The Church of the Covenant


Earth, display your exuberance!
    You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.


 

Psalm 67:6
 

Worship of God  
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
World Communion Sunday

10 AM
October 5, 2014

     

The Rev. Amy Starr Redwine's sermon is entitled Hostility.  The scripture lessons are  Matthew 21:33-46 and Isaiah 5:1-7.

 

Questions for Reflection -- For World Communion Sunday this week, we will consider one of the more difficult parables in the gospel of Matthew, found in chapter 21, verses 33-46. Keeping in mind that we have something to learn from each character in a parable, think about which of these characters you identify with most closely. The tenant farmers who are entrusted with a fertile vineyard but want to keep its fruits to themselves? The landowner who simply wants to collect his rightful share of his land's produce? Or the landowner's messengers who are caught in the middle of this landowner-tenant dispute? What does this parable reveal to us about God's relationship with humanity, to whom God has entrusted this world and one another?     Amy


 

The Lay Worship Leader is Jim Mate


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 everyone 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 
Our music for World-Wide Communion Sunday offers a trip around the world in both musical style and liturgical practice, quoting from eleven different traditions. Two Hebrew selections warrant brief explanation. The introit features the chant, 
Eliyahu ha-navi, from the Hebrew Seder service, a ritual feast that marks the beginning of Passover. This song appears during the Bareich or "Grace after Meals." The inclusion of the song in our service acknowledges the roots of the Christian Sacrament of Communion in Jesus's own observance of the Passover. Similarly, our service concludes with a traditional Jewish blessing from Psalm 133, Hineh mah tov, from Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. We hope that these selections will serve as a reminder of both the great diversity of expression and unity of message that exists in Judeo-Christian traditions around the world and throughout history.
Taste of the Circle

This Sunday immediately following worship your Membership/Reach Out Committee is hosting a new event at Covenant.   Taste of the Circle is an opportunity to sample the fare from a baker's dozen of University Circle restaurants at this free event.   We have invited guests from the broader community and we hope that many visitors will get to worship with us and meet the Covenant members.    This event isn't as much about eating as it is about getting to know each other and our visitors.   

Engage, talk, greet, invite, welcome, acknowledge, listen, befriend, recruit - you get it!

Enjoy bite sized servings from the following restaurants:

Mama Santas                                                Murray Hill Market
La Pizzeria                                                    ABC Tavern
Chipotle                                                        Jimmy Johns
Qdoba Mexican Grill                                       Tropical Smoothies
Subway                                                        Tratoria Roman Garden
Guarinos                                                       Pot Belly Sandwich Shop
Covenant's Kitchen

There will be no Starbucks coffee in the Narthex this week because we are assuming that everyone will be running to the dining room for the Taste of the Circle.   But for sure we will be back in the Narthex the following week offering a coffee and a "glad you came today" greeting.
Jazz Vespers, this Sunday at 5 PM

 


 

Music, Liturgy, and Prayers for the Evening

 

"Swing" to the Lord a new song!


Featuring Dave Kasper and friends. 


Dr. Jonathan Moyer Takes a Bow With the Boston Symphony Orchestra

You may listen to this entire concert along with commentary on WGBH website by clicking HERE.    In the photo above you can see the boom of the camera which recorded the concert for the PBS Great Performance broadcast later this year.   Watch for notice of the announcement of the broadcast date in this space.
Who Has the Bigger Smile
In this photo Jonathan Moyer is standing at the stage entrance of Boston Symphony's Symphony Hall. Standing next to him is his Aunt Shirley Moyer. Many of you have met Aunt Shirley on her many visits to Covenant to support and be thrilled by Jonathan's musicianship.   Aunt Shirley has been Jonathan's biggest  fan and musical mentor for his entire life.  She lives in the Baltimore area and is herself an accomplished musician.  Shirley has been a life-long professional church musician, holding positions as soprano soloist at the venerable Ocean Grove Auditorium in New Jersey and at the Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. She also sang in the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia under the direction of Robert Page. 
Thank you Covenant

Covenant your generosity is amazing.   Last Sunday in Worship our Young Disciples inaugurated a new tradition in Covenant worship.   The kids collected canned goods from worshipers in the pews.   Offering is an element of worship, and the children's participation in the service was meaningful.   Their beautiful faces remind us that indeed hunger is a very real problem in our neighborhood.   Each month the children will make their collection and there will be a reminder in this space.    We have plenty of very strong children and carrying your food to our altar will never be a burden.   How many bags can we fill in the future?

This Is a Good Problem To Have

It's fall, which means many are back to school...and church! We had over 200 people in our worship service this past Sunday, which means that parking was at a premium. We have 60 parking spaces in our parking lot and we would like to have spaces available for visitors and those with mobility challenges. We have unlimited parking in Ford Road Garage on Sundays until 2 pm. Covenant custodial staff are at the garage gate from 8:30 am until 10:15 am on Sunday mornings to let you in; you just need to exit the garage no later than 2 pm. You can walk right out the back of the garage and over to Covenant.

 

Please note that while it is tempting, we CANNOT DOUBLE PARK in our lot. The University Circle Incorporated police have warned us that double parking is a fire hazard, blocking both fire trucks and EMS. Thank you for helping ensure the safety of our community and for doing your part to make this a welcoming place for those who might be new to our church.

Student Ministries

Lonely, hungry and far from home - not all, but many of the students who have found a worship home here this year.  Hospitality  creates a continuing seize the opportunity.  Sunday, October 12, bring any dish you like to make to the kitchen for our first of the year BRUNCH for STUDENTS.  Give Rev. Eileen a call and let her know you will help: 216-233-5151

Come eat with the students.  

Hear their journeys and their views, some from around the world, and now right at our doorstep.
Listen to Last Sunday's Music

Jesu the Very Thought Is Sweet, Charles Wood - CLICK HERE  

Jesus Christ the Apple Street, Elizabeth Poston - CLICK HERE
Listen to Rev. Starr Redwine's Sermon Change



You can listen to Rev. Starr Redwine's sermon from September 28 by clicking HERE.
In the Covenant Family 
This week we keep in our prayers Covenant's Associate Pastor Nominating Committee, Christopher Chaves, Bee Carpenter, Ruth Dahm De Vries, Vera Orlock, Ed Pembroke, Gloria Ross (Michelle Miller's mother), Marjorie Wadsworth and other Covenant members and friends who are struggling with illness, convalescing, or are home bound.     

We are saddened to learn of the passing of former Covenant member, Herbert Long, who died after a short illness on September 18 at Mercy Lorain Hospital. He had been a resident at Kendal at Oberlin.


 


Jim Mate's Prayer from most recent Membership Committee Meeting:     

In You Lord Jesus, we place our trust.
How great is Your goodness which have laid up for those who trust in You.
For Your name's sake, lead us and guide us.
Make Your face to shine upon us.   
Our times are in Your hand.
Love the Lord, all you His saints!
For the Lord preserves the faithful.
Be of good courage and God shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
   

Bear one another's burdens, 

       and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2 

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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 & Lyn Tomaszewski.