November 2020
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__________________________________________________________________________________________ _______ ONNECTIONS The newsletter of the Ewing - Covenant Presbyterian Church ________________________________________________________________________November 2020 Connecting Thoughts This traditional hymn reminds us that the end of November is our official Thanksgiving Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks holiday. A time of giving thanks to God for the to the Holy One; harvest is a part of every culture. Rooted in our give thanks because we’re given Jesus Christ, agrarian past, it notes the importance of the the Son. plentiful harvest as people prepared for the winter season. It is a time of gathering with November is a month that begins and ends family and friends, and of celebrating the ties with thanksgivingONNECTIONS to God. We begin with All- that bind us to one another. That will make Saints Day, as we give thanks for the lives of this Thanksgiving during the Covid 19 those who have died over the course of the past Pandemic all the more emotional. year. We celebrate the lives they lived, the gifts Thanksgiving also celebrates the truth that God they shared, for the ways God touched us does and will provide. We give thanks. through their living, through their faith, through the loved they share. We also Now thank we all our God with heart and recognize that they are part of an endless hands and voices, with heart and hands and throng of witnesses who have gone before, voices, whose lives of faith testify to the presence and Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this providence of God in and through all time. It is world rejoices… there long witness that teaches us to trust in the Lord, our God. They remind us that we are This will be a special season of thanksgiving for a part of that great cloud of witnesses; those me this year. In the midst of all that is going on who believe, those who will believe, and those in this troubled world; the dual pandemics of who have left this life and now see the face of Covid and Racism, the bitterness of our God. We give thanks. political climate, the growing impact of climate change and the devastation it brings, the Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song growing worldwide crisis of migration and of harvest home. immigration, there is still much to be thankful All is safely gathered in, ere the winter’s storms for. And for me that realization, that God is begin. still at work in this world, and still” doth God our maker doth provide for our wants to provide”, provides the firm foundation on be supplied. which my, our, lives carry on. We give thanks. Come to God’s own temple come; raise the song of harvest home. What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season? Call it out, sing thanksgiving to God. For I believe that our ability to hold the awareness of God’s presence and providence in these times. Yet, regardless of circumstances, our lives shapes our ability to experience joy each of these brothers and sisters in Christ and know excitement for our lives. proclaimed the gospel during worship in our Thanksgiving frames our lives. It provides the midst and by sharing their gifts in discipleship lenses through which we will see and and living out lives of faith. And our hearts fill experience the world. Give thanks. with joy as remember all that these saints shared with us. We remember them. In thanksgiving to God, The November 1st Sunday worship promises to Pastor Paul be poignant and joyful as we lift up these saints with thanksgiving. All are invited to stay a bit longer after worship to experience a jazz concert given to us by Peter Lauffer. We We will be caught up in the clouds together celebrate because, as the apostle Paul writes in with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so his letter to the Romans, not even death cannot we will be with the Lord forever. Encourage separate us from the love of God. one another with these words. ---1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 In Christ, Dear Brothers and Sisters, Pastor Ann On this coming Sunday November 1st we celebrate communion and also remember the saints from our church who have gone before Remembering these saints us and now belong to the church triumphant. on All Saints Sunday: H. Wayne Berens, Scott Since last All Saints Sunday in 2019, sixteen Forrest, Elizabeth E. Lamb, Jeffrey Laschever, persons (listed below) have died and now have Nancy Mooney, Marjorie A. Moore, Fred T. everlasting life in Jesus Christ. And they take Pregger, Edwin S. Sandford, Elizabeth Schnerr, their place among the great cloud of witnesses John E. Smith, Eugene S. Taylor, J. David which surround us, always. Tregurtha, Vera Urbano, Elnora Harriet Williams, Winfield P. Yahn, Doris Strzelec You may recall last year’s celebration, which was in-person, and held in our worship space. __________________________________ Our bulletin from that Sunday’s worship Congregational Meeting Sunday, service contained two separate lists, one from November 22, 2020 Covenant Presbyterian Church and the other from Ewing Presbyterian Church. By the In accordance with the by-laws of the movement of the Spirit, as well as the congregation, the Session has called for a subsequent work of the two church Sessions meeting of the Congregation and Corporation since that time, we are now one church, united of the Ewing-Covenant Presbyterian Church to together. be held immediately following worship on Sunday, November 22nd. The purpose of the We truly do belong to one another. As you read meeting is to elect members of the over the list of saints, some tears are to be congregation to serve as Elders, Deacons, and expected because we may still mourn. In the as members of the Congregational Nominating instances of those who have died most recently, Committee. our grief is just beginning to heal. Some of these persons impacted our congregational life Nominating Committee seeks Your together in years past, more so than in recent Recommendations times. And due to the covid19 virus, we have missed being in others’ physical presence in The Nominating Committee seeks your Sacrament of Communion - Celebration of our suggestions for people to serve as Elders and saints who died during the past year Deacons, and on the Nominating Committee of Pastor Paul preaching the church. They should be people of faith, Revelation 7:9-17; Psalm 34:1-10, 22; 1 John actively involved in the life and ministry of the 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 church, communicate members. Please include Sunday, November 8 - 23rd Sunday after why you think they would be good officers of Pentecost the church. Please send your 10:00 Worship via Zoom recommendations to the Church Office, or to Pastor Paul preaching Pastor Paul at [email protected], or Amos 5:18-24; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4:13- Pastor Ann at [email protected] by 18; Matthew 1-13 November 11. Sunday, November 15 - 24th Sunday after The current Elders are Barbara Brezak, Bette Pentecost Schubert, Carol Hecky, Carol Taylor, Cindy 10:00 Worship via Zoom Strain, Erica Cowan, Helen Kull, Isaac Mungra, Pastor Paul preaching Joanne Durham, Judy Carapezza, Laura Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-12; 1 Wallin, Michael Cieplechowicz, Mike Hecky, Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30 Nancy Coleman, Pam Hoffman, Pam Miller, Sandra Austin Sunday, November 22 - Christ the King Sunday The current Deacons are Jane Kidder, Lisa 10:00 Worship via Zoom King, Rachel Morgan, Sandy Pezzillo, Bob Pastor Ann preaching Schofield, Katie Houghton, Patty Maisano, Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Ephesians Jane Perelli, Suzie Wentworth, Dyshel Harvey, 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46 Nina Morgan, Maegan Strain, Julia Sobey, Ken Harvey, Mary Hough, Ruth Palmer, Liz Sunday, November 29 - 1st Sunday of Schofield, Ralph Sims Advent 10:00 Worship via Zoom Pastor Paul preaching November Worship at Ewing-Covenant Isaiah 464:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 We will continue our virtual worship services, Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37 gathering on-line at 10:00 each Sunday Sunday Morning Bible Study - 9:00 AM morning. Due to increased security protocols Led by Sam Bonner you may be placed in a waiting room when you https://zoom.us/j/564813133?pwd=WXV3dk5 dial in by phone or connect by computer. You zYlkvUGJDUUEwZEc2R3REdz09 will then be admitted to the worship webinar as By phone, dial 1-646-558-8656 and enter when you have joined in the past. Here are the Zoom asked the meeting ID 564-813-133 enter and Phone links for our worship: passcode: 651735 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/910100569 Or by telephone dial 1-929-205-6099, if asked, Tuesday and Thursday Chat’s enter the Webinar ID: 910 100 569 with Pastor Ann Our recorded worship services can be viewed Tuesdays at 10 AM to 11 AM. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81010467123?pwd on You Tube at Ewing Covenant Worshipping =UDNqWG5pN0t3MFJUeDN5SFcvQnpzdz09 Community. Meeting ID: 810 1046 7123 Password: 271785 By phone +1- 929- 436-2866 enter password: Sunday, November 1 - All Saints Day 271785 10:00 Worship via Zoom Thursdays at 7 PM to 8 PM. world. As always, your board of deacons tries https://us02web.zoom.us/j/960150849?pwd= to keep in touch with the church family bTdYTVV3S1M0R2xmenZSWlc5MnhMUT09 through calls, porch visits (though impending Meeting ID: 960 150 849 Password: 079496 winter will end those) and cards. However, By phone dial 1-929 -436- 2866 Password: November and December are times when we 079496 ask you, the members of this wonderful church Wednesday Evening Faith Conversations family, to donate and help make the holidays with Pastor Paul 6:30-7:30 better for those in need.