Volume 2014, Issue 3 Fasting & Prayerstorage.cloversites.com/covenantchurchofeaston... · Jim...
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King Jehoshaphat, a godly king of Judah, tucked fairly anonymously away in 2 Chronicles, is rushed for a decision. Advisors come running to the king: the Moabites and the Ammonites, with some of the Meunites thrown in for extra measure, are aligned against you. They are coming to make war against you. “It is a vast army,” he is told. They are already at Hazazon Tamar (if you don’t know where that is, scripture helps us by noting it’s also called En Gedi. Oh, of course, En Gedi, that is close). Jehoshaphat is alarmed. A vast army already at Hazazon Tamar, royal advisors pushing for a decision, and an alarmed king leads to:
“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he pro-claimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him”. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4
King Jehoshaphat leads the gathered nation in a corporate prayer that ends, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” This was the pattern of Jehoshaphat’s life. He installed judges and told them to seek God for their decisions. He insisted other kings seek God before he would take action with them. Now, faced with a decision others might want him to rush, he calls the nation together for prayer and fasting, trusting God will reveal the answer. God honors the fasting and prayer, providing direction by his Spirit upon someone in the crowd. Lori Swindon shared these verses with the Associate Pastor Search Committee last week, suggesting a church-wide fast and prayer as we move into interviews of candidates. We do not know who God has chosen for our church, but our eyes are upon him to reveal it to us. It is a decision for the body, so we all seek God together. We ask that you join us in fast-ing and prayer on Ash Wednes-day, March 5th. We ask that you pray for dis-cernment for the Search Committee (Brenda Adriani, Pat Croasmun, Krista Do-lan, David Gibbs, Jim Meyers, Carl Otten, Lori Swindon, Kyla Trinklein and my-self). We ask that you pray we are reliant on God’s wisdom, not our wisdom. Pray that God guides our discussions and decisions. We ask that you pray for the person that God desires in this position, that they are open to God’s leading and preparation. I also ask that you pray for the Church Council (Marc Goyette, John Heitz, Tim Herrmann, Jim Meyers, Bobbie Morgan, Bob Rieger, and Darian Veerman).
(Continued on page 5)
Fasting & Prayer
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Volume 2014, Issue 3
MARCH
Ash Wednesday, March 5
Winter retreat season has come and gone, and it’s
been a blast! We took 28 of our high school students
up to Glen Spey in New York for WinterFest. Pastor
Efrem Smith delivered powerful sermons and the
weekend was full of great conversations, worship
and tons of fun activities.
We also took 14 Junior Highers up to Pilgrim Pines
for our Annual WinterBlast retreat. The weather was
great and the speakers challenged us to be part of
God’s story. The students once again defended their broomball record by winning the tournament
against all the other church teams.
The retreats are not only a great time but also a way
for students to develop greater bonds with one an-
other and to grow in their faith. These trips are a lot
of work and couldn’t happen without the help of all
our adult volunteers. Thanks to all of you who give
up you’re weekend to spend time with students.
You’re very much appreciated!
OASIS (Senior High)
meets each Wednesday at 7 pm
JHAMS (Junior High)
meets each Thursday at 7 pm
Page 2
Youth Spotlight
Th e Sal t S ha ke r
V ol u m e 201 4, Is s ue 3 Page 3
2014 WINTERFEST SENIOR HIGH RETREAT
Glen Spey, New York
2014 WINTERBLAST JUNIOR HIGH RETREAT
Pilgrim Pines, New Hampshire
“Give unto the Lord the
glory due unto His name;
worship the Lord in the
beauty of His holiness.”
Psalm 29:2
You may have noticed
that our worship space is
in flux, particularly from
a technological stand-
point. Step by step we
are employing elements
that will contribute to
vast improvements in
the audio and visual sys-
tems that facilitate our worship
services, thanks to the contin-
ued efforts of Richard Chilvers,
Jimi Meyer, Bob Forstrom and
Strathmoor Electric.
We have come a long way
since beginning the process,
but there is still much to be
done. I have a few thoughts
and requests in this time of
transition that I hope will help
to keep our hearts centered on
worshipping the King!
First and foremost, I ask that
you please join with us in
prayer throughout this process,
praying that all of the improve-
ments we make will be for the
purpose of bringing glory
to God. Also, know that
your support of this pro-
ject in word, deed, and
dollar is greatly appreci-
ated, but we ask for your
patience and grace a little
longer. Many of the peo-
ple working on this task
are volunteers who have
jobs, families and other
commitments, but in the
end it will be well worth
the wait!
My hope is that you will join
with us in mind, spirit, and atti-
tude so that our gatherings will
be solely devoted to meeting
with Him together and giving
Him the glory due unto His
Name!
Kristian Otten
Acting Director of Worship Arts
Simply pick up a Soup
Can Label and Lid (in
the Welcome Center)
– affix them to an or-
dinary soup can – and
during the month of March collect your spare
change. You can also give by using the enve-
lopes found in the pews.
Your “Can for Change” Offering will then be
received on Sunday, March 23rd during the offer-
ing.
Contact: Wiley Mullins (203.445.1319).
For the month of
March you have an
opportunity to part-
ner with Covenant
W o r l d R e l i e f
(CWR) in the transformation of the lives of the
most vulnerable.
CWR is the Evangelical Covenant Church at
work in the world through disaster response,
education, agriculture, health & nutrition, clean
water, women’s empowerment, micro-
enterprise, advocacy, and refugee care.
Page 4
We’re Not Done Yet!
Covenant World Relief The Can for Change
Th e Sal t S ha ke r
PJ & Movie Night
V ol u m e 201 4, Is s ue 3
Friends Night Out (FNO)
PJ & Movie Night Tuesday, March 11th
6:30-7:45 The League of Incredible Vegetables
REGISTER NOW for
CAMP SQUANTO SUMMER 2014! http://pilgrimpines.org/campsquanto
Scholarships are available. Please see Roseann
Slater or Aaron Ruiz by Thursday, May 1st.
Pray for the Council mini-retreat on March 15th as we continue to seek God’s desire for our church in vision and mission. As Richard Foster describes it, “Fasting is feasting”. Fasting is recognizing that it is God who sustains us, it is God who feeds us; we feast on His presence during fasting. In fasting, the focus is upon God, not our-selves and our discipline. The fast is for the length of time that you decide: a meal, 2 meals or the day; make it just outside your comfort zone. May it unite us together, like the people of Judah, as we all stand before the Lord, trusting His Spirit to make His will known to those who faithfully seek Him.
Pastor Cary
(Continued from page 1)
Page 5
Children’s Ministry — What’s Up?
Fasting & Prayer on Ash Wednesday
FAMILY EASTER EVENT Sunday, April 13
Walk through Jesus’ final week and experience
Easter like never before!
Our Easter events have had a good response
from the community these past few years, and
we need lots of help in all areas! This year’s
Family Easter Event will take place Sunday after-
noon (Palm Sunday), with 6 rooms, each a
“station” with decorations and activities to pre-
sent the Good News. We need help setting up
after church, welcoming families at each station,
characters in costume and more. For more in-
formation, please contact Roseann Slater
Page 6 Th e Sal t S ha ke r
Birthdays & Anniversaries
3/2 Coleen Herrmann
3/3 Zachary Wirth
3/4 Jessica Estrada
3/7 Phylis Linder
Cat Heitz
Bob & Ruth Lewis
3/8 Crista Forstrom
Nick DelBuono
3/9 Mark Spisto
3/10 Chuck Forstrom
3/11 James Anderson
3/12 Greg Cobaugh
3/13 Zach Stetson
3/15 Ron Koenig
3/17 Rebecca Zager
3/18 Nicole Pittera
3/19 Ashley Austin
3/21 Dylan Lindeberg
3/23 Kristina Meyers
3/24 Ann Boyle
Logan Meyer
3/27 Dom Mastrianno
3/28 Terry Morgan
Jim Norkawich
Eden Ruiz
Bob & Linda Fiscus
3/30 Bob Lewis, 3rd
Treasurer’s Report The financial results of the Unified Operating Fund for the
one month ended January 31, 2014 were as follows:
INCOME
Unified Receipts $40,936
Investment & Other Income 0
Total Income $40,936
EXPENSES $44,242
Excess of Expenses over Income ($3,306)
Although we (i.e., the Church) experienced a deficit for
the first month of this year, we are off to a good start for
2014.
This may seem like a contradictory statement, but it is
not. Let me explain. This year's Financial Plan requires
Unified Receipts averaging $9,942 per week in order to
cover expenses. The January average was
$10,234. Thank you for your generosity! On the other
hand, January expenses were higher than the average
month because there were three staff payroll payments (in
contrast to the usual two), plus the Senior Pastor's quar-
terly health insurance and pension payments.
This combination of expenses occurs in only one other
month (July) this year. Because the Church's accounting is
on a cash basis, the timing of expense payments can cause
month-to-month fluctuations. These fluctuations are man-
ageable as long as there is a steady stream of Unified Re-
ceipts, which is entirely dependent on everyone maintain-
ing a consistent and generous spirit of giving.
Bob Fiscus, Treasurer
July 28-August 1 July 28-August 1
V ol u m e 201 4, Is s ue 3
Sundays March 23 and 30
in the Welcome Center
Bring your Christian books that are on your shelf that you’ve read; but
chances are, will never read again. Leave them on one of the tables in
the Welcome Center and pick up others that look interesting enough
for you to read. Take them home and enjoy! There is no charge or
cover fee.
During that week of March 23–30 the tables will remain in the Wel-
come Center for you to browse and pick up or drop off books.
On Sunday, March 30 after the 2nd Worship Service the remaining
books will be boxed and donated to Glad Tidings India
(www.gladtidingsindia.org).
There is a huge demand for used Bibles and Christian Books in India.
India has the second largest English speaking and reading population
in the world. These Bibles and books are sold for an affordable
amount and the proceeds are reinvested to print Bibles in Indian lan-
guages, which are sold and the proceeds are again reinvested for
CBS, Literacy Courses, or training Church Planters. Don't let your Bi-
bles and Christian Books collect dust on shelves when they can be
transforming lives in India.
The Associate Pastor Search Committee will be conducting several phone interviews throughout Feb-
ruary and early March. Please pray for discernment, wisdom and peace in our conversations and de-
liberations. Please also pray that the Holy Spirit continue to lead us and that we yield entirely to His
voice and promptings as we consider persons of interest. Dave Gibbs, Chair
Page 7
Christian Book Swap
Associate Pastor Search Update
Easter Baskets for Covenant to Care Look for the poster in the Welcome Center on Sunday,
March 23rd where you can choose some “bunny” to bless
for Easter. Baskets need to be at the church on Palm Sun-
day, April 13. For more information, contact Charlene Skok
(203.373.0547).
Page 8 Th e Sal t S ha ke r
SundaySunday
March 16March 16
V ol u m e 201 4, Is s ue 3
Since October 1, 2012, Covenant congre-
gations across the United States and Can-
ada have been participating in Hope
Events. These events present the great
need in Congo along with providing an
invitation for individuals and families to
sponsor children through Covenant Kids
Congo powered by World Vision. Cur-
rently, more than 300 churches have ei-
ther had a Hope
Event or have ex-
pressed interest in
doing so, but we
still need 100
more to reach our
4 0 0 c h u r c h
marker. Together,
we have spon-
sored more than
5,000 children!
Covenant Church
of Easton has
agreed to join this
u n p re c ed e n t ed
partnership and will host a Hope Sunday
on March 16th!
What can you do to help?
PRAY We can support Covenant Kids Congo
now through prayer for our brothers and
sisters in Congo.
HOPE We can show hope by hosting a Hope
Event at Covenant Church of Easton and
preparing for our Hope Sunday on March
16th.
ACT Finally, we can act by sponsoring a child
and encourage others to become child
sponsors as well.
You can sponsor a child by visiting the
table that will be set up in the Welcome
Center. We have received the names and photographs
of 35 young children that need your support. Or, you
can sponsor a child today by going online to Covenant
kidsCongo.org. Child sponsorships for Equateur Prov-
ince, where the ECC (Evangelical Covenant Church)
will be partnering with World Vision and the CEUM, are
available. You can begin to sponsor a child at $40/
month or $480/year, as we fuse our efforts to obliterate
extreme poverty in the poorest country in the world.
PRAY. HOPE. ACT.PRAY. HOPE. ACT.
Page 9
Hope Sunday– March 16
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the third largest
country in Africa. It is about the size of Western
Europe, or in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River. The
above map of the D.R. Congo shows the capital of Kin-
shasa to the southwest and Paul Carlson Partnership
sites in the Ubangi region to the northwest.
Of the 187 countries listed in the United Nations
index of Human Development, Congo ranks 187.
3 out of 4 people have no access to clean water.
Congo rates in the bottom eight countries for
acute malnutrition.
82,000 children under the age of five die every
year due to malaria.
And yet, there is hope.And yet, there is hope.
Page 10 Ne ws l et t er Ti t l e
Can We Help With Your Small
Repair Needs Around Your Home?
Covenant’s Service Ministry has put together a Handyman Ministry (of skilled & unskilled people) to
assist church members with small repair needs around the house; such as: easy plumbing/leaks, in-
stalling safety grab bars, home safety walkthrough checklist (to make your home safer against
falls), etc.
If you need help with a small project or repair, complete the form below & return to Carl Otten
(203.858.6692).
NAME ________________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________________________
PHONE _______________________________________________________________________________________
REPAIR/WORK NEEEDED ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Handyman Ministry
V ol u m e 201 4, Is s ue 3 Page 11
SALT SHAKER DEADLINE
MARCH 18
6 am Men’s Prayer 10 am Band Rehearsal Annual Floor Hockey Tournament
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
6 am Men’s Prayer 8 am Men’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal
2
9 am Sunday School - all ages 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10 am Boy Scouts 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups
3
7:30 pm Associate Pastor Search 7:30 pm AA
4
9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out 7 pm Band Rehearsal
5
6
6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 8:30 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Men’s Life Group
7
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
8
9
9 am Sunday School - all ages 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups
10
6:30 pm Outside Group 7 pm Church Council 7:30 pm AA
11
9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out (PJ & Movie Night) 7 pm Band Rehearsal
12
9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
13
6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 8:30 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Men’s Life Group
14
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
15
6 am Men’s Prayer 8:30 am Women’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal
16
HOPE SUNDAY 9 am Sunday School 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups 12:15 pm Theatre Arts
7:30 pm Associate Pastor Search 7:30 pm AA
18
9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out 7 pm Band Rehearsal
19
9 am Outside Group 3 pm Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
20
6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 8:30 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Men’s Life Group
21
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
22
6 am Men’s Prayer 10 am Band Rehearsal 7:30 am Outside Group
23
Christian Book Swap 9 am Sunday School - all ages 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups
24
7:30 pm AA 25
9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids NO Friends Night Out 7 pm Band Rehearsal
26
9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
27
6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group NO Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Women’s Life Group 7 pm Men’s Life Group
28
10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
29
6 am Men’s Prayer 10 am Band Rehearsal
30
Christian Book Swap 9 am Sunday School - all ages 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups
31
7:30 pm Associate Pastor Search 7:30 pm AA
Fasting & Prayer Day
9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir 7:30 pm Outside Group
Rooted in Christ - Reaching Out to the World
www.coveaston.org
Phone: 203.371.8335
Fax: 203.373.9025
Covenant Children's Center:
Coven an t Ch u r c h of Eas ton
Rooted in Christ - Reaching Out to the World
1 Sport Hill Road
Easton, CT 06612
FEBRUARY
March Worship TWO SERVICES EACH SUNDAY – 9:00 am and 10:45 am
March 2 A Story to Tell Pastor Cary
Matthew 16:13-18; 18:19-20; John 1:35-46; Holy Communion
March 9 A Story to Tell Pastor Cary
John 3:16-17
March 16 HOPE SUNDAY Pastor Cary
March 23 A Story to Tell Pastor Cary
2 Kings 6:23-7:17; 1 John 4:9-10
March 30 Last Words Pastor Cary
Matthew 27:45-47