“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Covenant Communicator
Volume: CVI
January, 2014, Edition
Your Progress and Joy in the Faith
Dr. Cole Thomas Westwood
As we step out into a new year,
Covenant's elders have chosen Paul's
words to the church in Philippi as our
annul theme for 2014: "your progress
and joy in the faith" (Philippians 1:25).
The Apostle prayed and worked to see
Christians experience a deeper, more
enjoyable relationship with the One
Who created and saved them. Paul
shared this with them so that they
might understand their need and
cooperate with him in seeing God meet
it. God preserved Paul's words so that
we might appreciate how that this
centuries-old concern should guide us
today.
Beginning in the month of January, we
will be emphasizing ways in which God
intends for us to make progress in our
relationship with Him. The goal is not
only to see our people enjoy greater
assurance and contentment in their
faith, but also to experience greater
insight and effectiveness in living out
their faith in the world. We will
consider the spiritual vitamins that God
designed to nourish His Church in order
to see the Body of Christ grow strong in
its mission. Additionally, we will provide
new opportunities for individuals to
identify their spiritual gifts and invest
them to make an eternal difference in
themselves and others.
In this holiday season, it is traditional to
wish people a "happy new year". Do you
ever wonder what goes through most
peoples' minds when they hear those
words? I suspect that many of them
consider the likelihood of a happy new
year to be a fairly dicey proposition,
given their inability to foresee the
"good" and "bad" circumstances which
they will face. Christians, however,
refuse to be held hostage by
circumstances,
knowing
that
circumstances are not the gauge by
which we measure God's love and
goodness. Whether we have walked with
God for a relatively short or long time,
we have discovered that our joy is found
in knowing and doing His will. What
better prospect for a wonderful 2014
than by pursuing a more meaningful and
delightful connection with Him?
Yours for the journey,
Cole
“Convinced of this,
I know that I will remain and
continue with you all, for your progress
and joy in the faith,”
Philippians 1:25 - ESV
For the New Year
H old fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14
A ssemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:25
P ray earnestly every day (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)
P ray for great blessings (Malachi 3:10)
Y ield not to temptation (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
N eglect not your talents and opportunities (Gal. 6:10)
E xamine yourself daily (2 Corinthians 13:5)
W ork diligently for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Y ield your members to righteousness (Romans 6:11, 16)
E xercise yourself in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7)
A im for a perfect, mature faith (Hebrews 6:1)
R edeem the time (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Remember in Prayer
Shut-In ............................................ Chuck Terrana
...................................................... Courtyard Manor
.................................................. 29770 Farmington.
............................ Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334
Home Mission ..... Missionary Training International
Missionaries.... ....... Rev. Don and Esther Parsons
..................................................................... SEND
Service Personnel .............. Teralyn Edwards, Navy
...................................................Niece, Bob and Sue Tyler
Student................................................. Kim Seibert
.............................................................. Schoolcraft
“…encourage one another and build
each other up…” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
–Gus Nichols
The Ultimate Resolution
Resolutions are easy to make but oh so hard to
keep. In fact. Many people refuse to make them for
that very reason. After all, by February, most
people have broken them, and by March they don’t
even remember what they were. It’s just too hard
to change, so why try?
Our Sympathy in Christ
to the family of
Marge Fisher, who died on
December 2, 2013.
We also want to remember
Keith and Wendy Anderson in the
sudden death of Wendy’s niece, also
on December 2, 2013
Yet Scripture exhorts us to be more like Christ, to
forgive our enemies, to tithe and to be thankful in
all situations. Shouldn’t we resolve to put some of
these into practice, even if ever so imperfectly?
Pet admonishes us to be hold as God is holy (1
Peter 1:15-16). That’s the ultimate New Year’s
resolution––all but certain to be broken repeatedly
before the sun sets on the first day. Yet though we
fail, are we not better for trying?
Taken from the Newsletter Newsletter
My Morning Prayer
What guidance is God Giving
For my living of this day?
Will I help someone who’s needy?
Will I have kind words to say?
Will outrageous acts of kindness
Be the gifts that I can share?
Let YOUR will, God, be mine today,
Help me to love and care!
–Peggy Ferrell,
Poems, Prayers and Hymns
Taken from the Newsletter/Newsletter
Lord’s Day
11/3
Sunday School
87
A.M. Service
167
Evening Service
--
11/10 11/17
90
85
183
177
---
11/24
91
164
--
Wednesday
11/6
Adult Bible Study 14
11/13 11/20
18
13
11/27
78
Thanksgiving Service
Youth
14
Library
3
Ladies Bible Study12
Boy’s Brigade
12
Pioneer Girls
24
Nursery
-Church Ministries
11/3
$6,404
11/10
$6,404
11/17
$6,404
11/24
$6,404
14
-8
17
24
--
13
1
-15
46
--
-----6
$9,647
$6,031
$5,508
$3,803
Calendar of Events
Covenant Community
Church
9
NO F.O.C.I.S. Resumes in January
9:30 AM Sunday
School
10:30 AM Coffee
Fellowship Time Myers Hall
11:00 AM Morning
Worship, Dr. Cole,
speaking
30
6:30 PM
Bowling
League Beech Lanes
31
6:00 PM
Missions
Committee
6:30 PM
Christian
Education
Committee
6:45 PM Board
of Deacons
7:15 PM
Executive
Board
1
5
Lord's Table
NO F.O.C.I.S. Resumes January 12,
2014
8:45 AM Nominating
Committee Meeting Library Lounge
9:30 AM Sunday
School
10:30 AM Coffee
Fellowship Time Myers Hall
11:00 AM Morning
Worship, Dr. Cole,
speaking
2
7:00 PM No
Ladies Thursday
Evening Bible
Study
3
4
10:00 AM "One Accord"
Rehearsal
6
6:30 PM
Bowling
League Beech Lanes
7:00 PM
Precepts
Resumes
7
8
7:00 PM Kid's Clubs
7:00 PM Student Union
7:00 PM Wednesday Renewal Nights
7:00 PM Wednesday
Ladies Bible Study
8:00 PM Choir
Rehearsal
9
10
7:00 PM Ladies
Thursday Evening
Bible Study Resumes
11
10:00 AM "One Accord"
Rehearsal
12
F.O.C.I.S. (Winter
Session begins) Times Vary - Check
with your leader
9:30 AM Sunday
School
10:30 AM Coffee
Fellowship Time Myers Hall
11:00 AM Morning
Worship, Dr. Cole,
speaking
13
10:00 AM
WMF
Resumes
6:30 PM
Bowling
League Beech Lanes
7:00 PM
Precepts
14
15
7:00 PM Kid's Clubs
7:00 PM Student Union
7:00 PM Wednesday Renewal Nights
7:00 PM Wednesday
Ladies Bible Study
8:00 PM Choir
Rehearsal
16
7:00 PM No
Ladies Thursday
Evening Bible
Study
18
8:00 AM Men's Prayer
Breakfast, Senate Coney
Island, on Plymouth Rd.
- John Stolt, speaking
10:00 AM "One Accord"
Rehearsal
19
F.O.C.I.S. - Times
Vary - Check with
your leader
Sanctity of Human
Life Sunday
9:30 AM Sunday
School
10:30 AM Coffee
Fellowship Time Myers Hall
11:00 AM Morning
Worship, Dr. Cole,
speaking
20
6:30 PM
Bowling
League Beech Lanes
7:00 PM
Precepts
21
6:30 PM Elder
Board
22
7:00 PM Kid's Clubs
7:00 PM Student Union
7:00 PM Wednesday Renewal Nights
7:00 PM Wednesday
Ladies Bible Study
8:00 PM Choir
Rehearsal
23
24
7:00 PM Ladies
Thursday Evening
Bible Study
25
10:00 AM "One Accord"
Rehearsal
26
F.O.C.I.S. - Times
Vary - Check with
your leader
9:30 AM Sunday
School
10:30 AM Coffee
Fellowship Time Myers Hall
11:00 AM Morning
Worship, Dr. Cole,
speaking
27
10:00 AM
WMF
6:30 PM
Bowling
League Beech Lanes
7:00 PM
Precepts
28
6:00 PM
Missions
Committee
6:30 PM
Christian
Education
Committee
6:45 PM Board
of Deacons
7:15 PM
Executive
Board
29
7:00 PM Kid's Clubs
7:00 PM Student Union
7:00 PM Wednesday Renewal Nights
7:00 PM Wednesday
Ladies Bible Study
8:00 PM Choir
Rehearsal
30
7:00 PM No
Ladies Thursday
Evening Bible
Study
1
Youth Winter Retreat Barakel
10:00 AM "One Accord"
Rehearsal
Day of Prayer and
Fasting will resume
on 2/5/14
Office Closed
NO Planned activities.
17
31
Youth Winter Retreat Barakel