COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Chris† Connec†ions
S EP T EM BE R
2014
Christian Education and Spiritual Growth Programs
JESUS SAYS, “FOLLOW ME.”
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
2014—2015 season of
CHRIST CONNECTIONS, CoveMatthew 9:9
nant’s Christian Education and
“I am the light of the world,” spiritual growth programs for all
Jesus said. “Whoever follows me ages—children, teenagers, college
will have the light of life and students, young adults, all adults.
will never walk in darkness.”
Following Jesus is a life“FOLLOW ME”
long advenThese
simple
ture, starting
words of Jesus
when we are
are quoted 23
young
chiltimes in the four
dren in SunGospels. Often
day
school
Jesus
explains
and continuwith specific diing through
rections:
every phase
of our life.
“Love God and love your neighbor.”
“Sell all you have and give to the Come to Covenant as we take this
journey together.
poor.”
John 8:12
“I was a stranger and you welcomed
These pages describe the opportume.”
nities for faith development,
But always, Jesus’ life models for us Christian education, and spiritual
how we are to live, what we are to growth. Find a group(s) to join
do, if we choose to follow him.
and with other followers grow
closer to God through His son, JeWe invite you to take part in the sus Christ!
I N SI D E T HI S IS S UE :
for ADULTS
2
for COLLEGE STUDENTS
2
for CHILDREN
3
for YOUTH
3
BIBLE STUDIES
4
CENTERING PRAYER
4
OTHER GROUPS
4
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
• Christ Connections begins at
9:15 AM each Sunday.
• 1st Sunday of each month is
Communion Sunday—bring
bread!
• 2nd Sunday of each month is
Hunger Sunday
• J.U.M.P. Kids worship held for
grades 2-5 once a month on 2nd
Sunday.
• Children’s worship is a special
time for ages 3—1st grade after
Children’s Talk during worship.
Covenant’s Christian Education programs strive to foster a deeper, more personal
relationship with Jesus Christ for each individual, so that each person will more
fully receive God’s love and grace and serve Him with gladness.
C HR IS † C ONNE C † IONS
P AGE 2
Lifelong Learning for Adults
We “follow” football teams, Nascar drivers, important financial investments, and our children’s
sports teams. Are we followers, or fans? Jesus says to each of us, “FOLLOW ME.” It means
something different and it is lifelong. And Jesus promises that we will have the “light of life” and
“never walk in darkness” if we follow him. Come and explore this promise with other followers at
Covenant— Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM!
Pastor and author, Adam Hamiton,
wrestles with the difficult questions
often raised by thoughtful Christians
and non-Christians concerning
teachings in the Bible. By addressing often misunderstood biblical
themes, he invites us to a deeper
appreciation of the Bible so we
might hear God speak through it
today. Join in the thoughtful discussion with leaders Bob and Dusty
Fiedler in the Blue Room.
By contemplating all that Jesus did
with his hands, author James Howell
dares us to get busy with our own—
to be the hands and feet and love of
Christ wherever we are. He reminds
us, “Jesus did not come so we could
feel differently. Jesus came so we
could be different.” Come and explore with others just what that
means.
Meeting in the Green
Room, this group is led by Tom
MacMichael and Sharon Nanz.
STARTING IN OCTOBER!
The Daniel Plan is a groundbreaking
wellness program which was built
with “love” as the motivation. It is a
reflection of God’s love for us—a
story of abundance, not deprivation. It
is a step by step approach that helps us
make small changes that lead to big
results. Join Sharon Beasley, nutrition
and fitness expert, in October to learn
the five essentials for sustaining longterm health—Faith, Food, Fitness, Focus and Friends. Watch for details.
Jesus’ invitation is an invitation to relationship, and it begins with a simple
request: follow me. In this DVD
based study, Andy Stanley explores
the difference between what religion
says—”Change and you may join us” and what Jesus says—”Join us and
you will change.” Jesus doesn’t expect us to be perfect. In fact, following him almost always begins with one
small step.
Steve and Juli Murden, along with
CJ Swanson, lead the group in the
Parlor.
Join with other parents of young children to explore the challenges, and the
joys, of Christian parenting. Just how
do you model being a “follower of Jesus” for your children? This is a time
to share and learn from others and
seek the guidance that God provides in
Scripture.
This group of parents with young
c h i ld re n m e et s i n Ro o m 7
(Multipurpose Room) downstairs.
Calling all local college students and young
adults! Join us for weekly Bible study, social
gatherings, sharing meals, fellowship and
fun. Contact Katy Kelly at
[email protected] for more information.
Come and bring a friend!
C HR IS † C ONNE C † IONS C
P AGE 3
Activate Faith in Children’s Sunday School
The children’s Sunday
school curriculum is designed to spark their faith,
encourage their understanding of God’s love for
them as individuals and
for the whole world, and
activate their desire to
serve in God’s name.
Our dedicated teachers
will introduce Bible stories and their basic meaning to our youngest children and help them begin to see themselves in the story.
Early elementary children will be encouraged to identify
with Bible characters and apply faith-based actions to
their own lives. Older children will learn the structure of
the Bible and how to find stories they know or want to explore. Finally, we aim to teach them how to interpret Bible stories and discover ways to apply scripture texts to
their own lives—to follow Jesus!
The Children’s classes are as follows:
• Toddlerific (age 3 through pre-school)
• Kindergarten and First Grade
• Second and Third Grades
• Fourth and Fifth Grades
All classes meet downstairs and begin promptly at 9:15
AM. The learner resources include an activity leaflet
about the Sunday lesson which participants take home.
Parents, bring your children to Sunday school and join an
adult Sunday morning group at the same time.!
“FOLLOW ME” TO….
Who will you follow this year? Take time
each Sunday morning, starting at 9:15 AM,
to follow your heart to Christ Connections
Sunday school with all the other senior
highs at Covenant. We will be starting with
an online devotion, d365.org, and the
Thoughtful Christian devotions and books,
called Faith Questions, to dig into the teachings of Jesus who calls each of us to
“Follow Me.”
Finding your way is easy if you know WHO to follow! Who is it that YOU follow? Jesus calls each
of us to “Follow Me” not for just a minute, not for
just an hour, or a day or a year, but for a lifetime.
Start your faith journey for the week each Sunday
at 9:15 AM in Room #8! All 6th—8th Graders are
invited and friends are always welcome on the
Sandy McGhee, Laura Jane Ramsburg and journey.
Matt Miller return this year to serve as leaders for Covenant’s 9th—12th Graders. Let Lollie Burns returns to lead this fabulous group of
Middle Highs!
us all be followers together.
CovYoGro—Covenant’s Youth Group
Usually meets on Sunday evenings @ 5 PM—Fellowship Hall.
Come to Covenant’s fun and
faithful Youth Group—a place
that is safe and a group of your
peers who will welcome you and
help you find a place to belong.
“Jesus loves you and so do we” is
our motto. We admit we are not
All 6th—12th Graders and
friends are invited! Come!
Advisors this year are:
Tom MacMichael
Carol Newell
Bruce Coffey
Lisa Farthing
Katy Kelly
Doug Williams, and
Daniel Seymour
Covenant Presbyterian Church
1831 Deyerle Road
Roanoke, VA 24018
Phone: 540-989-3314
Fax: 540-989-3331
Email: [email protected]
Bible Study and Other Fellowship Groups
“Holy Hunch” Bible Study
The Four Seasons
This lively group meets on
Wednesday mornings at 10:00
AM in the Blue Room. Bob and
Dusty Fiedler lead a discussion
each week of the Scriptures highlighted in upcoming sermons.
This is a fellowship group for Sen-
Circle of Friends
Two Centering Prayer
groups meet weekly,
one on Wednesday afternoons, 4 to 5 PM,
and one on Thursday
evenings, 7 to 8 PM,
both in the Red
Room. Judi Barnes
coordinates the groups
and invites everyone
seeking a time for
quiet and deeper
spiritual connection to
God to participate.
“Be still and know
that I am God.”
We’re on the Web!
www.covroanoke.
org
All Covenant women are invited
to gather on the 2nd Tuesday of
every month at 7:00 PM. Participants connect with one another
through Bible study and mission
projects. Meetings are held in
members’ homes and in area restaurants.
Men’s Fellowship and Study
Men of all ages are invited to
gather on the first Wednesday
evening of every month for fellowship and Bible study. The
group meets at 6:00 PM in the
Green Room.
ior adults and their friends. The
group meets once a quarter for
lunch at The Roanoker Restaurant at 11:45 AM for good food,
good conversation and fun!
Watch for details in the worship
bulletin and on the website,
www.covroanoke.org.
Woman to
Woman
The Woman to
Woman ministry is designed
to unite the
women of Covenant and to encourage their spiritual journey
with Jesus Christ and with each
other. Programs include, but are
not limited to, a Women’s retreat
in the Spring and a “Girls Night
Out” dinner in the Fall. Come and
bring a friend!
Fellowship Suppers
Women’s Bible Study
All women are invited to participate in this group which meets
the 1st and 3rd Friday mornings,
at 10:30 AM, in the Parlor. Study
materials are selected by the
group. Childcare can be arranged
for mothers of young children.
In the fall and spring seasons,
Covenant holds weekly congregational suppers on Wednesday
evenings. The buffet style supper
is served from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.
The menus are varied and there is
always a fresh salad bar. There is
time for fellowship and a brief
program after supper. Families
are especially invited to take advantage of this mid-week break.