Really Home for the Holidays.... |
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Greetings!
Anybody remember our theme for Advent and Christmas last year? If you do, I'll be very impressed.
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Yes, the theme for 2019 was "Home for the Holidays!"
The overall message was that God has come to be with us, to be at home with us, in Jesus Christ.
Little did we know that we'd literally all be home for the holidays in 2020! Ha!
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But here we are, and God is still with us. We're trying to make the best of things with three options for Christmas Eve--see below.
May you truly experience God's presence in your homes this Christmas season. Be safe and be well. God is with us.
On the journey, apart-but-together,
Charlie
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Join us for at-home Christmas Eve worship! |
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Covenant is offering three different Christmas Eve worship experiences:
Two services available on YouTube and our webpage from December 22 onward:
- A family-friendly service featuring a special Christmas Pageant: "A Light Shines in the Darkness: A Covenant Christmas Pageant" (traditionally at 5:00 pm)
- A service with a short sermon and special music: trombone, bassoon, and Covenant's Music Ministry (traditionally at 8:00 pm)
You can watch these two videos anytime Dec. 22 onward, at your convenience, OR you can join your Covenant family in watching them live together through Facebook watch parties on Christmas Eve. Jump on the Covenant Facebook page at 5:00 pm for the pageant service premiere and at 8:00 pm for the traditional service premiere.
Plus, there will be a Zoom service at 7:00 pm on Christmas Eve with Pastor Charlie Berthoud, Music Coordinator Melissa Hinz, and Organist Doug McNeel live in the sanctuary. Click here: Christmas Eve Zoom Worship at 7pm
Each service will conclude with lighting candles and singing “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World.” Click the photo below to reminisce on pageants past!
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Please try to send in your pledge cards (or simply call the church office with the information) as soon as possible!
We have received 192 commitment cards totaling $866,349 (combined operating and per capita totals). Thank you, Covenant!
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Donate here with the designation "Christmas Eve Mission Offering."
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You can support PC(USA) church leaders and communities of color through the PC(USA)'s Christmas Joy Offering (click here to learn more).
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of four special offerings of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The others are:
Donate here with the designation "Christmas Joy Offering."
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Support our community partner, GatherX!
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Reflect on hope, peace, joy, and love while coloring with these awesome coloring sheets from Illustrated Ministry! Click here for the PDF: Advent Words
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Get in the Christmas spirit by celebrating and singing Christmas hymns with us!
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Middle School & High School Youth Connections
Thank you so much to those who donated hats and mittens! We received over 100 items to help keep our neighbors warm!
MSYC & HSYC will not be meeting on December 20 or December 27. Zoom gatherings will resume on January 3. See you then!
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December 20 at 10:00 am: Adult Ed
Join us for a Christmas hymn sing-along!
You're also invited to check-in at 1:00 pm M-W-F via Zoom with Jeff Fox-Kline for short, weekly Acts of Advent activities. On Mondays we'll be journaling, on Wednesdays we'll have scripture readings, and on Fridays we'll share a prayer together: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82345355509
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NOTE: Adult Ed will not meet on December 27, 2020 or January 3, 2021. See you back at 10:00 am on January 10!
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THIS SUNDAY AT 2:00 PM
Covenant will once again be offering a special virtual afternoon gathering where, together, we will remember those things that are heavy on our hearts: the loss of loved ones, the loss of opportunities, the shifting of hopes and dreams. We will give thanks for the strength and support we have in each other and in Jesus Christ.
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Join Pastor Charlie's 12-week DISCIPLE Bible study course beginning on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 via Zoom! Sign up HERE. Contact Pastor Charlie for more info. |
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Worship
Sunday, December 20
- Fourth Sunday of Advent
- Lighting the Candle of LOVE (the Smith family)
- Children's Time with Cindy Lovell
- Sermon series: "REDISCOVERING CHRISTMAS: Who Is Jesus?"
- Chelsea Cornelius preaching on Matthew 1:23, 28:18-20, "Jesus is Emmanuel"
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Follow Pastor Jeff's reflections on the Advent sermon series on Covenant's blog! Click HERE.
We'd love to see you at the Sunday morning
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