Ushers - Holly Humphreys, Ben DeWinkle, Dorothy Frank
Readings from Scripture:
1 Samuel 3:1-10
John 1:43-51
This Sunday at Covenant
POTLUCK AND NEWCOMERS TABLE AFTER WORSHIP:
Our all-church potluck is held on the third Sunday of every month and it is a wonderful opportunity to share a delicious meal with the entire Covenant community! If you are a newcomer or visitor amongst us, there is a Newcomers Table at each potluck where you can meet leaders and staff of the congregation and learn more about our community of faith.
CARD MAKING FOR NICARAGUA:
The monthly Covenant Potluck will include an opportunity for us to make greetings cards for Newell to take with him when he visits our sister village in Nicaragua. Whether or not you have been to Nicaragua before, please stop by for a fun opportunity to show our love and support to our sisters and brothers in Dulce Nombre de Jesús. This Sunday's service will also include a Commissioning for Newell Hendricks' Family Delegation to Nicaragua.
COTC 101: AN INVITATION TO VISITORS, NEWCOMERS AND THOSE CONSIDERING MEMBERSHIP AT CHURCH OF THE COVENANT:
Our next session of "COTC 101" will take place on Sundays January 18 and January 25 at 12:15 pm. COTC 101 is a great opportunity to learn more about the ministry, community, and history of Church of the Covenant and to find out what it means to become a member. Please join us or invite someone who may be interested. Ask or email Rev. Rob Mark for more details or questions, or to indicate interest: pastor@cotcbos.org
THE NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY IS READY:
Members and frequent attenders should be sure to to pick up a new directory this Sunday in the basket by the entrance to Bates Hall. You may also request an electronic PDF version so you can easily access the directory on your computer or smart phone by emailing Julie at Julie.rogers@cotcbos.org.
WORSHIP WARMLY IN BATES:
Friends, for the next few Sundays, we will be worshiping in Bates Hall in order to be in community in a new and comfortably warm way. We all are full aware now that our beautiful and new radiant floor heating system is not yet working up to design, and we thank our faithful Building Committee that is working incessantly on our behalf to address this challenge. We have no doubt these efforts will lead us soon enough back into a beautiful and warm sanctuary space. But in the meantime, it makes great sense for us to take up the not-too-distant "tradition" of worshiping in Bates for a few of the coldest winter Sundays while things get sorted "upstairs". As we know well from our 2 months in Bates last year during the construction process, this is a wonderful option for us as a worshiping community, as we get to be physically closer and hear each voices and see each others' faces in a closer way, while still creating a non-intimidating yet welcoming space for new comers. As I did last year during this process, I'd humbly ask that we extend some extra grace to one another in this shifting of space as we again get used to this shift. Thank you!
In these utterly cold days, I am reminded of how rare a gift it is for us as a community to have multiple places to hold meaningful worship. May our hearts, action and service be focused this winter on the still too many in our own city who lack adequate and safe spaces to sleep and simply be - and may our worship in these weeks inspire us in this call of Jesus so to serve.
BIBLE STUDY 9:15 to 10:15 a.m., Second Floor, Williams Library.
NURSERY CARE FOR CHILDREN: Nursery Care is provided by our wonderful caregivers downstairs off of Bates Hall. Please ask an usher for directions if you need help finding it.
Upcoming Dates and Invitations
ALL ARE INVITED TO A POST-WORSHIP MEETING OF THE NICARAGUA COMPANIONS:
Next Sunday, January 25, the Nicaragua Companions invite any one and everyone in the congregation to participate in a special meeting where we will write a letter to our brothers and sister in Dulce Nombre, sing songs, see photos, and share stories of the relationship.
JOIN OUR SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY!
Our Sunday morning Bible Study meets each week at 9:15 am in the second floor Williams Library. The group is currently studying the book of Exodus.
JANUARY BOOK GROUP GATHERING: Covenant's book group will meet onSunday, January 25, at the home of Faith Perry and Lucy Williams in Roslindale. We will be discussingSame Kind of Different as Meby Ron Hall and Denver Moore. As always, we will begin with a potluck at6 pm. And as always, you are welcome to come whether you have ever attended before and whether you have read any of the book! If you have any questions please contact Barbara Darling at barbarakdarling@yahoo.com.
LET US KEEP IN PRAYER our own Sharon Wright who on Monday, January 26 will be installed as Moderator of our Presbytery of Boston here at COTC as we host the meeting of Presbytery.
Announcements Related to the Upcoming Annual Meeting:
DENOMINATIONAL MEETINGS AFTER WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 25:
From the Clerk of the Council, Ed James, this is to duly call a meeting of the Presbyterian members of Church of the Covenant to elect one (1) member to the nominating committee and to duly call a meeting of the United Church of Christ members of Church of the Covenant to elect one (1) member to the nominating committee - both directly after worship on the Sunday of January 25th 2015. (A full term shall be two (2) years, and a member shall not serve on the committee for consecutive terms, but shall be eligible to be elected to a new term after one (1) year shall have elapsed. Each member shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, or until their successors are elected and qualified. At the Annual Meeting of the Corporation, the elected members of the nominating committee will be introduced and accepted, but not elected.)
NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 1:
From the Clerk of the Council, Ed James, this is to give notice that there will be an Annual Meeting of the Corporation followed by an Annual Meeting of the Congregation on February 1st, 2015 for the purpose of approving the church budget as proposed by Council, for the purpose of electing members to the Church Council and to the Board of Deacons - to Council, Class of 2017: Nancy Stockford, Tom Sutcliffe; Deacons, Class of 2016: Joan Hill; Deacons, Class of 2017: Melissa King, Nancy Graham, Debbie Howland, Joe Waters; and to accept the members voted on by the respective denominations at their Annual Meeting preceding the Annual Meeting of Covenant itself. The Nominating Committee has nominated in this regard, for the Class of 2016: Ellice Miller (PCUSA), Faith Perry (UCC).
(There are still openings left: one in the Council, Class of 2016; two in Council, Class of 2017.)
Also, under Old Business, there are proposed two revisions of the By-Laws (that were inadvertently left out last year) -
Article III, Membership and Other Relationships, page 2, Termination of Membership
The By-Laws read: A member whose address has long been unknown or who for a period of two years, in spite of kindly reminders, has not participated in the sacrament of Holy Communion through the Church or contributed, to its support, may, by vote of the Covenant Council, be transferred to the Suspended. Roll. From the date of such transfer such persons shall cease to be reported on the active membership roll. Any name may be reinstated on the active roll by a vote of the Covenant Council.
Motion to delete "the sacrament of Holy Communion through..."
Motion to replace "Suspended" with "Inactive"
Article III, Membership and Other Relationships, page 3 Associate Relationship
The By-Laws read: Persons holding associate status in Church of the Covenant are recognized as those who are on a significant spiritual journey which includes the Christian story and wish to be associated with our congregational life and mission, but may not be ready to make a full profession of faith, or may not be ready to embrace the institutional responsibilities and privileges of full membership. Associates may be in relationship to Church of the Covenant by confession or reaffirmation of faith, though these are not required. Associates are encouraged to participate by voice, but not vote, in meetings of the congregation, serve on church committees and contribute to the financial support of the church. Associate status shall be renewed every four years. Motion to delete: "Associate status shall be renewed every four years."
