and health anymore because I can use our sav-ings group to borrow money.”

When bridges are in good repair, we tend take them for granted. But deteriorating bridges threaten physi-cal safety and economic security. In DR Congo, ac-cidents on such bridges cause the loss of thousands of dollars’ worth of goods, and even loss of life.Poor bridges cause many problems, some of which are:▪ hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of

goods are destroyed in accidents▪ people lose their lives▪ farmers can’t get their goods to market▪ hospitals and clinics are more difficult to get

to▪ access to schools is challenging▪ daily activities, such as carrying food, water,

and palm oil, are risky and dangerous

But there is hope! People in Congo know that invest-ing in repairing bridges and roads can make a signif-icant economic impact for their communities, as well as provide access to schools, hospitals, and water sources.

And although twelve bridges have been replaced in the area, there are many more problematic  and dangerous bridges that desperately need replac-ing or repairing. The Covenant Church of Congo would like to repair seven bridges between Karawa and Loko. This is a key national route that will in-crease transportation and provide better access to markets, ports, hospitals, clinics, and other facilities.

NORTHWEST CONFERENCE UPDATE

Imagine 614 middle schoolers learning about what it means to be unleashed for Jesus. That was the theme of this year’s MUUUCE (the Most Unbelievable, Ultimate, Urban Camping Experience). From Aug. 1-3, 614 students and youth leaders from 40 North-west Conference Covenant churches gathered at Crossroads Church in Woodbury for this awesome middle school event.

The three days included a massive Welcome Party with inflatable games and food trucks, a trip to the Big Thrill Factory and Valley Fair, lots of pizza and Chick-fil-A, as well as worship, teaching and small group discussions that are designed specifically for

them.

During the worship ses-sions, Karl Romeus, the student pas-tor at Bay-side Church in Sacramen-

to, CA, confronted students to think about what it means to be unleashed for Christ as young adoles-cents. They leaned in to hear his stories and his chal-lenges. The Crossroads worship team created a pow-erful worship experience designed to help middle schoolers connect with God.

Chad Melton, pastor of middle school ministry at Alexandria Covenant said that a highlight for him was witnessing God soften a student’s heart.“That this student encountered Jesus after a year of praying for that breakthrough… it’s beyond words,” Melton said.

COVENANT TRUST COMPANY

Investing would be a lot simpler if risk and return were in-versely related. There definitely would be a lot less mystery to it all if there were plenty of low risk, high return options to choose from. However, we must usually assume more risk with our investments in order to have the potential for a greater return.

High quality bonds generally carry less market risk than stocks -- but they usually offer a lower return. Stocks, on the other hand, tend to carry more market risk than bonds. That higher risk may create the potential for a higher return.

The potential for a great return can be alluring, but you can’t simply ignore the risk involved. Just the opposite is true. Not only should you be aware of the risk involved with your investments, you should also know how much risk you are comfortable assuming. This is called your risk tolerance. And it is different for everyone.

When determining your risk tolerance, consider these questions:· How soon will you need to cash in your investments?· How will a loss on your investment affect the rest of your finances?· If your investment loses money, can you afford to stick with the investment and wait for it to recover?

If you determine that your risk tolerance is very low, it doesn’t mean you should avoid risk or shun investing alto-gether; not investing can be risky, too! Whether your tol-erance is high, low, or somewhere in-between, you need an investment plan that properly reflects the level of risk you’re willing to take on. Additionally, remember that your risk tolerance can change over time or as your financial situation changes. As such, it’s a good idea to regularly as-sess your risk tolerance.

We can helpWhether you’re new to investing or a long-time investor, Covenant Trust can help you determine your risk tolerance and discuss appropriate investment options for you. For more information, contact your Financial Service Represen-tatives for the Northwest Conference: Steve Allison Financial Services Rep.    847-583-3264srallison@covenanttrust.com                                                               

THANK YOU NOTES

Dear Brothers and Sisters at First Covenant, Thanks you so very much! Your financial support for my service as a missionary to Congo was re-ceived in July. Thanks again, for it is the support of people like you that gives me the confidence to keep moving forward.

Please know that I think of you all and pray for your ministry. My time with you was short in April, but I hope for more opportunities to get to know you in the future Your brother in Christ,

Craig Wickstrom

Dear First Covenant Family,It was wonderful to be with some of you when we had the barbecue at Biwabik. Thank you for your encouragement and for your financial support. We are blessed to partner with you!

Blessings, Julio & Katie Isaza

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

Kate Barnes 8thShirley Koski 14thGreg Barnes 26th

AMONG US

Shirley Koski enjoyed having family members spend time with her at the lake.

Jennifer, Elizabeth, and Soren and Laila spent two weeks with Wayne and Bernie this summer. While here they camped for four days on Isle Royale and saw a number of moose. They also had a chance to see Wayne in the chorus for the performance of the opera La Traviata.

Kate Barnes hast returned to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, majoring in elementary edu-cation with an endorsement in Spanish. This fall she will have her elementary methods classes.

BULLETIN, CALENDAR, AND NEWSLETTER DEADLINES

Items for the October calendar need to be e-mailed or in the church office by Sunday, September 15th. Weekly bulletin items should be e-mailed or brought to the church office by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. E-mailed items need to have either “calendar” or “bul-letin” in the subject line.

Items for the October issue of the Lamplighter should be turned in by Sunday, September 22nd. Items may be submitted by e-mail to wbchris@q.com. Remember that we are always looking for news of interest for the “Among Us” column.