Covenant Courier

August, 2006

Volume 1, Number 1

In This Issue

Campus Outreach 
Thank You!

A special "thank you" to the 30 families who helped with the Summer Breakfast ministry for our college students.  

The final week was Sunday, July 30th and all families who adopted students were invited to come that day to eat with their "kids."  Each year we’re blessed to have these students worship with us.  Make plans now to fellowship with next year’s students.  You won’t regret it!

VBS Scenes:

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

Covenant Dance Team 2006

We had a wonderful and very productive trip to San Antonio.  It was such a great experience for the girls.

Youth Group Visits Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum!

Coming Youth Events:

8/2   Regular Meeting, YH
8/9   College Send-Off Party, YH
8/12  Paint Day, YH
8/16  Water  Night, YH
8/23  Regular Meeting, YH
8/30  Regular Meting, YH
9/6    Regular Meeting, YH
9/8-9  “Rock the Universe”
9/13  Regular Meeting, YH
9/20  Regular Meeting, YH
9/23  Seniors Dinner, FH
9/27  Regular Meeting, YH

New Address for Eric & Kristi Sparks:

228 Knightsbridge Dr.
N. Charleston , SC   29418  
843-760-3198

ericandkristisparks@hotmail.com  

Musicians Needed:

Would you like to be part of our Sunday Night Praise Team?  We need more drummers, guitarists, singers, keyboardists.  Contact Leigh Hinkle if you are interested.

hinklerldj@knology.net

Paving Project:
Received as of July 30^th
$11,500.00

Have you participated in this much need project yet?  It’s not too late.  Please contact Rod Webb to make your contribution.  

Are You Part of a Small Group?

Here are the groups to choose from.  Most can take new members.  Contact the Leader for more information.

Women’s Groups: 

See article above.

Men’s Groups:

Mixed Groups:

The MISSION of Covenant Presbyterian Church is to encourage and equip Christians in their covenantal relationship with the sovereign God and be obedient to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, all for God’s glory. 

Our VISION is to be a lighthouse church with a reformed world-life view which powerfully impacts Bay County and the world by radiating the character of Jesus Christ through obedience to the scriptures, fervent prayer, God-centered worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship and the ministry of mercy.

Contact Us:

webmaster@covenantpca.net

church@covenantpca.net

To remove your name from our newsletter list:  

church@covenantpca.net

New On-Line Courier!

This marks the beginning of our on-line Courier!  Please give us your feedback—what you like, what you don’t, and what you would like to see included. We’ll also post this on the church web site as well as have print versions for those folks without the internet.

  Covenant Christian School
Begins August 7th  

After the office staff at Covenant Christian School has worked throughout the summer preparing for the new school year the hallways are bustling with students once again. As we start our 25th year, our enrollment is currently just under 400 students and we would love to have some more. We have two classes each of each of the following elementary grades: K5, 1st, 3rd and 4th grades. CCS employs over sixty dedicated Christian faculty and staff. We are still pursuing a high school Bible teacher and are excited about seeing God provide for our needs as he has in the past.

We continue to need funds to pave the driveway and parking lot. We appreciate any and all help in this regard.

Please continue to pray for the session, school committee, administration, faculty. staff, students, and families of the school.

2006 Vacation Bible School
a Great Success!

By K. J. Williams  

Although VBS has been over for awhile now and you may have heard all you thought you’d hear about it, I’m grateful for another opportunity share its blessings!  The Lord has since granted me the time to spend in thoughtful prayer, reflecting on every aspect of that wonderful week.  From the early stages of planning “The King is Coming”, the Holy Spirit was hard at work, and it’s awesome to see His work being done through our vital Children’s Ministry and events like VBS and through the many small and large details that were accomplished, physically and spiritually, in such a short period of time.  In a recent prayer, Pastor Hayes spoke of the “people behind the scenes” who work so hard for the glory of God.  I’m thinking specifically of Janis Hopper and Mary Vickie Taws.  What a blessing it is to work alongside such diligent and dedicated ladies who have humbly used their gifts to serve the Lord through their love for children.  They are amazing to see in action!  Whether you donated time, prayer, talent, food or money, your gift certainly contributed to the overall success of that wonderful week.  Special thanks to all who captured those smiles in pictures and to Stephen Moss who put our slide show together and directed the daily skits.  Everyone who taught, coordinated or lead VBS classes and/or activities really seemed to put their hearts into all they did.  What touched my heart the most was seeing how God used the people and resources to pull it all together while pulling us all closer to Him.  Along with the children, we got to know Christ the King, brother and friend, a little better — and I for one, am most grateful for that.

Renewal Committee Report

Please take a look at the Ministry Center chart to see where your spiritual gifts can be utilized:

 ..Also this summer: 

Questions about Renewal can be directed to Rich Simpson , 819-1797 or rich@critechnology.com

Kiev Orchestra & Chorus
Coming to Panama City!

Our church is joining with First Presbyterian to bring the Kiev Symphony Orchestra & Chorus to the Marina Civic Center on September 29, 2006.  The Kiev Youth Orchestra and Chorus presented an impressive concert to a packed house at First Presbyterian in 2004.  Imagine the beauty and power of this senior professional group, which is almost twice the size of that youth orchestra & chorus. The approximately 150 musicians of KSOC will present an exciting concert featuring choral and symphonic masterpieces as well as spirituals and works by American composers.  

This is a major undertaking that we hope will reach thousands of music lovers throughout Bay and neighboring counties.  The concert will be promoted widely in churches and schools and with appropriate general publicity.  We are seeking financial support from the business community to defray the expenses of presenting this concert free to the community.   

Music Mission Kiev, which organizes the U.S. tour, asks that we invite the musicians into our homes for their overnight stay in Panama City .  This gives us a chance to experience Christian fellowship with our guests and reduces the cost of the project. Church members also will be asked to provide a covered dish supper for the group on the evening of the concert.  Later this summer we will give details of how you can help us with this project.

Jonathan Hayes and Walt McClenny of First Presbyterian are heading the Concert Committee.  If you would like to join the folks helping to make this happen please contact Jonathan at hayesjh@gmail.com or 832-7803.

Women's Bible Study Opportunities

All women are encouraged to take advantage of one of the Women's Bible studies throughout the year.  For more information or to make suggestions for additional studies, please contact Gigi Zimmerman 265-4333.   

1. Women's Sunday School class -- meets Sundays at 9:15 am in the school library.  Cordelia Bealor is currently teaching on the book of Revelation. 
2. Wednesday Evening " Chocolate Circle " --  meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays in Room 18 at 6:30 pm.  Circle leader is Susan Moss and the group is currently studying "I Will Be Your God" by T.M. Moore.  In August this group will only meet on the third Wednesday, August 16. 
3. Saturday morning Prayer Circle-- meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month in a member's home.  In August the meeting will be in the home of Charlene Humphrey, 2611 Stanford Rd. , 914-2809.   Bible study leader is Carol Ault and Circle leader is E.J. Randles. 
4. Thursday morning Bible Study -- studied the book of Ephesians during the summer in various members' homes.  They are taking a break in August and will begin a new study in September.  For more information call Martha Middleton 763-3620 or Gigi Zimmerman 265-4333. 
5. Thursday morning Young Mothers' Bible Study --  this group is taking a break for the summer but will begin meeting again in September on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 9:00 am at the church.  Bible study leader is Jan Hlad 265-2661.  

Covenant Family Album