Highland Covenant Church
Transcription
Highland Covenant Church
Winter 2014 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Highland Covenant In Praise of Small Solutions The latest headlines tell an old story: hunger in foreign lands and familiar neighborhoods, environmental damage throwing the earth off balance, religious fanaticism turning violent, racial division illuminating the cracks in our communities, political discourse at the mercy of big money. Our own lives speak of common tensions: bills to pay, children to raise, work to be done, weight to lose, appointments to keep. In the midst of the mess we receive word of the next big idea that will solve hunger, broker peace, create wealth, or preserve youthfulness. Sometimes, amazing things happen and real progress is made. More often than not, reality falls short of hope, and the big solutions that dazzle our imaginations create unintended problems. Yet our hope for magic solutions persists, and even bleeds into our faith. Who among us has not prayed that God would fix whatever wrong we see in the world or in ourselves, and fix it RIGHT NOW? Who hasn’t wondered why God doesn’t make everything right with a quick snap of the fingers? Pastor James are reminded that many people expected God’s promised Messiah to be a king with big solutions, ready to whip the world into shape by unleashing the awesome power of God on a sin-sick world. Instead we get a baby born to powerless peasants. Somehow, in the loving wisdom of God, this is the big solution the world was praying for, looking up from the wooden manger with half opened eyes, at the mercy of the very forces he was sent to conquer. Advent invites us to put aside big solutions for a while, to ask what little thing God is doing in our midst, and to trust that it is in those small places that big miracles are born. Grace and Peace, Pastor James The season of Advent – the four weeks leading up to Christmas – invites us to understand God in a deeper way. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we Inside this issue: Looking Back... 2 Upcoming Events 9 Children & Family Ministry 13 Highland Christian 15 Articles from the Denomination 17 Updates from the Leadership 20 Advent/Christmas Sermon Series Patience is a necessary part of Christian faith, freeing us to trust that God will act for us and for the world in the right way, at the right time. Looking Back... Men of Faith Retreat This article is either about the women’s retreat or the men’s retreat. Use this list of activities to see if you can guess which one: Tractors Pulling Heavy-Laden Sleds. Paintball, Projectile Pumpkins, Shotgun Bowling, 4-Wheeling, Beef, Beef, Beef, Donuts, Beef, the Zipline, Frisbee Golf, Ga-Ga Ball, Elbow Lake Swimming in Late September, the BIOB, Late Night Cards, Popcorn, HEAVY Snoring, Pastor James speaking on a theme of “Strong Like a Jesus!” Playing “King of the Float” on Elbow Lake, No Knitting, and 20 Plus Highland Men including a selection of Newly Minted Teenage Men September 19-21 rounds of the game had been sacrificed in the Ga-Ga pit. I am still a little sore. Two brothers climbed up on the 8 foot tall “Bob” which floats in Elbow Lake and did their best to tip it over far enough to dip their toes into Elbow Lake without falling off. They were not successful. Other men enjoyed the prospect of demonstrating to the teenage among them that they could still dominate the swimming float in the middle of Elbow Lake. They were successful. Later, several men were able to ingest what was likely an entire cow’s worth of roast beef – truly a sight to behold. This article his article is not about the Women’s Retreat. The Men’s Retreat was held at Cascade’s Camp and Conference Center over the weekend of September 19-21. A brief survey of some of the men who attended will perhaps give you a sense of the deep and powerful thinking that happens on these weekends. One gentleman listed his two weekend high points as catching a not enormous fish using a fly rod and later the same day using an enormous tractor to drag a two-ton steel plate through the dirt. Why drag a steel plate through the dirt? Because there was an enormous tractor and some dirt – and a plate that needed dragging! Several of the more “experienced” men at the retreat were challenged by some of the more youthful among us to a game of “Ga-Ga Ball.” This game involves standing inside an octagon shaped pit while trying to avoid a ball being whacked at high speed. It also involves eating and breathing several quarts of dust. The experienced men said yes out of pity but committed to only “ten minutes or so” of the game. Ninety minutes later, several liters of sweat, somewhat less blood, a few tears (Kyle), and approximately 500 Renewal Food Bank Food Drive On September 27th, Highland helped enable the Renewal Food Bank to collect over 2,000 pounds of food and over $1,000 in cash donations. Highland provided 19 volunteers to Page 2 Laughter and friendship were on display through it all. Perhaps the highlight of the weekend was Pastor James’ fantastic series of talks on the characteristics of true “manly” strength. Through it all Christ was glorified, relationships were formed and refined, and grunting was accepted as an appropriate means of communication. The men from my family have already made plans to attend next year. If you are of the male persuasion I sincerely hope you’ll do the same! ~Rod Wishart September 27 collect food from 3 stores. It was a fun day visiting with church volunteers and customers that were so kind and caring. HIGHLAND COVENANT Looking Back… (continued) Women’s Ministries Retreat Scripture... Fellowship with other women… Quiet time… Good food cooked and served by someone else… No dishes to do… a good speaker…cabin time… a walk by the lake…These are some of the enticements of the women's retreat that draw me each year. This year was no exception! The 2014 retreat theme was: Unquenchable, Consuming, Alive…"for our God is a consuming fire." Throughout the weekend we heard from Carol Kent, a gifted and engaging speaker. She shared the various trials and sufferings of her family's life and how God was working through them. We first heard about firestorms and making transformational, hopefilled choices. "Don't burn out, keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times." Romans 12:11–12 MSG September 26-28 ten fears and how they can debilitate us in many ways. But as we know, God’s love and power overcome fear, which she illustrated through Matthew 14:22-36, when Jesus walks on water. All too soon, it was time to go home, but thankfully we can take our fond memories with us…Here are some highlights shared by those who attended: The speaker captivated the audience and was so generous in sharing her life-story. 400 women’s voices singing in worship I zip-lined for the first time and survived! The speaker was great! Her story made me cry, but made me trust more on my Lord. My favorite thing was the sharing time in our cabin. The speaker was amazing! It made me think that I take a lot of things for granted. The reminder to “hang your weakness on God’s strength” The serene beauty of a walk along the lake When the speaker shared about her son’s ministry at prison, it reminded me of Paul when he was imprisoned. On Saturday morning Carol reminded us that trials are inevitable and “polka-dotted throughout your life,” but could be used to develop a wildfire faith. She encouraged us to (re)discover the power of God’s light (His “flame”) and ask how he wants us to shine His glory. Ministering love to those around us, wherever we are, can help grow a wildfire faith. "The mystery and the adventure of living out a wildfire faith is this: as the image bearers of Jesus Christ, we reflect his light everywhere we go.” [From Unquenchable, by Carol Kent] Being reminded how we need to love and support one another in faith and in life. ~Heather Martin On Sunday morning Carol concluded her sessions with “one of our oldest and deadliest enemies”: FEAR. She talked about the top WINTER 2014 Page 3 Looking Back…(cont.) Baby Shower for Lisa & Zachary Hanson On a happy evening in October the Highland ladies welcomed Zachary Thomas Hanson with his Mom Lisa and his Grandma Chris Lindberg to a delightful baby shower. It gave many an opportunity to see the little man for the first time. He was very good, and we didn’t hear a peep out of Zach. His Mom and Grandma kept peeking in to be sure he wasn’t out and running up and down the hallway! Many of us remember when Lisa was the new little person at Highland and the pride and joy she brought to the Lindbergh and Hedin families. As a point of interest Zach is a fourth generation Lindberg attending Highland Covenant Church. Tonya Wishart gave a beautiful devotion honoring babies and motherhood. Carol Lider, Neelam Lewis and Kay Swanson provided treats and beverages while Cecile Culp arranged a lovely bouquet of flowers for the table and for Lisa to take home. There was a good attendance of our Highland ladies who enjoyed the opportunity to visit and watch Lisa open our gifts with much appreciation. We thank God that Zach is progressing well and adding the weight he needs. Perhaps Lisa and Mike are slipping in some good milkshakes for their little guy! ~Sharon Pakkala Movies, Games, and Whole Lot of Junk Food Have you ever been to a youth group lock in at Highland Covenant Church? Well believe me when I tell you it was the best, sleep depriving night of my life. This year was my first youth group lock in, but it was still awesome. I met in the church gym with my friends. We started off the evening by playing a light game of horse, and then when all the boys showed up it became more intense. When everyone had arrived, we played an active game of “in the touchdown frisbee.” After that we hit the church kitchen, where all the carbs in the world were sitting there saying eat me, eat me! Then, once we had eaten our body weight in oreo knock-offs and pizza, we started another game of capture the flag. October 4 October 4, 2014 to watch a movie that all of us love, The Incredibles. Please come to the next youth group lock in. Whether you are a junior high student or a chaperone volunteer, we will always have room for a few more! ~ Emerson C Now this was a battle of the sexes, no, a WAR of the sexes. Girls home turf downstairs first round, boys upstairs, and we switched on and off. First round guys won, but don’t fret women, we managed to pull through the next three rounds. Of course, the women triumphed. (and there are some entertaining videos on what we did when we got tagged to prove it!) Finally, to end the night off, we roasted marshmallows in the parking lot, and voted Page 4 HIGHLAND COVENANT Looking Back… (continued) Baby Brigade/Knitting Class We have changed the name and production of Rip n Roll to Baby Brigade this year. Due to the cost of the shipping bandages and the unreliability of them getting to those who needed them, the Covenant has stopped that mission. We will now be making blankets, burp cloths, bibs, and nursing aprons for October 18 Care Net's baby boutique. We will start this in January 2015. We will meet every third Thursday at 10 am in room 108. We also held a knitting class on October 18Th. Margaret Urfer taught us how to make squares for a baby blanket that will go to Care Net. Youth Group at Renewal Food Ban k October 22 About a dozen youth and leaders showed up to help at the Renewal Food Bank on the evening of October 22. After being guided by Rich and Nancy from the food bank, we went to work. food, if it was past the expiration date, or put them into the correct box on the stage. There were many cans of beans, packages of spaghetti, and a fair amount of vegetables, as well a wide variety of other food. On the right, there were shelves with lots of food. There were about 30 crates of food to sort that had been collected from school food drives. On the stage, there were boxes of already categorized food. After we checked the expiration dates, we either threw out the The sorting went quickly and we finished all the crates. We were all glad to help. ~Brandon Bosworth and Timothy Conner Highland Christian School Fall Festival October 25 Fall Festival was amazing this year! Sixtyfive volunteers converged on the gym shortly before 6:30 turning it into a wonderland of carnival games, food and costumes. Approximately 450 children and young at heart joined in to share an evening of fun, laughter and games. This event brought many unchurched families to Highland and brought the church, community and school together as one body. A very special thanks to all who volunteered by running the games, serving food, selling tickets, donating candy, cakes and cookies and setting up the day before the event. Share the Harvest October 26 This year's Sharing the Harvest turned out to a wonderful mission. We were blessed by the sale of 107 bags of apples and $215 of seed money. There were over 15 bags donated to the Renewal Food Bank. On October 25, fourteen Highland Covenanters joined other churches at Wiley Heights Covenant in Yakima for lunch and bagging apples. From all the bags sold at Highland there will be 214 trees planted in the Central African Republic. WINTER 2014 Page 5 Looking Back… (continued) Baby Shower for Jennifer & Gabi Johnston Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Ps. 27:5 It is always such a joy to welcome a new life in our church family. On Sunday, 26th October we had the opportunity to celebrate with Jennifer the birth of her baby girl Gabi along with Aunt Andrea and Grandma Linda. It was a windy and rainy afternoon, the perfect setting for a cozy gathering by the fireplace in the Heritage lounge. October 26 homemade treats for everyone to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee/tea. Gerri gave a very meaningful devotional. The amazing thing is that the message always blesses not only the new mother but every woman present at the shower. As the new mom opened presents, the ladies enjoyed taking turns cuddling the little baby and visiting. Linda and Jennifer were very appreciative and thankful to their Highland family for celebrating in their joy and blessing them in such a way. Our Bible study ladies provided yummy ~Neelam Lewis All Saints Day On Sunday, November 2, Highland Covenant Church joined other congregations around the country to celebrate All Saints Sunday. The special Sunday offers Christians the opportunity to honor those who have made an impact on the past life of the church and church members. November 2 The All Saints Sunday worship service was highlighted by an informational video from Covenant World Relief and the annual distribution of the Campbell’s soup cans to the children in the congregation. We were also treated to the voices of the Sunday School children as they lead the congregation in signing the hymn “Song of the Sparrow.” To encourage church attendees to reflect on saints of the past, bulletin boards were hung in the hallway near the office where people could add a name, a photo, or card to remember loved ones or church leaders who have been significant in their lives. Youth Video Games November 16 Youth and leaders enjoyed an afternoon of video games on November 16th. Page 6 HIGHLAND COVENANT Looking Back… (continued) Journey to Mosaic "She was teaching you how to be middleclass." I said that simple sentence to my new Journey to Mosaic partner as I was driving her to my house on the first night of our four-day passage. We had spent the afternoon in downtown Seattle hearing about the Japanese concentration camp of Tule Lake Ca. and the effect it had has had on generations of Americans. Soon, she would be under my roof and entering into my world. It was such a simple sentence, yet so profoundly iconic, it is what is at the heart of the struggle of American race reconciliation. My partner, Sylvia, and I were wonderfully matched. We are of the same age, both middle class, and have grown children. She is an executive who works tirelessly in the social services field caring for the homeless of Everett. While I am a therapist that counsels families on how to rebuild their lives after the pain and suffering of trauma, depression, and anxiety have taken a hold of them. On the surface, our obvious difference was that she is black and I am white. I live in the dominant world of privilege and she fights for each step that enables her to move forward. That seemingly thoughtless sentence could have become a crushing vise between us. Again, the white privilege sees only the black deprivation. The white can only assume that the black has no understanding of how things work in accepted society. November 7-9 her in my house. I looked inside myself and wondered what my emotions were about, why did I react to having her in my home? I discovered that just because I am middle class now, I come from poverty and I still see through the lens of poverty. On that first night, I heard Sylvia's story through my poverty lens, and thought that someone was teaching her how to be middle class because I needed to be taught how to live in the middle class. Sylvia grew up in the middle class; she already understood how to live there and did not need to be taught. All weekend we wrestled with these two dichotomies; I am white and grew up impoverished even though my father was educated and she is black and grew up middle class. We would explore how my lens of poverty would affect her lens of understanding. For our partnership it was not just about the black/white understanding it was also about the middle-class/poverty realities. Isn't that what race reconciliation is all about? One side saying I've caused you pain and there is misunderstanding between us, let's figure this out. Having the courage to say I want to listen to your pain so that I can understand you better, in doing so I will understand myself better. ~Julie Hjelm Yet as I sat on the bus with her the next morning, I processed my reaction to having WINTER 2014 Page 7 Looking Back… (continued) Meet and Eat: A Random Hangout Driving buses. Playing the cello. Schooling at home. As we munched and chatted comfortably around the table we discovered these and other common threads linking our lives and weaving us together. A senior couple, a dad and his two kids, a single man, and a family of five equals a lot of interesting fellowship—and a surprising amount of things in common! It’s so simple, it’s almost ridiculous. Invite some people over for dinner. There was no birthday or holiday at the center of our evening, no anniversary or other milestone celebration. We weren’t even related. We were not having dinner as part of some business meeting. There was no agenda. It was, well… a random hangout! We got together just to be together. As the evening progressed, people with whom I have worshiped for months or even years took on dimension and complexity. Old assumptions and generalizations were challenged. There is a lot more to a person than what meets the eye. I love the way Highland is encouraging realistic socializing by supporting these Meet and Eat get-togethers. Couples, families with kids, and individuals who may be in different life stages and may have different experiences and backgrounds get an opportunity to pull away from the day to day separate lives they lead and meet for a few hours. We experience the gift of time to get to know others, and be known by others, on a level we probably would not have otherwise. There is something intimately personal about gathering in someone’s home and seeing Thanksgiving Eve Night of Worship where they live. The dynamic is completely different than the usual daily social opportunities—even on Sunday morning at church—where time is at a premium, talk is often surface at best, people can be in a rush, and conversation is sometimes disjointed. Sharing a meal at home is the perfect panacea. The make-up of these Meet and Eat dinners is indeed somewhat random, since not everyone knows who will be signing up for the same dinner date. There can be a wide difference in ages, which is a good thing. Friendship and mentorship flow naturally from the community among young and old. Intergenerational relationships are an essential element of a vibrant Body of Christ. We cannot be healthy and whole without each other! If you haven’t had the opportunity yet, I encourage you to sign up the next time these Meet and Eat dinners are offered. Who knows what you may have in common with the people who sit across the aisle from you at church on Sunday morning? -Kathy Gelzer *Thanks to Margaret Urfer for the title concept! November 26 To all who were able to make it out to Thanksgiving Eve's Night of Worship, we are glad you came. It was a blessed evening of diverse worship, as we focused on song, scripture, prayer, fellowship, and testimonies to God's faithfulness. It's a privilege to partner with other churches in the community for a common Christ-centered goal. We hope you'll join us next year. Page 8 HIGHLAND COVENANT Looking Back… (continued) Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 23rd was our congregational meeting. A portion of the time was spent reflecting on the year and celebrating the generosity of the church and significant growth we have seen since last year. It was very positive and uplifting. The 2015 budget was presented and church members approved the $624,451 budget for next year. Some highlights include a new staff to support our youth, a church tithe increase to 12% to support our conference and national denomination, and additional money was November 23 budgeted to support Highland Christian School scholarships and outreach projects. It was noted at the meeting that the administrative committee is projecting a significant surplus from this years budget. In the event of a year-end surplus, a portion of the surplus will be used to support of Bill and Claire Strunk’s church planting mission. This will help offset their expenses as they continue their calling to planting a church. Allocation of any additional surplus money will be discussed at the next congregational meeting in March. Upcoming Events December 13, 5:00 pm — Christmas Dinner & Concert It is hard to believe it is that time of year again, but it is true…Christmas is coming soon! This year, on Saturday, December 13, Highland Covenant is continuing the tradition of our annual Christmas potluck with tables festively decorated to reflect the season. As an added twist, the Worship Committee is preparing a post-dinner concert in lieu of the annual Christmas play. Members of the congregation, including the Sunday School children, are already at work preparing music for the concert. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jenny Cobbley at jcobbley@northpark.edu. We look forward to seeing everyone at this special event! December 21, 1:00 pm—Caroling at Covenant Shores Join us for our annual trip to visit some of our elderly friends at Covenant Shores Retirement Center on Mercer Island. We will meet at the Shores at 1:00 to sing carols and share cookies. Christmas Eve Service, December 24, 5:00 Everyone is welcome for a family worship service of carols, candlelight, and our Journey to Bethlehem, a spontaneous Christmas pageant put on by the children – no rehearsal or signup necessary. Just show up and we’ll provide a costume and directions. Hope to see you there! January 24 — India Republic Day After taking a break last year, we will be hosting our annual India Republic Day celebration again on Saturday, January24, 2015. Our gym will be transformed into an Indian style party – colorful, festive, and fun for the whole family. Put it on your calendar now and watch for more information to come. February 8—Camp Fundraiser Camp, Camp, Camp, it’s time for Camp! This February will host the all-famous, one of a kind, not to be missed Camp (and CHIC) Fundraiser! Save the date, Sunday February 8th, after the Sunday worship service for a time to enjoy treats, hear stories, and raise money to send every kid to camp (or CHIC)! WINTER 2014 Page 9 Upcoming Events (continued) February 22—Bridge Ministries Dinner This year's Bridge Ministry dinner with be held on February 22, 2015 at Highland Covenant Church. We are so very blessed that Sandee Kerr has agreed to help us with this day. Sandee has wonderful ideas, table decorations, songs, food and other ideas that will have our guests smiling all day long. With a "Love is" theme all the guest will have a fun time thinking about what love means to them. Safe Kids Workshop Talking to your children about body safety can seem scary. Where to start? What age is appropriate? How do we deal with Chatty Cathys and Dash off Darrins. Are you worried that your child seems to have no boundaries when it come to strangers or wondering how to teach your child about body safety? Then plan to join us on February 27th for a church/school sponsored Savvy Parent "Safe Kids" workshop. We will talk about easy, non-scary, ways to talk to young kids about safety, helping keep our children safe. Pizza Nights Young families are invited to join us for pizza, fun and friends! Email Pastor Mary to be added to the evite! Mark your calendars for Pizza Nights! January 16, February 13 and March 13. Upcoming Youth Events Brown Bear Fundraiser As a CHIC fundraiser, students will be selling Brown Bear Car Wash vouchers. Brown Bear is located just down on 148th and NE 8th. These coupons make great gifts for co-workers, family, teachers, friends, and neighbors. Keep an eye out for a table at coffee hour before the holiday season!!! Thanks in advance for supporting the youth of Highland! July 12-17—CHIC 2015 What’s happening July 12-17th, 2015??? CHIC!!! CHIC is a national high school covenant conference held every 3 years. This summer, CHIC is in Knoxville, TN. If you are in 9-12th grade, WE WANT YOU to join us, and 1000s of your closest friends for a week of non-stop energy, dynamic speakers, crazy adventures, awesome musical performances, and life-long memories. Contact Lisa H. for further information or visit the CHIC website at www.chic2015.org. As members of the congregation, please pray for the hearts and minds of the students and leaders who will be attending this life-changing event. Pray that Christ will move, teach, grow and lead each and every one that attends. Youth Group Every other Wednesday night, from 5:30-7:30pm, our junior and senior high kids meet up at church for dinner, awesome games, crazy laughter and genuine community building time. The more, the merrier, so come and join us, with a friend or two or three, for Youth Group. Page 10 HIGHLAND COVENANT Sundays at Highland 2014-2015 Worship Series Advent and Christmas 2014: Waiting for God Patience is a necessary part of Christian faith, freeing us to trust that God will act for us and for the world in the right way, at the right time. Winter/Epiphany 2015 Sermons from various lectionary texts. Lent and Easter 2015: I AM Exploring the rich images Jesus used to communicate who he was and how we should respond. Spring 2015: Lessons from 1 John This book of the Bible offers great insight into the nature of God’s love and how we are to reflect that love to each other and to the world. December Sunday Adult Growth Groups December 7, 2014: Digging Deeper: Sermon Conversation December 14, 2014: Baking Jars for Christmas Eve and Food Bank Guests December 21, 2014: Carol Sing-a-long from Hymnal WINTER 2014 Page 11 Sundays at Highland, continued. January Sunday Adult Growth Groups January 4-January 15, 2015: Winter Series, “Lectionary Texts”—Lectio Divina. All adults will meet together the first week with break-outs for the remaining weeks in small group with instructions.Winter Series Adult Sunday School Overview. Adults will be practicing Lectio Divina. Denise Lindberg will lead us as a whole the first week with small group breakouts. The remaining weeks we will continue with Lectio Divina in small groups with Instructions provided. Lectio Divina is Latin for divine reading and is a traditional Benedictine practice of scriptural reading. It does not treat Scripture as texts to be studied, but as the Living Word. It allows for meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's Word. Traditionally Lectio Divina has four separate steps: read, meditate, pray and contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected Basketball at Highland Covenant Church Even before HCC added a gym as part of an early nineties building project, the game of basketball was part of the DNA of Highlanders. I remember going watch my dad play in basketball “church league” games at local churches when I was in elementary school. He loved the game and once HCC had a gym, he along with a handful of other men from the church sat down to figure out how this new resource could be a blessing to the community. They wanted to have a place to play basketball that was fun, welcoming, and accessible, where men could live out the gospel. So that is just what they did. Anyone was welcome to play regardless of experience or athletic ability or religious beliefs for that matter. It was envisioned as a “Men’s Ministry” but the real goal was to create community though fun competition, so they were flexible, erring on the side of inclusion. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of playing with multiple father son pairs, high school and Jr. high students, grandfathers, and even few sisters, daughters and significant others. The rules are few, it is free, we play on Monday evenings (6:30) and Saturday mornings (7:30), games are first to 7 points, all baskets are worth 1 point and you call your own fouls. Beyond that everyone is encouraged to have a good attitude and not take things too seriously. The caliber of play varies from Page 12 low key and a little lazy to pretty intense and competitive with guys who have never really played to guys who played in college (and even a NBA coach once). Basketball starts with prayer at the center circle and then a rotating sign-in list ensures that everyone plays and the teams get changed up. I started playing basketball at HCC in 1994 after I transferred back to the UW. It was a great way to distract myself from my studies and spend time with my dad. A lot of things have changed in the last 20 years but you will still find 8 to 20 guys in the gym Saturdays and Mondays almost every week. Literally 100’s of guys have played over the years many who would never have set foot in a church otherwise. As things stand today, I am the only HCC member that is consistently playing (However, Pastor James makes an appearance now-and-again and I’ll just say he can certainly hold his own.). I have an email list of about 80 guys with whom I coordinate to keep things going. If you like the game of basketball and think you might want to be a part, please come and join us! P.S. I take no responsibility for the crazy guys who are said to play basketball very early in the morning during the week. ~Andrew Lundberg HIGHLAND COVENANT Children & Family Ministry Pastor Mary Children’s Sunday School Each week John Bustad or Jenny Cobbley helps us get Sunday School started by leading us in worship! We sing fun songs, LOUD songs and even beautiful songs of praise to our wonderful God. 4th and 5th Grade Sunday School This fall we started studying the Apostle’s Creed. We’ve talked about what it means to believe in someone or something while exploring the themes of God the Father and Creator. We learned about how brave the new Christians were to call Jesus “our Lord.” Here are a few things that our 4th and 5th graders wanted you to know about the Apostle’s Creed. WINTER 2014 Page 13 Children & Family Ministry Pastor Mary Advent More and more research is showing the importance of parents in a child’s faith development. The more parents talk about faith at home and live out their faith with their kids, the more likely the kid is to follow Christ as an adult. It can be a daunting task to share our faith with our kids. Sometimes it is hard to put our faith into words, or other times we can be scared to share our doubts or questions with the kids. Advent is a great time to start experimenting with sharing our faith with our kids. Everybody loves Christmas. Share some of your memories of Christmas. Bake some goodies to take to a neighbor. Write notes of appreciation in Christmas cards. Set up five candles in the middle of your table. Spend time lighting Ad- vent candles (light a new one each Sunday), and reading a devotional. This year each family will receive a copy of Ann Voskamp’s Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas. For each day of Advent, there is a reading that t akes f amilies through God’s story using the Jesse tree. Kids will receive a coloring book to follow along as we prepare for Christmas. We will be unwrapping the story of Jesus to find that it is our story as well. Join us as we prepare for Christmas! Service + Fun = Scavenger Hunt In November, 12 of us (mostly 4th and 5th graders) gathered to go on a Turkey Dinner Scavenger Hunt. Our goal was to collect food for the food bank. We set off in the freezing cold and collected 2 bags of groceries and $15 for Renewal Food Bank. Our next time to merge service and fun is coming up on December 21st. We will join with the rest of our church family to sing Christmas carols at Covenant Shores! Page 14 HIGHLAND COVENANT Happenings at Highland Christian School Fall is always a busy time at the preschool. It means adjusting to new friends, new routines, new foods and new faces. It means sharing, listening to others and exploring new concepts. For many it means adjusting to a new culture, different language and rainy weather. Experiencing a typical day at our Open House and Ice Cream Social in September was new for most parents. Harvest parties and Fall Festival, October highlights, introduced families to yet another new activity. Thanksgiving and the Christmas season mean learning about new holidays, new celebrations and creating new memories. Most important, chapel introduces children to unfamiliar Bible stories and Jesus, who wants to be their friend. With all the “newness”, school can be challenging. Highland’s teachers work hard to make learning fun. We, as a staff, are also growing, learning and adapting. Please pray for us and our families this year. ~Sue Peterson The Gift of Children Wow! What a gift we have been given in a package called a child. Each one is unique, designed in the image of God. They are a challenge and a blessing. None of them are perfect but everyone has a name and a personality. I know the children at the school by their names (most of the time). I know them by their gifts and I know them by the challenges they present. I know their strengths and their weaknesses. I can tell if they are happy or sad. They are special, different, and unpredictable. I love each one (again, most of the time). This daily ritual mirrors my interaction with my heavenly father. He knows me (all the time). He knows my strengths and weaknesses. He knows when I am happy and sad even if I am good at hiding it from others. He is my Abba Father. When he reaches down to take my hand I have a choice to reach up and take his or spurn his offer. I can feel his joy or be miserable. It is comforting to know that he never gives up on me. He knows my name and he will never forget it—ever! ~Sue Peterson Every day as I greet each child entering the school I see emotions reflected on their faces. Excitement and joy over the adventure awaiting them just through the door shines in most eyes. Yet some use their whole body to display their unhappiness at being left— tears, foot stomping and sulking—tools designed to tug at a parent’s heart. I take them by the hand or give them a hug to let them know I care and that I am there for them no matter how they feel or how they are acting. Some respond and some don’t. Some have fun and a few stay miserable. It’s a choice they get to make. WINTER 2014 Page 15 The Church in the Community What I’ve learned so far During worship service recently the thought came to my mind – I wonder how God feels when we truly worship Him. I pondered as we sang. At that moment, out of the blue, a little three year old girl stood up Community Nurse Notes As the Holidays approach so does the cold and flu season. Here are five quick reminders of ways to stay healthy. Get your Flu Shot. The flu bug changes each year so it is important to get a flu shot every fall. The flu can land you in bed for a week to ten days and leave you dragging for weeks after. Most local pharmacies provide the flu shot on a drop-in basis (no appointment needed). Cost is about $25.00. Your insurance may cover the cost. Some employers will pay for it as well. NO you won’t get the flu from the flu shot. Tip: After receiving your shot swing your arm in big circles, this helps to distribute the medication in your muscle and your arm won’t be as sore the next day. Wash your hands. From door handles to counter tops to computer key boards to shopping carts to money we are in contact with multiple surfaces that are in contact with multiple people... In addition to washing your hands after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing and before eating, wash frequently throughout the day. Use soap and water and rub vigorously for 20 seconds (sing the Happy Birthday song twice), rinse and dry your hands well. Carry a small container of hand sanitizer with you for those times when it isn’t easy to find soap and water. Eat right. Page 16 The holiday pies, cookies and Holly Bustad on the pew, reached up her arms, wrapped them around my neck and held on as she lay her head on my shoulder. Hmm… maybe He feels like this. Timing is everything... Carol candies will tempt us all. Enjoy, after all it ‘tis the season. But continue to eat healthy as well. Including healthy meals in your day will prepare you to eat the treats in moderation; you will feel better and have more energy. Keep easy to grab fruits and vegetables handy. The Satsuma oranges are great quick snacks. A Satsuma orange and a piece of low fat string cheese can give you a great afternoon burst of energy and make it easier to say no to that cookie. Exercise. As life gets busy and the days are dark I find it hard to exercise. By fitting in even little bits of activity throughout the day your appetite and sleep will be improved and stress decreased. On those days when there just isn’t time for your regular workout try to park farther away in the parking lot, take the stairs, go for a quick walk at lunch and remember to stand up from your desk and stretch several times throughout the day. Sleep. I know, easier said than done. Try to maintain a regular bedtime schedule for you and your family. Turn off the electronics one hour before bedtime, even turning down some of the lights in the house as bedtime approaches can signal to our bodies that it is time to be winding down. Give yourself some grace. Decide what is important to you and your family during this season. Don’t be afraid to say no, we can’t do it all. Spend time with those you love. Praise God for the blessings He has given you. Enjoy this time of thanksgiving and anticipation. Be in good health. HIGHLAND COVENANT Highland in the News: Carlson Inspired Holmgren, Other Covenanters, in Mission Work By Stan Friedman, excerpt reprinted by permission of Covenant Newswire MERCER ISLAND, WA (November 26, 2014) — The martyrdom of Paul Carlson played a key role in Kathy Holmgren becoming a missionary to Congo she told a capacity crowd at Covenant Shores Retirement Community on Monday night, the fiftieth anniversary of the death of the Covenant missionary and physician. Kathy Holmgren The audience also watched Monganga, the documentary by Covenanter Rick Carlson that was produced for the fortieth anniversary. Chaplain Greg Asimakoupoulos interviewed Holmgren. She is one of several Covenant nurses and physicians who say that the story of Paul Carlson inspired them to medical missions and whose children also have gone on to do mission work. Holmgren, who is the wife of former football coach and executive Mike Holmgren, already had become interested in missions while growing up attending First Covenant Church in San Jose and Mission Springs Bible Camp. Her interest in missions, especially to Africa, was sparked by hearing stories from visiting missionaries. Holmgren was a senior in high school when her family learned of Carlson’s death and said her mother emphasized how he had given so much to serve the Lord. That made her consider missions even more seriously. possible. Following graduation she spent a year in Congo working as a nurse at a clinic with Dr. Teddy (Theodora) Johnson. “Profoundly impacted by his story, I wrote my senior English paper about him…I never wavered in my desire to be a physician and to consider a career in medical missions.” —Dr. Jim Walker Holmgren returned to Congo in January 2006 when her daughter, Calla Holmgren, who is a physician, encouraged her to participate in a trip with Medical Teams International and Paul Carlson Partnership to the hospital in Karawa. The trip attracted international attention because it turned out to be during the same time the Seattle Seahawks, the team her husband coached, played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl. Holmgren said she had no regrets because the media coverage heightened awareness of the great needs in Congo. She added, “It thrilled my heart to know my daughter wanted to go and use her skills as a physician in a place I had told her about since she was a little girl. From the time they were little all of my children heard me use Lingala words and talk about my experiences as a nurse in Congo.” While studying nursing at North Park University, she heard how medical care in Africa often was provided by someone who had very little education and preparation due to lack of staffing but large need. She was determined to get as much education as WINTER 2014 Page 17 Faith and Culture: Reflecting on Ferguson, Missouri Below is a message from ECC president Gary Walter regarding the decision from the Ferguson grand jury, followed by a pastoral letter written a few days before. concerning the death of Michael Brown, I yearn that we not default to separate camps but instead together aspire to claim this as a redemptive moment for a better future. Friends– This morning we are in the aftermath of Ferguson in all of its heaviness at so many levels. I see God laying two redemptive rails to carry us forward. One is deeper awareness of pain and the other is deeper resolve for progress. Side by side God can use these rails to convey us to a more caring and just world. Covenant pastor Josef Rasheed wrote, “I am not surprised by the grand jury decision. I am not surprised by the violence. I am not surprised by those cheering the decision. I am not surprised by the use of scripture to criticize those speaking out peacefully. Nor am I surprised by my own pain.” I hope the pain will make us better. The Church has the only hope, Jesus who breaks down the dividing walls. As a Covenant we will persist in obedience to Christ in the important matter of racial righteousness towards a more caring and just world. As I said in my pastoral letter first posted online last week and reprinted below, let’s believe God can redeem this moment for a fundamentally different future, and join to that end. Many are weary, but Church, we will be in in this together, and together we will encourage one another on. With the author of Hebrews I say let us run with perseverance the race before us. Gary A Pastoral Letter Regarding Ferguson (originally posted on Nov. 20, 2014) Dear Covenant Family, One consistent promise throughout Scripture is that God weaves redemptive purposes even out of distressing and troubling circumstances. That bedrock promise and premise means we ultimately are bearers of hope to the world. This letter is a call for all of us to seek God’s redemptive purposes out of the pain and dilemmas presented by the saga of Ferguson, Missouri. As the grand jury finalizes its deliberations Page 18 Michael Brown’s death has laid open disconsolate pain. One could have been lulled into initially seeing this as a news story with a news cycle. But the persistence of voices from the streets of Ferguson, particularly from Christian leaders including from the ECC, has helped people see that in reality this is an old story within a recurring cycle. We may or may not ever know all of the facts in this case. But we do know this death of an unarmed young man is a piercing reminder that young African American men (and other young men of color) are disproportionately more likely to be arrested, sentenced, or even killed than white counterparts. In the images of Michael Brown’s body, it is too easy to project a son, a husband, a neighbor, a student from the youth group. Have you ever picked out the cries of a loved one amid the din of the crowd? You turn immediately and scurry to understand what is going on. In the ECC, the grieving but strong voice we recognize as family rouses us to better listen, to more fully understand, and to more deeply mourn. As we grow as a multiethnic mosaic, we will see things more clearly and feel things more deeply. It is part of God’s work and mercy among us. It is happening now. In the soul-searching taking place throughout the country, there are hints that this could be a defining moment for the second rail, namely greater resolve for progress. For example, the Missouri governor’s establishment of the independent Ferguson Commission has as its charter to conduct a “thorough, wide-ranging, unflinching HIGHLAND COVENANT Faith and Culture, continued. study” of underlying social and economic conditions for making the St. Louis area a “stronger, fairer place for everyone to live.” That the commission is co-chaired by a respected pastor speaks to the constructive role people of faith bring in underscoring the inherent value of every person, each created in the image of God. While it is too early to tell, this and other similarly emerging efforts in other communities could be early evidence of a longed-for move toward greater systemic understanding and commitments. May it be so. In it all, we are mindful of the very real dangers and stressful decisions law enforcement personnel are confronted with in every community every day in seeking to serve and protect. This we honor with profound gratitude. May we do our part within our communities to exemplify and promote what it means to be engaged citizens respecting the rights and safety of our neighbors. Here are tangible things I would ask from us in the coming days. Begin with prayer: for Michael Brown’s family; for police officer Darren Wilson and family; for the witness and engagement of churches in Ferguson; for peace in the streets; for definitive progress in community reform; for Covenant churches ministering in the region. Grow in understanding the pain. Ask someone with whom you might be inclined to disagree, “Why do you feel this way?” And listen. Find thoughtful resources looking at the depth of cross-currents and complexities from 360 degrees. Model God-honoring conversation for your children and neighbors. And stay engaged, leaning into opportunities for progress. Take to heart that Ferguson, yes this very circumstance, can indeed be God’s kairos moment, a defining marker in time, crossing us into a fundamentally new period of more humbly and forthrightly aspiring to God’s peace and justice across the fractures that too readily divide. Beloved Covenant community, let’s take this journey together. God is laying down two redemptive rails to carry us forward: deeper awareness of pain and deeper resolve for progress. Side by side God will use these rails to carry us to a more caring and just world. In It Together, Gary Walter, ECC President Thank You, Pat! Over 18 years ago, Pat FitzGerald began answering her phone, writing down prayer requests in a notebook, and calling a team of people to spread those prayer requests to the rest of the Highland Covenant Church congregation. In the days before home computers, those prayer requests eventually amassed into a stack of notebooks full of the many years of accumulated prayer requests of Highland. When the computer became a more efficient way to pass on those requests, Pat adjusted, began sending the prayer requests out via email, and made some extra room in her house by clearing out the old notebooks. WINTER 2014 If you know Pat, you know she has a sense of humor, but not where prayer requests are concerned. She has honored people and their requests with diligence and promptness in getting out requests with accuracy and speed reflective of how seriously she takes such requests. At the end of December, Pat will be stepping down as the prayer chain coordinator for Highland and Nelma Anfinrud will be taking over Please take the time to thank Pat for her many years of faithful service to our church and to welcome Nelma as the new transmitter of our Highland family prayer requests. Page 19 Updates from the Leadership Council is in the process of preparing for our 2015 budget and planning next year’s ministry needs. As we look ahead, we are exploring several areas that we would like you to be aware of and praying for. Church Plant – We are exploring the option of supporting Bill and Claire Strunk as they work with the church conference in preparing a new church plant in the Kirkland/Bothell area. The Council has met with Kurt Carlson, Director of Church Planting, to discuss options for supporting Bill and Claire’s ministry. We are currently considering a part time residency position, financial support, and exploring other options to assist them over the next few years. Associate Pastor – This past year, we have been reviewing our staff needs and exploring the possibility of a full time associate pastor position. We are looking at ways to assist Financial Update As Dave Ulfers mentioned at the congregational meeting, giving continues to run strong, at about 16% above last year's giving through the end of October. While rentals of the facility are down a little bit, our overall budget numbers, which are based on offering, rental income, and some miscellaneous giving is still 12% Dave Ulfers James and other major ministry areas such as youth. Children’s Worship Room Remodel – There seems to have been an explosion of young children in our church. It’s been a blessing to see the children up front during children’s moment each Sunday. With that growth, the space we created from the library area has already become too small. We will be expanding that space for children’s worship and finding new room for our library materials. Highland Christian School Director – As many of you are aware, Sue Peterson’s final year as director of Highland Christian School will come to an end this 2014/2015 school season. As we transition to this new phase of the school, we will be exploring options with the ministry and director’s position. Craig Conner above last year. We expect those percentages to continue through the rest of the year, which would place us at about $605,000 for the year. This would be substantially above the budget for this year, and place us in good standing for any staff increases we do in the next year. Covenant World Relief During our annual collection for Covenant World Relief, a total of $7,861.00 was given to Highland to pass on to Covenant World Relief. Other offerings were sent directly to the organization. The funds will be used for disaster relief and community development throughout the world. Page 20 HIGHLAND COVENANT Adding More Polish to Our Church The Properties Committee continues its steady progress in making improvements and upgrades to our facility and grounds. We are excited to have a remodeled children’s worship room outside the sanctuary. The proximity of the room allows small children to have fun worship time while being reassured that parents are nearby. The newly furbished room brings light through exterior windows, more space for our growing numbers of kids at Highland Covenant Church, and a bight, colorful environment as they learn about Jesus’ love. As a result of the new children’s worship room, our next project is to create a space for our church library. We will be installing bookshelves in the Heritage Lounge, convert the manual gas fireplace into one with a remote switch, and ultimately bringing in updated furniture for a welcoming environment in which to enjoy Highland’s library collection. Recently, members of the properties committee also helped to change the sanctuary ceil- Beth Knox & Tom Nelson ing light bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs and a 20-year lifespan. A big thank you to Jim Maier, Bob Lindberg, Jr, Dave Ulfers and especially Mark Lindberg for braving the heights of the ladder to change the bulbs. Two weeks later another work party of Josh Cobbley, Kyle & Josh Martin, Tom Nelson, Mike Mathewson and Craig Peterson combined efforts to pressure wash the back exterior wall of the church, clean gutters, prune foliage obstructing sightlines, hang artwork and do minor repairs. Our next work party project will focus on cleaning out the upstairs storage room to clear out unused items. A reminder that Work Order Forms are available in the Church Office, should members of the congregation have a request or suggestions for the committee. This system allows us to track requests and ensure they are handled in a timely manner. If you are interested in assisting Tom with maintenance needs, please contact him at nelsonthomas1809@yahoo.com or through the church office. 2014 Council Members Chair .................. …...…...……...Dave Ulfers Properties ................................. Tom Nelson Vice Chair ................................... Kirk Lider Making Room Initiative .......... Matt Peterson Secretary.............................. Tonya Wishart Mission and Evangelism .... Julie Stapelman Financial Secretary................. Craig Conner Youth Leadership…………………Lisa Hanson Treasurer ............................ Francie Sawyer Music and Worship ...............Jenny Cobbley Congregational Care .............. Neelam Lewis WINTER 2014 Page 21 Highland Covenant Church Winter Retreat January 31-February 1 Worship, Fellowship, Growth, Fun, Food, Outdoors...Hope you can come! Highland Covenant Church 15022 NE Bel-Red Rd. Bellevue, WA 98007 Phone: 425-746-7676 Fax: 425-641-3687 E-mail: info@highlandcovenant.com Return Service Requested We’re on the web! www.highlandcovenant.com Save the date! HCC Winter Retreat! January 30-February 1 (Friday-Sunday), 2015 Registration information coming soon!
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