The Church of the Covenant

  
 
 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. 
Galatians 5:22-23
 
Service of Worship 
Second Sunday in Lent 
10 AM 
March 16, 2014

For the Worship of God on Sunday, March 16, Dr. Campbell Dr. Campbell continues his Lenten sermon series, People of the Way with his sermon titled The 'Little Women'. Scripture lessons are Luke 8:1-3, Luke 10:38-42, and Luke 24:1-15. The Lay Worship Leader is Denise Horstman.  


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.


Join us for our Midweek Music & Meditation Service
every Wednesday 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.


In the  Covenant Family
                              

This week we keep in our prayers Mary Carter, Erik Kratky, Christian Steppes, Kim Voss, Marjorie Wadsworth, Theresa Hayes and other Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing, or are homebound.

 

The sympathy of the congregation is extended to the family and friends of John Baker, who died Sunday, March 9, in Cleveland. A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 29, at 2 pm, in the Church of the Covenant sanctuary.

 

We keep in our prayers Rev. Eileen Vizcaino, Chip Bromley, and the students who left last Sunday for their mission trip to New Jersey to help rebuild towns and lives hit by Superstorm Sandy 2012. They return this Saturday, March 15.

  

Dear Lord, We pray for your guidance of our Pastor Nominating Committee as they continue their search for the person who will become our pastor. We thank you for all their efforts. Grant us patience through this time of transition. Amen   

 

Inquirer's Class Sunday, March 23, 11:30-1 pm, Herrick Room 

Looking for a church home? Want to learn more about Presbyterians and the Church of the Covenant? We invite you to an Inquirers Class that provides an opportunity to learn about what it means to be Presbyterian, Covenant's vision, mission, and programs, and what it means to be a member. University students and others may become members or affiliate members; affiliate members retain membership in their hometown congregation. Contact Mildred Russin, 216.421.0482.

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

Galatians 6:2 

Lenten Sunday Adult Forum Series
The Lenten Term of Sunday Adult Forums continues this Sunday through Sunday, April 6. The forums focus our attention on the biblical, spiritual and social meanings of the metaphor journey and those meanings' significance for people of faith today.

Sunday's presentation by Peter J. Haas, PhD, Abba Hillel Silver Professor of Jewish Studies and Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Case Western Reserve University, is titled "Exile and Return in the Jewish Journey". Sunday Adult Forums meet at 11:30 am in Beckwith Hall.

A schedule was also mailed with the March/April
                  Covenant News and available in the kiosks. 
 
Music Notes 
Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585)
The organ and choral music in this weekend's service represents three centuries of British music. The service begins with three settings of the antiphon text, Clarifica me pater (Enlighten me, Father) by Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585). The works come from the Mulliner Book, one of the most important 16th century collections of liturgical keyboard music. Tallis's beautiful psalm tune, "The Third Tune" is presented as a canticle in between the scripture readings, set to Horatius Bonar's (1808-1889) stirring text, "I heard the voice of Jesus say." Ralph Vaughan Williams used this music as the basis for his famous work for string orchestra, Tallis Fantasia. The introit, Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts 
was composed by Henry Purcell (1659-1695) for the funeral of Queen Mary II in 1694. The same work was used in Purcell's own funeral the next year. The offertory, The Heart Worships, is a setting of a text by Alice M. Buckton for voice and piano by Gustav Holst (1874-1934). It was later scored for choir by Channing Lefebure in 1943. 
 
To listen to Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia, click here
Up, Up, and Away! 
 
Workmen this week are installing new wiring for the sanctuary recording system using a special lift brought in from Boston. The all new digital system will feature 8 state-of-the-art microphones enabling us to produce high-quality recordings of our worship services and special events. 
 
 
 
It Was a Luau! 
In February, PACT families got away from the cold and snow with a luau,
complete with a Hawaiian feast, sand castles, and games.
Have younger children in your life?
Come to PACT (Parents And Children Together)
for fun family activities.
"Game Show," the next PACT family activity night, is
Friday, March 28, 6-8:30 pm
.
Contact Mindy Stewart, [email protected], to learn more.   




 
Christians Bear Witness 
 
Following the senseless gun murders of the children in the Sandy Hook Elementary School, people in Cuyahoga County have been killed by guns.178 This week Durrell Ware and Donald Arnett Coley were added to that list.
 
An opportunity to participate in the 
Reducing Gun Violence Task Group 
The Reducing Gun Violence Task Group of the Social Justice and Outreach Committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the Church of the Covenant (typically office area). The next meeting is Tuesday,
April 8.
Anyone who desires to help is invited. 

 

Tell your Senators what you believe they should do about gun control.
  Email Senator Brown by clicking HERE.
  Email Senator Portman by clicking HERE.

Bread for the World Offering of Letters
Continues Sundays through April 6 

 

Sundays in the Library immediately following the worship service  

Visit Bread for the World to learn more.  

Remembering Johnny 
 

On Friday, March 7, 2014, Johnny, Carrie Stewart's Therapy Dog left his world as sweetly and gently as when he entered her life at the age of 8 as a rescue from GRIN (Golden Retrievers in Need) on 9/22/08. He came to GRIN found in a rural county, 20lbs underweight, hair coming out in patches, and so filthy that even after 3 baths dirt was still coming out of his fur. Johnny was also blind, due to Progressive Retinal Atrophy and within a few years would also be deaf. Johnny's gentle temperament out-shined everything that stood in his way and soon he would serve as a role model and a hero in the lives of many teens during the most difficult time in their life. Johnny served as a Therapy Dog and worked as Carrie's Co-Therapist in Riverside Schools for 5 years and at Signature Health for a year. Johnny was also one of the Therapy Dogs to assist in the healing process for Chardon Schools.

Carrie & Johnny at the 2011 Fall Carnival with Alex Tomaszewski 


Want to learn more about  about therapy dogs? You may talk with Carrie Stewart or go to tdi-dog.org and petpartners.org (both are national organizations that certify therapy dogs).

Thank you for sharing Johnny with us! 

  

2014 F. Joseph Callahan Distinguished Lecture Series

Thursday, March 20, 5:30pm
Severance Hall
Elaine Pagels, speaker

Religion scholar and author Elaine Pagels visits Case Western Reserve University as the keynote speaker for the 2014 F. Joseph Callahan Distinguished Lecture at 5:30 pm at Severance Hall.

Ms. Plagels is the Harrington Spear Paine Professor of Religion at Princeton University and the author of
The Gnostic Gospels, Revelations: Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelation and other respected works.

Reserve your free ticket through the Severance Hall box office at 216.231.1111 or clevelandorchestra.com
  Learn more at case.edu/events/callahan.

Think Spring!

Presbyterian Women of the
Presbytery of the Western Reserve
Spring Gathering


"Building Bridges" - Embracing Our Differences


Saturday April 5, 2014,
8:30am - 1pm
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

23114 West Road, 
Olmsted Falls Ohio 44138 
440.234.0150
March 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

Send information for e-news to  
 Lyn Cooper Tomaszewski and Lauren Mailey
while David Keltner is taking a well-deserved break.

This week's e-news compiled by Lauren Mailey,
Lyn Tomaszewski & Jonathan Moyer.