Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015
OPEN TABLE @ COVENANT
Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall

Each Wednesday, Open Table @ Covenant will offer opportunities for food, faith and fellowship. Food service, including a 12-item salad bar with varying hot bars, will be provided from 5:30-7 p.m. and most programs will begin at 6:30 p.m. for children  and adults.  Come to eat and stay to socialize and learn. Costs are $5 for children, $7 for adults with a family maximum of $25. You can make standing or one-time reservations here  or contact Debbie Tyson to let us know you'll be coming.
RACE (STILL) MATTERS  
Five-Week Educational Series  
Begins Tonight, 6:30 p.m., FH207  

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m., Covenant will host a five-week educational series featuring talks by local, community and regional leaders on why "Race (still) Matters" in their lives and the institutions they lead and influence.


We hope this series will help us better understand local histories of how and why racial groups, disparities and disconnects have formed, as well as how and when racial understanding and cooperation have led toward greater parity; why "Race (still) Matters" in our lives, communities, and the institutions we are part of; and how we can work with others in cross-racial collaboration toward greater dignity, parity and opportunity for people of all racial groups.

Oct. 21: Race Still Matters ... to all of us
Bonita H. Porter, MSW, LCSW, will help us explore our identities as people in particular racial and cultural groups, the origins of our ideas about fairness and equality, and the realities of our implicit biases and relationships with unjust and inequitable systems. Porter will also provide strategies for having honest and fair conversations about race and racism among diverse groups of people.  Brenda Tindal, Staff Historian for the Museum of the New South, will help us understand how we -- as Charlotteans in particular -- have been shaped by racial stories, racially-informed practices, and policies born of institutional racism. Tindal will also share with us stories of when and how Charlotteans have confronted racial divisions and injustices in search of a more just and connected future.

Oct. 28: Race Still Matters ... in our justice system 
Nov. 4: Race Still Matters ... in law enforcement 
Nov. 11: Race Still Matters ... in voting and elections 
Nov. 18: Race Still Matters ... in the church and theology 

Visit our website to learn more about the series.
INQUIRY SERIES: SHAPED BY THE WORD
Tonight, 6:30 p.m., FH203

Each week the Inquiry Series will discuss a different topic of faith and spirituality. Tonight, join Grady Moseley in the first class as he will discusses being "Shaped by the Word," spiritual formation by Biblical reading and study. Visit our website to learn more on this fall's Inquiry Series.
KIDS AND YOUTH
6:30-7:30 p.m. - Creative Catechism (elementary students), EW 
6:30-7:30 p.m. - Middle School Guys' Group or Girls' Group
6:30-7:30 p.m. - High School Film and Theology or Girls' Group 
COVENANT IMPACTS CHARLOTTE
View Projects and Sign Up Today 
Sunday, Nov. 15

Be part of this exciting and inspirational day of service. On Sunday, Nov. 15 we will worship together in one service at 10:30 a.m. and enjoy lunch as a church family. Then we will head out into the community to support over 30 of Covenant's non-profit partners by completing over 40 projects on this one day. It's a wonderful way to enjoy fellowship and learn more about the ministries Covenant supports throughout the city. Please choose your preferred projects and sign up using VolunteerSpot. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Evan Amo.  
SOUTH CAROLINA FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF
Cleaning Supplies Needed 
Bring Donations to Covenant 

In response to the recent flooding in South Carolina, Presbyterian Women is partnering with Mission and Outreach to collect cleaning supplies (mops, brooms, bleach, hand-sanitizer, etc.). Donations may be brought to the Recreation Wing or Carla Leaf's office. We are also working with two PC(USA) churches in South Carolina to explore the possibility of sending work teams. If you are interested in more information, please contact Carla Leaf.  
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN'S, YOUTH MINISTRIES
Sundays and Wednesdays

Our children's and youth ministries rely on a team of volunteers to make everything run smoothly each week. As we look to the coming weeks, we'll need greeters to welcome newcomers, shepherds to accompany teachers with large (fabulous!) classes, and hall assistants to help when we run out of goldfish or need to find another pair of scissors. If you would like to participate in Covenant's children's and youth ministries, please visit our website for more information and learn how you can sign up using VolunteerSpot.

FRONT-DESK FRIENDLY FACES, CASHIERS NEEDED
Sunday Mornings, Weekdays

We are in need of friendly faces on Sunday mornings in the church office to welcome people to the church and provide assistance as needed. We are also in need of lunch cashiers on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  To learn more about either or both of these opportunities, please sign up using VolunteerSpot or contact Debbie Tyson for more information.
3RD GRADE BIBLES 
Sunday, Oct. 25

All 3rd grade students will be presented with a Bible on Sunday, Oct. 25 in the 11 a.m. Sanctuary service. All 3rd graders will meet in EW207 for a group photo and will sit with parents in the Sanctuary during worship.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Anne Lowrance
SUNDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE CHANGE
No Children/Youth Choir Rehearsals This Week
Sunday, Oct. 25

There will be NO children's choir, youth choir or handbell choir practices this Sunday, Oct. 25.

CHILDREN: There will also be NO kids gathering for a meal in FH105 or Holy Yoga. Rehearsals and Sunday night kids' meal and Holy Yoga will resume on Sunday, Nov. 1.

YOUTH: This is a parent/youth meeting night. Youth meals and fellowship will move upstairs to FH207 this week ONLY. The location change is to allow for setup of Monday evening's Elder Dinner. Youth should check in at FH207 and dinner will be set up buffet-style just outside the meeting room. 
ALL SAINTS DAY
Requiem of Gabriel Faur�
Sunday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.

The seven movements will be melded into the 11 a.m. traditional worship service, and Covenant and the community will remember all the saints who have died this past year. This version of choral and orchestral music -- which includes a string section, organ, harp, timpani, french horns, trumpets, bassoons, choir and baritone soloist -- is edited and arranged by John Rutter.

Join the Covenant Choir on Sunday, Nov. 1 as it sings the sublime melodies of Gabriel Faur�'s Requiem, Op. 48. This musical offering, set in the traditional Latin mass for the dead, contains the traditional forms of the requiem mass and will be sung in the Covenant Sanctuary.
 
FIRST SUNDAY   
Union Seminary's Dr. Carson Brisson Speaks    
Sunday, Nov. 1, 9:30 a.m. FH205       

For November's First Sunday churchwide Sunday School offering we welcome Dr. Carson Brisson who will speak on "'Have you no blessing for me?' Blessing as Proximity and Distance." Brisson is the Associate Professor of Bible and Biblical Languages for Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte. Brisson's interests focus on the service of biblical languages to the preaching and teaching ministries of the Church. He is also interested in the relationship between theology and the fields of literature, creative writing and the performing arts. He has served for many years as an associate editor for the seminary's journal Interpretation, with responsibilities for the section, "Between Text and Sermon." 
ADVENT WORSHIP ARTS RETREAT   
Explore Visual Arts and Creativity in Worship       
Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7      

Come to Fellowship Hall and explore possibilities for visual art and creativity in worship as we prepare to welcome the Christ child during the season of Advent. Participants will delve into the themes and scriptures
of Advent to create art and installations for worship. Sessions will be highly interactive and team-oriented. All are welcome (ages 10 and up preferred), especially those proclaiming to have no "artistic" abilities. Come for as long as you are able, even if you cannot attend both sessions. Join guest worship artist Lisle Gwynn Garrity, a recent graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, who uses visual art to help churches explore and express faith. Learn more about her work at www.sanctifiedart.com. For more information, please contact Daniel Heath. 
YOUNG ADULTS: SEE THE CITY  
Hike Crowder's Mountain      
Saturday, Oct. 24       

Join the Young Adults as they "See the City" this month with a hike followed by lunch on top of Crowder's Mountain. Meet in the Covenant parking lot at 9 a.m. to carpool. If you would like to go or would like more information, please contact Jen Christianson. 
MEN'S FELLOWSHIP GROUP SPIRITUAL RETREAT 
Blue Ridge Assembly, Nov. 6-8     
Register by Monday, Oct. 26      

Take this opportunity in November to get to know one another through exploring authentic, personal issues regarding the life and faith issues we deal with on a day to day basis. Cost is $150 for the weekend and 25 spots are available. Please visit our website or contact Grady Moseley for more information.  
YOUNG ADULTS: FIRST SUNDAY BRUNCH     
Sunday, Nov. 1, 12 p.m. 
 
On the first Sunday of each month, Covenant's Young Adults meet after worship and enjoy brunch together. Please meet in Fellowship Hall at 12 p.m. to carpool to Nan and Byron's (1714 South Blvd.). Contact Jen Christianson  if you would like to attend.
 
MEN'S FELLOWSHIP GROUP BREAKFAST    
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7 a.m.      
 
All men are welcome to attend the Men's Fellowship Group's monthly breakfast. Doug Bacon, CEO/president of Throwing Words, will discuss how to find and cultivate your strengths. Please contact Michelle Williamson if you plan to attend. 
 
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
Donate To Save Lives 
Sunday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
 
Your Health & Wellness Committee and the American Red Cross will hold a Blood Drive on Sunday, Nov. 8 in the Recreation Wing, Gym.  We met our goal of 30 pints at our last drive in August and it was a wonderful day. Thanks so much to each of you who took the time to donate. Patients are waiting on our lifesaving blood donations. Please make an appointment by contacting Mary Mattiacci.

JOB OPENING
Audio-Video Team Member (Camera Operator)

Covenant is in need of someone to operate video cameras for its worship services. The camera operator would support our online community, Sunday morning projections and weddings. If you or someone you know is interested in this position or would like more information,
please contact Daniel Heath.

SUNDAY WORSHIP TIMES
9:30 a.m. Contemporary (Sanctuary) and Traditional (Chapel); 11 a.m. Traditional (Sanctuary) and Contemporary (Fellowship Hall) 
weekly podcasts
mind, spirit, body
memorials, celebrations
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