Covenant in Mission

These ministries take God’s work into the community. There, we are able to witness the results of His work first hand. If you are interested in any of the following programs, please call 451-6677 or e-mail the Church office to connect with the contact persons.

Habitat for Humanity

Covenant is a member of the Northwest Adopt-a-House group of Habitat for Humanity, which consists of 10 churches. This group helps to build houses for low-income families and includes planning, building, providing food, coordinating volunteers, and providing support to the family. All members who are willing to donate time in the construction and other facets of building a house are welcome.

Volunteers from Covenant and nine other churches build one Habitat house each year on Thursdays and Saturdays. Both building and/or providing lunches is involved. This need not be a weekly commitment. Contact: Dave Fecht, 451-9770.

Links

Habitat for Humanity of Ohio
Habitat for Humanity

Presbytery of Scioto Valley Adult Mission Work Trip

October 9-16, 2010

This trip will be a hands-on project to do basic construction and work in poverty relief areas in Appalachia. If you are interested in participating in this mission work trip, e-mail Jeannie Harsh. Application forms and detailed information will be available soon at www.psvonline.org.

SOS Food Pantry

This program provides a 3-day supply of food to families referred to SOS by the FirstLink Referral Agency (a United Way agency). Food is stored at the Church and is delivered to those who cannot get to walk-in pantries. Last year, the group made 213 trips to deliver food to 608 people. Contact: Gerlinde Lott.

Mission Interpretation

Covenant has connections with five Mission co-workers by prayer and correspondence. In addition, whenever one is in this country on home assignment, we attempt to arrange a visit with us for an opportunity to become better acquainted and learn more. Contact: Suzie Shoemaker. Those with whom we are connected and the areas served are:

Dr. Sue Makin, a gynecologist/obstetrician at Mulanje Mission Hospital in southern Malawi; http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/makins.htm
Doug and Elaine Baker, peacemaking advocates in Belfast, Northern Ireland; http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/bakerd.htm
Rev. Bill Yoder, Dean of the McGilvary Faculty of Theology, Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/yoderb.htm
Rev. Alice Winters, professor of Bible, Reformed University of Colombia; http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/wintersa.htm
Dr. and Mrs. Michael and Nancy Haninger, a gynecologist/obstetrician and nurse-midwife in Congo; http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/haningerm.htm
Bob Whitford, Alaska; http://www.seakspirit.org
Joyce and John Michael, Czech Republic; http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/michaelj.htm

Justice and Peace

Peacemaking Offering, Bread for the World, Amnesty International holiday cards, It’s Easy to Be Green program, OVRC line item. Contact: Karen Hjelm.

Tutoring Program

Tuesdays, 5:30-7pm, September through mid-May

This program provides tutoring opportunities for children at several locations. Covenant members and community volunteers offer their time as tutors. Tutors may work with the child they choose and are asked to help only a little over an hour a week, only when schools are in session. Volunteers are oriented, background checked (a simple paper to fill out), and guided through the experience by our director Judy Oeder. You may start anytime throughout the year; however, it is most helpful to both student and tutor to start in the fall. Add your name to the Salt and Light sheet in the hall.

Summer Tutor Help Needed

The tutor program needs volunteers to work with one student two times in August. The one-hour sessions will help prepare the students to start their school year. We will meet at Indianola Presbyterian Church on August 5 and August 12 at 5pm. If you are interested, please call Carol Petro, 485-0994.

Open Shelter

Volunteers prepare and serve a meal once a month for men who use the Open Shelter in downtown Columbus. Food comes from donations from Church members and circles. Volunteer opportunities are available for cooks and servers. Toiletries are collected throughout the year for shelter residents.

Salt and Light

Salt and Light Activities are one-time activities to do some hands-on mission work and be “salt and light” to the world. Some are open to children and youth as well as adults. They are a great way to serve others even in the midst of hectic schedules. Find one that works for you and be active! Sign-up sheets are available at the Welcome Table in the main hallway.

Seeds of Hope Community Garden

This new mission project contributes to Covenant’s outreach efforts by providing a variety of vegetables to food pantries in central Ohio (including our own SOS Food ). The Garden Committee (Karen Hjelm, chair) that includes Covenant members as well as neighbors from the local community. A children’s garden has been added; Sustainable Upper Arlington and the Little Minyan Congregation are working on this project together. Anyone interested in helping with this learning opportunity for children, contact Karen Hjelm.

Volunteers are needed to work in the garden 1-2 hours or so a week, or on an occasional basis April through the fall. All volunteers will be trained in whatever they do, so even if you have no direct experience with gardening, you will learn enough to have an enjoyable and productive time. Please
contact Bob Tannehill, 488-7587 or 578-6627, or Jim Fronk, 488-1235, to volunteer. You can also call the church office, 451-6677, or e-mailcovenantgarden@covenantpcusa.org.

Senior Saturday (9am-noon)

Covenant participates in the City of Arlington Senior Service Saturdays Program. We will be doing small chores and light spring cleaning. Sign up on the sheet on the Salt and Light board in the narthex; sign up early, sign up the family, help lighten the load of a Senior!

Prayer Shawl Circle

Compassion and the love of knitting or crocheting have been combined into a prayerful international ministry and spiritual practice that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace as well as in celebration and joy. The circle meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month, 9:30-11am. Contact: Betsy Sebastian.

Mission Sewing Group

The group is led by Martha Circle but all church women are welcome to join. The group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 1pm, in Room 121. Contact: Diana Sanders, 847-4431.

New Sewing Project

Mission Sewing has started a new project and needs help. If you like to sew or quilt or would like to learn, join us. Meet every Tuesday from 1-3 pm, Room 121 (except for Vacation Bible School week). Call Diana Sanders 847-4431 or just come.