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
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 & Peace
The Justice & Peace Ministry Team meets most months on the first Monday of the month. We have several activities during the year:
- In April we write letters through Bread for the World to our Congressional Representatives to support legislation to ease hunger in the United States and the world.
- Each year we receive the Peacemaking Offering on the first Sunday in October, which also is World Communion Sunday. Three-quarters of this offering supports the General Assembly, Synod, and Presbytery Justice and Peace programs. Each year Covenant’s Justice & Peace Ministry Team selects a program to donate our portion of the offering. Past recipients are Presbytery of Scioto Valley Veterans Support Task Force, CHOICES (eliminating domestic violence) and the breakfast for the homeless at Central Presbyterian Church.
- At the Advent Event each year Justice & Peace has crafts for interested parties to make for decorating the Peace Tree that resides in the hall during the holidays.
- In 2009 Justice & Peace initiated the idea of a Community Garden on Covenant’s property. The Seeds of Hope Community Garden is producing hundreds of pounds of vegetables each year for consumption by people visiting food pantries and soup kitchens.
In the past we have focused on actions that can be taken by individuals to decrease our production of greenhouse gasses and decrease our use of water. Please contact Karen Hjelm (e-mail) if you wish to take part.
Tutoring Program
Wednesdays, 4-5:50pm, 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.
If you have a child, grandchild, neighbor, or friend who wants tutoring until the middle of May, know that tutors are ready to help. Also, tutors are needed at the Maynard Ave. Church and Indianola Church programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays respectively, 5-6:30pm, where students are waiting for their own tutors. Contact Carol Petro by voice or text, 395-1104 or e-mail.
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.
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!
Seeds of Hope Community Garden
The Seeds of Hope Community Garden contributes to Covenant’s outreach efforts by providing a variety of vegetables to food pantries in central Ohio (including our own SOS Food Pantry). The Garden Committee (Karen Hjelm, chair) includes Covenant members as well as neighbors from the local community. A children’s garden has been added, and Sustainable Upper Arlington, the Little Minyan Jewish Congregation, and First Community Church in Grandview are all participating in the Seeds of Hope project. Anyone interested in helping with this learning opportunity for children.
In 2012, we plan to plant two apple trees (Honey Crisp and Golden Delicious), extend the water line into the garden (most of it is already in the ground), add flower gardens, enclose the compost bins to match the garden, and spread new mulch. We will also consider how we can develop an educational program.
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 “enjoyably” learn, and the work to help those in need will provide a satisfying and productive time. Contact Bob Tannehill, Garden Manager, 488-7587, e-mail, or Karen Hjelm, Garden Committee Chair, 326-1433, e-mail, to volunteer.
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.
Dee Adair presented Prayer Shawls to some of Covenant's charter members on October 15, 2010, at the Primetimers dinner. Those receiving shawls were Dick and Alice Ford, Jerry Francis, and Jack Irwin. Pictured are (l to r) Dee Adair, Dick Ford, Alice Ford, Mary Jane Francis, Jerry Francis, Jack Irwin. Other charter members who have also received Prayer Shawls are Dee Adair, Marge Arnold, Anna Jo Beeson, Mary Jane Francis, Bonnie Roussey, David Greegor (dec.) and Mary Jane Greegor (dec.).
Mission Sewing Group
Mission Sewing is a part of CPW. We raise money for mission by selling potholders, scrubbies, hanging towels, trivots, comfort pillows, and rice bags. We make chemo caps and layette items which are donated to those who need them. We also create a quilt every year that is given away at the November gathering to someone who has purchased one of our projects or “Opportunities.” Call Diana Sanders (847-4431).