Covenant Caller - Covenant Presbyterian Church

Covenant Caller
April/May 2014
From the Pastor
In a light moment, trying to
overcome the dreariness of the long
cold snowy winter, a few of us were
laughing about old cartoons. One
that came to mind was an old Warner Brothers cartoon of Elmer Fudd
tip toeing and turning to the audience and saying, “Shhh!” and then
continuing to tip toe and survey the
scene. Behind him comes Bugs
Bunny, also tip toeing and tapping
him on the shoulder with, “Eh,
What’s up doc?” Elmer responds,
“I’m hunting for a wascally wabbit.”
He continues, oblivious to the fact
that the very quarry he is seeking is
interacting with him.
It dawned on me later that
we are in the cartoon in two ways.
The first is our hunting and seeking
for God. We make it a point to go
out and find God as if we are on a
great hunt. It is finally God season
in our lives and we are bound to
take full advantage of it. With all
attentiveness, maybe too much, we
are focused to find the God we
know. Only God is walking with us,
and always has. Many are the times
we do not recognize the presence of
God who is right with us.
So much of Jesus’ ministry
is his walking amidst the people,
who are looking for Messiah, a deliverer, missing the very signs meant
to attract them. That is us. We miss
the presence of Jesus because we are
on a God hunt. We may come to
worship, as those did at Jerusalem
during what we now call Palm
Sunday. Jesus even rode before them, but he disappears
from them in later days amidst
the busyness of the times. He
was right there, and they overlooked him.
It would be funny if it
were not truly frustrating to us.
Here we are hunting after God
and God is right with us. We
get hot, bothered and tired of
trying to track down God, and
run after him, when he is really
reaching out to us. Maybe in
this season our personal approach to God should be to
wait and watch, listen and
look, but more to open our
hearts to one who is trying to
reach into them. We really
don’t need to hunt for Him.
He’ll find us. He always has.
The second way this
cartoon hit me was in the midst
of my reading the Multiply
material so many of us are
reading. (If you haven’t by
now picked one up or joined
on line, this is the time!) It is
about being a disciple to make
disciples. We often think of
those about us as this crazy
quarry we need to hunt down
with the gospel. They are elusive and confusing. We feel
like the inept hunter, without
direction, or ability in even the
simplest tasks. We tip toe
around the countryside, always on
guard, but never ready. People are
tapping us on the shoulder and
saying, “Eh, What’s up Christian?” “We are looking for someone to share the gospel!”
Fulfilling the Great Commission should not be so hard, nor
so exasperating, nor so ridiculous.
We are all living out a different
story. As we live out that story,
which is part of us as well as
about us, we are going to turn to
those who tap us, and say, “Jesus
is up!”
I know you think I’m exaggerating. Reread the story of
the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13ff with the
cartoon in mind. You’ll sense
what I’m talking about. The gospel is light, not laughable. It is
life, not a cartoon.
“Be of good cheer, for I have
overcome the world” - John 16.33
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Robert D. Cummings
Deaths
William D. Frye
William T. Lemmon
Linda Sue Williams
Memorial Gift
Contributing to the Memorial
Fund since the last Covenant
Caller: Raymond Irwin and family and Donald & Patricia Butts.
National Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 6 - 13, 2014
Our church is blessed to have so many
willing volunteers that care so much for the
adults, children and families that pass through
our doors. If you have ever tried to schedule
something on the church calendar, you know
how busy this church is! Most of that is due to
the love and service of volunteers. To all those
who give of their time serving on boards, arranging meetings and dinners, helping with youth and
children’s activities, teaching, the list goes on
and on.....thank you for all you do! The love of
the Lord you share as you serve is a blessing to
all. Please remember to encourage each other as
you volunteer together!
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and
where I am, there shall My servant also be; if
anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him..”
John 12:26
The Annual Women’s
Association’s Rummage
Sale star ts Fr iday, Apr il
11th , from 8:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. and Saturday,
April 12th, from 8:00
a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please begin bringing your
gently used clothing and items on Monday,
April 8th to the Fellowship Hall. Volunteers to
sort and help during the week are needed, as
well as, to help with the sale on Friday and
Saturday. Please look for the sign-up sheet in
the Fellowship Hall.
TAKE ME HOME!
**There are many items found at the
church, as well as dishes left in the
kitchen for several weeks. Please be
sure to check if any of the items belong
to you. Anything not claimed will be
put in the Rummage Sale.**
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
Pine Springs Golf Outing
Latrobe Country Club
May 19
Presbyterian Home of Johnstown
Champion Lakes
June 2
Covenant Christian Preschool
THINKING ABOUT SUMMER CAMP?
CAMP
June 9 - 13
Up, Down and Around
Take a break from the cold weather to think
about summer camp and how it will fit into your
family’s summer plans! We are blessed to have
three Christian camps very close to us that can
give a child an amazing experience.
Information about all three camps can be
obtained by calling the following phone
numbers or visiting the web sites below and also
by contacting Kathy Huber. A week or two of
fun could be waiting for you!
Ligonier Camp & Conference Center, Ligonier
724-238-6428
June 30 - July 2
From Here to There
Pine Springs Camp, Jennerstown
814-629-9834
July 7 - 11
Whipping Up Some Fun!
www.ligoniercamp.org
www.pinesprings.org
Summer’s Best Two Weeks, Boswell
814-629-9744
www.sb2w.org
August 4 - 8
If You Take a Preschooler ...
Women’s Association Spring Dinner
The Women’s Association Spring Dinner on May 16th at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Chef Cummings and his cohorts will be preparing the meal. The cost is $10 and
reservations will be required. More information to come!
REPORT ON THE GENERAL FUND
January 2014
Contributions
$ 27,723
Transfer to Mission Fund
( 2,772)
Expenditures
( 8,933)
Difference
($ 3,982)
February 2014
Contributions
$ 24,357
Transfer to Mission Fund
( 2,436)
Expenditures
( 28,253)
Difference
($ 6,332)
AMOUNT NEEDED PER MONTH
TO MEET THE BUDGET IS $29,124
Easter Offerings
During the Easter season, it
is encouraging to see both
new and familiar faces at
our
worship
services.
Throughout the year, many
of you already support the
congregation with your time, talent and
financial contributions but greater participation is always welcome. We encourage
you to look into our electronic giving program. It takes just a few minutes to setup
a recurring giving plan. Visit the church
website and locate the donation link,
complete a paper authorization form or
scan the QR code below.
Scan to give.
ON LINE GIVING ~ If you would like to make a one-time or ongoing contribution visit our website
www.cpclig.net and click on the DONATE NOW tab, or contact the Church Office.
ON LINE BANKING ~ Most financial institutions offer online banking, allowing you to set up either onetime or recurring donations. Contact your bank to learn more about this option.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND
Balance January 1, 2014
Investment CIV (January & February)
Balance February 28, 2014
$102,953
1,682
$104,635
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014
Are you willing to commit to pray for out country? The Ligonier Valley Association of
Churches is again offering special opportunities to join our brothers and sisters in Christ as we
pray for our nation on May 1.
Please note the date on your calendar. The NDP celebration will begin with a prayerbreakfast buffet at the Barn at 7:30 a.m. Please telephone Glema Burke, (724)995-8014 (cell 412327-4548) or e-mail gcburke@comcast.net for tickets and reservations. The cost is $6.00. Again,
several people from the community will speak (briefly) and offer prayers for the seven centers of
power in our nation (government, military, media, business, education, church and family).
Everyone is invited to an old-fashion hymn sing at the Ligonier Gardens from 11:00 a.m.—
noon and a contemporary praise sing at Heritage UMC at 7:00 p.m. A Prayer Journey will be
available at the YMCA from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Valley Youth Network members are planning
special events also. (No prayer walk or balloon launch this year).
Please consider flying your flag on the National Day of Prayer as a show of support for the
Christian principles upon which our nation was founded.
YOUTH CLUB
Our winter term of Youth Club was full of fun and fellowship. Eighteen 2 nd-5th
graders met each Thursday afternoon from January 23 through March 13. Our study
this term was some of the parables of Jesus. We started with the Parable of the Mustard Seed and “planted” a seed on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Each week as we
learned about another parable, the children were encouraged to write something they
learned that helped their faith to grow, on a green leaf which we added to our “growing
mustard seed tree”. By the end of our eight weeks, we had a large tree of faith to share
with one another and anyone who took the time to stop and read a few leaves.
During our weeks together, we also made Valentine cards for Meals on Wheels and
enjoyed a scavenger hunt which was held in the church due to extremely cold temperatures! We were visited by Pine Springs Camp and Ligonier Camp and Conference Center
who played games, sang songs and talked about great summer camping opportunities. Our
annual limbo contest was great fun as Jake Roadman won, following in the footsteps of
his sister, Brooke, who won the last four years! Our term ended with the annual carnival,
which is always greatly anticipated and tons of fun! We enjoyed games, prizes, cupcakes
and ice cream. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to help with the games and
donated food. All the families were invited to attend and bring friends.
The children and I want to give many thanks to Kathy Mileca, Betsy Pride and
Hope Smithley for all their help with Youth Club this term. We also appreciate all the
snacks that were donated by parents each week. Thank you to the congregation for all
your continued prayers and support!
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,
you can say to this mountain ,’Move from here to there’,
and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:20
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL!!!!!
July 14 – 18
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Wilderness Escape:
Where God Guides and Provides
Join us as we catch up with Moses and the
Israelites in the wilderness! Moses will show us
firsthand what it is like to live in an Israelite
camp. We will learn that God guides us so
we need to trust Him!
We will have games,
crafts, snacks and
of course, great music!
Join us and bring a friend!!
Volunteers to help for any or all of
our days are greatly needed!!
Please see Kathy Huber to volunteer!
PRESCHOOL SUNDAY
Covenant Presbyterian Church will celebrate the blessings of our preschool and our children at "Preschool Sunday" on May 18th at the 8:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services.
We will share a children's message and the preschool children in attendance will be recognized. The Preschool Board will host a luncheon as their final fundraising event of the
school year. The luncheon menu will include chicken and biscuits with pie or cake for dessert. Takeout orders will available after both services. The luncheon will immediately follow the second service. Please join us as we celebrate another blessed year!
Youth Fellowship
The winter weather has been brutal this year to say the least. In February we were forced to cancel
Primetime 2 out of the 4 weeks due to school closings. But the youth fellowship has remained busy with
many different activities during the last couple months. In mid-February, several of us went with Valley
Youth Network on their annual ski trip to Gore Mountain. It was nice to have a ton of fresh snow up
there which provided for great conditions throughout the weekend. On March 7-8, we took a group of
28 people to Splash Lagoon indoor water park in Erie. We all had a great time escaping the cold for an
afternoon and getting a little taste of summer. We also took a group to the Winter Jam Concert on
March 21, which featured the Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North, and Lecrae among others.
For Sunday school, we have been going through Multiply along with the rest of the church. We
have had really good discussions on the material and students are being challenged to live as disciples
and be more involved in the church. This study will take us through April, and we have combined our
Jr. & Sr. High classes for these weeks and are meeting in the couch room.