Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
220 ROCK PRAIRIE RD.
COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845
PHONE: 979-694-7700
FAX: 979-696-4334
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WWW.COVENANTPRESBYTERIAN .ORG
OFFICE HOURS:
8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. MONDAY - FRIDAY
9:15 am 10:10 am 10:30 am 2:00 pm 4:00 pm -
Sunday School
Choir
Worship Service
Hansarang PC
Youth Group
We have an adult-staffed nursery
every Sunday morning during
Sunday School. Extended Child
Care (for 2 yrs. Pre-K), is also adult
-staffed during church. Our
presumption is that children
Kindergarten and up can learn to
be part of the worshipping
congregation. There are worship
bags for younger ones to help them
be quietly entertained and feel a part
of the service.
COURIER SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Friday, Mar. 20, 2015
to Gwendolyn Tennell at
[email protected]
Please remember to update the church office with any changes that may have
been made to your contact information within the last year. (i.e., Emails, cell
numbers, mailing address, work numbers, etc…)
POSITIONS for 2015
COMMITTEES
Budget & Stewardship
Christian Education
Church Life & Fellowship
Congregational Care
IT Committee
Mission
Nominating
Outreach Membership
Personnel
Policy & Procedure
Property
Shepherds’ Care
Worship
LIAISONS
Boy Scouts
Cub Scouts
Girl Scouts
Day School
Children’s Center
Phil Rochelli
Melanie Shuttlesworth
Steven Steele and Desmond Ng
Shirley Wallace
Paul Wright
Dorothy Shippen, Wyoma Ng
and Sherry Talbert
Dorothy Shippen
Lou Ellen Ruesink and Lane Mason
Mary Walker and Brett Charles
Tim Hardy
Julian Kang and Mary Walker
Lane Mason
Nina Wright and Constance Brown
Jeff Kapler
Tami Fink
Jane Miller
Ernie Davis
Tim Hardy
Covenant Presbyterian Church
MARCH 2015
A group of scientists placed 5 monkeys in a 20 foot high cage with a climbing
rope tied to the top. Bananas were hung by strings from the top of the cage. The monkeys got hungry and each took turns climbing the rope to get to the bananas, but every
time the monkeys climbed the rope and were about to grab the bananas the entire cage
would be blasted with icy cold water. Eventually, the monkeys stopped attempting to
climb the rope, and if one did try, the other monkeys would deter and pull down the one
to prevent getting sprayed with cold water.
College Station, TX
Covenant Courier
Sunday Schedule
Volume 15 No 3
One of the monkeys was removed and a new monkey was added (one who had
not experienced any of the cold water treatment). As soon as the new monkey attempted to climb the rope, the others would pull down and prevent the one from climbing.
Eventually, one by one, all of the original 5 monkeys were replaced with new
ones, who learned the ‘rules’ of the cage, until none of the monkeys in the cage had actually experienced the blast of cold water. But each would enforce the ‘rules’ of the
cage, and would prevent any monkey who attempted to climb the rope. They had
learned the ‘rules’ even if they did not know why the rules were in place.
We too operate within the rules we have learned. We see the world as we have
been taught. We are impacted by the people with whom we are surrounded, both voluntarily (friends as well as the authors of books we read) and those we did not choose (the
assigned lab partner as well as family). All of whom mold us, and we create our own
perspective to see the world. We grow in knowledge, we learn from our mistakes, but
we continue to view the world from our perspective… that is, unless (or until), something causes us to change and see the world differently. I suspect that is part of Lent’s
purpose – to unlearn what the world has taught us or what we have convinced ourselves
to be true.
When we encounter God, something within us must shift.
God will move us, formatively, to see the world in new life-giving ways.
To learn anew is not simply a change of thought or belief, but is something that is put
into practice… it is something lived.
Lent reminds us that we were created from dust and to dust we shall return. Lent
is a time to reflect penitently, humbly, and introspectively into our lives with God’s
eyes. It is opportunity to remove the normal habits and routines so we may focus on
God. Most of all, Lent is a period of 40 days when we focus on the cross of Christ… the
death that should have been ours, and yet because of God’s grace we are saved from enduring.
When we realize God is the one we need, everything else we have put in place of
God falls away. There is a reason this time of year is called “spring cleaning” and it has
more to do with cleaning our lives than it does our houses. The ways we are living are
not working, and we see it with the troubles and problems prevalent in this world and
even in our community.
God’s ways are life-giving, freeing… it’s time to live in such a way that reflects
how God lived in Jesus. It’s time to break through the ways of doing things that either
result in blasts of icy cold water or being pulled down.
I wonder how your life will look different.
May the presence of Christ continue to transform us all.
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
Session News
2
Habitat
2
UCM Bluebonnet
Banquet 3
March
Lectionary
4
March
Liturgists
4
Church Pantry 5
Women of
5
Covenant
Bible Study
Men’s
5
Breakfast
Youth
6
Fundraiser
March
7
Mission Focus
Youth Pages
Lenten
Schedule
CPC Photos
10
10
Welcome
11
New Members
B.D. & Ann.
12
CPC Book
Club
12
ONEderful
13
Wednesday
Frozen
Chosen
13
Prayers for
14
Covenant
Searching f/ 14
Cooking Talent
Calendar
Rev. Jonathan Murray, Pastor to Covenant Presbyterian Church
8-9
15
2015
MARCH
Page 2
"The session of Covenant Presbyterian Church wants to
thank Phil Rochelli and Brian Bochner for completing
the review of financial records for 2011. An added
expression of deep gratitude for the hours of work put in
to complete a review of the records for 2012 and
2013. 2013 was the beginning of recent financial
turmoil, and therefore required extra hours of
investigation and review. Phil and Brian have offered
good recommendations which will be able to be
addressed expressly through the Budget & Stewardship
committee now under the guidance of Phil Rochelli. We
are very grateful for your good and challenging work."
Habitat Wall Raising Support
during Christian Unity Week
Covenant Presbyterian Church
220 Rock Prairie Rd.
Sunday
1
2nd Sunday in
Lent
9:15 am
Sunday
School
10:10 am Choir
10:30 am Worship
8
3rd Sunday in
Lent
9:15 am Sunday
School
10:10 am Choir
10:30 am Worship
2:00 pm
HPC S.S.
& Worship
4:00-6:00 pm
Youth Group
15
9:15 am Sunday
School
10:10 am Choir
10:30 am Worship
2:00 pm
HPC S.S.
& Worship
No Youth Group
Thank you to everyone for coming out to a cold and muddy sight to join with our friends
from St Francis Episcopal Church to raise the walls and complete the installation of the roof
trusses. A special thank you to our lunch providers Shirley Wallace, Mary Walker, Claudia
Holloway, Glenda Joseph and Sue Brown as all 27 volunteers and staff folks were well fed.
If you would like to see photos of the event taken throughout the work day, visit the BCS
Habitat Facebook page.
8:00 am Youth
Leave for Spring Rally
9:15 am Sunday
School
10:10 am Choir
10:30 am Worship
2:00 pm
HPC S.S.
& Worship
4:00 pm
Youth Return
29
Palm Sunday
9:15 am Sunday
School
10:10 am Choir
10:30 am Worship
2:00 pm
HPC S.S.
& Worship
4:00-6:00 pm
Youth Group
Thursday
3
4
5
5:45 pm Church Life &
Fellowship Mtg.
6:00 pm Dynacisers
7:00 pm Troop 1222
7:15 pm Comm. Band
10:00 am Serendipity Bible
Study Group
7:00 pm Troop 102
5:15 pm OW Dinner
6:00 pm Handbells
6:00-7:30 pm Youth
Bible Study
6:00-7:30 pm Girl Scouts
Jr .Troop 9029
6:15 pm OW Program
7:00 pm Choir
9:00 am
5:30 pm
9
10
11
12
10:00 am Serendipity Bible
Study Group
5:30 pm CPCC Board Mtg.
7:00 pm Troop 102
5:15 pm OW Dinner
6:00 pm Handbells
6:00-7:30 pm Youth
Bible Study
6:00-7:30 pm Girl Scouts
Jr .Troop 9029
6:15 pm OW Program
6:30 pm Budget &
Stewardship
7:00 pm Choir
9:00 am
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
17
18
19
10:00 am Serendipity Bible
Study Group
7:00 pm Troop 102
6:00 pm Handbells
6:00-7:30 pm Girl Scouts
Jr .Troop 9029
7:00 pm Choir
9:00 am
6:00 pm
Spring Break
Spring Break
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:15 pm
Dynacisers
Property Mtg.
Troop 1222
Comm. Band
16
4th Sunday in
Lent
Wednesday
2
HPC S.S.
& Worship
No Youth Group
5:00 pm Bible Trivia
Covered Dish
5thSunday
in Lent
To all who participated in the Saturday Wall Raising for future Habitat homeowner Charlotte
Manley:
Tuesday
2:00 pm
22
In recognition of Christian Unity Week (January 18-25), Covenant Presbyterian participated
in a joint mission project with St. Francis Episcopal Church. The two churches worked together on a build for Habitat for Humanity on January 24th .
Monday
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:15 pm
Mission
Dynacisers
Troop 1222
Comm. Band
Spring Break
23
24
25
6:00 pm Dynacisers
7:00 pm Troop 1222
7:15 pm Comm. Band
10:00 am Serendipity Bible
Study Group
7:00 pm Session Meeting
7:00 pm Troop 102
30
Monday of Holy
Week
31
6:00 pm Dynacisers
6:30 pm Troop 1222
COURT OF HONOR
7:15 pm Comm. Band
10:00 am Serendipity Bible
Study Group
2:30 pm CPC Book Club
7:00 pm Troop 102
Tuesday of Holy
Week
6
6:00 pm
Yoga & Yak
Outreach
Membership
Dynacisers
Yoga & Yak
Worship
Dynacisers
10:30 am Holy Rollers
14
10:30 am Holy Rollers
20
21
Yoga & Yak
Dynacisers
10:30 am Holy Rollers
Spring Break
Spring Break
9:00 am
6:00 pm
CPC Men’s
Breakfast
at 8:30 am
27
Yoga & Yak
Dynacisers
Saturday
7
13
26
5:15 pm OW Dinner
6:00 pm Handbells
6:00-7:30 pm Youth
Bible Study
6:00-7:30 pm Girl Scouts
Jr .Troop 9029
6:15 pm OW Program
7:00 pm Choir
Friday
28
10:30 am Holy Rollers
Daylight Saving Time Begins
Sunday,
March
8th
Page 3
Page 14
If you have
used eyeglasses
that you no
longer need,
you can bring
them to the office to place
them in the Lions Club recycling box. The Lions can
recycle the eyeglasses to
help those who cannot afford
corrective lenses to improve
their vision. If you have any
questions, please contact
church members and Lions:
Jim Carroll, Jerry Joseph,
Dave Ruesink, Richard
Talbert and William Talbert.
Thanks.
Lu Brannon
Brett Charles
Bob Couch
Doll Denison
Eleanor Gates
Lyn Griffin
Wes Harper
Bentley Jolly
Chuck Magnuson
Carl Mason
Helen Nicholas
Public Schools
The Homeless
KEEP CONNECTED
New Covenant Connections is the newsletter of the
Presbytery of New Covenant. You can send a request to
receive this newsletter by email by emailing
[email protected] so you can keep up
with what is happening in our Presbytery.
Do you shop online? If you do there is a way to
shop and help support the church. Go to
http:www.goodsearch.com and enter Covenant
Presbyterian Church of College Station. Add the
Good Search engine toolbar to your web browser
and start shopping. A percentage of the shopping
totals will be sent back to Covenant.
Searching for Cooking Talent
We need cooking talent to assist with our Congregational
Care Committee’s Comfort Ministries. Help is needed to
prepare food for those who are ill, have a new child or
provide meals for receptions or the bereaved.
The forms are located in the “Cooking for Talent” basket
on the back table in the Sanctuary.
If you have questions, please contact: Eliese Martin at
(979) 694-0275, [email protected] or
Jane Miller at [email protected].
The Deadline to purchase tickets is April 1, 2015.
Page 4
MARCH 2015
Lectionary
Liturgists
March 1 – 2nd Sunday in Lent
John 4: 5-30; Romans 5: 1-11;
Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22: 23-31
March 8 – 3rd Sunday in Lent
Luke 7: 36-50; Exodus 20: 1-17;
Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
March 15 – 4th Sunday in Lent
John 3: 1-21; Numbers 21: 4-9;
Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22; Ephesians 2: 1-10
March 22 – 5th Sunday in Lent
Mark 10: 17-22; Jeremiah 31: 31-34;
Psalm 51: 1-12; Hebrews 5: 5-10
March 29 – Passion/Palm Sunday
John 18: 12-28; Isaiah 50: 4-9a;
Psalm 31: 9-16; Philippians 2: 5-11
April 5 – Easter Sunday
John 20: 1-18; Isaiah 25: 6-9;
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24;
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
Choir Practice:
Covenant’s Sanctuary Choir rehearses on
Wednesdays at 7:00 pm in room 101-B.
Come lend your voice in praise!
ONEderful Wednesday
Spring 2015
Date
Event
Page 13
Presenter
Mar. 1 — Steven Steele
Mar. 8 — Rich Griffin
Mar. 15 — Desmond Ng
Mar. 22 — Jane Miller
Mar. 29 — Tina Hanna
Time with Young Disciples
Mar. 1 — Jim Carroll
Mar. 8 — Connie Brown
Mar. 15 — Melanie Shuttlesworth
Mar. 22 — Pastor Jonathan
Mar. 29 — Jessica Canterberry
Schedule
Spring 2015
Wednesday, March 11,
immediately following the
Experience the fun of being
a Ding-a-Ling!
The Covenant Ringers are looking for
a few good people to join them at rehearsals on
Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. Qualifications include
the love of good fun, fellowship and the desire
to praise God through music. Being able to read
music is a plus, but not necessary. Come give it
a try and see if you like it!
For any questions, contact Maggi Focke at (979)
571-9163 or [email protected].
ONEderful Wednesday
program, there will be a brief
presentation for the members
of Covenant regarding current
financial status and protection
procedures. The meeting will
be facilitated by Budget and
Stewardship Chairperson Phil
Rochelli. All members of the
congregation are invited
to attend.
Day
Feb. 26
March 5
Time
Field
8:15 pm
6:15 pm
7:15 pm
9:15 pm
4
4
4
4
March 12
Spring Break
March 26
8:15 pm
April 2
10:15 pm
Bye
April 16
6:15 pm
8:15 pm
2
3
3
1
All games are at Veteran’s Park
Page 12
Page 5
Brazos Church Pantry:
MARCH
BIRTHDAYS
Tom Woodbury
Carrie Howe
Stephen Fink
Chuck Gates
Madelyn Murray
Carl Mason
Paul Brannon
Dr. Julian Kang
Wyoma VanDuinkerken
Cooper Robbins
Gloria Woodbury
Joy McKenzie
Jordan Candee
Wendy Wright
Doll Denison
Elaine Mason
Lu Brannon
Nissa Gilmore
Fred Medina
Jeannette Barnes
Ken Schroeder
3/1
3/2
3/5
3/6
3/6
3/10
3/11
3/15
3/15
3/17
3/18
3/19
3/19
3/20
3/22
3/23
3/28
3/28
3/30
3/31
3/31
Join the church book
club this month on
Tuesday, March 24th at
2:30 pm
in 101A.
This month the book of
review is:
“Love Is A Wild
Assault”
By
Elithe Hamilton
Kirkland
CPC had a total of 246 lbs. of food
for the month of February.
WOMEN OF COVENANT
BIBLE STUDY
Lesson 7: Economy of Grace”
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
9:30 am
ANNIVERSARIES
Bill & Marilyn Osterholm
Tim & Ann Hardy
Grover & Mary Walker
Joseph & Mary Nagyvary
One of Covenant’s missions is to help support the local
church pantry which provides non-perishable food to
those in need. Our church receives donations and
helps with deliveries once a month. For information
about volunteering, call BCP at 822-2660. Please
bring your food donations for the 1st Sunday of
each month. A list of needed items is on the mission
table, and collection baskets are at the back of the
Sanctuary to receive any food donations.
3/5
3/8
3/14
3/25
Leader: Joann Sands
Yoga & Yack
Thursdays from
9-10 am.
Dynacisers
(Women Only
Exercise Class)
Mondays and Thursdays
from 6-7 pm.
Hostess: Carol Witenhafer
2220 Brougham Pl.
College Station, TX 77845
All Women Are Welcome!
CPC
Men’s
Breakfast
:
Saturday, March 21st. The
awesome breakfast will be
ready at 8:00 am. Please
come. To help prepare
breakfast, please arrive by
7:00 am. We hope to see
you there!
Page 6
Page 11
THANK YOU!!!
CPC
New
Members:
for your fleece and monetary donations for the
Conclaves’ Mission Project
Joey Ganem
——————————————————————————————--———
SAVE THE DATE!
Jane Rosin
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2015
The CPC Youth present…
Claudia & John Holloway
Youth Dinner Fundraiser
Seating times: 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Dinner reservation form and more details coming soon
Ken Schroeder
Shelly Wilson
Page 7
Page 10
Lenten Schedule
Mission Focus for MARCH…
Holy Week
March 29—April 5
Our CPC Youth Ministry!!!
Support our youth through…
PRAYER
Palm Sunday, March 29
9:15 am
Sunday School
10:10 am
Choir
10:30 am
Worship
2:00 pm
HPC S.S. & Worship
No Youth Group Today
Maundy Thursday, April 2
7:00 pm Worship Service at Covenant Presbyterian Church
Easter Sunday, April 5
7:00 am
Sunrise Service
8:00 am
Breakfast
9:15 am
Sunday School
10:10 am
Choir
10:30 am
Worship
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – following service
2:00 pm
HPC S.S. & Worship
No Youth Group Today
COVENANT MEMBERS AND FRIENDS PHOTOS:
The following email address has been created to share photos of church activities and
mission opportunities relating to the life of Covenant members and friends. These
photos will be displayed on the screen during the offertory on Sunday mornings.
Send your photos to: [email protected]
RELATIONSHIPS
MONETARY DONATIONS
In the month of March, you will have the opportunity to support our church’s youth ministry in a variety of ways. First and
foremost, our prayer is that you build relationships with these amazing young people. Beginning Sunday, March 1, pictures
and biography sheets will be posted in the sanctuary for you to learn more about our young people. Secondly, we ask that
you partner with a young person in prayer. They will pray for you and you will pray for them throughout May, June and July.
We ask special prayers during their June summer mission trip and July Presbyterian conference. Look for the Mission Tree
to grab a prayer card, and on the back give us your contact information. Thirdly, we ask that you support our youth financially. While the youth budget covers a majority of the expenses, there are significant expenses that remain: van rentals, gas,
meals while traveling, etc. You will have an opportunity to give through our March…
Wall O’ Money
From the 200 envelopes, (1) select a dollar amount
that you wish to give, (2) place that amount in cash
or check in the envelope, then (3) seal the envelope
and place in the container. Before you seal the envelope, remove the index card and read a personal
note or scripture from our youth. They are excited
to share with you their favorite scripture verses and
what these experiences mean to them.
You can also “Sponsor A Youth” by financially paying for their portion of the camp or mission trip fees. Take a tag off the Mission Tree and write
your name and contact information on the tag. Then place your donation and the tag in the envelope provided and place in the container.
These mission trip and church conference experiences are faith-filled, transformative, and powerful! We sincerely thank you for supporting our young people with your love, care, support, monetary donations, and prayers.
Youth Pages
Page 8
MARCH CALENDAR
Page 9
Big Events & Deadlines com
1 – SUN 3:00 p.m.
Group returns from Conclaves
No evening Youth Group
4 – WED
6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
8 – SUN 4 – 6 p.m.
Youth Bible Study (Youth Room)
Youth Group
(Youth Room)
DEADLINE to sign-up for Summer Mission Trip to New Orleans
11 – WED
6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
Youth Bible Study (Youth Room)
15 – SUN No evening Youth Group – beginning of Spring Break
DEADLINE to sign-up for Spring Youth Rally day trip
Summer Youth Mission Trip
Youth Rally at
to New Orleans
Spring Branch PC, Houston
for 7 – 12th graders
Sunday, March 22
$150 / person
for 7 – 12th graders
FREE event
Deadline to sign up: Sunday, March 8
18 – WED
22 – SUN
25 – WED
No Youth Bible Study (Spring Break)
$50 deposit and paperwork due
Deadline to sign up: Sun, March 15
8:00 a.m. Leave for Spring Youth Rally in Houston
4:00 p.m. Return; Parent pick-up at CPC
6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
29 – SUN
YOUTH are GREETERS
for morning worship
(10:00 – 10:30 a.m.)
4 – 6 p.m. Youth Group
(Youth Room)
Youth Bible Study (Youth Room)
Chris Tomlin concert &
Lock-in at Woodlands PC
for 7 – 12th graders
Parents and friends welcome too!
$25 / person
Deadline to sign up: Sun, March 22
$25 due
Synod Youth Workshop
Presbyterian High School Conference
in Tulsa, OK
9 – 12th graders
$175 / person
Deadline to sign up:
Wednesday, April 1
$100 deposit and paperwork due