The Church of the Covenant  
  
  
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, 
 earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; 
 snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
 in the bleak midwinter, long ago. 

 

Christina G. Rossetti, 1830-1894 

 

 

Baptism of the Lord

January 12, 2014 10 AM

  

Rev. Larson's sermon is entitled Greet Us Now.   The Scripture lessons are  

Genesis 1:1-5 and Mark 1:4-11.
 
The Lay Worship Leader is Zoe Ann Brown.
 
Each Sunday one of our Stephen Ministers remains in Christ Chapel following worship to speak with anyone who would welcome a listening ear or a prayer.

Midweek Music & Meditation, Wednesdays, 4:30-5 pm
This service is offered for anyone who would find comfort in a time of reflection, music, and prayer. Prayer requests placed in The Carpenter's Box on the Christ Chapel table are included in each Midweek Music and Meditation time of prayer.
 

Prayer For Those Who Struggle

 

Dear Lord, During this cold weather we remember those people who are homeless and those whose homes are cold.  Open our hearts and our hands to individuals who are suffering this winter.  We ask your blessing on the upcoming Homeless Stand Down and all those who will be served.  May we individually and as a congregation be active in the work of your kingdom for those in need.  Amen 
 

In the Covenant Family

 

11th Century Fresco in Chora Church, Istanbul, Turkey

This week we keep in our prayers Erik Kratky, Nancy Moyer, Ed Rogel, Christian Steppes, and other Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing, or are homebound. 

 

Bear one another's burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 

 
A Winter Sing-a-long With Our Choir

Click HERE to listen to the Covenant Choir sing Gustav Holst and Harold Drake's setting of Christina Rosetti's 19th century poem. Here are the lyrics to this moving hymn.    Sing-a-long and rejoice in the glory of God's wonder.

 

 

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago. 

 

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain; heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. 

 

Angels and archangels may have gathered there, cherubim and seraphim thronged the air; but his mother only, in her maiden bliss, worshiped the beloved with a kiss. 

 

What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

 

You can read an interesting interpretation of Rosetti's words in this poem along with a history of the carol by clicking HERE.

 
Music Notes 

We welcome Dr. Kaori Hongo to the organ bench this Sunday as Dr. Moyer is away. The choir offers three diverse English anthems associated with the Baptism of Jesus. The introit is an anonymous 15th languages - in this case Latin and English) Jesus autem hodie (Jesus now returns today from the Jordan). The anthem is a setting of William Blake's (1757-1827) famous poem The Lamb by the twentieth century English composer John Tavener, who died in November of last year. The text is an allusion to John the Baptist's pronouncement, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"(John 1:29). The offertory is a setting of the same text from John in George Frederic Handel's oratorio, Messiah.  
 
Covenant Makes the Evening News


Tuesday, as Cleveland set a record low temperature, Channel 5 picked Euclid Avenue in front of our Church to demonstrate the cold.   It might have been cold outside but Covenant is warm and friendly on the inside.
 

Sunday Adult Forum

The Sunday Forums resume this week and continue through March 2. Sunday's speakers are John Anoliefo, Executive Director, and Anthony Body, Community Organizer, Famicos Foundation. Famicos Foundation is one of the oldest community development corporations in the City of Cleveland, revitalizing city neighborhoods with blended housing and retail and commercial development. Famicos has taken a leadership role in new construction and restored historic homes in the church's neighboring Wade Park area.  

You may connect to the Famicos website by clicking HERE.
 

Book Discussion at Covenant




You are invited to read Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63 - the first volume in his America in the King Years trilogy - and join others for a discussion facilitated by Valentino Lassiter, Professor and Pastor in Residence, John Carroll University's Department of Theology and Religious Studies, on Monday, February 3rd. Supper will be served at 6 pm with discussion following at 6:30 pm. RSVP the church office by Sunday, February 2nd. Cost of supper is $5 payable at the door.  

You may read more about the author at this website by clicking HERE.
 
Christians Beat Witness
Since the senseless gun murders of the children in the Sandy Hook Elementary School,  158 people in Cuyahoga County have been killed by guns. 
 
Believing God calls us to be peacemakers, by Session action, on the second Sunday of each month we include in the Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession and Petition specific concern for people affected by gun violence and addressing the evil of gun violence in our nation, marked by the tolling of the tower bell. 

 

Tell your Senators what you believe they should do about gun violence.
  Email Senator Brown by clicking HERE.
                                                   Email Senator Portman by clicking HERE.  
 
January Church Calendar
cov blue sky winter
  
Click  HERE to see the January church calendar.
 
 

COTC logo 

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


Send information for e-news to  
 
This week's e-news compiled by  
David Keltner