THE COVENANT CONNECTION Volume XXII No. 2 November 2017

Covenant United Methodist Church

Mission: “To make disciples of Jesus Christ” whose Christ-centered lifestyles of personal and social holiness help “transform the world” through education, health and wellness, creation care, and other acts of compassion and justice in the world.

New Hope Resource Center

November Fundraiser

Order a Christmas wreath or cross

made of fir boughs, and support

New Hope Resource Center.

Wreaths are $16 and Crosses are

$20. Six dollars of each sale goes

to New Hope where it may be used

to help neighbors keep their homes

warm, put enough fuel in the gas

tank to travel to a medical appoint-

ment, or assist them as they battle

through a crisis. 2018 calendars are

also available for $7 each.

See Ron & Cheryl Vaughan in the

living room before and after wor-

ship on Oct. 29 or Nov 5 to place

your order. Wreaths will be availa-

ble for pick up around Thanksgiv-

ing.

In November, our collection focus

is providing small gifts (approx.

$10 in value.) for women & men.

This gifts are made available for

children to select and wrap to give

to their parents for Christmas.

All donations can be placed in the

barrel at church and we will deliver

them to New Hope.

Sister Church Scholarships November is our Scholarship Drive Month, Give a gift today!

God continues to work through us to help the

young people of El Paisnal and our Sister Church,

Buenas Nuevas .

Last year we were able provide scholarships for 81

students to buy the basic school supplies necessary

to attend school. This is what parents must pay for their children to attend

school:

Thirty dollars provides shoes.

Sixty dollars provides uniforms and various items.

One hundred and twenty dollars provides tuition.

In El Paisnal, these items are mandatory for students to attend school.

Through above-and-beyond donations from Covenant members, one young

lady has graduated from the university in San Salvador, and another is

about to. Yet another student is in a post-secondary program. He has need-

ed extensive dental work, which has been paid for by a Covenant couple.

Pastor Chemita reports that “everything in the community is fine, thanks to

God, and we count on a great police force to keep us safe.”

Chimera also recently wrote:

“I would like to share our gratitude for the opportunity of supporting the

scholarship program. Eighty kids are continuing their schooling, thanks to

you. We at the church feel very grateful for your grace and love. We would

also like to thank you for supporting the English and computer project.

There are kids from within and from outside the church who are participat-

ing. We send lots of hugs and much love and we ask for your prayers for

us.”

Covenant is hoping to gather and send a new delegation in July 2018. For

information, contact Fleeta Holcomb at 994-6238.

Donations of any amount for this year’s scholarship drive can be made by

check or cash to the church office. Indicate on your checks that the money

is designated for Sister Church scholarships.

UMW Mission News Covenant’s United Methodist Women want to tell you more about our 5 KIVA women. Kiva believes that by lending alongside thousands of others is one of the most powerful and sustainable ways to create a partnership of mutual dignity and makes it easy to touch more lives with the same dollar. The program begins by a person or organiza-tion funding a loan. The loan gets repaid and then you are able to fund another loan! We have chosen the follow-ing five women and here is more about them and their projects: Ana Patricia, Gotera, El Salvador; buy corn and gas to sell tortillas and 4 tables and chairs for clients to eat sand-wiches and tacos. She has a partner and a child. Only attended thru 5th grade, wants to continue education. Lina Marielly, Bogota, Columbia; purchase a washing machine and general merchandise (school supplies, reams of paper, ink, accessories, cosmetic products for her store (Provides services including internet, laundromat and sales of merchandise.) She is 24 years old and a single mother of two. Reina Del Carmen, Gotera, El Salvador; buy yarn to make hammocks. She is 22 and lives with parents and sis-ter. Only finished 8th grade. She dreams of having a well-established business and trusts in God that with the help of loans she can fulfill this dream. Anahit, of Armenia: help purchase a mower (grass gathering tool) and horse to help with livestock (cow, sheep, bees, hens.) Anne, Maine, USA: replace snow plow/delivery truck Thank you for your continued support of your United Methodist Women. Our next meeting is on Monday, November 13 at 7:00pm. Please join us. All women are welcome.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Nov. 18, for Family Promise of Spokane’s 14th Annual Benefit Night at the Spokane Civic Theatre. Doors open at 6:30pm and play begins at 7:30. Have you ever seen the movie A Christmas Story? All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder Air Rifle. But, his mom is afraid he will shoot his eye out! This upcoming Christmas season, the Spokane Civic Thea-tre will be bringing this musical production to Spokane, and our very own Mary Jo Woods will perform in it! In addition to your ticket to this hilarious play, you will also enjoy dessert & refreshments. An UNauction will be held during the evening and at-tendees can donate to purchase common supplies needed for the families of Family Promise (i.e. diapers, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.) At the UNauction in-stead of RECEIVING a prize, people can start this Christmas season by GIVING a gift to families in need. Tickets are $35 each, or $25 for children. Purchase your tickets from the church office, while supplies last.

New 456 Youth Group

If you are in the 4th, 5th or 6th grade, we

have a special new youth group starting just

for you and your friends on Nov. 5th.

We are going to kick-off on the first Sunday

of November during the Adult Ed hour

(10:45 - 11:45 or Noonish).

Kirk Foo & Elizabeth Williams will be the

leaders. We hope you will come!

All Church Conference

Tuesday, Nov 28

Our Schedule:

6:00pm Church Council Meets with

District Superintendent

7:00pm All-Church Conference

At this annual all church meeting we

celebrate our ministries through giving

reports, and approve our leaders for the

coming year. Everyone is invited!

1943 Robert Iller

1946 Thomas Latimer

1948 James Thrapp

1954 Donavon John Harris

1958 Kent Richardson

1961 James Witherspoon

1962 Gregg Longmeier

1971 Mark Craze

1972 John Gimbel

1975 Rob Sanford

1980 Kent Thornbrugh

1985 Grant Furulie

1986 Kurt Hartvigsen

1991 Jason Schwab

1992 Joshua Holcomb

2001 Matthew VanDeLeest

2001 Nathan Masinter

2002 Kyle Robinson

2002 Ryan VanDeLeest

2002 Ryan Yoke

2003 Jeffery Schoening

2006 Benjamin Smith

2006 Edward Miller

2006 Kyle Sherman

2006 Tom Jeltsch

2006 Scott Schoening

2007 Nikolus Richey

2008 Timothy Duryea

2008 William Downey

2008 Alexander Hancock

2009 Hunter Jensen

2009 Brian Kinder

2009 Steven Cathcart

2009 Christopher Leslie

2009 Bryce Purdy

2009 Travis Watrous

2009 Andrew Williams

2009 William Decker

2009 Dominick Rahn

2010 Brent Gilliam

2010 Kyle Kinder

2010 Daniel Kuiper

2010 Andrew Miller

2010 Ryan Ackerman

2010 Riley Colliton

2011 Samuel Fosberg

2011 Patrick McKee

2011 Nathan McReynolds

2011 Charles Clark

2011 Connor Tsuchida

2011 Stone McMinn

2012 Tanner Jensen

2012 John Hoover

2012 Jeffrey Kinder

2012 Blasé Neumann

2013 Zachary Sims

2013 Mark Gilliam

2013 Gabriel Dart

2014 Matthew Everett

2014 Joshua Dilling

2014 Austin Ackerman

2015 Evan Sanford

2015 Travis Rathe

2015 Zachary Shipman

2015 Preston Furulie

2015 Mitchell Ward

2015 Collin Grosse

2016 Aric Williams

2016 Gavin Furulie

2016 Justin Carbary

2016 Alec Hoover

2016 Andrew Hoover

New Eagle Scout Plaque Dedication Sunday, November 26, 2017, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

We are ready to dedicate a new Eagle Scout plaque made by George Newell using the hand-carved eagles he had used on the former plaque! All are invited to come celebrate our scouting ministry and the Eagle Scouts in our midst. With 76 names of Eagle Scouts now on this new plaque, we expect quite a reunion. There were 25 names of Eagle Scouts on the former plaque, including scouts from Troop #218 for which Covenant United Methodist Church is the charter organization, as well as those active in the congregation of Covenant United Methodist Church. All of those names are included on the new plaque. In addition to newer Eagle Scouts in the troop and congregation, adult volunteers for Troop #218 who are Eagle Scouts have had their names add-ed to the list of names on the new plaque. Troop #218 is a model troop for the Inland Northwest Council with so many boys achieving their Eagle Rank. Many thanks to the United Methodist Women who have split the cost of the new plaque with the troop and will be hosting a reception after the dedication in the worship ser-vice.

Please join us for this celebration on Sunday, Nov. 26 during worship. Reception following.

Boy Scout Troop #218 In October, I participated in the Board of Review for three of the seven boys ad-vancing in rank at the troop's Court of Hon-or. Three boys achieved Life Rank and are now in the process of choosing their Eagle Scout project. I also began teaching the Family Life merit badge for the troop. The scouts went on a King Salmon Fishing Trip Oct. 20-21 on the Columbia River by Hanford Reach (Verinta Bridge), south of Vantage. Six scouts and four adults partici-pated. Troop #218 is looking for two more canoes for their backpacking/camping trip the first weekend in November. They have three canoes, but that's not enough for all the boys who want to go. If you have a canoe you can loan, please contact Elizabeth, 994-3302. Elizabeth Williams

A Great Christmas Party Planned

Covenant United Methodist Church – “shining God’s light into the darkness.”

It’s inspiring to note that we do that every night, shining the Christ-light from our two

church towers. In liturgical color that light is beautiful at night time, and it is hope-filled –

green for Kingdomtide right now, shining the promise of “swords into ploughshares,” eve-

ry man, woman and child “under their own vine and fig tree,” and the wondrous unity of

“neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, but all one in Christ Jesus.”

Now the color of that Christ-light is about to change. The purple of advent will replace the

green of Kingdomtide, signaling the start of the Christian New Year. That means the re-

hearsal of our Christian story begins all over again. “He is coming!” will become our ex-

pectant theme. In Jesus Christ God joins us on earth to show that it is loving relationship –

with God, each other and creation itself - even unto death, that saves.

In this post-Christian era, as our culture connects less and less with the established church,

advent/Christmas provides the one Christian celebration that is an exception to this cultur-

al indifference. The wider culture still loves it, even though it’s more for commercial than

spiritual reasons. Therein lies our opportunity.

And we plan to invite the neighborhood! On the evening of the First Sunday of Advent,

December 2, Covenant will launch the advent/Christmas season with our Christmas pag-

eant and party. This year the preschool, Sunday School and youth groups will all

participate to tell the Christmas story. There will be music, narration and celebration, fol-

lowed by a Christmas party in the gym. Plans even include “chestnuts roasting on the open

fire” and a grand lighting of one of the big Christmas trees in the front of the church.

Covenant United Methodist Church – “shining God’s light into the darkness.” Do plan

now to join us for this new years party on December 2. We’ll invite the neighborhood and

we can each do our part by inviting a friend.

As we cross the bridge-year of 2017 to move into Covenants’ next 36 years (2017 – 2053),

let us get excited about shining the Christ-light not only from our two towers but also in

regular acts of devotion, worship, compassion and justice.

Thank you for the privilege of serving Christ together with you through Covenant United

Methodist Church.

Pastor Roger

DNH DG SILWG

November Coffee Group Join us on Monday Nov. 27 at 9:00am at Verge Coffee Co. (9315 N. Nevada in the Service Station.) A group of women meet monthly for coffee and conversation and invite all ladies to come join them for fellowship. This is a great opportunity for new people, or for those who’ve been around a while, to get to know others better. Everyone is welcome! This will be our last gathering until March. We will take the winter off due to icy roads and because it is a busy time for most people.

Book Review Group Do you love to read? Join us this fall! We welcome new people to join us for discussion and fellowship. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30am, Contact Jeannie Peer, 466-4623 for more information. November 14th Book: Go Set A Watchman By: Harper Lee Reviewer: Jeannie Peer Hostess: Gail Harris December 12th Book: The Church That Used To Be St. Elmos By: Gordon Jackson Reviewer: Barb Micsoi Hostess: Marge Ruby January 9th Book: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry By: Gabrielle Zevin Hostess: Barbara Thornbrugh Reviewer to be decided Questions? Please contact Jeannie Peer.

Eden Community Gardens

Our last meeting was on October 19th at 7:00pm. Minutes

are available at the church office. Several are busy working

on grant applications, our revised plan, research on installa-

tion of electrical and plumbing, finances, ground prepara-

tion, our garden's website, fund-raising ideas, garden raised

beds, and several other details.

As I report this, plans are being made to till the garden. Our

hope is to have a deer-proof fenced lot with raised beds

available for planting by next spring.

Our next meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, November

8th at 2:00pm. All are invited to attend our meetings!

Submitted by Sharon Arnold

ORGANIC AND LOCALLY SOURCED FOODS

At our last Fall Harvest Feast it was suggested that an on-

going list be provided in the newsletter of places in the area

that provide organic produce and locally sourced foods, so

here is the beginning of that list. If you wish to add to it,

please let Sharon Arnold or Dian Ketcham know so that it

can be placed in the monthly newsletter. Thanks!

COLE'S ORCHARDS, ORGANIC PRODUCE, 18423

Greenbluf Rd., Colbert, WA 99005, Available now: Apples;

Ida Reds, Yellow & Red Delicious, Jonathan's, Winter Ba-

nana, Spartan, and some McIntosh. Other organic fruits and

vegetable are available during their growing season.

EGGER's MEATS NORTH, 902 W Rosewood Ave., Spo-

kane, 99208. Locally sourced meats including bratwurst.

EGA FARMS, Edwall, WA 509-342-0461. Locally sourced

pork.

Pure Eire Dairy milk and butter is available from Rosauers

in their organic section.

Creation Care Avista Utilities – Two hearings will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2017: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Integrated Resource Plan Hearing @ Spokane Valley City Hall is for Avista’s 2017 In-tegrated Resource Plan for how it will supply elec-tricity to rate payers over the next 20 years. 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. General Rate Case Hearing @ Northeast Community Center is for public com-ment about Avista’s proposed rate increase. Attendance at both hearings is needed. Presently,

20% of Avista’s energy comes from the Colstrip

coal mine in Montana. This is our chance to speak

up for clean energy for God’s creation.

Submitted by

Elizabeth Williams, Creation Care Team

In our Prayers

George Newell Harlan Peer Bill Salmon Ken Stam

Barbara Thornbrugh Jim Thrapp

John Zahner & family

A memorial service, celebrating the life of Dian Zahner will be held at Covenant

on Saturday, November 11 at 3:00pm.

Worship Servants: Thank you for offering your gifts & service to our

morning worship experience. You are appreciated!

October 29 Readers: Gary Dyer

Greeters: Randy & Linda Hahn

Ushers: Gordon & Barb Miscoi

Welcome Table: Marty Erb

November 5 Reader: Mary Jo Woods

Greeters: Rick & Diane Thomas

Ushers: Rick & Teresa Sherman

Welcome Table: Gordon & Barb Miscoi

November 12 Reader: Judi Morgan

Greeters: Ted & Diane Ketcham

Ushers: Jim & Sue Shaw

Welcome Table: Tom Robinson

November 19 Readers: Brenda Bumann

Greeters: Gordon Wilson, Judi Morgan

Ushers: Dave & Robin Hayward

Welcome Table: Rick & Diane Thomas

November 26 Reader: Barry Karalfa

Greeters: Ken & Evelyn Lyles

Ushers: Larry & Diana Helmer

Welcome Table: Pam Tsuchida

Finance Ministry Team Request Planning for next year’s budget

The Finance committee is beginning the pro-cess of building the budget for next year. Please send in your ministry team budget re-quest for next year to Jack Whorley or Gordon Miscoi. If your request is an increase over what you received in 2017, it is helpful if you give an explanation as to what the additional monies are needed for. We would like to re-ceive these requests by November 15th. Thank you.

View and Celebrate Dian Zahner’s Art Avenue West, the art gallery cooperative which exhibit-ed Dian’s art and for which she worked so hard, is hav-ing a month-long special exhibit of her work during No-vember. The exhibit is titled “In Remembrance, a Dian Zahner Restrospective.” The opening night reception is on Friday, November 3rd from 5-8 PM. Dian found subjects for her art in both the natural and human worlds. Her fellow artists have chosen this way to honor her memory and contributions. You are invit-ed to visit on opening night or any Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 4 PM. Much of her art is for sale. The gallery is located at 907 W Boone, Suite B, next door to Kaufer’s.

Stewardship Season

Each year in November, we begin to lay out the plan for our finances during the coming new year. It is the time of year when each of us is asked to commit to share our time, talents & treasures. A letter will be mailed during mid-November with an estimate of giving card for 2018. After your prayerful consideration, we will ask that cards are returned to the church by the end of the month. Mark your Calendar! Our Celebration Sunday will be on November 26th.

Sunday Schedule

Worship .......................................................................... 9:30am

Children’s FROG Time ................................................. 9:45am

Adult Education .......................................................... 10:45am

Youth Group for grades 7-12 ......................................... 6:30pm

Covenant Staff Pastor ........................................................ Rev. Roger Hudson

Music Leader .................................................. Bryan Swenland

Pianist ........................................................................ Feng Tsai

Church Secretary ..................................................... Karen King

Custodian ................................................................... Bob Ratts

Youth Ministries .................. Skyler Lamberd & Aric Williams

Nursery Supervisor ............................................ Marcy Hansen

Preschool Director ............................................ Angie Canavan

Office Hours: Monday-Friday ............................................... 9:30am -3:00pm

“The Covenant Connection” is printed once a month by Cove-

nant United Methodist Church. Deadline to turn in arti-

cles for the next newsletter is Tues, Nov. 28 at noon.

Covenant United Methodist Church 15515 North Gleneden Drive

Spokane, WA 99208-9743

Phone (509) 466-1768

Email: info@covenantmethodist.org

Website: www.covenantmethodist.org

Return Service Requested

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Mead, WA

Permit No. 20

United Methodist Student Day

Sunday, November 26th

Special Offering

Your generous gifts support United Methodist

Student scholarships and the UM Student Loan

Fund. A special offering envelope for your gift to

UM Student Day, will be included in the Sunday

bulletin on Nov. 26.