February 19, 2017

The Caring Church in the Heart of the City!

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 Congregation, in ministry We are a Stephen Ministry Congregation

“Walking on Water”

Rev. Chris Weichman, Pastoral Candidate

Sunday, February 19, 2017 ~ Seventh Sunday After Epiphany ~

11:00 a.m. Worship Service

Gathering Music Andante Felix Mendelssohn from Sonata VI

Welcome Nancy van den Honert

Sung Call To Worship Hymn #288 Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me (us).

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me (us).

Melt me (us); mold me (us); fill me (us); use me (us).

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me (us).

Prelude Prayer of St. Francis Allen Pote

The Covenant Choir

*Hymn #463 How Firm a Foundation Foundation

*Prayer of Confession Merciful God, you are generous to all who call on you. You

love without condition or distinction, inviting everyone to know

you. Yet we are biased and self-serving and stingy with our

affections. We pick favorites, harbor jealousies, and lash out

at those who anger us. Forgive us, O God, for our smallness

of heart. Assure us of your love for us and enlarge our compas-

sion for others, that in word and deed we may proclaim your

salvation to the world…...Amen.

*Assurance of Pardon

*Passing of The Peace The Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

*Gloria Patri Hymn #581

Storytelling Britney Knight

After Storytelling today, children will remain in worship.

Activities are available for children to pick up

before going back to their seat in Art Gallery Hall’s “Kids’ Korner”.

*Hymn #8 Eternal Father, Strong to Save Melita

Scripture Reading Matthew 14.22-33 Nancy van den Honert Page 796, Pew Bible

Sermon “Walking on Water” Rev. Chris Weichman

Pastoral Prayer God is good All the time!

All the time God is Good!

G A T H E R I N G

L I S T E N I N G

Giving of Our Tithes & Offerings

Offertory ~ The Church’s One Foundation Betty Garree

The Covenant Bells

*Doxology Hymn #609 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise God, in Jesus fully known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*Offertory Prayer

*Lord’s Prayer

*Hymn #546 Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing Sicilian Mariners

*Benediction

*Postlude Fanfare Arthur Bliss

*Please rise in body or spirit.

Liturgist: Nancy van den Honert

R E S P O N D I N G

In lieu of Sanctuary flowers a donation to

“Our Neighbor’s Place” & “Sunday Suppers”

has been lovingly given in memory of

Ruth Dockstader, by her family.

M E M O R I A L D O N A T I O N S

H I S T O R Y O F T H E

H Y M N O F T H E M O N T H

Come! Live in the Light! is February’s hymn of the month;

#749 in the GTG hymnal. The meaning of the text is summed up quite well in the hymnal:

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love

kindness, and to walk humbly with God?”

David Haas is a living composer with degrees in theology and

music. He is a prolific composer of both church music and a writer

of ministry programs.

The PNC & Fellowship Committee invite members & guests to the Parlor

after the Congregational Meeting to meet Pastor Chris & his family.

We welcome Rev. Jim Rimmer who is visiting with us this morning

& who will moderate the congregational meeting

immediately following this worship service.

Welcome to all, especially guests, newcomers to Erie & college students.

Please silence all electronic devices upon entering the Sanctuary & McBrier

Chapel. Our ushers are available to assist you with any needs you may

have. They have large print bulletins & hymnals; also systems that assist

the hearing impaired. An usher can also direct you to the restrooms.

You are invited to the Parlor after each service for refreshments & fellowship.

Members are encouraged to invite visitors to join them. Interested in volun-

teering to host fellowship? Contact Sandra Herman or sign up in the Parlor.

Families with young children: We always welcome children in worship.

Activity bags are available for use during both services. Please return the

activity bag to Art Gallery Hall or the Narthex at the end of worship. We

have infant to age 3 childcare available during both services in the Nursery.

Would you like to hear today’s sermon again? Today’s & past sermons

are always available on our website ~ www.firstcovenanterie.org

Interested in exploring membership within First Covenant? For more

information, please contact Sheila Sweet at (814) 898-3417.

Stephen Ministry is a ministry in which people with special gifts for caring

can put those gifts to use in an organized way, bringing Jesus’ love & care

to those who most need it.

If you know someone who is going through a difficult time, contact

Leader Diane Ream, 899-6762. Our Stephen Ministers are ready to provide

focused, confidential, one-to-one Christian care ~ to help that person expe-

rience the healing power of Christ’s love.

W E L C O M E T O W O R S H I P

F A I T H F O R M A T I O N H O U R

Sundays at 9:30 a.m.

Children Nursery (infant ~ age 3) with JoAllie Paluchak……….Room 113

Age 4 ~ Grade 1 with Monty Service……….Reed Chapel

Grades 2 ~ 5 with Linda Majewski……….Jr. High Lounge

Youth Grades 6-12 with Nancy Irwin……….Senior High Lounge

Adults “Letters from John and Jude” with Bill Holmes……….Room 313

“Reflecting on Matthew” with Timm High……….Fidelis Room

“Theologian, Shelby Spong?” with Bill Sesler……….Room 116

C O V E N A N T C O N N E C T I O N S

Join us for dinner & stay to CONNECT!

Dinners will be served in Knox Hall, Wednesday from 5:15

until 6:00 p.m. for $5.00 per adult (12 yrs old & up), college

students & children 5-11 years old $3.00 & children aged 4

yrs & under are FREE. Call or email Anne at 456-4243 or

anne.sauer@firstcovenanterie.org

This week: Connect with…Reconciliation It’s a loaded word. God started it by making it possible for us to be reconciled to

him through Jesus. How do we follow God’s lead & reconcile ourselves to those

who hurt, betray, disappoint us or with whom we have conflict? Britney Knight

will lead a discussion of this 2017 Lenten theme after dinner in the Fidelis Room.

Be brave. Be challenged. Be reconciled.

F I R S T C O V E N A N T L I F E

Sidewalk Ashes…This year we are trying something new! From 7-9 a.m. &

11:30-1:30 p.m. on March 1st, we invite you to help impose ashes, greet, pray

& invite passersby to our evening Ash Wednesday Service. Contact Timm

High or Britney Knight for more information at 814.456.4243.

Take a “Shelter Tour” February 26th Have you seen how the church’s lower

level transforms into the “Our Neighbors’ Place” winter overnight shelter?

Wonder how the shelter works? Our Neighbors’ Place is with us again

through March 1st. Grab a coffee & treat in the Parlor, then stop down to

Knox Hall following worship on February 26th for a brief “tour” &

Q & A session with Pat Tracy. Pat will walk you through the experience

from a guest’s evening arrival until morning departure.

All youth in 6th-12th grade are invited to spend a night LOCKED-IN the

Church, Saturday, February 25th starting at 4:45 PM for drop-off & check-in.

Cost is $15, register by TODAY. For more information, Britney Knight

Ice-Skating & Pizza at JMC Arena TODAY from 1:15-3:15 pm. Cost: $6

with or without a skate rental. See Britney Knight if interested in attending.

Parents & Youth are invited to prepare & serve a meal to the guests of “Our

Neighbors Place” on Saturday, Feb. 25th 5:00 pm for Youth (6th-12th grades).

Youth please bring $5 to help cover the cost of the meal. Contact Britney.

“Toxic Charity” books are in! If you would like to read “Toxic Charity: How

Churches & Charities Hurt Those They Help, & How to Reverse It” stop in

the Parlor today to purchase from Lorie Fritts. Books are $10. If you would

like to be part of a small group study of this book, contact Lorie at 823-4838.

Lent Small Groups…We are looking for leaders for Lenten small groups.

Ideas for groups include Young Adult, Women’s, Single People, Couples,

etc. Groups can meet at the church, restaurant, brewery, or homes. This is a

great way to meet new people, build deeper relationships & meaningfully

look at Scripture during the season leading to Easter. Sign up with Britney.

“Rust Belt New Americans: A Showcase of Erie’s Refugee Population” is the title of the Erie Reader photojournalism exhibit by Maitham Basha-

Agha, on display in the “Welcome Center” area. Please stop by for a visit &

read the stories & view the photos of some of our newest Erie neighbors!

An Afternoon at the Movies…Everyone is invited to a showing of The Shack

at Tinseltown on Saturday, March 4th @ 3:15 P.M. Tickets are $3.00 . The

Shack is the theatrical version of the WM. Paul Young novel. It tackles issues

of death, grief, forgiveness, & reconciliation. The next morning from 9:30-

10:30 AM, everyone who viewed the movie or read the book is invited to

join Britney Knight for a group discussion. For tickets, contact Britney.

Call for a Special Meeting of the Congregation

The Session of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant

calls for a special meeting of the congregation to be held in the Sanctuary

TODAY immediately following 11:00 a.m. worship service. The stated purpose

of this meeting is to hear and act upon the report

of the Pastor Nominating Committee regarding the committee’s candidate

to become the next installed pastor

of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, if the way be clear.

Rev. Timm High W.D. Holmes

Moderator Clerk of Session

† In Memoriam

Audrey Krivonk

Joined First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant: May 29, 2005

United with the Church Eternal: February 16, 2017

Sunday, February 19th

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~

~ Jubilee Weekend ~

~ Candidating Sunday ~ 9:30 a.m. Exploring Membership ~ 119

9:30 a.m. Faith Formation ~ Various

10:30 a.m. Covenant Choir Rehearsal

~ Music Rm

11:00 a.m. Worship ~ Sanctuary

12:00 p.m. Special Meeting/Congregation

~ Sanctuary

12:00 p.m. Greater Than the Sum ~ MR

12:15 p.m. Fellowship ~ Parlor

4:00 p.m. Sunday Suppers

~ 1st United Methodist

Monday, February 20th

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~

~ President’s Day ~ 5:30 p.m. Session ~ Fidelis

6:30 p.m. NA ~ Parlor

Tuesday, February 21st

~ ONP ~ 10:00 a.m. Staff ~ Parlor

5:15 p.m. Properties ~ Library

5:30 p.m. H&M Committee ~ 119

7:00 p.m. Erie Phil Chorus~ Sanctuary

7:30 p.m. AA ~ Rm 313

7:30 p.m. NA ~ Sr. Lounge

Wednesday, February 22nd

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~ 10:30 a.m. Bible Study ~ Parlor

5:30 p.m. Connections Dinner

~ Fidelis

9:00 p.m. Restore ~ GU, Beyer #108

Thursday, February 23rd

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~ 7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible ~ Perkins

12:00 p.m. NA ~ 116

6:00 p.m. Life Skills ~ Parlor

6:30 p.m. Covenant Bells ~ Sanctuary

7:15 p.m. Covenant Choir ~ Music Rm

7:30 p.m. Women’s NA ~ 116

Friday, February 24th

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~ 7:00 a.m. Men’s Group—Parlor

Saturday, February 25th

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~

~ Gannon Spring Break ~ 8:30 a.m. Koinonia ~116

5:00 p.m. Youth Group Lock-In

~ Jr. Lounge

6:00 p.m. Youth ~ ONP Dinner

Sunday, February 26th

~ Our Neighbor’s Place ~ 8:30 a.m. Worship ~ McBrier Chapel

9:15 a.m. Shelter Tour ~ Knox Hall

9:15 a.m. Fellowship ~ Parlor

9:30 a.m. Faith Formation ~ Various

10:30 a.m. Covenant Choir Rehearsal

~ Music Rm

11:00 a.m. Worship ~ Sanctuary

12:00 p.m. Greater Than the Sum ~ MR

12:15 p.m. Shelter Tour ~ Knox Hall

12:15 p.m. Fellowship ~ Parlor

4:00 p.m. Sunday Suppers

~ 1st United Methodist

T H E W E E K A H E A D

When you wish to contact our Temporary Supply Pastor, Rev. Timm High,

he can be reached at 814-873-1910 or by email at timm.high@att.net

Abby Blankenship, Campus Minister Helen Greider, Weekend Hostess

Lisa Hiegel, Director Covenant Preschool

Seth Hiegel, Weeknight Host Rev. Timm High, Temporary Supply Pastor

Jackie K. Jones, Covenant Cook

Britney Knight, Director Youth/Family Ministries Luba Kovalchuk, Custodian

Seph Kumer, Director Community Engagement

JoAllie Paluchak, Nursery Attendant JoAnn Peters, Finance / Records Administration

Anne Sauer, Administrative Assistant

John Scepura, Building & Maintenance Mechanic Kyle Schumacher, Campus Minister

Montgomery Service, Children & Youth Music

Kevin Stevenson, Covenant Cook Leslie Weber, Organist / Choirmaster

F P C C S T A F F

Totals are both pledge & non-pledge revenue

2017 YTD Budget = $51,509

2017 YTD Actual = $50,644

Sunday February 26, 2017 8:30 & 11:00 A.M. WORSHIP

~ Transfiguration of the Lord ~

Matthew 5.33-48

“Again, You Have Heard That It Was Said...” Rev. Timm High

Temporary Supply Pastor