There we were in the Emergency Room of Norwalk Hospital at 7 PM on a Thursday evening. Steve didn’t feel that bad except for being tired from working all day and making deliveries to Hartford. We were there because the GI specialist Steve had seen on Monday called Steve’s cell phone and said she had just gotten the blood work results from Monday. “Where are you?” she asked. When she found out he was headed home on the Merritt Parkway, she said, “No! Don’t go home. Go directly to the ER. They will be waiting for you. I’m worried about you.”

After a quick blood test, the ER doctor told us that Steve was in complete kidney fail-ure. The doctor said this was an easy call. Steve needed dialysis as soon as a port could be put in. We were then told that Steve probably wouldn’t see a kidney specialist until morning because they believed he had already gone home. At that point, Dr. Weiner walked in. He had not gone home.

Dr. Weiner does not wear a white lab coat. He wears a black blazer and black T-shirt and a silver medallion on a silver chain. And, he has a wild hair doo much like Albert Einstein. He is not the doctor we would have picked, but God picked him for us.

He confirmed that Steve’s blood contamination levels were very high. But, there was no obvious reason for what was causing this. The next four days were con-sumed with inserting a dialysis port, beginning dialysis to get the poisons out of Steve’s blood, more dialysis as Steve’s body got used to being filtered, and finally a kidney biopsy to try to determine what had caused this complete kidney failure.

Meanwhile, Nancy was holding everything else together. She was with Steve during the day. When Monday came, she was in Bridgeport running our small business so that our two employees would still get their paychecks. And, most importantly, Nancy started contacting everyone we knew from Norwalk to California to pray for Steve.

After a while it became obvious that Dr. Weiner was “one-of-a-kind” — just the kind Steve needed. After the biopsy results were available, it was obvious that Dr. Weiner had spent extra time on them and was puzzled. The cause for the kidney failure was

(Continued on page 2)

A Testimony from Steve Domyan

The Salt Shaker V o l u m e 2 0 1 8 , I s s u e 1 1 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 8

Spec ial poin ts of in terest:

Page 3 Operation Christmas Child 11/16 Page 4 Prayer & Fasting 11/2 Page 5 Church Council Update Page 6 Church Calendar Page 7 Youth News Page 8 Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport FEED Program Page 9 Faith Promise Sunday 11/11

Steve & Nancy Domyan

A Testimony from Steve Domyan

not obvious. He kept asking questions about things Steve might have eaten or come into contact with that in his 40 years of experience would suggest a cause for the kidneys to shut down. There was nothing.

Finally, Dr. Weiner came into Steve’s hospital room and said that the kidney cells he was looking at on the slides looked normal. The kidneys just weren’t filtering. He said that he had some friends at Yale with an electron microscope. He was going to call in some “favors” and have them take a quick look at the biopsy slides. The results from New Haven came back very quickly. Dr. Weiner said the filters were being clogged by proteins. Where did they come from?

At this point, if all this were not enough, we had a snow storm and a tree came through the living room ceiling. The power was out, and the house was running on a generator. Nancy had not been in the living room when the tree hit. Nancy was able to seal the holes in the ceiling to keep the cold air out of the house with pieces

of plastic drop cloths and blue painter’s tape. Typically, Steve is the “Mr. Fix It”. This time he offered suggestions over the phone of what might be available for this emergency “fix”. God gave Nancy the strength and ability to do what had to be done.

Next, she called a Christian brother to ask him to come to the house the next day to get the tree off the roof and do a rough outside patch of the two holes in the roof. Nancy took photos of her interior patch work and the exterior roof damage for Steve to see so that he knew God was taking care of her.

Later in the week, Dr. Weiner called in Dr. Boxer who is a hematologist. So the first doctor that God chose called in the perfect other doctor for Steve. It

was late Friday afternoon and Dr. Boxer was actually in the parking lot on his way home. He came back and found Steve in dialysis. He said he needed to do a bone marrow biopsy. He believed timing was critical for Steve. Dr. Boxer paced in the hallway waiting for Steve’s dialysis session to end. Then, he took Steve back to his room and performed the bone marrow biopsy right there on his bed. The lab was closing, but they were waiting for Dr. Boxer to bring them the sample. Dr. Boxer literally ran to the lab with the bone marrow sample.

When the results came back, Dr. Boxer said it was clear. Steve’s kidney shutdown was caused by an over abundance of defective blood cells which were being pro-duced by Myeloma cancer cells in Steve’s bone marrow. Within a day, Dr. Boxer started Steve on chemotherapy. As the cancer cells were destroyed, God slowly restarted Steve’s kidneys.

This is not the end of the story. God has continued to do many miracles as Steve has been treated for his Myeloma. Sometimes the miracles were specific healing miracles. Sometimes they were miracles God gave us to reassure us that He was still there. But all these stories are for a future Sunday morning testimonial so that our God can be glorified.

(Continued from page 1)

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T h e S a l t S h a k e r

Children’s Ministry P a g e 3

Operation Christmas Child

Friday, November 16, 6:00pm

Join us for a Shoebox Packing Party for Children Around the World!

Families are invited to join together and share the joy with others! We’ll watch a short video with a wonderful lesson on sharing, then enjoy a yummy dinner provided by the Girl’s Night Out Life Group.

RSVP on the church website, so we can plan accordingly.

Please help your child grab a snack in the Fellow-ship Hall after the 2nd Worship Service and join us in the Kid’s HANG OUT Room (aka KID’S CAVE) that’s been newly redecorated! We’ll have time for fun and fellowship! Please make sure to sign your child in and out each Sunday.

November’s Bible Memory Verse I’ll take you as my people, and I’ll be your God. - Exodus 6:7

And for some of you, it will be a reunion, and a great time to see your Camp Squanto friends again! Ask a friend to join you . . . It will be an amazing weekend! $125 per student. Contact Kristine Lackowski about scholarship information.

Join your friends for an incredible weekend in New Hampshire at Pil-grim Pines with your youth leaders. You’ll get to experience Camp Squanto-style worship, new & old friends, sledding, ice skating, broomball tournament, foosball, ping pong, prizes and much more!

WinterJam Retreat for Grades 4-5

We had so much fun Bowling for Jesus! New friends have joined us this fall and we love when that hap-pens! Join us Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for FUN while we grow closer to Jesus and one another. NO Friends Night Out on November 6th or 20th.

Friends Night Out News

Kids HANG OUT November 11 & 25

The Pecego family has generously made donations of items to go into the shoeboxes. If you would also like to donate items for the shoeboxes, check out this link for what can and cannot be included: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/

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Thank you to everyone who participated in October’s 5th Annual American Red Cross Blood Drive. 48 people presented and 41 productive units were collected on a goal of 37! Thank you Charlene Skok! who worked so diligently behind the scenes to organize and coordinate this year’s Blood Drive!

Red Cross Blood Drive

SUGGESTED DONATIONS FOR NOVEMBER Pasta, Pasta Sauce

Cleaning Supplies: Laundry & Dish Soap, Sponges, Garbage Bags, Lysol, Ajax, Windex, etc.

Please leave your donations in the Wicker Hampers located in the Church Entry.

Light on the Hill Food Pantry Summerfield United Methodist Church

T h e S a l t S h a k e r

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COUNCIL MEMBERS

John Anderson Bill Croasmun Krista Dolan John Drummond Joyce Fiscus JoAnn Gibbs Gerry Lambert

Church Council Update Your Church Council meets once a month, usually on the second Monday night of the month. If you have questions, comments or concerns or would like to bring anything up for consideration, please contact a Council member, and we will be

glad to help you. Here is a brief update: • By the time of going to press, the DREAM Again Committee will have finished strategies and action plans for the second goal which is: “In the coming year, each of us will be actively engaged in other people’s lives to bring them closer to Jesus Christ.” Praise and thank the Lord for the work accomplished so far and pray for His guidance and bless-ing as we move into the implementation phase for this goal and the first goal — “Personal commitment to daily prayer and Bible study.” Thank you to all the Committee members: Bob Fiscus, Bill Croasmun,

Krista Dolan, Mark Hatfield, Angelica Hernandez, Gerry Lambert, Steve Lindeberg, Nicole Otten, Colby Putnam and Cary Slater.

• Also, a big THANK YOU to all our Ministry Teams and their leaders for all the work they do throughout the year and for their plans for this new church year:

Administration & Communication—Gail Lent Children—Paula Keegan Connections—Tim Herrmann Discipleship—Andy Zager Fellowship—Melissa Otten and Laura Svenson Finance—Scott Fiscus and Dave Gibbs Personnel—Cary Slater Properties & Maintenance—Bob Merritt and Joe Domena Service & Evangelism—Bill Morin and Wiley Mullins Worship—Judy Goyette Youth—Mark Hatfield.

Please pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and inspiration. Our ministries are one of the primary ways we carry on the work of building God’s kingdom.

• Each meeting the Council spends time sharing insights from a book the Council members are reading this year, Pursuing God’s Will Together by Ruth Haley Barton. A recent chapter reminded us the importance and relevance of our Be-havioral Covenant. The Council encourages all groups in the church — com-mittees, ministries, Life Groups, etc. — to begin their time together by reading and recommitting to our Behavior Covenant.

• At a recent count of the “Mortgage Free” program now has pledges totaling $81,000, which is about 50% of the debt outstanding. Thank you to all who have made pledges. Please continue to prayerfully consider whether the Holy Spirit is prompting you to make a pledge.

• The Council and new Church members gathered together recently to welcome new members and to get know each other. A wonderful afternoon was shared,; thanks to Dave & JoAnn Gibbs for hosting the event at their home.

• Please pray for our 2019 budget planning, nominating, and the execution of our DREAM Again ministry plans.

T h e S a l t S h a k e r

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

7:30a Women’s LG 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p JHAMS 7:00p Women’s LG

2 7:00p AA 7:00p Croasmun LG 7:00p Prayer & Fasting

3 6:00a Men’s Prayer 8:00a Men’s Prayer Breakfast 10:00a Band Rehearsal

4 9:00a Worship 9:00a Adult SS 9:15a CrossFit 9:30a Foundations 10:45a Worship 12:00p King’s Kids 12:00p LG Meeting

5 1:00p Staff Meeting 7:00p Men’s LG 7:30p AA 7:30p Council & Finance Meeting

6 ELECTION DAY

9:30a CBS Leaders 6:00p Prayer NO Friends Night Out

7 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p OASIS 7:30p Choir

8 7:30a Women’s LG 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p JHAMS 7:00p Women’s LG

9 7:00p AA 7:00p Croasmun LG

10 6:00a Men’s Prayer 10:00a Band Rehearsal

11 FATIH

PROMISE SUNDAY 9:00a Worship 9:00a Adult SS 9:15a CrossFit 9:30a Foundations 10:45a Worship 12:00p Kids Hangout

12 1:00p Staff Meeting 7:00p Men’s LG 7:30p Council 7:30p AA

13 9:30a CBS Leaders 6:00p Prayer 6:30p Friends Night Out

14 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p OASIS 7:30p Choir

15 7:30a Women’s LG 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p JHAMS 7:00p Women’s LG

16 6:00p Operation Christmas Child 7:00p AA 7:00p Croasmun LG 7:00p Cameron LG

17 6:00a Men’s Prayer 10:00a Band Rehearsal

18 9:00a Worship 9:00a Adult SS 9:15a CrossFit 9:30a Foundations 10:45a Worship 12:00p King’s Kids 12:00p Shoebox PU

19 1:00p Staff Meeting 7:00p Men’s LG 7:30p AA

20 SALT

SHAKER DEADLINE NO CBS Leaders 6:00p Prayer NO Friends Night Out

21 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p OASIS with College Youth 7:30p Choir

22

THANKSGIVING 23 7:00p AA 7:00p Croasmun LG

24 6:00a Men’s Prayer 10:00a Band Rehearsal

25 9:00a Worship 9:00a Adult SS 9:15a CrossFit NO Foundations 10:45a Worship 12:00p Kids Hangout

26 1:00p Staff Meeting 7:00p Men’s LG 7:30p AA

27 9:30a CBS Leaders 6:00p Prayer NO Friends Night Out

28 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p OASIS 7:30p Choir

29 7:30a Women’s LG 8:00a Outside Group 7:00p JHAMS 7:00p Women’s LG

30 6:00p Deck the Halls w/Children’s Movie 7:00p AA 7:00p Croasmun LG

November 2018

Children’s Ministry & Youth Leader Retreat

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T h e S a l t S h a k e r

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WINTERFEST Guest Speaker Joseph Sojourner You may remember Joseph was the MC from CHIC 2018. Here’s another chance to learn more about “Life’s not about our destination, but rather our journey.”

REGISTER for the Upcoming Winter Retreats!

Youth News Loving God We had an awesome time meeting in October with youth groups from all over Fairfield County to praise and worship our God together!

Growing Together Did you know we have a Youth Bible Study on Sunday mornings from 9:15 to 10:30? All High School youth (& 8th graders that aren’t participating in Foundations) are welcome to join us any Sunday. We’re studying the Gospel of Mark and we meet in Pastor Cary’s office.

We’re excited to have 10 students in our Confirmation Class (aka Foundations) this year studying the Old Testament!

Serving Others Our youth have been busy serving this month!

Feeding the homeless and providing care packages for Under the Bridge in Bridgeport

Volunteering at the American Red Cross Blood Drive On Halloween, instead of Trick or Treating, we collected canned goods for a

local food pantry!

WINTERFEST (High School) — January 4-6, 2019; $130

WINTERBLAST (Junior High) — February 8-10, 2019; $125

www.pilgrimpines.org/retreat-overview These are more than just weekend retreats — they’re experiences! We’ll enjoy powerful worship, awesome seminars, activities that include a 40-person hot tub, 3 — 800’ zip lines, a climbing wall, disc golf, food, give-a-ways, late night pizza party, games & prizes. These are amazing weekends your kids will never forget! Be sure to register your student SOON!

Debbie Packnick, Student Ministry Pastor / (203) 668-5350 / debbie@coveaston.org

THANKSGIVING WEEK OASIS (High School Youth) invites our College Youth to join us on Wednesday, 11/21 (the day before Thanksgiving) from 7:00-9:30pm! JHAMS (Middle School Youth) will NOT meet on Thursday, 11/22.

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The Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport’s Center for Food Equity + Economic Development (FEED) builds community wealth through innovative food-based initiatives. Their newest project is a social enterprise production kitchen, where healthy prepared and packaged foods using recovered produce that would otherwise have been thrown away is made. The Council of Churches now operates a successful culinary course, CREATE, that provides culinary training to low-income Bridgeport and area residents for food industry employment and entrepreneurial ventures. The FEED product line engages their culinary training gradu-ates in another level of training, providing hands-on experience to inform the launch of their own food business. Aditi Goswami, CREATE Program Manager, is heading this project with her first three students — Nelly Baez (creates dishes that are a healthy take on Puerto Rican food), Norelia Baez (specializes in traditional & tantalizing Colombian food) and Victoria Resto (excels at delicious baked goods), all graduates of the culinary training program. WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? Why cook all of your Thanksgiving side dishes? Let FEED help! Visit their website to shop for handmade and homemade goods. Place your order (by 8am on Friday) and pickup after Sunday services at Covenant.

Visit the Feed Marketplace http://feedbridgeport.ccgb.org/

On Sunday, November 25th a representative from The Center for Food Equity + Economic Development will visit our church to provide further information.

The Center for Food Equity + Economic Development

Service Ministry

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Treasurer’s Report The financial results of the General Operating Fund for the eight months ended September 30, 2018 were as follows:

INCOME: Offering Receipts $421,683 Investment & Other Income 2,142 Total Income $423,825 EXPENSES $420,883 Excess of Income over Expenses $2,942

The September year-to-date surplus represents a continuation of surpluses this year. Once again the positive financial results are relatively small when compared to the amount of offerings and expenses. Small positive is always better than negative.

Very healthy offering receipts and expense management are leading to the positive picture. Giving for this year has been consistently higher than last year. For the first three quarters, it is 6.1% higher than 2017 even though we are running 2.7% below this year’s finan-cial projection. This shortfall is entirely normal at this time of year. Historically, offering receipts are strongest in the fourth quarter. Therefore, the expectation is that offering receipts may well exceed the financial projection (made at the start of the year) for the year as a whole.

Expenses were 3.1% below the financial projection. Spending by most of the ministries is below expectations, with the notable excep-tion that electricity costs are significantly higher than projected, likely due to adverse weather conditions in both winter and summer.

Another bit of good news is the mortgage balance, which is decreas-ing at a rapid rate. As of October 15, it was $159,130. So far, there have been 53 pledges made to the Mortgage Elimination Fund for a total of $87,130. This is yet another testament to the generosity of the congregation. No church can survive without a dedicated group of faithful contributors of time, talent and treasure. Fortunately, the Covenant Church of Easton has such a group.

THANK YOU for all your continued support.

Bob Fiscus, Treasurer

Birthdays & Anniversaries

11/1 Dillon Otten 11/2 Diana Ambrose 11/6 Lynne Sullivan 11/9 Tyler Bachelder 11/10 Robert Lindahl 11/12 Willem Zima 11/13 Lucy Gould 11/14 Eva Appels 11/15 Lily Shive 11/16 JoAnn Gibbs 11/17 Brian Soderholm 11/22 Charlene Skok 11/24 Matthew Svenson 11/25 Joan Bjork Stephanie Wirth 11/26 Brenda Majeski 11/27 Bill Austin Laura Svenson 11/30 Chris Logan

NOVEMBER 4 Nicole & Kristian Otten

NOVEMBER 7 Debbie & John Anderson

Faith Promise Sunday is November 11th. Culture of Generosity Faith Promise Cards for 2019 in the pews or in the Church Welcome Center; or you can com-plete visit the church website (www.coveaston.org) to complete your 2019 Faith Promise.

Faith Promise Sunday November 11

PLACE STAMP HERE

Loving God, Growing Together, Serving Others

1 Sport Hill Road Easton, CT 06612 203.371.8335 www.coveaston.org