Christ Covenant E-Courier

February 3 - February 10, 2012

Sunday Morning Worship ~ 10:45 a.m.
Join us this Sunday for worship, praise and thanksgiving as we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. Our Senior Pastor, Mike Ross, will preach from Psalm 81 on “Returning to The God of Grace.” Guests, friends, family and co-workers are always welcome at all of our morning and evening services. Invite them to join you on Sunday!

Sunday Evening Worship ~ 6:00 p.m.
Close the Lord’s Day with fellowship, worship and praise. Pastor Ross will preach from Revelation 3:1-6 on “The Dying Church.” Come and learn how to identify a truly dying church and how to encourage church vitality.
Please Note! Our Children's Choirs now meet during Evening Worship.

Missionaries of the Week
Our Prayer this month will be for Our Missions Conference (February 26 – March 5)
This Week:
~ Pray we would communicate well and inform our leaders and congregation about the plans for Sunday Bible School.
~ Pray for all the details involved with our 2 Sundays of large group Sunday Bible School in the Worship Center.
~ Pray our speakers would engage our congregation as they share about their ministries and vision for the future.
~ Pray our panel discussions would be well attended and our lobby displays would be attractive and informative.
~ Pray we would be creative as we plan for international finger foods in each of our decorated lobbies.

Click here to learn more about how you can pray for them »

Give to the Covenant Day School Financial Assistance Fund
SOAR Coaches Wanted
Check Out Greg's List - The Resource You've Been Waiting For!!
Women's Evening of Worship and Praise
Join the Choir - Virtually
World Magazine Free Issues Offer

Sermons
Listen to sermons online
Subscribe to our podcast

Mike Ross on the Radio
Invite your friends to listen to
The Covenant of Grace:
• WHVN Heaven Radio (1240AM and 104.3FM) at 9:00 a.m. Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sundays
• Radio programs online anytime at www.exalt1700.org and www.accradio.com.

Our Deacons’ Offering for Sunday
Our Deacons have designated their mercy offering this month for the work of COTS (Church on the Street) a ministry to the homeless in Charlotte that shares the love of Jesus in Word and in the provision of a hearty meal and practical assistance like a warm coat and new socks. Thank you for your support today and throughout the year. To learn more watch our new video! —»

Commitment Cards
To assist us in better planning and resource management, this year, for the first time, we are being asked to consider what we will commit to give to our church in 2012, as God enables us, through our tithe and regular offerings. Your individual or family commitment should reflect your prayerful consideration of God’s provision for you, your response to God’s instruction on the stewardship of what He provides and His unfailing promises to care for the needs of His Children. The amount you might be led to commit is between you and God alone. No one will ask for your name. No one will remind you about your commitment unless you request it. No one will call on you or invade your privacy. Your commitment will be between you and God. It is a reflection of your confidence in His promises, a measure you will be able to use as you reflect on His faithfulness in the coming year. He is committed to our good so that we might reflect His glory. We can trust in His word. When we commit our way to Him, He blesses us. He acts on our behalf. He loves us and calls us His children. If you have not already turned in your Commitment Card, you are encouraged to place your card in the offering bag or mail it to the church office with “Commitment” noted on the envelope. Cards were included in the giving statements recently sent out and are available at the Information Desk in the main lobby of the Worship Center.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act.
(Psalm 37:3-5 ESV)

Check Out Greg’s List
Our church body includes many men and women who are professionals, tradespersons, service providers, small business owners and independent contractors. These people offer a wide variety of goods and services through their small businesses that could be of value to others in our congregation.

In response to many requests to provide members with information about church members with whom they might do business we have created an online directory for our website. The directory will be managed by our webmaster Greg Bartos so, of course, we have nicknamed our resource “Greg’s List.”

If you would like to be included in our listings please click here for application and policy details.

Greg’s List is offered as an information resource only. Listings should not be considered as any form of endorsement or recommendation by the Church. The individual listed is solely responsible for the accuracy of all information posted. Listings will remain for up to one year and must be resubmitted annually. The Church reserves the right to edit or remove any listing without prior notice when appropriate or necessary.

If You Can Hum, You can Hymn! It’s Time to Join Our Virtual Choir!!
It's easier than ever to sing in our Choir. No experience is necessary. No extra pressure on your schedule. You can rehearse at home. Free voice lessons. Contact John Haines (jhaines6@gmail.com) or click here. Add your voice to our songs of worship. For more information please click here. LET’S FILL THE LOFT!

Let’s Talk about God’s Design in Disability over Dinner
Join us for dinner, fellowship, discussion, games and a special visitor on Friday evening, February 10 in the Fireplace Room. Together, we can learn more about "God's Design in Disability" and our response to the ministry opportunity to all of our covenant children, brothers and sisters.

Our culture tends to marginalize people with disabilities. Christ's response is to embrace them. What is our role as a church body? With our special needs ministry now in place, let's explore how to come alongside our covenant brothers and sisters who need extra support. Do not miss having a part in this memorable and groundbreaking evening. Open to all ages! Contact Wendy Simmons at simmons.wendyann@gmail to RSVP (required.)

Financial Assistance at Covenant Day School
This is the time of year when many families are prayerfully considering the best education options for their children in grades PreK-12. Covenant Day School is our own school, known for its commitment to offering a Christ centered education with unsurpassed academic quality and affordable tuition rates that include discounts for active members of Christ Covenant, and multi-child discounts. Some families dealing with current economic realities or family circumstances need the encouragement of financial aid so their children might have the blessing of a Covenant Day education. That assistance is made possible through the gifts of church members, the current school family, endowments and the support of friends of our school. Your gift, of any amount, will be added to the fund for the coming school year as soon as it is received. The help you provide will be an answer to prayer for a student whose future will be shaped in an educational environment where Christ is honored. You may give by including a designated check in the Sunday offering or by giving online at www.christcovenant.org and selecting Covenant Day Scholarship Fund in the giving menu. To learn more about Covenant Day School go to www.covenantday.org.

Have a Welcome Mat?
Our Missions Conference team needs host homes, folks to host meals and/or provide food for conference events and to help with transportation. If you want to know more or are willing to fill any one of these needs before they are all spoken for, please contact Nancy Stout nstout@christcovenant.org or 704-814-1061 or contact Susan Reinken sreinken@christcovenant.org or 704-814-1064. Our Conference begins on the last Sunday in February.

Project SHARE – 4th Sunday -- Feeding Neighbors in Need
Our donations of food and basic necessities for families in need who are served by the Matthews HELP Center are proving to be a significant blessing to those in our community who would otherwise go without meals. Our next big collection will be February 26, when we will once again have collection points at each door to the Worship Center, but you can also drop off donations to the Information Desk any time. Here’s a list to keep with your own shopping list. Thank you. Most needed items include:

Deodorant	Shampoo	Jelly
Spaghetti	Powdered milk (large box)	Instant potatoes
Spaghetti sauce	Macaroni and cheese mix	Liquid dish soap & laundry detergent (smaller size pkgs.)
Canned chicken & tuna	Rice	Diapers - all sizes
Canned fruit & fruit juices	Grits & oatmeal (ind. pk. boxes)	Toothbrushes
Toothpaste	Other personal hygiene items	Quart Ziploc bags
Pudding cups	Boxed jell-o	Mayonnaise
Canned carrots & peas	Cereal bars	Dry cereal
Dried beans	Canned beans	Peanut butter
Chili (beef & beans)	Soups	Ramen noodles
Bar soap	Cornmeal	Saltine crackers

Weighed Down by Debt? Frustrated by Your Finances?
In November 2011, consumer debt increased by 10 percent to $2.48 trillion. It's the biggest percentage increase in overall debt since November 2001. If your family’s debt is making you struggle, there’s some practical guidance available. The Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University will begin on Wednesday night, March 7 at 7:00-9:00 p.m. and continue for 13 weeks. Get all the information you need and signup in the main lobby of the Worship Center on Sunday.

Enjoy Sports? Like Kids? Love Jesus?
If you nodded yes to our headline there's a terrific ministry opportunity waiting for you at SOAR! Head Coaches and assistants are wanted for our spring season teams including soccer, flag football, volleyball, and baseball, for ages 3 through 18. Both men and women are welcomed and encouraged to share their gifts. To learn more go to www.soarsports.com and review the coaching requirements, or email SOAR Director Jason Miller at jason@soarsports.com.

HELP WANTED: Accounts Payable and Special Projects
Christ Covenant Church has an opening for a qualified individual to join its finance staff. The primary responsibilities for the successful candidate will be in Accounts Payable. Secondary responsibilities include cross-training for other finance positions and special projects. Experience in Accounts Payable and/or other accounting/finance recommended. The successful candidate will be a person committed to Jesus Christ, with strong organizational ability, attention to detail, desire to work well with staff, high personal standards for ethics and confidentiality, ability to manage work well with minimal supervision and able to function as part of a team. Flexibility in working hours depending upon background and experience level. Other requirements include proficiency in Word and Excel. Seriously interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Margie Johnston at mjohnston@christcovenant.org or call 704-814-1007 with questions.

Is This the Job Option You Thought You’d Never Find?
Christ Covenant is looking for a qualified individual to work in the church’s main office as a substitute when the regular staff is unavailable. The successful candidate will likely be a member of Christ Covenant Church and view this position as an opportunity to minister to visitors, callers and staff by creating a welcoming environment and efficient service in a variety of tasks from answering questions and routing calls to handling confidential information or managing the flow of regular mail and emails related to information that comes into or goes through the church office. The successful candidate will be friendly; flexible; able to smoothly multi-task; have a pleasant voice and know proper phone etiquette; possess basic computer skills in Word and handling email; have or be able to quickly master basic office skills for the copier and postage machine and have a dependable vehicle in order to handle the on-campus mail distribution and the afternoon delivery to the Matthews post office. Competitive hourly compensation includes lunch and post office travel time. Contact/send resume to Margie Johnston at mjohnston@christcovenant.org or 704-814-1007. The position will remain open until it is successfully filled and both male and female applicants are welcome.

Our Tithes and Gifts Report
Pray we will trust God to supply every need as we acknowledge His many gifts to us. Thank you for your generosity.

Operating Budget (Calendar Year Reporting)
1/1/12 – 1/29/12 Actual Budget Difference % (-) or +
Inflow 325,019 340,000 (14,981) (4.41%)

Faith Promise Budget
1/1/12 – 1/29/12 Actual Budget Difference % (-) or +
Inflow 28,034 20,500 7,534 36.75%

Wilcox Rise Up Campaign Summary as of 1/29/12:
Total Construction Costs Projected:          $850,000
Less: Cash Received so far                         (720,700)
January Pledges not yet paid                       (3,600)
June Pledges not yet paid                           (16,000)
Additional pledges needed                  $109,700

How to Connect with Our Mercy Ministries
Our Deacons put a very high value on confidentiality as they assist people through our Mercy Fund and other assistance. But that confidentiality is not intended to be a barrier for people who may want to alert the Deacons to a need in another household, or in their own. There are several ways to contact our mercy ministries. They include email to mercytomembers@christcovenant.org; a call to the church mercy line (704-708-6100); conversation or call to any Pastor or Deacon; a call to the church office for "Pastor Ed." "Pastor Ed" frequently makes initial contact with people who may come to our campus or call our church office but have no previous connection with our congregation.

In addition to what we are able to provide in the way of assistance through our Mercy Fund, we also provide information or access to additional resources such as the Matthews HELP Center, the Job Transition Ministry here and at Matthews Methodist and the outreach of Church on the Street.

If you have additional questions about our mercy ministries, or would like to be involved in assisting our efforts, please do not hesitate to contact your community Deacon or Deacon Co-Chairs Harry Heise or Jason Shannon.

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Time to Hit the Books! The 2012 Christ Covenant Reading Club will examine four books this year – one per quarter. Our first selection is a short book on a theme often neglected in Evangelical Theology: Common Grace. This book is He Shines in All That’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace by Richard J. Mouw. Our discussion will be held on Tuesday, March 13 in the Dock from 7:00-8:30 p.m. The book is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format.	Come and Pray Join us on Sundays in the prayer room at 5:00 p.m. to pray for revival in our city, our nation and our church; for our families, including our adult children; for our ministries and for the salvation of those we love and those He has brought into our lives as neighbors, co-workers and friends. For more information, please contact Pat Lawrence. Come and Pray on Tuesday Nights You are invited to join in prayer, beginning at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday evenings in the Prayer Chapel on the 1st floor of our Worship Center. Pastor Bruce Creswell facilitates this gathering and all prayer requests are treated with confidentiality.
Missions Support Team Join us Tuesday morning, February 14, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Campus Outreach Conference Room where we’ll work on cutting out dresses to be sewn for orphans in Haiti and some special projects for our coming Missions Conference. Enjoy the fellowship as you have a unique part in the missions ministry of our church.
An Evening of Worship and Praise For the Women of Christ Covenant and their Guests Thursday, February 16, 7:00 p.m., in the Harbor You will not want to miss this very special evening of music, prayer, Scripture, testimonies, video and other expressions of praise and worship. What better way to begin our year of worship than in the company of women in the household of faith. Mark your calendar and make your plans now!

Thinking About Membership?
Our next Discovery Class, taught by Pastor Ross and a prerequisite for adults and students in 6th grade and above, will begin on Sunday March 11. To get more information and reserve your place, please call Mary Jo Culver at 704-814-1039.

Explore all the golden days of Broadway!
From the flappers to the forties, from Oklahoma! To New York, New York!, and everything in-between! You'll not want to miss this memorable performance from the CYC players on February 3 at 7:00 p.m., and on February 4 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Student Life Center at Central Church of God at the corner of Sardis and Randolph Roads. Tickets are free at http://cycplayersfriday.eventbrite.com, http://cycplayerssaturdaymorning.eventbrite.com and http://cycplayerssaturdayafternoon.eventbrite.com
Password for ALL events is: CYC Players (exactly as shown here)

Come hear your favorite Broadway tunes and a couple melodies that may become your new favorites in this one-of-a-kind Musical Theater Revue. CYC Players is a group of 50+ home educated high school students that are also members of Carolina Youth Chorale (CYC). CYC has over 90 students and they perform twice a year at Christ Covenant Church.

Click here to learn more!

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Our Children Need You! Small and Large Group Elementary Leaders Needed for Spring Sunday Bible School. Sign up online at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0F4FA48-elementary or contact Jessica Wells: 704-814-1028, jwells@christcovenant.org.
Volunteer Opportunities are Waiting for YOU in our Hospitality Ministry! The “Hospitality & Event Planning” webpage at www.christcovenant.org is under the “Resource” tab on the front page. Take a few minutes to see all the information there now AND see which of the several volunteer opportunities on there might be just the one for you to consider. Click here.
Take the Righteousness Challenge Our brother and coach/encourager Brian Davidson has created a wonderful way to get in the habit of Scripture Memory. You can take on the challenge at your own comfort level with just one verse a week or with bigger portions of the same text. This is absolutely free, no surprise quizzes and no rocks on the path. Brian is enriching this opportunity with additional resources, a blog, and his rich experience in missions and sports ministry. He is even welcoming Yankees fans to the challenge. Sign up at therighteousnesschallenge.squarespace.com or email him at brian.davidson@sim.org. To learn more about the growing Davidson family click here to read this week's article in the Charlotte Observer.
New Ministry Forming for Adoptive Families Hand-Chosen is Christ Covenant’s ministry to those in our congregation whose families include an adopted child or children, couples who are considering or going through the adoption process, and those with a heart for the needs of adopted children and their families. If you fit into any of these categories, would you please get in touch with us by email for the purpose of building an adoptive-friendly community of believers at our church? Contact Nancy Yates at nancy_yts@yahoo.com or Alice Guthmann at aliceguthmann@gmail.com.
Our Little Ones Need Some Cuddling! Do you have some love to share? 14 nursery caregivers are needed to accommodate our little ones. Serve every 3rd month, once a month, or as a substitute. For more information, contact Jessica Wells at 704-814-1028 or jwells@christcovenant.org.
Sunday Bible School – Get 2012 off to a Great Start – Join a Class Click here to learn more about all of the classes – and make your choice! You are always welcome!!!
Scouting for Food Our Boy Scout Troop 413 is taking part in the Mecklenburg County Scouting project to collect food for Loaves and Fishes. Look for their drop off point in the church lobby and return your Scouting for Food bag to church this Sunday. Essential needs include canned meats, canned pastas, canned fruit, cereal and 100% fruit juice.
All It Takes is Kindness – Join Our Kendal Ministry The way to know if you might be a good fit for the Kendal Ministry team is quite simple: do you have a desire to minister by being the hands and feet of Jesus to someone who needs your assistance? To learn more call Jackie Greene 704-846-6148, Susan Woodall 704-246-8385, or Teresa Yurkovich 704-364-8556.
News From Women’s Ministries Dear sisters, Mark your calendar and plan to join us for An Evening of Praise & Worship for Women on Thursday, February 16. We are anticipating a sweet evening together around the theme "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord!'". We will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Harbor...and we're expecting a full house! If you'd like to be on the planning team, please let me know this week. The Hospitality & Events Planning website is up! We're still working the bugs out, but I’d encourage you to check it out. Link to "Resources" from the front page and you'll go directly to the "Welcome!" page. The website includes: an "Event Planning Check List", information on how to reserve a room on campus, what’s available and how to set up for an event, policies and procedures for use of the new Wilcox kitchen, how to reserve linens and Hospitality Equipment (with a pictorial catalog of what we have). We're also building a volunteer team with opportunities for folks to participate in various ways in events that take place on campus. Please check this out! We're working on assembling a team of Event Planners and we're creating ideas for table decor for events on campus...You’ll see that these pages aren’t quite finished. It’s a work in progress! As you preview this new resource, please let me know what we're missing. Your input will be helpful as we want this link to be clear and helpful for our members and friends! One of the volunteer teams that we hope to launch this year is a Bereavement Team. We have found that offering a reception or a meal for family and close friends following a funeral/memorial service has been particularly significant during this time. In general, the team has a set menu for a family meal and another menu for a family reception. The reason for the set menu is that, typically, the team must arrange for a meal very quickly, usually within 2 to 3 days. A set menu allows the team to organize quickly around which menu to prepare and how much of each dish is required. If you would like to assist with this team, please let me know. We're new at this, but we want very much to be an encouragement to our families when they are navigating this difficult season. Susan Shepherd, Director of Women’s Ministries sshepherd@christcovenant.org
Adopt A Soldier Our Adopt a Soldier ministry, led by Eric Lovell, is now in need of additional families and small groups to help us make sure that the Military Service members who are connected to our congregation know that they are not forgotten and that we are grateful for their faithful service to God and Country. Please contact Eric at strategelovell@gmail.com or 704-651-0511 to get the details on this simple, but powerful ministry.
Support Our Radio Ministry In addition to our popular online sermons and iPod options Christ Covenant ministers weekly through The Covenant of Grace with Pastor Mike Ross on local and internet radio. In the metro-Charlotte area listeners may hear Dr. Ross on WHVN Heaven Radio (1240AM and 104.3FM) at 9:00 a.m. Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Sundays. Around the world these programs can be heard at any time on www.exalt1700.org and www.accradio.com. Based on our informal surveys of new members we know that the radio continues to provide an important introduction to our church for newcomers. We know that it is also a welcome source of spiritual food for those who cannot worship with us because of health or other obstacles. Currently, this ministry costs almost $18,000 per year for production and air time. Recently, with the agreement of the Executive Leadership Team, an anonymous individual has made a restricted gift to the church to help defray this cost and help assure that the broadcast can continue without impacting funds for other ministries. If you have been blessed by our radio ministry or want to share in its support, you are invited to make a restricted gift of any amount toward the $8000 that remains unfunded for the current year. You may send your gift to the church office, with Radio Ministry noted on the envelope on the detail line of your check, or you may place it in the offering any Sunday. Please make checks payable to Christ Covenant with “radio ministry” noted on the check. Because this is a restricted gift any donations received after the funding goal is reached will be placed in the General Fund.
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FREE! 6 Issues of World Magazine!! World Magazine, the news magazine with a Biblical worldview has a limited time offer that we wanted to share. Here are the details: We’ve discovered that one of the best ways to attract new subscribers to WORLD is simply to have people who know and like us recommend us to their friends. That’s why we are making it easy and FREE for you to do that. We’ve created a website – www.getWORLDnow.com – that allows you and your friends to sign up for 6 issues (3 months) of WORLD Magazine with no charge or obligation. This is NOT one of those offers where you give us your credit card and then you have to cancel or we’ll charge your card. This offer is completely without obligation. We’re making this offer because we believe that if you (and your friends) try WORLD for a few months, you’ll want to subscribe. So, if you are not a subscriber to WORLD please go to www.getWORLDnow.com and give us your name and address. (You’ll need to type the word “video” into the promo code field.) If you are already a subscriber, I hope you will forward this email to those in your “sphere of influence” and share with them WORLD’s unique brand of Christian journalism. Thanks for your help with this little experiment in viral marketing. We hope to hear from many of you soon.
Job Opening! Dear Friends & Co-Laborers, We wanted to let you know that we have a job opening for a Weekend Resident Coordinator here at Lois’ Lodge. Enclosed is the job description. Please promote this to your congregation. Have anyone interested email their resume to Dianne Nunnally at dbnloislodge@live.com. If you, or someone in your congregation, have any questions about the position call Shirley Hunter at 704.335.9610. Many thanks for all you do for us here at Lois’ Lodge. Sincerely, The Staff and Board of Lois’ Lodge (click here for full details)
New Hymnals in the New Year We are just $8,000 from our goal for replacing all of the hymnals in our pews. If we can close the gap, we’ll be able to have them in our hands for the start of the New Year. If you’d like to make a gift in honor of, or in memory of, a friend or loved one, the cost is just $15.00 per hymnal. Look for order forms near the Sanctuary doors in each lobby or click here and order online.
Headed to the Hospital? Our Hospital Visitation Ministry is available to provide encouragement and comfort for all of our member families. Please call our church office at 704-847-3505 or Pastor Bruce Creswell at 704-708-6106 when you are scheduled for surgery or when a family member has been checked in to the hospital. Please note: In a pastoral emergency you may reach the Pastor on Call at 704-708-6101.
Need Prayer? Send confidential requests anytime to prayer@christcovenant.org.
Can our Children’s Ministry Pray for You? We desire to partner with our parents and families as they strive to raise their children to love and serve the Lord. We pray confidentially every Wednesday morning for specific needs that are shared with us. There are prayer request cards at the Welcome Center (B-102) that can be filled out and left in a box on the counter, or you can send them to Karen Chambers at kchambers@christcovenant.org.
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