covenant presbyterian courier-december 2014

The Family, Events, and Ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springboro

Covenant

Happenings Page 2

CPW

Page 3

Service Schedule Page 4

From Pastor Lee

Page 5

Calendar Page 6

Kid’s Korner Page 9

Interested in Finding Out More?

Are you interested in learning more about Covenant Presbyterian Church? Would you

like to know more about opportunities and/or ministries that exist that you may want to

become involved with? Or maybe you are interested in finding out how to become a

member of CPC. If so – we are going to have an INQUIRERS CLASS on Sunday

December 7th following worship. The plan is to meet from 11:30 to 1:30 with lunch

provided. If you would like to attend please contact either Lee

(748-0272 / [email protected]) or Steve Hegwood

(885-1031 / [email protected]) to let us know you would like to attend.

Spend Sunday, December 14, listening to the sounds

of Christmas. “Born a Savior, Born a King” will be

sung by our choir at 10:00 a.m. followed by a delicious

brunch. Bring your family and friends for this holiday

treat. You won’t want to miss it!

Give the gift of LIFE this Christmas season.

Our final blood drive of 2014 is

Dec. 30 from 4-8 p.m.

Go online to donate -

www.donortime.com

A NIGHT IN BETHLEHEM

Bring your family and friends and experience what

that special night was like so long ago. See the sights and

hear the sounds of the night our Savior was born.

Come to Covenant on Dec. 21, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for A Night in Bethlehem.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

will be continuing their

current Horizons

study of “Reconciling

Paul: A Contemporary

Study of 2 Corinthians.”

The next meeting

is Dec. 23 at 1:00 p.m.

here at Covenant.

Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet on Monday, December 1,

at 6:30 p.m. in the Library. Come and bring a friend!

CPW Team 12/18 1PM

The Poinsettia sign up sheet is on the table in the Worship Center. Please write legibly

as the list of names will be in the December 24 bulletin.

Thank you.

A Presbyterian tradition for almost 70 years,

the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four

special offerings designated by the General

Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

to provide congregations direct ways of

supporting specific causes that help those in

need. Please read the weekly inserts with

stories on how this offering has helped so

many. We will receive the offering on

Christmas Eve. Thank you.

SOMETHING NEW!

Beginning in January, CPW will sponsor one international

fellowship each month. We thought it would be fun to have

different smells and tastes. The first will be Italian breakfast

treats. Come and join us for something a little different.

We are looking for other countries to celebrate, so if you would

like to participate, please see Barbara Mourouzis, Susan Stewart or

Barbara Richards.

It’s time to bring in personal care items for the Warren County Abuse Shelter. The women and children served by the shelter often arrive with only the clothes on their backs. Needed items include shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes,

hairbrushes, baby wipes, diapers, pull ups, diaper ointment, and children’s T-shirts, PJ’s and nightshirts. Used cell phones are also useful as they can be set for the clients to call 911 at no charge. A large, white basket will be available at the rear of the worship center

to receive your generous donations through December 28th. Thank you!

THE RAFFLE WINNER - JUST ONE WINNER !!!!

JANA SMITH WON BOTH RAFFLES - CONGRATULATIONS JANA!

Fellowship 07 The Hepp Family 14 Cantata Brunch 21 TBA 28 TBA

Worship Ushers/Greeters The Hess Family, Carole and Jim Hepp, and Theda Christopher Counters 07 Bill Igl & Tom Sebastian 14 Debbie Shear & Mary White 21 Dave Payne & Flossie Power 24 Jay White & Dave Siegler 28 Tim Knoth & Debbie Shear

Pre/K 07 Kristin Tibbits 14 Pam Goins/Susan Pfeiffer 21 Yvonne Craycraft 28 Erica Hicks

Grades 1-6 07 Becky Hegwood 14 Cantata 21 Jen Knoth 28 Maureen Justice

Thanks to everyone who purchased gifts through our Alternative Gift Market. Over $1,200 was raised for 15 different projects. The two most popular gifts were Books for School Libraries in Ethiopia and Backpack Full of Medicine in

Burma. In Ethiopia (a country where 53% of the people are illiterate), the organization Ethiopia Reads provides teacher training and books through

horseback libraries. In Burma, more than one million ethnic minorities have fled their homes because of ethnic cleansing. Burma Humanitarian Mission

addresses the threat of malaria by equipping backpack medics who trek through dangers regions to provide medical services to the refugees.

If you missed our Alternative Gift Market, you can still make a donation by going to alternativegifts.org. Thanks for buying gifts that make a difference to people

around the world.

At this time of year, I am mindful how less becomes more.

A simple gift, well-chosen, can be filled with more love than a whole stack of presents.

A simple candle, when held close, can offer more warmth and beauty to the darkness than the countless strings of the lights we hang.

A simple birth, when celebrated from the heart, can hold more promise than all of our extended warranties put together.

This holy season is often the busiest time of our year. It is filled with all sorts of good things. We make special effort to decorate our homes and worship spaces. We gather with family and friends, co-workers and neighbors for festive holiday celebrations. We generously give good gifts to those we love and to those in need. And in the midst of all those good things, we can lose sight of the simple wonder of Christmas.

Recently, a friend sent me an email message with the subject title Very First King Size Bed. When I opened it, this is what I found. Not exactly what I expected, but then again, that could be a gen-eral title for this holy and mysterious season of hope, peace, joy, and love, which comes to us, not exactly as we expect.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 5-7:30 PM Weight Watchers

6:30 PM Prayer Shawl

2 7:00 AM Men at McDonalds

7:00 PM Outreach Ministry

3 10:00 AM Adult bible Study

6:45 PM Choir Practice

8:00 PM Praise Band

4 5 6

8-9:30 AM Weight Watchers

7 10:00 AM Worship

& Children’s Church

11:30 AM Inquirer’s Class &

Lunch


7:00 PM Youth Ministries


6:30 PM Administration

10 10:00 AM Adult Bible Study


8:00 PM Praise Band

11

12

13 8-9:30 AM Weight Watchers

14

10:00 AM Cantata

11:15 AM Brunch



6:30 PM Session



8:00 PM Praise Band

18 1:00 PM CPW Team

19

20


21 10:00 AM Worship


22

5-7:30 PM Weight Watchers

7:00 PM Deacons


1:00 PM Amicae Circle


7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service

25

26


28 10:00 AM Worship




4-8 PM Blood Drive

6:00 PM Adult Ministry


Birthdays and Anniversaries are published with your

permission only. In an effort to update our list, please notify the office of your family’s special dates,

especially if you are new to our fellowship.

We want to include you!

Please email any updates and articles to the secretary at: [email protected] or call me at 937 748-0272.

4 Lauren Tibbits 5 Jennifer Knoth 7 Andy Stewart 8 Kristy Catrine 13 Sara Denney 14 Wade Goins 17 Tom Sebastian 21 Emma Montague 30 Rich Robison

4 Wade and Pam Goins 18 James & Leatha Stewart 26 Paul & Amy Cimprich

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat


6:30 PM Prayer Shawl


7:00 PM Outreach Ministry



8:00 PM Praise Band

4 5 6


7 10:00 AM Worship


11:30 AM Inquirer’s Class &

Lunch


7:00 PM Youth Ministries


6:30 PM Administration



8:00 PM Praise Band

11

12


14

10:00 AM Cantata

11:15 AM Brunch



6:30 PM Session



8:00 PM Praise Band

18 1:00 PM CPW Team

19

20


21 10:00 AM Worship


22

5-7:30 PM Weight Watchers

7:00 PM Deacons


1:00 PM Amicae Circle


7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service

25

26


28 10:00 AM Worship




4-8 PM Blood Drive

6:00 PM Adult Ministry


Year-to-date Year-to-date

Operating Fund Oct. 2014 Oct. 2013 Oct. 2014 Oct. 2013 Receipts $9,534 10,395 $105,011 $128,431 Expenditures $9,698 $11,706 $123,900 $122,187 Net Receipts (Expenditures) -$164 -$1.311 -$18,889 $6,244 Mortgage Reduction Fund Year-to-date Beg. Balance -$31 $566 Receipts $1,958 $20,023 Mortgage Payments $2,100 $21,000 Balance End of Month -$411 -$411 Cash Flow Beginning Cash $53,965 Cash Used (received): Operating Fund -$163 Other Designated Funds $139 Payroll taxes -$153 Mortgage Payments Principal -$1,869 Total Cash Used (received) -$2,046 Ending Cash Balance $51,919 Please get your pledged donations in by the end of this month. Thank you!!!

Covenant Corner

Would you like to share your “life

story” in pictures on the Covenant

Corner display board? We need

volunteers for the coming months.

See Deacon Charlotte McCarthy to

discuss details!

SAVE THE DATE - JANURARY 25TH

Adult Ministries and the Deacons will

be sponsoring a luncheon and time of fun

and fellowship after church. Watch for

more details in the coming weeks.

If you would like to have your concern lifted to the Lord through the Prayer Chain, contact Debbie Shear at [email protected] or 748-2809. Please pray for: Karen Ritzinger Nadine Drew Mike & Ella Wentzel All of our men and women in the military and their families. Our Pastor Nominating Committee.

Office Hours The Pastor is in the office Mon-Wed. mornings. He is available other times by appointment by calling the office.

Our secretary is generally in the office Tuesday through Friday from 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. Phone: (937) 748-0272 & (937) 748-4734 Fax: (937) 748-4734

Church Staff Dr. Lee Dorsey Pastor Alysia Fuchs Youth Director Janet Wayne Church Secretary Kim Denney Music/Choir Director Susan Pfeiffer Pianist/Organist Vera Escott Treasurer Debbie Shear Financial Secretary Cam’s Cleaning Svc. Custodian

Covenant’s Email Addresses [email protected]

[email protected] [email protected]

December 07 - Second Sunday of Advent Peace December 14 - Third Sunday of Advent Joy December 21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent Love December 24 - Christmas Eve Carols, Communion and Candle Lighting December 28 - First Sunday after Christmas Day

December 07 - Second Sunday of Advent December 14 - Third Sunday of Advent December 21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent December 21 - First day of winter December 24 - Christmas Eve December 25 - Christmas Day December 31 - New Year’s Eve

Throughout Advent, I will be doing my best to make room for the Christ child in simple and spacious ways. I expect that it will be a moment-by-moment endeavor. One that involves making space in my heart for those I happen to meet along the way…..trusting that less will once again become more. I look forward to sharing the wonder of Advent and Christmas with you. Thanks for sharing the journey. I am grateful for your support and encouragement.

Grace and Peace,

Lee

CPC - Called and Connected by Christ, Partners in Our Community, Committed to Serve

Worship Guide Deadline By 9:00 a.m. on the Tuesday before the Sunday you would like it to appear in the worship guide.

Courier Newsletter Deadline December 22, 9:00 a.m. for the January edition. You may leave articles on the office desk or e-mail them to [email protected].

Men’s Fellowship Men meet weekly at McDonalds every Tuesday morning from 7:00 - 7:30 a.m. Contact John Ritzinger (748-1437) if you have any questions. If you’ve never joined us, we would greatly welcome you!

Administration Ministry Administration will meet on December 9, at 6:30 p.m. Contact David Payne for questions. (513-836-3464) Personnel Ministry The next meeting will be on an “as needed” basis. Contact Barbara Mourouzis, (748-3049) for questions.

Adult Ministries meets on the last Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Hegwood at (937) 885-1031.

Session Session will meet on Dec. 16, at 6:30 p.m.

Prayer Partners We have a vital prayer ministry here at Covenant. We have an electronic prayer chain for those who would prefer to be notified of needs as they arise via email. To get connected in prayer through the internet, email Debbie Shear ([email protected]). Outreach Ministry meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Contact Susan Stewart for questions. (937-746-3343) Youth Ministry meets the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Contact Erica Hicks for questions. (937-748-6352)

Covenant Presbyterian Church 415 N. Main St.

Springboro, OH 45066 address correction requested

Worship Service:

10:00 a.m. Worship Toddlers and children through 6th grade have age appropriate learning opportunities. Nursery - provided for ages 2 and under.

www.covenantspringboro.com

covenant presbyterian courier-december 2014

Documents

cpw page

calendar page

pastor lee page

special night

sounds of christmas

service schedule page

kids korner page

christmas joy offering