New Covenant Community Church

The Messenger

February 2019

Ecumenical in Outlook, Presbyterian in Heritage

1587 West Exchange Street, Akron, OH 44313

330.253.6989 | www.covenantakron.org office@covenantakron.org

Ultimately, the justification for climbing Everest,

if any justification is needed,

will lie in the seeking of other “everests.”

– John Hunt, The Ascent of Everest, page 235

Every day, we at New Covenant Community Church are given the opportunity to embark on an adventure of faith – an extreme faith trek. It will be “extreme,” for God always calls us leave behind the old order for the new world that God is preparing for us.

It will involve “faith,” for it takes faith to trust God’s promises of newness, to believe that God is leading us to a new future, rather than settling for easy accommodation.

And it will involve a “trek,” for in the Bible a life of extreme faith is characterized by a journey that never ends. In fact, the New Testament speaks about Christian discipleship as following “the way,” and early Christians were described as being people of “the Way.”

As a result, we are the members of our congregational climbing team, and God summons us to continue the ascent to a higher spiritual peak, so that we may learn the lessons that God wants to teach us.

On this trek, not only are breath-taking vistas of God’s grace revealed to us, but companionship and collegiality are also forged among the high mountains of this spiritual journey, as we combine our efforts to attain the fulfillment of sharing this adventure together.

Because all of us will face difficulties in ascending the summit of our faith and often find ourselves weary and footsore, we are dependent upon our partners on the journey, and together we can continually discover new routes, new mountains, new challenges, as we live out the high calling of Jesus Christ.

In addition, nourishment for the trek is supplied through the blessings of the sacrament that is available around the Lord’s table, and other seasoned mountain guides also provide their wisdom and insight in our times of fellowship, conversation, and Bible Study.

Let us make every effort to continue our journey of discipleship, so that the extreme faith trek to which God calls us will lead our congregation into the future as we seek to serve our Lord, our church, our community, and our world . . . for, as John Hunt writes:

Adventure can be found in many spheres,

not merely upon a mountain, and not necessarily physical. . . .

there is no height, no depth, that the spirit of humankind,

guided by a higher Spirit, cannot attain.”

Blessings, Tom

Dear New Covenant Community Church Members and Friends,

 

A new year has begun, and the good news is that New Covenant Community Church is strong in both faith and finances. Our pastor continues to give inspiring sermons, our fellowship and mission commitments remain strong, and we continue to conduct weekly Bible studies on Sunday and Thursday. We have also been blessed by our partnership with the Gospel of Christ ministry.

Our pledge campaign for 2019 produced a higher level of pledging than in 2018. We have also been blessed with our partners in faith with the Gospel of Christ ministry. The Governing Board approved the 2019 Budget on January 28, and the rent we receive from the Gospel of Christ ministry is a key revenue source. A presentation on finances to the congregation is planned for Sunday, February 10.

The building renovation project is complete, and Jackie Roth, our Treasurer, gave a report on the project at the Souper Bowl lunch on Sunday, February 3. We have a 20-year, $200,000 mortgage with Wayne Savings Bank, which we have been making payments on for 1½ years. We hope to further reduce our mortgage amount with Memorial funds this year.

 

2019 should be a year of growth and commitment for our congregation, as we enjoy the benefits of our renovation and our inspired pastoral leadership.

 

Thank you all for your continuing faith in New Covenant Community Church and its mission.

 

Yours in Christ,

John Sezna

2019 Governing Board President

Our Thursday afternoon

Bible Study on Matthew's gospel meets every week at 4:00pm in the Fellowship Hall.

“Blessings in a Backpack” Welcome Backpacks

for Immigrants

During Advent, our congregation highlighted the plight of the immigrant community as we prepared to celebrate the birth of Christ Child. Now we embark on this season after Epiphany, in which the One who is the Light of the world shines upon the world. (The word, epiphany, comes from two Greek words – “¦ðé / epi” meaning “upon,” and “öáßíù / phaino” meaning “to shine.”) As we seek to serve our fellow human beings, we will shine Christ’s light in the world by sharing “Welcome Backpacks” for the folks who live on the margins. We will pack 30 backpacks with basic items which are needed by families seeking asylum who have no money, food, water, or supplies to provide comfort on their journey. The Mission Committee has donated $400 for this project.

We are so grateful for the magnificent response that we have received for our backpack project.  We only have a few more items which need to be donated.  On Sunday, February 17, we hope to have all of the items collected, and on Thursday, February 21, at 10:00am, we can fill the backpacks with the designated items.  We will then dedicate these “Welcome Backpacks” in worship on March 3 (Transfiguration Sunday).  Thank you so much for participating in this meaningful and worthwhile project.

February Improvements

After replacing the tables in Fellowship Hall and improving the children’s corner in January, we will hang the cross in February and remove unnecessary items from the cabinets and library shelves. We will need assistance with the library. Please let me know if you can help.

Ken Williams, Facilities

AAIC News

“We Are Charleston: Triumph & Tragedy at Mother Emanuel”

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 16 for the rescheduled fall event sponsored by AAIC and the Summit Co. Public Library—"We are Charleston: Triumph & Tragedy at Mother Emanuel," featuring one of the authors, Dr. Bernard E. Powers. From 2:00pm-5:00pm in the auditorium of the Summit Co. Main Library downtown. Dr. Powers’ talk will last about an hour with time for questions and a brief reception afterwards. Feel free to leave when you need to. There will be a dinner afterwards with Dr. Powers beginning just after 5:00pm at DBA (Dante’s), Northside in Akron. Nancy will try to arrange a ride for anyone who would like one. Parking is free across the street. See Tom if you would like a book. (See flyer below.)

More reporting in next month’s issue devoted in part

to the upcoming 10th anniversary celebration

of the Fairlawn Hunger Walk on May 5.

Our next event is the

Easter Sunday Continental Breakfast,

April 21, from 9:30am-10:00am

in the Fellowship Hall.

Our delicious breakfast will be followed

by an Easter Egg Hunt until 10:15am. 

This is in the planning stage now. 

Assistance from others will be needed. 

See Nancy or Heidi if you wish to help out.

Nancy Williams

Sing to the Lord a New Song!

Any singers who would like to be a part of our

Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday worship services, please meet with Marlys at the front

of the sanctuary after the February 10 service.

March Newsletter Deadline | Friday, February 18 | 1:30pm

Thank you for submitting your newsletter articles to Lynne

at both the church email and lwisard@yahoo.com

receive the newsletter by the 1st of each month. Due to my office hours, receiving

submissions earlier will be extremely helpful! Thank you so much!

A great time was had by all at our “Souper Bowl” Sunday luncheon on February 3.

16FEB. AAIC

FORUMFree and Open to the Public

Join us for an interactive presentation and discussion of We Are Charleston: Tragedy and Triumph at Mother Emanuel. Dr. Bernard E. Powers, Jr., Professor Emeritus of History at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, will discuss the June 2015 murder of nine members of Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and also the origins and nature of the AME denomination. Without this understanding, we cannot fully grasp the meaning of what happened and why “Mother Emanuel” was the killer’s target. Presented in cooperation with the Akron Area Interfaith Council. At the event, books will be available for purchase from the Friends of Main Library. There will be a book signing at this event.

WE ARE CHARLESTON: Tragedy and Triumph

at Mother EmanuelSaturday, February 16

2-5 pmMain Library Auditorium

Author Talk

B&G-9957/700/10-18/pb