The Church of the Covenant    
  

 

He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 
'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,'  and in the morning, 
'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' 

 

You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, 

but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 

 

Matthew 16:2-3 

 
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
10 AM
September 15, 2013

Dr. Campbell's sermon title is What Myths Will You Follow.   
The sermon text is:  And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the day of Christ Jesus.   Philippians 1:6

  

The scripture readings are Luke 14:25-24 and I Corinthians 1:18-31.

The Lay Worship Leader this Sunday is  Ed Laylin.
 
Each Sunday one of our Stephen Ministers remains in Christ Chapel following worship to speak with anyone who needs a listening ear or a prayer.  
 
Music Notes

The organ and choral music in this weekend's service comes from four of the great representatives of British music, Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505-1585), William Byrd (ca.1540-1623), Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876), and Edward Elgar (1857-1934). The organ prelude, Larghetto in F-sharp minor, and offertory anthem, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, were composed by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, grandson of the famous theologian, Charles Wesley. The introit and anthem come from renaissance age of English music, Tallis's famous motet If Ye Love Me (sung in its original key of C major for ATTB) and Byrd's anthem, Teach me O LordThe service concludes with the romping Imperial March by Sir Edward Elgar, which was performed at the royal marriage of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in Westminster Abbey, July 23, 1986.  

 
 

Chapel and Psalter Choir 

This past Sunday was our first rehearsal back from summer vacation! We had eight excited children singing and playing chimes. We learned how to ring chimes together and they all did a wonderful job working as an ensemble. (We worked on playing the right hand and left hand separately, a big challenge for the younger ones!!) The children learned how to take a "silent breath" and let it out like a take (Hsssssssssssssss). This helps breathing and breathe control, which is a very important part of healthy singing. I hope for those who were there that they are reviewing this fun exercise! A new word we learned was "larynx" also called the voice box. If you want to feel your larynx again children, hum a note and touch your throat!! To get our mouth muscles going we did some tongue twisters! "Red lorry yellow lorry" and "Tip of the tongue and the lips and the teeth"!! Be prepared for more tongue twisters!! At the end we practiced our song "King of King and Lord of Lords". We will be singing this on October 13, so mark your calendars! I look forward to seeing the children again this coming Sunday at 11:30 am in the choir room! Have a wonderful week!                                       Kaori Hongo
 

Join the Covenant Choir

 

The Covenant Choir incorporates both professional and volunteer singers of all voice types (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). Rehearsals are Thursday nights from 7:30-9:30pm. If you are interested, please speak with Jonathan Moyer following the service or contact him via the church office or email [email protected].

 
In the  Covenant Family

 
This week we keep in our prayers Murray Gildersleeve, Jan Dean, Erik Kratky, Grace Milligan, Nancy Moyer, Ed Rogel, Christian Steppes, Marty Vinborg, and other Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing, or are home bound.

The sympathy of the congregation is extended to Susan, Will, Savanna, Matthew, and Elliott Klein on the death of Susan's father, Anthony Kosmalski, September 10 in Cleveland.

 

Dear Lord, as the new year of Christian education programs begins for our children and adults, we thank you for all those people who have planned the programs and for those who will be working with our children and adults.  May all who attend find meaning and be motivated to return another Sunday.

 
Bear one another's burdens, 
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 
Galatians 6:2
 
Shape Note Music from the Sacred Harp

Last Sunday the introit, Come Holy Spirit, Come (Abbeville) was taken from a group of hymns known as the Sacred Harp which was originally published in 1844.  The notation is written in a style known as the shape note tradition.   Shape note music was developed as a method to enable enhanced congregational singing for singers who did not read conventional music.   In shape notes, each note is assigned a shape (triangular, round, square, etc.).    Each of the shapes is a particular note, along the lines of do, re, mi.   
 
The haunting simplicity of last Sunday's Introit is a perfect example of this music style. Clearly, the Holy Spirit walked down the aisle with our choir last week.
 
You can listen to Come Holy Spirit, Come with soprano, Elena Mullins and tenor, Frank Blackman by clicking HERE.
 
Christians Bear Witness 
 
Jessie Hill, J.D.
Following the senseless gun murders of the children in the Sandy Hook Elementary School, 106 people in Cuyahoga County have been killed by guns.  This week we add to that list  Ronnie L. Bryant, Bruce Jernigan, Kenneth Thompson, and Curtis Leon Marks Jr.
 
THE FALL TERM OF SUNDAY ADULT FORUMS continues Sunday with the second in a series of forums addressing gun violence in America. Sunday's speaker is Jessie Hill, Professor of Law, Case Western Reserve University's School of Law, whose presentation, Gun Control and its Limits: The Role of the 2nd Amendment, examines the history and current state of the 2nd Amendment and its relationship to the status of gun regulations. Adult Forums meet in Beckwith Hall at 11:30 am.

 
Tell your Senators what you believe they should do about gun control.

  Email Senator Brown by clicking HERE.
  Email Senator Portman by clicking HERE.
 
Phyllis Hackett Birthday Celebration 
  
 
Last Sunday following worship the Congregation wished Phyllis Hackett happy birthday with a cake and song.   If you did not get to participate, we must admit that cake is all gone, but Phyllis is still accepting birthday wishes with her own special charm and grace.  Happy Birthday, Phyillis!
 
Congregational Gathering with Lunch
Sunday, September 29, 11 am till 2 pm
 
PLEASE SIGN UP
How do we engage members, participants, students, and the community in the life of the Covenant? What brought us to Covenant? Why do we stay?   What excites us? How do we communicate this to others? 


Come to the Congregational Gathering and share your thoughts. Facilitated by the Reverend Bob Armstrong who will also be preaching in the worship service.

RSVP in the church office or simply reply to this email and you will be noted as attending   We must know who is attending by September 22 so that we may plan lunch. Child care will be provided.
 
TUTOR ORIENTATION, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 10 AM, DINING ROOM

 

You can help The Saturday Tutoring Program continue to flourish in its 24th year.

(1) Become a tutor. Join other Covenant tutors: Ted Adams, Bob Ault, three generations of the Bromelmeier family, the Finkenthal family, Brad Goble, Jim Greene, Jon Kallay, Cheryl Keys, and Louise Steele.

(2) Encourage a friend or co-worker to tutor.

(3) Visit a tutoring session simply to meet, encourage, and thank the students and tutors.

For details, view the video and more and connect to the Saturday Tutoring webpage by clicking HERE.  To volunteer, e-mail [email protected] or call (216) 421-0482 x281.  

 
Student Ministry Initiatives

On Wednesday, September 11, Rev. Vizcaino led services in hope and song in remembrance of the tragedy of the terrorist attacks on the United States.   She asked those who were present to lend their presence to hope, because together we shall overcome.

 
Rotation Workshops Continue Sunday For Kids  
The Children, Youth, and Families Committee is engaging our children and youth in worship experiences of their own. When they leave the sanctuary at 10:15 am, the children, youth, and teachers gather in the Sonia Golden Room for a brief worship moment before moving to their classes. On the third rotation Sunday, all gather in Yost Chapel for a worship service in which the children and our senior high youth will lead music, prayers, and meditations. This will give our children an opportunity to experience worship and to prepare for the time they remain in the sanctuary. We especially invite our youth to provide leadership and mentoring for these services. Contact Ann Williams at [email protected] to learn more about how you can get involved with our children and youth. 
 
September Church Calendars
church wide
 
Click HERE to see the September church calendar.
 

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In the Heart of University Circle 
 
11205 Euclid Avenue - Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Visit the Covenant website at CovenantWeb.org

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This week's e-news compiled by David Keltner