CHURCH PROFILE

Covenant Presbyterian

Church

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 13601 Aleppo Drive

Sun City West AZ 85375 covenantsuncitywest.org

LOCATION

Covenant Presbyterian Church serves the cause of Christ in Sun City West and the adjacent area of Surprise, AZ in the N.W. Valley of Phoenix. Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand, built by Del Webb and offers many activities for senior adults; residency in these communities is age restricted. The adjacent areas of Surprise AZ are family oriented with all types of housing available.

HISTORY

Covenant PC began in 1978 as a home Bible study. Members first gathered for worship on February 4, 1979, holding services in the Western Savings building in Sun City AZ. The following year the congregation organized as a mission church and moved to Sun City West. On June 14, 1981, we were recognized as a fully functional church by the Presbyterian Church in America. Pastor Don Esty dedicated our present sanctuary for worship on May 10, 1987. The Fellowship Hall, which now bears his name was finished five years later.

BELIEFS

We believe and practice Christian doctrines as revealed by Holy Scripture. As summaries of our faith, we hold to the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, the Westminster Confession of Faith, as well as the Larger, Shorter and Heidelberg Catechisms. For all matters concerning church government, discipline and worship, we follow the standards established in the Book of Church Order.

CONGREGATION

Covenant PC is a small congregation of less than 100, typical worship attendance being about fifty. All of our members are older than age forty-five. Most are over sixty-five, retired and joined us during the past ten years. Some members and regular visitors are ‘snowbirds’: they live elsewhere part of the year and worship here when they are in Arizona.

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Church

PASTOR

The position of pastor was vacated April 2019. We have teaching elders and pulpit supply bringing Covenant with faithful teaching of God’s Word.

OFFICERS

Covenant PC is governed by a session of two ruling elders who meet with the pastor at least once monthly. A board of five deacons, manage our buildings, grounds and financial operations. They also care for members in great need or distress. Once every quarter the elders, deacons and pastor meet in joint session to conduct church business. A part-time office manager assists with church ministries and business issues.

Cultural Mandate

Applying the gospel to every sphere of life with a view toward seeing everything done to the glory of God

Fellowship

Living the life of mutual love, intimate sharing, and the bearing of one another’s burdens in keeping with Christ’s command to love one another

Loving Others

Expressing our love for Christ by serving others after the manner of our Lord

Glorify God • Assembling for worship of God through

hymns, praises, prayer, scriptural instruction, and partaking of the sacraments (Acts 2:42)

• Bringing everything into subjection to Christ by applying the love and justice of God to the structures of society (Micah 6:8; Genesis 1:28; Matthew 5:13-16)

Edify the Believers • Strengthening the body of Christ

spiritually through instruction in the Word of God and mutual encouragement (Ephesians 4:12,13)

• Serving the physical needs of the body of Christ (Romans 12:15; Galatians 6:10)

Testify to the World • Sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus

Christ with unbelieving people both near and far (Matthew 28:19,20; Acts 1:8)

• Serving the physical needs of those outside the body of Christ (Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 25:31-46)

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Our Core Values Our Purpose

Biblical Theology

through a Reformed Lens

Believing biblical theology as embraced and taught by the great leaders of the Reformation

Evangelism

Sharing the gospel with the lost

Discipleship

Training and equipping believers for personal growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and in their preparedness to train and equip others

Sunday Morning Worship Worship through the Word, sacraments, praise, prayer, confession of faith and sin

Sunday Bible Class Adult

Prayer Scripture admonishes Christians to assemble for praise, thanksgiving and prayer. At Covenant PC, our pastor regularly leads the congregation in corporate prayer. When we meet to study God’s Word every week, people also offer prayers and supplication. In addition, our members frequently hold small, informal prayer meetings in the community. We teach and encourage all believers to engage in the daily discipline of prayer, worship and the study of God’s Word.

WIC Ministry The ministries of Covenant PC are Biblically centered and Gospel driven. They include an active, Women in the Church (WIC) group. Women in the Church believes that every woman should know Christ personally and be committed to extending His kingdom in her life, home, community and throughout the world. WIC schedules regular activities that involve widows and singles, crochet and knitting, ‘Church Mice’ and Bible studies. WIC also plans and prepares community outreach events and special event meals.

Music Our music ministry consists of a small and talented seasonal choir supported by an organist and pianist. Visiting soloists and groups enhance our music ministry. This ministry leads the congregation in worship, using a range of music from the past and present, glorifying God and expressing God’s Word in song and in praise. As our church grows, we desire a full-time choir and music ministry.

Glorify God Testify to the World

Every Sunday following worship service the congregation gathers in Esty Hall for conversation, snacks and coffee. Visitors are encouraged to stay and join in the gathering. On the third Sunday of each month, we hold a fellowship luncheon after worship.

Presbyterian

Missions Covenant PC encourages and actively supports world and home missions. We support Mission to the World which assists the local church to spread the gospel throughout the world. We also support Mission to North America a church-planting and outreach agency.

Fellowship

FACILITIES

Our church is located on a three-acre campus at the intersection of Spanish Gardens and Aleppo Drive. Designed in Spanish mission style, the two main buildings are architecturally attractive and enhance the desert community. The sanctuary will comfortably seat over two hundred adults and has adjoining rooms used by the choir and other ministries. Standing adjacent to the sanctuary, Esty Hall includes a main assembly room, kitchen, classrooms, library, pastor’s office and administrative suite. Other features on our beautifully landscaped grounds include a well-lighted parking lot, and a memorial garden.

FINANCIAL

Covenant PC is currently debt free.

FUTURE PLANS

Our church’s opportunity to grow and prosper cannot be overstated. Sun City West is adjacent to Surprise, Arizona’s 10th largest city. Surprise grew from a population of 31,148 in 2000 to 117,517 in 2010 an increase of almost 300%. The nearest reformed churches are more than ten miles away. We are a senior oriented church, However Covenant has the capacity for growth in all age ranges, including a youth ministry.

Covenant Presbyterian Church

Total Membership: Ministry and Missions 2020 Missions Budget $24,400:

Presbyterian

2019 60 Full 10 Associate

2015 58

New City Phoenix

Mission to North America

Age Range: 48 - 106 Mission to the World

Our Church Quick Facts

Year Founded: 1978

Presbytery: Arizona

Annual Budget: Approx. $190,000 Operational: Approx. $198,179.40

Support Staff: 1

Sunday Schedule:

9:00 AM Adult Bible Study 10:30 AM Worship Service 6:00 PM Vespers

Facilities: 3-acre campus in a retirement community 2 buildings:

• Sanctuary

o 200+ seat capacity o Choir Room o Office

• Fellowship hall consisting of: o Main assembly hall o Kitchen o Classrooms o Library o Pastor’s office o Administrative suite

Memorial Garden No Outstanding Debt

Population, 2010 24,535

Persons 65 years and over, percent 2010 83.6%

Female persons, percent 2010 56.3%

White alone, 2010 97.8%

Black or African American, 2010 0.8%

American Indian and Alaska Native, 2010 0.2%

Hispanic or Latino, 2010 1.2%

Asian, 2010 0.6%

Median household income, 2009-2013 $45,698

Quick Facts Surprise Glendale Peoria Phoenix Arizona

Population, 2018 estimate 138,161 250,702 172,259 1,660,272 7,171,646

Population, 2010 117,517 226,437 154,084 1,447,626 6,392,310

Population, percent change:

April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018

17.6%

10.9%

11.8%

14.7%

12.2%

White alone, 2018 84.4% 78.2% 84.9% 71.9% 82.2%

Hispanic or Latino, 2018 18.7% 37.3% 19.1% 42.5% 31.6%

Black or African American, 2018 5.9% 6.2% 3.2% 6.9% 5.1%

Asian, 2018 2.3% 4.3% 3.8% 3.6% 3.7%

American Indian and Alaska Native, 2018 0.4% 1.6% 0.7% 2.0% 5.3%

Median household income, 2013-2017 $62,927 $49,383 $69,589 $52,510 $53,510

Our Community Demographics

Demographics – Sun City West

Demographics – Other Local Communities

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Housing

Grocery

Utilities

Healthcare

Misc.

Transportation

100 =

National

Average

TOTAL

Atlanta, GA 104.2 101.8 85.7 107 105.1 100.6 102.3

Birmingham, AL 77.7 88.5 108.3 82 91 90 87.8

Dallas, TX 112.8 101.9 107.9 105.2 106.7 93.5 106.7

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 159.3 100.9 103.1 94.6 101.4 107.6 118.8

Indianapolis, IN 77 96.4 103.7 92 99.2 91.7 91.7

Nashville, TN 99.8 100.8 97.8 91.8 104.2 103.3 101.3

Phoenix, AZ 96 97 109.2 92.9 92 113.2 97.4

Richmond, VA 85.2 88.1 96.4 109 101.1 83.9 93

Seattle, WA 225.7 128.6 107.9 130 136.4 143.6 159.4

St. Louis, MO 69.1 105 101 92.7 89.3 80.6 85.9

Covenant PC is located in Sun City West, Arizona, part of the metro Phoenix area, the “Valley of the Sun.” Sun City West is in the northwest section of the Valley, which also includes Surprise, Glendale, Peoria and Sun City. Sun City West offers many activities for senior adults: recreation, shopping, seven golf courses and over 100-chartered clubs.

The metro area’s cultural life is rich. Between the symphonies, museums, concerts, community theatre productions and touring Broadway shows, as well as various Art Walk events, you could attend a cultural event every night of the week and never run out of things to do.

The Valley of the Sun offers many opportunities for hiking, running, mountain biking, and backpacking. The many lakes in the area also provide opportunities for fishing and waterskiing; Lake Pleasant is only 25 minutes from the church. If you want to get away from the city, Grand Canyon National Park is only 4 hours away and the California beach is only 5½ hours to the west. In the winter, skiing is only 2½ hours to the north.

Our corner of the valley is home to four public school districts, two large private Christian schools, and over 50 charter schools. In addition, the metro area boasts five institutions of higher education, including two distinctly Christian universities.

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Cost of Living Comparison

Local Interests

Covenant Presbyterian Church’s current schedule of worship and regular weekly events:

Sunday 8:00 am Men’s Breakfast – All invited 9:00 am Adult Bible class

10:30 am Worship service 6:00 pm Vespers service in Esty Hall

Tuesday 10:00 am Men’s & Women’s Bible Study 2:00 pm Crochet/Knitting Ministry – in Library

Wednesday 6:00 pm Bible Study & Prayer

Thursday 9:30 am Choir Rehearsal 2:00 pm Game Day at Nora Lou’s

1st Sunday of Month – Communion 1st Tuesday of Month – Singles, Widows and Widowers at Nora Lou’s 3rd Sunday of Month – Luncheon in Esty Hall 5th Sunday of Month – Hymn Sing for Vespers November-April – Choir Rehearsal Other events added as scheduled

SCHEDULE

Presbyterian