The Church of the Covenant
"The world is too dangerous for anything but truth
and too small for anything but love."
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Worship of God
Third Sunday after Pentecost
10 AM
June 29, 2014
For the Worship of God on Sunday Dr. Campbell's sermon is entitled Least Among the Least. The scripture lessons are Ephesians 3:1-10 and Luke 10:1-20.
The sermon text: I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do know: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
This service will conclude with a Service of Dissolution for the Call of Dr. Campbell's ministry.
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.
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.
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Listen to the Rev. Amy Starr Redwine's First Sermon in the Covenant Pulpit
Amy's candidate sermon was professionally videotaped and is available online. The sermon was entitled God's Good Pleasure. You may watch and listen by clicking on the attached video. So far the video has been watched 104 times.
 | | GOD'S GOOD PLEASURE - AMY STARR REDWINE |
You can also watch the emotional moment of the announcement of Amy's call to worship at the Covenant and her benediction to the service by clicking on the attached video. So far this video has been watched 185 times.
 | | AMY STARR REDWINE - BENEDICTION |
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bert's Retirement
The Farewell Task Force members, Deni Horstman, Willie Howard, Cathy Miller, Jonathan Moyer, Carol Roe, Harriet Wadsworth, Kate Williams, and Paul Williams have written a message in commemoration of Dr. Campbell's ministry at Covenant. You can read that message by clicking HERE.
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 This week we keep in our prayers Mary Brown, Erik Kratky, Rolf Krotseng, Marjorie Wadsworth, and other Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing, or are home bound.
Dear Lord,
As bert and Carol prepare to depart our congregation we pray that you grant them good health. May they find retirement a rewarding experience. Amen
Bear one another's burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
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Music Notes
Our service Sunday features music picked especially for the occasion of Dr. Campbell's retirement from ministry. All of the hymns feature alternate texts written by Dr. Campbell and are sung to familiar tunes. Reflecting Dr. Campbell's support of interfaith relationships, Covenant soloist Al Glickson sings two works taken from the Jewish liturgy: L'dor Vador (from the sanctification of God's name) and the concluding Benediction, Yevarechech Adonay v'yishm'recha. The Covenant choir sings the anthem The House of Faith Has Many Rooms by American composer Craig Phillips, which was sung for bert's installation service on September 25, 2005.
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Covenant Neighbor Celebrates Historic Beatitudes
Our neighbor, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, has a new exhibit that focuses on the body of work of Sister Mary Corita and includes a monumental piece titled "Beatitudes". This piece was recently found in storage at the United Church of Christ headquarters in Cleveland and has not been seen in public for over 4 decades. Sister Mary Corita, whose signature is visible in the lower-right corner of the canvas, used a mix of Bible scripture and quotes from Pope John XXIII and President John F. Kennedy to create the Beatitudes mural. She painted three 40-foot banners for the Vatican Exhibit at the 1964 World's Fair and chose this one to display. MOCA was the site of our farewell reception for Rev. bert Campbell and is just half a block from The Church of the Covenant. This exhibit is the first retrospective on Sister Corita's work, and runs from June 28 through August 31.  You are encouraged to visit our new neighbor, MOCA. Covenant member Ron Neil was Board President for three years during the planning and initial construction of the MOCA building, and is still a member of the Board of Directors of MOCA.
Yo u can read more about this exhibit by clicking HERE.
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Open Letter in Response to the Actions of the General Assembly to Allow Pastors to Peform Same Sex Marriages
To congregations of the PC (U.S.A.):
June 19, 2014
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Earlier today, the 221st General Assembly (2014) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approved a recommendation from its Assembly Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues allowing for pastoral discretion to perform "any such marriage they believe the Holy Spirit calls them to perform," where legal by state law.
They also approved a recommendation to change language in the Book of Order to indicate that "marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman."
Both decisions came with much thought, discussion, and prayer, and clearly the entire body that is the PC(USA) will be interpreting these actions for some time.
Please know that the same triune God in whom we place our hope, faith, and trust in is still in control, and that the assembly's action today is the result of deep discernment to hear God's voice and discern God's will.
We concur with the feelings expressed by Teaching Elder Commissioner Jeffrey Bridgeman, moderator of the Assembly Committee on Civil Union and Marriage Issues, during his presentation to the assembly.
"The apostle Paul tells us that ours is, in fact, 'the ministry of reconciliation' as 'ambassadors of Christ,' and he died for us so that we might be reconciled, that we might become reconcilers," Bridgeman said.
In this season of both happiness and sadness over the assembly's decisions, we call on you to remember the overflowing grace and love God gifts us with, and to take seriously our charge to bestow the same grace and love on one another.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Ruling Elder Heath K. Rada
Moderator, 221st General Assembly (2014)
The Reverend Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Ruling Elder Linda Bryant Valentine
This action by the General Assembly received wide spread notice in the lay press. An example of the reporting by the New York Times can be read by clicking HERE. |
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Happy Anniversary
On June 26 the Rev. Albert and Beverly Kean will celebrate the sixty fifth anniversary of their marriage. They were married in Shreve, Ohio. The Kean's have two daughters, Beth and Judy. In 1958 Rev. Kean became pastor of the Westlake Christian Church. After 28 years he retired from that position. This will be a big week for the Kean's because Rev. Kean's 91st birthday is the day after their anniversary.
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Since a gunman fired on Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, killing 26 people, 20 of them children, a total of 233 people in Cuyahoga County have been killed by guns. The deaths of four more souls are added this week. The Reducing Gun Violence Task Force of the Church of the Covenant's Outreach and Social Justice Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the church office area. Anyone desiring to help address the evil of gun violence in our community and nation is invited to attend.
Believing God calls us to be peacemakers, by Session action, we include in the Prayer of Thanksgiving, Intercession and Petition, once each month, 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 control.
Email Senator Brown by clicking HERE.
Email Senator Portman by clicking HERE.
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Sunday July 6
Dr Otis Moss Jr Preaching
Followed by an Ice Cream Social on the Lawn
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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
This week's e-news compiled by David Keltner,
and Lyn Tomaszewski. Prayer by Pat Owen-Keltner
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