THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant...
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THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton Issue #04-2016 The Salt Shaker April 2016 TYPE TAGLINE HERE LOVING GOD – GROWING TOGETHER – SERVING OTHERS Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year. After a few months of cold days and hibernation, spring is in the air! It’s a time for rebirth, renewal, rejuvenation, and revival. Days are getting longer and warmer. It’s the time of year when I begin to think about fun activities to do with my family. I enjoy taking nice walks around the neighborhood with my husband, Scott and our two boys - Gregory and Matthew, and planning playdates for them. My family also enjoys taking a stroll to the local ice cream shop and planning our yearly spring vacation to Florida to visit extended family. Spring is also a time when the chores that have been neglected in the winter are done such as window washing, cleaning out the garage, going through seasonal wardrobes and reorganizing closets. Unfortunately, for some of us, these feelings of newness and rebirth are not present. Instead, there may be feelings of staleness, brokenness, or being in a rut. I know as Christians, we all go through this. In fact, it was exactly two years ago that God was preparing me to grow to a new level in my spiritual journey. As a special education teacher, I felt a calling to expand my horizons to get certified in educational leadership and supervision. With my professional experience in the Bridgeport public schools working with children with special needs and raising my oldest son, Gregory, who happens to have Autism, I felt ready to take on a challenge and help others in a leadership capacity. I decided to enroll at Sacred Heart University in the Fall. At the same time, my husband and I decided to enroll Gregory in a local private school to help meet his needs, only to realize that his needs were greater than they could provide. Also, our school district did not agree with what we felt was in his best interests. I had to take a leave of absence from work that winter to educate and care for Gregory while we prepared a legal battle with our school district to get him back into school. Here I was, a special education teacher, ready to help others, and ironically, I couldn’t even help my own son access an education. I felt hopeless and angry with the world. I thought, “God, how can you allow this to happen?” I felt broken and bitter at first, but I decided to trust in God. I prayed, “God, if you really want to use me to help others in similar situations, then you will find a way for my son to go to school, and for his social and academic needs to be met.” We succeeded in getting Gregory back into our local school district with (continued on Page 2) Clean Out Your Spiritual Closets by Joyce Fiscus
Transcript of THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant...
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton Issue #04-2016
The Salt Shaker
April 2016
TYPE TAGLINE HERE LOVING GOD – GROWING TOGETHER – SERVING OTHERS
Spring is one of my favorite seasons of the year. After a few months of cold days and hibernation, spring is in the air! It’s a time for rebirth, renewal, rejuvenation, and revival. Days are getting longer and warmer. It’s the time of year when I begin to think about fun activities to do with my family. I enjoy taking nice walks around the neighborhood with my husband, Scott and our two boys - Gregory and Matthew, and planning playdates for them. My family also enjoys taking a stroll to the local ice cream shop and planning our yearly spring vacation to Florida to visit extended family. Spring is also a time when the chores that have been neglected in the winter are done such as window washing, cleaning out the garage, going through seasonal wardrobes and reorganizing closets.
Unfortunately, for some of us, these feelings of newness and rebirth are not present. Instead, there may be feelings of staleness, brokenness, or being in a rut. I know as Christians, we all go through this. In fact, it was exactly two years ago that God was preparing me to grow to a new level in my spiritual journey. As a special education teacher, I felt a calling to expand my horizons to get certified in educational leadership and supervision. With my professional experience in the Bridgeport public schools working with children with special needs and raising my oldest son, Gregory, who happens to have Autism, I felt ready to take on a challenge and help others in a leadership capacity. I decided to enroll at Sacred Heart University in the Fall. At the same time, my husband and I decided to enroll Gregory in a local private school to help meet his needs, only to realize
that his needs were greater than they could provide. Also, our school district did not agree with what we felt was in his best interests. I had to take a leave of absence from work that winter to educate and care for Gregory while we prepared a legal battle with our school district to get him back into school. Here I was, a special education teacher, ready to help others, and ironically, I couldn’t even help my own son access an education. I felt hopeless and angry with the world. I thought, “God, how can you allow this to happen?” I felt broken and bitter at first, but I decided to trust in God. I prayed, “God, if you really want to use me to help others in similar situations, then you will find a way for my son to go to school, and for his social and academic needs to be met.” We succeeded in getting Gregory back into our local school district with
(continued on Page 2)
Clean Out Your Spiritual Closets by Joyce Fiscus
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton | Issue #04-2016 Page #2
Kids in Grades 2-5 and their parent(s) are invited to participate in a 3-week Sunday school class – April 17, 24 and May 1, 9:30-10:30 am – that will help to guide families in exploring related Scriptures and age-appropriate themes to understand God’s special gift of Holy Communion.
Pick up a brochure in the Welcome Center. Sign up with Roseann Slater ([email protected]).
(continued from Page 1) the supports he needed and it was during this darkest time in our lives that I learned to wait on God. While I took care of Gregory at home during my leave of absence from work, I continued to study at Sacred Heart at night when my boys went to bed. I passed all my classes and state exams and got certified this past December. It was that same month that Gregory won an award in school for being a model student. I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present! God has a purpose for our pain, a reason for our struggles, and a reward for our faithfulness. You may feel that you are in need of a spiritual “spring cleaning” that only God, through his mercy and grace in Jesus Christ can give us. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31, “But they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint”. We can all have a fresh, new start in Christ this spring.
“God uses broken things. It takes
broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken
grain to give bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that
gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to
greater power than ever.”
~ Vance Havner
This Spring, give God your struggles, clean out your spiritual “closets” and know that in your brokenness or staleness, God still wants to use you!
FRIENDS NIGHT OUT
No Friends Night Out April 12th (Spring Break)
Welcome to the Table Understanding God’s Special Gift of Holy Communion
by Roseann Slater, Director of Children’s Ministry
Clean Out Your Spiritual Closets by Joyce Fiscus
Scott & Joyce Fiscus With sons, Gregory and Matthew
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton Issue #04-2016
IMAGINE
BATHING your child in polluted water!
Your TOILET gets emptied into your drinking water!
Being a parent whose child is ill due to dirty water/sanitation who has to decide whether to sell their chicken or livestock to buy medicine vs cooking the chicken for the family’s dinner? AND with dirty water, the child will get sick again . . . thus a vicious cycle!
Strapping a 25-40 pound water container (aka “Jerry Cans”) on your back every day to fetch water – dirty water – for your family!
FACTS
2.5 Billion people (35% of the world’s population), including almost one billion children, live without basic sanitation
Every 20 seconds a child dies as a result of poor sanitation – that’s 1.5 million preventable deaths each year
783 Million people in the world (roughly 11% of the world’s population) do not have access to safe water
In developing countries, 70% of industrial waste is dumped untreated into waters where they pollute the usable water supply
SAFE water is the first step toward breaking the CYCLE of poverty
Every $1 spent on water and sanitation generates at least $4 in increased economic opportunity A CALL TO ACTION A team has been organized and goals have been set to . . . .
1. Raise $10,000 by May 31, 2016 (Date Update) for Covenant World Relief Project Blue 2. Work with the people of Haiti, and possibly the town of Fond-Des-Blancs 3. Help fund, support, AND SUSTAIN a clean water system (i.e. Water House, Water Well or Pump, or Water
Filtration) 4. Pray, pray, and pray some more
MAKE A DONATION TO CCOE – PROJECT BLUE - HAITI To make a donation to help provide clean water, copy & paste this link into your web browser:
https://give.covchurch.org/fundraiser.aspx?asset=48
MISSION STATEMENT & PURPOSE CCOE – PROJECT BLUE – HAITI
We as a community have been called to serve those in need, enabling transformation in communities through access to clean water leading to better health, education, and opportunity. For ALL are worthy of dignity and respect because we are made in the likeness of God to be transformed more into the likeness of Jesus, our Lord.
RAISING AWARENESS
SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICE
SUNDAY, APRIL 10
DEDICATED TO THE THEME OF WATER
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton Issue #04-2016
SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP
Project Blue Three of our youth – Jess Goddard, Carlos Perez and André Pecego – joined an exciting new committee formed in our church to partner with Project Blue and help families and children in Haiti to have access to clean water. They’ve invited our youth to support this effort by collecting small change at youth group each week and participating in a skit on Sunday, April 10 that was written by our own Jess Goddard, André Pecego, Jen Vojt and Denise Hallstrom. Season of Lent We kicked off the season of Lent with a special night of reflection and worship and challenged our youth to either “give up” something or “take on” something that would help them draw closer to Christ. Since then we’ve seen record numbers of attendance in our Sunday morning Bible study, and many students digging into their Bibles and stepping up to serve God in unique and exciting ways.
We’re looking forward to ending our month with a special night of Worship
led by our seniors (Matt Svenson, Tori Rieger, Jen Vojt, Denise Hallstrom, Jessica Estrada, Sam Molitoris, Luke Gibbs, Alexa Meachen, and Abby Slater.
.
JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP
Youth taking on leadership roles We’ve begun inviting our 8th grade youth to start taking on leadership roles at our Junior High Youth Group. Anastasia Svenson did an awesome job leading JHAMS one night as we talked about learning to trust Jesus more. Kylie Forstrom, Spencer Hatfield, Lily Shive and Jocelyn Wilson have led us in some really fun games too! We prepared our hearts and minds for Holy Week by washing each other’s feet and sharing in Holy Communion. Our older Junior High leaders presented the story of Jesus’ Last Supper in the form of a powerful skit.
We are SO blessed to have such incredible youth who desire to grow in their faith and serve others! A large group of students participated in some special Easter events that were sponsored by Urban Impact. We hosted a children’s event at our church on March 19 where our youth were able to assist young children with craft projects and share their faith with these kids. Another group helped serve a meal to families that came to hear a special Easter message. We switched the meeting night of our High School Youth Group so that both our Junior High and Senior High youth could meet with their small groups and then attend our Tenebrae Service.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUTH MINISTRY
Visit our Church Website www.coveaston.org Contact Pastor Debbie 203.668.5350 or [email protected]
An email goes out to all youth/families each week with details about our topic for the week and upcoming events. If you’d like to be included, let Debbie know.
Youth Ministry Update by Debbie Packnick, Director of Student Ministry
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton Issue #04-2016
Join the Covenant Church family and the missions we serve in a second annual day-long service project at Easter Seals’ Camp Hemlock in Hebron, Connecticut.
People of all ages from the missions we support, like Urban Impact and Bridgeport Rescue Mission, will join together in service and fun. The day will include projects to prepare the summer camp’s opening, fun picnic and some afternoon games and fellowship.
This is a great opportunity to invite your friends from work, neighborhood, the gym, etc.
Look for the sign up poster coming soon in the Welcome Center.
Hope you can join what should be a very unique serving adventure!
For more information or to register email Krista Dolan ([email protected]).
EASTER SEALS® Easter Seals® is a non-profit organization and supports Disabled Americans (children and adults)
Easter Seals’ Camp Hemlocks
Saturday, May 14
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Below is a list of our Life Groups (small group Bible studies) and other groups that meet on a regular basis. You can find them on our website (http://coveaston.org/#/life-groups/current-life-groups) or our church app. Please contact Paul Veerman ([email protected]) if any of these groups interest you.
Stay connected. Don’t do life alone.
Women’s Groups
Devoted Daughters Sundays 10:30 am at church Contact: Bobbie Morgan “Slaying the Giants in Your Life” by David Jeremiah Women’s Group Monday mornings in Trumbull Contact: Roseann Slater “The Circle Maker” by Mark Batterson Girls Night Out Mondays 7:30 pm at church Contact: Christine Austin “Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On” by Stormie Omartian Early Birds Thursdays 7:30 am at church Contact: Ann Boyle “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi Women’s Group Thursdays 7:15 pm at church Contact: Cheryl Pavia “Loving God with Your Whole Mind” by Elizabeth George
The Joyful Sisters Fridays 10:00 am at church Contact: Adrienne Reedy “The Easter Experience” by City on a Hill Women’s Breakfast 2nd Saturday 8:00 am at church Contact: Cheryl Blair Topic TBA
Men’s Groups
Men’s Group Thursdays 7:30 pm at church Contact: Tim Herrmann Sunday’s Sermon & The Word Life at the Plaza Fridays 6:30 am Plaza Diner in Shelton Contact: Jim Meyers “Good Faith, Being a Christian when Society Thinks You’re Irrelevant and Extreme” by David Kinnaman & Gabe Lyons Men’s Group Fridays 6:30 am Penny’s Diner II in Fairfield Contact: Bob Rieger “Romans” with Notes by Tim Keller Men of the Shiny Diner Fridays 7:30 am Athenian Diner in Milford Contact: Paul Veerman “Prayer” by Philip Yancey Men’s Breakfast 1st Saturday 8:00 am at church Contact: Marc Goyette “Faith Christian Video Series” by Andy Stanley
Couples Groups
Adult Group Fridays 7:30 pm at church Contact: Bill Croasmun “James with Study Guide” by N. T. Wright
Couples Group 2nd Saturday 7:00 pm at church Contact: Paul Veerman “Philippians with Study Guide”
Couples Group Alternate Saturdays 10 am at church Contact: Andy Ober “Gospel of John”
Other Groups
Middle School Students Foundations Confirmation Class Sundays 9:00 am at church Contact: Bill Austin, Kyle Lent “The Journey, The Old Testament”
High School Students - CrossFit Sundays 9:00 am at church Contact: Debbie Packnick “Gospel of John”
King’s Kids Choir Elementary-age Kids Tuesdays 5:30 pm at church Contact: Roseann Slater
Friends Night Out Elementary-age Kids Tuesdays 6:30 pm at church Contact: Roseann Slater
OASIS Senior High Youth Group Wednesdays 7:00 pm at church Contact: Debbie Packnick
Choir Wednesdays 7:30 pm at church Contact: Kristian Otten
JHAMS Junior High Youth Group Thursdays 7:00 pm at church Contact: Debbie Packnick
Discipleship Ministry by Paul Veerman
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton | Issue #04-2016 Page #7
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
4/2 Leanne Austin
4/4 Richard Pittera
♥Sam & Paula Keegan♥
4/5 Estuardo Estrada
4/6 Lillian Furedy
Jessica Goddard
4/7 Michelle Wilber
4/8 Jeff Munley
4/9 Samantha Nilsen
4/12 Dot Svenson
4/15 Carl Otten
Iain Munley
4/17 JoAnn Gibbs (Sr.)
4/18 Luke Gibbs
♥Joe & Karen Domena♥
4/21 Christina Avila
4/22 Anastasia Svenson
♥George & Karen Sheridan♥
4/25 Anna Morin
4/26 Margie Royster
4/28 ♥Ron & JoAnn Gibbs♥
4/30 Salvatore Sapia
Dates Teacher Topic Description April 3, 10, 17, 24
Wiley Mullins
Believer’s Authority
What is the authority that we have as Christ followers? This class will help you recognize and exercise the authority that is ours in Christ Jesus.
May 1 & 8
Bill Stewart
What Muslims think about Jesus
Learn about Muslims and what they think about Christianity and Jesus in particular
May 15 & 22
Steve & Kasia Lindeberg
Desiring mercy, not sacrifice
What does the Bible say about mercy and sacrifice? What has He called us to do? We will be challenged to know the meaning of this in our lives today.
June 5 & 12
Paul Veerman
Christians call to action
Are we a follower of Jesus, if we just keep it to ourselves? What has He called us to do?
Easton Community News
HEALING THE HEART
A 6-week workshop focusing on loss and grief, with an emphasis on skill building through interactive discussion and goal setting, will be held at the Easton Senior Center beginning Thursday, April 7 from 4:00-5:30 pm. The workshop will be co-led by Alison Witherbee , Town of Easton Municipal Agent for the Aging and Social Services, and Marguerite McVay, an Easton resident and clinical Social Worker with many years’ experience. Reserve your spot by calling Alison Witherbee (203.268.1137)
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton Issue #04-2016
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2
*4/19 – Salt Shaker Deadline
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7 pm AA 7 pm Croasmun Life Group
6 am Men’s Prayer 8 am Men’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal 10 am Ober Life Group
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 am Worship, Adult Sunday School, Foundations & CrossFit 10:45 am Worship & Children’s Worship 12:15 pm Life Group Leaders Lunch
6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm AA
9 am InterVarsity 9:30 am CBS Leaders 11 am InterVarsity 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Nite Out 6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Prayer 8 pm InterVarsity
9 am Outside Group 10 am Prayer @ Avila home 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
7:30 am Women’s Life Group 8 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7:15 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm Men’s Life Group
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7 pm AA 7 pm Croasmun Life Group
6 am Men’s Prayer 8:30 am Women’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal 7 pm Veerman Life Group
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 9 am Worship, Adult Sunday School, Foundations & CrossFit 10:45 am Worship & Children’s Worship
6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm Council 7:30 pm AA
9 am InterVarsity 9:30 am CBS Leaders 11 am InterVarsity 5:30 pm King’s Kids NO Friends Nite Out 6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Prayer
9 am Outside Group 10 am Prayer @ Avila home 7 pm OASIS NO Choir
7:30 am Women’s Life Group 8 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7:15 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm Men’s Life Group
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7 pm AA 7 pm Croasmun Life Group
6 am Men’s Prayer 8 am Men’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal 10 am Ober Life Group 12 pm InterVarsity
17 18 19* 20 21 22 23 9 am Worship, Adult Sunday School, Foundations & CrossFit 9:30 am Children’s Communion Class 10 am Senior Brunch 10:45 am Worship & Children’s Worship
6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm AA
9 am InterVarsity NO CBS Leaders 11 am InterVarsity 5:30 pm King’s Kids NO Friends Nite Out 6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Prayer
9 am Outside Group 10 am Prayer @ Avila home 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
7:30 am Women’s Life Group 8 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7:15 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm Men’s Life Group
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7 pm AA 7 pm Croasmun Life Group
6 am Men’s Prayer 10 am Band Rehearsal
24 25 26 28 29 30 9 am Worship, Adult Sunday School, Foundations & CrossFit 9:30 am Children’s Communion Class 10:45 am Worship & Children’s Worship
6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm AA
9 am InterVarsity 9:30 am CBS Leaders 11 am InterVarsity 5:30 pm King’s Kids NO Friends Nite Out 6:45 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Prayer
9 am Outside Group 10 am Prayer @ Avila home 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
7:30 am Women’s Life Group 8 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7:15 pm Women’s Life Group 7:30 pm Men’s Life Group
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7 pm AA 7 pm Croasmun Life Group
6 am Men’s Prayer 10 am Band Rehearsal 10 am Ober Life Group 10 am Secret Pal Party
THE SALT SHAKER a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton | Issue #04-2016 Page #9
The Salt Shaker
a publication of the Covenant Church of Easton
Covenant Church of Easton
Loving God, Growing Together, Serving Others
1 Sport Hill Road Easton, CT 06612
(203) 371-8335 www.coveaston.org
