Return to flip book view

From our pastor — Rev. Dan Turis The Covenant Courier Covenant-First Presbyterian Church April 2024, Vol. 29, Issue 4 Sharing the heart of the Gospel in the heart of the city Our next sermon series will take us to the beginning of the summer. It will be rooted in topics associated with discipleship. Discipleship is a term that gets thrown around a lot. Often, it is used to describe education efforts in the church. Education is not discipleship. Classic Christian education typically involves learning things about God, which is crucial to a growing Christian. However, discipleship is helping someone walk with the Lord. Ul-timately, discipleship is helping someone become a disciple of Jesus. To become a disciple of Jesus, you put on the yoke of Christ. His yoke is light and filled with grace. Yet a disci-ple of Christ is called to forsake their own way of living and incorporate the way of Christ. Christ becomes our model. He becomes the blueprint of our life. The most basic way of thinking about this might lead a person to think that all you need to do is do good acts. However, this is short-sighted. Jesus orders all of life and will order your life around him. That won't take you away from the places he has already called you. As a matter of fact, he wants you to be his image in the places you are called. To be a disciple of Jesus requires submission—submission of your life, your decisions, your money, your time, and your heart to him. This is where discipleship gets difficult. It becomes abstract or insurmountable. This is where you need someone who is farther down the road on their journey with Christ to help you. You need a guide to help. That guide is not who you are trying to become. That guide is always casting you upon Jesus. However, that guide can’t help but instill in you qualities and behaviors that they themselves partake in. That disciplemaker will share with you the things that helped them along the way. A disciplemaker will need resources that will help them as a guide to faith. There are plenty of resources that I could suggest, like the book I am currently reading, Designer Jesus, by Len Sweet. Sweet’s argument is Jesus is a designer of lives and he wants to design your life. Another book that I recommend is Disciples Are Made Not Born by Leroy Iams. A good classic on the topic. There are three resources I particularly like. The first of the three that I am suggesting is The Message of Disciple-ship, by Peter Morden. It is a chief resource that I will be using for my sermon series. It breaks down scripture with a discipleship lens. The second book I am suggesting is Discipleship by J. Heinrich Arnold. It is filled with short, impactful meditations on the subject of discipleship. Finally, if you want a copy of the third book, I have a free copy for you. It is a book that I already spoke about in this publication. When I first got here, I told you about the book Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman. It has been the most impactful book I ever read on discipleship, and I highly recommend it. A copy of all of the books suggested will be available in the church of-fice to borrow. What I hope we will grow into is a congregation of disciples making disciples and helping each other grow in the faith. I invite you on that most worthwhile journey. Blessings! Rev. Dan Turis

Page 2 The Covenant Courier Session Notes Your Session met for its first meeting with the two newly elected elders, Cindy Standen and Hugh Ralston, on March 11. Rev. Turis used most of the meeting for a devotional time reviewing the role of elders, drawing on Scripture and also the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order. He also reviewed plans for an upcoming Ses-sion retreat, set for April 12 and 13. The elders will meet downtown on Friday for dinner and discussion, and continue with training and prayer on Saturday. The Saturday gathering will be hosted at Knox Presbyterian Church. Rev. Turis also reviewed plans for the then up-coming Holy Week services, and he shared that Jennifer Maxwell had agreed to become the co-chair of the Sunday Fellowship Time, and will be working along side Bill Blessing to help organize the Sunday work. The Session will not have a regular business meeting in April, because of the extended Session retreat. See any elder, Rev. Turis, or me with any questions or concerns. Rob Heidenreich Clerk of Session Thank you for being generous — One Great Hour of Sharing Thank you to all who contributed to our annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering. We collected a total of $1,668.12 — which includes $58.12 from coins in 10 fish banks! All of this offering is designated to the sup-port of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, which works across the U.S. and around the world to provide both immediate disaster response assistance, and longer term rebuilding support. These efforts are coordinated through Presbyterian churches, Presbyteries, and our mission co-workers. Thank you for being generous Dinners for Eight — April 28 at 6 PM It’s time for another Dinners for Eight. Mark your calendars and plan on attending these fun dinners. This is a great opportunity to get to know other people in the church. Watch for a sign-up to either host or attend coming in Sun-day’s bulletin. You can also sign-up by call the church office at 513-621-4144 or emailing Genita at genita@covfirstchurch.org. Parent’s Night Out May 10, 5 PM to 8 PM Parents, mark your calendars for an opportunity to have some time out, while we watch your children. We will be providing a fun evening for your children at the church, while you spend some time alone. Watch for details coming soon! Questions? Contact Rod Crousey or Jennifer Maxwell. Flowers for Worship We have a lot of open Sundays to contribute flowers for worship. The cost for flowers is $50. Simply sign-up on the flower chart in the hallway leading to Metzger Hall. Someone will contact you to get information for your dedication for the flowers. Remember, if you have extra vases at home we can recycle those vases by re-turning them to the florist for a discount on future orders.

Page 3 The Covenant Courier Deacon’s Corner The deacons did not hold their regularly-scheduled monthly meeting in March, but they are proceeding as planned with various projects for the next couple of months. Throughout April and early May, the dea-cons will continue to collect material items for Old St. Mary’s Church Pregnancy Center. As a matter of history, St. Mary’s Church was dedicat-ed on July 3, 1842. In the early days of Cincinnati, St. Mary’s Church, and later on, its school, played a sig-nificant role in the development and life of our city. While it remains the oldest German Catholic Church in the area, it has changed and evolved over the years. In 2001, St. Mary’s Church embraced a new mission, that of supporting lower income mothers facing un-planned pregnancies. Since its inception, it has com-pleted over 9,500 pregnancy tests and has given out tens of thousands of baby items to those in need. Old St. Mary’s Church and Pregnancy Center are lo-cated at 123 East 13th St. in OTR. The Pregnancy Center is open three afternoons a week. They offer free pregnancy testing and work closely with Tri-Health. Once a child is born, the Center continues to help with baby items such as diapers, clothing, strollers, hygiene items and more. While clients wait for service, they attend a short Bible study. On Thursday afternoons, the Center offers a one-hour class for expectant mothers; after class each partici-pant receives a bag of newborn supplies. Following the baby’s birth, the mother may return once a month for additional diapers, clothes and other age-appropriate supplies to support the growing child, as well as provide emotional support. As in past years, the deacons are again sponsoring a supplies drive, beginning the first week of April and culminating on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12. The following supplies are being collected: • Disposable diapers in sizes 5 & 6 (regular) • Baby wipes • Baby wash, baby shampoo, baby powder • Vaseline (tub or tube) • New or gently used toddler clothing - sizes 3T, 4T, 5T (in-season only) • Car seats and umbrella strollers ( gently used is fine) In the past, the Covenant-First congregation has whole-heartedly supported this community need and the deacons are anticipating another successful sup-plies drive for the Pregnancy Center. And, mark your calendars—the deacons are planning another volunteer opportunity at Matthew 25: Minis-tries on Saturday, June 8 from 9 to 11 AM. Sign-up details to be published as the date approaches. It is our hope that all of you have been blessed over the past several weeks by Pastor Dan’s teachings on atonement, and the reassurance that comes with knowing that through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, he has restored our relationship with God. Hallelujah! Respectfully submitted, Nancy Smith — Senior Singles Outing — Thursday, April 18 at 6 PM The next Senior Singles Outing will be held at Trio’s Restaurant, 7565 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, OH, on Thursday, April 18 at 6 PM. Reservations are due to Pat Beckman by noon on Wednesday, April 17.

April 8 Emily Millhaem 10 Ellen Rember 10 Yolanda Parker 12 Randy Page 15 Rod Crousey 18 Jenny Adams 19 Amy Crousey 15 Rick Hopkins 16 Susan Witte May 5 Krista Clermont 5 Sherri Ellington 9 Justin Clermont 9 Evelyn Crousey 10 Susan Cameron 10 Angel Hackett 10 Marilyn Hyde 11 Genita Heidenreich 14 Don Ross 17 Bill Forsstrom 25 Kelly Millhaem 28 Addie Landis 30 Charlie Millhaem Support our Choir Scholars at their Upcoming Recitals Many of our choir scholars will be preforming in recitals in the next several weeks. This is a great opportunity to hear great music and support our scholars. Several of these recitals are held at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) recital halls. These halls are easy to find once in the CCM building by just following the signs. • Joshua Klein — April 9 at 6:45 PM at CCM in Mary Emery Hall Room 3250 • Emilio Vasquez — April 17 at 8:30 PM at CCM in Watson Hall • Zach Burnham — April 21 at 5:30 PM here at CFPC Page 4 The Covenant Courier Neighborhood Fellowship As we begin to look forward to warmer days ahead, we are also excited to begin planning for our outside fel-lowship times. This is a time when we move our fellowship time outside on the front sidewalk and encourage those who pass by to join us. Our plan for this year will be to have these fellowship opportunities on the last Sunday of the month from April through October. Our themes for these fellowship times are as follows: • April 28 — April Showers with a celebration of National Blueberry Pie Day • May 26 — Taking Time to Remember, Memorial Day • June 30 — Hawaiian Luau — Pulled Pork and Tropical Fruit Salad • July 28 — Beat the Heat with an Ice Cream Treat — Sunday Sundae • August 25 — ‘Tis the Season . . . for watermelon • September 29 — Dipping Our Toes into Cooler Weather — Fruit and Vegetables Dips Questions? Want to help? Contact Jamie Jewell, (513) 885-2282, jamiejewell@zoomtown.com

Senior Singles Derby Party When: Saturday, May 4, 2024 Time: 5 PM, Derby is run about 6:45 PM Where: Home of Pat Beckman RSVP: By noon Wednesday, May 1 to Pat Beckman. Questions? Contact Pat. Page 5 The Covenant Courier Upcoming Sermon Series • Sunday, April 7 — A Disciple’s Call— Isaiah 6 • Sunday, April 14 — A Disciple’s Life—2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 • Sunday, April 21 — A Disciple’s Life in the Spirit—2 Timothy 1:6-7 • Sunday, April 28 — Resurrection and Discipleship—John 20:19-23 • Sunday, May 5 — Discipleship as Servanthood—Colossians 3:22-25 Old St. Mary’s Pregnancy Crisis Center Mother’s Day Collection We will once again be collecting items for Old St. Mary’s Pregnancy Crisis Center. A crib will be set-up in Metzger Hall to collect the following items: • Disposable diapers in sizes 5 & 6 (regular) • Baby wipes • Baby wash, baby shampoo, baby powder • Vaseline (tub or tube) • New or gently used toddler clothing - sizes 3T, 4T, 5T (in-season only) • Car seats and umbrella strollers ( gently used is fine) If you would prefer to have someone else shop for you, you can place cash in an envelope and mark it Old St. Mary’s. The Deacon’s will purchase items for you. Questions? Contact Nancy Smith or Jennifer Maxwell.

COVENANT-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 717 Elm Street * Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513-621-4144 * Email: office@covfirstchurch.org www.covfirstchurch.org Pastor: Rev. Dan Turis CHURCH STAFF Church Administrator: Genita Heidenreich Choir Director: Yolanda Ortiz-Parker Organist: Andrew Hackett Organ Scholar: Christie Lee Choral Scholars: Zach Burnham, Lucy Evans, Jarrett Hazelton, Madeline Jentsch, Joshua Klein, Ashlyn Rock, Natalie Sheppard, Emilio Vasquez Weekly Events Sundays 8:45 AM Covenant Choir Rehearsal Sundays 9:15 AM Adult Sunday School Sundays 10:30 AM Worship Sundays 11:30 PM Fellowship Time Wednesdays 12 PM Brown Bag Bible Study Saturdays 7:30 AM Men’s Bible Study The church office is open for regular hours Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 2 PM. Other hours are available by appointment by calling the church office at 513-621-4144. Upcoming Events April 9 — Joshua Klein Recital — 6:45 PM at CCM Mary Emery Hall Room 3250 April 12-13 — Session Retreat April 17 — Emilio Vasquez Recital — 8:30 PM at CCM Watson Hall April 21 — Zach Burnham — 5:30 PM at CFPC April 28 — Neighborhood Fellowship following worship — National Blueberry Pie Day April 28 — Dinners for Eight in various homes ELDERS Alex Balz Carol Carhartt Rod Crousey Rob Heidenreich, Clerk Rick Hopkins Jamie Jewell Rene McPhedran Mike Millhaem Dwight Poffenberger DEACONS Jenny Adams Brian Calfano Charlotte Goering Jennifer Maxwell, Moderator Joan McAlonan Nancy Smith If you are not receiving email up-dates from the church, send an email to office@covfirstchurch.org and request to be added to the email list. We can also mail the weekly bulletin and announcements, if you do not have email access. Call the office to request bulletins by mail.