GE COV Weekly Newsletter

Join us Each week in person or online
Sundays at 9:30am.


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THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

SUNDAY SERMON

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED

Matthew 5:10


 

COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF SUNDAY!!!

We’re two weeks away from Kick-off Sunday, September 11th! Service starts at 9:30AM.

On Kick-off Sunday we come together as a church to re-launch our Sunday School and other ministry programs after taking a summer break. In this service, we’ll pray for our volunteers, talk about what to expect this coming Fall, and how you can get and stay connected with a group.

Children’s ministry will have their own service at 9:30AM. Parents please check-in your children at the check-in counter and take them directly to their class.

The Bible tells us to race as if we’re trying to obtain a prize. The beautiful truth about being apart of the Body of Christ is that we don’t have to run our race of faith alone.

Join us on Kick-off Sunday to learn how you can connect with other believers as you walk and grow in your faith journey.

An outdoor picnic will follow right after service, 11AM-1:00PM. If it rains, we’ll gather in the FLC.

Please bring a dish according to your last name:

A-M: Bring a side dish

N-Z: Bring a dessert

See you on Kick-off Sunday!

 
 

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Women's Bible Study New Topic: Deuteronomy/ the Kindness of God

Join other women for Bible study and a warm time of fellowship.

  • Tuesdays, 9:30-11am – Topic: Why did Jesus quote from the book of Deuteronomy more than any other book? It is about the kindness of God. Join us this fall for a new way of looking at Deuteronomy. For an overview of the book, see The Bible Project video: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/deuteronomy/.

  • Saturdays, 8-9:30am – Topic: Join us to fellowship, pray, and preview the scripture passage for Sunday’s worship service.

Currently meeting via Zoom; looking at options for hybrid in-person and Zoom format this fall. No commitment and no preparation needed. Visitors welcome - stop in and try it out!

For the Zoom link, please contact the church office (630-469-5405 or info@gecovenant.org).

For questions, contact either Susan Ferrell (shferal@gmail.com) or Karen Hudson.

 
 

A LETTER FROM OUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TEAM

Good morning Church Family!

As a parent of five young kids, I have been blessed many times over by the people who have volunteered to care for and teach on Sunday mornings. Not only is this a blessing to me and my husband as we can sit in church or serve in other ways, but my kids have formed meaningful relationships with several adults that make them feel part of our church body. They look forward to Sunday school with Mr. Kempe and playing in the preschool room with Mrs. Manning. These adults are part of my kids spiritual formation now and they have made a difference in their lives by sharing the love of Jesus with them. There are so many ways to volunteer in our children’s ministry. 

1. Nursery. This is for babies/tots ages 0-2 years old. Volunteers are needed during the church service and during the Sunday school hour. Grab a friend!! Serve with your spouse!! Hold babies!! This volunteer role requires no prep - just show up! I have yet to fill any spots this fall for the Sunday School hour in nursery. If everyone would get a buddy and sign up for ONE SUNDAY in the Sunday school hour, you could let parents go to Sunday school! What a blessing to these tired moms and dads. Click on the google doc below and sign up or email me if there is a Sunday (or two!) you think you would be able serve. If we cannot find volunteers for these spots, the nursery will not be able to open during the Sunday school hour.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1StUEUuYWB90JCVSCzvlFTuvv_a6jreF7-myIoW0SzvU/edit

2. Preschool. This is for kids ages 2-5. This group of kids is a joy to be around on a Sunday morning. They sing, read Bible stories, have a snack, and play! And again, there is no prep for this role! You can just show up and play with kids and bless the young families of our church. Please contact Katie Johnson if this sounds like a place you’d like to serve! 

3. Kindergarten-5th grade. Crystal has prayerfully and faithfully led this ministry. We are so thankful for her! But she can’t do it alone. Children’s church happens during the service. Sunday school hour involves large group time and small group time. These kids need people to teach them about the awesome and unbelievable love of Jesus! They need adults to serve during the worship hour this Fall; who care deeply about their hearts and want to listen and develop hearts that take after Jesus. If this is somewhere you’d like to service, please contact Crystal.

Now I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there are more young families showing up consistently on Sunday mornings. Praise God! Our children’s ministries are full of life and laughter and the goodness of God. Please prayerfully consider if you might be able to serve in any of these areas.

Many blessings,

Jen Casey and the Children’s Ministry Team

 
 

LOOK WHAT GOD IS DOING!-WEEKLY CHURCH MINISTRY UPDATE

THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Each week in our staff meetings we’ve begun to celebrate some WINS by naming what we see God leading and doing in our ministries.  But we cannot keep this to ourselves and must share these celebrations with you!  In the coming weeks, different ministries will be giving updates on how and what God is doing in His church.  This week our update will cover matters pertaining to the entire church.

This week our Director of Children’s Ministries, Crystal White, reflects on her one year anniversary on staff and her hopes for the future.

September 1, 2022, I’ll be celebrating one year on staff here at this amazing church.

In children’s ministries it has been a year of anticipation, planning and excitement. Meetings, emails, dreaming, visioning and well, dedication. A lot has happened! This summer we’ve been blessed to have new families choose to join our church, giving us the privilege of shepherding their children in the Lord. Our children’s ministry is also growing as we’re welcoming new babies into our church family.

But the great news doesn’t end there.

As we move into the Fall season, kick-off Sunday being right around the corner- including inviting our college-aged brothers and sisters in the faith to join us in our mission to gather, grow and go, children’s ministries has already experienced the hand and heart of God through them. We were in great need of volunteers in our nursery and preschool Sunday School classrooms. This past Sunday our ministry team made this known to the church. By the end of service, we had our scheduled almost completely full. Only needing two spots to be filled.

Our college-aged brothers and sisters along with our faithful congregants stepped right in filling the spots we needed filled. In the words of Rosemary Macdonald, “We’re a church that rallies.” This statement has once again been proven to be true.

 God is doing an amazing work in all of us. God is doing an amazing work in our church. His Word promises that we should not get weary in doing good because we will reap a harvest in due season if we faint not (Gal. 6:9). Church, keep serving, keep loving and keep showing up as you have because it’s showing in our children’s ministry.

 We love you. We need you. We appreciate you.

Love,

Crystal

 

 
 

NEW! MISSION FOCUS

Highlights of opportunities with local ministries that our church supports financially:

DuPagePads

The Annual Walk 4 Home is Saturday, Sept. 17. This is a fundraising event involving a two-mile walk around scenic College of DuPage and other activities. Registration is free. Find out more.

World Relief Chicagoland Childcare Need

This partner needs volunteers to help with children two to six years of age for an hour on Saturdays while their mothers attend Arabic Speaking Women’s Enrichment Group. The group meets in the Glen Ellyn area through October. Contact Darren Miller if interested.

Ongoing Opportunities

For information on ongoing opportunities to support any of our missions partners, whether missionaries or local or international ministries, contact Darren Miller. Also let him know if you would like to be added to a Friends of Missionaries missions updates distribution list. To receive the GE COV Prayer Letter, which includes items for our missionaries, contact Diane Brown.