Covenant Lutheran Church Newsletter
IN THIS ISSUE
November Calendar & Volunteer Schedule
Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, November 4
CYFM News
Other Events & Activities
General & Community News
Generous Living
QuickQUICK LINKS
November Calendar & Volunteer Schedule 

  

Please click on the links  to view and print the   November Calendar of Events and the   November Volunteer Schedule. These calendars and schedules are available in this space in the last weekly E-news of each month for the approaching month!  Hard copies are available at the Information Desk.   

Annual Congregational Meeting!
Covenant's Annual Congregational Meeting, Part 1 will be held THIS SUNDAY, November 4 at 12:15 pm (immediately following the 11:00 am service).  Agenda items will include:
  • a report from the Mission & Vision Team
  • Election of Church Council members
  • Voting on the 2013 Mission Plan Budget

This is a very important meeting in the life of our congregation, so please make plans to attend! 

October 31, 2012 

Church Exterior wide
Covenant Logo
Happy Halloween!

Here are the highlights of upcoming events at Covenant!  We hope to see you soon!

CHECK OUT THE FEATURED ARTICLE section on the left.  This is where monthly or special articles are posted.

This week:  November Calendar & Volunteer Schedule 

Congregational Meeting  

Sue Tabbert
Office Manager
Covenant Lutheran Church    

Sunday, November 4                                                   

All Saints Sunday        

 

Among the special events at this service:  Remembrance of loved ones who have gone before us, Stewardship Commitment Sunday 

 

Traditional Worship at 8:15 am

 

Christian Education classes for ages 3 through adult at 9:30 am  

  

Contemporary Worship at 11:00 am  

   

Nursery available all morning

  

Christian Education Classes

 

There are classes for children ages 3 through high school as well as classes for adults; please join us!

 

Adult Classes:

 

The Wired Word (current events connected to the Bible) - Community Room - led by Kirt Tabbert   

 

History of Christian Theology (from the New Testament to the present) - Library - led by Don Sackreiter

 

These classes can be joined at any time; each week is an individual topic.  

 

Annual Congregational Meeting, Part 1 

Plan to attend the Congregational Meeting immediately following the 11:00 am service (12:15 pm) THIS SUNDAY!  Your voice is critical to important decisions to be made. 

 

Krause Center Worship    

A team of volunteers will lead worship for the troubled youth at the Krause Children's Center at 3:00 pm THIS SUNDAY.  Anyone wishing to carpool should plan to meet at 2:15 pm at Covenant.    

 

Children, Youth & Family News

Junior High Lutherhill Retreat!

Lutherhill logo - green The annual Fall Retreat is coming up on November 16-18 at Camp Lutherhill!  The cost is $130/person. This retreat is a LOT of FUN, so grab a registration form RIGHT HERE or pick one up from the CYFM bulletin board in the hallway near the Fellowship Hall, fill out the form and return it with your payment (to Covenant Lutheran, NOT Lutherhill) to the black lock box on the CYFM bulletin board AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  This is one of the big events for 6th-8th graders - you won't want to miss it!  

 

Las Posadas - December 15!

Mary & Joseph Now that Trick or Treat with a Twist is over, we focus our attention on the annual Las Posadas, to be presented on Saturday, December 15 at 7:00 pm.  Marian Shelton and Cathy Otto are coordinating the effort this year, but there are MANY ways for all to volunteer, including our youth!  We will need dramatic roles covered:  innkeepers and Mary and Joseph.  We will also need acolytes to lead the way for the "travelers".  If you would like to help in any way, please contact Marian Shelton as soon as possible. 

Other Events & Activities
Covenant Groups!

 

Everyone is invited to the next Covenant Group meeting on Sunday, November 18 at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. No preparation or previous participation is required - just a willingness to be there and be part of God's plan at Covenant.

 

 

Open your hearts and hands and get ready to put your faith into action by participating in Covenant's first ever community service Sunday, which has been named "Covenant Acts" on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11! Instead of regular worship services in the morning, we will be the church in action by serving our community.

  • Some people (must be 13 and up) will carpool to The Beacon, a homeless shelter, to help in the kitchen and the laundry. There will be two available shifts:  9 - 11 am and 11 am - 1 pm.  Please indicate on the sign up sheet in the lobby which shift you prefer.  Departure times to be determined. 
  • Others will remain at Covenant to work on a project for Katy Christian Ministries.  There will childcare and Sunday School activities for younger children and projects for junior high and adults. Arrival at Covenant for this opportunity:  9:30 am 
  • At 4:00 pm that day, we will gather again for a worship service to reflect on the day's events!
  • Mark your calendars...continue to watch the E-news and Sunday Weekly News bulletins for more details!  This event is for EVERYONE - Bring your friends!    
Las Posadas

Mary & Joseph

It's that time again to prepare for Covenant's annual Las Posadas, a walking re-enactment of the symbolic journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of the baby Jesus. We conclude the journey with traditional Mexican food for all and a pi�ata for the kids! There are many ways for all ages to participate: we need actors, narrators, acolytes, musicians, people to help set up the stages, people to provide food, etc. If you would like to participate in any way or would like more information, please contact Marian Shelton (281-579-2888). The date for Las Posadas is Saturday, December 15 at 7:00 pm. You won't want to miss it!  

General & Community News

Congratulations, Mechele! 
Congratulations to Mechele Mayoski, Covenant's Nursery Supervisor, on her employment anniversary on November 7.  This marks 15 years of service in our nursery!  Please take a moment to stop by and recognize her.  ~ Mutual Ministry Committee

YOUR Time & Talents are Needed
This week everyone should receive a mailing that includes a card to indicate your pledge of Time, Talent & Treasure for the coming year.  Please prayerfully consider how you might use your spiritual gifts to help Covenant and turn in your cards THIS SUNDAY.  We are in need of volunteers in virtually EVERY area of ministry, including Information Desk volunteers (you don't have to know much, just be a welcoming face!), Altar Guild (to help set up the altar for worship/communion), Covenant Cafe (make coffee and put out snacks), Greeters, Ushers and MANY MORE!   
 
THIS SUNDAY is Commitment Sunday!  
Included with the Stewardship mailing this week, you are asked to fill out your estimate of giving for the coming year and turn it in on Sunday, which is also our Annual Congregational Meeting (after the 11:00 am service).  This is a critical time in the life of our congregation, so your pledges of Time, Talent & Treasure, as well as your attendance at the Annual Meeting, are very important!

Altar Flowers Altar Flowers 
There were some changes to the Flower Chart schedule, so we now have just one opening left for altar flowers for 2012:  November 11.  This is the day of Covenant Acts, so our worship will be at 4:00 pm that day.  Please contact the church office if you would like to donate flowers in honor or in memory of someone or a special occasion. 
 
November Mission Moment 
Please take a moment to read the November Mission Moment from our Synod's Mission Interpreter (Covenant's own Christine Donahue!) to hear what the ELCA is doing in Indonesia!

Reformation...and All That Jazz! 
All are invited to this Synod-sponsored event, which is an evening of fellowship, dinner and dancing featuring Jazz Sunday on Friday, November 9 from 6:30 - 10:00 pm at the Cadillac Grill (1802 Shepherd, Houston 77007).  The proceeds from this event will support the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod ministries.  Tickets are $35/person and are available on the synod website.
     
Generous Living
Covenant is Grateful for... 

. . .  your time, talents and treasure You are unique in your gifts: no one else has exactly your talents, your time, or your treasure.  Thank you for using them at Covenant this year.  Please join in planning for next year by filling out the Time, Talent and Treasure Estimate of Giving that is coming in the mail and turning it in this Sunday.  Additional copies will be available Sunday or you can  CLICK HERE to print out a copy at home.  If you have questions about what one of the listed opportunities involves, please CLICK HERE and find it on the list!

 

Generous Living   

 This month we have been reflecting on our walk with Jesus and how our relationship with Him is reflected in how we spend our time, use our talents, and allocate our money.  We've shared how often Jesus speaks of money in the Gospels.  We've noted how Jesus asks us to give not for someone else's or some organization's benefit but because Jesus knows what giving does in our hearts to change us.  God knows what we need more than we do and He wants us to experience His joy in both our giving and in receiving from Him and others. 

            We hope you've taken time to reflect on where God is calling you at Covenant.  He will never ask you to give more than He will provide.  As you consider the Time, Talent, and Treasure Estimate of Giving brochure that is coming in this week's mail, please pray about where you fit at Covenant, how your talents and time can serve God's purposes here, and at what level He is encouraging you to give financially. 

            No one expects you to give more than you are able.  God's work will go on with us or without us.  Instead, you are encouraged to deepen your relationship with God by asking Him how He wants you to be involved in His work.  If you have questions about the opportunities listed in the Time, Talent and Treasure Estimate of Giving Brochure, please see the CLICK HERE for a description of them.  If you need extra copies of the brochure, CLICK HERE.

            This Sunday, time will be provided for you to turn in your estimate of giving.  Each person in the family is encouraged to participate - even children.  We are all important to God and important to His work at Covenant no matter how young or old.  Additional copies of both the Estimate of Giving brochure and the Description of Opportunities will be available this Sunday.


Covenant LogoCovenant Lutheran Church
3785 Barker Cypress Road
Houston, TX  77084
(281) 578-8799
www.covenantlutheran.org

The church is north of I-10 and just south of Clay Road.

Office Hours
Monday - Thursday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, 9:00 am - noon

Worship Times:  8:15 & 11:00 am Sunday mornings
Sunday School and Adult Education classes at 9:30 am

Covenant's Mission Statement:

Open Doors
in loving kindness
Open Hearts
to embrace justice
Open Hands
in humble service with our God

2012 Church Council :
Stephen Blackmore - President 

Marian Shelton - Vice President/Mutual Ministry

Kirt Tabbert - Children, Youth & Family/Christian Education

Ken Gutierrez - Evangelism

Lisa Donahue - Social Services  

Frank Fogal - Stewardship

Michael Graham

Vickie Tennant - Secretary 

Susan Rippert - Pastor 

Appointed Officers - Non-Council:

Financial Secretary - Suzanne Goins

Treasurer - Fridah Mariki