Covenant Presbyterian Church THE NEWSLETTER OF COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2439 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33901

The Clarion MARCH 2015

239-334-8937 The Boys of Summer www.covpcfm.com In my youth was my life. I carried my mitt everywhere just in case I might into a pick-up game somewhere. [email protected] It all started with pitch and catch with my dad in our backyard in New Jersey as early as I can remember and continued when he coached my first peewee team. He would take me to Yankee Stadium to see the likes of , , , , , , , , , and Mel Stottlemyer (just to name a few). One Sunday he took me to a where I saw Mickey a homerun in the second game. When dad didn’t take me to the stadium, WPIX Channel 11 televised every Yankees game all season long. Then we moved to Long Beach, California and even while I remained a stalwart Yankees fan, I had to learn the baseball language of my new peers, so I studied the lineups of the L.A. Dodgers and California Angels and dad took me to both stadiums until I got old enough to figure out bus schedules and go to games with my friends. I always played in some kind of organized league, but have to say that some of the most fun I had playing baseball was when a bunch of us would just find some unused ball field and start playing. That was before they started building high fences and locking up the fields upon which youngsters long to play. At the beginning of my high school life Dad became a minister and we moved to Kansas, where I really dialed into the Kansas City Royals, and became my new baseball hero. I was also thrilled to play second base for my high school team when we went to the state tournament in my senior year.

But the best baseball experience of my life was when I got a job as the batboy for the Long Beach Rockets, which was a winter baseball team for professional players so they could keep their skills sharp in the off-season. It was a weekend team that played away on Saturdays and home at Blair Field on Sundays. So on Sunday morning I showed up at the stadium and walked into the locker room like any player. I had my own locker with a uniform with my name on the back. My job was to study all the bats of the different players (where I learned that the Louisville Slugger bat company made bats specifically for each pro according to his specifications) so that I could hand the right bat to the right player. While the team was out on the field, I was wiping down the bats and getting them ready for the next time. I had to chase foul balls and missed pitches to return to the ump, do all sorts of odd jobs and generally be the gopher. But I loved it. When I watch the great baseball movie, The Natural, and see the interplay between Bobby the batboy and the Robert Redford character, I think of those days. I can still smell the leather, the pine tar, the chewing tobacco, the freshly mown grass and the perfectly lined infield dirt. But the best part of the whole thing was that the let me take infield with the players before the game started and I got to stand out there with Bobby Gritch, the starting of the . It was during those infield drills that Bobby showed me how to make the pivot on the play. The other big name on the team was Jeff Burroughs, who was the big homerun hitter for the . The starting for the Montreal Expos was on the team (can’t remember his name), and then there were other MLB non-starters as well as and double A minor league players on the team. These guys always treated me like a teammate. It was very cool for a kid. And so March in Fort Myers feels magic to me because the boys of summer are back and being in those facilities reminds me of my days at Blair Field: closer, more relaxed and intimate than “The Show” during the regular season. Continued on page 2... P AGE 2 T HE C LARION P AGE 7

Continued… Our annual Easter tradition will be held on Palm Lent also reminds us of intimate and meaningful things. Luke tells us that there came a season in Jesus’ ministry when he Sunday, March 29th after our 10 a.m. worship service. “set his face toward Jerusalem” knowing that he was heading toward his destiny. Everything leading up to that moment had Each year we use this event to reach out to friends and been spring training. The disciples had been learning who Christ was, and learning what it meant to follow him. They family in our community as an introduction into our witnessed simply amazing things and learned to call him Lord and Master. They hoped, both secretly and out loud, that church. This year we are happy to say that we have maybe, just maybe this good stuff could last forever. But their leader was becoming too well known, and as his ministry reached out the foster and adoptive families in Lee became better known the powers that be felt more threatened. Jesus set his face towards Jerusalem because he knew what County. Peggy Salvesen was a huge supporter of the foster care families and had planned was inevitably coming and he was going to do it on his terms. Every step he took towards Jerusalem, and every step inside and organized Easter egg events for them over the years. We are thrilled to be able to provide the city, had a purpose: to show forth the Kingdom of God in everything he did. these children with a fun-filled day here at our church and continuing this tradition. With over 100 family invites already sent out, we will need to have every volunteer on hand. The Boys of Summer have now begun their preparations for the season. They come with high hopes, wanting this to be the Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to: donating candy or trinkets for Easter season of greatness for their team, and perhaps for them. It is a time of anticipation, excitement and hope. bags; putting together candy bags for distribution; setting up tables; assisting with parking and As the People of Faith it is the same for us in this spiritual season except for one important difference: We know this traffic control; supervising games and waterslide activities; preparing and servicing lunch; outcome. We know where Jesus is going, we know how he will suffer, but we also know how he will come out victorious donating baked goods for the cake walk; face painting; setting up egg hunts and scavenger by the power of God. And so we walk into this season knowing that it’s a sure thing. As excited as I was as a kid to watch hunts; and cleaning up. Mickey Mantle hit a grand slam homerun in Yankee Stadium, it is but a distant memory. The resurrection of Jesus Christ This will be a great outreach for our church and a fun-filled day for all! Please contact Dawn never is. It is the ongoing proclamation of our future as the people of God. And so I say: Play Ball! Castner or sign–up at the Connection Station if you are attending and/or volunteering. WE In Christ, Jeff NEED YOU!!!

Welcome New Members to Covenant! “Stained Glass Bluegrass”

On Sunday, February 22nd, the Session of Covenant Presbyterian Church received the following people into membership of our Join us at Covenant Presbyterian Church, at 4 pm on Sunday 3/22 in the sanctuary for a congregation: lively music event led by the church’s very own “acoustic” praise band! There will be fun, up- Dianne and Richard Cline by way of transfer from 1st Presbyterian, Waynesville, NC. beat arrangements of popular hymns and spirituals for everyone to sing along with, as well as Marty and Jay Francis by way of transfer from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. several performances by the band. Styles will include bluegrass, folk, Celtic, spirituals, blues Elaine and Richard Flinn by way of transfer from Fox Chapel (PCUSA) in Pittsburgh, PA. and more! So don’t miss out as Covenant celebrates the joy of music and God’s goodness Rebecca Koehn by Reaffirmation of Faith (from the Roman Catholic tradition) with “Stained Glass Bluegrass”! William Pape by way of transfer from Crown of Life Lutheran in Fort Myers, FL. Connie Wilhite by Reaffirmation of Faith (United Methodist background)

We are excited to receive these new members into the life of our congregation and encourage all members to get to know them and Covenant Presbyterian Church hosts a full calendar of events for all youth in 6th through welcome them in the fellowship of Covenant! 12th grade! Sundayschool and confirmation classes are held every Sunday morning at 9 a.m before worship. Youth "Fellowships" take place every month on Sunday evenings and Sunday Morning Class Offerings for Adults: include meals, games, activities, music and discussions! A variety of trips, retreats and outreach opportunities are available as well. Youth do not need to be members of Covenant to “Living the Questions” continues on Sunday mornings in room F207. participate in activities and are always welcome to invite friends!

March 1 Lives of Jesus For specific information regarding dates and times of youth activities please contact Eric Nanz March 8 Special Presentation by CPC sponsored missionaries in Nicaragua, at [email protected] or visit Covenant's "Youth Ministry" page at www.covpcfm.com. Emerson and Martina Wilson March 15 A Passion for Christ: Paul Youth Activities for March: March 22 Out to the World: Challenges Facing Progressive Christians 3/1 Spaghetti Lunch Fundraiser March 29 Restoring Relationships 3/7 INASMUCH Community Outreach 3/8 Sunday school and Confirmation Class includes a brief DVD presentation on the topic, interspersed with lively discussion. Facilitators include Barb Sheets and 3/15 Sunday School, Confirmation lunch and evening fellowship Ruth DeYoe and other class members. Each week’s topic is different so please consider joining us whenever you can! 3/22 Youth Sunday Service 3/29 Eggstravaganza! “Making Sense of the Bible” continues on Sunday mornings in room F201 P AGE 6 T HE C LARION P AGE 3

Register now for Summer Camp 2015! March 29 at 10 a.m. Palm Sunday Service Cedarkirk's online summer camp registration is now open! Please visit April 2 at 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday our Summer Camp web page and then, click on the "Register Online" button to enter the site. April 3 at 12 noon Good Friday Service

Also, check out Spring Bash for second through fifth graders. Get a taste of April 5 at 8 and 10 a.m. Easter Services Attention All Women summer camp with 24 hours of faith-building and exploration. Zip-lining, rock climbing, arts and crafts, worship, group games, and an adventurous night in our Join us for the rustic cabins. March 20-21st. Cost is $62 per person. Celebration of Women Luncheon March 8th at 11:30 a.m. PARENTS SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, March 11 6:30 to 8 pm Presentation and theme: The 1920’s: Flappers and Wild Times Author and Public Speaker, Jim Williams will be at Covenant to present The Lenten study “Hosanna: A Spiritual an interactive program for parents of children of all ages Journey Through Holy Week” led by Pastor Sign-up in the courtyard. entitled, “Raising Children of Character”. He is the author of the Jeff DeYoe will continue on March 4, 18, Bring your friends!!! widely used book, “Parenting on Point” (used in a Sunday morning Adult Ed class in 2013) 25 and April 1 in F207 at 6:30 p.m. and DVD series, “ProActive Parenting”. Jim’s programs in general focus on topics of Bully $10 Behavior, Drug and Alcohol Choices, Nurturing Adolescents, Listening Skills, and Anger *Please note the change in dates. Management. Please consider inviting others to this unique program offering! SESSION HIGHLIGHTS FOR FEBRUARY This event is free and open to the community but reservations are required. *Child care and The Session met on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 with Rev. Jeff DeYoe, moderating the meeting, activities for children of all ages will be provided for those who make reservations in and ten elders in attendance. Others present: Gary Brothers, Facilities Manager, Mary Kay Brothers, advance. Light refreshments will be provided. For additional questions, contact Ruth Deacon and Barbara Heflin, Clerk of Session. DeYoe or Dawn Castner. The following items were discussed and/or action taken:

 Approved a seminar for parents, led by Jim Williams, author of the book “Parenting on Point”. *Due to the fact that his will be a large outreach to our community we are in need of The seminar will be held on Wednesday, March 11th, 6:30-8:00 p.m. volunteers to help with child care for infants through 5th grade. Please contact Dawn ASAP  Approved the 2015 Committees of Session. to  Approved the Annual Statistical Report and Clerk’s Annual Questionnaire  Approved Christian Education’s proposal to designate F201/202 as a Young Adult Room with a “coffee house” like atmosphere. Funding would come through donations. CROP Hunger Walks are community-wide events  Approved retaining Gerard Maron, PE, at a cost not to exceed $750, to provide professional sponsored by Church World Service and organized to expertise to address immediate safety measures in relating to the deterioration of the sunscreen raise funds to end hunger in the U.S. and around the beams on Building F. This fee also includes the preparation of bid documents and a cost world. Covenant will be joining the Ft. Myers CROP Walk estimate for the contractual repairs. with other churches on Saturday, April 11th (new date).  March 8th has been designated Celebrate the Gifts of Women Sunday followed by a reception in Anyone can join us by walking or donating. Sign–ups begin Fellowship Hall. soon. For more information, contact Dawn Castner at  The commissioners to the Presbytery Meeting on February 26th will be Karen Ulack and JoAnn 334-8937. JOIN US IN ENDING HUNGER!!! Leasure.  The Crop Walk has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 11th.  Two Presbytery-wide events held this month are a seminar regarding “Baby Boomers and Vacation Bible School Beyond” led by Dr. Amy Hanson on Friday, February 27th at First Presbyterian Church, Bonita Springs. Dr. Hanson will also be the keynote speaker at the Presbytery meeting on Thursday, June 22-26, 2015 February 26th at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, Sarasota. The second event is Hunter Farrell, 9 a.m. to 12 noon Director of World Mission for the Presbyterian Church (USA), who will present a program at First Presbyterian Church in Sarasota on Saturday, February 28th. P AGE 4 T HE C LARION P AGE 5

Flower Ministry January 2015 Financial Report

Income for January $44,717 The Board of Deacons conducts an outreach ministry on Sundays following our Income Year-to-date $44,717 service. It involves dissemination of the chancel flowers to members of our church, Expenses for January $57,072 A Compassion Revolution! who may need cheering up or for celebration of birthdays and anniversaries. The th Expenses Year-to-date $59,190 March 7 , 2015 donors of the flowers sometimes take them but if they leave them, we arrange up to after event celebration on Year-to-date deficit $14,473 th four vases each week for delivery. If you have someone, member or not, who is ill or March 15 at 2 p.m. Current Balance on Loan $317,286 Thomas A. Edison Congregational Church needs cheering up, or is celebrating a special time, feel free to stop in to the church office following Principal & Interest Paid in January $3,938 1619 Llewellyn Drive, Fort Myers Sunday service to see if there is an uncommitted vase of flowers which you could take for delivery. Join the fun and see the pictures! These flowers are tagged with a beautiful message about their origin and constitute a lovely outreach ministry. If you are aware of someone but cannot take the flowers yourself, please let the church *A complete finance report is available in the church office each month. office know. Who doesn’t like to give or receive flowers?

Covenant Spring Concert Peacemaking Commitment Call for Covenant Members Action to Support LIFE Justice Ministry- March 23 Friday, March 27, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. You're blessed when you can The Covenant Spring Music Concert features For the second year, Covenant has been part of the Lee Interfaith for Empowerment (LIFE) show people how to cooperate our Chancel Choir and Jubilate Ringers in a Justice Ministry, a coalition of over a dozen LEE County church congregations, which works instead of compete or fight. That's when program titled "And on Earth, Peace to All of on important local justice issues. Over the last three years, LIFE successfully focused on the you discover who you really are, and social justice issues of 1)- bullying and misuse of Alternative Learning Centers in Lee County Good Will." Musical selections by Bach, your place in God's family. Lauridsen , Page, Faure, Handel, and Mozart Schools 2)- improving children's access to mental healthcare in Lee County and 3) expanding the use of Civil Citations in lieu of arrests by Lee County law enforcement will center around the theme of personal and Matthew 5:9 (The Messenger) agencies for juvenile first time misdemeanor offenders. This year, LIFE has elected to focus international peace. Our choirs will be joined on two other criminal justice issues: reentry into society after incarceration and too many by a chamber orchestra of guest performers. unsolved murders.

A Covenant team has been working with LIFE over the past six months on the research and Most people are much more open to giving care than to receiving it. As a result, there are countless people today who, though proposed recommendations for improving these criminal justice issues. This involved they really could benefit from a Christian friend who would interviews with representatives of various aspects of the criminal justice system in Lee listen and care for them, instead tough it out on their own. County and the State of Florida. They remain the strong silent type, or wear a smile across a face that is holding back a flood of tears. Society encourages this, particularly for men. To ask for help is to admit weakness. No one wants to appear weak and “needy.” LIFE leaders will present the research findings and request specific action for improving the system to invited Lee County criminal justice decision makers at a public meeting at But suffering alone is not God’s intent for us. The New Testament has more than 50 Harborside Event Center (in downtown Ft. Myers) on Monday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. This is verses that contain the words “one another.” These verses tell us to “love one the annual BIG EVENT for LIFE, and is called a "Nehemiah Action". As we did last year, another,” encourage one another,” build up one another,” and “pray for one we want to generate a huge citizen audience, so these decision makers will be motivated to another.” agree with the LIFE action recommendations. The LIFE goal is 1,500 attendees. At this These verses don’t say that we are only to love, encourage, build up, and pray event, you will also receive a briefing on the status of the three previous actions. for other people. The “one another” wording gives them a reciprocal meaning. It also tells us that we are to allow other people to love, encourage, build up, and The Covenant LIFE team is calling on all Covenant members and friends to support this pray for us! If you would like to talk with someone about having a Stephen action by attending this one meeting on the evening of March 23. Last year we had 84 Minister, please contact one of the leaders below: attendees from Covenant, and this year our goal is have over 100 Covenant attendees. The  Barb Sheets 995-8881 event is free, but tickets are required and will be available in the Covenant courtyard  Pat Arner 997-9108 following worship services on March 15 and 22. Please support the Covenant LIFE Team by  Sarah Jane Essebaggers 616-502-7086 attending the Nehemiah Action event on March 23. Thank you.