Newsletter for May 7, 2021
FROM THE PASTOR
I have some good news and some great news! First, the good news. Our audio/visual upgrades are being completed this week. The project is going well. This means we will soon be able to livestream and have great quality sound and video for those in the sanctuary and those at home. With that, I have the great news of 2 invitations!
- We will do a trial run of a live streaming service on Saturday May 15th at 2:00 pm. This trial run will be a service that will be livestreamed and recorded. The video will be available for you on the morning of Sunday, May 16th via YouTube. This will let you know what you can expect when we go live. If you would like to attend the trial run, you are welcome to come on Saturday 5/15 at 2:00 pm.
- If all goes as planned, we will have our first hybrid worship service on Sunday May 23rd. This means you can come to church on Sunday morning at 10:45 am or you can worship from home live at 10:45 am. I will be working with some folks in the church to develop a hybrid worship experience that will be meaningful to those in the sanctuary and engaging for those worshipping at home.
Disciples Virtual Gathering Saturday, August 7, 2021
An opportunity for Disciples to connect, learn, worship, and imagine new ways of gathering as church.
Through Bible study, workshops, and worship, the event will focus on the covenant we share as Disciples and the promise of Romans 8:38-39 that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Regular registration starts at $25, which includes access to all sessions and workshops, as well as the virtual exhibit hall. Options for reduced registration fees will also be available so the event can be accessible by all. Sign up above to be notified when registration is open. For more information and to sign up go to https://disciples.org/2021-virtual-gathering
DISCIPLES FACE MASKS
If you would like to have a red Disciples face mask with the white chalice logo, like Pastor Tracy and Governor Andy have, check out this link: http://store.disciples.org/disciples_of_christ/shop/product-detail/15155944. They are $8 each.
Be the New Church
For the past thirteen months, many of us have stayed away from our places of worship to keep ourselves and our faith communities safe.
How have new church leaders responded? By spreading the word about Disciples through DoorDash, meeting with folks struggling with anxiety on Zoom, and addressing returning citizens’ needs.
Chaplains, pastors, and others have answered the call to be the new church.
To support them, contribute to the Pentecost Offering on May 16 and 23. Half of the gifts go to regions to support new church development. The other half goes to New Church Ministry, which trains, equips, assists, and multiplies new church leaders.
Let’s all be the new church, together.
Please give generously to this year’s Pentecost offering by following the link below: https://newchurchministry.org/give/give-now/
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH LITTLE LIBRARY
A little library will soon be installed in the garden bed behind the church. The little library ministry allows people to come take a book for free.
If you have used books that are in good condition, please bring them to the church so that we can put them in our library when it is installed. You can make plans with Lori to drop them off at the office or bring them to church on Sundays. I would love it if we could include some Bibles too. Please consider purchasing a Bible to be placed in the library to help spread the word of God through this ministry.
Thank you to Doug who built our little library and to Alex, Jim and Lettie for coordinating the work to have it installed.
** for all Zoom meetings, contact the office for participation information**
ELDERS MEETING The next Elders’ Meeting will be Sunday, May 30th at 1:00 pm.
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY Please join us for Bible study on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 pm. There is an optional prayer time at 1:45 pm.
BOOK CLUB Our next book club is June 13th at 1 pm. ** Note the date has changed. **
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL The next meeting of the Leadership Council will be Sunday, May 16th at 7 pm. This is an open meeting.
CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION PLANNING MEETING On Thursday, May 27th at 3:00 pm, we will meet to discuss how to provide faith formation for our children during worship. Please plan to attend if you have an interest.
BAPTISM AND NEW MEMBER CLASS
I will be leading 2 series of classes this summer. First will be a class for those young people who may be considering Baptism. These classes will help young people learn about baptism, communion, the history of the Disciples and other things to consider before joining the church through baptism. These classes can, but do not have to, culminate in baptism. The final decision to be baptized will be made by the family upon completion of the classes. I typically like young people to do these classes when their family considers them ready to learn and after completion of 3rd to 5th grade.
Second will be classes for those who are new to the Disciples, new to First Christian Church, Covington, or interested in making a recommitment to their faith journey. These will review Disciples history, theology and practices of baptism, communion and covenantal membership as well as history of our church and the life of discipleship.
If you’re interested in either class, please let me know by May 15th so we can schedule convenient times for the classes.
ANTI-RACISM BOOK CLUB
Our next book in our Anti-Racism book club will be “Anxious to Talk About It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism” by Carolyn B. Helsel. This will be a 6-week conversation on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm beginning Tuesday, May 25th through Tuesday June 29th. The current price on Amazon is $16.29 for a paperback and $14.99 for the Kindle version. Please let Pastor Tracy know if you plan to participate. She can help you order a book if you’d like.
Panorama Food Drive Thursday, May 16
Steve and Sue will be at church next Thursday from 10 until 11:30 a.m. to take in donations for Panorama. They are in need of the following items: Soup Mac & Cheese Cereal Crackers Vienna Sausages Spam Instant Potatoes Spaghetti Sauce Rice Canned Veggies Instant Breakfast Drink Granola Bars Peanut Butter Any other non perishable items you might want to donate.
Please join us for our annual Multifaith PRIDE Celebration on Thursday June 3rd! Doors open at 6 PM and the celebration officially starts at 6:30 PM prompt. First Christian Church Covington will be participating in the service.
The celebration will be held outside overlooking the city of Cincinnati under a large tent at Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky to celebrate the intersection of AFFIRMING faith/belief systems and our local Pride events including Cincinnati Pride, NKY Pride, L’Burg Pride, and Cincy Black Pride!
CDC and local/federal guidelines will be adhered to during this outside event. Social distancing and mask required.
The event will also be shared virtually through Cincinnati, NKY L’Burg Prides!
We will be participating in the Northern Kentucky Pride Festival on Sunday June 6th in Mainstrasse Village from noon to 5:00 pm. We will have a vendor booth. You are invited to participate in the booth and be a part of sharing the love and welcome of our church with the LGBTQ+ community.
We will have 2 projects for folx to interact with us in our tent. We will have postcards to hand out with information about our church. You will have the opportunity to order a t-shirt! More details coming soon.
You will be required to wear a mask at this outdoor event. I request that only those who are fully vaccinated consider volunteering to help with this event.
First Christian Church 