Weekly Bulletin Announcements

February 5, 2012

Lutheran Church of the Covenant

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5

15008 Cloverdale Road, Dale City, VA  22193         (703) 670-4242 

INTRODUCTION: In Isaiah it is the one God who sits above the earth and numbers the stars—it is that God who strengthens the powerless. So in Jesus' healing work we see the hand of the creator God, lifting up the sick woman to health and service (diakonia). Like Simon's mother-in-law, we are lifted up to health and diakonia. Following Jesus, we strengthen the powerless; like Jesus, we seek to renew our own strength in quiet times of prayer.

 

Worship Servers: Each Sunday morning please meet in the workroom five minutes before the service begins for prayer with Pastor Tony and assisting minister.

 

Today’s altar flowers are given to the glory of God and contributed by the Basham family in celebration of David’s birthday AND by Rich & Marcie C in celebration of Rick’s birthday.

 

Today’s Sunday School lesson is titled "Four Friends" and comes from Luke 5:17-26.  The lesson focus is that Jesus heals in unexpected ways.

 

The All American Steakhouse is proud to join with the Drop-In Center for the Homeless for Spirit Night Fundraiser tomorrow, Monday, February 6 in which 20% of all food purchases made by family and friends will be donated directly to The Bill Mehr Drop-In Center for the Homeless. This offer is valid from 11:30 am until closing. “To Go” food included! Simply present the flier (found in the wall rack in the narthex) to your server when seated. This is sponsored by the Cooperative Council of Ministries. 

 

“O+T+L+W+B”…Out To Lunch With Books group will meet, Monday, February 13 at 12:30 pm when they will discuss the selected book, Getting Mother’s Body by Suzan-Lori Parks. Bring your lunch and gather in the work room…all are welcome!  Please see Sandy S or Harriet R for more information.

 

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17. LCOC will be serving the homeless at the Hilda Barg Center NEXT WEEK on February 12, 13, and 14. Please consider providing a meal for those less fortunate. There are still a few items needed! A signup sheet is on the bulletin board in the narthex. For more information, you may contact Sandy S.

 

Readers are needed for short Lenten drama readings for both Sunday worship services during the Lenten season. Please contact Ruth L if interested.

 

The Men’s Prayer Breakfast group invites everyone to join them and our LCOC Confirmation Class at the traditional pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, February 21, 6 pm – 7:30 pm in the downstairs fellowship hall.  Pancakes will be prepared by our culinary experts and served by our enthusiastic youth.  A free-will offering will be collected with all proceeds going toward the cost of the Shekinah weekend retreat that the Confirmation class will be attending in March.

 

Mid-week Lenten Services will begin on Wednesday, February 29 at 7 pm and will continue through March 28. The Lenten series is titled “You Shall Love the Lord Your God”. In Mark 12, a scribe comes to ask Jesus, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answers, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength'" (Mark 12:28-30). Jesus responds to the scribe's question with words from the Shema, the passage from Deuteronomy 6 that is recited daily by many of the Jewish faith. These words form a covenant between God and God's people and show us a way to respond to this God who so extravagantly loves us through the cross. The first week of this series sets the stage with the Shema from Deuteronomy and the encounter between Jesus and the scribe in Mark 12. The following weeks center on how we can love the Lord our God with all our hearts, our souls, our minds, and our strength. The readings for the Sundays in Lent, also contain covenants: through Noah, Abraham, the Ten Commandments, Moses, and the new covenant in Christ.

 

Lenten Soup Suppers will begin on Wednesday, February 29 from 6-6:45 pm prior to worship service. Various groups within our congregation will be hosting these suppers. All are welcome to enjoy this Lenten fellowship.

·          Feb 29 - Church Council

·          March 7 - Choir

·          March 14- Men’s Prayer Breakfast

·          March 21 - Sunday School/Youth

·          March 28 - Wednesday Morning Bible Study

 

This Lent the Sunday School classes are joining Lutheran World Relief's Baskets of Promise appeal.  Each week, we'll collect a different item to fill School Kits that give children essential items to learn and work toward better futures.  Our collection schedule is as follows:

·          February 26:  Notebooks (70-sheet, wide or college-ruled, approx. 8" x 10.5", no loose-leaf paper)

·          March 4:  Monetary donations to purchase backpacks

·          March 11:  Pens (black or blue, no gel ink) and Pencils (unsharpened #2 with eraser)

·          March 18:  Rulers (30-centimeter) and Erasers (2.5")

·          March 25:  Crayons (box of 16 or 24) and Pencil Sharpeners

·          April 1 (Palm Sunday):  Scissors (blunt safety scissors)

You will find a collection box in the narthex for these donations.   For more information, please contact Diane DeGroodt.  Thank you for your support!

 

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A list of needs has come in through the Cooperative Council of Ministries. If you have any questions in either of these requests, please see Gari Carter. Re-Entry Program- items needed: women’s jeans size 16; sweat suits XL; Sneakers size 10; Pajamas XL. You may contact CCOM directly at Sandra.Sale@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

Dear CCOM Members,

We have a young lady that is associated with First Church of the Nazarene that is in desperate need of baby items.  She is due within the next month, and has literally nothing.  She is having a boy.  Her main needs are a crib, car seat, crib sheets, clothes, diapers, diaper bag, and, in time she will need things like a carrying seat, and, high chair.  Basically she is going to need anything, and, everything a new mother would need for a baby.  She lives with her parents, and so, she has help, and, support from them, except, they are a very low income family, so, they are not able to do much financially. Items maybe dropped off at First Church of the Nazarene; 14001 Smoketown Rd., and given to the secretary, Melissa Green or you may contact me (carolyn_thompson001@comcast.net) and I will make arrangements for items to be picked up.

Thank you and God's Blessings, Carolyn Thompson