Newsletter for August 6, 2021
From the Pastor
Service of Healing and Prayer
This Sunday, we will have a service of prayer and healing. If you choose to worship in the sanctuary, you will be able to offer up names of those in your prayers during the prayer for healing the sick. There will also be a time to have private prayer and anointing for healing. If you are worshipping at home, you may post a name for prayer in the comments during the livestream on Facebook or you can email the office. You may also call Pastor Tracy for a time of prayer or to share your prayers.
Your partner in Christ,
Pastor T
COVID Precautions – bring your mask!
Based on new CDC guidance, we are STRONGLY SUGGESTING people to wear masks when gathered in the sanctuary. There are disposable masks at the back of the sanctuary if you’d like to take one when you arrive at the church.
Adopt a Class at John G – need volunteers!
We have been invited to adopt the kindergarten classroom that we worked in 2 years ago. I’d like for us to see how the school year begins this Fall. If the environment is conducive to safe entry into classrooms, would you be interested in participating in a class adoption beginning after the first of the new year?
Featured Members – send me a video!
I’d like to add a piece to our weekly worship experience called “Featured Member”. Each week, during the welcome time, we will have a short video introducing a member of the church. Please send a video to me: introducing yourself – name, what city you live in and how long you’ve been a member, and respond to the question: what is church? You can email me your video or share it via iCloud or Google photos. If you don’t know how to record a video, I will come to you and record a video on my phone – just let me know.
BAPTISMS – mark your calendars!
Baptisms are being planned for Sunday, September 12th. We have 3 young people who are considering baptism, perhaps a new member, a dedication and signs of recommitment to one’s faith journey. Mark your calendar!
Pet Blessing – bring your pet!
In honor of my dog Mo Mo’s gotcha day, I will be offering a pet blessing on Saturday, August 28th at 1 pm. There will be some readings, an anointing with oil, blessing charm for their collar, certificate of blessing and treats. All pets must be leashed or crated and good around other animals and kids. I hope this will be a big community event with invitations going out to the Newport Dog Park friends and other community pet organizations.
Faith in Action Together – advocates needed!
The Leadership Council voted to form a Faith in Action Together Task Force that will lead the congregation in creating racial, environmental and queer justice ministries. If you are interested in becoming a part of this work, please contact Joe Gallenstein.
Pie the Pastor – donate food!
I’d like to challenge us to donate 1200 items to the Panorama food pantry during the months of August and September. If we meet this goal, we will do a Pie the Pastor event on Sunday October 3rd. On that day, after worship, we’ll go outside and 3 lucky people will get to throw a whip cream pie in my face!
The list of things needed for the food pantry are: small boxes of mac & cheese, pudding cups, fruit cups, applesauce cups, 1 lb boxes of spaghetti, small jars of spaghetti sauce, saltine crackers, instant oatmeal, cans of soup, small packages of instant potatoes, small boxes of instant rice, canned meat (tuna, chicken, spam, Vienna sausage). NOTE: a four pack of pudding cups, etc. will count as 4 items donated.
200 Year Celebration – help write our story!
FCC Covington will celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Racoon John Smith preaching in Covington in 2027. It takes a lot of time to plan a 200-year celebration. The Leadership Council has approved the formation of a group to plan this celebration, because 5 years goes by quickly when you’re planning such an event. Much of the work will be gathering all the historical documents in one place, creating a place like a library to store and display important items and compiling a history of the church – that doesn’t seem to have been updated since 1965. If you’re interested in helping, please contact me or Alex Gallenstein.
Amazon Smile
We get paid when you shop with Amazon. For 2 years, the church has received gifts from Amazon from our members who have an Amazon Smile set up to donate to the church. In 2 years, we have received $61.68 thanks to the purchases you’ve made. If you haven’t yet signed up for Amazon Smile, let Pastor Tracy know so she can help you get signed up. It’s free!
** for all Zoom meetings, contact the office for participation info). **
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY **please note the new link and ID**
Please join us for Bible study on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 pm. There is an optional prayer time at 1:45p.
ELDERS MEETING
The next Elder’s Meeting will be Sunday, August 29th at 7:00p.
TRUSTEES MEETING
The next Trustee’s Meeting will be Monday, August 9th at 7:30p.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The Leadership Council will meet on August 15, 7:00p
Rev. Dr. Donald K. Gillett, II
Regional Minister
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky
Dear Saints:
I am thankful and excited to begin this Journey with you as the Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kentucky. I do so out of a sense of God’s Call during this season of my ministry and in this season as regional church.
To Reverend Dean Phelps, I express gratitude for your exceptional ministry as Transitional Regional Pastor of the Christian Church in Kentucky. To former regional ministers that have been on this journey, I express thanksgiving. I am thankful for Reverend Greg Alexander, Reverend Jan Ehrmantraut, and Reverend Dr. Guy Waldrop who have all laid the foundation for regional ministry that reaches into our lives to serve multiple generations. To all who have served as associate regional ministers, staff ministers, support staff, and consultants, I am grateful for your ministries. I am especially grateful for Associate Regional Minister Rev. Linda Jones.
Recently, I was reminded by two ministerial colleagues and mentors that in the biblical text David was called by God not to put on the armor of Saul, but to understand its value and integrate his ministry for the future benefit and growth of the people. In that vein, I lift up the ministries of all those who have gone before me and ask for your prayers and grace as I become what God intends for me to be as your new Regional Minister.
Three scriptures will guide me on this journey:
1) Ephesians 4:12-13 “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”
2) Isaiah 61:1-2a “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,”
3) Galatians 3:28 “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
On this journey, I ask that over the next 12 months that you, yes you, would do three things with me: 1) Join with me in in prayer for the health, and growth of the Christian Church in Kentucky, 2) Join me on a 2nd and 4th Tuesday for 30 minutes of conversations where we can talk and listen to one another (more information is coming), and 3) Expand the table for all God’s children.
On the Journey together!
Leadership Council notes 7 18 2021
Facilitator: Sheila Iott
Notetaker: Pastor Sheri Jackson
In attendance: Scott, Pastor Tracy, Alex, Sheila, Sterling, Richard and Sheri
OLD BUSINESS
1) Property:
a. Front doors – historic district requires approval to replace the doors. Application in hand. Drawings of new doors required. 2nd quote from “combined lock” for new hardware on Lori’s desk
b. Little library steps – 3 step staircase purchased and Gary picking it up!
2) AED/Defibrillator – Where to place, buy or rent, one or three? Purchase price about $1500. Rent maybe $115. We have one quote from Cintas for rental and maintenance.
Decision: The purchase or rental has been temporarily tabled. We will instead pursue CPR training.
Richard motion, Sterling second – motion carried
3) Sheri: capital campaign and kitchen update. As per original congregational vote, the remaining balance in the Capital Campaign fund is earmarked for the kitchen. There have been conversations among a few passionate members to do more than a cosmetic update. Leadership council would like to see the kitchen finished. Pastor Tracy will write a grant request for her class project.
4) Scott: Pastoral evaluation – working on job description with Tracy. Goal is to have it completed by the end of September.
5) Scott: Employee handbook – Done! Sent to Tracy and employees have received it.
6) Pastor Tracy: Adopt a Class – Tracy made contact with John G. – kindergarten class available – team of 6-8 suggested – they will send us activities – Tracy will see if we have interested volunteers given Covid concerns.
7) Green Chalice – Establish an umbrella justice team to address a number of social justice concerns.
Decision: Establish a “faith in action together” team to address equality/justice issues including environmental, racial and queer justice. Joe G will lead.
Richard motion, Alex second. Motion carries.
8) Open and Affirming – Elders approved. Pastor Tracy speaking with Alliance Q executive director next week.
NEW BUSINESS
1) 200th Anniversary in 2027: Start planning now.
Decision: Leadership council approves the establishment of a work team to research, document and publicize our history. Alex G. will lead.
Alex moves, Richard seconds. Motion carries.
First Christian Church 