From Our Choir Director

As the season of Lent begins, the Covenant Choir will sing a haunting anthem by American composer Sam Batt Owens entitled Do Not I Love Thee, O My Lord. The tune is a Sacred Harp hymn, which is typical of the Southern flavor in the composer’s music. Dr. Owens had degrees from Birmingham-Southern College and Vanderbilt University, and he lived in Memphis, Tennessee. A college professor and church musician, he composed over 250 works before his death in 1998.

On March 4, the choir will sing Hymn of Promise, with words and music by the late Natalie Sleeth. Organist John Ferguson has written this delicate, flowing arrangement of what has become a beloved hymn in many churches. Both the Old Testament and the Epistle readings for the day reflect on God’s promises to us.

Glinda

From Our Organist

February 26

Prelude: What Wondrous Love Is This – arr. Dick Bolks

Offertory: Melodie in G – William Stickles

Postlude: The Glory of These Forty Days - setting, Lynn Arthur Koch

March 4

Prelude: Prelude on “Savannah”- Ross Anderson

Offertory: Elevation – Francois Clement Theodore Dubois

Postlude: Largo - John Stanley

• Magazines for Bryce patients
• Canned goods & food items for Temporary Emergency Services
• Used printer cartidges & flower vases
• Women’s personal care items for Turning Point
• Telephone books & tabs from canned drinks
• Art supplies for our Covenant Kids
• Box Tops for Education
• Campbell’s soup labels
• Used cookie tins
• Cancelled stamps (sold for collectors to provide church literature in foreign countries – please do not use letter opener; leave 1/4″ border)

1. East Wall and Chancel Area

• there will be sheetrock on the walls that flank the faceted glass window
• the wall behind the chancel (below the window and sheetrock) will be replaced with wood overlaid with mullions (frames) that will match the window grid.
• in front of the back wall, there will be a wall the height of the bell tables (this will be set out from the back wall to provide enough room for the bell tables and musicians
• the pulpit will be downsized and lowered – the pentagonal sounding board will not be replaced
• the new chancel will be about 14″ in height, with one 7″ step up from the floor level
• all chancel furniture will be moveable
• the chancel will have stained hardwood flooring instead of carpet

2.  Faceted Glass Windows

• Berg Glass Studio, Inc., in Lubbock, TX will repair the East wall faceted glass window as well as all the clerestory windows on the North and South walls
• the frame wiill be the same color as the arches and beams
• the matrix (the squares that hold the glass) will be the color of chocolate
• window repair will begin on January 25th

3. Flat Roofs

• repair of the flat roofs around the sanctuary, over the offices and choir room has been completed, as has the roof over the Ormond Building

4. Organ

• organ installation and tuning is projected to be started on May 22nd and completed by July 7th

The Alternative Christmas Market was open for business three Sundays (November 27th, December 4th and 11th) in the back of the Fellowship Hall.

We Are Coming Back!

Over the summer, Covenant “adopted” our own Katie Andoe who is a teacher at University Place Middle School and helped replace most of her teaching aids that were destroyed in the tornado.  Katie thanked the congregation for filling a need she didn’t even realize she needed until mid-summer.  Covenant also helped provide many of the classroom supplies normally furnished by her students and their families – many of whom were also affected by the storm.

John Sikes reported on the status of the University Place Elementary School’s vegetable garden that was not too badly damaged.  He also said that said they were looking for a few good gardeners – or anyone with a semi-green thumb – who are looking to help in a very worthwhile endeavor.  Covenant’s M/E Committee has added this project to its list of tornado-relief efforts.

Martha Bace described Covenant’s on-going mission project with the Community Service of West Alabama’s Meals on Wheels program.  She was able to report that, although several of our regular clients were displaced, almost all were either located or accounted for before the May delivery.  She also said that the program is open for more volunteers to drive and deliver meals.

Celeste concluded the “mini-sermons” with a brief description of the Forest Lake Baptist Recovery Center and their efforts there and how Covenant is “plugging into” helping provide clothing and other necessary items for storm victims.  She also announced several other projects that include:

• Books, CDs, videos and DVDs for University Presbyterian Church’s annual Book Sale on November 12th (originally scheduled for April 28th) to support their Food Pantry
• Christmas decorations, ornaments, garland, wrapping paper, etc., for families of Covenant Dance Experience and Arts n’ Autism who were affected by the storm (anything leftover will go to the Forest Lake Recovery Center)
• Covenant’s annual year-end clothing drive for Bryce patients

Covenant has a long history of providing for those in need.  The worship service on October 2nd was a nice way to remind everyone that, even though we are in the midst of our own rebuilding, we still are able to reach out to others.

In Christ,

Martha Bace

Westminster Presbyterian Church to the rescue!  Yesterday I spent the morning with a youth group from that Hot Springs Arkansas congregation as they sorted the remaining glass and cleaned up the remains of the concrete framework.   I’d like to thank our sisters and brothers for their hard work.  We are truly blessed.

Click on the pictures in the gallery for a better look.