From the Pastor
On Sunday, September 5th, I will start a 12-week sermon series on spiritual practices, values of the Christian life and discipleship. The series will include baptisms, an All Saints’ Day memorial service, Stewardship Sunday and World Communion Sunday. We will explore Scriptures beginning in Genesis and working through Revelation. This series will engage our senses through visuals and sounds and draw us into the practice of communal confessional prayer.
The series is called Rooted and Established in Love drawing from resources found in the Reformed Worship magazine. The series is designed and offered by Kathryn Ritsema Roelofs who is the minister of music and worship at the Washington D.C. Christian Reformed Church. I am always grateful for resources such as this that can be adapted to our context and enrich our worship experience.
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.
Children’s Worship Time
I am pleased to share that Rev. Lisa Kay Comingore Smith will be leading worship time for our young people during Sunday morning worship. Pastor Lisa brings years of ministry experience and a long history with our congregation.
** for all Zoom meetings, contact the office for participation info). **
ELDERS MEETING
The next Elder’s Meeting will be Sunday, August 29th at 7:00p.
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!
Week of Compassion: Afghanistan and Haiti
How to help:
–Donate to support refugee relief
-Advocate for a robust U.S. refugee resettlement program
–Get involved with resettlement in your local community
–Pray for those who are fleeing violence and seeking refuge
To Give:
Text WoC to 41444; or https://www.weekofcompassion.org/donate.html; or
mail checks to:
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Designate your gifts for Refugees; Earthquake; or Where Most Needed
Prayer from Week of Compassion
*The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
Oh Lord, when the earth shakes and walls fall down–you are refuge and strength.
Be near to the brokenhearted, and those who have lost home and family.
When human leaders commit violence against people of goodwill–
you are mercy and justice.
Be near to the persecuted, and give shelter to those who seek sanctuary.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
Holy one, when suffering is too deep for words, you hear the silent prayers of
pain, loss, and grief. Be near to those who mourn.
When all seems to be lost, fallen, or broken, you restore life again.
Be near to those who wait, and draw hope out of the desolation.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
God of our lives, send your spirit of comfort and peace to move through the depths.
Awaken in us your spirit of compassion, that we might draw near to you as we love and serve our neighbors around the world.
Amen.
*Psalm 34:18
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!
*** We have collected 661 items toward our goal ****
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 Alex Gallenstein.
First Christian Church 