Volume 2014; Issue 4 Hope Is Realized!storage.cloversites.com/covenantchurchofeaston/documents/Apr...
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We are coming upon the time when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples. By the time of Jesus, the Passover observance had grown from the Old Testament prescription to include additional traditions. A seder, “an order of ser- vice” guided the celebration. It was a meal that celebrated freedom. Each partici- pant was to consider themselves as if they personally had come out of Egypt, as slaves who escaped captivity by the hand of God. The meal was filled with symbolism, prayers, readings and instruction. A key point came when a child asked his father this ceremonial question: “Why is this night dif- ferent from all the other nights?” The father would then tell the historical story of God’s redemptive actions with the nation of Israel that led to their deliverance from Egypt after generations of servitude. When Jesus and the disciples celebrated the meal of liberation, they were a subject people. They were under the heavy hand of the Roman Empire. They were not slaves in a foreign land, but there were daily re- minders that they were not free either. A Roman soldier could press anyone into service at any mo- ment. Simon of Cyrene, an innocent observer, was reminded of the limits of his freedom when forced to carry the cross of Jesus by Roman soldiers who grabbed him out of a crowd. What was it like to celebrate God as liberator when captive again? The celebration took on a dual meaning, to look back and remember while looking forward with hope. What God has done in the past, he will do again in the future through the Messiah. When your entire personal experience was as a subject, some years hope had to come with more difficulty. Did it ring a little hollow after so many years? One min- ute I am to consider myself personally delivered from Egypt but as soon as I step out on the street after the meal, I am reminded of my captivity again. My ancestors were delivered but what has God done for me and for my generation? The meal ended with an emphasis on hope with the words; “Next year in Jerusalem”. Next year may we be celebrating in a remade and free Jerusalem because the Messiah has delivered us. Was that prayer uttered with the same confidence after 60 years? The night has passed and the morning has dawned. Hope is realized! Our children do not ask what sets apart this night, but what sets apart this morning. What sets apart this morning from all other mornings? This is the morning of our liberation. We will never be captive again. “In [Christ] and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence”. Ephesians 3:12 Pastor Cary Hope Is Realized! The Salt Shaker Covenant Church of Easton Volume 2014; Issue 4 April 2014
Transcript of Volume 2014; Issue 4 Hope Is Realized!storage.cloversites.com/covenantchurchofeaston/documents/Apr...
We are coming upon the time when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples. By the time of Jesus, the Passover observance had grown from the Old Testament prescription to include additional traditions. A seder, “an order of ser-vice” guided the celebration. It was a meal that celebrated freedom. Each partici-pant was to consider themselves as if they personally had come out of Egypt, as slaves who escaped captivity by the hand of God. The meal was filled with symbolism, prayers, readings and instruction. A key point came when a child asked his father this ceremonial question: “Why is this night dif-ferent from all the other nights?” The father would then tell the historical story of God’s redemptive actions with the nation of Israel that led to their deliverance from Egypt after generations of servitude. When Jesus and the disciples celebrated the meal of liberation, they were a subject people. They were under the heavy hand of the Roman Empire. They were not slaves in a foreign land, but there were daily re-minders that they were not free either. A Roman soldier could press anyone into service at any mo-ment. Simon of Cyrene, an innocent observer, was reminded of the limits of his freedom when forced to carry the cross of Jesus by Roman soldiers who grabbed him out of a crowd. What was it like to celebrate God as liberator when captive again? The celebration took on a dual meaning, to look back and remember while looking forward with hope. What God has done in the past, he will do again in the future through the Messiah. When your entire personal experience was as a subject, some years hope had to come with more difficulty. Did it ring a little hollow after so many years? One min-ute I am to consider myself personally delivered from Egypt but as soon as I step out on the street after the meal, I am reminded of my captivity again. My ancestors were delivered but what has God done for me and for my generation? The meal ended with an emphasis on hope with the words; “Next year in Jerusalem”. Next year may we be celebrating in a remade and free Jerusalem because the Messiah has delivered us. Was that prayer uttered with the same confidence after 60 years? The night has passed and the morning has dawned. Hope is realized! Our children do not ask what sets apart this night, but what sets apart this morning. What sets apart this morning from all other mornings? This is the morning of our liberation. We will never be captive again.
“In [Christ] and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence”.
Ephesians 3:12
Pastor Cary
Hope Is Realized!
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Volume 2014; Issue 4
April 2014
FAMILY EASTER EVENT Sunday, April 13
Walk through Jesus’ final week and experience Easter like never before!
WHERE: Covenant Church of Easton
WHEN: Sunday, April 13, 3 PM Allow 1 hour Last group starting at 4:30 PM
CONTACT: Sign up on line: http://coveaston.org/#/ children/2014-easter-event
It’s FREE! Contact: Roseann Slater ([email protected]).
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Family Easter Event
Learn about a life-changing ministry that equips people like you to help those in times of grief and loss. Stephen Ministry is an international ministry that equips lay people to provide one-on-one care to people experiencing tough times. Join a group from Covenant for an introductory workshop on Saturday, April 26 from 9:00 am–1:00 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford. Pray with us as we discern whether this is a ministry to bring to our congregation. For more information, contact Crista Veerman (203.268.0555).
Stephen Ministry Introductory Workshop
T he S a l t S h a ke r
July 28-August 1 July 28-August 1
REGISTER NOW for
CAMP SQUANTO SUMMER 2014!
http://pilgrimpines.org/campsquanto
Pick up a brochure in the Welcome Center. Scholarships are available. Speak to Roseann Slater or Aaron Ruiz by Thursday, May 1st.
V o l u m e 2 0 1 4; I s s ue 4 Page 3
Discipleship continues to grow as we understand the need to have Jesus walk with us daily. We’ve added two Life Groups, there have been some powerful testimonies in church, we have had some terrific guest speakers and we have had the opportunity to get some really good Christian books for FREE. So my encouragement to you is: engage in Scripture daily enjoy the company of others in Life Groups be inspired by Sunday worship read some good books pray for God’s direction in your life and in the lives of those around
you Knowing the mind and heart of God is worth it. If any of you would like give your testimony in church, start a Life Group or bring someone in who could help us grow, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Paul Veerman [email protected], (630) 204-5080
Discipleship—Growing Together
“I bet you have your own story, don’t you? I bet you’ve heard that not-so-still, not-so-quiet voice as well. And as disturbing as it was, acting on what God told you did wonders for your faith, didn’t it? Wouldn’t it be great if all the teenagers, college students, and single and married adults in your congregation had devotional lives that put them in a position to hear from God? Imagine what would happen in our churches. If that level of personal discipline and focus is to become the rule rather than the exception, we must weave this value into the fabric of everything we do organizationally.”¹ ¹Stanley, Andy. (2012). Deep and Wide: Creating Churches Unchurched People Love To Attend. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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Treasurer’s Report The financial results of the Unified Operating Fund for the two months ended February 28, 2014 were as follows: INCOME Unified Receipts $76,209 Investment & Other Income 816 Total Income $77,025 EXPENSES $79,936 Excess of Expenses over Income ($2,911) Even though there is a deficit for the first two months, there is no cause for great concern. January was a very heavy expense month, whereas February returned to a more normal situa-tion. Nevertheless, there is cause for some concern. If the Church is to meet all of its expenses for the year, income must be at least $9,942 per week on average. January was above
this average, while February fell $1,124 below. We do have some leeway on expenses this year, since the
budget assumes there will be an Asso-ciate Pastor on board for the whole year. In contrast, we are currently
being served by a part-time Interim Youth Pastor.
Although this set of circumstances will cost less while it is in effect, we
should all view the current budget as representative of the
normal complement of full-time staff necessary to provide for all the ministry needs of the Church. Therefore, please consider supporting the ongoing minis-terial needs. As most of you know from providing for your own household needs, some expenses may turn out better than antici-pated and some turn out worse. One of the Church expenses in the latter category so far this year is the electricity bill, which is markedly higher than expected due to the cold weather, which has caused higher usage as well as higher energy costs. Perhaps the Lord will soon favor us with some more moderate weather.
Bob Fiscus Treasurer
Birthdays & Anniversaries 4/2 Leanne Austin 4/3 James Miller 4/4 Judy Allen Shane McFarland Richard Pittera
Sam & Paula Keegan 4/5 Estuardo Estrada Cassidy Kattler 4/6 Lillian Furedy Jessica Goddard Jamie Capossela 4/7 Michelle Wilber 4/8 Jeff Munley Daniel Bradley 4/9 Samantha Nilsen 4/12 Dot Svenson 4/15 Carl Otten Iain Munley 4/17 JoAnn Gibbs 4/18 Luke Gibbs 4/21 Christina Avila 4/22 Anastasia Svenson
George & Karen Sheridan 4/25 Christina Bradley Anna Morin 4/26 Margie Royster
4/28 Ron & JoAnn Gibbs
V o l u m e 2 0 1 4; I s s ue 4 Page 5
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The beautiful building which we all enjoy for worship and other minis-terial programs and activities is only there because numerous members and friends have con-tributed enormous amounts of time, talent and money to make it a shining example of the Lord's provision to our commu-nity. One of those friends is the National Covenant Properties (NCP), an arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church, that is in business of lending money to help churches like ours build the facilities they need to minis-ter to the community. We still owe NCP over $500,000. About a year-and-a-half ago, we started a campaign to raise enough
to pay the mortgage for the follow-ing three years. Only about 50% of
that amount was pledged and paid; so we need to tackle the remaining 50% because we are nearing the point of exhaustion of the fund used to pay the mortgage.
You all should have received a let-ter in the first week of March ask-
ing you to make pledge to this effort. Whether you can pledge a little or lot, everyone that benefits from the ministry of this Church is asked to seriously con-sider supporting the Lord's work in this place. A final note — it has just been learned that the interest rate on our mortgage has been reduced by a full percent, to 4.5%. This means that every dollar you con-tribute to paying the mortgage
will go much farther. If you need a pledge card, there are plenty in the office and the pews.
3 MORE! 3 MORE! is Up and Running Again
Ladies and Girls
Who: Kyla Stetson
What: Baby Shower
When: Sunday, April 27, 12:30 pm
Where: Covenant Church, Room C
Look for the sign up in the Welcome Center.
Contact: JoAnn Gibbs (203.878.6568)
V o l u m e 2 0 1 4; I s s ue 4
IT’S 2014
60
87%
16
STUDENTS OUR LARGEST CLASS EVER. WE ARE FULL. WE EVEN HAVE A WAITING LIST!
RETENTION RATE FROM FALL ‘13 TO SPRING ‘14 STUDENTS JUST AREN’T LEAVING! THEY ARE ACHIEVING WHAT THEY SET OUT TO DO.
STUDENTS ACHIEVED A GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.0 OR ABOVE. THAT’S THE MOST WE EVER HAD!
THANK YOU FOR THE PART YOU HAVE PLAYED
Your faithful partnership and prayers have led us to exceed our dreams for the start of 2014. I am sure you can imagine the challenge that comes with these numbers. Our challenge is greater than ever—we have to step up to meet the needs of more students, performing at higher levels, and sticking it out.
For more information about Alaska Christian College, visit their website www.alaskacc.edu.
At 28 years old, Melitza admits her irresponsibility and bad attitude were preventing her from living independently and providing a secure future for her young daughter, Jazznae.
Melitza and her siblings grew up in a stable home. But her father didn’t take an active role in her childhood and her mother, while busy with church activities herself, never explained to Melitza the guiding role faith could play in her
life. Without the attention and direction she needed, Melitza grew into a defiant young woman and was living a “wild life” when her daughter was born. Her rebel-lion turned to anger when her mother and brother died a year apart.
Because Melitza had no childcare for her daughter, she couldn't hold a job. She moved in with the baby’s father but their relationship fell apart. She went to live with a sister, but the arrangement didn’t work out because of Melitza’s immature and reckless behavior. She called her older sister and together they agreed Me-litza needed more than simply a place to stay. Broken and hurting, she came with Jazznae to [Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s] Guest House for Women and Children
and asked our help to build a stable life.
Through Christ-centered counseling, we helped Melitza overcome her anger and other issues that were preventing her from being the confident and capable mother her young daughter needs. With the help of volunteer tutors, she studied for and earned her GED. Melitza recently graduated our program and is working toward her certified nurs-ing assistant license. She and Jazznae have moved into an apartment and are excited for what lies ahead.
Melitza’s transformation demonstrates our dedication to meeting each individual's unique and specific needs. While she and Jazznae are counted among the hundreds of women, children and men we care for each year, their lives — and every life we touch — are more than simply numbers, they’re special children of God.
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Missions Update
Bridgeport Rescue Mission
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out 7 pm Prayer Group
2 9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
3 6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 8:30 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Womens Group 7 pm Men’s Life Group
4 10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
5 6 am Men’s Prayer 8 am Men’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal
6 9 am Sunday School - all ages 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups 2 pm Outside Group
7 7 pm Church Council 7:30 pm AA
8 9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out 7 pm Prayer Group
9 9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
10 6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 8:30 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Womens Group 7 pm Men’s Life
11 10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
12 6 am Men’s Prayer 7:30 am Outside Group 10 am Band Rehearsal
9 am Sunday School 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups 3 pm Children’s Easter Event
14 7:30 pm AA
15 NO CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids NO Friends Night Out 7 pm Prayer Group
16 9 am Outside Group 3:30 pm Outside Group 7 pm OASIS
17 6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 7:30 pm Tenebrae Service
18 10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA
19 6 am Men’s Prayer 8:30 am Women’s Breakfast 10 am Band Rehearsal
9 am Sunday School 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups
21 7 pm Church Council 7:30 pm Associate Pastor Search
22 9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out 7 pm Prayer Group
23 9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
24 6:30 am Journey 7:30 am Women’s Group 8:30 am Outside Group 7 pm JHAMS 7 pm Womens Group 7 pm Men’s Life
25 10 am Joyful Sisters Life Group 7:30 pm AA 7 pm Tres Dias Secuela
26 6 am Men’s Prayer 9 am Stephen Ministry Workshop in Hartford 10 am Secret Pal Party 10 am Band Rehearsal
27 9 am Sunday School 9 & 10:45 am Worship 10:30 am 2 Adult Life Groups 12:30 pm Baby Shower for Kyla Stetson
28 7:30 pm AA
29 9:30 am CBS Leaders 5:30 pm King’s Kids 6:30 pm Friends Night Out 7 pm Prayer Group
30 9 am Outside Group 7 pm OASIS 7:30 pm Choir
SALT SHAKER DEADLINE APRIL 15
Choir Rehearsal Each Night at 7:30
www.coveaston.org Phone: 203.371.8335
Fax: 203.373.9025
C o ve n a n t C h u r c h o f E a s t o n
Rooted in Christ — Reaching Out to the World
1 Sport Hill Road Easton, CT 06612
APRIL
April Worship TWO SERVICES EACH SUNDAY – 9:00 am and 10:45 am
April 6 Last Words — Forgiven Pastor Cary Luke 23:34, Holy Communion April 13 PALM SUNDAY Last Words — It Is Finished Pastor Cary John 19:30 April 20 EASTER SUNDAY Last Words—Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise Pastor Cary Luke 23:42-43 April 27 To Be Announced Aaron Ruiz
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