* Faith Formation Hour 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

* Childcare available 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

The Caring Church in the Heart of the City!

November 1, 2019 Volume 36, No. 11

November 3rd 8:30 & 11:00 am

~ Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost ~ ~ Communion ~

~ Daylight Savings Time...Fall Back ~

Romans 1:8-12 Rev. Chris Weichman

November 10th (One Service) 11:00 am

~ Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost ~ ~ Associate Pastor Candidate ~

~ Special Meeting of the Congregation ~

Candidate Sermon Britney Knight

November 17th 8:30 & 11:00 am

~ Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost ~

Isaiah 65:17-25 Rev. Chris Weichman

November 24th 8:30 & 11:00 am

~ Christ the King / Reign of Christ ~

Luke 1:68-79 Rev. Chris Weichman

November 27th 6:30 pm

~ Thanksgiving Eve Service ~ McBrier Chapel

Share the Bounty Again this year, the Deacons will be collecting & distributing food

donated by FPCC families & friends. The communion table cornucopia, the Greek symbol for abundance,

will be filled to overflowing with nonperishable food items brought forward by all during the November/ December worship times.

We are suggesting canned goods, jars & bottles be brought in November

then boxed & packaged staples in December. Bringing items in this order

will make it easier to fill the cornucopia.

* November 10 ~ soup, juice * November 17 ~ vegetables, fruits

* November 24 ~ meats, peanut butter, jelly, baked beans * December 1 ~ cereals, (hot & cold), pasta, rice, mac & cheese, tea, coffee

* December 8 ~ holiday treats such as homemade cookies, baking mixes (brownies, cookies, cake) & supplies (frosting, decorations, flour, sugar) holiday candy,

gravies, French fried onions

The above list/schedule is only a suggestion & we are grateful for your participation at whatever time is appropriate for you.

If you bring boxed goods on the first Sunday, we will be delighted. If you are unable to worship with us,

drop off your items in the office during the week. Deacons & youth will be packing the nonperishable items in boxes

during youth group on Sunday Dec. 8th then filling with the fresh items & distributing baskets

on Saturday Dec. 14th, 10am to 12pm.

If you know of a family in need, contact Lorie Fritts (898-2046) or Britney Knight (724-766-2594)

so they may feel the love of Christ extended through this ministry.

PAGE 2

THE COVENANT CHIMES VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11 THE COVENANT CHIMES

PAGE 2

A W o rd fro m Pas t o r C h ris

For this November, this month of Thanksgiving, I just want to share one of my favorite quotes about being thankful:

The person who fashions a visionary ideal of church demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the Christian commu-nity with demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God accordingly. He acts as if he is the creator of the Christian community, and as if his dream binds the people together. When things do not go his way, he calls the effort a failure. When his ideal picture is destroyed, he sees the community going to pot. So he becomes, first an accuser of his brethren, then an accuser of God.

Because God has already laid the only foundation of our fellow-ship, because God has bound us together in one body with other Christians in Jesus Christ, we enter into common life not as demanders but as thankful recipients. We are thank-ful for what God has done for us. We thank God for giving us brethren who live by God’s call, God’s forgiveness, and promise. We do not complain about what God does not give us; we rather thank God for what he gives us daily…” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p.27-28. ~ Pastor Chris

www.

FirstCovenantErie.org

Our mission at First Presbyterian Church

of the Covenant is:

To awaken all people to our need

for a life-changing encounter

with the living Lord Jesus Christ,

and to encourage and equip each one to become His fully-

devoted follower.

The session of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant calls for a special meeting of the con-gregation to be held in the sanctuary on Sunday, November 10, 2019 immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. The stated purpose of the meeting is to hear and act upon the report of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee regarding the committee’s candidate to become the installed associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, if the way be clear.

Rev. Chris Weichman W.D. Holmes Moderator Clerk of Session

C o mp o si ng a Leg ac y:

L i ve Fo r wa rd , Gi ve Fo r wa rd

S e mi na r

T h u rs day, Novemb e r 7

a t 3 : 0 0p m & 7: 00 p m

The Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley, a member of the Pres-bytery of Lake Erie as well as Ministry Relations Of-ficer for the Presbyterian Foundation serving the Northeast, will be leading a seminar on Composing a Legacy: Live Forward, Give Forward.

Regardless of income, we all possess the ability to leave a testament regarding what is truly im-portant in our lives. From wills and bequests to trust establishment, Ellie will guide attendees to think about how we can use our resources to creatively craft a faith legacy. The programs will take place in the Parlor and last one hour last one hour. Light refreshment provided.

On November 17th we will be dedicating our pledges for 2020. Please bring your pledge card to church on that day and we will dedicate our time, talent, and resources for the coming year.

Britney L. V. Knight, having been recommended by the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee to serve FPCC as Associate Pastor, will candidate on Sunday, November 10, 2019. There will be one ser-vice that day at 11:00am Britney will lead worship and preach. Session has scheduled a Congregational meeting following worship that day for the purpose of voting on a motion to call Britney and the terms of the call.

The Report of the APNC, describing the details of the process, was mailed to all members of the con-gregation on October 24th.

A ss o ci a te Pas to r C a n di d a te

S p e ci al Me eti ng of t he C on greg ati on

PAGE 3

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

*Please pray regularly for our ministry.

We have listed below some of our

congregational joys & concerns as

The Covenant Chimes goes to press on

October 29, 2019.

Pra y e r

C o nc e rn s … for God’s healing

presence for those discharged

from hospitals since the last edition of

The Covenant Chimes: Kathleen Dandoy

Jan Sesler & Margery Kibler.

*If you know that you are going to be

hospitalized &

would like to be visited please contact

the church office.

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

C o n g re ga t i o na l

R e mi n de rs

PAGE 3

2 019

Ye a r to D a te

Pl e d ge Tot als

Totals are both pledge & non-pledge revenue

(as of & including 10.20.19 services)

YTD Budget: $307,730

YTD Received: $304,068

October’s Average Attendance =

165 people

2 019 Mo n t h ly

At te n d a n ce

The church office will be closed for Thanksgiving

November 28th & 29th.

B u il di n g

C l o se d

Thanksgiving Eve Service Join us on Wednesday, November 27 @ 6:30 pm

in McBrier Chapel to give thanks. We will sing, pray, have a brief message

& a time to share all the things for which we are thankful. Pie in the Parlor following the service.

If you notice an incorrect or missing

birthday, or one that is listed

that should be removed,

please help us by calling the church

office at 814-456-4243

so that we can update

our records.

Thank you!

Nov. 21 Jason Fisher Stella Seifert Ruth Schauer Margaret Smith

Nov. 22 Susan McCann

Nov. 24 Valerie Anderson Kelsey Fair Cindy Kerchoff

Nov. 25 Margaret Matthews

Nov. 27 David Shapter

Nov. 28 Megan Loney

Nov. 30 Patricia Tracy

Nov. 1 Carol Amann Jeffrey Beach Noah Estrich Shannon Patton Jean Tauber Janet Wilson Anne Wyneken

Nov. 2 Nathaniel Stumpf Beverly Wells

Nov. 4 Elizabeth Best

Nov. 5 Makayla Savko

Nov. 6 Haley Fabich

Nov. 7 Nancy Andrews Connor Ferrick Liam Ferrick

Nov. 8 Cecily Sesler

Nov. 9 Cody Bernardini

Nov. 11 Nancy Fair

Nov. 14 Radu Bogdan Judy Gaither

Nov. 15 Barrett Walker

Nov. 17 Kia Howell

Nov. 18 Lena Carlson Clive Tattersall Eleanor Wells

Nov. 20 Willa Austin Gail Bodner

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well it took a church of beautiful people to provide a beau-tiful memorial for John Firman.

As our guests left the church they took away memories of John, the beauty of our church and the wonderful refreshments that were provided by the bereavement committee. A big thank you to everyone! ~ Diane Engelskirger-Firman

A “thank you” for much appreciated outreach to us during this time of loss.

~ Pat Bieber

Pe rs o n al T ha n k Y o u ’ s

PAGE 4

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 4

THE COVENANT CHIMES

C l e rk’s C o r n e r

Due to Rev. Weichman’s travel to Iraq the date for the October stated session meeting was changed to later in the month. Consequently, the Clerk’s Corner is not available for this edition of the Covenant Chimes. The Clerk’s Corner for both October and November will be included in the next edition of the Covenant Chimes. ~ W.D. Holmes, Clerk of Session

Mi s si o n News

First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant is privileged to engage in neighborhood ministry!

Whether it is sharing our space, people or financial resources,

God is working in & through our connection to the community.

Sunday Supper will be served during the month of November by the following churches:

Sunday, November 3rd Church of the Nativity Sunday, November 10th Lamb of God Lutheran Sunday, November 17th Belle Valley & Elmwood Ave. Presbyterian Churches

There is NO Sunday Supper on November 24th as our guests are encouraged to attend the Thanksgiv-ing meal at the MLK Center on that date.

Why not try something new and come to help on a Sunday? Volunteers are asked to help from 3:15 to 6:00 p.m.

S u n day S upp e r

We begin our 8th year as host for Our Neighbors Place on November 20th thru Dec 4th. We have been blessed to participate for the past years and look forward to another year in which we can provide shelter through the cold months of winter for those experiencing homelessness .

We are thankful for the wonderful support this church has provided and ask for continued support this year as this ministry cannot be successful with-out your help. Volunteers are needed for all four-hour shifts and you can sign up with Dale Sweet, 898-3417. We are also in need of meals for the two weeks at our church, please contact Pat Tracy, 864-6118 if you can help. Giving Trees will also be in place very soon to collect various personal items and other food supplies we will need for meals. Prayer and financial support are always appreciated as are donations of clean, gently used clothing. The following items are the ONLY items needed:

Jeans

Men’s winter coats

Men’s winter gloves

Boots

Sweatshirts & sweaters

(hoodies are especially needed)

Dale and Pat are grateful for all of your support. We could never run the shelter without you.

Please remember…

“Lord, when did we see you a stranger and invite you in?” The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. ~ Matthew 25:38

O u r Ne ig h b o rs Pl ac e

Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child in November. Fill your own shoebox or pick up a box and a flyer in the 7th Street En-trance. Directions on how to fill a box are available at www.samaritanspurse.org. Boxes need returned by the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday November 24th. For questions call Cindy Kerchoff at

814-528-8598 or email her at ckquilter@aol.com.

O p e ra ti o n Ch r ist ma s C hil d

Sunday, November 3rd

PAGE 5

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 5

Ne e d a Trai l e r?

The church trailer: It has seen many ministry miles carting suitcases, hand bells and mission trip supplies for the youth over the years. It has helped trans-port countless unsold rummage sale items to the Salvation Army and City Mis-sion. It has helped with several local moves for neighbors and students in crisis.

After more than 30 years of service, it is time for the trailer to get a new home. Have a college student you need to frequently move? Have a camp or cabin or summer cottage you need to carry items to/from a couple times a year? Own/start a business that could use a trailer? Part of an organization that needs a trailer? Or know any friends with students, cabins, businesses or organizations (other churches?) that could use a trailer?

Details: 1989 Slip Stream trailer. Size 6 x10 x 6. Working hitch mechanism and lights. Good tires. As is. Needs exterior paint job. Clean interior. Could be a friend to anyone with things to haul!

The church is asking $750 or your best offer for the trailer. It will go to the first person or business to bring a $750 donation—or more (cash or credit card only)—to the church. If there are no offers of $750 or more, it will go to the person/group who offers the highest amount before November 15. All proceeds will go toward the church’s vehicle and youth travel expenses. Questions? Ask Bill Tauber, Properties Commit-tee: bill.tauber@gmail.com

Visit the Community Gallery at the church this month and check out some of the artistic talents of your church family. Created to Create features works from Tim Cross, Ginnie Hey, Julie Copen, Cindy Kerchoff, Marsha MacKinnon, Esther Hong, Sophia Ginader, Ellie Zimmer and JoAnn Peters. Many mediums are on display: oil, (Asian) watercolor, oil pastel, fiber art, cross-stitch and collage sculpture.

God created an amazing, colorful, interesting world! If God created humans in God’s image, it is easy to see how Junior Creators reflect the Master Creator through art. The Community Gallery is finishing up its third year already and has been a great venue to invite “creators” from across Erie to share their talents.

This exhibit was made possible by the vision and efforts of Julie Copen. If you have creations to share, watch for an-other “members and friends” exhibit in the spring!

C re a te d to C re ate !

As printed in the Inter-Church Ministries Annual Meeting booklet, October 14, 2019:

"Our sincerest appreciation to First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant!

Inter-Church Ministries of Erie County is deeply grateful to the staff and members of the church, includ-ing Rev. Chris Weichman, for your hospitality and generosity in providing us with wonderful office and meeting spaces. You have been ever so helpful to us as we continue to minister to the needs of our local congregations and the community.

First Covenant's gifts to us are significant as we could not have continued without them. Your generosi-ty goes beyond the physical to the atmosphere of welcome and cooperation which allows us to feel a part of

your church family.

May God bless you for your many contributions to the ecumeni-cal efforts of Inter-Church Ministries."

Gra te fu l

PAGE 6

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

Don’t miss the opportunity to gather with old and new friends for dinner on the first two Wednesdays in November. As the weather changes and daylight decreases, it is good to be together!

So far, delicious meals have included pasta, roasted pork, fish, meatloaf, ham, goulash…with tasty sides and a fruit & salad bar. And don’t forget the delicious desserts! All pre-

pared by Jack Jones, Kevin Stevenson and our friends from the Barber National Institute. And all for $6, adults and $3, children/college students. Make your dinner reservation by calling the church office at 456.4243 x100 or emailing anne.sauer@firstcovenanterie.org

Following dinners, we played a “summer BINGO” game, heard from a “generosity panel”, practiced an-cient Christian centering practices, heard about ministry at the U.S./Mexico border, delivered meals to friends, viewed a short film about present strife in Iraq/Syria, celebrated Jack’s 70th birthday, and carved pumpkins…

Deacon? Choir member? Committee member? If your group meets on Wednesday night, grab dinner with friends between 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. Here’s November’s after-dinner lineup: Nov. 6 ~ Create “Thankful for You” cards for our homebound and other friends Nov. 13 ~ Pastor Chris Weichman will share stories and photos of his visit with churches in Iraq Nov. 20 ~ Thanksgiving Eve Prayer Service & Pie at 6:30 p.m. (no dinner) Nov. 27 ~ Thanksgiving Break. No dinner. See you for “Hanging of the Greens” on December 4!

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 6

THE COVENANT CHIMES

A we e ke n d o f Th a n ks: H el p n e ed e d !

J u s t 2 We d ne s day D i nn e rs i n Nove mb e r

C h u rc h Ca le n d ar

To all Elders, Heads of Committees & Groups: please keep Anne informed when planning or changing a meeting date, time or location. It is helpful to her, our night hosts & when scheduling

other church functions & outside meetings. Email any changes to anne.sauer@firstcovenanterie.org ~ Thank you!

Have you liked “First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant” or friended “FirstCovenantChurch” on Facebook? This is one way to share good news about God’s work with FPCC. Also, if you take pho-tos or videos you think help tell our ministry story, be sure to share them to the church pages and/or tag the church!

C h e c k U s O u t

Bill Holmes (foreground)

& Karola Ranft (background)

were table hosts in 2018.

International Students Thanksgiving November 23rd

Gannon’s International students will once again experience an American Thanksgiving at the church on Saturday, November 23, 5:00 -7:00 p.m. The Global Students office staff and faculty will prepare a traditional dinner for 100 students from across the globe. In the spirit of many American Thanks-giving meals, students will be invited to bring a dish to share. YOU are invited to come and dine with stu-

dents to share what Thanksgiving means to you and your family. Guides are also needed to offer stu-dents a tour of the sanctuary. If you can join the fun, which has be-come an FPCC tradition, call or text Seph Kumer at 814.566.0287.

Our West Bayfront/MLK Thanksgiving November 24th

Your help is needed on Sunday, November 24 to host a Thanksgiving meal for the church’s neigh-bors. Dinner will be served from 3-5 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (4th & Chestnut). About 450 diners are anticipated. Table hosts wel-come guests, offer a bless-ing and generally assist table guests. Can you help? Call or text Seph Kumer 814.566.0287.

PAGE 7

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 7

Lots of smiles as everyone enjoyed wonderful family favorite dishes. What a special way to recognize our oneness with other Christians around the world on the first Sunday in October. Fun fact: Did you know World Communion Sunday was first celebrated in Pittsburgh at Shadyside Presbyterian in 1930. It became more widely practiced during WW II by other reformed traditions and is today recognized around the world as a celebration of our unity in Christ.

John & Diane Ream served with

Rachel Kennedy & Gannon ESL students

in October

We GIVE Thanks for Rick Skrbin,

the Gannon Rec Center staff

& Honors students

who gave the church playground

a new coating of bark mulch for safety!

Fro m T h an ks gi vi n g to F in al s

Mark your calendars now. StudySpace returns Thursday, December 5…just one week after Thanksgiving Day! Gannon students will fill the building nightly to study for their finals from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. through December 11. Students love StudySpace! They love meeting church members. They love the support you give by providing snacks and prayers in person. They love how you share the warm, peaceful building with them.

Please plan to help for a shift or two of welcoming students: 8:30 p.m. to mid-night, midnight to 3 a.m., or 3 to 6 a.m. Please watch for bargains on snacks that students love: fruit (apples, “cuties”, bananas, grapes), packed-lunch size chips and crackers and trail mix, cookies, gummy fruit snacks. Consider baking brownies or cookies or cupcakes. Bags of baby carrots and dip are popular too. Anything BUT popcorn. No popcorn, please! You make StudySpace special!

Snacks can be dropped off to the “StudySpace” box in the church office. Sign up to serve a shift or provide baked goods by calling or texting Rachel Kennedy at 412.849.7826. Thanks!

To o C o l d fo r H ot D o g s !

Many Gannon students were greeted on Friday nights in September and October! An average of 75 stu-dents per Friday stopped by the church parking lot at 7th & Myrtle as Rachel Kennedy, Richard Sheasley, Seph Kumer and student volunteers grilled up hot dogs and veggie burgers. Old friends and new stopped by to chat. Students were in groups and alone, coming home from studying and heading out for the night with friends.

As colder weather arrived, the hot dog season ended. Hundreds of students enjoyed a hot dog or bottle of water through this outreach ministry. The most frequent greeting from students: “We love your church! Thanks for doing this!” The motivation behind TGIF is to go where students are and meet them, greet them, ensure them the church cares about them, and begin a connection with them. Many have showed up at Con-nections dinners, worship services and StudySpace. If ministry is about forging relationships, hot dogs have been a great tool for First Covenant to enter into ministry with students.

Gannon student Luke Horner

at the September blood drive.

Dr. Carol Amann always

plans a finals prep night

for her Gannon students

at StudySpace

Wo rl d C o mmu nio n C e le b ra t i o n

PAGE 8

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

December Chimes Newsletter Articles

Due by: Friday, November 8th

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 8

Yo u t h Gro up

THE COVENANT CHIMES

The Youth Group returned this Fall and joined in walking the walk! Due to the extremely nice weather, we were able to get out into the com-munity not once but twice! The first Sunday back, youth were asked to bring $1 with them. They had no idea what they were in for. In fact, nei-ther did we the leaders! To practice generosity, we asked the students to go out into our neighborhood and bless others with the $1 they brought with them.

The youth were split into 2 groups. One group decided to head west and add some money to the Porky’s tip jar on their way to Fat Lenny’s where they purchased a gift certificate for one ice cream treat! They head-ed back out into the neighborhood to bless a stranger’s day with a sweet treat. The other group started out with the idea to pay off a Gannon student’s debt at the library but it was too early in the semester for any-one to have accumulated a debt. After other considerations, they decided to bless the Erie Police Depart-ment with McDonald’s coffees. To use up the six dollars they had, they also purchased a cookie. On their way back to the police station, they gave the cookie to a man in Perry Square. Then, they entered the police station. Many of them exclaimed how they had never been to a police station before and were very nervous! When they explained why they were there, one of the supervising cops on duty that evening came out and greeted them. He told them, “No one really ever thinks of us when it comes to doing something nice!” He was so glad to see them, he gave them a tour of the station and kept telling everyone, “They are from that church up the street! And they brought us coffee, it’s in the breakroom!” The youth got to see a side of po-lice men and women that is not always portrayed on television or in the news. Even though both groups may have only done a couple things with their money, their actions caused a ripple effect and brought

smiles to many more faces.

On our second week together, we journeyed to Frontier Park’s labyrinth. The youth and leaders practiced different spiritual disciplines from the 5th, 16th, and 20th centuries. They gathered in groups to talk about their experiences. One youth commented, “I thought we were coming down here to run around and play a bunch of games, this was much more chill and relaxed. I’m glad we did this in-stead.” Bonus, we got to enjoy the amazing weather that day!

The third week, Kaitlyn Falk invited one of her friends from her time serving as a Vista to come and talk to the students about social justice. Her presentation sparked a lot of really good theological discus-sion and questions from the students that got the leaders really thinking! By the fourth week, we were really on a roll! To explore hospitality, we made tie blan-kets for the patients who enter hospice/palliative care at UPMC Hamot. Before we got started on the blankets, we talked about what this blanket could mean for a stranger—how could this simple act of hospitality help someone die well? I shared with them a note I received from a daughter of someone who received a blanket from our church two years ago. After discussing and hearing the message from the daughter, the youth got busy fast and finished all 4 blankets we had supplies for in less than 45 minutes! Those blankets were dropped off the next day to FPCC’s very own Tracey Townsend who is the Pastoral Care Liaison at Hamot to be distributed.

You never know what could happen if you show up to youth group for a good meal & great company!

D e a dl i n e. . . D ea dl i ne . . . D ea dl i ne ! ! !

PAGE 9

VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 9

Yo u t h Gro up , Lo o ki n g Fo r wa rd . . .

Advent is just around the corner, beginning De-cember 1. This is the time in the church liturgical year that we “expect” and “wait” and “long for” God to enter in to our lives… How do you provide room in your life for God? Who did God have in mind when God came as Emmanuel? Is there “Room for All”? This is our Advent theme. Watch your Sunday worship bulletin and the December Covenant Chimes for details about “Room for All”.

Youth Group Sundays @ 4:00-6:30 PM

November 3rd ~ NO YOUTH GROUP or GTTS (PLE Youth Event Weekend) November 10th ~ Youth Group & GTTS

November 17th ~ Youth Group and GTTS November 24th ~ Youth Group and GTTS

December 1st ~ NO YOUTH GROUP or GTTS (Thanksgiving Weekend) December 8th ~ Youth Group & GTTS (Deacon Baskets Service Project)

December 15th ~ Youth Group Christmas Party

There will be NO YOUTH GROUP or GTTS December 22nd-January 5th. Youth Group & GTTS resumes January 12th at 4:00 PM.

Downtown D’Lights ~ December 6th Youth are invited to serve Hot Chocolate and Coffee to 400 people at Perry Square as Erie celebrates the lighting of the Christmas Tree! More information to come.

Deacons Service Project ~ December 8th during Youth Group 4:00-6:30 PM. The Youth Group will help pack 25 Deacon Baskets full of non-perishable items for families and friends of First Covenant who need a little extra help during the holiday season.

Children and Youth Advent Service ~ December 15th one service at 11 AM led by the children and youth. All youth are invited to participate. Preparations will take place during youth group and faith for-mation coming up in November and December.

Our Neighbor’s Place ~ All families with young children ages Pre-K through 5th are invited to help prepare and serve a meal to the guests of Our Neighbor’s Place on November 23rd , 5:45 PM-8:30 PM. Pizza will be provided for dinner for families. We ask that each family bring $10-$20 to help con-tributed to the cost of the meal. If interested, please sign-up with Britney Knight as soon as possible: Britney.knight@firstcovenanterie.org

Faith Formation Advent Art Project ~ On Sun-day, December 22nd during the Faith Formation Hour (9:30-10:30 AM), all young families are invited to stay with their child during Faith Formation to partake in a felt Christmas art project led by our very own Ellie Zimmer. This project requires help from an adult, so grandparents are invited, too! Each family will create their own project that will be framed and ready for pick-up on Christmas Eve! Families are asked to gather in the Sr. High Lounge that morning. Come create together a piece of art that you will cherish for years to come! If you know you will definitely be attending that Sunday, please let Ellie Zimmer know (grupetto@aol.com) but all are welcome that day! This just helps her prepare enough supplies for everyone.

The Children built Solomon’s Temple in Faith Formation on September 29th. They divided themselves to be stone cutters, carpenters, artists, and gold smiths. These materials com-bined just like Solo-mon’s materials to make a place for the ark of the covenant and the ten commandments. Way to Go!

C h il d ren ’s Fai t h Fo rma t i o n C h il d re n & Youn g Fa mi l i es

“ Ro o m fo r Al l” t h i s Adve n t

PAGE 10

THE COVENANT CHIMES VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 10

Ma ke Mu si c w i th U s!

~ Praise Band ~

Interested in playing an instrument and/or singing in a band setting? This group is open to all and we

would love to have you come and join in the fun we are having! We are learning new music and working to-gether to add another style of music to what we offer here at FPCC. We rehearse directly following the 2nd service, usually in the Music Room. Want more details or to be added to the email chain?

~ Youth ~

Greater than the Sum, for grades 6-12, meets directly after Youth Group from 5:45-6:30 in the Sanctu-ary on Sundays. All are welcome re-gardless of previous experience! Please feel free to come with sugges-tions for music that helps you to feel and explore your faith. This group will continue to sing, ring bells and explore a wide variety of genres and instrumentation as we together ex-plore the music that the Spirit uses to speak to us.

~ Kids ~

Music/Faith Formation hour for ages 4 through 5th grade is from 9:30-10:30 on the third floor on Sundays. All are welcome!! The music will both reinforce the lessons taught and beginning in October this time will be when the children learn and explore the message of Christmas by prepar-ing a special Christmas Service which will occur on December 15th, see de-tails above.

~ Junior Ringers ~

A chimes group for kids younger than 6th grade on Wednesdays nights from 6:00-6:30 (directly following Connections Dinner) in the Music Room. All are wel-come regardless of experi-ence!

~ Missional Music Opportunity ~

We have been using music to welcome our Sun-day Suppers guests and during Wednesday Night Connections dinners. If you are in-terested in sharing your gifts during these times, whether it be vocal or instrumental, one song or a set of music, a solo or group, please con-tact Monty.

Want more details or to be added to the email chain or even just have questions? Contact montgomery.service@firstcovenaterie.org for info on children, youth, missional opportunities &

Praise Band or bachfan1956@gmail.com for Adult Choir & Adult Bells.

~ Adults ~

Covenant Choir rehearses on Wednesdays in the music room at 7:15. Interested to see what choir is all about??! NEW MEMBERS ARE WEL-COME! Come and find out! The Covenant Bells rehearse Wednesdays at 6:30 in the Sanctuary.

“Room at the Manger for All” Kids & Youth Advent Service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on December 15th in the Sanctuary. We will be exploring the ways that Christ’s birth is celebrated around the world through scripture, song & visual medi-ums, reminding us that Christ’s birth was good news to all the Earth & there is room for each one of us at the Manger. All kids & youth are invited to participate ~ see below for which group would be best for you!

After finishing up our series on the Texts of Terror in the Bible, we decided to switch things up again! Our group chose the book Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Tay-lor to read and discuss during the month of November. If interested, please speak to Britney Knight as soon as possible. Books are available now! We will meet at 7:00 PM in the Parlor beginning November 5th. Our last meeting will be November 26th. We will take a break in December. Stay tuned for the next series! Some people have been asking what the “Texts of Terror” are and if they could have a list of them. Britney is happy to provide you a list of scriptures the group

looked at. Please send her an email: Britney.knight@firstcovenanterie.org. If you would like to take her out for a cup of coffee, Britney would love to discuss the passages with you anytime!

Wo me n & Th e Wo rd

PAGE 11

THE COVENANT CHIMES VOLUME 32 NO. 5

VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 11

First Covenant is collaborating (again) with the Erie Downtown Partnership and the Erie Art Museum for “Downtown D’Lights” and “Gallery Night”. They are on the same night: Friday, December 6. So many hands are needed!

We will serve hot chocolate and share flyers about the church’s Advent “Room for All” events at the Perry Square 5 p.m. light-up. The beautiful 35-foot Christmas tree will be lit in the park as part of the festivities. The sanctuary will be opened from 6 to 10 p.m. for “Gallery Night”, featuring 5 large nativity scenes created by Dr. Michael DeSanctis and music provided by church choirs and staff, Gannon’s Pep Band and other friends of the church.

Your help is needed making and serving hot chocolate at the park. Or welcoming visitors to the church. Either way, First Covenant is demonstrating that it is a relevant, collaborative partner by participating in downtown Erie seasonal events. And the community is receptive! Join the fun… Call, text or email Seph Kumer to indicate how you can serve: 814.566.0287 or seph.kumer@firstcovenanterie.org

D ow n tow n L i g ht - u p & Ga ll e r y N i g h t

Devotionals will be available at all entrances to the sanctuary and the 7th Street office entrance beginning December 1st. You are welcome to take one for yourself and one or more for friends and family. Families with more than one child can take as many devotionals as they need, so that every child in their family can do the activities.

Adults ~ Heading to the Manger: Advent Meditations From Great Christian Writers of the Past “Like the shepherds before us, a lot of us are heading to the manger during the season of Advent, but we are not making this journey alone. We have the voices of many of the faithful followers of Christ ringing in our ears as we draw closer to the newborn Christ.”

Teens ~ Advent See-Son “This eye-opening booklet of daily devotions brings the history and meaning of this spe- cial time of preparation to light. Teens and young adults will focus their full attention on the Bethlehem manger, and then look up and out to the work around them, encouraging others to keep an eye out for our returning Lord.”

Families with Young Children ~ An Illustrated Advent for Families: In Light & Darkness “These weekly reflections explore the theme of light and darkness in Advent scriptures. How we understand these ideas affect the way we view God, our faith, and our world. Inspired by Barbara Brown Taylor's book, Learning to Walk in the Dark, we re-frame traditional understandings of light as good and darkness as bad or evil.

Each week, there is a suggested scripture to read, a short reflection, discussion questions, an activity (with lots of coloring opportunities), and a prayer to explore the theme of light and darkness working in balance in our lives.” This devotional also comes with instructions on how to build a shadow box theatre, so you can act out the story of Christmas using light and shadows.

Adve n t D evot i on a ls 2019

We will “Hang the Greens” and make “Room for All” on Wednesday, December 4 by decorating the church after our first Advent potluck dinner. Popular during Lent & Ad-vent 2018, potluck Connections dinners return during Advent for 2 weeks. A main course, basic salad and beverages will be provided each week and you are asked to bring an appetizer, side dish, dessert or ?? to share. It’s roast beef on December 4!

There’s no set charge to attend. $3 donation requested. Bring a co-worker, neighbor or friend!

“ H a n g t h e Gre en s ” & Ma ke “Roo m fo r A l l” … wit h Adve n t Potl ucks

PAGE 12

THE COVENANT CHIMES VOLUME 32 NO. 5 VOLUME 36, NO. 11

PAGE 12