The Church of the Covenant
 
 

 

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, 

the name of the LORD is to be praised.  

Psalm 113:3

 

Thanks to Beth Holbein for providing this photograph.

 

Worship of God
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
The Southend Choir from Sussex, England
 
10 AM
July 27, 2014

  

For the Worship of God on Sunday The Rev. Laury Larson's sermon is entitled Not Just for Argument's Sake.  The scripture lessons are Psalm 130 and Mark 7:24-30.

Rev. Larson's sermon this Sunday will be his last at the Covenant. 
 
Each Sunday one of our Stephen Ministers remains in Christ Chapel following worship to speak with anyone who would like a listening ear or a prayer. 
 
Midweek Music & Meditation, Wednesdays, 4:30-5 pm, 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. 
Music Notes
Southend Choir
This weekend we welcome the Southend Choir to our worship service. 
The choir will sing in the 10:00 am service and offer a 45 minute program immediately following the service. Everyone is invited to a potluck lunch in the dining room following the concert. There will be no reception. We are still in need of side dishes and desserts. Please call the church office if you are able to provide one. 216-421-0482
 
Prelude: Adagio from Symphony No. 3 by Louis Vierne
Introit: Al Shlosha by Allan Naplan (The Southend Choir)
Hymn 474: O Splendor of God's Glory Bright
Anthem: Benedictus by Karl Jenkins (The Southend Choir)
Hymn 349: Let All Who Pray the Prayer Christ Taught
Offertory: Amazing Grace arr. Hughes (The Southend Choir)
Hymn 450: O Day of Peace
 
Following the benediction, the choir will begin the concert. 
A complete program listing will be in the bulletin.
 
Thank you to all of the many host families who are housing 
the choristers for the weekend. 

  

  

  

Next Sunday's Worship


 

For the Worship of God on Sunday, August 3, the Rev. Amy Starr Redwine is preaching. The scripture lessons are Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 and Matthew 14:13-21. Children will leave at 10:15 am for SOS: Summer of Stories, with Donna Prease. The Lay Worship Leader is Ann Williams. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated.

Confirmation Statement of Faith - the Fifth of Nine
Kyle Langmack

Kyle Langmack is the son of Liesl Langmack and Charle Langmack. His mentor was Jim Tomaszewski.
 
I believe that God is neither a masculine nor a feminine figure specified by gender, race, nationality, or cultural practices. Instead, I believe God to be a form of Music. He can vary from the exquisite composition of Mozart, Beethoven, and Stravinsky; or be in a more informal setting such as a modern band you see 
adolescents listening to with their headphones. The Lord God is an expression, a way to feel, or even an example of how to feel. He, along with music, "heals the sick; mental or physical, binds the brokenhearted, eats with outcasts, and forgives sinners." God helps each faithful individual and teaches them how to put forth the good in the world.

Jesus is the son of God, who has taught all of us to love thy self as we should love thy neighbor. But how does one love one's self? We need guidance, and Jesus, has bestowed his leadership upon us, which is why he is like a conductor to me. The conductor in an orchestra or ensemble creates a tempo for the players to follow and serve as guidelines. Jesus is our guide and leads us into a better life of hope and opportune circumstances. Jesus Christ, for us and for our salvation, "came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again, in accordance of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end." The Holy Spirit is the giver of life, and like so, musical instruments are the givers of music. They are the creators of melody and harmony by either the plucking of a string or the flow of air; streaming through its valves and keyholes. The Holy Spirit provides us with the most necessary idea in order to achieve any level of excellence; life. Without life, there would be no good deeds, no spontaneity, nothing. Without instruments, music would cease to exist. If there is no music; there is no God.

That is what I believe my faith to be.
Beginning to Say Farewell and Well Done
 
 
 
 
 

On Laury; church historian, sage, quiet guide and so much more. It was and is a privilege to call him friend. While often I teased him for being the "groundhog" in his office I knew his research and wisdom was always being honed like the best of scholars. At times he was a bit intimidating. I always had to double check my biblical translations and interpretations. Few ministers of churches like Covenant have ever had the gift of such a partner in ministry. Let everyone know the Church of the Convenient would never be the place she is today without his solid teaching to ground so many in the riches of solid theology. It was a fun journey at least on my end and I hope it was the same for him.

 

bert   

 

Become a Part of Covenant's Communications Efforts

 

Under the leadership of Mary Anne Bromelmeier, Communications Committee chairperson, we are looking at new and creative ways to ramp up our communications efforts both within our Covenant community and to those outside our doors.

 

You are invited to a Communications Meeting on Monday, August 4, at 7 pm.  Come and share your ideas! Contact Mary Anne at [email protected] for more information.

In the Covenant Family 

This week we keep in our prayers Rolf Krotseng, Marjorie Wadsworth, and Maggie McDaniel and other Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing
, or are home bound.  
 

  

 
Biblical prayer for a new ministry:

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To her belong glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen

                                                          1 Peter 4:11  

 

 

    

Bear one another's burdens, 

 and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

Galatians 6:2 

The Southend Choir from Essex, England, Sunday, July 27

 

You will be pleased to know that Covenant has come through with housing for all of our English visitors.  Next week in this space you'll a recap of the kids activities with their hosts.   Thanks to all of you who were willing to host the choir.

 

A number of the kids emailed their hosts this week and gave a preview of their British charm. This note was typical.  Great fun will be had by all.

 

Thank you very much for letting Kayleigh and me stay with you.  I am 13 and my friend Kayleigh is 14 and we live in Southend-on-Sea which is not too far from London. We have both visited the US before but have never been to Cleveland and are very excited to be visiting. We are looking forward to singing with your choir and to meeting you.
 
See you soon.
Isabel and Kayleigh

You can read more about the choir by clicking HERE
Christians Bear Witness

Since a gunman fired on Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, killing 26 people, 20 of them children, a total of 243 people in Cuyahoga County have been killed by guns.  The deaths of two more souls are added this week, Rasheen Omar Bledsoe Jr. and Justin Lavelle Stegall.

 

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.  

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