THE COVENANT CONNECTION Volume XXI No. 12 July 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.

Vacation Bible School July 10-14, 2017 9:00am-12:00pm

VBS is less than 2 weeks away! If you are able to help during the week, please call Car-men Green at 990-5409. We will find a place for you! Volunteers can be 7th grade and old-er. Crew leaders must be high school age and older.

VBS is a wonderful place to volunteer if you are new. It's a perfect opportunity to meet people and is a short term commitment with lasting results! Everyone is welcome to help in whatever way you wish. We are busy gathering supplies and foods for our snack time. A full list of needed items is on the table in the living room. If you have children or friends who would like to register, pick up a form at the church, or register on our church website. We don't have an online payment option, but you can register online and mail your payment in ahead or bring it with you on the first day. VBS is geared to kids Kinder-garten through 6th grade. If you would like your 3-4 year old to attend, they may do so with an adult (or babysitter) who can attend with them. We will in-clude them in the activities, but they definitely are geared for older children. We will include children going into Kindergarten with the "big kids." If you have questions, please call Carmen at 990-5409.

New Hope Resource Center

Benefit Concert

Sunday, July 9

6:00-8:00pm An annual summer favorite! Plan to attend the FREE outdoor concert at Colbert Presbyterian church outdoor pavilion. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy classic Rock ‘n Roll by “Just in Time” Silent auction items include: Box seats to a Spokane Indians game, Passes to Triple Play, Mini Propane grill, ceramic bird bath and more! Purchase tickets for the raffle prizes at the concert. Picnic Menu items for sale: Hot dogs, polish dogs, chips, soft drinks, ice cream and baked goods. All proceeds support The New Hope Resource Center & North County Food Pantry.

July Coffee (Ice Cream!) Klatch A group of women meet monthly for coffee and conversa-tion and invite all ladies to come join them for fellowship. For the summer, we are meeting for ice cream instead of coffee. The next gathering is on Monday July 17 at 1:00pm at Coldstone Creamery. (9502 N. Newport

HWY.) Any questions, please contact Betsy Hartman, 325-3342 or Chanie Christ-man, 939-8109. RSVP if you would like to come, but everyone is welcome to join us!

Bubble Wrap Mat Ministry

On Thursday morning, May 25, members of Covenant Church fabricated 80 sleeping mats under the bridge at 4th & McClellan Street. They set up tables and chairs and for two hours worked alongside six people experiencing homelessness. They shared donuts, cof-fee and conversation. Covenant people present were Tom Morlock, Dave Yarbrough, Ron Vaughan, Tom Latimer, Jerry Fey, Barry Karalfa and Bob Arnold. Joe Olsen, director of our partner charity, HRC ministries, was also on hand throughout the morning. This, the second of three mat making sessions this year, was preceded by a meeting with the CEO of one of the nearby healthcare offices, whose building is ad-jacent to the bridge area. The clinic had expressed concern for the health and safety of their employees who use the area for parking their cars. During a cor-dial meeting, mutual acknowledgement was ex-pressed of the conflict of interests such mercy mis-sions are apt to create.

Covenant Member’s New Novel To Help Bubble Wrap Ministry How should a church that gets an anonymous gift of $87 million spend it? That’s the question driv-ing “The Church that Used to be St. Elmo’s,” a new novel by Covenant member Gordon Jackson. “The plot,” Jackson says, “is that the church will get this lavish gift on two conditions: that it change its geeky name, and that the identity of the donor not be disclosed.” That becomes a problem when the media start digging, he adds. Another theme concerns how people in the church increasingly disagree over how the money should be used. Copies will be available for sale after worship on Sunday, July 16. As with sales of his previous book, “Be Thou My Vision,” proceeds will go to-ward funding the church’s bubble wrap ministry. One of the book’s endorsers, Pastor Katy Shed-lock, at the UMC in Rockford, Wash., says the sto-ry “is full of delightfully familiar characters, the church folk we all know, presented with sharp and artful strokes.”

Youth Happenings... Youth Group is Still On

That’s right! Youth Group is continuing throughout the summer. Any kids are welcome if they are go-ing into 7th grade next year all the way to 12th grade. If you just graduated, come join us before you go off and do your adult things. Youth Group is on Sunday Nights from 6:30 – 8:30. We play games, get to know each other, and learn about our faith. We will being doing extra outings throughout the summer as well. This includes swimming, mini-golfing, roller skating, and many more activities. The dates for those will be posted when determined. We will also be taking some time this summer to update our youth room and make it our own. We would love any youth partici-pation in this project. If any youth want to join, we will see you on Sunday nights at 6:30. If you have any questions feel free to call or text us at (509) 434-8047 or email us at cumc.youthgroup2016@gmail.com. Thank You, Skyler Lamberd and Aric Williams

PNW ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT

The first joint conference between the Pacific Northwest

Conference and the Oregon-Idaho Conference was held at

Jantzen Beach in Portland, OR at The Red Lion on the River

from June 14-17. It was the PNW Annual Conference’s

144th session. The two conferences met jointly and individ-

ually for the plenary sessions and other gatherings. Those

attending from CUMC were Pastor Roger, Tom Robinson

(Lay Member Representative) Sharon Arnold (Certified Lay

Minister) and Elizabeth Williams (Alternate Lay Repre-

sentative).

We were welcomed at our opening by Native American trib-

al members, and we received a native blessing each day at

our opening session. Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky, the first

female bishop to preside over the area, was installed as Pre-

siding Bishop of the Greater Northwest Area with a delega-

tion from the Alaska Conference joining in for the ceremo-

ny. In her Episcopal address Bishop Elaine introduced the

theme "Do this and you will live" (words taken from Luke

10:26-28) by saying that “as we look deeply at our purpose

as a church, we will find that we are called to be life givers

as we create new ways of being church."

Patrick Scriven (PNW Conference Director of Communica-

tions and Young People's Ministries) report-

ed "During shared plenary, a report was also heard from

conference leaders explaining the vision for, and ongoing

collaboration of, staff work across the area including new

church starts, revitalization, and intercultural competency.

Discussion and voting on the five constitutional amendments

also took place together while votes were tallied separately".

Patrick also shared "During the final PNW plenary session,

the Rev. Elizabeth Schindler offered a reflection on the in-

stallation of the Greater Northwest Area’s first female bish-

op. She was moved that her daughter “will never wonder

whether God could possibly call her into ministry, whether

God could possibly have her do the work of mothering and

pastoring at the same time, whether she could be a

“successful” leader in the church, even without a booming

baritone voice.”

Other reports given by Patrick were as follows: "A petition

to reduce the number of districts in the PNW from six to five

was approved. Work will take place over the coming months

to redraw district lines on the west side of Washington State.

Eight church closures were also affirmed with a recognition

for them taking place during the Memorial Service. Late

breaking petitions affirming LGBTQI Clergy and supporting

the Western Jurisdiction’s College of Bishop’s response to

the Judicial Council were also affirmed." "Members ap-

proved a smaller conference budget than they did in 2016,

reducing it by .96% to $5,275,138. Apportionment alloca-

tions were also reduced for local churches as churches col-

lectively honored their commitment at 93%, the highest lev-

el since the mid 1970’s. A 1.5% increase in minimum salary,

changes effecting moving allowances, and a number of other

grants and benefits changes were enacted. A five year plan

to honor a directive from last year’s conference to divest

from fossil fuels was also approved."

Clergy Session took place on Thursday afternoon at Vancou-

ver First UMC while Laity Session occurred at The Red Li-

on Grand Ballroom. Conference Lay Leaders Jan Nelson

(OR-ID) and Nancy Tam David (PNW) delivered a shared

Laity Address as well as participating in the Laity Session

and the Celebration of Abundance Banquet. The Memorial

Service was held on Thursday evening with the Rev. Shalom

Agtarap delivering a message titled "Rivers of Life" based

on Isaiah 44:1-5 and John 7:37-39. Throughout the service

water was used as a symbol of life. Rev. Agtarap asked

"What places do we need to be delivered from and ushered

into the presence of living water? What brings heartbreak

and sorrow today?" At this service forty-eight saints in grief

were mourned and in joy were honored as well as ten

churches that closed in the two conferences.

Among the awards received at the Celebration of Abundance

Award's Banquet, Noriko Lao received this year's Ruth

Award.

On Saturday morning, "Ministry Alive" workshops took

place involving numerous topics. Culmination of those

workshops took place on the beautiful shore of the Columbia

River behind the hotel. The Rev. Jenny Phillips gave a homi-

ly before a crowd assembled for the "River Witness". We

enjoyed a band, a beautiful day, group singing (Down to the

River to Pray and Amazing Grace in Spanish and English)

and the unfurling of several streams of blue fabric above

us. Following this, the joint conference shared a meal with

some dining on the patio overlooking the Columbia.

The Ordination and Commissioning Service was again a

shared service. Two from the PNW Conference were or-

dained as elders, including Cody Natland who is Elizabeth

William’s son-in-law. Commissioning in preparation for the

order of elders took place for nine individuals and one into

the order of deacon. New licenses were recognized for four

local pastors. Retirement was recognized for thirteen elders,

one deacon, and two local pastors. The Rev Jeremy Smith

delivered the sermon titled "Can't Stop the Beat" based on

Deuteronomy 6:4-9. "We lift each other up when we stum-

ble, we spur each other on when we succeed ,” Rev. Smith

preached. “We push each other so that when we fall, we fall

forward up the mountain together.”

Next year's PNW Annual Conference will meet in Puyallup,

WA on June 21-24, 2018.

Submitted by Sharon Arnold (based on Patrick Scriven's

report provided for our churches to draw information from

and also from our own experiences)

In our Prayers

Lois Durheim Carol Ellsworth & family

George Newell Harlan Peer

Tom Robinson John Scott

Barbara Thornbrugh Jim Thrapp

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

morning worship experience. You are appreciated!

July 2 Reader: Mahlon Dirks

Greeters: Lou & Amy Moyer

Ushers: Barry & Linda Karalfa

Welcome Table: Rick & Diane Thomas

July 9 Reader: Jared McDougall

Greeters: Dave & Marty Erb

Ushers: Art & Diana DeFelice

Welcome Table: Marty Erb

July 16 Reader: Sharon Arnold

Greeters: Alden & Cindy Forbes

Ushers: Chuck & Linda Anderson

Welcome Table: Ron & Cheryl Vaughan

July 23 Readers: Fleeta Holcomb

Greeters: Ron & Cheryl Vaughan

Ushers: Dave & Deanna Sommers

Welcome Table:

Thank you to all who helped and participated in

our "Summer Spread" Seasonal Feast on Sun-

day June 25! We were pleased with the turnout

of 50 to 60 folks. Members of the Men's Saturday

Morning Bible Study group helped set up and

grilled the local, grass-fed burgers purchased at the

Tuesday, Fairwood Farmer's Market from Front

Porch Farms. Vegan burgers were also grilled. The

Hospitality Team assisted with serving and clean-

up. We had a wide-variety of side dishes including

organic and locally grown to compliment the burg-

ers. We appreciate all who helped in any way, as we

look forward to our next Seasonal Feast on Sunday,

September 24th! Diane Ketcham and Sharon Ar-

nold, Coordinators

EDEN GARDENS Barry Karalfa has been seeking bids on black and regular galvanized chain-link fencing. Due to costs, we are exploring more bids and fencing types as well as considering the possibility of in-stalling the fence ourselves. So far we have re-ceived bids from Idaho Fence, All Terrain Fence, North Forty Materials and several online re-sources. We welcome leads to any other places that we might explore. Also, if we do install the fence ourselves, George Austin has kindly offered to help with his tractor, but we will need to use or rent an auger attachment for it. We now have 1,500 free paving bricks (thanks to the Wall Street renovation project) which will be useful in providing hard surface paths for our ADA accessible planters. A HUGE THANK YOU to Bob & Terri Ratts, MJ & Richard Woods, and David Yarbrough for making multiple trips to load and haul these heavy (4 pounds each) bricks! OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 29th AT 2:00pm. ALL ARE WELCOME! Garden Seed Fundraiser: Thank you for your support! The total seed sales were over $600. The Guild of Gardeners split the total amount raised with Mt. St. Michael who pro-vided the seeds to Covenant for our fundraising efforts. We are very grateful for your donations to our Eden Gardens! The money raised will be put to good use in our preparations for the Communi-ty Garden.

“Peace…and Remembering the Fallen”

A ministry of Covenant United Methodist Church

The article below offers practical suggestions for living peaceably in a fractured world. It ends with a reminder that the Methodist Three Simple Rules – Do Good, Do No Harm, Stay in love with God - can help us live out this Christian way. Consider joining a Covenant Discipleship Group using this Rule of Life to “watch over one another in love.” The article is reprinted from ReThink Church, a project of the United Methodist Church.

We live in a world of heightened division. Terror attacks across the globe highlight the polarization, but we sense the brokenness in our everyday lives also. How can we process the division and become agents of peace and communi-ty?

LIVING AS A PERSON OF PEACE IN A BROKEN

WORLD Facebook2.1KTwitterGoogle+EmailPrint

The Bible teaches that God created us to live in community and that Jesus came to reconcile us to God and one an-other. Right now, however, we don't appear to be a doing a very good job of coming together. To help us process we asked a United Methodist pastor and expert on conflict transformation, the Rev. W. Craig Gilliam, for techniques and tips about how to begin a process of healing and find peace.

Reconnecting

The divisions we sense around us and experience in our personal lives make us uneasy, or what some coun-selors call anxious. “We are living in an extremely anxious culture,” Gilliam reports, where we tend to rely on emotional reactions rather than reasoned responses. You probably see this in your social media feed and in heated exchanges between those who disagree. In our anxiety, Gilliam reports, “We do each other harm in ways we didn't even know we had the capacity to do, or in ways we're not even aware we're doing it.”

One unhealthy way we cope with our anxiety is to retreat to safe places by finding people with whom we agree and limiting our connection to others. We unfriend people on Facebook, limit our phone calls with that one uncle, and avoid certain people at church. Living in these “safe spaces,” however, allows us to fool ourselves. “When I cut off from another,” Gilliam notes, “I begin to create narratives about them.” Those stories often include what we believe about ourselves and God. The false narrative we create usually goes something like this: They are bad. We are good. God is on our side and not on theirs.

This, of course, is not true. The Bible tells us that all of us are created in God’s image, are loved by God, and have God’s grace available to us. To work past a conflict, we need to find ways to reconnect. Rather than retreating to a safe space surrounded by those with whom we agree, we must now move toward the disagreement. We must be willing to listen to those we are tempted to label as “other.” “If I'm interacting with that other, if I'm sitting down looking at them eye-to-eye, if I'm listening to their stories,” Gilliam says, “that very interaction helps make space for the alter-native narratives and for the correction in the narrative I'm telling myself about the “other.” Our diverse United Methodist churches provide wonderful opportunities for connection. Worship, Sunday School, choir, committee meetings, and the sacrament of Holy Communion bring us into contact with those we might find diffi-cult, reinforcing the true narrative that we are all children of God. Serve somebody

Participating in selfless acts of service is another great way to reconnect with others. Volunteering with your church or a local non-profit, “takes you out of yourself. It really puts you in a context of giving to others with no

reward, just to do it because it's the kind, Christian thing to do,” Gilliam reports. “I think that's very heal-ing.” Service opportunities and social activism can also be means of meeting those of another culture, faith, or nationality. Limit television and news input Limiting your exposure to the media is another way of resisting false narratives and anxiety. Those outlets can be “like a hose that is pumping anxiety into our homes,” Gilliam says. Audit your news consumption. While we want to remain informed, consider limiting news alerts on your smartphone, and the time spent watching your favorite news channel. If your social media feeds are a source of anxiety, limit time spent with those also. Remember, God is in control In a divided culture, we may be tempted to put our hope on winning an argument, position, or election. While governments and other organizations hold a great deal of power in our lives, God is ultimately in control. Going to church, reading the Bible, and spending time in other activities that re-center us are helpful. Go for a hike. Attend a concert. Get lost in a good book. “Find those rhythms that bring you back to your better self,” Gilliam advises. Hit the gym When stress and anxiety are high, many of us turn to junk food. Others stop exercising. Return to eat-ing well. Join an exercise class. “Go to the doctor to get help starting a new lifestyle,” Gilliam suggests. God created us as complete beings. Body, mind, and spirit are all connected. Spend time with friends Gilliam suggests, “Be with those friends that when you're around them you're just a better person.” Spend good, quality time with people you love. Listen for the invitation If you continue to struggle, consider asking yourself, “What is the invitation here? How is God calling me to grow?” Spend some time discerning what God may be trying to show you through this season, what you might do differently in the future, and ways you might get involved to make a difference. Take your time “Reconciliation is a journey. It is not a one-time act,” Gilliam cautions. Our pace will differ from others. We cannot force it. “There’s nothing worse than rushing something that’s not ripe yet,” he continues, “and not heeding when the time is right.” Sometimes, we may need to accept that a relationship will never be reconciled. One of the more difficult tasks is to “honor their choice not to forgive,” Gilliam says, “and not allow it to embitter us.”

Stay in love with God Finally, Gilliam reminds us of Bishop Rueben Job’s summary of John Wesley's General Rules: “Do no harm, do good, stay in love with God.” When we do that, we can overcome the conflict and grow from the experience.

Sunday Schedule

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

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: Mon-Thurs (closed Fridays for summer). ....... 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, July 25 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

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Permit No. 20

Family Promise Week Families will be at Covenant, July 23-30.

Please check your calendars and see if you

can volunteer during that week. The sign-

up sheet will be available in the living room

beginning this Sunday, July 2nd. We will need:

Set up help on July 23

Overnight hosts

Dinner preparers

Dinner hosts

Laundry helpers

Take down help on July 30

If you have questions, see Barb Miscoi, Barry

Karalfa, or Gail Harris.

July & August Collections School Supplies

Watch for the Back-to-School sales! We are collecting school supplies for clients of New Hope Resource Center. All items are needed including backpacks for children K-12 Place your donations in our New Hope collec-tion barrel at church.